Sunset was never one to host sleepovers or foalsit fillies or colts. It never crossed her mind as her ambitions for the future deemed it a worthless experience related to friends. Yet at the incessant begging of Rarity, she was now hosting a sleepover for Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, and Applebloom. Sunset didn’t understand why they needed supervision in the first place. They were high schoolers for Celestia’s sake, but the sound of a TV stand falling over caused her to replay in her mind what Applejack told her.
“Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and my sister are usually okay by themselves. You mix two or all three, then you need to worry about property damage or parties being thrown.”
Sunset realized now why she had three teenagers in her apartment, and from the sounds coming from the living room she would need to go in there soon. It would be the fifth she had to tell them to keep it down. Sunset set her pencil down on her physics homework and started to rise when the journal started to buzz and glow. Sitting back down to open it, her eyes shrank and her heart started pounding.
Sunset, come quick, something happened to Twilight, and Princess Celestia says you're the only one who can help. I’ll put the book back in place to open the portal.
Hurry!
Spike.
Sunset’s chair toppled back from standing up so fast. “Girls, get in here now!” The sound of the TV turning off as Sweetie Belle was first in, followed by Applebloom, and trailing the pack was Scootaloo. Sunset was staring at her phone for a moment before throwing her journal into her backpack. “Cell Phones, IDs, and anything you don’t want potentially lost forever goes on the table. Princess Twilight is in trouble, and we’re going to Equestria since your sisters haven’t answered my texts or phone calls.”
Three phones, a skateboard, two pocket knives, a hair bow, a purse, and two IDs were on the table in a flurry of motion. Sunset blinked at seeing the knives, but slung her bag over her shoulder and grabbed her keys. “Stay close to me at all times, no wandering off, especially when we get to Equestria.”
They made one stop before the school, and a very tired Vice Principal Luna answered her door. “Sunset it’s 11:30 at night, and that said the reason had better be worth–”
Sunset interrupted as she dug through her bag. “Princess Twilight needs me, and outside of my friends, you and Principal Celestia are the only ones I would trust with this.” Sunset presented the journal and her apartment keys. “I left my phone and the phones to the Crusaders on my dining room table. If it turns out I’ll be longer I’ll send the Crusaders back with word.”
Luna took the items and Sunset slung the pack back on her shoulder, and Luna let out a breath. “Hold one moment Sunset.” Luna disappeared from the door and coming back a moment later with something in a small shoebox. “This was found in the crater after Twilight defeated you. Perhaps other me can tell you what it is.”
Sunset opened the box and pulled out the necklace that had her cutie mark on it. “Odd, I don’t remember owning something like this, but I’ll find out and let you know. However, I’m sorry for disturbing you so late.”
Luna nodded and looked past Sunset to the three young girls. “This is a privilege you are about to receive, and I fully expect you to represent humanity -along with CHS- properly to those inhabitants.”
“You can count on us Ms. Luna, we’ll show those ponies what it means to be a Wondercolt.” Scootaloo’s fast response and strangely familiar Dash’eque pose brought a bit of a smile to Luna’s face. The other two silently nodding quickly in agreement had her logically thinking of how bad Sunset was going to be by the time they returned. However, a glimmer of hope was there, not enough to bet money on, but enough that perhaps the circumstances might actually reign in their behavior.
(A half hour walk later)
Sunset stood at the statue base and quickly gave the crusaders a rundown of portal travel. Sweetie Belle seemed to like this less the more that was explained to her. Scootaloo was excited enough she charged right in first. Sunset gave the nod and Applebloom stepped through. With much convincing and perhaps a shove by Sunset, Sweetie Belle was on her way, and that left Sunset to take a nice slow deep breath before plunging into the portal.
Crystal floors were incredibly slick, and Sunset found herself sliding on her stomach unchecked towards the three teenage mares and one baby dragon. It was a perfect strike, young mares, and one dragon went flying.
“I think this pony is broken, Vice Principal Luna.” Applebloom’s statement served to remind Sunset of the pain in her head. A response that was spot on, for Luna was heard as Sunset’s mind started to function more.
“Lady Applebloom, it’s Princess Luna on this side of the mirror, and she is waking up.” Luna very gently brushed the mane from Sunset’s face. “Sunset Shimmer, Princess Twilight’s condition is urgent, you must get your wits about you.”
Luna no sooner finished her statement than Sunset was up in her face. “What happened, where is she, and what have you figured out so far that makes you believe I’m the one you need?” Sunset felt herself picked up and deposited a respectable speaking distance away. Her eyes widened and she immediately bowed to Luna. “Princess Luna, I’m so sorry for the violation of personal space.”
“Come, Sunset, Spike is already entertaining your Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle. Applebloom refused to leave your side citing a promise made to you.”
Sunset glanced to the young mare and raised an eyebrow when she noticed the cutie mark of tree branch with blooms on it. “That’s an Apple for you, Princess, true to their word. If I may your highness, can you show me the way so I can get to work.”
On the way Princess Luna gave the fiery unicorn the rundown of what happened and Sunset ran through solutions that Luna unfortunately shot down as already tried by Celestia. They came to the door that was guarded by two thestral guards. Luna wrapped the doors in her magic before turning to speak to Sunset. “I must warn you, this will be difficult for you to take, and I apologize upfront.” Luna opened the doors into a dark room. The only light source was a crystal lamp at the desk, this being the only piece of furniture in the room. Sitting at that desk was Twilight, but something felt off about her.
Twilight spoke, “Have you brought her Luna, or do I need to give additional persuasion?” The moment Twilight spoke Sunset felt deja vu having heard that voice before. Turning, she caught Luna closing her in the room, the click of the locks, and the heavy feel of wards foretold how serious this really was.
Sunset turned back to the alicorn in the room. “Midnight Sparkle!” Midnight lit the room, and Sunset gasped in shock seeing the other pony bearers of harmony encased in the crystal walls.
“You like it Sunset? You’ll be joining them soon enough, and end any threats to my reign. I will figure out how Luna keeps me in this room and then Equestria will be mine. Prepare yourself little unicorn, the duel of fates begins, and one must fall.” Midnight lit her horn and fired off her first spell. Sunset clenched her jaw and cast her own defense.
Midnight watched her first attack shove Sunset back into the door hard. It was by no means a killing blow, but her calm calculating gaze was sizing up the last real threat to her power. “I expected better from a student of Celestia. Has living with arms and legs dulled your horn so much that you’ve forgotten what you were?”
Sunset dismissed her spell. She had to ignore the slight pain from being pushed intot he door. “I haven’t forgotten a thing from any lesson I have taken, perhaps it is you who should look in the mirror, and answer that question for yourself, Twilight. You had power, you had the prestige of succeeding where I failed, and faced many a villain to come out on top. You’re not going to win this duel, Twilight, because this time I’m holding all the aces, and you’re left with the foolish delusion you are stronger. If me smacking you around for a bit makes you feel better about the loss, then so be it.”
Sunset charged her horn, and with the same radiance of her first transformation, the second was even more impressive. Her horn lengthened by a few inches, her wings of golden magic appeared spread open on her back, and lastly her magic aura changed. All this adding to her growing intimidating factor, and midnight dropped the hoof she shielded her eyes with. Sunset stared back with a firm expression. “Prepare yourself, Midnight, I’ve come to get my friend back.”
(Outside of the castle)
“For this town being populated by ponies, I’m seeing a lot of similarities to our world. I’ve counted at least a dozen round doorknobs to three lever type. How would a hoof even grip a round knob anyways?” Applebloom’s teenage assessment of pony building fell on deaf ears. Her other friends were busy looking around at Ponyville and checking things out. In other words they were doing exactly what Sunset told them not to do. Some Apple she was, so easily convinced to sneak out of the castle, and the only reason she was out here was Scootaloo.
“Applebloom?”
Applebloom turned to the voice and it took her a moment to digest the pink tiara wearing filly. “Diamond Tiara?”
Diamond raised an eyebrow at the questioning tone of her once-upon-a-time enemy. “Pfft, like yeah, what the hay did you do to yourself? I almost didn’t recognize you, and tell me it’s not Sweetie Belle and her magic acting up?”
Applebloom had to slam a hoof into her shin to ensure she wasn’t dreaming. Sure enough, outside of a concerned expression on pony Diamond, she was being nice to her, and her mind was blown.
“Hello, Equestria to Applebloom, you’re acting really suspicious. Are you a changeling?”
Applebloom shook her head to dump the stray thoughts and focus. It was time for some good ol’ Apple family honesty. “I’m not your Applebloom, I’m the Applebloom from a parallel universe where I’m actually a human and not a pony. You, Silver, and my friends are in high school. We don’t get along, I’m here with Sunset Shimmer, because my sister doesn’t trust me around the distillery while her, Mack, and Granny are out of town.” Applebloom lost track of time as she talked with Diamond. She gained some tips from the reformed bully on how to stop the human Diamond. As pony Diamond trotted away she looked around for her friends. Her ears folded back as her head jerked around seeing nopony that matched her friends. Dread finished filling in her facial features, Sunset was going to kill them.
Sweetie Belle walked around town trying to find Applebloom and Scootaloo. The latter having galloped off at some point given her short attention span. Sweetie began to silently freak out, something she had over her super popular sister, and was highly thankful for. However, it was quickly becoming visible in the short gallops and rapid glances. How did she get so close to the end of town? Music, sweet music gave the teen mare pause, her ears locking onto the source and the sweet orchestral dubstep drew her closer like a moth to flame. Sitting against the house near the open window she closed her eyes to let the tones wash away her worries.
The creative spark in her rose up and spilled out in the form of her singing voice. Losing herself to the guilty pleasure, she was unaware that the magic she now possessed was projecting her voice like a set of speakers, yet not so much to overpower the music she was hearing.
Octavia heard it first and stopped playing, which in turn got Vinyl to slide her headphones up on one ear. She caught the tail end of the lyrics and then cheering once her current track ended. Their third party opinion, one Lyra Heartstrings, was already by the window.
Hey Tavi, I think Sweetie Belle got into a mix up. I’m seeing two, and they look like they’re both different ages.” Lyra’s observations did it for Octavia, placing her cello in the stand she headed for the door. Vinyl took off her headphones and followed Lyra out, and around the side. Filly Sweetie Belle and the other two pony crusaders were already twenty questioning the teen mare as the crowd started to break up with a few hanging back hoping for an encore.
Octavia could see the teen needed a hoof. “Girls, one question at a time, the poor dear can’t keep up with the three of you at once, but my questions come first since this is my lawn.” Octavia was satisfied when the pony crusaders back up giving the older mare space. She went on to ask her first question. “Young Lady, may I ask where you learned to sing like that?”
Sweetie thought facing her pony counterpart along with this world’s version of the crusaders was bad enough. Now she had a famous DJ and cellist staring at her. This is why she never sang outside of school choir, and even then she never did solo parts. “I learned in school choir class, and I...well I like to sing. It helps me calm down, and I’m sorry if I disturbed your practice Ms. Melody, Ms. Scratch, but I really needed to calm down. The music…” How should she say it and not sound like a broken record that both had heard before? Thankfully she didn’t have the chance to, as a separate conversation got loud enough to interrupt theirs.
“Sweetie Belle, what did you do to make an older double of yourself?” Lyra’s question to the pony Sweetie brought the little filly’s defensive side out.
“Hey, I’m completely innocent, we have our cutie marks now, and we were at the school helping Miss Cheerilee till one. So you can’t blame me, Applebloom, or Scoots. We have a vetted witness.”
Cheerilee was one of the ponies that hung back. “She is right, Lyra. They have been with me since this morning, and Sweetie has not used her magic outside of levitation today.”
Older Sweetie finally responded, not to Octavia’s question, but to Lyra. “Leave them be, I’m from another world, and I came with my Applebloom and Scootaloo. We got bored waiting on Sunset to finish with Twilight, and now we got split up. We don't even have our cell phones to text a meet up spot.
Lyra’s eyes got huge and it seemed to bring worry to the three pony crusaders as they began to back away further from the mint green unicorn. “You’re from the other side of the mirror, oh my Celestia, what’s it like being human?”
Octavia was quick to shut Lyra down before she did something to terrify the poor mare. “Lyra dear, she obviously needs help, and not your hobby pestering her.”
Twenty minutes of arguing later, Vinyl, filly crusaders, older Sweetie, Lyra, and Octavia were sitting in the cellist’s parlor. Older Sweetie was filling out a questionnaire that Lyra produced from Luna only knows where. It was the argument breaker, and spared Octavia and Lyra from throwing down in public. The topic of conversation was the plan to find the teen mare her friends.
Scootaloo understood completely why Rainbow loved her wings when she grew them. Scoots barrel rolled for the hundredth time, just loving the sensations of the forces acting on her changed body. After watching a few pegasi take off, coupled with more than a few failed attempts, she got off the ground. Now she was searching for her friends to show off what she learned to do.
The silent enemy struck Scootaloo in the form of a severe wing cramp. Something every pegasus learns in flight school, but a human turned pegasus wouldn’t have the first clue on. The pain made her scream and make another rookie mistake, she stopped flapping her wings causing the one with the cramp to twist and spin her out of control. Her screaming intensified as the thought of her impending death set in.
Impact, soft warm fur, tightness around her barrel, and a slowing descent. Scoots opened her eyes in time to see the pond greet her. Fear was back full force as she didn’t know how to swim as a pony. Thankfully natural buoyancy brought her up and she took a big gulp of air.
“Grab ahold of my mane!” Scootaloo twisted around in her panic to see a gray mare with a blond mane beside her. She reached with her hoof, but naturally it didn’t hold onto the blond strands. She sank below the surface, she tried to breathe, and got only water. The glowing surface was getting darker, and as she lost consciousness she felt hooves on her again.
Scootaloo’s return to consciousness was filled with the desire to hurl. Her lungs burned as she coughed up more water while instinctively rolling her head to the side.
“Oh sweet Celestia that was close.” It was all Derpy could say as the mare coughed all the water she could out of her body.”
Scootaloo finally put eyes on her savior and knew from the eyes who’s double this was. Derpy was shivering from more than the chill from being wet. “I’m sorry I couldn’t carry you, I’m no Rainbow Dash, and your wings were messing up my flight.”
Scootaloo hugged onto her. “You still saved me. I’ll never poke fun of you again, but thank you.”
Derpy didn’t speak for a moment confused about what Scootaloo said about making fun of her. She had never met this mare before, but her head turned to see what the movement was nearby. Her bad eye may get her in trouble, but it was great for warning her so she could get her good eye on it. Great, from the looks of the ponies charging their way, she wouldn’t have to carry this mystery mare to the hospital. Looking back and moving her eyes to the positions she determined were normal for her, she asked the mare in front of her, “You said you made fun of me before, but I don’t think I ever met you before just now. How do you know me?”
Scootaloo sighed. “Let’s just say where I’m from, there's another you that doesn’t look exactly like you, and she gets picked on a lot for her eyes.”
Among the ponies that approached, one rushed to the front of the crowd. Scootaloo recounted what happened to the double of who she knew was the school nurse. Redheart listened as she looked Scootaloo over for other injuries. Redheart didn’t want to give her a lecture so soon after her near death experience. She would save it for later at the hospital. “Miss, can I get your name and anyone you’d like notified?”
Scootaloo froze a moment before shooting up to her hooves like nothing happened. “I’ll just head on home, no need to–”
Redheart’s glare stopped Scootaloo cold, her words just as damning. “Your name miss, you nearly drowned, and your next stop is the hospital. So tell me or I’ll have the royal guard involved in this.”
“Scootaloo, and before you ask, I came with Sunset Shimmer who is at Twilight’s castle, and Vice Principal Luna is going to kill me.”
Redheart turned to one of the unicorns in the crowd. “Sir, can I ask a favor, can you lift this mare into the cart for me, please?”
(The other side of the mirror)
Principal Celestia pulled up beside her sister’s hatchback. Luna was hardly ever late, granted it was a small meeting with the superintendent, aka Sunday breakfast with dad, but Celestia knew Luna enjoyed the get togethers since their mother passed. What possessed Luna to skip that for a trip to Sweet Apple Acres? Celestia heard a commotion as she got out of her car, chickens, and then her sister's voice.
“You peck my hand again featherduster, I’ll pluck each of your feathers before wringing your neck! I’ll eat your gizzards with glee!”
Celestia crossed the ground easy enough since she made a point to jog two miles a day. The door to the coup opened as she slowed to a stop and quickly made herself look like she been standing there. Luna still had her back to her, one arm cradling about a dozen eggs, and her other was latching the door. Celestia smirked and finally spoke, “If you wanted to be a farmer, Luna, you need to get up earlier–”
Luna shrieked, eggs going airborne, and coming down to break on both sisters and the ground. “Dammit Tia, stupid chickens, and now you. What are you doing here?”
Despite the egg running down her expensive blouse, Celestia was doing her best not to laugh. Luna was ready to explode again, so Celestia answered considering Luna knew where she lived. “You missed breakfast, Father was concerned, and I simply tracked your phone here. Now same question to you.”
Luna explained the late evening and the list she found tucked in Applebloom’s things, and Luna explained that Winona needed let out as well. Since she was already here. Celestia listened, and the sound of a truck coming up the lane interrupted Celestia’s response. Applejack was already making a beeline for the two administrators, and she slowed to take in the scene of two egg covered women. Luna had feathers in her hair, and clinging to her clothing. Both women were mildly embarrassed to be seen in such a state.
Applejack shook her head speaking as she slid her hat back a bit. “I never took ya both to be the farmin type. Sunset was supposed to have Bloom help her until we got back.”
“Sunset recieved a message from her home late last night, and she took your sister with her.” Luna liked the short version, and Applejack seemed sold on it. Luna hurriedly added before the apple farmer could respond. “She did promise to have them home in time for school tomorrow if her business takes too long.”
Applejack merely turned around for the house. “Well come on, y’all, I can let you in to wash up a bit, but I warn ya now that Granny’s in rare form. Yer likely ta get an earful of stories.” She led them back to the house, getting the full story about the broken eggs. She had a laugh and told Luna about how Mac did the same to her, and she did to Bloom.
(Ponyville hospital, Equestria)
Sunset’s anger evaporated by the time she was shown into Scootaloo’s room. Celestia’s lessons in dealing with her anger were finally being put to use, shame it was years too late, and after several life altering mistakes. Well not all of it was mistakes, sure stealing a element of harmony was bad, attempted murder of a sitting princess was worse, but gaining six friends and later a seventh seemed to balance it out. That’s what she told herself anyways, so far Princess Luna hadn’t breached the subject and she hadn’t run into her former mentor yet.
“I’m the one to blame, I pressured Sweetie Belle and Applebloom to break your rules.” Sunset’s eyes came into focus on the young mare in the bed. Scootaloo had hoped opening with the truth would help her chances.
Sunset shook her head. “Scoots, your friends should know when to stand up and tell you no. That even if you were still set on leaving the castle, they could still follow the rules, but they made a choice to follow you. In doing so they broke the rule, but I’m also kind of happy they did. Equestria may seem harmless, but its dangers are still present. You found one of those dangers. Inexperience will get you killed or cause others to get hurt. Having a friend or friends around can limit recklessness, but you got split up bringing the danger right back.”
“But I was trying to find them when I cramped up.” Scootaloo felt a little better knowing she wasn’t getting the third degree. “Even if they were there, I still would have crashed, and I learned that much from the doctor a bit ago.”
Sunset nodded finally taking a seat. “I won’t get into the ‘could have beens’, or the ‘what ifs’, what I do know is that your two friends can’t fly so you’d most likely stay close to them if you’d stayed together.” Sunset levitated up a book that had a sun mark on the cover. “You’re going to tell me exactly how you want our Rainbow to get the truth. That means VP Luna will find out. You have a day for observation since you swallowed a bunch of water. I spoke to Miss Hooves as well, and I’d like you to write a thank you to her as well.”
(Canterlot Animal Shelter)
Rainbow was lazing around the animal shelter with Fluttershy after coming home from a soccer camp. Fluttershy was showing her younger cousin the animals, much to her delight he was over the moon about it, and for a while Fluttershy forgot about his cancer diagnosis. It was why he was here for the weekend; he would be going to the hospital to start treatment, and probably be too fragile to be around animals. Rainbow’s and Fluttershy’s phones both went off at the same time signalling a text message. Rainbow was already on her phone and checked it first. “What!” Rainbow’s exclamation sent the animals running back into their cages. Rainbow was latched onto Fluttershy soon as the meek girl was standing up to add emphasis to her next words. “We need to get to Sweet Apple Acres now!”
Rainbow let her go to start closing and locking cages, Fluttershy followed behind to double check that they had water, and the three piled into Fluttershy’s van to start the fifteen minute trip across town.
Human Twilight hung on for dear life as she rode with Pinkie and Rarity. How Rarity remained calm while Pinkie drove made Twilight jealous for the fashionista’s patience.“Hold on!” Pinkie shouted as she drifted around a corner with pedestrians leaping out of the way. Twilight screaming her head off, Pinkie half out the driver’s window, hand outstretched giving a peace sign to the awestruck occupants of a certain van. The sidewalk cell phone recorders caught the whole thing, and Rainbow was already sending a message to a few people she knew for the video. Fluttershy got the green light and she proceeded much more cautiously.
Applejack, VP Luna, and Celestia watched as Pinkie drifted into the driveway. She came to a stop behind Applejack’s truck, and Twilight was in tears from a panic attack. Rarity set herself to task, calming their newest friend, and Celestia attempted to chastise Pinkie for her reckless driving. Celestia knew that the Sparkle family was just as connected as her own, and the last thing Celestia wanted was Twilight Velvet in her office.
They each took a turn reading the message, and Twilight got up to walk out on the porch. Pinkie’s driving, coupled with the news sent from Equestria, didn’t help ease any questions her scientific mind couldn’t answer. Principal Celestia came out a moment later to see if Twilight was okay. The porch was empty along with the immediate area. She stepped off the porch to see if Twilight had walked to any of the nearby buildings.
“Up here.” Celestia turned to the sound of Twilight’s voice, and Twilight watched the look of surprise on the administrator’s face from her perch near the weather vane.
Celestia reached up slowly to rub her eyes but the view was still the same. A considerably less evil looking Midnight Sparkle sat on the roof. Celestia found her voice. “Twilight, I thought Sunset cured you?” Celestia was certain of it having witnessed it at the end of the friendship games.
Twilight stood back up and with a few flaps of her wings she descended to the ground in front of principal Celestia with her back to the door. “You play irresponsibly with fire, you get burned, and Sunset only showed me the way back. She can’t fix my mistake completely, just as she couldn’t fix her mistake completely either, and we both carry the scars of our respective endeavors.”
Twilight heard a gasp, and judging by the pitch and volume, she guessed it was Pinkie Pie. Twilight turned around to face her worried friends, she smiled that her improved hearing guessed correctly. The look on Pinkie’s face was perfect in her over dramatic gasp, and Twilight couldn’t help but start to giggle, and a little at a time her transformation reverted back till the simple high school student they knew. “So now what?”
VP Luna spoke as she pulled out her keys. “We go home and wait, and I’ll take you home Ms. Sparkle.”
“Hold on just a minute here, you turn into a bad guy again, and we just go home like nothing happened?” Rainbow came off the porch. “What about the plan, it's getting about that time, and I have more reason to go now than anytime before.”
Twilight crossed her arms in front of her chest; “The plan has gone to hell in handbasket the moment we even agreed to do it. If Sunset hasn’t seen through Princess Twilight’s act, then we still have the problem of her having the other book in her possession rather than on the machine to get us through the portal.”
Rainbow snapped her fingers. “You opened all kinds of portals to Equestria at the Friendship Games. We can use one of those to get there.”
Twilight facepalmed. “Yeah, I misplaced my trans dimensional magic text book, oh that’s right, they never taught that subject at Crystal Prep, and I’m quite sure it's not an elective at CHS! The closest thing I know how to do is levitate things. I’m not going to attempt something I could only do when I was effectively high on magic. Even then you have to take into account the multiverse theory, would we really end up in the correct place?”
Rainbow shushed her with a finger. “Please stop, my brain is hurting, and I figured it out how we’re getting there.”
Principal Celestia raised an eyebrow. “I’m quite intrigued to hear your idea, given the many reasons we cannot successfully open it from our side. Lack of magic keys standing out.”
Rainbow smirked. “Oh we have a key alright, and I know how our current egghead can help us. Can I see the journal for a moment, Vice Principal Luna?” Luna raised her eyebrow in a questioning manner before handing over the book, and Rainbow took it and opened to the next blank space at the bottom of the page where Sunset’s message was. With her OP athletic skills, and knowing Twilight, she snagged the pen from the front shirt pocket. “They key is in our reply message, there is only one person she would never refuse.” Rainbow Dash wrote the reply and closed the book holding out the pen which Twilight took back.
Rarity had a bad feeling about this. “Who exactly would Sunset never refuse, and what did you just do?”
Rainbow looked right at Rarity with a level of seriousness in her features that left no room for doubt about what she was going to say being absolute truth. “Exactly what you would do if it were Sweetie Belle in the hospital and not Scootaloo.”
Applejack smacked a palm to her forehead. “You lied to her didn’t you?”
Rainbow Dash shook her head; “Yeah it will look that way, but Principal Celestia did get an invitation right Pinkie?”
Pinkie stopped bouncing one of her curls with her breath to answer the question. “Absolutely tootly, but you still shouldn’t do that Dashie. It’s actually illegal in both worlds, and I’m fairly sure by the look of our Celestia you're about to get a lecture.
(Ponyville Hospital Cafeteria)
Sunset felt all the more lucky to have the book start vibrating, giving her the excuse to not join four of the most unusual dinner guests she had ever met. One of whom was encased in stone last she saw of him. She politely excused herself to pull out the book and flip it open. Her other table guests watched in both fascination and concern as Sunset paled in color, and the book dropped onto the table top.
Discord snapped his claws and the book appeared in his lion paw. “I was unaware that you had a pet name for old Sun Butt herself. Principal Celestia, really my dear, you sound like you had a filly crush on–”
“Discord!” The slightly stressed use of his name made the lord of chaos look over the book at Fluttershy, and Fluttershy pointed with a hoof over to Sunset. Discord followed the hoof signal and Sunset looked ready to murder him.
Trixie took the moment to speak up in his defense while taking a soft jab at him in the process. “Sunset, please take Discord’s words with a lot of patience, he is a lord of chaos, and while Discord is doing his best to live up to his reformation. Trixie believes it is niegh impossible for him to be completely chaos free. Even Trixie still suffers from slip ups in her quest to be a better friend, and from what we heard you are no different.”
Starlight took over from Trixie. “Principal Celestia sounds like that version of our Princess Celestia, and you seem to hold her in high esteem if you’re taking this much offense to Discord’s comment. Having never met her myself, is she comparable to the Princess?”
Sunset did her best to reign in her rising temper, and while she appeared to be calming down the annoyance in her voice was still present. “She is everything I wish my mother would have been. I hate to leave on that note, but I need to open the portal. I’m about to receive a lecture for getting a student hurt.”
Discord levitated the book over to the rising unicorn. “Oh I wouldn’t be so sure of that.”
Sunset informed Princess Luna as she moved through the castle to the library. Princess Luna asked the same question Starlight did, and Sunset gave relatively the same answer. Princess Luna split off from the group to take the recovering Princess Twilight some medicines to recover from the duel earlier. She promised to be down right after seeing to Twilight.
Sunset set the book upon the holder and watched in fascination as the crude magic machine came to life and in sequence the portal itself opened. The wait was made annoying by Discord munching on popcorn. A ripple in the mirror surface caught her attention, and the first of six ponies were spat out much to Sunset’s displeasure. She ignored the rising banter in the room between her friends and the resident ponies who helped them off the mirror platform. She waited for one more to come through, but at precisely ten minutes Sunset leaned her head back and casting a voice amplifier spell. The next two words Sunset spoke shook the Castle of Friendship in its crystal root foundation. “Shut up!”
Princess Twilight, Spike, and Princess Luna started their hastened journey to the library. Princess Luna and Twilight both shared a look with each other. They were both seriously starting to doubt the plan Pinkie had about this party.
Sunset was literally shaking with anger, and as two royals and a dragon assistant entered, they met the others that came running. Both Sweetie Belle's, both Apple Blooms, and the pony version of Scootaloo were staring at the new arrivals with a mixture of awe, while two found the floor more appealing than the look in their sister’s eyes.
Sunset turned her attention to her highschool friends for a brief moment before turning her attention to the crusaders. “Crusaders, can I count on you to look after your older doubles for a little bit, because I need to have a grown up conversation with your sisters.”
Scootaloo showed a bit of excitement, “We got this covered Sunset, c’mon crusaders, let's go have some fun, because this is about to get boring in here.” Older Applebloom and Sweetie Belle reluctantly followed after the charging young fillies, and with one last glance thrown over their shoulder at the scene they turned down the hall as the door closed behind them.
Sunset’s attention was now back on her friends from across the mirror. “Yes or no, is Principal Celestia coming?”
Applejack went first. “I ain’t proud of being here Sunset, but if anyone can keep up with Dash’s nonsense that’d be me in this group.”
Fluttershy was next. “I was worried and didn’t want to be alone. I’m sorry.”
Rarity admitted as she looked away from Sunset’s glare, “I was a teensy bit curious to see the real you.”
Pinkie just shrugged. “I’m here for the party, speaking of which, I’ll go help other me.” Pinkie walked away as if she used hooves all her life much to the confused looks of her friends.
Unicorn Twilight stopped herself from asking when she felt the glare on her. “I’m here because friends stick together despite being wrong, your words, and I was hoping to talk to my other self.”
Rainbow seemed immune to Sunset’s glare, or was just cocky enough to poke the proverbial bear. Rainbow did little to dispel the growing tension in the room. “You’re getting your tail in a twist for no reason, I’m responsible for Scoots–”
“Were responsible!” Sunset’s words were loud and her body language was something none of the humans turned ponies had ever seen. Fluttershy thought she was even scarier than the time she turned into a raging she demon. Flight response dictated action, and she dived behind the closest solid object thinking it would save her. Sunset was far from finished and she continued driving her point to the cocky rainbow maned pegasus. “So if you were so responsible Dash, why in Tartarus were you not answering your phone then, hmmm?”
“Sunset, Stop!”
Sunset turned to glance at Princess Twilight and the princess opened the door with her magic and pointed with her wing at the opening. “You made your point, go cool off, and check on the crusaders.”
“I’m not done yet!” Sunset was not about to be sent away while she had Rainbow by the tail.
“Sergeant!” Twilight’s voice was serious and the sound of metal moving and one of Luna’s guards came in the room coming to attention. Twilight repeated herself, “Go cool off and check on the crusaders, or get arrested. There is no option of staying in this room.” Sunset growled and with a flip of her mane she trotted out the door. Twilight turned her attention to the guard. “She is not to come back in, but you’re dismissed with my thanks.”
“Yes, ma’am.” the guard returned to his post pulling the door closed behind him.
Princess Twilight sat down. “This was the dumbest idea ever.”
Human-turned-pony Pinkie stuck her head through the door. “Nah, plan is right on track, our Sweetie’s got this covered, and get back to bed before you collapse again. You’re no good to us too tired to party. Oh and we’re not going to be making it to school tomorrow. I already took care of it.” Pinkie pulled her head back out the door and it closed once again.
Sunset stomped through the castle, wanting nothing more than to drive her hooves through the crystal floor with each step she took, and wreck pretty little Twilight’s house. Stupid naive princess had no clue what an element of harmony in the human world could do, and she surely had no clue what nine untrained ponies could do until it blew up in her face. Not her problem anymore, if Princess Twilight wanted the responsibility of telling some parents their daughters blew themselves up in another dimension, then so be it, but little miss entitled was not going to stop her once she got back to the human realm. Oh no, her power didn’t reach that far, she broke them once, she can break them again.
Music, singing, the two things brought Sunset‘s ears forward, and it was quite good. Whoever was singing had talent, didn’t matter though, it wasn’t like she was going to be here long enough to get to know whoever it was. She pushed the door open to the outside and walked out into what had to be the whole town. The sight shocked her the rest of the way out of her anger, and made her a bit more self conscious. Octavia stopped playing the moment she saw Sunset, and this caused Sweetie Belle to stop singing with her older double. Vinyl stopped last as it took her a minute since she wore headphones and couldn’t pick up the aspects of the cello and singing dropping out. The sudden attention of an entire town was making Sunset highly nervous, but all of that was nothing compared to the alicorn rising in the back row of the crowd. Sunset looked to her left and right for a viable escape, looking back she watched Celestia open her wings to take flight. She needed an exit, she couldn’t do it, not here, not in front of a town, and there had to be a way.
“Sunset, are you okay?” Older Sweetie Belle asked, knowing full well the fire haired mare was far from it. She had the same look she did on her first solo during a recital, it ended when she woke up in the back of the car on the way home. Sure enough, Sunset lost the battle of inner turmoil and punched out for the day. Eyes rolling up, down and to the side she went. Passing out on ground came with its share of bruises. The same could not be said for stairs, which had a track record for worse to fatal injuries. However, a certain tree felt it necessary to make the stairs gradual and over the top girly. Not that Sunset had any worry about that, given a certain sun toting alicorn. Princess Celestia just flexed her horn a bit and unconscious mare levitated through the air to gracefully rest between a pair of immense wings. A handful of foals became immensely jealous of the unconscious unicorn, getting the honor of riding on the back of the biggest princess.
(Within Sunset’s dream, Canterlot Castle, balcony of the sunset)
Sunset never felt so happy in all her life, looking at her wonderful dress to go with her new wings, and genuine pride she witnessed on her mother’s face. The coronation went off without a hitch, even with two attempts by Discord to prank the proceedings, but with double the elements of harmony on the grounds it was hard to do. Celestia leaned down to whisper in her ear as Sunset waived to the crowds below.
“I’m so proud of you, Sunset, you managed to become an alicorn through your deeds in the mirror world.” Celestia’s words and smile just made Sunset float right off her hooves. Her two new appendages were so beautiful, and everything she dreamed them to be. The ponies were cheering and stomping their hooves.
Sunset turned to look at her friends and the cheers had changed to shouts of outrage and she was staring down the center of the packed throne room. Nobles of all classes were saying some of the most foul things ever to be spoken in the presence of a princess, and a few pushed it even further degrading her parents. Celestia sat upon her throne and did nothing but stare down at Sunset with a look of anger and betrayal. A pressure pinned her wings to her side, she looked to see a metal band locking them to be completely useless. Shackles with short connector chains to make walking difficult, Sunset couldn’t dream of trying to run in them. She looked back at Celestia, the betrayal and anger returning to her own features. “What is the meaning of this?”
Sunset never got an answer she liked from the crowd, Celestia remained statuesque on her throne, but the guard shoved her forward to walk to the throne. She was prodded several times by the guard to move faster, and Sunset did her best to move without tripping and making an even bigger fool of herself. She was not about to give these hyenas any amusement of that sort. She made it to where she was apparently supposed to stand at the base of the stairs going up to the throne. Celestia finally stood, and all the shouts and jeers stopped from the crowded room.
“You lied to me, Sunset. You haven’t changed at all, and now you stand here having shamed all alicorns. Having shamed even me in the eyes of my little ponies. This time there is nowhere left for you to run.”
Sunset looked at the silently seething nobles on either side of the throne room before looking back at her once equal. “What exactly have I done to warrant this humiliation? Even if all the nobles were united against me, I am protected by the queen’s laws, and not even you have the authority to override those.”
Celestia’s wings twitched as Sunset prodded her anger, she hated it when others dared to use her mother against her, and now some bastard child would dare disgrace her in her court. This child she took in, fed, taught, and elevated more than any common unicorn’s parents could dream of. “You caused the destruction of an innocent world with the addition of magic into it, you left dangerous corruptive magic in an innocent girl, and these two things have caused the ponies of Equestria to worry about this world being next. This double of Prin...Twilight Sparkle, only needs time to breach the barrier, your destruction of the mirror only delayed the inevitable.”
Sunset merely snorted a breath out her nose and holding her head up high and proud she took a step up. “Horseapples, and you know it! Twilight was my friend, and the magic was not corrupt, that is just the report you got from Princess Twilight. She’d tell you the color of my underwear if you asked her.”
The guard reached to grab the chains to jerk Sunset back down off the step. His attempt was met with two hind hooves to the side of his helmet. The force shoved his body off balance and he fell. Sunset took another step as more guards began to approach. The escorting guard picked his head up to shake away the dizziness, before getting back on his hooves. He joined the approaching line of guards to finish encircling Sunset. Celestia hid her concern of Sunset’s bold move, and let her satisfied smirk show instead.
Sunset took another step. “You cannot blame me for the actions of another, I have taken the responsibility in teaching her, but if human Twilight chooses to abuse it then it is of no fault of mine. You side with these vultures and wolves that parade themselves around as noble ponies. They force you to give up your freedom. You chose to be bound to the crown you wear proudly upon your head. I’m going to be me, and I won’t let these vultures and wolves dictate how my life is to be lived as you have let them do to you. So why don’t you drop the charade, because Celestia would never trade family for power. Only I could have been that blind, and only a piece of me at that.”
The guards’ spears stopped a breath short of Sunset’s neck. Sunset’s lips curved upward a bit, as she watched Celestia’s eyes begin to widen and her pupils shrink. “Let’s be reasonable about this, I’m a dark part of your past, so it's only reasonable that all the negativity you’ve been feeling would help me grow strong enough to attempt a takeover on your mind.” Sunset raised a now unchained hoof up to touch the end of the closest spear. It vanished along with the guard holding it. Celestia backpedaled some more. “Kill her you fools!” The other’s lunged only to be vaporized in blue magic. The soft metallic clink of metal shoes on marble made Sunset’s ears turn, the voice confirmed her suspicions as to who.
“My niece shall suffer you no more demon spawn, i shall purge you as I would any nightmare!” Luna ended her statement with a hoof stomp that had the cliche bolt of lighting outside the windows and trailing thunder.
Celestia cracked the marble in her own hoof stomp as she shouted back at Luna. “How dare you compare me to such a childish phantom of the subconscious, I am more than that–” Celestia never got to finish her statement as fast steps behind her broke off her statement so she could look back in time to see Principal Celestia leap into the air. The human administrator tucked into a flying kick pose and her feet hit their target. Unfortunately she underestimated alicorn anatomy, and wings popping open knocked her off her landing track. Both alicorn and human rolled down the stairs. The human principal vanished midway down being only a part of the dream itself. The alicorn had a much more interesting tumble from Luna and Sunset’s view.
The alicorn change back to the she demon she originally was. Each turn and tumble a part would change back in a puff of golden magic like the spores off a mushroom. It ended with a face plant that released the most magic shrinking the unfortunate victim to the size of a child. The smaller battered version of the dreaded she demon began to pick herself up.
Luna’s silver shod hoof coming down right in front of her eyes made her jump, and she couldn't hide her fear as her wings trembled worse than her body. “Make it quick, just leave ancient relics out of the hands of power hungry mares from now on.” Luna began to channel the magic to her horn, and the poor demon just looked at the floor as her body went limp and relaxed to wait for her end.
“It’s not her decision to end you Sunset.” The other Sunset in the room approached as Luna turned a raised eyebrow to the approaching alicorn. Demon Sunset was looking at her with confusion as well. Sunset addressed Luna first; “Princess Luna, that is a piece of me, and destroying it would carry the same sentence as if I would harm you. No situation would be received well by my mother you call sister. I have a better solution to this problem.” Sunset looked at her little demon self that had decided to set up rather than look too pathetic on all fours. “I’m going to call you Temper Tempest from now on, because I think you got the right to a name of your own now.” Sunset settled down onto her stomach folding her legs under her.
“As you can see, being the bad mare is no fun, and no one dislikes failing more than you. I should know, you’re part of me, but the point is we can keep doing this for as long as I live. Or we can try something bold, something I think you’ll be happy for, but you’ll have to be patient with me. The first option is a continuous fall down the stairs like you just did a moment ago, the second is a body of your own. You will finally have ambition of your own, talent that is your own, looks, feelings, and all the joys of growing up. The best part is the only stairs you’ll fall down is the ones you trip on, but you can count on me being there to patch you up. The cost of such an option is your word to be patient until I’m ready to have a child of my own. This is the only way I can give you a vessel of your own, and given what you know of my romantic side we have to wait on Twilight to finish the spell.”
Temper Tempest, hated the options given, neither suited her goals, but one was so stupid she wondered why Sunset would even suggest it. Who willingly takes to suffering? Temper held out her hand; “Can you at least visit and use me every now and then, you’re getting too soft, feathers above, Cadance is getting to be more cool than you. That just upsets me more than all this friendship business you’re mixed up in now.”
Luna felt the dream begin to weaken, and Sunset wasn’t far behind her in realization as the sensation of feathers against her coat began to dominate her sense of touch. Sunset glanced up at the still stern faced lunar princess, before looking down at Temper. “Once a month I’ll let you play under Princess Luna’s observation, and don’t worry about our image too much Temper. It was partially responsible for how far we fell, and sometimes we make sacrifices to return to the good graces of others. However, time is growing short, and you're more than welcome to join me when I dream so long as you don’t disturb the dream too much. Sunset put her hoof in the offered hand and they shook their agreement.
Luna was gone as the dream began to further destabilize, and Sunset felt tired again. In the blink of an eye she felt her eyelids turn to cinder blocks that just couldn’t be lifted. Her ears registered soft breathing, and an increasing heart beat. The odd feeling of feathers on her coat was double that than what she felt in the dream, she shrugged it off as a byproduct of the dream itself, and she could only ascertain that magic had something to do with it. Sunset didn’t do vague reasoning unless it came to Pinkie Pie. The teenage enigma had sent more than one guidance counselor to therapy, and Sunset valued her sanity more than the answers she would get trying to understand Pinkie.
Feathers felt amazing, that feeling had almost tripled since she started to wake up, and she hung onto the feeling and her will to stay relaxed in that feeling. This is why she wanted to ascend so badly, the power was nice, but the joy of having that sensation every day would be a guilty pleasure all her own to enjoy. Of course it had nothing to do with finally being equal enough in appearance to her mother that Sunset felt she actually was Celestia’s daughter on more than just paper.
“Sunset?” That voice belonged to one pony, and Sunset’s eyes flew open as the wing pulled her tighter to side of the bigger pony. The white feathers, the voice, she had been sleeping beside her mother, and Princess Celestia looked at her with worry.
Sunset felt awful for making her worry more than she had already. The window was dark signalling it was still night out.
“I messed everything up again, and now I’ve disturbed your busy–”
Celestia interrupted her, “Sunset, when I took you in you were just old enough to care for yourself, and that was the first mistake I made. You just lost your parents and I gave you too much space when you rejected the thought of me replacing your mother. I was afraid to hurt you any further than with what happened and that is what set the tone for the future we lived out. When you got too reckless, it was too late, you were used to me to giving you what you wanted that it made your rebel. I wasn’t there like normal mothers are and you suffered for it, and it is hard for me to admit I was wrong. To show weakness to anypony, but I cannot fault you for my mistakes or lead you to accept blame for something I let happen. I can only offer a simple apology and a promise to be better than what I was then.”
Sunset stared at her hooves. “If your room wasn’t so well guarded, I probably would have tried to say something to you when I came to steal Twilight’s crown.”
Celestia removed her wing that she was holding Sunset to her side. “I have made plenty of mistakes Sunset, learned some painful lessons. You’ve made your place in two worlds, but never stop believing that home is out of reach. I will make time for you, and perhaps I can teach you the first lessons in wing care. It’s sort of traditional in pegasus families, and Cadance showed me this trick that will make it easier and leave a nice luster on your feathers.”
Sunset’s eyes widened and she looked back just time for her wings to pop open. “I did it, I became a princess.” Sunset looked back up at her mother. Her eyes brimming with fresh tears of joy.
Celestia said only five words as she gave her adoptive daughter a nuzzle. “I’m so proud of you.”
The next sunrise started a bit slow and Celestia smirked knowingly behind her hoof as Luna looked passively amused. Both were watching as Sunset tried to raise the sun. She was overthinking the process, but even so she was still managed a predawn sky. Celestia lit her horn and made it look easy, but then again she has had years of practice.
They laughed it off before Luna turned serious. “Sunset, I have to be honest in saying that your summoning–” A pink hoof silenced Luna.
“For EV er!”
Sunset, Celestia, and a mostly disturbed Luna watched Pinkie come out of Luna’s blind spot. Pinkie looked right at Sunset. “Nopony breaks a Pinkie promise, and not even Princesses are exempt. However, were behind schedule, so let's move those flanks.” Pinkie’s hooves moved but she didn’t go anywhere as a golden glow surrounded her.
Celestia turned the party pony around and brought her to hover in front of her. “Miss Pie, if yesterday's catastrophe was staged in order to draw my daughter here, I’m going to be irritated, because I’m fairly certain laws were broken.”
Pinkie rummaged around in her mane till she pulled out a blemish free cupcake. “Cupcake?” Pinkie’s grin died slowly as Celestia’s eyes narrowed and Pinkie began to sweat badly before she hung limp her mane deflating to straight.
“It’s my fault!” unicorn Twilight, was in the doorway looking to have run a marathon, and after getting some of her breath back she began to spill out an explanation. “I over analyzed the responses and thought Sunset was depressed. I stole her journal to get a message to your Twilight. We met, then met up with all our friends, someone named Discord was consulted, and the plan was made.” Twilight hung her head. “This is all my fault for overreacting, and trying to push mother and daughter back together without the whole story from a reliable source.” The absolute worst thing happened as Twilight dissolved into tears while wilting to the floor.
Sunset was absolutely certain her heart stopped for a moment. She went from standing by her mother to by the crying unicorn in a minute. “Twilight calm down, nopony is going to yell at you, or charge you with a crime. In fact, having learned the truth from Princess Twilight.” Sunset looked at the now free standing Pinkie. “Impress me, and your original plan is busted so you're on the hoof to surprise me before I reach the castle of friendship. You’ve more than plenty of advantage to set a record or two.” Pinkie’s mane was back in record seconds and she was gone in a blaze of hooves.
Human Scootaloo felt terrible as she sat with her friends and the filly crusaders. Her funk didn’t go unnoticed by the others and attempts to cheer her up had less than ideal results. Starlight set her cup down and looking at human Applejack who they had taken to calling AJ at her request so the confusion with her double would be reduced a little.
“I’m going in.” Starlight got to her hooves.
AJ for her part just slid her hat up a bit. “I reckon you’ll do about as well as when RD tried.” Starlight ignored the farmer's statement, and moved to the area the crusaders sat around in. “Girls, will all of you follow me please.” They all got up and followed after the student of friendship, all the way out and behind the castle, and with a flick of her head and little magic a table appeared on the lawn. “Alright mares and fillies, the seven of us are going to go in together for a present to Sunset, and we each are responsible for a part of it. Starlight made sure to gauge Scootaloo’s reaction, and sure enough the young mare was not active in any of the conversations the others were having. Her filly double was already planning some kind of musical number despite the nervous reservations of both Sweetie Belles, both Apple Blooms were on the idea of adding some kind of material gift from the marketplace.
Starlight tapped her hoof a couple times on the table top. “Okay everypony quiet down a moment, Scootaloo, why are you so out of it, when I first met you, I had a hard time turning down the begging for me to take you outside. Now you look like somepony kicked your puppy, and nopony has fun feeling like that.”
Scootaloo turned around mumbling something and tried to walk away for the castle. Starlight wasn’t having any of that and a quick snatch and drag with magic, the young mare was now facing the table again. Starlight’s expression was clue enough and Scootaloo mumbled out a bit louder, “Rainbow told me she was going to have my team captain set me out for two games, I was looking forward to the next game. My AJ said she couldn’t do that, and they got into a big argument over me. I got mad and told Dash to forget about me playing at all till she’s graduated and gone.”
Pony Scootaloo was a bit blown away, “That was pretty extreme for Rainbow Dash, but you should’ve waited till you could talk to your Celestia. Then Applejack’s words would’ve had more weight, and Dash couldn’t have you set out. There’s your parents too–”
“I’m a ward of the state, and my foster family just so happens to be Rainbow’s. So no dice there, in fact, they’d probably support Dash’s decision, and it wouldn’t matter if Principal Celestia said I could play or not.”
Pony Scootaloo just stared at her older self after that admission, “That’s...so awesome!”
Older Sweetie belle snorted at that, “It’s not so much her foster parents, but the pressure to be the best that Dash puts on her.”
Human Apple Bloom nodded sagely to confirm what her friends said while adding a few words of her own. “This is not to say she wasn’t ecstatic when she first came to live with Dash.”
Starlight put her forehooves on the table leaning over it. “You're afraid she’ll retaliate once the both of you are alone?”
Scootaloo nodded keeping herself from making eye contact with anypony present. “Applejack ripped her pretty hard, questioned her loyalty, Dash hates that more than anything, and of course my actions hit hard too.”
Starlight leaned back and dropped back to all fours to come around the table. “Sounds to me like Rainbow Dash was getting out of line, even this world’s Rainbow gets a little full of herself from time to time, and it takes an equally strong lesson to set her straight. Have no fear in telling her friends to get involved in setting her straight if you can’t. If all else fails, you get word to me, and i’ll come set her straight myself. I think once all the high emotions settle, you could just apologize and explain to her what you just explained to me. That could help in turning down the pressure. However, we need you to make Sunset’s birthday special, and we need all the hooves we can get.” The young mare took a deep breath and let it out slowly before suggesting the most off the wall idea. Starlight grinned liking it instantly; “I think I might have a spell for that, we need to visit the throne room for a moment, because a certain map is needed.”
Twilight, human turned unicorn, just stared open mouthed as Celestia confirmed that she moved the sun. Sunset waved a hoof in front of the unicorn’s eyes with no results. “I think she’s broken mom.”
Celestia gave the same test, and had the same results. However, having dealt with another Twilight before she had a little trick to play. “Twilight can you state Neighton’s Law?”
Twilight started by correcting the princess without even thinking about who she was addressing while in full lecture mode. “Its Newton, and he pioneered a few laws, but his most notable is the law of gravity. That two objects, no matter their size, or mass will hit the ground at the same time when dropped from the same height.” Twilight exited lecture mode and noticed the two grins on the princess and Sunset.
Celestia spoke, “The law holds true here and was discovered by Neighton Apple. He challenged many of the sciences and beliefs the unicorns and pegasi claimed were laws of nature. The rules of how the world worked per their respective magic. His own family stoned him to death to prevent the unicorns and pegasi uniting to destroy such hearsay. A family that generations later founded this town. Some properties of that law can be changed when you factor in magic.”
Twilight looked on the verge of another question which Sunset stalled rather expertly. “Since you like experiments and we just so happen to have two stones. I’ll demonstrate both to you.”
Sunset’s demonstration made Twilight take a seat in awe at the shattering of basic physics, Pinkie not included, and eventually she started tearing up. This shocked both alicorns and Sunset reached a hoof out and touched Twilight’s withers. “Twilight are you mmph!”
Twilight in a shocking display of speed and courage, kissed Sunset full on the lips. This in turn gave Celestia face full of amber feathers as Sunset’s wings popped open. Twilight pulled away and Sunset found herself leaning forward to try and keep it going. Twilight was still sniffling, and overall looked more miserable. “H...happy… b...birthday Sunset.”
Sunset stomped her hoof at the combined frustrations of the teasing kiss and unknown problem plaguing her friend. “Twilight what is wrong with you, I’m not mad, shocked, but not mad.”
Twilight looked so helpless trying to wipe tears out of her eyes with clumsy hooves. Celestia took pity since her own heart twisted at seeing the sobbing unicorn. From out of nowhere came a hoofkerchief that started attacking the mess of tears and snot. Sufficiently cleaned up or at the very least not having a piece of cloth offending her ability to speak clearly Twilight answered Sunset. “I promised Twilight...other me...Princess Twilight she would have first chance, but you’re just so perfect. Now you're thinking of staying...I’m sorry for crying and ruining your day.”
Sunset let out a sigh and tipped the unicorn's muzzle up with the tip of her hoof. “Eleven Seventeen, Cecil Av. Canterlot 13214. Go easy on her, she was shut in like you were when we first met.”
Twilight cocked her head to the side. "Who is it?”
“Sunset Shimmer, my human double, but be persistent since she shields herself with a rough personality like I did. However, if you succeed, she can be just as caring and charming as you find me.”
Twilight turned to trot towards the castle speaking as she did; “She is not you, we are one of a kind, and those are your words again.”
Sunset had enough of this and with a quick teleport she stopped Twilight in her tracks. “Now I’m starting to get mad, I don’t have time for Princess Twilight’s lists to catch up to me, and I’m not going to wait around forever either. I’ll leave you both heartbroken rather than wait to see who gets to go first. I won’t have anymore talk about this today, you’re going to put a smile on that face, walk with me and mom, and get kidnapped by Pinkies at the appropriate time for the inevitable surprise. Are we clear on this Miss Sparkle?” A quick toothy smile appeared on Twilight’s face, and Sunset huffed out. “Too fake, let me help you, and besides you owe me.”
Sunset used her new feathered appendages to start tickling, and Twilight tried to pull away only to be siezed in Celestia’s magic. The two didn’t let go until Twilight was begging mercy between heaving breaths for air. They got back underway a bit slower, but Twilight looked to be in better spirits at least.
Celestia, Sunset, and unicorn Twilight turned the corner only to be hit by the cheers of hundreds of ponies. How in the course of an hour could the population of Ponyville double without either princess hearing a train whistle. Sunset looked a bit closer and then smacked a hoof to her face, a nasty habit she learned from both Twilight’s “Pinkie’s and magic portals don’t mix.”
Celestia just smiled seeing the wingless versions of her and Luna as they neared the castle. “I think it is a perfect display of all those who you touched with the magic of friendship.” Sunset smiled a bit, if just to show she appreciated the gesture, but part of her was conflicted about the feelings of both Twilights’. It was putting a damper on soaking up the joy around her. Her feelings were interrupted by an explosion of pain and falling to the ground.
“Sonata!” The sound of approaching hooves and a much more authoritative voice spoke as Sunset felt the life being squeezed out of her in the hug of doom. “Sonata, you idiot, you’re going to get us killed with your stupidity!”
Sunset felt a weight climb off her and a cheerful if dingy sounding voice spoke. “I wanted to thank her for letting us come home, and getting us back to normal. I missed flying so much.”
A little moment for the worse of the pain to pass Sunset opened her eyes. Celestia was looking at her. “You got run over by a pegasus, a very odd named pegasus, and her friends seem familiar.”
They were obviously familiar to Sunset and unicorn Twilight, the latter having to take lessons under Adagio to aid in controlling negative energy. This of course came after Sunset had to repair the damage beating them at the Battle of the Bands caused between them. No pendants were fixed, only a working relationship, cash changed hands until Sunset mentioned a chance to go home, and then a more professional trade relationship began. Adagio and Aria were still too prideful to say they were friends outright. Sonata didn’t care and claimed Sunset a friend from day one. “Sonata Dusk, what are you doing here?” Sunset watched the pegasus’s ear flip up turning her head to show off such a proud smile. She was thankful to get to her hooves via Aria full body restraining Sonata from repeating the tackle.
Adagio answered Sunset’s question while pointedly ignoring Celestia standing there much to the growing displeasure of the solar princess. The alpha sister of the trio could care less about how the sun princess felt about her. “You can see for yourself Sunset, you broke the Siren’s curse , and Sonata has always been a clingy exuberant mare.”
Sunset couldn’t imagine how Sonata ended up cursed, but the clinging part probably had something to do with it. With a refold of her wings and her trademark smile back in place she reached forward to place a hoof on Adagio’s shoulder. “Thank you for supporting her, and for coming today. I may not be able to call you a friend yet, but I would have invited working acquaintances to any party. So Pinkie get word to you I take it?”
Aria huffed sitting down and crossing her forelegs about mid barrel. “If you mean by exploding out our living room closet in a sea of streamers shouting you were here and how to get here. Then yeah, we got the message, I had to leash feather head over there, and it still took Adagio and I holding the damn thing to prevent one of us getting dragged to the school.”
Adagio gave Celestia a quick glance before refocusing on Sunset. “I’ll keep us out of trouble while were here.”
Sunset nodded, “Great, I leave you with a challenge, human Twilight needs to loosen up, corrupt her well.” Sunset unfolded her wings and executed a patent pending princess escape technique of wing assisted obstacle jump. Twilight went to object, but a blue hoof shushed her. A purple hoof snaked around her neck and pulled her tight to the body it was connected to. In a few seconds Sonata put her hoof down. Twilight’s pupils were shrinking the further Sunset trotted away.
Sonata showed a little experience, “Ari , loosen up, and relax Twilight before you.” Twilight passed out cold, and she now hung from aria’s grip.
Aria groaned moving to let Sonata get underneath and shoved the unicorn fully on the back of the pegasus. “I swear humans suck at the unknown.”
Celestia raised an eyebrow at Aria’s statement. “You speak from experience it sounds?”
Aria gave a dismissive snort; “Easy to say that from the cushion princess, let's see you live on table scraps of magic, be stuck forever a teenager, let me hear your tales about being hunted, even by those who swore loyalty to you, let me hear you tell me about being burned alive.” Aria began to trot away after a poke on her back from Adagio. Sonata followed shortly after her mood shattered and the bounce gone from her step. Adagio hung back and when Celestia went to take a step to continue, Adagio sidestepped into her path.
“Something you should know your majesty. While death is something you use as a last resort punishment, humans didn’t share such a sentiment, and three teenage girls that didn’t age drew attention from the wrong sort. Sonata always took the fall for us, and I couldn't ask for a better friend. My only regret princess is that we should have treated her better. In each death a piece of us was lost to the curse, but where me and Aria turned bitter and angry. Sonata refused to become bitter or hateful, she cherished that part of herself, and sacrificed memories instead. The last time, she gave up recognition of us as friends, and that hurt more than you know.”
Adagio stepped out of the way. “So why am I telling you this you may ask, because the humans did it to Sunset. After her defeat at her most vulnerable they pounced on her like wolves to the wounded. Even the ones that were considered her friends took cheap shots at her. That’s what made it so easy for us to fill her with doubt. If you love your ponies as much as you claim to, then you will keep her here, and destroy the mirror.”
Celestia raised an eyebrow. “What of your party–”
Adagio growled out; “Family!”
Celestia took a breath and resumed her reworded statement. “Very well, what do you desire for your family?”
“Nothing, the curse has been broken, and with it we will die in time. However, I respect Sunset enough now to prevent her suffering what we went through. The world through that mirror is at the point where it is downright terrifying what they would do to try and understand something mysterious like magic or its wielder. My request is that once the human versions return home the mirror is destroyed. My family will return to our old town, and live out our days together.”
This was something that brought a genuine smile back to Celestia’s face. “Then you will be glad to know that Luna -later me through her absence- took care of your houses while you were banished. While your house and Aria’s were lost to fire, Sonata’s parent’s house still stands, and the possessions that were salvaged from the two fires were brought to her house.”
Adagio narrowed her eyes in skepticism of such good fortune by two that ordered their banishment in the first place. “Why would Princess Luna even do such a thing if she were not motivated by some form of guilt?”
Celestia took the chance to resume walking with Adagio falling in beside her. She answered the question while nodding to a few that bowed to her. “The full answer you will have to ask my sister about, but the general answer is that Luna defeated the power that placed that curse in the cave to begin with. Like a changeling queen sensing its impending death, it will drop its eggs in the hopes they will survive. The first fight seriously injured the sirens, and when my sister tracked them down to finish the job their voices lacked the power they once had. It wasn’t until you rose cursed as you were that she realized what had happened, but she was stuck on the far side of Equestria dealing with a civil problem, and I was detained with the court. Starswirl volunteered to go and take care of the problem at Stygian’s request, and he reported to us the details when he returned. Luna made the decree to spare your homes before she and I left for the Crystal Empire.”
Adagio didn’t respond and looked to be thinking on the truth when Celestia took a glance at her. That was interrupted by Discord looking a little too smug in a plaid suit. Adagio’s ears lifted as she sensed Celestia’s hooves stopping, and her head came up to take in the sight. Discord came closer and leaned down till his head was even with hers, but twisted so he looked at Celestia. “Interesting choice of travel companion Tia, I’m surprised you’re still breathing and uncursed to follow her lead.”
Celestia just smiled and indicated with a hoof to Adagio. “Manners Discord, Adagio has been away for quite awhile, while not sharing your affliction, her separation has not brought her the news of your reformation at the hooves of our Fluttershy.”
Discord turned closing his eyes eyes he began to introduce himself. “Discord, Lord of Chaos, reformed, and friend of Fluttershy.” He opened his eyes right in time to get a full on hoof to the eye. Discord recoiled back paw clamped over his eye, and Adagio flipped her mane to the other side and trotted on speaking as she did.
“Adagio Dazzle, daughter of Tenor Beat, a father you drove to suicide, and I’ve waited a long time to do that. Funny how some pranks come back to bite you later.”
Discord’s eagle talons separated, the customary snap dying along with his spike of vengeance for the sucker punch, and after a moment he dropped his paw to let the black eye be seen. The guilt was clear on his face as he watched the proud pony Adagio was enter Twilight’s castle. “I never thought I ever went too far in anything I did, but I still feel sick all of a sudden.”
Celestia smiled and brushed a wing against him. “That is guilt, and it is never a fun emotion. We’ve both been humbled a little today by our lack of thought and lack of action. So you’re not alone, but since you’re wearing your finest suits. May I impose on your uncanny skill to escort me inside?” She watched Discord snap his talons and the blemish was gone, and with a pop he was beside Celestia the matching hat now in place.
“Let us be on our way madam, I would hate to match wits with two of the pink menaces, one I can handle, but two is one too many, even for me. They would bleed me dry of chocolate milk the little devils.”
Celestia gave a soft giggle at the wild gestures that came along with that statement. “Oh Discord, are you saying you have two over eager fans for your brand of chaos?”
Discord turned up his head. “Chaos in small doses as the pony butterfly says.”
Sunset sat off to the side awaiting her turn to enter, a much calmer Sonata chattering away about something silly, but it was filling in the downtime. Sonata had a real knack for making things positive, because even Sunset had to smile at some of the silly things she came up with. Pinkie came out to get Sonata, and she was instructed to wait ten minutes before coming inside.
Starlight was coming up the steps with a camera around her neck and stopped. “Hey Sunset, put on your best smile.” Sunset obliged the student of friendship and the picture was over in a flash, literally, and Starlight came closer as her unicorn magic already shaking the instant picture. “A time sensitive present, I’m in with the crusaders, so you get six more pieces to make the whole, but this one is my part.” Sunset took the picture in her magic and Starlight teleported away. Sunset was wondering about Starlight’s teaching, but idly flipping the picture around so she could see it her world stopped cold as in the background stood her smiling parents, along with all the crusaders from both worlds. Sunset knew how much Starlight risked getting caught using that spell again with so much royalty around the castle. The lump in her throat wouldn’t go away, and it was taking everything she had not to start crying again. She was happy they got the chance to see her make something positive of herself. The last time they spoke she was downright awful to them, and she never got the chance to apologize to them except to two urns that held their cremated remains. Ten minutes be damned she was going in there now, find that unicorn, and pull a Pinkie Pie.
Sunset popped into reality just inside the main door, and typically for Pinkie the whole place was black. However, it was alarming how quiet the area was given the amount of people inside. Casting a light orb she let it orbit about her casting the entryway in dim light and long shadows. Completely deserted and undecorated, and turning for the throne room she walked with her orb running ahead in orbit. The throne room turned out to be a bust, and thinking and listening to her hooves in the empty corridor she walked back to the entryway to take the known path to the library. It was a long shot, but she really wanted to get this over with. Turning into the entryway again her light suddenly died by Luna’s magic. Sunset was snapped out of her thoughts and jerked her head up as the lights came on. The whole room erupted into a unified cheer of “Happy Birthday.”
A second later party cannons went off filling the whole room with confetti. It was hard for Sunset not to smile as she was surrounded by well wishers. Sunset couldn’t spot the familiar mane of Starlight anywhere in the immediate crowd and not wishing to be rude set to task in replying with those around her as she slowly made her way into the party. She couldn’t help the lump in her throat seeing old acquaintances from her time as Celestia’s pupil. With the multicolored rain over, the food was uncovered, and between cupcakes with a side of games Sunset had forgotten about tracking down Starlight.
The second round for the crusaders came in after Sunset pulled a wardrobe change to wear the new party dress gifted to her from the Raritys’. The musical number by the two Sweetie Belles was a favorite song from Sunset’s past, but the costumes they used were what made it exceptional to her. The youngest filly crusader was dressed the day she came to stay with Celestia full time, and the older was dressed as close to the she demon that a pony could be. The song came from a play that Sunset had seen with her parents and Princess Celestia. It was the last time they were all together before it happened and the thought of how true the song became and the circumstances made Sunset choke up with tears. Dance of the cursed Wendigo would always have a happy and sad memory attached to it, and the song Frozen Heart touched Sunset on many cords.
After opening more gifts than she could count and thanking a multitude of guests, most of which she had to use the same name twice, Sunset noticed the absent Appleblooms show up with a suspiciously correct sized picture frame, and the larger mare presented her with a envelope. “I suspect you have a few choice words for Starlight, but it was a consensus decision by the seven of us, Me, my pony double, both Scootaloo’s, we all share common ground Sunset. We all lost our parents when we were younger. Starlight can never give me what we gave you ever, and it got me thinking, and while we had the time I asked your parents questions after they seen you on the steps. Their answers are in this letter, words from beyond the grave, and I’d give up a limb for just two minutes with my parents. Happy birthday Sunset. Oh and do open that outside, it was Their last words before being sucked into some giant magic spell clock thing.”
Princess Twilight turned a rather stern glare onto a nervous looking Starlight. “Funny she should mention that, care to elaborate, because I’m fairly certain you were forbidden from ever using time spells again as terms for staying in my castle and not in the dungeons. Do you have any idea how much convincing it took to Princess Luna alone?”
“As I recall Twilight, neither my sister, or myself clearly denied her the right to time travel. We merely prohibited it on basis where she cannot assure no damage to the timeline. Also she asked for my assistance in being the anchor to this timeline. Your objection to her actions is noted, but summarily overruled as proper safety measures were in place. Plus you ‘owe her one’ for being encased in your crystal wall.” Luna watched Twilight’s ears fall as the young princess tried to find a valid argument to her statement.
Twilight merely sighed; “It’s still reckless to play with time no matter how safe you make it, Starswirl stated so in his notes.”
Luna reached over with a hoof and poked Twilight in the wing. “Starswirl was wise, but your wings prove he was failable in some cases. Your student sought guidance, and you should be praising her rather than scolding her. Most certainly not in the main floor of a party either where others can eavesdrop. Such action must be done privately, and I will hear no more of this talk. I believe you know what you have to do now.” Luna moved on towards another group.
Both spoke at the same time. “Twilight I–” Starlight I–” The short pause where one was waiting on the other to speak was broken with Starlight just hugging Twilight. Twilight spoke; “I’m sorry I keep doubting you over unjustified reasons which lead to petty conflict and close intimate contact.” Starlight sniffled before letting out a weak laugh; “Don’t change Twilight, that has got to be the dorkiest apology I’ve heard in my life.” Starlight let go sitting back; “I forgive you though, just, i dunno, try to lay off the instant blame ok, because you’re going to give me high blood pressure if you keep it up.”
(In which death was cheated, but the memory was not)
Sunset reread the letter as she took a moment outside to decompress from the packed party inside. She wiped her eyes with the back of her hoof, and looked to the waning crescent moon. “I’m sorry mom, dad, I put you through Tartarus, and I can only hope you were proud of me in those final moments.”
“Took you long enough, I thought my hoof would rust off waiting on you to come outside.”
Sunset spun around to see a well dressed noble mare. The wife of a railroad tycoon, and survivor of the same train accident that killed her parents. One of the few acquaintances that Sunset enjoyed the presence of considering the mare was never one to stick her nose up at the common pony. Sunset smiled seeing her new silver artificial hoof. “I see prosthetics have come a long way since I’ve been gone Lady Steel Rail, but your words confuse me.”
Steel Rail pushed the sleeve of her dress down to cover the artificial limb. “They would, but then again Starlight Glimmer pretty much sentenced me to death yet it feels like only a moment ago I was floating behind you on those steps over there.”
Sunset’s eyes widened; “Mom? How, but why didn’t you...all this time you could have–”
Steel Rail approached and wrapped her hooves around Sunset. “I thought about nothing but that moment on the steps the entire time we rolled down into the ravine. The screams of the dying, the heat of the burning train cars, even the kindness of Steel Rail as she shoved her artificial hoof onto my severed hoof. Her falling into the darkness as our damaged car split in half. I woke from that daze when I had her children calling me momma in the Canterlot hospital.”
Sunset starting to sob; “Why didn’t you tell the truth then?”
Steel Rail just hugged tighter; “I had to believe in a could have been, I had to let the story be told even if truth changed, I had to believe that you would become what I saw on those steps. I had to repay Steel Rail for saving my life by raising her children. Every time I saw you in Celestia’s presence I wanted to tell you, when you started to act entitled I wanted to smack sense into you, but I could only be the estranged friend. The kind Noble lady, not the mother I was, because that job fell to Celestia. I hated her for letting you be a brat when I knew you would be so much better than that.”
Sunset spoke; “You knew, Princess Luna.”
The princess of the night stepped from her hiding place. “Only a few weeks ago when I noticed the nightmare Lady Steel Rail was having, and inconsistencies in the records shed enough doubt for me to investigate privately to ensure if I was wrong no slander would harm her reputation. I had a team follow the wash in the ravine and their efforts located a few remains of victims that were never found. I confronted Lady Steel Rail when I had to bones of the real Steel Rail in a morgue. She confessed everything then and there, and while I was concerned of a changeling infiltration it turned out I stumbled on something far greater. I took a page out of my sisters book and made a leap of faith, and imagine my deja vu with today’s events. Sunset I cannot stress that this truth must remain secret, I buried those bones under your mother’s name, and corrected the records of the horrible job the recovery teams made in identifying remains. You and Steel Rail will know the truth, and as far as Equestria is concerned that is enough. I leave it to your discretion if you wish to inform my sister.”
Sunset backed out of the hug; “I have no clue on how I’m going to repay Starlight for this.”
Steel Rail just smiled; “I think the payment was granted hoof over hoof. I’ve made rail travel safer than ever, you’re a princess now, and Steel Rail’s children are highly successful in the rail industry. I don’t think there is anything you could give that hasn’t been granted in this moment.”
(Permanent)
The morning brought about the last few to go home through the portal. Sunset was still in the map room finally getting her chance to tackle hug Starlight. The two were fast friends and Twilight seemed pleased by this along with her friends and a semi grumpy Trixie. All that changed when the castle shuddered and then the fire alarm crystals went off in the library. The same library that held the mirror. The stampede began as all those concerned made their way up, to a scene of utter chaos. Smoke was already starting to fill the hallway, and was growing ever lower like a fog of death. Thank the tree for high ceilings. Twilight pointed her horn at the top of the nearest window. “Sunset, Starlight, cut the tops out of the windows, Applejack, Pinkie, see if anyone inside needs help, but be careful. Rarity six doors down on the right is the bathroom for this floor, rip the curtains down and get them wet, Pinkie and Applejack might need them to shield from the heat. Rainbow, once we get an opening set a record for getting the fire ponies here.”
Sunset finished her first window. Twilight, I am proficient in pyromancy, and extinguishing of fires is in that skillset. Can I go with Pinkie and Applejack?” Twilight nodded; “Good idea, I’ll help Starlight, and then we’ll help Rarity unless you need us for something.” Sunset stayed low going through the door and could be heard shouting and get shouted at by Applejack. She was back out in the hall a moment later with a guard in her aura, he was not in good shape. She turned around after setting him down and went back in more guards came out now on Pinkie and Applejack’s back plus one more in Sunsets aura.
The smoke coming out of the door decreased gradually, and lastly a mostly gray Celestia emerged having taken some shrapnel damage. Twilight and the rest of her friends finally peeked into the doorway to see fire ponies moving around tossing books down that had any sign of fire and dousing them in water. As much as Twilight wanted to lose her mind about that, what kept her rooted in the doorway was Sunset just staring at a shattered mirror. She eventually got her hooves unstuck and made her way in to sit down beside Sunset. “We’ll find a way to fix it Sunset.”
Sunset felt more hooves and turning her head left and right noticed all of Twilight’s friends offering a touch of support. She looked back at Twilight’s face. “I don’t think anypony can Twilight, not without rebuilding the connection on the other side, and that means we would have to find the way Starswirl did it.”
Twilight stomped her hoof; “If I have to read every book by Starswirl in Equestria I will do it, and figure out how to fix this for our friends.”
Sunset looked back at the scorched floor; “I already tried when Celestia showed me this mirror the first time. Twilight my friends...our friends...their gone forever.”