For Sunset Shimmer, the feeling of being spun around in a vacuum was a familiar one.  Combined with the flashing and changing bright colors, she could only best describe the feeling as being at a dance club, only less defined. The last time she had made that fateful jump into the vortex of movement and color, it had been in the hopes of taking the first steps towards fulfilling her destiny. She believed she would eventually make this journey, and glory would be awaiting her on the other side.

This time as the rapid spinning ceased and a floor sprang up from underneath, she found only a room filled with various artifacts. She also found standing on two legs to be suddenly beyond her. As she fell back onto four legs and looked down to see her familiar-yet-unfamiliar hooves, she decided to use her fallen saddle bag as a test subject.

        Sunset turned towards the bag and began to focus all her thoughts on bringing it over to her, but she didn’t make any effort to approach the bag. Immediately the bag reacted to her will, and it floated up off the ground and over towards her, surrounded by a teal sort of cloud that only she could see.

        “I must say I’m impressed by how you can adjust between bodies so seamlessly,” came a relaxed voice from the supposedly empty room.

Sunset quickly turned in the direction of the voice, her mind now focused on ridding herself of whatever planned to threaten her. Before she could think any further, a pale teal glow flooded the room. It came from another pony, though this pony was much taller than Sunset was. She had a pink coat and a mane of several colors, though her most noticeable feature was that she had both wings and a horn. Sunset knew this was a pony not to be trifled with.

“So one of the Equestrian princesses is here to greet me. I suppose you’re here to detain me or something,” she told the other pony, backing away a few steps to put some distance between them.

The other mare stood up, her body language was relaxed and infinitely less paranoid than Sunset’s. She politely asked, “Well that depends. Is there an army of brainwashed teenagers waiting to enter through that mirror?”

        “No,” Sunset replied.

“How about brainwashed adults then?” the pony asked.

        “No,” Sunset repeated.

        “Dogs? Cats? Bears? Dragons? Wait, are there dragons in that world?” The princess asked again.

“No, no, no, and sadly no, but that would have been a good idea. Of course that’s not important since I’m no longer into that. Sorry, but my days of being an evil queen wannabe are behind me,” she told her interrogator. Sunset hoped the princess would believe her. Sunset really had very little interest in sparring with an alicorn princess just moments after getting her pony body back.

        To her surprise the pony’s face turned into a smile, although it was almost off putting. “Well that takes care of that then.” The princess sat back down and began looking over several charts, graphs, and books that were strewn across the floor. Sunset had not noticed them at first.

Confused, she asked the princess, “That’s it?”

Without even looking up the princess replied, “Uh-huh.”

“But...but last time I was here I stole a royal trinket, and an ancient magical one at that. Oh and it happened to be one of the Elements of Harmony. You know, one of the most powerful artifacts in this world, possibly all worlds. Critical to the protection of Equestria from whatever various evils would threaten it.”

The princess turned away from one her charts, which Sunset noticed were various pictures of ponies connected by different colored threads of yarn. She then said, “My name is Princess Cadance. As appointed ruler of the Crystal Empire, I was asked to wait here in the event you would come back through the mirror. If your intentions were hostile, then I was to detain you. If not, then I’m to let you go on your way.”

At the princess’ introduction, memories of a pink alicorn that she saw on occasion at the palace in Canterlot flooded back, though Sunset had taken very little interest in most other ponies during that time. Still, she remained on edge despite Cadance’s outward politeness and gentility.

“So that’s why Celestia had the mirror moved away from Canterlot, then?” she asked.

“Oh no, it was originally given to me because Princess Celestia believed out of all of us, I would be most suitable for dealing with you. That was until Twilight became a princess.”

Sunset grew only more tense with each mention of Princess Celestia, her former teacher from before she chose to pursue power her own way. “So did Celestia know I would try and steal the crown thirty moons ago? Is that why she planned to have her princess summit conveniently coincide with the alignment?”

Cadance merely gave that smile Sunset had quickly grown to dislike. “Why ask questions to which you already know the answer?”

The thought had always crossed Sunset’s mind, but she of course never had the chance to ever confirm it. Princess Celestia was many things: a wise teacher, a caring leader, and a connoisseur of cakes. She was also a master tactician and a ruler who had managed to maintain her position for centuries, a feat accomplished only through cunning and foresight.

That she would send her most accomplished student into an entirely foreign realm blind, with nothing but a goal in mind, and yet still achieve victory might have seemed crazy to most, but for Celestia it was always a part of some plan. Blueprints that only seemed to make sense to her whenever she looked at them.

Sunset could only let out a small laugh, realizing just how small her own schemes had been. However, this was not her reason for coming back. No, she had more important things to attend to.

She looked Cadance in the eye and mimicked her polite demeanor from earlier as she asked, “So am I free to go?”

“Of course, so long as you avoid turning into a monster or anything like that,” the princess replied without looking up. Her attention was now fully devoted back to her own project scattered across the floor.

Sunset strapped on her saddlebag and then walked past Cadance, carefully avoiding disturbing any of her graphs or folders. As she approached the door that led out, Cadance called back to her, “Oh you might also want this, courtesy of the Royal Equestrian Government.”

Sunset levitated the slip of paper Cadance waved at her and brought to her face to read. It was a train ticket for the Friendship Line. “I hear Ponyville is lovely this time of year. Thanks to Princess Twilight the town’s most recent Winter Wrap Up was a huge success. If you like a pretty view you might want to check it out,” she told Sunset, her voicing overflowing with innocence.

As Sunset glared at her she merely responded, “You know….you remind me a lot of her. Celestia I mean.”

“Hmm, I get that a lot actually. We also like to tease Twilight and Luna for being twins a thousand years apart. The joke among the scholars and the elite is when are Twilight and I going to have our own epic sister war. Of course, if marrying her beloved B.B.B.F.F. didn’t push her over the edge, then I don’t think anything will,” Cadance said.

“The thing is, I love Twilight. Sometimes I forget we’re not really sisters, at least not biologically, but I still want what’s best for her. I also know she’s a smart mare, so I don’t need to hold her hoof when it comes to things like royal duties, public projects, or of course suitors,” she said as she looked over to Sunset, again giving a look.

However, her snake-like smirk was immediately replaced with a different smile, a warm one that radiated true care and affection, “So all I can do is hope that the right choices find her, and if they don’t and I need to step in and be her big sister, then I’ll do that. For now I think I’m just gonna sit here and try to decide which of the royal guards I think my husband likes best...for research purposes, of course,” Cadance was quick to add.

 Sunset stifled her first real laugh, and then walked out the door, leaving the princess to her project. As she left, she heard Cadance listing off names, and she nearly fell over when the name Flash Sentry came up.

…

        Ponyville town hall was a jumble of ponies and paperwork. With the slow, relaxed days of winter now behind them, all the local sectors of government were in full swing. Mayor Mare was taking what little free time she had in the morning to partake in her daily ritual of drinking a hot cup of tea.

        As she drank the nectar of the gods, she looked over at the clock on the wall and saw that it was two minutes until ten. This meant that it was one minute and fifty seconds until her weekly meeting with the princess would begin. Despite any burdens brought on by her majesty’s incessant punctuality and attention to minute detail, it at least meant there wouldn’t be any unwanted surprises.

Just a she took her last sip of tea, her door opened and Quick Write, her newest assistant, announced, “Madam mayor, Princess Twilight Sparkle is here for your weekly meeting.”

“Very well, send her in,” the mayor replied. Quick Write nodded and opened the door as Princess Twilight Sparkle entered. The mayor stood up and gave a polite bow. “Good morning, your highness.”

“Please mayor, you know I don’t like you calling me that,” Twilight interjected as took her crown from her head and placed it on the desk.

“Ah yes, just observing the minimum standards of propriety,” she responded.

Twilight then took a seat as she turned to the mayor, “Well for these meetings, let’s set the minimum standards even lower shall we? We are discussing politics, after all.”

Both mares shared a small laugh at the joke before the mayor took her seat and pulled out several folders filled with paperwork. She then looked to her princess and said, “I must admit you coming here is perhaps one of the best things that’s ever happened to this town.”

“Really?” the princess responded, sounding surprised.

“Why of course. We’ve had a one hundred percent Winter Wrap Up efficiency rate four years running thanks to you, and tourism is up thanks to the Princess Twilight Educational Enrichment Tours,” the mayor said happily, looking over reports.

“I did decide to make educating ponies my number one priority as Princess. I can’t believe that the first year anniversary of my educational initiative is only a week away,” Twilight replied.

“From what I hear, Pinkie is planning quite the event to commemorate it.”

Twilight giggled and replied, “We all know Pinkie. There’s a party for everything.”

“Oh yes. Over half the zoning, building, fire safety, food preparation, and noise violation codes for the town were a direct result of a party thrown by Pinkie Pie,” the mayor replied, and she and Twilight both laughed.

        Without warning, the door to her office flew open and Quick Write ran in, winded from presumably running. “Madam Mayor, your highness, I’m sorry for interrupting your meeting, but there’s a situation,” she said, breathing heavy and taking a break after each word.

The mayor’s eyebrow raised in confusion as she looked to her princess, who merely responded by shrugging her shoulders. She asked, “What kind of situation?”

With her breathing back to normal, Quick Write answered, “She’s back.”

...

The air in the train station was thick, between all the exhausts from the various trains and the noise of ponies coming and going. Sunset Shimmer crinkled her nose at the medley hot air coming from both pony and machine.

“Excuse me miss, but would you be interested in making a charitable donation to the Ponyville Home for Wayward Foals?” A voice somehow cut through all the surrounding commotion, and Sunset turned to see a tan mare with a tiny teal filly by her side. She carried a saddlebag half filled with bits and a stack of fliers. A familiar image of a girl with animals in her backpack standing outside a high school with a statue of a stallion entered her mind.

        Sunset would normally turn her nose to people like this, combined with a snarky comment and maybe some high pitched laugh as she walked away.

No, all that is behind you now. You came here for a reason.

Sunset reached into her own saddle bag and pulled out a few bits. She was happy the currency exchange office gave her a good rate on those gold earrings she had brought with her from the other world. The world where she had learned much and nearly lost everything.

“Here, it’s not much,” she told the mare as she put the small coins into the bag.

        Sunset was not prepared for what occurred next. The filly ran up and hugged her, and the mare chuckled and told her, “Oh, it’s more than enough miss. Thank you so much; this means more than you know.”

        “Thank you nice lady!” The filly said with high pitched glee as she turned to walk with her caretaker, leaving a shocked Sunset standing awkwardly.

        “Huh,” was all she could say, filled with an abnormal feeling of satisfaction. This did not last long, as Sunset was snapped her out of that daze by being run over by a passing trolley. She then made her way for the exit, her reason for being there now back on her mind.

        Today would certainly be an interesting one in Ponyville.

…

        “Booooo! Get out of here!”

        “Leave!”

        “We don’t want you here!”

        Twilight and the Mayor were led to the marketplace on the main road of Ponyville by Quick Write. Twilight did not think it was necessary, since she could have just followed the sound of heckling. She saw that a sizeable crowd of ponies were encircling somepony, and they were clearly not happy with whoever that was.

        As they drew even closer, Twilight could make out another voice that stuck out amongst the chorus of heckling. “Why I never. Can you not see that the Modest and Apologetic Trixie is here to make amends?” said the familiar voice.

“Everypony, what is going on here?” the Mayor asked, though most of the crowd was too caught up in the heat of the moment to notice she and Twilight were even there.

“Yeah, well the first time you came around an Ursa Major nearly ate us all!” One random voice shouted, followed by a series of agreeing rumblings.

“Okay, I would just like to point out that was the work of two foolish colts. I had nothing to do with it,” Trixie rebuttled, though the crowd seemed hardly swayed.

“Oh yeah, well what about the time you used some freaky magic amulet to enslave us all?” asked another voice followed by a wave of support. The voice surprised Twilight, as she immediately zoned in on it to see a familiar blue pegasus with a rainbow-colored mane floating above the crowd.

“Rainbow Dash! What are you doing?” she called out to her friend over the crowd, who little by little began to notice that a princess was among them.

Once Dash noticed she flew over to Twilight, a sour look upon her face. “Well we’re trying to get Trixie to leave before, you know, she tries to take over again,” Dash answered flatly. Several of the other ponies voiced their agreements.

While Trixie’s signature bravado had seemed to disappear at the crowd’s accusations, Twilight noticed Trixie seemed to have perked up at her arrival. Twilight made her way over to the showmare, the crowd parting to let her through. She stopped and then calmly asked, “Trixie, why have you come here today?”

“Twilight Sparkle…”

“That’s Princess Twilight Sparkle to you,” Rainbow Dash interjected, before Twilight turned and delivered a glare that quieted her and the rest of the crowd.

“I’m sorry, your highness,” Trixie corrected herself as she made a hastily bow.

Twilight however, put her hoof on the unicorn and nodded her head, signaling her to rise. “Don’t worry about that Trixie. I just want you to answer my question,”she told her in a calm, yet stern, voice.

“Oh, yes, well it has been several years since I was last in Ponyville, and I know that the last time I was here it wasn’t an entirely pleasant visit.” This statement was met with grunting and rumbling throughout the crowd, though Twilight paid them no attention. “I have traveled since then, and had a lot of time to reflect on things, and well, I just want….to make amends. Properly this time. I know I apologized to you, Princess, but I feel I still owe the town something in return.”

“And what do you think you can give us?” one nameless stallion cried out.

Trixie then spoke over the crowd to answer, “I will be putting on a performance, completely free of charge. It will be the likes of which you have never seen before. I have been advertising it across Equestria, and I know for a fact ponies of all kinds from all over Equestria will be coming here. Just two weeks from now I will astound and amaze them all, and you all as well!” Trixie told the crowd, her voice and confidence gradually rising as she carried on.

However, no pony in the crowd returned her enthusiasm. Instead, they mostly all glared at her. Rainbow Dash finally spoke up, “Really? That’s your big apology? A magic show...starring you?”

There was a mixture of more grumbling and some laughter throughout the crowd as Trixie attempting to work damage control. “I was planning on taking up donations during the show, only it wouldn’t be for me. I plan to donate all the proceeds to the town to use for whatever is necessary. Also, I can assure you that there will be ponies and many others pouring in from all over Equestria. These ponies of course will need food, lodging, and places to shop. Why, this could potentially become a huge opportunity for Ponyville.”

Some in the crowd had pondering looks on their faces, some seemed conflicted by it, but still a majority seemed unfazed by Trixie’s sales pitch. “I remember what happened the last time some unicorns said we had opportunity,” one stallion whispered to his friend, unaware Twilight had heard.

Twilight merely cleared her throat, and miraculously the crowd was silenced. The princess looked to the mayor and said, “Madam Mayor, I am aware that many of our citizens have… concerns about Trixie being back here in Ponyville, many of them justified. However, given that it has been sometime since the… uh… incident, I believe we should allow her the chance to make amends. Also, I agree that there is an excellent chance for us to make a sound investment in generating revenue for the town.”

The mayor wore a furtive expression. After a few moments of silent pondering she finally looked to Trixie and Twilight and said, “I will allow Trixie to go through with her planned performance. She will have two weeks to put it together, but if this turns out to be some sort of scam then I’m afraid I will have to turn her over to the proper authorities.”

“Thank you, madam mayor,” Twilight replied, as she delivered a small polite bow. She then poked Trixie in the side and gestured for her to do the same, which Trixie obliged.

With the mess settled, most of the crowd started to disperse, Rainbow Dash left to fly back to whatever cloud she was going to nap on next. Soon the only ponies left standing in the street were Trixie, Twilight, and the mayor.

“Thanks again, mayor,” said Twilight.

“Now Twilight, I know I agreed to this, but I know most of the citizens won’t be happy about it, and that makes for unhappy voters. I’m really sticking my neck out on this one.”

“I understand,” Twilight replied.

“Good, because that means you’ll understand why I have to insist you be wholly responsible for Trixie while she’s here in Ponyville.  You must keep an eye on her, and help make sure this plan of her’s actually works,” said the mayor.

A small frown made its way to Twilight’s face as she sighed and said, “Oh, well I suppose that is fair. I guess that means you’ll be staying with me  while you’re here, Trixie.”

While Twilight had not expected the mayor’s stipulation, Trixie’s reaction was even more surprising. Trixie was blushing, and she seemed determined to look anywhere but at Twilight.

“Well I suppose that will have to do. The Great and Powerful Trixie will surely make the most of it,” she said in her typical haughty manner.

The mayor nodded and turned to head back to her office, leaving only Twilight and Trixie alone. Before Twilight could speak,Trixie said, “Umm, I wanted to thank you Twilight Sparkle, er Princess Twilight.”

“Please just Twilight, Trixie,” she interjected.

“Oh yes, well, I wanted to thank you for sticking up for me back there. Not many ponies have done that for me before,” she said, still not looking directly at Twilight.

“It’s fine, Celestia knows you’re not the first pony I’ve encountered that had made a mistake and needed to make up for it. I just hope you’re up for the task,” she told Trixie as she began her trek back home, forsaking flying.Trixie mounted her cart and began to walk with the Princess.

After a just a few minutes, the two had made it back to Golden Oaks Library. “Wait, so you mean to tell me that a princess is living in a library?” Trixie asked, a hint of disappointment in her voice slightly noticeable.

Twilight merely gave a small laugh before answering, “Well, not exactly, but you’ll see once we’re inside. Twilight then opened the front door and walked in, Trixie right behind her.

Twilight had expected the place to be empty, with Spike out with some friends of his, but instead a pony stood by the round table in the middle of the room.  She was a unicorn with a tan coat and a mane of both bright yellow and scarlet. The last time Twilight had seen this pony, she had stolen her crown and jumped through a mirror to another world.

“Hello Twilight, it’s been a while,” Sunset Shimmer said.