Sunlight Sweethearts

The Castle of Harmony: Main Dining Room

Now that she'd managed to find the perfect ring and was in the process of having it cut, polished and fitted by Rarity and Maud; Sunset was to attend her tea time with Princess Celestia and Twilight, a time honored tradition between teacher and student, one that Twilight continued with Starlight and Starlight would often invite her students for hot coco though she lacked a personal student and so did sunset herself, something she sought to change in the near future. She had thought long and hard about her future, what she wanted in life, who she wanted to be with and where she wanted her life to go on. Between the two worlds, there was only ONE Sunset Shimmer; a fact that Sunset had discovered not long after she arrived in the human world.

The human version of herself had died of old age by the time she had arrived, according to those who knew her which weren't very many, she was bitter and alone; didn't have many friends and no real family to speak of either and she never had any children. At the time, Sunset had felt apathy towards her human self, uncaring that she died bitter, old, alone and forgotten. However, after the night of the Fall formal and on her path to redemption, more and more did the thought of her human counterpart seep into her mind and eventually; she managed to find the strength with the aide of her friends, to go and visit the old woman's grave in Canterlot park.

She'd decided to do this after the events of camp Everfree and so when she touched the gravestone, her magic allowed her to see and experience the life of her human self in a matter of seconds. She was so much like her old self, harsh, crude, brash, cunning, manipulative and above all; mean. Though she discovered there was a reason for that, unlike Sunset who was raised by Celestia who was essentially her surrogate mother, the human Sunset Shimmer was an orphan raised in a harsh and unforgiving foster care system. She had eventually aged out and was sent off to fend for herself, the old apartment/loft that Sunset currently lived in having been previously owned by her.

A hermit of sorts, she isolated herself from the world and her only comforts were books and writing, as it turned out they did have one thing in common, being fans of Daring Do. All she ever did was read, write, eat and sleep. No friends, no family, no social life, no lovers, nothing. She was just bitter and angry at the world, feeling abandoned and forgotten. Eventually she grew old and her health declined and at the age of 60, roughly 2 years before Sunset's arrival on Earth, she passed away in her sleep on a park bench in Canterlot park, the last thing she remembered being the setting sun and wondering what life might have been like if she'd been given another chance.

Sunset had managed to experience ALL of that and shortly thereafter, cried in her friends arms for what felt like hours and she swore from that day forward she'd live the best life she could and would make as many good and fun memories with them as possible and she begged them, made them Pinkie Promise to NEVER forget her. Of course they all honored that promise and so when Wallflower Blush had tried to take those memories away? She couldn't and wouldn't stand for it and she was willing to sacrifice what memories she did have to preserve theirs, which in turn deepened her understanding of empathy and its magic, which lead to another magical evolution for her and her friends.

Ever since then their powers had been growing and evolving, Sunset even discovered that her magic of empathy and her connection to the phoenix were one in the same and she was granted what she called "The Flames of Harmony", ethereal flames that cleanse the soul of wickedness or punishes them with the weight of their inner darkness, a fitting power befitting Sunset, tranquility and fury, working hand in hand as represented by her cutie mark. Twilight had mentioned to her that it reminded her of the earthly concept of Yin & Yang and after looking up the symbolism, Sunset couldn't agree more.

As she sat alongside Twilight and Celestia, she would regale them with her most recent adventures in the human world and her plan to propose to the human version of her Princess best friend. Needless to say Twilight was flustered and Celestia was enjoying every ounce of it.

"So when do you plan on having the wedding?" Celestia asked, a cheeky and proud smile on her face; looking like a mother grilling her child.

"The summer time, around the time of the summer sun celebration here in Equestria to give you a time frame. Knowing Sparky? She'll want to have it at the beginning of the month." Sunset said with a giggle as she sipped some of her tea, also enjoying the look on the Princess of Friendship's face.

"And you say you've already selected a ring?" Celestia asked.

"Mhm, Rarity is cutting the gem and fitting it to a ring for me right now, she should be done with it soon. Oh Twilight, tell Spike I said thanks for gifting me some dragon gold for the ring band, I know it must've been hard for him to get." Sunset said to Twilight whom was still in shock at the news that her best friend was getting married and to the other world version of herself.

"Right...Spike..." Twilight muttered, a deep blush on her cheeks as she tried not to look at Sunset.

Sunset giggled and leaned over to Celestia. "I think I might have broken your most faithful student."

Celestia chuckled and nuzzled Sunset. "Well it's to be expected, her counterpart is getting married to her best friend and if I am not mistaken you have a plan to reproduce with Ms. Sparkle correct?"

"Eeep!" Princess Twilight yelped and covered her face with her wings to hide the intense blush burning into them.

"Oh yeah, I have a plan for that. I know you want more grand-foals and I can't let Cadence show me up now can I?" Sunset smiled happily as her adoptive mother and Princess of the sun.

"Haha oh indeed and given how I've seen how you look at BOTH versions of Twilight? I can be assured I'll be seeing twins for one of you." Celestia and Sunset shared a laugh at the sputtering noise Princess Twilight made at that comment.

"Okay, okay; I think we've teased poor little Twilight enough; gotta make sure I save some for my future wife." Sunset said getting in one last tease at the Princess.

"You know? I certainly hope that when your honeymoon comes that she does unholy and blissfully sinful things to you that I cannot verbalize in front of our teacher and your adoptive mother." Twilight replied with a smug and snarky tinge to her attitude that she'd only really used against Trixie.

"Mmm you know I've talked to her about threesomes right? You still single Princess? Not bucking any of your harmony guards on the low are ya?" Sunset teased with equal snark and tease to her attitude, she'd grown comfortable teasing this version of Twilight like this and vise versa.

"Hmph, I won't confirm nor deny that allegation." Twilight blushed and turned her nose up but the smirk on her lips she was trying to hide told Sunset everything.

"Oooooh scandalous, well the invite is open if you wanna take it Princess of friendship." Sunset winked and blew a teasing kiss at the purple alicorn.

"Such a charmer; I can see why the other me fell for you. I just know you'll make her the happiest version of us."

"How goes everything else Sunset? You said you were recently offered a job at Canterlot High yes?" Celestia asked, shifting the conversation to something risqué.

"Oh yeah!" Sunset bopped herself on the noggin near her horn and giggled. "Yeah, Principal Celestia offered me a position as a guidance counselor. She thinks I am best qualified for it due to my ability to empathize with basically anyone I meet, plus me staying close to the school means I can keep an eye on the portal and any magical mishaps that may befall the school that they aren't equipped to handle."

"I can certainly understand her logic there, you are a magical prodigy Sunset, that's always been true and you have a knack for spotting trouble and a greater knack for problem solving. Your heart is as big as your brain and I know that you'll make an excellent counselor."

"It reminds me a lot of how Starlight started at Harmony academy, she understands what it means to be equal and to strive for equality and fair treatment the right way and the wrong way which makes her perfect for the position of principal."

"Yeah, I'm looking forward to it and so it Twilight. She's actually been offered a position at Starswirl labs, a special R&D lab that is actually researching magic as a potential form of energy for their world. She's super excited about it and has already made a few friends there, like our worlds version of Moon Dancer."

"Oh that's wonderful! Heheh it always amazes me how similar but different our lives are across these dimensions. Moon Dancer and I have been friends since we were filly's here in Equestria."

"Yeah but from what I can tell Twilight only just met this version of Moon Dancer but they get along like two peas in a pod that's for sure." Sunset chuckled.

"Ooooh not jealous are you?" Twilight teased.

"Pft, as if. I'm the one who Sparky ends up in bed with and screaming the name of every night so I have nothing to worry about."

"Oh my, Sunset Shimmer my faithful student when did you become such a little minx?" Celestia asked with a teasing grin of her own.

Sunset playfully batted her eyelashes at her surrogate mother. "What ever do you mean? I'm a good little pony."

"Yes, yes I am certain that's what Twilight calls you when it comes time for late night relations." Celestia snarked.

Sunset and Twilight both made a sputtering laugh as they held their sides, chortling like school fillies at how crass their teacher could be behind closed doors. After calming down from that giggle fit, Twilight and Sunset would sit and silence with Celestia for a few moments, sipping their tea and enjoying their lack of noise and the peace. As the sun began to dip over the horizon, they all heard the castle doors open and shortly afterwards, Rarity would prance into the dining room with a beaming smile on her face.

"Darling, it.is. DONE! Viola!" Rarity would present Sunset with a purple box, one marked with a symbol that was like a fusion of Sunset and Twilight's cutie marks. Sunset would take it in her magic aura and popped the box open revealing a sparkling gemstone that was a perfect blend of the colors red, purple, pink, blue and yellow. it was cut in the shape of the six pointed star that represented the element of magic and the golden band it was attached to had the words "sunlight" etched into it in cursive lettering.

Sunset felt her heart leap through her chest and her eyes teared up, clouding her vision yet the ring still sparkled in her view. She smiled and threw her hooves around Rarity and hugged her, sobbing lightly into her coat and mane. the alabaster unicorn smiled and pat her friends back and hugged her.

"I'm so glad you like it darling, I am certain Twilight will adore it."

"Thank you so, so, so much Rarity. This is the perfect ring for the perfect girl; I can't wait to pop the question to her with this!"

Princess Twilight and Celestia would come over to see the ring and both were impressed by its craftsmanship and the gem used to craft it. Twilight herself felt a whirlwind of emotions flood through her and while she was overjoyed for both Sunset and human Twilight, she couldn't help but feel just a tad bit jealous, a lingering regret from having not taken the chance to claim Sunset as her own, but it was not meant to be. Sunset was fully aware of the Princess' crush on her and had the universe not had human Twilight come along, she would've left the human world behind to be with the Princess of friendship. Nevertheless, Twilight was happy for them both and wanted nothing but a happily ever after for at least some version of herself.

"I imagine you'll be having human me design your wedding dress' yes?"

"Yeah but you can totally help with designs though, I want our wedding to be like a fairytale." Sunset said with a sheepish smile and blush, it was a childish dream of hers but she always wanted to be or be married to a princess some day and to have a magical fairytale wedding like how they would have in the story books Celestia would read to her as a little filly.

"I can assure you darling you'll have the most magical wedding of them all!"

"Hehe thanks Rarity, I know I can count on you."

"Now that you've got what you need are you all set to go Sunset?" Celestia asked as she nuzzled her student yet again.

"Yep, I won't wanna keep Sparky waiting too long, she's probably waiting for me."

"C'mon, I'll take you to the portal." Princess Twilight said as she got up from the table.

Sunset would nod. taking the items given to her by Rarity and giving her a hug. After one last nuzzle to Celestia she trotted over to Twilight and they both teleported to the magic mirror room. Once there, Twilight would use her magic to activate the portal and she then turned to Sunset.

"I trust we will be getting the invitations to the wedding very soon?"

"Knowing Pinkie Pie? You've probably already got them waiting."

The two mares shared a laugh and then hugged however before breaking apart, Sunset looked Twilight in the eyes.

"And I mean it, there's always room for one more Twilight. Even if its just for a little fun, nothing says we can't be friends with benefits; right?" Sunset said with a blush on her face but she looked nervous and sheepish.

"Heh I think that sounds nice; I just...need to find time to really come make it count you know?"

"I totally get it and no pressure Twi. No matter what you'll ALWAYS be my best friend and the mare who showed me a better way. You saved me so that I could in turn save a version of you. I'll ALWAYS be grateful for the second chance you gave me Twilight and someday, I am going to repay you in full. Though for now, being your bestie and loving you as best I can is the best I can do."

Twilight blushed and hugged Sunset close and rested her head against her chest, sighing in content. "Thank you Sunset for being such a good friend."

Sunset hugged her back and placed a kiss on her cheek and caressed her face with a hoof as they broke apart. "Anytime Princess. See ya soon!"

Sunset Shimmer would leap back into the portal to return home to her Sparky. Meanwhile the Princess of Friendship stood there, lovestruck and longing, rubbing her cheek with a hoof. She couldn't wait to see Sunset again and this time she was going to take her up on that offer; if she wished to be in the middle of a love twi-angle? So be it! A smirk formed on her lips as she whispered to herself.

"until next time; my little pony."