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Seeking My Purpose In The World

by The Sleepless Beholder

Chapter 16: Chapter 16: Getting Back to Business

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Sunset slowly woke up, rubbing her groggy eyes to take in her surroundings.
She smiled as she saw a familiar canopied bed around her, it felt like so long ago that she had slept in this bed. Her bed.
She slowly rose up, looking around her room. She saw her old bookcase still filled to the brim with her favorite books. ‘I need to buy one for my house in Ponyville.’
She then saw the rather immense desk/workbench she had requested to Celestia when she entered her ‘creative phase’.
A large array of paints was organized in a line across it, like a frontline of soldiers guarding the different small paintings that she had made over the years. The more successful that is, the others were…
She curiously searched under the desk, until she found her little box of secrets still well hidden under other piles of old projects that she refused to throw out.
She pulled out the box and opened it with a smile.
There she found her more crude drawings and paintings, the ones only a filly would be proud off, but she still had affection for them.
She took some out, and quickly found herself giggling at a crude drawing of Celestia with cheeks cartoonishly full of cake.
She continued looking at her old art and little projects, until she found another one that called her attention. She had drawn herself floating in the air, forelegs extended to the sky, horn glowing with a cyan aura, and a huge smile on her face. At the tip of her hooves was the sun, slowly being lifted by her own magic, and at the bottom of the paper it was written: “Princess Sunset.”
The phrase left a kind of sour taste in her mouth. It was a reminder of her dreams.
Since the Nightmare Moon incident, she had chosen to leave things aside until she could feel better about herself and fix her relationship with Celestia. And dear her, that grave kept digging itself deeper.
But things had changed now. She and Celestia were in much better terms, she had accepted Twilight and her family as hers, she was fixing her relationship with Twilight’s friends, and she didn’t feel like she would snap at any moment like before. She felt stronger in a sense, much more than even before her incident.
Sunset smiled as she put the picture back in the box. “I think it’s time to get back to business.”
She then noticed the ‘hidden treasure’ of her hidden box, which to filly-Sunset meant the toys she covered with the pile of art.
Nothing could define Sunset more than her seeing the nest of dolls, puzzles, board games, and a tiny wooden sword, and pick a rubber ball meant for magical training.
For a unicorn in training, throwing and catching objects was one of the easiest ways to train their magic, and the rubber ball was an easy toy for any young pony to practice with.
She gave it a throw against the wall, seeing it bounce back towards her, and stopped it just shy of striking her snout.
She continued playing with it for some time, enjoying the nostalgia, until she got it out of her system and returned it back to the box before hiding it.
She stepped out of the room and walked to the kitchen with a hop in her step, but as she advanced through the corridors, she noticed the staff and guards trying not to look directly at her, some even holding back giggles.
‘Okay… this is weird.’
She passed by a window and quickly went back to see herself in the reflection.
All across her right side, her coat had been covered in pink kiss marks.
“CADENCE!” she screamed at the top of her lungs, but she was smiling on the inside.


“Good one Miss Pretty,” Sunset said as she took seat on the table, half of her coat still wet from her washing up.

Cadence smiled while she ate her breakfast. “Be glad that I used something easy to wash.”

“I won’t.” A plate was put in front of her with her usual breakfast when she lived in the castle, and she immediately started eating it. “I almost forgot how good our cooks are.”

“Manners Sunset,” Celestia said with her eyes closed.

“Sorry.” Cadence held back little laugh, earning a playful glare from the unicorn.

Celestia looked at her pupil with a smile. “Sunset, I want to ask a favor from you.”

Sunset was surprised at the request. “Sure, ask away.”

“Today is the Running of the Leaves in Ponyville, and I promised to attend it, but some other matters require my presence.” Celestia stopped and looked at Sunset, judging her reaction. “So, I want you to go in my place.”

Sunset was more than surprised. “Wait, really? But I thought you loved to see the autumn celebration.”

Celestia smiled warmly at her. “I do, but I’m afraid I can’t attend this year, so I want you to go in my place and make sure things go smoothly. I’m sure you will have no problem with it.”

Sunset smiled with her newfound confidence. “Of course not, I had to go back to Ponyville sooner or later anyway. Don’t want to make Twilight worry again.”

Cadence’s ears perked up at that. “Could you tell her to come visit someday? Now that I saw you again, I realize how much has been since I last saw her.”

Sunset smiled. “Of course, I’m sure she will also want to see you.”

Celestia waited a couple of seconds before speaking again. “If you plan on staying in Ponyville, I will ask you to come back to Canterlot in a couple of days.”

“Why?” Sunset asked with curiosity.

Celestia took some air to steel her nerves. “There are some things that I wish to… teach you. If you would let me, of course.” She couldn’t help but close her eyes, unsure of what Sunset’s response would be.

“I… actually would like to. I wanted to catch up with my studies now that…” Sunset felt a little uncomfortable, but still continued. “Things have gotten better.”

Celestia smiled an leaned a bit towards Sunset, trying to give some comfort. “I’m sure you haven’t rusted one bit.”

Sunset chuckled, but a question still lingered in her mind. “Is this because of what happened with Cadence?”

Celestia outstretched one of her wings to put it over Sunset’s back. “Yes, but in a good way. Just let me have some time to prepare things and you will see.”

Sunset nodded. “Okay. I trust you.”

Celestia finally hugged her pupil with a smile. “You don’t have to worry. It will help you.”

Sunset leaned fully into the hug, enjoying the particular warmth that the sun monarch radiated. “Thank you.”


As Sunset flew towards the town, her mind was busy planning how to approach the responsibility that Celestia had given her.
Luckily for her, the Running of the Leaves wasn’t a grandiose event, important yeah, but not something that required much responsibility, just making sure that things didn’t go out of control. Which, considering it was Ponyville, surely was going to happen.

“Racers! Please take your positions!” sounded the amplified voice of Pinkie.

“Ah crap.” Sunset teleported herself over to the starting line, surprising most of the participants. Seeing that she had cached their attention, she wanted to say something, but found herself without any idea of what to say.
She then overheard a conversation.

“You're a... well... you're an egghead.”

“I am not an egghead, I am well-read.”

Sunset frowned a little and walked over to the ponies talking.
“Have you ever run a race?” Applejack asked trying to hold back a snicker.

“Well, no, but I do know a lot about running,” Twilight responded.

“And you know this from...?” Rainbow inquired.

“Books. I've read several on the subject.”

Rainbow fell to the ground laughing. “What'd you read, "The Egghead's Guide to Running"?”

“Uh, Rainbow?” Applejack tried to warn her.

“Did you stretch out your eye muscles to warm up?” Rainbow continued, just then noticing the shadow looming over her. She lifted her head and found Sunset’s eyes looking unamused at her.

“I learned flight by reading books. So it’s not as ridiculous as you think,” she said in a semi-threatening way.

“Hey! You’re back.” Rainbow exclaimed, standing up immediately. “How did things go with Cadence?”

Applejack and Twilight were about to shut their friend up before she angered Sunset more, but to their surprise, the unicorn gave a sigh of relief and smiled. “Thanks for not being afraid.”

Rainbow dismissed it with a hoof. “Hey, I trust you. After all that we’ve learned about you so far, I know you’re pretty cool.”

“Thanks Rainbow. Do you want to have our day tomorrow?”

“Sure, I will put your book knowledge to the test,” she responded with her usual competitive enthusiasm.
Sunset’s comeback to her challenge got interrupted as she noticed Twilight looking at her with guilt and pain all over her face. “Is something wrong Twilight?”

The purple unicorn walked up to her, fidgeting and trying to hold back tears. “Sunset… about what you told Applejack… I’m-”

Sunset interrupted her by putting a hoof on her shoulder. “Hey, it’s okay now. Celestia helped me get rid of that strange anger. I… won’t hurt you again.” Sunset trembled a little as she said the last words.

Twilight’s ears lowered a little. “Sunset, you didn’t hurt me.”

“Yes, I did. You still have the marks for it.” The orange unicorn pointed at the spots where Twilight’s coat had a different coloration due to being newer than the rest.

Twilight shook her head. “Sunset, what happened was because of all the pressure we put you through. You said that Celestia helped you get rid of it, you even called it a strange anger. It wasn’t natural, it wasn’t... well, you.”

Sunset looked to the side, still unsure and with a heavy guilt weighting her chest. Twilight pulled her closer and gave her a tight hug. “I know you would never hurt me. All the time I was just worried about you. And what you did after that… I don’t want you to do that again… ever. No matter how angry you get, or how much you think you’re hurting me, I will always want you to be with me. As my big sister.”

Sunset returned her hug, leaning closer to her sister, small tears forming at the corners of her eyes. “I will never leave you Twilight.”
After a few seconds, Sunset opened her eyes, noticed the crowd of ponies looking at them and pushed Twilight away with embarrassment. “Ahem, I came here on behalf of Princess Celestia due to time complications preventing her to come in person. But she wishes you all the best and hope for you to enjoy this years Running of the Leaves!” The ponies gave a little cheer before gathering at the starting line.
Sunset was surprised at how natural her words had come out and allowed herself a little proud smile. ‘Maybe I’m not half bad at this.’

“Hey Sunset!” Pinkie shouted form her balloon alongside Spike. “Do you want to watch the race from here?” The unicorn smiled and summoned her wings.


“I’m so happy that things are getting better for you,” Spike said with a smile.

Sunset, flying right beside the balloon, shared his smile. “Imagine me. I feel like I can take on the world.”

They both shared a laugh, until Pinkie shouted an announcement from her megaphone. “As the racers enter Equestria's Whitetail Wood, Rainbow Dash is back in the lead.”

Sunset watched as the two friends ran as fast as they could, Rainbow Dash managing to run ahead of Applejack by quite a bit. She then saw as the pegasus ran straight towards a branch, bit the tip and bent it so it hit Applejack right in the face.
Sunset raised an eyebrow. ‘Playing dirty? Well guess what.’ She lighted up her horn with a sly smile. ‘Karma’s a bitch.’

While Rainbow gloated, a tree came to life an threw her out of the track with one of its branches. The pegasus was confused, but when she saw her rival get ahead, she cast it aside and rejoined the race.
Applejack looked back, and when she saw Rainbow gaining on her, she kicked a tree with a beehive, so the insects attacked her opponent.
Sunset lighted up her horn once more, and a large anthill was teleported in front of Applejack when she wasn’t looking, making her crash into it.
While the farm pony fought to get the ants out of her coat, Rainbow ran ahead and reached a fork that divided the trail in two, where a sign indicated the correct path.
The pegasus smiled as she changed the sign and hid until her rival saw it and ran up the wrong path. She took a moment to laugh, but in a flash of light, Applejack had been teleported back to the correct path.
They both returned to being neck and neck, but this time, Sunset flew in front of them, flying backwards to face them as they run. “Hey, you two need to calm down, or I will disqualify you.”

“She started it!” They both said pointing at each other with their heads.

“Am I will end it if you two don’t play fair from now on.”

“Wait, did you made that tree hit me?”

“And put that anthill in mah way?”

“That’s just karma,” Sunset said before a branch hit her in the back of the head and she plummeted behind the two.

“Karma!” They both said before continuing their competition.
When both were close to the finish line, they started to bump into each other sideways to try and get an advantage, but suddenly, two walls of stone lifted out of the ground and they crashed into them, leaving a perfect outline of their pained faces in them.
More walls rose up from the ground, forming a cage around the two, trapping them a few meters from the finish line.
Sunset landed in front of the cages, dusting off her coat. “Rainbow Dash, Applejack, you’re both disqualified from the race for cheating and bad sportsmanship.”

“But-”

“SILENCE!” she commanded, making everypony take a step back. “You will speak when I ask you to, and only say what I request of you. Understood?” Both ponies nodded. “Good.”

Twilight approached her sister with worry. “Uhm, Sunset, maybe you’re being-”

“Twilight I will need your advice,” Sunset interrupted her, and her attention went back to the two disqualified ponies. “So, what reason do you had to start this competition?”

Rainbow spoke first. “We were trying to determine which one of us was the best athlete. I won the first competition.”

“Because yah cheated using yer wings!” Applejack accused her.


“You don’t get to call me a cheater! You tripped me at the start of the race!” Rainbow accused her back.

“It was you who made me trip at the start. And then yah hit me with a branch!”

“Enough.” Sunset turned towards her sister. “Twilight, what can you tell me about this?”

“Well, they didn’t trip each other. I was behind both, so I saw them trip over a rock and a tree trunk. I told them, but they didn’t believe me,” Twilight explained.

Sunset turned to the two trapped ponies. “So, both honesty and loyalty can’t trust a friend’s word?”

They looked away from her. “We just got caught up in the competition,” Rainbow complained.

“Yes, and it cost you the race. Even if I didn’t disqualify you, all the other runners have already crossed the finish line.”

“What?!” They both exclaimed.

“Look, I can understand that competitions between friends can get pretty heated, I can even understand them getting a little aggressive. But you should never bring that competition to places that involve others. And more importantly, any competition should never put your friendship into question. You’re both great athletes in your own fields.” She pointed at Applejack. “I doubt anypony besides your brother can compare to your strength, and you have a variety of farm related abilities.” She then pointed at Rainbow. “And you are probably one of the fastest beings in Equestria, besides having an abnormal resistance to damage from what I’ve been told.” Both mares looked at each other with a little pride at the praise they were being given. “You should be proud of your own achievements and abilities without feeling the need to compare them with the ones of other creatures, that will never end well for anypony.”

“Wow, that was a pretty decent friendship lesson,” Twilight said, and noticed how Sunset tried to hide a little smile.

Rainbow turned towards Applejack. “Sorry for hitting you with a branch.”

The farm pony gave an apologetic smile. “Ahm sorry too. We both got carried away.”

Sunset freed them from their cages and Twilight got closer to them. “If you still want to have a healthier competition, there are a few trees that still have their leaves.”

Applejack smiled. “I bet we can knock those leaves down lickety-split. Whaddya say, friend?”

“I'd love to stretch my legs,” Rainbow responded before running off, Applejack following close behind.

Sunset sighed with a smile. “Well, I think that was a successful Running of the Leaves.”

“Uhm.” Twilight whispered in her ear. “You still need to give the medals to the winners.”

Sunset got a little embarrassed. “Oh! Right. Hehehe. Thanks for the help.”

Twilight smiled. “That’s what sisters are for.”

Author's Notes:


Sunset's morale has gone up!: +5

Current morale: 5/100


This chapter proved difficult somehow, but I think it turned out well.
I will inform you that the next chapter will take some time to come out since I will be working on a story with a friend, but it will come eventually. Luckily, we reached more “peaceful” times for Sunset.

Have a nice existence.

I will be watching you.

Next Chapter: Chapter 17: Support Estimated time remaining: 7 Hours, 16 Minutes
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