Sunset in Equestriaby Moon-LiteChaptersSunset in Equestria: Meet Starlight GlimmerSunset in Equestria: Sunset Gets MeasuredSunset in Equestria: Sunset and TwilightSunset in Equestria: Sunset and LunaSunset in Equestria: Sunset and CelestiaSunset in Equestria: Meet Starlight GlimmerSunset in Equestria: Meet Starlight Glimmer “There you three are!” Sunset said playfully as the Sirens entered through the open door, Sonata bursting through first and embracing Sunset with a massive hug as Aria and Adagio brought up the rear. “Sun-Shim!” Sonata called out in glee as she tackled the taller girl with a loving embrace, nuzzling into Sunset as a blush came to the Unicorn’s face. “Sonata, dearie?” Adagio asked not so innocently as she walked up behind the tallest sister and grabbed the ponytail Sonata always wore. “I would think it best if you didn’t motorboat our host. Unless she asks for it that is.” Sunset flushed as Adagio winked playfully, Sonata falling back into Aria’s arms and babbling about massive amber marshmallows while the purple Siren grinned. “Well then…” Sunset started as she recompossed herself. “I am glad Night Light and Velvet aren’t home at the moment see that. If you all are ready we should get going, they are waiting for us.” The four Equestrians made their way up the stairs towards Sunset’s room, just in time to see a quite unkempt and bedraggled looking Twilight Sparkle. The lavender teen stretched as she yawned, her loose top pulling up above her knees as her violet eyes slowly opened. “Eep!” She jumped back with a blush as she noticed her four friends smiling sillily at her. “Uh, er… Hi girls!” She put on a fake smile as she walked forward. “What are you doing over so early in the morning?” “Morning?” Aria asked as she pulled out a pocket watch. “Specs, it’s almost three in the afternoon.” “You were up most of the night hammerin’ away on something.” Sunset said as she rested a hand on her hip. “What time did you get to bed anyways?” “Oh! I’ve been tinkering with a new Ethyl!” Twilight had an extremely excited look on her face when she heard Sunset’s question. “Ever since I found out magic was real I’ve been working on a whole bunch of new theories!” “Using science to explain magic, huh?” Adagio asked with a small sigh before giving a playful smile. “You may have been able to detect magic, but you will find it impossible to quantify it.” “Why doesn’t she come with us?” Sonata asked as she bounded forward to hug Twilight. “I wonder what kind of pony she is?” “Well the other Twilight is an Alicorn Princess, right?” Aria stated. “Wouldn’t be unlikely that she was the same.” “Sonata does raise a good point, but I think I should pass this time.” Twilight said with a mighty yawn as she disengaged from Sonata. “I got a ton of work to still get done before tomorrow.” “We shouldn’t be gone too long.” Sunset said as she walked towards Twilight. “Just make sure to have a shower before you go doing anything.” Twilight blushed as the Sirens gave small giggles, the five girls saying their farewells as the Sirens followed Sunset into her room. “You girls remember the rules?” She asked as she stretched, looking back over to her fellow Equestrians as she stretched. “Leave our phones, money, and anything technologolical behind!” Sonata gave a huge smile as her hand shot up, as her sisters facepalmed at the girls explanation. “More or less right.” Sunset chuckled. “Just leave them on my bed and we should be good to go.” “Still can’t believe that our phones turn into massive books.” Aria said with a frown as she deposited her flip-phone onto the bed. “Equestria may have magic, but the technology of these humans can be pretty useful.” “I know, right?” Sunset said with a shake of her gold and crimson mane. “I remember when I first arrived I was so upset that I didn’t have any way to use my magic, I thought this world was so backwards! Then I got my first smartphone.” She gave a small laugh, as the other three nodded in understanding. “Still,” Adagio said with a sad smirk. “I miss the old times.” “Oh, not this again!” Aria said as she shook her head. “Just because you always got all the attention-” “I thought it was really sweet when guys use to attempt to sing to us at night!” Sonata said with a bemused look. “Though they could have used some singing lessons…” “Okay, okay.” Sunset said as she laughed at the three ancient beings. “We should get going now, we are late enough as is.” The four nodded before they followed one another through Sunset’s full sized mirror, crossing the boundaries of time and space and landing in Equestria. “Oof!” Sunset said as she quite literally landed in Equestria, her posture of standing up was not meant for her Equine body and resulted in her plummeting to the ground in a sprawl. “Gah!” “Motherfu-!” “Wheee!” Sunset slowly felt three bodies land on top of her, one after the other. “Jeez! You three are heavy!” She complained as the pile of Pony limbs struggled to free themselves from each other. “Yeah, Aria!” Sonata said as she got free, stretching her wings. “You should cut back on all those burgers!” “You’re just luck you have such a freakishly fast metabolism!” Aria grunted as she broke free, Sunset letting out a small sigh of relief as the Earth Pony sister removed her heft. “You chow down on so many of those damn tacos!” “Girls, enough.” Adagio commanded as she stood, brushing her horn delicately with a hoof. “You shouldn’t bicker in front of our host.” “Or rather, hosts.” Sunset said as she finally scrambled up, noticing that Princess Twilight was not alone. “Hiya, Princess! Who’s your friend there?” The four girls all stared intently at the unicorn to the side of Princess Twilight, studying her as she attempted to shy away. Her coat was a mix of pale pink and purple, almost a light magenta, with a stylized mane of a deep purple with streaks of a lighter purple and light aquamarine. Her deep blue eyes looked down at the ground as she kicked a leg absentmindedly. “Go on,” Twilight whispered with a kind smile. “Introduce yourself.” “We don’t bite!” Sonata exclaimed as she hovered in the air, a hoof raising up to her muzzle as she looked away in thought. “Well, at least not anymore.” The Unicorn mare looked at Twilight in shock, the girl shaking her head with a small smile and a giggle. “We don’t have all day.” Finally, with a reluctant sigh, the mare stepped forward. “Nice to meet you all, my name is Starlight Glimmer.” Sunset walked forward with a kind smile. “Nice to meet you Starlight, I’m Sunset Shimmer. And these four goof balls are Sonata, Adagio, and Aria.” She said pointing to each in turn before offering that same hoof to Starlight. The mare looked down at it in confusion before looking back to Twilight. “Er, Sunset?” The Princess asked with a slight chortle. “You’re in Equestria now, remember?” Sunset gave a confused look, before looking down a t her hoof. “Oh, right. No hands.” She shook her head as she laughed at her mistake. “Sorry to confuse you Starlight, that’s just how we greet other people back across the portal.” “People…?” She asked quietly, confused look still present as she looked back at the other three Ponies who were making their ways towards her. “You don’t have to worry about us biting! Promise!” Sonata said as she lazily glided across the room. “We’re not Sirens anymore, so we don’t got any of those super sharp teeth.” “Sirens?” Starlight turned to Princess Twilight, unamused look on her face. “I agreed to meet friends of yours, Twilight, not be made fun of.” “Don’t take it that way, Starlight.” Twilight said with a small nod. “Sonata is right, though. Since those three are back to being regular ponies now, they don’t have sharp teeth like they used to.” Starlight gave a shocked look, glancing over at the three sisters who stood beside Sunset. “It’s true.” Sunset said with a worried smile. This was a great start to their afternoon back home. “Sirens.” Starlight said as she looked at the sisters. “The three ancient Equestrian myths who spread dissonance and jealousy across all of Equestria and had to be banished by Star Swirl the Bearded himself?” “Yup!” Sonata said with a friendly smile and nod of her head. “The one and only! Er… Three and only?” “Ignore the bumbling of Sonata.” Adagio interjected as she walked forward. “It is nice to meet you, Starlight Glimmer.” “Er… Likewise?” Starlight responded with a forced smile. “Eh,” Aria shrugged as she walked towards the exit of the room. “Better reception then we used to get all those years ago.” “Aria? Where are you going!?” Twilight yelled after the Earth Pony sister. “Sunset! You and Starlight take some time to get to know one another, while I take the other two and make sure Aria doesn’t get lost in the castle!” “So… uh…” Starlight said once she was alone with Sunset, the amber Unicorn studying the room. “What are we doing in…” Sunset studied the texture of the floor and walls, trying to determine where they were currently. “The Crystal Empire? This doesn’t look like Canterlot Castle, at least any section that I ever remember exploring.” “We’re in Twilight’s castle.” Sunset said with a small tilt of her head. “And what do you mean, ‘remember exploring’?” “Oh, has Twilight not told you about me?” Sunset said as she looked at the other mare, smirking when Starlight shook her head. “This’ll be fun.” She looked around before trotting over to a large table around which seven crystal thrones sat, each emblazoned with a cutie mark Sunset figured. She seated herself in what she guessed was Twilight’s chair, motioning Starlight to come join her. “So!” Sunset started with a smile. “As I said before, my name is Sunset Shimmer, and I used to be Princess Celestia’s personal protege before Twilight came along.” “Wait, what?” Starlight had a look of awe on her face. “You were a personal protege to the Princess? Then why aren’t you in Canterlot? Did she send you away to study that other world?” Sunset gavea sheepish grin as she rubbed the back of her head. “Actually, I ran away when I didn’t get what I wanted.” She gave a small chuckle as Starlight looked like she wanted to faint. “Mom was so perfect, and I figured I deserved everything she had. I was a pretty spoiled brat.” “Mom!?” “Oh, yes. I was adopted off the streets by Celestia when I was a foal.” She had a small, sad smile on her face as she looked down at the table, her front amber hooves resting lightly on the crystalline surface. “I owed her my life, and I threw it back in her face.” “Wow…” Starlight said as she studied the mare before her. “So you were adopted by the Princess, were magically gifted enough to be her personal protege, and ended up running away to another world?” “Yup. Eventually I came back and stole Princess Twilight’s crown, got corrupted by it and almost killed her, before being saved by her and the Gaia counterparts of her friends here.” “You tried to kill Twilight!?” Starlight yelled as she shot up. “How are you still alive? How did Celestia not banish you to like, the sun or something!?” Sunset laughed at the outburst from Starlight. “I dunno, but somehow here I am to talk to you. But enough about me for now, tell me about yourself.” ****************************************** “Wow, so you got jealous of your friend getting his cutie mark, then felt abandoned when he was sent to CSGU and decided to rid the world of all cutie marks?” Sunset asked as she studied the mare before her, receiving a small nod in return. “I’m sorry that you had such a rough childhood, Starlight. I can’t really blame you for doing what you did even. Hell, I never really had friends before Princess Twilight saved me, and when I went through an experience of them disowning me, I struggled pretty hard.” Sunset ran a hoof up her for furred forearm. “Tried to kill myself actually, I felt like I had nothing left in the world.” A tender hoof came and rested across the tracing amber hoof of Sunset, aquamarine irises looking up and locking with deep blue ones. “Thank you for listening to me.” Starlight said with a small smile. “I’m really glad to have been able to meet you. To meet someone that could understand the trauma, and not think of it as a childish temper tantrum.” Sunset in Equestria: Sunset Gets MeasuredSunset in Equestria: Sunset Gets Measured “Do we really have to do this?” Aria snarked as she followed behind the group that was making its way through the door of Rarity’s boutique after passing through another corridor of thatched roof cottages, the five ponies chatting and greeting those that they passed by on the way. “I really must insist, Miss Aria.” Rarity said as she looked back at the Earth Pony Siren, friendly smile spread across her muzzle even as a devious glint tinkled in her eyes. “If you four are going to participate the Grand Galloping Gala then you are all going to need formal attire, and seeing as you are friends with dear Twilight then you are friends of mine!” “Trust me, Aria, Rarity is still the Element of Generosity here, so it’s best to just accept it.” Sunset chuckled as she watched her friend puff out her cheeks in annoyance. “As long as it’s not super frilly or something…” “Oh hush now, Aria.” Adagio chided with a devious grin on her face. “Who was the one that liked those poofy medieval dresses that the humans like so much-” “I remember that!” Sonata added as she hovered in spot, chuckling as she held a hoof in front of her muzzle. “She totally still has a few of them in her closet back home!” “Seriously!?” Aria’s face turned a fiery red as steam seemed to shoot out of her ears. “What are you two doing digging around in my closet!?” “Well why do you keep storing the toys in there?” Sonata asked innocently, three ponies stopping in shock as they looked up at the Pegasus. “Oh?” Rarity asked as she paused and turned around. “I keep forgetting that you four have been living in a different world.” She giggled as felt her desire for gossip to come to the forefront. “What sort of toys would they be? I’d love to know more of this… Humane was it?” “Human!” Sunset stuttered out rapidly, face blushing at what she had a hunch of what Sonata meant. “Um… L-lemme see if I can remember this spell right.” Her muzzle scrunched adorably as she concentrated on a spell from her fillyhood, magic flowing from her horn like second nature. “Oooh? What is this?” Rarity asked as the magic condensed into a figure that was unknown to her. It stood on two legs, its forearms hanging by its side as little things hung off of its hooves. It was wearing clothes of some sort, the fashionista going ny the hunch in her gut, though they were not of a style that would be common in Equestria. “Damn Sunset, Don’t go showin’ off now!” Aria said as she nudged her friend, causing the figure to blink out of existence as Sunset’s concentration was lost. “Gah! Aria? What was that for?” Sunset asked as she stumbled to regain her footing. Darn Earth Pony Strength. “So that was a Human?” Rarity asked, giggling lightly at the display. “That was what Sunset here looks like in the other world, yes.” Adagio said as she nodded. “That is what the portal does to us when we cross over to the Human World.” “They seem so queer…” Rarity muttered as she floated her glasses from her cash register and onto her face, blushing when she noticed the four others looking at her intently. “Oh, sorry dears! I hope I didn’t insult any of you!” “Don’t worry, Marshmallow.” Aria said with a wink. “I think I speak for the four of us when I say we were all confused when we first ended up there.” “Yeah, it was a pretty big change…” Sonata said with a small frown, before she grimaced. “Everyone was so smelly for the first thousand years or so.” “I was so happy when people found out that it wasn’t life threatening to have a bath.” Adagio said as she shook her head in disgust. “They wouldn’t bathe!?” Rarity looked ready to pass out in shock. “But how did… Ewww!” The four followed the shaking mare into one of the back rooms, sharing small talk before jumping when Rarity cleared her throat. “I would like to start by asking if any of you know your measurements by chance?” “Oh!” Sunset gave a large smile as she stepped forward. “Thirty Six F, Twentynine, Thirty Eight!” The three Sirens stood with slack jaws, Sonata nearly crashing to the ground as she suddenly found it hard to keep her wings flapping. Sunset stood there, wondering why everyone was so silent. “Er… Sunset?” Rarity asked with a worried smile. “What were those measurements?” “What do you… mean…” Sunset slowly realized that she just gave her measurements from back in the human world, her face flushing in embarrassment. “Daaaaaamn…” Aria said after wiping drool from her face. “You really are superhuman!” Her two sisters nodded in agreement as Rarity looked on in confusion. “Er, why don’t you step up there first, Sunset?” Adagio asked, her face still slightly flushed. “Rarity? Would it be fine if the three of us used your washroom quick?” Sunset in Equestria: Sunset and TwilightSunset in Equestria: Sunset and Twilight Sunset sighed as she slid her backpack off, letting the hefty sack of cloth hit the floor with a muddled thump, her hands brushing through her hair. It had been a tiring day filled with tests and dealing with the Sirens acting strange around her. Well… stranger than usual. “Hey, Twilight?” Sunset called out as she striped off her blazer. “You in your room?” Slowly she stripped out of her uniform, throwing on a more casual set of clothes before a set of knocks rang on her door. “Yes, Sunset? What do you need?” Twilight asked as Sunset opened the door, Sunset noticing how the girl had yet to change out of her uniform. “Could you let your mom know I’ll be back in a few hours? I just wanna jump cross the portal quick.” Sunset smiled as she walked over to her desk and opened a drawer, pulling her magic journal and leaving it on her desk as she turned back to the lavender teen. “You guys can reach me through this if you need to.” “Sure!” Twilight nodded, looking at the mystical tome. “One of these days I’m going to have to go with you.” Sunset chuckled as she walked back over to Twilight. “I’ll talk to Princess Twilight about it. We don’t know what would happen if one of you crossed the portal and we would hate for something to happen.” “I know that…” Twilight whined as she jabbed her forefingers together. “I’ll let Mom and Dad know when they get home.” “Thanks, Twilight.” Sunset gave the girl a friendly hug before heading over to the mirror portal. “I’ll see you guys later.” ******************************************************* “I don’t see why that would be much of an issue.” Princess Twilight held a hoof in front of her muzzle as she sat lost in thought. “I mean, we haven’t observed any issues with us and the Sirens, so it should be fine.” “True…” Sunset said with a worried smile. “I’m just worried about what the other Twilight would do here is all.” “Oh! Oh right!” Twilight gave a hesitant grin and a self knowing laugh. “Yeah, she would have a bit of a hayday here if she’s anything like me.” “Maybe I’ll tell her that we are doing some investigations?” Sunset asked as she stood up from her chair and walked over to her friend. “I think that would be best.” Twilight started laughing as she stood up and embraced her friend. “But enough about that, I am surprised to see you! Pleasantly of course.” “Yeah, I felt like I needed to get away from all the tests and happenings back there.” Sunset grinned as she backed up. “Maybe you could show me around Ponyville? I mean, you having a castle is awesome enough, but I keep hearing things about how great this town is.” “Sure! I know you saw a bit when you were with Rarity, but I bet there is still quite a bit I can show you.” Twilight nodded as she started to make her way out of the room. The pair made their way Twilight’s castle, Sunset earning a knowing giggle from the Alicorn Princess when the unicorn mentioned how much like a maze this place appeared. “So where to first?” Sunset asked as she looked around, Twilight saying farewell to Spike as the two walked out onto the path leading into Ponyville. “I really don’t know what to expect really.” “Well how about we start by heading out to Sweet Apple Acres? I believe Rainbow Dash was helping Applejack with something out there, plus we can stop by at Fluttershy’s on the way?” Twilight asked as the great doors to her castle slammed shut behind them. “We can visit with Rarity last and do lunch!” “Works for me.” Sunset nodded in response before pausing with a silly grin. “Though we really need to get the portals magic working right to sync the two worlds better, it's almost supper time back there.” “I did notice time was different there, maybe due to the Sun and Moon not being naturally lowered and raised?” The lavender pony pondered as she walked beside her friend, the two of them discussing all sorts of small subjects. “O-Oh! Oh My!” Came a panicked cry, the two of them recognizing it’s owner and breaking from their casual trotting. “Please do come out from there, Meowzers! You’re going to get your fur all messed up!” Fluttershy was kneeling before a tree, holding a pale yellow hoof towards a gap in its gnarled roots. “Fluttershy? What’s wrong?” Twilight asked as the pair skidded to a halt to avoid tripping over the soft spoken Pegasus, not realizing they had been so close to her. “Oh, Twilili-i-i-i-i-ight!” Fluttershy had turned around to regard her friend, only to notice the amber coated unicorn with ketchup and mustard coloured hair. Seeing Sunset Shimmer sent her into a panic, causing her to zip up into the tree to hide. “Fluttershy, we’ve been over this.” The Princess sighed as she shook her head. “Sorry, Sunset. I’ll calm her down in a sec.” She took to the air mumbling to herself, rather cutely Sunset thought as the Unicorn found herself to be the only one with hooves still on the ground. She looked around and noticed a gleam coming from the bramble of roots, the glow hinting to the beast hiding in the snarl. Sunset looked up to see Twilight struggling to disentangle her Pegasus friend from the tree and, with a shake of her short maned head and a smile, took a few steps towards the stealthy beast. She stopped a short distance away and kneeled down, getting as close to its level as possible, and reached out an amber hoof. The eyes studied the offered limb, crawling across its length before looking back up to the smiling aquamarine iris of the pony that waited patiently. “Mrow?” The cat left the roots and slowly stalked towards the hoof, smelling it before starting to rub up against it. Sunset smiled as the feline got accustomed to her, giggling when she felt its rough tongue lap out against her. “Wow, Sunset…” Twilight said as she floated down to gently land beside her friend, rearing back as the cat shot up into the safety of the embrace of Sunset’s hooves. “Oh, Meowzers, why are you such a scaredy kitty?” Fluttershy asked as she landed on her hind legs and held out her front hooves, asking the beast to come to her, frowning slightly when the beast curled up further into the amber coat of Sunset. “I didn’t know you were so good with animals, Sunset.” Twilight said as she attempted to reach a hoof out to the feline to pet it, only to retract it when the cat gave a warning. “Thanks. I got used to it back when I lived alone.” Sunset said with a smile as she adjusted the cat in order to pet it, at least as best as one could with hooves. “There were lots of alley cats sadly, plus I volunteered time at the other ‘Shy’s animal rescue thingie, so I am pretty used to animals like this.” “Um… ‘Other ‘Shy’s”?” Came the quiet question from the buttercream Pegasus who instantly hid behind her long hair when the two horned ponies looked at her. “Remember, Fluttershy? The whole other world which has duplicates of all of us?” Twilight looked at her friend in confusion, having explained about all this so many times already. “Oh! Right!” Fluttershy blushed when she remembered the many lectures that lasted hours. “Sorry, um, Sunset.” She looked at the Unicorn apologetically. “No worries, Fluttershy. Just glad I could help.” She nodded in response before looking down at the cuddly cat she still held. “Time for you to go back now.” The cat gave a sad sound as Sunset handing it over to Fluttershy, waving as the animal lover departed. *************************************** “So, exactly how awesome is the other me?” Rainbow Dash asked around the hoofful of apples she was carrying. “Come now, Rainbow,” Came the response from Applejack, the farmer giving a solid kick to a tree and watching as the apples fell into buckets placed all around her. “Ah’m sure Twilight was tellin’ ya tha truth when she-” “Second opinions are always appreciated.” Rainbow said as she deposited the apples into a bin, only to steal the stetson from the head of her friend and flying off with raucous laughter. “Fer land’s sake, RD!” Applejack yelled as she barreled after the Wonderbolt Reservist, the two making circles around the section of orchard the four were in. “So have they…?” Sunset asked as she levatated another batch of apples from multiple trees into baskets scattered all around. It was nice to be able to stretch her magical muscles. “W-what!?” The apples that had been held securely in Twilight’s magic suddenly found themselves falling to the ground, only to be saved at the last possible second. “Waaahg!” Or not, as both Rainbow Dash and Applejack tumbled through the wall of fruit and landing in a pile before the two magical ponies. “Have we what?” Rainbow asked before sticking her tongue out at the, once again, stetson wearing apple farmer. Twilight looked in shock at Sunset as the amber unicorn started to smile dangerously. “Sunset, I don’t think-” “Oh, you know.” Sunset ignored Twilight. Time to see just how similar the worlds were. “Just wondering if you two have fucked yet? There’s tons of obvious tension between you two.” The two ponies looked at each other then back to Sunset, mirrored looks of confusion on their features. “Er, What’re ya talkin’ about, Shugahcube?” Applejack asked, noticing Twilight doing her best to silence the question asking unicorn. “Sunset, please!” Twilight begged. “Oh, right! We’re in Equestria, sorry! I believe what I should have asked was-” “Sunset! Stahp!” Twilight pleaded, doing her best to interrupt her friend. “Have you two bucked yet?” Sunset asked with a silly grin, noticing the pair of blushes spreading across the faces of the two ponies. “Land’s sake!” Applejack shouted as she shifted her hat to in front of her face. Rainbow suddenly burst out laughing, falling onto her back and rolling around. “O-oh man! AJ, your face!” She said between massive bouts of giggling. “C’mon, cowgirl, you know you want to taste the Rainbow!” “Pardon me?” Everyone stopped the merriment as a culture voice rang out in the orchard, the four apple retrievers turning and looking at the bonnet wearing unicorn that stood watching the scene before her. “Would one of you dears like to explain what our resident cloud buster just implied to my marefriend?” Rarity asked with a neutral expression, her eyes speaking of the severity that her face did not. “Eer…” Rainbow stood up hesitantly, understanding the gaze she was receiving from Rarity. “Gotta Dash!” “Well then.” Rarity stated as Rainbow vanished in a blink of an eye. “Maybe the three of you would like some lunch?” The mare levitated her saddlebags off her bag and laid them down beneath the shade of one of the biggest trees on the farm, a striped blanket unrolling itself as a basket landed on top. “Sorry about that, Rares.” Sunset apologized sheepishly, blushing and unable to look at the Unicron before her. “That was all cause of me wanting to play a trick.” “A rather crude trick if’n ya ask me.” Applejack said as she trotted pass, nuzzling her marefriend lovingly before resting beside her. “Oh, but you turned the most adorable shade of red!” Rarity teased as the other two ponies joined them, three of them devolving into laughter while the fourth hid behind her hat. ********************************** “Strange that Pinkie isn’t around.” Twilight said as they departed from Sugar Cube Corner, the Princess levitating a drink, with extra oats, in front of her. “If the Pinkie I know is any indicator, I hope your castle has some kind of ‘Party Insurance’, Twilight.” Sunset gave a worried smile. Twilight paused, her drink levitating just out of reach of her mouth. “Run.” ********************************** “Welcome, welcome, welcome! A warm welcome to you!” Pinkie Pie sang as the two unicorns burst into Twilight’s castle, the front foyer set up for a welcoming party. “Pleasepleaseplease, please, tell me you didn’t do anything else to the castle, Pinkie?” Twilight begged as she interrupted the jaunty tune Pinkie was still singing. “Nopie-dopie!” Pinkie responded with a warm smile as she slid down the railing from the top of the stairs, riding it down all the way to the bottom of the stairs. “Geronionimo!” She called out as she launched herself at Sunset, wrapping the amber unicorn in tight hug. “Hello to you to, Pinkie.” Sunset chuckled as the girl embraced her, party cannons erupting from all around them, disgorging confetti by the chariotful onto the room. “Pinkie Pie!” screamed the poor owner of the castle. Sunset in Equestria: Sunset and LunaSunset in Equestria: Sunset and Luna Sunset hummed happily as she strode through Canterlot Castle, nodding and smiling at the guards as she passed by, even pausing to talk to a few she recognized and apologizing deeply to one that she remembered injuring when she made her escape years ago. “Sunset Shimmer.” The guard Sunset was talking with suddenly stood up straight, a hoof arching up in attention, causing her to look back around at where the voice was coming from. “Princess Luna!” Sunset immediately prostrated herself before the lunar sister, eyes closed as her muzzle rubbing against the floor momentarily. “You may leave us.” She heard Luna say, the halls echoing with the steps of the retreating Royal Guard. “No need to bow, Sunset Shimmer.” Luna said as Sunset felt her head slowly being raised. “We do not need someone that is family to treat Us any different.” Sunset gulped as she was face to face with Princess Luna, taking in the- “Ah, We guess that you have taken notice of something.” The lunar monarch said with a small grin. “Y-your eyes!” Sunset said with a gasp, before realizing how insensitive she appeared. “I-I-I mean! My apologies!” Sunset tired to bow once more, only to be stopped by one of Luna’s silver shod hooves. “Do not worry, Sunset.” Luna chuckled, Sunset smiling goofily at how different the Princess of the Night was acting. “We are here to deliver a message on behave of Celly.” “C-Celly?” Sunset was perplexed, who was… Celly was it? “Yes, our dear sister would like to apologize, she is tied up with a royal matter and does not wish for you to be bored while she is forced to deal with the bigots that form a majority of the nobility of Canterlot.” Luna said with a small frown, chuckling internally at the pure shock Sunset wore across her muzzle. “She asked if We could instead look after you, as the two of us have not had much time to the two of us.” “O-oh! Sure, I think that’s awesome!” Sunset stammered, looking up once more at the slitted- wait, they weren’t slitted anymore?” “Your just saying that…” Luna said quietly as she looked away with a sad smile. “We understand.” She said softly as she started to trot away. “W-wait! Princess Luna!” Sunset said as she rushed after the sullen sister, only to stop when the Princess whipped around and outstretched a hoof. “Boop!” Luna smiled as Sunset ran muzzle first into the cold shoe on her hoof, breaking out in giggles as Sunset blushed deeply. “Oh, Celly was right! You do turn the most adorable shade of red!” Sunset stood still in shock. She expected this kind of behaviour from Celestia, not from Luna! Whenever she saw Luna in her past visits the younger sister had been so quiet and reserved, so stoic. Yet here she was laughing at pulling the same kind of trick that Celestia had done to Sunset so many times. Slowly she started to join in the mirth, laughing and blushing as she rubbed the back of her head. “Our apologies, Sunset.” Luna said after finally calming down. “Sister insisted that you receive ‘The Boop’, as she calls it. We, um…” Luna quieted as she looked down at the hoof she was idly kicking. “We hope that We did not offend.” “Boop.” Luna looked at the amber hoof that rested on her nose, looking up at the smiling features of Sunset, taking in the aquamarine irises that dispelled any worry. “So I think the first thing I’d like to do is find out why your eyes change looks at random.” Sunset asked as she smiled at the princess, though it caused Luna to stiffen up. “Ah… wrong question I take it?” “N-no!” Luna blurted out. “It’s just…” She started looking around before beckoning Sunset close. “Follow me.” The pair made a winding path through the castle, entering parts that had been barred to Sunset in her youth, before ending up in front of a set of doors that seemed to sparkle with an iridescent glow. “In here.” Luna motioned, prying the threshold apart with her magic. Sunset followed the jittery pony in, feeling silly about how nervous Luna was, before stopping to look at the room. It must have been Luna’s bedroom, evident by the massive four post bed with hanging frills and glowing bits. The ceiling sparkled with stars and constellations, mirroring the ethereal mane of the rooms owner, while basic furniture littered the room. “We must ask you to make Us a vow.” Luna said, not turning back to look at Sunset. “You must vow that you shan't tell a soul about what you are about to witness.” “U-um… sure?” Sunset said offhandedly. “Look, Luna, if you don't feel comfortable about this don’t worry about it.” “No.” Came the response, Sunset taking a half step back before stepping closer. “You are family, and thusly, you must know.” Sunset couldn’t even give a yelp of surprise before a shell of magic whirled around Luna, blocking the Princess from Sunset’s vision. “Princess Luna!” She called out in fear, rushing forward towards the vortex of magic just in time for it to die out, leaving Luna standing there. “What was that for, Princess?” Slowly Luna turned around, gazing hesitant at Sunset and allowing the amber mare to look upon the princess in full. “Wooow…” Sunset gaped in awe as she studied Luna. Her pupil was back to being a slit, although the rest of her eyes remained the same, the cyan orbs quivering as Luna peered back at Sunset. Her mouth opened a slight, slowing Sunset vision of the small fangs the pony now possessed. Cute… She thought as her eyes went back to the wings resting on Luna’s back. They were feathered from scapula to alula, but became membranous, much like a bat. Silence filled the room, Sunset still studied Luna while the Princess stood still, looking uneasy. “I’m hideous… Aren’t I?” Luna asked, a tear starting to well. “If by hideous, you actually mean freaking amazing, then yes!” Sunset replied rushing forward and making circles around the princess, much to Luna’s shock. “Oh man, you are so cool! I mean, look at these wings!” Sunset’s magic flared to life and gently coaxed the wing out, an amber hoof gently caressing the membrane. “You look a little like a… Oh, what is it that the humans call it again? Gah! I knew I should have read more Hoofy Potter!” Luna started to smile slightly as Sunset sat down on her haunches and raised a hoof to her mouth in contemplation. This was a pleasant surprise. “I’ve got it!” Luna reared back, stunned by the vigor Sunset was displaying. “A Thestral! That’s what they called it!” Sunset said as she smiled back at Luna. “It’s kind of like a dead pony, er, kinda? You can see it’s bones through the skin and it has no fur, no feathers, but giant, membranous wings kinda like yours. They look really cool!” Sunset continued to babble on about things, only to stop when Luna started to shake. “Princess? What’s wrong? Have I gone too far?” Worry started to wash over the Unicorn. “Nay, Sunset Shimmer,” Luna said, tears of happiness running down her face. “We are so pleased that you view Us not as a monster, as others have.” “Why would they do that!?” Sunset asked in a soft voice, trotting forward and sitting beside Luna. “It was after the Nightmare Moon incident, when Twilight Sparkle and her friends saved me with the Elements of Harmony…” Luna looked up at the starry roof. “Not long after I started to recover from the… How to describe it…” “Cleansing.” Sunset offered, resting a hoof on the back of Luna who had since taken a seat of her own. “I know what that’s like first hand- er, hoof, sorry.” Luna giggled in response. “Fret not, We understand that you would be used to using different words that would seem alien to Us. But yes, cleansing seems right. After Our magic started to come back We started to change…” Luna teared up again, though Sunset could tell it wasn’t in happiness. “We were forever changed by Nightmare Moon, and even though We had been cleansed, We were left with a reminder of Our failure. Of Our hubris.” “I’m so sorry to hear that.” Sunset was trying her best to comfort the ancient Alicorn. She knew what it was like to lose herself to darker powers. “And to show you just how much I understand…” Sunset slowly got up and moved away. “Um… I haven’t tried this sort of thing before, so maybe be ready to put out any fires, okay?” She gave Luna a worried grin before she she closed her eyes, concentrating and pulling vast amounts of magic into herself. “Sunset Shimmer?” Luna called out as she stood up, only to take a step back when a swirl of multicoloured flame erupted around Sunset, encasing the Unicorn in a cocoon of flame. The princess brought a hoof up to shield her face, doing her best to study the room and make sure nothing caught fire. Thought for the sheer fury of the flame, the room did not heat up. She took a hesitant step towards the conflagration, only to have a sudden explosion rock the room, flinging her against the far wall. “Oof!” The Alicorn got to her feet, looking around her room in fear of damage being caused, letting out a sigh of relief when she found nothing to be damaged. Wait… “Sunset Shimmer!” Luna raced to the prone figure laying on the floor as… smoke? Was that smoke billowing around her? “I guess a full body transformation is a lot harder than just wings, huh?” Sunset muttered before waving a hoof before her face, coughing as she tried to clear the smoke around her. “Sorry, Luna. I hope I haven’t damaged anything!” She slowly got up and looked around. “Huh, everything seems so… small?” “It is you that is large, Sunset Shimmer.” Luna commented as she looked up at the taller figure. “What… are you?” “Oh!” Sunset pulled a red hoof before her face. “Right, I was trying to show you something. Um…” Sunset whipped her head around behind her and took in her wings, unfurling the bat like extremities and grinning, before looking back at the Princess. Make that down at the Princess. “So I kinda had my own Nightmare Moon situation over on the other side of the moon, as you know, but I figured I should show you what I became. Well, the Pony version of it at least.” She grinned sheepishly. “Er… Luna? Why are you smiling like that?” ****************************** Celestia let out a sigh as she pushed the inkwell away. Why did she have to be the responsible sister? At least Luna and Sunset got to have some together time, which was nice, though Celestia wished that she could have some time with her daughter. Maybe tomorrow? The two of them could go shopping, visit around Canterlot and have some personal time together. “Yes, I think that would be nice.” She said as she sat up and turned around, only to freeze. “Boo!” Came two cruel sounding voices, one from Nightmare Moon, and the other from… Sunset? The elder sister let out a shrill cry and stumbled back, back landing on the table and flipping the inkwell up into the air, only to have it land down on her muzzle. “Oh man! That was genius, Auntie!” Celestia heard Sunset shout out amongst laughter from the two figures standing in front of her. “Looks like I owe you… something? I can’t remember the bet.” “What are you two- wait, Sunset? Why do you look like that!?” Celestia was wearing a look of shock as she removed the inkwell from resting on her muzzle, the black fluid vanishing with a trace of magic. “So-sorry, mom!” Sunset said amongst more howls of laughter. “I wanted to show Luna my own cursed form, and she wanted to play a trick on you because of it.” “Really now, dear Lulu?” Celestia said as she raised an eyebrow, looking down at her younger sister that reverted back to her now natural form. “We regret nothing.” Luna said as she refurled her membranous wings. Sunset in Equestria: Sunset and CelestiaSunset in Equestria: Sunset and Celestia “Sunset! You’re early!” Sunset chuckled as she walked into the throne room of Canterlot castle, waving to the guards as she passed. “I couldn’t wait to spend some time with my dear old mom.” She responded with a wide smile. All the stress of her day at school had washed away the instant she crossed through the portal back to Equestria. “I’ll ignore the ‘old’ part of that sentence and take it as a compliment.” Celestia said with a small chuckle. Slowly she stood up, the countless secretaries and staff that surrounded her parted as she made her way down the stairs. “Luna will be on her way shortly,” Celestia announced as she approached her daughter, the tow sharing a loving embrace. “She shall be in charge until the two of us return.” “You really want to trust Aunt Luna with that sort of responsibility?” Sunset said as she nudged the taller Alicorn playfully, drawing a small smirk from the Solar Goddess. “I think she can be responsible enough to not nearly drown Equestria in coffee again, yes.” Celestia said as she draped a wing lovingly over her daughter. “So where would you like to go first? I figured we could do a little shopping, grab some tea and cake, and-” “Could I see Philomena?” Sunset asked, stopping and kicking a hoof against the rug. “But of course, dear!” Celestia beamed, scooping Sunset forward as they trotted through the hallways. “Let us visit your old room, as I suspect that is where she is resting.” “My… My room?” Sunset asked hesitantly. She had thought Celestia would have changed that room for other use after Sunset had run away. “But of course!” Her mother responded. “And if I may make a selfish request, would it be alright if I had the portal moved to the castle?” “Y-yes! Of course, mom!” Sunset rubbed up against her mother in appreciation. She was so happy that she was able to reconcile with Celestia. “Perfect, I will send a letter to Twilight later!” Celestia cheered as she rubbed back against Sunset. “But we shouldn’t keep poor Philomena waiting, she’s been waiting to see you again since your last visit.” “My last visit was yesterday, mom.” Sunset grinned before putting on a fake frown. “You would know that if you loved me and paid attention to when I come and visit.” “Oh hush.” Celestia said as she ruffled Sunset’s mane with a wing, earning a peal of giggles from the Unicorn. “We both know how much of my life you are.” The pair grew quiet after that comment. “I was so worried I would never see you again…” Celestia whispered solemnly. “First I had lost Luna all those years ago due to my ignorance, and then I lost my daughter due to my own stupidity…” “Don’t you dare insult yourself, mom!” Sunset said louder than she expected. “We both know it was my arrogance and pride that drove me away. I felt like I deserve something that I hadn’t earned, all because-” “All because I ignored you.” Celestia interrupted. “We can keep going in circles everytime this is brought up Sunset, or we can accept that we are both at fault.” “Fine…” Sunset said as she puffed out a cheek in annoyance. “There’s the Sunset I remember!” Celestia chuckled as she stopped in front of a door. “And just in time too.” Sunset paused as she looked at the door, it’s maple hue still the same, and just at eye height was a sun split amongst two different sets of yellow and red. “I remember how happy you were the day you got your Cutie Mark.” Celestia said wistfully. “You did nothing but show me, so much so to the point that I had to get poor old Shoe Shine to find paint of the right colours so you could paint it on the door.” “Rest his soul.” Sunset muttered as she traced over the design. It was still as sloppy as the day she painted it, the colour bold and unweathered. Slowly she looked up at the top of the door, at the flap that rested shut to allow exit and entry even if the door was closed. “Are you ready?” Sunset looked up at her mother. Sure, she had met with Philomena quite a few times, almost every time she visited. But that wasn’t in her room. She never thought that she would be back here. Slowly, Sunset nodded in response, reaching out with her magic and twisting the door handle, pushing inward. Light poured out of the room, blinding Sunset momentarily, though it did not deafen her to a familiar squawk. She felt a mass of cool heat and feathers collide into her, a choir of happiness coming from her as her hooves wrapped around the bird that was trying to suffocate the Unicorn in happiness and feathery hugs. “Oh, Philomena! I hope you’ve not been playing tricks on anypony of late!” Sunset was so relieved that the phoenix still remembered her, still wanted to be with her. She remembered how much she had ignored Philomena before she vanished across the the portal. The phoenix made a low whistle like sound as she landed on Sunset’s outstretched hoof, hiding itself behind its wing. “Whatever are we going to do with you?” Sunset chuckled, noticing that she was still outside of her room. “Well? Want to fully welcome me home?” She asked, the bird giving a happy caw and launching once more into the air, floating gaily into the room. “You didn’t change anything…” Sunset murmured as she looked around the room, taking in the view of her childhood. The bed was still covered in the blanket her and Celestia had knit by magic, the colours garish and contrasting harshley, though it still held all the love that had been poured into it by the pair all those years ago. Bookshelves, laden with tomes of knowledge and fantasy, hid the walls from view, breaking rarely to allow something else space to be displayed. A desk sat in the corner, a fresh candle sitting in the corner with a phoenix quill feather and an inkwell beside it, for once uncovered by books and tests as Sunset had used it for in the past. “Well? What do you think?” Celestia asked as she walked up to Sunset, taking a seat beside the crying mare. “Thank you.” ************************************************************* “Do I really have to get sized for a dress, mom?” Sunset complained as a full team of salesponys scrambled overtop, around, and underneath her, struggling to get measurements and sizes as Celestia sat to the side, giggling to herself the whole while. “But of course, Sunset. How else would I be able to show you off at the ball tonight?” She asked with a not so innocent look of childish glee. “A-a ball? Tonight?” Sunset blanched at the prospect. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner!?” She wailed “Because you would have run away back across the portal and I would have a Diamond Dog of a time getting you back here.” Celestia said with a grin. “Exactly!” Sunset shot back as one of her hoofs rose against her will, a jungle of measuring tapes wrapping and lining it. “I’m thinking something frilly…” Celestia said as she looked up and away in fake thought, a delicate, gold shod white hoof raised to her muzzle. As soon as she mentioned that, three more salespony seemingly popped into existence, a small army’s worth of different frilly dresses in their magical and physical grasps. “Really? I’m not a little filly anymore, mom! I can make my own choice!” Sunset whined as she saw Celestia peering through the various choices of dresses. “We both know what your fashion sense is like, dear.” The Alicorn smiled as she peered over at Sunset. “Rarity would have had a fit had she known you.” “I happen to be popular in the other world partially thanks to my fashion sense, I’ll let you know!” Sunset retorted, gaining a small chuckle from her mother. “How much for that in pink?” Celestia asked one of the salesponys. ********************************************************* Sunset sighed as she sat down in the booth, happy to be away from the prying eyes of the nobles trying to figure out who was the strange gold and crimson haired amber unicorn that was with Celestia. “Sorry if they are making you uncomfortable, Sunset.” Celestia apologized, laying a hoof along Sunset’s own. “I could-” “Don’t worry mom, it’ll pass.” Sunset gave a small smile as she looked over her unaging mother. “I probably should announce that my daughter has returned though.” Celestia stated. “That would probably help explain who you are.” “You mean you haven’t done that yet? No wonder people are trying to find out who I am, I’m like an alien to them!” Sunset said as she banged her head off the table. “Do people at least know that I will be at the ball tonight?” Celestia only grinned sheepishly as she took a sip of her tea, earning a look of annoyance from Sunset. “How have you survived for so long?” She asked bluntly, taking a sip of her own tea. “I mean, seriously. Luna must have worked incredibly hard to make up for you.” “I’ll let you know that I have been the ruler of Equestria for such a long time for a reason, missy.” Celestia said, puffing out her chest proudly. “Cause you have control over the sun and moon, so why would anyone want to make you mad?” Sunset stated matter of factly. “I say!” Celestia said, faking hurt. “I say indeed! Twilight has told me about how they saved you from not only Nightmare Moon, but also Queen Chrysalis, Discord, and Tirek!” Sunset gave a devious looking grin. “Why have the people not overthrown you and Luna and promoted Twilight to being in charge yet?” “I’ll let you know there were reasons for all those occurrences!” Celestia replied, blushing in humiliation. “Oh? Pray, do tell.” Sunset chuckled as she looked over to the elder royal sister of Equestria. “Well Lulu got the jump on me, Queen Chrysalis was powered up by all that love, Discord got the jump on both me and Lulu, and Tirek had absorbed most of the magic of Equestria so we-” “So Luna caught you having one of your famous midday snoozes, Queen Chrysalis had all the love of a single pony, don’t even get me started on Discord, but Tirek could be sort of understood.” Sunset interrupted her mother with a smirk. “I never said they were good reasons.” Celestia pouted, rather adorably Sunset would say to others. “Is there any such thing as a good reason for all that cake?” Sunset said as she looked at the tray being brought out from the kitchen, the waitresses seeming to struggle to move it. “I was feeling peckish.” ************************************************************** The two ponies stood silently at the mouth of an alley, a pair of apartments sat as guardians to the small paved road between them. It was rather clean and well maintained, no litter or refuse piled along the bottom of the buildings. “Hard to think that this was home…” Sunset said quietly, staring at the cobblestone road that was devoid of life. “One of my biggest regrets is allowing poor children like you to languish in this city.” Celesia said sadly. “I have made sure that no other child should have to suffer like that.” “I’m not sure I will ever be able to thank you enough for saving that day…” Sunset said. “Not only did you save my life, but you gave me a home, an education… love... “ Sunset wiped away an errant tear. ********************************************************** The unicorn filly gave a small cough into her amber hoof as a drop of water leaked through the roof of her cardboard shelter. The cold autumn night had been intensified thanks to the storm that came in, drenching Canterlot in a deluge of half frozen sleet and hail. Her cough had been getting worse over the last few days, and the gnawing of pain in her stomach reminded her of the last time she had a morsel to eat. “Why is life so unfair…” She muttered hoarsely, her throat rebelling at her attempts of vocalization. She gave another small look into the banged up dish that sat at the end of her box. It was still empty, not a single pony stopped to even give her a look again. At least the guards hadn’t chased her out of this alley yet like they had all the others. Her body shook as yet another chill ran through her body, the mangled box offering little protection even when it wasn’t damaged. A sneeze ripped through her, causing more soreness of her throat and earning the annoyance of somepony living in one of the adjacent apartments. “Oi! Shut up ya rancid tramp!” She heard yelled out as a large can pelted her box. She sighed in defeat, her tired body feeling like lead. At least the mice weren’t crawling all over her again tonight like they had been for the last few days. As if the world didn’t dislike her enough yet, a loud crack of thunder reverberated through the skies, lightning racing down through the sleet filled air only to strike a lightning rod attached to the roof of the apartment to her left, shaking the building. Am ominous rumble filled the air, the sound of metal shaking against itself followed by a pattering against the cardboard. She peeked her head out, just in time to see emergency exit of the apartment rip free of the poorly maintained building and starting it’s plummet down onto her. She gave as shrill of a cry as she could manage, a crackling wheeze as others would call it, as the metal descended towards her. She shut her eyes. This was it. At least there wouldn’t be ponies angry with her anymore. Pitter Pitter Pitter She opened her eyes. Was she dead? She softly padded her face with her hooves, her eyes looking around her. She was still in her box, liquid slush oozing through her box onto her. She could hear something else though, through the sounds of the winds starting to pick up. Was that… flapping? Agonizingly slowly, she hefted her body out of the box, rubbing her mangy coat and thin body against the cobblestone, but was unable to stand up, her body too weak to support her, so she resigned to flopping down on her side. There, high above her, was a pegasus so white, she thought it was made of snow. It flapped its wings in a steady beat, its head coming down to reveal that it had a horn. “I swear,” She heard the mare say, her voice calm and soothing. “Why do ponies not take proper care of the infrastructure of Canterlot? It’s not like we don’t have the magic and technology to do so.” The mare paused when it looked down, noticing the shivering filly on the ground looking up at her. “Thank you for saving me…” The filly croaked out, the mare barely hearing the sound over the storm raging around them even though the apartments stood to their sides. “You aren’t gunna make me leave, are you?” Slowly the mare flittered down to the ground, the metal still levitating in the air. “Whyever would you ask me that, young filly?” She asked of the shivering child. “Why are you out in this storm? And wherever are your parents?” The mare looked around, trying to pierce the weather that was starting to grow more intense. Mention that the weather team has been holding back, and they take it as a challenge. She thought as she looked back down at the filly, taking in how dirty and small she was. “I don’t got none…” The filly said, still unmoving even as half frozen sludge started to pool around her. “And I’m living here ‘cause the guards kicked me out of my old alley again.” The filly heard a massive crash behind her, noticing the metal safety escape had fallen to the ground, followed by a window opening and a familiar voice shouting at her. “Would you shut the buck up you misserable waste of flesh!?” The voice called out in a slurred manner, the pony in question leaning out the window and throwing a large glass bottle in the direction of the filly. All of a sudden the storm ceased, the air growing quiet as if time itself stood still. The filly could actually start to see the sunset as she closed her eyes in anticipation for yet another bottle to connect with her bruised and battered body. But once again, no contact came. She heard the slurred voice gasp, and she opened her eyes to see why, childish curiosity kicking in. “Pr-Princess Celestia!” The voice called out in sobering calm. “My apologies, your highness! I hope I didn’t spray you with anything while I tried to remove that pest down there!” “What did you just say?” The filly could feel the air chill again, a cold fury freezing the air as the mare responded. “Princess… Celestia…?” The filly was in shock, what was the Princess doing down here? “I-Uhm… What do you mean, your highness?” The pony visibly gulped, its bloodshot eyes blinking rapidly as it looked at the upset royalty staring him down. “Why would you ever think a poor, homeless filly is a… What did you call it again?” Celestia asked of the stallion, her look demanding that he respond. “A-a-a-a… A pest! That’s what I said!” He said with an incredibly nervous chuckle, hoping that it would be what she was looking for. Silence filled the air, before the stallion let out a surprised yelp as he suddenly popped into existence in the freezing cold, standing right before Celestia, the Princess’ face a disappointed frown. “That was wrong, both as an action, and as the answer I wanted. Try. Again.” “U-uhm… A misser…” The Earth Pony stallion trailed off, looking around for a means of escape. “I’m. Waiting.” Celestia’s tone said what she would not. This stallion had no more chances. “A-a mis-sserable waste of-f fles-sh.” He said as he watched her. He could see her anger boil over, the motherly love that she always shared with everypony vanished and he could swear her hair erupted in flame. “I want you to think about this while you spend the next few days in the royal gaol.” Celestia whispered. “I want you to ruminate over your inaction to save a poor child's life, and how you were so uncaring as to harass her for actions beyond her control.” “B-b-but! Ever since she showed up, the number of vagabonds-” The stallion started, only to be wrapped in a shell of magic, the aura matching the colour that surrounded Celestia’s horn. “You do not get to say anymore.” She said, as the stallion popped out of existence once more. Celestia let out a sigh as she turned around and looked at the filly, the apathetic child giving a small smile and look of gratitude, the Princess’ heart wrenching in her chest. “Thank you, Princess.” The filly said, enjoying the calm weather that Celestia had brought about. “I think I’ll be able to sleep better tonight.” Celestia sat down, staring at the thin child before her. It’s amber coat was patchy and filthy, its mane and tail of intermixed yellow and red matted and infested with filth. Yet its small smile and sad looking eyes showed a look of great appreciation, of a love for a Princess that probably didn’t even know she was here. “What’s your name, my child?” Celestia asked as she used her magic to bring the filly to a sitting position in front of her, the child sitting in the shade of Celestia’s large body. “U-uhm… I don’t got one… Just whatever the ponies would call me…” THe filly looked down at the ground, obviously trying to paw at the cobblestone, but instead its body wavered in weakness. “How about… Sunset?” Celestia asked, smiling as she looked at the filly that looked up in awe at the royal leader of the country, the mare looking around and taking in the sunset, enjoying how the light seemed to shimmer in the air. “Yes, Sunset Shimmer. How does it sound to you?” “I like it, I guess? But why does it matter if I have a name?” The filly asked innocently. “How else am I going to introduce you to the staff back at the castle?” Celestia responded with a small chuckle, the filly’s face erupting into a gasp of shock. “W-what are you talking about, Princess?” The filly asked, unable to comprehend what she was hearing. “Well, I mean to bring you home with me, adopt you as it were.” Celestia smiled as she grabbed the filly in a shell of magic before depositing the child on her back, just behind her wings as they flared open. “You don’t gotta do that!” The filly said, coughing and sniffling as it tried to break free. “I’m fine on my own!” “I think the first order of business is a nice hot bubble bath, and a large helping of cake. What kind do you like?” Celestia asked as she took to the skies, heading back towards the castle, using her magic to finish setting the sun. She was lucky to be there, any later and this poor child would be incredibly hurt, if not worse. Good thing the construction board let her know of the building in question, even though they were unable to do anything about it thanks to some ‘frivolous paperwork’ as they called it. “Princess!” The filly called out in annoyance as the pair flew through the sky. *************************************************** Sunset slowly trotted over to her mom, wrapping a hoof around the taller alicorn as best she could. “Thank you mom. For everything.”
Sunset in Equestria: Meet Starlight GlimmerSunset in Equestria: Meet Starlight Glimmer “There you three are!” Sunset said playfully as the Sirens entered through the open door, Sonata bursting through first and embracing Sunset with a massive hug as Aria and Adagio brought up the rear. “Sun-Shim!” Sonata called out in glee as she tackled the taller girl with a loving embrace, nuzzling into Sunset as a blush came to the Unicorn’s face. “Sonata, dearie?” Adagio asked not so innocently as she walked up behind the tallest sister and grabbed the ponytail Sonata always wore. “I would think it best if you didn’t motorboat our host. Unless she asks for it that is.” Sunset flushed as Adagio winked playfully, Sonata falling back into Aria’s arms and babbling about massive amber marshmallows while the purple Siren grinned. “Well then…” Sunset started as she recompossed herself. “I am glad Night Light and Velvet aren’t home at the moment see that. If you all are ready we should get going, they are waiting for us.” The four Equestrians made their way up the stairs towards Sunset’s room, just in time to see a quite unkempt and bedraggled looking Twilight Sparkle. The lavender teen stretched as she yawned, her loose top pulling up above her knees as her violet eyes slowly opened. “Eep!” She jumped back with a blush as she noticed her four friends smiling sillily at her. “Uh, er… Hi girls!” She put on a fake smile as she walked forward. “What are you doing over so early in the morning?” “Morning?” Aria asked as she pulled out a pocket watch. “Specs, it’s almost three in the afternoon.” “You were up most of the night hammerin’ away on something.” Sunset said as she rested a hand on her hip. “What time did you get to bed anyways?” “Oh! I’ve been tinkering with a new Ethyl!” Twilight had an extremely excited look on her face when she heard Sunset’s question. “Ever since I found out magic was real I’ve been working on a whole bunch of new theories!” “Using science to explain magic, huh?” Adagio asked with a small sigh before giving a playful smile. “You may have been able to detect magic, but you will find it impossible to quantify it.” “Why doesn’t she come with us?” Sonata asked as she bounded forward to hug Twilight. “I wonder what kind of pony she is?” “Well the other Twilight is an Alicorn Princess, right?” Aria stated. “Wouldn’t be unlikely that she was the same.” “Sonata does raise a good point, but I think I should pass this time.” Twilight said with a mighty yawn as she disengaged from Sonata. “I got a ton of work to still get done before tomorrow.” “We shouldn’t be gone too long.” Sunset said as she walked towards Twilight. “Just make sure to have a shower before you go doing anything.” Twilight blushed as the Sirens gave small giggles, the five girls saying their farewells as the Sirens followed Sunset into her room. “You girls remember the rules?” She asked as she stretched, looking back over to her fellow Equestrians as she stretched. “Leave our phones, money, and anything technologolical behind!” Sonata gave a huge smile as her hand shot up, as her sisters facepalmed at the girls explanation. “More or less right.” Sunset chuckled. “Just leave them on my bed and we should be good to go.” “Still can’t believe that our phones turn into massive books.” Aria said with a frown as she deposited her flip-phone onto the bed. “Equestria may have magic, but the technology of these humans can be pretty useful.” “I know, right?” Sunset said with a shake of her gold and crimson mane. “I remember when I first arrived I was so upset that I didn’t have any way to use my magic, I thought this world was so backwards! Then I got my first smartphone.” She gave a small laugh, as the other three nodded in understanding. “Still,” Adagio said with a sad smirk. “I miss the old times.” “Oh, not this again!” Aria said as she shook her head. “Just because you always got all the attention-” “I thought it was really sweet when guys use to attempt to sing to us at night!” Sonata said with a bemused look. “Though they could have used some singing lessons…” “Okay, okay.” Sunset said as she laughed at the three ancient beings. “We should get going now, we are late enough as is.” The four nodded before they followed one another through Sunset’s full sized mirror, crossing the boundaries of time and space and landing in Equestria. “Oof!” Sunset said as she quite literally landed in Equestria, her posture of standing up was not meant for her Equine body and resulted in her plummeting to the ground in a sprawl. “Gah!” “Motherfu-!” “Wheee!” Sunset slowly felt three bodies land on top of her, one after the other. “Jeez! You three are heavy!” She complained as the pile of Pony limbs struggled to free themselves from each other. “Yeah, Aria!” Sonata said as she got free, stretching her wings. “You should cut back on all those burgers!” “You’re just luck you have such a freakishly fast metabolism!” Aria grunted as she broke free, Sunset letting out a small sigh of relief as the Earth Pony sister removed her heft. “You chow down on so many of those damn tacos!” “Girls, enough.” Adagio commanded as she stood, brushing her horn delicately with a hoof. “You shouldn’t bicker in front of our host.” “Or rather, hosts.” Sunset said as she finally scrambled up, noticing that Princess Twilight was not alone. “Hiya, Princess! Who’s your friend there?” The four girls all stared intently at the unicorn to the side of Princess Twilight, studying her as she attempted to shy away. Her coat was a mix of pale pink and purple, almost a light magenta, with a stylized mane of a deep purple with streaks of a lighter purple and light aquamarine. Her deep blue eyes looked down at the ground as she kicked a leg absentmindedly. “Go on,” Twilight whispered with a kind smile. “Introduce yourself.” “We don’t bite!” Sonata exclaimed as she hovered in the air, a hoof raising up to her muzzle as she looked away in thought. “Well, at least not anymore.” The Unicorn mare looked at Twilight in shock, the girl shaking her head with a small smile and a giggle. “We don’t have all day.” Finally, with a reluctant sigh, the mare stepped forward. “Nice to meet you all, my name is Starlight Glimmer.” Sunset walked forward with a kind smile. “Nice to meet you Starlight, I’m Sunset Shimmer. And these four goof balls are Sonata, Adagio, and Aria.” She said pointing to each in turn before offering that same hoof to Starlight. The mare looked down at it in confusion before looking back to Twilight. “Er, Sunset?” The Princess asked with a slight chortle. “You’re in Equestria now, remember?” Sunset gave a confused look, before looking down a t her hoof. “Oh, right. No hands.” She shook her head as she laughed at her mistake. “Sorry to confuse you Starlight, that’s just how we greet other people back across the portal.” “People…?” She asked quietly, confused look still present as she looked back at the other three Ponies who were making their ways towards her. “You don’t have to worry about us biting! Promise!” Sonata said as she lazily glided across the room. “We’re not Sirens anymore, so we don’t got any of those super sharp teeth.” “Sirens?” Starlight turned to Princess Twilight, unamused look on her face. “I agreed to meet friends of yours, Twilight, not be made fun of.” “Don’t take it that way, Starlight.” Twilight said with a small nod. “Sonata is right, though. Since those three are back to being regular ponies now, they don’t have sharp teeth like they used to.” Starlight gave a shocked look, glancing over at the three sisters who stood beside Sunset. “It’s true.” Sunset said with a worried smile. This was a great start to their afternoon back home. “Sirens.” Starlight said as she looked at the sisters. “The three ancient Equestrian myths who spread dissonance and jealousy across all of Equestria and had to be banished by Star Swirl the Bearded himself?” “Yup!” Sonata said with a friendly smile and nod of her head. “The one and only! Er… Three and only?” “Ignore the bumbling of Sonata.” Adagio interjected as she walked forward. “It is nice to meet you, Starlight Glimmer.” “Er… Likewise?” Starlight responded with a forced smile. “Eh,” Aria shrugged as she walked towards the exit of the room. “Better reception then we used to get all those years ago.” “Aria? Where are you going!?” Twilight yelled after the Earth Pony sister. “Sunset! You and Starlight take some time to get to know one another, while I take the other two and make sure Aria doesn’t get lost in the castle!” “So… uh…” Starlight said once she was alone with Sunset, the amber Unicorn studying the room. “What are we doing in…” Sunset studied the texture of the floor and walls, trying to determine where they were currently. “The Crystal Empire? This doesn’t look like Canterlot Castle, at least any section that I ever remember exploring.” “We’re in Twilight’s castle.” Sunset said with a small tilt of her head. “And what do you mean, ‘remember exploring’?” “Oh, has Twilight not told you about me?” Sunset said as she looked at the other mare, smirking when Starlight shook her head. “This’ll be fun.” She looked around before trotting over to a large table around which seven crystal thrones sat, each emblazoned with a cutie mark Sunset figured. She seated herself in what she guessed was Twilight’s chair, motioning Starlight to come join her. “So!” Sunset started with a smile. “As I said before, my name is Sunset Shimmer, and I used to be Princess Celestia’s personal protege before Twilight came along.” “Wait, what?” Starlight had a look of awe on her face. “You were a personal protege to the Princess? Then why aren’t you in Canterlot? Did she send you away to study that other world?” Sunset gavea sheepish grin as she rubbed the back of her head. “Actually, I ran away when I didn’t get what I wanted.” She gave a small chuckle as Starlight looked like she wanted to faint. “Mom was so perfect, and I figured I deserved everything she had. I was a pretty spoiled brat.” “Mom!?” “Oh, yes. I was adopted off the streets by Celestia when I was a foal.” She had a small, sad smile on her face as she looked down at the table, her front amber hooves resting lightly on the crystalline surface. “I owed her my life, and I threw it back in her face.” “Wow…” Starlight said as she studied the mare before her. “So you were adopted by the Princess, were magically gifted enough to be her personal protege, and ended up running away to another world?” “Yup. Eventually I came back and stole Princess Twilight’s crown, got corrupted by it and almost killed her, before being saved by her and the Gaia counterparts of her friends here.” “You tried to kill Twilight!?” Starlight yelled as she shot up. “How are you still alive? How did Celestia not banish you to like, the sun or something!?” Sunset laughed at the outburst from Starlight. “I dunno, but somehow here I am to talk to you. But enough about me for now, tell me about yourself.” ****************************************** “Wow, so you got jealous of your friend getting his cutie mark, then felt abandoned when he was sent to CSGU and decided to rid the world of all cutie marks?” Sunset asked as she studied the mare before her, receiving a small nod in return. “I’m sorry that you had such a rough childhood, Starlight. I can’t really blame you for doing what you did even. Hell, I never really had friends before Princess Twilight saved me, and when I went through an experience of them disowning me, I struggled pretty hard.” Sunset ran a hoof up her for furred forearm. “Tried to kill myself actually, I felt like I had nothing left in the world.” A tender hoof came and rested across the tracing amber hoof of Sunset, aquamarine irises looking up and locking with deep blue ones. “Thank you for listening to me.” Starlight said with a small smile. “I’m really glad to have been able to meet you. To meet someone that could understand the trauma, and not think of it as a childish temper tantrum.”
Sunset in Equestria: Sunset Gets MeasuredSunset in Equestria: Sunset Gets Measured “Do we really have to do this?” Aria snarked as she followed behind the group that was making its way through the door of Rarity’s boutique after passing through another corridor of thatched roof cottages, the five ponies chatting and greeting those that they passed by on the way. “I really must insist, Miss Aria.” Rarity said as she looked back at the Earth Pony Siren, friendly smile spread across her muzzle even as a devious glint tinkled in her eyes. “If you four are going to participate the Grand Galloping Gala then you are all going to need formal attire, and seeing as you are friends with dear Twilight then you are friends of mine!” “Trust me, Aria, Rarity is still the Element of Generosity here, so it’s best to just accept it.” Sunset chuckled as she watched her friend puff out her cheeks in annoyance. “As long as it’s not super frilly or something…” “Oh hush now, Aria.” Adagio chided with a devious grin on her face. “Who was the one that liked those poofy medieval dresses that the humans like so much-” “I remember that!” Sonata added as she hovered in spot, chuckling as she held a hoof in front of her muzzle. “She totally still has a few of them in her closet back home!” “Seriously!?” Aria’s face turned a fiery red as steam seemed to shoot out of her ears. “What are you two doing digging around in my closet!?” “Well why do you keep storing the toys in there?” Sonata asked innocently, three ponies stopping in shock as they looked up at the Pegasus. “Oh?” Rarity asked as she paused and turned around. “I keep forgetting that you four have been living in a different world.” She giggled as felt her desire for gossip to come to the forefront. “What sort of toys would they be? I’d love to know more of this… Humane was it?” “Human!” Sunset stuttered out rapidly, face blushing at what she had a hunch of what Sonata meant. “Um… L-lemme see if I can remember this spell right.” Her muzzle scrunched adorably as she concentrated on a spell from her fillyhood, magic flowing from her horn like second nature. “Oooh? What is this?” Rarity asked as the magic condensed into a figure that was unknown to her. It stood on two legs, its forearms hanging by its side as little things hung off of its hooves. It was wearing clothes of some sort, the fashionista going ny the hunch in her gut, though they were not of a style that would be common in Equestria. “Damn Sunset, Don’t go showin’ off now!” Aria said as she nudged her friend, causing the figure to blink out of existence as Sunset’s concentration was lost. “Gah! Aria? What was that for?” Sunset asked as she stumbled to regain her footing. Darn Earth Pony Strength. “So that was a Human?” Rarity asked, giggling lightly at the display. “That was what Sunset here looks like in the other world, yes.” Adagio said as she nodded. “That is what the portal does to us when we cross over to the Human World.” “They seem so queer…” Rarity muttered as she floated her glasses from her cash register and onto her face, blushing when she noticed the four others looking at her intently. “Oh, sorry dears! I hope I didn’t insult any of you!” “Don’t worry, Marshmallow.” Aria said with a wink. “I think I speak for the four of us when I say we were all confused when we first ended up there.” “Yeah, it was a pretty big change…” Sonata said with a small frown, before she grimaced. “Everyone was so smelly for the first thousand years or so.” “I was so happy when people found out that it wasn’t life threatening to have a bath.” Adagio said as she shook her head in disgust. “They wouldn’t bathe!?” Rarity looked ready to pass out in shock. “But how did… Ewww!” The four followed the shaking mare into one of the back rooms, sharing small talk before jumping when Rarity cleared her throat. “I would like to start by asking if any of you know your measurements by chance?” “Oh!” Sunset gave a large smile as she stepped forward. “Thirty Six F, Twentynine, Thirty Eight!” The three Sirens stood with slack jaws, Sonata nearly crashing to the ground as she suddenly found it hard to keep her wings flapping. Sunset stood there, wondering why everyone was so silent. “Er… Sunset?” Rarity asked with a worried smile. “What were those measurements?” “What do you… mean…” Sunset slowly realized that she just gave her measurements from back in the human world, her face flushing in embarrassment. “Daaaaaamn…” Aria said after wiping drool from her face. “You really are superhuman!” Her two sisters nodded in agreement as Rarity looked on in confusion. “Er, why don’t you step up there first, Sunset?” Adagio asked, her face still slightly flushed. “Rarity? Would it be fine if the three of us used your washroom quick?”
Sunset in Equestria: Sunset and TwilightSunset in Equestria: Sunset and Twilight Sunset sighed as she slid her backpack off, letting the hefty sack of cloth hit the floor with a muddled thump, her hands brushing through her hair. It had been a tiring day filled with tests and dealing with the Sirens acting strange around her. Well… stranger than usual. “Hey, Twilight?” Sunset called out as she striped off her blazer. “You in your room?” Slowly she stripped out of her uniform, throwing on a more casual set of clothes before a set of knocks rang on her door. “Yes, Sunset? What do you need?” Twilight asked as Sunset opened the door, Sunset noticing how the girl had yet to change out of her uniform. “Could you let your mom know I’ll be back in a few hours? I just wanna jump cross the portal quick.” Sunset smiled as she walked over to her desk and opened a drawer, pulling her magic journal and leaving it on her desk as she turned back to the lavender teen. “You guys can reach me through this if you need to.” “Sure!” Twilight nodded, looking at the mystical tome. “One of these days I’m going to have to go with you.” Sunset chuckled as she walked back over to Twilight. “I’ll talk to Princess Twilight about it. We don’t know what would happen if one of you crossed the portal and we would hate for something to happen.” “I know that…” Twilight whined as she jabbed her forefingers together. “I’ll let Mom and Dad know when they get home.” “Thanks, Twilight.” Sunset gave the girl a friendly hug before heading over to the mirror portal. “I’ll see you guys later.” ******************************************************* “I don’t see why that would be much of an issue.” Princess Twilight held a hoof in front of her muzzle as she sat lost in thought. “I mean, we haven’t observed any issues with us and the Sirens, so it should be fine.” “True…” Sunset said with a worried smile. “I’m just worried about what the other Twilight would do here is all.” “Oh! Oh right!” Twilight gave a hesitant grin and a self knowing laugh. “Yeah, she would have a bit of a hayday here if she’s anything like me.” “Maybe I’ll tell her that we are doing some investigations?” Sunset asked as she stood up from her chair and walked over to her friend. “I think that would be best.” Twilight started laughing as she stood up and embraced her friend. “But enough about that, I am surprised to see you! Pleasantly of course.” “Yeah, I felt like I needed to get away from all the tests and happenings back there.” Sunset grinned as she backed up. “Maybe you could show me around Ponyville? I mean, you having a castle is awesome enough, but I keep hearing things about how great this town is.” “Sure! I know you saw a bit when you were with Rarity, but I bet there is still quite a bit I can show you.” Twilight nodded as she started to make her way out of the room. The pair made their way Twilight’s castle, Sunset earning a knowing giggle from the Alicorn Princess when the unicorn mentioned how much like a maze this place appeared. “So where to first?” Sunset asked as she looked around, Twilight saying farewell to Spike as the two walked out onto the path leading into Ponyville. “I really don’t know what to expect really.” “Well how about we start by heading out to Sweet Apple Acres? I believe Rainbow Dash was helping Applejack with something out there, plus we can stop by at Fluttershy’s on the way?” Twilight asked as the great doors to her castle slammed shut behind them. “We can visit with Rarity last and do lunch!” “Works for me.” Sunset nodded in response before pausing with a silly grin. “Though we really need to get the portals magic working right to sync the two worlds better, it's almost supper time back there.” “I did notice time was different there, maybe due to the Sun and Moon not being naturally lowered and raised?” The lavender pony pondered as she walked beside her friend, the two of them discussing all sorts of small subjects. “O-Oh! Oh My!” Came a panicked cry, the two of them recognizing it’s owner and breaking from their casual trotting. “Please do come out from there, Meowzers! You’re going to get your fur all messed up!” Fluttershy was kneeling before a tree, holding a pale yellow hoof towards a gap in its gnarled roots. “Fluttershy? What’s wrong?” Twilight asked as the pair skidded to a halt to avoid tripping over the soft spoken Pegasus, not realizing they had been so close to her. “Oh, Twilili-i-i-i-i-ight!” Fluttershy had turned around to regard her friend, only to notice the amber coated unicorn with ketchup and mustard coloured hair. Seeing Sunset Shimmer sent her into a panic, causing her to zip up into the tree to hide. “Fluttershy, we’ve been over this.” The Princess sighed as she shook her head. “Sorry, Sunset. I’ll calm her down in a sec.” She took to the air mumbling to herself, rather cutely Sunset thought as the Unicorn found herself to be the only one with hooves still on the ground. She looked around and noticed a gleam coming from the bramble of roots, the glow hinting to the beast hiding in the snarl. Sunset looked up to see Twilight struggling to disentangle her Pegasus friend from the tree and, with a shake of her short maned head and a smile, took a few steps towards the stealthy beast. She stopped a short distance away and kneeled down, getting as close to its level as possible, and reached out an amber hoof. The eyes studied the offered limb, crawling across its length before looking back up to the smiling aquamarine iris of the pony that waited patiently. “Mrow?” The cat left the roots and slowly stalked towards the hoof, smelling it before starting to rub up against it. Sunset smiled as the feline got accustomed to her, giggling when she felt its rough tongue lap out against her. “Wow, Sunset…” Twilight said as she floated down to gently land beside her friend, rearing back as the cat shot up into the safety of the embrace of Sunset’s hooves. “Oh, Meowzers, why are you such a scaredy kitty?” Fluttershy asked as she landed on her hind legs and held out her front hooves, asking the beast to come to her, frowning slightly when the beast curled up further into the amber coat of Sunset. “I didn’t know you were so good with animals, Sunset.” Twilight said as she attempted to reach a hoof out to the feline to pet it, only to retract it when the cat gave a warning. “Thanks. I got used to it back when I lived alone.” Sunset said with a smile as she adjusted the cat in order to pet it, at least as best as one could with hooves. “There were lots of alley cats sadly, plus I volunteered time at the other ‘Shy’s animal rescue thingie, so I am pretty used to animals like this.” “Um… ‘Other ‘Shy’s”?” Came the quiet question from the buttercream Pegasus who instantly hid behind her long hair when the two horned ponies looked at her. “Remember, Fluttershy? The whole other world which has duplicates of all of us?” Twilight looked at her friend in confusion, having explained about all this so many times already. “Oh! Right!” Fluttershy blushed when she remembered the many lectures that lasted hours. “Sorry, um, Sunset.” She looked at the Unicorn apologetically. “No worries, Fluttershy. Just glad I could help.” She nodded in response before looking down at the cuddly cat she still held. “Time for you to go back now.” The cat gave a sad sound as Sunset handing it over to Fluttershy, waving as the animal lover departed. *************************************** “So, exactly how awesome is the other me?” Rainbow Dash asked around the hoofful of apples she was carrying. “Come now, Rainbow,” Came the response from Applejack, the farmer giving a solid kick to a tree and watching as the apples fell into buckets placed all around her. “Ah’m sure Twilight was tellin’ ya tha truth when she-” “Second opinions are always appreciated.” Rainbow said as she deposited the apples into a bin, only to steal the stetson from the head of her friend and flying off with raucous laughter. “Fer land’s sake, RD!” Applejack yelled as she barreled after the Wonderbolt Reservist, the two making circles around the section of orchard the four were in. “So have they…?” Sunset asked as she levatated another batch of apples from multiple trees into baskets scattered all around. It was nice to be able to stretch her magical muscles. “W-what!?” The apples that had been held securely in Twilight’s magic suddenly found themselves falling to the ground, only to be saved at the last possible second. “Waaahg!” Or not, as both Rainbow Dash and Applejack tumbled through the wall of fruit and landing in a pile before the two magical ponies. “Have we what?” Rainbow asked before sticking her tongue out at the, once again, stetson wearing apple farmer. Twilight looked in shock at Sunset as the amber unicorn started to smile dangerously. “Sunset, I don’t think-” “Oh, you know.” Sunset ignored Twilight. Time to see just how similar the worlds were. “Just wondering if you two have fucked yet? There’s tons of obvious tension between you two.” The two ponies looked at each other then back to Sunset, mirrored looks of confusion on their features. “Er, What’re ya talkin’ about, Shugahcube?” Applejack asked, noticing Twilight doing her best to silence the question asking unicorn. “Sunset, please!” Twilight begged. “Oh, right! We’re in Equestria, sorry! I believe what I should have asked was-” “Sunset! Stahp!” Twilight pleaded, doing her best to interrupt her friend. “Have you two bucked yet?” Sunset asked with a silly grin, noticing the pair of blushes spreading across the faces of the two ponies. “Land’s sake!” Applejack shouted as she shifted her hat to in front of her face. Rainbow suddenly burst out laughing, falling onto her back and rolling around. “O-oh man! AJ, your face!” She said between massive bouts of giggling. “C’mon, cowgirl, you know you want to taste the Rainbow!” “Pardon me?” Everyone stopped the merriment as a culture voice rang out in the orchard, the four apple retrievers turning and looking at the bonnet wearing unicorn that stood watching the scene before her. “Would one of you dears like to explain what our resident cloud buster just implied to my marefriend?” Rarity asked with a neutral expression, her eyes speaking of the severity that her face did not. “Eer…” Rainbow stood up hesitantly, understanding the gaze she was receiving from Rarity. “Gotta Dash!” “Well then.” Rarity stated as Rainbow vanished in a blink of an eye. “Maybe the three of you would like some lunch?” The mare levitated her saddlebags off her bag and laid them down beneath the shade of one of the biggest trees on the farm, a striped blanket unrolling itself as a basket landed on top. “Sorry about that, Rares.” Sunset apologized sheepishly, blushing and unable to look at the Unicron before her. “That was all cause of me wanting to play a trick.” “A rather crude trick if’n ya ask me.” Applejack said as she trotted pass, nuzzling her marefriend lovingly before resting beside her. “Oh, but you turned the most adorable shade of red!” Rarity teased as the other two ponies joined them, three of them devolving into laughter while the fourth hid behind her hat. ********************************** “Strange that Pinkie isn’t around.” Twilight said as they departed from Sugar Cube Corner, the Princess levitating a drink, with extra oats, in front of her. “If the Pinkie I know is any indicator, I hope your castle has some kind of ‘Party Insurance’, Twilight.” Sunset gave a worried smile. Twilight paused, her drink levitating just out of reach of her mouth. “Run.” ********************************** “Welcome, welcome, welcome! A warm welcome to you!” Pinkie Pie sang as the two unicorns burst into Twilight’s castle, the front foyer set up for a welcoming party. “Pleasepleaseplease, please, tell me you didn’t do anything else to the castle, Pinkie?” Twilight begged as she interrupted the jaunty tune Pinkie was still singing. “Nopie-dopie!” Pinkie responded with a warm smile as she slid down the railing from the top of the stairs, riding it down all the way to the bottom of the stairs. “Geronionimo!” She called out as she launched herself at Sunset, wrapping the amber unicorn in tight hug. “Hello to you to, Pinkie.” Sunset chuckled as the girl embraced her, party cannons erupting from all around them, disgorging confetti by the chariotful onto the room. “Pinkie Pie!” screamed the poor owner of the castle.
Sunset in Equestria: Sunset and LunaSunset in Equestria: Sunset and Luna Sunset hummed happily as she strode through Canterlot Castle, nodding and smiling at the guards as she passed by, even pausing to talk to a few she recognized and apologizing deeply to one that she remembered injuring when she made her escape years ago. “Sunset Shimmer.” The guard Sunset was talking with suddenly stood up straight, a hoof arching up in attention, causing her to look back around at where the voice was coming from. “Princess Luna!” Sunset immediately prostrated herself before the lunar sister, eyes closed as her muzzle rubbing against the floor momentarily. “You may leave us.” She heard Luna say, the halls echoing with the steps of the retreating Royal Guard. “No need to bow, Sunset Shimmer.” Luna said as Sunset felt her head slowly being raised. “We do not need someone that is family to treat Us any different.” Sunset gulped as she was face to face with Princess Luna, taking in the- “Ah, We guess that you have taken notice of something.” The lunar monarch said with a small grin. “Y-your eyes!” Sunset said with a gasp, before realizing how insensitive she appeared. “I-I-I mean! My apologies!” Sunset tired to bow once more, only to be stopped by one of Luna’s silver shod hooves. “Do not worry, Sunset.” Luna chuckled, Sunset smiling goofily at how different the Princess of the Night was acting. “We are here to deliver a message on behave of Celly.” “C-Celly?” Sunset was perplexed, who was… Celly was it? “Yes, our dear sister would like to apologize, she is tied up with a royal matter and does not wish for you to be bored while she is forced to deal with the bigots that form a majority of the nobility of Canterlot.” Luna said with a small frown, chuckling internally at the pure shock Sunset wore across her muzzle. “She asked if We could instead look after you, as the two of us have not had much time to the two of us.” “O-oh! Sure, I think that’s awesome!” Sunset stammered, looking up once more at the slitted- wait, they weren’t slitted anymore?” “Your just saying that…” Luna said quietly as she looked away with a sad smile. “We understand.” She said softly as she started to trot away. “W-wait! Princess Luna!” Sunset said as she rushed after the sullen sister, only to stop when the Princess whipped around and outstretched a hoof. “Boop!” Luna smiled as Sunset ran muzzle first into the cold shoe on her hoof, breaking out in giggles as Sunset blushed deeply. “Oh, Celly was right! You do turn the most adorable shade of red!” Sunset stood still in shock. She expected this kind of behaviour from Celestia, not from Luna! Whenever she saw Luna in her past visits the younger sister had been so quiet and reserved, so stoic. Yet here she was laughing at pulling the same kind of trick that Celestia had done to Sunset so many times. Slowly she started to join in the mirth, laughing and blushing as she rubbed the back of her head. “Our apologies, Sunset.” Luna said after finally calming down. “Sister insisted that you receive ‘The Boop’, as she calls it. We, um…” Luna quieted as she looked down at the hoof she was idly kicking. “We hope that We did not offend.” “Boop.” Luna looked at the amber hoof that rested on her nose, looking up at the smiling features of Sunset, taking in the aquamarine irises that dispelled any worry. “So I think the first thing I’d like to do is find out why your eyes change looks at random.” Sunset asked as she smiled at the princess, though it caused Luna to stiffen up. “Ah… wrong question I take it?” “N-no!” Luna blurted out. “It’s just…” She started looking around before beckoning Sunset close. “Follow me.” The pair made a winding path through the castle, entering parts that had been barred to Sunset in her youth, before ending up in front of a set of doors that seemed to sparkle with an iridescent glow. “In here.” Luna motioned, prying the threshold apart with her magic. Sunset followed the jittery pony in, feeling silly about how nervous Luna was, before stopping to look at the room. It must have been Luna’s bedroom, evident by the massive four post bed with hanging frills and glowing bits. The ceiling sparkled with stars and constellations, mirroring the ethereal mane of the rooms owner, while basic furniture littered the room. “We must ask you to make Us a vow.” Luna said, not turning back to look at Sunset. “You must vow that you shan't tell a soul about what you are about to witness.” “U-um… sure?” Sunset said offhandedly. “Look, Luna, if you don't feel comfortable about this don’t worry about it.” “No.” Came the response, Sunset taking a half step back before stepping closer. “You are family, and thusly, you must know.” Sunset couldn’t even give a yelp of surprise before a shell of magic whirled around Luna, blocking the Princess from Sunset’s vision. “Princess Luna!” She called out in fear, rushing forward towards the vortex of magic just in time for it to die out, leaving Luna standing there. “What was that for, Princess?” Slowly Luna turned around, gazing hesitant at Sunset and allowing the amber mare to look upon the princess in full. “Wooow…” Sunset gaped in awe as she studied Luna. Her pupil was back to being a slit, although the rest of her eyes remained the same, the cyan orbs quivering as Luna peered back at Sunset. Her mouth opened a slight, slowing Sunset vision of the small fangs the pony now possessed. Cute… She thought as her eyes went back to the wings resting on Luna’s back. They were feathered from scapula to alula, but became membranous, much like a bat. Silence filled the room, Sunset still studied Luna while the Princess stood still, looking uneasy. “I’m hideous… Aren’t I?” Luna asked, a tear starting to well. “If by hideous, you actually mean freaking amazing, then yes!” Sunset replied rushing forward and making circles around the princess, much to Luna’s shock. “Oh man, you are so cool! I mean, look at these wings!” Sunset’s magic flared to life and gently coaxed the wing out, an amber hoof gently caressing the membrane. “You look a little like a… Oh, what is it that the humans call it again? Gah! I knew I should have read more Hoofy Potter!” Luna started to smile slightly as Sunset sat down on her haunches and raised a hoof to her mouth in contemplation. This was a pleasant surprise. “I’ve got it!” Luna reared back, stunned by the vigor Sunset was displaying. “A Thestral! That’s what they called it!” Sunset said as she smiled back at Luna. “It’s kind of like a dead pony, er, kinda? You can see it’s bones through the skin and it has no fur, no feathers, but giant, membranous wings kinda like yours. They look really cool!” Sunset continued to babble on about things, only to stop when Luna started to shake. “Princess? What’s wrong? Have I gone too far?” Worry started to wash over the Unicorn. “Nay, Sunset Shimmer,” Luna said, tears of happiness running down her face. “We are so pleased that you view Us not as a monster, as others have.” “Why would they do that!?” Sunset asked in a soft voice, trotting forward and sitting beside Luna. “It was after the Nightmare Moon incident, when Twilight Sparkle and her friends saved me with the Elements of Harmony…” Luna looked up at the starry roof. “Not long after I started to recover from the… How to describe it…” “Cleansing.” Sunset offered, resting a hoof on the back of Luna who had since taken a seat of her own. “I know what that’s like first hand- er, hoof, sorry.” Luna giggled in response. “Fret not, We understand that you would be used to using different words that would seem alien to Us. But yes, cleansing seems right. After Our magic started to come back We started to change…” Luna teared up again, though Sunset could tell it wasn’t in happiness. “We were forever changed by Nightmare Moon, and even though We had been cleansed, We were left with a reminder of Our failure. Of Our hubris.” “I’m so sorry to hear that.” Sunset was trying her best to comfort the ancient Alicorn. She knew what it was like to lose herself to darker powers. “And to show you just how much I understand…” Sunset slowly got up and moved away. “Um… I haven’t tried this sort of thing before, so maybe be ready to put out any fires, okay?” She gave Luna a worried grin before she she closed her eyes, concentrating and pulling vast amounts of magic into herself. “Sunset Shimmer?” Luna called out as she stood up, only to take a step back when a swirl of multicoloured flame erupted around Sunset, encasing the Unicorn in a cocoon of flame. The princess brought a hoof up to shield her face, doing her best to study the room and make sure nothing caught fire. Thought for the sheer fury of the flame, the room did not heat up. She took a hesitant step towards the conflagration, only to have a sudden explosion rock the room, flinging her against the far wall. “Oof!” The Alicorn got to her feet, looking around her room in fear of damage being caused, letting out a sigh of relief when she found nothing to be damaged. Wait… “Sunset Shimmer!” Luna raced to the prone figure laying on the floor as… smoke? Was that smoke billowing around her? “I guess a full body transformation is a lot harder than just wings, huh?” Sunset muttered before waving a hoof before her face, coughing as she tried to clear the smoke around her. “Sorry, Luna. I hope I haven’t damaged anything!” She slowly got up and looked around. “Huh, everything seems so… small?” “It is you that is large, Sunset Shimmer.” Luna commented as she looked up at the taller figure. “What… are you?” “Oh!” Sunset pulled a red hoof before her face. “Right, I was trying to show you something. Um…” Sunset whipped her head around behind her and took in her wings, unfurling the bat like extremities and grinning, before looking back at the Princess. Make that down at the Princess. “So I kinda had my own Nightmare Moon situation over on the other side of the moon, as you know, but I figured I should show you what I became. Well, the Pony version of it at least.” She grinned sheepishly. “Er… Luna? Why are you smiling like that?” ****************************** Celestia let out a sigh as she pushed the inkwell away. Why did she have to be the responsible sister? At least Luna and Sunset got to have some together time, which was nice, though Celestia wished that she could have some time with her daughter. Maybe tomorrow? The two of them could go shopping, visit around Canterlot and have some personal time together. “Yes, I think that would be nice.” She said as she sat up and turned around, only to freeze. “Boo!” Came two cruel sounding voices, one from Nightmare Moon, and the other from… Sunset? The elder sister let out a shrill cry and stumbled back, back landing on the table and flipping the inkwell up into the air, only to have it land down on her muzzle. “Oh man! That was genius, Auntie!” Celestia heard Sunset shout out amongst laughter from the two figures standing in front of her. “Looks like I owe you… something? I can’t remember the bet.” “What are you two- wait, Sunset? Why do you look like that!?” Celestia was wearing a look of shock as she removed the inkwell from resting on her muzzle, the black fluid vanishing with a trace of magic. “So-sorry, mom!” Sunset said amongst more howls of laughter. “I wanted to show Luna my own cursed form, and she wanted to play a trick on you because of it.” “Really now, dear Lulu?” Celestia said as she raised an eyebrow, looking down at her younger sister that reverted back to her now natural form. “We regret nothing.” Luna said as she refurled her membranous wings.
Sunset in Equestria: Sunset and CelestiaSunset in Equestria: Sunset and Celestia “Sunset! You’re early!” Sunset chuckled as she walked into the throne room of Canterlot castle, waving to the guards as she passed. “I couldn’t wait to spend some time with my dear old mom.” She responded with a wide smile. All the stress of her day at school had washed away the instant she crossed through the portal back to Equestria. “I’ll ignore the ‘old’ part of that sentence and take it as a compliment.” Celestia said with a small chuckle. Slowly she stood up, the countless secretaries and staff that surrounded her parted as she made her way down the stairs. “Luna will be on her way shortly,” Celestia announced as she approached her daughter, the tow sharing a loving embrace. “She shall be in charge until the two of us return.” “You really want to trust Aunt Luna with that sort of responsibility?” Sunset said as she nudged the taller Alicorn playfully, drawing a small smirk from the Solar Goddess. “I think she can be responsible enough to not nearly drown Equestria in coffee again, yes.” Celestia said as she draped a wing lovingly over her daughter. “So where would you like to go first? I figured we could do a little shopping, grab some tea and cake, and-” “Could I see Philomena?” Sunset asked, stopping and kicking a hoof against the rug. “But of course, dear!” Celestia beamed, scooping Sunset forward as they trotted through the hallways. “Let us visit your old room, as I suspect that is where she is resting.” “My… My room?” Sunset asked hesitantly. She had thought Celestia would have changed that room for other use after Sunset had run away. “But of course!” Her mother responded. “And if I may make a selfish request, would it be alright if I had the portal moved to the castle?” “Y-yes! Of course, mom!” Sunset rubbed up against her mother in appreciation. She was so happy that she was able to reconcile with Celestia. “Perfect, I will send a letter to Twilight later!” Celestia cheered as she rubbed back against Sunset. “But we shouldn’t keep poor Philomena waiting, she’s been waiting to see you again since your last visit.” “My last visit was yesterday, mom.” Sunset grinned before putting on a fake frown. “You would know that if you loved me and paid attention to when I come and visit.” “Oh hush.” Celestia said as she ruffled Sunset’s mane with a wing, earning a peal of giggles from the Unicorn. “We both know how much of my life you are.” The pair grew quiet after that comment. “I was so worried I would never see you again…” Celestia whispered solemnly. “First I had lost Luna all those years ago due to my ignorance, and then I lost my daughter due to my own stupidity…” “Don’t you dare insult yourself, mom!” Sunset said louder than she expected. “We both know it was my arrogance and pride that drove me away. I felt like I deserve something that I hadn’t earned, all because-” “All because I ignored you.” Celestia interrupted. “We can keep going in circles everytime this is brought up Sunset, or we can accept that we are both at fault.” “Fine…” Sunset said as she puffed out a cheek in annoyance. “There’s the Sunset I remember!” Celestia chuckled as she stopped in front of a door. “And just in time too.” Sunset paused as she looked at the door, it’s maple hue still the same, and just at eye height was a sun split amongst two different sets of yellow and red. “I remember how happy you were the day you got your Cutie Mark.” Celestia said wistfully. “You did nothing but show me, so much so to the point that I had to get poor old Shoe Shine to find paint of the right colours so you could paint it on the door.” “Rest his soul.” Sunset muttered as she traced over the design. It was still as sloppy as the day she painted it, the colour bold and unweathered. Slowly she looked up at the top of the door, at the flap that rested shut to allow exit and entry even if the door was closed. “Are you ready?” Sunset looked up at her mother. Sure, she had met with Philomena quite a few times, almost every time she visited. But that wasn’t in her room. She never thought that she would be back here. Slowly, Sunset nodded in response, reaching out with her magic and twisting the door handle, pushing inward. Light poured out of the room, blinding Sunset momentarily, though it did not deafen her to a familiar squawk. She felt a mass of cool heat and feathers collide into her, a choir of happiness coming from her as her hooves wrapped around the bird that was trying to suffocate the Unicorn in happiness and feathery hugs. “Oh, Philomena! I hope you’ve not been playing tricks on anypony of late!” Sunset was so relieved that the phoenix still remembered her, still wanted to be with her. She remembered how much she had ignored Philomena before she vanished across the the portal. The phoenix made a low whistle like sound as she landed on Sunset’s outstretched hoof, hiding itself behind its wing. “Whatever are we going to do with you?” Sunset chuckled, noticing that she was still outside of her room. “Well? Want to fully welcome me home?” She asked, the bird giving a happy caw and launching once more into the air, floating gaily into the room. “You didn’t change anything…” Sunset murmured as she looked around the room, taking in the view of her childhood. The bed was still covered in the blanket her and Celestia had knit by magic, the colours garish and contrasting harshley, though it still held all the love that had been poured into it by the pair all those years ago. Bookshelves, laden with tomes of knowledge and fantasy, hid the walls from view, breaking rarely to allow something else space to be displayed. A desk sat in the corner, a fresh candle sitting in the corner with a phoenix quill feather and an inkwell beside it, for once uncovered by books and tests as Sunset had used it for in the past. “Well? What do you think?” Celestia asked as she walked up to Sunset, taking a seat beside the crying mare. “Thank you.” ************************************************************* “Do I really have to get sized for a dress, mom?” Sunset complained as a full team of salesponys scrambled overtop, around, and underneath her, struggling to get measurements and sizes as Celestia sat to the side, giggling to herself the whole while. “But of course, Sunset. How else would I be able to show you off at the ball tonight?” She asked with a not so innocent look of childish glee. “A-a ball? Tonight?” Sunset blanched at the prospect. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner!?” She wailed “Because you would have run away back across the portal and I would have a Diamond Dog of a time getting you back here.” Celestia said with a grin. “Exactly!” Sunset shot back as one of her hoofs rose against her will, a jungle of measuring tapes wrapping and lining it. “I’m thinking something frilly…” Celestia said as she looked up and away in fake thought, a delicate, gold shod white hoof raised to her muzzle. As soon as she mentioned that, three more salespony seemingly popped into existence, a small army’s worth of different frilly dresses in their magical and physical grasps. “Really? I’m not a little filly anymore, mom! I can make my own choice!” Sunset whined as she saw Celestia peering through the various choices of dresses. “We both know what your fashion sense is like, dear.” The Alicorn smiled as she peered over at Sunset. “Rarity would have had a fit had she known you.” “I happen to be popular in the other world partially thanks to my fashion sense, I’ll let you know!” Sunset retorted, gaining a small chuckle from her mother. “How much for that in pink?” Celestia asked one of the salesponys. ********************************************************* Sunset sighed as she sat down in the booth, happy to be away from the prying eyes of the nobles trying to figure out who was the strange gold and crimson haired amber unicorn that was with Celestia. “Sorry if they are making you uncomfortable, Sunset.” Celestia apologized, laying a hoof along Sunset’s own. “I could-” “Don’t worry mom, it’ll pass.” Sunset gave a small smile as she looked over her unaging mother. “I probably should announce that my daughter has returned though.” Celestia stated. “That would probably help explain who you are.” “You mean you haven’t done that yet? No wonder people are trying to find out who I am, I’m like an alien to them!” Sunset said as she banged her head off the table. “Do people at least know that I will be at the ball tonight?” Celestia only grinned sheepishly as she took a sip of her tea, earning a look of annoyance from Sunset. “How have you survived for so long?” She asked bluntly, taking a sip of her own tea. “I mean, seriously. Luna must have worked incredibly hard to make up for you.” “I’ll let you know that I have been the ruler of Equestria for such a long time for a reason, missy.” Celestia said, puffing out her chest proudly. “Cause you have control over the sun and moon, so why would anyone want to make you mad?” Sunset stated matter of factly. “I say!” Celestia said, faking hurt. “I say indeed! Twilight has told me about how they saved you from not only Nightmare Moon, but also Queen Chrysalis, Discord, and Tirek!” Sunset gave a devious looking grin. “Why have the people not overthrown you and Luna and promoted Twilight to being in charge yet?” “I’ll let you know there were reasons for all those occurrences!” Celestia replied, blushing in humiliation. “Oh? Pray, do tell.” Sunset chuckled as she looked over to the elder royal sister of Equestria. “Well Lulu got the jump on me, Queen Chrysalis was powered up by all that love, Discord got the jump on both me and Lulu, and Tirek had absorbed most of the magic of Equestria so we-” “So Luna caught you having one of your famous midday snoozes, Queen Chrysalis had all the love of a single pony, don’t even get me started on Discord, but Tirek could be sort of understood.” Sunset interrupted her mother with a smirk. “I never said they were good reasons.” Celestia pouted, rather adorably Sunset would say to others. “Is there any such thing as a good reason for all that cake?” Sunset said as she looked at the tray being brought out from the kitchen, the waitresses seeming to struggle to move it. “I was feeling peckish.” ************************************************************** The two ponies stood silently at the mouth of an alley, a pair of apartments sat as guardians to the small paved road between them. It was rather clean and well maintained, no litter or refuse piled along the bottom of the buildings. “Hard to think that this was home…” Sunset said quietly, staring at the cobblestone road that was devoid of life. “One of my biggest regrets is allowing poor children like you to languish in this city.” Celesia said sadly. “I have made sure that no other child should have to suffer like that.” “I’m not sure I will ever be able to thank you enough for saving that day…” Sunset said. “Not only did you save my life, but you gave me a home, an education… love... “ Sunset wiped away an errant tear. ********************************************************** The unicorn filly gave a small cough into her amber hoof as a drop of water leaked through the roof of her cardboard shelter. The cold autumn night had been intensified thanks to the storm that came in, drenching Canterlot in a deluge of half frozen sleet and hail. Her cough had been getting worse over the last few days, and the gnawing of pain in her stomach reminded her of the last time she had a morsel to eat. “Why is life so unfair…” She muttered hoarsely, her throat rebelling at her attempts of vocalization. She gave another small look into the banged up dish that sat at the end of her box. It was still empty, not a single pony stopped to even give her a look again. At least the guards hadn’t chased her out of this alley yet like they had all the others. Her body shook as yet another chill ran through her body, the mangled box offering little protection even when it wasn’t damaged. A sneeze ripped through her, causing more soreness of her throat and earning the annoyance of somepony living in one of the adjacent apartments. “Oi! Shut up ya rancid tramp!” She heard yelled out as a large can pelted her box. She sighed in defeat, her tired body feeling like lead. At least the mice weren’t crawling all over her again tonight like they had been for the last few days. As if the world didn’t dislike her enough yet, a loud crack of thunder reverberated through the skies, lightning racing down through the sleet filled air only to strike a lightning rod attached to the roof of the apartment to her left, shaking the building. Am ominous rumble filled the air, the sound of metal shaking against itself followed by a pattering against the cardboard. She peeked her head out, just in time to see emergency exit of the apartment rip free of the poorly maintained building and starting it’s plummet down onto her. She gave as shrill of a cry as she could manage, a crackling wheeze as others would call it, as the metal descended towards her. She shut her eyes. This was it. At least there wouldn’t be ponies angry with her anymore. Pitter Pitter Pitter She opened her eyes. Was she dead? She softly padded her face with her hooves, her eyes looking around her. She was still in her box, liquid slush oozing through her box onto her. She could hear something else though, through the sounds of the winds starting to pick up. Was that… flapping? Agonizingly slowly, she hefted her body out of the box, rubbing her mangy coat and thin body against the cobblestone, but was unable to stand up, her body too weak to support her, so she resigned to flopping down on her side. There, high above her, was a pegasus so white, she thought it was made of snow. It flapped its wings in a steady beat, its head coming down to reveal that it had a horn. “I swear,” She heard the mare say, her voice calm and soothing. “Why do ponies not take proper care of the infrastructure of Canterlot? It’s not like we don’t have the magic and technology to do so.” The mare paused when it looked down, noticing the shivering filly on the ground looking up at her. “Thank you for saving me…” The filly croaked out, the mare barely hearing the sound over the storm raging around them even though the apartments stood to their sides. “You aren’t gunna make me leave, are you?” Slowly the mare flittered down to the ground, the metal still levitating in the air. “Whyever would you ask me that, young filly?” She asked of the shivering child. “Why are you out in this storm? And wherever are your parents?” The mare looked around, trying to pierce the weather that was starting to grow more intense. Mention that the weather team has been holding back, and they take it as a challenge. She thought as she looked back down at the filly, taking in how dirty and small she was. “I don’t got none…” The filly said, still unmoving even as half frozen sludge started to pool around her. “And I’m living here ‘cause the guards kicked me out of my old alley again.” The filly heard a massive crash behind her, noticing the metal safety escape had fallen to the ground, followed by a window opening and a familiar voice shouting at her. “Would you shut the buck up you misserable waste of flesh!?” The voice called out in a slurred manner, the pony in question leaning out the window and throwing a large glass bottle in the direction of the filly. All of a sudden the storm ceased, the air growing quiet as if time itself stood still. The filly could actually start to see the sunset as she closed her eyes in anticipation for yet another bottle to connect with her bruised and battered body. But once again, no contact came. She heard the slurred voice gasp, and she opened her eyes to see why, childish curiosity kicking in. “Pr-Princess Celestia!” The voice called out in sobering calm. “My apologies, your highness! I hope I didn’t spray you with anything while I tried to remove that pest down there!” “What did you just say?” The filly could feel the air chill again, a cold fury freezing the air as the mare responded. “Princess… Celestia…?” The filly was in shock, what was the Princess doing down here? “I-Uhm… What do you mean, your highness?” The pony visibly gulped, its bloodshot eyes blinking rapidly as it looked at the upset royalty staring him down. “Why would you ever think a poor, homeless filly is a… What did you call it again?” Celestia asked of the stallion, her look demanding that he respond. “A-a-a-a… A pest! That’s what I said!” He said with an incredibly nervous chuckle, hoping that it would be what she was looking for. Silence filled the air, before the stallion let out a surprised yelp as he suddenly popped into existence in the freezing cold, standing right before Celestia, the Princess’ face a disappointed frown. “That was wrong, both as an action, and as the answer I wanted. Try. Again.” “U-uhm… A misser…” The Earth Pony stallion trailed off, looking around for a means of escape. “I’m. Waiting.” Celestia’s tone said what she would not. This stallion had no more chances. “A-a mis-sserable waste of-f fles-sh.” He said as he watched her. He could see her anger boil over, the motherly love that she always shared with everypony vanished and he could swear her hair erupted in flame. “I want you to think about this while you spend the next few days in the royal gaol.” Celestia whispered. “I want you to ruminate over your inaction to save a poor child's life, and how you were so uncaring as to harass her for actions beyond her control.” “B-b-but! Ever since she showed up, the number of vagabonds-” The stallion started, only to be wrapped in a shell of magic, the aura matching the colour that surrounded Celestia’s horn. “You do not get to say anymore.” She said, as the stallion popped out of existence once more. Celestia let out a sigh as she turned around and looked at the filly, the apathetic child giving a small smile and look of gratitude, the Princess’ heart wrenching in her chest. “Thank you, Princess.” The filly said, enjoying the calm weather that Celestia had brought about. “I think I’ll be able to sleep better tonight.” Celestia sat down, staring at the thin child before her. It’s amber coat was patchy and filthy, its mane and tail of intermixed yellow and red matted and infested with filth. Yet its small smile and sad looking eyes showed a look of great appreciation, of a love for a Princess that probably didn’t even know she was here. “What’s your name, my child?” Celestia asked as she used her magic to bring the filly to a sitting position in front of her, the child sitting in the shade of Celestia’s large body. “U-uhm… I don’t got one… Just whatever the ponies would call me…” THe filly looked down at the ground, obviously trying to paw at the cobblestone, but instead its body wavered in weakness. “How about… Sunset?” Celestia asked, smiling as she looked at the filly that looked up in awe at the royal leader of the country, the mare looking around and taking in the sunset, enjoying how the light seemed to shimmer in the air. “Yes, Sunset Shimmer. How does it sound to you?” “I like it, I guess? But why does it matter if I have a name?” The filly asked innocently. “How else am I going to introduce you to the staff back at the castle?” Celestia responded with a small chuckle, the filly’s face erupting into a gasp of shock. “W-what are you talking about, Princess?” The filly asked, unable to comprehend what she was hearing. “Well, I mean to bring you home with me, adopt you as it were.” Celestia smiled as she grabbed the filly in a shell of magic before depositing the child on her back, just behind her wings as they flared open. “You don’t gotta do that!” The filly said, coughing and sniffling as it tried to break free. “I’m fine on my own!” “I think the first order of business is a nice hot bubble bath, and a large helping of cake. What kind do you like?” Celestia asked as she took to the skies, heading back towards the castle, using her magic to finish setting the sun. She was lucky to be there, any later and this poor child would be incredibly hurt, if not worse. Good thing the construction board let her know of the building in question, even though they were unable to do anything about it thanks to some ‘frivolous paperwork’ as they called it. “Princess!” The filly called out in annoyance as the pair flew through the sky. *************************************************** Sunset slowly trotted over to her mom, wrapping a hoof around the taller alicorn as best she could. “Thank you mom. For everything.”
