The Sunset Also Rises

Chapters

Chapter 2: Where am I?
Chapter 3: Dreams of Disaster to Hope of Aster.
Chapter 4: Similarities and Differences
Chapter 5: A Day in Canterlot
Chapter 6: Pains of the Past
Chapter 7: The Summer Sun Celebration
Part II: Family. Chapter 8: The (Partial) Truth
Chapter 9: The Love of Family
Chapter 11: Revalations and Lullabies
Chapter 12: Acquaintances and Quesadillas
Chapter 13: The Test
Chapter 14: A Parent's Love
Epilogue
Prologue
Part I: Discovery. Chapter 1: Waking Up
Chapter 10: Thoughts of Present and Past

Chapter 2: Where am I?

Chapter 2: Where Am I?

"Okay Sunset Shimmer. I think you may have overexerted yourself, and have caused yourself to think things that may not be entirely true," Doctor White said to Sunset, after she revealed her name.

Sunset crossed her forehooves, much like she would have crossed her arms when she had them, doubtfully. "Really? And then, if this is not what I call Earth, then where am I?"

"I do not know of this 'Earth' you speak of. We are in Equestria," he said calmly.

"Equestria. Well forgive me if I'm a little rusty, but can you explain this 'Equestria' to me?" Sunset said, calming down. She regained her composure, and was now trying to find out as much about this place as she could so that way she could figure out how to leave. In fact, she still wasn't convinced that this was even real, even though the pain in her head confirmed it for her.

"Wow, you must have hit your head or been under some sort of illusion spell," the doctor replied. "Equestria is the land of ponies. There are three races, Pegasi, who have wings, fly, and control the weather, Earth Ponies, who mostly do groundwork such as farming and are stronger than the other two races, and Unicorns, like me and you, who have magic. The ruler of this land is Princess Celestia, an alicorn, which is the combination of all of the three races of ponies. Celestia raises the sun and the moon, and is a kind ruler," he explained, as he would to a filly.

"And Manehattan is one of the major cities in Equestria?" Sunset guessed.

"Yes it is," he replied.

"And what is that thing on your..." she said hesitantly pointing towards his flank.

"Oh this?" he looked at his cutie mark. "This is my cutie mark. Every pony gets one when they discover what they are good at and what they are meant to do. Mine is a stethoscope, and it shows my love for taking care of other ponies. That's why I am a doctor. You don't have yours yet, so there is a whole world full of possibilities for you!"

"Okay. I think I'm feeling better now. Can you direct me to the nearest map? I think I got a bit lost."

"I think you should stay here. Can you tell me your parents names so that way I can contact them and them know you're okay?"

Sunset gulped. She didn't know how to reply, and she wouldn't want to go back to her parents anyways. She thought about it, and realized that she might be in a strange new world with strange talking ponies, but it might be better than what would have awaited her when she got back home. However, she couldn't think of anything to tell the doctor. She knew she didn't want to go to an orphanage, in any world, or child services. So, instead she thought of a lie. "They're on vacation right now. I went to go find them, since my babysitter left. They told me they were going to Las Ange..." Sunset quickly realized that that would not do, if this was Manehatten, then surely other Earth places must have Pony-like names too. "I mean Las Pegasus. They told me to go find them if ever she left. They trust me enough to do that. They still should be there another couple weeks, so I should be able to find them in time."

"Okay, if you say so. But I'd still like to double check. You seem tired, so we can talk more after you rest. And please don't try to object, I have enough patients doing that. So just lay there and get some sleep," Doctor White said firmly.

For then, Sunset was content to close her eyes and get some sleep, it had been an interesting day, however short it was. And, she hoped that when she came to this next time, it might just be a dream.

Author's Note

Hello again, Dear Reader!

Now that I'm done with this chapter, I can finally publish this! Again, if I make any mistakes, feel free to correct me. I do not have an editor, so it is self reviewed.

I hope everybody enjoys this! I will do my best to update this regularly!

Chapter 3: Dreams of Disaster to Hope of Aster.

Chapter 3: Dreams of Disaster to Hope of Aster

A young Sunset was running. The cold air nipped at her fingers. She had to get away. She had been through this part of town before. She wasn't even sure if her dad wanted her to come back home, though every time she did she was welcomed back with open arms. That's what she used to think.

She kept running, not paying attention to where she was going, when she ran into someone, a police officer. She fell over and looked up as he turned around.

"Excuse me, but are you okay?" the officer asked.

"Ye... Yes," Sunset replied, sniffling.

"Are you lost?" he asked, concerned.

Sunset couldn't tell him that she ran away, and she knew that it was the end of a school day anyways, so she made up a lie. "Yes, I was on my way home from school. My dad's waiting for me." She knew that if she told him about her father, she would get in trouble with him.

"Okay, I'll get you home. I promise."

"Thank you."

The officer brings her home, and Sunset thanks him again.

Sunset walks into the house, alone. She sees her father on the couch, a drink in his hand. She knew that if she talked to him now, things wouldn't end well. She started to sneak up to her room when she heard him yell, "SUNSET SHIMMER!"

Sunset woke up, gasping and covered in sweat. It was just a nightmare she thought. She looked around and saw that she was in a hospital. She then looked down at herself and saw her pony self. She kept herself from screaming. "And that part wasn't a dream," she mumbled to herself.

The amber unicorn got out of her bed, and tried to stand on her back two hooves, before realizing that, as a pony, she would need to walk on all fours. Memories of the previous day, that is if the last time she was awake was the previous day, flooded into her mind. She knew that she had to get out of there unnoticed so that was nobody, or, as she had thought she had heard, nopony would question her about her parents.

Looking out of the window, she saw fillies playing around, so she figured that ponies worried less about their young than humans would, probably because there was less crime. She knew that if she got out of the hospital without being identified as a being by herself, then she could find someplace where she could start over, and maybe even be happy.

Sunset walked to the door, which was closed, and tried to open it, at first with her front hoof. However, she could not, being unaccustomed to how they worked. She could have sworn she saw a nurse use her hoof to exit the room. She then remembered the doctor, and that he had used magic to open the door. She remembered him saying that she was also a unicorn, and thus had magic. She then concentrated on the handle, and wanting it to open, and on using her own magic to open it. Sunset felt something within her. This must be magic! she thought to herself.

She continued to concentrate until the handle turned and the door opened slightly. But that was all she was able to do. She promised to herself that she would get some practice after she got out of here and got someplace safe, without her being questioned.

She pushed the door the rest of the way open with her hoof, and looked out the door down the hall. There was no one there. So, she went to the end of the hall and found the stairs, and was barely able to get the door to the staircase open. Right after she heard the door close, she heard voice coming down the hall.

"This young mare has almost no memory of Equestria, I think we should scan her again, make sure that everything is okay."

Sunset thought this voice belonged to the doctor that had questioned her, what was his name again? Right? Kite? White! Sunset was decently good with names, and she knew that her memory would come in handy while discovering this world.

"But, you told me that she started to remember, that she even knew where her parents were."

Sunset identified this voice as one of the nurses she saw earlier.

"True, but she is headed the wrong direction, Las Pegasus is on the other side of Equestria."

"She could have made a simple mistake and got on the wrong train, we've all done that."

"Yes, I know, I had my fair share of doing that. Though we still should check on her to make sure she is okay."

She heard the ponies walking towards the room she had been staying in, so she quickly turned around and headed down the stairs. She had gotten some useful information from that conversation, especially the fact that the main form of transportation was a train. Now all she needed to do was to get out of the hospital and find it. She reached the bottom floor, and exited out of the staircase. She walked out confidently, hoping no one would notice that she was a patient. Fortunately, the people working at the front desk hadn't seen her, so she was able to walk out without being caught.

Author's Note

Hello, dear reader!

Another chapter done! This is what I'm doing instead of studying for finals. RIP me. As always, feel free to correct spelling and grammar errors.

I came upon doing this by wanting to do a Sunset fanfic, but all the ideas were taken. Then I realized that I hadn't seen any fanfics of human Sunset coming to Equestria when Pony Sunset left. So, that is what inspired me. Everything that happens to Pony Sunset in the human world remains the same as the EQG canon, at least for now.

Also: note on chapter title: Aster is being used as the opposite of Disaster. I came upon this word through Robin on Young Justice, and use Aster as often as I can.

I hope everyone enjoyed this! And I'm enjoying writing this!

Chapter 4: Similarities and Differences

Sunset walked out into the street, and looked around. She had only seen pictures of Manhattan in the human world, Manehatten looked more beautiful than that. Then again, pictures never could portray the beauty of seeing something in person.

She started walking down the street, hoping that she was walking out of the city. Instead, she wound up in Times Square. She hoped that they hadn't made every location some sort of horse pun.

She looked around, and saw that, although it was similar, it was also different, imbued with magic. Instead of cars, there were horse, er, pony drawn carriages. Sunset wondered how a species so different could make something so similar.

She figured that if there were similarities between the worlds, then there must be a place similar to one of the many places she had lived.

Sunset considered her options. If she went to a small town, them everyone would know each other and people were bound to ask about her family. However, if she found a big city, she would have more people that would question her.

Finally, Sunset decided that figuring out that would have to come later. For now she needed food and a place to lay low so that way the authorities couldn't find her when she was reported missing from the hospital. She really should have thought that through better.

She remembered what she heard about the train system, and decided that it would be best to head there, then decide where to go. Hopefully it didn't require any money, as she had left home without any, and ponies probably used different currency than humans anyways.

Sunset knew she had to ask somebo- no, somepony where the train station was. However, she knew that if she told an adult, that they would ask questions and try to accompany her there and wait with her. So, perhaps asking another pony her age would do.

She knew that it would be unlikely to find a filly without an adult in Times Square, so she chose a direction, and started walking.

She wound up on Broadway. Sunset wondered if the plays here would be similar to those back home. She looked up and saw some posters, they had Wicked and Phantom of the Opera. So apparently their plays weren't that different after all.

Sunset saw a lot of prim and proper ponies going into the theatre, but she also saw some ponies that were a part of the lower cast, normal ponies, she assumed. Surely one of the ponies waiting on the play would be able to direct her without worrying about her! This was even better than her 'finding another child and hoping they knew the way to the train station' plan.

She walked up to one of the families she assumed was walking into the theatre. "Excuse me," she said to them.

A grey mare with a grey and purple mane turned around. "Hello," she said.

"Um, do you, um, know where the train station is?" Sunset asked, uncertain.

"I most certainly do," the mare said. "We were just about to head there ourselves."

Crap, Sunset thought. Hopefully she doesn't ask where I'm going or where I'm from. "Really? That's great! Do you think I could accompany you?" Sunset said with false enthusiasm.

"Of course," the mare said. "I'm Twilight Velvet. This is my husband, Night Light, my son, Shining Armor, and my daughter, Twilight Sparkle." She gestured to her family around her.

The younger Twilight jumped up and down excitedly. "Are you going to the Summer Sun Celebration in Canterlot too? We made sure to time our trip so that way we'd be back in time! I'm so excited! Are you excited? I'm excited!" Twilight said with such enthusiasm.

"Woah there, Twilight, let's go one question at a time. What's your name, sweetheart?" Twilight Velvet asked.

"Sun- Sunny Glow," Sunset quickly came up with a false name, also relieved that Sparkle had given her a cover in all her questions. "And yes, I was going to go to the Summer Sun Celebration in Canterlot."

"And where are you parents?" Velvet asked, concerned.

That was the one question Sunset was hoping she wouldn't be asked, but she answered it anyways. "They're sick. We had been planning on going as a family, but after they fell ill, they told me to go without them, that Canterlot was safe."

"Well I suppose that's true," Velvet said.

Twilight Sparkle gasped, hearing this. "Do you wanna come with us? Mom, can we take her with us? Please please please please please!"

"Well, it would be safer for her," Velvet replied. "But only if she wants to."

Sunset thought, and figured that this was as good as she was gonna get it, ponies who believed her and who weren't gonna go looking for her parents. "Sure," she replied with a smile.

"Yes yes yes yes yes yes!" Sparkle cried out. Clearly this was one excitable filly.

So, they headed over to the train station, and before Sunset could say anything, Twilight Velvet had bought Sunset a ticket as well.

They boarded the train, and the younger Twilight yawned. Velvet set her down to sleep, and then looked at Sunset. "Have you had anything to eat?" She asked.

Sunset shook her head and said, "not since I left home this morning." It was a half truth, but it was more honest than she'd been with Velvet all day.

Twilight Velvet pulled a sandwich out of a bag she had. "Have this, I always make extras just in case."

"Thank you!" Sunset said, and dug into the sandwich. She looked outside and saw that the sun was setting. And once she was done, like Sparkle, she fell asleep.

Author's Note

Another chapter done!

This has been an enjoyable project to work on. I hope everyone enjoys reading it, as I have writing it.

I would recommend The Last Jedi to everyone as well!

As always, feel free to correct my spelling and grammar. And May the Force be with you!

Chapter 5: A Day in Canterlot

Sunset woke up yawning. She was starting to get used to seeing herself in this new, equine form. She looked around and remembered the events of the previous day, how she met a nice family, she was just going to call them the Lights for now, for she could think of nothing better. She also remembered lying to them, and them taking her on in their kindness.

Sparkle was already awake, and was staring out the window. She looked back and saw Sunset waking up. "Sunny! Look it's Canterlot! I know I live here, but look! It's amazing isn't it! And there's a huge library there!"

"Twilight, give her a little time to wake up," Sunset heard Twilight Velvet say.

"But this is the best view of Canterlot," the younger Twilight complained.

"It's okay, I was about to get up anyways. Now what's this view I'm hearing about?" Sunset asked.

"Only the best view of Canterlot ever! Right Shining Armor?"

"Right, Twilight!"

Sunset got up and looked out the window. "Wow," she muttered. She had never seen anything like it. This even outdid the grand castles she had seen in pictures on Earth. Not only that, but she felt a sort of peace radiating off it, as if someone had separated good from evil, and that goodness was mostly in this place. Yes, she had wanted to go home before, to what was familiar, but after experiencing that, she wasn't so sure. There was a special light to this land that contrasted with the darkness she felt at home. This was a place to run to, not from.

Sunset was pulled from her thoughts as they entered a tunnel. She turned back to Twilight Sparkle and said, "you're right, that is a pretty amazing view."

"See! Told you!" Twilight said with a grin on her face.

"Did you say that you live there?" Sunset asked, curious to know more.

"Yup! We live in the middle part of town! We were in Manehatten to see Wicked!" Twilight said with her usual excitement, and then gasped. "Do you wanna stay with us for tonight? It could be great! Then we can go to the Summer Sun Celebration together! Mom, can we? Please please pleeeeeaaaaase!!"

"Well, I wouldn't want to impose-" Sunset started.

"Of course she can! No, it wouldn't be imposing, Sunny. I insist, especially since your parents can't make it," Twilight Velvet cut in.

"Why, thank you, Miss Velvet," Sunset said, very appreciative of it. Though she didn't know what she was going to do afterwards. One night was covered for at least.

As the train exited out of the tunnel, Sunset looked back out towards Canterlot, and started imagining the wonders there. Fortunately for her, young Twilight Sparkle was also enraptured by the view.

While Sunset Shimmer was looking at the castle, something else was happening inside the castle.

Celestia used her magic to rewind what happened in the mirror room again. She saw her former student, Sunset Shimmer, teleport in and go through the mirror. Then she saw Sunset Shimmer fly out of the mirror, mere moments afterwards, but this Sunset Shimmer had no cutie mark. What she saw next disturbed her even more. It was as if mana was transferred from the mirror, or maybe somewhere inside the mirror, into Sunset, and then a blinding light. However, the only spell Celestia could find traces of were a teleportation spell.

Celestia rewound her spell again, pausing on the cutie mark-less Sunset. She looked at her, specifically her eyes, and she could not see the anger that she had started to see Sunset with, the same anger that she had seen in her sister before becoming Nightmare Moon. Instead, these eyes were gentler, with a fear about them. Did this mirror really lead to an alternate reality where there were different versions of everypony? Was Starswirl right when he said that going there may disrupt both worlds? However, if this was the Sunset from the other world, then maybe the balance was kept.

She had already mourned the loss of her pupil, as she had of her sister. But Sunset Shimmer was not just her pupil. She was her daughter. Adopted daughter, but still. After her parents died, Celestia had taken her in, given her a home. It had pained her to kick Sunset out of the castle, but Celestia had provided a home for her outside the castle. Not only this, but she thought that maybe Sunset would wield one of the Elements of Harmony. Celestia had hoped she would be the Element of empathy.

Celestia also kept the secret that there were seven Elements. Though they could work when there were just six, the seventh, empathy, helped amplify their powers. She was afraid that the only way to get Luna back was to have all seven Elements in play. After tomorrow, there were only five years until her sister's return. And she wanted to be ready for it.

Celestia left the room and locked the doors. "Make sure that only I am allowed inside that room. And if anyone comes, alert me at once," she said to the guards, before going back to the throneroom.

The train arrived at the station. "We're here," Twilight Velvet said, as she started to get up.

"Mom, can we get ice cream? Please please please please please!" Twilight said. "And I'm sure that Sunny here wouldn't mind having some of the best ice cream in Equestria!"

"Sure sweetie, and remember, tomorrow is the Summer Sun Celebration, and you know what that means for tonight, that everypony has to stay up, so that way they don't miss the sunrise," Twilight Velvet said.

"Yay! That means I can read my new book I got on the Summer Sun Celebration!"

"Do you think that maybe I could take a look at it too?" Sunset asked, wanting to know all she could so that way she wouldn't seem so out of place.

"Of course, Sunny! Mom! She wants to read too!" Twilight Sparkle exclaimed, before turning back to Sunset. "Then maybe you can read my book on the stars, or-" she gasped excitedly, "-or my book on Starswirl the Bearded! I'm sure you'd love that one! Though I'm sure everypony would love it!"

"That sounds really interesting. I'll give it a try," Sunset said, smiling. It would be best to learn all that she could about this world if she were to stay or leave, staying, so she could fit in better, and leaving, so she could perhaps figure out how to leave. She knew this wasn't her home, but it sure felt better than her home.

"Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes!" Twilight exclaimed, jumping up and down in excitement.

"Calm down Twilight, you need to save that energy if you're going to make it to the Summer Sun Celebration," her mom said, smiling at her.

Sunset smiled. She knew that at least today would be a good day, and she chose not to think about tomorrow, for that would ruin the enjoyment of the day.

Author's Note

Hello all! I'm back!

I apologize for not updating this sooner, I got sick over Christmas Vacation when I was going to write this. Also, so many new ideas popped into my head about this fanfic, and my plan for this has changed. Not that y'all knew my initial plan anyways. I might go back and do another fanfic that will follow the plot of my original plan, but this idea has gotten me so much more excited for this project! I have also been inspired by reading some fanfics! Not for plot, but inspiration to write more! I will do my best to get out at least on chapter a week, though that may be difficult with college.

Happy New Year to everyone as well!

I apologize for the way this chapter ended, I couldn't figure out any other way to end it, though I think this is the most fitting ending I could make.

As always, feel free to correct any mistakes I have made, I still am my only editor. I hope everyone enjoys this, as I have writing this! I'm very grateful to all those who read this! :twilight smile: ALSO, WHY IS THERE NO SUNSET EMOJI????

Chapter 6: Pains of the Past

Sunset was right, it had been a good day, and a good night as well. She had already learned more stuff about this world of Equestria.

"So Starswirl the Bearded helped Celestia come up with the calendar? I thought it was just some arbitrary thing that we just made up," Sunset said.

"Well, things were chaotic beforehoof. For years before Celestia, we didn't have a way to keep track of lengths of days, so we didn't have years. Fortunately, after Celestia started moving the sun and the moon, they decided that it would be easier on everypony to have a system, and what they made is really cool, I mean, imagine what would happen if we didn't have our months even! They'd be all wonky!" Twilight Sparkle said excitedly.

"But what even made them think of moons as a unit of time?" Sunset wondered.

"Well, I think it was because there are multiple events that are 3 days long, so just having a moon would be easier. Also, the fact that there are 100 a year is also pretty cool!"

"It is. But how were the sun and moon raised and lowered before Celestia? Was it a natural occurrence, or did somepony do it before her? And, if so, how far back does it go? Since the sun and moon are required for life, why is life required to move them?" Sunset asked. She was picking up on the pony lingo, but still almost slipped a few times.

"Well, most ponies think that Celestia has raised the sun and moon forever, but clearly she hasn't, so we don't really know. That would be an interesting thing to study! The magic of the sun and the moon."

"I can't wait for the Celebration, I haven't actually been to one before," Sunset admitted.

"What?? Well, I've missed a few years due to being sick, so I can't really remember it, but I'm sure it's going to be amazing!" Twilight said.

Sunset also noted a few more things, though internally. For example, the fact that it was fall on Earth, but about to be Summer here, and that the month names were different, as well as season changes falling on the first of certain months, among other things.

Sunset looked around, and saw a stuffed doll on Twilight's bed. "Huh, what's this?" she asked, walking over.

"Oh, that's Smarty Pants. Shining Armor got him for me last year when I missed the Summer Sun Celebration," Twilight replied.

"That's sweet of him," Sunset said, wondering what life would have been like with a brother or sister.

"Yeah. There's a reason he's my BBBFF!"

"BBBFF? What's that?" Sunset asked, worrying that this was another thing that Equestria had that she didn't know about.

"Big Brother Best Friend Forever! I came up with it myself! Well, maybe I had a little help from Cadance," Twilight said.

"Cadance?"

"She's only the best foal sitter ever! Oh, and she's a princess!"

From what Sunset had picked up, being a princess was a big deal, and they were only Alicorns, a combination of all three races of ponies. "Wow, really?"

"Yup!"

The fillies continued on like this for some time, along with some bonding with Shining Armor. Shining Armor, Sunset thought, was an amazing older brother to Twilight, he even had a nickname for her: Twily. She learned of how Shining taught Twilight how to fly a kite, and that he was good at defensive magic, that's how he got his cutie mark. She wondered if she would get one, not being from Equestria. That would be if she even stayed long enough to find out.

"So, do you have any siblings, Sunny?" Shining asked, as she was lost in thought.

This quickly snapped her out of her train of thought, but unfortunately she didn't know what he asked. "I'm sorry, what? I was lost in thought," she sheepishly admitted.

"Don't worry about it, Twi does it all the time. I asked you if you had any siblings."

"No, I don't," she said, thinking back to her mother, Sunstar Glow, and her unborn sister. Her mother had died in a car crash, along with her unborn sister. It had happened when she was only five, and, though she couldn't remember most of it, she did remember glimpses. How the van went spiraling out of control on the ice, how they slammed into the frozen lake, breaking the ice, but still leaving the back half of the van sticking out of the lake, and, her father's change in demeanor afterwards. He became a broken man, tortured by the loss of his wife and unborn child, while Sunset had walked away with hardly a scratch on her. He blamed her for her mother's death, thinking that Sunstar was paying more attention to Sunset than the road, and he slowly descended into drinking, beating Sunset, at times. That was why she was running, when she came here, to get away from him. It saddened her that she lost him the day of the crash too, and she had a few good memories of him, that she cherished.

By this time, tears were streaming down Sunset's face. She could normally remain composed, but thinking of her family was too much this time. She had lost her mother, sister that she never got to know, and even her father that day, in a way. Thinking about the situation she was in now only made her think more about her mother, how she was always so happy, and when her house really was a home. But, all that was gone in an instant, and she never knew what to do. All she could do was keep running from the pain, but she never could get away. After so long of her dad blaming her, she started to blame herself as well, not knowing what else to do. And here she was, in front of another family, a complete and happy family, and all she could do was cry about the loss of her own. They had been amazing to her, and she could not reciprocate that.

Twilight did not understand what was going on, and was confused as to why Sunny was crying. Shining, however, understood he struck a nerve. "Twilight, how about you go down and see if you can help mom and dad with the preparations?" he said, knowing that having a confused Twilight would only complicate things.

Twilight agreed, and left the room, still confused, and perhaps a bit worried. She had seen ponies sad before, but not this sad. Perhaps she just needed some time alone? She went downstairs to help her parents, but never made it all the way down. She didn't know what to tell them.

Meanwhile, back in Twilight's room, Sunset was still crying on the bed. Shining walked over to her, and put his hoof on her shoulder. "Do you want to talk about it?" he asked, not really knowing what to do.

Sunset only shook her head slightly in response. She knew she couldn't talk about it, it would hurt even more than it did now.

"Okay. You don't want to talk about it. But, I have a feeling that I know something similar to how you feel. I know that your parents are sick, and that you're worried about them. Back before Twily was born, when mom was still pregnant with her, she fell ill. They had to take her to the hospital, and she had to be there for days. They didn't think that that mom or Twily would be able to make it out. I was so worried, and I cried for days. I might not be able to see my mom again, or my sister for the first time. I couldn't stay strong. After mom got better, and they learned that the foal inside her was safe, I was so happy. That was when dad decided to name her Twilight, after her mom, and how they had both made it through that. That was when I decided that I would remain strong, and help others do the same. That's why I started studying defensive magic, to help remain strong. That's how I got my cutie mark. I'm sure whatever you're going through, it will turn out alright. And if it doesn't, I know some pony who can help you with that too. Just know that, at least while you're here, I'm here for you, if you ever need to talk," he said, doing his best to comfort her. It was something like an older brother would do, in a way, though really he was already an older brother to Twilight, so that was probably where he got it from.

Sunset's tears stopped flowing. She was really comforted by what he said. "Thanks Shining. I... I still can't talk about it, but you helped." She knew he understood some of what she went through, but that he had no clue what really happened, and that it was far worse than he thought. She stood up. "Though, could we not mention this to your parents? I would really hate for their mood to be brought down by this."

"Of course, Sunny, though Twily may have already told them. But, if they know, I'll let them know that you are feeling better," he said.

"Thanks. I'm sorry that I brought down the mood. I wish that I didn't it's just... so hard," she replied, carefully.

"Don't apologize, you did nothing wrong, I know it can be rough. Just have faith that it will all be okay in the end," Shining said, with a care in his voice.

"Okay," Sunset said, getting up. "Though I suppose you should go check on your sister. I'll be fine. I promise."

"All right, I go check on Twi. Just make sure that you are okay too," he said, and exited the room.

Sunset smiled slightly as he left, knowing that he cared. Just the way he spoke gave her hope, in a way.

Shining Armor started walking to the stairs, when he saw Twilight in his room. He walked in to see her.

"Is Sunny okay?" she asked, slightly concerned.

"Yes, she is, she's just worried about her family, but she's doing better now. I thought you were going to go help mom and dad," he said.

"Well, I was, but I couldn't stop thinking about Sunny, and I didn't know what to tell mom and dad."

"Twi, it's okay. She's doing better, just a little episode, like what happens when you panic. I was able to help her a little. Though, I think mom and dad do need help preparing. We should go help them," he said, smiling at her.

"Can Sunny help too?" Twilight asked.

"Yes, I think it might help her some. Just, don't talk about it in front of mom and dad. Sunny is doing better, and she said that she didn't want it mentioned because it might dampen the mood, for us and for her, and we wouldn't want her crying again," Shining replied. I'll go get her, then we can finish getting ready and go.

Princess Celestia lay in bed, thinking. She had seen her apprentice leave to another world through a magic mirror, and then somehow come back out, seemingly younger. She thought that maybe she was imagining things, accidentally adding something into her spell to make it seem like Sunset returned. But, Sunset was more than just an apprentice to her. She was a daughter. Celestia was not her natural mother, but after Sunset's parents had died, Celestia took Sunset in, and adopted her.

But, she had failed Sunset, her own daughter. It didn't matter that she was adopted. She failed Sunset like she failed her sister all those years ago. She had once more been high and mighty, not noticing the pain in the heart of one she loved. She felt as if she had neglected Sunset, as she had Luna. Luna turned into Nightmare Moon because she felt she was not loved. Celestia swore that she would never let something like that happen again. But, it did, to her own daughter. Darkness had filled Sunset's heart, as it had Luna before her. And, as she had been forced to banish her sister to the moon, she had also been forced to banish her daughter from the castle, believing that with a new perspective, would come new maturity and love. If Sunset had asked for Celestia if she could come back, Celestia would have accepted. But, instead Sunset decided to leave her, and go to another world. She was now as far from her as Luna was, and she had no power to bring her back.

Yes, the mirror opened every thirty moons, so about three times a year, but she knew that she could not force Sunset to come back with her. She knew that the only way Sunset should come back would be of her own free will. Celestia hoped that Sunset would one day use it to return, seeking guidance from her adoptive mother, but Celestia was also scared. What if Sunset couldn't make it in this other realm? What if she never gained any friends there either? Celestia knew that when Sunset's parents died, it was hard on Sunset. That was part of why Celestia had taken her in. So Sunset would feel loved. But, she failed, as she had before, and it hurt.

Celestia knew, however, that she must put away her fears and doubts, for the Summer Sun Celebration at least. She must put on a face in public, and show her people happiness, even if she had none herself. Celestia had never told her subjects about adopting Sunset, she had decided to keep it a secret. And now, she had to keep Sunset's disappearance a secret too.

Celestia got up, to prepare herself for the Celebration, and to clear her mind, such as to banish all ill thoughts, and bring light to her subjects.

Author's Note

Double the length of my previous chapter! I feel as if I am getting more into the flow of things.

I hope everyone enjoyed this! I know it's late, thought it still is published the week after my last chapter was. I am having so much fun writing this! I still have no editor but myself, so any errors I make, feel free to point out, so I can fix them. Also, notes about the dating system in Equestria with Moons, I explained that in my most recent blog post. Also, note on last chapter, I initially had it three years until Luna's Return. I changed it to 5, to give Twilight a bit more time to grow up.

Disclaimer: Do not blame me for any sadness in this story, I go where it takes me. Any sadness should be blamed on the story, not me.

Chapter 7: The Summer Sun Celebration

The Sparkle family had finished making their preparations for the Summer Sun Celebration. Sunset had held up for the remainder of the night, thanks mostly to Shining Armor's comforting. She chose to focus on the celebration at hand, and not to worry, even if those feelings kept trying to come back.

Twilight, though initially worried about Sunny, she quickly forgot all about the incident, having too much fun to think about it. And, since Sunny was acting happy, that helped keep Twilight from thinking back to earlier. Sunny was acting as she was beforehand, if not a bit happier. Shining, however, was still slightly worried about Sunny, and kept glancing at her, but her being happy gave him some relief. He knew what worrying could do to a pony, from first-hoof experience.

It was still dark when they left the house, but fortunately the moon lit the way for them, as well as some lamps. Sunset looked up and saw what looked like a mare in the moon. Perhaps this was their version of the man in the moon they had on Earth, and she started to wonder why it looked different. Maybe the same reason that she looked different, why she was now a pony instead of a human.

Princess Celestia had finished preparing herself for the Celebration as well. She was able to clear her mind, and she decided to go and talk to Cadance. Though Cadance had only been an alicorn less than a year, she had helped Celestia through a few things. However, Celestia knew that Sunset was jealous of Cadance, as she had ascended into alicornhood. Cadance had tried making friends with Sunset, to no avail. However, Celestia had not told her about Sunset's fall, not about how Sunset had gone through the portal. Maybe Cadance would help her feel better. Celestia knocked on Cadance's door.

Cadance opened it. "Auntie! It's you. Do you want to come in?" Cadance had started calling Celestia her 'aunt' soon after she became an alicorn. Celestia thought that it would be too much of a shock if an pegasus raised by earth ponies was suddenly a princess. So, to make it more bearable on her people, Cadance and Celestia had developed a niece-aunt relationship. Though initially it was awkward, they both felt like family now.

"Cadance, I need to tell you something," Celestia admitted to her.

"Is it about the Celebration?" Cadance asked, concerned.

"No, it's about Sunset."

"Sunset? What about her? Do I need to drag her out of the library again?" Cadance asked, as she had to do that many times. However, this time, Celestia seemed different. "Or...?"

"She's gone, Cadance. I've failed her."

"Gone?"

"Yes, to another realm. One that even I do not know what it is like. She left last night. A few days earlier, she and I got into an argument. She claimed that she should be made my equal, or even my better. I had to throw her out of the castle. I had always intended to take her back, but she turned from me, and decided to use the mirror portal to go to the other world. I failed to teach her friendship, and the importance of it. I just wish that she would come back."

Cadance put her hoof on Celestia's shoulder. "You did not fail her, nor did she fail you. You both just made mistakes. I'm sure that one day she will return. However, having her mentor waiting on the other side may daunt her. I am willing to watch over the mirror, and make sure that she is welcomed back by someone who tried to befriend her. Do not feel bad, auntie. She will return one day, I am sure of it."

"I do hope so," Celestia replied. She was able to keep herself composed. "Now, I must raise the sun. I hope that, whatever realm she is in, that perhaps she still might see it, and know that I am still here for here, and that maybe, in thirty moons, that she will return," she said as she turned around to leave.

It was nearly dawn when the Sparkle family, accompanied by Sunset, arrived at the square just outside of Canterlot Castle. Twilight Velvet and Night Light both trusted everyone in the city to let Twilight and Sunset go off on their own, as long as they were accompanied by Shining Armor. The three younger ponies made their way through the crowd to make it near the front in the last few moments of the twilight.

Princess Celestia readied herself, determined to give her people hope, and perhaps, if Sunset could see her, maybe give her a reason to return. So, she decided to make this one her best one yet. The fanfare played, and she walked up to go and raise the sun, and have the new day dawn, as well as begin summer.

As the fanfare occurred, the Princess of the Sun walked up. She then used her magic to raise the Sun, as she also used her wings to raise herself. When she arrived at high enough in the sky, with the Sun behind her, she spread her wings. The Sun shone around her, as if she was part of the Sun come down.

This amazed both Twilight Sparkle and Sunset, their eyes widening. "Wow," Sunset said, in complete awe of what was happening.

As the Sun rose above Princess Celestia, she looked down upon her little ponies. The cheering of her ponies had given her hope, as the sun had given them. However, when she looked upon them, she saw two fillies beside each other, one of which was Sunset Shimmer, but without a cutie mark, just like the one she had seen in the spell she had cast. Celestia almost broke down, at first thinking it was her Sunset, but she was able to keep herself composed. As she landed, she lost sight of this other Sunset, and as she looked out upon the crowd, she could no longer see her. Perhaps she was imagining things. She turned away and headed back to the castle. This was what she normally did after raising the Sun, as it normally took a lot out of her.

Meanwhile, in the crowd, the young Twilight turned to Sunset. "That was amazing Sunny, wasn't it?! Now I want to learn even more about magic! Just think about it!" Twilight said excitedly to her new friend.

Sunset, however, was still in awe of what just had happened. A magical pony with wings and a horn had moved the sun to create an amazing spectacle and start a season. And now, she was a unicorn with magic. But, not only that, it seemed like the Princess, the ruler of Equestria, with enough power to move the Sun and Moon, had looked at her. Sunset almost started freaking out about whether the princess would know that she wasn't from there, when Shining interrupted her train of thought.

"Really Twily? More reading? What do you think, Sunny?"

Sunset was pulled back to the conversation. "I think studying magic would be great. I mean, there seems like there is so much one can do with it."

"My thoughts exactly!" Twilight said.

Shining just rolled his eyes and smiled. "Well, before you two do magical research and such, why don't we have fun? This is a celebration after all!"

Both Twilight and Sunset agreed to that, as they went off to enjoy what else the Celebration had to offer.

Celestia had gone back to the palace, before breaking down again. She just could not remove her student, no, her daughter from her thoughts. She was walking down one of the halls when one of the guards trotted up to her.

"Excuse me, Princess, but somepony has requested access to the mirror, claiming that you allowed it."

"Who was it?" Celestia asked the guard.

"Princess Cadance," he replied.

"Yes, I did give her permission to access the mirror. I shall go there myself to ensure that she is allowed in," Celestia responded, before heading towards the room in which the mirror was kept.

She came to the door, and was met by Cadance. They both entered the room, and closed the door behind them.

"Cadance, I have one more thing I must show you before allowing you to take the mirror," Celestia said, with concern in her voice.

"What is it?" Cadance asked, wondering if it was a warning about danger, or how to transport it.

"This." Celestia raised her head and active her magic again, once more showing Sunset Shimmer leave, but then a Sunset falling through the mirror, and then the blinding light that left the other Sunset nowhere to be seen.

"But, that was Sunset Shimmer, but, she had no cutie mark. How?"

"I do not know. Perhaps I made a mistake in casting the spell, and my memories were interfering. My desire to have Sunset back, no longer seeking power, as she was as a filly. At least, that was what I had originally thought, until earlier. At the Celebration, after I had raised the Sun and was looking out upon the crowd, I thought I saw this other Sunset again. I do not know what to think of it, whether I was imagining it, or if somehow the mirror changed Sunset and she was sent back," Celestia admitted. She was torn up about it. The only pony she could confide in now was Cadance. At least she could confide in somepony this time. When she had banished her sister to the moon, she had no one to talk to, for years before her old mentor had disappeared, and her one confidant had been her sister.

Cadance thought for a moment, before responding. "Auntie, we both know that wherever Sunset is, she can take care of herself. Honestly, this could just be your imagination. You told me once that she was like family to you. I know that you've lived a long time. Has anything like this happened to you before?"

Celestia lowered her head. "Sunset wasn't just like family to me. I have never told anyone, but after her parents passed, I adopted her. She is my daughter, she is my family. And yes, Something like this did happen to me before. However, you must never tell anypony about it. It happened after I failed my sister, Luna. She, too, had to be sent away. She changed into something I could not recognize. But, even after she was gone, I thought I saw her a few times, as the pony I did recognize."

Cadance was surprised. "You had a sister? I'm so sorry, I never knew."

"Yes, and I failed Sunset just as I failed her. She is gone now, but my hopes of seeing her again are not. I cannot explain why. I hope that both Sunset and Luna will come back, and that they will be ready to be better."

Cadance walked up to Celestia, and put her hoof on her aunt. "Then I will do as I said I would, and take this mirror for when Sunset does return, to show her kindness. And I'm sure your family will love to see you when they return, both your sister, and your daughter." Cadance chose not to think about Sunset being Celestia's adoptive daughter, she was still taking in that Celestia had a sister.

"Thank you, Cadance. It means a lot to me."

Sunset, Twilight, and Shining Armor enjoyed many activities at the festival, before returning to the Sparkle house with Twilight Velvet and Night Light. Sunset smiled. It had been a good day.

Sunset then tried to remember when she had last had as much fun as that. She thought back to a little over a year ago, right before she and her dad had moved to Canterlot City. Her dad had slept in, and she was able to go out and enjoy her day with her friend, Starlight Glimmer. They did a lot together, when Sunset's dad wasn't keeping Sunset in her room or she stayed in there for fear. That day, she and Starlight went to a carnival with Starlight's mom. Sunset's dad had originally agreed to it, but Sunset was never sure that he wouldn't go back on his word. The carnival she and Starlight went to was fun, and it was the last day they had spent together. Sunset wished she could have stayed with Starlight, but her dad did not allow it. That day, the games, the rides, and the Ferris Wheel with Starlight and Starlight's mom were some of the best memories she had.

Sunset had eventually come to terms with leaving her home town and Starlight. She missed it, and now, here in this pony world, she was even further away. However, she did not feel that way. Twilight Sparkle reminded Sunset of Starlight. Sunset looked up, and whispered, "Starlight, wherever you are, I hope you are happy." She said it quietly enough so that nopony could hear her.

Sunset and Twilight then both went to bed, and soon the whole family had also turned in. Sunset fell asleep quickly, due to the activities of the day. She was tired enough that her thoughts did not wander before going to bed. When she fell asleep, she had a smile on her face.

Author's Note

Chapter 7 is finished! As is Part I.

I am planning on having each Part be 7 chapters, number of completion and all. I do not know how many chapters I will be making.

I am actually really happy with this chapter. In this story, I've spent more time on Celestia than I thought I would, and I am enjoying writing her scenes. I also now have Cadance! Yay! And I included a little Starlight (Human Starlight). Oops.

Also, now, thanks to a friend, I have a cover. This is only the part of it, but I love it so far. FILLY SUNSET IS SO CUTE I'M DYING.

I hope everyone enjoyed it! Writing all of these characters have been fun, to say the least. I tried to make this chapter happier than the last, and Sunset's scenes were happier, though Celestia's not as much. I really enjoyed Cadance's interactions with Celestia as well.

I will do my best to update on Fridays, but college is very busy, so I apologize for any and all delays.

Part II: Family. Chapter 8: The (Partial) Truth

Part II: Family

Chapter 8: The (Partial) Truth

Shining Armor was the first person awake in the Sparkle household. He thought back to the events of yesterday and the day before that, with Sunny. He couldn't help but worry about her. The look she had on her face, it looked as if she lost someone, but she had already said that her parents were sick. What if it was a terminal illness, or she had lost them already, but couldn't bring herself to terms with it? The way Cadance had described what happened with her, and how she felt, he couldn't help but wonder about Sunny. If she did lose her parent, would she be able to find anypony as Cadance had? He needed to talk with somepony about this, but the only person he could thing of was Cadance, and she wouldn't be over for a few days. Shining and Cadance had become close friends while she foalsat Twilight. He mostly talked to her after school before his parents got home. In the end, he decided he needed to talk to Cadance about it, so, he got up, and began to make his way to the castle. He had visited her there a few times, mostly when something happened at his parent's work, and they needed a foalsitter, but this was the first time he went to see her when it wasn't about foalsitting.

When he arrived at the palace, he was greeted by a couple of the royal guards, who recognized him. Though they didn't know about his aspirations to be a guard, from what they saw, they knew he would make a good addition. "Here to see Princess Cadance?" one of them asked.

"Yes," Shining replied, answering with enough sternest yet softness in his voice that would befit a guard, but still with enough urgency as to let him in.

One of the guards brought him to Cadance's quarters. After being assured that the Princess was awake, Shining knocked on the door.

Cadance opened the door. "Shining! It's good to see you," she said, before giving him a hug. "Are your parents needed at work today?"

"Actually, no. I actually wanted to talk to you about something," he said, after hugging her back.

"Oh?" she said, surprised. "Come on in, from your tone, it sounds important to you."

"It is," he replied, stepping in. He had never actually been inside her room. Most of the time, he just told her that his parents needed a foalsitter, and then he waited outside the door for her to get ready, before leaving with her. The room was big, though not bigger than expected, she did live in a palace after all. He was in awe of how it looked, before being pulled out of his thoughts.

"You wanted to talk to me about something?" Cadance asked.

"Yes. It's actually about somepony I just met a couple days ago. Apparently her parents are ill, and she seems worried about them. I know that I went through something similar when mom and Twily were in the hospital, but she seems worse, as if something has already happened, or will inevitably happen."

"And you wanted to talk to me because you know that I've gone through something similar, and would know better how to handle it. I could give you some advice, but, if perhaps something is happening as you suspect, it might be better if I talk to her myself. What is her name?"

"Her name is Sunny Glow. And thank you for the offer, I'm honestly not sure that I would be able to help her if something like that did happen. I was able to make her feel better the other night, but I fear it will not be enough," he said, with a concern in his voice.

Cadance always liked that Shining wanted to help other ponies. It was an admiral trait in anypony. She also thought about the name of this filly, Sunny. No, there was no way that Sunset would somehow wind up with the very family she foalsat for, and that she would need Princess Cadance's help of all ponies. She took a look back at the mirror that she was now keeping in her room. "Sure, I'll go. I don't have anything planned for today. I'll have the guards let Celestia know where I've gone. Anything else I should know about this filly?"

"Well, when she broke down the other night, it was after I asked her if she had any siblings. She said she wasn't able to talk about it, even after I was able to calm her down. It may be a touchy subject for her."

"Okay. I'll keep that in mind," Cadance replied, before they both headed out.

Both Twilight and Sunset had woken up after Shining had left. Night Light and Twilight Velvet were sleeping in, so Twilight and Sunset kept quiet. They had played a little bit, but were currently reading books on magic. They both wanted to learn everything they could about magic, though for different reasons. For Twilight, it was for the joys of learning, but for Sunset, it was to learn about it, and more about the place she now was, as well as being absolutely fascinated that it actually existed.

When Shining arrived back at home with Cadance, his parents were still asleep. So, Shining and Cadance went up to Twilight's bedroom to see if she and Sunny were awake. Cadance went to Shining's bedroom. Though she knew that Twilight would be happy to see her, she figured it was more important to talk to Sunny before getting the young filly excited. Shining had suggested that they talk in his bedroom, so that way they wouldn't have as many interruptions.

Shining went into Twilight's bedroom and found both her and Sunny reading. He smiled, it was an adorable sight. Twilight looked up from her book to see her brother. "Shining!" she said in an excited whisper, as she ran up to hug him. Sunset looked over to see that sight, and smiled at it.

"Hey, Twily, do you think I could have Sunny for a little bit?" he said, in a more serious voice.

Twilight nodded. "Is this about the other night?" she inquired.

"Kind of, yes. But remember, mom and dad are still asleep."

Sunset walked over to Shining, worry on her face.

"Don't worry, you're not in trouble or anything," he assured her, before they both left the room. Twilight quickly returned to her book.

Shining and Sunset walked over to his room. Shining gestured to let Sunset in first. Sunset walked in to find an Alicorn. This was the second one she saw in as many days.

Cadance was looking around at Shining's room to distract herself, when she heard both Shining and Sunny walk in, and the door close. She turned around, and started to say, "Shining, did you get Sun-"

She stopped suddenly when she saw that the filly before her was none other that Sunset Shimmer. She stood there for a few seconds before asking, "Shining, could you give us some alone time? It might go a bit smoother if there were just two of us."

"Um, sure," he said, before leaving the room.

Sunset looked confused, and slightly worried. "Sunset Shimmer?!" she heard the princess in front of her say in shock.

Sunsets eyes widened, with worry. She figured that she would be found out, but not this soon. Soon she would be cast out, or be put in jail for coming to Equestria illegally. "How... how did you know my name?" Sunset asked, worry in her voice.

"Do you really not recognize me?" Cadance asked, the look of surprise still visible on her face.

"Am I supposed to? Is it because you're a princess? But then why would you recognize me, let alone know my name?" Sunset said, in a panic.

Cadance was able to regain her composure, before putting her hoof on Sunset, trying to calm her down. "So, you don't remember me? Did the mirror do something to you?" Cadance asked, concern still clear in her voice.

Sunset, however, was still panicking. "Mirror? What mirror? Did that mirror I looked at give me some sort of hallucination? But then why would you know about it?"

Cadance looked at Sunset's flank, and saw that it was indeed blank, as it was in Celestia's spell. Cadance assumed that the mirror might have changed Sunset, but, looking at her, it was as if she was looking at another Sunset. Celestia said that the mirror led to another world. What if this other world somehow had another Sunset? But that was impossible, wasn't it? And the fact that this Sunset appeared right after the other Sunset left, made it even more impossible. "Sunset, what are your parents' names?" Cadance asked, hoping to see what this Sunset did know.

This hurt Sunset, not because of the person asking the question, but the question itself. "My... my mom's name is... was Sunstar Glow. My dad's name is Firelight Shine," Sunset answered, tears welling up in her eyes.

Cadance knew that these were indeed Sunset's parents names, but, the way she said it, with her mom's in the past tense, and her dad's in the present, as well as no mention of Celestia. Cadance knew that Sunset's parents died in an accident, together, but what Sunset had just said seemed to imply otherwise. She put her hoof under Sunset's chin, to comfort her. "Sunset, it's okay, it's going to be okay. Think of the stars, young one, think of the stars." This had comforted Sunset after she lost her parents before being adopted by Celestia, hopefully they would work now.

"The... the stars?" Sunset mumbled.

"Yes, the stars," Cadance said.

This appeared to calm Sunset down. The stars had always been special to her, how they symbolize great things, but still being so small in the sky.

Cadance still knew that there was only one way to know the truth about this Sunset, to ask her directly. She also knew that, if she indeed was from another world, she would be terrified of the ramifications. But, if she was the Sunset she knew, then she might talk about her last memories before the mirror. "Sunset, you're not in trouble, but what do you remember from before the mirror?"

Sunset, however, hesitated. She might not be in trouble now, but she could be if they learned she was from another world.

"Sunset, please. What happened before the mirror? If you tell me, I promise to help in any way I can, but I can't help you if you don't tell me what happened."

Sunset hesitated again, but this time, she spoke up. "I was running, I was running and leaned up against a statue, and the next thing I remember, I'm in front of a mirror."

"So, you fell through the portal?" Cadance asked, hoping to clarify things.

Sunset started to panic again. "A portal? But how? And why would it change me? And how does that make you know who I am?" Sunset had temporarily forgotten that Cadance was still there, but realized it after her last question, and put her hoof over her mouth.

"Don't worry, young one, you are not in trouble. It was an accident. What were you running from?" Cadance asked, hoping to find more answers.

Sunset somehow felt as if she could trust this pony, but she didn't know why. "My dad," she admitted.

"Your dad? But why?"

"Because I would have gotten more bruises had I not run off!" she snapped, before suddenly cowering away.

Gears turned in Cadance's mind. So one of her parents were alive on this other world, and yet not as kind as how her Sunset had described him. She considered how the young filly would react if she knew there was a way home. However, before she had a chance to asked, she heard Sunset plea with her. "Please don't lock me up or make me go back. I'll do anything. I... I just can't bear to see him, not how he is, and I'm not sure what will happen this time." There was a worry in Sunset's voice.

Cadance considered what Sunset was saying for a few moments, and that something bad could happen to her if she were sent back. Not only this, but Cadance knew the portal would not open again for another 29 moons. "I won't make you go back, Sunset. But, you will need a place to live. I can make you all the legal documents to live here, but please try not to tell anypony where you're from, it might make you seem crazy. And, there is another thing I have to tell you. There was another Sunset Shimmer, on this world. Both of her parents died. The legal records should not be too hard to find, but you will at least have to tell the family you're staying with at least the partial truth. I'm sure that they'll even let you stay with them for a few days."

Sunset nodded at this, but tears welled in her eyes.

"I promise, everything will be okay. Just say strong. It will get better. I lost my parents when I was young. Fortunately, another family found me, and loved me as their own. I'm sure you will find a family just as great," Cadance said, comforting her.

"Thanks, Princess," Sunset said, drying up, not knowing what to call her.

"No problem, and it's Cadance. There's no need to call me Princess here," the pink alicorn said, before heading to the door. "Do you want to tell them about your predicament, or shall I?"

"I can try, but, do you think you could help?" Sunset asked.

"Of course. I know this can't be easy, but I am sure that it will be okay."

Later, the entire Sparkle family had gathered in their living room, with Cadance and Sunset standing in front of them.

"It's about time I told you the truth," Sunset said. "The truth is that my name isn't Sunny Glow. It's Sunset Shimmer. And my parents aren't ill, they... they..." She couldn't complete what she had to say.

"A little bit ago, her parents had an accident," Cadance picked up, helping Sunset. "Her parents didn't make it. She was never put in an orphanage, but now that we know, she will need to find somepony to adopt her. In the meantime, while I make the arrangements, do you think she could she could stay with you? I hope I'm not asking too much."

Everypony else was surprised. "Do you think you could excuse us for a few minutes while we discuss this?" Night Light asked.

"Of course," Cadance said, before leading Sunset back upstairs.

Sunset was worried that they would say no, and she would have to find someplace else to stay while Cadance made the arrangements. Cadance could see her worry, and decided to distract her. She decided to help Sunset practice some magic, even though she was pretty new at it herself.

After about an hour, they were called back downstairs. Everypony was where they were, with Cadance and Sunset standing up front again. Twilight Sparkle had a huge smile on her face, though Sunset was unsure that they would include her in the conversation. Shining even had a smirk on his face. However, it was Night Light's and Twilight Velvet's stern faces that worried her.

Twilight Velvet was the first to speak up. "After much deliberation, we have decided that you cannot stay with us until you find a family to adopt you," she said.

Sunset's head dropped, having known that they might deny her staying with them after she lied to them.

"But, this is because we have decided to adopt you," she continued. "It took some convincing, but Shining did make a strong case for you. And, we feel like you would make a good addition to the family."

Sunset looked up with shock. She couldn't believe what she heard. "Really?" she asked.

"Really," Night Light said.

"Well, this turned out better that expected," Cadance said.

"I'm getting a sister! Yes! Yes! Yes! And it's Sunny, er, Sunset!" Twilight Sparkle was definitely the most excited, as she jumped up and hugged Sunset.

Sunset looked up, and saw Shining smile at her. "Welcome to the family, Sunny," he said. "Can I still call you Sunny?"

"Yes," she said. Everypony then came together in a group hug, with Sunset in the middle.

After many smiles and much hugging, Cadance spoke up. "Don't worry, I'll handle the paperwork. And Sunset, like I said, it's going to be okay."

"Thanks Cadance," she said, with a massive smile on her face.

"Now, I should probably get back to the castle," Cadance said.

"Cadance, wait!" Twilight cried.

"Of course I wouldn't forget," she said to Twilight.

"Sunshine, sunshine, ladybugs awake! Clap your hooves and do a little shake!" they both sang together, while doing the dance.

"Bye, everypony!" Cadance said, leaving, as the Sparkle family did one more group hug.

Author's Note

Okay, I know it's Wednesday, but I just couldn't wait!

I present to you, the beginning of Part II: Family!

This one definitely lightened the mood, especially with that ending. If you haven't read it yet, what are you doing in the Author's notes. Go. Read it now!

I had a lot of trouble figuring out how I should start the chapter, with a dream or with Sunset's thoughts, but after I while I found that Shining's perspective was the best way to start.

Cadance was also something that I had not planned for this chapter, but revealing at least part of the truth was too difficult and felt too forced without her, as well as that last part.

I had planned this from when the second chapter I had the Sparkles in, and I knew I had to let it build. My initial plan was just to have none of the mane characters until far later, such as when Sunset was grown up, but this idea came to me while writing, and it felt so much better. I might explore that other idea at a later point in time, but this is what called me.

I hope everyone enjoyed it! I still have no editor, so any mistakes you notice and comment on, I will do my best to fix! See you all next Friday, unless I get overexcited again.

Chapter 9: The Love of Family

When Cadance arrived at the castle, she knew she would have to talk to Celestia. It was not a conversation she was looking forward to, as she had let Sunset stay with the Sparkle family, and be adopted by them. She had no clue how Celestia would react to that, but, Cadance believed what she did was right, and she would stand by it.

Celestia had taken off the second half of the day, so Cadance made her way to Celestia's quarters. She knocked, and let herself in, knowing that Celestia would probably be caught up in thinking about Sunset.

"Cadance, what are you doing her?" Celestia asked after Cadance had come in.

"I have news for you, of Sunset Shimmer," Cadance replied, with an even tone.

"Sunset? But how? Is it something that the mirror can do? Or is she still in Equestria."

"I regret to inform you that Sunset is indeed in the other world. However, I also now know that you did not miscast your spell. There was indeed another Sunset Shimmer there that night."

"But, how do you know this?" Celestia asked, confused.

"Because I found her," Cadance said calmly.

"Then she must be brought here at once!" Celestia exclaimed.

"I'm afraid I cannot allow that, Auntie," Cadence replied.

"But, why not?"

"How would you feel if you found yourself in another world and were suddenly summoned before the highest reigning official? She hadn't even heard of you before a few days ago," Cadence said, with unwavering confidence.

"But she is alone in this world, and I have a duty to her, as her mother," Celestia stated.

"Except she is not your Sunset, nor is she alone in this world. The family that found her has decided to take her in, they have decided to adopt her. And I know that this family will care for her, I know them."

"You should have talked to me about this before making such a rash decision," Celestia said, her emotions beginning to show.

"No," Cadance replied, firmly. "I am also a princess, so I do have the authority to make such a decision. And my choice was well thought out. The reason I didn't bring this to you is because, first of all, it had to be worked out quickly, and second, you would have made a rash decision."

Celestia gasped at this. "Do you really think that I would make a rash decision?"

"Yes, auntie, I do. You are too emotionally unstable right now, and you would have trouble differentiating between this Sunset and your daughter. Not only that, but you didn't treat Sunset like a daughter much to begin with. Yes, I was jealous of how much time you spent teaching her, but that was all you did with her, you were a teacher to her, not a mother."

"But she needed space, after what happened with her parents," the Princess of the Sun countered.

"She needed love, not space!" Cadance exclaimed. "When my parents took me in, they gave me love, even after they told me that I was adopted. Space is something you give somepony a little of, after trying love. You gave her too much space, allowing her to grow distant."

"And you really think that this other family would raise her better than I would?" Celestia snapped back at Cadance.

"Right now, I do. You don't have any experience raising foals, just with being their teacher. This family already has ponies that are growing up and being loved. You would focus too much on your Sunset, and not enough on her. Hay, you even threw your Sunset out of your castle, and for what? Hoping she would return, begging your forgiveness? Or to have her realize that she needed you? Yes, your Sunset did make mistakes, but so did you. Honestly, I think that the family she is with now is the best family for her."

Celestia lowered her head. She was not used to being reprimanded, but she knew that Cadance was right, she was in no state to raise a foal. She could have been more motherly to her Sunset, but she hadn't. She realized that if her Sunset ever did return, she would have to ask for her forgiveness, and try to be more motherly as opposed to merely a teacher. "Will you at least make sure that this Sunset is well cared for, and happy?" Celestia wound up asking.

"I will. I do foalsit for her new family," Cadance said, before walking out the door. As she exited, she turned her head and said one more thing to Celestia. "At least now you know at least one Sunset is safe and sound. I'm sure the other one is doing well, too"

After all that had happened, Sunset needed to have a few minutes alone, she made her way up to Twilight's room, well, now it was her and Twilight's room. Sunset sat down on the floor and wondered if all that had really just happened. Had she really met a princess and then get adopted by a family she had just met a couple days ago. Either she was dreaming, or this really was a land of magic. After all that she had seen, she decided it must be the latter, there were just too many details for this to be a dream. Sunset got lost in her thoughts, thinking about everything that had happened since she fell through that portal. She knew she wouldn't be missed, the only friend she ever made was Starlight, and she had already been forced to move away from her. As for her dad, she didn't think that he cared whether or not she was there.

Sunset was so lost in her thoughts, that she didn't hear Shining Armor come in. He was a blank expression on her face, neither happy nor sad. "Sunny?" he said.

Sunset was pulled from her thoughts. "Oh, Shining, I didn't hear you come in."

"How are you feeling?" he asked, knowing that she was just forced to face the facts about her parents, and then suddenly she was adopted by his family.

"I'm honestly not sure," she replied. "It's just so much to take in." She looked up at him, and asked, "How did you convince them anyways?"

"Well, part of it was that you reminded me of myself, in a way, as well as Cadance. I knew that you needed a home, and, after our talk, I wasn't sure if you would open up to anypony else. Also, Twily really likes you, she always wanted a sister."

"Well thank you, Shiny. Can I call you Shiny?"

"Yes, you can. Twily calls me that all the time," he replied. "Is there anything else you wanted to talk about?"

"No, I think I'm good," Sunset said, before getting up to hug him. "Thanks for doing that. It means a lot."

He hugged her back. "No problem."

Shining made his way downstairs before Sunset. Sunset then walked to the top of the staircase, looking out on the Sparkle family, now her family. She then started singing, as she descended the stairs.

"So much has happened in these last few days.
Oh so many things have turned my gaze.
But there’s nothing more surprising to me
Except finding a brand new family."

As she finished singing the verse, she finished going down the stairs. But, the flow of the song was still uninterrupted, as she walked to the front of the living room.

"But now that I am here
I cannot help but wonder
But now that I am here
I cannot help but think
About what it will be like
And what I have in store
I have to believe
That it is something mooooore."

At this, Shiny picked up the song, by himself, singing words of encouragement to her.

"We know that a lot has happened to you
But you are family now, this is true
And family loves each other, each and every day
No matter what anypony will do, and come what may."

As he finished this verse, he walked up to Sunset, and smiled at her, continuing to sing.

"Because now that you are here
You do not have to wonder
And now that you are here
You now can see
What it is like
And what you have in store
For the Love of Family
Is so much mooooore"

Then, Twilight Sparkle started singing, about what she knew about family.

"Shiny has always been my best friend
And Family is here till the end
With them you will find love so strong
And you will see that you belong"

As she finished, she walked up to her new sister, smiling at her, as the rest of the family, except Sunset joined in.

"Because now that you are here
You do not have to wonder
And now that you are here
You now can see
What it is like
And what you have in store
For the Love of Family
Is so much mooooore"

The Sparkle family was now surrounding Sunset, as she then joined it.

"Because now that you are(I am) here
You(I) do not have to wonder
And now that you are(I am) here
You(I) now can see
What it is like
And what you(I) have in store
For the Love of Family
Is so much mooooore"

Sunset then finished out the song alone, with a huge smile on her face.

"For the Love of Family
Is so much mooooooooooore."

As the song finished, everypony had a smile on their face, and they all hugged each other.

"It looks like you have nothing to worry about, Sunny," Shining said.

"Nope, apparently not," she replied. She had experienced so much more happiness in the last few days than she could remember ever feeling in her life. This was what Equestria truly had to offer her, the joy and the love of family.

Author's Note

Okay, yes, another chapter released on a day that's not a Friday, I just get so excited. Also, I know that this has less words than my last few chapters, but the way I ended it seemed like the perfect way to do so, and that it would be forced if I did it any other way.

That song up there, fully original to me, I even know what it sounds like, but I do not have it sung out yet or anything, I will post when I do have it recorded for everyone to hear. Making that song was really hard, but when I was able to come up with the lyrics, it was really rewarding. Putting it in format with the rest of the story, was, however, hard on me. I tried to show what I imagined happening, while also keeping the flow of the song continuous.

We also had a Cadance Celestia conversation. That went as well as I had hoped. In fact, while I was writing that part, someone commented on my last chapter that it would be interesting to see it.

So, I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, however short it may be.

Chapter 11: Revalations and Lullabies

After they played for a while, had lunch and an early dinner, Twilight decided that she was going to get some more reading in. Sunset took the opportunity to have Cadance teach her some more magic.

"I see you've been practicing," Cadance said.

"Yeah, I mean, it's really cool being able to use actual magic. The best we had back where I'm from were stage performers, at least I think so. All their magic was really slight of hand," Sunset said.

"Hand?" Cadance asked confused.

"Remember, I changed species? I used to be human, we were bipedal and had hands, much like the minotaurs you have here, but closer to an ape, I guess, but no one likes being compared to an ape, it's just the closest thing that I can think of."

"Oh, right. How do you know about minotaurs?"

"My new sister is probably the nerdiest pony in Equestria, she has tons of books. I read about them. We actually had mythologies with minotaurs in them where I'm from, though they are slightly different."

"Okay..." was all Cadance could say.

"Anyways, I should probably get back to learning about magic. I did some reading on it, so that helped," Sunset said, leading them back to the task at hoof.

"Well, if Twilight is the nerdiest pony in all Equestria, you might be the second nerdiest," Cadance said with a laugh.

"Hey! This stuff is new to me! It's pretty exciting," Sunset tried to defend herself.

"Magic is pretty new to me, as well, remember? And you don't see me going off and reading everything I can find," Cadance countered.

"Well, well, okay, I got nothing," the amber unicorn admitted.

"My point exactly. Now, as I was saying earlier, it is not simply enough to want to do magic, you must actually do it. You must allow it to flow through you, and not let it overpower you. You must let it come naturally. Many think that great concentration and wanting to do magic is the basis, but it's not, magic is natural, so you must allow it to work through you. Emotions can make magic behave different ways, so clearing yourself of emotions, especially negative ones, is important," Cadance said.

"So, basically what I'm hearing here is, 'you must unlearn what you have learned,' 'try not, do or do not, there is no try,' and 'fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, and hate leads to suffering.' Am I right?" Sunset said with a smirk.

"Um, basically. Did you pick that up in one of the books on magic you read?" Cadance asked.

"I saw it in a movie, well, a set of movies. Star Wars. One of my friends was obsessed with it. Now, time to use the Force!" Sunset said, as she proceeded to levitate the pillows in the living room. Fortunately Shining decided to go work on a game in his room, though she couldn't quite remember what it was called.

"Very good," Cadance said. "For a while I had trouble with the amount of force I was exerting on things, I constantly crushed them. Also, what is a movie? And the Force?"

"Well, a movie is a motion picture I guess. Human society is more advanced technology-wise than ponies. We are able to record actors making scenes, and put them together into a movie. Also, the Force is another reference to Star Wars. Basically Star Wars is a science fiction story with even greater technology shown than even human technology. It is set in space, because back where I'm from, no one controls the sun and moon, they move on their own, we've even gone to our moon. Basically the Force is, in the words of a great Jedi master, the Force is 'an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us and penetrates us; it binds the galaxy together.' The us being the people in that fictional world," Sunset explained.

"So basically it's like Equestria's magic. The magic is not just what you see in unicorns. Earth ponies and pegasi also have their own magic. The earth ponies' magic is what makes them so in tune with the ground and with nature, while the pegasi magic is what allows them to fly and control the weather," Cadance said.

"Yeah, I suppose it's similar. Just thinking about the comparison has helped me," Sunset replied.

"Well you're learning a whole lot faster than I did. I was always..." Cadance stopped herself from finishing her sentence.

"You were always what?" Sunny asked.

"I shouldn't say," Cadance said.

"It's about the other Sunset, isn't it?"

"Yes," Cadance admitted.

"You can tell me. We're different people, I mean ponies. See, she never would have made a slip like that," Sunset said with a smile.

"I wouldn't be surprised if she's making the exact opposite slip actually. But I do see your point. What I was saying was that I was always jealous of her natural ability. Her talent was magic, specifically light magic, and I don't mean light versus dark light, I mean actual light. She could manipulate it. In fact, she had the highest teleportation range due to that, she was somehow able to use the light around her and in the area she wanted to teleport to, well, I don't know how to describe it, but it allowed her to teleport outside of even her visual range, to places she could feel certain types of light shining. Sunlight was the easiest, but it was still impressive," Cadance said.

"Okay, that is impressive, from what I've read about teleportation. Except in freak accidents, ponies could only teleport inside their visual range. If you didn't know what you were doing, it did not turn out well," Sunset recalled.

"Yes. But I do have a question, a bit less magical, and a bit more personal. Your mom said that they found you in Manehattan. How did you get there, even though the mirror was in Canterlot. How did you even get out of the room where the mirror was? It looked like you teleported," Cadance explained.

Little did they know, Twilight had finished yet another book and had snuck back downstairs. She was wondering what the hay they were talking about. A mirror? Another Sunset? People?

"I don't remember, when I woke up in the hospital, they told me I just appeared in there, I don't even remember leaving the mirror room. Could it be that I teleported? But from what I saw Manehatten is pretty far from Canterlot," Sunset said.

"That sure sounds like a teleport, but having just become a unicorn, you would have little to no power, but there did look like there was something flowing from the mirror to you," Cadance said.

"Yeah, there was this blinding light, I screamed and passed out, but why would magic flow from the mirror to me?" Sunset pondered.

"Yes, that is confusing. You said that there was essentially no magic in the, what was it, human world?" Cadance asked.

"That's right, and the other Sunset went to it. How would a land without magic react if it suddenly had magic? Could the portal have taken away her magic? And then give it to me?" Sunset continued.

"But why would that cause a long range teleport?" Cadance asked.

They were talking magic now, and Twilight knew magic, so, she just had to jump in. "I have no clue what you were talking about before, but from what it sounds like a sudden influx of mana can cause a great amount of power to be release, and do things that ponies can't normally do, such as a long range teleport. But that far would already need a lot of power, especially in teleportation, and, since there was somehow another Sunset, who could already do long range teleportation, that could explain it. Now, what was this about another Sunset, a mirror, and another world?"

Both Cadance's and Sunset's mouths hung open.

"What, I read a lot? Now could someone please explain to me what all this about? I don't like not knowing things," Twilight said.

"Well, um..." Cadance started.

"I'm actually from another world, without magic," Sunset cut in. "I wasn't lying about my parent, they truly are gone, but I'm actually not supposed to be here. There was another Sunset Shimmer, who ran away from Equestria for reasons I don't know, and I went through the mirror portal at the same time. I'm not even a pony where I'm from, but describing what I was again today would be a bit much. I know it's unbelievable, but it's true. I didn't even know there was another Sunset until Cadance told me about her."

"I can believe in other worlds, supposedly Starswirl the Bearded meddled in portals some, but what didn't he meddle in?" Twilight said.

"So you believe me?" Sunset asked.

"Well, since Cadance is part of the source information, then yes. Though I would like to know about this other world. What's it like? How is so-" Twilight started.

"I think that's enough questions for her for now," Cadance interrupted. "Besides, it's almost your bedtime."

Twilight put on her cute pouty face. "But Cadance," she said.

"No buts, you two need to get ready for bed, then maybe I'll sing you a lullaby," Cadance said.

"Okay Cadance," Twilight said, before turning to her sister. "And I expect to hear everything you remember about this other world soon enough."

"Later, Twi," Sunset said with a yawn. "This practicing magic has taken a lot out of me. Let's go get ready for bed," she said as she got up to go upstairs, and Twilight followed. Cadance smiled at the two fillies, thinking about how those two really did seem like sisters.

Meanwhile, at the Castle of the Two Sisters, Celestia had read through her and her sister's journal. She thought about her sister and her daughter.

As the day was coming to a close, Celestia knew that again she would need to lower the sun. She thought back to the last time she was at the castle, and of what her daughter must be going through. As she activated her magic, she began a lullaby, reminiscent of the one that she sung for her sister right before she left the castle last time.

"You became cruel and oh so unkind
And I only sent you away.
I loved you so, but I showed it not
And now I miss you today

But now it is time to sing you a song
And I will try not to weep
Till you see the light, and come safe home
Only then can I truly sleep

Once did a Princess who was all alone
Did find a pony like her
The young pony lost much, and had no one
To love, so the Princess made her a daughter

So great was her strength, so wondrous her power
That she thought that she was so great
And that power filled her and pushed all away
Until she was consumed by not love, but hate

Lullay dear Sunset, goodnight daughter mine
And find now and rest in new place
Hear now my lullaby, Shimmering light
E’en now though I can not see your face

Get now the serenity and beauty of the sun
And set not in days but be kind
Sunset, you’re loved, no matter what you may think
For again I have been so blind

Soon did that Princess take notice that her daughter
Became haughty and away friendship threw
And neither had she shown her the love she needed
She could only watch as her daughter’s bitterness grew

But such was the path that they both chose, and swiftly
The mom showed in her panic
A mirror of greatness that showed nothing good
And only spread rifts and made it more quick

Lullay dear Sunset, goodnight daughter mine
And find now and rest in new place
Hear now my lullaby, Shimmering light
E’en now though I can not see your face

Get now the serenity and beauty of the sun
And set not in days but be kind
Sunset, you’re loved, no matter what you may think
May this new world yourself again find
For again I have been so blind

The moons now before you
Now in realm unknown
Without a mentor
We’re now both alone

May these thirty moons
Help you not want to stay
I love you, I miss you
All these worlds away

May this world keep you safe tonight
Even though you’re no longer under my light
And through all this sadness, I still care
And in my dreams, I’ll think of you and hope well you fare
Sleep… "

As Celestia finished her song, she finished lowering the sun, ending the sunset. She then turned away, and flew back to Canterlot.

As the sun set, Twilight and Sunset had made their way to bed.

"What lullaby are you gonna sing tonight, Cadance?" Twilight asked excitedly.

"This one I actually haven't sung to you. When I was found as a filly, this was with me. I was given the copy I was found with when I found out I was adopted. I feel as if it a special night tonight. This one is about what could have been my ancestors, from long ago," Cadance explained.

"Really? That's awesome!" Twilight exclaimed.

"That does sound pretty cool," Sunset said.

"It is the Lullaby of the Crystal Empire," Cadance said. "And this is how it goes." The princess then began singing,

"Once there was a caravan
Which traveled from land to land
Many a tribe they could be
And the only of the Crystal Ponies

They wander’d throughout the cold
During the long days of old
Till one day they did depart
And found the great Crystal Heart

Even though they were far north
It still provided much warmth
And thus the journey did retire
And they did form the Crystal Empire

As they settled their new home
For once all they did was roam
Their families then began to grow
And they loved with hearts aglow

And now we are all together
And we make each other better
With the Crystal Heart we now keep
All can have a good night’s sleep"

As Cadance ended, both Twilight and Sunset had fallen asleep. Cadance smiled at them, as she turned away and exited their room, closing the door. She knew when she was next here, she would be berated by Twilight with questions of the Crystal Empire, though she herself knew very little of it. She made a note to ask Celestia about it later.

Author's Note

Two songs? What is this, a special MLP episode?

Well, no, this is a chapter, and this whole fic is pretty much like a special or something.

Lullaby for a Princess by Ponyphonic is indeed canon in this Rising Universe. Yes, that is what I'm calling it, and I'm sticking with it. Though I had to change this chapter due to not actually being able to use Lullaby for a Princess because it's copyrighted, It turned out just as good if not better than I hoped. Lullaby for a Student is to the same tune as Lullaby for a Princess, and I changed almost every single line, to avoid copyright stuff, and to stick to the rules of the site. I made sure to ask about the rules so there would be no issues.

The Lullaby of the Crystal Empire was completely of my own making. It's a short and sweet lullaby.

I also now have explained why Sunny wound up in Manehattan, that had always been my answer, I was just waiting for a good place to put it in the story.

Twilight knows now??? I didn't see that coming either, the story chose to do that on its own.

I hope everyone enjoys reading this, as I have writing it!

Also, author everyone should read works from: Allykitty. She was one of the authors whose works inspired me to write. Her Homecoming continuity is absolutely brilliant! Though I have a feeling if you follow me, you already follow her, she's much bigger than me.

Chapter 12: Acquaintances and Quesadillas

A few days later, Twilight had gotten her fill of answers from her sister, and Sunset had even been able to use some illusion magic to show Twi what a human looked like. After Sunset mastered the illusion, she told her parents about where she was from. They were intrigued, and showed her all the love they had, and that it didn't matter what she was before, she was their daughter now.

They had also decided to enroll both Twilight and Sunset in Princess Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns. While Twilight was excited, Sunset had politely declined the offer, content to not go there, at least for another year. She wanted to spend time with her family instead. Besides, with Shining applying to become a royal guard, she decided somepony had to figure out how to do their Ogres and Oubliettes games. She never had much of a real childhood, and she decided to have at least a small taste of foalhood now. Twilight was disappointed, but Sunset reminded her that the other Sunset attended GU, and that she would probably be recognized. A visit or two on campus would be fine, but she was still afraid to go to school there. Sunset also reminded her sister that she didn't have half the magical ability and knowledge that she had. So, Twilight remained excited, knowing that she'd still see her sister every day, and who wouldn't be excited to go to such a great school.

Today, they were going to meet some of Twilight's friends, though they were more acquaintances than friends. Twilight spent so much time studying, she didn't really have time for friends. But her parents insisted, as a celebration for applying. All Twilight needed to get through now was an entrance exam. So, Sunny accompanied her sister to meet her friends.

So, Twilight and Sunset arrived at the park. Shining and Cadance were also there, watching them from a distance, though Sunset suspected something more was going on, while Twilight was just oblivious. Twilight and Sunset walked up to where the group of friends was. One of which was reading a book, and had basically the same mane style as Twi.

"Hi girls," Twilight said, waving at them.

"Twilight, hi!" said the mare with a blue coat as she gave them a wave. "Who's this with you? A new friend?"

"Not exactly. Girls, I would like you to meet my new sister, Sunset Shimmer," Twilight exclaimed.

"New sister?" asked the white mare with pink hair. "How'd that happen? She looks a little older than you."

"Well, they kinda adopted me," Sunset replied, before Twilight could say anything. "And I'm only 6 months older than Twilight."

"Really? Well it's nice to meet you. I'm Lemon Hearts, and these are Twinkleshine, Minuette, Lyra, and the one reading a book is Moondancer. Hey Moondancer, Twilight's here, and she brought her new sister," Lemon Hearts said.

"Huh?" Moondancer said as she looked up. "Oh, hi. Sorry, was a bit caught up in my book."

"Well, it's not as bad as Twi. You have to basically take the book away from her to get her to look up. Don't give that look, you know it's true!" Sunset said.

"Yeah, we've all experienced her in the zone," Lyra said.

"Yeah, it's like she's in another dimension. The Twilight Zone," Sunset said as she laughed.

The others joined her laughing, but Sunset was the only one who truly got it.

"So, are you going to GU as well?" Moondancer asked Sunset.

"No, not this year, it's just so much adjusting to a new life, having a family. I'm loving it, but it can be a bit overwhelming at times," Sunset said.

"But everypony else is, right?" Twilight asked.

Everypony nodded in affirmation.

"Maybe we should start preparing for the entrance exam, I wouldn't wa-" Twilight began, before she was interrupted by her sister.

"Twilight, you've practically been preparing since before I met you, before you even knew that you were going. And I'm pretty sure that everybo-, I mean everypony is going to be ready. Besides, we came here to hang out and have a good time, not to study."

Nopony seemed to notice Sunset's slip, except Lyra, who just raised her eyebrow.

"I mean, I guess so," Twilight admitted.

"Really? You were able to convince her just like that? It'd take at least five more minutes for any of us to talk her into it," Minuette replied.

"Well, what can I say? I am her sister," Sunset replied with a smirk.

After some time, they had made their way over to a restaurant. Everypony had ordered, and again Cadance and Shining had a table of their own. Sunset could definitely tell there was something going on between them.

Everypony had ordered, and their waiter was levitating their food to them. Lemon Hearts had ordered a quesadilla that day, with extra cheese. However, as he walked, he tripped, losing his concentration on his magic. The quesadilla, unfortunately, was close to Twilight. It began to fall, and nopony noticed it. Nopony but Sunset Shimmer. Right before it landed on her sister's head, covering her with cheese, Sunset caught it with her magic. As the rest of the plates clattered on the ground, everypony else at the table looked up.

"My quesadilla!" Lemon Hearts exclaimed. "You saved it."

"Yes, that was my goal," Sunset said.

The whole group laughed, as Sunset levitated Lemon Hearts quesadilla to her.

"Imagine what would have would have happened if Sunset weren't here," Minuette laughed.

"Twilight would be covered in a very cheesy quesadilla," Twinkleshine said.

"Who knows, maybe she would have lived with an irrational fear of quesadillas for the rest of her life," Moondancer put in.

"Or maybe I would have just showered and it would be like it never happened," Twilight countered.

"No, we'd always remember. Sunny saved you from an irrational fear of quesadillas," Lyra said, causing everypony to laugh again.

Their waiter apologized for what happened, and went to get them food to replace that which had fallen. And throughout the whole meal, with a few exceptions, nopony stopped teasing Twilight about quesadillas. After they finished eating, they all parted and went their separate ways, and Sunset and Twilight went with Shining and Cadance.

"How was it?" Cadance asked.

"It was good," Sunset replied.

"Well, other than the fact that I almost had a quesadilla fall on me," Twilight said.

"At least it was almost, and didn't actually happen," Sunset said.

"Lucky me, you were there to catch it," Twilight said with a smirk.

"And thus saving you from a life of an irrational fear of quesadillas," Sunset said, before the two sisters started laughing again.

"Well, I'm glad you had a good time," Shining said.

"And how was your night?" Sunset asked Cadance and Shining.

"Oh, um, it was good, very good," Shining replied, with a light blush on his face.

"Yes, it was, rather enjoyable," Cadance said, also blushing.

Sunset raised an eyebrow at them, and then noted how oblivious Twilight was still being. Fortunately for Shining and Cadance, they arrived at the Sparkle house. "I'll see you all tomorrow," Cadance quickly said.

"See you, Cadance," Shining said.

"Bye Cadance," Sunset and Twilight both said as they hugged her, before the three sibling headed inside.

When Cadance headed back to the castle, she found Celestia waiting for her.

"Hi Auntie," Cadance said, with a small smile.

"Hello Cadance. Could we talk?" the Princess of the Sun asked.

"Um, sure, what is it about?"

"Something better discussed alone," Celestia said.

So, they made their was to Celestia's quarters. After they entered and closed the doors, Cadance turned around. "Is this about Sunset?" Cadance asked.

Celestia lowered her head. "In a way, yes," she replied.

"So you're not going to try to make me bring her to you?" Cadance asked.

"No, I am not. I have come to terms that she is not my Sunset. A few days ago, I went to my old castle, where my sister and I lived," Celestia began.

"I didn't know you had another castle," Cadance said.

"Yes, well I moved out long ago, it reminded me too much of my sister. But with everything that happened with Sunset, I needed to return. In it, I found the journal my sister and I kept. It helped remind me of things, things I should have done with Sunset, that I did not do. However, now it also feels like it is the proper time to tell you the truth," Celestia explained.

"The truth about what?"

"Your ancestors, your biological ancestors. I know not what happened to your biological parents, but I did know a few of your ancestors, from the Crystal Empire," Celestia said, expecting the next question out of Cadance's mouth to be be about what the Crystal Empire even was.

"I figured as much," Cadance said.

Celestia was bewildered. "But how?" she asked.

"I learned of it in a lullaby that was passed down from my biological parents. When I found out I was adopted, my parents gave it to me, believing I should know of it," Cadance explained.

"Well, it's true," Celestia said. "More importantly, you are descended from Princess Amore, the former ruler of the Crystal Empire. She was killed, and the rest of the Empire fell, even after my sister and I came to help. But one pony made it out, Cadere, Amore's daughter, your ancestor. My sister, Luna, took her in before turning dark. That's part of the reason why I have you calling me Auntie."

"Thank you for telling me this, Celestia. Is there anything else you wanted to talk about?" Cadance said with a smile.

"Is she happy?" Celestia asked.

"Sunset? Yes she is. I don't think I would have found a better fit for her if I tried," Cadance said.

"Good. I know not if I will take another pupil at some time, but it does warm my heart to know that at least one Sunset is happy," Celestia said. "Other than that, there is nothing I wish to talk about. It's been a long day."

"Well the, goodnight, Auntie," Cadance said.

"Goodnight, Cadance," Celestia replied, before Cadance left her room.

Author's Note

I am on fire! In the past 24 hours, I have written three chapters of different stories. I began a new fic, The Wings of Time, and have already published the prologue and the first chapter.

Gods, these characters are hard to write as fillies without changing too much backstory. But I was able to do it, somewhat. I have also had Sunset save Twilight from a quesadilla phobia!

I feel as if this book will be wrapped up in the next month or so, and then I'll be working on the next installment, at least as long as this story doesn't run on it's own and adds a lot of chapters.

I hope everyone enjoys this!

Chapter 13: The Test

The day had finally arrived. This was the day that Twilight would be taking her entrance exam for Princess Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns. Her whole family came for moral support, even Cadance was there. There were two parts to the exam, I written portion, and a talent portion. Twilight was in one of the classrooms, finishing up her written exams.

Meanwhile, in another part of Equestria, in Cloudsdale, it was one of the last days of Summer Flight Camp. Almost everypony was going through the obstacle course, some better than others. However, one filly was having trouble. She was a yellow pegasus with pink mane, named Fluttershy. She was a weak flyer, and nervous around other ponies. Some other foals were giving her a hard time about not being any good, before a pony whom she had made friends with earlier in the week, a blue pegasus with rainbow colored mane, cut in. Fluttershy had almost no friends, so she did remember the names of the ones she had. This one was Rainbow Dash.

"Leave her alone!" Rainbow said.

One of the ponies bullying Fluttershy responded, "Ooh, what are you gonna do, 'Rainbow Crash'?"

"Keep making fun of her and find out!" Rainbow snapped back.

"You think you're such a big shot? Why don't you prove it?" challenged the other pony mocking Fluttershy.

"Whaddya have in mind?" Rainbow responded.

"A race. If you can beat us, then we'll stop teasing. But, if we win, both of you have to drop out of Summer Flight Camp."

"No thank you," Fluttershy whispered. "How about you lower the stakes or something."

"I'll do the race, but the deal is if I win, you two have to stop being mean to anypony, and if you win, you get bragging rights," Rainbow said.

"That is, acceptable," said the other one.

A few days ago, a young earth pony had moved to Manehatten, not wanting to be on her farm after the death of her parents. So, she was now with some relatives in the city. However, city life was not all it was cracked up to be. Applejack was missing her home, her farm, and her family. She could not decide how she wanted to handle her feeling, she just knew that they were there.

In another part of Equestria, this time in a small town called Ponyville that was less than a days trip from Canterlot, a white unicorn with a purple mane, by name of Rarity, was making dresses for a school play, and she just had to make them perfect. But, she couldn't figure out what she was doing wrong. Then, her horn lit up, and began to drag the unicorn somewhere. She knew that resistance was futile, and that it probably had good reason.

Meanwhile, on a rock farm, a family was rotating their rock fields. Why they do this ponies still do not know, but it does seem important in some way. The family consisted of mostly rock colored ponies, and one pink one. The pink one, Pinkie Pie, always thought that there could be more than just rocks, even though rocks were awesome.

In another realm it was the a special day of school at Canterlot High School, though technically it was a junior high. It was the day of the first Fall Formal. Everybody was excited for it. It was a way to get out and socialize. It was just a dance, so there was no king or queen or princess, at least not yet. Everybody at the school came, even some people going through rough times. Six of the girls that were there were Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Sunset Shimmer. The school was divided into clicks, even before outside interference, but these six girls either did not fit into a click, or just were not feeling it that night. Sunset was there for a few minutes, trying to socialize so she could get by, but was rejected at every turn. This was why she never bothered to make friends, nopony, and now nobody, wanted to be her friend. In the almost two months she had been here, she had seen what looked like good friendships fall apart. She didn't know why Celestia had tried to make her make friends, it was always fleeting. Maybe that was something Celestia had tried to do as a mother, but it never helped her. So, she stepped outside, to where the Canterlot High Wondercolt statue was, that double as the portal back to Equestria. But, she knew she couldn't return now, she had been cast out by her adoptive mother, Princess Celestia, and she had disobeyed even that order, and snuck back in, only to leave. Princess Celestia would not take her back, even if she was her daughter. She walked over to the back of the statue, the side facing the road, and sat down and cried softly. What had she done? How was she to survive here?

Twilight had finished her written portion, and now had to take her talent portion. This time, family was allowed in the room to watch and encourage her. However, Cadance still had to wait outside, so she decided to go to the bathroom while Twilight took her test. A dragon egg was brought in. The only thing that was expected of Twilight was to maybe levitate the egg or change it's color. Sunset waved at her sister and smiled, with a look of the upmost confidence in her sister's abilities.

However, as Twilight tried, she was so nervous, and trying so much on actually doing the magic, nothing was happening. After multiple tries, she finally gave up. "I'm sorry I wasted your time," she said, looking disappointed in herself.

In Cloudsdale, the pegasi had finished setting up their race. One or two ponies could have sworn that they saw something odd that day, what looked like a unicorn floating with her own magic and, what they knew to be impossible. So they just shrugged it off to their imagination. Rainbow Dash and the two bullies were at the start line, and Fluttershy was to wave the flag to start the race. When Fluttershy waved, the three pegasi took off, which knocked Fluttershy off of her cloud. However, the racers were long gone by the time that she actually fell. Rainbow Dash took the lead, and, on the big descent, she sped up so much, that what appeared to be a cone forming around her. There was one cloud circle at the bottom, When went through it to go back up, she created something not seen for nearly a millennia, a Sonic Rainboom. It could be seen throughout all Equestria, even though most did not know what it was. Rainbow looked back at her flank, to see her cutie mark, a cloud with a rainbow lightning bolt.

Fluttershy, when she fell, was caught by butterflies. As all the animals gathered around her, she saw that it was truly amazing. So, she just had to sing,

"What is this place
Filled with so many wonders?
Casting its spell
That I am now under
Squirrels in the trees
And the cute little bunnies
Birds flying free
And bees with their honey
Hooooonneeeeeeey!
Oooh, what a magical place
And I owe it all to the Pegasus race
If I knew the ground had so much up its sleeve
I'd have come here sooner, and never leave
Yes, I love ev-er-ythiiiiing!"

Right after she finished her song, a loud explosion was heard, causing the creatures to panic and hide. But Fluttershy remained calm, assuring the animals it was safe. As she was able to coax the animals back out, she looked back at her flank. Her cutie mark was of three pink butterflies.

In Manehatten, Applejack was sitting in her room, looking out her window. She was still wondering what she was going to do when she saw a rainbow, pointing straight back home to Ponyville. She took it as a sign and went back to her farm and family. And, when she arrived, she found that she got her cutie mark, three apples.

Rarity had been dragged all the way by her horn to a rock. Of all things, a rock! She was upset, when suddenly, there was this huge rainbow explosion that cracked open the rock. Inside, there were gems of all kinds. She had the inspiration and the tools she needed. With the gems, she created new costumes for the play, and they were a huge success. After the play, she noticed that her cutie mark had appeared, three diamonds, like the gems she found.

On the rock farm, Pinkie Pie was the only one left out, as the rest of her family had gone inside. She heard a loud explosion that caused her to turn around. She saw a rainbow, for the first time in her life. It was so life changing for her, that her mane poofed up. She had never experienced such joy in her life.

She just had to share they joy with the rest of her family, so, she came up with an idea, to throw a party!

"Wait, I thought everybody knew this story."

I'm sorry, what?

"Cutie marks and such. Why are you recapitulating?"

Are you talking to me?

"Yes."

Well, because some readers might be new to the fandom, and maybe because some more things are happening. But I cannot reveal anymore. Besides, in yours there appeared to be something missing.

"Okie dokie lokie!" Pinkie said, before getting back to planning her party.

The next day, her whole family, Igneous Rock Pie, her father, Cloudy Quartz, her mother, and her three sisters, Maud, Limestone, and Marble. Her party was amazing, causing everypony to smile. Well, Maud smiled on the inside, Pinkie could tell. With this Party, Pinkie gained her cutie mark of three balloons.

Back at Canterlot High, Sunset continued to sit behind the statue, but had dried her tears up. The other five girls who were not getting into the dance had gathered outside on the front steps. But, they were all standing out there awkwardly, not knowing what to talk about.

That is, until a rainbow appeared, seeming coming from the base of the statue. The girls looked in wonder and began talking about it, thus igniting their friendship.

Sunset, also, saw the rainbow. It made her think of what Celestia had tried to make her do. It only made her bitter. She had just tried friendship, and it failed. Maybe, somehow, she could make people respect her instead, make them help her.

A loud explosion happened, amplifying Twilight's magic, making her lose control. She hatched the egg, and made all of the ponies proctoring levitate. She also turned her parents into plants. Sunset and Shining were unaffected, as Shiny had put up a shield protecting them. However, Twilight's amplified magic caused the baby dragon to grow to a huge size. Unfortunately, Twilight was too close to the dragon, and was thrown up by the enlarged head, causing her to be thrown out of the roof of the building.

Sunset's eyes widened. Her sister was in danger. She had no time to think, she just had to save her sister. Her horn glowed as she vanished, reappearing in the air outside the building, grabbing Twilight, and teleporting back inside.

Princess Celestia saw this whole thing from outside, including Sunny's act of heroism. She rushed inside, and was able to use her magic to undo what Twilight had done. After she had done that, she then spoke to the two fillies before her, "Twilight Sparkle, Sunset Shimmer."

Both fillies started panicking, for different reasons, and both started apologizing.

"It's okay, my little ponies. Neither of you did anything wrong," she said calmly. "In fact, you both have special gifts. I have met few ponies with your raw abilities."

"Really?" asked Twilight, while Sunny was still standing there in shock.

"However, both of you need to master these abilities. I have thought long and hard about taking on a new personal protégé, and you both fit the bill. I believe only one of you applied, but I am willing to take you both on," the Princess said. Over the past few weeks, she had thought a lot about it. And she had decided to do it. It wasn't her fault that one of the ponies that had demonstrated such prowess was the other Sunset Shimmer. She knew Cadance would be upset with her, but she was not doing this because of Sunset Shimmer, she was doing it because it was the right thing to do.

"I'm sorry, what?" Sunset cut in.

"I am willing to teach you both, if you are willing," Celestia said. "It doesn't matter where you come from, what's important is where you are going, and I am willing to help guide you on that path."

Twilight looked over at her sister. What would her answer be? Sunset thought about it, especially about what Celestia last said. She probably knew that she was not from here, but she just said that is was not important. Even though she had originally decided to stay at home, she also knew that this was an opportunity of a lifetime. And she would be studying beside her own sister. Besides, with her parents working and Shining going to train to be a royal guard, she didn't want to be at home all day all alone. "Yes, I'll do it," Sunset said.

Twilight then looked back up at Celestia. "We'll do it," she said.

"Oh, and other thing," Celestia said, pointing to the two fillies flanks. They had gotten their cutie marks. Twilight's was a purple star with six small white stars around it. Sunset's was a gold and red sun, the inside shaped like a yin-yang symbol, with red and gold, but without the circles in the center, while the outside was half gold, half red.

"We got our cutie marks!" they both cried out in joy, and hugged each other.

"Now, I must be off," Celestia said. "I was off to a very important meeting, and I would hate to be late. And make sure you take care of that little guy, he's yours now." Celestia flew out of the hole that was made in the roof.

Sunset and Twilight turned to the baby dragon. "What do we name him?" Sunset asked.

"What about Spike?" Twilight suggested.

"That sounds great! Now, how about we show Cadance our new cutie marks," Sunset said.

They left the room, Spike on Twilight's back. Cadance, then, came out of the bathroom. "Does anypony know what caused all that commotion?" she asked.

Twilight and Sunset laughed in response, before showing Cadance their cutie marks.

"You both got your cutie marks? But how?" Cadance asked.

So, the two fillies explained all that had happened, including Celestia making them her protégés.

"That's amazing!" Cadance said after they finished their tale.

Afterwards, everypony went home. It had been a long day, and they all needed their rest.

Author's Note

And thus, another chapter comes to a close.

This was a fun one to write! Showing not only the effects on the Mane 6 (or is it 7 now?) in the pony world, but also human world effects. That moment when the magic is so powerful the portal doesn't even need to be open.

It made me happy to explore original Sunset for a brief time as well, and letting her try friendship, for a brief time, and probably doing it wrong, to help turn her against friendship.

Also, Pinkie needs to cut back on her fourth wall breaking. Just a note.

Hey, what's wrong with it?

Um, it can be distracting? Otherwise it's actually pretty enjoyable.

I specifically made this chapter to be a shifting perspectives chapter, quickly going through each of the Mane 6(7). Putting in the humans came to me during one of the first few shifts. And I thought it was great!

I also had to somehow force Cadance out so she wouldn't talk to Tia quite yet. Yes, both Sunset's cutie marks are the same. But just because theirs are, doesn't mean it holds true for all duplicates.

I also enjoyed expanding some of the scenes. Like putting Maud in Pinkie's story. Talking to Pinkie was not my idea, she just decided to do it. Do not get mad at it being in there, she talked to me, I only responded.

Sunset's and Twilight's cutie mark story was also a huge deal for me. Sunset only discovering her talent to save her sister. Shining being there was also a big deal. Why wouldn't he be there? And I could use him to advance the plot.

I hope everyone enjoys this as much as I do. This may be one of my favorite chapters!

Chapter 14: A Parent's Love

Twilight Sparkle and Sunset Shimmer were Princess Celestia's personal protégés. They both had rigorous class loads on top of that, but they both remained the top of their classes, partially due to being taught by the princess herself. Spike helped the girls out when he got old enough, using his dragon fire to send letters from the mares to Celestia. They also got their own library/study room. They still lived with their parents, but sometimes stayed the night studying, making sure to send a letter to their parents with Spike. They both had sessions with the princess, some of which had both Twilight and Sunset, while others were individual.

Today was one of the days that Sunset had her lesson with Celestia. It was a spring day, nearly eleven months since Sunset had come to Equestria. She made her way to the princess's study. She knocked on the door, as she always did, and waited for the door to be opened by Celestia. Or for Celestia to walk up behind her because she was early again.

Inside, Celestia was talking to Cadance. "Cadance, are you sure nopony has come out of the portal?" Celestia asked.

"Again, I am sure. I put a spell on it to alert me if anypony uses it," Cadance replied.

"I just wish that she would come home," the princess of the sun said.

"I know, auntie. But that is her choice to make. She may not want to return any more than the Sunset you are now teaching," Cadance said.

"I know," Celestia said sadly, before hearing a knock on the door.

Cadance raised her eyebrow.

"Today is actually one of my sessions with the other Sunset. I have separated them in my mind. I know that you were upset with me at first, but even when I made the decision I had made the distinction. She needs teaching. And, I know that she has a loving family," Celestia said.

"I might not agree with what you are doing, I do see where you are coming from," Cadance said. "Are you going to talk to her about the Sunset from our world today? You have avoided it for so long."

"Yes. I will, today. But, I would like you to be with me. Part of talking to her will require taking her to the mirror," Celestia responded.

"Then yes, I will stay with you," Cadance said.

The elder princess nodded, before opening the door to Sunset.

"Princess Celestia! Princess Cadance!" Sunset said.

"Welcome, my little pony," Celestia said.

Cadance just smiled at Sunset.

"So, what is my lesson about today? You were very vague last time, something about learning about myself?"

"Yes," her mentor replied. "More specifically, about your counterpart."

Sunset gasped. The princess knew about her counterpart?

"Worry not, Sunny. You are not in any trouble. But I have avoided this conversation for far too long. Come on in, sit," Celestia invited her in.

Sunset came in and sat down. "So, you know about the other Sunset Shimmer?" Sunny asked.

"I do not just know of her, I knew her," Celestia replied.

"Just as I recognized you, so too did Celestia. Only a bit sooner, though she did not realize it. At the Summer Sun Celebration," Cadance said.

"So, how did you know her, if I may ask," Sunset said.

"She was my personal protégé and adopted daughter," the princess of the sun responded. "I took her in as my protégé as I did you and your sister, and not long after, her parents died, as I understand yours did, and so I adopted her, though I kept it quiet. You are not a replacement for her. I understand fully the difference between the two of you."

"Then why did she run away through the portal to my world?"

"Because of me," Celestia admitted. "I was a terrible mother to her, treating her as a student, and being distant. She grew cruel and unfriendly, eventually demanding that I announce her as my daughter and equal. She wanted to become an alicorn, like me, and that she could do an even better job of ruling Equestria than me. When she confronted me and knocked out some of my guards, I knew that her staying in the castle was a bad idea, and that perhaps she could see the light and get some perspective from being out in Equestria, so I told her that she was no longer allowed in the castle. Had she asked forgiveness, I would have given it. But, she was so stuck up that she left. A few days later, she teleported to the mirror room and went through, as you did from your side."

"So basically I'm a reminder of something you would rather not think about?" Sunset asked.

"No. As I have said, you both are very different. And I do wish to think about her, to remind myself to be a better pony. I was hoping someday she would return, but she has not as of yet."

"Also, there is something you should know. Both of my parents did not die. Only my mother and unborn sister did," Sunset said.

Celestia looked puzzled. "Then why did you want to stay here?" she asked.

"Because my father was not the man that he used to be. Their deaths affected him so much, that he changed into something unloving," Sunset replied.

"I'm so sorry," Cadance said to her.

"But now I have a loving family," Sunset said. "Princess, is that all you wished to talk to me about?"

"No, it is not," Celestia said. "I wish to know how dangerous your world is, as well as the risk to my daughter in staying there."

"I doubt there is much risk," Sunny admitted. "We have not had a war in a long time, and even longer since there has been one on American soil. There aren't the great creatures you have here either. There, we are a different species, humans." Sunset projected herself as a human in front of Celestia. "That is what we look like. The portal on our side is in front of a school, so she could probably fit in there for a bit. We also have progressed much further in technology, as we have no magic. The weather is all natural as well, we have no way to control it."

"Thank you, that eases my spirit. There is another thing I wish to show you, but Cadance has it," Celestia said.

"Is it the mirror?" Sunset guessed.

"Yes, it is."

When they arrived at Cadance's quarters, they entered, before closing the door. "This is the mirror that brought you to our world, as well as the Sunset from our world to your world," Celestia said.

"Why today?" Sunset asked. "Why would you bring me to the mirror today?"

Celestia bowed her head. "It is because today it is open. It opens every thirty moons, and closes again after another moon. I was hoping that my Sunset would return, but this is not the case. I at least want to know if she's alright."

"So you're wondering if I will go see if she is alright? I will do so, but I will be back later today, even if I have found no answer," Sunny replied.

"I ask no more of you, Sunset," Celestia said.

So, Sunny went through the portal.

When she came out, she again was human. It was a strange feeling. She looked around to see the school in front of her. It was the middle of the day, so class was probably in session. So, she decided to look in the windows to see if she could see her counterpart.

She walked around, and had so far not seen any sign of, well, herself. She was walking and not really paying attention when she accidentally ran into a green girl with a striped sweatshirt. "I'm so sorry," Sunny said.

The girl looked up. "Sunset Shimmer?" she asked.

"You know me?"

"Of course I know you. Or, heard of you. Not very nice, I've heard," the girl mutters out.

"Sorry, I misspoke, I meant my sister, I'm Sunny," she said.

"Okay," the girl said.

"What's your name?" Sunny asked.

"Wallflower Blush," the girl responded.

"So my sister goes here? I've been out of touch with her for a while."

"Yes, she does. When I first saw her, she was socially awkward like I was. But then after the Fall Formal, she changed, started being mean," Wallflower said.

"Well, I hope she becomes nice," Sunny said.

"Yeah, today is one of the last days of school, so no one is going to see her again for a while. Have you come with your family to take her home?"

"No, just me today," Sunny said.

"Okay, well I better be going," Wallflower said before running off.

"So at least she's okay," Sunset said to herself. She then looked at the sun, and saw that it was just a little past midday. Maybe the reason she hadn't seen anyone in the classrooms was because it was lunch. She didn't want to make a big commotion, so she decided to not head inside.

Instead, she decided to head to her old house to see if there was anything she wanted to grab from there while she was on this side of the portal.

When she arrived, there was no car in the driveway, so she assumed her dad was at work. She checked under a rock, to see a key still hidden there. She unlocked the door and went inside. The house was cleaner than she left it. She then walked up the stairs to her old room. It looked exactly the same, except there was a sticky note on the mirror. It read, "Dear Sunset Shimmer, my daughter, I am sorry for what a horrible parent I have been. I realize now that I was wrong. I understand that you may have moved on, but I come in here and check every day for at least a note from you. I do have problems, but I am getting better. I long to hear from you, even if it is few and far between. Maybe someday we can reunite, though I do not feel as if I am ready. However, if you are, I will talk to you. I hope you have found someplace that is good to you, like your mother was. I know now that you are not the reason for her passing, I was just looking for something to blame. Please, at least come visit sometime. I love you. Your father, Dusk Shimmer."

Tears filled Sunset's eyes. She knew that she could not see him, not yet, and that she had a family back in Equestria now. He said himself that he was not ready yet. But, she decided to leave him a note in response. "Dear Dusk Shimmer, my father, I forgive you. I am not able to come home yet, but maybe someday. I now am in a far away place, with no communication. However, every chance I get, I will come leave you a note. It may be months between correspondences. I am happy where I am at now, so worry not about that. It makes me think of how good mother was. I do not blame you for wanting to place the blame on something, I did too, but after you, I could only blame myself. But now I no longer do so. I will visit you sometime. Just please, keep getting better, and be the best you that you can be. Your daughter, Sunset Shimmer."

She then stuck the note on her mirror, right next to her father's note to her. She then went downstairs, and looked in the fridge, to notice a distinct lack of alcohol. She smiled. At least he was getting better. She then left to go head back through the portal, putting her key back under the rock.

Sunset stepped back through the portal, starting on two legs, but then fell onto all fours. The two princesses were waiting on her.

"How is she?" Celestia asked.

"Though I did not see her, I did hear of her. She does go to the school there, and apparently she's not very nice. I apologize for taking so long, I had some business of my own to take care of. Princess Celestia, if I may, could I use this portal every time it opens?" Sunny asked.

"Of course," Celestia said.

"Yes, I am the keeper of the mirror, so I will let you know when it opens," Cadance said.

"Thank you both," Sunset said, before they all hugged.

Sunset and Twilight continued to learn under Celestia, and Sunset used the mirror every time, continuing her conversation with her father, through notes. She had been fortunate enough to not run into anyone else in the other world. And she timed her visits to be during the school day, so she could sneak and see the other Sunset in class. Her father still was not ready to see her again, he was too scared.

Throughout the years, the two sisters grew up, learning much about magic. Sunset had a great home with a great family, as well as a great teacher. She was close to her sister, even though the two mares didn't really make any friends, they were very close to each other and their brother. Unknown to Twilight, but easily seen by Sunset, Cadance and Shining Armor had grown even closer, and even went out together, though Twilight thought it was just as friends. So, the two mares did well in their five years at Princess Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns, and did a bit much studying, but enjoyed each other's company, as well as helped each other study. All was good in Sunset's life, and in Equestria.

Author's Note

Thus ends Part II: Family. It ended strong with a small reconciliation between Sunny and her own father. Wait, this looks like an ending. Especially those last two paragraphs. That's right, because all that's left is an Epilogue.

The name for this chapter came last of all, and it is fitting for this chapter, Tia's love for her Sunset, and Dusk's love for his daughter, though not ready to see her. It is about parents loving, even though being unprepared and unable to show it. Even though Dusk cannot see his daughter, he still tells her that he loves her, and Tia shows her love for her Sunset in concern, and wants to know if she is okay. She also knows that she cannot go and check on her, it would hurt her and Sunset too much, and she knows that she cannot force her daughter to come back.

The conversation between Sunny and Tia about other Sunset was the only other important conversation I really needed. And then, I had a stroke of genius. Add in the Human world. I didn't plan that, it came to me while I was writing Celestia saying that she wanted to know that her Sunset was okay. And of course I had to include Wallflower Blush, I am obsessed with Forgotten Friendship. But, even though this is technically the end of The Sunset Also Rises, there appears to be so much more I can do. And indeed there is so much more I plan to do. This is only book one of my Rising Universe. Though I will not reveal anything about the future books, just know, I have a huge plan.

Also, Sunny's first of holidays seemed like they would be in this fic, but they are not. They didn't really have a place in the narrative. They are still being made. They will be my holiday specials, made on the days that they represent, so the first one I believe will be Winter Wrap Up. (That song just came on, as I was writing it, xD.)

I hope everyone enjoys this! :pinkiehappy:

Epilogue

Princess Cadance and Princess Celestia were talking. It was the Summer Sun Celebration in two days. What's more, is that it was the thousandth Summer Sun Celebration.

"Cadance, you must find shelter, up north," Celestia said.

"I still don't understand why, your sister is returning from the moon, but didn't you say that the Elements of Harmony will defeat her?" Cadance said.

"Yes, they will, if they can. But we do not truly know if they even work anymore. By going up north, you can wait for the return of the Crystal Empire. With it, you may be able to save me."

"But this is Sunset and Twilight we're talking about. If they fail to recover the Elements, what will happen to them?"

"I know not. My sister said she wanted to be loved, though now she may be thinking feared is a better option. However, I do not believe she will harm them."

"Yes, but you will be gone, too. The night would last forever. What hope would I have?"

"The Crystal Empire. Though Sombra may still have a hold on it, I believe that the eternal night will cause him to panic. It was, after all, my sister who defeated him the first time. He was all alone. I believe with the might of the whole Crystal Empire behind you, that you will be able to challenge Nightmare Moon."

"And if I cannot defeat Sombra?" Cadance asked.

"Then perhaps, for a time, you can ally with him. I do not wish for the Crystal Empire to be banished again, nor do I want that for my sister either. Thus, why Sunset is so important," Celestia responded.

"Yes, the Element of Empathy. She's been through so much as well, she would have more empathy than almost anypony else. I believe that they can do it, but, as your wish, and to be safe, I will go north, and await the return of the light, or the Crystal Empire," Cadance said, before flying off.

Celestia then composed a letter to her prized pupils, along with a book, Elements of Harmony: A Reference Guide. She had edited the book to have rumors of a seventh Element, even more mysterious than the sixth.

"Dear my faithful students, Twilight Sparkle and Sunset Shimmer, I know that it is now a break from the school year. During this break, I would like for both of you to at least read this book. You both will find it very interesting. Princess Celestia."

She then sent the letter, knowing that the two mares would read it almost as soon as they got it, and she hoped for the best. She knew that they would have to make friends, like they had befriended each other, and hoped that she would get her sister back.

TO BE CONTINUED...

Author's Note

And thus ends The Sunset Also Rises. What will happen? I'm sure most of you will guess, but, who knows, I might decide to mix things up. Hehehehe. Keep you all on your toes.

This has been one hell of a journey. I never even considered writing fanfiction before I started this. And now? I have a whole book finished? Have a sequel I am working on? And have another story that is completely unrelated? I am impressed with myself. I have loved seeing the comments that I have gotten on this story. That makes it even more worth it. Also, Sunset Shimmer. #BestPony.

I have oh so much planned for this Rising Universe. I hope to see you all then. Until then, I hope you all have enjoyed this story!

Prologue

Prologue

A young girl ran through the streets, crying. She didn't know where she was going, nor did she care, she just needed to run.

Sunset Shimmer, Princess Celestia's now former student, trotted up to the castle. "Tonight, I shall finally get away from this wretched place."

The young girl continued running before stopping for a breath by a school, there was a horse statue there.

Sunset teleported into the room where a magic mirror was being stored. "Finally, the portal!" she said.

The girl was tired, so she decided to lean on the side of the statue's base for just a moment.

Sunset quickly looked around, making sure the coast was clear, before jumping through the mirror.

The girl put her arm out, but instead fell through the statue's base.

Sunset could feel the swirl of the portal, and, for an instant when going through there, she thought she saw something that looked very familiar, before she was spit out on the other side.

The young girl could feel a swirl, not knowing what it was, but, as she fell, she thought she caught a glimpse of something, but was too unsure of what was happening to think of what it could be. She then came out of a mirror.

Sunset was in the other world. At last! Free from Celestia!

The girl was disoriented, and she turned around to face the mirror and saw... A pony??? What was going on? The pony she looked at in the mirror looked very similar to her human form, but instead had hooves instead of hands, and a horn on top of her head. She screamed in shock causing a blast of light to come through her horn, and also caused her to pass out.

Author's Note

Hello all!

I have finally decided to write a fanfic! About Sunset Shimmer (aka best pony) no less! I hope you all enjoy it! And please feel free to correct my grammar and such, as I am new to writing fanfics and do not have an editor as of yet. If any of you want to be my editor, I may gladly comply!

I hope everypony and everybody enjoys it!

Part I: Discovery. Chapter 1: Waking Up

Part I: Discovery

Chapter 1: Waking Up

A young mare was asleep on a bed in a hospital in Manehatten. The doctors had looked her over, and concluded that she had merely overexerted herself, and just needed to rest.

The young mare was coming to, and the doctor rushed into the room. No mare this young should be on her own, especially since she didn't even have a cutie mark.

The doctor looked at the mare as she woke up. "Where... where am I?" she asked, still having a splitting headache.

"You're in the Manehatten hospital, I'm Doctor Rocky White," he replied, allowing her to fully regain her senses.

"Manehatten? Don't you mean Manhattan?" She asked, confused, not having looked up yet.

"No, I mean Manehatten. Are you alright? You appeared in here last night and passed out," Doctor White said.

"Appeared here?" She asked, believing her experience being some sort of unicorn to be a dream.

"Yes, we believe you-"

The young mare interrupted him with a scream, seeing that she still had hooves and not hands, and that the Doctor was also a unicorn.

"Miss, you need to calm down. You've clearly been through something," Doctor White said reassuringly.

"Calm down? But I'm some sort of horse! How do you expect me to calm down when I'm suddenly a horse? And you're a horse too! How??" the young mare said in a panic.

The Doctor calmly reassured her, "We aren't horses, we're ponies. What else would we be?"

"Ponies? I'm a human! Or, was a human! What is going on here?"

"Excuse me, but I do not know what this who-men thing you speak of is. Perhaps it would be better for you to start with something you do know, like your name for example."

The young mare started to calm down. "My name... My name is Sunset Shimmer."

Author's Note

I apologize for these chapters being short, I am new at this. I really just wanted this chapter to end, well, with that.

As always I am open to spelling and grammar corrections. I promise that I will try to make the chapters longer from now on. This sort of still feels like a prologue chapter, even though it's not.

I appreciate everyone's feedback, and I hope everyone enjoys reading this!

Chapter 10: Thoughts of Present and Past

A few days after Sunset was adopted, what was Twilight's room had been rearranged into Twilight's and Sunset's room. Sunset now had her own bed and desk, and Twilight's dresser was enough to accommodate both of them. While Twilight's bed was lavender, Sunset's was amber, with red pillows.

Sunny had begun to adjust to having a new family, though it was still surreal to her. She kept thinking back through the past few days. How she was found out by Cadance, and how the Sparkle family had decided to adopt her. She also thought about the song they sang. She smiled when she thought of that. Did ponies normally just break into song, or was this just a special occasion? She then thought about what it was like shopping with her new parents, even though it was still weird calling them that. Happiness used to be a rare occasion in Sunset's life, and almost every time she smiled, it was forced or fake. But, just in the past few days, she was truly happy, and could hardly stop smiling. Not only had the Summer Sun Celebration been the start of a new season, in a way, it was also the start of a new season in her life.

Today was the day that her new parents went back to work, which meant that Cadance would be coming over to foalsit. Cadance wasn't really needed, since Shiny was home, and he was perfectly capable of handling both Twilight and Sunset himself, all of them enjoyed her company. Sunset was especially excited, due to the fact that it was Cadance who helped her out. She was sure that Cadance would give her a few more magic lessons as well, as the ponies here put it, Celestia knows she needed it.

Sunset smiled as she got out of bed. She looked over at her new sister, who was still asleep. Sunset left the room quietly, careful not to wake Twilight. She was able to do this with magic, what Cadance had shown her had helped, and it almost came naturally to her, even though she never had it before. She snuck downstairs to grab a bite to eat, only to find Shiny and Cadance in the living room.

"Sunny, you're up," Shining Armor said.

"Yes, as are you apparently. How are you up and not Twilight? I thought she would have wanted to continue her book from last night."

"Well, she may have finished it last night after you fell asleep," he responded with a smile.

Sunset rolled her eyes with a smirk on her face. "Of course she did. I told her that she should just finish the chapter, then go to sleep. Apparently she either didn't hear me or she couldn't resist."

Cadance giggled. "She probably didn't hear you, when she gets to reading like that, she gets in a zone, you gotta snap her out of it before talking to her. She almost missed dinner once because she was got pulled into a book. Daring Do and the Quest for the Sapphire Stone, I think."

Sunset chuckled. "Of course, I liked that one," she said, remembering reading it back when she was human. She wondered what the differences were now that she was a pony.

"Supposedly, A. K. Yearling is going to be coming out with another one soon. Twilight's excited, and so am I," Shining said.

"She's coming out with a new book?! I haven't heard about this! Do you know when it comes out?" Sunset exclaimed.

"Calm down, Sunny," Shining replied. "She hasn't released any details, just that there was going to be one. Apparently she's a really hard pony to get a hold of."

"Actually, it hasn't hit the papers yet," Cadance cut in. "I just know because, well, news comes to us faster."

Right after she said that, Twilight appeared at the top of the stairs. "What happened? I thought I heard yelling," she said groggily.

"Sorry, that was me. I just got excited," Sunset said.

"It's fine, I can..." Twilight's eyes shifted to Cadance. "Cadance! You're here?! But that means I'm behind schedule! Shiny, why didn't you wake me?!"

"Calm down Twily, she's only been here about half an hour. After you stayed up late reading last night, we figured you needed sleep," Shining said, calming her down.

"But my list!" Twilight exclaimed.

"I'm pretty sure you don't need that list to get everything done, Twi. Besides, I have a feeling finishing The Life and Times of Morari the Maneless was on there, and you did that last night," Sunset said.

"It was, but I couldn't just put it down! It was so intriguing!"

"So now you have that done for today, which means your probably ahead of schedule now, right?" Sunset said with a smirk.

"I guess so," Twilight replied, before coming down the stairs. She and Cadance hugged before doing what they did every time.

"Sunshine, Sunshine, Ladybugs awake! Clap your hooves and do a little shake!" Twilight and Cadance sang together.

Shiny just smiled at them, while Sunset looked at them.

"Right, I still haven't taught you that," Cadance said to Sunset with a laugh.

"Nope, but I'm guessing I'm going to learn soon," Sunset said.

"Yup. But, right now, I think you two need something to eat," Cadance replied.

"Actually, that's what I came down here for in the first place," Sunset said.

"Okay! Maybe I can make sure my list is right while we're eating," Twilight said.

At that, Sunset facehoofed, while Shiny just smiled and shook his head.

"Well, today, I brought donuts from Donut Joe's," Cadance said.

Sunset's eyes widened. "You brought donuts? I haven't had donuts in forever!" she exclaimed.

"Well, you'll definitely be getting them more often," Shining said. "It's just down the road."

"And Donut Joe makes the absolute best donuts ever! I once did a study comparing different donuts. It took me a while to get it done, and a lot of talking to other ponies, but I got it done, with the help of my list," Twilight said.

"What is it with you and lists anyways?" Sunset asked.

"They are the most efficient form of scheduling. They can aid in getting things done," Twilight responded.

"You do know that lists don't solve everything, right?" Sunset said. Shining and Cadance backed up slowly at this, they had both made the mistake of asking her that same question.

"Maybe you're just not doing it right, or maybe you have the wrong sorts of things on your list, or maybe a separate list for other things, or..." Twilight started.

Before she could continue, Sunset cut in, "Or maybe we could go eat breakfast, I am famished."

Twilight lost her train of thought. "Um, sure, I actually am pretty hungry," she said.

Shining and Cadance breathed a sigh of relief. They both thought that going through that lecture of Twilight's once was enough for at least a thousand years. Then, they turned and made their way to the kitchen, followed by Twilight and Sunset.

Princess Celestia's court for the day did not start for another few hours. It was normally scheduled later in the day to give her time to do other things, such as checking up on her school, or teaching Sunset Shimmer. At least, it used to include that. Today she decided that she needed to get away from it all. She had flown out to her old castle, the Castle of the Two Sisters in the Everfree Forest. That was where she had last seen her sister, before she turned into Nightmare Moon.

The only pony that Celestia had told where she was going was her aide, Raven Inkwell, so that way no pony would worry.

As she entered the castle, she looked around at the ruins. She remembered the days she and Luna would play when they were younger. She remembered them being taught by Starswirl the bearded, and how he said that they needed to stay hidden away until the ponies in the newly formed Equestria were ready to accept them. She remembered when she met the Pillars of Equestria, who had saved it from the Sirens. She remembered Luna being more interested in the pony who brought them together, a young unicorn named Stygian. She thought back to how the Pillars and Stygian came up with a way to defend Equestria even after they all were gone, what would become the Tree of Harmony. She remembered that one day, Stygian was cast out, and returned with darkness in him. She thought about how she kept that from her sister, leading her to believe that Stygian had merely disappeared with the rest of the pillars, while instead she suspected that her teacher and the other Pillars had somehow led Stygian away, and they all disappeared together, though she could never confirm this. Before Starswirl left, he gave her an unfinished spell, one he could never complete, and was sure that if somehow he understood it, and was able to complete it, he and the Pillars might be able to stop the darkness.

Celestia thought back to the ten years of relative peace before Equestria was again in peril, and she and her sister were forced to reveal themselves. Luna was always so much more content than she was when they were in hiding. She assumed that Luna wanted to remain hidden away. After the defeat of Discord, they revealed that they had been raising the sun and moon for the past 12 years. The ponies of Equestria readily accepted them, but they still remained in their old castle.

Soon afterwards, they had even helped Princess Amore of the Crystal Empire to get the Crystal Heart back, and they met her daughter, a pegasus, named Cadere. Many other things happened since then, both good and bad times, until Sombra took the Crystal Empire. Celestia and Luna only found out through Cadere, who was now orphaned. Luna chose to take Cadere in, as her own.

"Sister, how did you do it? How did you raise her, even after the loss of her parents? I wish you were here," Celestia said, snapping out of her thoughts. "You always knew exactly what to say and do, up until..." Celestia couldn't finish her sentence. It was too hard on her.

A few years after the Crystal War, Cadere had finished growing up. At that time, Luna was still in the background, as Celestia had assumed that she wanted. One day, Luna decided to visit Stygian's old room. What Celestia didn't know was that some of the darkness that Stygian had obtained was still left in there. It infected Luna, causing her to become bitter and cold. In their final confrontation, Celestia could see Luna fighting against the darkness, shifting out of her Nightmare Moon state for a second, before turning back. Celestia used the Elements of Harmony as a last attempt to help save her sister. She had studied the elements, and learned that they also should be able to use healing magic. What she did not understand was that the seventh element was required to save her. As she later learned, the seventh element, what she understood was empathy, was never removed from the tree. Nor could it be used by just anypony. Celestia tried it once, and failed. Celestia had presumed that using the elements would help her sister, but instead, they, no, she banished her sister to the moon.

Afterwards, Cadere left, and Celestia never tracked her down. Celestia soon moved to Canterlot, her castle bringing back too many bad memories. And now, she was going back there, because there were too many reminders of her own daughter there.

"Luna, I wish you were her," Celestia said again. "If you were here, perhaps I would have understood her, and not drove her off. And now, there is another one, but it's not her. Sister, you're the only one I know who I would be able to truly talk to about being a mother, and losing her. You saw Cadere grow up and become her own mare. How did you handle it. I wish I knew."

Celestia looked around once more, and sent a message to Raven, to cancel court for the day. She then chose to walk around, and go through her memories, wishing for some sort of help.

Eventually, she came across her and her sister's journal. She looked at one of her sister's last entries.

Dear Journal,

Today was a hard day for me. Cadere has now become a mare. It has been hard on me. After raising her throughout the years, seeing her grown up is challenging. She is now making her own decisions, and even is going out into the world, exploring it.

However, earlier I talked to Celestia, and she said these encouraging words to me.

"No matter what happens, she will always be your daughter. You must learn to let go, but never forget, you must accept it, but still love her as you always have. Letting go doesn't mean leaving them, letting go means letting them find their own path to their own destiny, and to not force it upon them, or try to shield them from it. Continue loving, and never ever let go of those fond memories you have of them."

Yours,
Luna

"Even when away, you still encourage me," Celestia said. She smiled at the journal, as it somehow had said exactly what she needed to hear.

Author's Note

This chapter took me a while to complete, from trying to find the right slice of life mood in the first part, to making a history of Equestria, as well as changing the Lore. The Journal of the Two Sisters isn't canon anyways.

However, a lot of the problem lay in not being inspired earlier this week. On Sunday, my family and I found out our dog had bone cancer, and we had to put her to sleep. I am feeling better now, but it still hurts.

Today, writing was my escape, so I was able to write the second part of the chapter. I had no clue Tia would even be in this chapter. The Day with Cadance and the Sparkles will continue in the next chapter!

Luna having a daughter came to me so suddenly, and yet it felt so right.

I hope everyone enjoyed it, and I will see you all next time, or in the comments.

(Note, I am going to post when I feel like it, the Fridays just isn't working, whether it be me cranking out too much or too little.)