Sunset arrived at Canterlot High after an hour of restless sleep. She needed to tell her friends she was going back to Equestria, but not that they would go find her immediately. “How can I stop them from freaking out while I go back?” She questioned herself, padding to the student lockers.

It was around 5 am in the morning, and no students were in school yet. Sunset opened her journal. It was shared with Princess Twilight in Equestria. Gonna tell her I’m coming back now… She scribbled a short message on the journal and without waiting for a response, she shut the journal.

Now I just got to inform my friends. But how can I do it so they won’t just panic and dive in the portal? Sunset rubbed her chin. She pondered that for a moment before an idea came up in her mind. “I know! They would need to use a bit of time to crack this…”

Sunset smiled and pulled out a pen and some sticky notes. “I’ll give them a little puzzle….” She smiled again before heading into the school.

***

Many hours had passed after Sunset Shimmer had gone through the portal to Equestria, and another day of school had ended. The Mane 7 was at Applejack’s place to hang out. Twilight and Fluttershy had arrived together after a study group. Applejack was waiting outside the barn with a plate of tart apples. She waved at them. “Finally ya here. Uh, welcome to the barn, Ah guess.” She led them in the barn where the other girls were waiting.

Applejack placed the tart apples on a hay bale before sitting down between Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy. The six sat down on the floor in a loose circle. Someone was missing, but no one seemed to have noticed just yet.

Twilight took in a deep breath before beginning. “Has anyone seen Sunset Shimmer?”

Although she asked, she already knew the answer. Everyone shook their heads. “Maybe she’s just late. Or she could be talking to Princess Twilight.” Applejack suggested.

“That could be true. But she wouldn’t be that late.”

“Ya know that she could spend around half an hour or more talking to the Princess, am Ah right, y’all?” Applejack’s gaze swept across the circle. Everyone nodded.

“Let’s call her.” Rainbow Dash already had her phone open. The girls leaned closer to eavesdrop on their conversation. Rainbow put the phone near her ear for a few moments before frowning. “No answer. Oh yes! I need to show you something odd.”

She pulled a slightly crumpled yellow sticky from her pocket and held it up. On it was one number, 19, in Sunset’s straight handwriting.

“Ooh! Ooh! I have one too!” Pinkie Pie yelled. She put a hand in her pink hair and moved it around until she found another sticky, similar to what Dash had, but a different number was written on it, 5. The rest of them gasped. “I have one as well! I already forgot about it until Rainbow Dash reminded me.” Twilight also took out a sticky note. On it, there were numbers 5 and 17.

The girls who had not shown theirs took theirs out in addition. Rarity’s had the numbers 9 and 1, Applejack’s had the number 18 and ultimately, Fluttershy had 20 and 21.

“UGH! Is this a test from Sunset or something?” Rainbow blurted in her disappointment. Rarity shot her a questioning glance. "Really, Rainbow Dash?"

“Oops, sorry about that.”

“Wait,” Twilight said. “You might be onto something. It might actually be a test.”

Rarity’s eyes widened in surprise. “Darling, that certainly cannot be true. Rainbow Dash just said that at random.” Twilight nodded.

“But it’s not like her to leave us quietly, am I right girls?” Rarity continued.

“Ah know, but some unexpected things happen, and we’re dealin’ with it head on!” Applejack remarked, crossing her hips.

“I Wonder what they stand for though,” Fluttershy whispered softly.

“WHAAAAT? I CAN’T HEAR YOU!” Pinkie half yelled half asked Fluttershy. The girls covered their ears frantically and Fluttershy buried her face in her hair with an soft “Eep!” The sound echoed through the barn as Rarity glared at Pinkie Pie.

“Brace yourselves,” Rainbow whispered.

“Excuse me,” she said icily, standing up. “The girls and I nearly suffered a permanent hearing loss just now.” She raised her eyebrows expectantly, waiting for an apology.

Pinkie just shrugged, still as cheerful as ever. Twilight could see the exasperation in Rarity’s eyes. Pinkie was Pinkie Pie, and no one could ever change that. Twilight cleared her throat and flashed the two girls a look. It was enough to make Rarity move back into her seat.

“Ahem, back to the original topic, the puzzle,” Her gaze swept over the group. Somewhere, there was an idea, or clue that could lead them to the truth.

Applejack sighed. “Really, Ah still can’t see wha Pinkie Pie always act like this. Well anyways, on with this conversation. What were ya sayin’, Fluttershy?”

Fluttershy was fiddling with a lock of her pink hair. Twilight knew something was on her mind.

The pink-haired girl whispered something inaudible to the group. Applejack raised an eyebrow.

Pinkie opened her mouth, but Rarity covered Pinkie’s mouth before she could say anything. With her free hand, she waved a disapproving finger.

Applejack sighed in relief before leaning her head towards Fluttershy. Fluttershy whispered the message again into her ear.

Applejack nodded. “She said that the numbers might stand for something.”

“But what?!” Rainbow Dash apparently could not hold it in any longer.

Twilight considered that. “That could be a puzzle, a game, whatsoever. There are so many possibilities of what the numbers could stand for. Could you all write a list of those numbers for me, please? And leave them the way they are. Maybe I do know what they stand for. Oh yes, Pinkie? You have all the keys for all the houses, right?”

Pinkie Pie squealed.

“Can you go check if Sunset left her journal behind, or maybe some helpful things? That might lead us closer.” Everyone nodded before splitting into groups for the different tasks.

***

Princess Twilight Sparkle paced around the portal in circles. Is the portal not working? What’s taking her so long? Spike rolled his eyes. “She’s going to be fineee.” Ignoring him, Twilight continued her anxious pacing.

“I don’t know about that.”

Suddenly, white light shot out from the portal as Sunset Shimmer emerged through the portal. She wobbled on two legs, temporarily forgetting she was in the pony world, and collapsed onto the floor in a heap. “Ouch.”

The Princess stepped out and hugged her friend. “So great to see you.” Twilight greeted her. In return Sunset dipped her head and stood up. “Thanks for letting me come back.” Sunset uttered.

“You’re welcome to stop by anytime, and you know that,” Twilight remarked. “Sooo, what was the problem you had?”

Author's Note

Sorry about that, folks. Lots of work to catch up on, I think.

(I just happened to be reading this chapter when I spotted the mistake. Sorry about that )

List of numbers to help:
Rainbow Dash: 19
Pinkie Pie: 5
Sci-Twi: 5 & 17
Rarity: 9 & 1
Applejack: 18
Fluttershy: 20 & 21