How long had it been? Four, maybe five years? Sunset Shimmer's eyes trailed absently along the cracks in the sidewalk beneath her, her mind occupied as she kicked out her feet from where she sat on the stairs just outside Canterlot High. It really did feel like she had been there longer, having gone through so much already, but no, she really had only spent five years in that realm. Five long and fruitful years. Years where she had managed to go from a wicked she-demon to a reformed guardian angel in a matter of months. A reformation that she could honestly only credit to her friend and Princess, Twilight Sparkle.
"Oh, Twilight...", Sunset whispered into the crisp morning air, condensed breath wisping out from where she had exhaled before dissipating into nothingness. The two had been exchanging letters at a higher frequency than normal over the past few weeks. Discussions of the basics of magic in this realm and the complications of allowing it to exist there for any longer than it already had frequenting the pages of Sunset's journal. These conversations, despite how off track they often became due to how curious her Princess always seemed to be about the wellbeing of her alternate friends there, led Sunset to believe that there would come a time, possibly in the not so distant future, where the magic she had brought over through the portal would have to go back to where it belonged.
She knew it was inevitable, that her initial actions would eventually need to be rectified, but the implications of what that might mean for her place in this alternate world, well, it frightened her. Of course there was often talk of another visit from Twilight, the alicorn seemed keen on the realm and constantly itched to come back and explore, but the overarching topic that the book smart princess seemed so insistent on coming back to was whether or not there would come a time when Sunset Shimmer would visit them...back in Equestria.
Her brows knit together as she rose suddenly from the stairs. Boot falls echoing around the empty square as she took to pacing the space between where she previously sat and the courtyards center piece. Subconsciously, she avoided getting any closer to the statue then was absolutely necessary. Memory serving her well, as she knew it served as more than just an ornamental centerpiece.
If she were to return to Equestria, what would that mean for her life here? Although she didn’t have much by means of tangible wealth, the small apartment she kept and the items within being the only real objects to her name, she couldn’t just leave, could she? Just pack up what sentimentalities she owned and step back through the portal to- where exactly? Did she even have the right to call Equestria her home anymore? After what she’d done and what she had planned to do, she wouldn’t be surprised if she entered the portal only to return to Celestia’s royal guard and the prison cell they would have been keeping cool for her.
She grimaced at the thought of it, knowing full well that Twilight had already reassured her of her welcome there. So really, what was it she had to fear? It’d just be for a few days, a week at most- right?
“No,” the words left her lips on another crisp breath of air, her hands tucking beneath her arms as she crossed them over her chest in contemplation and duress, “I know better than that. I couldn’t just stay for a week- ugh...”
Sunset dropped to a crouched position, holding her arms to her stomach as she shut her eyes tightly against the thoughts that troubled her so. When she opened them, she knew she’d made up her mind. She knew that the time had come for her to return to her original world and correct the balance that had been disrupted by her having barged into this realm during a period of petty rebelliousness. And, to her, it didn’t even feel as though she wasn’t wanted there. She had friends, a life, a future if she wanted, but she also knew that it wasn’t her’s to take. She’d always wondered if she’d be able to sustain herself there as the Sunset Shimmer of that world. That just because the others had their doppelgangers with a hoof in one world and a foot in the next it didn’t mean she too would have another self to be wary of.
Who was she to say if her presence there wasn’t intentionally unique, that if, by sending her there, the Crystal Mirror hadn’t predicted the missing element of that world and had conjured her for a reason? She had always sought a purpose to her life, so who knew if the mirror hadn’t granted her just that by allowing her to fill a role she was inevitably destined for. And, as ridiculous as it sounded, she had actually convinced herself that this might have just been meant to be.
That is, until they found her.
The Twilight Sparkle of this world, the Princess’ twin in every way aside from a title and a few learned lessons in friendship. This sentient reflection was what had convinced her that she was foolish to have even considered fate to be on her side. Logically, it made sense. Twilight was a princess, an alicorn, a harbinger of friendship in Equestria and an element of harmony, no less. She was likely the most unique thing to have sprung up on Earth since the Sirens had been dumped there so many decades ago- so if someone as unique as her could have a human counterpart then Sunset Shimmer knew she herself was doomed. And therein lied her problem, if there could be another Twilight Sparkle then there was definitely another Sunset Shimmer. Knowing this only seemed to convince her that the life she was gearing up to lead was not really her’s to take. She was stealing again as she had stolen before and, this time, she wasn’t going to let herself get away with it.
She rose from her crouched position near the bottom of the steps and gave herself a mental shake. This was why she was here, wasn’t it? She had come as she had said she would in her last letter to Twilight, and that was almost a week ago. She had done everything she needed to do in preparation of leaving, including her farewells, so what was she waiting for? The princess’ response had been enough to reassure her that the decision she had made was the right one. With such promise in her words, and the hope of a new opportunity to grow into some-pony she could be proud of, she’d been convinced that all would be taken care of until time allowed her to get back on her hooves.
So, why did she feel so uneasy?
“Sunset?” she jumped at the mention of her name. Her head swiveling to meet the eyes of a familiar face and one she honestly wasn’t expecting to be there.
“T-Twilight?”
“Heya,” the dark haired female stepped forward, tucking a stray bang behind her ear as she shrugged her shoulders and smiled that crooked smile that always seemed to make Sunset’s heart stop, “You sure were taking your time over here. I thought...I thought you’d changed your mind.”
Sunset felt a rush of heat rise to her face and she knew she was blushing.
“N-no...sorry,” she dropped her gaze for a moment and let out a slow exhale of breath as she rubbed her arm out of habit, “I definitely didn’t change my mind. I was just...-”
“Over thinking?”
“Heh, how’d you guess?” she smiled her own crooked smile before the gesture faltered and she felt herself frowning, “I’ve just got a lot on my mind, a-heh, no big deal.”
Twilight was silent for a moment as she crossed her arms loosely over her chest, hugging them to herself as her purple gaze scrutinized Sunset’s tensed stance, “You...don’t have to do this you know.”
Sunset felt her expression shift wildly as she locked eyes with her princess before quickly dropping her panicked gaze and shutting her eyes lest they betray her anymore than they already had.
“If it’s too hard for you-”
“No...don’t say that,” she shook her head and felt her hands ball into tight fists, “Don’t give me that option, Princess, please. You know as well as I do that I- that we don’t have that option.”
Twilight closed her mouth on a tight lipped line, seeming to ponder her next words before she began again, somberly, but with an understanding tone.
“I know...I’m sorry,” Sunset heard the soft soles of Twilight’s shoes as she approached her, closed the distance between them, and placed a light hand on her shoulder. With the other on Sunset’s cheek, she continued, “I really shouldn’t have brought it up. You just looked so sad.”
Sunset opened her eyes to Twilight’s worried gaze, her touch prompting a warmth to rise back into her cheeks and melt her into a submissive puddle as her words often had. Raising her hand to Twilight’s, she cradled it against her cheek for a short moment before stepping into the princess’ space and wrapping her arms tightly around her back and torso.
“It’s fine,” she whispered into her shoulder, holding the position in silence as Twilight mirrored the expression and squeezed her in return, “You know- this is the last time we’ll be able to do this.”
Twilight let out a short laugh.
“Do what? Hug?” she pulled away and raised a hand to tug at a strand of Sunset’s hair, “Did you forget that pony’s can hug too? We might not have arms like these, but the gesture is the same.”
“It’s been a long time, is all,” she smirked and nudged her forehead against her princess’, “You’ll just have to remind me when we get back.”
She could see Twilight’s cheeks flush darkly at this distance. The expression on her face telling her just where her princess’ thoughts had gone and banishing any remaining uneasiness that she might have had still lingering in her heart. This was what she had needed: a reminder of what would really be waiting for her on the other side of the portal. Her Princess, her Twilight Sparkle. The two hadn't made any official plans of commitment, but affection, as well as a few other terms, had definitely been exchanged over the written pathway they shared. So it only made sense to assume that the blush on the dark haired princess' cheek was meant for her.
“S-shall we?” Twilight’s stammering voice evoked a softer smile from Sunset as the two released each other, save the hand Twilight still grasped within her own, and slowly made their way towards the statue Sunset had been avoiding. She glanced up at it for a brief moment. The rearing stallion towering over her as they approached its base, making her heart pound with anticipation. She had almost forgotten Twilight was still beside her with the sudden numbness that had overtaken her, but a quick squeeze from the other female’s hand brought her around and reminded her to breathe.
“Yeah,” she squeezed back, “Let’s go.”
Author's Note
Heya, thanks for being so patient with this initial upload! It took me a while to map out what I wanted to do with the story, but I think I'm satisfied with it for the most part. That being said, my upload schedule for new chapters is definitely going to be sporadic, as this is something that I'm doing as a hobby outside of my usual art projects and RL responsibilities.
This series will be written in my nextgen universe, the Zenithverse, and will contain my own headcanons, as well as, a few fanon topics that I follow from other artists/authors. If you were interested in seeing more original characters from the current Zenithverse, as most of this will be written in the past, feel free to check out my DeviantArt!
Anyway, hope you enjoy!
