Equestria Girls - The Tale of Two Sunsets

After a wild adventure in Hope Hollow, Sunset and Sour Sweet had finally finished delivering on their promises for Princess Twilight and the six students. Everyone was now on a safe ride back to the School of Friendship aboard the Endtrak Express, and the return trip was expected to be much shorter, given the train still had plenty of fuel, and the Stagma Beetles were no longer a problem. Sunset also noted to herself that she still had no idea what exactly Indigo Zap was trying to accomplish back at Bridlewood Station, but it seemed inconsequential, especially compared to the other threats she had encountered throughout this entire field trip.

In a way, Sunset was almost somewhat relieved that she didn't encounter Chestnut Magnifico, but realized that time was running out. She was hoping to at least find a trace of her whereabouts throughout Equestria, and perhaps get a better idea on her motives, but the power-hungry pegasus was nowhere to be found. As such, Sunset could only hope that the rest of the council could provide some solid leads, once she returned. She also wasn't too afraid of confronting her head-on again, after using the Dragonstone's magic on herself, which granted magic draining immunity. Still though, it made next to no sense as to why this particular pegasus, who was nothing more than a movie actress in the Human World, had these spiteful motives.

Reflecting on the troublemakers she had just encountered, Flim and Flam were simply after a prized toy, but their motives didn't seem as extreme as that of Chestnut Magnifico's. Sunset also knew that since she herself hardly knew much about the Human Chestnut, who was mostly just a harmless actress, and none of her friends seemed to recognize this Pony Chestnut at all, there was definitely something unusual going on. It didn't seem to make a lot of sense as to why a random mare like Chestnut had such malicious motives, let alone committing crimes immediately right under Princess Twilight's rule.

As Sunset sat back in her train's cabin, she began reflecting on this, trying to come up with a potential theory as to what was really going on behind the scenes. However, in regards to where specifically Chestnut Magnifico had been hiding out, it was a place much closer to Sunset's past than she had truly realized, which was her old Ponyville home, owned by her father, Sunspot. In fact, Chestnut had already used a good chunk of her stolen riches to impress Sunspot, enticing him to feel convinced that she was the one, given how his marriages with Solstice and Stellar Flare ended up.

The stallion in question was now trotting around his home, expecting his partner to return soon, as they had important plans to discuss for their upcoming wedding. He had already been told that the event would be held at the Crystal Empire, which was fine enough, given Sunspot's eternal hatred for Canterlot and Princess Celestia. His persistent grudge on keeping a happy and lasting family was now his number one priority, even if it meant doing anything desperate to cut ties with his former children. Eventually, Sunspot heard a knock on his front door, and naturally went over to greet who he had expected. But unfortunately for the grouchy old stallion, upon opening the door, he ended up seeing a random unicorn mare, whom he hadn't recognized at all.

"Grrrr!" Sunspot growled, as he was ready to slam the door. "You're not my spouse, so why don't you buzz off!?"

"Excuse me?" Madame Cinch spoke up, using her hoof to block the door from closing. "Is that any way to talk to a fine mare like myself, who's made so much from doing beauty pageants in Manehattan over the years?"

"I don't care what you do with your time, and I'm not interested in hearing your life story." Sunspot narrowed his eyes. "What do you even want, this had better be important!"

"Well, if you want to be so direct, I'm looking for a certain somepony." Cinch spoke up. "Have you by any chance seen a unicorn mare with a fiery red and yellow mane, and orange fur?"

Sunspot's eyes widened upon being reminded of his first daughter again, who still brought him bitter and unhappy memories. He would never forget how Sunset Shimmer ended up becoming separated from him, and the even more gloomful effects it had on his familial relations later down the line. Recalling what eventually happened behind the scenes, after that incident with both his first and second ex-wife, the stallion refused to even comment or continue the topic.

"I think you should go, now!" Sunspot pushed Madame Cinch out of his doorframe and slammed the door shut, prompting the Madame to use her magic to teleport inside his home and continue prying.

"Well, that was an interesting reaction, now wasn't it?" Cinch said to Sunspot, as he now growled upon seeing an uninvited guest in his home. "Sounds like you do know a thing or two about this pony I've described, how's about you spill the beans? I'll even make it worth your while, if you'd like?"

"Fine...!" Sunspot crossed his hooves, huffing. "If it'll get you out of here and make me some money, then I'm all for it. Who even are you, anyways? Somepony from Canterlot coming to collect child support?"

"No need to worry about that, I'm just somepony who saw her during one of my most recent beauty pageants, that's all." Cinch began fabricating. "This particular unicorn is quite gifted, so I'd like to offer her a big trophy, and the grand prize of 10,000 bits. I'd just like to know her name, and where I might find her, so that I may deliver what she's truly earned. You have to admit, she's a particularly crafty and talented individual."

Sunspot's eye twitched upon hearing this, as he felt an inner rage build up within him, prompting him to knock a nearby shelf down from pure anger.

"It's ALWAYS been like this, I swear!" Sunspot screeched. "My children end up living their dream lives, while their old stallion of a father ends up being stuck as practically a BANK to let them pursue their passions, as the other half went to their mothers! And did they ever have the courtesy to write or visit!? No, they never did!"

"Are you feeling... alright, sir?" The Madame fluttered her eyes around the room, before making a realization. "Wait a minute, does this mean you're her father?"

"That's right, she's my daughter, Sunset Shimmer!" Sunspot finally admitted. "And I've had it up to here with ponies just waltzing in and out of my life, reminding me of all the mistake choices I've made over the years! She's clearly already made her own choices and moved on, well... so have I!"

"Listen to me, I'm not here to cause any trouble for you, sir." Cinch leaned in closer, a sly smile spreading across her face. "I'm merely a talent scout seeking to acknowledge this... Sunset Shimmer for her achievements, since I noticed she has quite the unique look. It's not every day you see a unicorn with such a vibrant mane and coat, she'd be quite the star in Manehattan."

"What's it to you, rewarding HER, even though I'm the stallion who brought her into this world!?" Sunspot continued. "If anything, you should give those 10,000 bits to ME, instead! Oh wait, that's right, nopony ever cares about the old stallion past his prime, what does he expect to become, a supermodel at this age!?"

"Her unique look is precisely what I'm interested in." The Madame kept pushing on. "And who knows, with the right connections, she could be more than just a star in Manehattan, why, she could be the next biggest thing, even surpassing Countess Coloratura! All I'd like to know is where I might be able to find your daughter, so I can continue building up her potential career?"

"Will you QUIT calling her my daughter!?" Sunspot stomped his hoof on the floor. "She has absolutely no idea what her mere existence ended up doing to my life, and I'm sure that even if she did, she wouldn't feel the least bit sorry for me! Her school made it clear that she never got along with her classmates, her only merits being good grades! But what does it matter now, since she'll never understand the pain, suffering, and loneliness that'll stick with me, forever! Maybe it's for the better that I don't tell you where she is, because why would I be happy to hear that you're about to reward the very filly that I've disowned!?"

"Okay, that's enough, I'm just going to be frank with you." Cinch rolled her eyes, unwilling to be this stallion's therapist. "Since you've made it pretty clear that you hate your daughter, this... Sunset Shimmer, what will it take for you to give me a lead regarding her whereabouts? Because I lied about everything I just said, I actually want to confront her for some revenge, considering she ended up ruining my perfect life, as well."

"I don't care whatever you do with her, she's not my daughter anymore, how many times do I have to tell you!?!" Sunspot snapped. "Besides, heck if I know where she lives nowadays, it's not like she ever bothered to write back or keep her old stallion updated! Now, a deal's a deal, I've told you her name, so you either cough up some bits right now, or I'm going to do to you, what I've always wanted to do to my second ex-wife!"

"Now, now, let's not get hasty." Cinch cautioned herself at this stallion's coarseness. "I can see you're in a bit of a tough spot, financially speaking, but I don't feel particularly compelled to give you even a single bit, with how rude you've been acting. You're so dumb for not asking for payment upfront, you know that, right?"

Hearing this, Sunspot's eye twitched again, prompting him to stomp his way over to the dining area, as he picked up one of the chairs, ready to get even meaner than he already was.

"GET OUTTTTTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!" Sunspot screamed, as he whacked Madame Cinch over the head with his chair, prompting her to scurry outside before things got even uglier. "And if you even DARE come back here, let's just say nopony will recognize you at your next so-called beauty pageant!"

Madame Cinch stumbled out through the house's back door, the chair's collision leaving a small bruise on her head, but she was more shaken by the stallion's outburst than any physical pain. She took a deep breath and brushed herself off, her eyes narrowing in determination as she watched the door slam shut. The Madame had not anticipated such a hostile reaction, but she had learned something valuable from her encounter, even though she still lacked vital information on where in Equestria to search for Sunset.

Sunspot meanwhile, tried his best to calm himself down, as he then heard hoofsteps approaching his front door. This time when he answered the door, it was finally who the bitter stallion had been expecting, accompanied by his new daughter. Chestnut Magnifico had been quite busy with her 'work', but specifically kept her new alicorn powers hidden from Sunspot, as to not draw any suspicion. She had done this by using her magic to make her new horn appear invisible, giving the impression that she was still the same old pegasus mare he had met a couple of years ago. As Chestnut and Lily entered the house, the mare questioned Sunspot on those unusual sounds before showing up.

"Honey, is everything okay?" Chestnut Magnifico began with a faux sweet tone. "I could've sworn I just heard a bunch of yelling and loud noises, who was that, exactly?"

"Some solicitor or homeless mare, that'd be my best guess." Sunspot replied, before focusing on what he had been meaning to ask his soon-to-be spouse. "Either way, you're home earlier than expected. I trust that your new promotion at work has given you a hefty salary for today?"

"Oh darling, you know I wouldn't keep you waiting." Chestnut assured, as she went into her saddlebag to show the stallion her 'earnings' from today. "Look at that, 500 bits, and all I had to do was sell somepony in Hope Hollow a yellow lizard toy. This was just a tip, while my actual salary from my promotion is five times that amount. Have I proven to you now that with this kind of financial stability, our imminent marriage will be the greatest decision you've ever made? Why, we could even afford the most luxurious lifestyle for our daughter Lily, here."

The filly in question shuttered in fear upon hearing her name, as she fully knew well that her so-called mother had other plans for her stolen riches. She was also under the impression that her father had no idea that those bits were either stolen or collected with underhanded schemes, but knew that for her own safety, she had to keep quiet about everything. Lily gave a weak smile upon looking up to Chestnut, and nodding slightly.

"That reminds me, are you really sure that 'Lily' is the correct name for her?" Sunspot spoke up. "Ever since she came into my life, I've gotten pretty used to just calling her my daughter, and not giving her an actual name, out of preference."

"Ah yes, it's a pretty fitting name for her, and better than anything I could ever come up with." Chestnut replied. "Could you maybe remind me why you chose not to give her a name, the day she was born?"

"It's simple, I've always feared that if I gave my children the wrong name, it might send them on a destiny that destroys everything I've built for them." Sunspot reflected. "Why else would my previous daughter and son both go off to study magic, and abandon me like the selfish brats they've always been?"

"Darling, you're overthinking it." Chestnut leaned in closer to give Sunspot a comforting nuzzle, while her inner thoughts raced with the dark intentions she had for the helpless filly in question. "Lily is a beautiful name, and she seems quite content with it. Besides, you know what they say, a rose by any other name would smell just as sweet, right? But let's not dwell on the past, especially considering today is finally our big day. You're absolutely convinced that despite your awful previous marriages, that I'm the special one for you, who's able to provide financial and emotional support, through thick and thin?"

"Why yes, I am." Sunspot reflected his entire life up until this point. "You've been nothing but kind to me, and to Lily, and I can see that you truly care about us. My debts, burdens, and sacrifices that were all in vain, they all vanished the day I met you. I've made some horrendous mistakes in the past, failing my first two children and marriages, until the day you showed up, and turned my life around. Needless to say, I had quite the number of trust issues throughout my midlife crisis."

"You don't need to be hard on yourself for the past." Chestnut said, her voice coated with a layer of false affection, as she knew all too well how to play this game. "We all make mistakes, and what's important is that we learn from them. You've certainly learned to recognize true beauty and grace when you see it, so let's just focus on our future together, shall we? We're due to have our private wedding at the Crystal Empire in a few hours, so why don't we get dressed and have the most memorable day of our lives?"

Sunspot experienced a peculiar mix of excitement and unease, since he had never felt this way before, not even with his previous wives. Something about Chestnut just seemed too good to be true, but he pushed those thoughts aside, reminding himself of the happiness she had brought to him and Lily.

"You're absolutely right, my dear." Sunspot bowed to Chestnut out of respect. "Let's do this, I've got the perfect suit in mind, up in my room. This is absolutely going to be the start of a brand new era, I can already picture it all!"

"Excellent." Chestnut grinned, but felt the need to remind Sunspot of what she was truly after. "I just want to be clear, however. Given everything that I've sacrificed to help turn your life around, you do remember what I had asked of you, the day you finally proposed to me? Am I to understand that once we make our vows, you'll hold up your end of the bargain?"

Sunspot froze for a moment, recalling the dark deal he had made with Chestnut. He agreed to cut all ties with his previous family, and to never speak of them again, in exchange for her love and the financial stability she had provided. It was a steep price, but he had been so desperate for happiness, he had overlooked the potential consequences.

"Yes, of course, darling." Sunspot nodded. "I'll do whatever it takes to ensure our future is bright and prosperous, just like the stars we're going to be under tonight. Nopony from my previous families will be there, it'll just be us and Lily, the perfect private wedding where we will seal the deal and live peacefully from this point on!"

"I do recall you making that oath to me back then, and while that is still very important for me, it isn't quite what I was referring to." Chestnut tried her best to explain. "Do you remember mentioning how one of your ancestors, whom specialized in studying ancient magic, passed down a supposed family heirloom? And that to this day, you still have it lying around your home, sealed away in a magical safe, which only you have access to?"

"You mean... the special gold necklace?" Sunspot deduced. "The one that my own father passed down to me, which I made an oath to protect and never take out, no matter the circumstances?"

"Ah yes, that very one." Chestnut's eyes gleamed with greed, but she kept her smile sweet. "I know how much it means to you and your past relatives, but I assure you, I only wish to borrow it for the wedding, especially after you showed me a picture of what it looks like. It's such a stunning piece of jewelry, and I believe it would truly represent our union, the joining of two families, and the promise of prosperity."

"I'll admit, both my father and grandfather told me to keep this necklace safe from anypony else, but they never explained what the reason was." Sunspot reflected. "I'd imagine in that case, it's only for sentimental reasons, considering this necklace must be at least several centuries old. You just want to... wear it for our wedding?"

"It's just for a short while, darling." Chestnut continued persuading the stallion. "Besides, you've shown me that you're quite the reliable stallion, so I know you'll keep your word about protecting the necklace itself. As for me, I promise to handle it with the utmost care. Think of this as... one final test to prove you're truly committed in this relationship, especially considering all I've sacrificed for you and our daughter."

Sunspot felt a sudden wave of hesitation wash over him, as this particular necklace had always been something sacred, a piece of his family's history that had been passed down through many generations. But at the same time, desperate times called for desperate measures, considering he himself was now a washed up old stallion who had already been through two divorces, and was surely past his prime. The idea of completely starting over for a new relationship seemed out of the question, and next to impossible. Sunspot glanced over at Chestnut, who looked up at him with hopeful eyes, as he knew he couldn't let her down.

"Alright, you win, honey." Sunspot agreed with a heavy sigh, his heart feeling like it was being squeezed in a vice. "I'll get it for you, but just for the wedding, and you better take good care of it. I only ask for one condition of you, in order to make this work. That you will wear it only after we've made our vows, and we begin posing for our wedding photos."

"Of course, I'd be happy to make that promise." Chestnut agreed, before she spoke in a subtle riddle, pointing towards what she was truly after. "Besides, a necklace is just a necklace, isn't it? It's what's inside that truly counts."

"In that case, I suppose we should pick up our train tickets and leave for the Crystal Empire." Sunspot began. "I'll bring the necklace box with me, and when we get there, it'll just be you, me, Lily, and a plethora of unpleasant memories behind us all."

Chestnut Magnifico nodded understandingly, her eyes shimmering with a mix of greed and satisfaction, as Sunspot trotted upstairs to his room. The mare had done her research, and she knew that the necklace was no ordinary heirloom, it was the key to a forgotten and powerful magic that could change the balance of Equestria, and she intended to harness it. She gave Sunspot a gentle smile, her heart fluttering with excitement.

"Lily." Chestnut turned to her daughter with a stern demeanor. "Get dressed for the wedding, and you'd better be on your best behavior, you hear?"

"Y-Yes, mommy." Lily obeyed, her eyes wide with fear as she retreated to her room.

"It's just a shame that my recent scanning of Hope Hollow found no trace of this other thing I was after." Chestnut said to herself, believing there was nopony around to overhear her. "Luckily, I got out of there just in time, before that meddling Sunset pony could show up."

As Chestnut trotted upstairs to get changed as well, she was unaware that there was somepony nearby, eavesdropping from an open window, to gather what little information she could about Sunset's whereabouts. Madame Cinch grinned at overhearing that she would most likely find Sunset at this Hope Hollow place, as it was now only a matter of finding directions and an efficient form of transportation.

"So that's where this... Sunset Shimmer is hiding out at." Madame Cinch began formulating her devious plan, as she ran from the house. "I don't care how many bits I'll have to spend to get there, the sweet taste of vengeance for soiling my perfect Manehattan reputation will be absolutely priceless!"

The Madame was so bent on exacting her revenge on Sunset, that she failed to take notice of her surroundings, enough to where she came across something dubious laying on the ground. It was only after splattering one of her front hooves into the brown substance in front of her, that her eyes widened in both shock and disgust, hoping it was not what she immediately thought it was. Two nearby mares took notice of this, and went up to the Madame to explain everything.

"Ugh, you see?" K-Lo sighed in frustration upon seeing this unfortunate event. "I told you that this could happen, and it's just plain unsanitary!"

"We're so sorry about this, ma'am." Su-Z apologized on behalf of her helper. "One of our diamond dog movers had some really bad tacos for lunch, and we couldn't find a nearby restroom in time for him to... well, you get the idea."

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!" Madame Cinch screeched at the top of her lungs upon hearing this, prompting the Postcrush mares to scurry away out of pure instinct.

By this point, the Endtrak Express had already made it all the way back to Ponyville, with Sunset, Sour Sweet, and the students preparing to depart the train. Sunburst and Starlight Glimmer were waiting by the station's platform, ready to escort the students back to the School of Friendship. Upon exiting the train, the duo could see that everyone was not only present and accounted for, but also quite happy, giving off the impression that Sunset had done a great job chaperoning the students. Once the remaining passengers disembarked, the Endtrak Express was ready to take off once more, but not before Torque Wrench and Mr. Ramsay came over to the train's exit, wanting to express their gratitude one last time.

"Always remember, anytime you feel like returning to Hope Hollow, you're more than welcome to, Starlight." Torque said to Sunset. "We'll be happy to have you."

Although both Sunset and the students had already gotten used to this by now, Sour Sweet, Sunburst, and Starlight herself were rather confused upon hearing this.

"Miss Torque, did I just hear that correctly?" Mr. Ramsay questioned, just as bewildered. "Did you just refer to Miss Sunset Shimmer here as... I don't understand how you came to that conclusion."

"MY name is Starlight." The actual Starlight spoke up. "But... yeah, this is Sunset."

"Wait, really?" Torque tried to shake the confusion off of her. "I could've sworn he kept calling you... never mind then. The point still stands, I believe we speak for all the residents, that we'd welcome you back in open hooves, Sunset."

"Agreed, you certainly seem to have made quite an impression on Hope Hollow." Mr. Ramsay added. "It's not every day somepony saves the town from both a giant rhino monster and rampaging robot."

"Well, I did have a bit of help." Sunset replied with a warm smile, nudging Sour Sweet gently. "Couldn't have done it without all of you, especially this one."

"It was nothing, really." Sour Sweet tried to stay modest. "You're the hero here, Sunset."

Everyone waved goodbye to both Torque Wrench and Mr. Ramsay, as the Endtrak Express began making its way back to Hope Hollow, once more. Sunset then turned to Sunburst and Starlight, who were still rather confused at what they just heard a few moments ago.

"Well, I'm glad to see that all the students made it back safely, and it sounded like you had quite the adventure, but... what was that all about?" Sunburst raised an eyebrow. "Why did that mare just call you 'Starlight'?"

"Long story, let's just say." Sunset giggled, before turning to her students. "And as for how the field trip itself went, well, why don't you all tell them about your experience?"

"It was awesome!" Sandbar exclaimed in enthusiasm. "We got to see a whole other town, and we even met some cool ponies along the way!"

"We learned a bunch about teamwork and friendship!" Gallus added. "Way more than we usually do, and we didn't even have to study for it!"

"It was quite an educational trip indeed." Ocellus chimed in. "I discovered that sometimes, the most important lessons come from the most unexpected places."

"Food was incredible!" Yona hopped up and down. "Chef Pony gave Yona delicious sticky toffee pudding, many more better than Yakyakistan Brûlée!"

"It's been a while since I've had some good pizza, and Slice-N-Shake certainly didn't disappoint." Smolder folded her arms, satisfied. "You really oughta try a slice, best crust I've ever had."

"I taught some evil moles a thing or two about hating stairs." Silverstream recollected. "Other than that, the arcade's milkshakes are just as amazing!"

"Well then, sounds like we truly lucked out with you volunteering to take our students on this trip, Sunset." Starlight commended. "But now, it's time to get everyone back to the School of Friendship, where I'm sure we have some lessons to catch up on. Plus, I bet the rest of their classmates can't wait to hear all about what happened in detail."

"I'll escort the students back to the school." Sunburst rounded up the six students, as he led them away from the train station. "Starlight, could you bring Sunset and Sour Sweet over to Twilight? She should be waiting over at the Castle of Friendship, alongside the rest of the council."

"I'm on it." Starlight nodded, as she accompanied the two mares to the aforementioned castle. "We've got some... pretty urgent matters to discuss, let's just say."

When the trio of mares made it all the way back to the castle, Twilight and her friends all looked over, happy to see that Sunset and Sour Sweet were able to return safely. The princess anticipated that since the rest of the council was here, it was the perfect opportunity to discuss their next step, concerning the new potential threats to Equestria. Although Chestnut Magnifico seemed like their biggest priority, Twilight believed it wasn't wise to ignore the other dangers.

"Sunset, Sour Sweet, welcome back!" Twilight called over, her eyes sparkling with excitement and a hint of relief. "I take it the field trip went rather smoothly, and the students were never put in harm's way?"

"Well actually, I wouldn't 100% say that was the case, Princess." Sour Sweet spoke up.

"What!?" Twilight's eyes widened, as she raised her wings in hostility. "Sour Sweet, I gave you a serious warning to improve on your behavior, and you're telling me the students were in danger!? What did you do to them!?"

"Twilight!" Sunset immediately tried to deescalate things. "You misunderstand completely, we all experienced several dangers throughout the trip, but they were completely out of our control. Sour Sweet was actually the one who helped us out of a tight spot, and the students themselves fought off a big red monster we encountered."

"Big red monster?" Applejack questioned. "It couldn't have been Lord Tirek, could it? I reckoned he's still resting within a stone prison in Tartarus to this very day."

"It wasn't him, that's for sure." Sunset explained. "On the train ride there, we all encountered a huge horde of Stagma Beetles, and well... if it wasn't for everyone's contributions, including Sour Sweet's, we'd all be entrées to those vile bugs by now."

"Wait, so you not only encountered the Stagma Beetles, but managed to completely overpower them?" Starlight's eyes widened with surprise. "Ironically, we were almost hoping that you wouldn't have the misfortune of running into those mysterious bugs, but it sounds like everything worked out in the end."

"Ah, well, that's certainly more than I bargained for when I approved this trip." Twilight said with a nervous chuckle. "I suppose we should be grateful for any experience that reinforces the importance of teamwork and friendship, even if it's an unexpected one."

"The encounter with the Stagma Beetles was... enlightening, to say the least." Sunset reflected. "It tested us all, but we came out stronger because of it. And as for Sour Sweet, she's really turned over a new leaf. I hadn't realized she was so selfless and brave, but then again, I suppose it's expected, given she was a royal guard."

"It was nothing, really." Sour Sweet said with a smile, looking down at her hooves briefly. "I just knew I couldn't let any of you down, especially not when you've all been so kind to me. I've come to realize now that there's a way to embrace hospitality, while still serving my duties to protect Equestria, and that I always had a tendency to lean towards the sour side."

"Sour Sweet... actually embodying the true values of being a part of the E.U.P?" Twilight observed. "In that case, Sour Sweet, I'm so sorry for lashing out at you like that. I was almost under the impression that you deliberately put the students in danger, but that's not what it sounds like now, according to Sunset."

"Princess, it's quite alright." Sour Sweet looked up at Twilight. "I know I haven't always been the most agreeable, but I assure you, I've learned quite a bit on this journey, and I'm striving to be a better pony. As for Sunset, she managed to open my eyes and understand my complexity, and I couldn't have asked for a better... friend in this whole ordeal."

"That makes two of us." Rainbow reminded. "I'm telling you, Sunset really knows how to be a true friend in the toughest of times. If she was here with us months ago, she probably could've even convinced Tirek, Chrysalis, and Cozy Glow to accept friendship as well."

"I'm flattered you think that way, Rainbow." Sunset replied. "But I wouldn't really say I'd be a miracle worker in that sense, rather just... extending my empathy and understanding to those whom I feel deserve it."

"Well, I'd still say that makes you more special than the rest of us, darling." Rarity commended. "I must admit, some of us don't really empathize with others as much as we really should."

"Speaking of special, did you all check out the bakery in Hope Hollow?" Pinkie questioned with curiosity. "They had the most amazing apricot pies ever! It's like they were baked with nothing but happiness!"

"Errr... Pinkie?" Twilight ceased the conversation for a moment. "As much as we would love to hear all about Sunset's journey on that field trip, I'm afraid we'll have to save it for another day, given how time is of the essence. This meeting is mostly to let Sunset in on the newest threats to Equestria, before we move out with our respective search parties. As for you, Sour Sweet, I've heard everything I needed to hear to determine that you are officially free to go. Please go wait in the room next door, and once our meeting is finished, I shall escort you back to Canterlot myself, and settle things with the other royal guards for you."

"Yes, Princess." Sour Sweet nodded her head respectfully, before leaving the room.

"Alright, Sunset." Twilight turned back to her friend. "Now that we're all here, and going off of what you just reported back, we actually have two threats on our hooves. Obviously, one of them is Chestnut Magnifico herself, but the other entails... something we accidentally did ourselves, as a result of activating the Dragonstone. I went to consult Celestia myself, and unfortunately learned too late, that when we absorbed the Dragonstone's magic, we also broke a curse on the artifact, which was linked to a mysterious fire alicorn."

"So, we're dealing with not one, but two powerful beings that could potentially destroy Equestria?" Sunset glanced around the room at her friends, who all shared her concern. "What do we know about this fire alicorn, this is admittedly the first time I've ever heard of such a being existing."

"I've read a bit about them in some ancient texts." Twilight continued. "They're rare, almost like a phoenix, and supposedly, they appear in times of great need. Or at least, when a great injustice has been committed, but I've never heard of one that would be a danger to Equestria. Celestia and Luna mentioned that they once knew somepony in particular, back when they lived in their old hometown of Skyros, where this pony claimed she would do everything in her will to become the most powerful fire alicorn in Equestria. Likely out of jealousy, or for the same reasons that Lord Tirek had, when he drained everypony's magic."

"I always believed that alicorns were supposed to be the guardians of Equestria, the ones that keep our fires burning, and our harmony connected." Fluttershy gave her input. "Why would one of them want to do such a terrible thing?"

"They must have their reasons, considering how Luna once became Nightmare Moon." Twilight reminded, before turning back to Sunset. "Fortunately, I was able to find this book, which describes everything important that we'd want to know, considering this is a foe that none of us have ever faced before. This section right here, I've bookmarked, because it's the only known knowledge regarding fire alicorns that I'm aware of. There might possibly be more leads in the restricted section, but I'm just worried we won't have enough time to read up on everything, before it's too late."

Sunset nodded gravely as she took in the information, her eyes scanning the book with intense focus. This admittedly almost seemed like a privilege for her, being able to learn seemingly forbidden magic that was out of her area of expertise, much like she once did with the magic mirror. The book's page mostly described the magical abilities of a fire alicorn, along with how they're able to enhance their strength with dragon fire. Eventually, Sunset scanned a paragraph of the last page, which astonished her so much, that she felt the need to read it aloud.

"Since fire alicorns entail using an elemental magic from a different species, it is considered forbidden to utilize these arts in your studies." Sunset read, as she continued reading on. "The magic is capable of altering one's physical body, and the amount of dragon fire absorbed will manifest. Eventually, the assimilation would cause the user to become warped beyond recognition, coming with a taxing mental and magical cost. If the user complies with these sacrifices of their mental sanity and natural magic, an ancient ritual is performed, granting full access to the special abilities of a fire alicorn, including exclusive spells. But if the user does not willingly comply to sacrifice these necessities, once the ritual has begun, they instead get sent to the... Den of Disharmony?"

Twilight and everypony else looked to each other with concern, as they had mostly only been discussing strategies on how they could team up to fight this unknown threat. Hearing this, although most of them had no idea what this forbidden ritual and transformation truly entailed, it seemed much more serious than any other foe they've faced in the past.

"The Den of Disharmony... dare I even ask what that is?" Sunset turned back to Twilight.

"I don't know much about this place either, but I do vaguely recall Celestia mentioning it, when I questioned her about other potential threats I should be aware of, once she stepped down." Twilight began explaining. "Supposedly, the Den of Disharmony is a realm of havoc and malice, where those who seek power through forbidden means end up getting casted to, as a form of punishment, it's like... the complete antithesis of the School of Friendship. Even though it sounds like Tartarus to an extent, it makes even Tartarus itself seem like a luxury hotel in comparison. The realm is completely populated with strong and vicious monsters, with powers far beyond those that are locked away in Tartarus, but luckily, as far as I'm aware, we've never had the misfortune of encountering any being associated with that realm."

"Well, if we're dealin' with a foe that's got a taste for such power, we've got our work cut out for us." Applejack chimed in. "But if there's one thing I've learned from being around you all, it's that no matter what we face, we're stronger together."

"So let's get to it." Rainbow encouraged. "What's the plan to stop this fire alicorn before they start wreakin' havoc?"

"First thing we must do is locate her." Twilight instructed. "The book mentions that fire alicorns are drawn to places of intense heat and magical activity. We should start with the volcanic regions of Equestria, I'll coordinate with the royal guards of Canterlot and organize search parties. As for the Bewitching Bell, we shouldn't have to worry about that anymore, now that we've absorbed the Dragonstone's dragon fire."

"Wait a minute, Twilight." Starlight gave her own input. "You mean that we should call off the search for Chestnut Magnifico, and prioritize finding the fire alicorn?"

"We didn't have the opportunity to do much searching at all, given our duties at the School of Friendship." Fluttershy reminded. "And with what little searching we did do, we couldn't find traces of any suspicious activity going on throughout Equestria."

"Maybe we could throw a party, and invite the fire alicorn, too?" Pinkie suggested. "If we show her how much fun we can have with friendship, she might not want to be all grumpy and mean anymore!"

"As simple of a solution as that would be, I'd imagine that's most likely not going to be an option, Pinkie." Sunset replied, before thinking of what she herself could do to contribute. "With what little time left I have in Equestria, and no solid leads on where to find either Chestnut Magnifico or this fire alicorn, I'm not really sure where we should start looking."

"Well, darling, I've got quite the extensive network of acquaintances across Equestria, perhaps one of them has seen or heard something that could point us in the right direction?" Rarity suggested with a hint of optimism in her voice. "Besides, I've always had a knack for piecing together puzzles, and it seems we've got quite the mystery on our hooves here."

"To answer your question, Starlight, I don't believe we should immediately dismiss Chestnut, now that we have the perfect opportunity to search around Equestria as a team." Twilight said, after giving it some deep thought. "Whether it's Chestnut or this fire alicorn, we'll need to eventually report back any new revelations we've discovered on our own time, which will strengthen our chances. When the time comes, the ones who encounter either threat will gather the best team they can assemble, and it will be important to put a stop to them as soon as possible. I fear that if we give either of these foes enough time to gather their strength, we'll be far too late to stop them all, together. Should it come to pass that the fire alicorn ends up escaping, I shall look into casting a special protection spell around Equestria, which will limit their powers and protect us all for some time. Does anypony have any objections?"

"None from me, Twilight." Rainbow replied. "If we can split up and cover more ground, then we've got a better shot at finding either of them. Just tell me where to go, and I'll be there faster than a shooting star!"

"Rainbow Dash and I will investigate the dragon lands, since you mentioned that's the first place we would likely find a supposed fire alicorn." Applejack suggested.

"Pinkie and I could perhaps scope out Las Pegasus, considering this Chestnut Magnifico pony has a real liking to the finer things in life." Rarity volunteered.

"She'd better not be crashing somepony else's birthday party, or else I'm going to be REALLY angry." Pinkie added.

"I'm leaning more towards volcanic regions, especially since I recently came out of one myself, back on Everfree Island." Twilight proposed. "Fluttershy, think you can come with me, in case there's dragons that will act hostile towards us?"

"Of course, Twilight." Fluttershy agreed. "I'll do my best to keep everyone safe, and I'll talk to the dragons if we need to. Maybe they've heard something about this fire alicorn."

"Alright, then that just leaves Starlight and I." Sunset looked towards the aforementioned unicorn. "Do you have any idea where we should go to investigate?"

"I'm still thinking of a potential area, but I'm sure we can figure something out." Starlight kept pondering. "We'll get back to you on that decision, Twilight. The worst thing we can do is give either Chestnut or this fire alicorn more time. Dwelling on where we'll search will only make our chances slimmer, so you should all go on ahead to your respective destinations."

"That's true." Twilight nodded. "It's decided, then. Starlight, you are to accompany Sunset wherever she goes, and use your magic to protect her, should she come across any unexpected threats. She already lost her horn thanks to the Bewitching Bell, so it's absolutely essential that you stick together at all times."

"Of course, Twilight." Starlight nodded. "I'm more than ready to protect Sunset, I've learned so much from her, and I owe it to her to keep her safe. Besides, together, we make a pretty unbeatable team, I'm sure we can handle anything thrown our way."

"And Sunset, I can't stress this enough." Twilight gave a friendly reminder. "I know things look dire for Equestria right now, but if you ever feel the need to return back to the Human World for your graduation at CHS, please, always remember that you are more than welcome to. The last thing any of us would want to do, is rob you of your opportunity to attend such an important event, due to circumstances outside of your control. If you believe time is too tight on your end, by all means, use the mirror to return there. The mirror's now located in the Canterlot library's restricted section, and I've specifically instructed Mr. Steele to let you in, just in case you forgot how to get inside."

"Thanks for understanding, Twilight." Sunset responded. "But right now, I'm all in for Equestria, I just know that deep down, I can't leave Equestria behind when everything's become this urgent. Plus, I've got Starlight by my side, and I've got full trust in her to keep me safe. As for everypony else, I wish you all the best of luck, please stay safe."

Hearing this, Twilight knew it was finally time to conduct the ultimate search party. Everyone now had their objectives in mind, and understood that for the sake of Equestria, both of these threats needed to be dealt with.

"Move out!" Twilight instructed the rest of the council, as six of the eight ponies went off in opposite directions, leaving only Sunset and Starlight behind. Twilight also retrieved Sour Sweet, as she needed to bring the former royal guard back to Canterlot. Sunset meanwhile, trotted around the castle's meeting room, knowing that any false leads would only waste their already limited time, which was certainly not an option, given that there were now two different threats lurking around Equestria.

"I'm really not sure where we should investigate." Sunset kept pondering. "Equestria's a huge place, and if even the rest of the council hasn't found anything suspicious that would indicate the presence of either threat, we can't just hastily pick a place, only to find nothing."

"Don't worry, Sunset." Starlight assured. "I know we're under pressure, but let's take a moment to think strategically. If we can't decide on a specific location, then we should go somewhere that might provide us with more information or hints. Perhaps we should check the map?"

"I think I may still have a map in my saddlebag, let me check real fast." Sunset began searching through her satchel.

"No no, not that map." Starlight began pointing towards the map she was referring to. "This one, in front of all the chairs. I know at first glance it just looks like a crystal table with some projected images, but the rest of the council and I have been using this map for a while now. It's been sending us to specific areas across Equestria to solve various friendship problems."

"Oh yeah." Sunset trotted over to the Friendship Map. "I think I remember Twilight writing to me about this, and she amusingly mentioned that it felt like a fancier version of what she used to do, writing to Celestia about what she's learned about friendship every single week. Hmm, and this is the first time I'm seeing it for myself, how does this work, exactly?"

"For the most part, as far as I'm aware, it's pretty much random whenever the map calls on any of us for a specific friendship problem." Starlight began. "Supposedly, whenever a friendship problem crops up, our cutie marks glow, and when we check the map, it'll point us to a specific area in Equestria. The tricky bit being, it won't directly tell you what exactly the friendship problem entails, nor who specifically it'll involve. We have to figure it out on our own, but I suppose that's the point, to give ourselves more experience."

"Sounds pretty interesting, but I don't really think that's going to help our current situation." Sunset said. "I mean, unless the map is just going to specifically point me to a region of Equestria we should investigate, it's probably none of our concern."

But just as Sunset said this, she noticed a strange glow emitting around her. Unsure of what was going on, she instinctively questioned the only thing on her mind.

"What's going on, is this an effect from the Dragonstone?" Sunset looked around.

"Sunset, look!" Starlight pointed at Sunset's flank. "Your cutie mark!"

A projection of Sunset's cutie mark flew around the room, emanating sparkles, before eventually settling down onto the map itself. The two mares looked to each other in astonishment at both the timing and convenience.

"Looks like I spoke too soon, perhaps this is a sign that we actually have a lead, after all!" Sunset watched her cutie mark transcend. "It's... only my cutie mark too, as if the map believes I'm the only one who can solve this friendship problem. Well, I've technically solved a number of friendship problems throughout this entire journey already, but this is the first time the map itself is calling me. Where's it pointing us to, specifically?"

"According to the map, it looks like... Mustangia." Starlight's eyes widened, before groaning. "Great, out of all places in Equestria, it wants us to go there?"

"Hmm, I remember vaguely hearing about Mustangia from somepony else." Sunset alluded to when she met Pony Wallflower Blush. "What seems to be the problem with Mustangia, did you happen to have a fight with somepony there?"

"Well, Mustangia is known for their... unique take on friendship, to say the least." Starlight rolled her eyes. "They're rather independent and exclusive, which can sometimes lead to less cooperation than we'd like to see. More specifically, Twilight and I have met with their town's sheriff, and she made it pretty clear that their residents prefer keeping to themselves, whilst shunning foreigners. But if the map's pointing us there, then there must be something more serious going on."

"Fascinating." Sunset pondered the potential reason as to why she was being called on by the map. "So I take it that means you've never been to Mustangia, yourself?"

"That's right, I've never even seen what the town itself looks like." Starlight nodded. "But I know from experience that if the map's pointing us somewhere specific, then we have to trust it. Besides, you're pretty good at dealing with challenging ponies, from the looks of it. I don't really know Sour Sweet all that well myself, but it looks like you really showed her the true meaning of friendship."

"Thanks, Starlight." Sunset smiled. "I think we'll just have to tread carefully in Mustangia, and if they're not exactly welcoming to us, we might have to find a way to win them over. Well, in that case, now that we have a somewhat clear destination..."

Sunset took a moment to come up with a snappy exit-line, before thinking up the perfect one.

"Come on Glimmer, let's go Shimmer." Sunset said, as Starlight giggled at Sunset's ingenuity.

As the two mares trotted out of the castle, they were suddenly joined by Sunburst, who had finished escorting the students back to the School of Friendship.

"Sunset, Starlight, now that the students are all back at the school, I may be of some assistance." Sunburst explained. "I presume Twilight already gave you the rundown of the entire plan, and you're now ready to search around Equestria for the three new threats?"

"Two new threats, actually." Starlight corrected. "Sunset mentioned that she and the students already ran into the Stagma Beetles, and that they'll no longer be a problem for Equestria. And yes, while you were gone, we gave Sunset the rundown of everything else we had previously discussed. In fact, the map actually called her to solve a friendship problem in Mustangia."

"Mustangia, huh?" Sunburst reflected. "I've always been curious about that place, but I never had the chance to visit."

"I'm just admittedly surprised that the map chose to call me for a friendship problem." Sunset said. "I mean, I'm actually not officially part of the council, and I've only been back to Equestria for less than a week."

"We definitely all consider you part of the council now, especially after you officially met everypony at Twilight's coronation." Starlight assured. "The map doesn't just call ponies exclusive to the council, heck, Twilight didn't actually form the council itself until after the coronation."

"It even called ME one time too." Sunburst recalled. "Somepony who lives outside of Ponyville. I was just as surprised as anypony else, that's for sure."

"Well, it looks like we've got our mission, then." Sunset giggled. "Let's hope we can get some solid intel from the locals there. It's just that... I'm a bit worried, considering what Starlight's described of Mustangia. If we can't get the residents to cooperate with us, we'll pretty much have hit a dead end. If we could find somepony who's more familiar with that town, perhaps they could give us some tips on how we should approach them."

"That might be a problem for us, since as far as I'm aware, Mustangia seems to take pride for its exclusivity." Starlight replied. "The residents either choose to not leave their town, and the ones who do leave are shunned by the rest of the community. At least, that's what the sheriff of their town claimed. Plus, I don't know anypony off the top of my head we could easily find, who's familiar with Mustangia."

"Hmm, wait just a minute, now!" Sunburst remembered something crucial. "Starlight, didn't you mention once how Double Diamond loves to ski in his free time, and that he's skied in a number of snowy regions throughout Equestria, including Mustangia?"

"That's right!" Starlight's eyes lit up with realization. "Double Diamond might be able to give us some insight on the place, or even help us blend in. And we can certainly find him pretty easily, he resides in the very same town I founded. To save time, let's just teleport there, together. Come on, Sunset, Sunburst, you know the drill by now."

Sunset and Sunburst held hooves with Starlight, as she teleported the trio all the way over to Our Town. Nearby residents took notice of this, and gave friendly waves, upon seeing their town leader return. Some of the nearby residents even recognized Sunset, including some familiar faces.

"Starlight, good to see you again." Night Glider smiled. "And you too, Sunset, it's a pleasant surprise to see you both again."

"Awww, what am I, chopped horseradish?" Sunburst pouted.

"My apologies, Sunburst." Night Glider turned to the stallion. "It's just that we don't really know you all that well, and you've never really visited Our Town much."

"Alright, I guess that's fair." Sunburst shrugged.

"Oh, and Sunset?" Night Glider recalled a special promise she made. "Just so you know, I'm still digging through my home's belongings, trying to find any clues as to where we might be able to find Solstice. I haven't had much luck yet, but I'm doing everything I can for you, especially after all we've been through together on Everfree Island."

"Thank you, Night Glider, that means a lot to me." Sunset grinned. "But unfortunately, we can't really focus on that right now, as we've got another urgent matter to attend to. Do you by any chance know where this Double Diamond is?"

"He should be in his home right now, polishing his ski trophies." Night Glider pointed.

"Perfect, let's pay him a visit." Starlight motioned her team over to the respective house. "Thanks!"

As the trio trotted over to the house on the far end of Our Town, they stopped for a moment along the way, upon seeing Sugar Belle, looking forlorn and heartbroken, and accompanied by Party Favor.

"Sugar Belle?" Starlight approached the unicorn. "Is everything okay?"

"No, it's not at all." Sugar Belle sniffled. "Don't worry about me, I'll be fine."

"She's been like this all day, and I've tried everything I could do to cheer her up." Party Favor explained.

"Come on, Sugar Belle." Sunburst insisted. "We may be on a mission right now, but we're willing to lend an ear. What's been troubling you?"

"Well... it's regarding my husband, Big McIntosh." Sugar Belle explained. "Apparently, Applejack and her friends ended up getting stuck between a rock and a hard place, and eventually, she had no choice but to give up Granny Smith's special red ruby gold necklace. Although Big Mac understood why Applejack had to do what she did, it didn't make it any less heartbreaking for him, given the necklace's sentimental value. Now he's fallen into a depression himself, and it's even been taking a toll on me, as well."

Sunset and Starlight both looked to each other, remembering how it all happened, and in the end, Chestnut Magnifico still ended up coming out on top, along with escaping swiftly. Knowing that Chestnut's actions affected Sugar Belle like this, and presumably the rest of Applejack's family as well, they became more determined than ever to potentially find Chestnut and end the conflict with the power-hungry thief, once and for all.

"I'm really sorry to hear that, Sugar Belle." Sunset empathized with Sugar Belle's distress. "I know how much that necklace means to your family, and I'm sure we can all understand Big Mac's pain. All I can say is, if we manage to find the pony who took the necklace by force, we'll make sure she pays the ultimate price for her crimes."

"Thank you..." Sugar Belle nodded, weakly. "That's all I could ever ask for."

As the trio was ready to trot off once more, they were stopped again, this time by another seemingly cryptic revelation from Party Favor.

"Hey wait a second, I remember you." Party Favor pointed at Sunset. "Errr... Sunny S. right?"

Sunset's eyes widened in surprise upon hearing this distinct name once more, which she originally believed was referring to Mayor Sunny Skies. It was just then that she realized this was the same Party Favor she had initially met in that ruined future timeline, and it sounded like he had already met this Sunny S. in question. The fact that the stallion implied that he was able to recognize her by just looking at Sunset, it already brought some incredibly concerning possibilities. Sunset stayed behind for a moment, hoping to get a more clear answer.

"No, actually." Sunset corrected. "My name's Sunset Shimmer, I think you may be mistaking me for somepony else."

"Really?" Party Favor raised an eyebrow. "I mean, Sunny S. still sounds like it fits that name perfectly, maybe it's your nickname, and you've forgotten? All I remember is that you wanted to go to Manehattan yesterday to meet Rara, formerly known as Countess Coloratura."

"Huh...?" Sunset felt that this raised even more questions than answers. "I'm afraid that you are definitely mistaking me with somepony else, because I definitely didn't have time to do that yesterday."

"Well that's odd, because I eventually met with Rara myself, and she had some wonderful things to say about you." Party Favor recalled. "You even showed that nasty Svengallop a thing or two about being a greedy scumbag."

"Did... you ever hear about where, ahem... 'I' ended up going after that?" Sunset questioned.

"Hmm, I'm afraid Rara didn't mention anything about that." Party Favor shrugged. "But I suppose if that wasn't you, it was just a misunderstanding and mistake on my end. Sorry for the confusion, if that was the case."

"Right then, well, thanks for the heads up, anyways." Sunset said, before turning back to Starlight and Sunburst, as the three ponies went off to Double Diamond's house.

"Something tells me Party Favor truly had an encounter with somepony he clearly shouldn't have." Starlight tried her best to come up with a theory, especially considering what she saw in that ruined future timeline, as well.

Sunset meanwhile, decided not to pay much mind to this, considering Party Favor didn't seem to know anything else regarding this... Sunny S. at all. Regardless of what was really happening behind the scenes, Sunset mostly figured that if either Chestnut Magnifico or Indigo Zap were roaming around Equestria, disguising themselves as her, they certainly had another thing coming. As such, the trio made it all the way over to Double Diamond's house without any further comment on this seeming revelation that still led nowhere. Starlight knocked on the door, before the stallion in question opened up, greeting the trio.

"Starlight, I was wondering when you would return." Double Diamond addressed their town leader. "And what do I owe the pleasure of bumping into you today?"

"Double Diamond, we actually need your advice, given how we're about to take a trip to Mustangia." Starlight said with urgency. "You're familiar with that particular town, right?"

"Ah, Mustangia." Double Diamond nodded thoughtfully. "Yes, I've had the pleasure of skiing there a few times, it's quite the picturesque place, but I can't say the same about the residents. Their hospitality leaves something to be desired, and they're just a peculiar bunch, quite set in their ways. What did you need to know?"

"Well, that's just it." Sunset began explaining. "We're on a mission to solve a problem there, but unfortunately, if the residents aren't going to be welcoming, and immediately chase us away, it's going to make everything much harder than it needs to be. Since you've actually skied there before, do you have any advice as to how we can get the folks there to cooperate with us?"

"The Mustangians are certainly tough nuts to crack, for sure." Double Diamond elaborated. "Don't know much about how they operate as a town, but I've heard rumors that they value strength and independence. I showed them that I was capable and self-reliant with my own skiing skills, and managed to earn enough of their respect. They allowed me to ski on their snowy hills, but their sheriff wasn't wild about the idea, given I had no connections with anypony from their town. In the end, my best guess is that if you don't have any connections with somepony native to Mustangia, you might be out of luck."

Hearing this, Sunset realized that although she did know one particular Mustangian, there was no guarantee if this particular friendship could strengthen their relations with the other residents. It still seemed better than nothing, given how Double Diamond was able to ski freely there, without any connections to their townsfolks.

"It seems we're going to have to get creative, then." Sunburst brainstormed. "Perhaps we could find a way to demonstrate our own strengths, or maybe even organize some kind of friendship event that would appeal to them? Either way, we appreciate the tips, Double Diamond. I guess we should head over to this Mustangia place right now."

"Whoa whoa, just a minute now!" Double Diamond stopped the trio for a moment. "I'm well familiar with the seasons in Equestria for skiing, and know for a fact that this time of the year, Mustangia is extremely frigid. I certainly wouldn't advise you all to just travel there like that, not unless you intend to freeze like popsicles. I'm talking high winds and a relentless blizzard."

"I know from experience that not even magic can continuously keep you warm." Starlight heeded Double Diamond's advice. "What would you suggest as proper gear?"

"Nothing fancy, other than some wool hats and scarves." Double Diamond suggested. "Here, I've got a couple of spares in my home, ordered them yesterday from this place known as Pommel's Piqué. According to the tags, somepony known as Miss Valencia designed these garments, and she certainly knows what she's doing!"

Double Diamond went inside to fetch the aforementioned items, as Sunset grinned upon hearing that Coco and Vignette were still doing quite well for themselves. A few moments later, the stallion brought out a cardboard box, and handed the hats and scarves to the trio. Sunset and Starlight both noticed that one of their garments seemed quite familiar in pattern, coincidentally something they had worn before as humans in the Human World. Everyone put on their scarves and hats, as Double Diamond felt more assured that they wouldn't be as susceptible to the bitter cold.

"These are the warmest pieces of clothing you'll find in all of Equestria." Double Diamond explained. "They're designed to keep in your body heat, and resist the coldest of winds, just make sure to bundle up tight, and you'll be fine. Now that you're all set, I wish you the best of luck, Mustangia is a tough place for even the most seasoned of adventurers."

"Thank you, Double Diamond." Starlight smiled at her soft and comfy garments. "We'll make sure to use your advice wisely."

Human Sunset had just awoken to a brand new morning, but the dream sequence from earlier still seemed to serve as a warning, and a reason for her to be afraid of Pony Sunset, especially when she'd inevitably return to the Human World for her graduation at CHS. The Crystal Prep Academy dropout got off of her couch, rubbing her eyes, and began formulating her next move. It was clear that with what little time she had left, it was in Human Sunset's best interest to find something to combat Pony Sunset with, given how her destined foe originated from a world that ran on magic.

"Well, that dream definitely settles it, then." Human Sunset yawned and stretched, as she was getting ready to start her day. "Before I even think of getting any further revenge, I've gotta find a way to protect myself against someone who must be well familiar with magic. It seems like if I have no other choice, I'll have to go back through that Equestria place once more, in the hopes of finding something that'll let me stand a chance against my imposter."

As Human Sunset walked over to a nearby coffee table, she took notice of Clover the Clever's old journal, and remembered that if she needed any information regarding Equestria and magical artifacts, this was the key to her chances of prevailing. She began skimming a number of the pages, trying to find anything she could, before preparing another trip through Equestria to get whatever she needed to fight her doppelganger.

"Looks like I'm going to be here for a while, but it seems like my drive for revenge has fully woken me up." Human Sunset said to herself. "If I had a cup of hot coffee on me right now, I wouldn't even want to drink it, as much as I'd like to throw that coffee right into Principal Cinch's face."

After gathering directions and arranging for a form of transportation, Sunset, Starlight, and Sunburst all arrived around the gates of Mustangia. The trio was certainly glad that they took Double Diamond's advice, as he wasn't kidding at all about the freezing cold temperatures. As they entered through the door's open gates, Sunset immediately took notice of the town's surrounding residents, giving them either confused or nasty looks. Regardless of their gestures, it became pretty clear that the townsfolks were anything but welcoming, and that their preference for keeping exclusivity seemed to be their number one priority. Before the three ponies could venture even further into Mustangia, they were suddenly stopped, and to both Sunset and Starlight, the voice sounded quite familiar.

"Hold it right there!" Sugarcoat blew her security whistle, before approaching the trio. "Sheriff Sugarcoat's the name, and I don't believe you ponies are natives to Mustangia. What do you think you're doing, marching on in here, unannounced?"

Starlight groaned at this, remembering how much of a hardheaded mare this particular sheriff was, and she wasn't looking forward to putting up with it again. Sunset meanwhile, mostly just remembered getting off on the wrong hoof with Pony Sugarcoat at the train station, but she hadn't realized Sugarcoat was actually Mustangia's sheriff. If the map had called her here to settle things with the sheriff specifically, Sunset deduced that she most likely had even bigger problems than Chestnut or the fire alicorn.

"Well, speak up, would you!?" Sugarcoat pushed for an answer. "I don't have all day to watch you outsiders blankly stare at me, so if you don't come up with an answer, I'll have to escort you out!"

"Let's just say, we're looking for something, or even somepony, that could be causing trouble in Mustangia." Starlight tried her best to explain. "Since you hold a high rank of power in this town, we were hoping to get some information that could lead us to the source of the problem."

"Excuse me?" Sugarcoat huffed. "I think you should watch what you say, unless you want me to stop being nice."

"Sheriff Sugarcoat, please, we mean no harm." Sunburst insisted. "We're here because the Friendship Map led us here, and we suspect it's because there's an issue that needs our help. Could you possibly point us in the right direction?"

"More specifically, a friendship problem." Sunset added. "If you allow us to stay here for a few hours and get to the bottom of this, we would really appreciate it."

"Friendship problem, you say?" Sugarcoat scoffed. "Let me tell you upfront, we don't take kindly to strangers poking their noses in our affairs here in Mustangia. If you want to solve a so-called friendship problem and make friends, I suggest you look elsewhere, like at that School of Friendship place that I occasionally hear about. Now get lost!"

Mustangia's sheriff immediately escorted the trio back out through the town's gates, making certain to keep their town's exclusivity.

"Hey, what's the big idea!?" Sunburst protested. "You can't just kick us out of the town like that, it's not like we were committing crimes or disturbing the peace!"

"You're not welcome here, and that's final." Sugarcoat stared coldly at the trio. "Now, I don't want to have to call for backup, so I suggest you all turn your tails around and trot back to where you came from."

"Come on, that's not fair!" Starlight protested. "Surely Mustangia has some sort of law that would prohibit you from just outright gatekeeping like this!"

"Mustangia has its own rules, and our residents make it very clear about who we let into our town." The sheriff's stern gaze bore into the trio as she raised her hoof, her voice as cold as the winds that whipped through the town itself. "If we all unanimously don't trust you, then you're not welcome here, simple as that."

"Well that is just... dumb!" Sunburst snapped. "What kind of a rule is that, this is supposed to be a town, not a private clubhouse!"

"Keep it down, or I'll be forced to take further action!" Sugarcoat motioned for a large crowd of Mustangia's residents to trot over, in an attempt to intimidate these outsiders. "I'm not going to repeat myself again, leave!"

"Hang on a second." Sunset spoke up. "You said the vote has to be unanimous, correct? Well then, why don't we cast a vote right now, and see if that particular condition is intact?"

"Hmph." Sugarcoat huffed. "You really want to do this right now, even when it's so obviously clear what we're all going to choose in the end?"

"Are... you sure this is a good idea?" Starlight whispered.

"Just trust me on this, it may be our only hope at getting invited in." Sunset replied, quietly, before turning back to the sheriff. "Yeah, that's right, let's all take a vote. Unless you're actually afraid that one of your residents will take a vote against you."

"You're on, but just know that I've got the whole town's support here." Sugarcoat turned back to Mustangia's residents. "All in favor of these three outsiders leaving Mustangia for good, no questions asked?"

"Aye!" A vast majority of the crowd raised their hooves, casting their vote.

"Well, that about settles it, then." Sugarcoat turned back to the trio, amused. "Now why don't you go on home and leave us be, like you rightfully should?"

"Not so fast." Sunset stopped the sheriff. "Aren't you forgetting to also cast a vote regarding anypony who would be in favor of us NOT being booted from Mustangia?"

"Alright, fine." Sugarcoat sighed, as she addressed the crowd once more. "Anypony who thinks these three should be allowed to stay and snoop around, speak now."

The crowd went dead silent for a few moments, before one of the residents emerged from the crowd. In fact, upon hearing Sunset's voice, she became absolutely determined to fight for her new friend's rights, and not become overruled by Mustangia's busted and arbitrary system. The once seemingly invisible mare had finally made her presence known, and trotted over to the sheriff, ready to make a stand.

"Now listen here..." Wallflower Blush pointed at Sugarcoat. "As the town's sheriff, how can you just kick out some ponies who've done absolutely nothing wrong?"

"Ugh, are we really doing this now?" Sugarcoat rolled her eyes in frustration, before narrowing them at Wallflower. "Great, just great. This is exactly what we all needed at a time like this. Back to the shadows with you, Miss Blush. We Mustangians have no interest in housing these putrid outsiders!"

"Why not!?" Wallflower protested. "They're all ponies, just the same as everypony else here! Besides, didn't we already come to another unanimous vote to allow our residents outside of Mustangia?"

"Mostly to get supplies and other necessities, but that's besides the point!" Sugarcoat frowned. "But I hope you understand that I voted on that for a more personal reason. I only decided to let you off your leash, because I grew ever so weary of your incessant yapping."

"And you're dodging the point as well, Sheriff!" Wallflower accused. "If we can allow some of us to leave the town, why can't we allow somepony from outside to enter?"

"Miss Blush, enough!" Sugarcoat ceased the conversation. "Why don't you head back to your little flower garden and play some games with your imaginary friends?"

"It's absolutely insulting that you would say that about me, in front of all the townsfolks." Wallflower stomped her hoof. "Do you even realize what I'm doing right now? I don't need any imaginary friends, because I have a real friend right here!"

As Wallflower pointed at Sunset, the rest of the town's residents gasped, perplexed at the idea of a Mustangian and outsider actually being friends, given their town's built-in philosophies. This prompted everypony else to whisper among each other, further fueling the sheriff's annoyance.

"Cease your incessant mewling, or I may consider forcing you out of Mustangia, as well!" Sugarcoat snapped.

"If that's what you want, then just go for it." Wallflower challenged. "Not that I care, now that I've realized Mustangia's policies have always been nothing but trash, and the main reason why I could never make any real friends, becoming invisible to the rest of Equestria! These ponies on the other hoof... are obviously here for a reason. And you have no right to force your arbitrary beliefs onto them, just because you have a position of power that you think you can use to intimidate everypony to get what you want!"

Everypony on both sides of Mustangia's main gate suddenly froze, and ironically, not from the cold winds. Just as Wallflower Blush said this, all ponies focused their eyes on Sugarcoat, anticipating the sheriff's response after this particular exchange. Whatever the sheriff was about to say would either make the biggest difference in Equestria, or create an even more frustrating challenge for Sunset, Starlight, and Sunburst...