ACT 2 - FONDEST MEMORIES

CHAPTER 6 - THE SUN RISES

It had been a strange month for everyone.

Prince Blueblood’s castle was still in the process of burning– His guard and Sunset’s guards were still, at this moment, dousing the flames. The town surrounding it was safe, however– And the fire had not claimed casualties.

Applejack the peasant had become a millionaire– The reward for rescuing Rarity had been quite welcome, even if she did enjoy a lot more the reward of having Rarity.

Rarity the seamstress, of course, had come out of this winning completely. Sure, she was not a real, true princess, but she had her true love, the stuff of fairytales, they were both together, and they were safe, anything that happened from now on was winning.

Fluttershy the druid hadn’t worried that much, in this whole mess– It had been simply a fun getaway for her. But these ponies were nice, and super friendly, and she had never had luck in the friend department outside of animals before…

Rainbow Dash the rogue would be more than happy to accompany the druid, and still insisted that she had a life debt to Applejack. Whether that was just an excuse to stay with these newfound friends, or just an inner newfound purpose, it didn’t matter. She was happy.

Pinkie the bard, of course, had acquired another song, another legend. This entire month had been a wild ride for her, she had made new friends and reunited with old ones– And she could see clear as day that she was right where she was needed. The Princess and the Peasant was just the beginning, after all.

Twilight Sparkle was a little bit anxious over the way they had handled things– After all, killing a royal wasn’t exactly the best way to go about solving your differences with him.

“Hey. Hey...” Sunset called out gently, as they sat by the window of sweet apple acres, still seeing the castle of Prince Blueblood in the distance. “To be fair... He died in an official duel.”

“I know…!” She grumbled, huffing. “Still, though.”

“And, if it makes it any better too… Um, I didn’t kill him?” Sunset smiled awkwardly. “Not to throw blame, but Applejack delivered the right hook of the century, completely within legality. They had a deal, and it was settled. Celestia will understand; Hell, she was fine with me murdering a couple dozen cultists half a year back… This will probably be okay. Probably.”

“Y-yeah, she will understand, I just wish it hadn’t been, um, this messy.” She affirmed with a pout, pointing at the burning castle.

“Hey. You know your way of doing things is the right one–” Sunset came closer, with an affectionate smile. “But sometimes, others just want to get things done… Faster.”

“Well, attacking his castle with a dragon was… Certainly faster.” Twilight leaned on her Captain, letting out a sigh.

“Yeah, that Fluttershy girl is wild. They all are, really.” She grinned, turning to the crowd.

They were all gathered by the table. Pinkie strummed on a harp while giggling at a joke, Rainbow flew into the air, retelling the mighty assault of Prince Blueblood’s castle, Fluttershy quietly but with a smile, listened, and Applejack an Rarity leaned on each other, nuzzling with affection.

The rest of the apple family appeared, bringing more food, and the table cheered. They summoned Applejack for a quiet conversation and after a loving kiss with the seamstress, she joined them.

“What a month.” Sunset stretched out, breathing out. “I dunno about you but I’m looking forward to getting back to Canterlot. I am especially looking forward to getting myself new armor.”

Carefully, Twilight inspected her captain’s wounds. Several bruises here and there, the bleeding had stopped already, she otherwise seemed perfectly okay– Sunset Shimmer had handled much worse.

“Hey, hey, it’s okay, really–” She couldn’t help but chuckle. “--I’m still mourning my armor, but Applejack wasn’t that tough. I think she got the worst of it.”

“Hmpf.” The Princess came closer, channeling magic, trying to soothe some of the remaining bruises. “I still worry.” She whispered with concern.

“I’ll take it as a compliment.” Sunset came closer stealthily, planting a kiss on her Princess’s lips.

They simply enjoyed being quietly together like that for a few seconds, feeling the weariness of the weeks past.

“Alright y'all, big news!” Applejack declared to the table and beyond, with a wide smile, accompanied by her family. “Sweet Apple Acres is moving to Ponyville!!”

Most residents of the table gasped in surprise and shock. Rarity was the first one to speak up in complete disbelief. “D-dearest, what does this mean? This is your home, is it not?”

Pinkie nearly choked on her drink. “O-okay I know you’re strong, but you’re not planning on carrying the entire farm to Ponyville, right?”

“Settle down, youngins!!” Granny Smith rolled her eyes with a snicker. “It ain’t like that, listen to AJ, will ya!”

“Look, I originally wanted that prize money to keep this old farm running, to fix up our problems, so we could keep on livin our days like always…!” The Farmer regarded Rarity with complete adoration. “But we discussed it, and… Apple acres is where our family is, not a place. We don’t worry about nothin’ else anymore. My parents woulda wanted us to be happy, and well, I wanna live closer to ya, Princess…!”

With eyes watering, the seamstress sniffled, smiling and trembling. “D-darling, I could not ask you to do this for me, your family is right here! If anything, I could move the Carousel Boutique here–”

“--Nope. Our decision is done.” Applejack came closer, grinning warmly. “We are all together, and we can stay that way– I don’t care for spendin’ my reward money on repairing this old home… I want to make a new one near you.”

Applebloom hopped on the table with excitement. “Yeah! Yeah! Sweet Apple Acres, bigger and better!! I don’t wanna live near that Prince’s dumbass castle anymore!! We can give this home to one of our cousins, I bet!!”

“Eeyup.” Big Mac affirmed shortly. “Plus we ain’t riskin’ any idiots loyal to the Prince wantin’ revenge on AJ.”

Rainbow Dash snickered in her seat. “Is there anypony at all that was loyal to that jerk? Really?”

“Don’t y’all worry none!” Granny leaned on the table smiling confidently. “We got plenty of family that could still take care of this place, and heck, I want a change of scenery! We visited Ponyville plenty of times before on festivals and It’s darn lovely, it has more than enough space fer a new Sweet Apple Acres!

The smile on Applejack's face only grew. “Oh! If we get buildin our new farm sooner, we might be able to have it all done before the next apple family reunion!!”

“Oh! OH!” Applebloom was vibrating with excitement. “Maybe we could make it a part of the party to help raise our new barn or somethin!”

The entire apple family agreed with enthusiasm.

Applejack immediately turned to her love, with that same affection. “Oh, sugarcube, I wanna introduce ya to the rest of my family so damn badly!! Everypony’s gonna love ya, I just know it!!”

“I am not in a rush, it will be a delight to meet the rest of your family, my love.” She spoke closely, almost with whispers. “But my dear knight, are you absolutely certain that you want to leave your life here…?”

“I ain’t leavin’ nothin.” Applejack stated without hesitation, smiling truly, pointing at Rarity. “My life’s right here.”

No more words were exchanged, Rarity pounced on her and they began kissing furiously.

“Ponyville is a really, really nice town, I’ve worked there before!” Pinkie affirmed, raising a hoof. “You won’t regret moving there– Heck, I’d love to help you move, right everypony??”

Several cheers and affirmations spread across the room.

“Ponyville is a lovely place, for sure!” Twilight stepped forward, spreading her wings. “I’ll be more than happy with assisting you with any paperwork and official business when you’re purchasing land there!” It certainly was worth it to have a Princess friend.

“T-thank you, Twilight, darling!” Rarity muttered mid-sloppy makeout.

“See, sugarcube?” Applejack spoke in a single breath. “Everythin’s gonna be okay.”

“Oh! I’ve been to Ponyville! There’s a little filly that I saved once, she lives there. Little Scoots was lost in Everfree, I got her back to her aunts, heheh.” Rainbow muttered pensively. “I still got a life debt to AJ, so I might check it out too! I wouldn’t mind moving.”

Fluttershy tilted her head. “Are you sure, Dashie? Moving is a big commitment!”

“Babe, I’m homeless!” She let out a chuckle, smiling confidently. “Everywhere’s my home!” Leaning forward, she grinned earnestly. “And you could come with me, too…! I bet we could find a little nook at the edge of Everfree for your sanctuary…!”

The nomad druid blushed, considering it strongly. “I-I, um… I think it wouldn’t hurt to live near friends that aren’t woodland creatures…! And, um… You.”

“Awesome.” Rainbow nuzzled her affectionately.

Sunset and Twilight watched the entire scene from afar.

Twilight watched them, and Sunset watched her.

The way the Princess smiled was telling, and she smiled too.

“You’re feeling it too, aren’t you?” The Captain couldn’t help but chuckle. “These five… They’re fun.”

“Y-yeah…!” The Princess sat back down near her, nuzzling her. “This is where we’re meant to be.”

“I am so proud of you…!” The words flowed out of Celestia involuntarily, almost by instinct, upon seeing Sunset dawn her new armor.

“Pff why? It’s just armor.” Sunset kept her gaze on her reflection, while she adjusted it. “With, an uh, very specific color pallet.” She pouted lightly.

Giggling, Twilight alternated between looking at her reflection, then her. “Aw, c’mon Captain, black was a little bit grim…! I think it’s lovely!”

The armor resembled the old one in design almost entirely; It was paladin armor, after all. But this time, it was all white with golden accents– Giving it an almost prismatic look in the right light, and the captain couldn’t help but fidget a bit awkwardly, feeling that this color was not as imposing.

“Darkness was never your color, Sunset.” Celestia affirmed without hesitation. “I believe you’ve more than earned to wear a mantle like this.”

“W-well, sure, yeah…!” She kept looking at her reflection. After moments of mulling over it, she nodded. It was just armor. The color didn’t matter– So what if this implied that she was a warrior of light now? It was only a suggestion. All that mattered is that it was protection she wore, and a statement. “Alright. I’m done, then. It looks good.”

“I think it looks wonderful.” Twilight took care to not display strong affection near Celestia so as to maintain the secret, but still, delighted herself in how good her captain looked. “It suits you!”

“Y-yeah. I guess it does, huh?” Her smile was frail, but it was true. It felt realer everytime she thought of it– That this was her role, and that she was here to stay. Captain of the royal guard, Paladin of light.

“Look at you…!” Celestia muttered with pride, beholding her old pupil.

“Look at me…!” Sunset looked back at her with confidence.

But that glance did not last. Celestia tried, she tried. “Well, you two, I call this a successful afternoon. I have some time on my schedule; Would you both like to join me for tea?”

“A-ahem, I would love to, but–” Sunset shot a quick nervous glance to Twilight, then to the exit. “I have Captain duties I need to attend to. Need to make sure they haven’t lost my respect just because I walked around without armor for a few days.”

“W-well, I could join you for tea!” Twilight flapped her wings with twitchy glee, noticing Sunset’s nerves. “Hang on right here, Queen Celestia, I just have to say ‘see you’ to my Captain.”

The Queen of the Sun could only sigh in disappointment and sit idly, watching her pupils shuffle away awkwardly.

“You can’t keep avoiding her forever, you know…? I get your reasons, but it could come off as rude…!” Muttering nervously, Twilight kept shooting glances at the Queen from the exit.

“I can’t do this and you know it, okay? I-I just. With the expectations, and our past, I… I can’t hold a normal, casual conversation with her– I can’t pretend everything is fine– God forbid small talk…!” She exhaled, looking at the floor. “Look, all we did was hurt each other. I can’t unburn that bridge. It’d be naive to even think so.”

“But I’d be right there next to you, helping…!” Twilight gave her an affectionate, assuring glance coming a bit closer. “You don’t have to be afraid of each other… The M word is not that bad, you know…?”

A short chuckle involuntarily came out of Sunset. “You’ve been talking with Cadance about me, I take it.”

“Look, say what you will about her, but she genuinely wants everypony she loves to be happy.”

“Whether they want to or not.” Sunset frowned.

After a little snicker and a grimace for snickering, Twilight sighed. “Look, I’ll… I’ll cover for you during this tea time. But we should talk about you trying to be closer to Celestia again, you know…? It could be good for the both of you…!”

“Or catastrophic.”

“You deserve to have a family, Sunset.”

It was still a bit strange, but she was getting used to it.

Looking in the mirror and seeing white armor– Getting up from bed, and dawning that mantle.

It was at times like these that she did her best not to be introspective.

Thinking of how far she had come or anything that had led her to this point was a spiral, and it’d be one that was quite hard to ignore the effects of without drinking.

Breathe in, breathe out.

Everything is okay. Things are better. And they aren’t going to fall apart again.

Probably.

She couldn’t help but smile– That armor really didn’t look half bad.

With it, she took a step out of the Captain’s quarters, and…

“Surprise!!” Her entire guard yelled out in cheers and revelry.

Sunset blinked in shock for a moment– The entire Canterlot royal guard was here in the barracks, spread out across the open area, cheering and celebrating. There were banners with her face poorly drawn on it, and a large one strung on the rafters that stated ‘Happy sort-of-half-a year of Captain Anniversary, Sunset Shimmer!’

Everyone seemed happy.

Everyone seemed happy to see her.

A silly grin manifested in her face, as she saw a pretty massive cake that had edible versions of her armor, helmet included.

The cheers died down, as the Princess of Friendship, among the crowd, cleared her throat with a mic, smiling all the way. “Because this is a royal guard party, I’ll refrain from speaking too much, I’m only the Princess, after all–” Several guards around her giggled and jokingly heckled. “But it was my pleasure to help organize this. Sunset Shimmer, you’ve done a wonderful job since you became captain, and I think we can all agree that you make our days better and our lives safer. This is all for you. Thank you.”

There were no more words that needed to be said– Not in a crowd, and not alone. Sunset understood the Princess’s adoration and love, clear as day.

“Now, let’s let some of your guards talk, huh?” She handed the microphone to Flash Sentry, who was almost flapping his wings with excitement, smiling fully.

“I’m probably one of the people here that’s known Sunset Shimmer here the longest, huh?” He affirmed into the microphone with a smile, looking around. “And let me tell you. She’s a tough, hard headed, stubborn and kinda angry mare, that much I could tell since the day I met her…”

Sunset rolled her eyes, letting out a sigh– But she couldn’t help but smile.

“But when you get past the first impressions…” He snickered, looking at her. “She makes for a damn good friend, and an ever better captain. Am I right?!”

The entire crowd cheered, sharing affirmations of respect and adoration, and Sunset couldn’t help but chuckle.

Slowly, Flash approached Sunset, and as he moved through the crowd, he'd often offer the mic to guards he passed by, and they’d give their two scents.

“Best Captain ever!!”

“No one on this side of Equestria is tougher than her!!”

“I like this armor better!"

“She’s a hardass! Hardest ass in Equestria!”

“Secretly a softie inside, though!”

“Thanks for giving us something to fight for, man.”

And still, that involuntary smile persisted– it was drafted on her face, a weary, content grin, as she looked around. It was strange to think this was real, but it was, and it was right here.

Flash’s smile was earnest, as he approached her– The genuine pride of not only an an ex lover, but a friend. “There’s no one I’d rather follow into battle, man. Seriously. You earned this.” He handed the mic towards her, and tilted his head with a grin. “...Speech?”

“SPEECH! SPEECH! SPEECH!!” The crowd began chanting gleefully.

“Alright, alright, settle down, all of you!” Sunset huffed with a chuckle, speaking into the mic. The crowd became quiet, as they all gleefully waited for her to speak. She shot glances at all of them, grinning. “...Half a year anniversary, everypony? Really? This was Pinkie’s idea, wasn’t it. I can see you on the rafters, Pink.”

“N-no!... Yeah.” The voice of the bard resounded from above, shamefully.

With a sigh of delight, Sunset shook her head. She let the quiet linger, for a little bit longer. “...I don’t really do this job for praise. I do it because it’s needed, and because somepony has to, so it might as well be me.”

Again, she couldn’t help but smile, as her eyes met the Princess’s in the crowd. “...But there’s nowhere I’d rather be. And I’m thankful, everyday, to be here. So thank you. All of you.”

Cheers and applause joyfully spread through the barracks.

And only when they died down, did she bring the mic closer. “...Who wants to see me cut the cake with my horn?”

The cheers resounded again, louder than ever.

“Two beers, please!”

“Just apple juice for me, thank you.”

Pinkie’s eyes widened when Sunset corrected her, and a genuine smile manifested on her face as she observed her friend. “W-woah!! …Have you stopped drinking? Like? For real?”

“Yep.” Sunset kept looking forward, but grinned. It wasn’t the same as the many times in which she had visited bars with Pinkie Pie– But it could be better.

“Let me guess…!” The Bard raised a skeptical, smug eyebrow. “Twilight?”

“For her. She didn’t ask.” Sunset corrected immediately.

“You say that like it makes it any less gay, hihihi.” Pinkie snickered to herself mischievously.

“Look. Can we not go there? You told me you could keep the secret.” Sunset tapped the counter with a bit of nerves.

“Oh I can! I’m just happy for you. You’re all sorts of different now!” Pinkie cheered, keeping her decorum. “But it's a good kind of different. I like it. And I bet the Princess likes it too!”

“I go where she goes– If she’s happy, I’m happy.” Sunset affirmed simply, as she got her juice and drank from it.

“Heheheh… Twilight’s a lucky gal.” She snickered, and then her expression turned mischievous. “Soooooo have you gone down in history as one of the few individuals to ever deflower an alicorn?”

There was no audible response– Sunset merely glanced at her, and winked with a grin.

“Hohohooooooooo you’re a legend, Sunset. And good for her, good for her!” She rested her chin on her hooves, eyeing Sunset with a grin. “Details?”

“Hah! Not today. Let’s talk about something else.” She took another drink, and looked past the window, seeing the rest of Canterlot. “...How’s your new job in Ponyville? Is it fine for you to be here now?”

“It’s my old job, actually!” she peppily spun on her barstool. “I’ve worked in plenty of bakeries before, not just doing music gigs, y’know? Sugarcube corner is like an old friend!”

“Can you really work a baking job without bursting into song? Heh, I’m surprised you haven’t moved on to the next thing already, went searching for another legend elsewhere.” She shook her head with a smile.

“Are you kidding me? That town is where the magic is gonna happen, man. We made a ton of friends that are all living around it recently– The two heroes of my previous song, The Princess and the Peasant are sticking around– Not to mention both you and two of my sisters live in Canterlot now! It’s not to see all of you!! I’m sticking around.”

“Huh… Wow. Are you settling down?”

“Eh, I didn’t say that, but…” She smiled genuinely, looking out the window. “It feels like this is where we’re meant to be, y’know…?”

“Raising barns with millionaire peasants?” Sunset chuckled, leaning back. “I’m joking. I get it, don’t worry. It does feel special.”

Pinkie didn’t leave any silence unfilled, immediately changing the subject. “--Have you been playing guitar lately? How good have you gotten?”

She got a little embarrassed– Not because she had abandoned it, but because she still didn’t consider herself to be very good. “O-oh, just a bit, really. I still do it in between Captain duty, I try to squeeze in a song every night before bed, but I’ve been a bit busy, mostly focussed on Twilight and stuff.”

Pinkie audibly gasped, as inspiration struck. “W-we should be writing songs together!! You totally got the soul of an artist, man!” She nudged her friend intently. “C’mon, what do you say?? Want to flex your creative juices with me?”

“Juices? Really?” She grimaced in confusion. “I have never written anything song related in my life, Pinkie.”

“I miss playing together, man! C’mon, don’t you want fun and dumb excuses to hang out with me?”

“Abso-fucking-lutely. You’re right. Let’s do it.”

The Apple family was large… Surprisingly large. From what Sunset had seen of her first impression of Applejack, she was at a broken home, barely scraping by, but had a fire in her eyes to improve her condition. That fire led her across Equestria to rescue Rarity, so it was not up to question.

Even from afar, she could see that the fire in the Farmer’s eyes hadn’t gone anywhere– But that she was much, much happier. All of that fire that was directed at safeguarding her family was still there, her family was just bigger.

Rarity would not leave Applejack’s back, as the Peasant trotted around the fields, leading her, introducing her to family, working in tandem with the seamstress’s magic to help with construction while singing together, it was unsure if they were doing it on this strange mounting manner because of Rarity’s distaste for mud and dirt, because of some perfect cooperation or because they just wanted to be close at any opportunity.

And the farm was looking good, too. Construction workers and her family were working in near perfect harmony– She had hired trustworthy builders, and still, her loved ones were here to help as well– The foundations of the large farmhouse and barn were already established, and they were building upon it easily.

Their other friends were there, too, Rainbow was running interference by helping move supplies through the air, and Fluttershy even had a few woodland creatures cautiously helping out.

“...She doesn’t have parents, does she?”

Twilight’s ears twitched, resting near Sunset in the shade. “Who?”

“Applejack.”

“Oh…! No, I don’t think so…”

The family was big. It was full of life, it was beautiful.

Rarity had brought her little sister, Applejack’s own little sister seemed to be present as well, and Rainbow had brought a kid from who knows where– They seemed to be getting along really well, running around as a trio.

Dancing, singing, building a new home together. They all seemed incredibly happy– Sunset couldn’t imagine having a family this big. She couldn’t imagine even a fraction of it.

“Howdy, pardners! What are ya’ll doin restin’ in the shade, c’mon!!” Applejack called out with a joyful smile, waving them over from below the hill.

“No slacking, you two!” Rarity added, still mounted on Applejack’s back. “Let’s get back to work, yes?”

“Y’know, I was doubting that you’d get this farm up before winter rolled around…” Sunset chuckled, shaking her head, as she stretched. “...But I’m glad I was wrong, it’s looking really good. Isn’t it a bit too big, though?”

“Bigger is better, darling.” Rarity affirmed without skipping a beat, while nuzzling her love.

Applejack, through giggles and nuzzles, managed to answer. “If I’m gonna spend that reward, I’m gonna spend it right. This new Apple Acres is gonna stand for generations, darnit!”

Before the public display of affection could go any further, Sunset sighed, rolling her eyes, and nudged Twilight. “Alright, alright, break’s over, shall we?”

“Ready when you are!”

Practice. It was just practice. Nevermind that they were in the Captain’s quarters, and no doubt at least parts of the barracks could hear them.

Pinkie fidgeted with her own guitar, as she looked through Sunset’s picture board. “Ooh! Ooh!! I love this one!”

She pointed at a picture of them standing in front of the new Sweet Apple Acres– All of the seven friends together, posing and gleefully laughing at someone’s joke.

“And this– Oh my gosh– You were on the NEWS?!” She pointed at a newspaper that was hung on the picture board.

‘Changing times! Read the latest on how the changelings were added to the Equestrian alliance, the failed attack of Chrysalis on the Hall of Unity, and MORE!’ The picture had several of the world leaders united, posing for the camera, still wounded from the battle. Celestia, Sunset and Twilight stood together next to Thorax, who was smiling genuinely.

“Yeah, that was a fun week. We kind of changed history, heh.” Sunset shrugged, smiling, tuning her own guitar. “Some changelings actually see me as an activist for their rights now. I’m flattered– But all I did was literally fight for them. Twilight’s the one doing real change.”

“Hah! Still can’t take a compliment, huh?” Pinkie raised an eyebrow, smugly tilting her head. “Dude. You’re a hero.”

“Sure, Pink.” She chuckled, shaking her head. “Can we play ‘Sweet Child o’ Mine?’”

“Absolutely!”

And just like that, they practiced together, unleashing hell upon the captain’s quarters.

“No fidgeting, darling. Stand still.” Rarity affirmed, measuring Sunset thoroughly. “Honestly, have you never gotten measured before except for me?”

Forcing her eyes forward, huffing in frustration, she did not shake her head, standing still. “Only for armor.”

“Well, it’s about time. Who knew, eh?” The seamstress giggled, her laughter echoing in the halls of her boutique. “All it would take to get your scarred, muscular body in a dress would be a certain Princess asking you to adhere to a dress code…”

“Hmpf.” She narrowed her eyes, flustering a bit. “Just make sure you cover my back.”

“Your scars are lovely, darling. You shouldn’t be ashamed.”

“The sun is lovely too. But looking at it too long burns you.” She spoke almost spitefully. “I mean it, I don’t want to show them off. …Please.”

“So that is why you wear that jacket of yours so much when you’re out of your armor, hm…?” She replied pensively, moving away from vision. “Well. I am at least glad Twilight finally got you to try a new style.”

“Bah.” She huffed.

“I’m only jesting, darling. I am nothing if not happy for you two. You both needed this.” She forced eye contact with Sunset, raising a skeptical eyebrow. “And this time you will dance with her at the gala, won’t you? No flaking out?”

“If she asks me to, I’ll do anything. You know that.” She muttered shamelessly, looking away.

“Ah, much like my knight…” Rarity sighed with delight, thinking of the Farmer, flustering herself. “It is all coming together, isn’t it? One of my best friends found true love, much like me…! Oh, and our knights will fight for us through anything…!”

Pouting, Sunset narrowed her eyes. “Hey. I'm a captain and a Paladin. Not just a knight. And you know that me and Twilight are a secret thing. Nothing’s official.”

“You found your place in the world, Sunset. Just like I said you would, at that last Grand Galloping Gala…” Rarity went back to measuring, with a smug expression. “And you’re both happy. Nothing else matters, hm?”

“...Yeah. She’s all that matters.”

“A warrior of flame, a warrior with no name, I’m a child of fire, feel my ire…” Sunset muttered to herself, making annotations. “Ok. What else can we rhyme with fire?”

“Hm, maybe pyre!” Pinkie affirmed, mulling over her own little sketchbook.

“Not bad, not bad, would keep with the motif–” The Captain mulled over it, fidgeting pensively. “Might be a bit too easy, though…”

“...So this is where you’re living now?” Sunset narrowed her eyes and grimaced at the sigh– It was a meadow, certainly, even with a cave, very close to Ponyville. Several animals and woodland creatures rejoiced about, and Fluttershy was in one of the edges, brushing a fox’s tail while humming to herself.

Rainbow, unlike Sunset, was delighted. “Dude, I’ve slept in dumpsters before, and even in clouds. This is fiiiiiiiiine, heh.”

“Why the hell are you homeless, anyway? Doesn’t an outlaw rogue like you get enough pay for a home?” With a skeptical frown, Sunset came closer. “I’ve seen your wanted posters, you know. If you make even half of the reward for your bounty in one of your jobs…”

“E-easy, easy. I’m on the straight and narrow now! Mostly.” Rainbow recoiled with an awkward chuckle. “Also it’s hard to keep a home if your job usually takes you all across Equestria. This is my chance to do it, really! Y’know, to quit.”

Easing up, Sunset’s gaze softened. “...Are you an orphan?”

“Hah! Nope. Ran away from home.” She chuckled, shrugging. “My parents were overwhelming and kind of assholes. So I left. I’m a free bird, y’know?”

Sunset’s gaze hardened. “No, I don’t know.” She came closer, tilting her head and stomping on the floor with intimidation. “Now. You’re more than welcome to stay here in Ponyville if you stay on the straight and narrow. Our friends like you and trust you, so I do too. But if you step out of line, I’ll be here to remind you that you’re now friends with a Captain of the royal guard.”

Sweating a little, the rogue feigned confidence. “Hah! No offense, man, but I don’t think you could catch me–”

With one single movement, the captain overturned the pegasus and pinned her on the ground fiercely.

“Caught you.” She affirmed angrily.

“O-okay, okay! You proved your point! Sheesh!” The rogue squirmed a bit, and then just gave up. “I’m sorry. I promise you I won’t do anything rogue-y.”

Sunset was satisfied enough with the response, nodding and helping her stand. “You know, your skillset could still be pretty good for us, though. I saw you assaulting Prince Blueblood’s Castle– You’d do a lot of good, if you were in the royal guard.”

“Hah! You trying to recruit me, cap?” She grinned, tilting her head, amused. “Seriously? Is that why you’re visiting us?”

“Nope. Twilight asked me to check on all of you.” Sunset shrugged. “But as captain of the royal guard, I do feel like I should offer you the opportunity. You’d start off as a squire, but the pay is good and you’d get to help Canterlot safe.”

She did spend a few seconds pondering on it, but as soon as her gaze met Fluttershy’s, who peacefully hummed to herself while caring for woodland creatures, she shook her head. “...I’ll pass. It sounds good, but… A bit too official.” She let out an apologetic grin. “I have heard from a lot of others in the same, um, career choice as me that you really locked Canterlot down and made it super safe. Sure as hell never gets attacked by bandits anymore, not even bandit robberies!”

“I take my job seriously.” She spoke earnestly, with a grin. “You wouldn’t believe how many times Celestia was targeted in her thousand years of rule.”

“Hah! Messy. Very messy. Look, I appreciate the offer, but…” Once again, she looked at the druid. “I wanna try something new.”

“The offer stands, if you ever change your mind. And as long as you stay straight, we won’t have a problem.”

“There isn’t much that’s straight about me, but I’ll give it a shot, heh.” She snickered to herself mischievously.

“Heh. Sure, man.”

“Seriously, though…” Rainbow huffed, stretching out her wings, adjusting her feathers. “I’m right where I want to be, y’know? I don’t need divine intervention to tell me that I’ve got something good right here.” She waved at the meadow, and pointed at Fluttershy.

“...So, you two hit it off, huh..?” The faintest smile manifested in Sunset’s lips.

“S-sort of? It’s, well…” The pegasus huffed, sitting down, looking away. “Look, I never in a million years thought that I’d be with a mare like that. She doesn’t seem like my type at all. But she kind of… Brings out the best in me, if that makes sense?”

“She grounds you… That’s not a bad thing.” She affirmed with a smile.

“Y-yeah. But she and I can also soar, y’know?” Rainbow regarded the druid with affection.

“Hey, Dashie! Want to brush each other’s wings?” Fluttershy called out from afar.

“A-absolutely, right away Flutters!!!” The Rogue moved forward with a pep in her step.

It certainly must be a wonderful feeling, to be capable of flying with a lover.

“And I wanted to be wrong, but it's over and done, is there really no happiness without this feeling?” Sunset sang out, as she strummed on her guitar, practicing with Pinkie.

“Give me a drug, bottled in love, is there really no happiness without you near me?” She was completely in the flow, letting herself go, feeling the music in her bones.

Her picture board was getting bigger.

“Don’t take this the wrong way, I really do appreciate the help…!” Fluttershy giggled, as she watched Sunset help reinforce her home’s protection in the event of storms with her magic. “But aren’t you a big deal Captain? I figured you wouldn’t have time to help somepony like me… Far from Canterlot, no less!”

“Believe it or not, this is part of my job.” Sunset let out a half-hearted chuckle. “I’m in a… Friendship assignment.”

“Oh? From Twilight?”

“She wants me to be closer to all of you.” She shrugged, but smiled all the same. “I think maybe this is just her way of wanting to give me time off, ‘cause I work too hard, but… Either way, I’m fine with it.”

Fluttershy spent a few seconds pensively pondering on the Captain, and how she could help her.

“...Have you ever had a pet before, Sunset? Or maybe a little critter you cherished?”

She responded with barely any thought into it. “Nah. The orphanage I was raised in didn’t allow pets. If you let one kid have one, then they’ll all want one.” With a shrug, she kept working. “Then I went to live with Celestia, and well– Apart from knowing her pet phoenix well, she’s really cute, I never really did–”

She stopped, blinking, coming to a realization. “...Actually, there was something.”

“Oh?? Tell me!!” Fluttershy perked up in curiosity.

“It's better if I show you, actually. Are you up for a walk?”

“Sure!! What do you mean, show?”

“He doesn’t live far from Ponyville. The area is magically hidden, but those that know it can easily find it.” She grinned, adding the finishing touches, and immediately turning to lead the way. “Follow me!”

It was a familiar trek. Celestia and her would usually fly here, either on a chariot or on the queen herself, but this time, she was going on foot.

“Is he fluffy?”

“Pretty fluffy, yeah.

She always did wonder why an entrance to Tartarus was in the middle of central Equestria, so close to a place like Canterlot– All history implied that this place was here long before the city, so she didn’t question it otherwise.

“Is he sweet, or a bit wild?”

“A bit of both, but mostly the latter. Sometimes a bit too wild.”

All that mattered was that it was hidden enough, and safe, thanks to him. An unsung hero in Equestria, certainly.

“Is he friendly and domesticated, or do you need help with training?”

“Oh, I don’t think even you could help with his training, sorry.”

The pegasus’s curiosity was getting the better of her, as she gasped at the sight.

It wasn’t a barrier, or an illusion– As Sunset led the way through the glades outside of Ponyville, further inland, it was as if there was a folding in reality, nigh imperceptible, one that Sunset walked through easily.

And as soon as they were past it, she could see a small mountain, with ruins all around it, covered in foliage and the occasional tree, and most importantly, large, massive footprints in much of the surrounding area.

Sunset whistled loudly, yelling out. “Here boy! I’m over here!”

The ground trembled so hard that Fluttershy was nearly knocked over, as the massive three headed hound of hell sprinted towards them.

What followed was a vicious display of affection, as three heads sniffed Sunset furiously, and followed that up with several licks. “Yeah, yeah, I got new armor, boy. Sorry I haven’t visited in a while!”

“O-oh my goodness, oh my goodness!!” Fluttershy muttered out in both incredibly intimidated surprise, and with a gasp of wonder.

And immediately after, Cerberus was upon her, sniffing her aggressively, and she did not feel fear, she just giggled.

“Easy boy, easy, she’s a friend, not a threat at all! Sit!” Sunset commanded, and the hellhound followed diligently.

“W-wow, Sunset. I’ve seen unconventional pets before, but…!” The druid was breathless, as she pet one of the heads that accepted it lovingly.

“Yeah, yeah– To be fair, he’s not mine. Celestia introduced me to him pretty early on, when she was sure he wouldn’t eat me in a single bite.” She smiled as she scratched the back ears of one of the heads. “He’s always here, so it’s not exactly practical to visit. It’d be easier to do it if I lived on the edge of everfree– But I’ve tried to stop by more often since I’ve been back.”

“Back? Back from what?”

“Nevermind.” She shook her head, as she moved down to scratch the beast’s neck. “Bottom line is; This is the closest thing I’ve ever had to a pet. I like the big guy, but… Y’know, it’s not practical. Can’t take him home, he needs to be guarding the underworld, after all. Whenever we had to bathe him or anything, we just had to do it here.”

“Aww, gosh, what a shame, you must get so lonely here, don’t you boy…?” Fluttershy became nuzzling the beast affectionately. “Don’t worry, Sunset. I’ll try to visit him in ocasion to take care of him, if that’s okay…!”

“Could you? That’s be awesome! I warn you though, he plays rough.” She affirmed, remembering the many training sessions she had with him.

“A little roughhousing never hurt anypony…!” The druid innocently stated while giggling with the hellhound. “You’re just a big sweetheart, aren’t you? Such a good boy!”

“Yeah, he’s pretty great. But if I get an actual proper pet, I’ll get something, uh, considerably smaller.”

“He’s one of a kind, isn’t he?” Regarding Cerberus with pity, Fluttershy pouted. “He must be lonely often…!”

“Sadly, yeah.” She nodded, observing the environment that had clear craters and claw marks, likely from the beast trying to find any way to stimulate himself. “I don’t think a weekly visit from Celestia is enough to stave off his loneliness...”

“Well, we’re here now.” Fluttershy nodded without hesitation. “Let’s make the best of it!”

“What more can be said? I couldn’t even make this rhyme. I wanted to be honest with you, but now we’re out of time. My heart is full, but it’s aching. I’m in for a rude awakening–”

Sunset’s singing was interrupted, her ears twitching, her tail flicking about, as she felt Twilight calling for her.

“Oop! Sorry. Twi’s calling me.” She ignored the involuntary fluster that manifested on her face. “Stick around if you want, but I don’t know if this is gonna take long.”

“No worries!” Pinkie cheered, putting her instrument down and stretching. “Mind if I hang up your new pics?”

“Um…” She shot a worried glance to the board– It was large, full of memories now. “I want to make sure the placing is ideal. You can start picking the places, but please don’t pin them yet.”

“Okidoke! Good luck with your girl, heheh.” Pinkie giggled mischievously. And just like that, Sunset teleported out of there.

The bard put away the lyrics they had been working on, and shot a quick glance at the board, and the pictures that were not hung up on it yet.

Sunset had made new memories– And Pinkie was so, so proud. The first time that they had met, the paladin was a suicidal self loathing wreck that was recovering with a battle against nightmare moon.

She smiled, now. Nearly all the time. She spoke earnestly, casually, her steps were lighter. Anyone that knew her could see it.

Pinkie brought a picture closer, and regarded it fondly.

It was all seven of them, in front of the finished new Sweet Apple Acres. Twilight, Sunset, Pinkie, Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy and Rainbow. All smiling, all huddled together for a picture, all smiling truly.

Sunset was wearing her armor– Removing only the helmet for the picture, it laid next to her. She was nuzzling Twilight, both didn’t even look at the camera– just each other.

With a soft giggle, Pinkie walked over to a fallen jacket that belonged to the captain; Her favorite. “This one’s too good for the board.”

Quietly, she placed the picture on the breast pocket.

Twilight’s sneezes were cute, yes. But these were particularly dangerous.

As she sneezed, particles of magic blasted off of her horn forward, hitting the opposite wall, and she immediately sniffled.

Celestia and Luna, both wearing masks, quickly teleported away to dodge the blast, while Sunset did a flip to skillfully avoid it.

“I feared this would happen sooner or later… Winter is not even yet here, and she has acquired this affliction already…! Lucky for us, it will only happen once.” Celestia affirmed, readying herself for another sneeze. “It is unwise for me and Luna to stay here, so as to not risk contagion. Sunset, could you take care of her in the meantime?”

“Of course! But aren’t I in danger–”

“A-ACHOO!” Twilight sneezed once more. Sunset dodged with a backflip, and the two alicorns skillfully evaded with teleportation. “I-It’s not that bad, is it?” Her voice was stuffy, and her nose was runny.

“It is, but only for you, Twilight Sparkle.” Luna affirmed with concern. “Worry not, Sunset Shimmer– This affliction is an issue only to us alicorns. We had it centuries ago, when we first ascended–”

Another sneeze, another set of evasions.

“--And although those sneezes are a problem to anypony in the blast zone, just being near her is dangerous for us alicorns, lest we get infected once more, and we should move!” The Queen of the Night affirmed with hurry. “Can we count on you for this, captain??”

“Gotcha! I’ll take care of her. I ordered every guard to protect the room but stay away. As long as I keep evading, I should be–”

“Don’t worry, Sunset…” Twilight smiled weakly, with tired eyes. “I’ll just aim my sneezes– a, a a… ATCHOO–”
Another set of dodges.

“O-okay, Housekeeping will continue to provide soup and warm meals at a steady pace, thank you for your diligence Captain Shimmer, goodbye and goodnight!!” Celestia hurried out of the room, taking her sister with her.

Silence befell the room, as the Captain regarded her princess with both affection and pity. “Okay, first order of business, let’s restrain that horn…”

Skillfully, she dug into her own things, having been warned to bring one.

Cautiously, she approached her princess, and placed a magic nullifying cuff around her horn. “These work well on unicorns. Let’s hope they do the same for–”

“A-ATCHOOOO!” Sunset dodged once again, and the Princess immediately sniffled and apologized. The blast radius had been smaller, at least– Seemingly less dangerous. No object had been overturned. “S-sorry– Gosh, I thought these cuffs blocked all magic, what the heck…!”

“Oh, they don’t. Nothing truly can.” Sunset grinned, as she helped Twilight lay back down. “Magic comes from inside you. No external force could ever stop that. Hell, I learned to break out of horn cuffs when I was like, ten.”

“R-really? Y-you can do that?? How??” Twilight’s eyes were filled with wonder.

“A good question, for another time.” The Captain kissed her cheek affectionately, caressing her mane softly. “...So, Sparkles… Diagnosis?”

“Bad…!” She bundled up on the blankets, pouting. “I’m too cold, too thirsty, but drinking hurts… And my magic feels both weak and incredibly unstable… I had paperwork to do, but I–”

“--No paperwork. Captain’s orders.” Sunset affirmed with love and a smile, bringing a cart closer, one with a pan, still warm, that contained the Princess’s favorite soup. “I’ve got you your favorite, here, it’ll warm you right up.”

“I don’t wanna.” She whined, crossing her arms.

“C’mon, Sparkles, you’re gonna have to ride this out…”

The Princess moaned in annoyance, stuffing her face on her pillow, suppressing the urge to sneeze.

With a grin and a light chuckle, Sunset came a little bit closer, bringing with her a served plate. “C’mon… Are you gonna be a good girl and have your soup?”

The Princess’s ears twitched and she turned near instantly. “I-I’m a good girl.” She affirmed with a pout.

“Only if you have your soup.”

“Gimme that.” With one single motion, Twilight grabbed the plate and drank from it like it was a cup– Even spilling a little bit over herself, and not even flinching at it.

Sunset did the best she could to suppress a chuckle at the sight.

The Princess recklessly threw the plate aside, huffing. “Okay. Your princess demands cuddles. Right now.”

The Captain eyed the bed with concern and a fluster. “U-um, I don’t think that’s the best idea with your magic being so volatile–”

“Nooooo, cuddles now!” Twilight commanded with a sniffle and a runny nose.

Sunset did not question the orders any longer, tossing her helmet aside, only for Twilight to pull her to bed with magic before she could remove the rest of her armor.

“U-um, Twi, my armor–” But it was too late. The Princess wrapped herself around her captain, and squeezed, burying her muzzle on Sunset’s warm neck.

Moments of silence passed as they remained like that, the princess muttering indistinguishable affirmations of affection.

Sunset’s nerves slowly lowered as she noticed that Twilight would likely not sneeze while asleep, feeling her breaths slow, her body temperature warmup. “Y’know, if you sneeze now, you might literally kill me.” She affirmed with a chuckle.

“You’ll never die. I won’t let you.” Twilight murmured weakly, with a loving, weary voice. “And even if you did, I’d bring you back. Because I love you.”

Sunset’s eyes widened in disbelief. The L word, thrown so carelessly.

…Twilight was sick. Her judgment was impaired.

So it didn’t count.

“It’s okay to cry if you’re getting emotional over the music, Sunset!”

“I can count the number of times I’ve cried on my hooves, Pinkie. This isn’t it.”

The music wasn’t words learned anymore. It was a feeling. One she felt, thoroughly and fiercely.

“I want to kiss my love one more time. I want to hug my mom one more time… I want to try to change one more time… I want to live, I don't want to die…! I want to live, I don't want to die, I WANT TOLIVEEEEEEEE!!!!”

WINTER

“Good morning, Princess.”

“Morning, Sunset…” She let out an adorable yawn. “Who needs a heater, when I’ve got you…?”

Words affirmed with loving whispers as they both awoke embracing. After a swift good morning kiss, the Princess let out a weary, comforting sigh, as she buried her muzzle on the crook of Sunset’s neck.

“...Lazy day?”

“Hm.” The Princess affirmed quietly, squeezing tighter.

“Sleep in it is.” Sunset nuzzled her, and sighed with delight.

Snow was falling outside, but in here, it was warm.

No force in the world was going to get either of them out of that warm embrace.

Until, of course, moments later, they heard a knock on the door, both tensing up slightly.

And tensed even more when they heard that the Queen of the Sun was the one who was speaking. “Twilight! Good morning, are you sleeping in? I wanted to speak to Sunset, but she is not in her quarters– I thought I’d try here?”

There were a few seconds of sheer absolute panic for the two lovers.

They both immediately left each other’s embrace, and Sunset nearly flipped onto the floor, skillfully, yet incredibly quietly, adorning her armor that was scattered all over the floor.

“U-um– Good morning, Queen Celestia!!” Twilight shuddered on the bed, shooting an incredibly nervous glance towards the door. “I-I am indecent!! C-can you wait a bit?”

“Of course!” The Queen’s voice echoed from behind the door.

Sunset did not let anything deter her movements. Equipping her armor with magic and physicality combined in perfect unison.

With just as much speed, she gave Twilight a quick goodbye kiss, and leapt out of the window.

Celestia waited diligently outside of the room, surprised at her pupil’s tardiness.

Her ears twitched as she heard the Captain galloping towards this room from one of the corridors near them, and she smiled. “Ah, Sunset, there you are! Were you not in your quarters just now?”

Taking one long prolonged breath to stabilize her heartbeat, Sunset smiled as normally as she could. “H-hi, Queen Celestia. I was on my way here, I guess we must have missed each other! Hah!”

The doors to Twilight’s room opened, and she had an even more nervous smile. “Good morning, Queen Celestia! And oh wow, Captain Sunset, what a surprise!”

Two awkward smiles exchanged, as the queen looked between them in confusion, unable to ascertain what in the world they were so awkward about.

“Well then. I was simply here to give Sunset something.” Celestia affirmed ignoring the strange atmosphere. Moving to the captain, she handed her a letter.

“Is this– Oh, shit…!”

“It is.” The alicorn of the sun nodded. “An invitation from your old caretaker, Miss Peony. It seems a few of the foals that were adopted around a similar time as you will gather for lunch on Hollow Point a week from now… And you are invited to join this reunion…!”

“W-wow. Wow.” The Captain muttered breathlessly, her mind wandering far. “Hmm... It’s happening, then…!”

“Will you accept, this time? I am certain we can arrange for things to be okay for your guard around here while you are gone… That is of course, if you would not like company…?” The queen tilted her head expectantly.

“C-company…?” Sunset looked between Twilight and the queen, as the Princess read the letter over her shoulder.

“I am your legal guardian, aren’t I?” Celestia murmured. “If you require me to go with you to set you at ease, I do not mind.”

“N-no thanks. I’m in my thirties, it’d be weird to bring you with me.” Sunset looked at the floor. “Not to mention just a bit weird to bring the Queen of the Sun to a gathering like this…!”

“I suppose I might indeed not fit in the room…!” Celestia hid her disappointment with a chuckle. “Oh well. The news is given then… I will take my leave.”

The two watched as the Queen slowly walked away, Sunset couldn’t help but feel a tinge of guilt, everytime she staved off the possibility of getting closer to her.

But she couldn’t let that bother her. There were other things to be bothered by at the moment, as her vision blurred, staring at that letter.

“...Do you need me to come with you…?” Twilight came closer, with an affectionate smile. “I know it might be hard for you, going back... I am more than happy to keep you company if you need to… And I wouldn’t mind getting to know your first home, too…!”

“Well…!” For a moment, Sunset genuinely considered it. Twilight was one of the easiest and simplest forms of comfort. With her around, it would be easy– But this was different.

“I… I have to do this on my own.” Sunset smiled, trying her best to not see the letter as a threat or an enemy. “There’s no point in going back if I can’t do it alone, y’know…?”

“Okay. I believe in you.” Twilight gave her a soft, gentle kiss.

“They’d probably think I’m just bragging, heh. ‘Look at me! I’m the captain of the royal guard now! Look, the Princess of Friendship is here to confirm it!’” She chuckled, shaking her head.

“Hihihi… I wouldn’t mind being your little trophy for an evening.” Twilight giggled.

“H-hah! Maybe.” Sunset chuckled, flustering. “They would probably suspect that we’re a thing, if I can just pull you anywhere with me, heh. It’d be a pretty poorly kept secret.”

“I-I, um… I wouldn’t mind that, y’know?” She spoke softly, with a fluster. “For your first family to know about me…!”

Sunset was speechless, eyes widened, face red.

“Well…” Twilight sighed, smiling. “Maybe next year... Right?”

“R-right. Absolutely.”

Back again, like nothing had changed, except for everything.

It surprised her just how many facades of her hometown she recognized. How little the town had changed since she had been gone. So many small streets, with unfamiliar faces, and familiar places. The museum was still standing, and it still housed that same dragon skeleton.

It all felt so small now.

The orphanage looked so much smaller. She could see over every counter, tower over many of the ponies there– Every new kid had to look up at her like she was a giant.

A kid threw a snowball at her. She dodged it easily. This became a game where every kid tried hitting her– And she just kept dodging, laughing, enjoying herself.

Rooms looked familiar, and yet so distant. Small things she had taken for granted back then, now stood tall as symbols of her past she amply ignored.

She was greeted with smiles– Even by those that didn’t know her. Kids would sometimes hound her, cheer around her, and she would try to play along– It felt strange, being the tall one. The adult.

Peony was older now– As was Light Heart. Wrinkles here, gray hairs there– It felt so, so strange. Sunset was taller than them now.

She was recognized by the others– The others that had been adopted. And she was surprised to recognize most of them, too. Names on now grown faces– Some asked her about her scars, and she would always say… ‘Occupational hazard.’

“Fleetfoot is a wonderbolt now. That’s a riot.” Sunset chuckled out, as she helped in the kitchen, with the sound of distant laughter on the porch, where the ‘grownups’ were catching up. “Sweetsong is a teacher– Tex is a construction worker– Sure, those I can see. But a wonderbolt?”

“Hah. And you’re Captain of the Canterlot royal guard, kiddo.” Peony replied absentmindedly, as she cut vegetables for a soup that was going to be distributed at the gathering. “Aren’t you going to brag?”

“...Eh, no, I don’t think so. If they ask me, I’ll say it, yeah. But, um, I’m not bragging.” She chuckled nervously, looking away. “Didn’t bring my armor, so uh, they probably wouldn’t believe me.”

“Really?” The old caretaker tilted her head with a grin. “I remember a certain foal that would do anything to be able to brag about something like that heheh… Also kiddo, you were on the news. I bet they know already. How's It going with those carrots?”

“On it.” With magic, she sliced the vegetables with precision and efficiency, and handed them over.

“Hah! You’ve gotten better. Ain’t magic something?” The Earth pony chuckled, working as skillfully as she could.

There was almost shock, in Sunset’s dumb smile, as she couldn’t help but stare, and wearily snickered. “Sorry, it’s just– It’s just so weird, seeing you with gray hairs.”

“Oh yeah? It’ll happen to you too, kiddo.” Peony jokingly stuck her tongue out in a mocking manner.

“Y-yeah. I guess, it, um, might…” She muttered softly, coming to the realization that maybe someday she wouldn’t die in battle.

“Miss Peo! Miss Peo!” A little foal ran into the kitchen. “Where’s the chalk? I can’t find it!”

“I think I saw Gusty take a box– Remember that you can only draw on the inside walls, alright kiddo?”

“Okayyyyy!” The foal was about to turn around, but then stopped when he saw Sunset. “Who’s this big lady?”

“Heya. I’m Sunset.” She responded with an awkward wave.

“She lived here too when she was young, kiddo.” Peony added absentmindedly. “Remember? I think I might have told a story about her before to you kids…”

With a little gasp, the foal stepped forward. “Oh my gosh– You’re the one that went inside that haunted house, right??”

The captain blinked in surprise– Such a distant memory, so small. There was an abandoned shack on the outskirts of Hollow Point, one that she, among every other orphan here, was the only one that was brave enough to go inside.

“I-Is it really haunted?? Did you see ghosts or ghouls?? What was it like??I-I wasn’t brave enough to go in…!”

“Oh yeah, kiddo. Super haunted.” Sunset grinned. “I had to fight a ghost and everything. Why do you think I got these scars?”

A gasp of wonder was all the kid could do as a response, as he recoiled. “O-oh my gosh… I wanna fight a ghost! Miss Peo, can I–”

“Nope! Go find that chalk, kiddo. No ghost fighting for you today.” She responded with a smile, not even looking away from her soup. “And remember to bundle up if you go out!”

“Awww….!” Disappointed, the foal walked out of the room pouting.

“Heh. Sweet kid.”

“They all are.”

“Pff. Was I?”

“You were.”

Silence.

Sunset continued to cut vegetables quietly, unsure of what to say. She wasn’t ready to go back out there with the others, so she might as well keep helping.

Shooting her a quick glance, Peony cleared her throat. “So, I’ve been meaning to ask you since I sent my first letter to invite you to one of these…” Peony gestured towards the porch vaguely. “...How was Queen Celestia, as a legal guardian…?”

“She was more of a teacher. We don’t really consider each other mother and daughter.” Sunset responded absentmindedly, automatically.

The sigh of disappointment Peony let out was tangible. “...Really? How did all that work out for the two of you?”

“...Bad, actually. Pretty bad.” Sunset grimaced, looking away.

“Ugh. Color me surprised.” Peo leaned on the counter with another sigh, and she couldn’t help but stare at just how many scars Sunset had in her body. Sure, the jacket covered the biggest ones, but it was still incredibly telling of the kind of upbringing she had. “I warned her, you know.”

“Warned what?”

“That you needed a normal family.”

“Oh…” Sunset looked down pensively. “...It's a bit late for that.”

“Well… Considering the few letters she sent here, apologizing over you not being able to come, maybe it’s not too late.” A small smile appeared on the old caretaker's lips. “It’s pretty clear she thinks the world of you. So maybe you two can come back from this… Actually be a proper family.”

“--You don’t know what happened.”Sunset spoke curtly, interrupting her, and immediately dialed it back. “S-sorry, I just mean… It didn’t end well. It’d be stupid to try again– Why would I have the right to call a god ‘mom’...? I’ve had enough hubris for a lifetime. Besides, she... She's often busy. she's the ruler of Equestria, after all. All that grace and poise she shows is an immaculately constructed facade. When I was a foal I could tell plenty of times, how stressed she was, with... Everything."

"Sounds like she needs to get laid." Peony stated without even blinking.

"H-HAH-- Y-yeah, maybe, wow, that would explain a lot, actually." Sunset had to contain herself not to burst into an unstoppable bout of laughter. "...But, seriously, though. There's no room for her life or mine for mother and daughter nonsense, there hasn't been for a long time. Maybe if we hadn't been so stupid when I was younger, but... It’s too late. “

“It’s never too late.” Peony affirmed without hesitation. “Things come back. You’re living proof, aren’t you? You dodged these invitations for years, and here you are, and happy too, I hope.”

“Y-yeah. I’m, uh… Happy to be here.” She spoke earnestly, shying away, fidgeting with her mane. Yes, she had come back. She had come back from a lot. “It just– It wouldn’t feel right. After everything. How could I possibly make it right?”

“You’re making a lot of assumptions about needing to do anything more than to just talk to her, kiddo. You’re also underestimating how much you might be needing the hug of a mother, heh.” Peony responded simply, looking away. “Some things end, yeah... And some things are better because they come back… Like you!”

A moment of quiet contemplation passed. One which Sunset looked down, pursing her lips.

“...Better…” She began, hesitating. “...Better late than never.”

Peony tilted her head analytically.

“It’s just… Something that Celestia says often, heh…!”

With a smile, Peony finished tending to the soup, and started cleaning the table. “...Yeah, I figured she’d be wise.”

From the porch, emerged Light Heart, with a pep in her step. “Hey Peo! The kids are out of snacks. Just passing through to grab peanuts, heh.”

“Kids? Lil, they’re in their thirties.” The other chuckled wholeheartedly.

“Still kids to us, heheh.” Light Heart leaned forward and kissed Peony sweetly, then turned to the captain. “Oh hi again, Sunset. Thanks for helping in the kitchen!”

“Wh–” The captain’s jaw was dropped. “W-when did this happen? Huh?!” She gestured at their kiss. “When did you two get together?”

A moment of silence passed as the two caretakers stared at her.

“...Sunset, we've been married since before we even formed this orphanage.”

“W-whAT?! This is the first I’ve heard of it?? HUH??” Her shock and confusion was palpable as she rubbed her temples. “Just, what?”

“Hey, just because we’re not advertising it, y’know…!” Light Heart chuckled, nuzzling her love. “You were pretty focussed on your studies, maybe that’s why you didn’t notice.”

“She was always way too stuffed in those books, heheh…!” Peony giggled, shaking her head. “You wanted to grow up too fast, kiddo.”

“Wow. Okay. Huh. I didn’t know about this. Wow.” Sunset covered her face with embarrassment. “Are there any more bombshells I should know about??”

Seconds passed where Peony looked at the two of them then just grinned. “Light Heart is a changeling.”

“W-what?!”

“Peo!!”

Sunset was shocked at first, but then she just chuckled. “Ah! Good one. You got me. Hah! Wow. You two are still a riot after all these years, huh?”

Light Heart pouted and glared at her wife.

“What? C’mon, Lil…” Peony shrugged. “She’s literally an activist for your rights. I think it's safe to tell her, of all people…”

“Holy shit you’re serious.”

With a sigh, rolling her eyes, Light Heart transformed– reverting into a colorful quadrupedal changeling, blowing raspberries. “Yeah, so… Remember how every nightmare night I had a bug monster costume…? Yeah.”

Sunset spent a few seconds blinking with no thoughts in her mind. Until she groaned, covering her face in embarrassment once more. “Oh my god I was such a stupid kid.”

“You were the smartest stupid kid, thank you.” Peony chuckled, turning around. “Hang tight you two, I’m gonna go get the newspaper to show you!”

She left the room, and Sunset was alone with a changeling, a little bit of awkwardness hung in the air. With an exhale, Light Heart leaned on the counter.

“Sorry Peony threw this at you… it must be a bit weird.”

“N-no, no, well…” She chuckled awkwardly, shrugging. “...You still look like you.” Same colors– Even some of the fins and scales were angled in the same way her hair usually was made. Same kind smile. It was still her old caretaker.

“Heh. Imagine our surprise, when news got out from the Hall of Unity.” She smiled truly, fluttering her wings. “The Princess of Friendship and the Prince of Changelings officially signed up the reformed changeling people as an official part of the Equestrian Alliance. And on that same news, the Captain of the Canterlot Royal guard that protected the treaty…”

Sunset just let out a weary chuckle, smiling. “It was a pretty weird day.”

“I bet punching Chrysalis felt good.” She snickered mischievously. “She had it coming tenfold.”

“Yeah, yeah… Look, if you don’t mind me asking, how did you and Peo, you know… Get together?”

“Meh, it’s kind of a long story.” She shrugged, her antennas flickered, and she quickly transformed back into a pony, as a foal went in.

“Hi, Miss Light! Where’s Miss Peo?”

“Upstairs in her room! You can go see her if you’d like, she’s coming right down.”

“Okay, thank youuuu!” The child left, and the changeling did not transform back, remaining as a pony.

“And remember to bundle up if you go out, kid!” She commanded as the foal turned the corner. With a pleased sigh, she transformed back into a changeling– Still strategically positioned so the ones on the porch wouldn’t see her.

“All you need to know is: When Changelings reach a certain age, they have two choices. Option one is: Run. Leave the hive. Venture out into the world– Knowing you need love to live, whether it's draining it or existing around it. Go into a world that hates you, fears you, and would shun you if they knew who you really were. It’s… Difficult. Peace and harmony were all around us, but we couldn’t touch it. So we… Hide. We just pretended to be like you, and live among you peacefully. I was one of the lucky ones, really. Peony didn’t love me any less when I confessed before I proposed, and well… Now I have this.”

“I’m happy for you, really. I didn’t know there were changelings that lived like you… No wonder Thorax pushed to be public about reform.”

“Yeah, I know. I imagine there’s plenty of us scattered around Equestria– We might not even recognize one another, passing along each other in the street. Well, maybe the smell, heh... It’s dangerous, you know? Living every day in secrecy. That's why when changelings reach a certain age, they often choose option two… They stay. They stay knowing that Chrysalis is a strong leader. That they are accepted and loved as they are where they are. That being an enemy of Equestria isn’t a problem, as long as you’re accepted by people like you, around you… As long as you don’t have to pretend to be somepony else…” Her gaze lingered for a moment. “...Thorax, that crazy guy, heh. He’s giving us a third option.”

“Yeah, he… He’s pretty sweet.”

“And you helped him do it, y’know? I’m so damn proud that a kid I helped raise punched Chrysalis in the face. So on behalf of all of us rogue changelings… Thanks, kid.” She walked forward, and hugged Sunset tightly– A hug she reciprocated, both smiling earnestly.

Chuckling lightly as if at a joke, the changeling snickered in that embrace. “I’m surprised nopony noticed, honestly. ‘Light Heart’ was such a stereotypical pony name when I picked it– And everypony just accepted it, hehehe…”

“Maybe we’re all a bit stupid.” Sunset chuckled, still on that hug.

“Heeeere you go!” Peony walked into the kitchen, placing a newspaper on the table. “Wouldn’t throw this out for the world.”

Sunset’s eyes widened– It was an article regarding the incident at the Hall of Unity. ‘Changing times! Read the latest on how the changelings were added to the Equestrian alliance, the failed attack of Chrysalis on the Hall of Unity, and MORE!’ The picture had several of the world leaders united, posing for the camera, still wounded from the battle. Celestia, Sunset and Twilight stood together next to Thorax, who was smiling genuinely.

She couldn’t help but smile– She had kept the same newspaper on her picture board back home.

“We should frame this.” Peony affirmed, tapping on it with love. “Like c’mon. One of our own kids was at the Hall of Unity fighting for your rights!”

“And I didn’t even know it!” Sunset snickered along with them.

“And hey… If a changeling can change, then there’s hope for anypony, right?”

“...Right.”

“I must admit I’ve been feeling a bit… Restless.”

The Queen of the Night muttered as she watched the sun fall beyond mountains, her whisper disappearing into the high altitude of the balcony she and Sunset were on.

“...Why so?”

“It is odd to admit, but… I have not felt nor seen any Umbrum interference in the dream realm in months. The castle hasn’t been attacked, nor the city– Apart from the event in the Hall of Unity, it has been… Strangely quiet, for all of us.” She affirmed in a hushed tone, looking away. “I am uncertain if this is good news…”

“Yeah, I get it…” Sunset fidgeted, chuckling lightly. “I beefed up security so much, it feels so casual around here now. It’s weird. Not much has happened lately…!”

“Indeed. Celestia does not believe that anything is wrong– Even now, she prepares for the next Grand Galloping Gala. And I cannot help but wonder… What if our enemies are plotting something?”

“Well, maybe…” She hesitated, exhaling. “Maybe for once, nothing is going wrong…? Maybe you and me, we don’t have to worry about… You know.”

With an exhausted sigh, Luna narrowed her eyes. “...Everything?”

“Yeah. Everything.” Sunset groaned, defeated.

There was an underlying silent fear between the two, that good times were temporary.

“...Maybe. Maybe not. I cannot help but shake the feeling that times of peace are not before us. I would be more comfortable with knowing I am just paranoid. But isn’t it plausible, that somewhere, out there, there are enemies of ours plotting our demise?”

“If that’s the case…” She took a moment to breathe, to think, to prepare. “Whatever happens, we’ll deal with it together. All of us.”

A slight smile appeared in the Queen of the Night’s lips, and she nodded without hesitation. “...It is true. Our family has never been more united.”

“H-hah, yeah, our family.” She grimaced slightly.

“Do not make that face, Captain Shimmer.” Luna tilted her head with a grin. “You are as welcome here as you have always been.”

Climbing on the rail with agility, Luna spread her wings. “My nightly duties beckon me– And I will remain vigilant.”

“...Me too.”

“...And I will attempt to enjoy the gala as well– No matter how challenging it may be to enjoy this new period of peace we’ve found ourselves in.”

SPRING

Last gala she had attended, she had remained back faced to the wall, completely unresponsive to most events.

Now, there was ample more reason to be active. She was right next to Twilight through the whole thing, after all. Every royal the Princess greeted, had to greet the captain as well. Every interaction that tired the Princess, the captain was there to support her.

The Princess had convinced her to wear a dress, and minute by minute, she fidgeted less and less, becoming more comfortable with it. It was a black dress with a few golden stripes– Rarity wanted to go much further, but Sunset stopped her.

And she could see their friends enjoying their first Grand Galloping Gala, as well. Pinkie was playing with one of the bands, from a wild beat, to incredibly calm and soothing.

Rarity and Applejack, of course, were sticking to each other like glue. Rarity seemed to be presenting her knight to every single royal she knew, and even ones she didn’t– And the Farmer somehow seemed incredibly in her element, following the seamstress wherever she led, like they had done this before.

Fluttershy and Rainbow were in the gardens– The druid seemed to be trying to meet with some of the critters in the area, and the rogue gently stopped her from going overboard– But both seemed to be having fun.

The five friends had already affirmed how they intended to make this the ‘best night ever.’

And Sunset and Twilight had the chance to dance together, one they had missed, last time. This time it was right. Whether the music was slow or upbeat.

The captain had double and triple checked if the princess was okay with this beforehand. After all, their relationship was a secret, and assumptions could easily be made about their true nature by onlookers.

But the Princess did not mind one bit. She was not going to let any outside opinion or influence get in the way.

Not tonight.

So they danced. Nothing held them back. There was nothing in the world except them– Them and their love.

And Celestia sat atop the stairs, greeting every royal, surveying the party.

“...I think I’ll try to talk to her.” Sunset muttered breathlessly, as they rested, gathering snacks.

“Who?” Twilight huddled close to her, eating a snack.

“Celestia. Remember what we talked about? The… M word thing. I think I might try to talk to her.”

An audible soft gasp escaped the princess, as her eyes widened. “O-oh my gosh, Sunset! T-that's wonderful…! …When?”

“A-after the party, maybe. I shouldn't stall more. But, not now. After.” She shuddered, shaking her head. “I want to. I need to.”

“...Do you want me to be there?” she asked with tremendous affection, so close they could feel each other's breaths.

With a chuckle, Sunset shook her head. “No offense, Sparkles, but if we need to fight, I don’t want you there defusing it. Wherever this goes, it has to go.”

“Okay. I trust you. Everything’s going to be okay.” She delivered a swift, stealthy kiss on her cheek.

“Hello, lovebirds. Not as stealthy now, are you?” Cadance arrived with a light giggle, regarding them both with affection. “Do you mind if I borrow your captain for a little bit, Twily?”

“Not at all, Cadance! Go on, Sunset.” She affirmed with a mischievous smile, that quickly turned to love. “...Stay close, okay?”

“Always.” Sunset promised in a breath, before moving on.

They moved away from the party and into the gardens– Sunset ensured that the Princess was within sight the entire time, even as Cadance drew her attention.

“Ah, you two are so goddamn cute. I’m eating so well tonight… Well, maybe Rarity and Applejack have an edge on you because they’re not secret about it…”

“It’s not a competition, Cadance.” Sunset huffed, rolling her eyes. “And even if it was, It wouldn’t get us to break the secret just because.”

“I know, I know, I’m just teasing.” She giggled, leaning on a railing, with the entire Canterlot night skyline in the distance. “I’m going to say something, and I’m going to preface it by warning you that I'm absolutely not making fun of you.”

Sunset raised a skeptical eyebrow.

“I really, really like your dress.” Cadance affirmed with affection. “That’s all. You look good, Sunset, and I can tell you feel good too.”

She chose to accept the compliment, even if begrudgingly. “...Yeah, yeah… Thanks. Is that all?”

“Nope! Catch me up a bit. Humor me.” She folded her wings close, breathing out. “No L word yet, I presume?”

“Nope. Not yet.” Sunset rolled her eyes.

“You’re at least treating her right, I can see that plain as day.” Cadance turned to the party, reading her sister-in-law’s heart. And muttered faintly, with a dumb smile. “The Princess of Friendship is heading to pound town… And brother? She’s stopping for gas…!”

“Oh for the love of– If that’s all you want to talk about, then I’m just gonna go.” Sunset gritted her teeth with a fluster.

“Nonono, don’t worry, I’m not here for that.” Cadance had to suppress her snickers with all of her strength. “What about the M word?”

“...Murder??”

“No, dumbass!” Cadance huffed out, facehoofing. “Mom! You and Celestia!”

“Oh! That! Right! Hah.” Sunset leaned on the railing and shrugged. “I don’t know. Depends on how tonight goes, I guess...”

With a sigh, the Princess hung her head low. “So you’re finally talking to her, then? Heart to heart? Good. Okay. Okay. Here’s to hoping, then.” With a slight groan, she shot a quick glance to her aunt at the party. “She tried asking me to read your hearts, you know? She was curious to know if you were both in love.”

Sunset’s heart stopped for a little bit, as her eyes widened. “...You better not have told her anything.”

“I didn’t! Sheesh! I can keep a secret!” She blew raspberries, annoyed. “I just want you to know that she seemed really supportive of the idea. And she definitely wants you to be happy.”

“Ugh… Yeah. That sounds like her…” She tried not thinking about the idea of the queen being supportive of her relationship with twilight, and what that would entail.

A moment of silence passed, before the Princess mustered the courage to speak again.

“Can I tell you a secret?”

“Me? Why?”

“Yes or no.”

“...Sure. Go ahead.”

“I’m pregnant.” Cadance smiled warmly, almost chuckling, and she reveled in the surprise that brought Sunset, incredibly pleased to be able to share the news. “You and Shining are the only ones that know.”

“...Huh. Wow.” There was a brief moment where the news set in, and she shot a glance to Twilight, and the rest of the party. “...You and him don’t waste time, do you?”

“Nope! Heh.” Cadance winked. “You’ll get there someday.”

“Sure I am.” She blew raspberries, looking away, not entertaining the thought in the slightest. “Well, I’m happy for you. For you both, I mean. Good for you. Nice.”

“...You’re wondering why I told you, and not anypony else.”

“...Kind of, yeah.”

“Well for starters, as is evident by you and Twily sneaking around, I know you can keep a secret.” She gestured with a wing vaguely, amused. “And secondly, well… I want you to know that I would be more than happy if my daughter could call you an auntie, someday… Just like she’ll call Twilight the very same.”

Sunset’s eyes widened in surprise, as she remained silent.

“And just like I’d love to call you my cousin, if you’ll let me.” the Princess affirmed with an almost serious look of expectation. “I know this family is big and messy and strange… But I wouldn’t trade it for anything. And I’m not the only one that welcomes you in it, okay…?”

An ironic chuckle escaped the silent captain, as she fidgeted with her dress pensively, her vision blurring in the distance. “...This is real, isn’t it?”

“It is. This is real, Sunset. It’s real and it’s good.” She affirmed without hesitation.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, okay…?” Sunset whispered lovingly, and yet, almost fearfully, at Twilight, as the halls of the gala were almost deserted.

“And you’re sure you don’t need me there with you?” The Princess asked with hesitation, shooting a glance towards Celestia, who was atop the stairs saying goodbye to the final royals, who were leaving the party.

“I’m sure. I’ve gotta face the music.” She affirmed, giving her a stealthy kiss. “If I need you, I’ll stop by, don’t worry. Goodnight, Princess.”

“...Good luck, Sunset.”

They sneakily kissed each other goodnight, and Sunset made her way to the stairs that Celestia resided in. She sat atop them diligently, waiting for the Queen to finish saying goodbye to the remaining royals.

Silently, Sunset mouthed ‘We need to talk. Important.’ To her.

Celestia moved instantly, seeing the expression on the captain as definitive of the importance of the conversation. Spreading her wings wide, she announced for all of the royals hounding her to hear. “The Gala is over. I have business elsewhere. Please enjoy the rest of your nights.” And took flight, landing right next to her old pupil.

“Hi. We need to talk, and it’s pretty important.” Sunset spoke almost robotically.

“Of course, Sunset. What would you like to tell me?” She beheld her with expectation.

“…Not here.” She sighed, shooting a nervous glance at the few people that remained in the party. “Can we find somewhere private…?”

“Naturally!” The Queen smiled warmly, and they walked together to the gardens.

Already, the moon was high in the sky. They walked together silently, as they had many times before. Sunset tried shafting the thoughts of how many places in this garden they had already bonded, talked, and shown affection towards each other.

The spring night was cold– Still hinting at the winter that had passed. Sunset shivered slightly– Her nervous sweat made her colder.

“I love your dress.” With a smile, the Alicorn spoke simply. “I presume Twilight wore you down?”

“Hah, something like that, yeah…!” She grimaced, sweating. “...It’s not so bad.”

They sat by a railing, having a high and private view of the Canterlot skyline and even most of the castle. They had studied here many times before– The irony was not lost on either. “It pleases me to see how you two smile, when you are together.” She affirmed with the warmest, proudest of grins. “It has been a long time since I’ve seen you smile like that. And the way she has brought out the best in you… It is wonderful. Every passing day, you prove what I had suspected, long ago… That you have a kind heart.”

“I NEED TO ASK YOU SOMETHING!” Sunset blurted out poorly, interrupting the queen– Embarrassed, exhausted, angry, her heart was about to burst. “I need to ask you something– And you’re the only one that’s going to hear this, so listen up, because if I don’t ask this now, I’m never asking it.”

Celestia was taken back– Sunset was sweating, she was nervous, emotions that she had suppressed for years were coming to the surface, and all the alicorn could do was behold her with concern.

“You can ask me anything you’d like, Sunset...” She beheld her old student with worry.

The air felt heavy. It felt noisy, despite the silence. And it was cold.

Sunset fidgeted on the railing, gritting her teeth, her breathing quickening, as she tried steadying her adrenaline. “I need to… All this fucking mess, I just…”

“Breathe, Sunset. Take your time–”

“WHY DID YOU TAKE ME IN, IF ALL YOU WANTED WAS A DAUGHTER, AND NOT A PUPIL?!?!?!”

Celestia had to take a full step back in pure shock. Sunset’s eyes were tearing up, as she gritted her teeth.

“I’m not an idiot, Celestia. I see the way you treat me! I’ve seen the way you kept making excuses for me!!” She began ranting, looking down, her voice deafened by the night air. “I rampaged through this goddamn castle, nearly killed dozens of people, I became an actual demon, and still, the moment Twilight brought me back, you immediately offered me to move back in?! WHAT THE FUCK!?!?!”

Eye contact. The Queen pursed her lips, looking at her old pupil with shame, and Sunset kept talking. “Are you serious? You forgave me for becoming an actual killer! You forgave me for becoming an actual demon!! If I threatened the entire goddamn world, would you forgive me for that too?!?!”

“Yes.” Celestia affirmed without hesitation. “I would forgive you for your blunders, I would forgive you for your mistakes. Because they are my responsibility as well.”

“And that’s the nail on the head, isn’t it?!” She tapped the railing angrily. “If you hadn’t raised me, I wouldn’t have become a warrior– I wouldn’t have become a murderer! And it’s MY fault!!” She laid her head down, shaking it in disbelief. “And it’s my fault. That’s the worst fucking part. It’s my fault. I was your superfan. I was the stupid kid that was obsessed with you. I wanted to be your pupil– Above everything fucking else, I wanted to be your pupil… And you let me!” She turned to the queen, and shouted angrily. “WHY DID YOU LET ME?!”

“...I saw your potential.” She breathed in weakly, tears forming in her eyes, shuddering. “...And I pitied your circumstances. I didn’t want you to live a life of suffering, wondering what could have been…!”

“That ship has sailed!!!” She barked out angrily. “Why, why, WHY?? I was just a little orphan!! You met dozens of foals like me, you must have met dozens of foals BETTER than me!!”

“And none of them sent me hundreds of letters pleading for my attention and presence.” Celestia frowned, looking away. “Not one of them wanted this as much as you did. You proved it every day through sheer effort, that you belonged here.”

“I was a child! I didn’t know any better– I was a fucking idiot!!” Sunset yelled out angrily, slamming the railing. “I never belonged here, I forced my way in, this castle never needed me, this fucking city never needed me– Look around you, I stand out like a mare full of scars!! And you what, you pitied me, that’s why you kept me around?”

“No. I loved you.” She affirmed without hesitation. “I loved you, and so I would never leave you.”

“What good that fucking did us.” She huffed out, trying her best to deflect the affection. “What good that love did for us– All we’ve ever done was hurt each other.”

“I don’t believe that.” She once again affirmed without hesitation. “I refuse to.”

Breathing in with a shudder, the tears kept coming, and she kept snarling. “Peony MUST have warned you, right? Before you choose me– She HAS to have warned you that I was a bad kid!!”

“You weren’t nearly as bad as you remember–”

“-- I was ‘troubled’!! I was a problem child!! I wasn’t fit for this role, and you know it!” She barked out angrily. “A-and you still took me in, for the love of everything, why, why…!”

“You already know my reasons.” Celestia shook her head. “But I will reinforce them for as long as you need me to. Your potential was real, your determination even more so.”

“That doesn’t excuse the favoritism.” She muttered, looking down. “And the forgiveness, again, and again, and again…”

A few seconds of silence passed, as they both breathed, uneasy. Celestia was the first to manage to break it. “...I needed a pupil. Nightmare Moon was only a few decades away… You seemed perfect. You seemed like destiny… And above all, you wanted it. You wanted it more than anypony I had ever seen.”

“Yeah, that’s what I wanted, but it wasn’t what I fucking needed.” She leaned on the railing, looking at the skyline, crying. “If you had turned me down– Really turned me down, really stopped me– I would have been adopted by an actual family. I would have had a normal life. And none of this would have happened. N-none of this– None of this…” She couldn’t speak anymore, shuddering, sniffling, shaking my head. Her mind unwillingly led her to Twilight, lives that never would have crossed paths.

Celestia felt that cold wind of shame and regret cut through her heart, one they both were intimately familiar with. She stepped forward, closer, but didn’t dare comfort Sunset physically, not yet.“...Do you truly regret it…? All of it?” She shuddered out, sighing. “I never, ever, ever wanted to hurt you, Sunset. I only ever wanted to see you thrive…!”

She had to ignore the question, because she didn’t have an answer to it. Instead, she kept talking. “I used to think you were so perfect– I wanted to be just like you. Perfect, angelical, omniscient, loved by all…!” Sunset let out a weak ironic chuckle. “But you’re not. You make mistakes. After all, you picked me. No bigger mistake than that.”

“I’ve never been a mother…! I-I had never watched a foal grow from up close, much less raise them. I did not know how it would make me feel, and... I was unprepared for it.” She blurted out shamefully, folding her wings close, looking away. “A teacher, yes, but… Never a mother. I loved you, and I became lost in the role– To think that has hurt you so deeply, I am so, so sorry…!”

“It’s too late.” Sunset blurted out, exhaling weakly. “Apologies aren’t going to fix this. Why do you think I never apologized for all I did? Because it’s not enough. It’ll never be enough. It’s too late. I wanted you as my teacher so badly… But I needed a mother. A family.”

“A-and I needed you as my pupil, but…!” She shamefully shook her head, closing her eyes, feeling profound shame. “...But I wanted a daughter. I wanted it, without even knowing it. And in doing so… I broke you. I am so, so sorry…”

“I… I don’t think I can ever forgive you for that…” Sunset looked up at her, almost pleading, tears staining her cheeks. “A-and… I don’t think I can ever forgive myself for not being the perfect pupil you hoped I would be. F-for not being the perfect daughter you wanted me to be.”

Celestia had to force herself to look away in shame. In sheer sorrow for the many mistakes she had made. “...I see.”

“B-but…” Sunset sniffled, trying her best to smile, a genuine, weary smile. “I want to try… I need to try. Because if I don’t, we… All we’ll have ever done is hurt each other.”

Quietly, Celestia’s eyes widened, as she beheld her old pupil. And slowly, a tired smile manifested in her face, and her gaze turned to pride. “If I could, somehow… In some other universe, have the choice to pick another pupil…” She turned to her, smiling as warmly as ever. “I would still have chosen you. I would have still chosen you again. I know so, without hesitation. Because I love you, Sunset Shimmer. And my world is better with you in it.”

“A-after everything I’ve done–”

“Yes. Even after everything you’ve done.” She affirmed immediately. “I would do it all over again, without hesitation.”

“I’m so fucking sorry for everything I–”

“--You said it yourself… Apologies are unneeded.” She shook her head, with a teary smile. “But if you want forgiveness, that I have a surplus of…”

“L-look, I… I can’t do it, not like this.” Sunset shuddered, breathing out, beholding Celestia with sorrow. “After everything, just… You’re a Queen, and you don’t need me. You don’t need to forgive me, and you shouldn’t.”

“It was never about needing.”

“On that, we agree…” She let out an ironic chuckle that did not last long. “So… From now on, you’re not an unachievable goal, okay…? You’re not a god I want to live up to– And I’m not your servant, or pupil, or…” She stuttered, shaking her head. “And I’m not– I’m not the fuck up, the screw up, the failure, the… I’m not what I was. We can’t be what we were, okay…?”

“...What would you like us to be…?”

“I-I don’t know, I just… From now on, can we just be… This…?”

A moment of pause, as Celestia nodded incredibly quietly, and beheld her with expectation. “...Does being ‘this’ allow us to… Hug?”

No more words were needed. Sunset lunged forward and hugged her, and she hugged back instantly, embracing her daughter with her wings, warming her up from the cold night.

“Oh, little one…!”

And there they stood, crying, chuckling, laughing, weeping, at the profound irony of it all, embracing each other.

“Y-you’re…” Sunset spoke amidst cries and sniffles, drying her tears on Celestia’s fur. “Y-you’re really dumb for always forgiving me, you know that…?”

“And now you sound like Luna.” Celestia smiled fully, teary, chuckling. “Forgiveness is a part of our family, Sunset.”

A weary chuckle immediately escaped the captain, and the Queen continued, kissing her on the forehead. “And if forgiving you is dumb… Then call me the biggest fool in Equestria.” She affirmed, and almost smiled mischievously, before she brought it home. “The biggest ‘fucking’ fool in Equestria.” She stuttered through the swear, joking with a delighted, teary smile.

And Sunset laughed, laughed and cried, as did Celestia.

And there they stayed, for what it felt like hours. The night wasn’t cold anymore.

Hugging, crying, together once more.

Mother and daughter once more.

EDGE OF EVERFREE. SAME NIGHT.

Wallflower’s home was small, and it was unkempt.

An off road shack at the edge of Everfree, in the Canterlot border. Reaching the city would be a jog away. One that was a chore for her.

For an earth pony, cleaning, chores, tending and fixing a house was difficult– And for one that was weak, even more so.

Every inconvenience multiplied by tenfold, considering her missing leg.

She rarely ever cleaned anymore. There was a leaky hole in the ceiling. Her shack felt derelict at times, and in storms, she would fearfully shudder, hoping the walls wouldn’t collapse on top of her.

The garden was all she tended to anymore, or tried to. The plants grew through the cracks of wood into the house, They spread across the walls– If not for the few things laying about, one would think her shack was abandoned.

She shuddered and sighed at the cold spring night, wincing at the bitter cold that swept through the broken planks in her walls, adjusting her sweater and cloak, trying to feel any sort of comfort.

It was a chore to fix things. It was a chore to hire help– And she couldn’t even garden as well anymore– No one missed her at her job.

They barely remembered her.

Once a certain someone became universally loved and appreciated as the captain of the royal guard, she couldn’t stay. Not amidst the nightmares, and not amidst her poor gardening performance, lacking one of her legs.

The radio crackled with life. A soothing song played, messy with static.

She clumsily tried reaching for a shelf, trying to grab a jar with runestones– Cursing her late mother for even placing it that high in the first place.

She slipped, the jar fell, and she fell as well– The glass shattering, as she covered her eyes with a wince.

Remaining on the floor, she slowly steadied her breathing, shuddering, taking several seconds before opening her eyes.

The runestones were scattered all over the floor, and some of the glass was on her fur. She struggled to stand, and let out a prolonged, nervous shudder, suppressing her frustration.

“Help me with this. I only need six.” She muttered out quietly– She hated having to ask. It was a sickening feeling.

Her shadow sprung to life, selecting six of the stones, and shifting the glass aside. “Leave it. I’ll clean it tomorrow.” She muttered weakly, turning around.

“As you wish, witch.” A voice pierced the air quietly.

“D-don’t call me that.” She blurted out.

She placed the runestones on her couch, and organized them in a small circle– A small rehearsal for what was to come. “Are we doing this or what?”

“Not here.” The voice affirmed. “Wait for him to call you.”

“W-whatever…” she shuddered, climbing onto bed, and clumsily trying to pick the glass from her fur and drop it on the floor with light clicking sounds.

This process continued for minutes she did not count.

The wind swept through the edge of Everfree, shaking her home lightly, creaking wood.

The music on the radio stopped, and announcers began speaking. She ignored them, at first.

But soon enough she couldn’t. Her ears twitched. “...It was one hell of a gala, I’ll say that much. Call me cheesy if you want, but each Grand Galloping Gala is better than the last! And on Princess news, she was seen dancing with our beloved Captain of the royal guard in the wonderful festivities tonight!”

“Oh really? What kind of dancing?”

“Loving! Intimate! I don’t want to make assumptions, but they seemed incredibly comfortable and happy! I don’t know about you folks, but I support it. If the Princess wants–”

Wallflower ran to the radio as fast as she could and turned it off, knocking it off the nightstand, and falling over due to the clumsy momentum and lack of balance. Her breathing was unstable, furious.

“Ack– S-shoot–” She muttered, standing up, feeling a shard of glass scratching at her side. “I-Is it bad?”

“Superficial.”

“T-then I’ll deal with it tomorrow.” She muttered out, ignoring the cut on her side, letting it be, not wanting to bother with it, and waddling over to the bed. “Wake me up when Stygian calls.”

She didn’t even fall asleep before he did. The moonlight darkened, and her cabin felt devoid of life, as his voice echoed dully through it.

“Change of plans, Wallflower. It’s time.”

“R-really?” Her tail almost wagged, as she stood in a hurry. Grabbing the moonstones frantically, she looked down to her shadow. “Take me to the temple. I’m ready.”

Her own shadow engulfed her, surrounded her, drowned her. For a painful half of a minute, she couldn’t breathe.

And when she opened her eyes, she stood before the archway of the temple of the moon, and stepped forward without hesitation.

Once again, that same chill cut through her heart, and she ignored it. Shadows lined the walls and ceiling, surrounded her, but did not harm her, and she ignored them too.

Stygian waited in that same throne, and shadows barked out around him, snarling, complaining.

“Celestia and her have reunited. You know what comes next.”

“The Princess’s dreams are too hopeful. What she wants, we cannot allow.”

“We should have simply tried reawakening Sombra like before!!”

“Our enemies are too strong!! Too united!!”

“We have to act NOW, or we could have another alicorn of the sun as an enemy!! If Sunset Shimmer ascends, we are DOOMED!”

“Ease.” The alicorn of shadows commanded, ignoring them and gazing right at Wallflower, who sat quietly before him, looking down “The solution to our problems is here.”

“So…” Her voice was frail, tired, but she forced herself to speak. “...We’re not doing a test run? We’re moving on with the plan now?”

“Indeed. We knew we’d have to improvise as we went either way. Do not fret– All our preparations were not in vain, but it’s time for us to act, witch.”

She didn’t even dare to ask to not be called that, she just nodded. “Finally.”

Slowly, as skillfully as she could, she began placing the six runestones in a circle, and already the shadows approached.

With single minded determination, she placed the Memory Stone in the middle of the circle.

Every monster, every shadow, every beast watched her with tremendous anticipation. Many of them were already swirling around the runestones, fueling them with dark magic. And Stygian already flared his pitch black wings, his horn sparking, ready to power up the spell.

“Do not forget the terms. How many years you must erase, exactly.” The alicorn’s voice enveloped her.

“I know.” She stated as calmly as she could, perfecting the arrangement, sitting before the Memory Stone.

Months of preparation for this.

They would soon surround her like a vortex. Propel her magic to all of Equestria.

“Remember.” She muttered with a bitter snarl. “No matter what happens, after it’s done… I want a chance to talk to her.”

“Do your part, and we will do ours.”

The shadows bowed. They all bowed to Wallflower Blush. Sickening grins, hellish cackles.

With a sigh of immense relief, as if a weight was lifted off of her shoulders…

…Her eyes became dark. Shadows surrounded her, fiercely, strongly, like a wind that did not blow her away, like a wind that moved and motivated every tiniest fabric of magic in her being.

And so, she began casting her spell.

Author's Note

The Paladin of Light, the Captain of the Royal Guard, Sunset Shimmer!

...For now.

WE'RE FINALLY GETTING TO THE ACTUAL FORGOTTEN FRIENDSHIP REWRITE. Fuck it took me a bit. Sorry my writing has been slower, I recently got into Hades 2 and there's nothing more satisfying than beating the crap out of your grandfather lmaooo

Okay, let's take it this in order:

If you were confused as hell over that beginning, I was referencing The Princess and the Peasant, which is set in this same autumn, in this same universe. Its not critical to understand this fic or some following scenes that will reference it, but it will improve your experience. (Plus its a banger)

All of the mane 6 show up on that fic, so you might have been a bit confused by fluttershy and Rainbow Dash. it is what it is!

The songs that Pinkie and Sunset played where all either from Porter Robbinson or from me, heh.

I wanted to def have at least one scene with all of the Mane 6, having this universes version of them uniting on Ponyville at last, it is wonderful. And will come up soon enough!

Also the scene where Twilight is sick was inspired by one of the shorts! It's damn cute. Would be even cuter if Twilight had a cool strong girl to help nurse her back to health...

Did that fun little changeling twist get you with one of her caretakers? I foreshadowed since the first scene on this fic, lmao. I wanted to tie Sunset's familial insecurities plotline to the wonderful changeling plotline in the hall of unity which in itself is tied to her captain plotline 😎 SO MANY ARCS SO MANY THEMES SO MANY SETUPS SO MANY PAYOFFS AUGH

I keep up with so many little things at the same time, there are so many moving parts to this goddamn fic. I am pleased to say we're getting to the 'good stuff' lmao.

You ever think about how changelings could revolutionize historical theater? Like they can look and sound like historical figures. If they know how to act? damn. Hell they could revolutionize theater in general, tbh.

Ah, the Cadance sequence... I needed a little conclusion and sendoff to her before the dark times ahead, and a little Flurryheart mention, heheh.

So. That Celestia reconciliation sequence.

I don't know what to say other than its the defacto scene i've been waiting to write since chapter goddamn one. Don't worry, the best scenes are still coming, but can you BLAME ME? They have tried and failed, fallen and struggled and despite everything, their bond is unbroken and they still want it mended

It was real, it was messy, it was difficult, but it was good. And it can be better. You can't go back, but maybe there's a way to move forward. I was strongly inspired by Everything Everywhere All at Once's final scenes, and for this little exercise, I want you to watch the finale of that movie and imagine Evelyn as Celestia, and Joy as Sunset. It will drive you to hysterics, it's too goddamn good.

Anyways. Time for Wallflower Blush. The age of the witch is nigh, and finally, FINALLY, we start with the Forgotten Friendship rewrite, which will continue for the next six chapters of the fic, all the way to the end. We're no longer skipping through weeks and days-- The next chapters are all going to take a linear pace on the following day and its fallout.

Sunset: Wow I'm pretty happy. I'm having such a good time! Not much could ruin this.

Wallflower Blush with a steel chair: