Author's Note

Decided to make this its own story instead of adding it to an existing one. Hopefully that lessens the confusion. I hope you enjoy it, it was fun to write. ^^

Long overdue Visit

Suncrisp soared across the sky, easily maneuvering through the obstacle courses, starkly contrasting her failed first attempt. Princess Celestia watched her granddaughter from the sidelines, her horn glowed as she launched several objects at Suncrisp. Suncrisp saw the objects and focused her magic. Her horn was covered in a gold aura before discharging a magic beam at the objects, transforming them into clouds, flowers, birds, etc.

“Excellent job, Suncrisp,” Celestia complimented, smiling proudly.

“Thanks, grandma,” Suncrisp thanked her grandmother, it had been two months since she arrived in Equestria and began training under her grandmother and great-aunt, on top of learning how to fly and use her magic, she also had to learn royal etiquette.

“Are you ready to try tapping into your inner power again?” Celestia asked, her tone serious.

“Ah’m ready!” Suncrisp answered confidently,

“Alright,” Celestia simply said as she flew before Suncrisp.

Suncrisp watched her grandmother intently, bracing herself for what was coming. The air around them started getting hotter, Celestia’s flowing mane turned into fire, and her white coat was now mixed with a light amber. The whites of her eyes are now amber-colored instead.

“Get ready,” Celestia said with a smirk as flames leaked from the back corner of her eyes.

Suncrisp swallowed a lump in her throat, this version of her grandmother was always so intense. Celestia’s flames spread towards Suncrisp and surrounded her.

“Feel the power within,” Celestia spoke. “Call to it!”

Suncrisp closed her eyes and searched deep inside, the flames intensifying around her. She had been trying to tap into her power but had yet to succeed. Her grandmother assured her she could unlock this power like her mother before her. Suncrip’s thoughts shifted to her mother, Applejack, which caused her to frown. Her time in Equestria made her realize how much of herself she still didn’t know. She wanted to learn all she could about her Equestrian family. She wanted to make them proud.

Celestia detected a spike in Suncrip’s magic.

“That’s it, Suncrisp.”

Flames surrounded Suncrisp, her grandmother’s words pushing her to try harder. Her equestrian family had helped her so much since she arrived, they listened to her and encouraged her to find her path. Her grandmother answered a lot of her questions, despite how painful some of the answers were to her. Suncrip’s light orange coat turned light amber, her thoughts returned to her mother Applejack. Her smile, her dismissal of her questions about Sunset, her look of fear when she saw her about to go through the portal. Tears spilled from her eyes as she recalled her scream of terror when she passed through the portal. Her tears turned to steam.

“Suncrisp!” Celestia shouted.

Suncrisp yelled as her mane turned to flames, completing her transformation, Celestia cupped Suncrisp’s face.

“Open your eyes, Suncrisp,” Celestia spoke gently.

Suncrisp opened her eyes, and the whites of her eyes turned a light amber, her eye color was now a glowing amber.

“You did it, my little pony,” Celestia said with a smile.

Suncrisp looked at herself and let out a loud cheer, she finally did it. Celestia watched proudly as Suncrisp flew around, she was reminded of how excited Sunset was when she first transformed. Suncrisp stopped and looked at her hooves, a look of worry on her face.

“Is something wrong, Suncrisp?” Celestia asked with worry as she flew towards her.

“It just feels weird having all this power,” Suncrisp said, the excitement of finally transforming wearing off and replaced with a feeling of unease. “If ah’m not careful, ah can easily hurt somepony.”

“I share your fears,” Celestia said. “I have the power of the sun at my command, I can easily burn the world.” Celestia reached to grab Suncrisp’s hooves. “Such power requires humility to use properly, your family on the other side of the mirror did a great job teaching you that lesson.”

Sunscrisp looked away at the mention of her human family, Celestia could see the conflicted emotions on her face.

“I lacked humility when I was being taught by Star Swirl the Bearded,” Celestia smiled when she saw her granddaughter look at her with shock. “I was young and foolish, I believed that I was better than everypony, including my sister. But you learn and grow, my lifetime of experience has helped shape me into the pony I am now.”

“Was mah Sunset the same?” Suncrisp asked curiously.

“Yes,” Celestia’s smile faltered. “She was as arrogant as I was at her age, I did my best to help her but…” Celestia sighed but her smile returned. “Sunset eventually found her way with the help of Twilight and her new friends.”

Suncrisp listened to her grandmother’s words, her Equestrian mother was not a very good person, or pony for that matter. But Princess Twilight, her mother, and her aunts helped her see the light. She reached for her hat that rested on the back of her neck, she panicked when she realized that it might be burned.

“Don’t worry, you didn’t burn your hat,” Celestia assured her.

Suncrisp sighed with relief but then she realized something else.

“Um, how do ah turn back to normal?”

“It wears off on its own,” Celestia said. “It should only take a week for you.”

“A week?” Suncrisp raised her voice.

“I’m only teasing you, Suncrisp,” Celestia giggled, but Suncrisp was not amused.

Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, and Suncrisp sat at the dining room table, they were all enjoying the dinner that Suncrisp had made for them. After Suncrisp got more used to her pony body, she wanted to cook something for her great-aunt and grandmother to show her appreciation for their hospitality. Since then, Suncrisp has enjoyed cooking for her family every once in a while.

“This is delicious, Suncrisp!” Luna complimented happily as she finished the last of her meal.

“Thank you, great-aunt Luna,” Suncrisp thanked her great-aunt.

“I love the Apple family’s cooking,” Celestia said as she wiped the corners of her mouth with a napkin. “I’ve always looked forward to it whenever I visit Ponyville.”

“Like mah Ma always says, nobody can resist an Apple family home-cooked meal,” Suncrisp said.

“Suncrisp, what do you plan to do about your life in the other world?” Celestia asked. “I imagine that being here for this long has disrupted that.”

“Ah suppose ah can’t avoid mah Ma forever,” Suncrisp sighed. “But ah’m not ready to face her yet.”

“What about your education? Or your friends?” Princess Luna inquired.

“Ah’m not too worried about mah education, Ah’m the top of mah class and can easily make up any work ah missed,” Suncrisp shrugged. “As fer mah friends, ah can just ask Princess Twilight to open up the portal to go visit them.”

“I suppose with the portal being open whenever you want, there isn’t any hurry to return to your world,” Princess Luna rationalized.

“But your family on the other side doesn’t know that,” Celestia pointed out. “They probably believe that they won’t see you again for another 30 moons, they must feel devastated to have lost you.”

“Ah…” Suncrisp couldn’t say anything, truthfully she never considered that.

“Which is why I will pay them a visit to assure them that you are okay,” Celestia stated.

“Yah don’t need to do that!” Suncrisp said, rising from her seat.

“I must, my little Sun. There are also other matters I wish to discuss with your mother,” Celestia insisted as she summoned a scroll and quill, and started writing a message. “I will message Twilight to prepare the portal.”

“You’re going now, Sister?” Luna asked, surprised at how sudden this was.

“Yes, it is best to do this now while I am able,” Celestia pointed out as she finished writing her message and sent it to Twilight.

“Are yah sure that mah mom will listen?” Suncrisp questioned. “From what yah told me, she didn’t listen to yah before and even prevented you from seeing me.”

“Suncrisp,” Celestia spoke her granddaughter’s name softly. “I know your mother has made mistakes in the past but I hold no ill will against her.”

Suncrisp didn’t say anything but the small smile told Celestia that she liked her answer, a scroll appeared above Celestia and she took hold of it in her magic and began reading Twilight’s response.

“She’ll have the portal ready and I can come as soon as I am able,” Celestia said as she dismissed the scroll.

“Can ah see yah off?” Suncrisp asked, hopefully.

“Of course,” Celestia agreed, smiling lovingly at Suncrisp.

Princess Celestia, Luna, Suncrisp, Twilight, and Spike are all gathered in front of the mirror in Twilight’s library.

“I appreciate you coming with me Twilight,” Celestia said, smiling at her faithful student.

“Don’t mention it, it will be good to see everypony again,” Twilight said. “Spike, take care of things while I’m gone, okay?”

“You can count on me, Twilight!” A much older spike saluted Twilight.

“Take care in your night duties, sister,” Celestia said as she approached Luna.

“I should be the one telling you that, dear sister,” Luna smirked before she hugged Celestia.

Celestia broke the hug and walked towards Suncrisp.

“I’ll be back soon, I promise,” Celestia assured Suncrisp and herself as well.

“Ah know yah will,” Suncrisp said before hugging Celestia who hugged her back.

“Is there anything you want me to tell your mother?” Celestia asked as she pulled away slightly to look at Suncrisp.

Suncrisp looked unsure, she still had conflicting feelings about her mother. She eventually told her grandmother who smiled and nodded. Celestia and Twilight stood before the portal, they glanced at each other before walking into the portal. Their vision was filled with a swirl of colors before they stumbled out the other side. Celestia wobbled as she tried to get her balance, it had been many years since she last used this body.

“It's so cold!” Twilight shivered as she hugged herself for warmth.

Princess Celestia took notice of the falling snow, the cold breeze against her skin, and the snow-covered area around them.

“It’s just like before,” Celestia spoke as she flapped her magnificent wings and moved her pony ears, she was already ponied up just like when she arrived all those years ago. She wrapped one of her wings around Twilight and drew her close.

“Thank you, Celestia,” Twilight thanked her former mentor as she felt Celestia’s warmth warm her up.

“You’re welcome Twilight,” Celestia smiled at her former student. “Let’s go to the Apple farm.” Celestia held Twilight close and took off into the air.

Applejack was clearing the snow from her driveway, it had been two weeks since Applebloom confessed to being the one responsible for creating the Anon-A-Miss account, two weeks since Suncrisp ran away, two weeks of feeling like the worst person in the world.

“Need some help?”

Applejack looked up to see Rainbow Dash grinning down at her.

“Rainbow?” Applejack questioned.

“I figured you might need some help shoveling all this snow and since you’re too stubborn to ask, I went ahead and called the girls,” Rainbow Dash explained, motioning to the rest of her friends exiting a van.

“Don’t worry, darling. This work will be a lot easier with all of us,” Rarity said, holding a shovel.

“We got your back!” Pinkie Pie said excitedly, already starting to shovel some snow.

“We’re here for you Applejack,” Fluttershy said as she held her shovel with confidence, her friend needed her.

“Girls,” Applejack spoke softly, feeling very thankful to have such great friends.

“Applejack!”

Applejack’s eyes widened upon hearing that familiar voice.

“That sounded like-“

“Up there!” Pinkie pointed to the sky where Twilight was waving at them.

“Twilight!” Rarity gasped at seeing her otherworldly friend after so many years.

Celestia landed in front of the girls and gently set Twilight down.

“Long time no see,” Twilight said, smiling at seeing her much older friends.

“It’s been so long, darling,” Rarity said, happy and surprised to see Twilight again.

“I hope you ladies have been doing well,” Celestia spoke with kindness.

The girls who are now adult women are in awe of Celestia’s radiance and beauty, she looks the same as she did years ago.

“It is an honor to see you again, Your Highness,” Rarity said before curtsying.

Celestia walked a few feet before standing in front of Applejack.

“Hello, Applejack,” Celestia greeted warmly.

“H-hello, yer highness,” Applejack greeted nervously.

“What brings you here, Princess?” Pinkie Pie asked.

“Do you mind if we talk inside?” Celestia asked, noticing their shovels. “Is this a bad time?”

“Yah have no idea,” Applejack said dejectedly.

Celestia focused her magic and melted all the snow in the driveway.

“Please tell me what has happened,” Celestia said, her tone serious.

Applejack led the group inside her home, as they made their way toward the dining room, Celestia spotted photos of baby Suncrisp on the wall. Applejack noticed Celestia looking at something and when she turned to see what had her attention, she felt ashamed. Celestia observed the photos of Suncrisp throughout her childhood, each one marking a very special milestone in her life. A life that she had missed.

“When was this taken?” Twilight asked as she pointed to a photo of Suncrisp wearing a fancy dress and wearing a crown.

“That was taken when she won the Princess of the Fall Formal,” Rarity answered, looking at the photo with a sad smile. “I made the dress she is wearing.”

Celestia continued to stare sadly at the photos, given what she had been told by Subcrisp, it was a bitter reminder of how she and Sunset parted, and how she couldn’t stop the same thing from happening with Applejack. They resumed their way to the dining room where Applejack made everyone a cup of coffee before she started to explain what happened with Suncrisp.

“She then went into the portal and ah tried to go after her but it wouldn’t work,” Applejack bitterly recalled. “We couldn’t get the portal to open, the only one who could was…” Applejack trailed off as she recalled the hurtful look on Sunset’s face.

“How long has she been gone?” Celestia asked calmly.

“Two weeks,” Rainbow Dash answered sadly.

Celestia glanced at Twilight to see the look of confusion on her face.

“Yah was right,” Applejack suddenly said, tears welling up in her eyes. “Yah tried to warn me years ago of what will happen if ah don’t tell Suncrisp the truth but ah wouldn't listen. And now Suncrisp is…” Applejack covered her face with her hands and started openly crying.

Celestia watched as Rarity and Fluttershy placed a comforting hand on Applejack’s shoulder.

“You needn’t worry about Suncrisp,” Celestia said with a smile. “She’s perfectly safe with me and Luna at our castle.”

“What?!” Applejack snapped her head towards Celestia. “She’s with yall?!”

“Indeed, Twilight brought her to me,” Celestia explained.

“She surprised me when we first met,” Twilight said sheepishly. “She stumbled out of the portal and was panicking over her new body when I calmed her down she told me who she was, and I was even more shocked. I guess the portal openly naturally on her side and she crossed over just before it closed for another thirty moons.”

“Can ah see her?” Applejack asked anxiously.

“I’m sorry,” Celestia apologized, looking at Applejack with sadness. “Suncrisp is not ready to see you yet.”

Applejack visibly deflated at hearing that, she looked devastated.

“She hates me.”

Celestia rose from her seat and walked over to Applejack, placing her hands on her shoulders.

“No,” Celestia said firmly. “Suncrisp told me to tell you that she still loves you but she needs time to find herself before she can face you.”

At hearing that, Applejack started wailing. Celestia brought Applejack close and hugged her, she could feel her tears forming as Applejack’s cries reminded her of how devastated she felt when Sunset ran away. She held Applejack for a few minutes longer before she started to calm down.

“You did a wonderful job raising Suncrisp,” Celestia complimented.

Applejack pulled back slightly to look at Celestia.

“She is a very humble and kind pony,” Celestia said with a smile. “After she got used to her new body, she wanted to cook meals for me and Luna, I love the Apple family’s cooking. Suncrisp never thought herself better than others, she was never comfortable with others doing things for her and would help the maid clean the castle.”

“Suncrisp was always generous with her time,” Rarity commented.

“She’s loyal to a fault!” Rainbow Dash said smiling brightly.

“She’s kind to everyone she meets,” Fluttershy said, smiling confidently.

“She makes everyone laugh!” Pinkie said joyfully.

“She’s very honest,” Applejack said proudly.

“But a much better liar than you,” Rainbow Dash teased which caused Applejack to frown.

“She’s also empathetic,” Twilight said. “Just like Sunset.”

The mood shifted as they all started talking about Suncrisp, each of the Rainbooms recounted tales of Suncrisp when she was younger.

“As much as I am enjoying this, I’m afraid it's time for us to leave,” Celestia regretfully informed them. “Applejack, I’ve taken Suncrisp as my student and taught her how to use her magic as well as teaching her how to fly. I’ve also been teaching her how to be a proper royal as she is my granddaughter. Whether or not she will inherit the throne is entirely up to her.”

“That sounds very exciting,” Rarity said.

“That sounds very familiar,” Applejack said, recounting how she went to live with her aunt and Uncle Orange for a while when she was younger and learned how to talk fancy.

“Do not worry, Suncrisp cannot stand some of the Canterlot nobility that sees themselves as better than other ponies. But they seem to detest her as in their eyes she talks like a common pony,” Celestia sighs, she remembers hearing the Canterlot nobles whisper about Suncrisp, how her noble blood is tainted, how they can teach her the proper way to act and try to introduce a partner for her.

“What a bunch of snobs,” Rainbow Dash said angrily. “They better not try anything with Suncrisp or I’ll teach them a lesson.”

“You have my word that they will not succeed in their plans,” Celestia vowed.

“Ah trust yah,” Applejack said. “Mah heart is at ease knowing that Suncrisp has her family looking after her.”

“Suncrisp can always come to my castle if she needs a break from the Canterlot nobility,” Twilight offered.

The group headed towards the door where they said their final goodbyes.

“Princess Celestia?”

“Yes, Applejack?” Celestia looked at Applejack with a smile.

“Can yah tell Suncrisp that ah love her, and that she’ll always have a home here whenever she’s ready to come back,” Applejack said, whipping away a stray tear.

“Of course,” Celestia said with a kind smile.

They all gave each other one last hug before Celestia took Twilight and flew into the air, the Rainbooms watched them fly for a bit before they teleported away. Applejack felt her friends' supporting hands on her shoulder. Suncrisp was in good hands, but she’ll be waiting a while until she returns.