Author's Note

As always thank u speculore. This is part one of princess twilights part. Next chapter will be in the human world. I hope u guys enjoy the insite into sunsets past and home life.

Twilight 2

Deep inside us, we know what every family therapist knows: the problems between the parents become the problems within the children.
Roger Gould

As Twilight was led through the halls of Sunset’s childhood home, she couldn't help but think about how cold and lonely it felt. Almost oppressive, like there were eyes judging her from all angles, watching her every move. She thought back to the warm and happy memories of her own home and how inviting and friendly it was. Sunset’s was filled with what looked to be antiquities and other expensive and fragile items. An ornate display of wealth and power. The slender mare whose name she hadn't caught opened a large set of doors, letting her inside of an office space. Behind a large mahogany desk sat a unicorn stallion with a dark red and bronze mane, a deep orange coat, and cool blue-grey eyes. Sunrise Facade cut an opposing figure, his gaze cold and calculating. She could feel him looking in to her soul, as if no secrets were safe from his pentring eyes.

“What has my daughter done now?” he spoke, his voice cool and crisp.

“How did you know I was here about Sunset?” Twilight asked

“You’re closer to her age than my brother or wife, Jasper usually handles other ponies for Shadow. Except for your title, you are not my wife’s type, you are not frequently seen about Canterlot. There for not likely to run in the same circles she is frequently with. Need I go on Princess?” he asked her.

Twilight shook her head, but before she could speak, the doors behind her opened and a different mare walked in. She had a slender frame and a pale grey coat, almost white, with a dark blue and black mane she had familiar teal eyes. Where Sunset's had warmed since she had made friends, they were filled with cold intelligence, they were manipulative and cunning. ”Evianna, that didn't take you very long.” Sunrise spoke to who Twilight assumed was Sunset’s mother.

Evianna gave her husband a fake smile as she started to circle Twilight in a all too familiar manner. “Of course, royalty has come to call after all. It's not everyday we have a princess come for a visit. Why not since Princesses Celestia herself informed us of Sunset’s little assignment. I suppose you could count Prince Blueblood’s little visits, but an alicorn is a different matter. Now tell me Princess what an important pony such as yourself would be doing in such a small town as Ponyville? You would do rather well here in Canterlot, especially with somepony to help guide you, Sunset could have gone so much father if she hadn't spent so much time with Shadow and her silly books.”

Twilight was regretting not just dropping the letter off as Sunset instructed her to, but it did give her insight into why Sunset was, and kinda still is, the way she is. She leavited the letter Sunset had written and placed it on Sunrise's desk. “I'm so sorry but I really must be going. I'm only in Canterlot for today and I have other errands to run. I merely came to give you this letter from Sunset, it's rather difficult for her to communicate where she currently is.” She was telling the truth, but she was not going to give them the chance to ask any more questions. She had a feeling that things would not end well if she did. She wanted out of this place as soon as possible. She hoped that the next stop would go much smoother.

Twilight knocked on the door to Sunset’s uncle’s place. A kind elderly pegasus mare answered the door and smiled gently at her. “Go on upstairs deary, they’re in right now. I'll be up with some lavender biscuits in a bit.”

“Thank you,” Twilight headed up the stairs and knocked again. A short tan earth pony answered the door. His mane was blonde like AJ's and cropped short, but it was still a bit longer than most guards. His eyes were a warm and welcoming shade of blue. They were wide with surprise.

“Princess! How can we help you?” he asked Twilight, she assumed that this would be Jasper.

“I have a letter from Sunset Shimmer,” Twilight said.

“Sunset? Is she all right?” He asked concerned as he led her inside.

“She is fine no need to worry.” Twilight reassured. Though she was of course worried that she was keeping stuff from her but that wasn't their problem. That was something she would be dealing with face to face.

As they entered the living room, Twilight spotted a tall pale unicorn with a curly dark mane. He was sprawled across the couch, much like Rarity with her fainting couch, with one hoof drawn across his face and the other against the floor.

Jasper chuckled. “He passed out like that after our last case, looks uncomfortable if you ask me. Go on and have a seat I'll make tea.”

Twilight was already very comfortable here, even though the place seemed chaotic and disorganized. It felt like a home Discord would think up. There was a skull on the mantle of the fireplace and another one hanging on the wall with a pair of headphones on. There were piles of papers and books spilling onto the floor while the shelves looked full to bursting. A rather impressive chemistry set covered the kitchen counter and table and there were two mismatched chairs flanking the fireplace. A knock came from the front door and the kind pegasus mare came through the door.

“Hello, I brought up the biscuits for you and your guest. Just this once though, I'm not your housekeeper.” She then went about tidying up the loose papers, contradicting her words.

Jasper came out with tea as well as honey, sugar, and milk. “Thank you, Ms. Hazel.” he gave a quick peck on the cheek. “What would we do without you?”

Ms. Hazel blushed and flaps her wing at him and said, “Oh, enough of that. Go on and talk to your client.” She then headed back down the steps.

Jasper turned to her. “How do you like your tea?” he asked as Twilight took a tentative sip and contemplated the taste. It was actually better than the tea she had with Princess Celestia, not that she'd admit that. “I should wake up Shadow since this is about Sunset,” he told her turning to the dramatic-looking unicorn asleep on the couch. Jasper shook the couch, jolsting the unicorn awake.

The unicorn jolted up, glaring at a chuckling Jasper before huffing and turning his gaze on her. His pale grey eyes gazed at her, it felt like what she went through earlier albeit not as bad. It didn't feel cold like Sunrise's gaze did. “You went to see my brother before coming here,” he said. Twilight noted that his voice was quite deep and rich.

Jasper slapped him upside the head before he could continue speaking “Stop deducing and let her speak, it's about Sunset.”

“Sunset? What about her? Are you going to actually tell us the truth or just more lies?” Shadow spoke with a glare.

Twilight levitated the letter towards him and said, ”I think you should read this first,”

He took the letter and tore it open. Jasper read it over his shoulder. Twilight sipped her tea as she waited for them to finish. They glanced at each other before looking back at her. Shadow folded the letter as Jasper left the room. “I don't typically say this, but thank you for helping Sunset.”

“Oh, it's not a problem. It's what I do,” Twilight said humbly.

Jasper came back with a key that he passed over to Twilight. “It's the key to her place, she asked us to give it to you since she won't be back anytime soon.”

Twilight wasn't surprised that they'd had Sunset’s keys instead of her parents. It did seem as if they would be rather nosey, if she was putting it politely. What it must have been like living that way.

“Sunrise is the worst for that, Evianna isn't far behind.” Shadow spoke, shaking Twilight out of her thoughts.

“Glad she got away from their influence,” Jasper said while sipping his tea. He looked over at shadow with a soft look in his eyes. “I'm your to thank,”

They sat and chatted for a bit before Twilight made to take her leave. Though she and Jasper continued talking until Shadow got distracted with an experiment.

As Twilight headed for Sunset’s place, she was glad she left Spike back home to pack. This unexpected delay would have thrown her schedule off even further, especially if she still had to pack. Although she had cut her visit to Sunset’s parent’s short so that did allow her a bit of leeway. After arriving at her destination, Twilight unlocked the door and headed inside. It was done up in reds, golds, purples, and teal. There were books and plants everywhere, the latter having been touched up with magic to keep them alive and well. There was a table with neat piles of papers, books, parchment and quills strewed across the surface. There was also a small and tidy chemistry set coated in dust like everything else.

Reminding herself to bring Spike next time, Twilight packed up a few books that were well worn and much loved. Twilight couldn't help but wonder what Sunset’s life might have been like if her ambition hadn't gotten in the way. Or if she had a caring home life, parent's that were kind and loving. She had horrible feeling about them that she didn't wish to dwell on and continued her trek through the small house.

Twilight peered into what she could only assume was Sunset’s bedroom. The bed was surrounded by hanging lights, a few books on the nightstand, and a small plant nearly hidden behind them. There were vines on the walls climbing up from the windowsill where their pots sat. There were also lovely paintings of the sky hanging on the walls, Twilight had noticed other paintings on the walls of the rest of the place, but these spoke to her more than they did. She trotted closer, searching for the artist signature. The scribble on the bottom was familiar looking, the double S's pointed to one pony.

“Sunset made this?” Twilight asked herself in surprise. Maybe she could ask her if she would paint her something, Sunset clearly had mastered hands. So far, Twilight hadn't come across any musical instruments and she wondered if Sunset had learned guitar later after she went through the portal.

Twilight locked the place up and headed to the bank to collect Sunset’s money. Twilight felt as though she understood Sunset a lot better now. Hopefully Spike had finished packing and they could leave once she returned.