Ch. 10: Time to Catch Up

 

That night, Sunset physically carried her sleepy mother on her back back home and gently laid her down on the king-size bed in her and Dawn's room, all the while using her magic to tug the blanket down. Then, she covered Sunrise with the blanket, kissed her forehead, whispered "Goodnight, Mama," and walked out to the living room (where Dawn and Solstice were having vegetarian dinner). After an hour of chatting, eating, and another half-hour playing hide-and-seek with her little bro, Sunset called it a night. She walked upstairs to her room; that scent of lemongrass wafted as Lemon Grass the Doll rested in bed.

 

She grabbed her quill, dipped it in ink, and wrote on the latest blank page to Pinkie-Mommy from Pedestria. She waited for a few seconds, but received no reply. But as she watched the night sky, her diary hummed, and she looked down. Pinkie-Mommy wrote back, and they chatted through notes. Unfortunately, Sunset forgot the camera, so no photographs today. Hopefully tomorrow once she plucks up courage to ask her dad.

 

"Sunny…I miss you."

 

"I miss you, too, Pinkie-Mommy."

 

"No. I really, really, REALLY miss you. More than anything is this world."

 

Sunset paused and tapped the back of her quill on her horn. Then she wrote a quick reply.

 

"And I really, really, really, REALLY, REALLY miss you, Pinkie-Mommy! More than anything in Equestria, Pedestria, or any other universe."

 

"Sunny, you're making me cry again."

 

"Sorry, Pinkie."

 

"Nah, it's nuthin'. Everyone needs a good cry."

 

"Had way too many of those lately. Eyes still feel dry."

 

"Does Equineria have any saline solution?"

 

"I think so. By the by, it's spelled 'Equestria.'"

 

"Aye-aye, Sunny!" Above the writing, an image of a young Pinkie saluting appeared.

 

Sunset laughed and jotted down, "Should've seen that coming."

 

Next, no worded reply, but two images of Pinkie and Sunset (about sixteen years old) goofing off with mirrors in a funhouse.

 

Another laugh, and another note from Pinkie: "Memo to both o'us: find funhouse."

 

"Maybe Saturday?"

 

"Invitation sealed!"

 

"Wanna bring the other Pies?"

 

"Oh, ooh, groovy!"

 

"Dance club, too?"

 

Pinkie responded with two huge thumbs up drawings that filled the page.

 

Sunset grew an image of her bust with a major grin (as a human).

 

"Pony form, too, pleeeeeeeeease."

 

She drew her pony bust with the same grin, too.

 

"Expect a scan Saturday."

 

"Can't WAIT!"

 

"NEITHER CAN I!" She punctuated with a major smile that reached from top to bottom.

 

"By the way, can we meet in SCC for lunch, too? Maybe lemongrass shortbread?"

 

"Anything for my baby sister."

 

Sunset chuckled. "Anyway, must sleep now. Goodnight, Pinkie-Mommy. Love ya. XOXO!"

 

"Love you, too, Sunny-Hunny. Goodnight! XOXOXOXO!"

 

She put down her supplies in the drawer and flicked the light switch with her magic. With that big grin on her face, nightmares dared not to infiltrate her dreamscape tonight.

 

Sunset began her morning early to do some shopping, for they were running out of food. Thankfully, this small town was big enough to bustle a marketplace northeast of Irviger Square (a park full of small birch trees and swings around the perimeter). As she marched around, ponies (and an occasional goat) stared at her. One almost spilled black coffee, another forgot to accept the change for his strawberries.

 

But she passed by all of them (and got a few handshakes of ponies welcoming her back) and headed for the flourmill and windmill up north. She knocked on the mill's door, and a greenish-gray unicorn with bright yellow eyes and short, off-white/yellow-tinted mane/tail (May Flour) opened it with her hoof while using magic (her aura sunshine yellow) to hold a bag of flour. But when she opened the door, her aura vanished, and the flour sharply fell onto the floor, creating a ginormous dust cloud. Sunset coughed and shooed the billowing flour away to see May Flour frozen, gasping for air, pupils shrunk to smaller than a pinhead. Before Sunset could speak, May Flour hurried away deep into the mill.

 

"ACRES, ACRES!! SUNSET'S HOME!! SUNSET'S HOME!!"

 

China crashed and shattered, and Sunset flinched. A few seconds later, two female ponies — May Flour being one, the other May Z. Acres (an earth pony with a bright grassy green fur coat and blonde hair) — ran to the door. Like May Flour, Acres stopped still and gasped for air. Sunset crept forward until she was in front of Acres.

 

Acres tried to move, but the wooden floor wouldn't allow her, and May Flour held onto one of her hooves. Flour's high, excited voice continued to call for her, but it was drowned by her gasps and Sunset's waving of her front right hoof.

 

"Acres…?" She rotated her head to the left…then to the right. "…Are you o—GAAGGH!!"

 

But she stopped short when they pounced on her with a hard hug, their hooves tightly around her neck, eyes shut.

 

"Girls…girls!"

 

They opened their eyes and witnessed Sunset using her magic to lower Flour's left and Acres's right front legs, respectively. Per usual, they panicked, let go, apologized to Sunset, and exclaimed in very rapid voices. Just like the others in town, they didn't know where she was and missed her like crazy; they can't believe she looked so grown up.

 

"…Gah! Same to you!" she croaked as she messaged her strained throat.

 

Embarrassed, they apologized again and gestured her to the back for some tea.

 

Meanwhile, Pinkie-Mommy was busy working in Sugar Cube Corner. Like an old test kitchen, she found several recipes for lemongrass shortbread cookies and tried them out in small portions. When they were done, she handed them off as a complimentary gift and asked how it is. So far, it's been mixed. One thought the lemongrass was a little too pungent and not sweet enough. Another thought another recipe was a bit bland. Another (a thin, middle-aged man with a comb-over) took a sample of lemongrass ginger cookies and appreciated how it had the bite of the ginger, but not overpowering to drown out the lemongrass flavor. But it was also pretty dry, so one suggestion: a little less butter, a little more oil, and serve it at room temperature. Pie thanked him, jotted edits in the better recipe to adjust the recipe accordingly, and walked downstairs to resume her work while Mr. and Mrs. Cake baked some muffins, miniature cookies, and the meringue for a pistachio and hazelnut dacquoise.

 

West of Canterlot City, Applejack and Apple Bloom were busy carting apples out from AJ's orchard and toward the Sweet Apple Acres barn. They had a traditional sisterly banter, but they admitted that Sunset's lack of presence downed their spirits. Yes, she's not dead, but the fact that she's there in Equestria and not here doesn't change the feeling.

 

They dump the apples into a water bath in the back of their barn to wash them and then head to Big Mac, who was pruning dead branches further into the orchard. As Apple Bloom and Big Mac talk (and AB eating a Granny Smith), Applejack takes out her cell to contact Rarity, who was busying modeling a line project with Fluttershy as the designer. Sweetie Belle picks up the phone and then hands it off to Rarity, who puts it on speaker so 'Shy can talk, too.

 

Sunset and the May sisters agreed to have lunch at around 12:30-ish, so Sunset trotted through the marketplace again. And again, more stares, hoofshakes, and hoofbumps. Initially, she was confused. Then she liked it. Then she became cross. Does she enjoy being the center of attention? Heck, yes. Around friends or loved ones! Not complete strangers. But she kept her composure and approached a stand where a merchant (a yellow female Earth pony with green hair, named Caveno) sold bananas and banana leaves (three bananas or leaves was two bits). Like the others, she was shocked by Sunset, but cleared her throat after Sunset decided to pay for them. She accepted the payment, but before Sunset walk away, she stopped and asked if she knew why everypony reacted like that anytime she showed up.

 

Caveno took out an old newspaper clipping and handed it to her. Eleven years ago, the headline of the Canterlot Sundial (the biggest of Equestria's kind) revealed the troubling news of her running away as well as how. She kept reading articles and reactions by the Grazewood folk, and they included nearly everypony, from the May sisters to their fathers (two male pegasi named Flint and Mill House) to Caveno herself to Mama and Papa Shimmer. Then she flipped another page from Caveno's encouragement and saw a dried-out "Missing" poster. Caveno admitted that they used to be plastered all over the town and in decent populaces. Even the sight of it ruined the happiness of the town because it reminded them of a pony they once lost. They only began taking down posters four years ago upon the Shimmers' request, but some of them exist waiting to be found. Sunset's eyes quivered and glossed again (inwardly cursing at herself in Ancient Equestrian for crying) and looked at Caveno, whose eyes shook, too. Handing back the paper, Sunset thanked her, and they hugged — along with drying their own eyes — before she departed for other merchants.

 

Near 12:20pm, Sunset rendezvoused with May Z. Acres and May Flour and found shade under a maple tree near the beach as their picnic spot. The spread was the usual for the May sisters (and their dads, too): sandwiches of all jam and butter varieties (plum jam, grape jam, pistachio butter, peanut butter, etc.), warm corn, and squash soup. Sunset, however, brought an assortment: bananas, banana leaves, sprouts, and blackberries. They started telling stories about their little picnic adventures together, including a little evening picnic the day Flint proposed to Mill House. Even though she was five years old, she still remembered it.

 

It was a warm fall evening, and everypony was out having dinner in their respective picnic blankets along the beach and inside Irviger Square. The May sisters and Shimmers were underneath the same maple canopy, albeit a bit bearer and further into the beach to clear away from the leaves in case of fire. Even then, Flint's and Mill House's relationship wasn't a big secret; everypony knew. But they held off because they weren't sure if their parents would accept, so they invited Flint's mom and sister and Mill House's dad, too, to the picnic. While MH's dad was there, Flint was still on the way back with the others. At 7:30pm, as a unicorn cast a charm to illuminate the candles and transfigure them into one ball of transparent light, Flint and family arrived, and Flint and MH kissed. To the couple's surprise, not one of them was the least bit surprised and knew from the start. They just want their sons to be them. Then, Flint popped the question to the crowd's delight, and he accepted. They got married a year later, and they've been together ever since. Of course, they argue here and there, but you're not family without dealing with the positives and negatives. Now that they're older, the May's have to help out, and they've helped since they were teens. (Today Flour's twenty-one, Acres is eighteen.)

 

When asked about some of her adventures in the human world, Sunset explains that they weren't adventures much, but it was a learning experience. Then she tells her early adventures in Canterlot City. After the Pies in Pedestria adopted her, Pinkie Pie helped her learn how to eat with utensils, write, draw, and dress formally. Rather than send her off to school, Igneous and Rocky Quartz homeschooled her during the daytime while Pinkie Pie helped tutor her during the evening, weekends, and non-national holidays. It was difficult to learn, including adjusting to a whole new school system once she was ready, but she was prepared. May Flour and May Z. Acres were wowed by the adventure, but Sunset continued by explaining more of her adventures in Pedestria.

 

Acres: So what made you decide to come back?

 

Sunset: Both of you heard 'bout the coronation earlier this spring?

 

Acres: Well, it was in the paper.

 

Flour: But we chose not t'go.

 

Both: Too big a workload.

 

Sunset: I see. Well, Princess Twilight and Princess Celestia noticed the portal to Pedestria opened, and they asked me to return.

 

Flour: So you accepted?

 

Sunset: *scoff* No… Not right away.

 

Acres: Why?

 

Sunset: *low growl* I hated Celestia and feared Mama and Papa here hated me, too.
*both stare at each other and back*

 

Flour: Hate Celestia? How come?

 

Sunset: *sigh* On my last day at The School in Canterlot, bullies — fillies and adults — physically abused me, and I let my magic go out of control… Mama and Papa gave her permission… *her voice faded to a whisper*

 

Acres: Permission for what?

 

Sunset *still a whisper, but a little louder*: To lock my horn.

 

Both gasp.

 

Flour: You're kiddin'!

 

Sunset *shaking head*: Mm-mm.

 

Acres: How can anypony do such a thing?!

 

Sunset: I don't know… I still don't! *eats sandwich whole and swallows it, leaving behind a residue of peanut butter in her mouth; she speaks with a muffled tongue* Milk, please.

 

Acres passed a full jar to her, and Sunset drank half of it.

 

Sunset *breathlessly*: Thanks, Acres.

 

Acres: No problem.

 

Flour: I assume you still want nothing to do with Celestia, don’cha?

 

Sunset: No. Not now.

 

Flour: You hate her still?

 

Sunset: *halts briefly* Oddly, no. Dislike? Yeah.

 

Acres: So, wait a rotation. You hated Celestia…but you don't hate your parents even though your parents let her lock it. *points at her own horn* Quickie Q: Why don't you hate your parents, too?

 

Sunset: *looks down, blinks slowly, sips* I don't know. Wouldn't you, Acres?

 

Acres: Hmmmmm…

 

Sunset: Not sure, are ya?

 

Acres: *shakes head* Nopony's ever asked me that before. Sis…would you?

 

Flour: *sips milk* Me, neither. I can't never think of hating Daddies. I love 'em too much.

 

Acres: You still love them, too, Sunny?

 

Sunset: Uh, of course I do… *she bites a piece of leaf* But…I don't know if they ever forgave themselves.

 

Flour: I unda'stand. They believe they're why ya ran away.

 

Sunset: Mama Shimmer didn't admit it, but I can tell. She couldn't look at the sunset without crying.

 

Acres: How about Dawn?

 

Sunset: What about 'im?

 

Acres: Did he forgive himself, too?

 

Sunset: Don't know. I don't believe he did.

 

Flour: So have you talked to him 'bout it?

 

Sunset: Not yet, May Flour. Don't wanna push it.

 

Acres: So, Sunny, when does the portal close?

 

Sunset: Midnight, two Sundays from now.

 

Flour: In other words, Saturday's the last full day it opens.

 

Sunset nods.

 

Flour: Tough choice.

 

Acres: But family shouldn't be a choice. Not ones you love equally.

 

Flour: Good point, sis. Why on Celestia's green earth— Oopsie. Sorry, Sunny.

 

Sunset: That's all right.

 

Flour: *clears throat* Why should you have to choose?

 

Sunset: Apparently, that's the standard.

 

Flour: Says who?

 

Sunset: The portal, May Flour. That's who. Why does it close? Because Equestrian magic says so? Ridiculous!

 

Flour: *scoff* Standards stink! If I knew how to write spells, Sunny, I'd change it.

 

Sunset: 'Change it'?

 

Flour: *drinks water* Sunny dear, magic's flexible here. Add some carpus grease, y'got new magic. Y'don't wanna be separate from a family, do you?

 

Sunset: Heck, no!

 

Flour: Luvin' that reaction, Sunny. *chuckle* Seriously, who says it needs t'close in ten days?

 

Acres: *clears throat* 'Scuse me, but, sister, it won't open or close outta thin air. It's been cast a spell.

 

Sunset: An ancient spell, Acres. Twilight told me a bit 'bout the mirror yesterday morning. *grunt* God knows where it is now.

 

Acres & Flour: Huh?

 

Acres: 'God knows'?

 

Sunset: *scratches head, blushing* Sorry. Figure of speech I learned from the other world.

 

They continue to chat and eat, but Sunset ponders in the front of her head about what May Flour said to her.

 

A little later that day, Princess Luna paced in her study; her possum Tiberius dangled upside-down on her horn and scribbled notes in his miniature pad. Feeling cross with herself, they left and headed for the Throne Room. Luna attempted to barge in, but Tibbles dove in her mouth, and she stopped to spit out the fur. Before she attempted to interrogate him, she self-realized as Tiberius politely knocked on the door while hanging on her horn with his tail. When Celestia granted permission, Luna walked inside. For once, everything was bored in Equestria. For once, Celestia was glad. Unfortunately, Philomena wasn't. As the two sisters conversed, the two pets scowled at each other, and the two sisters used their magic to shield and nudge them apart. Luna wondered whe—

 

Knock. Knock. Knock. Knock.

 

Celestia: Come in.

 

A door swings open, and a gray mailmare stumbles tiredly into the Throne Room. Luna quickly gives her some water, and Tiberius fans her to dry her coat and blonde mane and cool her down.

 

Derpy: Thanks…Princess. *sees Tiberius* Ooh, is that your new possum?! *pushes her inward like a door and crouches down, eyes half-shut* He's so cute!

 

Luna: Well, um…yeah, Tibbles is cute. *looks back*

 

Philomena spread her wings akimbo and tapped her right claw up and down crossly.

 

Derpy: Oh, almost forgot! *opens mail bag with her wing and hands envelope to Celestia* Urgent news.

 

Princess Celestia: *grabs it with magic* Thank you, Derpy.

 

Derpy salutes and trots out the door, but not before stopping and winking at Tiberius on the way by.

 

Without saying a word, Celestia opened the letter and read aloud.

 

Dear Princess Celestia and Princess Luna,

 

Yesterday, Twilight explained to me a little about the mirror, but I want to know about its origins and why Star Swirl used it. Don't explain through letters. Please bring Twilight, Spike, and their other five friends along with you to Grazewood. Join me at Irviger Square at 7 o'clock local time tonight. I mailed a map along just in case.

 

Two friends of mine assume it's been cast a spell and it's possible to change it. Is that true? Can we change the spell to permanently open the portal?

 

Write back to inform me that you're coming.

 

…Both families mean so much to me; it'll kill me if I let the portal close. It can't happen again!

 

Thank You,

 

Sunset Pie Shimmer

 

Immediately, Celestia unveiled a roll of parchment, transformed the outside to red, and wrote a note:

 

Dearest Sunset Pie Shimmer,

 

We will see you tonight.

 

Signed, Princess Celestia

 

After it floated away, she wrote in another scarlet letter, this time to the others.

 

Dearest _______________,

 

Very important. Please rendezvous inside the Golden Oak Library. I will meet you there.

 

Signed, Princess Celestia

 

She carbon-copied it, replaced the underline with a name each, and let them float away. After they disappeared, she stood up, stretched her wings, and began to walk.

 

Celestia: Little sister, come. Philomena, Tibbles, behave while we're gone.

 

The phoenix and possum saluted, and Celestia and Luna teleported with map in tow.

 

Less that a minute later, Sunset was talking to her mom (who was lifeguarding at the beach) when she let her return to work. As she walked away, the letter appeared literally out of thin air and opened in front of her. As she read the one-lined note, she stepped on a smooth, sleek seashell with her back hoof, slipped under her, and landed rump-first in a top-free cherry pie. Her cheeks rushed into a blush. Green eyes shrunk by about ninety-seven percent.

 

As everyone laughed, she stood up and gawked at her rump. Baked cherries, sticky sugar syrup, and graham cracker crust stuck in between her hairs, coating her flank, some tail fur, and the edges of her cutie mark. Whatever didn’t stick dripped onto the sand.

 

Click!

 

Sunset looked up as his father took an image, a gigantic grin on his face. Solstice was laughing beside him.

 

Sunrise whistled from afar, and Sunset looked back. "Thanks for finding my missing pie, Sunshine!" she called out, laughing.

 

Immediately, Sunrise yanked the cherry pie away and put it on a rail where Sunset could see. Then, she scooped some with her magic and put it in her mouth as Sunset’s pinhead-sized eyes shrunk into needlepoints.

 

The others?

 

Applejack: She bucked trees in her orchard. The last apple to land had a note sticking out from within. Applejack scowled and planted her muzzle hard on the tree; more apples fell.

 

Spike: He put a gem into his mouth, but he was unable to swallow the inside, as if chewing gum. He spat it out and read Celestia’s quick note as saliva and shattered amethyst dripped down the parchment and onto the floor.

 

Rarity: She was relaxing in the shower, and shampoo dripped down her mane and onto her eyelids. To prevent the soap from stinging, she kept her eyes shut and used magic to pump shampoo onto her hoof. Celestia’s letter spouted out from the pump.

 

Fluttershy: She went to get the mail and found the note inside her mailbox.

 

Rainbow Dash: She was at Wonderbolts Academy participating more intermediate training techniques. Spitfire took out a scroll to read the instructions, only to find out she was reading Celestia’s urgent letter out loud. As everyone laughed hard, Spitfire's eyes shrunk and fought a blush.

 

Twilight Sparkle: She batted against Shining Armor while playing gallopball. (Cadance was the catcher.) Cadance flashed the sign with her wing, and SA made the pitch, but the letter replaced the ball as it flopped in front of the mound. Cadance and TS stared at it and him with surprised eyes.

 

“I was trying to throw a curveball,” he quipped as Twilight read the note silently.

 

"Well, big bro, you threw one, all right," Twilight quipped back. "Gotta go," and she teleported.

 

Pinkie Pie: While in Sugar Cube Corner, the oven rang at zero. Pinkie Pie raced to the back to get it, put on her potholders, opened the oven door, took out the scroll as if she saw it coming, and read it silently.

 

That evening, Sunset was in the living room with the May sisters and their dads drinking some tea. She had just finished when she looked at the clock on the near-side wall: 6:30pm. Unfortunately, she had to go home (and Acres and Flour teased her about how her accident earlier reddened her rump, which she had to use a special shampoo to dissolve the sugar; Sunset blushed, looked back at her backside, and shook it). After hugs goodbye, Sunset retreated to the Shimmers to say hello and unpack before leaving fifteen minutes later to Irviger Square with a watch on her lower left front leg. With the sun about to set, everypony had retired for the night. The beach was closed. Every vendor was empty or towed away. Most of the lights dimmed. That familiar whirring from the mill had silenced, including the blades.

 

She sat down on all fours and looked at her watch. Five-till, they should be here any minute.

 

Right on cue, Princess Celestia, Luna, and the Mane Six appeared, all of them with backpacks.

 

Celestia: Good evening, Sunset. *bows*

 

Sunset *bowing*: Good evening, Princess Celestia.

 

Twilight: Hi, Sunset!

 

Applejack: *tips hat* Howdy, Sunny!

 

Rarity: Hello, darling! *she and Sunset share a hug; her eye wanders* So…this is your hometown.

 

Sunset: Eeyup! Beautiful, isn't it?

 

Fluttershy: Why, it is nice.

 

Rarity: But it could use some…how should I say it? Sprucing?

 

Sunset: *nervous chuckle* Well, Grazewood's packed during the day, Rarity. Traditionally, we retire early for the night.

 

Fluttershy: So, nopony here has a picnic, watch the beautiful sunsets, or stargazes?

 

Sunset: If I recall correctly, not often.

 

Pinkie: Aw, what a shame. Tonight's perfect for a campfire! *sniffs loudly, sighs* What an ocean! Hey, Sunny, what happened to your coat?!

 

Sunset: Oh…this? *points at her rear* Blame myself for this.

 

Pinkie: Why?

 

Sunset: *blush* Well, she over there *points at Celestia* plastered a scarlet letter to my face. As I read it, I stepped on a shell and sat on Mama Shimmer's cherry pie.

 

Pinkie Pie, Twilight, and Applejack cringed.

 

Rarity couldn't help but giggle.

 

Applejack: Must've been one big hullabaloo.

 

Sunset: You — don't — have — an idea, AJ. Everypony broke into laughter, and Dawn told me to stay still and took a picture for posteriorty— *chuckle* No, wrong word. Prosperity.

 

Rarity *fighting back giggles*: So, when will the film be produced?

 

Sunset: For him? Tomorrow morning, perhaps.

 

Fluttershy: So, um, was Sunrise upset at you for ruining the pie?

 

Sunset: *giggle* Not at all. She thanked me and ate the rest.

 

Everypony's eyes shrunk.

 

Spike *gagging*: *pulls on Luna's frizzled tail twice, calls out from the back* Be right back! Gotta barf!

 

Luna follows him to the beach.

 

Applejack: Gross.

 

Rarity: I can't believe it! What kind of pony would pollute themselves into unsanitary indignity?

 

Rainbow Dash: *laugh* Why, you, of course.

 

Rarity: Pffft! Oh, Dashie, please! Pinkie's lemon cream pie from last month was delicious. You know I would never let such a perfect delicacy go to waste.

 

Sunset: Soooo…what didja do with it?

 

Rarity: *takes out a short, shaded midnight blue spray bottle of edible food perfume*

 

Sunset *playfully sarcastic*: *laughs* I should’ve known.

 

Rarity: *giggles, re-hides bottle*

 

Rainbow Dash: So, Sunny…you didn't eat the pie that you sat on…did you?

 

Sunset: And sacrifice more of my own dignity?! No way, José! *sees Dash's confused face* Uh, Pedestrian figure of speech.

 

Rainbow Dash: Aha.

 

Spike and Luna return to the beach.

 

Spike: So, is it all over?

 

Celestia: Yes, Spike.

 

Luna and Spike sigh in relief.

 

Luna: *shakes head* I feel my future self spinning in my grave. Anypony have fresh water?

 

Twilight: *takes out water bottle* Here.

 

Luna: *drinks it all without touching her lips on the mouth, sighs* Thanks, Twilight.

 

Twilight: You're welcome. Sunset, any water fountains around here?

 

Sunset: *points at a vertical gate guarding some birch trees opposite her home* Back there, immediate left.

 

Twilight: Gotcha. *pops away to the fountain, pops back seconds later* Done!

 

Dash *annoyed*: Guys, can we start discussing why we came all the way out here before any one of us goes off-topic again?

 

Spike *muttering*: Jeez, Rainbow Dash, you're feeling irritable today.

 

Twilight *whispers to Spike*: Spike, not now.

 

Spike *whispers back guiltily*: Sorry.

 

Celestia whistled using two long tail feathers, and conversation ceased.

 

“Thank you, everypony. Tonight, we have a lot to talk about. Will you all kindly sit in a circle, please, and split into two of five?”

 

Everyone took off their bags, formed an imperfect circle in the middle of the square, and sat on all fours. Starting clockwise, Celestia crouched on the far side of the square (furthest from the Shimmer House) next to Luna, followed by Sunset, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Spike, and Twilight. Large gaps between both Spike and Pinkie Pie and both Sunset and Fluttershy halved the park and group.

 

Celestia: Firstly, thank you all for coming. Before I begin, I’m sorry if my scarlet letters were a bother to any of you.

 

Fluttershy: Oh, that’s okay, Celestia. As long as I received the letter, I’m fine.

 

Rarity: Me, too. Next time, though, not in a place where it’s so invasive?

 

Celestia: I promise, Rarity. Secondly…Twilight, do you remember what I told you about the mirror’s magic?

 

Twilight: Yup! That night when the portal opened, you told me that an alicorn named King Arion created it several millennia go.

 

Dash: Whoa, whoa, whoa! Time out! Twilight, Princess Celestia, you’re saying other alicorns beside you four existed?

 

Luna extended a hoof outwards and shushed her. “Patience, pegasus. Alicorns have had a long history. Perhaps as long as unicorn, Earth pony, and pegasi.”

 

“How alicorns evolve have always remained a mystery. Even the best scientists have limited knowledge of them,” said Celestia. “Luna, Cadance, and I are naturally-born, as well as hundreds of others. King Arion was also naturally born. Some of them earned their status over time, like Twilight for solving Star Swirl's broken spell.

 

“I bet wherever there’s one, it’s national news,” said Spike.

 

“Even the sight of one surprises Equestrian citizenry,” said Twilight and pointed her eyes across. “I learned that experience firsthand yesterday.”

 

Sunset chuckled. “Took me a bit t’calm down when I found out you’re a princess, Twilight… Was anybody here shocked, too?”

 

“Apparently, not as shocked as you. Well…maybe me!” Pinkie Pie giggled.

 

“So, Princesses, what does the hooha have anything to do with this King Arion anyhow?” asked Applejack.

 

Luna’s horn flickered on and opened the flap of a slate-colored sack. Immediately, light yellow replaced hers; a dirty-yellow parchment scroll floated out from within and hovered from about three feet above the dirt.

 

A sharp click of her tongue; magical whirs silenced. Only salt water crashing ashore, rustling leaves, and a little buzz of one tiny electric light conquered Grazewood’s landscape. Slowly, she opened it to reveal a wide, square texture. Measured at about thirteen feet wide and eleven feet high, it was big enough to write perhaps five short stories and still gather enough space to write more.

 

Then, Luna reactivated her magical aura and clicked her tongue to silence the noise, not shying away from the floating scroll. A thin vertical line of white appeared and expanded outwards till it reached the borders. In it was a flat, black-outlined drawing of a rusty brown alicorn. Slick streaks of white and bronze flowed in his thick mane and long, slender tail, which raveled and frayed at the end like the tip of an old bristle paintbrush. An aquamarine dot represented his eye. Two vertical strips partially covered his wings and abdomen.

 

“Long ago, King Arion ruled an ancient city in the eastern hemisphere of our Earth. He was a little temperamental and impatient, but he always had a liking for citizens.” Luna flipped to a virtual image of Arion bowing and handing baskets of food around. “Not once did he believe others were worse than him. He had a tremendous amount of respect for others, and they had tremendous respect for him in return. Unfortunately, despite being an alicorn, successful flight he could not.” Another image appeared in its place, this time Arion looking back at his tied-up wings. “See those straps? Legend has it that he was born with a condition called pennaplegia. He was never able to fly.”

 

Rarity gasped and covered her mouth with a hoof. “My gosh, how awful!”

 

“What’s pennaplegia?” asked Spike, scratching his head.

 

“Paralysis in the wings. Only occurs during pregnancy. Caused my an injury within the womb,” Rainbow Dash explained.

 

“Does it happen often, Rainbow Dash?” asked Sunset.

 

“Usually, Sunny, when a doctor suspects pennaplegia, the pregnant pony’ll abort. Was abortion legal there thousands of years ago…? I don’t know.”

 

Celestia and Luna visually contacted one another, and Luna flipped the virtual slideshow.

 

As it showed a drawing of arid hills, Celestia continued, “Arion’s kingdom and the lives for himself and everypony depended on trade for survival, because the desert climate had no land to cultivate and was about two-and-a-half miles high in altitude… Unfortunately, nopony made it through long distance. Not even pegasi were capable of surviving hours of nonstop flight.” The slideshow turned again; Arion was walking on grass, carrying a stuffed, parchment-like sack on his back. “In order to help make life for his ponies easier, he scavenged dead cities where civilizations came and went. He was able to find thousands of old bones of the three popular pony races.” Another image appeared, this time a bulky, sand-colored castle with two large towers. “He collected them into his castle and used magic to cremate them.”

 

“Cremation… Sounds pretty icky,” said Pinkie Pie.

 

“’Twas worse back then, Ms. Pie,” said Luna. “In his country, cremation was taboo. A crime serious enough for abdication…and exile.”

 

“Golly…” Pinkie’s high voice faded.

 

“So, he kept the project a secret, Luna?” asked Twilight.

 

“More. He had to cremate all the bones underground; disguise the nasty burning smell; and lie to his most trusted diplomats, friends, and even family so nopony outed him. Even by accident.”

 

“Wow…” mouthed Twilight.

 

“After several years of processing the bones and completing a spell to create shatterproof glass, he spent long days drafting the perfect spell to travel long distances without risking lives,” said Celestia, and Luna flashed a three-quarter image of the mirror within a very dark room with Arion facing it. “At last, he came up with the right one to create a portal from one country to another. It was a secret only he and rulers from other kingdoms knew, and they kept them all the way until their deaths. After King Arion died, the citizens named the country Arion Straus in his honor.”

 

“They must’ve really loved him to name their country after him posthumously,” said Fluttershy softly.

 

Spike taped a claw on his snout. “…But what does all a’this have t’do with Star Swirl?”

 

Celestia nodded to Luna, who flashed flat carving-like drawings of three dragon-like creatures, each with bright green eyes, and all sitting on what looked like moss-covered rocks. One was aquamarine with more of a greenish tint. The middle was burnt orange. Another was violet. Wavy fins began at their poll and gradually decreased while the fins looped from one to the other, ending halfway down the body. Smaller fins protruded out from their cheeks and the backs of their two front legs. Scales on their chests and underbellies surrounded and protected a large, ruby-like hexagon on their jugular. Rather than two rear legs, each of them had a tail with a large fin expanding outward.

 

Spike’s eyes opened wide. “A-A-Are those—”

 

“Sirens!” gasped Twilight and Rarity.

 

“After King Arion died, the kingdom slowly descended into complete disarray. The Sirens lived on an island not far from Arion Straus,” said Celestia. “They didn’t attempt to invade when King Arion was alive because he allied with several different kingdoms, including griffons and dragons. When he passed, diplomatic relations dwindled and fell apart.” A slide featuring ponies arguing and fighting as the Sirens watched gleefully replaced it. “Seeing it as an opportunity, the Sirens invaded Arion Stratus and seduced them with powerful music. As they sang, hate burned into everypony who lived there. Those who tried to fight it died, either killed by the Sirens themselves or through suicide.”

 

Luna flashed a new slide; Star Swirl sat next to a cloaked stallion. The bottom was as blue as the sky and sloped downward. “According to legend, one pony was able to escape from their hate curse and searched far away. While drinking from a waterhole, he noticed Star Swirl from the corner of his eye and asked for help. Star Swirl listened as he described King Arion and the Sirens’ evil. He tried to defeat them by stripping them of their powers, but they were too powerful, even for them.”

 

Immediately, Luna projected a drawing of Star Swirl standing on a hill facing the Sirens, King Arion’s crumbling castle behind him.

 

It was Celestia’s turn to talk. “One night, he caught a break. He snuck into Arion’s castle and discovered his mirror along with the accompanying spell in his catacomb underground. He rewrote the spell to make the portal become a point of no return instead of a tunnel for trade. What happened, nopony knows, but he was somehow able to lure the Sirens into the portal, restoring order in Arion Stratus.” She glanced down glumly. “Whatever order that existed.”

 

“What do you mean, Princess Celestia?” wondered Rarity.

 

“After the Sirens were defeated, very little of Arion Stratus survived. Those who lived during the Sirens’ reign either left to find cultivated countries or stayed vainly to revive the kingdom. Star Swirl stayed behind to try to help, but no kingdom trusted Arion Stratus. That left him no choice but to abandon any attempt to revive it.”

 

Everyone looked down at the ground in silence. Wind blew from the ocean and past Irviger Square, rustling the leaves. In the meantime, Luna dwindled her magical projection spell, and Celestia retracted the scroll.

 

As Celestia packed it, Sunset interrupted. “Hold it. The story doesn’t end here, does it?”

 

“Well, our adventures have always been topsy-turvy,” giggled Pinkie Pie. “So it makes sense if his were the same.”

 

Princess Celestia chuckled from their astuteness, and everyone paid attention. “Unfortunately, Star Swirl’s spell backfired. Rather than rewriting the spell to permanently seal the mirror, it was always able to open and close. Several times, he attempted to rewrite the spell to close the loophole in the mirror…but was never able to. So, he sealed in a hidden room in Canterlot Castle where only a few ponies knew existed and instructed me to look after it in his will.”

 

“But, Celestia…if it was a secret room as Star Swirl claims…” Twilight paused, trying to find the right words, “why do we feel the portal through our horns or Spike’s spines?”

 

Celestia closed her eyes. “I don’t know, Twilight. I believe Star Swirl didn’t, either.”

 

Princess Luna gazed at her horseshoes, which glistened in the moonlight above.

 

“Sometimes stuff like this makes me glad I was sealed in the moon.”

 

Everyone in the square gasped.

 

“Your majesty!” Rarity shrieked. “Why in the world would you say that?!”

 

Luna sighed, focus still down. “Being a princess isn't always easy, and I wasn't mature. If I learned something like this as a young foal, I might've been overzealous enough to try to find the mirror and seal it myself.”

 

Celestia wrapped her wing around her back and nuzzled her face on Luna, who nuzzled back.

 

Fluttershy stood up, crossed the imaginary barrier dividing the circle, and sat down about three feet in front of Luna. “Um, Princess Luna—”

 

“Please, Fluttershy. Call me Luna.”

 

“Luna. Okay… Um…” Yellow fur bristled. Her left hind leg buckled. “…Ooooooh, how should I say it?”

 

Luna shook her head. “Worry not.”

 

“Really? Okay, well…” Eyebrows furrowed. Lips frowned. “…That’s one of the craziest things I've ever heard! Nopony deserves to be sealed anywhere! Not in the moon. Not in stone. Nothing!” Her face and voice relaxed, and she patted her shoe with a hoof. “Please, Luna, never wish you were glad to be sealed.”

 

Luna glanced at Celestia (whose wing still wrapped around Luna’s back) and returned attention to the yellow pegasus. “I wish these thoughts would disappear through banter, but I can’t. Fluttershy…I cannot help myself feeling this way.”

 

“I’m sure we all felt somethin’ sim’lar at one point or ’nother, your majesty,” said Applejack as Fluttershy retreated to her place in the circle.

 

“I sure did.” Pinkie Pie danced a front hoof back and forth on the dirt and looked across her half of the circle. “Remember the mess I was in when I believed nopony liked me anymore?”

 

The ReMane Five and Spike nodded.

 

She pointed at Rainbow Dash. “Well, Dashie here does.”

 

“Ya really want me to tell ’em?”

 

“Of course!” Pinkie grinned, eyes closed. “After all, we’re all friends here, aren’t we?”

 

Sunset glared at Celestia. Not all of us.

 

Rainbow Dash exhaled. “Well, you don’t know this, but she became bananas and dedicated a party with a bag of flour, rocks… Y’all know about the turnips.”

 

Some ponies covered their mouths with a hoof — Fluttershy with both — and expanded their eyes.

 

“I know you took it badly, Pinkie,” said Rarity, a mild flex of a hovering hoof. “But THIS badly?!”

 

Spike lowered his spines, frowned, and turned away.

 

Twilight wrapped her wing around him and hugged him.

 

Rainbow Dash lowered her ears. Once, Pinkie requested her not to tell them. Why did she have to now…? “Well, now you know.”

 

“Aw, why so melancholy?” Pinkie chirped. “Why aren-cha happy ya spilled the flour?”

 

“’Cuz you didn’t want me to tell them. You knew they’d be heartbroken.”

 

“I know. Dumbest — Pinkie — Promise — ever!” Reaching from behind, she unveiled a wastepaper basket; dumped a piece of paper that said “Pinkie Promise” in bold, magenta capitals; and put it away.

 

Twilight, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, and Celestia chuckled.

 

Luna’s teeth crushed through fur and onto flesh. Stars in her ethereal mane twinkled a little brighter. Tiny drips of sweat inched onto her eye shadow, increasing the weight of her lids…

 

Suddenly, a little laugh escaped. Soft, sweet, and angelic. Leaves stopped dancing, and Pinkie internally swore she heard the voices of some gossiping to each other.

 

Everyone smiled; Rarity awed.

 

Celestia nuzzled her face on Luna’s right cheek again. “I love it when you laugh, little sister.”

 

“I haven’t heard you laugh since Nightmare Night.” Twilight Sparkle’s eyes twinkled under Luna’s moonlight. “It’s so beautiful. Please, laugh more.”

 

“Luna, look around you!”

 

Upon hearing Pinkie’s typical brightness, she observed the square. Nine pairs of warm eyes and nine matching smiles watched her.

 

“You have so many friends,” Pinkie Pie resumed. “Me, Twilight, Celestia, Spike, and everypony else. You have more friends you don’t know you have. And guess what? We're all your friends for life!” Teeth brighter than the brightest star in the sky shone in a six-inch-tall grin.

 

Sunset Pie Shimmer caressed her front left hoof on Luna’s jaw and gently gestured her head down.

 

“And, Luna…never forget. You have a new friend-for-life.”

 

She lunged up and kissed her cheek.

 

Princess Luna’s pupils opened. Sunset’s warm lips rapidly charged her heart; she could feel blood pump and circulate throughout her body. Nerves within her jaw buzzed. Warm traces of humidity evaporated, allowing the tips of her rich, midnight coat to float, flop, and kiss upon every touch.

 

There was a soft clang. A soft, naked, blue front hoof patted on her left cheek just beside the muzzle’s edge. Seeing it she didn’t— A warm orange glowed invisibly on her toe.

 

Smile widening, Luna’s eyes twinkled and quivered before Celestia, Sunset, and the others. Nopony expressed even a tinge of shock or contempt. They were innocent, caring, and comforting. No focus devolved into a gawk or pinpoints. Like the night sky in Sunset’s town, the irises trusted her. No one color dominated the other. The purples, greens, and blues didn’t peak away or force themselves onto Luna’s soft green. Multiple colors rendezvoused at the radius, and they all blinked in adoration.

 

But some of their smiles…

 

Of course, Pinkie Pie loved to exaggerate hers…but was it an exaggeration at all? She always loved Pinkie’s smile, even though they didn’t see each other often. But she peaked at her again and again; every time, hers radiated.

 

Fluttershy’s was small, yet cute, matching her eyes.

 

Like her eye shadow and eyelashes, Rarity’s smile glowed. The more the ends curled, the brighter it became.

 

Sunset’s physically touched, but she didn’t bother not resisting another peak. Brilliance emitted from her grin.

 

Applejack’s was small and firm, but caring. From the middle out, hers curled gradually. As iconic as her hat was, she looked much better without it, especially tonight. Otherwise, her smile would be the first thing she saw, not her hat.

 

Spike’s grin popped out, pushing itself forward as his green and purple scales tiptoed an inch or two away.

 

Rainbow Dash’s smile was more innocent. Blunt she may be sometimes, she wasn’t afraid to try to be sappy even though she claimed to be against it. How can cocking of the head help make a smile look cute? She may never know.

 

Like stars and the sun, Twilight’s and Celestia’s shone. Luna’s moon reflected off Twilight as she smiled with her eyes closed. But with Celestia offering a warm wing, hers was the brightest of them all. Even brighter than Pinkie’s.

 

At last, she spoke.

 

“Thank you, everypony. All of you. Your kindness means so much to me.”

 

“We’re all very welcome, darling,” said Rarity with a small bow. She turned to Celestia, who retracted her wing. “Now, if I recall correctly, you can't replace curses or spells on a whim… Can you?”

 

“I’m afraid not Rarity,” she replied, shaking her head solemnly. “The only forms of innate magic known to horned ponykind are lifting, relaxing, pulling, pushing, transferring, and levitating. Not everyone has mastered them. You can create new magic like Star Swirl’s spell that Twilight closed, but you can’t change it without finding the actual source.”

 

Twilight cupped a sole on her lips and hummed. “So, if we find the actual source of the spell…then we can revise…and we can keep the portal open… Sunset, you’ll be able to visit both families whenever you like!”

 

“YES!” Sunset jumped up.

 

“But,” interrupted Luna; Sunset froze in midair, “there is a flaw in the plan.”

 

“If you rewrite the spell incorrectly, then the portal may go haywire,” said Celestia as Sunset landed. “The principal version of myself couldn’t enter the portal.”

 

“Pinkie-Mommy couldn’t, either.”

 

Celestia paused. “Apparently, the mirror has a spell preventing anyone who possesses no Equestrian magic from voluntarily entering the portal.”

 

“Do y’all know if Star Swirl or Arion wrote it?” asked Applejack.

 

Celestia and Luna shook their heads.

 

“I hate t’ask this,” Dash cut in, “but what if we try and fail?”

 

“Several implications, I’m afraid,” said Celestia, “including uninvited guests infiltrating both dimensions, opening gates to other worlds…” she sighed with audible pain, “or closing it forever.”

 

Sunset gasped. Her gaze froze. Fur and bones trembled. Cold sweat dripped. Eyes shrank — pupils enlarged and nearly covered her irises.

 

Luna activated her horn and pointed it at the unicorn. A blue aura encased her, and she was lifted off the ground. Not once did she flail, speak, or fight back, yet her fur froze while the ends continued to shake. When she hovered above the Royal Sisters, Luna scooted a couple of feet away, opening up land between them. Slowly, she lowered her horn, pulling Sunset gently to the ground.

 

The second her hooves touched dirt, Luna deactivated her horn, and both sisters wrapped a wing around her. Tips of their feathers penetrated her coat, tickling her, but Sunset didn’t laugh. Instead, her sweat gradually slowed and came to a full stop. As her eyes increased to normal size, her dilated pupils shrank. Warmth of their undersides relaxed her fur.

 

“Think not about the consequences, Sunset,” soothed Luna, her voice gentler than quiet wind, and nuzzled the back of her head. “Spend quality time here and in the other world with the Pies there. Promise?”

 

Sunset peaked at both sisters, each of whom smiling with confidence.

 

Finally, a brave smile cracked through, and she nodded at Luna. “Promise.” She whipped her head at Celestia and nodded at her, as well. “Promise.”

 

“Luna’s right, Sunny-Hunny. Don’t worry about worrying,” said Pinkie. “Leave the worrying to us!”

 

Rarity chuckled. “Clever approach, Pinkie. I like it!”

 

Spike stood up and said, “So, first thing tomorrow, everypony?”

 

“Good idea,” replied Pinkie Pie and hummed in thought. “Why don’t we start searching in Star Swirl’s study, wherever it is?”

 

“Canterlot Castle has several,” said Twilight. “I remember two the most: one just downstairs from Celestia’s study, another not far from mine.”

 

“Sunset, did yours belonged to Star Swirl, too?” wondered Fluttershy.

 

Sunset crossed her front hooves, tapped one of them underneath an ear, and hmm’d long and hard. “I…think so. Y’all wanna check?”

 

“If you don’t mind,” replied Fluttershy, cocking her head with a smile.

 

Sunset chuckled. “Not at all. Perhaps a split into a few groups to find it better?”

 

“Sounds like a good plan,” said Spike.

 

Luna stood up and dusted herself off. “I’ll help, too.”

 

“Looks like it’s a unanimous vote,” Twilight said, but quickly corrected herself. “Almost. Celestia, will you help, too?”

 

Celestia nodded and said, “Yes.”

 

“Excellent.” Sunset stood up and started trotting toward her house. As soon as she passed Pinkie Pie, she stopped and looked back. “Princess Celestia, do you still have the keys for it?”

 

Celestia shook her head. “After you ran away, I gave them to your father.”

 

“Hmm, not surprised. Nopony move a muscle! I’ll be right back.”

 

“Take as long as you need it. We’ll wait,” replied Fluttershy.

 

Sunset giggled quietly and jogged away.

 

It wouldn’t take long. A few minutes later, Dawn and Sunset teleported to Irviger Square, golden study keys in hoof. When he gave them to Celestia, the group of nine departed.

 

---

 

More to come.