All These Shining Lights

Sunset Shimmer was leisurely walking down the street, alone, only hearing her boots clonking quietly against the pavement and the occasional car whizzing by. She pulled her leather jacket tighter around herself, for it was chilly today, and the wind was blowing.

Sure, she could be spending the night at someone's house, but she couldn't impose. Not every night, anyway. She had to make sure none of her friends watched her leave the school building; she didn't want them to follow her and see her like this.

She walked until she got to a space in between two brick buildings. She looked left and right, and slipped into the space. She breathed out a small sigh of relief. At least the buildings blocked out the wind.

Sunset pulled off her backpack, laying it on the ground, looking disdainfully at the mess of newspapers laying about crumpled and blown open.

She'd have to make her bed... again.

Sunset groaned and picked up the newspapers, smoothing them back out and folding them, stacking them up and laying them down.

She sat down on the bed of newspapers, which didn't provide the best cushioning, but kept her from having to sit directly on the concrete. Off came her leather jacket, and it lay over her; her blanket. She leaned back, folding her arms behind her head. Red and yellow strands of hair fell in front of her eyes, but she made no move to push them away.

Sometimes she wished it was easier to get a job around here, but in this small town, everyone knew what she did. All of her applications, she figured, were never looked at again. It was whatever. For the time being, she had Canterlot High to spend most of her time at… and as long as she was with her friends, that wasn’t too bad.

She only wished she had a few snacks at hand right now… maybe a drink. It was the weekend, so she wouldn't be fed school lunches... so she'd have to figure something out.

She failed at being a pony, and she‘s failing at being a human, too. Great.

"Sunset?!" came a voice as a figure walked into Sunset's living space.

"Applejack!" Sunset sat up, her leather jacket falling off her torso. "Agh... What are you doing here?"

"I was about to ask you the same thing. For a second, I thought you were comin' in here to do drugs or somethin'. This is a lot worse." The farmer said, getting down on one knee, getting eye-level with Sunset. "You can't tell me this is where ya live, sugar cube..."

"...I…" An embarrassed Sunset pulled the leather jacket back over herself, looking down and away, muttering. "I didn't want you or the other girls finding out..."

"I said you were always welcome to spend the night at the farm whenever you wanted, didn't I? And didn't Pinkie say you could sleep over at her house? And Rarity's? And Fluttershy's? Rainbow Dash...? What about Twi?"

"Look, Applejack," Sunset held up her hand. "I really appreciate it a lot, but... I can't just keep spending the night every night."

"Sure ya can." Applejack smiled reassuringly at Sunset. "I think I can speak for all of us when I say, our doors are always open for ya to Shimmer on in."

Sunset giggled quietly at that. "Heh... thanks." Smirking softly, she sat back up, and slid her leather jacket back on.

"C'mon, let's get you home." Applejack offered her hand.

Sunset nodded, reaching out…— but suddenly, something made a vibrating noise in her backpack.

Sunset blinked, holding up a finger. "Hold that thought..."

She reached into her backpack and pulled out her magic journal. "It must be Twilight!" Sunset exclaimed with barely-hidden excitement. She opened the journal to the freshly-written on page, reading it through.

Dear Sunset,

Hey there! Are you doing well? To be honest, things aren't going too great here right now... we could really use your help. It's not a world-takeover or anything, I promise. It'd be easier to explain in person.

How would you like to come back to Equestria for a visit? I miss you, and I also have somepony I'd like you to meet. It's really kind of important, so... if you'd consider it, I'd be really grateful.

Your friend,

Twilight Sparkle.

Sunset stared down at the journal again, furrowing her brows. She began to read the message a second time, just to be sure Twilight’s request was real.

"What'd she say?" Applejack asked, scratching her head. "You look a mite… worried."

Sunset stopped reading and cleared her throat, but her voice cracked a bit when she spoke. "I think Twilight wants me to come back to Equestria... for a visit."

"Oh..." Applejack said, taking off her cowgirl hat, looking down at it as she held it in both her hands. "Well... I think you should go. I mean... ya did come from that place."

"Are you sure?" Sunset looked up at Applejack… then smirked. "You're not upset that I wouldn’t be staying with you?"

"Course not, sugar cube. I promise. Though I always love havin’ ya over." Applejack grinned. "Just... If you decide to stay there, pay us a visit every once in a while?"

Sunset shook her head. "I don't think I'll stay. I'm not exactly loved there... But... Twilight needs me. Here." Sunset handed Applejack the journal. "Could you hold onto this? I'll probably write you."

"All right, Sunny." Applejack slid the book into her own bag. "Do ya want me to accompany you? To the portal, I mean?"

Sunset held her hand up again. "No, I'm alright. Just... could you tell the others where I’ve gone?"

Applejack nodded. "Yeah, sure."

"Thanks." Sunset stood, putting her backpack on over her jacket. The two of them walked out onto the street.

"Good luck to ya, Sunset." Applejack pulled Sunset into a warm hug. “Don’t you have too much fun and forget about us, ya hear?”

Sunset smiled into the hug, and when Applejack made that comment, she rolled her cyan eyes and gave Applejack an extra squeeze. "I'll be back soon." Sunset asserted playfully sternly, as she let go of the cowgirl and pulled away.
"Bye."

"See ya." Applejack put her hat back on and tipped it to Sunset, before walking in the opposite direction, headed for her farm.

Sunset took her sweet time making her way to the portal. Truthfully, she was extremely anxious.

Sure, she'd proven herself to this world— or at least, to the students of Canterlot High — that she'd changed. She helped fight off sirens during the Battle of the Bands and defended the school against Midnight Sparkle at the Friendship Games.
But for all she knew, she was still hated in Equestria. Sunset only hoped Twilight's Ponyville friends would like her.

She tried to calm her nerves as she arrived on school grounds and approached the Wondercolts statue. If they were anything like her friends here, she was sure they'd hit it off.

She looked at her reflection in the stone of the statue, which had been polished during its repair after Midnight Sparkle nearly destroyed it. She had noticed this many times before, but her colors seemed to be... fading. They used to be so vibrant, but they were slowly becoming dull. Which didn't look that bad, really. It helped her fit in more with everyone else.

But... she couldn't help but wonder if there was something magical to do with it. Maybe it was because she'd been away from Equestria for so long.

Maybe it was because she'd been away from Celestia for so long.

Sunset swallowed, and reached to touch the portal, and watched as her fingers began to pass through.

Here goes…

She took a deep breath, and took a step inside.

And if anyone had been watching, they would have seen Sunset Shimmer disappear.