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[Author's Note: set shortly after the first film.]

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“Thank you two for agreeing to meet, my precious students. I’m certain you both have others you’d rather be spending time with, but I suspect you won’t be here long before returning to your human friends, Sunset Shimmer, and you to your family, Twilight Sparkle. As such, I hope you’ll forgive me for delivering your presents a day early.”

Sunset Shimmer smiled knowingly as Celestia was quickly bombarded with reassurances. “Princess, I will always make time for you and for all my friends if they need me! Especially those that have little time as it is.” Twilight said with a wide reassuring smile as she glanced over towards the flame coloured mare.

The three mares were seated in a circle on big fluffy cushions. A small table sat between them, sporting drinks and a platter which held bite sized cupcakes and brownies.

Sunset made to respond in turn, but was pre-empted by a colourfully wrapped gift levitating up to her, which held a distinctly bookish shape. A moment later a second, equally book shaped package floated up next to the younger princess. “I know things were tense between us, Sunset Shimmer, in the events leading up to your first and second trips to Canterlot High School. I hope you’ll come to call me mentor again in time, but for now I’m glad I can call you friend once more. I hope you’ll come to learn more about the magic of friendship, as Twilight has, with those on the other side of the portal. To that end, my gift is one that may help you sort through any trials and tribulations your budding relationships will have.”

Without hesitation, Sunset tore open her gift. The motherly smile never the matriarch’s face as Sunset read the title of her new book aloud. “Dear Princess Celestia, authored by Twilight Sparkle and Co. Adapted by Princess Celestia?” She finished, confused. Next to her, Twilight gasped, her gift having been revealed to be an identical copy of Sunset’s.

“That book is a compilation of all the friendship reports Twilight and her friends have sent to me since her studies in friendship began. It is my gift to you, in hopes that you can put her learning to good use with your new friends. As for you, Twilight, I hope you’ll join me as author and editor in chief of this new series, which I aspire to publish for all the ponies of Equestria. With this book and any that follow, I hope to help other ponies who struggle to make friends. After all, learning is important, but even more important is to spread the information you learn to those in need.”

Twilight’s agreement followed instantly, of course, as did a hug for her mentor. Celestia, however was far from finished, as she turned back to her older pupil. “And, of course, if this book is to become a series, it should include advice from as many sources as possible for all my little ponies to learn from. It is my wish, therefore, that any lessons you should learn in turn be shared as well, Sunset Shimmer. If you agree, I would be quite happy to have you return to our world once every cycle of the portal, that you might share any new lessons you have learned with Twilight and myself.”

The mare in question felt a smile well up on her face as she considered the implications of Celestia’s request. ‘A book published under the name of the most loved and well-meaning pony on the planet would be read by everypony! It means that the lessons held in this series would be held sacrosanct by all the residents of Equestria. To be asked to be a part of such an undertaking, Celestia must be willing to place her utmost trust in me!’ She concluded.

“I won’t let you down, Princess Celestia!” Sunset exclaimed with a smile, and both princesses smiled back at her. Even after all the trouble she’d caused, both her previous mentor and her first friend wanted her to help ponies across the kingdom. In fact, it was most likely because of the trouble that they had approached her. She had a lot to learn about forgiveness and friendship, and Sunset intended to make sure every lesson was carefully recorded.

“And, to help you keep track of the portal openings, you can use my gift! This way you’ll always know when you can come and see us.” Twilight said as she dropped a box in front of Sunset.

As she tore into the wrapping once more, Sunset couldn’t help but smile. Maybe things were looking up for her. That feeling floundered for a moment as she pulled out what seemed to be Twilight’s crown from the gift box. A burst of giggles incited her to stare down the alicorn with a flat look. “Sorry, I couldn’t resist. I just thought that since you liked my crown so much, maybe you’d appreciate a copy!” Twilight explained before delving into laughter once more.

Next to her, Celestia let out a titter before carefully levitating a thin, flat object that reminded Sunset of her cellphone from the box. “Twilight had me help her make this. It should be easy to store. When you return home, it will most likely begin to function: Green means the portal is open, and red means it is closed. As you approach the next change, this will slowly fade from one colour to the other, so you will always have a few days of warning before the portal is about to change states. I know you are eager to please, Sunset Shimmer, but do not think you need to rush into the new task I have given you. This is merely an early edition of the first book, of which there will only ever be three copies. Twilight and I still need to finish editing and publishing this copy before we can prepare for the next.”

Sunset nodded. “Thank you, Princess Celestia, Twilight. I’m really happy that you could look past my mistakes and help me realise what I was doing was wrong.” She smiled and plopped her new crown on her on head. “How does it look?”

“It’s very nice, I think it suits you well.” Twilight said as she giggled once more.

Celestia rolled her eyes playfully before shaking her head. “I believe it is too purple for your colour pallet, my little pony.” She said, and her horn shone for a moment. “What do you think now, Twilight?”

Twilight pouted for a moment before relenting. “Fine, I guess bronze is more her colour.” Sunset quickly snatched the crown from her head, which now sported a bronze and red sun rather than a starburst.

Sunset smirked at Twilight before carefully levitating her own gifts across to the two princesses. “I got you both something as well, although they’re not nearly as personal as yours, I’m sorry to say.” Twilight reassured her quickly that her gift hadn’t been that special before opening the package, which was once again clearly book shaped. “I know you love studying, so I got you a book about biology. I don’t know if Equestria has made as many scientific strides as the humans have, but even if they have, hopefully you can compare the differences in the scientific ways between the two species.”

“This is wonderful!” Twilight exclaimed before flipping open the book and paging through it quickly.

“Yeah, I thought you might think so. I wanted to get you one on astronomy, but the humans of Canterlot high have some really strange beliefs. They think the Sun floats around the planet on its own!” Twilight looked up with a shocked expression. “I know! I wonder what would lead them to think something like that.” Both younger ponies glanced over to Celestia, who smiled serenely as she sipped her tea. “Princess do you know who controls the Sun and Moon on the other side of the portal?” She asked.

“I must say, I do not. I have never been in contact with the rulers of the humans’ world, so I cannot say for certain, but I remember hearing rumours of some divine entity when a past student returned from exploring the land.” Celestia said.

“Well, maybe I’ll look into it at some point. Anyway, for you, Princess.” She said as she nodded to the large box before Celestia. The alicorn in question opened her present, revealing what seemed to be “A genuine replica of an ancient tea set used almost a thousand years ago in the other world. I don’t know if it’s the same as the ones we use here, but I thought you might like the cultural history. The box says there’s a pamphlet inside which details the rituals used to make tea back when this type of tea set was used.”

Celestia favoured her old student with a large smile before setting down the box and embracing her. “Thank you, Sunset Shimmer, this was a very thoughtful gift. I can see just by the picture that this tea set if very different from those of the pre-banishment era. I am quite certain that Luna and I will put this to good use.”

Once liberated from the hug, Sunset was immediately pulled into another by a much more purple alicorn. “I’m so glad you joined us today! This will really help me with my research and integrating new ideas into Equestrian science. Thank you, Sunset.”

Twilight was quick to share her gift with Celestia; homegrown chamomile, lavender and peppermint tea flavours, which she admitted to having gotten help from Applejack and Fluttershy. With their gifts exchanged, the mares parted ways, Twilight returning home to her family while Celestia escorted Sunset to the portal, once again located in Canterlot Castle.

Just before she passed through, Sunset turned to her mentor. “I really am sorry-”

A comforting wing was wrapped around her barrel before she could say any more. “I know, Sunset. I forgive you, and I know Twilight has as well. Now you need only forgive yourself.” She stepped back with a smile. “Have a good Hearth's warming, my little pony.”

With a sad smile of her own, Sunset stepped back through the portal, her book appearing in one hand and a strange object that reminded her of a credit card in the other. It was glowing a dull green, with streaks of vibrant red criss-crossing the card. Sunset quickly secured her new possessions, one in her bag and the other in her wallet, before setting out to find her friends at Pinkie’s Hearth's warming eve party. Although her past was stained with violence, Sunset couldn’t help but smile at the bright future that seemed to be just around the corner.