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!