Twinkling Through The Dark

Meanwhile at the same time as Sunburst’s meeting with Cadance and Shining Armour, Spike had just finished writing Twilight’s message to Sunset in the Throne Room when a tired Starlight trotted in with coffee in her grip and donning her dressing gown and wearing slippers. For winter time in the castle was cold, especially the floors, being made of crystal and all. While Twilight has been away, Starlight and Spike have being helping with the Hearth’s Warming preparations that Twilight was going to do, on top of their own tasks.

“Just a question Spike, how do you and Twilight have the energy to do so much work?” Starlight said asking how the two seem to be able to do so many tasks without much stress. “Oh you’ll get used to it eventually.” Although Twilight’s super OCD is one thing no one could get used to fully. Spike said while thinking after all of the craziness that has been Twilight’s life, even he’s surprised to have kept up, although he thought something else was also up with Starlight as she looked utterly exhausted.

“Starlight, are you sure you are alright? It looks like you haven’t had much sleep lately.” Spike said, noting Starlight’s seemly lack of energy. “Don’t be ridiculous Spike, I have had plenty of sleep!” Starlight said, dismissing his concerns.

Coming from the pony who had to be pushed halfway through Ponyville because she fell asleep in the grocery store when I was getting marshmallows and cocoa for Hearth’s Warming. Spike thought to himself as his legs were still sore from yesterday. “You keep telling yourself that.” Spike muttered under his breath. “Have you got everything Twilight said you needed for the trip?” Spike asked Starlight.

“Yep, all set and ready to go! I’ll just be in my room Spike, Just let me know when the chariot arrives.” Starlight said as she trotted to her room. Moments later, Spike heard a loud thump from the library and assumed that Sunset Shimmer had arrived, so he ran over and opened the door and saw Sunset on the floor with two saddle bags and pack on her. Obviously, being in the human world for years has made Sunset lose touch with Equestria, and for the matter, being a quadruped.

“Hey, Sunset! Welcome back to Equestria! Oh um let me get you up.” Spike said as he helped Sunset back on her hooves. Sunset started to look around and seemed rather disoriented, going through the portal was almost nauseating at times. Then again being turned from a human to a pony and vice versa would make your head spin.

“Um, Spike, first where are we and second, you’re a dragon?” Said Sunset who seemed unfamiliar with her surroundings and did not remember that Spike was a dragon in this world. “Oh, this is Twilight’s castle, well her library that is and I’m pretty sure I told you already that I was a dragon.” Spike explaining where Sunset was and reminding her of his true form.

“Sorry Spike, just got knocked around going back through.” Sunset said as she rubbed her head and legs. “I know that feeling, anyway, the chariot won’t be here for a couple of hours did you want me to show you around?” Spike said as he always felt sore going back and forth through the portal and offering Sunset a tour of the castle.

“I’d like that plus it gets me reacquainted with walking on fours and using real magic again! Oh how I have missed just teleporting where I needed to go or picking multiple objects up without the limitations of only having two hands to work with!” Sunset said excitedly for being in a world with very limited magic, if at all had made her appreciate how easy it was in Equestria. Then Sunset wondered where was Twilight, as this was an important decision for her to come back on such short notice she’d had thought Twilight would be here to greet her.

“Um, Spike, Where is Twilight?” Sunset asked. “Oh, she is not here. Twilight got herself seriously injured and she had arranged you transport so you will be meeting up later on. Now I will make you some breakfast first.” Spike said as the two went to the kitchen. While in the kitchen, Sunset could not help but notice that Twilight’s kitchen had a lot of teacups for some reason and asked Spike why there were so many and Spike just said not to question it.

As the two went through the castle, Sunset was awestruck by the beauty that she was seeing around her. Sunset then started taking pictures with a camera she had brought from the Human world as her friends wanted to see what Equestria was like as actually traveling there would probably cause so much chaos that it would make Discord himself jealous. Then her mind started to drift towards why she was called over and the first thing that popped into her mind was that Twilight was going to make her have a heart to heart talk with Princess Celestia, which started to get her nervous. “Hey Spike, do you know what I’m doing with Twilight?” Sunset asked for she felt that she was deliberately being kept in the dark.

“Actually I have no idea either, for all she told me was that you are not to know where or why you were doing this but the one thing I do know is that you are not going to Canterlot.” Spike reassuring Sunset that a meeting with Princess Celestia was not the task, much to her relief. Then there was knocking on the door Spike answered the door and two royal guards were at the door. “Morning guys, I’ll just let them know you are here now.” Spike said and as he started to turn back to get Sunset and Starlight, the guard spoke up.

“Actually, there has been a problem with the double chariot sir.” Said the guard rubbing the back of his neck. Spike stepped aside and saw what the problem was. Spike had requested a chariot that could accommodate both Starlight, Sunset and all of the luggage in one trip but only saw a small chariot and asked where the one he had requested was.

“Well its undergoing repairs and we have only one single chariot spare, so we can only take Miss Shimmer and Miss Glimmer one at a time. I’m sorry for the inconvenience but at this time of the year, these chariots are in high demand. It only the fact that these passengers are required by Princess Twilight that you are even able to get one sent to you.” The other guard explained.

“Ok, um I’ll go see who’s ready to go first.” Spike said. Then on the guards then told Spike; “Just make it fast, it’s a 10 hour return flight and we need to get the passengers out soon if we are to deliver them both to Princess Twilight within the day.”
Spike went to find Sunset who for whatever reason, had wandered off. Probably just got more curious about the castle he thought. Then he found her near bedroom suites.

“Sunset, the guards are here to pick you up now. However, what are you doing here?” Spike asked a curious Sunset. “Oh, it could just be my imagination, but I could swore I heard screaming, sobbing and crying from up here and I thought somebody needed help so I came up here, I can tell that I’m close for I can hear it clearly.” Sunset said with Spike reminding her again that her word use in which Sunset face-hooved herself. This is going to take time to get used to. Sunset thought to herself.

“Um, give me a moment.” Spike said as he entered Starlight’s room and saw that she actually not packed anything and was clearly asleep but obviously having nightmares…. absolutely terrifying ones at that. So he walked out and guided Sunset to the front door. Sunset was asking who that was in the room but Spike was more focused on getting Sunset on her way to answer her question.

“Spike, can you please tell me who was that pony in the room?” Sunset asked again as she was getting on the chariot.
“Don’t worry, you’ll be meeting her later on.” Spike shouted as the guards flew way from Ponyville. Then Spike returned to help Starlight, who was still having whatever nightmare she was having. Worried, Spike went in to wake her up. “Starlight, Starlight! Wake up!” Spike said as he was shaking Starlight trying to wake her only for Starlight to start screaming at him in her sleep.

“NO! STOP IT!!!! LEAVE ME ALONE!!!!!” Starlight was screaming before Spike had to slap her in the face and then she’d woke up, but to only find a frustrated dragon yelling at her. “SNAP OUT OF IT!!!!” Spike yelled as Starlight came to and starting to feel pain in her left cheek. “Spike! You didn’t need to slap me to wake me up! A simple nudge would have done!” Starlight yelled back angrily enough for her neck veins to show.

“Sorry, I was trying to wake you but you were screaming, crying and sobbing so I had to do something more drastic.” Spike apologising to Starlight for hitting her but she realised that he had seen everything and then he was asking what happened. She just stated it was just a nightmare and that they would come and go every now and then. But Spike knew better, for Twilight used to have similar nightmares about the worst episodes of her youth and could spot the same signs in Starlight.
“Starlight, I’m getting worried, you should really get some help about this.” Spike said with a worried tone in his voice.
“Spike, thank you for the advice, but I just need to…. need to.” Starlight said while yawning.

“Look, I know you haven’t gotten much sleep lately, so how about I pack your things and you get some sleep. It’s going to be a few hours before they come back and it’s a long flight so you need your rest.” Spike said as he tucked Starlight into bed.
Then Spike took all of Starlight things, packed them and placed them outside her bedroom door. Shutting the blinds, Spike told her to try to get some sleep and that he will wake her in a few hours and shut the door. Starlight then closed her eyes, but with tears still flowing.

Meanwhile, at the village, Sunburst had just arrived and as he disembarked in front of the village hall, the guards said that the Princess was inside waiting for him. Sunburst thanked the guards and wished them a happy Hearth’s Warming.

As Sunburst entered the main hall, he was beginning to get more curious on why the Princess of Friendship would call him all this way, but judging by his last experience with the princess, this might change his life or those around him. As he closed the last door behind him a familiar voice called out to him. “Sunburst! It’s good to see you again!” Twilight said as she came up and welcomed him.

“Good morning, Princess Twilight! What may be of a service can I help you with? Oh, I’d almost forgot, your brother said that he loves you and hopes that you would see them soon.” Sunburst said relaying Shining Armour’s message, which Twilight hugged him and told Sunburst that she loves them too. “Well, I here to help make amends in your life, Sunburst. I’ve come across information that will help me achieve this and you are one of the puzzle pieces.”

“Piece of a puzzle? Your highness I don’t understand what you mean? Also, who is that cloaked pony on the podium seat?” Sunburst asked a bit confused to Twilight’s answer and asking who the mysterious pony was in the brown cloak over watching the two of them was.

“You’ll find out soon enough, oh, and there is another piece. Please excuse me Sunburst. I’ll be just a moment.” Twilight said as she heard another chariot land just outside. Twilight trotted outside as Sunburst, stroking his goatee thinking who the mystery pony was. “The princess is in the, oh never mind, she is right there Miss Shimmer.” The guard said, correcting himself mid-sentence. Sunset thanked them for the lift and took off to get back to Ponyville for Starlight.

“Twilight!” Sunset called out with Twilight doing the same thing as the two mares hugged, with Sunset being extra careful, noting Twilight’s broken wing. “It’s been so long since I last saw you! So, what going on?” Sunset said, very happy to see Twilight again, well the pony Twilight that is.

“Well, you will soon find out! Now let’s get out of the cold.” Twilight said as the two trotted inside. Then Sunset entered the main hall and saw two other ponies, one sitting down, but unrecognisable due to the cloak, and another with his back turned away. Sunset could not quite get the idea of who this pony was but there was something oddly familiar about him. It was only when he turned around to face her did it dawn on Sunset that she could not mistake those bright blue eyes. The two siblings just stared at each other for a good few minutes with shocked expressions before Sunburst finally spoke.
“Sunset? Is that really you?” Sunburst said with tears forming in his eyes.

“Sunburst? Oh look at you, I mean, oh come here!” Sunset said before both were hugging and crying in joy. For this has been the first time in nearly 20 years that they have seen each other. “Look at you, when we were last together, you were just small colt and now look how much you have grown! My little brother isn’t so little anymore.” Sunset said while shedding tears of joy

“You have become more beautiful now then you ever were. Where were you, all this time? Where were you? No pony said anything about you, it was just as if you had disappeared from the face of Equestria.” Sunburst said with the unmistakable sense of hurt in his voice. Sunset was silent for a moment deep in thought.

How do I explain what happened? The Mirror? Living in another dimension? Trying to steal Twilight's crown? How I became a she-demon once I obtained it? And what had happened afterward? Sunset thought to herself but then realised that she had to explain herself fully for only telling the truth, might her brother understand. Half an hour later and Sunburst was flabbergasted by what Sunset said. Sunset expected him to get angry at her for leaving him behind and trying to take over Equestria but was more amazed at his reaction.

“Did you really travel to another dimension?” Sunburst said while repositioning his glasses. “You are not mad at me? Even after abandoning you for my ambitions and leaving you all alone at home with mum and dad worrying sick over me?” Sunset said while wiping the tears from her eyes.

“Sunset, that doesn’t matter right know. All that matters is that you are home and you are making me so proud by helping others with their lives and forming such bonds that it completely overshadows what you might have done in the past.” Sunburst said that no matter what his sister had done in the past, the simple fact that she had come home was what was important. And some pony else also agreed.

“Well said Sunburst, could not have said it any better myself.” Said the cloaked pony, though Sunset could not see who said that, the voice was indication enough and was sending chills down her spine. As Sunset turned her head, all that she could see is the soft smile of Princess Celestia herself.

Sunset was motionless, she had been dreading this day for years and expected the worst. She did not expect Celestia to grab her and hug her in her hooves and wings and crying as she hugged. Sunset could not explain why she was so happy to see her again, even after their falling out all of those years ago. “I… I don’t understand? Even after all that I did you….” Sunset tried to speak but she was stopped by Celestia’s hoof placed on her mouth.

“Sunset, it was I that failed you, not me. I was so attached to you for company that I didn’t let you grow and make the friends you should have and instead became selfish and begin to seek power and control over others. My fear of being alone again destroyed your life and if it wasn’t for Twilight, you would not have become the pony you are now. It is I that should be apologising to you for my selfish actions, not you.” Celestia said, blaming herself for everything that happened to Sunset and she responded by crying and sobbing into her chest even harder.
Whilst all of this was going on, Twilight had left the village hall and brought Cirrostratus and Sunswirl to the door. “Now, you remember how I said I would help you two out by reuniting it?” Twilight said, recalling what she and pledged whilst in hospital.

“Yes, Twilight, but I don’t know why we are at the village hall for?” Cirrostratus said questioning why they were coming here of all places.

“There are two very special ponies in there that will love to see you two again.” Twilight said as she opened the doors and there before their unbelieving eyes, Sunset and Sunburst were there, with Sunset still in Celestia’s embrace. Sunburst was the first to recognise his parents and tapped Sunset and she also noticed. But before either one could respond, both Cirrostratus and Sunswirl were hugging them and weeping deeply with joy. Twilight and Celestia looked on overjoyed at the sight of a family reuniting after so many years. It was enough to bring tears to the two alicorn’s eyes. Then all four approached the princesses.

“Your highnesses, I just don’t know how to thank you two for all of the effort you two have put into to make this possible!” Cirrostratus said while bowing repeatedly.

“You have brought our little Sunset and Sunburst back home! I just…. can’t…. express….” Sunswirl said as she succumbed to the raw emotion of the whole experience. Once she had got her composure back, Sunswirl and her husband looked at their son and daughter and stated they would be going home now. They started to trot away as they noticed that the two princesses were still standing were they were, Sunset turned to her parents, nodded and then turned around and approached the two alicorn’s.

“Princess Twilight, Princess Celestia, would you two like to join us? It’s the least we could do to thank you two for all of the efforts you two had done for us.” Sunset offered dinner to the two princesses. They both looked at each other with a smile and then looked back at Sunset.

“I think that would be lovely, don’t you agree Twilight?” Celestia said with Twilight nodding in agreement as Celestia donned her cloak as to avoid being mobbed by the town’s ponies. As the six ponies were trotted towards Cirrostratus’s home, Sunburst dropped back to the princesses and asked where Starlight was. Sensing his anxiety, Twilight said that she’d be here before the day is done and that looked like it helped.

As the ponies walked into the house, Sunburst and Sunset were starting to be overwhelmed by the sense of emotion as they haven’t been home for so long. Sunswirl warned Celestia to watch herself as she was a head taller than the doorway and then ducked herself in. Sunset and Sunburst went upstairs to see their rooms, if they were still there that was. Cirrostratus and Sunswirl went to the kitchen and asked if the princesses wanted anything to drink.

“Coffee for me please with 3 sugars.” Twilight requested. “Just tea thank you.” Celestia said while bumping into a chandelier. She stopped it swaying with her magic before turning around and trotting right into the door frame! Twilight then proceeded to help the now dizzy Celestia to her seat.