Luna entered her sister’s office, seeing the white alicorn siting behind a desk, looking at a pile of documents and very clearly not reading them. “May we have a word with you, dear sister?”

Celestia smiled and pushed the papers away. “Please, save me form this boring bureaucracy.”

“It’s about Sunset.”

Celestia’s smile faded. “Of course it is.”

Luna calmly took a seat in front of the desk. “We have sent her to Ponyville.”

“What?!” Celestia exclaimed in horror.

“She will join Twilight in her studies of friendship. We believe the separation from you will help heal your relationship in the long run.”

“You can’t make that decision! Sunset needs to remain close to me at all times!”

“Well, the time she didn’t, she helped us return to our proper state of mind. We understand that you worry she will turn into another Nightmare Moon, but we can assure you, we do not see any bit of nightmare in her.”

“It’s not-”

“However, your attitude towards her is a clear copy of what drove us to that point. You should be well aware of this.”

Celestia dragged her hooves against her mane in frustration, her crown clattering to the floor. “I know that now. I just… I was so focused on getting you back that I didn’t realize how unstable Sunset was.” She thumped her head on the desk. “I wanted to try and restart things and mend the breach, but she was far worse than I was expecting… I shouldn’t have showed her the mirror.”

“You mean Stars Swirl’s mirror?”

“Yes. It showed her three possible futures; one in which she was sad and in pain, one where she turned into the monster you confronted last night, and the last one of her, ruling Equestria in my place.”

“Well, why not try and guide her to that last future. We’re sure that she would be more than willing to wait until your eventual retirement.”

“She can’t rule Equestria. She’s not ready, and she will never be. She doesn’t understand friendship like Twilight, she’s obsessed with magic, regardless of how dangerous it could be, and she’s adamant on doing everything on her own.”

Luna frowned at Celestia’s words. “We think you are blowing this way out of proportion Tia! She may not be ready now, but she can learn, if you teach her correctly!”

“There’s something that you don’t know Luna.” Celestia raised her head from the desk. “I took Sunset as my pupil at a very young age, way earlier than Twilight. And I didn’t do it for her magical prowess.” Celestia took some air before continuing. “I took her in to protect her, and everypony around her.”

Luna got closer to her sister, confused at the implication. “What do you mean protect?”

Celestia gave a heavy sigh, remembering the night after the Summer Sun Celebration, so many years ago. “It all started when she got her cutie mark…”

Sunset got up from her bed, walking to her new house balcony and taking in the morning sun.
She had to admit, being in Ponyville was quite comforting. It was peaceful, and weird, like the quills and sofas place, but she liked it.
It had made her realize how she had spent most of her life imprisoned in Canterlot castle.

“Sunset!” a voice called from below, and Sunset saw Twilight and her friends reunited at her entrance. “I want you to meet my friends!”

“I will be down in a second!” she responded before teleporting to the door, opening it to let them in.

“Darling, you need some curtains… and furniture in general,” Rarity commented, looking at the big empty room.

“Well, I just moved here, I haven’t had time to go to Ponkea.” Sunset rubbed the back of her head. “Also… I’m used to have everything done by the castle staff, so it’s a learning experience all around.”

Rainbow Dash nodded in understanding. “Yeah, moving alone is quite hard at first, but don’t worry, you will get the hang of it soon.”

“Thanks Rainbow.”

“Wait, you know her name?” Twilight asked surprised.

“Well, no. I just guessed by the rainbow hair.” She then pointed to the rest of her friends one by one. “Marshmallow, Cotton Candy, Butter, and Hat.” The girls were either offended, amused, or didn’t say anything. “I only looked at you from afar, that’s all I remember of you.”

“Well, let me do proper introductions then.” Twilight cleared her throat. “These are Rainbow Dash…”

“The fastest flyer in Equestria!”

“Applejack…”

“Howdy partner. Don’t call me Hat again.”

“Fluttershy…”

“_hi”

“Rarity…”

“A pleasure darling, but I’m not a marshmallow.”

“And Pinkie Pie.”

“Cotton Candy sounds fun.”

Sunset smiled. “It’s a pleasure to meet you all, and I thank you for saving Equestria from Nightmare Moon.”

“Yeah, we are pretty awesome,” Rainbow said with pride.

“But we should thank you too darling, you nearly gave your life for all of us.”

Sunset looked to the side with a little embarrassment. “I just got my flank kicked by Nightmare Moon.”

Applejack walked to her and put a hoof on her shoulder. “Still, you’ve to be very brave to face her without fear.”

“Speaking of which, how did you turn into that awesome looking alicorn?!” Dash asked with excitement.

“It just transmutation magic.”

“Trans-what?”

“Magic that changes the physical form and properties of certain things,” Twilight explained.

“So you can turn me into one of those things?!” Rainbow looked at Sunset with stars in her eyes.

“It’s not that simple, besides, aren’t you already awesome?” Sunset asked with a sly smile.

Rainbow thought about it for a second. “Yeah, you are right. I’m awesome even without looking badass.”

Sunset and the other giggled at the pegasus antics. “Well, I would invite you for breakfast, but I don’t have anything right now.”

“Don’t worry, I need to go back to the farm and harvest some apples,” Applejack said while walking to the door.

“Do you want me and Spike to help you?” Twilight offered.

“Sure, thing sugar cube.”

Sunset watched them leave, and Rainbow flew close to her. “If you ever want to test the speed of those wings, we can have a little race.”

Sunset smiled with confidence. “I must warn you; I can get quite competitive.”

“Ha! That just adds to the excitement.”

Rarity poked her head between them. “If you prefer a more calm and relaxing time, I can show you to the Ponyville spa to have a little chat. I’m curious how living in Canterlot and the castle is like.”

“Is not as interesting as one would expect, but I certainly could do some relaxing someday.”

The two mares said their goodbyes, and Sunset turned to look at Fluttershy, but the pegasus had left without her knowing.
Thinking nothing of it, Sunset looked at her empty house once more. “Well, I guess I should start making this a home.”

After a long morning of shopping, planning, and making sure that her things were delivered to her house, Sunset looked at the piles of furniture and boxes full of everything she thought she would need to live on her own.
“Now I have to put everything in order… great,” she said unenthusiastically, and her stomach grumbled, agreeing with her. “I think I saw a café close by.”

After locking her home, Sunset reached Café Hay, which she guessed got its name because all the chairs had been replaced with piles of hay.
She slowly took a seat and found it as uncomfortable as she would expect. “Don’t they can afford proper seats?”

“We are working on budget madam.” Sunset turned her head and saw a slightly annoyed waiter who handed her the café’s menu. “I hope the menu is of your liking.”

Sunset gave an awkward smile. “Sorry, I’m new in town.” She looked at the selection of coffees and food, and quickly discovered none of her usual treats. “I… I think a coffee will be enough for now.” The waiter left without another word, leaving Sunset with a feeling that living away from Canterlot was going to take some sacrifices she didn’t expect.
Suddenly, a letter appeared in front of her, marked with Luna’s seal. She opened it with her magic and started to read;

“Dear Sunset:

After a very long talk, we’ve managed to convince our sister to let you stay in Ponyville.
She’s sorry about everything that has happened between you two, and when you feel ready, she’s willing to talk with you in a more open manner.
We know what you are thinking; why didn’t she said it herself? That’s because we’re telling you in advance.
Our sister takes her sweet time writing letters in fear of ponies misinterpreting her intentions, and she really doesn’t want that to happen with you. However, we thought that time was important for such a notice.
If you wish us to stand aside in this matter, just say so.

Our worries are with you, princess Luna.”

Sunset gave a heavy sigh.
Celestia thought she was a monster waiting to happen and had replaced her with Twilight while denying her further studies, but she had made a mistake before, and she had turned into the image of the mirror without realizing.
She didn’t know how much of Celestia’s paranoia was actually true, or how exactly was the future the mirror showed her.
The coffee arrived, and Sunset took a long sip of it.
‘I need answers, but not right now. I want some peace and quiet for some time,’ she thought, relaxing a little, and looked at the menu again. ‘Maybe I should try the cupcakes.’
Suddenly, another unicorn sat across her table. “Twilight? What are you doing here?”

The unicorn looked quite nervous. “Hi Sunset, sorry to interrupt, but I’ve a bit of a problem.”

Sunset smiled. “Did you turn another pet into an orange?”

“That was one time!” the purple unicorn complained. “And you smashed it with a hammer afterwards!”

Sunset raised her hooves. “Hey, we both knew Philomena was a phoenix, but you were too busy freaking out to remember she would reborn intact.”

“She still ratted us out to Celestia,” Twilight said with a grumpy face, remembering the stern look of her mentor as she scolded them.

“Anyway.” Sunset took another sip of her coffee. “What problem do you have?”

Twilight looked unsure of telling her or not. “Are you interested in the Gran Galloping Gala?”

Sunset raised an eyebrow. “No, why do you ask?”

Twilight looked relived and pulled out two golden tickets. “I got two tickets to the gala, and all my friends are trying to get me to take them with me, but I don’t want to have to choose between any of them.”

Sunset rolled her eyes, knowing full well that the second ticket was probably for Spike, but Twilight just didn’t take him into account.
She could easily just ask Celestia for more tickets, but then an idea entered her mind.

“Oh Twilight, you haven’t been to a gala before, have you?”

“No, why?” she asked confused.

“You don’t just take any friend to the gala. It has to be somepony special to you.” Twilight looked even more confused, which almost made Sunset start giggling. “Think about it, all the important ponies that go to the gala do so with their spouse, or… a possible future spouse.” Twilight was still confused, which started to get annoying. “They go with their love partners.”

The purple unicorn started to turn red as she processed the words. “WHAT?! B-but I just got here! How am I supposed to find a special somepony?”

Sunset was containing her joy, so hard, to keep a straight face. “Well, you already have five mares trying to seduce you, don’t you?” She was surprised at how much more red her rival could get.

“W-w-w-w-w-w-w-what? But we just met two days ago!”

“So? You are smart, rich, practically royalty, and your bookworm persona is something many ponies find attractive. I’m pretty sure stallions and mares would fight over the chance of being your special somepony.”

“You- you think?” Twilight looked at herself with some doubt’s that she never had before.

“Yeah, you should go and pick whichever you find more attractive.” Sunset took another sip of coffee to hide her grin, relishing at the conflicted face of the unicorn. “Now, I’ve a question.” She got Twilight’s full attention. “Do you know how good the muffins are here?”

“Are you two going to eat in the rain?” the waiter interrupted, and they noticed that a cloud was pouring rain over the café, but someone had left a hole just above their heads.

“Is that you Rainbow?” Sunset called out, and the pegasus poked her head from the cloud and waved at them. “What are you doing?”

“I didn’t want my best friend forever that I never ever had to get wet in the rain,” she responded enthusiastically.

Sunset gave a knowing look to Twilight. “Well, how generous of you. You have such good friends Twilight.”

The purple unicorn seemed like she was trying to dig herself into the ground. “Y-yeah. Thanks Rainbow, but I was just leaving. Goodbye!” she said nervously before disappearing in a flash of light.

Rainbow looked at Sunset. “Was it too much?”

“I think you should have made the offer in person first. Getting close and being assertive will also help.” Sunset responded before taking another sip of coffee.

Rainbow smiled with confidence. “Got it. Thanks Sunset, enjoy the sun!”

The unicorn watched her leave and looked at the waiter. “Can I get some muffins to go? And more coffee, it’s pretty good.”

Sunset was walking through Ponyville, a shield spell keeping her dry, munching on one of her muffins when she saw a tall building that looked like somepony had put windows and a door on a carousel.
Curious about the establishment, she approached one of the windows, and saw Twilight shaking the water off her coat, and accidentally throwing it on Rarity.

“Ups, sorry,” Twilight apologized.

“Is quite alright, after all, we are the best of friends, are we not?” the white pony questioned, rubbing her head against Twilight, making her blush heavily.

“Y-y-yes Rarity! Best of friends. He he he.” Sunset was biting her hoof to not laugh out loud and get discovered.

“And you know what the best of friends do?” Rarity asked holding Twilight’s hooves, deepening the red on her face.

“A-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a- goodbye!” Twilight disappeared in a flash of light, leaving Rarity confused.

“Maybe I was too forward?” the mare wondered.

Sunset walked away laughing until she bumped into Applejack, who was pulling a cart filled with apple-based food. “What kind of army are you planning on feeding?”

“None, these are for Twilight. Have you seen her?”

Sunset smiled at the clear shine in her eyes. “No, but can I give you some advice?”

“Shoot away.”

Sunset walked around her, looking at her cargo. “This food looks delicious and all but presenting it in a cart is not the best way.”

Applejack frowned in confusion. “What do you mean?”

“Twilight was raised in Canterlot, she’s used to a more proper way of receiving gifts. Showing food in a cart would look horrible there.”

Applejack frowned. “Aren’t you also from Canterlot?”

“Yes, and that’s why I’m telling you; you need a better presentation.”

“Look, this here is mah fanciest cart. Ah don’t have anything else.”

“Let me help you.” Sunset lighted her horn and lifted some of the plates in the cart and a few branches of a nearby tree. She used her magic to mold the materials like clay, forming a small rectangular coffee table with fancy design, some good-looking silverware, and arranged it all to look like a fancy dinner for two. “There, Twilight won’t be able to say no to this.”

Applejack looked at the table on her back with some doubt. “Are you sure this will work?”

Sunset put on her most confident smile. “One hundred percent! I practically raised her along with Celestia.”

“Okay, if you say so. Thanks Sunset.”

Sunset waved her goodbye and trotted away, giggling to herself.

After a few hours of work, Sunset looked at her newly furnished home.
She felt pride in the fact that she had done it by herself, and decided she deserved a little-

“Sunset!” a voice screamed from outside the door, and before she could take a step towards it, a flash of light made Twilight and Spike appear in front of her. “Things got worse! Pinkie told everypony about the ticket and now everypony wants to come with me to the gala!”

“What? But it’s just a-” Suddenly there was a knock on the door, and they could see a large crowd outside of Sunset’s house. “Ok, I’ll deal with this. Let me borrow your ticket for a moment.” Twilight gave her the golden card, and Sunset teleported to her balcony, facing the crowd.
“I will burn this ticket if you all don’t leave my sigh right now!” she screamed, summoning a flame to prove her threat. The ponies started to leave, but Sunset quickly saw five familiar mares. “You five, come inside!”
After making sure that only them entered her house, Sunset walked down the stairs, encountering Twilight in front of all her friends. “Well, this has gone too far already. I-”

Sunset was suddenly hugged by Twilight. “I chose Sunset as my special somepony!” she suddenly declared, making everyone gasp in surprise.

“Well darling… you should’ve told us about your… relationship.”

“I know Rarity, and I’m sorry that I played with all of your feelings, but-”

“Stop!” Sunset screamed, pushing her away. “First of all, I’m Celestia’s pupil, I’m automatically invited to the gala. I’ve attended it many times before!”

“So, you don’t need the ticket.” Rainbow said with a little hope.

Sunset looked at the five. “No, and neither do any of you. You are the elements of harmony, heroes of Equestria, you only need to ask Celestia and she will give you tickets.” A collective ‘ohhh’ came at the realization.

“So, all of us have to find a partner?” Twilight asked, more confused than before.

“I was messing with you, Twilight. You don’t need to bring anypony with you if you don’t want to.”

“What?! But then… Sunset!” Twilight looked like she was going to burst into flames.

Rarity was suddenly struck with the realization. “Wait, so that’s why Twilight has been avoiding us all day?”

“And that’s why yah told me to make the food fancier for Twilight.” Applejack accused.

All six mares looked angrily at Sunset, making her roll her eyes. “You five are the ones that have been chasing Twilight all day, trying to coerce her into giving you a ticket that doesn’t belong to you! Eventually making the entire town chase her to my doorstep.” The mares anger started to fade at her words. “Regardless of my joke, you shouldn’t press anypony to make a decision they are uncomfortable with, especially for your own personal gain!” The five mares were now looking at the floor in shame. “I don’t know what reason you have to go, nor do I care. But I ask you this; Is that reason more important than Twilight?”

Applejack was the first to respond. “No, it’s not.” She looked at Twilight. “Am sorry Twilight, ah didn’t realize what ah was putting you through.”

Pinkie was the next to talk. “I’m sorry I made the town chase you for the ticket.”

After all her friends said their apologies, Twilight calmed down, releasing a breath of relief. “It’s okay girls, I should have asked Celestia for more tickets in the first place… Maybe if somepony didn’t make things look worse!” Sunset stuck out her tongue. “I forgive you, and I’m happy that none of you gets left behind.” The six mares shared a big hug that was interrupted by Twilight’s rumbling stomach. “Oh, yeah, I still haven’t eaten lunch.”

“Allow us to treat you to dinner,” Rarity offered, and the six friends walked out of Sunset’s house, leaving her alone with a still silent Spike.

“I always knew this one was for you.” She offered the ticket to Spike, who snatched it from the air.

“You have to stop,” he said with a seriousness that was uncommon in him.

“You mean the joke? I know it got out of hoof, but you know how it is between us.”

“Yes, but we are not in Canterlot anymore, you can’t keep doing the same things. Who knows how the town will look at Twilight after the whole ticket incident, and how would they react if you blow up her door like you did in the tower? Celestia it’s not going to come from Canterlot to scold you both, and the ponies will not look away because you are her student and pupil.”

Sunset looked at him with some newfound respect for the dragon. It was the first time she saw him standing up to her for Twilight’s sake. “I guess I can take it easy on her for some time, but if she gives me a golden opportunity, I will take it.”

Spike shook his head and joined his claws in plead. “Sunset please, I really want Twilight to fit here the best she can. You know she can stress herself too much over details, having you messing with her will only make things worse.”

Sunset faked annoyance. “Fine, I will leave her alone.”

Spike smiled in relief. “Thanks Sunset, I owe you one.”

“I will use it against you.” She joked, watching the dragon leave through the door.
Having enough activity for the day, Sunset climbed the stairs to her bed, and found a letter beside it, with Celestia’s seal in it.

“You can wait until tomorrow.” She told it before climbing on the bed and turn off the lights.

Author's Notes:

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Sunset has acquired a new household!

Sunset’s morale has gone up!: +20
Current morale: 10/100

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Next chapter is already in the works.

I will be watching you.