My Life Sucks

by TheKing2001

Chapters

Silver Spanner, the (jokingly) potential terrorist
This is ridiculous
Class is stupid
Worst school ever
Partners
Ungrateful ponies around here
Praying for you
Unsurprisingly intelligent
A rare angry Twinkleshine
What the hell is a scone?
She makes a fair point
Surprisingly better than planned
Where the hell did that come from?

Silver Spanner, the (jokingly) potential terrorist

Silver Spanner was coming to the conclusion that either everypony in Canterlot was crazy or just flat out insane and should be locked inside a mental ward.

“Who in Equestria needs all of that space?” Silver Spanner waved a hoof out of Sunset’s window over to a nearby house. “I mean, back in Ponyville you’re lucky if you get a three bedroom house. Two storys practically makes you rich.”

“That’s Bluebloods house. He’s somehow related to Celestia,” Twinkleshine answered and poked a plant with a hoof, writing in her notebook. “Ivory Melody’s mom is in the hospital according to Mrs. Gloriosa. This Equestrian Lilac has a very soft feel to it.”

“It’s also poisonous,” Sunset noted without looking up from her position on her bed, turning the page of her book and Twinkleshine froze as Silver Spanner gulped. “But only if you eat it. I found out the hard way. It’s safe to touch and smell.”

Twinkleshine exhaled in relief and added that to the notes she and the others had been taking down.

“What’s that?” Silver Spanner leaned out the window and pointed at some a pale blue house and Sunset looked outside her with a frown.

“Bluebloods house,” Sunset answered and Twinkleshine gagged into a hoof. “That’s about how I feel about him too.”

“He’s annoying and power hungry,” Twinkleshine explained to the confused Silver Spanner. “He’s rude, arrogant and self centered to put it mildly. I’m glad I never have to see or interact with him outside the few times I’ve been to the gala.”

“Lucky,” Sunset muttered and stretched out her bed. “Wish I didn’t have to. But at least he isn’t allowed at any of the national defense meetings or any diplomatic summits anymore after last time.”

Twinkleshine snorted and levitated the Equestrian Lilac back to where it had been sitting on Sunset’s top shelf in a glass case. She had heard some rumors about those two events. Something offending one of the Saddle Arabians daughter and almost causing an international incident. Twinkleshine did recall seeing a upspike in royal guards on duty for the next month until Celestia had smoothed things over somehow.

“How did she fix that again?” Twinkleshine glanced at Sunset and the unicorn grinned widely.

“Made him give a public apology, stay in Saddle Arabia for a year to learn their customs. Oh, and pay a settlement of five hundred bits personally, not from the crown or the treasury. It was nice to see. He did come back a lot more respectful, so there was a benefit,” Sunset chuckled with a smirk and Twinkleshine gave a soft laugh.

“Five hundred bits? T-that’s a lot,” Silver Spanner circled a hoof in the carpet anxiously. More money than Silver Spanner personally thought she would ever see. She spent most of her allowance whenever she did get some on more materials for her projects. “I could buy hundreds of iron for my experimenting. Maybe some more tools. Benzene, hydrogen peroxide from a hospital maybe.”

“Uh, you do know you need a permit to buy Benzene, right?” Sunset asked as she sat up and Silver Spanner frowned. “What do you even need hydrogen peroxide for, anyway?”

“Oh you know, just gonna blow up that Equestrian Office of International Relations down town,” Silver Spanner remarked sarcastically and rolled her eyes as the other two stared at her with stunned expressions. “For legal reasons, that’s a joke. I use it to clean my hooves when I get cut and believe me, I get hurt a lot in my hobby. A lot.”

“Be very careful joking about that,” Sunset warned and looked around nervously. “The royal guard takes stuff like that seriously.”

“Heh, yeah sorry. My friends in Ponyville had a really bucked up sense of humor. I’m really sorry,” Silver Spanner crossed her forelegs awkwardly. “Wooh, this got weird, didn’t it?”

“I’m friends with Lyra. You won’t believe the wildly offensive and outrageous stuff I have to deal with that comes out her mouth,” Twinkleshine deadpanned with a flat expression. “She’s my friend and I love Lyra, but I sometimes need some fresh air. But she is pretty dang good at lightening up boring situations.”

“So I’ve heard,” Silver Spanner mused and Sunset chuckled. “Say, Sunset. What are you doing this Friday?”

“Hanging out at the castle. Probably play some card games with Raven and Mom. Got nothing else going on. Normally, I got some meetings I attend with mom, but nothing is on the schedule. And thank God I have no press conferences with the media,” Sunset answered and growled softly as she slammed a hoof into the pillow as the other two watched.

Sunset always hated having press conferences with the media. They were all idiots in her opinion, twisted her words and reminded her of sharks instead of ponies. Most of the time Sunset had to bite back from telling them what she really thought about their occupation of choice.

Twinkleshine and Silver Spanner made brief eye contact, the white unicorn nodding subtly. Sunset levitated her book on plants back in front of her muzzle as she laid back on her bed, crossing her hind legs.

“Well, wanna have a sleepover?” Twinkleshine took over and Sunset’s book fell onto her lap as she sat up straight, staring in surprise at the other two unicorns.

“R-really? You’d have a sleepover with me?” Sunset poked her chest with a hoof and Twinkleshine nodded along with Silver Spanner a half second later.

“Well, yeah. Why not?” Silver Spanner answered and approached the bed, shooting Sunset a quizzical look and Sunset gestured her forward. “Thanks.”

Silver Spanner struggled to climb on the bed, her hindlegs kicking for a brief second as Twinkleshine nudged her forward with her magic.

“Thanks,” Silver Spanner leaned against the wall as Twinkleshine joined her. “Wow, this is soft. Anyway, I have no friends I guess I’d say outside the two of you really. And well, you said you don’t have any friends at CSGU you said so yeah. Why not? I mean-”

“Yes,” Sunset interrupted her and gave a small smile, wagging her tail a little. “Uhm, who’s house?”

“Here works,” Twinkleshine waved a hoof and elbowed Silver Spanner subtly.

“Castle is fine by me. Maybe you can have those two ponies you grew up with join. I don’t mind if there’s a colt,” Silver Spanner shrugged and received two confused looks. “I grew up with a lot of colts. It’s different back there than it is here.”

“I can imagine,” Sunset answered and tapped a hoof against her thigh. “Hey, wait. We’re friends?”

“I guess? Unless you randomly have sleep overs with strangers. I wouldn’t be opposed to being friends I guess. It would make school a bit more tolerable,” Silver Spanner admitted and the brown mare’s stomach rumbled. “Uhm I may have forgot lunch. I’ll catch you girls later at school. I’ll get my portion of the project done.”

“Actually,” Sunset held up a hoof and Silver Spoon stopped sliding off the bed. “Lunch is soon. Join me and my mom for lunch. Both of you,” Sunset added after a second of thinking.

Twinkleshine managed to catch her jaw before it could drop open. Being invited to lunch by the daughter of the Princess wasn’t something you necessarily turned down. And she was kinda hungry herself, if she was being honest.

“Wow.” That was pretty much the only word going through Silver Spanners mind. “Nice room.”

Twinkleshine was inclined to agree as she looked around the castle dining room. Or well, one of the many she assumed the castle had. Twinkleshine obviously didn’t really spend time around the castle for the obvious reasons.

She ran a hoof along the wall, admiring the gold and striped walls as Silver Spanner continued her examination of the large room.

“Sheesh, they really go big or go home here with you Canterlotians, don’t they?” Silver Spanner asked and Sunset joined her at a window.

“Yeah, I suppose. Hey, what’s Ponyville like?”

“Quiet, unless the Everfree decides to act up and some random monster decides to give Ponyville a visit. Everypony knows everypony. There’s no crime, nopony locks their doors,” Silver Spanner answered and her tail flicked as her eyes looked around, admiring the view.

Sunset was mind blown as she stared at her slackjawed. Everypony in Canterlot locked their doors, even the castle locked their doors. All the royal guards and staff had keys to every door in the castle.

Just because Canterlot was the capital of Equestria and had an obvious heavy royal guard presence, but that didn’t remove crime.

But yet some small town that Sunset could see from her bed room window had seemingly no crime whatsoever or felt unsafe enough to lock their doors at might.

Heck, some ponies even locked their doors during the day. Especially in places like Manehatten or Las Pegasus.

“Most everypony is friends with each other and if they aren’t, they hide it very well. Unless they don’t want to,” Silver Spanner gave a small grin to Sunset. “Trust me, there’s a ponies like that I know.”

“Same.” Sunset sniffed the air briefly and cracked her neck. “Well, lunch is here. Hey mom.”

Celestia leaned down to nuzzle Sunset and everypony else bowed as Sunset hugged the alicorn briefly.

“I see your schoolmates are joining us. Good,” Celestia winked at the two behind Sunset’s back.

“So you’re telling me the cooks have to make food for everypony in here?” Silver Spanner wondered aloud as she awkwardly stood in line behind some other ponies.

“Yeah. The cooks are perfectly okay with doing their best around here to support their guards and other staff as long as every pony else does their job around here. Heck, I sometimes volunteer to help cook but I’m not the best at it.”

Sunset decided to not bring up the incident where she almost burned the castle down. Sunset already had a reputation for blowing stuff up, sometimes admittedly for her own entertainment. Last thing she needed was having ponies knew she could burn water, something she never even knew was possible.

“Who exactly is the pony with the annoying country sounding accent?” A pony asked and Silver Spanner spun around, levitating her plate onto the table as Celestia turned around.

“Excuse me?” Silver Spanner growled as the other ponies nervously stepped away from her, Twinkleshine and Sunset included. “It’s not annoying, it’s cultured. Get your facts straight.”

The stallion opened his mouth and Silver Spanner held her hoof up as she took a step an angry step forward.

“Shouldn’t we stop her?” Twinkleshine whispered to Celestia and Sunset found herself agreeing, her blue eyes landing on her mom.

“No,” Celestia answered quietly and Sunset’s jaw dropped. “I want to see what happens. Let her continue.”

Oh boy, Sunset thought.

“You know what’s wrong with you Canterlotians?” Silver Spanner tapped a hoof against the stallions chest. “You’re all assholes, except for like three or four. You’re idiots. I mean, who cares where some pony comes from? Who cares what tribe I’m from? I don’t give a damn if I’m a unicorn, I’m no better than anypony else in Equestria and that’s a fact. Ponies in Canterlot could serve to be more humble and less of jerks. Half of you are rich beyond belief or are responsible for helping run Equestria. How about you guys actually use your influence and money to help ponies instead of helping yourselves? I can think of countless ponies back in Ponyville who could use help. Like the eighteen year old mail mare dealing with a new born on her own, eh? Or how about actually assigning some royal guards to protect Ponyvillians from monster attacks? Or actually have the Equestrian government help out homeless ponies around Equestria.”

“Wow,” Sunset whispered and she stared as Silver Spanner panted slightly, levitating a glass of water to her lips.

“Is she done or getting a second wind?” Twinkleshine muttered and Sunset had no idea how to answer that. But she did know she respected the mare even more than before. Most ponies wouldn’t even dream of going off like that in public.

Silver Spanner opened her mouth as somepony stared clapping and Sunset gave her mom a stunned look as Celestia sat down on her chair.

“She brings up some very fair points and I do approve of honesty, however harsh and blunt she may have been. I do agree that the ponies who help run Equestria could serve to do more,” Celestia commented as Silver Spanner blushed and hid behind her two classmates. “What do you think, Coffee Top?”

“I-I agree,” the stallion stammered and Celestia hid a grin behind her hoof as she turned to Silver Spanner.

“Thank you for voicing your opinions. It takes a lot of courage to be able to do that. Being honest is always the hard thing to do,” Celestia smiled warmly at the brown mare. “I approve of your friendship with my daughter. Even if I didn’t, I wouldn’t intervene. But I feel you three can help each other learn something.”

Sunset and Twinkleshine both shot Silver Spanner an impressed look as she inhaled.

“I’ll take her somewhere to calm down for a few.” Sunset jumped as Raven appeared behind her. Raven always did have a way of randomly appearing like that. “Right this way, Miss.”

“Send her to my private quarters. We will be there soon,” Celestia commented and Raven gave a nod. “Thank you.”

Silver Spanner gulped.

I’m so dead when I get home, she thought as she followed Raven.

Author's Note

So instead of just having Sunset meeting the Mane Six all in one go, she's gonna meet them slowly over time. First is obviously Silver Spanner.

But I'm still debating if I just want this to be a Mane Six or go the EQG route and have a Main Seven. I'll let you decide but I'm leaning towards Six.

This is ridiculous

Sunset snored loudly into her pillow, a thin line of drool leaking out of her mouth, her blanket tossed haphazardly over her body and her hind leg kicked occasionally.

“Srnnk,” Sunset snored and a whinny followed as the teenage unicorn rolled over onto her back. Her room in the castle was decorated with posters lazily on her walls, a blue guitar resting lazily against the wall. A Playmare and Playcolt magazine were stuffed under her mattress out of sight from whenever her mom would go into her room.

Sunset’s alarm went off, a shrill annoying sound bouncing around on her nightstand.

“Ow!” Sunset’s head slammed against her head board, her hoof flailing around for her alarm, slamming a hoof down on it to silence the infernal thing. “Peace and quiet again, thank the moon and stars.”

Sunset curled up in a ball and squeezed her eyes shut in an attempt to go back to sleep, using her magic to wrap herself with her blankets into a cocoon.

“Sunset,” Raven sang out as she tapped a hoof against the door and Sunset slammed her face into the pillow. “It’s seven thirty. Your mom is waiting on you for breakfast and you also have school today.”

“Oh uh I’m sick!” Sunset called back and coughed out. “Achoo!”

“Oh yeah?” Raven grasped the door handle with her red aura and opened the door, trotting inside as she looked around the pitch black room. “My word, Sunset. Turn a light on, would ya?”

Raven turned the light switch on and Sunset hissed like a vampony would, Raven rolling her eyes.

“Sick with what?” Raven asked as she trotted closer and yanked the blanket off of Sunset’s head.

“Hey!” Sunset snapped and Raven stared at her. “I’m trying to recover from my crippling illness.”

“What illness?”

“Monoorangosis?” Sunset offered weakly and Raven raised an eyebrow. “I can’t see or tastes oranges. Oh no.” Sunset yanked the blanket from Raven’s grasp with her magic and curled back up with it.

“Ah yes, very tragic,” Raven nodded sagely and Sunset smirked in victory. “Luckily for you, I know the cure.”

“Sleep?”

“Nope,” Raven smirked and stepped back to open the bathroom door. “Wanna know what?”

“Not really, but I feel I have no choice in the matter since you’re still here.”

“An ice cold shower!” Raven yanked Sunset out of bed with her magic and Sunset screamed, flailing a hoof for her bed as Raven levitated her in the air.

Two guards trotted past as Sunset screamed again, the two giving each other worried looks.

“Oh boy. If the Princess’ daughter dies on our watch, we will be tossed in Tartarus for sure,” The first stallion muttered worriedly as the second scoffed.

“It’s just Raven dragging her out of bed. If you listen, you can hear Raven in there right now,” the second said and they both stood still as Raven shouted something. “Called it.”

“Still, one day it could be an intruder,” the first chided as they continued walking.

“I’m going to kill you for this,” Sunset snarled as Raven continued spraying her with the shower head. “Can I get some heat at least, eh? Is that too much to ask for? I’m a fifteen year old, I can clean myself.”

“Yes, yes. We will be in the dining room,” Raven used her magic to toss the shower head to Sunset and the mare caught it. “Ten minutes, tops or I send in your mom to come get you.”

Sunset rolled her eyes but nodded as Raven trotted out the bathroom, shutting the door behind her as Sunset squirted some shampoo onto her mane, using her magic to rub into her mane.

Sunset stood in the shower, sighing happily as the warm water sprayed over her body. She much preferred hot water over freezing cold water. Only freaks of nature liked cold showers. And Sunset was very much so a normal pony. Excluding the fact that her mom was Princess Celestia, the almighty ruler of Equestria and Sunset was her personal student, but minor details.

“My eyes! My eyes!” Sunset yelped as her shampoo leaked into her eyes and she slammed muzzle first into the wall. “Ughhhh.”

Stupid shampoo. Stupid eyes, Sunset grumbled internally as she hastily wiped at her eyes with a wash cloth. Seriously, why not have a product that doesn’t burn your eyes?

Sunset rubbed the shampoo into her tail and yawned as she dipped her head under the stream of water, watching the soap drip off her coat onto the tiles in the shower.

“This feels good,” Sunset said to herself as she flicked the soap out of her tail. “Least Raven coulda done is turn some freaking music on.”

Celestia sat on her chair, patiently tapping a hoof on the table as she and Raven both looked at the clock.

“Where is she?” Celestia finally asked and Raven shrugged. “She does know she has school in an hour, correct?”

“Yes, she does. She pretended to be sick in an attempt to get out so I dragged her to the shower,” Raven answered and took a sip of her coffee as Celestia chuckled. The door to the dining room flung open and Sunset trotted in with a smile and her head held high as she shut the doors with her magic, her saddlebags resting on her back. “Ah, here she is.”

“Morning,” Sunset levitated her saddlebags off and set them by her seat, climbing onto her chair with a warm smile. “Hey mom, hey Raven.”

“Hello dear,” Celestia levitated a cup of coffee over to her. “I trust you slept well?”

“Not long enough,” Sunset grumbled and stabbed a pancake with a fork after pouring strawberry syrup over it.

“You slept for fifteen hours according to my chart,” Raven chimed in and Sunset scowled at her. “How much more sleep do you need?”

“Twenty four hours. Trying to set the world record for sleeping the longest. And getting sprayed with a cold shower at an ungodly hour is not helping,” Sunset snapped and shoved the pancake in her mouth. “Huh, not bad.”

“You can attempt that this Saturday,” Celestia covered her mouth with a hoof to hide her smirk. “Provided your homework is completed, of course. I do believe you got an exam for Maple Toffees class on ancient Equestria next week so you’ll have to study.”

Sunset stifled a groan and resisted the urge to slam her face against the table. Specially for the reason she’d get strawberry syrup all over her mane. She loved strawberry anything, but not enough to wear it as a fashion statement.

“Do I even have to go to school? It’s boring. Tell me, when in Equestria will I ever be asked by somepony on the street what the answer to four hunded and twenty six multiplied by thirty eight is?” Sunset complained and Raven shared a tired look with Celestia. “It’s sixteen thousand, one hundred and eighty eight, by the way.”

“Your education is important. Especially since you’re a Princess,” Celestia chided and wiped off Sunset’s cheek with a napkin. “Ponies expect you to know the history of our fair country. And you’ll need to know math when you buy groceries or do taxes.”

“I like science class,” Sunset admitted and grinned widely. “I like blowing stuff up. I love explosions.”

“Ah yes. I certainly love having to replace windows and the desks of my school because my daughter decided to wake up one day and be a weapon of mass destruction,” Celestia teased and Sunset blushed as Raven let out a snort.

“One time I blow up a classroom and you two never let me hear the end of it,” Sunset scowled at her food. “One time.”

“Technically it was three times. And then there was the time you blew up a hill on the outskirts of town during your plant science class,” Raven corrected and snickered at the expression Sunset wore.

“And then there was the science fair,” Celestia mused as she scratched her chin with a hoof. “I quite vividly remember yours and one Twilight Sparkle’s project both blowing up in the judges faces.”

“So did Moondancers!” Sunset shot back and growled, taking a sip of her coffee, making a face before levitating a container of creamer in and pouring some more in her cup. “Can’t you just have all my school work brought to the castle? I don’t feel like going to school today or quite frankly, ever again.”

Raven and Celestia shared a concerned glance before Sunset stabbed her pancake hard enough to put a crack in her plate and she gave an annoyed sigh.

“It’s not like I have any friends there,” Sunset continued. “Everypony is either afraid of me for being your daughter and student or is jealous and wants me do something for them. Even the teachers walk on eggshells around me. I guarantee you if I threw a cup at Professor Gusty Wings head, he’d apologize to me for it. It’s ridiculous.”

“First off, please don’t throw anything at my faculty. Secondly, I’m certain you will find friends. Twilight Velvet and her husband are old family friends. Maybe you can befriend their daughter,” Celestia suggested as she idly made a mental note to talk to her staff about this. “Or Moondancer. There’s hundreds of unicorns in my school and even more ponies around Equestria to meet. There’s yaks and minotaurs and griffons. I get new students every day from all over.”

“With my luck, I’ll be Ravens age on my deathbed alone,” Sunset muttered and Raven shot her a look as Sunset grinned.

“I’m only thirty. How old do you think I am.”

“Sixty nine,” Sunset replied and Celestia rolled her eyes. “Sorry.”

“Forgiven. Now hurry up and eat. You’ll be late school if you don’t hurry up,” Celestia reminded Sunset and the unicorn groaned.

“And what a pity that would be,” Sunset muttered with an eyeroll. “Fine, I’ll go.”

“That’s the spirit. And don’t forget your lunch!” Celestia levitated a purple lunch bag into her saddlebags. “Your favorite is in there.”

Sunset pumped a hoof enthusiastically.

“Heck yeah!” Sunset cheered and Celestia smirked. “Peanut butter and jelly is god tier food.”

“Yes, yes we know,” Raven snorted and hid a smile. “Don’t forget to study for any upcoming tests.”

“Joy.”

And now Sunset was once again not looking forward to going to school.

Class is stupid

Sunset trotted down the hall of CSGU with her two guards behind as she held her head high and ignored the whispers of the ponies around her.

“Oh boy, here’s the queen of the school,” Sunset faintly made out a colt ten feet to her left mutter to his friends and she flicked an ear his way.

Today is gonna be great, Sunset thought bitterly and rolled her eyes.

“Here’s hoping nothing else blows up.”

A mint green unicorn stepped out of her way in fear and Sunset sighed to herself, rolling her eyes subtly as she cursed internally, mentally shaking a hoof at the other stupid filly. The filly wasn’t really stupid and Sunset knew that. From the one class Sunset had with her, Sunset nodded she was quite intelligent but a bit out there. Sunset faintly recalled the green mare ran in Twilight Sparkle’s circle.

Sunset paused at her locker, using her magic to bypass the various layers of security she had secretly placed on it. Only her and probably her mom could get through it. They did have a similar magical signature, after all.

“Can I carry anything for you, Princess?” Thunder asked and Sunset shook her head. “Are you sure?”

“Yes, I’m sure Thunder. Thank you for the offer,” Sunset hung up her saddlebags, levitating out her books and setting them on the top shelf. “I’m perfectly capable of carrying my own books. But I appreciate you asking.”

Sunset glanced at the schedule she had taped to the door of her locker.

First hour: History with Maple Toffee.
Second hour: Art class with Aqua Blossom.
Third hour: Math with Frost Glimmer.
Lunch.
Fourth hour: Ecology with Gloriosa Daisy.
Fifth hour: Science with Cloud Storm.
Sixth hour: Intergrated Chemistry and Physics with Static Wave.
Seventh Hour: Tech Theater with Full Front.

Sunset slammed her locker shut and a few ponies gasped, running when she looked at them and Sunset resisted the urge to slam her head in her locker repeatedly.

“Let’s get this day over with. My video game station is calling me and I wanna get some guitar practice in,” Sunset turned on her hooves and levitated her history book in the air. “Maybe we will get lucky eh and I can whack somepony upside the head?”

“No whacking ponies in the head after what happened in the market downtown,” Comet reminded Sunset flatly as the mare flicked her wing tip. Sunset winced and nodded. “Or the time at the arcade or when you-”

“I got your point,” Sunset held up a hoof and Comet closed her mouth with a smirk. “Gee, thanks Aunt Comet. Way to make morning, eh?”

“It was my pleasure,” Comet nudged Sunset with a smirk. “And remember, Thunder, Cobalt and I were there in the hospital room when you were born. We’re allowed to tease you. Now let’s get you to class.”

Sunset rolled her eyes and her two guards smirked as she started walking with them behind her.

Comet and Thunder held open the door for Sunset as the unicorn trotted inside. A few ponies glanced up and went back to their books as the two guards took their positions outside the door and stood at attention.

“We’ll be waiting here to escort you to your next class,” Thunder called out and he turned to look forward. “She’s not happy looking.”

“Can you blame her? School sucks,” Comet answered and her eyes flicked to watch a colt trot inside. “Hell, I barely graduated. I was too busy drinking with my friends and getting into brawls. I was covered in bruises and welts more than you can see my natural pink coat.”

The two shared a laugh as Sunset sat at her seat in the back and next to the window. She always did prefer the window seat. It allowed her the ability to daydream when her teacher droned on as he tended to do.

Oh goodie, the daily announcements, Sunset thought as the intercom buzzed to life. Wonder what is going on today.

“Hello students!” Emerald Leaf shouted over the intercom and everypony winced.

“Swear I’m gonna ram my spear down her throat,” Thunder grumbled and uncovered his ears with his wings.

“Keep it PG. We’re in a school,” Comet grinned and Thunder scoffed.

“Get your mind out of the gutter. I have a wife and a kid,” Thunder rolled his eyes. “Swear, you’re worse than some of the other male guards. You know what I meant. I meant the one in the armory- actually, why am I even explaining this to you?”

“We have no major announcements this week. The art club is still looking for members as is the theater club. Our theater club is showing Little Shop Of Horrors this Saturday. Entry is five bits. All proceeds go to school functions,” Emerald Leaf read and Sunset continued reading her book. “Have a great Monday!”

Swear I’m gonna blast her into next Sunday, Sunset thought to herself as she turned the page. The door opened and a dark orange unicorn with grayish blue eyes, a white mane and tail and a wrench cutie mark rushed in, random papers falling on the ground.

“Sorry I’m late. I uh got lost,” the unicorn levitated her papers up and shoved them hastily into her binder. “This is the history class, right?”

“Yes,” Maple Toffee spun around in her chair. “Name?”

“Uh, Silver Spanner.”

“Well, tell us about yourself?” Maple Toffee suggested with a warm smile. Silver Spanner stood awkwardly in front of the class. “Uh Sunset? Please play attention.”

Sunset marked her spot and put her book away. Maple had been one of the few teachers at CSGU to look past Sunset being Celestia’s daughter.

“Yes ma’am.” Sunset held her head up with a hoof.

“I’m uh Silver Spanner. I’m from Ponyville and I’m fourteen. I’m a unicorn, obviously. My dad is a painter and my mom is a receptionist. Oh! And I like building stuff,” Silver Spanner levitated some drawings out. “I got a wrench cutie mark. Aiming to be a engineer. I’m-”

“Hey, watch this,” a colt whispered to the other colt to next to him and levitated a straw to his lips, balling up a piece of paper and chewing on it, spitting it at Silver Spanner and she yelped as it slammed into her mane and Sunset frowned slightly. “Bullseye!”

“And that’s detention. Congrats,” Maple glared at him and he shrank down. “Sorry about that. Silver Spanner, why don’t you uh sit next to Sunset Shimmer?”

Sorry, what? Sunset thought and shot her teacher a look as Silver Spanner trotted over, shooting the colt from before a glare that even Sunset was surprisingly wary of.

Silver Spanner sat next to Sunset, tucking her books under her seat, Sunset noting the mare preferred using her hooves over her magic.

“Alright everypony, turn your books to page seventy five. And Sunset, kindly help Silver Spanner catch up please and thank you.”

Oh boy, Sunset thought to herself as she and Silver Spanner made brief eye contact.

Emerald Leaf shifted in her chair in the teachers lounge, glancing at the clock occasionally as she tapped a hoof against the flooring, the other teachers sitting around her.

“What is this for?” Frost Glimmer asked and the white stallion brushed down his graying mane. “All I was told is the Princess wishes to see us.”

Emerald opened her mouth to tell him that she honestly didn’t know as the door opened and four royal guards trotted in with Celestia behind them and they all promptly knelt down to bow.

“Princess,” Emerald Leaf said and Celestia nodded at her.

“You may rise,” Celestia sat down on a chair and the other ponies warily rose. “You may all be wondering why I’ve had you all here stay after today. I know you all have your own families to get back to. We are here about to discuss my daughter.”

Oh boy, Emerald thought worriedly to herself. Having any parent come to her as the assistant headmare of Princess Celestia’s school was worrying enough. It was another thing entirely when the parent was the almighty ruler of Equestria.

“Is Sunset not happy? Is she being bullied? Oh by the gods, she has an issue with a teacher?” Emerald asked and Celestia chuckled, shaking her head.

“Well, she is not happy by something and frankly, neither am I. Sunset was telling me earlier this morning how most of you are always wary of her because of where she sits in the hierarchy. She is my heir to the throne, after all. Personally, I would prefer if we didn’t give her any special treatment,” Celestia levitated a cup of tea to her lips and she took a sip.

“All due respect your highness but are you seriously asking us to treat her like we do other students? She’s your daughter after all. The press gets ahold of any potential punishment they deem too extreme and the school, your school gets a spotlight shined on it,” Gloriosa Daisy pointed out and some teachers nodded along. Being the only earth pony teacher in a predominantly unicorn school was never easy, especially when a certain few staff never let her forget it.

“I can handle the media. What Sunset and I want is for her to be treated like a normal student. But naturally, if this gets abused, I will personally relieve anypony of their job. All of you know what the line is and not to cross it,” Celestia scowled and some of the teachers gulped nervously. “What will also give us a bad image is if my daughter gets the most attention and treatment around here and some student goes without because of it. I will not allow any student of my school to have a poor memory of being here. Understood?”

Various forms of yes or I understand rang out and Celestia nodded in satisfaction.

“Excellent. And now, onto the next topic of Sunset and her having friends....”

Emerald had a feeling this was going to be a long conversation. She had personally talked to Sunset multiple times about the teens worrys but never seemed able to convince Sunset there was more than enough ponies in Equestria to meet. And based on how Celestia was staring, Emerald had a feeling she had the same issue.

Sunset was a fairly stubborn teen in some areas, but what teen wasn’t? And Sunset was well known for wearing her emotions on her face, whether it being boredom or the rare chance she got angry.

But Emerald did always admire how Sunset never really let her position get to her head. She only wished Blueblood had learned that lesson.

Worst school ever

Silver Spanner tightened her saddlebags as she continued trotting down the street, occasionally glancing around curiously at the tall buildings around her.

She wasn’t entirely used to as many buildings as this or ones as tall as Canterlot had. Ponyville was more focused on practicality, after all. Probably the tallest building in Ponyville was either town hall or the tree library that had been down the street from her old house.

Silver Spanner turned onto a side street that lead into the less well off side of Canterlot as she stepped around a pothole half full of rainwater. Silver Spanner personally this side of the town than the annoying, rich stuffy side where are the upper class ponies tended to hang out.

Not that she really knew anypony on her street yet, but she had fairly high hopes that would change.

Silver Spanner stood in front of a pale blue two story house with a white fence going around. The paint of the house was faded and Silver Spanner glanced at the ladder resting on the side of the house curiously.

Looks like Dad is painting again, Silver Spanner mused as she unlatched the gate door and stepped into her lawn, locking the gate behind her.

“I’m home!” Silver Spanner shouted as she stepped into the sun room, wiping off her hooves on the welcome mat. “Mom! Dad!”

“Living room!” Her mom, Sweetie Charm called out and Silver Spanner trotted into the room. Her dad, Oil Canvas sat on the couch wearing overalls stained with various colors of paint from red to blue. “How was school honey?”

“How do you think?” Silver Spanner groaned and set her saddlebags on the ground. “It was horrible.”

“How so?” Oil Canvas asked and Sweetie sat down next to him, curling her white tail around her.

“Gee, where do I begin? Let’s start with how they look at me. As soon as I said I’m from Ponyville, everypony immediately disliked me as if I’m less than them. Something about being from a backwater mud pony down,” Silver Spanner rolled her eyes in disgust. “Ridiculous. Ponies don’t even believe that bs anymore.”

“Language dear,” Sweetie chided.

“Sorry. And don’t even get me started on the spitwad I still have in my mane from first hour! Why are we even here? I liked Ponyville, all of my friends are there. Cheerilee, Berry Punch, Cherry Berry, Big Mac, Applejack, Cherry Berry, Carrot Top, the flower trio. I don’t even know anypony here except you two. Why did we even just up and move in the first damn place?”

Sweetie Charm and Oil Canvas both shared a look before Oil Canvas sighed.

“Sit down,” Oil Canvas patted the couch next cushion next to him. Silver Spanner tilted her head before sitting down and wincing, shifting her weight to avoid sitting on a spring. “CSGU is one of the best schools in Equestria, second to Ponyville of course.”

“I don’t care if it’s the best,” Silver Spanner interjected and her dad raised a hoof. “Carry on.”

“We don’t really like it either but well, we’re getting paid to send you to CSGU,” Oil Canvas admitted and rested his hooves on his lap. “I’m a painter, your mom is a hotel receptionist. We don’t necessarily make the most money and we got some money problems at the moment.”

Silver Spanner raised an eyebrow as she looked between the two.

“We have money problems? Why not just tell me?”

“It’s something your father and I didn’t want you to worry about. You’re still a kid, it’s not a concern you should until your at least an adult and even then it’s something we don’t wish on you,” Sweetie Charm added and frowned.

“How much do you guys make for me going there?” Silver Spanner asked curiously as she flicked her tail.

“Fifteen hundred bits a month,” Oil Canvas admitted after a moment of silence from the two. “If you don’t want to go there, say the word and we will pull you out. We can figure something out. When have we ever faced a difficult time that we didn’t find a solution?”

“I’ll stay. I may not like but well, I suppose I can tolerate to help out the family,” Silver Spanner stretched out her forelegs. “I’m gonna grab a shower. I’m still mad at that stupid colt, by the way.”

Sweetie and Oil watched her bite the handle of her saddlebags, dragging them upstairs to her room.

“I’m so going to raise Tartarus tomorrow morning at her school,” Sweetie Charm muttered and Oil Canvas decided not to speak. Once she got an idea in her head, it was fairly difficult to convince her to change her mind. “I mean, who the buck shoots a spitwad at my filly?”

Silver Spanner flung a towel on the holder of the bathroom as she stopped in front of the mirror, staring at her dark orange, borderline brown reflection.

“First shower, then go to the shed and work on my projects. Then bed,” Silver Spanner recited aloud as she opened a cupboard to get her shampoo. “Mom! Where did we put the shampoos and tooth brushes?”

“They’re all in a box in the spare room to the left of the bathroom down when you’re coming upstairs!” Sweetie Charm shouted back. “Yours is in a pink baggie!”

“Thank you!” Silver Spanner yelled and she trotted out the bathroom, her hooves sinking slightly in the carpet. “Room to the left when you’re coming upstairs the stairs.”

Silver Spanner used her magic to turn the door knob, her dark gray magic lightning up the hallway as she opened the door, staring with wide eyes at the stacks of brown boxes with various rooms of the house written on the outside in a black marker.

“Mom and dads room, kitchen, Hearths Warming decorations, Nightmare Night decorations, Hearts and Hooves day decorations. When did we get Hearts and Hooves day decorations?” Silver Spanner wondered aloud as she forced herself past the boxes and she winced. “Bathroom, aha. Of course it’s all the way in the back because why wouldn’t it be?”

She levitated it down and tossed the lid aside, peering inside as she sifted through the box.

“Pink baggie,” Silver Spanner levitated it out of the bottom and tilted her head. “Where is my mane brush? Mom! Mane brushes, where are they?”

“Should be in your box!”

Oh for the love of- Silver Spanner cursed internally as she barely squeezed through the tiny opening back to where her box of items was waiting, mentally making a note to grab it after her shower. Might as well at least make some head way in unpacking her belongings.

“I swear, my family makes no sense when packing. Why not just stick the mane brush with the rest of the bathroom stuff?” Silver Spanner complained as she made her way back to the bathroom. “Screw the shower, a warm bubble bath sounds better.”

She pushed the drain stopper down and bit open the soap bottle, gagging slightly before she sniffed and sighed contently as the smell of vanilla soap invaded her nostrils.

“Thank Celestia for vanilla,” Silver Spanner mused as she poured some of the liquid into the tub and turned the water on, sliding inside and she stretched out her hind legs before pulling the curtain closed. “And warm water.”

Silver Spanner closed her eyes as she felt the water flowing over her stomach and she blew some bubbles off her hoof before shutting the water off, floating neck deep in warm bubbly water.

So today was meh, Silver Spanner mused as she flicked some water with her magic. She had slightly exaggerated downstairs. Most of the ponies she met didn’t care where she came from, but there was a select few who certainly did.

She didn’t meet too many ponies who stuck out to her. Twinkleshine was okay, she supposed. Moondancer came off as cold and aloof, Twilight something or another was okay. Obsessed with books. Had a dragon sidekick, which was cool she supposed. Lyra was crazy, but intelligent. Minuette was very outgoing and friendly with a permanent smile on her face. Silver Spanner personally though it was impossible for the mare to frown or get angry. And Lemon Hearts was just shy and never spoke.

Silver Spanner didn’t know what to make of Sunset Shimmer. The unicorn didn’t talk much except when answering a question. She seemed more happy to talk to the two royal guards she had escorting her around for some unknown reason.

But she had somewhat willingly helped her catch up on where the class was. Silver Spanner still didn’t know if it was because she was asked to or she did it out of kindness. Or sympathy, one of the two.

Silver Spanner did share a few classes with her and a lunch, but that was about it. Silver Spanner had opted to eat lunch in Miss Maples classroom as the teacher finished paperwork and ate her own lunch. She didn’t necessarily know where she had heard the name Sunset Shimmer before, but it was faintly familiar in the back of her mind. Half the school to worship the ground she walked and the other half fled when she came near for some odd reason.

Silver Spanner yawned and felt more drowsy than before she had stepped inside the shower.

“Might skip going to the shed,” Silver Spanner mumbled and yawned. “Warm.”

“Silver Spanner! Dinner is ready,” Oil Canvas called and Silver Spanner opted to stay silent. “We made your favorite. Hayasagna.”

Oh shit.

Silver Spanners eyes shot open at that and she used her magic to flip the drain open, standing up as water dripped off her and ran down her legs.

“Coming!” Silver Spanner called out as she uses the shower head to wash the remaining soap suds off her body. “Let me dry off and I’ll be right down.”

She flicked the shower curtain aside as she stepped out, using her magic to rub the towel to dry her coat off, shaking her mane and tail.

Hayasagna was damn near the only thing to get her out of her room or the shower. She would commit war crimes for it. Maybe. Okay, definitely.

She may not like the town of Canterlot so far, but at least it had way more reserves of hot water.

Author's Note

So this is Silver Spanner. The wiki says her coat is orange. I personally see a brown or at the very least a dark orange.

Partners

This is the most annoying part of my day, Sunset thought to herself as she stood in the lunch room, examining the room of ponies either sitting with their friends laughing or standing in a lunch line. Her own lunch was being levitated in the air next to her as Sunset groaned.

“Uhm, could you please move? You’re blocking the hallway?” Sunset glanced back at a colt behind her along with a line of frustrated students. “Sorry, I didn’t realize it was you.”

Sunset rolled her eyes and stepped aside, trotting down the carpeted incline towards an empty lunch table. Or well, half empty lunch table. That dark orangish brown mare from the other day was sitting there, idly using her hooves to peel an orange as she read a book. Sunset’s two guards had their own lunches held in their wings as they flanked her and she sighed.

Sunset levitated three chairs out and sat down with a tired sigh, the other mare not reacting much except for her eyes flicking over to examine her for a brief second before they went back to her book.

“Aren’t you gonna ask to sit here?” Comet reminded Sunset with a raised eyebrow.

“Why would I ask permission? It’s a free country and it’s just a lunch table. It’s not like I’m asking to trade lunches with her,” Sunset shot back and rolled a hoof in the air.

“Maybe she wants to be alone?” Thunder chimed in and Sunset glanced at him.

“Well, then she has nothing to worry about because I don’t plan on talking to her. She’s busy reading as is.”

Sunset glanced at the mare licking her hoof and she turned the page. Sunset didn’t entirely believe that actually helped ponies turn the page of their books. Sunset had no idea where the heck that idea even came from to begin with.

Sunset idly watched the ponies around before she levitated her own lunch out, staring at the sandwich, salad with some red dressing and croutons followed by cookies and a water. Clearly Celestia packed her lunch. Sometimes Sunset could sweet talk one of the maids or Raven into slipping a pop into her bag.

Sunset knew she could just order them too, but then the relationship she had with Raven would be affected and the staff would just resent her, equally making her life difficult at home as it already was at school.

“Ready for the test next hour?” Comet asked as she took a bit of her own sandwich her kid had made earlier this morning. Daisy sandwiches weren’t her favorite, but they worked.

“No.”

Sunset was like everypony else and shared a mutual hatred of tests. Especially surprises tests that come out of nowhere. Just because she studied and had high hopes for getting a decent grade didn’t make her all too happy to spend her class time writing.

“You got this,” Comet reassured her and Thunder nodded as he tossed some more sunflower seeds in his mouth. Sunset stabbed her salad with her fork, crunching a crouton in her mouth as the other mare switched to eating something with hay and various layers of cheese and some red sauce in it. “You’ve been studying for the past week and a half. Hey you over there.”

“Me?” Silver Spanner pressed a hoof to her chest and Comet nodded. “What’s up, ma’am?”

“You’re making me feel old. You got the same class as Sunset next, right?” Comet asked and Silver Spanner started flipping through her schedule before nodding. “Nice. I bet you don’t gotta take the test. This is only your fourth day here, right?”

“Yes ma- I mean, correct.”

“I was just teasing ya kid,” Comet chuckled and took another slow sip of her water. “Call me ma’am all ya want. What’s your name again?”

“Silver Spanner, ma’am.”

“Comet Chaser, Sergeant of Princess Celestia’s royal guard. And thats Corporal Thunder Wings and one of my oldest friends. We grew up together,” Comet smirked slightly at her and rubbed Sunset’s mane with a wing. “Come on, kid. Be friendly.”

Sunset shot her a glare and used her magic to fix her mane.

“Hi,” Sunset commented and stared down at her lunch, tossing a few grapes into her mouth. Huh, cotton candy grapes. That’s a new one. “Comet, what the heck are you doing?”

“She has no friends, you were worried about having no friends. Take a chance with her,” Comet whispered back into her ear, jerking her head to Silver Spanner reading something called Mechanic Weekly.

“Let me sleep on it.”

Comet and Thunder both shot each other a tired look over Sunset’s head as the two mares ignored each other to eat in silence.

Gloriosa Daisy sat at her desk, greeting her students with a warm smile followed by a wave. As the only earth pony teacher at the CSGU, Gloriosa Daisy often felt lesser around her unicorn counterparts.

But one of the upside she had was she a way better nature teacher than the unicorns. Not that she felt superior than them. Gloriosa shifted in her seat and sighed. On top of being a earth pony teacher at a unicorn school, it didn’t necessarily help that she was only a first year teacher. Most of the others had at least three years or more experience than her.

“Welcome,” Gloriosa smiled as Silver Spanner pushed her way through the beaded entrance of the classroom. “You like it? New addition to the room.”

“It’s certainly something Miss,” Silver Spanner conceded and she looked around. The classroom was brightly colored with a tree painting on the wall, the students names wrote in curve on some leafs stuck to the tree with velco. “It reminds me of Ponyville. I like how nature orientated your classes always are.”

“Ponyville is a nice town. I’ve traveled though while going to visit my brother in Appaloosa,” Gloriosa commented as she stroked a plant in a vase. “Class is starting soon. Why don’t you take a seat? Got a surprise for the class.”

Oh boy, Silver Spanner thought as she sat at table with a white unicorn and a pink mane and three blue stars for a cutie mark.

“Hi!” Twinkleshine smiled at Silver Spanner as she stretched. “How are you?”

“Good, yourself?”

“Meh, I’m okay.”

The two fell into an awkward silence as some more students filed in, Sunset somewhere in the middle with a pissed off looking expression and Silver Spanner idly noted her horn sparking occasionally.

That doesn’t look, Silver Spanner mused as the two guards behind her looked frustrated.

“What do you think happened?” Silver Spanner asked curiously and Twinkleshine gave a noncommittal shrug.

“Your guess is a good as mine. Sunset occasionally gets mad, but only when it’s something that genuinely angers her. Oh well. She’ll get over it in about five days or a week,” Twinkleshine mused as she opened a books on plants she levitated shakily from the shelf. “Just fair warning, be ready in case something accidentally blows up.”

Sunset slammed her books down on her table in back, sulking with a scowl. The male guard sat down with her and they had a quiet conversation as Sunset flailed a foreleg around in the air angrily before slamming it down hard on the table. Silver Spanner got the feeling it wasn’t either of them she was mad at.

“Everything good back there?” Gloriosa called out worriedly as she glanced back to the amber unicorn.

“Just calming her down is all,” Thunder replied and smiled at her. “I’ll tell you about it after class.”

Gloriosa nodded and gave him a warm smile. Thunder and Sunset had another quick conversation and he stood up, trotting outside the room where he and Comet had a quiet conversation.

“Alright everypony, before we start our test, I’m happy to announce we’re gonna have a month long project on plants around Canterlot,” Gloriosa stood up and some of the students groaned. “Now now, it’s not that bad. I’m gonna be placing you in groups of four. Starting with group one, Twinkleshine, Ivory Melody, Sunset Shimmer and Silver Spanner. You four kindly make your way to a table together.”

Sunset rolled her eyes, but trotted over with her books, resting them on the table next to Twinkleshine, yanking a chair out with her magic and sitting down. She looked a bit less angry than before, thankfully.

“Hi,” Twinkleshine smiled at her and it faded slightly as Sunset grunted in response.

“Sup?” Sunset answered finally as colt joined them, the four idly listening to Miss Gloriosa naming more groups as the other ponies started moving around.

“So based on what’s she’s saying, we’re gonna be going to each other’s houses for this too. So write down your addresses except Sunset. Everypony knows where she lives,” Twinkleshine opened her notebook. “We can probably meet at the library, but that’ll most likely be a hot spot. Especially since everypony is going to be doing this, I assume. There’s a donut shop we can go to as well. It’s called-”

“Donut Joes. I know the place,” Sunset finished for her and received two surprised looks. “What? I liked donuts as much as the next pony.”

Silver Spanner didn’t necessarily know what the big deal was. Everypony likes donuts, especially her. Sugarcube Corner was a staple in Ponyville. Everypony goes there unless you’re a dentist or something. Then you probably wouldn’t go. And she didn’t necessarily understand the whole “Everypony knows where she lives” comment either.

Silver Spanner took a quill in her hoof, writing her address and name down quickly followed by a smiley face at the end of her name.

“Oh, you live near me. Cool,” Ivory noted and he brushed his mane aside as Sunset and Twinkleshine both leaned away from him slightly.

“I guess,” Silver Spanner shrugged and Sunset made a cutting motion across her throat behind the colts back.

“Anyway,” Twinkleshine coughed loudly into her hoof. “I’d like to state for the record I’m not doing everything. Last time I did a project with classmates I had to.”

“Fine by me,” Sunset commented and spun her quill around with her magic.

“You’re the only one not to put your address down,” Silver Spanner used her hoof to spin the note book around to her.

“Right. I’ll let the guards know to allow you three passage for the rest of the month. But don’t blame me if they search you and bags,” Sunset told her and Silver Spanner gave her a confused look.

“Fine by me. So you must live in some pretty protected part of Canterlot then, huh?”

Ivory snorted and Sunset nodded with a bored look on her face.

“Canterlot? Try all of Equestria,” he snickered and Sunset visibly resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Sunset personally wasn’t a fan of him. Most ponies weren’t. He came off as annoying to most.

Twinkleshine eyed them both warily and sighed quietly in relief as Sunset turned away to examine the test that had been placed in front of her.

Silver Spanner leaned back in her chair and opened a book on train engines. Since she was new still, she was allowed to skip taking this week’s test.

At least she got to do something productive in her eyes, reading.

Ungrateful ponies around here

Sunset stormed down the hall angrily and rolled her eyes as the maids and other castle staff hastily cleared a path for the angry looking teen, her horn occasionally sparking.

“Can you believe the nerve of ponies?” Sunset demanded and she whirled around to stare up at Thunder. “I mean, I intervene, stop that colt from being bullied in the hallway and you know what he does after? He runs away! Not even a freaking thank you! Freaking ridiculous and ungrateful. That’s what I get for being nice to ponies.”

“Yeah, it was a bit rude,” Thunder admitted and Comet was inclined to agree as they reached Sunset’s bedroom door. “That was three hours ago though. I’m surprised you’re not calm yet. You were in my wife’s class.”

“Because Gloriosa Daisy has those calming rocks in the corner of her room!” Sunset answered and flicked her tail angrily. She should really consider spending her allowance on some for herself one day. “I’m going to be in my room. I wish to be left alone for the next few hours.”

“As you wish.”

Sunset slammed her door shut behind her and jumped face first into her bed, screaming into her pillow. Her two guards stood outside her room, listening for a few seconds and they both winced as Sunset gave a muffled scream again.

“Sheesh,” Comet shook her head, her mane sticking out under her gold helmet. “She’s mad.”

“No kidding. I’ll go get the strawberry donuts while you get Philomena.”

The two, along with everypony in the castle knew that strawberry donuts or anything strawberry for that matter was the quickest way to calm Sunset down. That, and having her pet bird Philomena with her.

Thunder personally had a feeling the castle had a special arrangement with Donut Joe’s specifically for times like this. He always seemed to have extra strawberry donuts in the back when he or any other guard showed up. Most of the time he had to take one look at the expression on the guards face and he immediately knew what they wanted.

The two faintly made out the sound of a guitar being played as they each went separate ways. Comet stifled a yawn as she continued her trot down the hall to some large winding stairs.

“We really need to invest in elevators around here,” Comet grumbled as she started walking up the stairs to where Philomena was kept. The bird had used to sleep outside by her own choice till some foal tried to take her home. Sunset had been pretty insistent on Philomena living indoors with them at that point. “I should really bring the elevator situation up with Princess Celestia. I mean, they got them in the Crystal Empire. Why not here?”

At least she was getting her steps in, she mused and Comet used her wing to hold onto the railing lining the stairs. She had to keep her body fit and streamlined somehow. At least the royal guard job had a lot of walking and flying while carrying a lot of weight on her body.

“Come here birdy,” Comet sang out as she opened the door with a phoenix carved into it, flicking the light switch on with a wing tip. “Sheesh, all this for a bird? Swear she has better furniture than even me.”

Philomena was resting a couch, her beak stuck in a bag of food as Comet approached warily.

“Come on, your owner wants you,” Comet opened her saddlebags with a hoof. “In ya go.”

Philomena raised her head and the two stared each other two as Philomena cawed and flew at her, Comet ducking with a yelp.

“Are we seriously doing this again?” Comet groaned and sidestepped to avoid Philomena flying at her. “We don’t have time for your playful games. Don’t you wanna make Sunset better? I’ll even let you ride on my back.”

Philomena slid to a stop in midair and dropped down onto the guards back. Comet gave a tired sigh. The last time she had tried to catch the bird had lasted three hours and a trip to the infirmary for her.

Which she was thankful she didn’t have to deal with this time. Last time, she had swore she was gonna strangle the life out of that damn bird if it was like last time. But she and Philomena came to an agreement or well, as best as one pegasus and a bird could. The phoenix was just very playful and liked to prank ponies, especially Comet.

“You’re adorable,” Comet scratched Philomena’s beak with a hoof and the bird cawed. “I have no idea what you said, but since you’re not scratching my eyes put is a pretty damn good sign you like it.”

Sunset and Princess Celestia were honestly the only two ponies Comet knew who could understand and speak with the bird. She’d be lying if she said it wasn’t impressive. The first time she even saw Sunset talk to the bird left her in awe for the rest of the day. The fact that Sunset was one of the strongest unicorns Comet had ever seen was an entirely different matter. Though it was to expected that the daughter of the Princess who raises the sun and moon would be insanely powerful. Comet, Thunder, Cobalt and Celestia all four personally believed Sunset wasn’t even at her full strength yet which was terrifying to think.

Comet herself had seen Sunset accidentally level a hill on the outskirts of Canterlot. She didn’t really want to think what a full strength Sunset was capable of. She and a few other ponies did occasionally refer to Sunset as a WMD.

Her horse shoes echoed down the stairs as she trotted down the stone, her wings occasionally fluttering as Philomena sat on her back, preening her own bright red and orange wings.

“I see you got the bird,” Thunder commented as he shifted his weight to keep the box on his back steady. “No concussions this time I see.”

“Bite me.”

“Excellent, you’re here,” Sunset opened her door and brushed her mane. “I’m heading to the park after I get Philomena- never mind, you already got her. I presume you two are tagging along?”

“That is in our job description,” Thunder answered and tapped a hoof against his chin. “I suppose I could bring my kid and Gloriosa along.”

It had been a while since the three had been able to spend time outside the house as a family.

“I suppose my husband and kid could come too,” Comet mused and stretched out a hind leg. “I’m down.”

Sunset rested on her stomach, using a large oak tree for shade as she and Philomena sat reading a book on tricks to teach your pet.

Her two guards and their respective partners sat on a nearby bench, both grateful to be out of their armor as Thunder watched his colt, Blue Ivy tossing a soccer ball to Comets filly, Angel Wings.

“So that’s why Sunset was angry,” Gloriosa mused as she nuzzled Thunder. “You need to shave.”

“Yeah, but we got it sorted out. And I know. Been busy,” Thunder wrapped a wing around the mare. “You all know as well as I do that Sunset hates when ponies seem to be afraid of her. You’ve all been a part of her life as long as I have.”

“Fair enough.”

Sunset used her magic to toss some bird seed up in the air, watching for a brief second as Philomena caught most of it mid air and she clapped before turning back to her book.

“Alright Philomena. We’re gonna aim for a triple barrel roll followed by a loop. If you can’t do it, that’s cool. But if you can, I’ll buy you that lamp you were eying last week at the pet store, deal?” Sunset held out a hoof and Philomena cawed, bumping it with her talons curled. “Alright. Gain enough altitude the book says-”

Philomena shot upwards into the sky before Sunset could finish her sentence and the unicorn stared up at the dot in the sky.

“-Or just go for it without allowing me to finish speaking. That’s cool, that’s cool,” Sunset grumbled and stretched out on her stomach, her tail occasionally flicking back and forth. I need to brush my tail when I get back, Sunset thought to herself.

Sunset focused on Philomena starting her first roll, missing the pony trotting behind her quietly.

“I had a feeling you’d be here,” Celestia commented casually and Sunset jumped. “This is your favorite tree to sit under, after all.”

Sunset rested a hoof against her chest, her heart beating quick enough to make Sunset wonder if this is what a heart attack felt like.

“Yeah, it’s a beautiful day out and I wanted to get out of the castle for a bit. Aren’t you supposed to be in Day Court right about now, anyway?”

“Got out early. Being the princess of Equestria does have it’s benefits, after all,” Celestia winked and Sunset hummed as the two looked back at Philomena. “A triple barrel roll followed by a loop. Are you sure this is a good idea, Sunset?”

“Hey, Philomena picked it out herself, believe it or not. And besides, I cast a spell on her to protect her from any broken bones. If she gets hurt, it’s her own fault and I’ll be saying I told you so. After I take her to the veterinarians office to make sure she’s okay.”

Philomena started rolling and Sunset grinned as she watched, pumping a hoof enthusiastically in the air.

“Yes!” Sunset shouted and jumped up onto her hooves as the other ponies she came with glancing over with raised eyebrows.

“That’s the happiest I’ve seen Sunset like, all week,” Angel Wings mused as the pegasus hovered next to Blue Ivy, the dark blue earth pony bouncing the soccer ball up and down.

“Got that right,” Blue Ivy agreed as he stared at Sunset jumping enthusiastically as Philomena landed proudly on the amber unicorns extended foreleg.

“Oh my god,” Angel Wings covered her mouth with her forehooves. “You’re staring at Sunset.”

“So are you featherbrain,” Blue Ivy retorted and Angel Wings paused.

“Yeah, touche, that was stupid of me.”

Blue Ivy rolled his eyes and cracked his neck, tossing the ball back to his friend and she caught it with her wing.

“You are so getting two of those weird lamps you like,” Sunset rubbed her cheek against Philomena’s. Celestia sat down and watched as Sunset galloped off after Philomena.

“Bit for you thoughts?” Gloriosa asked as she wandered over to the Princess.

Celestia flicked her eyes over to the teacher and sighed, scuffing a hoof against the soil as she looked around at the park full of ponies laughing. Internally, she was wishing Luna was here to watch Sunset grow alongside her but it was far too soon to bring up the fact Sunset had an aunt she didn’t yet know of.

Celestia forced a smile on her face as she turned back to the waiting earth pony.

“Everything is fine Gloriosa, thank you.”

Praying for you

Twinkleshine propped her head up with her hoof, watching Lyra tossing another donut into her mouth. How Lyra wasn’t sick yet was beyond her. She was easily on her tenth donut at this point as Twilight, Moondancer, Lemon Hearts and Minuette watched.

“You know how bad all that sugar is for your teeth?” Minuette asked as she took a sip of her tea. “You’re gonna die early or something.”

“We are not having another teeth lecture,” Twinkleshine cut in before Lyra could say anything. A good half of the time what Lyra said was either wildly offensive or just stuff that nopony but her understood. “The last time we had one, we were up all night as Twilight gave a college level lecture with you.”

Twilight gave a nervous laugh as she teleported her white board away as Twinkleshine gave her a flat look and Lemon Hearts coughed into her hoof.

“So I’m surprised Lyra isn’t having the lead role in this years play or any role for that matter,” Lemon Hearts brushed her mane aside and everypony at the table had to strain to hear the soft spoken unicorn.

“Hey, after last year when my parents refused to show up because they were too busy at some stupid rich pony party,” Lyra scoffed and rolled a hoof in the air. “I’m not going through that ever again. And besides, Twinkleshine is the one who wants to be an actor here, not me.”

Twinkleshine shrugged in response. She had a fair point there. Lyra had mostly only really contributed music to the plays the school had shown in the rare case they needed a lyre, harp, cello or violin played.

“So I heard somepony got partnered with Sunset Shimmer,” Moondancer looked at Twinkleshine and the white unicorn nodded. “I’ll be praying for you.”

“And the new pony, Silver Spanner. And Ivory Melody,” Twinkleshine added and everypony at the table gave a collective groan, even Minuette surprisingly.

Twinkleshine wasn’t entirely too fond of the idea of working with him and Sunset clearly hadn’t been on based on the scowl on her face when it had been announced.

“I’m going over to Silver Spanners after this. She lives right down the street from me, ironically enough. She and her family moved into that one house. The blue one,” Twinkleshine clarified at the confused looks and the others made an oh sound.

“Sunset kinda scares me. Her magic is unpredictable as all hell,” Lyra shuddered and she eyed Twilight and Moondancer, grinning slowly. “Who do you think would win in a magic duel, Sunset, Twilight or Moondancer?”

“Sunset.”

“Sunset, easily.”

“Without a doubt Sunset.”

Moondancer and Twilight shot the other three unicorns a glare as they chuckled, Twinkleshine taking a slow sip of her milkshake.

“At least give us a little credit. We’d hold our for about five minutes until she blew us to kingdom come and we’d be scorch marks on the ground,” Moondancer grumbled and Twilight nodded her agreement.

The two may not be as powerful as Sunset. Only Celestia outshined Sunset, but the two unicorns liked to think they could survive for at least a few minutes against Sunset.

“Alright, I gotta go back to work,” Lemon Hearts stood up, pushing her chair out as Minuette tilted her head.

“Lemon, you don’t even have a job,” Minuette reminded her pointedly.

“Yeah well when your parents run Donut Joe’s, you kinda have a job regardless. At least I get an allowance from them,” Lemon Hearts shrugged as she trotted behind the counter. “See you girls around.”

Twinkleshine took another sip of her vanilla milkshake. Lyra and Moondancer said it made her the most basic mare in all of Canterlot, but Twinkleshine personally didn’t give a damn.

“Alright, I should probably get going myself if I wanna get any headway on this project. At least it wasn’t any school work from Miss Cinch,” Twinkleshine gave a brief shudder. The old mare was probably the most annoying pony on the school grounds. Or second, depending on who you asked.

There was various nicknames around the school about her, none really stuck out to Twinkleshine. Most were just lame jokes about her name. Moondancer may or may not have been the one to come up with most of them.

“Hey, Moonie? Wanna have a milkshake drinking race?” Lyra asked with a grin and Moondancer shook her head. “Come on.”

“No. You enjoy the brain freeze, I will not. Thanks for the offer though,” Moondancer frowned slightly at her green friend and she watched Twinkleshines pink tail disappearing around the corner.

“Damn,” Lyra muttered as she stuck the tongue out at Moondancer and the other unicorn used her magic to push up her glasses. “Let’s get out of here. Uno at my place.”

Twinkleshine examined the house in front of her curiously before she gently knocked on the front door.

“Uh hi,” Twinkleshine crossed her forelegs after a mare opened the door. “I’m Twinkleshine. I’m working with Silver Spanner on a class project, we agreed to meet today along with the rest of our group?”

“Oh,” Sweetie Charm glanced at the clock before opening the door. “Come inside. I’m her mom, Sweetie Charm. Silver Spanner is out back in her shed working on a personal project at the moment.”

Twinkleshine didn’t necessarily know what to make of that as she followed the taller earth pony inside.

“She just loves to work on her random mechanical projects, ya know?” Sweetie Charm gave a soft laugh. Twinkleshine didn’t know that. She didn’t really know anything about her, after all. “Would you like something to eat? She asked me to make snacks for everypony.”

“Sure, why not? Thank you,” Twinkleshine bowed her head. “I can carry something for you if you wish.”

“You’re sweet, but I got it. Is lemonade okay with you?”

“Yeah that works,” Twinkleshine smiled up at her and used her magic to close the lid on the lemonade jar, levitating some cups in the air. “Sorry, but I insist.”

“It’s nice to see my daughter is friends with such a nice mare like yourself. Her dad and I are a bit worried about her. She had to leave her friends behind to move here. Celestia knows it’s been difficult on her,” Sweetie scuffed a hoof against the wood floor softly.

Twinkleshine didn’t entirely know what to make of that. Silver Spanner had briefly mentioned she wasn’t from here, which did check out considering Twinkleshine had never seen her around before till this week.

Twinkleshine personally had no issue with making friends with new ponies. Silver Spanner was fairly nice the few times they’ve spoken to each other.

Twinkleshine used her magic to open the door, following Sweetie Charm out as two royal guards and Sunset approached them.

“Hello?” Sweetie sounded a bit nervous and Twinkleshine couldn’t fault her for that. Most ponies tended to get a bit nervous when any armed royal guard came to their house, let alone two of them.

“Hello,” Sunset knelt down and bowed as Twinkleshine raised an eyebrow. “Princess Sunset Shimmer. I’m uh, doing a school project with your daughter.”

Oh shit, Sweetie Charm thought to herself and she tried to force herself to bow. Why a princess was bowing to her of all ponies, she had no clue.

“I’m Sweetie Charms. I had no idea my daughter knew you. Can I get your guards anything to eat or drink?”

“No ma’am,” Comet shook her head and smiled slightly. “We’re fine. But thank you. I’m Comet Chaser, that’s Cobalt Blue. It’s nice to make your acquaintance.”

“Normally Thunder is my other guard but I insisted he take a day off with his family. Tomorrow is Comets turn,” Sunset explained and shook hooves with the stunned older mare. “You can just point us in Silver Spanners direction and we will be out of your mane. Lovely house, by the way. I love the blue.”

“Thank you, my husband did it,” Sweetie Charm shifted her weight. “Anyway, Silver Spanner is in the shed, working on something.”

That was weird, Twinkleshine thought as Sunset and Sweetie Charm trotted to the bright yellow shed with a blue smiley face on the side.

“What in Equestria was that about?” Twinkleshine wondered aloud.

“She’s trying out Cobalt’s suggestion of giving out compliments like it’s Nightmare Night,” Comet rolled her eyes and glanced back at Twinkleshine. “Or like a mare giving it out on the street corner in Las Pegasus after midnight.”

“I don’t get that last one?”

“Sorry, inside joke. You’ll get it when you’re older,” Comet chuckled and paused. “Not that uh Sunset gives out anything like what I said. She doesn’t even know about that stuff. So keep quiet, kid.”

Twinkleshine gave a confused nod and tilted her head as Comets sword occasionally bumped against her flanchards. She only even really knew the term for royal guard armor from Twilight.

“What in Equestria is that?”

Twinkleshine gawked at random sheets of metal laying in piles in the shed, Silver Spanner using her magic to tighten some bolts on the metal thing in the room, a hammer held in her mouth as the other mare was covered in grease and oil in random spots on her body, mostly her head and hooves, a few spots on her flanks.

Sunset and Cobalt were trotting around it slowly, Sunset looking surprisingly curious about whatever it was they were all looking at.

“What is this?” Sunset asked and Silver Spanner levitated the tool onto a bench, her mane sticking to her face from sweat and grease.

“It’s a generator,” Silver Spanner answered and tapped a dirty hoof against some sheets of paper. “It’s supposed to provide power to houses if we ever move past using controlled lightning strikes to power houses. But I haven’t really found a good fuel yet for it. I’ve experimented a bit, but nothing works well. It’s also not going to power anything for too long, unfortunately.”

Twinkleshine didn’t have a single clue what just came out her mouth, but she did know Twilight and Moondancer would have a field day if they were here right now.

“This bolt is loose,” Sunset commented as Silver Spanner joined her, the amber unicorn tapping a hoof against the generator as Silver Spanner called it. “You should also put some legs, so to speak here and here. It’ll provide some extra stability in case the other ones fail.”

Now it makes sense why she has a tool for a cutie mark, Twinkleshine mused as she set down the cups on a table in the corner.

“You’re right. Huh, not bad. I’m stupid for missing that,” Silver Spanner mutted and she levitated some metal over. “Damn, I’m running out of materials.”

“Not stupid. Sometimes you just need another pair of eyes,” Sunset shrugged as the pair shared a quick smile. Twinkleshine faintly made out the two guards grinning at each other quickly.

“Silver Spanner, don’t curse in front of the Princess please,” Sweetie Charm rubbed a wash cloth against her daughters head. “You’re filthy, by the way. You need a bath and then a shower to make sure it’s all off you.”

“What princess?” Silver Spanner asked in confusion and groaned as her mom kept washing her face and white mane off, looking around as her eyes fell on Sunset and pieces fell together. “You?”

Sunset gave a sheepish nod and a uncomfortable smile as Twinkleshine watched.

“I knew I recognized you somewhere!” Silver Spanner exclaimed as she pointed a hoof. “You were in the newspaper in Neigh Jersey after that one city got hit by a tornado because you and Princess Celestia were helping clean up the town.”

Sunset nodded and shifted on her hooves. She had spent most of her time with the royal guards during that incident, either keeping the lists of missing ponies separate from the ones found to playing with some random foals she had found to offering food to some ponies.

The newspaper had ran wild with that image of Sunset sitting with a sleeping foal on her lap. Sunset believed she still had that newspaper clipping on her wall back at the castle. Sunset faintly remembered passing out with the foal right after.

“Yeah, that’s me,” Sunset confessed and shrugged.

“Why can’t I go in my own shed?” A stallion demanded as Comet and Cobalt blocked his path with their wings. “I live here, this is my property. You don’t get to tell me I’m not allowed entry. Leave now.”

“Sir, calm down. Your wife is inside right now with somepony we’re assigned to protect is all. We didn’t know who you were. Why don’t the four of us go inside and discuss things over some tea?” Cobalt suggested smoothly with a warm smile. “I’m Cobalt Blue, a specialist in the royal guard and this is my sergeant. She can explain everything, alright?”

Sweetie Charm trotted around the two, the pegasus dropping their wings back to their sides as the mare whispered something in his ear.

“Let’s go inside. This is my husband, Oil Canvas,” Sweetie Charm explained and the guards nodded.

“Sorry.”

“You’re all good,” Comet answered and pushed her helmet up. “Sunset, don’t leave without us. We’ll be back in five minutes, tops.”

Sunset nodded even though she knew she could easily protect herself. But it was a bit easier having the two guards as back up.

“Ponies fall into four categories around me,” Sunset started explaining and flicked her tail. “One, they fear me because of who I’m related to. Two, they try to use me to make their lives either better or use me for popularity. Which doesn’t work, by the way. I ignore those ponies. Three, they worship the ground I walk on for some ungodly reason. And finally, four being the very small category of ponies who don’t care who I am or who I’m related to. The real question is what category will you fall into? I’m gonna be watching closely to find out.”

Twinkleshine poured herself a glass of lemonade as she sat down in the cleanest spot of the shed she could find. She didn’t really think about Sunset that often, but now that she really thought about, Twinkleshine herself fell into the fourth category. She always kinda viewed Sunset as another student she supposed. Just one that harbored a lot of authority and power that she respected greatly.

She didn’t really consider Sunset a friend, strictly because she didn’t get the opportunity to interact with Sunset often. She did occasionally have conversations with her, but those were fairly short lived because Sunset admittedly wasn’t the best at short conversations. She wouldn’t really be opposed to being her friend, she supposed.

“I don’t know,” Silver Spanner admitted and bit into a cucumber sandwich she swiped on her past the table. “But I’m definitely not afraid of you so.”

“Well, that’s a plus.”

“Your mom is so nice,” Twinkleshine commented and Sunset nodded. “We should probably start talking about what we’re doing for our project. There’s a literal million of of flowers and other plants in Equestria. This is gonna be a breeze.”

“I hope so.”

“First, go take a shower though,” Twinkleshine sniffed the air and gagged. “You reek of sweat, oil, grease and other random smells.” Silver Spanner sniffed and blushed a faint pink before nodding.

“You two can wait downstairs. It’ll take me only twenty minutes. Grease is an absolute bitch to get out of my mane and coat. Don’t even get me started on the oil.”

Neither of the two other mares could relate, but based on the scene in front of them, they could easily believe that.

Unsurprisingly intelligent

Celestia tapped her hoof against the flooring of the castles dining room, occasionally glancing at the clock that read nine thirty pm.

Sunset was surprisingly late. She usually was always on time for dinner, but late for breakfast. Celestia was half tempted to eat without her, but resisted the urge as she levitated a glass of water to her lips.

She had long since sent Raven home for the night. Most of the time Raven ended up sleeping in the spare room next to Celestia’s in case she was needed. Celestia wasn’t entirely fond of that and often encouraged Raven to not be married to her job.

“I’m home!” Sunset called out, her voice echoing down the halls as she trotted towards the dining room, pushing them open with her magic.

Celestia gave her an annoyed look, tapping a hoof on the table as Sunset climbed onto her seat.

“And pray tell, where have you been all night? You know how much I hate you being out after dark after what happened last time. I was about to send out a battalion of royal guards to tear Canterlot apart again.”

“One time I get kidnapped when I’m seven and you never let me hear the end of it,” Sunset rolled her eyes and Celestia decided to not respond to that how she normally did. Which was mostly a lecture that Sunset has heard a dozen times. “As for where I was, I was out working with Silver Spanner on our school project after Twinkleshine went home. Aunt Comet and Aunt Cobalt were with us halfway through until I sent them home to be with their families. And then I teleported here instead of walking.”

“Who is Silver Spanner?” Celestia asked curiously, her previous frustrations mostly gone. Mostly.

“She’s a new student. Started a couple days ago. She’s actually really smart,” Sunset used her magic to pour some soup into her bowl. “She made this thing called a generator. Supposed to power houses if we ever move past controlled lightning strikes she claims.”

Celestia hummed to herself softly, drinking some of her own soup. She didn’t know anypony had tried making an alternative to the old way of powering houses electricity. Every house in Equestria came with a lightning rod equipped. The castle itself had over a dozen.

“I think I would like to this see generator for myself,” Celestia commented and Sunset wiped off her muzzle with a napkin, tossing it into the trash can at the doors of the room.

“Six points. I suppose I could arrange that. She’s coming over tomorrow with Twinkleshine and ugh, Ivory Melody. Silver Spanner said that he reminded her of some eighties movie her mom and dad liked with his overly greasy mane and annoying personality. He’s so awkward and weird. Not the good kind of weird, the bad kind. He makes a lot of ponies uncomfortable. I still have to remind the guards we are having guests.”

“I’ll handle it. What did you and Silver Spanner get up to? I know you, you don’t spend all your time on your homework like that,” Celestia pointed out with a smirk.

“We worked on her other personal project. She’s surprisingly okay with suggestions to her designs. I thought she’d be mad. She has a dozen other designs she showed me in her room. I think one was about a new train engine?”

“Any good inventor is open to suggestions,” Celestia answered and spun some bread in the air. “What’s she like?”

“Smart and nice. She’s a pretty driven individual, which I can always respect. She’s like me in that aspect,” Sunset tossed a carrot into her mouth. “She just moved here from Ponyville with her parents and doesn’t know anypony or have any friends. Something I can sympathize with,” Sunset sighed and stirred her soup with a piece of bread. “I don’t know how you do it.”

“Do what?”

“Have no friends,” Sunset answered and her eyes widened as they both fell silent. “That came out ruder than I expected or wanted. I mean, I never see you having friends over or them spending the night.”

“I have friends. I got Fancy Pants and his lovely wife Fleur De Lis, Comet, Cobalt, Thunder, Raven, Gloriosa Daisy, Solar Shine, Twilight Velvet, Nightlight, Angel Wings and Blue Ivy. Heck, I was at both of those kids birth. You three grew up and played together all the time.”

“I know that Mom. All I see you do is do Princessy stuff, raise the sun and moon and to sleep. We don’t even have real jobs. Being a Princess is something we do twenty four seven. It’s not something we stop after eight hours,” Sunset rested her hooves on her lap. “I don’t know how that doesn’t tire you.”

“It’s very tiring, but I have millions of ponies to look after. They all look to me for protection and even guidance occasionally. I raised the sun to help the crops grow, lower it so they don’t burn the crops. Raise the moon so-”

“So random ponies that like to go to clubs can hang out?” Sunset chimed in and Celestia chuckled.

“I was going to say to say create tides, keep our climate under control and more, but yes I have noticed my ponies to have a sudden fondness for nightly activities such as going out to clubs.”

Celestia didn’t entirely know where that trend had came from, but she did welcome it with open hooves. A part of her did idly wonder how different things would be now if ponies had celebrated the night like they do now.

How would she even explain the idea of clubbing to Luna? Celestia herself doesn’t even know what it entails.

“I mean, I’ve never even had a sleepover since I turned what, nine? I know Angel Wings and Blue Ivy have one every week or so. What about you?” Sunset asked and Celestia looked up at the ceiling. “Wish ponies liked me enough to have one with me. Maybe one day when I’m like, twenty.”

She didn’t even really know when her last one was. She guessed sometime around a little over a thousand years ago. Unless the time she had stayed at the hospital after giving birth to Sunset had counted.

“Fifteen years ago,” Celestia decided on her hospital theory. “I was the first to fall asleep.” But she credited to all the insanely fast working pain meds the doctors had hopped her up on. Modern medicine had come far in her life time.

“Huh. Just curious, I guess. Anyway, dinner was good as always mom,” Sunset levitated the bowls into the air. “I’ll do the dishes, have a good night.”

“Thanks, Sunny,” Celestia yawned as she stood up and started to head to the door. “Sunset?”

“Yeah?”

“I love you.”

Sunset gave a tired smile as she stretched her forelegs out.

“Love ya too, Momma.”

Silver Spanner and Twinkleshine trotted down the castle hall together, Silver Spanners jaw was practically touching for floor.

“I’ve never seen so much art or stained glass windows or such shiny floors in all my life,” Silver Spanner whispered and Twinkleshine chuckled, patting her on the back quickly.

“The castle is beautiful. I’ve only been here a few times. Once or twice for the Grand Galloping Gala, that one time I randomly got invited to Sunset’s eighth birthday party. Don’t know how that one happened. Assumed if was a mixup,” Twinkleshine mused and she tapped a hoof agaisnt her chin. “I don’t know what she ever did with that guitar I got her.”

The two stood at Sunset’s door, Twinkleshine knocking softly.

“Oh hey,” Sunset called out from her bed, using her magic to open the door and the two peered inside.

“What the..?” Twinkleshine trailed off as she stared at the guitar resting against the wall. “Sheesh, ironic. That’s the exact same one I got you.”

Sunset gave a nod, idly using her magic to pluck one of the strings. Twinkleshine hadn’t entirely expected Sunset to keep it or even remember she had given her it.

Celestia trotted around the corner and Silver Spanners eyes widened to plates, extending a foreleg and bowed along with Twinkleshine, though the white unicorn did it much more gracefully than Silver Spanner. The brown unicorn practically face planted out of surprise compared to Twinkleshine more experienced bow.

“You can stand,” Celestia chuckled and Twinkleshine subtly nudged Silver Spanner. “My apologies, I know you three have a large project going on, but I was wondering if I could borrow Silver Spanner and Twinkleshine for a brief moment. Is that okay, my dear daughter?”

“Of course Mom. Just don’t scare them please,” Sunset requested with an eyeroll and smirked at the worried looks the two unicorns face. “I’ll be here.”

Twinkleshine and Silver Spanner both exchanged a nervous look as they walked beside Celestia down the hall, the pair idly noting the amount of royal guards lining the hallways or trotting down other halls, occasionally using light spells to light up dark halls.

“You know, my daughter talked a lot about yesterday she spent with you two,” Celestia started and closed her wings. “She was quite impressed by Twinkleshines ability to look past who she is and Silver Spanners impressive mechanical skills and knowledge.”

“Thank you Princess,” Twinkleshine bowed her head slightly. “I try my hardest.”

“It’s certainly appreciated, my little pony.”

“I didn’t know she told you or well, anypony about my hobbies. Nopony except Cherry Berry back home showed any real interest,” Silver Spanner admitted and rubbed the back of her mane as she continued examining the castle in awe.

“She tells me everything. I must say, I’d like to see something you’ve created one day,” Celestia commented and Twinkleshine had to use her magic to keep Silver Spanners jaw closed.

Like she had said, nopony other than Cherry Berry had a strong fascination in seeing anything she had created.

“R-really?”

“Yes,” Celestia glanced at the teen unicorns. “I’m quite interested in potential inventions that will bolster Equestria forward. Sunset did talk a lot about the pair of you. Which made me hope you two would do me a favor.”

Twinkleshine and Silver Spanner exchanged a confused look. But neither really wanted to refuse and risk angering the sovereign ruler of their nation. Especially since they both attended her own personal school and could easily ruin their lives with a single swipe of her quill.

“Name it Princess Celestia,” Silver Spanner answered after she and Twinkleshine had a silent conversation based purely on looks.

“Have a sleepover this Friday at the castle with my daughter,” Celestia told them and paused, gesturing at some pictures of Sunset on the wall. “As you can see, Sunset is my pride and joy. I do everything and anything for her. But she doesn’t have a normal childhood and I feel terrible about it. She is already seemingly fond of you two and you have a right to say no. But you’d be doing me a favor and I always repay my favors.”

Twinkleshine and Silver Spanner looked at each other, having another silent conversation.

“You sure?” Twinkleshine asked and Silver Spanner nodded.

“Absolutely, what about you?”

“Mhm.”

“We’ll do it,” Twinkleshine flashed a smile and Silver Spanner matched the smile, nodding her agreement.

“Thank you,” Celestia rested a wing around the pair. “Now, what do you want as your favor?”

“Not a thing” Silver Spanner decided and Twinkleshine wiped away some sweat off her head.

“Hmm. I must admit, I didn’t expect that. Most ponies would jump at a offer like that,” Celestia mused and she gave a nod of approval her way. “I’m impressed.”

Thank the maker she decided that, Twinkleshine thought as she followed the two back where they came.

Silver Spanner was just glad she didn’t manage to anger the Princess.

Author's Note

Happy New Year! First chapter of 2025! Whoo!

A rare angry Twinkleshine

Twinkleshine stared up at the sky outside as she counted stars idly as she laid on the deck of her room, her pink mane spilling across the wood flooring and she crossed her hind legs.

“You know, I’m fairly sure you can do this on the grass too,” Twinkleshines eyes rolled up slightly to look at Twilight in the door way. “How was working with Sunset and Silver Spanner at the castle earlier today?”

“Oh boy it was something,” Twinkleshine laughed and covered her mouth. “Silver Spanner has my respect. Honestly, I don’t even think her country accent is that noticeable enough for ponies to complain. It’s there, but it’s subtle if you know what I mean?”

“Yeah, I’ve ran into her. She seems nice,” Twilight agreed and brushed her mane with a hoof. “Moondancer is asking for you. Something about her and Lemon Hearts having a uh, civil disagreement about what movie we should watch.”

“Oh for the love of-”

Twinkleshine bit back a curse word and rolled over onto her hooves. She could faintly make out Minuette standing between the other two unicorns nervously and Lyra tugging on Moondancers tail with her magic.

“What in the wide world of Equestria and beyond is going on in here?” Twinkleshine demanded and everypony froze, Spike slamming face first into Lyra’s side. “You, Spike. Explain.”

“Didn’t Twilight tell you when she went outside?” Spike asked and gulped as Twinkleshine shot him a glare. “Right, explaining. Lemon Hearts wants to watch The Mare From Whinnyappolis, whatever that is. Moondancer wants to watch some documentary, I think.”

Moondancer opened her mouth and Twinkleshine promptly held up a hoof to cut her off.

“Spike decides what we watch tonight,” Twinkleshine announced and sat down next to him. “He almost never gets to pick. If anypony has a damn problem, speak now or forever hold your freaking peace.”

Nopony spoke as Lyra scuffed a hoof awkwardly against the flooring of Twinkleshines bed room and Minuette looked away, casually whistling.

Lemon Hearts was leaning against Twinkleshines pink floral themed wall as Twilight looked everywhere but at Twinkleshine.

“So,” Lyra broke the silence first and everypony looked at the mint green unicorn. Lyra was usually the bravest of the group when it came to starting conversations after group disagreements. “How about them CSGU Wondercolts, eh?”

Everypony groaned and Spike stretched out on Twinkleshines lap as she gave a brief nuzzle on the top of his head.

“So I have a sleepover with Sunset this weekend at the castle,” Twinkleshine commented casually and Minuette stared at her with wide eyes. “And Silver Spanner. Should be a good time.”

“I’m not entirely sure how to take that. But good for her. She needs a good friend group,” Minuette stretched out on her friends pink and white bed. “Celestia knows I’ve tried.”

“You teleported away from her to work with Lemon Hearts in class one day,” Twinkleshine pointed out and Minuette shrugged. “And Lyra is allegedly so terrified of her. Moondancer is just lazy-”

“Hey!”

“-Lemon Hearts is shy,” Twinkleshine continued and ignored Moondancers outburst. “Twilight is well, Twilight. She loves her books more than she loves anypony else-”

“What?”

“-And Spike is probably the only non pony to at least talk to her,” Twinkleshine continued and ignored the glares she received from Moondancer and Twilight. “I personally don’t see what the fu-freaking problem is with her. She’s nice to everypony unless you anger her or disrespect the Princess, Equestria or the Royal Guard.”

“Twinkleshine?”

“I’m not done Lyra,” Twinkleshine rolled her eyes. “You know how many times she’s convinced the school board to allow you and someponies named Sea Swirl and Amethyst Star to stay in the CSGU? A lot of times apparently. I snooped around in her room when she went to the bathroom. Sunset is a damn good pony, better than half of Canterlot probably. And I personally am glad to be her work partner. Now does anypony else wish to voice their displeasure of me having a friend outside of this group?”

“We never were upset about-” Lemon Hearts started.

“Ah, ah, ah. That’s not what I asked,” Twinkleshine wagged a hoof in the air and narrowed her eyes.

“No,” the group said collectively as one followed by an exasperated sigh from everypony and dragon.

“Excellent!” Twinkleshine clapped her hooves together with a grin. “Spikey, pick out a movie of your choosing, please.”

Spike nervously nodded and started thumbing through her book shelf of films as the others watched quietly. An angry Twinkleshine was always a scary sight. Not because she screamed or yelled or was rude.

No, she was calm. Scarily calm. And she always shut ponies down respectfully in a manner that scared ponies enough to leave her alone.

Most of the time, Twinkleshine used facts about the ponies life to get them to shut up quick. Respectfully, of course. And she never used anything that was too personal like family life or teeth. Teeth was a sensitive topic in the group, especially around Minuette.

“Perfect choice,” Twinkleshine clapped her hooves again as Spike picked a random superhero movie. “Right, girls?”

Twinkleshine shot them a look as Lyra plopped down next to them eagerly.

“Absolutely.”

“Oh, yeah.”

“Definitely.”

“Because we haven’t seen that one at least ten ti- OW! Nice choice Spike,” Moondancer growled as she rubbed her side and glared at Twilight whistling innocently as she looked away.

Twinkleshine rubbed Spike’s head absent mindedly as she levitated the movie onto her projector.

Twinkleshine stared up at her ceiling as she listening to Lemon Hearts snoring. For a pony as quiet as her, she sure could snore louder than anypony Twinkleshine had ever met.

Lyra was curled up in a ball next to Minuette with the blue unicorn cuddling her in a way that reminded Twinkleshine of the way she slept with her stuffed bear.

Twilight and Spike slept on the floor with Twilight nuzzling Spike occasionally in her sleep.

“Hey, Twinkleshine?” Moondancer whispered as she poked the other unicorn. “You awake?”

Twinkleshine briefly glanced at the other mare she was sharing her bed with without moving. Moondancer poked her side again and Twinkleshine sighed.

“What, Moondancer?”

‘Are you awake?”

“No.”

“Oh.” Twinkleshine waited for a second as Moondancer looked back at her. “Hey, wait.”

“What do you want, Moonie? It’s two thirty five in the morning and Lemon Hearts snoring sounds like what I imagine a bear in hibernation sounds like,” Twinkleshine grumbled and Moondancer snorted. “What’s up?”

“I can’t sleep.”

“Same,” Twinkleshine sighed and stretched out more. “Hey, do you wanna hug?”

“Sure. It’s pretty cold in here after all,” Moondancer wrapped a foreleg around Twinkleshines barrel. “Why in Equestria is it so cold in here, Twinkle?”

“It’s the only way to get Twilight to sleep. Who the hell needs the cold to get sleep? I always preferred the warmth of like a trillions blankets to get to sleep,” Twinkleshine nuzzled Moondancer and yawned. “Remind me to get more sleeping bags. Last time I had to share my bed with Minuette, she kicked the ever loving hell out of my side in her sleep. Worst night sleep ever.”

Moondancer and Twinkleshine shared a quiet laugh. Everypony hated having to share a bed with Minuette. Lemon Hearts snored like a walrus, Minuette kicked like nopony Twinkleshine had ever met.

Twilight was obsessed with sleeping in the cold and with a book under her pillow. How Twilight could sleep like that was completely beyond Twinkleshine. Lyra for some reason insisted on sleeping with a jar of candy, Moondancer insisted on going for an evening run. Twinkleshine probably was the only normal one.

“At least I’m not like you,” Moondancer waved a hoof and smirked. “You insist on watching some sad movie every night.”

“If I cry, it tires me out. Therefore, watch a sad movie will make me bawl my eyes to help me sleep. Ponies have a lot of other ways to sleep, often unhealthy. Remember that one time in class when the royal guards came and arrested that eighteen year old classmate for having drugs in his locker?”

“Ah yeah. We really should have figured that one out when he told us his name was Dime Bag,” Moondancer muttered and Twinkleshine hummed in thought.

“Yeah, you got a point there. Surprised more classmates haven’t been arrested for it. There’s some idiots out there.”

Moondancer opened her mouth to agree when Lemon Hearts snored loudly and the two peered over the end of the bed. Well, Twinkleshine saw her while Moondancer saw a yellow blob in a bag at the foot of the bed.

“Good god,” Moondancer whispered with wide eyes, flailing around with a hoof. “I’m going to get a glass of water from downstairs. Where’s my glasses?”

“Nightstand,” Twinkleshine answered and levitated them on her friend. “I’m kinda hungry as is. Let’s go.”

Twinkleshine rolled onto the floor and tip hoofed around Spike sleeping.

Moondancer stepped around Lyra and the mint green unicorn rolled over, grabbing her hind leg and Moondancer slammed into the ground, groaning as she rubbed her muzzle in pain.

“Ughhh,” Moondancer groaned and glared at Lyra, eyes widening as Lyra used her magic to drag the unicorn next to her and wrapped her foreleg around her neck. “Twinkleshine, help!”

Twinkleshine glanced back and stared at Moondancer flailing a foreleg around as Lyra tightened her grip slightly.

“Oh sweet Celestia,” Twinkleshine whispered with wide eyes and used her magic to pull Moondancer out. Or tried to. She didn’t even know Lyra could use her magic in her sleep. Only Moondancer did that and it was very annoying. Twinkleshine was not a fan of waking up levitating in the air. But then again, she doubted anypony would be.

Twinkleshine grunted and stretched as her horn glowed brighter. Moondancer launched out of Lyra’s grasp and went rolling into a wide eyed Twinkleshine.

“Oh, fu-”

Twinkleshine and Moondancer laid on the carpet in a daze, Twinkleshine waving a hoof in the air.

“Look at all those stars,” Twinkleshine mumbled and rubbed her head. “Moonie, you alright? Moonie?”

Moondancer laid on her lap, groaning.

“I’ll get the Tylenol.”

“Good call,” Moondancer groaned and shakily stood up. “I swear, she has the grip of a freaking gorilla.”

“Got that right, sweet lord.” Twinkleshine disappeared out the room and Moondancer followed after a moment.

God knows Twinkleshine was less dangerous than Lyra was apparently right now.

Author's Note

There was some concern about the word "terrorist" in the last chapter. And I'll admit, I did briefly consider changing the chapter title.

In my defense, that chapter title was made the day before that New Orleans incident and the Cybertruck incident. The word "jokingly" was added before it was posted.

That being said, my thoughts and prayers go out to the families involved in those incidents.

What element do you wish to see next in the series, White Lightning or Red Heart?

What the hell is a scone?

Silver Spanner dodged a colt and filly running down the street and she smiled after them before continuing down the street, her saddlebags bouncing occasionally against her flanks.

Silver Spanner paused at a homeless stallion on the corner and she flicked an couple bits into his hat, flashing a warm smile his way.

“Have a good day sir,” Silver Spanner waved as she trotted away. “Bakery, where the hell is the bakery?” Silver Spanner held up a map to her face and frowned. “Turn left at the theater. Which fucking theater? There’s like, ninety theaters on one damn street!”

Someponies looked at her and she looked, letting out a faint growl and they all gulped as they all collectively decided to go about their day.

“Assholes. Think they could point me out to Donut Joe’s. I Twinkleshine promised to pick up donuts for the sleepover tomorrow. I can’t pick anything up if I don’t know where the hell I’m going.”

Silver Spanner trotted in circles around the block, her face turning more red from anger as she continued cursing internally.

“I been running all over hell’s half acre and this shit is annoying the hell outta me. I’m fixing to raise all Tartarus!” Silver Spanner shook a hoof at the sky as everypony stooped and stared. “What are y’all looking at?”

“Are you okay?” A purple unicorn trotted up to her. “Most ponies don’t really scream at the sky.”

“Yeah I’m cool. Just trying to find a decent bakery to pick up some donuts. Call it a dry run for tomorrow morning,” Silver Spanner blushed and scuffed a hoof. “Wow, my countryisms really came out there, didn’t they? Did uh my country accent come out?”

The mare nodded.

“Heavily, but it isn’t bad. It’s part of who you are. And it was fairly cute if I’m being honest.”

“Heh, thanks,” Silver Spanner blushed and rubbed the back of her head with a hoof. “Name is Silver Spanner, pleased to make your acquaintance.”

“Twilight Sparkle- hey wait. Silver Spanner?” Twilight asked as she and Silver Spanner shook hooves. “I’m a friend of Twinkleshines. She said a lot of good things about you. Come along, I’ll take you to my friends bakery. We’ve met, by the way.”

Silver Spanner eyed her warily, looking her up and down. She didn’t remember seeing the mare before.

“Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns,” Twilight clarified, looking back at her. “We share second hour. You’re Princess Sunset’s friend.”

“You know, I don’t think I’ve ever heard anypony other than Miss Raven call Sunset by her proper full title. But yeah, I guess I’m her friend, yeah? I’ve been hanging out with her recently,” Silver Spanner answered and tapped a hoof against the ground. “Hey, where’s the tool store? I need to buy some metal brackets. Ran out of my last experiment.”

Twilight froze and Silver Spanner slowed to a stop, looking back at her with a slowly raising eyebrow.

“Experiments? What do you make?” Twilight asked curiously and stepped closer to Silver Spanner. “Moondancer and I enjoy meeting anypony who is interested in any thing scientific or mechanical or more.”

“I’m currently working on something electrical related called a generator but I’m hitting a stone wall on the fuel. Sunset helped out a bit with it and her mom even asked to see some of my work. I’m a bit nervous, if I’m being honest,” Silver Spanner admitted and tightened the straps on her saddlebags with her mouth. “I mean, my cutie mark is a wrench for a reason.”

Twilight tapped a hoof against her chin, examining the mare long enough to make Silver Spanner start feel self conscious, her gray eyes looking around awkwardly, using her magic to toy with her white mane.

“We can talk more about this later. Come on, I’ll take you to Lemon Hearts parents bakery. She goes to CSGU with us, by the way. We don’t share a lunch hour with you, but Lyra does. You’ve probably heard her, she’s pretty loud and loves a good joke. Most of her jokes I don’t get, but Minuette does. Sometimes she laughs, sometimes she gives Lyra that look that screams I’m gonna strangle you in your sleep, if you get me,” Twilight chuckled and turned down another street.

So that’s what Silver Spanner had saw the other day. Lyra had a surprisingly dirty sense of humor that Silver Spanner honestly didn’t expect from a Canterlotian. She did find it pretty funny and got a lot of confused looks when she laughed.

“That’s the museum of art,” Twilight told Silver Spanner and she pointed towards the building Silver Spanner had been looking at. It reminded her more of a brick than anything else really. Just a brick with pillars and a weird shaped thing that she assumed was a metal bean out front for some reason. Why an art museum wanted a metal bean on their front lawn was beyond her. “Just a few more turns and...we’re here!”

The two stood in front of a small store with a flashing neon sign that had a stallion with a mustache next to it, holding a giant frosted pink donut.

“Donut Joes,” Silver Spanner read out aloud and Twilight nodded quickly. “Hey, thanks Twilight. I owe you big time.”

“Then repay me by allowing me to buy you a coffee. I have so much to ask you about,” Twilight grinned and clapped her hooves together excitedly. “For example, I think it’s a great thing you’re doing for Princess Sunset. I mean, sure I played with her when we were in magic kindergarten, but that was years ago. I don’t really blame her for not remembering me. Heck, I barely remember myself.”

“She remembers you. She brought you up the other day. She’s just awkward around ponies, I guess.”

“Makes sense,” Twilight conceded after a moment as she lead Silver Spanner inside, a bell ringing once the door opened. “Why don’t you take a seat and I’ll bring you a coffee. Unless you like tea instead?”

“Coffee works. Hazelnut creamer please.”

Silver Spanner sat down at a random booth, awkwardly flicking her tail side to side. She wasn’t entirely fond of ponies she just met paying for her drinks. It seemed rude to her, but it also seemed even ruder to turn her down.

“Lots of pictures of a yellow unicorn,” Silver Spanner mused as she looked around. “Lemon Hearts, first place for science fair. Huh. I should sign up and get my hooves on a trophy. Maybe Big Mac will finally freaking ask me out then.”

Silver Spanner gave a sigh and propped her head up.

“Who in Equestria is Big Mac?” Twilight asked as she set two cups down.

“Oh uh a friend back in Ponyville. Definitely just a friend,” Silver Spanner blushed and rubbed her neck. “Nothing more, nothing less. You know how it goes.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Nothing, Twilight. So uh what questions do you have for me?” Silver Spanner hastily changed the topic and Twilight’s eyes light up as she teleported a large notebook in front of the two.

“Oh, we could be here all day.”

Why do I feel like this is a mistake? Silver Spanner idly wondered after taking a sip of her coffee.

“Are you guys absolutely certain you have to meet her mom? I mean, she’s the princess for crying out loud. There’s zero chance of me coming to any harm in the castle. Have you seen how many soldiers patrol the castle?” Silver Spanner complained as she led her parents into the castle courtyard. “It’s like that one scene from that movie with all the military around like it’s freaking Area Fifty Nine.”

“Yes we do. We always meet the parents of your friends, no matter what or who they are,” Oil Canvas chided as Silver Spanner adjusted her saddlebags that contained her toothbrush, toothpaste and a few other random things she need along with a box of donuts held aloft in her magic.

“Ugh.”

A guard opened the door for the trio and Silver Spanner briefly paused to say thanks before continuing on into the castle.

Sunset paced in front of the door, Celestia watching with a raised eyebrow and a bored expression.

“I mean, what if they never show up to make me look like a fool? Or what if they do, but decide they don’t like me and leave halfway through? I’ll be the laughing stock of Canterlot. The media and paparazzi would be all over me like a fat pony is over an all you can eat buffet. What kind of Princess can’t handle a simple sleepover? We’ll have to move to Trottingham, change our appearances and names,” Sunset exclaimed and squished Celestia’s cheeks with her hooves and she resembled a fish. “This is awful!”

“Sunset?”

“Yes, Mom?”

“This is ridiculous. You’ve spent all night yesterday and all day today worrying. And if they do for some reason leave that isn’t an emergency, I’ll have them arrested for something. I don’t know yet,” Celestia shrugged and took of a sip of her tea. “Calm down. You’ve faced worse than this. Like the time-”

“Like the time you sent me to the Griffon empire to negotiate for the release of three hostages, I remember.”

Sunset continued pacing in the hallway before stopping at a window and looking outside at some random ponies outside the castle walls closing up their shops for the night and she stretched with a yawn.

“See, you had nothing to worry about,” Celestia pointed a hoof down the hall at Twinkleshine and Silver Spanner along with two other ponies she didn’t know. “Hm, family I presume. I can see the resemblance.”

Sunset gave a brief relieved sigh as she joined Celestia at the door. Sunset had very loudly been voicing her worries about tonight to anypony who would listen.

She still planned to buy that poor new private guardpony a bunch of flowers as an apology after shaking him hard enough make him fall over.

And Raven. And probably a dozen other ponies in the castle that Sunset had vented to about it. She would have preferred if Angel Wings and Blue Ivy had been able to come over but apparently Angel Wings was visiting a friend in Cloudsdale and Blue Ivy had a family member from out of Canterlot visiting for the week.

“Hey!” Sunset smiled slightly and used all of the self control she had to rein in her nerves. “Good morning- evening. Good evening. Not morning. Morning was hours ago but you already knew that, heh.”

Sunset had never wanted to slam her head out the stained glass window as bad as she did right now. I’m never gonna live that one down, Sunset thought bitterly.

“Princess,” Oil Canvas and Sweetie Charm both bowed with Twinkleshine and Silver Spanner. “Sorry, Princesses.”

“Hello,” Celestia bowed her head slightly. “Family?”

“Parents,” Sweetie Charm stared at the outstretched hoof in front of her and she slowly shook hooves with Celestia. She never thought in a million years she’d ever be in this position, shaking hooves with Celestia. “It’s an honor to meet you.

“The honor is mine.”

Sunset shifted anxiously on her hooves and Silver Spanner resisted the urge to facehoof as her parents introduced themselves.

“I wonder if a fall from this height would kill me,” Silver Spanner muttered as she looked outside and she groaned. “Mom, dad, you’re embarrassing me. She’s the princess, I’m safe in the castle. Did you really have to meet her?”

“Yes they did,” Celestia answered before anypony else child speak. “It’s their job to make sure you’re safe regardless. And I’m glad they came to meet me. Come along and we can discuss our kids over tea. Sunset, have fun with your friends and I love you.”

Sunset blushed a bright red as Celestia leaned and kissed her forehead as Silver and Twinkleshine both stifled their laughs.

“Mom, you’re embarrassing me,” Sunset muttered as Celestia nuzzled her slowly. “Mom!”

“Sorry,” Celestia stood up but she didn’t sound particularly sorry as she grinned at the unicorn. “Showing my affection, is all. Have a good night and I’ll see you all tonight morning.”

“Night Mom,” Sunset watched her and the other two ponies trot towards Celestia’s room. “Uhm hi.”

“Hey.”

“What’s up?”

“Uh want help carrying anything?” Sunset asked and levitated Twinkleshines saddlebags onto her back and stumbled. “Dear God. What is in here?”

“Some shampoo, games, bottle of mace from Moondancer, my sleeping bag and a stuffed animal,” Twinkleshine answered and blushed. “Yes, I still sleep with a stuffed animal. Sue me.”

“I mean, I sleep with a stuffed sheep,” Sunset answered with a shrug. “Half my bed is covered in stuffed animals. I just shoved them in the closet before you guys showed up.”

“How did that go?” Silver Spanner smirked and pulled out a stuffed green dinosaur, waving it around with a grin. “Meet Rawr.”

“Okay, all these stuffed animals gotta get out of here until Twinkleshine, Silver Spanner and Ivory Melody leave,” Sunset trotted around her bedroom. “Where the heck can I put them all?”

Sunset dropped onto her stomach and looked under her bed, using her horn as light as a spider crawled and she gave a strangled scream, scrambling backwards and she blasted the spider into the next dimension as a guard burst down the door.

“Are you okay, Princess Sunset?” The stallion asked and pulled out a sword as Sunset nodded.

“Yeah. Just a spider,” Sunset answered and accepted the hoof as the guard pulled her to her hooves. “Thank you sir.”

“Anytime Princess,” the guard sheathed his sword and looked around the hundreds of stuffed animals.

“I can explain.”

“Sorry about the door,” the guard rubbed the back of his head and Sunset waved a hoof dismissively.

“We have a dozen in storage for some odd reason, it’s all good. I’ll get Lock Tight to fix it. Have a good day,” Sunset waved and she watched him trot out, shutting her broken door behind him. “And now for all the plushes.”

Sunset looked around and her eyes fell on her closet door.

“That’ll work,” Sunset shrugged and she started levitating the hundreds of plushes and stuffed animals into her closet and slammed the door shut, the door bulging as she stood on her hind legs, her back pressed against the door and she faintly made out a sound of something glass breaking. “I really hope that wasn’t something important.”

A low rumbling sound came from the closet and Sunset gave it a concerned look as she gulped nervously.

“What in the world was that?” Sunset wondered aloud as the door sprung open and she was flung across the room onto her bed. “Oh my-”

A stuffed raccoon slammed into her face and she rubbed her muzzle after she emerged from the pile of stuffed animals.

“Ow.”

“It went well,” Sunset decided and flicked her tail. “Hey Rawr. Anyway uh, let’s go to my room. I spent six hours cleaning my room. It was awful. Anyway, I think the staff is done with the other few snacks i requested I know Twinkleshine likes. We got some blueberry scones.”

Twinkleshines eyes light up and she trotted around the room as the other two watched. Silver Spanner didn’t even know what the heck are scone was. Probably something weird fancy ponies liked to eat.

“That’s good and all, but I got a question,” Silver Spanner raised a hoof and the other two looked at her.

“Yeah, what’s up Silver Spanner?” Sunset asked and Twinkleshine took her saddlebags back.

“What the hell is a scone?”

She makes a fair point

Silver Spanner trotted around Sunset’s room before pausing in front of a glass case next to her bed that had a shiny crown sitting inside on a folded up blanket.

“Wow,” Silver Spanner muttered and Twinkleshine looked over. “She even has her own crown.”

“Well, yeah. I’ve seen her wear it a few times. Mostly during official royal business or around Equestria where she’s needed,” Twinkleshine commented and continued reading the books on Sunset’s shelf. “Hey Sunset?”

“Yeah?”

Sunset laid on her floor, her legs crossed as she continued to organize her painting supplies that was shoved in the corner of her room and she yawned, levitating her water bottle next to her.

“Since when were you interested in art?” Twinkleshine inquired and Sunset sat up. “There’s a lot of art books on the lower shelf. I also noticed you have your shelf organized by genre. Lots of history and action novels.”

“Since forever I guess, I don’t know. I like to paint. Moment of silence for the legends of art,” Sunset raised a hoof and the three sat in silence for a few moments. “Alright, moments over.”

Twinkleshine shrugged and sat down next to the window and she looked around at all the plushes and other stuffed animals in the room. And here she thought Lemon Hearts had a lot of stuffed animals. Nothing compared to how many Sunset had.

“How did everypony get their cutie marks?” Silver Spanner asked and the brown unicorn laid down on her stomach across from Sunset and Twinkleshine. “Twinkleshine, go.”

“I got it after I got my first telescope when I was five. I was using it one night and was looking at Neptune when I randomly got my cutie mark,” Twinkleshine jabbed a hoof at the three blue stars adorning her flanks. “And boom. I’m big into astronomy and all. That’s how Minuette and I met. We were in kindergarten, she’s annoyingly optimistic, by the way. We hit it off, she came over and wanted to use it. She accidentally broke it and that was the first time in my life I ever got angry and yelled at her to leave and never come back. She ran home crying and I vowed after to never get angry again or say anything that’ll hurt anyponys feelings.”

“Wow,” Silver Spanner said after a moment of silence. “You don’t seem like the angry yelling type.”

“I mellowed out as I got older. You’re turn.”

“Fixed the house radio when I was seven. Dad had been cursing up a storm, he went to go find the part he needed and it was under the couch. I put it on and boom, loud rock music. I glowed a light brown my wrench cutie mark appeared. I’ve always loved fixing stuff and tinkering around. Guess that was the lucky one, " Silver Spanner shrugged and looked at her own cutie mark. “That leaves Sunset. Spill.”

“Oh boy. I tried a spell on the edge of Canterlot, it didn’t work well. I kinda blew up something and set Canterlot on fire. It got put out and months later, I returned to the same spot as before to try again. This time, it worked and I teleported back to my room. I glowed a bright red and orange and got my cutie mark. The gold represents my achievements in life and the red is my ambition to my goals. Or fire, depending on who you ask.”

Twinkleshine hummed as she watched Sunset open the window. Everypony remembered that incident happening. And the three other times Sunset set something on fire or turned a building into rubble. Or random streamers that one time. Probably the weirdest was when she accidentally conjured up pink clouds raining chocolate milk. That was a weird afternoon for everypony.

Especially Celestia for some reason. According to rumors Twinkleshine heard, the Princess acted weird the entire day and stayed in doors after reassuring everypony the world wasn’t ending.

Sunset let out a loud whistle and Silver Spanner ducked as a red and orange bird flew inside.

“Uh you got a bird?”

“Phoenix technically, but yes, Philomena is classified as a bird. Quit showing off,” Sunset scowled as Philomena stood on her back and fluffed her wings. “She does that a lot. Figured this was as good as any other conversation starter. You two got pets?”

“Got a cat,” Twinkleshine raised a hoof and Silver Spanner shook her head.

“Well, not yet at least. My parents keep say they’ll get me a dog one day but it hasn’t happened yet. Dogs are expensive and so is living in Canterlot. At least the house was mysteriously paid off,” Silver Spanner scratched the back of her head. “Still don’t know why. Or who’s paying me to attend school here.”

Twinkleshine and Sunset both exchanged a confused look. Nopony got paid to attend the CSGU, not even Sunset and she was a Princess.

“Or well, paying my family. It’s really weird. My parents have refused more details, but I’ve listened to them talk to each other at night when they think I’m asleep. The horrors I’ve heard accidentally,” Silver Spanner shuddered. “Even they don’t know. Checks randomly appear on our doorstep.”

“Huh,” Sunset mused and she blew a strand of hair out of her eyes as Philomena jumped off her shoulder and flew over to Twinkleshines head before landing on her. “I guess she likes you.”

“I guess so. Who’s a cute little phoenix? You are.”

Philomena cawed and Sunset smiled slightly before turning back to Silver Spanner.

“That’s a bit weird.”

“I know.”

Sunset tapped a hoof against her chin. Celestia hadn’t told her anything about this. Sunset was pretty sure it wasn’t anypony at the school responsible. Celestia knew everything that went on at her school and was fairly strict when it came to her staff.

“Anyway,” Silver Spanner coughed into a hoof and glanced at Twinkleshine. “You seeing anypony? Half of the school is dating each other from what I’ve been hearing. So who you two got?”

“Oh, I’m not looking,” Twinkleshine waved a hoof and blushed. “Yet at least. I’m weighing my options. I’ve had a few colts ask, but I’ve turned them down. I don’t know anything about Lyra, Minuette or Lemon Hearts, so I can’t say there. Same with Twilight. Spike is interested in Moondancer, though according to Minuette. It’s kinda adorable, to be honest.”

“I’m not interested in dating. I’m too busy with stuff. And besides, not even my mom is dating anypony. I’ve never once seen her with a stallion or a mare. I did hear a rumor that Princess Cadence is interested in a royal guard but I’m sworn to secrecy,” Sunset zipped a hoof over her mouth. “Not that I see the Love Princess much. She stays in the Crystal Empire. But she’s nice, I like her. She’s apparently related to me somehow and I haven’t yet figured out how. Don’t really care to, honestly. I love all family. Even Blueblood and I want to strangle the heck out of him some days.”

The three shared a laugh as Philomena curled up on Twinkleshines head and her eyes rolled up briefly to look at her mane.

“Do you not curse?” Silver Spanner asked suddenly and Sunset looked at her with a raised eyebrow. “The entire short time I’ve known you, you’ve never sworn once. Even Twinkleshine curses more than any other Canterlotian other than Lyra and some royal guards.”

“I cursed once and the after effects were devastating, truly devastating,” Sunset shuddered and looked around. “Mom washed my mouth out with soap. And not the good smelling kind either. I said the H word.”

“The H word? Hell? Hay?” Twinkleshine asked and Sunset nodded solemnly.

“The second one. Mom was not happy. I was grounded for a week too. Not even she curses. If anypony here would, I thought it would be her. Her job is much tougher than anything I have going on.”

Sunset took a sip of her water and set it aside. The only ponies Sunset knew that cursed were Comet, Thunder, Cobalt, Angel Wings, Blue Ivy and Raven, surprisingly.

She didn’t necessarily care if ponies cursed around her. Freedom of speech and all that.

“Even if I didn’t like cursing, I’d still support ponies cursing. I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend your right to say it,” Sunset shrugged and paused. “Unless you burn my mom’s flag or mine or Cadance’s or the Equestrian flag. Then you go the gallows for treason.”

The other two gulped and Sunset relaxed a bit, stroking Philomena from her spot.

“We haven’t executed ponies for treason in over a thousand years. I highly doubt we’d start now,” Twinkleshine mused and Silver Spanner found herself nodding in agreement. She was personally all for it if it was necessary, which she had a feeling would make most Canterlotians uncomfortable. But Silver Spanner was unapologetically herself. If anypony didn’t like that, their loss in her eyes.

“Yeah, true. So what now?” Sunset asked as she hugged a stuffed animal to her chest.

“Got any board games?” Silver Spanner suggested and Twinkleshine nudged her saddlebag she had put in the corner. “Whoever has the strongest accent goes first.”

The two both looked at her then looking at each other before looking back at her slowly.

“That would probably be you, if we’re going by non native Canterlot accent. You have a very cute country accent, especially when angry according to Twilight,” Twinkleshine commented casually and Sunset stifled a laugh. “If we’re going by accents as a whole, that would be me. I have a very noticeable Canterlot accent, even to me.”

Sunset agreed with that. Even if she hadn’t been introduced as a new student, Sunset would have immediately known Silver Spanner was new. Accents like the one she has isn’t common around Canterlot. It was like taking a pony from Whinnyappolis and shoving them into Manehatten. Sunset now idly wondered what would happen if she did that out of curiosity to watch.

“Accents in general so Twinkleshine goes first. What do you think my parents are doing with your mom right now?”

Sunset shrugged.

“Your guess is as good as mine, honestly.”

Sweetie Charm sat awkwardly on a couch next to her husband and across from Princess Celestia sipped her tea.

“You have a very lovely daughter,” Celestia commented with a large warm smile. “Very intelligent too. I’ve heard very good things from her teachers.”

“T-Thank you Princess Celestia,” Sweetie bowed her head and smiled slightly. “We’re very proud of her.”

“Celestia is fine here. We’re alone after all and our children are friends. It’s normal to be on a first name basis and besides, I hate always being referred to as Princess Celestia. I like whenever I get to be just Celestia.”

Sweetie and Oil looked at each other.

“Uhm okay.”

“So what made you decide on the CSGU? I read her file and read that she went to a school in Ponyville. Very good grades she had there as well. Ponyville has a fairly decent school, believe it or not,” Celestia tucked her tail under her as she took another sip of her tea.

“Uh well we got invited to send her there,” Oil Canvas answered and the stallion nuzzled Sweetie briefly. “It came directly from the school.”

“Come again?” Celestia raised an eyebrow and gave them confused looks. “You got a letter from my school?”

“Yeah. With keys to a paid off house and money every month to send her there. We assumed since it was your school that it came directly from you or from somepony with your sign off,” Sweetie added and Celestia frowned slightly as she set the cup down.

“I haven’t heard anything about this. I haven’t sent out any letters like that all year. It’s a pretty rare thing to have happen,” Celestia tapped a hoof against her chin. “Do you still have the letter?”

“Yeah, of course. It’s in the same in my room,” Oil answered and brushed his mane awkwardly with his hoof. “Why do you ask?”

“I’d like to see it. How much do you get for sending her to the CSGU?”

“Fifteen hundred bits,” Sweetie told her and Celestia raised an eyebrow. It may not seem like a lot to some, but add it up over twelve months until she turned eighteen and graduated, that was a lot of bits. And as much as Celestia would like to, she legally couldn’t use bits from the treasury on stuff like that. It was a law she had long since introduced to prevent other ponies that got elected into the government from abusing their position. “Is something wrong? I knew we should have never gone through with it. As much as we love Ponyville, it’s not that well catered to teaching unicorns. We just wanted her to have a decent education.”

Celestia examined them briefly and smiled slightly at them.

“Nothing is wrong,” Celestia settled on and they both relaxed visibly. “You two made the right decision. In the meantime, I’ll make some adjustments to the school in Ponyville for unicorns. Now, tell me what you two do for work?”

“Okay, since I moved five spaces, I knock Sunset back to her home,” Twinkleshine announced as she used her magic to move Sunset’s pawn back to her home and placed her own blue one in it’s spot. “I wonder who even decided to call this game Trouble in the first place.”

“Because they know that once I get my hooves on them, they’ll be in big trouble,” Sunset grumbled and she watched Silver Spanner push down on the plastic bubble with the encased dice. The popping sound was oddly satisfying, Sunset realized.

“Three, joy.”

“Can I ask a weird question?” Twinkleshine asked as Silver Spanner used her hoof to move her pawn and the mare rolled her hoof in the air in response. “Why do you prefer hooves over magic?”

“Earth pony town. It’s just easier for some things I’ve realized. Both my parents are earth ponies so I’ve always been a bit stronger physically than the normal unicorn. It makes being a mechanic way easier. Magic does help though with getting tools from far away that I’m too lazy to get up and grab.”

That checks out, Twinkleshine thought as she watched Sunset go next.

“What’s Ponyville like?”

“Depends on the day. One day it’s quiet, the next the town is having a random sing along,” Silver Spanner answered absent mindedly and she laid on her side ontop of her blanket. “Or getting ransacked by monsters. Last year we had a stampede of elk. That was an experience in itself.”

“What?”

“Yeah, wild shit. You get used to it. We all did in Ponyville,” Silver Spanner answered and looked at their shocked faces. “What?”

“How are you so.. ?” Sunset searched for the right word as she waved a hoof around in the air. Thankfully, Silver Spanner opted to finish her sentence forher.

“So nonchalant about it all?” Silver Spanner asked and the two nodded as she smirked. “Honestly, I just try to stay in my lane and out of the way of rouge crazy nature. To answer your question though, Ponyville is nice. We all know each other and such. Small town things.”

Sunset and Twinkleshine both idly wondered what it would be like to try living there. The two both always had a fondness for small towns they had realized earlier in the night. Silver Spanner always seemed to have a story for the pair to hear.

“I miss home,” Silver Spanner sighed. “Other than you two, I don’t really have any friends. Twilight seems nice. But still, Ponyville will always be my home. I don’t fit in well here. I’m always thinking ponies are making fun of me or my parents behind my back. And I hate when ponies do that.”

“I haven’t heard anything,” Twinkleshine shifted her weight and slid under her blankets. “Nopony really knows you. Heck, I didn’t till you sat at my table looking pretty uncomfortable.”

“Meh, fair point.”

Silver Spanner stifled a yawn and blinked, stretching out as she watched the board absentmindedly for a brief moment.

“Thanks for this.”

“For what?” Sunset asked and Silver Spanner gestured wildly around the room.

“Allowing me here. I’m having fun. It’s been a rough past week and a half so thanks. You two make this town seem way more bearable and I appreciate it,” Silver Spanner explained and clapped her hooves as Sunset won the game.

“Eh no bother. I’m having fun too,” Sunset answered and looked at Twinkleshine opening her eyes after a few moments of silence. “I’ll speak for her and say she is too. I think it’s time I go to sleep. Have a nice night, Silver Spanner. And thanks for coming in the first place.”

Silver Spanner watched her levitate Philomena onto a small bed in the corner under a blanket and the phoenix rolled over.

“Anytime.”

Silver Spanner watched the light shut off and the room turned dark with the exception of the moon shining through the curtains.

“Night.”

Sunset gave a soft snore and Silver Spanner shrugged it off as she hugged her stuffed dinosaur and pulled her blankets around her.

No amount of snoring would keep her from sleeping. She was more than used to noises helping her sleep. She did used to live near the Everfree, after all. But at least Sunset’s snoring wasn’t gonna potentially kill her.

That was major plus in her book, personally.

Surprisingly better than planned

Twinkleshine yawned into her pillow and covered her eyes with a foreleg to block out the sun, rolling over and slamming her muzzle into Sunset’s face.

“Ow.”

Twinkleshine glanced around her and looked up at the empty bed as Sunset nuzzled her and Silver Spanner rested a foreleg around her waist as the two continued to sleep.

“This is kinda comfy,” Twinkleshine admitted and stretched her hind legs out under the blanket they shared. “Wouldn’t be the first time I’ve slept with my friends.”

She gave another yawn and stared at the ceiling with a bored expression for a few seconds before she somehow managed to wiggle out from between the other two sleeping mares.

And she thought Lyra had a death grip. Lyra’s didn’t even come close to the one Silver Spanner had. Twinkleshine trotted around the room quietly as she read each of Sunset’s poster she had on the wall.

“I didn’t realize how big of a rock fan Sunset is. She and Sea Swirl would be good friends. I should introduce the two one day,” Twinkleshine mused and went to the next wall. “Twisted Sister, BFMV, I Prevail, Maretellica, Ghost. Good lord.”

Twinkleshine remembered the last time Sea Swirl had dragged her to a rock concert. Her head still hurt three days later from how loud it was. She grudgingly had to admit it was a pretty good time. She wouldn’t mind going again.

Twinkleshine idly wondered if she should try asking Sunset and Silver Spanner to go with her to one. Might be a decent time she supposed.

“What’s this?” Twinkleshine wondered and leaned forward to read a note pinned to a board. “To Princess Sunset Shimmer, thank you for attending our fundraising event for the homeless of Manehatten. Your gracious donation is greatly appreciated. With gratitude, Songbird Serenade and Countess Coloratura. When the heck did she meet those two?”

Her eyes glanced to a picture of the three smiling and she raised an eyebrow at Sunset’s slightly forced smile in the picture.

“Twinkleshine?” Sunset blinked and rolled over to look up at her. “What’s up?”

“Nothing, just reading your posters and stuff. Sorry if I woke you.”

“Nah you’re good,” Sunset stood up and stretched out. “Most of the time Raven or Mom wakes me up for school or royal business. But on Saturday and Sunday the castle is closed for business and there’s no Day Court, thankfully. They usually let me sleep in on the weekends. Hey, how did I end up on the floor?”

“I think it was after you came back from using the bathroom around three am. We went to bed at one am or so. You woke me up accidentally and I guess you passed out next to us.”

Sunset faintly remembered that. She also faintly remembered accidentally stepping on somepony in the middle of the night as she felt for the door. Guess that was Twinkleshine, apparently.

Silver Spanner rolled over and hugged a pillow, muttering something about warmth as she smiled in her sleep and curled up in a ball with her tail wrapped around her.

“That’s adorable,” Sunset said after a moment and started brushing her mane. “She reminds me of a cat, a bit. Ow, knotted mane.”

Twinkleshine gave a low chuckle to avoid waking the other sleeping mare as she sat down on Sunset’s bed. Twinkleshine sank halfway into the mattress and she rested a hoof against the wall.

“Uhm, help? I think your mattress is gonna swallow me or something,” Twinkleshine commented and Sunset glanced back, her horn glowing a light blue as she levitated the white mare out and onto her back. “Oh, that actually feels good.”

Twinkleshine stretched out and spread out her legs with a content sigh, rolling her head to look at Sunset brushing her mane still with an occasional grimace.

“I’m surprised you still have that guitar I got you years ago. I thought you would have thrown it out or something.”

Sunset glanced at her orange guitar hanging up on the wall next to her light blue guitar and a dark red one and Sunset shrugged.

“Oh, I love it actually. I play it every few days. Helps calm me down when I’m angry like I was the other day. I play the other two occasionally, but the orange one is my favorite. I like how the red fades to orange,” Sunset set her hair brush down on her nightstand. “It was my favorite gift that year, honestly.”

“I remember working forever to get the bits so I’m glad,” Twinkleshine rested her head on Sunset’s pillow. One of the many she had. “I remember there was only three of us who were kids to show up. Everypony else was adults. I felt awful.”

“I remember being sad, but it was okay. I really should have tried to have been friends with you back then. Even though it seems your friends hate me. Don’t know what I did though.”

“They don’t hate you. It’s like you said, ponies are either afraid of you or worship you, unfortunately. They’ll come around, trust me. Twilight is actually quite fond of you, believe it or not.”

Twilight did always talk about looking up to her in private with Twinkleshine and Minuette. The other two did share her sentiment. There was a lot to respect with her. Sunset had been widely known for being mostly kind, unless she was in a bad mood and you angered her. Which was pretty rare, Twinkleshine noticed.

The two looked over at Silver Spanner as the mare rolled over, blinking a few times before wincing, covering her eyes with a blanket.

“Would you tell your mom to turn down the sunlight please? It’s too early,” Silver Spanner moaned and Sunset chuckled.

“Unfortunately, it doesn’t work like that. I’ve tried, trust me. If you get up, we can go get breakfast. I think the castle staff is done making it by now.”

“I’m game as long as there’s coffee involved,” Silver Spanner grunted and she threw her blanket off. “Copious amounts of coffee is the only way to start the day. Just one question.”

“Yeah?”

“Where’s the bathroom?”

Sunset trotted down a hallway of stained glass mirrors as Silver Spanner examined them each briefly. Most of them were of Celestia or some old wizard looking unicorn. Star something.

“Hey, who’s that?’ Silver Spanner asked as she pointed a hoof at a scary looking dark blue alicorn with sharp looking teeth and eyes that reminded her of a reptile.

“Nightmare Moon,” Sunset answered as she and Twinkleshine joined Silver Spanner in front of it. “Mom banished her to the moon almost a thousand years ago. Nopony knows where she came from, but all the books agree that she challenged mom for the throne and mom defeated her, banishing her to the moon with her magic. That’s all I could find and mom isn’t too fond on relieving the memory she said the one time I asked her about what happened that night.”

“She looks scary,” Twinkleshine shivered and pressed her side against Sunset’s.

“She does, yeah. Not even Raven knows anything about her and Raven knows everything,” Sunset scratched the back of her head. “I do know the old castle is torn apart and rubble, wherever it must be.”

Silver Spanners mouth opened slightly as she looked at her with wide eyes. Every filly and colt in Ponyville knew of the old castle in the Everfree forest.

When she was seven, Silver Spanner and Berry Punch accompanied Big Mac and Caramel into the Everfree to stay in the castle over night. None of them stayed over night after seeing some ghost and the four had ran away screaming into Ponyville.

Silver Spanner remembered being grounded for a whole month afterwards along with being yelled at by both her mom and dad for three hours straight. Something about how she could have died and how dangerous what she did was.

But she did get to spend time with Big Mac and that was a plus in her eyes. Berry Punch had teased her about that for an entire year. Silver Spanner may have been a bit stuttery around him, but she would never admit that to anypony except Berry and maybe Big Mac if Applejack wasn’t so annoying about her family not dating.

Silver Spanner admittedly wasn’t a huge fan of Applejack, but she would never tell her that. The only pony who disliked Applejack more was Strawberry Sunrise. Silver Spanner didn’t necessarily know what went down between the two, but she didn’t want to know.

“Interesting,” Silver Spanner decided on and shuffled her forelegs around nervously as the two stared at her intently.

“Do you know something about this said castle?” Sunset asked eagerly and her tail flicked back and forth excitedly. “You looked shocked when I said old castle, almost like you we’re surprised I knew something.”

“I may know something, " Silver Spanner confessed and Sunset grinned widely at her. “It’s a Ponyville thing. Most school kids try to stay the night in the abandoned castle. It’s like a rite of passage, so to speak. Really it’s just an excuse to scare each other. The castle of the two sisters-”

“The what?” Twinkleshine interrupted and raised her eyebrow. “Castle of the two sisters? What the hell are you talking about?”

“It’s a Ponyville rumor that there was two sisters who ruled Equestria, not just one. Nopony knows who the other was but,” Silver Spanner jabbed a hoof at the stained glass window of Celestia fighting Nightmare Moon. “That’s an alicorn. Princess Celestia is an alicorn. Maybe that’s the other sister.”

Sunset hummed to herself as she examined the window. She would have to study this further. Most of the books she had read hadn’t said anything about Celestia having a sister. And Sunset would know if she had an aunt. Then again, Sunset didn’t really know anything about her own dad so it was a possibility. A very slim possibility, but she doubted it.

“I’ll ask Mom about it. But she does get pretty secretive about some things. Most of the time is for my own benefit, oddly enough. Believe it or not, there’s stuff even I don’t know and I’m the second in line to the throne. Mom did say something me knowing all soon enough,” Sunset rubbed a hoof against her chin as she continued staring at the window.

Celestia sat on a chair in the dining room, sipping her tea as Sunset and her two friends trotted in.

“Morning mom,” Sunset greeted Celestia and she sat down next to her. “How was your night?”

“Good. How was your sleepover and how did you three sleep?”

“Good.”

“Great.”

“Silver Spanner hugged me a bit too tight, but other than that it was good.”

Sunset snickered and Celestia took another sip of her tea with a raised eyebrow. When Celestia had checked on them before going to bed herself, Sunset was asleep in her bed and the other two were asleep on the blanket bed Sunset had made for them.

“Sunset, can we speak in private?” Celestia jerked her head to a side room and Sunset nodded slowly. “Breakfast will be here in a moment you two. We will be right back.”

Sunset followed Celestia into the next room, the door shutting softly.

“What’s up, Mom?” Sunset nuzzled Celestia and the alicorn returned the gesture.

“Has Silver Spanner talked to you at all about her family receiving payment to attend my school?” Celestia asked curiously and Sunset nodded. “Or money trouble?”

“She mentioned it last night. As for the money trouble, no. That would be a personal thing and she doesn’t seem eager to share stuff like that yet. I assume you pulled some strings and got her family paid to send her there.”

“So did her parents.”

Sunset and Celestia stood quietly for a fee moments in thought before Sunset decided to speak.

“Who’s my dad?”

“What?”

“Who’s my dad? Kinda a easy question? And do you have a sister, by chance?” Sunset asked and Celestia kept a straight face by some miracle.

“Sunset, do you trust me?” Celestia asked suddenly and Sunset took a half step back.

“Of course,” Sunset answered without hesitation and she shifted her weight. “But what does that have to do with my questions?”

“Remember when I told you that there’s some things that I can’t tell you yet for your own good?”

“Yes.”

“Those are two of those questions. In due time, I’ll tell you both the answers. That being said, your father would have loved you. Meet me in my room after dinner and I will tell you something I can at least get away with.”

Sunset gave a slow nod. Might as well take what she get. It could have been worse, she supposed.

“With that said, I love you.”

“Love you too, Momma. Hey, how much bits do I have left in my allowance?”

“Hmm,” Celestia mused as she tapped a hoof against her chin in thought. “You almost never spend your allowance. I’ll have to double check, but probably around nine thousand bits or something?”

“Excellent.”

Celestia had no idea what Sunset was planning, but she decided to stay far away from whatever it was. Sunset always sorta got a weird look in her eyes that always told ponies around her she was up to something.

Whatever it was, it couldn’t be that bad. Or so Celestia hoped at least.

Where the hell did that come from?

Sunset rested her head on her cold desk, idly listening to the teacher talking. Something about decimals or fractions or something else boring. She despised math with a burning passion. All of it just made her have a migraine any time she attempted her homework.

At least history class made sense to her. History and science were easily her favorite classes. They were easy and fun at least. Reading about history was always something Sunset liked doing in her off time. And science, well who didn’t like science? Creating potions and doing other experiments was always entertaining.

Well, unless somepony got injured, then Sunset supposed it wasn’t so interesting.

“Wake up,” Twilight nudged her seat worriedly. “We gotta start our test soon.”

Oh joy, Sunset thought bitterly and she forced her head up. Sunset had been up all night studying, but she wasn’t entirely sure she would pass. Especially since she didn’t know what the heck she was doing. It got to the point she idly considered paying somepony smart, like Moondancer or Twilight to either do it for her or at least help her with it.

“You all have the rest of class to work on this test starting now. Please no talking, no sharing answers or passing notes to other students. If you do, you’ll be asked to leave and head to the principals office to finish your test alone. Please start now,” Peppermint Crunch announced as he finished trotting up each row of desks before returning to his own. “And good luck everypony.”

Good freaking luck indeed, Sunset thought bitterly as she stared down at the sheet she had received along with the rest of the class.

Twilight’s horn briefly glowed and Sunset flinched as she heard the mare speak in her head.

Sunset briefly spared a quick glance back at Twilight and the mare shot her a faint smile.

Here’s the answers. Good luck.

Wow, this is freaky, Sunset thought and she mentally stared at the little Twilight Sparkle in her mind. I mean, you’re in my mind. How the heck are you even doing this?

I’ll tell you later. Imagine how this is for me.

Celestia’s hooves echoed down the hall of her school as she trotted past various classrooms, a few students glancing out their classes to look at her with bored expressions on their faces.

In Celestia’s magic was a copy of a deed for a house and a copy of a check as Celestia forced herself to keep a calm expression on her muzzle.

Celestia stood in front of a door with the words Assistant Principal, Emerald Leaf on the door. She knocked a few times on the door and waited patiently outside.

“Come on in,” Emerald Leaf called out and Celestia opened the door. Emerald Leafs eyes widened and she pushed her chair out, kneeling in front of the Princess. “P-Princess Celestia. I didn’t know you were dropping by.”

That was the plan, Celestia thought as she sat down on a chair in front of Emerald Leafs desk.

“Sit down, Emerald. And shut the door,” Celestia told her and Emerald hastily complied as she shut the door with her magic and she sat down on her chair. “So, did you hear about our new student, Silver Spanner? Started earlier this month? Very nice family, lovely mother and father. Lovely young mare, Silver Spanner is. She’s grown to be a very good friend with my little girl.”

The two had practically been inseparable after Silver Spanner and Twinkleshine had spent the night at the castle. Sunset had stayed the night yesterday at Silver Spanners house with Twinkleshine and Celestia couldn’t be happier.

She and Silver Spanners parents had been getting closer themselves. Celestia wouldn’t just trust anypony with her daughter without any royal guards. And Oil Canvas was quite capable, Celestia had learned.

“Yes Princess. Silver Spanner has done quite well. B’s and A’s all across the board. Quite impressive, actually. I have her file here if you want to look at-”

“I don’t, actually,” Celestia cut her off and raised a hoof. “Did you know I learned you were high school friends with Sweetie Charm?”

“Well, no I didn’t.”

“You also met with her a month before a house was mysteriously purchased, fully paid off. And they get paid for their daughter to attend my school. Do you wish to know who’s been signing those checks and the one who paid for house?” Celestia asked with a raised eyebrow and rested her hooves on the desk.

A bead of sweat worked it’s way down Emerald Leafs chin and Celestia levitated the check and deed onto the desk.

“Yours.”

Celestia levitated a piece of paper out of Emerald Leafs desk, laying it next to the other two papers.

“The horn signatures are the exact same. Do you care to explain to me what is going on here?” Celestia leaned back and tapped a hoof against the desk. “Preferably the truth.”

“Fine, I’ve been paying them because they’re going through a hard time. What’s the problem with that?” Emerald shot back and sat up straighter. “No offense, Princess, but there is nothing wrong with supporting my friends in a rough time. Who wouldn’t do that for their friends?”

“I admire you for that, except there’s one problem. You kept this from me. We don’t pay ponies to attend my school. And you know this,” Celestia frowned at her. “And we’re not even to the worst of this yet.”

This isn’t the worst part? Emerald idly thought as she nervously licked her lips.

“You lied directly to my face about this. I asked you the other day if you knew anything. I can’t allow somepony who lies to me to work for me. I can’t trust you anymore. What else have you lied to me about? Emerald, you’re fired,” Celestia frowned and Emerald gasped.

“I understand, Princess. I’ll pack and be gone by the end of the day,” Emerald hung her head and Celestia shook her head.

“Actually, you won’t have that opportunity, Emerald. I also found out recently that you have been funneling funds for certain school clubs that few of the school ponies liked into your own pockets. Guards!” Celestia called out and the door opened to reveal three stern looking royal guards in gold armor. “You’re under arrest. Sergeant Comet, Corporal Thunder and Specialist Cobalt, kindly place Emerald Leaf in cuffs.”

“Ma’am, step forward,” Comet ordered and Emerald sighed as she complied as Thunder and Cobalt locked hoof cuffs on her legs along with a horn inhibitor on her horn to block her magic. “You’re under arrest for money laundering.”

The three guards escorted her into the hall of students and everypony froze, staring with wide eyes as Thunder and Cobalt stood on either side of Emerald.

“-Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have a right to an attorney. If you cannot afford one, one will be provided for you by the Crown free of charge. Do you understand these rights I’ve just read to you?” Comet asked as she finished reading Emerald her rights and held open the front door of the school.

"Yes."

Sunset stood next to Silver Spanner, Twilight and her friends with shocked expressions as Celestia trotted past.

“What the hell just opened?” Lyra wondered aloud as ponies started whispering to each other.

Sunset watched Cobalt shove her assistant principal or well, former assistant principal now into the back of a royal guard prisoner carriage.

“Do you know anything about this?” Lyra turned to Sunset and she shook her head slowly.

“No, not at all. Silver Spanner, wanna spend the night tonight? I got a new video Mom and I wanna try out with somepony. Twinkleshine, you in?” Sunset turned to the two.

“Hell yeah.”

“Yeah, sure.”

Celestia trotted down the hall of the Royal Guard station with a royal guard holding open the door to the jail cells.

“Thank you, Captain,” Celestia bowed her head slightly and he saluted her.

“As you order, Princess. I’ll be out here if you need me.” Celestia listened to the door shut, trotting past some cells. She was glad most of them were empty as she stood in front of Emeralds cell.

The mare was sitting on the floor next to a toilet and bed chained to the wall with a miserable expression. The last seven hours had been god awful. Processing took forever. Emerald had to sit next to a drunk stallion who was pretty aggressive with the stallion in front of her and attacked him.

Emerald had no idea the royal guards could move that fast or were allowed to tackle ponies like that. Or put them in a scary looking restraint chair. Or put a scary looking spit mask on their head. Lots of vomiting and yelling. Probably the worst situation she had ever seen herself in.

“You know, I’m the forgiving type. If you give me a good apology, I’ll let you out with a fine of five hundred bits and have you return all the money you stole back to the school.”

Emerald turned around and stood up. Orange really wasn’t her color, Celestia noted but she opted to not say anything.

“I have no excuse. Actions have consequences. You here to rub it in my face or something? This you happy seeing me in this nasty looking, loose fitting orange jumpsuit?” Emerald tugged at the collar. “It doesn’t even go with my eyes.”

Celestia gave a tired sigh and the alicorn shifted her weight as Emerald sat down on the bed and hugged herself.

“Nothing about this makes me happy. I had a pony I trusted lie and steal from me. Any good reputation you may have had here you destroyed today. You can do whatever you want, but how could you look at me after all you done?”

Emerald stared at her hooves and she sniffed quietly as Celestia sighed after a few moments of silence.

“I hope you sort your life out one day. Goodbye. We’re done here,” Celestia commented and turned away from her. “Now if you excuse me, I have dinner with my daughter to get to. Guard!”

The guard opened the door for Celestia and she trotted past him as he shut it and Celestia glanced at the clock.

“Make sure she’s treated well. She was a friend.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Sunset laid on her bed in between Silver Spanner and Twinkleshine, the latter breathing softly as she nuzzled Sunset’s cheek. Silver Spanner stared at the ceiling as Sunset continued writing on a piece of paper.

“What are you writing?” Silver Spanner asked finally and Sunset covered it with a hoof.

“Nothing. Just a note, so to speak. I’ll be mailing it sometime tomorrow morning if I get up in time. I can’t believe we’re getting a new assistant principal. I’m just glad Mom is covering up Emerald Leaf paying off your parents to attend the school.”

“I’m just glad your mom is letting us keep the house. Mom doesn’t know I listened in, but she was really worried we’d go back to Ponyville. Your mom is amazing,” Silver Spanner rolled to look at Sunset. “I owe her big time. And hey, at least my life doesn't suck anymore. It's nice to have a friend."

“Nah, it’s just mom being mom. She’s always the forgiving type. And you three didn’t do anything wrong, really. You’re an innocent party. She wouldn’t punish you three for somepony else’s actions. It’s who she is,” Sunset answered and covered a yawn with her hoof. “And same here. I Goodnight, Silver Spanner.”

“Night, Sunset.”

Sunset turned the light off with her magic and stared at the ceiling for what seemed like hours to her until Silver Spanner finally fell asleep and Sunset signed her name on the piece of paper she had been, writing, teleporting it with a faint pop.

Oil Canvas sat on a chair with a book in front of him and Sweetie Charm was idly reading the book with him when a envelope popped into existence in front of them.

“What the heck?” Sweetie Charm jumped and they both stared at it before she opened it. “Who in Equestria would randomly send us a check for nine thousand bits?”

“Really?”

“When have I ever lied to you?” Sweetie scowled and rolled her eyes. “We got another one earlier I didn’t open. But they both have the royal seal on them. Very strange.”

“Weird.”

Celestia landed outside in front of the Canterlot statue garden, preening her wings briefly before glancing around for her guards. She didn’t normally sneak out of the castle unless it was important or she didn’t want to be seen. Having a dozen royal guards around tended to get a lot of attention for the obvious reasons.

Celestia walked inside, occasionally stopping at certain statues to examine them or clean off a few dirty ones. She passed a statue of Star Swirl and Stygian next to each other, pausing to pay her respects briefly.

Celestia started again till she reached the statue she was looking for and she stared up at it, brushing some vines aside with her hoof.

“Your daughter asked about you again this week for the first time in about ten years. I didn’t necessarily know what to tell her. It was easier when she was little and I could just say you were on the other side of Equestria. She’s a smart mare and will probably figure this out on her own. But I’m really hoping she doesn’t yet until you break free. I already had to swear Raven and Cadence to silence about who her dad really is. Sunset already reacted how I figured she would when I told her about her sister,” Celestia sat down on the dirt. “Mainly just confused. Not even I know where Screwball is. Probably floating around in some crazy world, waiting until you get back.”

Celestia jumped and glanced back, exhaling softly. She swore she thought she heard a pony flying over head, but it was fairly windy out. Most likely her mind playing tricks on her. It’s not like anypony really goes into the gardens at this time of night. Most ponies are asleep unless they really like the night time.

“I have to get back and check on Sunset, then go to sleep myself. She’s having yet another sleepover with her friends in the castle. I don’t think one of them knows about me and Sunset sending her parents checks for substantial amount of bits yet, but that will probably change tomorrow evening.”

Celestia stretched out her forelegs and wings as she stood up, shaking off the dirt and grass as she trotted to the gated entrance, leaving the statue of Discord behind.