One change in the linking process. Rather than editing past journals to post a link to every single blog post about this EQG fanfic rewrite, I put them all under its own category: EQG Fanfic Rewrite Concept. Every single blog post related to it will be linked through it, along with the four following tags: "mlp:fim," "equestria girls," "fanfiction," "fixfic."

 

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Ch. 4: Acquaintance

 

Apparently, the bus Celestia was on was stuck apparently due to a broken-down car that got stuck in the middle of a construction zone. While she waited, the party lasted through the night. Principal Celestia and Twilight occasionally chatted, though it was short. Meanwhile, Sunset was telling stories to groups of friends. Limestone joined the party after returning from work. Away from the action, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy helped Pinkie and Vinyl Scratch in cleaning up the recycle.

 

At ten o'clock, people started filing out; Twilight was one of the last to try to leave, but the express bus heading back to Canterlot City ended at dusk; she doesn't have a phone to alert a cab; and her hotel is about an hour-and-a-half away. So Rarity gives her the ability to ride home, but Pinkie elects to have her sleep over at their house just a half-mile away east of CC. Twilight agreed to Pinkie's, but suggested maybe another time to Rarity. Of course, Rarity didn't mind, and she plugged in several pajamas that fit her size.

 

She helped clean up the rest of the recyclable bags, plastic, and paper, and placed them outside where the garbage trucks will be busy picking them up and sending them to recycling plants. Once they were done, Sunset contacted "Mama" and "Papa" through her cell, and they arrived a few minutes later. Sunset, Pinkie, Limestone, and Twilight hopped in the van, and they traveled to the eastern coast of Outer Canterlot about a half-mile away. The front of the two-story house had an open lawn that surrounded the left side and back. Beside it is a garage under construction. To the left is the beach leading to the ocean. Inside, she met with Maud and Marble Pie, who decided not to come (Maud for scholarly reasons, Marble due to her dislike of crowds).

 

She accepted the invitation to sleep inside Sunset's room; the two exchanged stories as Spike slept on a pillow next to Twi's sleeping bag. But before Twilight was about to ask Sunset about her being one of the Pie family, Sunset had drifted off to sleep. So Twilight secretly wrote in her journal, communicating with Celestia — who finally returned to Grump Tower — and the ReMane Five back in Canterlot. She promised to return to Equestria tomorrow morning to talk to them. Then she went to sleep.

 

Two hours later, she and Spike woke up when Sunset made noise on the bed. She tossed in turned in cold sweat. Whispers for help. Her eyes twitched and closed harder at the bottom of her eyes. Twilight and Spike immediately climbed on. She caressed Sunset's hand and continued as Sunset started to calm down. Meanwhile, Spike nuzzled his muzzle on her cheek and snuggled beside her. Twilight lightly kissed Sunset's hand and then bent down and kissed both of them on their heads. Sunset smiled and wrapped her free right arm around Spike; Spike grinned. Then she said "goodnight" and went to sleep in her bag.

 

6 AM next morning, Twilight woke up and examined her whole room more. The walls and ceiling are predominantly crimson with gold sunrays streaking from the light above. Images of Sunny with the Pies hung everywhere. But in nearly every one of them, she was next to Pinkie, and they were both extremely happy. Then she and Spike went down for breakfast where Marble and Pinkie were preparing eggs on toast. As the three shared their breakfast, Twilight said she noticed how close she was with Pinkie. She explained how Starflower told her about how Pinkie and Sunset's sisterly relationship was like a mom with a daughter. She'd like to know a little more about how Sunset came into their relationship.

 

Marble and Pinkie explain how Pinkie and Fluttershy met her at an orphanage and was heartbroken at seeing a little girl all alone with no one to take care of. She couldn't use any utensils, carry a tray, dress without help, and legitimately couldn't open her hands. Later on, Pinkie elected to visit Sunset every day and help tutor her into many activities, including reading and writing. The learning process was strangely quick, and she was able to form a very close friendship with Pinkie very quickly. Then Cloudy Quartz showed up and (as she ate her own portion of eggs and toast) continued by stating Pinkie's desire to adopt a child. They objected at first, but then met Sunset personally, and she was as bright and wonderful a child as they knew. They met the head of the orphanage, performed a background check, and chose to adopt Sunset Shimmer into the family. Through her own choice, Sunny changed her legal name to "Sunset Pie Shimmer."

 

Afterwards, Sunset showed up and gave good morning hugs and kisses to Marble, Pinkie (under a pet name called "Pinkie-Mommy"), and Mama before grabbing bagels and cream cheese. Marble told her about how she became a Pie, and Sunset chuckled about those memories. The old orphanage and how her relationship with Pinkie began. 'Twas a hassle there and then an honor to become a part of a family. As they chatted, Twilight showered and changed. Saying goodbye, she and Spike left the premises. Before arriving at the corner, Sunset came by.

 

"Um…Twilight. I almost forgot. Thanks."

 

"You're welcome. But for what?"

 

"For comforting me last night."

 

"How'd you kn—"

 

"Me being asleep doesn't make me unaware of my surroundings. Your comforting hands. That kiss to the head and hand. You watching me sleep. I can tell. It means a whole lot to me."

 

Twilight's eyes twinkled, and they each shared a tight hug.

 

"Anything to help a good friend, Sunset."

 

Then she bent down and hugged Spike. "Your fur felt so warm, Spike. It made me feel like I'm in home within a home. You're one heck of a dog. Thank you."

 

She kissed his forehead, and then she and Twilight exchanged plutonic kisses on the cheek before they split. Sunset headed inside. Twilight hailed a public bus for Canterlot High.

 

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Ch. 5: Snoop

 

About a half-hour later, Twilight returned to Equestria, where the princesses and Mane Six awaited. While her friends had breakfast in the throne room, they chatted about Twilight's and Celestia's adventures, the changes while there, technology, Spike becoming a dog, and the learning experience (including realizing answering the front door while you're naked there is a terrible idea). But Twilight was feeling really doubtful about the quest. In a few short hours, she was getting to know Sunset Shimmer Pie, understood how she became part of the Pies there, and is actually happy. It's not a forced kind, either. She's being herself. It's like she wants to live there. Celestia reminds her about the Shimmer family, but Twilight interrupts by telling her she knows, but it just feels wrong to be forced to send her back against her will.

 

A knock from the door, and Dash went to open it. It was Dawn and Sunrise, Sunset's dad and mom. They were in Canterlot since yesterday, and Solstice is being babysat in the playroom for the time being. They kept updates about what was going on, and Sunrise had been hearing some of Miss Twilight's doubts. Spike adds that by affirming a sense of trust between them forming in front of the Pie house, and Twilight adds by not wanting to break it. Even though she looked happy in the diary photos, talking to her and easing her from her nightmare only confuses her more. She doesn't know how she'll react to her and Celestia having to force her to come home. She isn't sure if she can.

 

Then Sunrise took out a photo album. She showed them their memories together, including playing with four old friends in their Grazewood home, playing with balloons in the shower, and practicing her first magical spell (took place at around 8 PM when she was only four: coin-arranging). Then pictures of her first day in Canterlot with the three together. The excitement on her face was so distinct. But then Twilight turned more she saw one final image of them standing together in front of their home, which was taken about two months before she ran away.

 

Slowly, Twilight started to get angry. She wanted to know how they got involved when Sunset started struggling. Dawn explained that they were involved.

 

"In what way?"

 

"Writing letters. Visiting her. Spending days at a time comforting her, helping her complete her homework," explained Dawn.

 

"Taking days off work to help her and talk with the school board in possibly relaxing her curriculum," added Sunrise.

 

"And their answer?" Spike queried.

 

"They refused. Sunrise and I told her about it," said Dawn, pointing at Celestia. "She was livid."

 

The Princess of the Sun walked over. "I told them if they weren't going to change her curriculum, I was for them. But Sunset pleaded to keep her in it."

 

"We didn't want to, but she felt she could succeed," said Dawn. "I respect her wishes and told her if there are any problems, mail us."

 

"And…what about the bullying?"

 

"They were right there with her," said Celestia. "She reported them to me, and I reported to the Shimmers about it."

 

"How much were you there?"

 

"Every day," said Dawn as he flipped the pages of the album, his eyes glossy. "If anyone hurt our daughter, they hurt us."

 

"But y'all sound like lovable parents," replied Applejack. "Why in a groundhog's den would she think she failed you and choose to run awa—?"

 

"The magic lock," finished Spike, his eyes furrowed.

 

Rarity gasped and covered her own hoof.

 

Dawn and Sunrise looked down in shame and plucked up courage to say that they feared the bullying will go so far that she'll lose control of her magic. So they gave Celestia the permission to bind the magic in her horn.

 

Rarity's bluish colors drained.

 

"HOW DARE YOU LOCK HER MAGIC!"

 

The ReMane Five, especially Twilight, was confused. (No one had ever performed it on her.) The magic lock is traditionally a spell meant to suppress unicorns. Magic is an essence of all ponies, especially with unicorn's horns. By locking their magic, they feel maimed. Second-class citizens. You take away who they are by disabling their magic. In some parts of the world, locking their magic carries a prison sentence. She knows a great friend whose parents used the spell to punish him for lying seven years ago. They're still in jail. He hasn't forgiven them. He won't even use his horn because it triggered that memory of them locking it.

 

"You three were the ones who protected her. During a time where she really needed you, you locked her horn! NO WONDER WHY SHE RAN AWAY! SHE BELIEVED YOU THREE PUNISHED HER!"

 

"Now I see why she's so happy with the Pies there. She feels like nobody can use their magic to hurt her," said Twilight. She glared at the Shimmers and Celestia. "If I knew about how bad magic-locking was then and realized this had happened, then the minute I passed the entrance exam, I would've walked out." She looked down. "C'mon, Spike."

 

As they walked away from the throne room, Rainbow Dash asked, "Twilight, where are ya going?"

 

"To the other world. I need some time to calm down," Twilight replied curtly and then glared at Celestia. "Don't follow me."

 

She and Spike teleported.

 

Sometime that afternoon, Twilight was in front of a playground with Spike. In one hand, the magic quill to jot down notes and her location. In the other, a tuna, tomato, and cabbage sandwich. She didn't care if eating meat made her uncomfortable. After what had happened in the Throne Room, she just wanted to eat something to calm down. Although her friends wrote back, she ignored messages from Celestia. Simultaneously, the more she ignored Celestia, the more the twinge of guilt she felt. Of the angry ponies there, Rarity was the maddest, not her. But she couldn't live down the feeling of anger now that she knew locking a unicorn's horn had serious implications.

 

Not long after she finished, Celestia showed up. Principal Celestia, to be exact. So, Twilight stopped being in a bad mood, and they chatted. Twilight admitted that she had an argument with a good friend, and she spent time here relaxing. It was a little personal, but Twilight gave her subtleties. Principal Celestia kept asking questions and then used a little fictional scenario to help ease things. As they walked further into the attached park and down an open path, Princess Celestia appeared before them, and everyone were close to rolling their eyes on the soft ground.

 

Both Princess Celestia and (begrudgingly) Twilight decided to explain everything while Principal Celestia drove them both to Canterlot High for a quick visit. The principal was feeling a little surprised that there was another of her from another world, and that Twilight isn't from here. She suspected Twilight of something, but to be from a land full of talking ponies and other mythological creatures was crazy. Spike also talked, telling her he's a fire-breathing dragon. Of course, his dragon breath doesn't work here.

 

They arrive in CHS, and both princesses dive their hand inside the statue to show them the portal. Principal Celestia gave it a try, only to not work. Apparently, only those who are from Equestria can access the portal. Then they walk by CHS and on the basketball court sidelines. They converse about the princess' current rift as well as their current goal here: reunite Sunset with her parents back in Equestria. But Twilight interrupts that what happened to her during her final days there might make her believe she isn't welcomed back and explains the taboo of horn suppression. Principal Celestia is starting to make sense to the ordeal, and then she asks Princess Celestia why she decided to find Sunset Shimmer.

 

Princess C. explains about the night that Sunset ran away. She felt her presence and searched for her. Couldn't find her. She even spotted her, but she snuck on the back of a bus to get away, and Celestia couldn't follow her because she had no money. Two weeks trying to find her, two weeks of no luck. It took a long time for Sunrise and Dawn to forgive her and trust her again. But Principal asks her why she wants to bring Sunset home? Is it because she feels it's the right thing for Sunset, or is it because it's the right thing to do for herself? Suddenly, uncertainty. Princess Celestia knows Dawn, Sunrise, and Solstice love her and want her home. But Twilight wonders if Sunset believes it, and Sunset doesn't know she has a younger brother now. Principal C. informs them that if you're going to convince Sunset to come home, they can't do by force or through bribes. Sunset should want to come home and choose to spend time with them. Ask her to come to Equestria and give her family another chance.

 

"Do Miss Pinkie Pie and her friends from this world know about it?" asked Principal Celestia.

 

Twilight and Princess Celestia shook their heads.

 

"Tell them the truth. The more you hide it, the more suspicious they'll be of you both. Miss Pinkie Pie may not like it. I guarantee you she will feel hurt. But not telling them and forcing Sunset to split from them might hurt them more."

 

After thanking her, they return to the car and back to the Grand Ol' Stake Park a half-mile northeast, where all three inexplicably met. Principal Celestia hands them her phone number and tells them to call her when needed. Once she left, they pack up and begin walking through the park. Princess Celestia puts a hand on her own cheek and wonders if Sunset doesn't need to return. Twilight agrees that Sunset doesn't need to, but that doesn't mean it's possible that Sunset doesn't miss them. They can ask Sunset to come to Equestria to spend time with them. If she doesn't want to, that's her choice. Spike reminds them of the notes Sunset wrote to her. There's a chance she still misses them. Celly apologized to Twilight for hiding things from her, especially the taboos of magic binding. She has every right to be upset at her for going forward with it and the Shimmers for suggesting it. Twilight believes they weren't trying to do any harm, but that doesn't make it okay. Celestia must promise to never do it again, and she does. They share a hug (and Twilight platonically kisses her cheek), exit the park, and walk to the direction of Sugarcube Corner.

 

On the way, they (figuratively) bump into Flash Sentry (who said hi to Celestia as Principal Celestia) and ask him if he's seen Pinkie Pie. He said she's at Sugarcube Corner a few blocks from here. Thanking him, they walked up to it. Twilight went inside while Celestia sat outside and took out her journal to write a message to the others back in Equestria.

 

A minute later, Pinkie Pie and Twilight exited and sat down in front of Celestia (like Flash, she exclaimed "Principal Celestia!"). But Twilight gently held Pinkie's hand and said that's not Principal Celestia. But Pinkie doesn't understand. How could she not be when she sounds, looks, and talks like her? But she isn't, and they sit down to talk. They ask about if they know anything about Sunset's background. She doesn't; Sunset always skipped it. If she had any nightmares — Sunset does rarely, but feels better when she wakes up after a talk. Pinkie doesn't care about the details. She just cares for the fact that she's okay. Remembering looking up about the human anatomy in the Public Library, she asked about Sunset's blood type. Pinkie starts getting offended.

 

Twilight sputters, "Never mind," but then Spike peaks out and talks to Pinkie, nearly causing her to scream in surprise. Celestia demonstrates the Equestrian magic by writing in her journal using her magic quill. She writes specifically to Pinkie Pie from Equestria, who writes back. Suddenly, Pinkie gets confused: How in the world can there be a Pinkie Pie and she doesn't know it — the same personality in her writing, everything? Celestia reveals the truth: There are magical beings there: unicorns, pegasi, Earth ponies, and alicorns. Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, and Fluttershy exist there, too. Twilight is a close friend with them. And Princess Celestia is a teacher and ruler in Equestria's Canterlot.

 

"Okay, okay. So what's the point?"

 

Princess Celestia looked at her into her eyes.

 

"Sunset Pie Shimmer isn't from here."

 

Pinkie nearly tripped on a chair leg.

 

Celestia continued, stating that Sunset Pie Shimmer's a magical unicorn who ran away from Equestria eleven years ago. The portal opened yesterday, and they'd like to talk to Sunset about this and ask if she can come visit her family back in Equestria.

 

Pinkie knows where she is; she's not in the city now…but has no intention of telling them where. She doesn't know much about this Equestria, and she doesn't know anything about their "equine-ness," but what she does know is Sunset is her sister, and she has no intention of losing her. She requests them to leave, but Spike tells Pinkie to calm down and listen and says Sunset has kept contact with them. Pinkie calms for a second to see Celestia take out a journal with a half-gold, half-crimson cutie mark. She flips the pages and finds two letters that she wrote to her, one from last year, another from last month. So there are memories of her there. Whether she wants to return is unknown. Pinkie turns around and walks inside without saying anything, leaving Twilight, Spike, and Celestia at the table.

 

After her shift ended at 4 PM, Pinkie spent a little time having fun with the ReMane Five (sans Sunset) at Flash's house. Then she went shopping in the health food market at 6:30. But throughout, her conversation with Twilight, Spike, and Celestia ring deep in her subconscious. She knows Sunset isn't biologically a Pie, but not actually from here in this world? How come she never told her this? Why does she act like her past from when she was seven and back is a blur? Shouldn't these memories be there? Are the memories so personal she fears she'll be thrown out of the house or choose to run away again? Does she feel Pinkie's not trustworthy enough to tell her?

 

The last question made her even more upset. She couldn't see Pinkie, one of the trustworthiest people in Pedestria, as untrustworthy! They knew each other for years! But is Sunset's sisterly love with her and the others a lie? Is her friendship with the others from Canterlot High a lie, too?

 

That can't be true…!

 

6:00. Both Twilight and Princess Celestia are having dinner in the hotel: minestrone soup for Celestia and corn chowder for Twilight. During the meal, Celestia checks the page where she stashed Principal Celestia's number. They know Sunset will return, but it won't happen tonight. They must talk to her soon. Spike has a plan.

 

7:30. Pinkie returns home to an empty house. After storing all the groceries in their rightful places, she walks up the stairs to wash and changes to her pajamas. No sound. She relaxes in her bed clutching a stuffed Gummy doll. Gazing out the window. Sunset peaked through the trees. Puts her gator doll down. Walks to Sunset's room: wide open and tidy. Sits on her bed gently and rubs it with her fingertips. Soft like Sunset's dual-colored hair. She looks up to see her bedside drawer ajar with a peak of a book cover. She opens it and finds a quill, ink, and a journal with the dual-colored sun on it.

 

Fingers on the journal and a loud gulp. She takes it out and lightly touches it. Then she opens it and sees Sunset's childhood photos. Continuous flipping of the pages continues to show her letters to Celestia, including painful notes to her.

 

Pinkie's heart sank.

 

Then came trouble.

 

Sunset arrived home early and catches Pinkie reading her diary. Suddenly, Sunset starts getting furious and tells her to keep her hands off. Then they get into a really nasty verbal spat with Sunset and Pinkie accusing each other. Pinkie accusing Sunset of keeping a secret. Sunset accusing Pinkie of being a snoop and liar.

 

At the end, Pinkie tells her, “You know what? Fine! Go back to this Equestria and all the ponies you used to call home. I’m sure the Pie family will move on without you.”

 

Sunset angrily runs out the door and starts sobbing on a bench. She decided to call Rarity and ask to sleep over there for the night.

 

Meanwhile, a seething Pinkie turns to the images on her dresser. So many of her and Sunset were together. She decided to hide them one by one. But the more she hid it, the more the anger at her went away. Instead, she was angry at herself.

 

Immediately, she tried to call Sunset’s phone. No answer.

 

But she gets a text: “Staying at Rarity’s house. Don’t call back.”

 

Absentmindedly, she drops her phone, landing softly on the desk.

 

She sits down and puts her arms under her face.

 

“What have I done?”

 

She cries herself to sleep that night.

 

Meanwhile at home in an unknown locale, Principal Celestia answers her cellphone. Princess Celestia was on the other line.

 

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More to come in later entries.