“It’s really bigger on the outside,” I mused as I stared up at the castle in awe. To say I was jealous was an understatement. I had always wanted this and to be a princess, but I’ll be honest, I’m very happy for Twilight. From what I heard, she deserves it. “So you got this after beating Tirek? Wow.”

“Yep,” Twilight sighed sadly and scuffed a hoof against the dirt. “It’s nice and all, but I miss my library. Golden Oaks will always hold a special place in me and Spikes hearts.”

I followed her gaze to where a scorched spot of earth was visible as Twilight sighed again.

“Anyway!” Twilight forced a smile on her muzzle. “Let’s go for a walk or something. This got heavy. I think Spike is going to find Rarity and Flitter.”

I only know of those names really. I tapped a hoof against my chin before shrugging and trotting off to catch up with Twilight.

“So is this Rarity any different than the one I know?” I asked curiously as Twilight shrugged.

“Bit more mature and older obviously but not really any different than that. She lives with Sweetie Belle at Carousel Boutique,” Twilight answered as we continued down the dirt path and I started examining the town, faintly making out Canterlot on the mountain.

I’d always seen this town from the hill as a dot in the distance. Nothing more than an town in the middle of no where that I had no intention of ever going to till now. From what I’ve seen briefly and heard from the two, Ponyville ponies were quite friendly unless you were Trixie apparently.

“Huh, makes sense. Fluttershy just as shy?”

“Oh you have no idea,” Twilight laughed softly as some ponies waved at us. “Hey Big Mac.”

I stared with a dropped jaw at a very large earth pony trotting past with a wagon full of apples. His human counterpart was pretty strong so I feel I should have known his counterpart was an earth pony. I just didn’t expect him to look like that.

“Wow he’s a big ass earth pony,” I muttered and Twilight snickered.

“Yeah, he’s a big soft giant. He still has Smarty Pants and won’t give me her back,” Twilight grumbled and kicked the dirt with a hoof.

“Has what?”

Twilight blushed and avoided my eyes as I raised an eyebrow slightly.

“She’s a stuffed animal that I cast a Want It, Need It spell on to make the town fight over it to have a letter to send to Princess Celestia and well, it went less than well,” Twilight admitted and looked at me as my eyebrow climbed higher.

“Well, looks like I’m not the only one with a secret,” I teased as she blushed again. “I tried to enslave a high school and you made an entire town fight over a doll I take it?”

“Stuffed pony but yes. It was a unique time in Ponyville history.”

“I can imagine,” I said dryly and smirked at her.

“You two might wanna run,” a stallion trotted past and I shifted slightly into a defensive position. “Pinkie heard about a new mare in town and considering I’d remember a mane like that, I think she is coming for you. Good luck.”

“Oh boy,” Twilight muttered and we both froze at a bouncing pink mare cross over the hill, her eyes locking onto me.

“Should I run?” I asked and Twilight shook her head.

“Believe me, she will catch up with you no matter where you go. Ask Rainbow, she can speak from experience. All she will do is throw you a welcome to Ponyville party, most likely tonight and invite the town. You already know this, but Pinkie parties are something else. Especially when she and Berry Punch get together to plan one.”

I bit back a question as Pinkie skidded to a stop in front of me.

“Hi!”

“Hey Pinkie,” I smiled slightly as she examined me closer.

“I remember you. You’re the pony who stole Twilight’s crown,” Pinkie commented as she leaned back. “Oh my gosh! I get to throw a redeemed villain becoming my friend party tonight and invite the town!”

“Can we drop the villain part?” I asked hopefully and looked around. Thankfully the townponies were too busy to focus on us. “I’d be okay with just a welcome to town party I guess. I don’t wanna get any weird looks.”

“Hmm okay Sunset!” Pinkie announced and flung her forelegs around my neck as Twilight’s jaw dropped and I stared in surprise as Pinkie squeezed me tighter.

“H-help!” I wheezed and waved a hoof desperately at a shocked Twilight.

“Pinkie, she can’t breathe!” Twilight started pulling Pinkie away. “Are you alright Sunset?”

“I’m good,” I panted and slumped over on the ground as I continued gasping. “She has a strong grip like her human self. Dear god.”

“Sorry!” Pinkie sang and bounced away. “Bye Sunset, see you girls tonight.”

“You know, you might be the first pony and person to ever reason with Pinkie Pie,” Twilight mused as we watched the pink ball of energy disappear further into town. “Congrats.”

“Thanks.”

I sat at a table surrounded by the pony versions of my friends as I looked around at Sugarcube Corner decorated in red and orange that matched my mane and coat perfectly. I had spent a few hours meeting the pony versions of my classmates that ironically all lived here.

Reconnected with Lyra, which was nice. Been a long time I saw her last. Met Bon Bon and Octavia. The two were reserved but quite nice. Which was an exact opposite to their marefriends. Lyra and Vinyl were damn near the loudest ponies I know along with Pinkie.

“I still can’t get over the fact Derpy has two daughters,” I commented and shook my head, glancing over at Dinky and Amethyst next to Derpy. “She’s nice, no matter what world I go to.”

“Yeah she’s like that,” Applejack chuckled and tipped her hat at a passing pony. “Must say sugarcube, it’s nice to finally get to know ya. Twilight has said a lot about ya.”

“Oh has she?” I shot Twilight a teasing grin. “Someone have feelings for me or something?”

Twilight blushed and sputtered incoherent words as Rainbow started laughing.

“I like her,” Rainbow snickered and nudged me. “Tell the truth Twi.”

“I love Sunset like a sister but that’s it. She is a beautiful mare but it doesn’t go further than that,” Twilight said carefully and I laughed with Rainbow. “Yeah, yeah laugh it up you two.”

“Oh we are,” I chuckled and looked around, my eyes falling on Roseluck and her sisters laughing with some stallions. “I’m surprised everyone in town came. Nobody except Lyra and you all really know me.”

“Not that we really know you well darling. Hopefully we can change that,” Rarity said as she leaned against the table. “You have quite a flair to you shall we say. You’re a very recognizable mare. Maybe you wish to come try out some dresses sometime or go to the spa with me?”

“Sure,” I shrugged as my eyes fell on a persian colored pegasus with a messy light blue and white mane with pink eyes standing next to a similar looking mare with a pink bow in her mane and I froze.

“What do you see?” Twilight asked and Rarity followed my gaze, grinning wickedly.

“W-who is that?” I asked as my mouth felt dry suddenly, pointing at the pegasus.

“That’s Cloudchaser,” Rainbow answered before a mischievous grin grew on her face. “Why?”

I felt a slow blush spread on my face as I watched Cloudchaser bit into a cupcake. My eyes drifted to her pasterns and my face felt hotter. I’d never say this out loud to but they looked really nice on her lean body. Don’t even get me started on her hind quarters.

“Equestria to Sunset?” Pinkie waved a hoof in front of my face and I quickly looked back at their smiling faces. “Somepony got their eye on a birdy.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” I scoffed and my eyes fell on Cloudchaser again. She was pretty nice looking mare. “It’s only my first day back in Equestria. But she is pretty attractive, I’ll give her that. Just like Rarity and you all but Rainbow isn’t my type and well, pegasus are my type.”

“What about Fluttershy?” Applejack asked and grinned.

“She’s beautiful too but I don’t know,” I admitted as Fluttershy brushed her mane aside.

“I appreciate the compliment but uhm I’m straight,” Fluttershy answered as she folded her wings. “I got my eye on somepony anyway.”

“Yeah we all know you wanna jump on Discords bones,” Rainbow rolled her eyes as Applejack laughed and Fluttershy let out an eep while Rarity glared at the pair. “Wanna go meet Cloudchaser since you’ve been staring at her for the last ten minutes?”

“Maybe I do,” I said uncertainty.

“She’s single,” Fluttershy offered as we all stared. “Uhm according to Thunderlane, that is.”

Cloudchaser glanced back at me as I downed a glass of water and she flashed me a warm smile that made me feel weird inside.

I smiled back and I cursed internally.

“Come on, I’ll introduce you two after the party. I know her pretty well,” Rainbow offered with a wicked grin.

“You’d really do that for a stranger?”

“Hey, we’re friends now. Anything you need, I’ll be there,” Rainbow answered with a shrug. “And besides, I get to see you squirm next to your mare.”

I turned red as everyone laughed, including Twilight.

May Celestia have mercy on my poor, poor soul.

Author's Note

Getting a Cloudchaser phone case this Tuesday for my new phone. Kinda excited ngl. Going on a Cloudchaser rabbit hole recently. She's so cool lol.