Zodiacal Light

by Penmore

Rating: everyone
Tags: Sunset Shimmer, Slice of Life, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Spike, Starlight Glimmer
Length: 2333

Sunset tries to surprise Twilight with a semi-unannounced visit to Equestria. However, she gets her own surprise once she arrives.

Sunset returns to Equestria for the first time in a long time to visit Twilight in her castle. She comes semi-unannounced in order to surprise the Princess of Friendship only to encounter a unicorn she's never met before in her life.

Published 2016-06-17 22:00:01 UTC
Last updated 2016-06-17 22:00:01 UTC

Someponies Don't Like Surprises

It was the first time Sunset had a chance to visit Twilight in Equestria. It was also her first time back after her fall from grace. It brought bitter memories to the surface, but it was a relief to know that the visit was mostly unplanned. She had written to Twilight about her arrival, but never mentioned when she would actually arrive. She took a moment to take in the sight of the library the mirror was located. There was no doubt that the place had more than one room full of books knowing how much of a bookworm the Princess of Friendship could be at times.

As she walked around taking in the sight of crystal and the smell of ink on paper. She always felt relaxed in libraries because of the amount of books they contained. It took her back to memories of the castle library and the time she spent studying for one of Princess Celestia's tests, only to find out that it would be for naught as she would surprise her as to the topic of the lesson. It frustrated her to no end how much she kept twisting things to her own advantage, yet, at the same time she missed it.

She picked out a rather thick book about plants with her magic and opened it to a random page. There was no particular reason it had to be that book, she just wanted to read a bit and enjoy the smell of a book published in Equestria. It was then she heard the door open and heard a gasp. Thinking it was Twilight, she put the book back and turned to face the Princess she failed to surprise in a better way. Only, it wasn't Twilight that was at the door mouth agape because of her presence. It was somepony she had never seen before, she had a pink coat, purple and teal mane and tail, and her cutie mark was a purple and white star with two blue glimmering streams. Before she could do anything else, the unicorn grabbed hold of Sunset with her magic and lifted her in the air. Not one for being restrained, Sunset teleported out of the bubble and appeared outside the room. The assailant was taken aback and searched for her only to see Sunset running down the corridor.

Sunset didn't know who the unicorn was exactly, but the fact remained that she was walking around Twilight's castle. That had to mean she was allowed access, otherwise, she wouldn't be there in the first place. Especially, if she was allowed to go into the same room the mirror was situated. Sunset opened every door she passed hoping to catch a glimpse of the purple alicorn in order to help explain the situation. She could have stopped running and tried to talk to the pink unicorn. Only, the unicorn didn't seem to want to talk as she kept blasting beams or magic in Sunset's direction.

"You know, it's not polite to blast somepony you've just met!" Sunset yelled as she turned a corner and went through another corridor.

"I wouldn't be blasting you if I knew who you were in the first place! What were you doing in that room? That place is restricted to everypony not on the access roster!" the unicorn sent another beam of magic at Sunset only for it to be blocked by an orange and red shield of magic.

Just as Sunset was running out of doors one of them opened towards the end at the left and Spike walked out with a towel wrapped around his head. "Spike?!" yelled Sunset running towards the dragon in question.

"Huh? Sunset?! What are you doing here?"

"No time! Crazy pony after me, need some help if you don't mind." She ducked behind the dragon and hid in the room he just exited.

"Crazy pony? What do you… oh…" He said as Starlight rounded the corner and headed his way. He took a breath and released a stream of emerald flame falling short of Starlight's face. The unicorn slid to a stop, out of breath and rattled by the flame coming at her.

"Spike! What was that for?" Starlight huffed as she took in air.

"I should be asking you that. Why are you chasing Sunset?"

"Sunset? Sunset?! You mean that pony is Sunset Shimmer?!"

"Yea, that's me." Sunset added as she stepped out of the room her coat covered in the leftover humidity of the steam. "Sunset Shimmer in the flesh." She levitated a brush from the bathroom and started to comb her mane instead of leaving it frizzed by the steam.

"I didn't know! I'm so sorry… I…uh… Please don't tell Twilight!"

"I won't, honest mistake. Personally, I would've just kept teleported the pony in place instead of trying to trap them in a bubble, but hey that's just me."

Spike let a sigh and continued down the hall to his room. "I'll leave you two to sort things out. Don't worry I won't tell Twilight either, as long as you clean up any mess you might have made."

"Thank you Spike! Phew, that is one lecture I seriously didn't want to hear." Starlight said as she waited for Sunset to finish brushing her tail.

"She lectures you too huh? I can't imagine how that goes in person, thankfully I can just close the book when she gets into that mood. Does she take forever to get to the point for you?"

"In person? Uh, oh yea. She does take forever just to tell me something that could have been said in less than a minute.

They both smiled and laughed at the fact that Twilight was Twilight no matter who she taught.

"Once again, I'm sorry about all that. I didn't know you were Sunset Shimmer, I thought you were somepony trying to steal some of those books or the one that leads operates the mirror."

"Don't worry about it, honest mistake. Partially my fault as well since I didn't exactly tell Twilight when I would be visiting. I read she took on a new student, is that you?"

"Oh, where are my manners? Yes, that's me, Starlight Glimmer student to Twilight the Princess of Friendship." She extended a hoof towards Sunset who accepted it wholeheartedly.

"With that out of the way, mind giving me a tour of the place and taking me to Twilight? I'd like to actually have a good look at the place instead of taking the express tour."

Starlight blushed slightly at the comment. "Yea… I'd love to give you a tour, but… I kind of get lost in this place pretty easily."

"Oh? Have lived here long?"

"About four months now."

"Four months? And you still get lost?" Sunset asked with a slight smirk

"It's not my fault! Every door in this place looks the same and I can't tell one crystal from the next!" Starlight huffed trying not to let the comment get to her.

"Sorry, I shouldn't judge. It took me a year to get used to Canterlot Castle's interior."

"Wow, a whole year? Ugh, that means I still have a long way to go."

Sunset started walking down the corridor and Starlight followed on her left. "Well, I've got a trick to help you with it." Sunset gathered her magic and in a flash created a small orange and red ball. "Find Twilight Sparkle." The ball vanished instantly and came back two seconds later jumping up and down in front of both ponies. Sunset started to walk towards it and the ball retreated as if on a rail.

"What is that?" Starlight asked following Sunset and the ball.

"It's a spell I came up with when I kept getting lost. The ball uses the magic traces in the air to find whoever or whatever I tell it to and then it comes back to guide me to the location."

"An instant tracking spell? Wow, I've never thought of using it in such a way. The things I've heard about you are definitely true then."

"Oh?" Sunset's ears perked up at the comment. "I hope it's all good things you've heard then."

"Most of it anyways, Twilight always likes talking about the things you tell her from that place beyond the mirror. Spike on the other hoof… is more of a blabbermouth."

"Oh…" Sunset stopped, looking downcast at the last bit of information. "So, I take it you've heard of how Twilight and I met then?"

"From Spike, yes I have. Sorry, I didn't mean…"

"No, it's ok. I know the things I've done in the past weren't exactly the best, but I've changed I'm not the girl I used to be, I'm a better person thanks Twilight and the girls."

"I know, Twilight has nothing great things to say about you." Starlight smiled and Sunset returned it. "I do have a question; you keep using words I don't know. Like person and girl, what do you mean by them?"

"Oh, ponyfeathers, sorry about that. It's a bit harder than I thought to use Equestrian terms instead of human terms. Anyways, humans are the sentient beings beyond the mirror. If you travel through it, you change into one of them. The terms are as follows person would be pony and girl would be a mare. Do me a favor and if I say any term you don't know let me know so I can correct myself."

Sunset watched with a slight smile at Starlight getting the same look of learning something new that was all too familiar. This was definitely Twilight's student, no doubt about it.

"I will don't worry. The chance to learn terms and words never heard before other than Twilight is a great experience."

Sunset giggled at her enthusiasm and continued to follow the ball, they turned left and walked through another library then turned right and continued down a set of stairs. "So…" Sunset started breaking the slight silence.

"Yes?"

"How did you become Twilight's student?"

Starlight stopped and Sunset wondered why. She turned to see Starlight looked downcast, it was a familiar look and one that Sunset had a lot of experience with herself.

"Twilight never told you?" Starlight asked in a rather low voice.

"No, she just told me about getting a new student and not much else. Then again, I'm always the one asking for help so it's hard to say what she forgot to mention."

"I uh…"

"Starlight." Sunset came up beside her and hugged the downcast pony. "It's ok if you don't want to talk about it. I know the feeling, so I won't ask about it anymore."

"No, it's ok and thanks." Starlight hugged her back and took a step back. "I met her when I almost destroyed all of Equestria."

"Whoa…"

Starlight told her about the village Twilight and others first met her and about the time travel spell she modified. She talked about her fight with Twilight and what she was shown when taken to the future. Sunset could tell it was hard for her to talk about it from the multiple pauses and her body slightly shaking. At the end, Starlight waited for the usual reaction she got from ponies when she told them about the events leading up to her living with Twilight.

"Wow, I gotta say that was definitely one impressive plan. Kind of a shame the spell was lost, but I guess it was for the best."

Starlight was surprised with her eyes wide open. "That's it? You're not disgusted by me almost destroying all of Equestria?"

"Starlight, I tried to take over Equestria with an army from another world. I turned into a demon and tried to kill Twilight as well. If I hated you for that then what kind of pony would I be other than a hypocrite?"

"Thank you Sunset, I don't know what to say…"

"Oh? Well, I do. How about you and me go get a couple of milkshakes at this world's Sugarcube Corner and discuss the intricacies of being reformed?"

"Ok, sure."

"Maybe we can even talk about the time Twilight tried to dance in her human form."

Starlight tried to picture the Princess in her bipedal form trying to dance the way she usually did whenever Pinkie threw a party. She broke out in a laugh and wiped away a tear. "That sounds fantastic. I'll lead the way." Starlight used her magic and a small light purple ball appeared and disappeared. Sunset smiled and followed the mare and ball of magic.

"Sunset?"

"Yea Starlight?"

"Would… would you like to be friends?"

"I'd love to be your friend Starlight."

The two of them hugged once more and talked about their pasts trying to crack jokes about the actions Twilight used to stop them. Each of them laughing at the funnier moments and console each other at the parts that were more hurtful than the rest.

As the sound of their voices dissipated, Spike walked out of his room and looked down the hall to see most of the doors still open and some burn marks on the floor and walls. "Great, I guess I'll have to be the one to clean this mess up as well."

Author's Note

I feel like I've been writing a lot the past few days. Well, it doesn't matter it give me time to practice my writing even when I don't feel inspired. This little short story is something I've thought about for a while (since Starlight met Trixie). I'm glad I was able to finish it, regardless of knowing where it was going or how I would start it. Gotta say, writing for the sake of writing is definitely working out for me.

As always, thank you for taking the time to read my story. Please leave a comment or critique below as any critique helps me grow as a writer. Have a great day!