RETURNING IT TO SENDER (REMASTERD)

It was 2:30pm. The final bell rang, school was out for the weekend, the students of Canterlot High either went home or stayed for after school activities. Among them 7 teenage girls walk out of the school chatting with one another, Rainbow Dash was going on about next week's Soccer game, but the only one of her six friends that wasn't paying much attention was Sunset Shimmer, her mind was on other things, specifically a package that is now waiting for her to pick up when she gets home.

The girls walk together down the path, pass the statue and stood on the sidewalk.

"Everyone on the team is showing awesome improvements with each practice. If we keep this up, we're sure to make it to the finals and win." Said Rainbow Dash with a hint of pride.

"Thats great Rainbow, and good luck with that." Says Sunset with an eager impatient look on her face. "I'm sorry to cut our little chat short but I gotta go there something waiting for me at home." Sunset rubs her hands together as she deviously glared in the direction of her home. "So, see you girls later...Bye." And with that Sunset ran off before any of her friends could say anything.

"Wow that girl moves faster than mah sister when she smells granny freshly baked apple pie, and that's after she all tired out from doing chores." Said Applejack.

"No surprise there, darling." Said Rarity. "After all she's been keeping track of that package she ordered all week, I'm just surprised she didn't run straight home the second the final bell rang."

The other five girls nodded their heads in agreement.

"Auuuggghhhh! I just wish she tell us what she ordered." Huff Rainbow in annoyance. "Like you said Rarity she been keeping track of that thing all week, her eyes constantly glued to her phone."

"Now sugercube, you know Sunset doesn't want us to know, she told us multiple times that its none of our business and its personal only to her, so we should respect her privacy." Said Applejack.

"Privacy, If she wanted privacy, she shouldn't have been constantly drawing attention to it." Rainbow sigh. "Thats like if Celestia keeps calling me over the schools intercom to come to her office multiple times in one day and keeps it up through out the week, not only that but I also be spending most of the school day in her office, missing hours of classes." Rainbow straighten herself up. "And seeing how the whole school knows who I am, their not just gonna brush it off like its nothing, they'll get suspicious and want to know the truth and if the truth somehow involves me and Celestia wanting to keep things secret, THEN WHY THE HECK WOULD WE BE CONSTANTLY DRAWING ATTENTION TO OUR SELVES BY USING THE SCHOOL INTERCOM? that's just stupid."

"Dashie haves a point." Says Pinkie. "Sunset's constant tracking of her mail in front of everyone like that and saying that its none of our business when we ask what it is, is only making those around her extremely curious and would only drive them into knowing what it is no matter what."

Applejack lowers her head. "Ah guess your right." Aj raise her head. "But that doesn't mean you should give in to temptation, we all have secrets and we should respect that to the fullest, not go behind someone back to learn the truth." AJ look at each of her friends before speaking. "Would any of Ya'll like it if someone goes through your stuff to learn your secrets."

The five girls shook their heads.

AJ smiled. "Good cause remember Honesty as well as Loyalty are important when it comes to this kind of thing. I know we all deep down wanna know Sunset's secret, but we should still respect her privacy no matter what."

The five girls all each agreed with AJ.

"Well if their isn't anything else, I'm gonna head on home." Said Twilight.

"Your not going to the library today, darling?" Asked Rarity.

"No not today. I just made a break through on this science project I been working on and I really want get back to it." Answered Twilight.

"Yeah, you have fun with that." Rainbow starts backing away from the group. "I gotta hurry and get ready for practice. So I'll catch you girls later."

Everyone said their goodbyes and went their separate ways either going home or straight to work. In AJ's case both.

Twilight began her short walk home going over what to do with her experiment while going over the notes she kept in her journal. Before Twilight knew it, she made it to her house ten minutes before three. There were no cars in the driveway, indicating that her family aren't home, meaning she will be home alone till night falls. Twilight put her journal away in her backpack and took her keys out her pocket as she walks up the pathway leading to her front porch. Upon reaching the porch Twilight notice a long black box sitting directly in front of the front door. "A package?" Twilight pick up the box without much thought. before unlocking the door and stepping inside.

Once inside, Twilight locks the front door and walked into the kitchen where she set the box down on kitchen table. Twilight barely gave the box a glance, knowing full well that it couldn't be for her. The test tubes she had ordered last week on Sunset’s laptop, were delivered to her yesterday. So, the package must belong to someone else in her family. Oh well, that’s not important to the science nerd at all, what is important is her science experiment. So, Twilight immediately headed straight to her lab, in the garage and got straight to work.

(4:30pm)

Twilight came out of her lab the second she was finish with her project. Everything was a success, and she couldn't be any prouder. Feeling thirsty, she headed straight for the kitchen to get a glass of water.

While drinking her water, Twilight’s eyes glanced at the long black box, sitting on the kitchen table, where she left it. Curious, she walked over to the table after finishing her drink and setting her cup on the counter.

She then picks up the box and examine it. She read the mail label and was confused at what it said. It haves Sunset Shimmer's name on it but the address was definitely Twilight's home address. "This must be Sunset's package? Did she somehow send it to my house by mistake? And what did she ordered that it needed come in a black box?" Many thoughts ran through the science girl head but one was pushing itself to the front of her mind.

Twilight looked around the kitchen, and the den, to search for any signs of any of her family members are home. She didn't find nor heard anything that would indicate that anyone was here. The coast was clear. She was completely alone in the house and her family wouldn't be back for a few more hours. So, with the box in hand, Twilight quickly ran upstairs to her bedroom, open the door, step inside, shut the door, and lock it.

Twilight laid her back on her bedroom door, hugging the package close to her chest, while breathing hard; as if she just ran a marathon. After taking sometime to calm herself. Twilight walk up to her bed and sat on it; with Sunset's package sitting in her lap.

Twilight stared at the package with extreme curiosity. There she was all alone with the item Sunset ordered and had been waiting all week for. Twilight could tell it was sent to her by mistake. She can already see that Sunset will definitely go to the post office, where she will learn where the package was sent and rush right over to retrieve it. Twilight looks at her digital clock sitting on her night stand. (4:33pm) Twilight doesn't know when Sunset might arrive. She could be here sooner or later. She hope for the latter. This is Twilight's only chance to see what it is Sunset ordered. If she's quick and careful she could easily repackage it, no problem. Twilight gulps. She knew this was wrong. She could make up whatever excuse she wants it won't change the fact that she let curiosity get the better of her...again. But despite all that Twilight took one hand and was about to start opening the box until...

"NO DON'T DO IT!"

Twilight hand stop immediately after hearing a voice. Out of fear she look around her room for the source.

"Who's their?...where are you?"

"I'm right here, in front you."

Twilight faced forward just in time to see a tiny version of herself appear out of nowhere, floating in mid air. She was just tall as a pencil and she was wearing the same magical outfit Twilight wore when she first pony up at Camp Everfree in the fight against Gloriosa.

Twilight stared wide eyed at the mini version of herself. Completely flabbergasted at what she's seeing. But because of the magical mishaps she had in the past. Seeing a mini Twilight doesn't stun her for long.

Twilight shakes her head to clear out her confusion. "Who are you?" Asked Twilight.

Mini Twilight straighten her self up before speaking. "I'm you!...Well the most accurate term is I'm your conscience."

Twilight raise an eyebrow. "My conscience???? So did my magic somehow gave you life?

Mini Twilight shook her head. "Nope; no magic involved at all. I really don't exist; I'm just a figment of your imagination," points at Twilight. "that you conjured up because your mind is at war with itself. I represent the part of your mind that prevents you from making bad decisions. Meaning I'm here to stop you from opening that." Mini Twilight points at the black box in Twilight's lap.

Twilight looks at the box; feeling a bit awful for even considering opening it.

"I mean come on Twilight; you know that Sunset's mail; she's been waiting for it all week."

"But it was delivered to me so-"

Mini Twilight groan. "Your not an idiot Twilight, you can clearly see that this was sent to you by mistake and it doesn't take a meteorologist to figure out how it happened. Sunset clearly didn't check to make sure all the information she put down was correct before she place her order. It makes sense to believe when you used her computer last week to order your test tubes. Neither you or Sunset cleared out the auto fill tab. Which is why her package got sent here."

Twilight knew that was a possibility. She thought about it earlier when she saw the label on the package. But her curiosity overshadowed her logic.

"And don't think I've forgotten that pathetic excuse you tried to make." Mini Twi crosses her arms and glares at Twilight; making the science nerd recoil in fear. "That package wasn't delivered to you, it was delivered to your house. Your name isn't even on it either. But if you want to used that mess up logic then that means the package could belong too anyone living in this house....YOU DON'T LIVE HERE ALONE TWILIGHT!"

Twilight recoiled even more from Mini Twi words. Everything she said was the truth. Twilight was just making up dumb excuses in her head in order to justify opening the package.

Twilight bows her head in shame. "You're right." Twilight lifts her head to look at her mini self. “I have no reason or excuse to open up Sunset's mail knowing full well it was sent here by mistake."

Mini Twi smiled graciously. "As long as you finally understand what you almost did is wrong...that's enough for me." Mini Twi look over at Twilight's book bag and pointed at it. "Now take out your phone and call Sunset and let her know you have her mail and simply wait for her to get here and give it to her, easy peasy. I know you're still curious about what's in the box but trust me, you will feel really good knowing you did the right thing and feel even better letting Sunset know she can trust you 100%."

Twilight smiled gently at her mini self and nodded. She turned to her bookbag laying next to her on the bed, reach inside one of its pockets and pulled out her cell phone. After activating it Twi brought up her contacts list and scroll down pass all the other names on the list till she reach Sunset's. With a simple touch on the screen, Sunset's contact page pop up. Now all Twilight have to do is press the call button it was that simple. So why is she hesitating.

Mini Twilight smiled as she watch Twilight take out her phone and activated it. Happy to she Twi doing the right thing. She watch as Twilight go through her contacts list, she saw her click Sunset's name but Mini Twi smile slowly begin to fade as she just float there waiting for Twilight to press the call button.

About 30 seconds had pass and Twilight still didn't press the button. Growing both worried and impatient Mini Twi spoke up.

"Is something wrong with your phone? If there is you can just use the house phone!"

Twilight snap out of her trance and look up at mini Twi. "Uhhhh, N-No! N-Nothings wrong." Twilight said nervously.

Mini Twi raised an eyebrow, eyeing Twilight suspiciously "Then what's taking you so long to call Sunny?" Mini Twi leans forward and stares Twilight in the eye with a stern and disapproving look on her face. "You better not be having second thoughts about calling her and telling the truth."

Twilight started to sweat a little; darting her eyes around trying to avoid Mini Twi gaze. Mini Twi was not amused.

"TWILIGHT!!! Push the button and call Sunset RIGHT NOW!!!"

Twilight felt small compared too her mini clone. The science nerd knew she had to call Sunset; their was nothing she could say or do that will prevent her from doing it. But still deep down she really want to open the package despite knowing it was wrong. With no reason or excuse to not make the call. Twilight was just about to press the call button....

"STOP!!!"

Twilight froze after hearing the voice her finger just inches away from the call button. She looks around her room searching for the source of the voice. She then looks at mini Twilight, who had a frighten look of horror on her face.

"Oh no! Oh no, no, no, no, nooooo!"

"What! What's going on? Who was that? Who just called out." Asked Twilight.

Mini Twi snap out of her funk and glared angrily at her large self, causing Twilight to feel fear. "DAMN IT, TWILIGHT! WHY DIDN'T YOU JUST DO THE RIGHT THING IMMEDIATELY? NOW WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH-"

"ME!" said the second voice. Soon another mini version of Twilight appeared next to the first and the second Twilight saw her she recognized her immediately. For how could she ever forget-

"(groan) Midnight Sparkle!" Mini Twilight spat. Clearly not happy to see her evil Twin.

Midnight chuckled. "Happy to see you to Ms. Goodie goodie!"

Good Twilight, (that's what she'll be called from here on out) face palmed herself in annoyance cause of what's happening right now.

"Seriously! Are we doing this? Are we really doing this?"

Midnight nodded. Oh, yes my friend we are! The old shoulder angel and devil bit. He, he, he, classic!"

Good Twilight groaned in annoyance. "And here I thought I could appeal to your good nature and end this quickly, but nooooooo!" Good Twilight points at Twilight. "You just had to let your stupid curiosity get the better of you...AGAIN! Causing the war in your subconscious to spiral out of control until the bad part of you manifested into her!" she said as she pointed to Midnight, who just floated there smiling smugly. "Now I have to try and convince you to do the right thing while she tries to do the opposite, So why don't we just skip all that so you can call Sunset already!"

"Awww, come on! No need to be so hasty, besides I know you're just as curious to know what's inside the box as well!"

"OF COURSE I AM! Good Twilight yelled as she threw her arms in the air. "Like you I'm also apart of her, we know how she feels and we both share those feelings from her. So her curiosity is our curiosity, the difference between us is that I represent the part of her that wants to do what's right, while you represent the part of her that wants to do what's obviously wrong and would have her face the consequences of her actions."

"Oh please! As long as we're careful when opening it we can seal it right back up and Sunset wouldn't know the difference." Midnight shrug. "She probably be too excited to even bother to check!"

"That's still a risk we shouldn't take! You saw how secretive Sunset was being about her package all week, she would no doubt check to see if it been tampered with!"

"And she haves no body but herself to blame. Like Rainbow said if she wanted to keep it a secret, she shouldn't keep drawing attention to it!"

"True but Applejack also said we shouldn't give in to temptation and go behind a friend back just to learn their secrets. She said we should respect their privacy to the fullest as of course we to have secrets we don't want anyone to know!"

"And it would have been that way if the Universe hadn't had Sunset's mail delivered to our house! So, I say fuck it, let's open this thing, take a quick peek and reseal it before calling her!"

"And what if Sunset gets here before we finish resealing it, huh! What's your master plan for that?"

"If she does, just lie and say we haven't seen it. We could use our trip to the library as an excuse. Remember Sunset left before we told the others that we were going home instead of the library. So, she doesn't know that we’re here. She no doubt thinks we’re still at the library and she knows we return home every time at five o'clock." Midnight turns to look at the clock. ”It's 4:45pm.” Turns back to the others. By my calculations, Sunset should be here by now. It's not that far a ride from the city to the neighborhood, either by bus or cab, so I have no idea what would be keeping her.” Midnight look out the window and noticed it was raining and chuckled. ”Maybe I was right earlier about the universe being involved, making a short simple trip to our house, a long and tedious one. Slowing Sunset down at every chance it gets.”

”That’s ridiculous! That would only make sense if Sunset was in a hurry to get here.”

Midnight shrugs. ”Remember how secretive she's been about that package every time she was asked about it. I have no doubt she's struggling to get here as we speak.

Now, as I said before. Sunset doesn't know we're here! Remember she ran off before we told everyone that we were going straight home today instead of going to the library like we normally do. So, Sunset would assume we're not home, so if we're lucky we could leave the package on the front porch before Sunset gets here, all while making sure she doesn't suspect that we're home, which would be easy, watch for her to arrive and take the package and she wouldn't be none the wiser to suspect anything is wrong, but if she does arrive before we either open or reseal the box. Then just lie straight to her face to get rid of her and hours later we’ll call her and say someone in the family must have gotten home before Twilight did, found the package and left it someplace we didn't notice. She comes back or we go to her house, give her the (unopened) box without raising any suspicion. It's a win - win. Our curiosity sated, Sunset gets her mail, and she would be none the wiser to our actions and our secret is safe. Everyone is happy."

Good Twilight and Twilight cast a quick glance at each other before looking at the package sitting in Twilight's lap. They both can't deny the logic of her plan and it would be so easy to pull off to. Just open the box carefully, see what's inside, seal it back up, and do whatever action they have to do depending on Sunset arrival, she would never know the truth. It was truly that simple.

But despite sharing Twilight's thoughts and feelings, Good Twilight stood firm and held true to who she is.

No! We're not opening it, even if Sunset never learns the truth that won't change the fact that we betrayed her trust." Good Twilight stares at Twilight. "She's our best friend the one who saved us from going down a dark path, who stood by our side when we were afraid of turning into Midnight Sparkle again."

"F.Y.I. I may look like Midnight but I'm not actually her......so to speak!"

Good Twilight rolled her eyes. "She knows that! I already explained earlier that we do not actually exist and are just figments of her imagination!"

"I'm just trying to make sure any confusion is cleared up!"

Good Twilight turned her attention back to Twilight. "Sunset was the one who taught us the magic of friendship and as Applejack mentioned before, Honesty and Loyalty are a key part of that. So are you truly willing to become a liar and a traitor just to sate your curiosity?"

Twilight said nothing still unsure of what to do.

”Twilight please! Just do what is right and call Sunset.” Good Twilight beg.

Midnight shoves Good Twi out of the way.

”Fuck that! Just follow my plan. Just a quick peek, that’s all, no one have to know.”

Good Twi retaliates by pushing Midnight away.

”But you will and the guilt will eat you alive.”

Midnight buts back in.

”So, what! She’ll get over it eventually.”

”That's no excuse and you know it.”

The two mini-Twilight’s continue to bicker back and forth. When in reality its just Twilight fighting among herself in her own head on what she wanted to do. As her eyes darted back and forth from the box in one hand to her phone in the other. Trying decide what course of action she should choose.

Twilight really wanted to know what was in the box, her curiosity screams at her to just take a quick peek, but the voice of reason is also screaming at her not to and call Sunset. The war in her head was driving her crazy and she knows that the only way to stop it, is to make a choice. Be a good friend and respect Sunset’s privacy or be a bad friend and invade it.

Good or bad.
Right or wrong.
Call or open.

The choice was hers but what will she choose.

The two mini twilights were still arguing.

”CALL!”
”OPEN!”
”CALL!”
”OPEN!”
”CALL!!!”
”OPEN!!!”

*KNOCK* *KNOCK* *KNOCK*

The sound of someone knocking on the front door startled all three Twilight’s.

“(gasp) She's here!” Twilight said in a panic, she quickly drop her phone on the bed and slid the box under it.

”What are you doing? Good Twilight asked. ”Why are you hiding the package under the bed, just take it with you to give to Sunset.”

Twilight didn't listen. After hiding Sunset’s package, she immediately left her room, and headed downstairs to the front door. Her mini-selves following right behind her as they flew.

Midnight grin deviously. ”Hiding the package, means you made your choice, you're going to lie to Sunset.”

”NO! Twilight please, just tell her the truth.”

When Twilight reached the front door, she took a moment to calm herself with the breathing technique, Cadance taught her. Once she was fully calm, she opened the door to see Sunset Shimmer who was completely soak and smelled really bad. Twilight also noticed Fluttershy in a van. Park on the side of the road.

Sunset spoke. “H-Hey, Twilight,” she said, grinning awkwardly. “Fancy seeing you here,”

The bespectacled girl in front of her seemed confused. “Uh, it shouldn’t exactly be odd, since I you know, live here,” she answered, giving her friend a once over. “What are you doing here? And why do you look like you went swimming in your clothes?” she took a step forward and sniffed at her, immediately stepping back afterward. “And why do you smell like a wet dog?”

“Doesn’t matter!” Sunset snapped. “I mean, I ordered something online, and it accidentally shipped to your house. I came to pick it up. Do you have it?”

This was it, the moment of truth.

”It's not too late Twilight, you could still do the right thing. Just tell Sunset the truth and give her, her mail back.”

”Fuck that noise, and just lie straight to her face. Remember my genius plan. It's fool-proof and everyone gets what they want.”

”Twilight don't listen to her, just tell the truth!”

”Come on now, Twilight, its just a little lie. Its not like its going to tear holes in the fabric of reality. What could possibly go wrong?”

”Anything can go wrong, so to avoid the possibility of that, just be honest with Sunset.”

“She's just being over dramatic, just lie.”

”No! Tell the truth!”
”Lie!”
”Truth!”
”Lie!”
”Honesty!”
”Deciet!”
”LOYALTY!!!!”
”BETRAYAL!!!”

As the war in her head continued Twilight knew she had to make a choice. Would she give Sunset her package back or hold on to it? The choice was her.

“Doesn’t matter!” Sunset snapped. “I mean, I ordered something online, and it accidentally shipped to your house. I came to pick it up. Do you, have it?”

Twilight immediately opens her mouth to speak and give Sunset her answer.

Twilight had made her choice.