Principal Celestia Hunts the Undead then Celebrates Sunset's Birthday (Hunts the Undead — Fanfic Series)
By Wanderer D & Rune Soldier Dan

It took Principal Celestia - the Principal Celestia who hunts the undead, for those keeping track - no time at all to return to Sunset’s Isekai the first time. Warm maternal bonding and tipsy emotion resolved themselves the next day into a blind panic upon realizing she forgot to pay for the drink. A mortified Celestia then flew to Isekai with her purse over her pajama robes and settled accounts with the bemused bartender.

The second return took a few more years to occur. Celestia was not a lush or drinker by any stretch, nor a woman with abundant free time for visits with multiversal contacts. It didn’t take long for Isekai’s card to find itself wedged between an insurance ID and outdated driver’s license, forgotten more days than otherwise.

Yet Celestia never fully forgot, and one day returned. She was a little older now, with signs of creeping middle age still relegated to intense scrutiny in bathroom mirrors, and she had certainly come on a better day. The tired, wounded principal who stumbled first to the medical supplies was replaced with a groomed and polite Celestia, although self-conscious shyness still hovered around her greetings. Perhaps the hesitation was caused by her request, which she could not help but wonder at being some terrible imposition.

“Sunset. My Sunset, of course.” Celestia stammered, then took a quick sip. Today, she accepted only water. A proud smile warred valiantly with her nerves. “Her twenty-first birthday is coming up. I’m not asking for a party or anything, just if it’d be okay for me to bring her next Friday. I, ah, haven’t told her about this place and I think it might be exciting. I can give you my credit card now, if that’ll make it easy.”

Her eyes went over the empty seats - all three times it had been just her and Isekai. “Don’t… feel the need to clear the place out or anything. Heaven knows I don’t know how it works, but I can’t imagine ours is the only universe where Fridays are good nights for bars.”

Isekai shrugged. "This is an—well, let me put it this way, although you and I are currently alone, the bar is also currently full of visitors… it's nonlinear. We can clear up the area and have more guests from your world without any issues, at no extra cost, Celestia."

Celestia’s smile grew broad, and a giggle-snort escaped. “You should have heard my boyfriend. Torch, if that name rings a bell. He seems to think this place is a magic lamp of fiction made real, and told me to go wild while I was here. Especially if there was a dragon named… Filia? Some cartoon crush, I gathered. Of course I told him I could never fool around and do that to him, but he said ‘no, do it for me!’”

She laughed, then caught herself and coughed into her hand. “Ahem. If it isn’t any trouble, that is. I don’t know how you feel about plus-ones and guests and the like.”

"I don't think there's any problem with any of that," Isekai said. "Don't worry about a crowd, and bring whoever you like… it wouldn't be the first time we've celebrated birthdays here. Nope had quite the party, and one time I had Rainbow Dash invite all the Rainbow Dashes out there we could find. And don't even get me started on my daughter's parties… they want me to unofficially adopt many of my students."

“Students?” Celestia looked at her with new interest and a fresh smile.

"Ah," Isekai scratched her chin sheepishly. "I didn't bring it up last time, did I? I have a few students from across the multiverse. Mostly kids that get involved with it and need to learn to handle new magics and how to, you know, destroy reality. Besides my daughters, I have eight more students here. They like to visit other worlds, so it's very important I make sure they're prepared for anything." She giggled. "I'd be happy to introduce them to you at some point."

“Hmm, I forgot who I was talking to for a moment.” Celestia’s eyebrows went up in good humor. “It’s good that they have you, Sunset. I know you’re doing well by them. As for the offer…”

Her lips tightened and her eyes went to the side. “She’ll have a big party with her friends that Saturday. Even Torch and Luna signaled they would love to join but also felt this was… special. I don’t get to hang out with her as much now that she’s in college, you know. Maybe just her… well. Applejack and Adagio - yes, that Adagio. They’re all very close. Maybe I’ll ask if she wants to bring them.”

"Of course," Isekai said, patting Celestia on the arm reassuringly. "There's no wrong choice here, go for what feels right, and I'll help you make it happen."

Celestia nodded and gave her own pat atop Isekai’s hand. “Alright. We’ll see what she wants.”

Sunset vibrated. Her smile positively glowed within their dim hallway, and Celestia couldn’t help but laugh.

“Well, I hope this is a winner.”

“A multiversal bar that you just wave a card around and make a door for? That gets guests from other worlds and dimensions, including alternate versions of ourselves? With weird drinks that it’s now legal for me to try, run by some demi-goddess version of me?”

The grin turned itself to Celestia. “50-50 on it being a dud, I guess. But seriously Mom, holey moley.”

“Just remember that it’s a bar, not Disneyland. Anyone else is there for drinks, not for you to poke at.”

Sunset’s expression turned snarky, yet no less thrilled. “Oops, looks like you have to put a quarter in the ‘somehow forgot Sunset is an interdimensional magic horse alien’ jar. Seriously again, thank you. Mom, this is so incredibly awesome.”

She embraced Celestia as the latter tried to fish out Isekai’s card, winning a fit of giggles from both. It was just the two of them, after all. When Celestia asked after the others, Sunset shrugged it off and said she’d see them tomorrow. These few hours of magic would just be Sunset and Celestia’s adventure. Sunset and Mom.

The little buzz of pride had been in Celestia’s heart all week. With more flourish than strictly needed she waved out Isekai’s card.

They blinked, and there it was. A varnished wooden door, certainly out of place in their house but sized perfectly for the hall. Celestia pushed it open, revealing dim light within.

She gestured for Sunset to enter first. Instead, Sunset took her hand and they slipped in together. Which required them turning to the side as the door magically fit their home’s narrow suburban style, but all that only drew new laughter as they fumbled into Sunset’s Isekai, already grinning like fools.

The bar seemed a bit bigger, or perhaps it was just that—unlike Celestia's other visits—it was actually full of people. Creatures. Everything. One table had a bunch of individuals in overalls of all sorts talking in a huddled group, pilot helmets of all sorts resting on the table, or even at their feet.

Another had a more medieval group, bows and arrows, swords and magic staves were sitting side by side with robots and automatons and creatures in environmental suits. Barmaids/waitresses were busy delivering drinks and food, including Isekai's daughters, which Celestia recognized from the picture.

The bar had been empty each time before. Celestia hesitated.

Sunset did not. She strode past the first set of tables and began to turn, taking it all in. Then again, almost spinning.

“What’s this? There’s magic in the air!
What’s this? There’s elves and maidens fair!
What’s this? Aliens with blasters
Friday night and getting plastered!
What… is…”

Sunset caught herself. She placed a hand to her mouth and gave a single cough, unconsciously mimicking Celestia’s habit and drew back to her mother’s side.

“Sorry,” she said, though her mood hardly had dampened. “Musical space pony and all.”

“Still better than my first time here.” Celestia mused. Sunset gave her a goading glance, and her eyes twinkled. “I thought the other Sunset was a changeling and almost shot her.”

"Aww, it was just getting good, too!" a voice said, making them both look down at the white-haired girl's head that had emerged from the floor. The rest of the body followed as the ghost levitated completely up to their level. "You got a nice voice, other mom," she said to Sunset, grinning. Then she turned to nod at Celestia. "And hello to you, other grandma. Come on, mom is waiting for you at the bar. And don't worry, you won't get interrupted by this lot."

A Viking leaned back from the table where he was talking with a very large bald guy with an axe. "Hey, 'this lot' is your regulars, y'know?"

"Zip it, Hiccup, this is Sunset's birthday here."

The Viking blinked, then raised his horn in toast to Sunset. "And many more to come!"

"Hear, hear!" The table roared as the ghost chuckled and waved them over to the bar, where Isekai and a giant mouse—who Celestia knew was Freya, Isekai's mate/wife—were busy making drinks and passing them over to the waitresses. Even then, with all the hustle and bustle, Isekai simply smiled and walked over to them as if there was no hurry.

"Ah, good, you made it! Welcome back to Sunset's Isekai, Celestia, and welcome for the first time, young Sunset."

Sunset took an extra second. “Other… mom.”

“Doing okay?” Celestia ventured.

Sunset’s eyes focused. “Yep, that one’s on me. When I heard ‘alternate Sunsets’ my mind went to post-apocalypses and sapient bunnies, not so much the whole family thing. I guess it’s not the weirdest possibility that one or two mes out there might be responsible adults.”

“Ah - anyway!” She took Isekai’s hand and gave a firm pump and grin. “I’m Sunset. Uh, no duh, I guess. ‘Celestia’s Sunset’ might narrow it down.”

“Thank you for having us,” Celestia followed, not so much shaking Isekai’s hand as holding it for a second. “And Miss Freya, it is good to meet you, I am Celestia. I don’t want to interrupt you all - where should we sit?”

"She called mom a 'responsible adult' the ghost chuckled, floating over to pick an order and flying off to deliver it.

Isekai shook her head, smiling. "Well, I figure I'd save you both spots at the bar, and don't worry, time is irrelevant here, so you're not taking us away from work." She took Freya's hand when she came over to greet them. "This is the Principal Celestia that hunts the undead, remember her, love?"

Freya nodded, smiling from under her wide-brimmed hat. "Of course I do," she said, taking Celestia's hand in her own and shaking it. "It's very nice to meet you, Sunset, my Sunset, that is, has only good things to say about you." She then turned to look at Sunset, who seemed to be having trouble looking from their joined hands to her face then back, as if undecided on what to do. "And your daughter looks so much like Sunset when we first met."

"That's because I barely age at all," Isekai stage-whispered. "And feel free to call me Isekai for convenience… especially when the bar is full. It will save us trouble, since you're the only other Sunset here at this time."

“Then the bar we shall have.” Celestia placed a hand on each of Sunset’s shoulders, looming behind her with maternal pride. “I see that you’ve spread word, but I can’t resist: Today is my Sunset’s 21st birthday, so by, er, our laws she is legally old enough to drink. She expressed a great interest in trying beverages which don’t exist on Earth.”

Sunset blushed under the attention, giving the Vikings a wave and following giddily to the bar. While Celestia slid gracefully onto her stool, the shorter Sunset had to give a bit of a hop.

Whereas Celestia’s first visit saw her meekly asking for advice, Sunset wasted no time eyeing the chalkboards and menus.

“Fairy wine? Nah, that seems kinda… whoa, Duff beer? I mean, cool, but… Aw, here we are: Romulan Ale! What are you getting, Mom?”

The question caught Celestia off-guard. “I was just going to have water.”

“Want to just do one with me? Come on, you’re always putting on Next Generation episodes. You can go where no Trekkie has ever gone.”

Celestia wasn’t so much a “Trekkie” as it was her comfort show. Still, her initial idea to stay dry wavered on realizing Sunset wanted to experiment with her.

And this place, this… strange, strange place. It wasn’t like any other bar out there. It was safe.

“Alright. But I don’t really like ale…” Celestia opened to the middle of the menu, then laughed out loud. “Maybe it’s fate. A Vulkan brandy for me. Ah, with a glass of water for each of us, thank you.”

"Coming right up," Freya said, leaning over to give Isekai a peck on the cheek and leaving the trio to talk for a bit. The sounds around them remained, but seemed to be dimmed a little bit, and when Sunset glanced at her older self, blinking in realization, Isekai grinned and nodded.

"That's right. A small spell that allows parties that want a little privacy to talk easier. Others can still hear, but only if they pay extra attention, and these guys are way too familiar with the rules here to eavesdrop on private conversations." She glanced from Celestia to Sunset, then back to Celestia. "But really, Celestia, you had no intention to drink tonight? It's a special night, you need to relax. Besides," she leaned closer, almost conspiratorially, then tilted her head towards a particular table at the bar. "I think Picard, Riker, Sisko and Captain Freeman over there would love to share a drink with a fan."

“Old habits die hard,” Celestia murmured distractedly as she beheld the four men in uniform. “But oh my God! Patrick Stewart, Frakes, Brooks… I grew up with them, Sunset! I, oh, I’m about to make a fool of myself but I can at least thank them. I’ll be back in a moment!”

She paused. “Er, would you like to come?”

Sunset waved her forth. “Nah, that’s your thing. I’ll send over your drink if it comes.”

Her eyes followed as Celestia took off with odd energy of shy exuberance. Sunset smiled with love at her mother’s retreating form…

Then her gaze slunk over to Isekai, and the smile grew sly. “So, I naturally have so many questions and Mom made me promise to not hassle you. But one I gotta ask: that’s not the actors over there, is it?”

Isekai shook her head. "Oh no, those are all the real ones. I'm still surprised that she hasn't realized that since the first time she came here."

“She’s about to get her mind blown in the best possible way.” Sunset gave one last smile after her mother then turned to Isekai with a far more serious expression. “Okay, I know what I just said, but there is one other question I absolutely have to ask. And I know it is a not-cool kind of question and I’m sorry but I can’t not do it, so please-oh-please just put it down to the baby multiverse-naive alternate you being young and dumb if it comes out wrong.”

Sunset closed her eyes. “Freya. She seems cool, that’s awesome. Everyone deserves love.”

The eyes opened and looked at Isekai. “Without judgement: are we a furry?”

Isekai regarded her with a serious expression. "Sunset… we're ponies. Anyone that dates us is a furry. And depending on the interpretation you want, they're into ferals."

“Yep, that’s fair and right and now I’m the one who needs to put a quarter in the jar.” Sunset chuckled, flushing just a little. “Back home everyone seems to forget I’m not fully human. So it’s all ‘Sunset, do you think I’m weird?’ And I’m all, ‘I am literally an alic… uh, unicorn.’ So, yeah.”

She clasped her hands and bowed her head, only half in jest. “Forgive me, sensei.”

"Don't worry about it, I know what you mean," Isekai said, chuckling. "I have met Sunsets of all sorts, and some of them, when they're human, do not find other species attractive. Same as some when being ponies. Alicorns, unicorns, pegasi, earth pony or even bat ponies, each of us is unique, and we all have slightly different preferences. We have a counterpart that's really into body builders, for example." She tapped her finger on the counter, and gave Freya a peck of her own when she brought the ordered drinks. "I'm just lucky to have found her, or rather have her found me," she said watching her partner go, before adding, "I hear you're in a relationship yourself, or did I not get that right?"

“Yes, and bringing that up really does make it make sense,” Sunset mused, looking off thoughtfully. “There’s no way all Sunsets are actually into the same thing. I could have just looked at myself for that.”

She clicked on her phone. “Weird. I have a signal here? One second…”

A few taps brought up an image: an impulsive, ridiculous selfie on the giraffe platform of some zoo. Sunset held the camera, catching her own, Applejack’s and Adagio Dazzle’s beaming faces while the giraffe’s head loomed above them.

“We’re, uh, kind of a mini-herd. I can believe there are other Sunsets into Applejack. But no way, no how are there any with Adagio.”

"Hm, not in a herd, no…" Isekai acknowledged.

“Or with her in general,” Sunset smirked. “Come on, siren demon and all.”

"...or at least a herd with the Rainbooms, I mean, there was this one that was going out with all three of the sirens… she was basically declared a siren herself." Isekai coughed when she caught Sunset's expression. "It's the omniverse, Sunset, I wouldn't be surprised if another me somewhere else was also dating a Freya."

“Huh.” Sunset blinked, staring off. “Huh. Yeah, I mean… that tracks. Gonna just…”

She picked up her bright blue drink and took a sip. Her face scrunched and a light cough shot out, but she took another. “Ooh, I feel the hit, nice stuff. Gonna be a long war between wanting to try everything and not wanting to spend all night in the bathroom.”

Her eyes drifted to the smiles on her phone, then she clicked it off. “Hey, thanks for being cool. You probably get tired of new people wandering in needing multiverse tutorials, especially when it’s super-young clones of yourself. My only direct trans-dimensional experience comes from Equestria, but we’ve tangled with enough demons and such that I can pretty well guess the multiverse is a tough crowd. Glad you’ve got a handle on it.”

Isekai smiled and shook her head. "No need to thank me, honestly, I always learn something new about myself or other selves with each visit, and it never gets tiring seeing how small differences make such great changes," she summoned a beer Sunset could see was named 'Sectoid Sweat' out of the fridge and took a sip. "Take you and Celestia for example. It took me… ages to come to terms with my own mother and having a family relationship with her. And I can't tell you how many other Sunsets and Celestias out there lose their chance, or never make up, or even never discover they could be family." She pointed at Sunset with a slight tilt of her beer. "But you found her and look at how well you get along in just a few years. I admit, I'm kinda jealous."

“I… I get that. I really do.” Sunset gazed over to where Celestia now sat with the four captains. Her face was alight with joy as she talked - they inspired her in her youth, did it really matter that they were not who she believed?

“I don’t know where you and I… diverged? Obviously it was a crazy big change. But I’m guessing we both had so many chances for things to go horribly wrong, where either we wouldn’t make it or would come out broken on the other side. Instead of that, I got Mom.” She finished the glass, and set it down, grinning from ear to ear. “Not even just a mom, the coolest mom in the world! Mild-mannered principal by day, monster-hunting bad-ass by night, takes her daughter to multiversal bar by evening. I know I’m lucky. I’m grateful for it. For her, for everything. No - aw, ‘scuse me.”

Sunset swept up a bar napkin and gave her eyes a quick wipe. “Sorry. But man, it’s hard to even say out loud. No one made her take me in. No one’s making her risk life and limb against werewolves and vampires and Space Nazis. She’s just that capital-G Good. That’s why I wanted this to be just us. I don’t want her to be maturely watching me have fun and smiling because she loves me. I want her to have fun with this, too.”

"I did get that feeling, that's in part why I didn't book you two for a solo visit to the bar," she glanced over at Celestia, smiling as well. "She's convinced herself she isn't that great, and it's hard to tell people otherwise when they're constantly second-guessing themselves, but hearing you talk about her, it's clear she has nothing to fear—she's a great mom, and she really loves you. It's very rare for any Sunset to be this lucky, and I'm glad you appreciate her as you do."

“She’s the best,” Sunset murmured. “How could she not… no, I get it. We all second-guess ourselves, don’t we? That was actually day one with us. I said something about her always giving losers a second chance, didn’t even drop my own name, and she stopped me before leaving and said I wasn’t a loser.”

She paused the conversation, focusing on the menu for a second before ordering an Apple Blood with a smirk.

“I wonder if AJ’d think this is heaven or heresy… anyway, maybe you… I don’t know, can’t even get this, but the only thing I don’t love is that things are changing. Wish we could go on like this forever, you know? A monster-hunting multiverse bar of our own.”

She sipped and grimaced. “Ooh, gonna finish this one but definitely not again, it literally does taste like if apple cider was made of blood. Anyway, I’m… kind of at a crossroads right now. Applejack and Adagio are my best friends, but they’re more into each other than me, if you get that. And Mom’s trying for a kid with her boyfriend. It’s something she’s wanted for a really long time and I’ve decided I am one-hundred percent going to be happy for her and love this theoretical future kid as my sibling… but that means no more monster hunts for Mommy. No kick-ass mother-daughter team, no more fun evenings in the graveyard whenever there’s a necromantic surge where she lets me use the shotguns and then go out for late-night burgers afterwards.”

"That does sound like a lot of change," Isekai said, sighing. "I understand a little how you feel, I could take up every day, hour and minute of my friends lives if I chose to do so. Time here is meaningless regarding the outside of the bar… but what I've become here… if I did that I'd stagnate their lives with my own, and I'd never get to see who they would become." She pondered her beer. "It's hard to let things move to the next step, when you're not at the center of things anymore and everyone else—and you—have to change, but, you know… I've come to embrace the time we don't spend together and letting them have their own time because when I go back and it's been, say a month for them, I've seen their relationships shift, or grow closer, and I do less things with them, but they're never any less happy to be part of my life either."

She downed her beer, then summoned another, different one, named Dragon Milk with a picture of a clearly equestrian female blue dragon on the label. "What I'm trying to say is… things will change, but you will be just as important as you are to her now, and, you know. Knowing Celestia, having another daughter might slow her down a bit, but really, can you see her not escaping now and then to off some vampire into ash?" She glanced over to the young goth woman placing her empty glass on the bar on her way out. "No offense, Mavis."

"None taken!"

Sunset gave a dry chuckle. “Honestly, it’s nice of you to take this seriously. I’m not an idiot. My life is good, and it’ll still be good. For all I know at this exact moment you’re also comforting the last survivor of Alderaan or something. It’s just…”

She shrugged. “I know we’re supposed to be honest and open and stuff, but there are some times when that’s wrong. I can’t tell her I’m not into the baby, because it’s her dream and she loves me so me telling her it’s not mine would divide her at the time when halfway through her life Celestia is finally doing something for Celestia because Celestia wants it.”

Despite Sunset’s earlier comment, the bottom half of the apple blood vanished in one deep swig. “Not so bad, actually. Next I’ll try the Utterdark, I saw the name and it’s metal as hell. Anyway, I guess I just wanted to tell someone. Can’t tell her, don’t wanna tell Luna, and my friends don’t know Mom as well as you seem to. Maybe I just needed an ancient demi-goddess of pleasant company and inebriation to bounce off of, so… thanks. Part of me wants you to give a warning on how immortal sameness isn’t something to envy but you’ve been super cool already and I don’t really want to pry.”

Isekai patted her on the shoulder. "I'll give you your own card, for whenever you need to let stuff out of your chest." She cleared her throat. "But, um, I'm not a demi-goddess. Or a goddess regardless of what this lot here will tell you. So… I might not have all the answers you might seek, but I'll definitely have a pair of working ears."

“Seems like a perception thing to me, but you do you,” Another shrug, but Sunset grinned as she took the card. “Fair warning, I’ll probably use this more than my mom. But uh, first thing’s first: That thing you’re drinking… look I’ve seen other world’s dragons and that is definitely from Equestria. And yes I’m from there but I don’t actually know, so… ‘dragon’s milk?’ You know, for real? Lactation and such?”

Isekai paused for a moment, then looked down at the bottle. A brief flash of panic crossed her face as she seemed to realize something, then, slowly, she raised her head with a completely flat expression on her face.

"Well," Isekai coughed, keeping a straight face. "Look, it's a thing in some universes, alright?" She coughed again, then looked to the side. "It's um. It has a nice feel and body to it, very uh, high proof."

Sunset’s look of amused curiosity broke into a fearless grin. “Dragon-tits are real, huh? Wallflower’s going to love this. Alright, forget the Utterdark, get me one of those.”

Isekai shrugged, then levitated the bottle over to them, passing it on to Sunset. "Here, this is my favorite. It has a smooth, rich mouthfeel with a noticeable little aftertaste of cayenne. Try it out."

Sunset took a sip, and her eyes lit up. “Hoo, that’s dangerous. I can feel how much alcohol is there but it’s like exciting milk, I could chug it down way too easily.”

"Right? I love it. They have different dragons, of course, but Ember's has to be the best," Isekai said cheerfully, clicking her bottle to Sunset's.

“Ember?” Sunset asked sharply. A face came to mind - Torch’s daughter, and probably her future adoptive sister.

"Yeah, she's the blue dragon on the label," Isekai said. "Kinda grumpy sometimes, but she's the one that made this whole busyness. A lot of people are a bit put off by it being, y'know, actual dragon milk, instead of just having a fancy name, but if you're not too hung up, it's very good as you can tell."

“And this came from her personal… you know. Dragonamaries.”

Isekai nodded. "I've not been privy to Applejack and Ember actually, uh, milking it, but it is 100% natural."

Sunset paused.

“Huh.” She took another drink.

Then another. It wasn’t her Ember, after all. “Delicious. Best thing I’ve tried all night.”

It didn’t take long for the assembled captains to leave - time in this place didn’t matter, but it mattered for them. Each was a man of energy and action, and they never stayed long.

Still, it was a pleasant chat. Celestia stood with them, shaking each one’s hand in turn. She accepted a hug from Riker, and felt her teenage crush rise up into her cheeks. She rode the feeling, and trading a kiss on the cheek with him seemed to satisfy it.

“Thank you,” she said, pulling away. “Thank you all, for everything you do. For the good you’ve done in your own universe. And, strange as it is, for the good you did in mine. Fiction it may be to us, but it is fiction that teaches and inspires - courage, sacrifice, and the rejection of bigotry and arrogance. By whatever silly logic this multiverse follows, somehow the lessons you taught echoed to my own little corner of it, and made it just a bit brighter.”

Captain Sisko’s handshake was firm, and his voice as grim as Celestia remembered. “In our universe, it is vampires and demons which are fiction. Fearful bogeymen of nightmares and legends. Praise from one brave and skilled enough to hunt them is high praise indeed.”

“And she does it without a whole Federation backing her up,” Riker added with a broad wink. “Let’s meet again. Maybe next time bring some stories of your own adventures; it was a hell of a tease to meet a vampire hunter who only wanted to talk about Starfleet.”

Celestia smiled and waved as they made their exit, forcing her jellified legs to remain straight until the door closed, whereupon she collapsed into the booth.

It was… a lot, all at once. Riker’s gorgeous blue eyes turned personally upon her wasn’t even the most of it. The shock of meeting her once-fictional childhood heroes warred with the embarrassment of initially treating them as actors and the incredible pride that they thought she was cool, too.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a large woman in ancient Greek armor wearing an Isekai apron on top of it placing a drink on the table where the captains were. "Sunset thought you might need this, after confusing the captains with hypokrites." The tall woman said, smiling. "I don't blame you, some of the ones I witnessed myself in modern Athens were just as convincing as the real thing thousands of years back."

“A multiverse is one thing. The existence of characters who are definitely works of fiction from the imagination of actors and writers is quite another!” Celestia blushed into the drink, yet a giddy high kept the corners of her lips firmly in a smile. “It’s fine. It’s actually wonderful! I just hadn’t realized.”

One sip, then she remembered Sunset and began making her way to the bar. It was all a bit foggy… she had two or three drinks with the captains, and God knows what was in them. Best pace herself a little with this one, delicious though it was. Like sweet and spicy milk.

Sunset was right where Celestia left her, wearing a ready smile and one raised brow. “Good time?”

“One surprise after another, but yes.” Celestia gave her a pat on the shoulder, partially to balance herself. “This seems the kind of place where it is best to float along rather than try to stay grounded.”

"We do have a ghost night," Isekai piped in, "but I don't think either of you will be really ready for that one for some time."

“I’ll keep that in mind for… ah, never mind.” Celestia cleared her throat, straightening a little as the silly giddiness began to subside. “All great fun, but it was also very good to meet your family. They’re even more beautiful in person. You must be proud.”

Isekai grinned. "Thank you. I'm also very glad to see how your relationship with Sunset is so strong. You'll be the envy of a lot of Celestias out there, you know?"

“Oh I don’t know about that,” Celestia said, yet she blushed deeply and chuckled. That all was a little easier to believe, these days. “You were right of course, back then. It’s not good to try to compare myself to her, I don’t think that rightly changes when I’m feeling on top of the world. Mind, it’s not that I was ever doing very badly, that first time I was just having a tough day. But things are going well. Luna and I are getting better and better at coming out of our shells. I have a boyfriend with a lovely daughter of his own, Ember.”

She took another sip of the milky liquor. “Sunset has an apartment at her college, but it’s in the same city. I miss having her at home of course but we still see each other quite often. I suppose I’m somehow still cool enough for her.”

"Ember, huh?" Isekai glanced at Sunset who smirked in challenge, swirling her mug of Dragon Ember's milk as a taunt. "So, she's going to be Sunset's sister, and your daughter soon. It's uh, good I guess you like that drink."

“It’s good!” Celestia beamed, taking another full swig and blissfully unaware just how much alcohol percentage the sweet milk hid. “What is this?”

“Dragon’s milk,” Sunset said quickly. The smirk grew friendly as she gave a quick hug. “And you’ll always be cool enough for me, Mom.”

"See?" Isekai's look was smug. "I told you." Anyway, I hope the visit is as fun as you were both expecting so far."

“It’s amazing!” Sunset bounced in her chair, with slight lisping being her only sign of inebriation thus far. “Mom, that’s like a Greek amazon! And the Star Trek guys, and these magic drinks. Ghosts, super-cool alternate mes. Isekai even gave me her card.”

Celestia’s eyes slipped over to Isekai, but Sunset kept speaking. “Ooh, the Viking dudes wanted to treat me to a horn of space mead. They say normally it actually launches you through space but space works weird here so this is the only place you can drink it safely but you’ll still feel like it.”

Sunset hopped down, then wrapped Celestia in a bigger hug complete with a kiss on the cheek. “I’ll be back right after.”

Celestia’s brain moved a bit more slowly than it should, didn’t fully register it all until Sunset was across the bar.

“The card, of course,” Celestia managed, then gave an awkward cough. “I, ah, trust you’ll have some rules so she won’t be too irresponsible with it?”

Isekai patted Celestia's hand gently. "Don't worry, I don't only serve alcohol. Besides, as I've told you, my daughters and their friends study and come over frequently here so I keep track of things, and you'd be surprised on the amount of visitors that simply do not have a taste for it. I'll-we'll make sure she doesn't get sloshed whenever she comes visit. This place is not for that."

“I appreciate that,” Celestia sighed. “Not that I doubted you or anything. If you don’t mind, how do you know if a Sunset who comes in is one you’ve seen before? Say, if one’s a robot or such and the other has a mother who would dearly like her to have a two-drink limit?”

"Well, it's usually through their expression… just about all first timers freak out a bit. If they're coming back, they'll have a card that works for them only, like the one you have. And beyond that… there's… a feeling. When you know someone you create a bond, and this is a good place to do so. That bond just tells me if it's someone I know, and also helps me recognize them." She shrugged, smiling and opening her hands in a slightly sheepish manner. "Magic." She patted the bar, looking at it fondly. "Plus, the bar helps."

Celestia breathed out slowly, looking wistfully after Sunset. “Alright. I, I can trust you. She wants to experiment and explore, and frankly this seems a better bar to indulge than any on Earth. And if she comes here from the house or her dorm, so much the better.”

She turned her head to Isekai with a maternal smile. “But how are you doing? It’s been a while, I know. Are you still… liking it? Doing well?”

Isekai nodded "Yeah. The girls, Freya, Rarity and everyone else help. When I've been here too long, they'll come up with some plan to get me a change of environment and recuperate. I lived for a decade or so in one world or another, actually leaving the bar and coming back to work like a normal person for a while. I've… I dunno. I'm a citizen of the Federation, but also a townsperson in Solace, or a merchant in Babylon 5 or Deep Space 9. I could never get tired of this, or creating bonds with all of my friends here."

“I’m glad, Sunset. I really am. You do so much good for so many people. You should be proud of yourself. I’m certainly pr-”

Celestia caught herself and laughed. “Silly me, but yes, you do good and it’s wonderful to know that you have people looking out for you. I’m sure even this can become burdensome at times, and when that happens it’s good to have others for help and perspective.”

"Speaking of which," Isekai prompted, "how's your overall life going? Last time we chatted you were feeling a bit intimidated by other yous, but right now I see you're finally accepting your own awesomeness." She rolled her eyes. "Or coolness, if we ask Sunset."

“Not so much intimidated, just… oh, I don’t think ‘depressed’ is right either.” Celestia drained her glass, unable to suppress a smile. “This is quite good! I’m tempted to ask for another but that feels like heresy when Sunset wants me experimenting. Water when you can, please, and don’t worry I’m just pacing myself.”

The smile fell to a more sedate expression. “I just… well. It was hard not to, back when the only Celestia I knew was some distant goddess. Coming here gave a bit of perspective, but what really helped was when we took the risk and got to know each other. My Princess Celestia is… she understands, I think. How I must feel. So she always wanted to give me space, but once we began talking it became… nice. She is a little sad, a little lonely. Like me she holds tight to her duties and her family, and I think we are now the latter.”

The first drink of water went down the wrong pipe and she gave a cough. “Ah, no ‘think’ about it, we literally are. I learned she visited Earth in the middle ages and stayed long enough to, erm, leave a mark. It turns out I’m descended from her. Which sounds like it should complicate things, but I found quite the opposite. It’s a bit easier to handle being a distant relative than someone who is literally supposed to mirror her.”

"Heh. Reminds me of this one universe where Sunset had a twin sister. She ended up on Earth, while the Sunset that ran from Equestria ended up in another planet. Turned out, their mom was I think Adagio's sister. When they all went back to Equestria and changed into their original forms, it was pretty crazy."

“So she would have been a… siren?” Celestia’s face twisted, then relaxed with a shrug. “You could turn to writing if you ever want to leave this behind for another decade, though the only shame there is no one strange to this place would ever believe it.”

"Well, one of them was a siren, the other was a unicorn. But the siren had grown as a human so… well, it gets complicated." Isekai chuckled, then passed Celestia the menu. "Come on, drinks are on me for you two tonight." She paused to summon for herself a shot of something blue with electricity on it, for all appearances. "At best it would be considered fanfiction, but trust me, it's being done."

“I’ll try that too, please,” Celestia said quickly. Perhaps it was the buzz, but she felt herself getting a bit bolder with all of this. “B-But Sunset, I couldn’t ask you to do that! We are not really being frugal with our drinks. On Earth this all would be hundreds of dollars and I budgeted to make sure it wouldn’t be a hit. You’ve already been so good to us, really.”

"Celestia," Isekai laughed, "It's Sunset's birthday, I couldn't do less. Don't worry about it. This entire crowd couldn't put me in the red in one night if I gave them all free drinks." She quickly summoned another shot of electric-blue… something and slid it over to the principal, then got another for herself. "Bottoms up!"

“I appreciate it. So much. Thank you.” At the prompt, Celestia downed it in one go. She swayed a little, yet set the glass down gently. “I think… we’re the same in that way. We both need those around us to help push us out of our comfort zones. And I’m glad you have them, Sunset. So glad. After all you do, you deserve it.”

Belatedly, Celestia realized she was gripping onto Isekai’s arm and sheepishly let go. “Er, sorry. I just kept thinking about how with you always helping others, someone should look after you, too.”

"They do," Isekai said gently. "I promise. I don't know what my life would be like without Lena, Danni, Freya and Rarity, but I have many friends that love me and care for me, you included." She squeezed Celestia's hand. "And I'm grateful too."

Celestia sniffed wetly. Tears ran down as she smiled up at Isekai. “Too much to ask to give you a hug?”

"Come over here," Sunset said, opening her arms wide.

Celestia stood, and would have fallen over if she wasn’t leaning on the bar anyway. Her hands wrapped around Sunset’s form and gripped tightly.

“I think,” she whispered as she felt Sunset’s nails grip through her jacket. “Since some Celestias fell down on the job with you all, it is up to ones like me to be here for you.”

Isekai's voice was a bit muffled. "You all do. Even the one from my world finally came around." They held the hug for a bit, then slowly pulled away.

Celestia held her gaze as they parted, smiling beatifically.

Then her eyes went to the distance, and she frowned. “Should… should I be worried about Sunset partying with Vikings?”

"Nah," Isekai waved a hand dismissively. "They're all good sorts. Well, maybe not Eivor, but she's not exactly evil. At most she'll help Sunset get more mead than needed. But she's got Hiccup there and he'll step in if that gets rowdy, and if he's not enough, Kratos and Freyja are there too, and the latter will not abide anything going wrong with a young me."

“You’re sure?” Celestia said, her eyes darting back to Isekai. “Vikings on my world have some specific connotations. I can… I can step back and not mother-hen her. But I want your word.”

"On my word." Isekai said solemnly. "Also, don't forget… she's essentially a me. No one would dare try to take advantage of her on that alone, but also, my bar doesn't allow the type of person that would take advantage of a young woman to visit."

“Okay.” Celestia breathed out, and the last of her tension seemed to flow out with it. Which did cause her to stagger, but she caught herself on the counter. “Sorry, it’s a little hard to let go. I’m sure you know how it is.”

"Hey, we both have done it a few times before. Like when she's gone hunting or Lena or Danni decide to visit a particularly dangerous universe. All we can do is trust them." She cleared her throat. "And be ready to jump in if they need help."

“Thank you, Sunset.” Celestia pushed herself from the counter, swaying slightly. “I think I’m going to sit in a booth, I don’t really trust myself on a stool right now. But in case I’m too far gone by the end of the evening, it really is good to see you. I’ll try to be better about stopping by more often.”

"Hm," Isekai hummed. "How about I help you out? There's someone I'd like you to meet, and you can sit at their table, what do you think? I'll keep an eye on Sunset for you."

“I’ll just make a fool of myself,” Celestia hiccupped loudly, then paused. “No, wait. This is the point, of course this is the point. I don’t want Sunset looking over and thinking I’m just waiting on her. don’t just want to wait on her.”

She took a deep breath, pulling all outward signs of inebriation within her, for the moment. “And you’re so kind to think of us. Yes, of course. May I have another dragon’s milk? It really is good, and I think I just prefer alcohol that doesn’t taste like alcohol.”

"I guess depending on where the conversation goes, it could give the right message," Isekai said, summoning a fresh one for Celestia. "Come on."

She guided Celestia past a few tables, and it didn't take long for the Principal to realize that they had walked further than what the actual size of the bar should've been, but, before she could decide whether that was due to her drinking, or some sort of magic, Isekai had already stopped at one of the tables where a group of adventurers sat.

"Hey Lina, Zel, Filia, Gourry," she said in greeting, waving at the group. "Have space for one more? Celestia here needs a chance to let loose, and I think you guys can help her."

The redhead of the group looked up, mouth still stuffed with food and shrugged, nodding towards the end of the table, where Isekai was helpfully pulling up a chair next to Filia, a blonde woman in a white dress who blinked twice.

"Celestia, Filia, Filia, Principal Celestia. I hear you two would get along swimmingly."

“Did you, now?” Celestia shot Isekai a nonplussed glance before smiling brightly at the table. She really didn’t know the anime Torch had talked about, but among a band of fantasy adventurers… well, why not? Maybe it was the liquid courage or good experience with the captains, but Celestia felt a deeply uncommon need to share in the only public place where she could.

“Hello! I’m Celestia, I guess you could call me a vampire hunter. I suppose I let slip that my boyfriend adores your… stories, what with the multiverse and all. Especially you-”

The redhead swelled with pride.

“-Filia.”

The redhead growled. The blue-skinned man gave a smirk, while the woman in question looked a little surprised.

Celestia caught herself, feeling a hesitation yet refusing to surrender to her natural awkwardness. “Please don’t feel obligated, but I think he’d be disappointed if I didn’t at least ask to sit with you.”

Her eyes naturally moved to the subject of Torch’s appreciation - of all the strange things men sometimes obsessed over, dragons and motorbikes were fine by her. Even though this dragon… wasn’t? Merely a blonde women dressed as a fantasy priestess. Certainly beautiful - a tall height which made her look slim, contributing to a slightly alien sense of comeliness. Perhaps with some draconic aura which made the room seem warm, but perhaps that was alcohol or… something else.

Really, Celestia didn’t consider herself anything but straight. But Torch’s half-joking request lodged into her mind and reddened her cheeks, making a tipsy blush which only deepened as Filia’s wide blue eyes locked with hers.

Filia smiled, giving a snide glance at Lina who had opted to simply drink more beer, which had been cheerfully brought over by another of the barmaids. "Why is it that every time we come here, it's always the dragons that get the attention?" Lina muttered.

"Because dragons rule," echoed a voice in the minds of all present, as the barmaid—who looked more like an elf than an implied dragon—smiled demurely before finishing up handing drinks and moving along.

"Anyway," Isekai said, patting Celestia on the shoulder. "I'll let you girls chat. Filia's surprisingly open minded for a former priestess."

"What do you mean by that?" Filia asked, her brow furrowing. "You'd better not be planning something, Sunset Shimmer."

"Me?" Isekai blinked innocently. "Never. I just need to go take care of my counterpart. Ta."

Celestia sipped at her… dragon milk. The silent implication turned her halfway to purple, yet she acted like nothing was wrong at all as entirely too many drunken emotions roiled within her.

“There was no need of her to bring that up.” Celestia said archly. “I really apologize, that was my fault. You see, I unfortunately let slip that my husband joked that he’d love for me to kiss you, and I suppose our dear bartender is poking some fun.”

The nerves were too much. She downed the dragon’s milk, feeling the nervousness fade into pleasant heat.

“If you don’t mind - a little trade of stories? I suppose if you like adventure I could tell you of me and my daughter saving our school from a vampire, and I would adore hearing about… well, whatever you care to tell.”

Filia's eyes followed the bottle in Celestia's hand to the table, her own cheeks flushing a little pink as she pressed the tips of her fingers together in thought while listening to Celestia's explanation. After a moment, she gulped, then drank some of her own beer before turning to face Celestia again.

"I think we can talk about our adventures… I'm taking a break from watching my adopted son at the moment, so I haven't had a chance to really get out much. Lina and the others brought me here since they happened to be visiting."

Celestia’s tipsy, distracted gaze focused at once into purple brilliance. Both nervousness and bravado fell away as she leaned in, unconsciously taking Filia’s hand.

“My Sunset’s here celebrating her twenty-first,” Celestia breathed. What was once an awkward meeting most desired by others turned to an open door as sympathetic love filled her heart.

“Tell me about him,” she said. Filia looked surprised, for most cared nothing for the children of strangers. Yet Celestia smiled back, happy to turn to conversation closer to both of their hearts.

“Tell me everything.”

"Thanks for the help, guys," Sunset said, waving at Mirage, Onyx, and Kassandra. The trio was spending time together for now in one of the many dragon worlds, she wasn't sure which, but it probably involved riding them at least, by the getup the Valkyrie pilot wore now.

Well, to her, that was part of the fun of the multiverse. Either way, things had calmed down and she had decided to take a break. No more visitors for now, as she bid farewell to her friends and visitors, cleaned up the tables with the help of her staff, then sent them off on their way back home until it was just her, Freya, and the girls.

"Good job today, everyone," Sunset said, sitting down at the table with them. Lena and Dani both preened at the attention. They had grown a little older after all this time, and Sunset had the feeling that soon she'd be seeing a little less of them than she would like.

She chuckled. Celestia was right about how that felt.

"You alright, mom?" Lena asked.

"Yeah, just thinking about stuff."

"So, did Sunset have fun?" Dani asked, floating over to sit down at the table Sunset had cleared. "Yeah, she did. I think her mother did too, at least from what I saw from over here."

"Tell me about it," Lena said, chuckling, also taking a seat.

Seeing that the floor had been cleaned off, the tables wiped, and everything sorted, Sunset joined them, and Freya who also sat down.

"I honestly expected both her and Filia to be much more reserved," Lena continued. "I think Lina's entire table was surprised by how comfortable they got with each other."

Sunset chuckled.

"Sometimes, people just need to let lose," Freya said gently, leaning over to ruffle Dani's hair. "Especially parents."

"Like you, mom?" Lena asked Freya.

The Burmecian Dragoon got a rosy tinge on her snout. "Yeah. I suppose me too."

Sunset grinned and leaned on her partner. Not married officially, but really, who doubted that they belonged together?

The bell rang as the door opened, and Sunset frowned. Who could it be? Hadn't she closed the bar?

The answer was Rarity and Princess Celestia—her Rarity and her princess, at that—both were carrying or levitating several large bags, smelling deliciously of food that they deposited on the table.

"Well, hello darling," Rarity said, then went over to hug the girls and Freya, while Princess Celestia's white, downy wings wrapped warmly around Sunset.

"Hello, Sunset," Celestia said, resting her head gently on the bartender's shoulder.

"Hey mom," Sunset replied leaning into the hug and wrapping an arm around the alicorn's neck for a quick squeeze. "Fancy seeing you here."

"Oh, you know how it is," Celestia said, releasing her to go around the table greeting the others. "It's tradition to come over twice a month, remember?"

Sunset chuckled. "So it's been two weeks in your world already?"

"Oh yes," Celestia said, helping the others to take out the food from the bags. "How long has it been for you girls?"

"That's a tough guess," Lena said, giving Dani a glance.

The ghost shrugged. "Beats me, feels like a couple of months at least," she said.

Celestia gave Sunset a playfully reproachful look. "Two months, and no calls? Sunset." She shook her head.

"You do get a bit distracted, darling," Rarity added. "I swear, if we didn't insist on a forced vacation every decade you'd just stay in here for a century."

"Is it really work if you're doing something you love?"

"If you don't stop to take a break?" Rarity asked.

"Yes," the rest of her family said.

Sunset blinked in surprise, then laughed. She took Freya's hand in her own and kissed her knuckles. "Alright, alright. How about we have dinner and figure out where we could settle down for a few years?"

"It has to have magic!" Lena said excitedly.

"And places to explore," Dani added absently, reaching out for a plate. "Can't have a boring life."

"You're a ghost," Lena remarked.

"My point, exactly."

Sunset glanced at Celestia. "Feel like living with us for a bit?"

Her mother chuckled and hugged her. "Of course, but you'll have to drop me off no longer than an hour after I left home. I don't want everypony to panic."

"Spoilsport," Rarity said with a chuckle.

As the others bantered, Sunset's eyes went to the latest picture on the wall, with Sunset and Celestia hugging among the cheers of the other visitors. One thing was for sure: Celestia was very right about the importance of family.

The birthday party Celestia hosted for Sunset’s friends should have been a calmer affair. Sunset’s age hovered in the middle of her friend group, meaning some of the Rainbooms were still underaged. In perfect solidarity, all agreed they wouldn’t drink in front of each other until all could. So it was pop, water, and pizza, plus an arsenal of outdoor party games.

Of course, it wasn’t actually calmer. Not only were these the Rainbooms, masters of turning any little slice of life into a wonderful disaster, but Sunset’s normally moderating presence was turned on its head. She giddily told the story, vibrating faster than Pinkie Pie during the post-Halloween candy sale.

“Okay, so after the Vikings I hung out with this edgy pretty boy, think I complimented his leather jacket or something. Turns out he’s a half-vampire vampire hunter himself, so we talked shop and really I should’ve gotten more out of it but I saw mom across the way, and she… wow. She’s got this GOLD DRAGON with freaking BLONDE HAIR not really any bigger than her. And they’re sitting in this booth, holding hands, just staring into each other’s eyes, and the dragon (who is, by the way, super cute) leans in and gives her a little smooch, then draws back but mom leans in to kinda kissy-chase her and they meet halfway. And before I could get my phone out she turns into this blond chick so I only got them kissing, but later mom fell asleep and snuggled with the dragon’s tail and I got a pic of them together and it’s just the cutest thing!”

Sunset took a theatrical drink, simultaneously drinking in the whistles and questions from her friend.

Vampire hunter. Multi-dimensional traveler. Dragon-seducer.

Celestia was the coolest mom ever.

“Hold off the cat-calls ladies, I’m just getting started. The dragon girl then out of nowhere takes Celestia’s head and…”

It was not a large house, and Sunset was not a quiet girl. Plus they didn’t have air conditioning, so the windows were open. Every word was audible on the inside.

Luna played her computer game, conscientiously glancing over every few minutes to make sure her sister was still breathing. She really couldn’t be sure with how tightly Celestia pressed the pillow to her face.

Then again, her face looked ready to burn through the pillow so maybe there wasn’t a risk.

“Tia, don’t be so dramatic.”

“My daughter is boasting about my sexual escapades.”

Luna rolled back from the computer, looking briefly to the ceiling. “You know, I’ll give you half-credit on this one. Maybe a ‘what happens in Isekai stays in Isekai’ rule in the future. But it’s not like you did anything wrong.”

“I have a boyfriend and I kissed another.”

“Did Torch see the pictures?”

“He made one his phone wallpaper.”

Luna smiled. “The ‘you hugging the tail’ one, or-”

“No, the third kiss.”

“Ooh-la-la.” Both eyebrows went up as Luna tried to convey her amused-yet-supportive expression through the obscuring pillow. “You had a great time and everyone loves that you had a great time. Sounds good to me.”

“I really did end up too silly over there.” Celestia peeked out over the top, still hiding her mouth.

“Horror of horrors, you got to cut loose and not be the adult in the room for once in your life.”

“I shouldn’t have drunk so much.”

“But did you have fun?”

Silence.

Then, a shy smile rose from the pillow. “Yes.”

Sunset’s voice trailed from the outside. “So then Filia said ‘which form?’ and mom said she could see a human any time so-”

The face disappeared. Luna pulled out her phone. “I’ll shoot her a text, she really should reign it in… anyway: planning to go back?”

“Yes,” Celestia said again, safe behind her fluffy fortress. “I want to be a better friend for the Sunset there, and not wait as long to see her again.”

And you want to have more fun, Luna thought, and did not say. There had been enough teasing for one afternoon.

Besides, there was nothing wrong with more fun. Most of all for Celestia, who devoted her life to others and kept so little of it saved for herself.

Author's Note

And we have another visit from "Hunts the Undead" Celestia, but this time bringing her daughter, Sunset, to visit and celebrate as you only can in the multiverse. As always, writing with Rune Soldier Dan is an absolute pleasure, and it was nice to take the opportunity to delve a bit more into the maternal side of many of our characters. Hope you enjoyed!