Twilight Sparkle’s chaperone, an older human called Shining Armor, had narrowed his eyes upon seeing Sunset Shimmer, as if he thought she was out to get him or something. He asked Twilight several times if she was sure she wanted to invite Sunset over, which Sunset thought was very rude since she was standing right there. However, as soon as he realized that Vice Principal Luna was accompanying Sunset, he immediately welcomed them both to hop onto his car.

When Sunset asked how the car worked, Twilight regaled her with all the intricate mechanisms of a car’s engine. The explanation was easy to understand, and it made Sunset wonder how it was that ponykind had not developed something similar before, since the physics behind the mechanism were simple enough. They had already created trains with steam engines, after all.

“Alright, we’re here,” Shining Armor said as he stopped the car, interrupting Twilight’s explanation of the physics behind the seat belt.

As they got out, Sunset looked up at Twilight’s house. The building looked like a small castle. Walls made of stone, a small tower-like structure on top of the entrance, held by a pair of thick pillars. A chimney hid behind the tower. The left side of the house, however, resembled more a small palace in design, with the windows hiding under archways and a pointed triangular roof. It was a strange design, but somehow made it work.

Shining Armor led them inside. Almost immediately, a human woman stepped into the hallway.

“Oh, hello there!”

“Hey, mom,” Shining said. “These are Sunset Shimmer and Canterlot High’s Vice Principal. They’re Twily’s guests.”

The woman blinked at him. “Twilight’s guests?”

“Sorry to bother you,” Luna said. “It seems the girls really got along.”

Sunset frowned, hating the feeling of being treated like a child. However, Luna spoke so matter-of-factly that there was no trace of the patronizing tone Sunset had come to expect from Princess Celestia.

“It’s no bother at all!” the woman said, stepping towards Luna and offering her hand. “I’m Twilight Velvet, Twilight’s mom. Please, come in! Twilight, dear, why don’t you take Sunset to your room?”

Before Sunset could react, Twilight grabbed her by the arm and pulled her up a flight of stairs and into one of the rooms. Twilight’s bedroom was practically a miniature library with bookshelves adorning almost every wall. There was a desk with books neatly piled on the side, and a swivel chair. The bed was the only thing that looked out of place.

“Just wait a moment,” Twilight said as she walked towards her desk, pulling a binder and turning a few pages. She put it back and then swiftly made her way to the closest bookshelf, where she found a notebook. “Here it is.”

Sunset accepted the notebook and opened the cover. The first page announced in large, bold, beautiful calligraphy the title of the content. ‘Supplementary Lesson Plan to Garden Grove’s First Grade Syllabus’.

“It’s divided into three sections,” Twilight said. “First you’ll start with basic arithmetic and geometry, then basic physics, chemistry, and biology. National history and geography. And local and federal laws.”

Sunset flipped through the pages. “I already know these fields of mathematics. I learned the content of natural sciences over the past week. And while knowing the local laws will be useful, I don’t think I need history or geography.”

Twilight bit her lip, groaning, then continued. “The second section continues with advanced arithmetic, abstract algebra, and a basic rundown of number theory. Classical physics, of which we can focus on acoustics, thermodynamics, electromagnetism, and mechanics. I consider advanced chemistry important, since you never know when it’s going to be useful. We have anatomy, too. And, uh… I’m thinking you’ll want to skip contemporary history and international geopolitical landscape.”

Sunset nodded as she gave a quick overview on what Twilight mentioned. “All of this is already well beyond what I know, sans a few things, like thermodynamics and mechanics.”

Stepping closer, Twilight explained the third section. “This part is outside the common core of basic grade and middle school, but I think they will interest you. There’s applied electromechanics, electronic circuitry, boolean algebra, logical operators, and computer science.”

This caught Sunset’s interest. Everything in this third part of Twilight’s self-made lesson plan looked more complex than anything ponykind had even developed. Yet at the same time, it looked oddly familiar. This contradicting feeling filled Sunset with excitement, and she couldn’t wait to tackle these fields of study. But, of course, like the self-respecting scientist and researcher that she was, Sunset would never dare skip the basics. So she closed the notebook and looked at Twilight.

“Alright, let’s get started, then.”

~~~~~~~~

It had been three weeks since Sunset met Twilight at the library. They could only meet up on weekends since Twilight had to go to school. There wasn’t much Sunset could do since Luna and Celestia both had to work as well, and Twilight’s house was far enough that Sunset couldn’t walk all the way there. That didn’t mean it was wasted time, however, as Sunset spent her days in the library, studying the materials Twilight’s lesson plan referenced.

As Sunset absorbed the knowledge, she started to realize that the reason ponykind had not reached these levels of scientific development was due to the use of magic.

Pegasi controlled the weather instinctively. They didn’t need to know how storms worked on a physical level, they just needed to gather the correct type of cloud, squish them together, and give them a few kicks. Earth ponies, on the other hoof, didn’t need to know any more than basic arithmetics in order to build entire towns; their magic let them know by instinct, just like with pegasi, how to manipulate materials in order to craft what they needed.

Even unicorns, Sunset realized, tended to manipulate things by instinct alone. Levitation and light producing spells were performed without a single thought on exactly how they were affecting the world around them. Only when attempting to learn other spells did unicorns require more advanced kinds of knowledge. But even so, this knowledge was a field that only unicorns were interested in studying, and so when complex needs arose, a unicorn simply lit up their horn and things would happen.

That had stagnated Equestria’s technological development, Sunset reasoned.

“Why are we in the park again?” Twilight asked, snapping Sunset out of her thoughts.

“Have I told you about Cutie Marks?”

“If that’s a concept from your world, then no,” Twilight replied. “You’ve refused to tell me anything about it aside from the fact that it has magic.”

Sunset didn’t fail to notice the tinge of distrust in her voice, but decided to ignore it. “Cutie Marks are the maximum exponent of Identity Magic. It is a mark that appears on our f… our thighs… that represents who we are and what our talent is.”

Twilight hummed. “So you’re saying you're marked for life with one set of character and skill traits?”

Sunset chuckled. Such a gryphon way of thinking. “Not at all. They represent our passion and what we’re best at, but they don’t define our personality or, as some might say, our destiny. Why, many members of the royal guard have Cutie Marks that have nothing to do with the guard. But that’s not the point right now. The point is that obtaining our Cutie Mark is the biggest event in our lives.”

“I see…” Twilight said, scribbling something on her notebook. “And… What’s yours?” She blinked, then turned an apologetic frown at Sunset. “Unless talking about it is taboo. Then forget I asked.”

“It’s ok. Most of us will happily regale you with the story of how we got our Cutie Mark,” Sunset said. “Mine is a double-sided sun,” she said as she began doodling on her own notebook. “It represents my passion for magic and my ingenuity. I got it when I accidentally cast a spell that made the afternoon sun’s light bend in such a way that made the palace garden's flowers look like they were on fire.”

Twilight raised an eyebrow. “How do you accidentally cast a spell?”

“How do you accidentally start crawling?” Sunset shrugged. “Random spellfire and uncontrollable magical outbursts are part of growing up. Many times, a magical outburst is the reason for getting a Cutie Mark, as it happened to me. But anyway, that’s not the point here.” She pointed towards the children in the playground. “Getting your Cutie Mark happens when you’re very young, and more often than not, it leads to a Harmonic Resonance.”

Twilight looked at the kids, then back at Sunset. “But humans don’t have Cutie Marks.”

“I thought the same when I couldn’t find mine in this body,” Sunset said. “But then I started to realize that a lot of humans carry a personal symbol with you at all times. A symbol that is eerily familiar to a Cutie Mark.” She should know. Many of Celestia’s accessories had a perfectly accurate representation of Princess Celestia’s Cutie Mark. That alone opened a whole new can of worms to Sunset’s understanding of this world, but she decided not to share that specific piece of information with Twilight.

Twilight cocked her head. “That’s just a drawing children draw randomly and feel attached to. There’s a book about psychology that…”

“It’s not psychology,” Sunset interrupted her. “Though I can’t say it’s the same phenomenon as Cutie Marks. But I’m sure it has to do with magic.” She shook her head. “Regardless, the important thing here is that Harmonic Resonances tend to happen around kids with more frequency than adults.”

“So… we’re going to wait here until it happens?”

Sunset leaned back on the bench they sat at. “Yup. This is what field research is all about, Twilight, especially with unpredictable events. The silver lining is that we don’t necessarily have to put all our attention to watching those kids. As soon as a Harmonic Resonance happens, we’ll know, and we’ll be able to write down our notes.”

“If you say so…”

Sunset looked at Twilight, who was writing something down. Her eyes downcast, Sunset couldn’t make out her expression, but she could see her pursing her lips. A question popped up in her mind, and she spoke before she even thought it over.

“You haven’t had that experience yet, have you? Drawing something you feel that strongly attached to, I mean.”

Twilight stopped writing and sighed. “No. And I think it’s a dumb practice. Why waste time and resources to get that drawing on everything you own? That’s time and resources that could be spent elsewhere.”

“That sounds like resentment,” Sunset said, “for not getting something everyone else does. But don’t worry, if it’s the same as Cutie Marks, then you’ll get your chance eventually…” And that was a big if. Sunset wasn’t sure that the symbols she’d seen were in fact Cutie Marks.

“It's not resentment,” Twilight said. “Everybody’s going on about their drawings, like they’re some kind of milestone or something. But it’s just a waste of time.”

Sunset shrugged. “If you say so.”

“I mean, even if they were similar to your world’s Cutie Marks or whatever, I don’t need one to know who I am or what I’m good at. I’m a scientist, you know? I only want to understand the laws of this world.”

“Uh-huh.”

“What’s the point anyway?” Twilight continued, making Sunset look at her. “I can understand how they’d be useful and important in your world, but here? It’s just a stupid drawing! It does absolutely nothing of use. Yet people treat them like they’re super important or something. You know what’s important? Learning and discovering and then using that knowledge to further advance humanity’s progress. That’s what’s important to me!”

“Why are you so agitated?”

“I’m not agitated!” Twilight yelled. “It’s just…” She took a deep breath, then hunched over herself as she calmed down. “My family keeps telling me that there’s more to life than books and research, as if what I’m doing is somehow less important than being a cop or a teacher or a writer. What’s wrong with being a scientist?”

Twilight stood up, and right at that moment, Sunset felt the rhythmic beating of a Resonance, coming so suddenly she barely had time to react. She looked up at Twilight just as the younger girl opened her mouth.

I've had this argument before
People tell me I should strive for more, oh-whoa-oh
But they ignore that this is what I chose

Spinning swiftly on her heel, Twilight turned to look back at Sunset with a small frown. Sunset could feel the girl’s frustration through the sound waves of the song.

In every class my grade’s the best
The highest score on every test
Does this not mean that I should have no woes?

“I do think it’s important that you do whatever you feel passionate about,” Sunset said. She couldn’t be sure that humans really did have their version of a Cutie Mark, but from what little Twilight had said, it seemed a safe bet to encourage the girl that was helping her with her research.

Twilight looked away. “But that’s the thing, Sunset.”

They say there's more that's out there
and I just haven't found it yet
You say there's more that’s out there
that there is magic we don’t get

“I don’t know why you humans refuse to believe in magic,” Sunset replied, knowing instinctively that she could talk and not cut off the Resonance. Back in Equestria, it was very poor manners to interrupt one unless there was a good reason. “But you are Resonating right now, Twilight!”

As that last word left her mouth, Sunset felt Twilight’s Resonance vibrating much more strongly inside her, and she felt compelled to join. She thought of refusing; it was an easy thing to do, like choosing not to blink at any given time. She didn’t like Resonating herself, but then again, if she was to study it properly, what better way than to experience it?

So she took a deep breath and stood up, confidently facing Twilight. “Don’t you see?”

Everyone here just sings unplanned
And it is from a magic spell’s command, oh-whoa-oh
You dismiss my entire world as folklore

She smiled as memories of Equestria flashed before her eyes.

But there’s these crazy quests
Mythical creatures, magic tests
Books are great, sure, but don’t you want to know more?

“I… I do want to know more,” Twilight said, her whispers carried through the wind and, empowered by the Resonance, reaching Sunset loud and clear enough to be understood. “I always want to know more. But it’s like people think that life has no meaning if you don’t go out or throw parties or what-have you. I just want to learn!”

Sunset shrugged. “Well, you can keep learning human science at the same time you learn human magic. To be honest, I myself will be learning alongside you with only peripheral understanding.”

Twilight walked over to the bench and picked up her notebook.

It’s not that I don’t trust you, but if I can’t perceive
that there’s magic to discover, how can I believe?

“Twilight, you are experiencing a Harmonic Resonance right this instant,” Sunset insisted. “I’m sure that you can hear the same music I’m hearing. How can you explain this outside of a magical manifestation? Listen to me.”

I know there's more that's out there
It is magic, nothing else
I know there's more that's out there
Because I've seen it for myself

Twilight opened her notebook. “If this really is the manifestation of magic, then how would we be able to prove it? Anyone that so much as mentions the word ‘magic’ on a published paper will be the laughingstock of the entire world. There’s absolutely nothing in any scientific book that could help us with this.”

Sunset placed a hand on Twilight’s notebook and lowered it, making the girl look directly at her.

There's only so much safety can offer
And I'm not saying that’s so bad
But I know there’s more that’s out there
And I can help you understand

Twilight’s lips trembled a little as she clearly struggled to speak up. Her frown became more confident as she gathered herself. “Sunset, please tell me more about your world. If I’m to help you with magical research, shouldn’t I know what your bases on magic are?”

Sunset considered it for a moment. “I suppose you’re right. Let me tell you about the land of Equestria…”

They sat back down on the bench, and Sunset told Twilight everything about her world. She told her about the three main pony races, about the princess that controlled the sun and the moon, and about the different magics that formed part of ponykind's everyday lives. She told her about the many other creatures that coexisted with ponies, and she told her about the lands beyond Equestria. She told her about her own life as a graduate from the most prestigious magic school in Equestria, and she told her about her mentorship with the very princess that ruled the princessdom.

She left out the fact she’d been kicked out of said apprenticeship, however.

It took about two hours to convince Twilight that Sunset was not in fact pulling a prank on her, and that everything she said was the honest truth. All the while, even though no more music was playing in her ears, Sunset still felt the Resonance vibrating within her soul, knowing that it would seamlessly continue as soon as they both were ready.

When their conversation was finished, a lull fell between the girls, in which Twilight simply looked up at the sky. Sunset took the chance to write some notes on the Resonance that was still present between them. Soon enough, as the vibrations of the song intensified and the phantom music returned to Sunset, Twilight took a deep breath.

Beyond the rules of this world’s walls
So much to learn I can't see it all

Sunset smirked. “I see you’re finally starting to believe.”

Just trust in me when I declare
I guarantee I know that magic must be there

Twilight took her eyes from the sky and turned to look at Sunset again, offering a small but confident smile.

I accept there's more that's out there
So much knowledge to explore

Sunset nodded eagerly.

And I know there's more that's out there
You’re not wrong for wanting more!

Just as Sunset hit the end of her crescendo, Twilight once again picked up her notebook, and as if she had practiced the motion a thousand times, she spun her pen between her fingers, finding a blank page at the end of her most recent notes. Sunset leaned in to look and realized that Twilight was not writing, but drawing. A very simple drawing of a big, six-pointed star with six other points that signaled another star behind the first one, and five more smaller stars around it.

The drawing didn’t take more than a couple minutes, but it felt like time slowed down as Twilight completed it, and her eyes widened once the pen closed the final star. The lines were too straight, too perfect, for a drawing made sitting at a bench, with the notebook precariously held against her knees.

A wave of pure magical energy exploded from Twilight, making such strong ripples in the Harmonic Veil that even Sunset could feel it. There was no flash of light on Twilight’s body, and even if they tried to look, they would not find anything new or different. And yet everything was different, for Twilight had experienced what all ponies did when finding themselves. Somehow, on a completely different world and as a native of a completely different species, Twilight Sparkle had gotten her Cutie Mark.

Twilight gasped for air, as if she had stopped breathing while drawing, or as if remembering that she wasn’t alone. She looked at Sunset, and Sunset looked at her. And, bonded by the shared vibrations of the Resonance, they both smiled and opened their mouths at the same time.

We both just witnessed what has happened
This is the proof we’re looking for
Now we know there’s more that’s out there
And we’ll find out what’s in store

Twilight leaned over and grabbed Sunset’s hands, squeezing them with an excitement Sunset herself could feel coursing through her veins.

As we’re searching for the answers
We will not be led astray
We’re confident there’s more that’s out there
And we'll find out someday!

We’ll find out someday…

Finally, the magical notes slowly began to fade away back into the Harmonic Veil, giving Sunset ample time to remember the moment as the Resonance ended, not wanting to forget it before she could write down her experience.

She could feel her cheeks a bit heated up, and a single droplet of sweat running down her neck. When she had decided to participate in this Resonance, she hadn’t expected to be such a big part of it. Her role had not been to complement Twilight’s song, but instead it’d been just as big as Twilight’s, creating a proper duet. Up to this point, all of Sunset’s Resonances had been solos or just chorus.

Twilight let go of her hands, her breathing a bit labored, her cheeks reddened, and her forehead bright with sweat.

“This is the first time I feel like this after an Abrupt… I mean, a Harmonic Resonance,” Twilight said with a trembling voice.

“I’m guessing it had less to do with the song and more with you earning your Cutie Mark,” Sunset replied.

Twilight looked at her drawing, gently pressing her fingers on it. “I don’t understand why I drew this, I just… I suddenly knew I had to draw it. The image appeared in my mind and wouldn’t leave me until I replicated it in my notebook… But I don’t know why I did it.”

“It seems that, because the Mark can’t manifest on your body, it forces you to produce a physical representation,” Sunset guessed. “The process is longer and different from ponies, since it simply appears on our flanks.” She tapped the drawing. “But I’m positive this is a Cutie Mark.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“Because I could feel it,” Sunset replied. “Cutie Mark magic is so powerful that it leaves a huge impact on the Harmonic Veil. I was so focused on the Resonance that, when it happened, I could feel the energy of your own personal magical signature rippling through my body. That is not at all different back in Equestria.”

Twilight, who hadn’t stopped staring at her drawing, took a few long seconds to reply.

“You said that a Cutie Mark represents who I am and what I’m best at, but… What does a big star surrounded by five smaller ones even mean?”

Sunset leaned back, humming as she considered it. “Cutie Marks can be very difficult to interpret. But considering what we were singing about, it might describe your curiosity or your ingenuity. I’m not saying this is the case, but back home, Cutie Marks that are mainly stars or other celestial bodies often mean an innate talent for magic.”

“Yeah, I don’t think that’s the case,” Twilight said with a snort.

“Neither do I,” Sunset agreed. “But maybe it’s related. Maybe it means your desire to understand this world’s magic.”

Twilight stared at her notebook for a while longer. Sunset didn’t interrupt her silent musings. The earning of a Cutie Mark was one of the few events she felt deference for. After a couple more minutes, Twilight finally closed her notebook.

“Can we go back to my house? I want to write about this, and I don’t think this notebook will be enough.”

Sunset smiled. “Sure.”

Author's Note

At the moment of publishing this chapter, I've written 34 chapters for this fic, and yet this one remains my favorite. I hope you like it at least half as much as I do!

Friendship Games is my favorite of the Equestria Girls movies, and to this day I bemoan the fact that Twilight and Sunset's duet was modified and became a solo for Twilight, and an entire subplot was erased from existence.

This is my way of bringing back that original concept, though with obvious differences.

I want to thank my good friend Crowscrowcrow for helping me with tweaking the lyrics of this song.