Sunset stood on the step of Canterlot High and sighed. Winter had died down and gave way to a beautiful spring. She took a deep breath and smelt the fresh cut grass and distant trace of flowers. The air was light and happy around her. It was afterschool and she was waiting for Fluttershy so they could go to her place for the weekend. But she knew that would take a while since Big Macintosh came to visit from college and those two were an item. Sunset took her time to enjoy nature.

Lilies and daisies were planted and growing in the small patch of dirt beside the steps and she examined them. They were very nice flowers she thought. But her mind drifted to how long she would probably have to wait for her friend and she sighed. Fluttershy had changed. In fact, all of them had. Ever since that Siren Showdown a year ago, all of them had transformed from the silly, naïve girls they used to be and became mature young women.

It was such a shock to the people around them how sudden their transition was. But it was only natural. The event altered the way they saw things. All of them lost the roundness in their faces and looked older than what they originally looked like. Of course, their physiques changed. None of them were skinny sticks like how Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie used to be. Conversations became less about silly things and more about college. After all, they were seniors now.

It was strange. It was like their friendship became stronger, but also changed along with their individual selves. Sunset would often wonder how Twilight's pony friends stayed their happy selves without being changed. How did they go through all those adventures and not be altered? Only Twilight was altered in terms of appearance with the new set of wings. But Sunset knew she didn't change that much from them, either. It seemed as though Equestria was unchangeable. That everyone there would forever and always be what they were destined to be.

Even their butts knew what they were destined to become! I mean, cutiemarks, people!

But anyhow, the Main 5 and Sunset weren't the only ones to change. The troublesome trio Applebloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo all have found a sudden interest in boys and Sunset enjoys watching them struggle through their feelings. She knew it was mean, but hey. She can have fun, right? It reminded her of when she first fell for Twilight and denied it. It was because of a book...

Sunset's happy thoughts drifted from the three children to Twilight. She missed her so badly. There wasn't a day that went by that she didn't think of her. The first two months Sunset dried herself to sleep each night, burying her face in the pillow that Twilight had slept on. By now the scent had gone away but the memory of it was branded into her mind. The smell of lavenders. Sunset always stood by the statue every day afterschool and hoped for her return. But it hadn't happened.

This was the first afternoon she decided to be away from the portal. Even if she weren't ever to see Twilight now before her, she always saw her in her dreams. She closed her eyes and sighed. She imagined Twilight standing beside her smiling. The girl's long hair trailed down her back and her bangs hung right above her brow. Innocent violet eyes looked at her full of excitement and adventure. Everyday with her was a new journey. Twilight's baby blue blouse fit her snugly and stopped right at her waist where her pleated skirt began. The iconic star on her skirt was a bright pink and seemed to shine. The knee socks with a diamond patterned design hugged her legs right below her knees. And lastly, Twilight's black penny loafer shoes tapped the concrete step.

This was how Sunset remembered her to be.

A girl who would never stop being beautiful. A girl who would always be intelligent. Someone everybody could trust. And most importantly, someone she loved. Twilight would always be the cute girl she knew her to be. Even if Sunset herself changed.

Just then, Applejack came out the school tugging her brother's arm with Fluttershy clutching the other. Behind them came a burst of children called the CMC. They sprinted out and chattered excitedly about their plans for that afternoon. Rainbow Dash shoved Fluttershy out the way of the door and plowed through to get out the school. She held a soccer ball under her arm and had a whistle around her neck.

"Sorry. Soccer practice ran longer than expected," she said.

Since Spitfire had graduated the year before, Rainbow Dash was left as the new captain of the Canterlot Wondercolts. Pinkie Pie came running out behind her still in her cheerleading uniform. It was pretty obvious the squad still needed improvement on their splits and trying to do a pyramid. Pinkie looked beat up. Applejack huffed at her brother and looked at Sunset.

"My big brother and Fluttershy would like to apologize to you for leaving you out here. They got to caught up in the...(shudder) lovey dovey stuff."

Fluttershy looked at Sunset sheepishly as she clung to Big Mac's arm.

"We're sorry, Sunny. We just hadn't seen each other in a long time and lost track of time..."

Big Mac smiled apologetically.

"Yup."

Fluttershy pressed her cheek against his and blushed.

"Who's my tiger wiger cuddle bear?"

Big Mac kissed her cheek.

"I'm your tiger wiger cuddle bear, cutsy wootsy carrot cake."

Applejack, Sunset, and Pinkie Pie grimaced and moved away from them. It was great that they were together and happy but those names were absolutely horrid. The CMC joined in the moving and gagged.

"Gross!" Scootaloo said hoarsely.

"Says the girl who wants a, yuck...a shnoopy doo sugar poo," Sweetie Belle said.

Scootaloo gasped.

"You're the one who wants Button Mash to be your shnoopy poopy doopy, ugh, whatever you said!"

"That's not true!" Sweetie Belle shrieked.

Applebloom eyed her.

"Yeah, sure."

"If I remember correctly you like Featherweight! Give it up, sister! He's your kissy face scrumpy dump!" Rarity's little sister retorted.

The girls went back and forth and Sunset watched with great interest who would win. None of them did in the end since Applejack broke it up. Rarity came walking down the steps looking relieved and irritated at the same time.

"Honestly, you could have texted me you were going to be out here. I was looking for ages!"

"You know, you could have texted one of us, right," Rainbow Dash said flatly.

Rarity pouted.

"But I might chip a nail trying to text you..."

"There ain't no buttons on the thing! What's tuh chip it on?!" Applejack argued. "It's a smartphone!"

Sunset watched Fluttershy and Big Mac go on lovingly with their...precious names, the CMC argue about boys, and Applejack, Rainbow, and Rarity go on about vanity. Pinkie Pie was busy paying attention to everything and butting in and out. In a way, they all were still the same girls they used to be. They still argued about dumb crap and were all childish in ways. Nothing would completely change.

Looking down at the ring on her finger Sunset smiled. It's rainbow colors swirled in the stone. She still hadn't figured out this 'magic word' business but she would find out eventually. A piece of Celestia was with her this day. Despite the hardships and betrayal, Sunset cared about her. She was fortunate to see Celestia's human form still walking around as principal. But the real Celestia, the one who raised her as if she were her own, was with her in the form of a ring.

Everything had morphed and altered in may ways but one thing never changed.

Sunset's love to both Celestia and Twilight.

Author's Notes:

Hopefully, this was satisfying.