After spending several more moments embracing the two Twilight's, the Princess of friendship would depart back to Equestria as she was still the Head Mare at the Friendship school and needed to return to her students. Sunset would thank the Princess a few more times before she left and promised to visit Equestria the very next chance she got. When the Princess of Friendship returned to her world, Sunset and Sci-Twi stood in front of the marble horse statue that acted as the portal between dimensions and she wiped her remaining tears.

"So, how does it feel to be a Princess?" Twilight asked, holding Sunset's hand tenderly.

"Better than I ever could have hoped, guess what I saw in that mirror all those years ago was right, I just took a while to get to where I needed to be but now that I'm here? It feels so unreal." Sunset said with a chuckle as she had finally gotten out the last of her happy crying.

"This is your reality Sunset, you earned the right to enjoy it. Now c'mon, the next stop on the list is the animal shelter."

"Right, right. I wanna go into the school real quick though; haven't seen Mrs. Celestia in awhile." Sunset smiled as she walked towards the High School with Twilight walking beside her hand in hand.

"Alright, but we can't stay too long. We're on a schedule and we don't want to disturb the students while they're working." Twilight nagged, her inner nerd showing clearly.

"Hehe you are such a dork but fine, just a quick pop in" Sunset said as she walked up the stairs of the High School and opened the front door, Twilight and Sunset marveling at the halls of their old school.

After the last magical mishap, a lot of remodeling needed to be done as the school had become a magic battleground between herself and a she-demon version of Cozy Glow who managed to pull a feat similar to Twilight when she accidentally stole their magic and became Midnight Sparkle. The school had taken heavy damage and Cozy Glow had been imprisoned for her crimes and it was after that moment the existence of magic couldn't be kept a secret but Sunset managed to use her full power to erase everyone's memory of the event except for herself and her friends.

With aided funding from Crystal prep, Canterlot High had been rebuilt better than ever! She still remembered the reopening party and how much fun it was to rock out and jam for a new generation of Wondercolts who were eager to learn the magic of friendship and for her to be their teacher. Celestia even floated the idea that perhaps one day, Sunset could replace her as principal when she was finally ready to retire, Sunset wasn't too sure about that but kept it in mind as an option.

As the two walked down the halls, the bell signaling the next period would ring and students would begin to flood the halls. Many of them greeted Sunset and Twilight and of course they would all give some form of birthday greeting to Sunset Shimmer. It was then a group of familiar voices caught her ear.

"Ms. Shimmer!" A young girl with pink skin, sparkling orange eyes and orange and yellow hair ran up to her smiling and carrying a few books and what looked like an envelope.

"Oh hi Luster Dawn, how's my favorite student?" Sunset asked the approaching freshman girl

"I'm doing good! Happy Birthday!" Luster smiled and handed Sunset the envelope she had been carrying.

"Aw thanks Luster, where are you off to?" Sunset asked as she took the card from her student.

"Study hall and then I have friendship 101 with Ms. Moondancer" Luster said with a smile as she clutched her books close to her chest.

"Oh that's wonderful, are you making new friends?" Sunset asked as she began to walk with Luster towards her class, it was on the way to Celestia's office anyway.

Luster would nod her head, still smiling from ear to ear. "Uh-huh! We're all gonna meet up at Sugarcube corner after school, we're having a sleepover tonight!"

Sunset smiled fondly, she reminded her so much of herself when she was that age. "Oh? Well isn't that a coincidence; I'm having one with my friends too"

Luster looked surprised. "But aren't you too old for slumber parties?" Her tone had a tint of tease in it.

"Oh no." Sunset scoffed and pouted with a hand on her hips. "You did NOT just call me old"

"Don't take it personally Sunset dear, besides I would say you've aged like a fine wine." Celestia said from across the hall, a stack of papers in her arms as she smiled fondly at her former student.

"And technically the portal did age you down." Twilight teased.

"Tch, whose side are you on woman?" Sunset pouted as she blew some of her hair out of her face.

"It's quite good to see you Sunset Shimmer; and a very happy birthday to you as well." Celestia smiled warmly towards Sunset and then looked sheepishly at her. "I don't suppose I could trouble you to help your dear former principal?"

"Anything for you Celestia; how's married life and being a mother?" Sunset asked with a coy smirk as she came over and took the stacks of paper from Celestia, allowing the woman to walk freely.

Celestia gave a gentle and calming sigh as she walked forward. "It's blissful and I love my little sunshine dearly; she and her cousin Nyx just started preschool you know" Celestia said with a smile referencing Luna's daughter Nyx.

"That's wonderful! I can't wait to see them again and of course I'll happily teach them their first friendship lessons too."

"and I'll happily teach them everything else. Oh Nyx is such a cutie." Twilight said, remembering her interactions with Luna's daughter.

"Thank you both, well here we are. Thank you for the assistance Sunset; oh I almost forgot. Wait right here." Celestia went into the office, taking the stack of papers with her. When she came back out, she handed Sunset a letter and a birthday card and smiled at her. "For you, my faithful student. Happy Birthday."

Sunset had lost track of how many times she felt her heart swell since waking up and the amount of times her eyes had shed tears but she was long past the phase of being ashamed to cry in front of others, it didn't make her weak and she didn't care if anyone looked down on her for showing her emotions. Taking the letter she would read over it, her eyes going wide as her eyes went down the page.

"T-This is..."

"A formal recognition of your friendship classes as a necessary element in enriching young minds and teaching them the right life values, your side classes are now fully integrated into the curriculum. Mr. Cranky had FINALLY decided to retire-"

"Took him long enough." Luster muttered out of the side of her mouth.

"And as such, we have an open spot in the primary teaching roster. Of course you would still need to write your own lesson plans and such, like many other first time, full-time teachers you will need to adapt but I have every bit of faith you can do it Sunset Shimmer. So, do you accept it?"

"YES! YES, YES, YES, YES, YES, YES, YES, YES!!!" Sunset squealed like she was a little filly again and jumped up and down around Celestia like a giddy school girl.

"Well that answers that. Of course for today you are still on paid leave and next week will be your time to truly get your affairs in order so that you may start teaching in earnest. If all goes well you should be able to hold your first real class before Thanksgiving."

"Eeeeeeeeeeehhehehehehhehe!" Sunset's eyes widened enough to take up her whole face and she was practically vibrating with joy right now, her happiness was reaching Pinkie levels and that was something to be impressed by!

"Oh this is so going on Whinny" Luster Dawn said as she was recording with her phone to post on her social media, giggling and grinning at how excited and goofy her Friendship teacher was.

"Thank you, so, so much Celestia! I can't wait! Oh, I've gotta start making lesson plans! Eeeee!" Sunset squeed again.

"I'm so happy for you Sunset, I can't wait to see your first real class." Twilight said as she hugged Sunset and kissed her on the cheek.

"Indeed, well I believe that will be all, do enjoy your birthday Sunset Shimmer." Celestia said as she retreated to her office and then turned to Luster Dawn. "And you run along too, I am certain your friends are waiting."

"Yes ma'am." Luster nodded and bowed her head to Celestia as she left into her office. She would then smile and wave to Sunset and Twilight. "See ya later"

"Bye Luster" Sunset and Twilight said as the young girl ran off to her next class to meet up with her friends, Sunset would sigh happily watching her go. A swell of pride filled her chest as she felt Twilight squeeze her hand.

"You're gonna be an amazing Teacher Sunset." Twilight kissed Sunset on the cheek as they walked down the halls back towards the front door.

"After having lived and learned so much? I'm more than ready to start passing along what I know." Sunset said with determined confidence as she looked around the halls of the school and saw another chance to give back to the place that had allowed her to change for the better. She would soon be a fully staffed teacher, not just an assistant or substitute, she would have an actual classroom with students, during school hours! It was like all of her dreams were coming true today!

Exiting the school, Sunset and Twilight returned to Sunset's car; while she still had her motorcycle and rode it often, she felt like taking a drive today. Her car was nothing super special but it was still a nice 4 door, red paint job and a decently powerful engine. Twilight would look over her phone and checklist, smiling brightly.

"Alright, we're still on schedule! To Fluttershy's we go." Twilight said as she fastened her seatbelt and Sunset started the car.

"You really are just making this the best day ever you know that?" Sunset said as she began to drive off from the CHS parking lot, turning on the radio to hear some jams while she drove.

'It's only going to get better from here.' Twilight thought with giddy excitement as she wiggled in her seat.

Meadowbrook Animal Rescue Shelter was Fluttershy's lifelong dream made a reality, she had always wanted to open up her own animal shelter, to have a sanctuary for her little woodland friends to feel safe and sound. She had spent years earning her degree and saving up the funds to have this place constructed and while it may have taken time? In the end all the girl's efforts were worth it as the shelter was truly what any animal wild or otherwise would consider heaven. As Sunset and Twilight arrived and walked inside, they were greeted by the sounds of various animals, most notably dogs and cats.

"Hey Fluttershy, you here?" Sunset called out into the shelter, knowing Fluttershy was likely around somewhere.

"Coming girls, one moment! Cotton! Come back here with that!" Fluttershy said in as frustrated a voice as the kind girl could manage as she chased after the tiny white bunny who was hopping away with one of her shoes. The young caretaker's long flowing pink hair was a ragged mess as she panted and huffed trying to catch the little bunny.

"Having trouble with Angel's kids again huh?" Sunset asked with a cheeky smile.

"Yes. Cotton really likes to play inside my shoes but it's time for her bath and nap." Fluttershy sighed as she relented and let the little bunny run, brushing off her apron and straightening her hair she smiled at her two friends. Fluttershy even being the youngest of the group still managed to grow into a mature and beautiful young woman. Tall, curvy and busty; it was truly a wonder how Fluttershy was still single but she was a saint at heart so there was that.

"It's good to see you girls, happy birthday Sunset." Fluttershy said with all her sweetness and hugged Sunset Shimmer.

"Thanks Shy, it's good to see you too."

"Here you go Flutters." Twilight said as she used her magic to snatch up the little bunny and her shoe, handing it back to Fluttershy.

"Oh thank you Twilight." Fluttershy would slip her shoe back on and cradle the little bunny in her arms and pressed it against her bosom. "Naughty little bunny, if you keep running away like that? No baby carrots for you" Fluttershy gave cotton 'the stare'.

"Heheh better listen to her pipsqueak" Sunset teased and poked the little bunny's belly with her finger, the little bunny responded by trying to kick her finger with its tiny foot. "Ohoh feisty little cottontail huh?"

Fluttershy giggled as she cuddled the tiny bunny. "She's just like her daddy when he was a bunny."

Sunset, Twilight and Fluttershy shared a laugh for a moment, afterwards Twilight would pick up Spike, who had been surprisingly quiet and scratched him behind the ear. "So you ready for your check up buddy?"

"Yeah, yeah. I get treats after right?"

"If you're a good boy"

"I'm ALWAYS a good boy!"

Sunset giggled and then sighed a little wistfully, she missed having a pet. Her spotted lizard, Ray, had passed away some time ago when she was in college as the creatures didn't have long life spans and no amount of magic was gonna be able to change that, something Sunset had to accept but that didn't mean she didn't want another pet. When Twilight had moved in with her, she of course brought Spike and Sunset quickly learned she was a dog lover. Fluttershy had asked her numerous times if she wanted to pick out a puppy to take home but Sunset had always put it off, not wanting to try attention from Spike with a new dog, plus she had to consider the extra responsibility.

As she walked through the shelter with Fluttershy and Twilight, she noticed many different types of dogs, cats, rabbits, hamsters and other adoptable animals who had their own section of the shelter going about their business, playing or sleeping. Though she noticed, far off in the corner there was one little pup who seemed to be what looked like 'fighting' with another pup, getting Fluttershy's attention she would point over to the little scuffle.

"uh, shy looks like you've got a tussle over there."

"Hm? Oh dear, Smolder, Garble no! Bad dogs!" Fluttershy shouted as she handed Cotton to Twilight and rushed over to break up what Sunset had pointed out to her. Sure enough a little puppy with a bright orange coat and a tuft of purple atop her head was scuffling with a larger red dog with an orange tuft of hair on his head. The two dogs growling at each other as they tussled around in the fake grass.

Fluttershy would break them up, giving them both the stare which ceased any barking right away. Fluttershy would sigh as she gave the two of them a pouted look. "Okay, what happened this time you two?"

The two dogs began barking and yapping, seemingly giving their sides of the story. No one else but Fluttershy and Spike could understand them though.

"Mhmm, I see and did you try and SHARE the chew toy?"

Smolder barked loudly and stomped her paws on the ground, whimpering.

"Now Smolder that's not very nice, if Garble was playing with it first you can't just take it before he's done." Fluttershy said in a scolding tone towards the little orange puppy.

Smolder whimpered and whined pointing a paw at the ball in question they were fighting over.

"She says that ball is hers and he took it from her with the help of some bigger dogs. She just wanted it back." Spike cut in and gave Smolder a sympathetic look, a look of understanding that said 'Yeah, I've been there'

"Is that true Garble?" Fluttershy fixed her stare on him now and the little pup couldn't have looked more guilty if he tried. "I see, well then I'm afraid that means a time out for you little mister." Fluttershy said, picking up the little red pup and carrying him over to the dreaded 'time out' kennel, where naughty animals were sent to think about their actions. Placing him in a boxed in kennel with no toys, she wagged her finger at him.

"Now you sit and think about what you've done."

Garble barked and huffed, shuffling off into a corner of the kennel and laying down.

"That little potty mouth just earned you 10 extra minutes mister!" Fluttershy said, setting the timer she used for the time out's from 5 minutes to 15 minutes.

Meanwhile as Fluttershy was punishing Garble and Twilight was getting Spike ready for his check up, Sunset stayed and interacted with Smolder. Sitting with her legs crossed, she smiled at the little orange pup who regarded her with curiosity, tilting her head back and forth. Eventually, she got the courage to come up to Sunset and sniff around her and after a minute or two, smolder hopped into Sunset's lap and rolled over onto her back, looking up at Sunset expecting something.

"Heh what? You want somethin'?" Sunset asked as she gently petted the dog's head.

"Arf!" Smolder barked, panting as she wiggled in Sunset's lap, belly still exposed.

Sunset rolled her eyes and reached out and rubbed the little pup's tummy with her fingers, lightly tickling the dog as she curled into her lap. She giggled as Smolder panted and barked in delight at the attention Sunset was giving her, eventually Smolder would turn over back on her stomach and curl up into Sunset's lap, seemingly falling asleep.

"Awwww. She's so cute." Sunset said as she stroked her fingers across her head.

"Isn't she? Its really a wonder to me how no one has adopted her yet." Fluttershy said seemingly disappointed at that fact.

"What? Seriously? No one's wanted to take her? Why?" Sunset asked in shock as she kept stroking smolders little tuft of purple hair.

"Well she's not properly house broken yet and she can be...abrasive. She's a dog we rescued from a really bad abandonment situation." Fluttershy said soberly as she rubbed Smolder's back.

Hearing this made Sunset's heart ache with sympathy as she knew exactly how that felt. The feeling of being unwanted and unloved, abandoned and forgotten when all she wanted was to be loved and accepted like everypony else, she could feel a connection to this puppy and she wouldn't abandon her. She knew what she had to do and didn't give it a second thought, Spike did need a friend after all.

"Well then today is her lucky day, I'll take her." Sunset said with a gentle smile as she rubbed Smolders head and scratched behind her ear.

"Really?!" Fluttershy's face lit up like the 4th of July

"What?!" Spike shouted.

"Arf?" Even Smolder was shocked.

"Yep, I've made up my mind and I'm not changing it. She's coming home with me for my birthday today." Sunset said as she stood up and held smolder close to her chest and nuzzled her. Looking over to Twilight for approval she got a nod and smile which was all she needed.

"Yay! She really seems to like you already too! Let's get Spike set up and then we can get the adoption process going." Fluttershy clapped her hands in excited glee, leaning close to smolder she planted a kiss on the little pup's forehead.

"See? I told you someday someone would want you." Fluttershy said reassuringly to Smolder as she scratched under her chin.

Sunset was happy that she could give to this little dog what Celestia had once given to her and she would do her very best to make Smolder feel welcomed. After Spike was checked in and tended to by some of the other caretakers that worked with Fluttershy, the two of them went to Fluttershy's office and began to set up the adoption papers. Since it was Sunset's birthday she was given a reduced price on Smolder and Sunset happily paid for her new little bundle of joy and luckily for her she had all her shots too.

After Spike's check up was finished, Sunset and Twilight were ready to leave with Smolder following along close by Sunset, panting happily as she danced around Sunset's boots.

"Ready to go Smol?" Sunset giggled already having given her little puppy a nickname

"Arf, arf!" Smolder barked and nodded

"Hehe good girl." Sunset said as she leaned down and picked up her new best friend, who licked her cheek. "Hehehe love you too Smolder."

Twilight smiled happily as she watched Sunset fawn and coo over her brand new puppy, reminding her of herself when she first got Spike when she was 15 and the intense love she felt for him then. It was still the same love she felt now as she cuddled her #1 assistant in her arms, leaning over she kissed Sunset on the lips and held her hand.

"Guess this is what they mean by the term puppy love huh?" Twilight said with a cheeky smirk.

"Sweet Celestia you are terrible." Sunset snickered and tried hard not to laugh.

"Hey don't dog on my jokes, its real ruff coming up with these puns! Throw me a bone why don't you?" Twilight continued to sling puns shamelessly at her girlfriend.

"Just know I am making you my BITCH when we get in bed later." Sunset said with a devious smirk as they got in the car, placing the two puppies in the back seat where they would cuddle together.

Author's Note

Sunset now has a furry friend that she loves very much ^_^