Starlight Glimmer's Canterlot High Vacation

by Toon4Thought

Rating: everyone
Tags: Slice of Life, Juniper Montage, Starlight Glimmer, Equestria Girls, Sunset Shimmer, Main 7 (EqG)
Length: 27171

Starlight Glimmer has been granted a few extra days in the mirror world, and is set to explore the strange sights around her with newfound friends like Sunset Shimmer by her side.

Princess Twilight Sparkle has granted her student, Starlight Glimmer, a few extra days in the mirror world to get to know everyone – and hopefully learn a couple lessons of her own along the way. With newfound friends like Sunset Shimmer by her side, she’ll have nothing to worry about while she explores the strange sights that await her.
...Right?

Takes place directly after "Mirror Magic", but viewing that isn't required to properly follow what happens here.

Proofread and Edited by ChudoJogurt.

Published 2017-07-08 22:20:05 UTC
Last updated 2017-08-27 21:45:13 UTC

Day 1, Part 1

Starlight Glimmer sat down on a leather black chair in Rarity’s dress workshop. Everypony else - Sunset Shimmer, her new friend, and the other six, strikingly similar to her pony friends in Equestria; took their own seats around her. They were preparing for the anticipated premiere of the new Daring Do movie, which the girls told Starlight they had saved not too long ago.

Starlight was still not over everything that had happened today. Had it really only been a few hours since she first met Sunset and entered this strange new world? Did she really just manage to save these seven girls from a weird magical mirror? And how lucky was she that her teacher, Princess Twilight Sparkle, had actually allowed her to stay there for a few more days? Well, whatever the answers, the news proved very exciting to everyone sitting in the room, all of them eager and determined to make their new acquaintance feel as welcome as possible.

Because she now had enough time to relax, she took a closer look at the reflection of her new, peculiar body in the large wall mirror. Her face did look similar to the people she’d seen, as expected, though with a bit more mascara around the eyes than most. What she didn’t expect was the full, stylish “hair”, as Sunset called it, that was somehow even more wavy than her pony mane. And then there was the purple beanie lying on top. She found it curious why she wore that of all things upon entering this world, having not worn a lot of hats in her lifetime. However, she chose to shrug it off, as she was starting to kind of like the thing anyway. But regardless of how acceptable she found her appearance, the idea of her reflection showing a completely different visage than the one she associated herself with all her life was really weird.

She then looked down and studied her limbs, which - now that she was observing them up close - looked more off-putting to her than before. The limbs that ended with her hands were much, much shorter and limper than those attached to her feet and even though she got used to using her fingers to manipulate objects, they still looked very odd and jarring. This transformation was easily the single strangest thing that has ever happened to her.

Her inspection was cut short by a familiar, excited squeal. “This is so exciting, I don’t think there is even a word to describe how excited I am!” Pinkie Pie beamed, jumping out of her seat to bounce around Starlight. “We have, right in front of us, an actual visitor from the magical pony world!!! And we get to show her around for the next. Three. Days! Oh, this is the greatest thing to happen to us since we got our magical glow-thingies!”

Starlight smiled weakly in response to Pinkie’s excitement, reassured at just how familiar the people around her were despite barely knowing them. Their personalities were clearly very similar between dimensions, she thought contentedly.

“Don’t overwork yourself, Pinkie Pie,” Rarity noted, brushing Starlight’s hair. “Still, I can’t stress enough how nice it is to finally meet Princess Twilight’s student. She’s told us quite a bit about you!”

“She did?” Starlight asked, opening her eyes wide. She still felt self-conscious about her past, so she was a little worried about what Twilight might’ve said. “…Like what?”

“She told us about how impressively you’ve changed since she first took you in, and that, even if you don’t always know how to act, your heart is now always in the right place.” Fluttershy replied from the opposite side of the room, smiling kindly.

Starlight grimaced slightly at the more negative parts, but still nodded. Unflattering as it may be, it was a fair description.

“Not to mention your awesome magical abilities!” said Rainbow. “I mean, who wouldn’t want to be able to hover in the air without wings?!”

Starlight blushed a little bit, only to quickly hide it.

“It still feels so weird to know that, around here, I was once associated with a magical pony princess,” Twilight added, quietly looking away while crossing her arms across her torso. “Never mind the multiple dimensions and magic leaking out of nowhere.”

“By the way, was what ya said true about the village and forcing away their talents?” Applejack asked, recalling what Starlight said among Sunset and Twilight's own admissions.

“I-I didn’t know better back then, okay?” Starlight blurted out, waving her hands defensively. “I just did what I thought was right when really I turned out to be… obsessed.”

Applejack paused, thinking of how to respond. “Uh, I’m sorry, I guess,” she finally replied, in a rather downbeat tone.

“She just has a little trouble dealing with her insecurities.” Sunset explained to the others, patting Starlight on her torso. “Don’t worry too much about it, AJ.”

Starlight reacted more warmly to Sunset’s statement and simply gave her a small smile.

“Well, don’t you worry about us Star Glim!” Pinkie reassured, her new nickname getting a chuckle out of some of the girls, Starlight included. “Any friend of Princess Twilight’s is a friend of ours!” She once again went up to Starlight to give her the tightest hug she has ever received. Rarity gave Pinkie a glare, moving her hand up and down to say “Tone it down”. The pink girl received the message, dropping her friend back onto the chair.

Five others nodded in agreement with Pinkie’s last statement, leaving Starlight more grateful than ever for the friendships she has gained over time in Equestria.

At that moment, Rarity turned her chair around so that Starlight was now facing her and the mirror. “Voila!” she went. “Doesn’t that look absolutely beautiful, darling?”

After getting past the shock of her reflection, she had to admit -- Rarity’s contributions seemed to complement her features quite well. Her mane- err, hairstyle, was largely similar to the one she begun with, but with her front bang moved to a slightly higher point on her head and many of the back waves straightened into a longer, more flowing mass. She gave a modest smile alongside a confident nod.

However, even after the good hair job and all the kind faces, Starlight still couldn't help but feel tense, especially on the inside. She still barely had a grasp on what to make of anything in this world, especially given she had no idea these creatures even existed until she had actually arrived, let alone that she would become one herself! And she was expected to go with it for three whole days? Just thinking about it made her anxiety grow to the highest point it had hit all day.

She got off her chair, and took a couple steps toward Sunset Shimmer. "You think I could write something to Princess Twilight in that journal of yours?" she said quietly.

Sunset at first looked a little nervous herself, but that feeling quickly went away as she knew where this was going. "Here," she kindly replied, handing Starlight a pen and held out her journal for her. Starlight tried writing "Dear Princess Twilight" on the first blank page she found, only to quickly realize she wasn't comfortable enough with her fingers to write anything legible, and her reliance on magic prevented her from ever getting the hang of writing with her mouth.

"Yeah, fingers sure take some getting used to." Sunset sympathized. "Maybe I should take care of it. I'm pretty sure I know what you want to write her about anyway."

Starlight looked at the kind, warm face in front of her. She had gained enough trust in Sunset Shimmer to know if there was anyone in the room who could help with her problem, it would be her. So, she nodded in approval, handing back the journal and pen. As Sunset began to write, Starlight returned to her chair, with Rarity eager to continue. “Now, let’s get to work on your fingernails.”

“…Fingernails?” Starlight asked. She looked at her hands, trying to figure out what the fashionista was referring to.

“Why, yes, of course.” Rarity replied. “Any girl who wants to look pristine should always keep their nails shining and decorated for events like this. Just relax,” she gestured as if to take a deep breath, “and you’ll barely even notice.”

“…Alright,” Starlight accepted, uneasily holding out her hands on the sides of the chair. The blue paint being applied to such a curious feature felt funny at first, but it didn’t take long for her to genuinely start to relax at the sensation. It was surprisingly soothing, regardless which Rarity was treating her.

As Starlight was holding her hands still for Rarity’s sake, she looked around the room and noticed seven dresses hanging in an open closet near the door, only to then realize how clothed everypony - including herself - was. “You know what’s funny to me?” Starlight said. “In Equestria, fashion largely seems to be an… afterthought. There are nice dresses and all, but I hardly see anypony actually wear them outside of fancy parties and whatever.”

Twilight, Fluttershy, and Applejack gave somewhat curious glances toward each other regarding the pony-specific term, but none of them decided to speak up about it. Sunset just gave a slight cringe.

“Well, I hope you don’t underestimate how much clothing can affect one’s appearance, darling, at least while in this world.” Rarity replied, upon finishing her paint job.

Starlight looked at her painted nails. The look on her face, similar to the one she gave toward her hair, told Rarity all she needed to know, who then smiled back and continued. “And speaking of clothes, it’s time we picked out a new set for you to wear tonight.”

Starlight tilted her head, confused by this statement. “Why would I want to change my clothes?”

Rarity, understanding the visitor’s perspective, calmly explained. “Well, I don’t know how clothing works where you’re from, but here your outfits must always match how you want to be perceived. Like, pardon my temper, but those rips in your pants make you look like one of those annoying city beggars.”

Starlight curiously looked down at her legs, and started to see the fashionista’s point. The two then walked into the dressing room while the other girls took care of their own appearances.

Rarity and Starlight browsed the wide selection. Starlight decided to try on a simple black dress with slender, navy blue pants, which Rarity decided looked too plain. Next, she pointed her guest to an elegant, maroon-colored, short-sleeved, collared shirt with a solid black skirt. Though it looked nicer overall, Starlight felt quite uncomfortable wearing it, particularly with the skirt. Finally, the two chose a sleek, gray dress adorned with plenty of shiny white beads along the sleeves, along with some black pants decorated with a few solid, purple stripes aligned horizontally.

Meanwhile, the other girls were just getting into the same dresses they donned for the opening of the Friendship Games (with an extra purple one made for Twilight). When Starlight walked back into the main room, they all turned their heads to her and then to Rarity, giving the two various positive reactions.

“Hoo boy, and I thought ya did a darn good job with Princess Twilight at last year’s Fall Formal…” said Applejack.

“Definitely not what you’d see me wearing, but even I have to admit you look cool in that,” said Rainbow Dash to Starlight.

“I do seem to have a knack with helping new visitors find their voice, don’t I?” Rarity blushed, flexing her hand in front of her face as if her pride wasn’t already clear enough.

“Th-thank you.” Starlight replied, suddenly feeling tight around her waist as she saw Rarity had tightly buttoned her pants. “Do your clothes always feel this constricting?”

“Not always, but it’s one of those things that just comes natural to you with time.” Sunset reassured.

Suddenly, a vibrating noise rung in the girls' ears. Sunset instantly recognized that it was coming from her journal, and quickly approached it to look at Princess Twilight's response. After reading the first line, she gave it to Starlight, allowing her to read for herself.

To my faithful student, Starlight Glimmer:

I understand how difficult it is to deal with entirely new surroundings, and being completely unsure if you would ever be able to get used to it. I myself felt the same way when I first visited the world, and believe me when I say it wasn't easy.

But I really meant it when I said that all of those girls are such great friendship teachers, and I have no doubt they will do everything in their power to help you feel comfortable. Every time you feel nervous or get caught off guard by something strange, they will be there for you, especially Sunset Shimmer who I know you have already gotten along swimmingly with. And you have been accomplishing such wonderful things lately, that I think you'll find you are more capable of handling yourself there than even you may think.

During your time there, I recommend you focus on: enjoying yourself, spending time with others, and seeing if you can find a few more friendship lessons to learn. I will be looking forward to hearing all about it once you return. And if you do continue to feel unsure of yourself, don't be afraid to write me back.

Best of luck,

Twilight Sparkle

Starlight immediately felt a lot of the stress lift off her shoulders as she finished reading. She always knew she could count on Princess Twilight to reassure her when she felt troubled.

She chose to sat back down and observe everyone else putting on the finishing touches (minus Rainbow Dash, as she was never fond of what she called “those girly habits”). She couldn’t help but imagine how her Rarity would react toward their impressive attention to detail. After just a couple minutes, they were all ready to go, and Rainbow was easily the most excited of the entire group. “Oh man, wait until you see us in the Daring Do movie! Sure, we may not appear very much, but my role is extremely important! Just you wait!”

Starlight rolled her eyes and suddenly saw Pinkie appear on her right side. “C’mon, Star Glim! You won’t believe the ride we have waiting for us outside! It’s got everything: automatic doors, super comfy seats, ample elbow room, candy ceilings… okay, maybe not that last one, but still - you’ll love it!”

Letting out a slight chuckle, Starlight walked alongside the other seven girls toward the building’s exit. She couldn’t help but break into a smile of gratitude at all they have already done for her. She may not yet fully understand how this world functions, but she could already tell she would have a fun time just finding out for herself.

Author's Note

I hope you enjoyed the first chapter of my first fic. Any feedback will be greatly appreciated. :)

This story isn't going to stick to a singular narrative, but it will contain several recurring themes. It's set to have 7 chapters (two for each of the first 3 days, and one for the final day), and I am planning on updating this on a weekly basis. Again, I hope you like this story as much as I am writing this for you guys.

Day 1, Part 2

The black limousine that the director Canter Zoom graciously rented for the girls’ trip was heading towards the mall entrance closest to the movie theater. The eight inside had spent most of the ride getting increasingly hyped for the movie.

“So, most of the rides in this world aren’t quite this… fancy?” Starlight asked, bouncing experimentally on the comfortable leather seat.

“Unfortunately, yes.” Applejack replied, from Starlight’s left. “In fact, this is only my second time in one of these fancy thangs. Usually we ride in cars about half this size with half as good material. Not to mention you have to steer.”

“Or you ride the bus, even less comfortable,” Sunset added, from the opposite end. “I always use a motorcycle when I must drive, but it really isn’t for everyone. Maybe I’ll try driving an actual car at some point.”

Starlight sighed, looking out the window past her. “I have no idea if all these should be considered primitive or advanced.”

“Well, you sure can’t deny that we are ridin’ in style!” said Pinkie, emphasizing the last part with a flat sweep from her hand.

“Definitely the kind of travel someone like myself deserves.” Rarity smiled, admiring her fingernails.

“Well, we all know I’m the one who got it because I’m awesome,” Rainbow teased. “But seriously, I think it’s safe to say we’ve all earned this.”

At that moment, the limo came to a complete stop at the curb. The driver opened the passenger door, letting the girls out one by one. As they began to walk, a bunch of hardcore fans screeched out in joy and took pictures of each of them. The crowd wasn’t quite as large as most other movie premieres, but it was still pretty sizeable. Pinkie Pie had recently turned their Dance Magic music video into an online hit, and word spread of their subsequent cameos not long after.

Rarity, first to step on the path, particularly enjoyed the attention; giving the crowd irresistible looks and walking slowly to savor the moment. Rainbow Dash relished her five minutes of fame just as much, fist-bumping a few fans and occasionally posing to show off.

Pinkie Pie was just excited to see all the pure happiness around her, and though she did try to keep her attitude somewhat professional, she couldn’t help but bounce from time to time out of glee and her energy proved contagious to the crowd.

Sunset Shimmer and Applejack followed, both acting pleased yet humble, while occasionally finger-pointing or waving at the biggest fans.

Fluttershy came next, blushing and keeping her head down. However, over time she did start to somewhat appreciate the attention. It helped that all of her friends were right beside her. Twilight Sparkle was slightly nervous herself, but she found herself having fun observing a few of the fans’ cosplays.

Last was Starlight Glimmer. While she didn’t have the claims to fame that the others did, she still got a modest applause from those who had seen her in the mall earlier and complimented her dress. As nervous as she was, she still felt proud and liked getting positive attention for a change

The seven presented their VIP passes to security, and while they couldn’t get Starlight one under such short notice, they were still able to buy her a regular ticket. She was perfectly content with this, as she personally thought she didn’t deserve the special treatment anyway.

“We’ll be sure to look out for you inside the theater,” Sunset said. “Enjoy the movie!” She waved her new friend goodbye as she followed the others into the lobby.

“Okay.” said Starlight, slightly uneasy at how much larger and crowded the box office area felt by herself. Before she could get even more uncomfortable over it, she quickly rushed through the doors.

Juniper Montage was still at work at the concession stand, visibly bitter about what had happened earlier but was more focused on her work than before. Remembering Twilight’s advice to interact with others, Starlight walked up towards the stand and got noticed as soon as Juniper finished serving her current customer.

“Oh, hi.” she greeted, somewhat timidly. “Star…bright, was it?”

“Starlight.” she replied, just as nervous.

“Yeah, right. I’m still trying to process everything I’ve dealt with in the past couple hours…”

“I’ve been there... even today, in fact.”

“So, uh… I’m kind of busy right now, so can you just come back later when I’m... not? I’ve been in enough trouble already, and I don’t want to wreck my reputation even further.” She chewed her lips in an attempt to hide her feelings as she began serving another customer.

“Actually,” Starlight continued without changing her tone. “I was wondering if you would like to join me for the premiere? I mean, I wouldn’t want to watch it without my friend.”

Juniper suddenly paused, her eyebrows and lips slowly dropping on the edges. After several seconds, she returned to her original expression, finished her current customer’s order, and very quickly turned her head back to Starlight to get her response in before the next customer.

“I am getting off work just as the movie starts. Get a seat for me and I’ll find you in the theater.”

Despite the stern tone, her agreement still made Starlight feel happy.

With the small sum of cash Rarity had given her Starlight bought some popcorn and one extra ticket for Juniper before finding her way through the hallway.

She was amazed at just how many large cinemas lied in this one facility, but then again, she had no idea how their movies even worked. Looking at the posters that she passed along the way (most of which looked overly flashy to her), she already got the impression they were much more ambitious than anything even the best video cameras in Equestria were capable of handling. This made her grow even more curious over just how large the gap between their technology and hers even was...

When she entered her cinema, the arrangement looked more or less like what she expected based on most Equestrian auditoriums. In the center of the room were the VIP guests, who quickly noticed Starlight and waved cheerfully.

After giving them a firm smile in response, she saw she was sitting in the furthest seat on the row below the group’s. After taking her seat, she noticed that despite her inexplicable watch showing the correct startup time for the movie, they were instead showing these long advertisements called “trailers” that unfortunately only seemed to confirm her suspicions with the medium. Though one of the later ones shown, a sequel involving a city being drowned in pudding, looked cute enough, part of it having to do with Pinkie gleefully screeching a couple times as it played. If there was one good thing she could definitively say about them however, it’s that they decently prepared for what she was about to see, for better or for worse.

After thirty or so minutes, the lights suddenly dimmed, catching Starlight off guard, and the movie finally began. As the drawn-out logos played, Juniper arrived and took the seat next to Starlight’s. They greeted each other with small, awkward smiles. After a few moments ticked by in awkward silence, Starlight whispered into her ear, “Do most movies have this much advertising? I mean, it feels a little like overkill to me.”

“You’d be surprised how much money goes into making movies like this,” said Juniper. “They need all the attention they can get to make up for it. I would know; I’ve been helping Canter on set for a few years now.”

“Does it ever annoy you or something?”

“Not really,” she shrugged. “I’ve seen so many movies that I’m used to it, I guess,”.

Starlight chose to take her word for it and leaned back into her seat as the title “Daring Do and the Marked Thief of Marapore” flashed onscreen, followed by the opening credits. She wondered how they managed to make the words pop off the screen like they did, but didn’t want to ask Juniper too many questions.

As the movie progressed, she found herself surprisingly engrossed in the story and the acting, slowly chewing popcorn while keeping her eyes locked on the screen. She couldn’t help but admire how much the camera work and large sets managed to add to the staging, as well as the special effects that she assumed came from magic of some kind. Granted, the effects could occasionally become a little distracting, but Trixie’s magic shows made her used to them. There were a few points where Juniper excitedly squeed at certain moments that were particularly exciting for a hardcore fan. She even whispered to Starlight about one or two particular instances, who politely listened despite only previously knowing about Daring Do through her teacher.

Late in the film came a pivotal scene with Daring running through an exotic-looking village. And there was none other than Rarity and Sunset Shimmer, dressed to match the setting, followed by Applejack, Rarity, Twilight, and Fluttershy. Despite how short each of their parts were, Starlight was still incredibly excited just to see them in the film. As the crowd cheered with each cameo, she gave a wide grin and a “Woot” of her own while Juniper simply gave a deep breath to not feel too uncomfortable.

But it didn’t end there – as Daring found herself in trouble, there was Rainbow Dash throwing her the whip that was left behind earlier in the story. Starlight heard a raspy, over enthusiastic “YEAH! I look so awesome on there! I’m officially a movie star!!” behind her, as well as some shushing immediately after, which she only rolled her eyes at.

From there, there was one action scene after another as the orchestration, tone, and staging became more and more tense. This made Starlight more invested than ever, never once looking away even when her distraction made her accidentally drop her popcorn. It all finally culminated in Daring saving the village from the violent eruption and setting off on her next adventure. As soon as the credits began to flash by, the crowd gave a standing ovation toward both the film and the girls. The girls’ applause, however, was the loudest of all. Starlight found that she enjoyed the movie more than she thought she would, and wished Equestria had the technology to make films like that, as overly commercial and effects-heavy as they were.

“Y’know, as much as I hated her at the time,” Juniper admitted as she and Starlight exited the cinema, “Chestnut actually made a pretty good Daring Do! I mean, I definitely could’ve done without some of the makeup and accent, but I’m amazed at how much she nailed the charisma.”

“I’m not... too familiar with Daring books myself.” Starlight admitted. “My teacher has told me about them though, and I think she would’ve loved to see this.” She then quietly muttered to herself, “Too bad things are a bit… complicated for her to.”

“Honestly, I only really disliked Chestnut earlier because I felt like I would’ve otherwise had the role for myself, since I’m Daring’s biggest fan and my own uncle was directing. It just felt like a chance that I didn’t think may ever come up again.”

“Still… as someone who once wanted petty revenge herself,” Starlight winced a little inside as she said this. “I really don’t get why you thought trapping those girls would really solve anything.”

“I just wanted them out of my hair, I didn’t know it would put their lives in danger!” Juniper panicked, directly looking at Starlight. “When I looked at the cracked mirror and saw how afraid they were… I simply could not justify what I did. Who would adore someone who committed an act like that?” Sighing, she put her head down. “Not that it really matters at this point.”

Starlight put her hand onto Juniper’s shoulder. “It’s never too late to climb back up. I know from experience.”

Juniper’s spirits lifted at the support, which continued. “When I was given a second chance, I only felt better in life as time went on. So have two of those other girls, in fact. Just try your hardest with what you currently have, and if you work hard enough and prove to everyone that you’ve changed, someday you may just find yourself adored on the big screen after all.”

The frown on Juniper’s face slowly turned into a small, but genuine smile, tears starting to form in her eyes. “I never realized having a friend like you could feel this great…” She wiped off her tears quickly. “Maybe I am just asking for too much, but I guess I should start by learning that fame is earned and not handed over. Thanks, Starlight. Come stop by when you want to talk to me again; I get a lot of hours.”

“Will do.” said Starlight, smiling herself.

Juniper held out her hand, offering a handshake. Starlight’s hand met hers in response, though she ended up shaking her arm up and down rather violently. Juniper was a little surprised by this, but she wound up not thinking much of it and the two kindly wished each other a good night.

By the end of the hallway, a handful of people were getting pictures and autographs of the VIP guests, most of which enjoyed the attention while Twilight and Fluttershy were just… well, shy.

Spotting Starlight, Sunset beckoned her to come to them. She did just that, even though she had to get past the crowd. A lot of the time she found herself squeezing between two people, and often over apologized for it.

“Hey guys,” Rainbow Dash announced, pointing to Starlight, “If it weren’t for her, we wouldn’t have made it here tonight!”

The crowd then began to cheer for Starlight Glimmer, with the other seven kneeling down to make her visible. The various flashes and sudden attention almost instantly made her very uncomfortable.

“Maybe that wasn’t such a good idea.” Applejack whispered.

But then, as Starlight remembered that she was among friends and that she didn’t have a bad reputation to worry about in this world (that she knew of, anyway), she slowly began to appreciate the burst of popularity that stood in front of her. She modestly smiled at the cameras, turning back and forth between them, and occasionally showed off her dress.

“I’d say she is now fine with it.” said Fluttershy.

This went on for a few minutes before they all went back to the limo to ride back to Rarity’s, this time only making conversation after they exited the vehicle. “So, how did you like it?” the fashionista asked Starlight.

“Very… interesting. I can’t say we have movies like that where I come from. At most, they are about a tenth as long and not quite so… large.”

“Admittedly, our movies can get kind of overwhelming sometimes.” Applejack replied.

“But man, did you see me up there?!” Pinkie shouted excitedly. “It’s so amazing to think that you are being witnessed and adored by millions on the big screen! The big screen!!”

Fluttershy, without saying anything, hid her face behind her own hair.

“I’m sure it is,” Starlight replied, nervously rubbing her arms. “But I don’t think I would be able to handle all that myself.”

“Don’t sell yourself short like that,” said Rainbow. “You did great with those crowds back there!”

“Not to mention all the nice publicity when you showed off that dress,” Rarity added on.

Starlight thought back to both of her encounters. She mostly remembered how closed-in and hesitant she felt, with her mind projecting slightly exaggerated images, but come to think of it… yeah, she really did seem to take the attention quite well after she let it sunk in. The last time she could recall relishing the spotlight at all was back when she led… Her mind immediately snapped back to reality, not wanting the reminder.

“Well, we best be heading back to our places for the night,” said Twilight. “It’s getting quite late.”

“Shame, I’m not sure I want this night to end.” Rarity mused. “Granted, the afternoon I could probably do without but…”

“We get it,” said Applejack.

With a roll of her eyes, Sunset turned toward Starlight. “I take it you don’t have a place to stay the night?”

Starlight hesitated, only now realizing the rather crucial flaw in her plan.

“Err… no,” she shook her head sheepishly. “I… didn’t think that far?”

“Well, if it’s fine with you, I’d be happy to let a fellow Equestrian stay at my apartment.”

“Uh… sure.” Starlight said, hesitating to take such a sudden offer. She most definitely appreciated it though, especially from Sunset. “I hope to see you later, girls.”

After a few moments of cheerful “Goodnight”’s, Sunset led the way to her place of residence.

Upon arrival at Sunset’s apartment door, Sunset swiftly opened the door and gestured with her arm to let Starlight walk in first. “I know this isn’t quite Princess Twilight’s castle,” she said, “but I make the most with what I have.”

The first thing that caught Starlight’s eye, right outside the shut closet, was a large, black plastic bag, stuffed with worn laundry. Hanging off the handle of the closet was a surprisingly nice-looking backpack, the open zipper revealing textbooks and cheap, paper-filled folders filing it to the brim.

In the living area was a brown, wooden, three-drawer chest that, given the various scratch marks, clearly must have seen better days. The top drawer, halfway open, was tightly packed with numerous papers. The sheets at the top of the piles all appeared to involve either magic or science. On top of it, there was a bulky, box-like appliance that resembled a miniature cinema screen -- another technological curiosity of this world.

The small kitchen area looked especially unusual. On the surface, it looked like little more than a small mess of appliances, but on closer inspection Starlight was surprised to find half the tools would fit much more at home at a chemistry lab than a kitchen.

What caught her attention most of all, however, was on the wall just past a slightly stained, round-frame couch. Taped to the otherwise plain white surface were pictures of some of Sunset’s happiest and proudest moments, most of them with her friends. Starlight studied these pictures for a while. They spoke more about the seven’s bond more than words possibly could, serving as a wonderful reminder of just how great the circle of friends truly was.

Overall, Starlight found the living quarters quite small and cheap compared to what she had grown used to, and certainly far from extravagant, but it still looked serviceable all things considered. “It’s… nice,” she finally said, exaggerating her opinion slightly.

“Yeah, not the comfiest place out there. It gets the job done though,” Sunset shrugged. “By the way, you’ll be sleeping on the couch-bed.”

She took the seat cushions off the couch, unfolding it into a bed with a simple pull of a handle. It didn’t look incredibly comfortable to Starlight, but she appreciated the accommodations nonetheless.

Her focus then shifted toward a lamp next to the couch that was unlike anything else in this room. It had a unique, jar-like shape attached to a typical hard plastic base embedded with Sunset’s cutie-mark. Most interesting of all, however, were the bunch of tiny, sparkling, occasionally fading lights flowing within it like tiny fireflies. Starlight simply couldn’t take her eyes off it.

“I can see you like that lamp I made,” Sunset smiled.

“...You made this?” said Starlight, finally turning away from it.

“Yup! I even won the school science fair with it,” Sunset said proudly, pointing at one of the pictures above the couch. It showed her standing right next to the firefly-lamp receiving a shiny gold medal, with a smile so wide, Starlight couldn’t help but grin herself.

“Neat!” Starlight exclaimed. “Have you made other things like that?”

“Nah, I’m more focused on studying theoretical stuff and whatnot, particularly the magical kind.”

“Oh. Still, a lot of what you have here looks quite impressive.” Starlight spread her arms out to emphasize the entire room. “How did you even get to be so good at science?”

“Well, after you’ve spent part of your life studying under Princess Celestia, you’re bound to pick up certain habits you’ll love too much to drop.” Before Starlight could ask about that, Sunset changed the subject. “Alright, so now to prepare for the night…”

Almost out of nowhere, Sunset put her arm around Starlight’s and dragged her to the bathroom. Upon reaching the bathroom door, she quickly grabbed and shoved in Starlight’s hands a toothbrush, towel, and set of pajamas from the bedroom for her to borrow. Sunset clearly wasn’t trying to be too rude, but Starlight still found it jarring just how forceful her companion suddenly became.

Starlight found the teeth-brushing and clothes-changing more challenging than expected with just her hands instead of magic, but thankfully Sunset was happy to help her with advice no doubt born of her own experience. It’s like she switched back to her kind self at the flip of a switch, Starlight thought. However, she chose not to speak up in fear of coming off as inconsiderate herself.

By the time she was back at her couch-bed, Sunset had already placed the pillows for her. The bed felt pretty much like she imagined it would -- kind of stiff compared to the beds she was used to, but still comfy enough for a fine rest. The pillows, however, felt almost as soft as clouds. She dug her head into them and sighed with content.

“So…” said Sunset, sitting next to her on the bed. “How do you like it in this world so far?”

“I’ll admit, as jarring as everything was at first,” Starlight replied, quietly and slowly. “It sure does have its charms. I can still taste that wonderful ice cream…” She gave a content sigh and closed her eyes as she recalled the multicolored treat.

“Wait until you see what I’m going to show you tomorrow,” Sunset chuckled. “You wouldn’t believe what else they have here!”

Starlight was slightly nervous but still curious. “I’m sure I won’t… but I am looking forward to it and everything.” Might as well make the most of this opportunity.

“Well, I think you’ll like what I have in mind.” her companion replied. “Goodnight Starlight. I’m glad to see you’ve enjoyed yourself so far, and hopefully that’ll only continue from here on out.”

Sunset turned the light off on the way to her own bedroom. Starlight spent a few processing all that happened that day… Despite her having to deal with her new bipedal, fingered form and the mirror magic, she had to admit this was a pretty wonderful day for her. That made her anticipate what was to follow more than ever. She slowly closed her eyes, and fell asleep with a soft smile.

Day 2, Part 1

Starlight Glimmer was still peacefully asleep, dreaming of all her favorite recent memories, from her strong, trustful friendship with Trixie to meeting and getting to know Sunset Shimmer... when all of a sudden, she could hear a familiar yet faint voice speak into her ear. “Starlight!”

She ignored it for at first, figuring it was the little voices she would occasionally hear in her head again. But it only grew more powerful with time. “Starlight! ...Starlight?”

Even after it became clear it wasn't all in her mind, she still pretended not to hear as she didn’t like being disturbed when she was all by herself. All this led to, however, was a sudden, albeit not very forceful, nudge on her thigh; along with a “Come on Starlight, it’s time to get up!”, significantly louder than the rest. This finally got her to slowly and groggily open her eyes.

At first, Starlight couldn’t even remember exactly where she was. Her new, strange body and most of yesterday's events were so unlike anything she’d dealt with before that she could’ve very well dreamt it all up. But once her vision cleared up and she could properly scan her surroundings, she finally recognized the apartment and wrote off her theory. This reminder made her all the more reassured to see Sunset Shimmer standing on her right side.

“I hope you slept okay last night,” said Sunset. “I imagine you did, since you certainly looked like a pretty heavy sleeper.”

Starlight felt stiff from the sudden awakening, and didn’t really feel like speaking at the moment. However, she managed to muster a yawning response: “Yeah, I’d say I slept fine. It sure felt a lot different resting in this form though...”

Sunset shrugged, accepting the reply. It’s not like she couldn’t sympathize with her guest’s troubles, and it was clear that Starlight wasn’t much of a morning person (or pony, as it were).

“So…” Starlight asked, wiping the cobwebs out of her eyes. “If you don’t mind me asking, what are those plans you mentioned last night?”

“I figured I’d take you on a long walk to show you around the city district,” Sunset widely grinned, obviously with anticipation. "I was even planning on stopping at a few of my favorite places.”

“Oh…” Starlight stared down at her hands and blue nails, which still looked just as jarring to her now as they did before. “I hope I don’t get too overwhelmed...”

“You shouldn’t have anything to worry about. Just try to enjoy yourself and you’ll be perfectly fine.” The grin on Sunset Shimmer managed to brighten Starlight’s mood, so she opted to just go with it -- besides, Princess Twilight did give her the same advice.

“Anyway,” Sunset continued, “Before we do that, we must wash up and eat our breakfast.”

Starlight felt like she was being talked down to, which she always took personal issue with. She inhaled, preparing to speak up about it, but no, she thought. That would’ve been a rude way to treat someone who has given you both companionship and a place to rest. Sunset, however, had no problems with letting Starlight wear her original, more comfortable clothes.

After freshening up and eating a delicious oat bran breakfast, they walked out into the morning streets. At first, Starlight kept her head down, focusing on her two legs as she walked. She may have already done a fair amount of walking, but she felt she still needed a little more practice to fully get the hang of it. However, it only took her a short time to find her sense of balance, which subsequently led her to scan her surroundings..

There were too many buildings to count, many of which seemed much more tall than wide and barely had any space between them. Not to mention the many motorized machines constantly traveling along the roads. For the so-called suburbs area, it already felt like a city -- the environment she almost never enjoyed visiting, since they often made her claustrophobic .

Early on, she noted the even more towering buildings in the distance, and upon passing the first crossing pointed towards them with one finger. “Is that where you’re taking us? It kind of looks like Manehattan over there.”

“It does, doesn’t it? Yeah, believe me when I say that’s far from the only thing you’ll find strangely familiar today," Sunset replied with a wink.

This made Starlight feel uneasy, but, trusting Sunset, she chose to push the doubts to the back of her mind and continue studying everything around her. After a certain point, the onslaught of relatively small buildings gave way to fewer, larger ones - so much that, at one crosswalk, she almost accidentally walked onto it before Sunset grabbed her arm tightly as a reminder.

Not long later, they had entered the city district. Starlight couldn’t help but pay more attention to the road machines she had acknowledged earlier, since there were just so many of them here in particular. They came off as incredibly loud, bulky, and wasteful, to the point where she wondered how the people around her could even live with this. She even found herself holding her nose upon smelling the gas fumes of a bunch of cargo trucks lined up against one another. Sunset was quick to notice this, but only gave a slight chuckle -- she knew this was coming.

Almost immediately after, they suddenly stopped in front of a large, more old-fashioned building. It was made of red brick, and it didn’t have any overly flashy signs or logos. Just a banner just above the front door that read “Canterlot City Library”.

Starlight, flushed after all the walking, read the sign with perplexity. “You’re taking me to a library? I have a hard enough time escaping dusty old books where I come from, you know.”

“Oh, don’t worry. I was never as much into books as Princess Twilight,” Sunset reassured, putting her hand on Starlight’s. “However, I don’t think you’ve ever been to a library quite like this one.”

She playfully pushed Starlight through the doors, which - curiously - opened by themselves as they approached. On the surface, the interior looked just like a standard Equestrian library. Shelves of books all around, some signs marking the proper sections, with a nice reading area in the corner. However, as she took a much more thorough look around, the sense of familiarity only declined.

For one, there was a set of screens, each of which had some kind of power box underneath and an especially sleek keyboard. Given the basic shape, Starlight could only assume it was a digital typewriter; which, remembering how the keys would sometimes annoyingly get stuck, immediately peaked her interest. She took the seat in front of one machine, and hit a key. What appeared on-screen, however, was not the matching letter but some kind of security interface, asking for something called a ‘library card number’. Starlight pulled herself back, caught completely off guard.

Sunset caught up and giggled at Starlight’s confusion. “Don’t worry, this is just a common thing for computers. Here, I’ll log in for you.”

She typed in a lengthy string of numbers followed by a password of both numbers and letters that was thankfully censored. Upon hitting the “Enter” key, the security screen faded out and in its place came an entirely new display, with a blue gradient background and a few symbols and labels on the left side.

Starlight eyes widened in surprise, gesturing with her arms and hands. “Wait, what is all this stuff over here? I thought I was only supposed to type on this…”

Sunset turned to the monitor, then back to Starlight, slightly amused. “Oh right, you don’t know about computers. Basically, you control the pointer on there with this,” she put her right hand on the mouse, “and click on one of these icons to open up the program. Like so.”

She handed the keyboard and pointer remote back to Starlight upon, reaching the front page of some virtual encyclopedia. The mere concept of one immediately fascinated her. “Just type in what you’ll want to look at, and it’ll pull up everything it has about it. Doesn’t that sound cool?”

Starlight still looked a little unsure of what she saw. “I guess so…”

“Good. I’ll just go pick up a few things, go ahead and search in the meantime.” She walked away, keeping her eyes on Starlight before she turned a corner.

Staring at the wordy display, Starlight pondered and pondered over what to put in the search bar first. After thinking for longer than she wanted to, she finally typed in the box “Canterlot High”, and hit "Enter".

A new, full page of text and even a few simple graphics were what awaited. She already had a hard enough time reading the phenomenally detailed description, only to stumble across “page down” key, which proved quite helpful in navigating through. It turned out there were all these charts regarding sports events and test scores, along with an entire history section regarding the conceptualization and opening of the school. Starlight’s eyes widened with intrigue, not so much at the information itself but more at just how much of it could be crammed into a single page, real or not.

Eagerly, she returned to the search bar, this time requesting “Equestria”, only to find a result that was surprisingly much more empty and devoid of content. There was still a graphic or two to be found, as well as a decent list of details, but that’s all it really had. Much of what was there had to do with old legends and unconfirmed rumors. Starlight wasn’t sure how to react. To most everyone she was now among, her home-world was little more than a myth. It felt so incredibly surreal to her, giving her the need to pinch herself on the arm. Nope, still not dreaming.

Suddenly, several large hardcover books landed on the desk with a solid thud. Giving them a quick glance, she noted that most of them had to do with meteorology and astronomy. She turned her head in their direction to notice Sunset Shimmer, once again carrying her eager face.

“One of my favorite things to do when I come here is to check out all the fascinating things there are to the science in this world. Sure, I may not be very familiar with Equestria anymore, but I still love how there’s always something more to learn here!”

Sunset eagerly showed Starlight several different samples from each of the books, one by one. Some of the earlier details - like how their weather patterns, beyond not being actively controlled at all, almost exactly matched the Everfree Forest of all places - were real eye-openers, largely due to the bewilderment of such odd connections. Even the Sun, Moon, and stars functioned in a much more automated manner here, much to her shock. At first, she was beyond curious if they were always like that, given the other scientific advancements she had seen, but when she did find the explanation in a later book it only raised various more questions that even further clouded her mind. It left her mind feeling stressed and worn out, rendering her unable to really let the rest of the details sink in.

Despite Sunset retaining much of her enthusiasm the entire time, by the time an hour had passed Starlight held up her head with her hand on the cheek, constantly looking at her watch and preventing herself from daydreaming. Once Sunset had finally finished the last of the 10 or so books, she gave a sigh of relief only to quickly give a casual, content look in an attempt to hide it. Claiming she didn’t want to waste any more time, Starlight insisted they leave the library at that moment, which is exactly what they did. This time, Starlight Glimmer led to the doorway.

Their next stop was a much smaller building, one that sounded much more familiar to Starlight: Sugarcube Corner. “Hey, I know this place back in Ponyville! It’s where I always get my cakes and ice cream!”

“Well, I can’t say I have ever been to one over there,” Sunset mused, “but some people call this the Sweet Shoppe, and I think you’ll indeed find this place quite sweet.” She opened the door, and let Starlight walk inside first.

The first thing that surprised Starlight was the number of tables and chairs all around, like it was some kind of indoor café. At the counter, she saw who was clearly Mr. Cake. However, there weren’t too many desserts on the display windows and most of the patrons seemed to be carrying drinks. Even the sweet aroma was entirely new to her.

They sat down at a table close to the counter.

“I’ll go get something nice for you. Wait for me here,” said Sunset, who patted her companion's shoulder before walking away.

Starlight was quickly becoming tired of all the vagueness coming from Sunset. She got why her friend wanted to surprise her, but her mind felt like she could only take so much more before she’d crack.

She only had a few moments to herself before a familiar pink bushel of hair suddenly rocketed out of the chair on the other side of the table. “Hey Star Glim!! You liking it here so far?” she asked with her standard beam.

Startled, Starlight nearly fell off her chair. After she regained enough of her composure, she finally spoke, albeit with a clear shudder in her voice. “Things are going… fine, I suppose. The library was kind of interesting. Though it’s… really hard for everything sink in, considering how… peculiar this world seems to be compared to mine.”

Pinkie sighed, but stayed hyper. “Sometimes I wish I knew more about the life in your world...”

“I’ll try to tell you about it later.”

“Ooh, how about at our sleepover!? At my place! Tonight!”

“Yeah, that would be…” Only now did she take in what Pinkie said. “Wait, a sleepover?”

“Yep! With all seven of us!”

“Well… uh, okay.” She figured she might as well accept if she wanted to get to know everyone better, even if she was a little bugged at how out of nowhere this came up. “I’ve never actually been to a sleepover before.”

“And that’s why it's going to be the best sleepover ever!”

At that moment, Sunset came back with a piping hot cup in each arm. “Hey, why am I not surprised to see you, Pinkie?” she said in an almost sarcastic tone. “Anyway, I got Starlight this mocha. I think she’d like it.”

“...What even is this ‘moch-ah’?” said Starlight, slightly mispronouncing the name.

Pinkie did not hesitate to respond. “Only the most scrumptious and sweet coffee drink you’ll ever taste!”

“I can’t say I’ve ever had a… coffee drink.”

“My point exactly!”

Starlight could only respond with a shrug.

Sunset placed the beverage right in front of her guest as she took her seat on the opposite end of the table. “Well, go ahead. Mochas are my favorite thing they serve here.”

Looking down at the handled cup, Starlight felt steam rise to her face. She saw both Pinkie and Sunset’s subtle yet genuine faces, encouraging her to try it out. Her trust in them was enough motivation for her, so she took a quick sip.

At first, the drink tasted much like hot cream, which made her eyelids rapidly and briefly open all the way on both ends. However, this sensation was quickly replaced with the tongue-stinging yet tasty one of boiled yet thick chocolate, with a hint of the powdery texture that filled some of the donuts she remembered having back home. It undoubtedly struck her as unique and even kind of addicting.

“It’s… certainly chocolatey and all that,” she said, “but honestly, I just wish the rest didn’t feel so… invigorating. Don't get me wrong, I do see the appeal of it and all that, I suppose, but… I don’t think it’s really for me.”

“That’s okay,” Sunset shrugged. “These really are an acquired taste. Did you know that some people actually drink these to energize themselves each morning?”

Starlight cocked her head to the side. Coffee wasn’t exactly unheard of in Equestria, but it was much less common and she never knew anypony who drank it for that specific purpose. Maybe it was more of that hidden magic that was brought up earlier?

Sunset guessed her thoughts. “Yeah, I’ve sometimes wondered how they come up with all this myself.”

Pinkie and Sunset took up most of the of the exchange from that point on, Starlight quietly listening, lost in her own thoughts. By the time Pinkie left as inexplicably as she appeared, her mind was becoming so clouded up with all of the new and unusual sights and tastes of her visit, that she could only fidget with her arms and hands in an attempt to distract herself from it. She couldn’t help but wonder how much more she would even be able to take before cracking.

“You know, all this is neat to see and all,” she said. “But I’m not sure I will be ready for the third stop.”

Sunset stopped in place and turned to face Starlight. “Is there anything wrong?” she asked out of concern.

“Well… I love what you’ve done for me so far, and… this world has certainly been… interesting, but… I can only be kept in suspense and surprise for so long. I don’t mean to sound threatening, but when things unexpectedly don’t go my way I’ve been known to get a little… extreme.”

Sunset patted her on the shoulder. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to overwhelm you. If you told me earlier I definitely would’ve toned it down a little.”

Starlight’s eyebrows remained arched, and her mouth slightly frowned, but the sudden glimmer in her eye revealed that her spirits had indeed been lifted.

“The thing is, I’m one of those people who loves being kept on her toes and finding out new things for myself,” Sunset continued. “I guess I just assumed you would too, considering how much we’ve had in common already…”

“Don’t worry, it’s fine,” said Starlight, now much more calm. “I’m just glad you understand.” After a brief pause, Starlight spoke up again, her mouth now in a neutral position. “So, what did you have planned for our final stop? Something else unlike anything I’ve ever seen in Equestria?”

“Actually, what I had in mind was a nice, relaxing hour at the local spa.”

“Really?” Starlight asked curiously. “I mean, spas are nice and all, but after my time at the one in Ponyville, I’m not sure any other spa could ever impress me like they have.”

***

“Ahhh…” Starlight gave the biggest sigh of relief she could ever remember after settling into the mud bath, with everything but her head completely soaked in the delicate, warm, smooth substance and cucumber slices placed over her eyes. While she has once had a mud bath in Ponyville, her new limbs and body shape seemed to just make the soothing nature of the texture a hundred times more effective. “It feels so amazing to have all the stress from today just lifted off my shoulders like this.”

“What’d I tell you?” Sunset said quietly, bathing in an adjacent tub. “It’s easily my favorite place to just wind down and relaaaax...”

Starlight simply responded with a content hum.

For most of the bath, there was little noise beyond the quiet jiggling of the mud. Starlight gently moved her legs across the tub, relishing the wonderful tenderness of her body’s encompassment in something so warm and vicious. It felt especially nice when she would lightly wiggle her toes, with the mud between them rubbing against the skin. She wished it would never end, but by the time it did, she wasn’t at all disappointed, though she was convinced what followed would not match.

Yet, the subsequent massage managed to catch her by surprise once again. The two bodies were still covered in a coat of mud, but now they were lying on their fronts atop body-length benches. Most of the time, their now cucumber-less eyes remained closed as their masseuses, which resembled the sisters Starlight knew in Ponyville, delicately treated their muscles and tendons.

However, what truly amazed Starlight was just how much the various complexities in her overall structure added to her experience – more so than the mud bath, even. Sure, she loved the massage treatments she always got as a pony, but she found this form allowed for one that was somehow even more precise, relieving, and especially therapeutic.

As her masseuse delicately pressed down repeatedly on the top area of her back, between her spine and rib cage on both sides, Starlight’s huge sigh of relief rivaled the one from the mud bath. Her muscle-heavy legs went from stiff and worn to sturdy and firm. And just as she thought that she couldn’t become any more relaxed, she felt her feet being pressed in a manner more delicate than any other feature. It provided a somewhat tickly sensation that was ultimately overpowered by just how amazing they felt immediately afterward, which was simply never possible with hard, stubby hooves.

Even though both treatments lasted well over an hour, by the time their time had expired Starlight felt like it ended far too soon, but she still loved the opportunity just the same. The moment they exited the treatment area post washing off the mud, she made sure Sunset saw her wear the most grateful, satisfied smile she had since she first entered this world.

Just as Sunset was signing them out of the facility, a distinct, over enthusiastic voice at the sign-in table on the opposite end was heard that made her groan. “Why, someone as great and powerful as myself only deserves the very best that you’ve got!”, it went.

Starlight immediately recognized the voice, despite not at all expecting it. Without thinking any further, she turned herself around and sure enough, no matter what the form, there was no mistaking the deep blue skin and silver hair. “…Trixie?!?”

“Wait, you know her?” said Sunset, turning her head towards Starlight despite still having the towel on.

“Of course, she does!” Trixie boasted, putting her arms on her shoulders while glaring at Sunset. “The Great and Powerful Trrrixie has many more adoring fans than someone as… unusual… as yourself.”

“No…” said Starlight, frantically trying to think of what to say spur of the moment. “Where I come from… y’know, the other world… we’re best friends!”

“You are?” Sunset asked, surprised.

“Yeah! I’ve helped you with your spells, while you’ve helped me overcome my fears, we teamed up to save my teacher from the changelings…” It was only at that moment that she realized that this Trixie probably wasn’t aware of her pony counterpart, let alone their friendship. Her expression abruptly turned dumbfounded, wishing she had thought about it a few seconds before she did.

Trixie just stared for a moment before responding with even more confusion than Sunset. “Trixie… does not comprehend your logic.” Her face then went back to self-pride. “Especially considering she’s too good with spells to even seek out help, let alone from you.”

Starlight simply stood still in mild shock for a few seconds, before Sunset’s hand met her own, prompting her to follow Sunset out. Starlight still kept her stare until they had passed the double-doors.

They sat down at the bench just outside the resort, listening to the rushing and dripping of the water from a patio fountain. After a few seconds, Starlight felt the need to explain herself. “The Trixie I know is... a lot friendlier than that one was. Boastful for sure, but she at least appreciates my company…”, she whispered quietly.

“I guess not all the events of one’s life can be the same across worlds,” Sunset replied with a slight smirk.

“Even still, it’s… hard to see any Trixie like... that. I sure know I won't be able to look at mine the same way next time we meet…”

“I... may not necessarily understand how your friendship works, but you’ll get over it eventually. I know from personal experience.”

“I sure hope so. This spa really was amazing, though; I can’t thank you enough for taking me here.”

Sunset perked up at Starlight's high opinion, causing the visitor to smile back. Sunset could tell simply from her friend’s inflections that she meant every word of it. "Well, however much you thank me, you are most definitely welcomed."

Starlight's grin grew until it reached from ear to ear, her body still feeling as at ease as it ever had been. Sure, the specific treatment was also a little different from what she was used to all her life, but it was in a manner that she found herself more than willing to enjoy. It single-handedly made her gain much more of an appreciation to all she went through and experienced so far, and she suddenly felt much more confident and ready for what was to come.

She had no idea what kind of amazing, otherworldly wonders awaited her next, but after the tour, she knew she had nothing to worry about from now on. Especially when she was with a friend as fantastic as Sunset Shimmer.

Author's Note

Hey, guys. This one required the most work of any of the chapters I've done so far, which is part of why it took as long as it did. I hope it has all paid off in your eyes, and I will maintain my weekly release schedule from this point on. Thanks for your patience.

Day 2, Part 2

Starlight Glimmer and Sunset Shimmer, both in helmets, zoomed down the road on her motorcycle. Starlight held onto Sunset’s shoulders for dear life, desperately trying to keep her focus away from the hard pavement. The ride was most certainly invigorating, and the open grass areas made her feel somewhat safer compared to the hustle and bustle of the city, but none of that did anything to ease her fears of crashing at any moment.

Just after they passed the school and made a left turn, there was Pinkie’s house. Starlight did not waste any time in getting back on the ground, despite the kickstand being down.

“Yep, I told you it’s not for everyone,” Sunset said, amused at her friend’s dizziness while placing both helmets onto the driving seat.

“Honestly, at this point I think I’d prefer the walking,” Starlight replied, trying to regain her composure.

The instant Starlight walked through the doorway, she was treated to a refreshing breeze of cool air. She also, however, sensed some loud music from upstairs. She timidly dropped her head and began shaking her legs. “Come on…” Sunset said with a slight grin, taking Starlight’s arm in her own. “You can totally do this.”

Starlight sighed, then nodded coolly at Sunset. Walking upstairs, Sunset added on, “Think of it as a friendly party. Just a li-ttle bit noisier.”

The pop tune, complete with the catchy, overly peppy rhythm and annoyingly unbeat voice, was as expected the first thing that stood out to Starlight upon entering Pinkie’s room. But as it turned out, it ended up being the least noteworthy thing among everything. Pinkie Pie was lying on her bed with some weirdly folded device on her lap. Rarity had her “cell phone” in front of her and Twilight, both sporadically giggling at whatever they were watching. Starlight found it amazing how little she knew about cell phones despite how much she had heard of them in the past day and a half. What caught her eye the most, however, was what Applejack, Fluttershy, and Rainbow were all doing. They were each holding a multi-buttoned remote connected to a larger box, which seemed to be active on the nearby monitor - none of which struck her as even remotely familiar.

Pinkie, obviously the first to notice them come in, immediately grinned and jumped out of her bed. “Girls, Sun Shim and Star Glim are in the house!” she announced with her arms raised to the ceiling.

As everyone gave their hello’s (albeit with Applejack and Rainbow keeping their eyes glued to the screen), Starlight gently felt an arm wrap around her back. It turned out to be Sunset’s, reminding her to let go of the butterflies in her stomach. Even though she hasn’t known the other girls too well, she was happy to know that Sunset was always there to make her feel better.

Closing the door behind her, Sunset walked towards Rarity on the opposite side of the room. Starlight, however, found it best to simply watch what everyone was up to. She had never been to a sleepover this large before, and certainly never one with all this unfamiliar technology.

As Rainbow, Rarity, and Applejack resumed their activity, Starlight gingerly climbed onto the bed and huddled her knees into her chest. Pinkie Pie was using yet another digital device, which seemed interactive -- much like the computer she saw at the library, but more compact and handy. She was communicating in a manner similar to how the girls used their cell phones - I think they called it ‘texting’? However, the name of the recipient was so jumbled, including what Starlight sworn were some numbers, she couldn’t even try to pronounce it.

So, she instead turned to the large monitor directly in front of the bed. It was full of premade graphics that, unlike yesterday’s movie, filled the entire screen as well as three characters in a physical battle. Starlight gathered from the fragments she watched that they were playing a game of some kind; not necessarily one sports-oriented, but certainly more active than Spike’s weird board games.

After a few minutes, a winner had been declared. “Hah, I told you I have the best hand-eye coordination!” Rainbow bragged.

“Sure, ya do,” said Applejack, rolling her eyes. “Never mind that I’ve won the three fights before that.”

Rainbow remained unfazed. “Those were just flukes. Now I can beat you with my eyes closed! Or at least Fluttershy.”

“Well, it’s not like she’s really the fighting kind. At least she stepped up and actually played this time.”

“I’m over here, y’know…,” said Fluttershy with a grimace.

“Anyway,” continued Rainbow. “I would like more of a challenge next time. In fact…”

She turned to Starlight Glimmer, much to the Equestrian’s surprise. “How good are you at video games?”

Starlight blinked naively before responding. “I really can’t say; I haven’t exactly heard of these… video games.”

Rainbow briefly gaped open her mouth. “Man, are you missing out!” she exclaimed, grabbing Starlight’s arms and pulling her toward the setup. She then handed her a fourth controller. “Don’t worry about keeping up. I’m too awesome to be beaten anyway; just try it!”

Starlight finally got a good look at the controllers they were using. The multitude of buttons and control sticks immediately left Starlight confused, but the sympathizing Fluttershy was quick to assist her.

“The A button performs the main functions, B does a special move, the control stick moves your character, and these side triggers pull up a temporary shield.”

Starlight kept her blank look, moving her head back and forth between Fluttershy and the controller..

“…Just push these buttons to make your character attack ours,” said Applejack. “Hold the controller like this.” She extended her arms to Starlight, showing how her index fingers were on the triggers, the left thumb on the control stick, and the right thumb on the A button.

It took Starlight half a minute to get into proper position, but felt much more comfortable about holding the controller when she finally did.

“There ya go,” said Applejack with a hint of pride.

“Alright, now what are we waiting for!” said Rainbow with pure anticipation. “Pick your character, Starlight, and let’s get going!”

The still-nervous new player picked the first magic-related character she could find, and before she knew it, there her character stood with the other three on a high-tech-looking battlefield. But there was no time to admire the scenery like there was before, she had to fight.

Rainbow immediately went after Applejack, who tried to catch the athlete by surprise. Applejack managed to get in the first hit, but the reflexes of both Rainbow herself and her character made the farmer take more damage in the first minute.

Meanwhile, Starlight Glimmer simply stayed in the corner trying to get the hang of using her controller, mindlessly fidgeting her fingers as best she could while trying to make sense of her moves. This stopped after two minutes when she found the other three players suddenly gang up on her. She obviously couldn’t handle any of these, let alone all of them, and said overwhelment resulted in her character’s damage meter go from 0 to 60% in a matter of seconds. Without thinking, Starlight frantically ran away as best as her limited knowledge of the controls could allow, but in the blink of an eye found herself falling into a pit.

“Wait… what just happened?” she quickly said, surprised at how suddenly it all happened.

“You lost one of your three lives. Just keep focused,” said Rainbow, not taking her eyes off the screen.

Taking her advice, Starlight diverted all of her focus to the screen. Trying her hardest to regain her composure before Fluttershy’s character reached her again, she recalled the shy girl’s quick advice and decided to focus on one button at a time, pushing the control stick in the direction of the nearest opponent. She took a quick downward glance to review the locations of the A and B buttons, and as soon as she went back to the screen she saw Fluttershy was right on her tail. She hit the A button once, twice, thrice, and once more. And upon the final press, all of a sudden her opposing fighter got violently pushed back to the other side of the map. Starlight didn’t care that she got hit just as much herself immediately afterward; she was satisfied that she was already getting the hang of the game.

Everyone went down a life within the next minute and a half. Rainbow and Applejack had the least damage and were still focusing on each other more than anyone else, so Starlight diverted her attention to Fluttershy. She held the B button for a solid second, and much to her surprise, she dealt a blow so huge that her opponent flew to the other side of the map.

“…Did I just do that?!?” Starlight said, her eyes wide in shock.

“Yes,” said Fluttershy. “Don’t let it get to your head, though.”

Starlight blushed a little bit. She tried to play it safer by staying a distance away from the rest, as she was down to her last life. However, she wasn’t safe for long -- Rainbow, who had just knocked another life out of Applejack, targeted her next. The first-timer mashed her A button frantically. Much to her surprise, the rapid-fire punching managed to trap Rainbow for a couple seconds, only for her to immediately strike back after Starlight’s attack had stopped.

Once Starlight’s character landed, she found herself alongside Fluttershy once again, high on damage and in danger of flying off screen. She remembered her shield all of a sudden, and attempted to alternate between that and her special moves, trying to find the right opportunity to strike when an opening comes up. Unfortunately, from her perspective it never did, not at all helped with her inexperience limiting how fluidly she moved and attacked. Fluttershy quickly caught onto her pattern, and landed an upwards move the instant Starlight’s character jumped above her own, flying her off screen and making her the first one out of the match.

“Looks like I’m out,” Starlight said, slightly defeated.

Nobody responded, thanks to how fixated they were on the match. Fluttershy didn’t take too much longer to run out of lives herself, leaving Rainbow and Applejack by themselves.

“That was... alright, I guess. I can’t say I’ve done anything like that before. Which probably explains why I did so badly.”

“Oh, don’t sweat it.” Fluttershy said in her inherently reassuring voice. “It takes everyone at least a few tries to get a good handle on this game. In fact, I only really started to get good when you first joined in.”

Starlight’s mouth perked up, just before a “Yeee-haww!” was heard all throughout the room. “Those three were just flukes, huh?” Applejack said smugly.

“Yeah, yeah, I get it,” Rainbow rolled her eyes. “I’ll totally make up for it next time.”

Fluttershy prompted Starlight back to her controller, who took the animal lover’s word in giving it another shot. Despite the more picturesque setting this time around, the match still ended with the same results. However, Starlight; having held up a little longer this time, chose to go one more round. This kept repeating for another six matches, as she seemed to perform a little better each time. She managed to get third place on her fourth and fifth plays, but even when she got last yet again she clearly put up more of a fight compared to earlier. Applejack and Rainbow Dash kept swapping wins for the majority of the run, but then in the last match, out of nowhere came Fluttershy; striking both of them away and for the first time claimed victory for herself, much to her shock and everyone else’s amazement.

After that, Starlight felt her mind being to rush and feel dizzy from all the action that went on. Thus, she put her controller away, stating that she was too tired to continue playing. The others ultimately agreed, and just like that, the game was shut off.

The three all lied down right by the closet, with Applejack and Rainbow pulling out their cell phones. The room had gotten so quiet all of a sudden that it became clear things were starting to wind down.

“Hey, how about we show you that music video!” Rainbow Dash suggested, almost out of nowhere.

Starlight’s curiosity peaked. She had heard bits of it during her first visit at the mall, but she was never able to really take the time to watch the whole thing. “You know what… sure,” she smiled.

“Right on it!” Pinkie Pie said eagerly. A quick clatter of keys later, all of a sudden a new interface appeared on the ‘television’ thing, which was quickly accompanied with a blast of music.

All eyes turned on the screen, a few hushes traveling across the room. The fun, bouncy, techno rhythm immediately appealed to Starlight, and she became enamored toward the soul in Sunset’s voice as soon as she began to sing. Twilight Sparkle’s voice brought a similar vibe, and… wait, were those wings on her back? And those pony-like ears…

Her suspicions were almost immediately confirmed as the spotlight began to shine on the rest of the cast, with everyone else in their group boasting pony ears as well as Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy having their own sets of wings. She quickly glanced back and forth between the screen and the girls, looking increasingly confused with each turn. Sure enough, she wasn’t at all crazy for only now noticing such oddities. But once the chorus hit, the flowing choreography and unbelievably catchy tune was enough to grab her back in. She found herself beating her head in tune with the beats, and kept her eyes glued as the various dance moves left her mesmerized in just how flexible their bipedal bodies could get. This went on for about a minute longer, before finally fading out.

Once the video had fully ended, Rarity faced Starlight to ask, “So, what did you think?”

Starlight looked up at the ceiling for a few seconds with clasped hands, trying to pick one emotion to settle on among the sea of conflicting ones she had in mind. She spoke the instant she returned to a more neutral pose. “Pretty neat song, and I loved all the dancing. But…” She struggled in figuring out how to get the next part out, ultimately stuttering. “…what in the world was up with those wings and ears?”

“Oh, you mean those awesome pony additions?” Rainbow boasted, before being interrupted by Sunset.

“Allow me, girls,” She went around the bed to sit right next to Starlight. “So, whenever we display our elements of friendship in a way that impacts other people, we end up sprouting these little bursts of magic. We call it ‘ponying up’.”

Starlight winced.

“Yeah, that phrase was Rainbow and Pinkie’s idea. But anyway, this usually happens when we play music as part of our band, because music seems to leave a strong impression by its very nature… at least, that’s what I’ve been led to believe.”

“So… it’s some kind of magical reaction?” asked Starlight, still confused.

“I guess you could say that,” said Sunset, in a thinking pose.

“How does the magic here even work, anyway? I’ve only seen it a handful of times in this world, and all of them didn’t seem to have much of a controlling force to it. Not to mention being reminded of it is making me honestly start to miss my own magic; you wouldn’t believe half the spells I’d show you right now if I could!” She became increasingly loud and somewhat tense, until she felt a warm hand on her shoulder.

“One thing at a time, please,” Sunset chuckled. “It’s kind of a long, complicated explanation. I’d like to tell you all about it, but I don’t want to thrust it all upon you.”

“Oh, don’t worry,” Starlight reassured. “I love talking about magic, especially to fellow experts.”

Sunset’s face perked up with glee, but she once again crossed her arms and tried to keep her face controlled... only to fail. “Well, allow me to explain…”

Starlight eagerly listened with open ears as her fellow magical expert explained where it came from, how she has taken it upon herself to keep stray forces under control, and how she and her friends got their geode powers. The others threw in their own little remarks and quips every so often. Once she got to Camp Everfree, Twilight excitedly brought up how the magic allowed her to vanquish her inner Midnight Sparkle. They both, however, made sure to leave out the actual moments they went full demon, not wanting to look sinister in front of their visitor.

“…And that’s why I worried so much about huge magical forces yesterday,” Sunset finished, looking more despaired than she did for the rest of the talk. “If what happened with the mirror is any indication, there are still huge bursts roaming around, and I’ve yet to fully figure it out.”

Starlight let it all sink in, eyes wide in awe and mouth gaped in surprise. “Wow. I’ve spent all of my life focusing on how I control my magic. No wonder you felt so pressured, I’d hate to be in a position where I have no idea what I even could expect next.”

“Well… that’s how I did feel,” said Sunset, who right then lifted her moods and put herself right next to Starlight. “But when you saved us from Juniper Montage’s mirror, I was reminded that, even when we’re in trouble, there was still nothing I had to worry about. It was scary, sure, but I knew that you were there for us, and sure enough, thanks to you it all turned out better than even I had expected.”

“Wow…” said Starlight, surprised at her impact on Sunset.

“My friend, you are the one who said I should focus more on the positives that are currently happening. And you being with us is definitely a huge positive.”

Starlight’s expression went from astonished to proud and comforted. She always knew she had a fantastic friend in Sunset Shimmer, and the fact the opposite was true only made that feeling even stronger. Everyone else in the room, even Twilight, found it adorable, with Pinkie giving a “D’awww” at their bond. The only reaction this got, however, was Sunset backing up a little bit to avoid coming off as awkward.

“In fact,” Sunset continued, now announcing to the entire room, “I know I’ve expressed this enough, but I really do love all of your company. You girls are the best things that have ever happened to me. And the fact we’ve added yet another fantastic member to the group each few months just makes it even better.” She gestured her hand toward Starlight, who blushed.

Everyone grinned and gave their own joyful reactions toward the heartfelt statement, changing Starlight’s uneasiness to comfort. These girls really were just like her own group of friends, and she loved them all the more for it.

“Well, I told you my story,” said Twilight afterward, moving to Starlight’s other side. “How about we hear one of yours?”

“Yeah, I want to know more about your pony life!” Pinkie beamed.

Starlight was partially caught by surprise, but then remembered the promise she made to Pinkie earlier. She returned to her thinking pose, trying to recall a story to tell that didn’t involve mind control or other forms of manipulation, but thankfully there was one recent one that had none of that.

“Well, there is one that… is I guess pretty cool.” Starlight said with slight hesitation.

Everypony- err, body had all of their eyes laid on her, eager to listen to what she had to say about her magical adventures. The attention once again proved somewhat nerve-wracking, but she took a quick, deep breath and after a brief pause, finally began. “I guess it all started when my old village invited me to their annual Sunset Festival…”

“Sunset festival, you say?” Pinkie snickered, giving an eerie look at Sunset.

“…Yeah, I wish,” Sunset rolled her eyes.

Starlight continued, slightly bothered at the early interruption. “Anyway… I was both excited and…” She clasped her hands while moving her eyes to the back of her head, “…kind of sort of afraid to see them again.”

Most of the other girls snickered to themselves, except for Sunset who simply patted her back for relief. Starlight continued telling her story, her passion and the girls’ interest only increasing as she discussed her friend Trixie and how her unique gang successfully infiltrated the Changeling Hive. It all peaked when she got to the part where she was able to get Thorax to not only dethrone Queen Chrysalis, but usher in a whole new era for the Changelings altogether. The pride in Starlight’s eyes and inflections became over the top to the point where it was almost humorous to them, but at the same time they couldn’t help but cheer for her as well.

“…And so, with the Changelings reformed and all my friends by my side, I led the festival without a hitch!” Starlight finally completed, feeling the most confident she had been all night.

At first, everyone simply had their mouths gaped open, with their other facial features carrying ambiguous messages. This made Starlight slightly nervous, but after a few moments of silence, those concerns were quickly alleviated when Rainbow finally spoke.

“…Whoa.” She said, her emotion remaining unchanged. “That… was… the most AWESOME story ever!!!”

“It so totally was!” Pinkie screeched. “Your world sounds so amazing and magical, with all those fascinating changey-things and Discord and the flying pigs…”

“Calm yourselves, darlings,” said Rarity to Rainbow and Pinkie, with a slightly annoyed look.

“Oh… sorry,” said Pinkie, finally changing to a more indoor voice… only to immediately break out of it. “But you have to admit, it was all fasci-mazing!!!”

Rarity rolled her eyes, then looked back at Starlight with a friendlier look. “Still, I do have to agree that it sounded like quite the adventure.”

“My favorite part was how it was all solved through kindness,” Fluttershy sighed blissfully.

“Yeah… of course you’d be into that lovey-dovey stuff,” Rainbow Dash trailed.

Starlight was full of flattery, so much that a light punch to her side caught her completely off guard. She turned to see Sunset, full of approval. “Even as someone who knows how Equestria works… I was sure impressed with a lot of that story. I really do have a great friend in you, Starlight.”

“Says the girl who helped save the school from sirens and a camp from a power-hungry counselor,” Starlight said with a sincere yet playful grin, who then punched Sunset back.

“Hey, you don’t want to get physical on me!” Sunset said spiritedly.

“I’d like to see you try!”

They both once again gave each other a slight yet noticeable embrace, lightly giggling at each other’s company.

“Well, as long as you’re done with all that affection,” Applejack mused, “I think we ought to all share some stories. I doubt any of them will top Starlight’s, but I know the others got a real kick out of the little bass incident.”

Twilight adjusted her glasses. “The bass incident? You’ve caught my interest.”

“Oh yeah, that’s a good one,” said Sunset. “Would you like to hear it?”

Starlight didn’t expect the question to be brought up to her, but she enjoyed her company so much that she did not care in the slightest. “Sure!”

And for the rest of the night, the girls each shared an eye-opening story of their own. Some of them were humorous, others were heartfelt. But each one made her even more glad she chose to stick around and become actively involved with the sleepover.

Author's Note

Gotta love Starlight and Sunset being adorable together. But things between them will get a little more interesting in day 3 (yeah, I know what some of you are thinking. No, I don't mean it in that way).

Day 3, Part 1

Sunset’s couch-bed wasn’t anything fantastic, but it was the Cloudsdale Deluxe Hotel compared to Starlight's sleeping bag. The bag provided less cushion than the carpet underneath her, and there was hardly any wiggle room to speak of – not at all helped with the other sleeping bags around the room. The pillow that Pinkie gave her was comfortable enough, at least, but even that was less preferable to her previous accommodations. All this, along with her still not being fully accustomed to her body, made her spend at least an hour tossing and turning before she was able to fall to sleep.

So, when she finally did wake up, she found the room surprisingly empty and devoid of life. Just as she wondered what had happened to every… body (nailed it!), she suddenly could make out indistinct voices coming from outside, through the wide-open bedroom door. She pulled her body out of the sleeping bag carefully, before slowly dragging herself out the room.

She followed the noise down a flight of stairs, holding onto the handrail to not trip over her own feet, and a couple of hallways and corridors later, she had found herself in the kitchen. Six girls politely chatted around a large, round, wooden table; while Pinkie Pie was baking a distinctly doughy breakfast -- another similarity between her and her pony counterpart --, spills and drips already marking on the counter in front of her.

Starlight quietly took her own seat.

“Oh, good morning, Starlight!” Sunset Shimmer said, with a kind smile that always managed to make Starlight feel warm and fuzzy inside.

“And a good morning to you, too!” she happily replied.

“We were just chatting about how awesome your visit has been so far,” said Rainbow Dash, leaning toward Starlight.

“...Really?” said Starlight, eyes widening. Though the praise was unexpected, this time she accepted it eagerly.

“Yes, darling,” Rarity replied kindly. “We’ve definitely enjoyed your company.”

“I’m glad you two have gotten along so well,” Fluttershy smiled to Sunset Shimmer.

“I know,” Sunset beamed, “I didn’t think much of bringing her here at first, but it didn’t take us long to realize just how much we had in common together. Plus, it felt really nice to show a fellow unicorn what it’s like to live here.”

Such phrasing reminded Rainbow Dash to ask a particular question on her mind: “…How did you survive when you first arrived in this world, anyway? I can’t even imagine how hard it must have been to turn into… well, one of us.”

Sunset slightly cringed at the question. “I… honestly don’t want to talk about it.”

“Well, why not?” Starlight asked all of a sudden. “I feel there’s nothing wrong with talking about these things with your friends.” Her expression was subtle, yet innocent.

Sunset Shimmer turned to face Starlight, still a little uncomfortable. “It’s… not exactly a part of my life I like to look back on. You probably understand.”

Everyone paused in silence for a moment, before Applejack finally summed it up. “Well, I think it’s best we respect her wishes. After all, I think all of us have dark secrets of our own.”

“Mine was certainly dark. You could say it was my personal midnight,” Twilight muttered.

Sunset patted her on the back, and Twilight's shoulders relaxed, comforted by the gesture.

“Oh, I’m sure it can’t be any worse than what I’ve done…” said Starlight before she could think.

“Somehow, I doubt it,” Sunset sighed. “You manipulated a village; at least they still had a choice in the matter.”

“Well…” Starlight began, only to hesitate. She wasn’t sure her friends should really know about her previous acts. But the more she thought about it, the more she figured – if these friends were anything like Princess Twilight’s, they would understand for sure; not to mention they have earned her trust. So, after a deep breath in, she continued: “…See, my only fillyhood friend pretty much left my life just after he discovered his special talent. This led to me wishing everyone in the village to be equal, to prevent this from happening to anypony else. So, I…” she shrinked before letting out the last part, “…took away their cutie marks.”

The six just gave perplexed looks upon mention of the pony-specific symbols at first, but they didn’t have too much time to think as Sunset Shimmer suddenly went from curious to serious. “Wait… you used magic to take away the town’s cutie marks?”

Starlight solemnly nodded, nervously leaning herself as far back as she could in her seat.

“…Why would you do something like that?!” Sunset said, suddenly growing louder while slamming her palms on the table. “Don’t you know how dangerous it is to use magic against cutie marks?”

“I just… didn’t want others’ special talents to get in the way of friendships again… And I just kept telling herself that it was right thing to do.”

Not even a millisecond after she finished, Sunset continued, just as thunderous as before. “Did you even think about…”

She stopped herself mid-sentence when she saw the other girls staring at her with concern, with Applejack and Pinkie also gesturing wildly for her to calm down.

Remembering to always take her friends’ word, she gave herself multiple deep breaths before she found herself able to continue in a more subdued tone. “…Sorry, I just get like that when I hear people are misusing magic for… selfish reasons.”

Twilight quietly nodded.

“Not that I’m really one to talk,” Sunset added on. “I’d say what I did was worse.”

Rainbow shrugged slightly, while Pinkie went back to finish her cooking.

Starlight, still timid in voice, couldn’t help but be intrigued. “…What exactly do you mean by that? I don’t see how what I did is really any better from some…” She barely resisted a chuckle, “…zombie army.”

“It’s probably best ya don’t know,” said Applejack. “It took a long time for the school for forgive her, and we always know not to remind Sunset herself about it.”

“But I told her about what I did, didn’t I?”

“Well, let’s just say we’re kind of sugarcoating the details a little bit,” Rainbow Dash replied.

Starlight’s interest only peaked even further, despite her better judgement. She completely failed to notice Sunset crossing her arms and looking toward Pinkie out of discomfort.

“Well, judging by her reaction I could only assume what I did was worse. And if I was able to spew it out to you all, I don’t see why…”

“I stole and used Princess Twilight’s crown to seek revenge on Princess Celestia for not giving me what I wanted,” Sunset finally blurted out, reluctant and ashamed. Turning her head right back towards Pinkie, who was putting her treats in the oven in typical Pinkie fashion, she tacked on: “And don’t even ask what I did before all that.”

There was a long, awkward pause. The non-Equestrians looked all around the table, either confused, exhausted, curious, or worried. The five could tell just from the expressions what exactly everyone was thinking, even if they had no idea what to say.

The silence was finally broken by Pinkie Pie, now leaning against the nearest wall, lowering her smile after letting the tone sink in. “Hey, why are all my besties down in the dumpies?”

“Sunset just told me why she thought her past deeds were worse than mine,” Starlight replied without thinking. “She certainly has me beat on the revenge part, at least.”

“Wait... revenge?” said Fluttershy, scratching her head. “I don’t recall you saying anything about that.”

Starlight bit her tongue, realizing what she just implied. “Oh, uh… sorry, I meant to say… uh, ‘past deeds’,” she innocently smiled. “I just misspoke, happens all the time.”

Even though none of the girls bought her fib, only Sunset felt the need to speak up about it, bringing her full attention back to Starlight as she did so. “I don’t know, after my own statement and how anxious you’ve been toward a lot of things, I can only assume there’s more to your story as well.”

The accusatory, uncomfortable tone made Starlight tense. “Wait, why do you find it okay for you to hide these details and not me?”

“Honestly, darling, she does have a point there. We probably should at least respect her desires,” Rarity said.

Sunset sighed, knowing deep inside that she shouldn’t be upset. But no matter what her conscience told her, her mind just couldn’t let it slide. “I feel it’s important to know what kind of magical abilities Princess Twilight’s student has. I would like to know exactly the Princess has been up to, after all.”

“…I don’t know, it does sound a little suspicious, but c’mon, ya should know better than anyone that Starlight Glimmer’s been quite the pleasant guest,” Applejack said .

“Not to mention… the mirror,” Twilight shuddered.

As much as Starlight appreciated those who sided with her, she couldn’t help but feel like she was being backed into a corner – not just because of Sunset’s insistence, but also out of how much it was even discussed to begin with.

Pinkie Pie zipped from one side of the table, to the other, and leaned to the wall closest to Starlight. “Ah, come on girls,” she said. “It’s not like we haven’t had our fair shares of scary demons and magical mishaps. Surely what she has to say can’t be anything out of the ordinary… which isn’t so ordinary in hindsight, but still.”

Sunset put her head out of her hands, and solemnly explained herself. “It’s just… after hearing about how harmful her magic can get, it kind of scares me as to what she’s even capable of…”

It was at that moment that Starlight couldn’t keep her temptation in any longer, and no matter how wrong it was, she had to get it out – and did so as quickly as her lips possibly could. “I continuously messed with the Sonic Rainboom that gave the entire council their marks so I could get back at Twilight for disrupting my system of equality.” The instant she finished, she slammed her head on the table.

“Or… maybe it can be a little unordinary,” Pinkie Pie murmured, slightly nervous. She then jumped right back to the oven to check on her culinary treats.

Sunset, her face and arms trembling, quickly leaped off her chair without a word and tightly grabbed Starlight’s arm, her eyes glowing pure white. Starlight’s lips mouthed a simple “What”, only for her own eyes to widen with dread upon recollection of Sunset doing the exact same thing to Juniper Montage.

“Sunset, wait…!” Applejack exclaimed, jumping out of her seat to approach the two girls.

“Did the Dazzlings finally get to you?” Pinkie exclaimed simultaneously, prompting a quick, confused gaze from the other five.

But no matter how much they attempted to remind Sunset, all she did was suddenly start to pull Starlight upstairs, leaving the six too speechless to speak up any further. Rainbow Dash, using her super speed, beat them to Pinkie Pie’s room to blockade it with her arms spread out wide. “Sunset Shimmer, it’s not like you to act like this,” Rarity said sternly, who was the next to walk upstairs..

Sunset Shimmer paused and remembered to take a couple deep breaths. By the time she finished, Pinkie and Applejack caught up to them, while the rest preferred to observe from the bottom of the stairs.

“You’re… you’re right,” Sunset admitted at last. “It’s just… when I find out someone has been acting this callous with magic so powerful… I can’t help but get annoyed, especially considering what I and a few others went through.”

Starlight only got more nervous, gulped nervously. That wasn’t lost on the others. “But.. but…” She knew she had to say something, but she had no idea what.

“I learned from when I did something like that, didn’t I?” Twilight brought up, from halfway up the stairs.

“She did it twice, not to mention way worse!” Sunset said, slamming her fist on the top of the railing, which made Twilight go back down a few steps.

“Well, it’s safe to say these nice girls could have done without your own eruption,” Starlight snapped back. “Not to mention I actually bothered to confront my past; surely it wouldn’t hurt to give Princess Celestia a visit once in a while to…”

“You… you wouldn’t understand!” Sunset retorted, with tears starting to build.

“Uh, girls…” a concerned Fluttershy said, her voice obviously being too quiet to get either girl’s attention.

“I’m fairly certain you just said that I would.”

“Well, that was before I learned about just how… careless you’ve been!”

“Uh, you sure this is solving anything…?” Applejack asked.

Still not listening, the two just kept glaring at each other bitterly. With her now getting a more direct look at Sunset’s negative mood than ever before, Starlight suddenly felt her heart sink, thus she too broke into a sob of tears.

“No… it’s you who doesn’t understand! I didn’t mean to hurt anypony!”

Before Sunset could respond, Starlight rushed down the stairs and, feeling the need to escape the air of negativity, escaped out the front door. As soon as she ran outside, she could only think of one place she knew how to get to that could also help calm her down, and she continued heading in that general direction.

Back in the house, there was finally enough of a quiet moment for Sunset to collect her thoughts and regain her composure. Only now did it fully dawn on her what exactly had happened, and the already horrible throb in her chest was only made worse by the worried, anxious looks on the others’ faces.

“I… I… I don’t know what came over me,” she cried. “I don’t know why I still manage to... screw up like this!”

“You let your own pet peeves regarding the use of magic get the better of you.” said Twilight, but gentle her voice may have been, Sunset still couldn’t help but feel reproached.

“What she means is,” Rarity said, “that we all lose our temper from time to time. I’ll admit, while I do agree she was careless and all, Princess Twilight clearly saw enough good in her to take her in.”

“It’s not exactly that,” said Sunset, wiping off tears with her arm, “though it certainly doesn’t help. It’s just… I got so upset at her, I drove her out of the house.”

“Aww, and I wanted to show her my topping surprise!” Pinkie took a blueberry with grains of sugar out of her pocket, and tossed it into the air,the majority of the blueberry juice landing right on the wall between Sunset and Rarity.

“I’ll just clean that up later,” Pinkie shrugged, before the oven played a cheery, familiar tune. “Ooh, muffins are ready!” She zoomed back into the kitchen, minding her own business.

“Don’t worry, Sunset,” said Applejack reassuringly, approaching Sunset’s side. “You’ve definitely done a much better job at changing yourself for the better than most others would have.”

Fluttershy added. “Yes, and I think it’s safe to say that, for the most part, you’ve definitely grown into someone I think we could all look up to.”

“Thanks. But… will she ever forgive me for just turning on her like that? What is even going to happen to her now that she’s on her own?”

“On it!” Rainbow Dash said, just before she once again flashed with superhuman speed, running out of the house to follow Starlight’s path.

Sunset, knowing she had come up with a plan of sorts, finally was able to stop her tears. Her guilt, however, still roared inside of her.

***

“So, what basically happened was… I said some things, she said some things, and we both yelled at each other and got into this big fight.”

Starlight Glimmer was sitting with Juniper Montage at a table in the mall’s food court, enjoying a nourishing, refreshing lunch of a chef salad and a hamburger, respectively.

Juniper Montage chewed her juicy sandwich -- which a part of Starlight found disturbing, while the rest found strangely tempting.

“Well, I’ve certainly had my fair share of conflicts like that. My uncle and I would argue over what I was allowed to do on set, and my career counselor seriously thought I’d be a better project manager than an actress.” She replied flatly after she swallowed, rolling her eyes. “And of course, there’s that thing with the mirror and…” She paused, looking down. She knew she didn’t have to finish her sentence, nor did she want to.

“Don’t get me wrong, even the best of us get into fights,” Starlight agreed. “But Sunset Shimmer… she’s just been so nice to me during my visit. She let me sleep at her place, she showed me so many wonderful things around here, and she’s just overall been a really nice person to be around,… until… well, that happened.”

“So?” Juniper asked, slightly leaning after placing her burger back down onto her plate. “It just sounds like water under the bridge to me. I mean, you said the stuff with the town happened how many months ago? And besides, like you said, it’s not like she never did anything like that.”

“It was more about… the specific context.”

Juniper shrugged. “Well, I suppose that makes a little more sense. Though I have a little trouble remembering exactly what she did say the other day -- I actually thought she said something about some pony world… now that would be crazy, right?”

Starlight chuckled nervously.

“Anyway, I’m not really sure why you turned to me to help you out with this,” Juniper said. “But I suppose it is the least I could do after you offered me a second chance… besides paying for lunch, anyway.”

She took another bite from her burger before responding, while Starlight picked slowly at her salad.

“Honestly, I guess you should really consider what exactly you both got upset about. Y’know, what led her to feel this way, and what led you to feel that way -- that kind of jazz. I can’t say I know much about how these friendships work, but what I do know is -- sometimes things just don’t go your way, and you need to move on.”

Starlight paused, expecting more out of her new friend. After the silence became a little awkward, she responded: “...Is that really it?”

“Well, I did say you couldn’t exactly expect a lot out of me.”

“I mean, I believe you and all, but… it’s hard to move on when you know how much you’ve frustrated someone who has otherwise been so incredibly accepting, interesting, and kind…”

“She got incredibly upset at me, too,” Juniper brought up. “But when I put her in danger like that, she still found it in her heart to forgive me. I can’t imagine it would be any different with you, unless you also happen to have her in a magic mirror.”

“I can’t say that I do,” Starlight replied playfully.

This managed to get a chuckle out of Juniper, as she continued eating her burger. Starlight thought about the advice, and responded accordingly. “I so want to believe you, but I guess I’m just worried I’ll… make her upset again. After all, it was my big mouth that got us into this fight in the first place.”

Juniper paused to swallow her food before responding. “Well, if there’s anything Uncle Canter told me that I took to heart, it’s that - when you are being watched, be it a camera or live audience, you should always know what to say to leave the best impression you can.”

“But… but…” Starlight sputtered, trying to come up with another response, but found herself at a loss. The funny thing is, she always knew what to say when put in a leadership position, but there was something about more casual situations that made her either too anxious or too carefree. She sighed, “I guess I just didn’t take these exchanges seriously enough before. In hindsight, I feel stupid for not figuring this out earlier…”

Juniper had just taken the last bite out of her meal as Starlight finished. “Well, you told me it’s never too late to make up for your mistakes, I guess the same applies to you.”

It dawned on Starlight just how true that statement actually was, particularly after recalling how Princess Twilight took her in after her time travel mess. Now it only came off as even more obvious to her, but she held back a frown to express her gratitude.

“So it does. Thanks for your help, Juniper Montage. I guess you were the person I had to talk with to feel better.”

Juniper stood off her chair and posed proudly like a movie star in a photo shoot. “Yep, just goes to show that even I amaze myself sometimes,” she replied. “But anyway, I must be heading back to work; my break’s almost over. Thanks for coming by to see me again, Starlight!”

“Oh, you’re the one to thank,” said Starlight modestly, holding out her arm to Juniper, who returned it with a handshake. This one proved much more firm and genuine.

After waving each other goodbye, Starlight returned to her seat at the table, resuming her dish of leaves, cheese, and various other veggies while becoming lost in her own thoughts yet again. As surprisingly useful as the advice she got was, she still wasn’t sure exactly how confident she felt about facing someone whose last memories of her were just that… unpleasant, to say the least. This was something she knew for sure she had to think long and hard about.

***

Sunset Shimmer’s spirits slightly rose after enjoying Pinkie Pie’s homemade blueberry muffin, but even with that and a little time to herself in the bedroom, nothing could fully cheer her up after the little episode. Just the fact that she might have driven off such a great friend with her temper left her ashamed, embarrassed, and somewhat worried about the future all at once. It doesn’t help that the last thing she wanted to occur at this point in her progress was a relapse.

The two main questions in her head were “What was I even thinking?” and “What even came over me?”, her mind constantly trying to reason through one or both. But try as it might, it simply couldn’t. Sure, Starlight was a dangerous magic user, but in her fit she overlooked one key detail -- Starlight has changed. Just like how everyone else viewed herself right after her own reformation. The similarities were almost too much for Sunset to take in, so she grabbed her phone in an attempt to distract herself, only to find a text from Rainbow.

“Saw Star Glim with Juniper Montage. I think Star is talking about the fight. She seems to be calming down. I think she needs time 2 herself tho.”

The fact she now had one less thing to worry about was definitely reassuring to a certain degree, but still... Not knowing what else to do, she reached into her bag, grabbed out her journal, and began to write the first words she could think of.

Hey, Princess Twilight.

For the most part, Starlight Glimmer seems to have really enjoyed her visit in our world, as have my friends and I. The movie premiere went really well, she gained a new friend all on her own, and she particularly seemed to love the slumber party and spa trip.

However, not long ago, things got a little… sour between us. Basically, we ended up talking about our pasts and… we ended up basically one-upping each other in who was worse, and this inevitably resulted with us getting at each other’s throats, and she… ran away from me. Thankfully, we haven’t lost her but… I’m worried about our friendship. Will she forgive me after how I snapped at her? Will I be able to look past her faults in the future? How can we even fully make up from a fight of this magnitude?

I just don’t know what to do. I’m not sure if you’d have the answer, but I feel like if anyone would know, it’d be you.

Hope to hear from you soon,

Sunset Shimmer

Author's Note

Well, I had to throw in some kind of significant conflict at this point in the story, and this seemed like a very natural route to take. I hope you guys don't find the shift in tone too jarring, and if you do, I will say that the last two chapters won't be quite as mean-spirited as this one.

Day 3, Part 2

The mall’s hallways were spacious yet crowded, full of stands, shops, and especially people - all of which proved too much for an already stressed Starlight Glimmer as she paced around. She wasn’t looking for anything in particular, but she figured the monotonous walking would help straighten her thoughts -- something she definitely needed.

However, despite already being in this mall twice within the last few days, she couldn’t help but feel like a complete outsider in such an alien environment. The sights themselves didn’t bother her, since she gained a general idea on how the mall functioned. Nor did the crowds make her uneasy, thanks to her experience with the movie theater. Before, no matter how anxious or unsure she could get, Sunset Shimmer was always there for support or reassurance. This time, she was all alone.

Sure, her talk with Juniper Montage was encouraging and all, but nothing could remove the ever-present hint of doubt inside. What if I end up saying the wrong thing again? What if I tear us apart even further? What if Sunset’s reaction only makes me feel worse? ...No, I can’t take that risk!

But at the same time… she was such a sweet, considerate friend before. Maybe she would find it in her heart to forgive her? After all, my old village not only did that but also wanted me to lead their festival! Then again… they did look up to me for the longest time, so it would be like them to see the best in me...

As she turned a corner for the thirtieth time, she realized her emotions didn’t seem to be calming down as well as she had hoped. She looked down at her black, strappy shoes, which suddenly made her feet uncomfortable. How do people put up walking in these awkward, wobbly things so well anyway? Hooves never required this much protective wear. Should she do something about this sudden discomfort? If Sunset was here, she’d know how to help… But considering how upset they got at each other… how could they fully mend their friendship?

***

All Sunset could do upon arrival at her apartment was to lie on her bed, staring up at the bland ceiling with her hands wrapped under her chin. Her anxiety had somewhat retreated since a little bit ago, but her mind was still full of fear – all of her worries boiled down to one thing: Starlight Glimmer.

Given what she had already known about Starlight before they even met, she should’ve known how reckless she previously had been with her magic. She obviously shouldn’t have blown up at her like she did, but… as much as she hated to admit it, it was not something she’d be able to forget easily next time they met.

What hurt her the most, was not just that it was any friendship, but this one felt… special to her. She had an unconditional love for the group of six that could never be replaced, but Starlight was a different kind of friend entirely. The kind who was a native of her own former land, and thus she was able to relate with her in ways she previously thought unimaginable. She loved being able to show an Equestrian unicorn the sights and wonders of this ever-fascinating world, and having Starlight around made her feel better about herself overall.

She knew she wanted to mend the friendship more than anything else right now, but all she could think about were all the questions flying around her head in whether or not it even could still work.

Her phone on the table next to the bed rang one of the Rainbooms’ songs, signifying a text from one of her band mates. However, after a quick, somber glance, she decided she was too wrapped in her own thoughts to read it.

But it did leave her thinking about something else… her friends. It never occurred to her until now just how amazing it was how quick they were to forgive her. Not only did they do so before anyone else in the school, but… how in the world could they even see good in some bully who not five minutes prior tried to do away with them with a fiery blast? To this day, Sunset had still yet to get the full answer, and up until now she preferred not to ask. But in this instance, Sunset knew the topic shouldn’t be avoided. As far as she was concerned, if they didn’t know how she could make up with Starlight, no one could.

The sun’s light suddenly shone through the window shades to her left, the rather convenient symbolism helping to lift her spirits. Finally having regained her motivation, she grabbed her phone from their lamp table to her right, looked carefully at the text from Rainbow Dash, and enthusiastically texted her as well as a couple of the others.

***

Sitting on the base of the fountain in the center of the mall, Starlight kept studying the strangeness of her body. The more she did, the more she wished she was dreaming it all up, as she was now left trying to make sense of her alternate form all on her own. The constant splashing of the fountain’s water was at least pretty therapeutic, but her feelings were too strong for that to really help at all.

The amount she’d traveled by foot, along with her internal qualms and the rhythmic noises of the fountain, tired her to the point where she wanted to close her eyes and attempt to rest, making no noise beyond the occasional slow breath.

But just when she was finally comfortable, she felt a kick to her leg followed by a distinctly raspy, confident voice: “Hey, there ya are, Starlight!” She knew for sure it was Rainbow Dash even before she opened her eyes, and once this was confirmed she quickly stood up with a grin. Sure, this Rainbow wasn’t the one she had really gotten to know, but it was at least someone familiar and, despite the slight difference between them, they were both pretty much still the same… right?

“Hey, Rainbow Dash,” she said, her voice slightly trembling. “What are you doing here?”

“Well, after you ran off like that I had to make sure things were still cool.” Rainbow replied, leaving out how she had followed her as she walked.

This made Starlight feel bad. “…Yeah, I hope you know I’m sorry for that. And I don’t know what I can even do to make up for…”

“Nah, you don’t have to make up for anything!” Rainbow put her shoulder on Starlight’s. “We understand.”

“But… I just ran away, with no warning! I made Sunset feel uncomfortable. And… ‘we’?”

“Yeah, all of us are willing to forgive you!” Rainbow enjoyed seeing Starlight’s dumbfounded look. “It’s not like we’ve never seen anyone lose their own tempers. Even Sunset Shimmer feels sorry for what she did!”

Starlight’s eyebrows raised upon the mentioning of Sunset, only for them to slowly drop. “…But… and I would like to forgive her too… I just don’t know if I actually will.”

“C’mon, it’s easy!” Rainbow gave a playful shove on the side. “You just have to go for it. I mean, what’s the worst that could happen?”

“…I feel even worse about myself and Sunset hates me even more? Not to mention it’s really hard for me to look at her the same way, after at how much we’ve yelled at each other.” She began to sob again, but a touch of a hand on her shoulder reminded her to fight the tears back.

“Well, believe me, you have nothing to worry about with someone as reliable and awesome as me.” Rainbow boasted. Immediately after, she felt a vibration come from her left pocket, leading to her pulling out her phone. After a quick read and subsequent clatter of keys, she beamed at Starlight only to take it back.

“How’s about a quick visit to Twilight’s, huh? I’m sure you’ll love just how amazing her place is!”

Starlight thought for a second, wondering why this came up. Maybe it was because she was the student of her pony equivalent, or is it just another surprise for her? In fact, she had been somewhat curious over how different this Twilight seemed to actually be compared to the princess. So, she calmly agreed.

***

The house managed to leave Starlight Glimmer amazed yet again with all the weird little contrasts and similarities compared to the princess’s crystal castle. It was nowhere near as overly shiny and spacious (thank Celestia), but the house still looked just as dim overall , not at all helped by the ubiquitous heavy purples. This atmosphere would have made Starlight feel slightly intimidated, but as if to help make up for it, the furnishings seemed a lot more attractive and aesthetically pleasing than most other houses she had seen in her lifetime, let alone this world. Somehow, no matter which kind of life Twilight had led, she still always ended up with the fanciest living quarters.

Rainbow led Starlight to Twilight’s bedroom, definitely the nicest of the rooms she had seen. Everything was (rather predictably) perfectly tidy and organized, forcing an eye roll out of Starlight, even if it was a little overly stuffed with astronomy-related things in the corner.

At the center of the room, near the edge of the bed, sat Twilight Sparkle. She welcomed the two visitors as she brushed the fur of a purple dog. Right at first glance, the dog looked very familiar to Starlight – and not in the same ways as everything else in this world. Starlight approached the bed and leaned on the shiny wooden paneling in front of Twilight. No, that just can’t be, she thought at her first instinct, but upon closer analysis… The purple body, the chartreuse ears, the round, green tuft at the top… Sweet Celestia, it was!

“Is… something wrong?” Twilight said, looking up at her newest friend, completely unsure of how to respond.

“…THAT’S Spike?!?” Starlight spluttered, throwing her arms out toward the puppy.

“The one and only!” Spike said out loud. “So, you’ve heard of me?”

Starlight didn’t think it was physically possible, but her bewilderment grew even higher. Her mind thoroughly blown, all she could do was nod.

Rainbow Dash quickly put the pieces together, and stepped up next to Starlight to explain as best she could. “Oh yeah… Twi, in case you don’t remember, the Spike that your pony self has is this fierce, fire breathing dragon! I guess Starlight has known him, too.”

“Known him?!” Starlight shouted, finally able to sputter some words out. “He was the first truly honest friend I’ve had! How could someone so loyal and faithful be a… dog in this reality?”

“Well,” Twilight responded kindly, “he may not breathe fire, but he sure is a helpful little scamp!” She began rubbing his belly. “Isn’t he, isn’t he…”

“And… dogs talk in this world?”

“Nah, just me,” Spike said, pointing with a paw. “It’s a long story.”

Starlight, not wanting to overload her brain yet again, left it at that. Before she fully recomposed, the sound of slamming doors caught everyone’s attention. It turned out to be from Fluttershy and Rarity, who gave a light wave as they entered the room, followed by Sunset Shimmer, quick to notice the nervous, beanie-wearing, light lavender girl sitting on the opposite end.

At first, neither of them said a word. Sunset stood in the doorway, surprised to see her guest again so soon, especially without notice. It only took Sunset a couple seconds to realize… “This was all your plan, wasn’t it?” she said, more confused than accusing.

She scanned the room, and the overly innocent expressions on each of the four faces told her all she needed to know. She sighed, and sat against the closet door. Sunset finally looked directly at Starlight, finding her expression almost entirely mirrored her own -- that of concern and nervousness, and a touch hope.

For a full minute, the only audible noise was the ticking of a nearby clock and scraping of the brush against Spike’s fur. In the end, he was the one to speak up first: “So, is anyone going to break the ice or what?”

“Yeah, you two can totally do it!” Rainbow added on. “Just talk things out and it’ll be fine.”

Starlight opened her mouth to say something but paused to avoid accidentally spewing something hurtful again. She looked at Fluttershy sitting right next to her, with a hand on her shoulder. The girl squeezed her shoulder gently and nodded towards Sunset, urging Starlight to speak.

Starlight took a breath, and grasped the right words to say. “Sunset, you’ve been unbelievably kind to me in the time I’ve been here, and I appreciate you showing me around this world and always staying by my side whenever I got confused or overwhelmed. It… wasn’t right of me to call you out for what you used to do. I can obviously see now that you’re no longer like that, and thus I really wasn’t being fair when I said what I did. For that, I am deeply ashamed. I hope you could forgive me, I’m… I’m sorry.”

Starlight was expecting Sunset to either be grateful or upset, but instead her eyes shot open with surprise. “…You’re sorry? I’m the one who drove you to tears and out of the house, not to mention letting my temper get the better of me! I should be apologizing to you!”

“You just had what was for the best in Equestria in mind,” Starlight retorted. “And now that you know about the whole time loop thing… I’m not even sure how you could forgive me.”

“Allow me to explain,” Twilight said, waiting for a brief nod from Starlight before continuing. Sunset raised her eyebrows; she knew where the story was going, but couldn’t quite figure out what point it would end on.

“Well, when I first met Sunset Shimmer in the Friendship Games, I wanted to explore the magic surrounding the school. And I ended up becoming reckless to the point where I turned into a demon, just like she did. That’s why Midnight Sparkle gave me so much trouble at camp.”

“Don’t be too hard on yourself, darling,” said Rarity. “I’m sure this would’ve happened to anyone who encountered something that mysterious.”

Twilight paid no attention. “Anyway, what I was getting at is… Sunset also got more than a little upset at what I was doing, but when I almost destroyed the fabric of both worlds… not only did she forgive me, but she actively offered to lead me on the right path.”

“I still can’t believe how amazing you looked there!” Rainbow complimented.

Sunset looked back up at Rainbow. “Yeah, I’m pretty surprised how well that worked myself.” She turned back to Starlight. “But even with that mind… I really want to forgive you, but what you did runs so deep into who you were that… I don’t know if I’ll be able to look past it. And… who knows if I won’t ever blow up at you again?”

Starlight awkwardly fidgeted in her body. “I kind of feel the same way. I just really didn’t want to see someone so caring and sympathetic suddenly erupt like that; it honestly makes me feel beyond horrible. Not because of you, but because it’s at those moments that I know I’ve done something especially bad, even when I don’t want to admit it.” She pulled her legs in closer to her chest. “I guess I just don’t want to be reminded of what I used to be like.”

“Girls,” Fluttershy spoke up, inducing all eyes to her. “You don’t have to be afraid of your differences and flaws if you want to maintain your friendship. Sometimes, acknowledging these flaws can actually help one.

"When Sunset Shimmer admitted she knew nothing about friendship; we all knew that, deep in her heart, she really wanted to change. We all seem to agree that anyone who makes a clear effort to make up for their mistakes deserves a second chance."

“I mean, you girls did befriend me after you found out how easily I can fall to curiosity and peer pressure.” Twilight added on.

So that's why they forgave me so easily, a reassured Sunset thought.

"And didn't you, Starlight Glimmer, do the same with Juniper Montage?" Rainbow brought up.

It only took Starlight a second to properly recollect how she had handled that. "Yeah... so I did," she muttered. "I guess all of Princess Twilight's lessons really have been rubbing off of me."

“What we’re saying is,” Rarity finished. “That sometimes… acknowledging or possibly arguing over your flaws with your friends may feel bad at first, but sometimes doing so will actually enhance your friendship in the long run.”

Starlight and Sunset once again looked at each other eye to eye, both scooting closer until they were a few feet apart of each other.

“You think you could forgive me for being so harsh and hurtful to you?” Sunset asked, still with a tinge of concern in her inflection.

“Forgive you? I am the one who should be sorry here; you just had the best interests in Equestria in mind. Plus, I did overstep my boundaries when it came to the topics…”

“No, I’m sorry.” Sunset insisted.

“Girls, does it really matter who is sorry?” Fluttershy groaned.

Starlight chuckled at Fluttershy’s sudden attitude before turning her head back. “Well… friends?” she asked.

“Best friends.” Sunset smiled, suddenly pulling in Starlight for a hug.

Both relished each other’s embrace for half a minute, which only grew more tight and serene as they each gave huge sighs of relief.

Interrupting the tender moment, Rainbow blurted out, “Hey, I think I hear Pinkie and A.J.!”

Sure enough, within the next few seconds there they came, respectively carrying a fresh batch of cupcakes and a dozen bottles of apple cider within a crate. They both could easily fill in the blanks of what exactly had happened simply from the looks on both Sunset Shimmer and Starlight Glimmer.

“Looks like ya learned yerself a pretty special friendship lesson, haven’t ya?” Applejack winked.

“Yep!” Starlight agreed.

“We both did!” Sunset beamed.

“Well, in that case… free cupcakes for everyone!” Pinkie announced.

Author's Note

One more chapter to go, fellas!

Day 4

Not much had happened with Sunset Shimmer and Starlight Glimmer after the get-together at Twilight’s. They spent most of the night watching whatever programs on Sunset’s television-monitor-thing peaked their interests. Starlight was surprised to see yet another use of this versatile device, though much like the movie showing, she was a little turned off by just how commercial a lot of it was.

Sunset decided to turn on a couple science documentaries, which were much more effective in catching Starlight’s interest than the books; after which Starlight showed interest in a few primetime sitcoms, where many laughs were shared. After a few hours had passed and the two yawned near-simultaneously, Starlight fondly looked back on her vacation. The intriguing surprises, the new yet familiar faces, and the many strong friendships she managed to forge... How was it almost over?

“Not going to lie, as interesting as this world has been,” said Starlight, “I’ll definitely be glad to get back to Equestria. There’s just so much I can’t see myself ever getting used to, and I certainly wouldn’t be able to handle living here…”

“Well, when you’ve lived here as long as I have…” Sunset replied.

The remark led Starlight to remember a particular question that was thrown around this morning. While she knew it had indirectly led to their little squabble before, her curiosity proved far too high to just let it go. “How have you done it, anyway? Surely you must have at least once felt the urge to return to your home after all this time…”

Sunset’s emotions took a much more depressing shift, giving a long sigh and bowing her head down. This sudden wave of emotion was not lost on Starlight, however she was only more eager to find out the answer than ever. Finally, deciding to take the concise approach, she quietly asked what Sunset secretly hoped no one would: “Do you miss Equestria?”

The only response she got was Sunset breathing even deeper. Starlight’s upper body began to tremble, fearing she has gotten on Sunset’s bad side yet again.

“Honestly, half of me does… but the other half doesn’t,” Sunset said eventually, still looking towards the floor beneath her.

“But wouldn’t you want to go back to where you lived for most of your life? I’m sure Princess Celestia will appreciate…“ She trailed off when she finally realized what she said wasn’t helping, and felt herself cringe with guilt over bringing it up.

Sunset Shimmer closed her eyes at the mention of her single biggest failure, left at a loss in how to respond. She always avoided talking about it when she could, but by now she knew she couldn’t bottle her emotions. A brief glance was enough for her to know that Starlight’s concern was genuine. Sure, her little group of six girls meant so much to her, but Starlight was something else. She was an Equestrian, just like she used to be, and one that also reinvented her life in some form. If anyone would understand, she thought, it would be her. Part of Sunset knew she had to tell somebody eventually, and this would quite possibly be the only chance she’d get of finally releasing it.

“It’s… not about Celestia. I mean, it kinda is, but not in the way you think.” Sunset brought her head back up slightly, but she still looked a little crestfallen when she continued. “When I lived in Equestria, I was very spoiled. I became used to having everything be handed right to me, which ultimately led to me being self-absorbed and just a big jerk to everyone... especially the Princess. And every time I think of Equestria, regardless of how much I might have been forgiven, I can’t help but think of my old, horrible self.

“But when those five girls took me in and taught me about friendship, despite how awful I was, I felt… reborn. My slate got wiped clean and I was free to reinvent myself here. When I defeated the Sirens and earned the respect of the school… I’ve never felt prouder.” She pointed at the picture in the center on the wall behind them, showing her and the friends wearing multi-colored outfits bathed in the waves of prismatic rave lights. “Everything that makes me happy right now is in this world. I would never trade my friends and life here for anything, and if that means I decide never to go back to Equestria… so be it.”

Starlight’s eyes were opened wide, surprised at her host’s backstory. She could now sympathize with Sunset even more.

Sunset continued, her eyes still shut but mouth slightly picking up. “That being said, I’d be lying if I said there weren’t times when I’ve looked back fondly at being at the top of my game with Celestia, weaving all sorts of magical spells… even something as simple as trotting on my hooves…” She slumped down and exhaled, and thought she was still smiling, tears formed in her eyes.

Starlight moved to sit next to Sunset, pulling her in for a small hug. She didn’t have to think for too long about how to respond, because she knew exactly what to say at this moment. “You and your friends have done so much for me during my time in this world. And if you ever wanted to enjoy yourself in Equestria again, you know Princess Twilight, her friends, and I would do the same for you. We can help replace those bad memories with happier ones.”

Sunset loudly sniffed, her eyes continuing to tear up slightly.

“You don’t have to move back there for good if you don’t want to, or even visit right away. But don’t feel like you have to avoid it forever only because of your past mistakes. When I returned to visit my old village, I was just as afraid of the bad memories being rekindled as you were, but if anything, … I enjoyed myself there and it let me leave it all in the past for good. It’s a lot like what I said on the first day - if you dwell on what you fear might happen, you’ll never get past it.”

Sunset took about twenty seconds to process all Starlight said. After she did, she smiled warmly toward Starlight, still teary-eyed, and hugged Starlight back. “Th-thanks so much for saying that. I’m… I’m really glad I brought you here. You really have been such a great person to talk to.”

Starlight smiled back. “You’re welcome. And you’ve been an amazing one, too.”

After that, they went through their evening routine, which this time went much more smoothly than the last two nights. Looking at Starlight confidently preparing the couch-bed all on her own with her new appendages, Sunset was quite proud of herself -- she always seemed to forget just how great a teacher she really was.

The following morning began quieter than the others. Starlight slowly woke up as the sun rays shone on her face. It was certainly much more comfortable than anyone, even Sunset Shimmer, forcing her awake.

Still under the covers, she stretched her arms as far out she could, followed by her legs and wiggled her fingers and toes. While the number of joints and parts was still a lot for her to take in, compared to the simplicity of the four pony hooves, she had for the most part grown quite accustomed to the sensation. In fact, she found herself enjoying the flexibility that came with it, and walking on two, long legs was surprisingly very efficient. It all almost made her miss having to give them up, but inside she knew that no matter how great it felt to experience completely new body, there was nothing that could replace her unicorn magic.

After spending a few minutes thinking about all she’d experienced, she heard the opening of a nearby door, and footsteps that were quickly revealed to belong to Sunset Shimmer. Starlight, slowly stepping out the couch-bed, was instantly put in a good mood when she saw the calm, pleasant look on Sunset. She then pulled the lever to fold the bed back in, which proved to be a bit of a struggle with how surprisingly tight and stiff the lever was.

“Not bad for someone who has only had three days to build their hand-eye coordination,” Sunset mused from the kitchen area.

Sunset shuffled some things inside her refrigerator, eventually pulling out an apple and slamming the door shut with her elbow. Starlight couldn’t help but be amazed as she observe Sunset’s grace in her movements. She found it hard to believe she had only spent a few years in this body.

“I wish I could move like that,” Starlight said. “Whenever I try to do anything with my hands, I look so… awkward,”

“I’d say you’ve been handling it much better than I did my first three days here.” Sunset chuckled, inserting some bread in the toaster. “You can only imagine how it must have felt for me to suddenly be stranded in this strange, unknown world without a friend in the world.”

Starlight simply stared in wonder, feeling sorry for Sunset.

“Well, anyway, I hope you like the little breakfast I’m preparing. I don’t know how you feel about toast, but it’s what I always love to start my day with.”

At that very moment, out popped the toast from the appliance. Starlight took a seat at the small dining table as Sunset took a few more minutes to prepare the meal. As Sunset served it, she sighed fondly. “I must say, it feels really nice to have someone to share all of this with. That’s why my friends all mean so much to me.”

“Yeah, I never realized it myself until I had friends around me,” Starlight said, carefully grabbing the bread with her hand. She was briefly caught off guard by how dry and crumbly the toast felt on her fingers compared to her tongue.

“Well, Princess Twilight said she was going to open the portal three hours from now. Is there any particular way you’d like to spend the last part of your little vacation?”

“Actually… there was one thing I had in mind.” Starlight said, after finishing her first slice.

***

“You’re leaving?!” Juniper Montage asked, just as she was getting into her theater uniform.

“Yeah.” Starlight said, standing in the middle of the lobby, while Sunset stood a few steps behind her. “I guess I should’ve mentioned I was only visiting here, and that I’ll have to get back to my home. I’m not sure when I’ll visit again, if at all.”

Juniper, now fully in her outfit, calmed considerably and folded her arms. “Oh. Well, I guess I could at least reach you by phone. Mind giving me your number?”

Starlight stood still like a deer in the headlights, thoroughly unprepared to answer. Everyone she saw in this world had one of these convenient mobile phones, so her saying she didn’t have one would’ve made her feel too unusual. She couldn’t just deny the offer either, since doing so would only make Juniper feel betrayed. How would she even respond…?

A skeptical Juniper raised an eyebrow as Starlight’s body trembled, struggling to think of a reasonable response. Thankfully, Sunset Shimmer stepped up to the rescue and addressed the elephant in the room. “Reaching her isn’t going to be that simple because… well, remember that pony dimension I mentioned a few days back?”

Juniper blinked twice, connecting the dots in her head. “...Wait, I didn’t just mishear you?! And… does that mean she’s…?”

Sunset nodded before Juniper could finish her sentence. “Yep, she’s a pony.”

The three simply stood in silence, with Juniper fluctuating emotions from bewilderment, to denial, amazement, then back to bewilderment. “But… but… that’s not even possible…” Her eyes widened as a particular memory popped in her head. “...I once researched these little mythical faraway lands for a movie my uncle was working on… one of those I think was of ponies… does this mean the myths were actually true?”

The girls’ faces remained immovable -- enough to hint to Juniper that she was indeed correct. All she could do was constantly pinch her thigh, each time tighter than the last. When it began to make her wince in pain, she instead took off her glasses to make sure she wasn’t hallucinating.

“Well, now you see why I wanted to keep this a secret!” Starlight said, turning to Sunset, “And I thought we were supposed to?”

“Nah, considering she’s already been exposed to their powerful magic, there’s no harm in telling her about it,” Sunset replied, focusing on Juniper while still speaking to Starlight, “especially provided she doesn’t try to spill it herself. Who knows what would happen if everyone suddenly knew about Equestria?”

Juniper, her glasses back on her face, stopped herself from hyperventilating, realizing that Sunset was talking about her. She said exactly what was on her mind at that moment: “I’m not sure if I will be able to… since, this is just so… unbelievable. However, I guess for the sake of the other magical ponies, I will try my best.”

Sunset gave her the thumbs-up, followed by Starlight doing the same, since she could only assume such a gesture was polite.

“Still,” Juniper continued, clearly looking tired. “I would still really like to have a means of reaching you. You’ve made me realize how great it was to have a friend like you around.”

“Well,” Sunset said. “Maybe I could help be the bridge between you and Juniper. I have this special journal that lets me talk to her through magic!”

Juniper stared with confusion once again, but rapidly shook her head to get her mind off it. By now, she knew that if she thought about it any harder, her brain would explode. “That… would be nice,” was all she could really say in response.

“In fact, how about we become friends, you and me?” Sunset asked. “I’d understand if you wouldn’t feel up for it, but trust me that Starlight and I are both very similar in so many ways that even we didn’t realize until recently.”

She stretched out her arm toward Juniper, who hesitated slightly but finally took it with a soft, genuine smile.

***

It was high noon at Canterlot High School, and despite it still being summer vacation, there were eight girls all lined up at the school’s signature statue… or, at least, what was left of it. Seven of them all gathered around Starlight Glimmer, who was just about to head back to Equestria. They were all glad to have made a new friend, and one from Equestria that had not long ago saved their lives at that.

“Here’s a leftover bottle of our apple cider as a souvenir!” Applejack handed over.

“And a blueberry muffin for the pony me!” Pinkie Pie shouted, throwing a plastic bag onto Starlight’s open hand.

“Be sure you let my pony self know just how much I kicked your butt in that video game!” Rainbow added on, which Starlight only rolled her eyes at.

“Those blue nails still look fabulous on you,” Rarity said. “You really did look quite nice for the movie premiere.” She took out of her pocket a small photograph, the one taken when Starlight was made the center of attention in their post-film photo shoot. Starlight was still impressed at just how well she took all that, and definitely knew the picture would make a great memento.

Fluttershy simply patted her on the back. “I’m glad we were able to help you and Sunset Shimmer embrace your differences.” she said.

Starlight gave a small smile, only to find Twilight take that spot, carrying her dog in her arms. “Spike would like to say goodbye, too.” she said.

“Nice to meet you, Starlight Glimmer! It sure was great to find out about what I’m like as a dragon!”

Starlight was still caught off guard at seeing Spike as something as small as a dog. However, with Twilight’s encouragement she petted Spike on the head, which the little guy obviously found therapeutic. And seeing Spike happy was enough to make Starlight happy.

“Thank you all, girls. I really can’t thank you enough for all you’ve done for me in this world. Through all the ups and downs, all the breezes and struggles… no matter the world, no matter the species… you six really are the best friends I could ever ask for.”

The six all “Aww”’ed and stepped closer to Starlight in an attempt to put her in the center of a huge hug. However, they did tone it down when they saw that Starlight was starting to suffocate from being overly squished.

Once she managed to break out of it, she walked toward the statue, where Sunset was standing, looking as pleased as Starlight ever remembered her seeing.

“I’m definitely going to miss you most of all, Sunset Shimmer.” Starlight said, punching Sunset’s shoulder.

“Me too,” Sunset said neutrally. “You remind me so much of myself, but in all the best ways. And even though these six,” she spread out her arms toward the others who started to listen out of intrigue, “will always be my favorite beings in existence, I’m so glad I finally have a friend I can relate to as much as you.” She gave Starlight a teasing tongue-in-cheek punch-back.

The two pulled each other in for the tightest hug of Starlight’s the entire vacation, when Sunset got an idea in her head and grabbed her phone. She held it out sideways, eyes still locked on it, with her arm held out far. She took Starlight’s side and had her look in the same direction right next to her. “Smile!” she said, and just before Starlight could process what was going on, a light beep came from the phone. Sunset returned it to its normal holding position, and pointed out the selfie she had just made with Starlight - who loved the idea of Sunset having something to remember her by. “Now you have your picture and I have mine!”

“Alright!” Starlight said. Right after she said this, however, the crowd suddenly grew quiet. Starlight Glimmer took this as a sign that it was time for her to go.

“I really hope I get to visit you girls again soon,” said Starlight. “Thanks to you, this vacation was some of the best three days I remember having.” She turned her back to them to face the portal, and slowly took a couple steps toward it.

When she reached the portal, she looked back once more to see the girls waving and cheering various goodbyes, all of which were clearly trying to fight a few tears.

She poked her hand through the portal, and sure enough, through the transparent “wall” she could view it as a hoof. So, she took her foot off the ground, preparing to step inside the portal, when…

“Wait!” Sunset Shimmer called out, just in time for Starlight to pause.

Sunset continued. “I’ve been thinking about what we talked about last night…”

On the opposite end of the mirror, Princess Twilight paced around her library, eagerly waiting for Starlight’s return. She had just opened the portal a few minutes ago and knew they would have a lot to talk about regarding their adventures in the alternate world. Just when she was growing tired of waiting, the mirror began to swirl, helping Twilight regain her anticipation. Sure enough, out came Starlight Glimmer, who launched across the room and, with a loud WHAM, crashed into a familiar pile of books.

The first thing Starlight heard after her landing was a light giggle from her teacher. “And to think I had just picked those books up,” said Princess Twilight, too amused to get the least bit annoyed at her organization being for nought.

Starlight Glimmer’s vision recovered as she dug herself out of the pile. After her escape, she noted her newly-regained set of hooves. Man, did it feel refreshing to have them back after dealing with all the complicated fingers, toes, and joints. She could only process so much, however, before the princess jumped in to embrace Starlight.

“Starlight, I’m so glad to see you back!” she exclaimed. “How did you like it there? I hope the new body and new world wasn’t too much for you! Did things end up well between you and Sunset?”

“One question at a time, please,” Starlight replied serenely, breaking the hug. “I’d love to tell you all about it, but honestly I don’t even know where to start.”

She trotted around the room for a bit, focusing on her hooves and posture. “It sure was interesting to have those hand things, and they were certainly quite useful. But, I’m really glad to be back on four hooves like I’m used to.”

“I’m sure it was! Not every day you find yourself turning into a creature exclusive to an alternate dimension.” All of a sudden, Twilight turned her eyes to the portal, which starting rippling and whirring once more. She pointed a hoof toward the suddenly active portal out of confusion. Starlight was quick to respond to this.

“Oh, well… Twilight, I hope you don’t mind I brought a friend of my own.”

Mere moments after she had finished her sentence, out of the portal came a light orange unicorn with a red and yellow-patterned mane and teal eyes, flying in the same arc as Starlight did seconds ago. Starlight was quick to catch her… only for the weight to crush Starlight’s body underneath her.

The orange unicorn quickly jumped off the pile, leaving Starlight even more dazed than before, and there in the guest’s line of sight was Princess Twilight. Both of their faces mirrored each other’s; that of shock, teary-eyes, but, most prominently, glee.

“Sunset Shimmer!” Twilight called, running towards her.

“Princess Twilight!” Sunset called back, throwing two hooves around Twilight’s neck as soon as the distance closed.

“Oh, it feels so good to see you after all this time!”

“I’m really glad to see you, too,” Sunset replied. “I was a little disappointed when you weren’t here to give me my new journal. I hope that friendship mission at least went fine.”

“Eh, I guess it was okay,” Twilight replied, with a slight frown. “Anyway, what are you doing here?”

“Well, after how well Starlight’s visit to my world came, we both felt it only made sense for me to…” She became a little afraid of what reaction will result from this. “…spend a few days here myself.”

“...You’re staying?!” Twilight said in disbelief. A nod from both Sunset and Starlight, appearing timid yet proud, confirmed the very response she hoped to hear.

“Woo-hoo!!!” she exclaimed, excitedly flying all around the room. You wouldn’t believe what I’ve been waiting for us to do together! I know Princess Celestia has really wanted you to pop by…”

“Princess Celestia?” Sunset’s legs shook.

Before she could let her worries get the better of her, however, she felt a hoof touch her back. Sunset turned her head to find it was from Starlight Glimmer, and the sight of her was enough for her to throw her worries away.

“Man… what I am even going to do without you?” Sunset said with a grin.

“Hey, if I can survive a few days as a person, you can survive a few days as a pony.” Starlight winked.

Sunset put her own hoof around Starlight, as the three ponies giggled and exited the room that housed the mirror. Sunset knew that Starlight would do all she could to make her feel comfortable back in Equestria, and as odd as it felt to have the tables turned on her, it also made her all the more grateful to have befriended somepony like her.

As long as Starlight was by her side, she had nothing to worry about.

Epilogue

The door to Sunset’s apartment swung wide open, with the resident standing proud on the other end. She slowly stepped inside for the first time in days, and breathed in the familiar air that was her home. She obviously loved Princess Twilight’s accommodations, as gaudy as the decor was, but she had grown so attached to her nice, little apartment that nothing could replace it for her.

She pulled out of her pockets four photographs she had taken with her from Equestria, fondly remembering the memories associated with them.

The first was her enjoying lunch with Starlight and two additional ponies…

***

“So, this is the Trixie you’re best friends with?” Sunset asked, pointing a hoof at the vibrant blue unicorn.

“Yep!” Starlight said. “Isn’t she so much better than the one we met at the spa?”

Sunset nodded, noting that Trixie was actually sitting politely, yet to shout her signature boast.

“See, not even Trixie is as fabulous as the Great and Powerful Trixie!” she put a hoof to her chest, her chin high up.

Sunset shrugged; Trixie wouldn’t be Trixie without her attitude, after all.

A gray pony with a straight purple mane and heavy mascara arrived at the table with a tray hanging on her neck. “Here’s your fatty nourishment,” she said in a voice that struck Sunset as even more dry than Sugarcoat’s, which she didn’t think was possible.

“You sure she’s really related to Pinkie Pie?” Sunset whispered to Starlight.

“Yeah, it sure takes some getting used to,” Starlight replied. “Still, she is really nice to have around. She’s so considerate, she has a fascinating rock collection, and we even fly kites together!”

“...Kites?” Sunset said as she grabbed her hayburger from the tray.

“It’s an engaging study of aerodynamics on delicate structures,” Maud explained, slowly blinking.

“Yeah, I know what kites are, I just didn’t really see Starlight being interested in something like… that.”

“It’s hard for me to really explain why,” she said. “I just… like kites.”

“Don’t worry, Sunset Shimmer,” Trixie added on. “Trixie honestly doesn’t see the appeal in these kites either.”

Sunset took the first big bites of her hayburger. It was even more scrumptious and perfectly textured than she remembered.

***

Sunset stood in the hallway, right outside the door to the throne room. She could see Princess Celestia sitting on her throne, sorting through paperwork looking just as regal as ever.

“...No, no!” she whispered. “I can’t do this!”

Starlight and Twilight looked at each other with determined faces. And next thing she knew, Sunset found herself being pushed into the throne room with a force of magic.

“Go on,” Starlight encouraged.

Sunset gulped. She slowly and quietly walked up the long carpet toward the very pony she had feared. “No turning back now,” she thought nervously.

“P-p-prin…” She hesitated, short of breath. “...Princess… Celestia?”

The celestial ruler levitated her papers to the side, shutting her eyes with a neutral expression. “What is it you ask of me, my little po…” The instant she opened her eyes, she gasped, her eyes locked on the pony she had always hoped to but was losing hope she’d ever see again.

Sunset’s expression completely matched Princess Celestia’s, neither of them moving an inch or saying a word for what seemed like a long time.

Starlight and Twilight were overlooking how things were going from outside the door. “I’d say things are going well,” Twilight said proudly.

***

Sunset and Starlight stood several feet apart of each other just outside Twilight’s castle, fiercely staring at each other. They were sweating and panting like crazy, the magical auras still wisping off their horns.

“Given up yet?” Starlight asked, standing tall and confidently.

“Are you kidding?” Sunset replied. “I could do this all day! You’re just scared of me!”

“Like when you had to face Princess Celestia?” Starlight playfully mocked.

“Well, how was I supposed to know she would offer to let me be her student again?”

“The same way I know you’re going to lose!”

“Oh yeah? I may have gone a few years without my magic, but I’ve proven I still got it!” Sunset’s red aura grew once more as she confidently stepped.

“We’ll see about that!” Starlight said, charging up her own magic.

Sunset began to envelope herself with her magic, which subsequently burst into a beautiful ring of fire with her majestically hovering in the center. Ponies standing or walking nearby awed at the flowing reds and yellows, with a hint of teal thrown in for good measure.

Starlight began her counter by fully encompassing her body with magic, allowing her to freely hover in the air. She then twirled her forehooves to shape her magic into a small sphere, which she then threw just in front of Sunset, who awkwardly stared at the sphere as it sunk into the ground.

“Give it a sec,” Starlight remarked.

Sunset glanced at Starlight out of curiosity before her ears perked up with the sound of rumbling. Before she knew it, a bunch of large vines and plants, including tasty vegetables, burst from underground. She found herself being lifted by the strong force until she was directly in front of Starlight, who looked especially pleased with herself.

“Alright, so you win this one,” Sunset said, recovering her smile. “Best 4 out of 7?”

***

The last picture Sunset looked at, and the one that elicited the strongest reaction, was a group picture. It was taken just before she left, and featured her standing in the center, with Twilight, Starlight, and all their friends surrounding her in a loving embrace. She couldn’t help but shed a tear recalling just how much the six reminded her of her own friends. She then lifted her head to her wall of memories.

Grabbing some tape, she took the image and pasted it in the center of the wall, right next to the defeat of the sirens, then settled on the couch to relax with some nice TV.

Sunset was more than happy that she made the trip back. She may do it again sometime, or possibly Starlight visiting her again. But no matter what, there was no denying that Sunset was glad to be back at Canterlot High - the place where she truly belonged, her home.

Author's Note

Yeah, I knew I had to showcase at least a little of what I think Sunset vacationing in Equestria would be like, hence this epilogue.

And thus ends my first fanfic. Please let me know what you thought of my story in the comments; as I said in the beginning, any feedback is greatly appreciated. But above all, thank you for reading. :)