No matter how many times she did this, she’d never get used to it.

Sunset Shimmer stumbled out of the portal, forehooves flailing in the air. She blinked, remembered where she was and brought her hooves down, standing on all fours. She blinked again, trying to get the stars of her vision. The portal had been kind enough not to launch her, but cross-dimensional travel was always disorienting.

Feeling a little better than she did seconds ago, Sunset took a few steps forward. Twilight had apparently moved the portal in a different room since she was last in Equestria. There was also a veritable mountain of pillows across the mirror, likely to soften the portal’s cruel throws.

It was on this mountain that Sunset located the suitcase she had thrown in minutes earlier. She walked over and examined it, noting with satisfaction that the pillows had prevented damage. Good thinking, Twi. She also took a moment to examine her backpack - portal-converted into a saddlebag - and found it intact.

Despite her visits to Equestria being few and far between, Sunset was pleased to find that she wasn’t as rusty with unicorn magic as she initially thought. Her crimson magic lifted the suitcase with ease and gently set it on her back. She secured it with straps and took a couple steps to make sure it was secure.

Making sure to lock the portal behind her, Sunset took a last look at the room and walked out.

It had been Pinkie’s idea to come to Equestria for the holidays.

“You haven’t spent the holidays with your family in ages! Surely they’d like to see you.”

Sunset had been hesitant, insisting that the girls were her family. But Pinkie had been persuasive, insisting that Sunset is allowed to have more than one family. With a little more convincing from her friends, Sunset had finally acquiesced.

The seven of them had celebrated Christmas together on the night of the 22nd, and Sunset had set off for Equestria the next morning. She planned on returning on the 26th.

As she watched Ponyville’s warm browns and tans give way to white snowy fields, Sunset couldn’t help but feel a little homesick. Truly ironic. I’m home and I still feel out of place. She leaned into her seat, letting out a bitter chuckle at the thought.

True, she loved having her hooves, her horn and her magic. But she had been human for so long that some days, she forgot she wasn’t born as one. She missed her fingers, her clothes and, most importantly, her friends.

She sighed. The holidays shouldn’t be so melancholic. She was in Equestria, after all, celebrating Hearth’s Warming for the first time in five years!

Banishing away all thoughts of Earth from her mind, Sunset focused instead on the scenery outside her window. The train moved slowly, allowing her to admire the beauty that was her kingdom in the winter.

The train had already left Ponyville, and was now passing the natural fields in between the village and the capital. The view outside was a tapestry of whites and greens, the hills hiding beneath the snow. A few flowers were timidly peeking out from the snow, their pinks and purples popping out against the whites.

Snowflakes fell from the sky, a few landing on Sunset’s windowsill. She pressed her face against the window, marveling at every detail of the delicate, hoof-crafted snowflake and imagining the love its Pegasus maker must’ve poured into it.

Speaking of Pegasi, Sunset looked up to see a couple of ponies flying around and shaking the clouds, no doubt to get the last of the snow to fall down. Sunset was so used to the harsh, uncontrolled winter of the human realm, she had forgotten that in Equestria, winters were meticulously and lovingly crafted by hoof and wing.

Sunset smiled. Winters here are a work of art.

The train passed through the tunnel under Mount Canterhorn, momentarily plunging everpony in total darkness. The moment passed, however, and the train emerged on the other side. The scenery shifted from the gentle, quiet fields to the rougher, rockier terrain of Foal Mountain. It passed by the abandoned town of Hollow Shades, all dark and eerie with not a single soul in sight. The train moved through another tunnel, then arrived at the city of Fillydelphia - louder and busier during the festive period - and stopped to exchange passengers.

And before Sunset knew it, she had arrived at her destination.

“Arriving at our last stop: Silver Shoals! Thank you for traveling with the Friendship Express!”

Sunset jumped to her hooves, hoisted her suitcase on her back and stepped out.

Sunset Shimmer had never been to Silver Shoals.

Sure, she had read Celestia’s letters about it, but she had never actually visited. And from the way Celestia described the place, Sunset had been expecting a small retirement village, filled with aging ponies, quietly milling about. She had been expecting something idyllic, with cute little houses and friendly neighbors and colorful banners.

The sight before her was anything but.

Oh, it was colorful, alright. The buildings stretched out before her, warm reds and oranges merging with cool blues and purples. But none of these buildings were cute or little. Mansions, towers, villas, even malls - every single one was a bastion of either business or wealth.

And the noise - the noise! - loud and chaotic. Sunset wasn’t entirely sure whether the town was always like this or if the holidays generated tourism. The ponies strolled through town, saddlebag filled to the brim, chatting animatedly with the neighbors and vendors. Individually, nopony was being loud, but when dozens were talking at once?

I’ve forgotten how sensitive pony ears are.

As Sunset weaved her way across the large crowd of ponies, she noticed that the businesses were diverse in their activities. Libraries, restaurants, theaters, beach resorts, sports centers - anything a pony could dream of doing, they could.

Silver Shoals also looked like a town that celebrated the holidays with passion. The rich, warm scent of eggnog and pudding wafted through the air, almost making Sunset salivate. She heard the carolers on the street, saw the decorations and lights hung up everywhere and felt the soft, fluffy snow crunch under her hooves.

The town reminded Sunset of Canterlot, only smaller and with more color.

She followed the instructions given to her by Twilight, swiftly making her way through town and giving her well wishes to the passing ponies. The directions eventually led her on the edge of town, close to the frozen sea.

Sunset’s eyes widened. She couldn't have missed it even if she tried.

Where the rest of the town was modern in architecture, the mansion before her was steeped in age. A bright blue color adorned all outside walls, hundreds of little stars littered everywhere. The mansion was large, at least three stories tall, and it breathed elegance and beauty.

Sunset stood there, eyes wide and mouth open.

A cold gust of wind hit her in the face, reminding her that she was standing outside, at the peak of winter, in sub-zero temperatures.

She walked up the steps of the mansion, deposited her heavy suitcase down and gently knocked on the double doors.

Seconds later, it opened, revealing the kind homeowner.

“Sunset, dear, you made it!”

Smiling wider than she had all day, Sunset looked up and was greeted by the warm eyes of Celestia.

“Celestia!”

Sunset Shimmer did not hesitate. She leapt forward, embracing Celestia in a hug. A hard task, considering the height difference between the two.

The alicorn bent down and returned the embrace.

For a moment, time stopped. All that existed was Sunset and the oh-so familiar hug of her beloved mentor. She was a filly again, beaming at the princess’s praise of a well-performed spell. For a moment - just a moment - she was Sunset Shimmer, the princess’ star student, capable of no wrong.

Celestia pulled back, and the moment ended.

With the hug over, Sunset had the opportunity to look at Celestia for the first time since the former retired. And the alicorn looked - for lack of a better word - old.

Celestia’s mane, usually long and wavy and ethereal, was limp and tied back into a messy bun, its colors fading. Her tail, similarly still and desaturated, was cut short. Gone was her elegant regalia, replaced instead with a simple purple shawl decorated with a moon-shaped brooch.

She was also wearing glasses. True, they were beautiful, with their hexagonal golden frames and tiny amethysts on the rim, but still. Glasses!

She looks like a grandmother! Princess Celestia. A grandma!

The realization hit Sunset like a ton of bricks, and she stumbled back.

Celestia immediately noticed. “Sunset? Are you alright?”

“You… you look old!” Sunset blurted out.

Celestia chuckled. “Come in,” she said. “Let’s get you warm.” She levitated the suitcase from where it stood and brought it in.

Sunset entered the house and was instantly taken aback by the temperature difference.

The foyer she had stepped through was warm and cozy. A loveseat and a few couches were strewn around the room. The walls were adorned with pictures of Celestia and Luna, as well as their friends and family, and tapestries of the sun and moon. The hearth, decorated with tinsel and lights, cackled with fire.

Sunset took a seat on the couch closest to the fireplace, trying to banish the frigid cold seeping through her bones. A mug of hot cocoa suddenly appeared in front of her, levitating in a golden aura.

With a grateful nod and a small smile, Sunset accepted the offered drink. “Your house is beautiful,” she said, taking a sip.

Celestia took a seat opposite Sunset, her own drink floating in her magic. “Thanks. Luna and I spent a lot of time decorating it.” She paused. “I trust your journey went well?”

“It was… tiring.” Sunset yawned. “Ponyville is far from here.”

Celestia got up, levitated Sunset's suitcase and headed for the stairs. “Why don't you get settled? We can catch up when you feel more we'll-rested.”

Sunset nodded and followed the alicorn up.

The pair walked through down the hall and stopped in a front a small, nondescript door.

Celestia opened it, dropping the suitcase the suitcase inside. “Your room, Sunset.” She smiled. “I'll see you in a few hours.”

And with that, she left, leaving Sunset alone.

The room was small, yet cozy and comfortable, similar in decor to the rest of the house. It had all the necessities of a bedroom - bed, dresser, closet, desk and chair. An armchair sat in the far corner by the large window. As with the foyer, the room was also decorated with stars and ancient tapestries.

The long journey from Ponyville to Silver Shoals was taking its toll on Sunset. She set her saddlebag on the desk, yawned loudly and threw herself on the bed.

She was out cold within seconds.

It had been Princess Twilight's idea to spend the holidays with Celestia.

“You haven't visited her in so long! She'd love to spend the holidays with you.”

Sunset had agreed to the idea without a second thought. The thought of spending some one-on-one time with her beloved mentor was too good to pass. She had quickly made her preparations gathering her tickets and packing her things.

(Twilight would've accompanied her, but Equestria doesn't stop working during the holidays.)

Celestia, of course, had been excited. Time with Sunset had been limited as of late, what with exams and graduation. The two had barely reconnected since their reunion during the Memory Stone incident. The Alicorn was looking forward to spending the holidays with her former student.

It was with these memories in mind that Sunset stirred awake.

She groggily opened her eyes, glancing at the wall clock across her. 18:14.

I've been asleep for about three hours.

Author's Note

My 2023 Jinglemas entry was initially going in a very different direction. About 2000 words in, I realized that I would never finish it on time. So I scrapped and started over, this time aiming for something much shorter.