Archive of Our Own

Dear Princess Twilight,

I hope that everything has been awesome in Equestria! It’s been a long time since we’ve seen you over here, and we all miss you so much. Hope that you’ll be able to visit soon, but don’t drop your very important Princess work, we get it! The Twilight over here is really cool. This is probably really weird for you, but she’s been rolling with all the punches. We’re thinking of inviting her to join the band! Although I don’t think she’s a big fan of that… There’s still a lot for me to learn and do regarding the whole… friendship thing, but I am learning. Let me know how it’s going in Equestria!

Your friend,

Sunset Shimmer

Dear Sunset,

I’m so glad to hear everyponybody is doing well. The ponies over here have all been doing great. Managing the kingdom is definitely hard, but all my adventures with my friends helped prepare me for it. I hope that your friends at CHS help you do the same! You should definitely invite your Twilight to join the band. Maybe I didn’t exactly have the most fun, but I’m sure she’d love the opportunity. If she’s anything like me, that is. Just don’t take it too hard if she says no!

And don’t worry about not knowing everything about friendship! I’m still learning things every day with my friends here. Sometimes all someone needs is an open ear and offered hand (notice how I didn’t say hoof?), so just keep trying! We’ve actually just taken down this band of evil frogs… so a lot has been happening. If you ever want to visit, I’m sure that Princess Celestia would make the time. She’s mentioned you quite a lot.

Hope it’s sunny!

Dear Princess Twilight,

Thank you for all the advice. We asked our Twilight (still weird to say. But you're Princess Twilight to all of us!) to join the Rainbooms and she made a really pained face and said she’d think about it. But even if she doesn’t join the band, she’s still hanging out with us. She’s adjusting pretty well coming from Crystal Prep. I know you don’t know a lot about that school, but it’s a couple of worlds different than Canterlot High School. We’re actually going to Camp Everfree soon. We raised enough money this year, so our class gets to go on this field trip to the woods. I’ve heard some weird rumors, but I think it’ll really help our Twilight out. I’m kind of worried for her. But we both were driven mad by power and magic, so I think I might be able to help. I think we. . .

“Sunset?” Twilight asks, nervously looking at Sunset from across the library table.

Sunset quickly closes her book, capping her pen and making sure the book is safely tucked away in her bag. Sunset has rarely been in the high school's library… unless it involved some evil plan that would help her become more popular. But Twilight mentioned she was going to study, and Sunset couldn't help but tag along.

"What's up, Twilight?" Sunset replies.

There are several stacks of books surrounding them, and Sunset wouldn't be surprised if they were all about magic. Sunset wasn't lying in her little Friendship Report to Princess Twilight (Princess Twilight's idea, obviously) when she said she was concerned. There are deep bags under Twilight's eyes, barely concealed by the thick, black frames of her glasses. Her uniform and hair are as pristine as ever, but Sunset can see the hesitancy in her expression.

Twilight sighs, "What is Camp Everfree? Like, are we supposed to do something there? How is it educational?"

Sunset can safely say that she is terrified of Crystal Prep students. She's not exactly sure how Twilight would have reacted if she knew that Sunset had been crowned every Princess title for Fall Formals and Spring Flings for the entirety of her high school career, save for the last Fall Formal, obviously. She'd probably say that's why they always lost at the Friendship Games.

"Well, that's the thing," Sunset says with a laugh. "It's just supposed to be fun."

"Fun?" Twilight repeats slowly.

Sunset really hopes Twilight knows what fun is. But when Twilight transferred to Canterlot High, she came with suitcases filled with red yarn and photos of a cramped room. Notebooks and notebooks and notebooks of scribbled notes. So, Sunset can understand why Twilight's perception of fun might be a little skewed.

"Teamwork, too," Sunset expands. "I think we just have a good time with everyone in our class. And I'm pretty sure there's all sorts of activities. You can probably have a quiz bowl competition there!"

Twilight flushes red, "Please, no."

She reminds Sunset of Fluttershy somewhat. During the Battle of the Bands, Sunset had waited at the side of the stage, watching Rarity get hoisted into the air with magnets, confetti get in the frets of Rainbow Dash's guitar, and Fluttershy run from a spotlight. A quiet voice that Sunset had further ground into the dirt with her cruelty.

She's supposed to be a good friend now. She's trying.

Twilight tucks a strand of hair behind her ear and adjusts her glasses, looking down at the table and trying to go back to her book.

"Don't worry, Twilight. We're gonna have fun, no matter what," Sunset reassures.

Twilight nods unconvincingly, tucking the other strand of hair behind her other ear with a little laugh. She looks sweet like this, all little smiles in the library before close.

"Okay," Twilight says now, small laugh forming. "Thank you, Sunset."

Sunset smiles back at her, pretending that she doesn't notice how the pink and purple stripes in her hair wave when Twilight looks back down at her book.

Oh no.

Sunset quickly finishes her note to Princess Twilight while the Twilight in front of her starts stacking books together and making multiple trips around the library to return them.

"You don't need to take those out?" Sunset asks once Twilight's nearly done.

Twilight shakes her head, "Just needed to look at the diagrams. I took pictures."

She waves her phone around, but she whispers the words, looking around like Miss Cheerilee is going to spot her.

Luckily, Twilight has made it up to the librarian for her counterpart's incompetence when it comes to human technology. Sunset wouldn't be surprised if Twilight talked to her more than she did with any of her friends.

"You're ready to go?" Sunset asks.

"Yes," Twilight replies. "The library should actually be closing—"

"The library will be closing in five minutes," the PA system interrupts, making both of them laugh.

"Always so on top of it, Twilight," Sunset says.

Twilight ducks her head, shifting the three remaining books in her arms. She nods sheepishly.

"It's the bus tomorrow, right?" Twilight asks.

Sunset nods, "Bright and early."

Then they're waking Twilight up. Sunset pretending she isn't concerned by the fact that Twilight nearly missed the bus. Sunset pretending that she can't see Twilight's eyes twitching under her eyelids as she sleeps, jolting when she finally wakes. Sunset pretending that everything is fine as Twilight quietly resigns herself to a room with Sunset.

"I don't bite, y'know," Sunset laughs as Twilight wordlessly unpacks her things on the other side of the tent.

Twilight doesn't laugh. She just yawns, nods, and places another book on her bedside table.

"Really though, are you okay?" Sunset asks when Twilight takes off her glasses to clean them.

Twilight nods slowly, blinking wide when she puts her glasses back on her face. Sunset doesn't exactly believe her.

"I'm fine!" Twilight exclaims. "Everything and everyone is great at CHS. No one is even holding the whole Midnight Sparkle thing against me."

Twilight sits down on her bed after, smiling, but not as wide as Sunset would like.

"Hey," Sunset says as she sits beside her. "That was all because of your weird Crystal Prep classmates and Principal Cinch."

Twilight winces, "Well… I wouldn't say that."

She awkwardly looks away, nervously twirling her hair between her finger before abruptly releasing it and looking back at Sunset.

Sunset shrugs, "Don't worry, is what I'm trying to say. I get the whole feeling like a monster thing—"

Twilight scoffs, "I don't feel like a monster—"

"—So," Sunset interrupts. "Don't worry. You can talk to anyone here. You can talk to me."

Twilight smiles at her. Sunset is just about to say something else, probably another reassurance, when she hears Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash yelling excitedly at each other from across the camp.

"I guess we should get going," Sunset says instead. "Have you seen my—"

Twilight has stood up, but floating near her hand is the bottle of sunscreen Sunset was looking for. It's glowing purple and Twilight is already flinching away as Sunset goes to grab it. The calm last for a singular moment before objects all around the tent start to levitate, lanterns, socks, books alike.

"How…" Sunset trails off as the shirts sway in their clothespins, lights hovering in the air and Sunset's own bag near eye-level as it floats.

There shouldn't be any magic anymore, not since Princess Twilight went back to Equestria and took the crown with her. Sure, everyone still ponies up when the Rainbooms play, but it's not like any of them can make objects float like Twilight's doing right now. Sunset's the one who actually lived in Equestria with a magical horn and everything, and she has no powers here. But she doesn't mind not having powers as she watches Twilight float objects in the air. It's beautiful.

Twilight murmurs to herself, pushing herself away from the objects as she ducks down lower.

"This is not good," Twilight moans.

"What?" Sunset exclaims. "This is awesome! You don't even need music and friendship for this! I've never seen anything like this here. It's really cool, Twilight."

Twilight shakes her head quickly, "It's not cool! It's probably not even me… She could be… It doesn't matter! Don't bring this up, though. If everyone knew I was dragging around remnants of magic they'll think I'm about to explode the camp or something. We can have just one nice field trip."

She, Sunset repeats in her mind, mumbling assurances to Twilight as her friend leaves the tent with a grimace. Sunset sticks out her hands and concentrates, trying to do the same thing that Twilight just did and float the objects into the air.

If Twilight was able to retain some power from her transformation, maybe the same is true for Sunset. But nothing happens, and Sunset has to shake out the tension in her hands and put her sunscreen on, stepping outside and starting the day.

Sunset wakes up to a scream, immediately jolting out of bed and wiping the sleep out of her eyes.

"Don't worry!" Twilight says from across the tent.

Sunset finally is able to blink her eyes open enough to look over and stare in shock as Twilight, her bed, and everything around her starts to levitate.

"Twilight…" she warns.

Twilight notices right after Sunset talks, screaming as the objects drop to the floor without preamble and without control. It's bright outside, surely enough for the day's activities, but Twilight twists in her covers until she's facing the tent again. She's not wearing her glasses, but Sunset can imagine her blearily realizing that the blurry objects in front of here are not at the level they're supposed to be.

Sunset sighs, "We can just talk about it."

The mass of blankets Twilight's under shakes, "No."

Sunset frowns, "I can help you control it. We just need to figure out what's up with your magic."

"It's not my magic!" Twilight shouts.

Twilight sits up and roots around for her glasses, shoving them on her face without much fanfare. Twilight pushes the blankets off her chest, and then does the same to the hair falling in front of her eyes. Her hair clips are abandoned by the side, but Twilight doesn't make any further move to get ready.

"Okay," Sunset says complacently, raising her hands so Twilight can see she isn't going to push further. "It's okay, Twilight. I'm just gonna go get changed, yeah?"

She starts stepping away, grabbing her clothes and hovering near the tent entrance before she heads to the bathroom. Sunset's taking the last step out of the tent when she hears an apologetic, "Sunset…" but she doesn't turn around.

Then they're fighting magic itself and rebuilding the dock and planning a fundraiser ball to save Camp Everfree from being bought out. If there's anyone in camp who can pull of an event like that, it's the seven of them.

Sunset plans with her checklists and decorations as Twilight sends letters. Rarity's fashion show dresses are becoming their outfits for the Rainbooms performance at the ball. It's going to be perfect, if Sunset has anything to do with it.

"Do you wanna sing with the Rainbooms tonight?" Sunset blurts once Twilight is using her magic to hover the envelopes in the air.

They slowly float back to the ground when Twilight turns to her. Twilight looks a lot more calm now. After Sunset had grabbed her in the forest and saw all of Twilight's doubts and pain. After they recovered from the magic going haywire in camp.

"What?" Twilight asks, tilting her head.

"At the ball fundraiser," Sunset clarifies. "I know you said you'd think about joining the band, but it doesn't have to be a commitment! You can just sing tonight and see how you like it."

Twilight blushes, "I don't know… you guys are all so talented. I don't play the guitar or anything. You're really good. And you guys all sing. What would I even be doing there?"

"Hey," Sunset laughs. "You'd be doing what you always do. Being awesome. Making everyone feel great. Don't worry."

Twilight nods absentmindedly, scribbling something else into her book.

"So? Verdict?" Sunset asks.

"Sure. I'll sing with you all," Twilight smiles. "But we do need to finish planning. Did Fluttershy finish the song she was writing?"

"Yeah! We're rehearsing after lunch, so just come back down to the Crystal Cave once you're done with all of your letters."

Sunset's smiling too, a bright, toothy thing that makes everything feel lighter. They laugh together until Twilight pushes Sunset away so they can both get their work done.

Sunset makes sure all the balloons are set up and that Pinkie Pie's exploding sprinkles are tucked away. She also tunes Pinkie's drums, because Pinkie doesn't like to bother with it. Rarity's creating chandeliers with her powers and Applejack is around the camp, moving heavy objects with ease as everyone tries to get the camp back into shape.

Sooner than Sunset expects, they're on stage in front of their peers, holding instruments and ready to sing.

"Alright, everyone!" Rainbow Dash says into the mic. "We're the Rainbooms, and this is "Legend You Are Meant To Be," written by our very own tambourinist, Fluttershy."

A wave of scattered applause starts up as Fluttershy flusters and tries to shy away from the attention.

"Thank you all for coming out tonight," Twilight speaks up, leaning into her mic stand awkwardly. "We're here to support Camp Everfree, so let's make it a good one!'

Mic feedback booms through the speakers as attendees flinch away, Fluttershy literally jumping in fright. Twilight backs away quickly, murmuring apologies until another round of applause starts up again as Rainbow Dash and Sunset trade notes on their guitars to begin the song.

It's easy playing with them. When Rainbow Dash first invited her to join the band, it was easy to play a lick on the guitar and join as a rhythm guitarist. With all the magic in the camp now, it's painfully easy to pony up. Twilight uses her magic to bring the mic stand with her around the stage, even though Rainbow is singing lead vocals.

Sunset loves playing with them despite any spats they have during rehearsals and mistakes they make on stage.

When the song's over and the Rainbooms have finished their short set list for the night, a couple of other kids from CHS take over with cover songs of their own, keeping the happy atmosphere well into the night. Sunset packs her guitar away into its case and ends up somewhere near the fruit punch.

Sunset is trying to figure out why the liquid is bright pink—likely answer is Pinkie Pie—when Twilight walks up to her.

"Twilight!" Sunset exclaims. "How did you like it? Fun?"

Twilight nods, "I'd like to sing more with you guys. If you don't mind."

"We love having you," Sunset nods.

She's so glad Twilight enjoyed singing the Rainbooms. They even sang some extra songs for the crowd, ones they hadn't rehearsed beforehand. But Twilight apparently remembered the lyrics and melody from all the other rehearsals she's sat through, and had gratefully sang along.

The cave is dim, the stringy overhand bulbs not doing much to light the large space filled with bodies.

"I can't believe we raised enough to save the camp," Twilight says absently as she pours herself some punch from the bowl, looking down at it skeptically.

Sunset's in the same boat, having decided not to drink from her cup and instead looking back towards Twilight. She looks beautiful in the dress, hair up and glasses on full display. She's not shying away now.

Sunset shrugs, watching Twilight take a tentative sip of her drink and trying to casually find a trash can. When Twilight has successfully disposed of what might be radioactive waste, she turns back to Sunset with a smile.

"You don't have anyone else you wanna talk to right now? Sunset asks, looking around carefully.

"No," Twilight says. "This is good."

She gives a soft smile then, reserved and a little unfamiliar. But at least there is a smile. The band starts playing a different song, something mid-pace with heavy bass.

Sunset extends her hand without thinking, but pulls it back before it grabs Twilight's arm. She doesn't want to accidentally trigger her powers and end up seeing something she's not supposed to in Twilight's mind.

"Do you want to dance?" Sunset asks, gesturing away from the cave walls where a couple of groups are dancing next to each other.

Twilight nods and warns, "I might not be that good."

Sunset laughs, looking out at the crowd of people more meandering than dancing. She shakes her head, knowing that it conveys the general message of Don't worry, Twilight.

They end up with the other dancers, doing their own thing next to each other, only vaguely related to the music. They're still laughing between themselves when the singer says everyone has to go back to their tents after the next song they play.

"Your magic is really cool, y'know," Sunset says once they both look back at each other.

Twilight smiles, "Yours is too."

Sunset shrugs. It's nothing like Twilight's abilities or the superstrength from Applejack or anything else, but she loves her powers just the same. Even if they're bound to be temporary. Sunset's the one who holds them together, even when everyone's fighting.

Twilight seems to sense her apprehension, though.

She sticks out her hand and says, "Here."

"I don't know if I can avoid activating my powers," Sunset says carefully.

Twilight rolls her eyes, overdramatized as her glasses follow with her movements. The strands of hair in front of her ears bounce when she turns her head and her smile lifts up just at the edges.

"I want you to," Twilight replies.

Sunset doesn't ask if she's sure again, because Twilight is waving her hand closer until Sunset takes it in her own.

It's not as much of a shock as the powers were the first few times that Sunset had them. Just bumping into someone meant she could hear any thoughts if they were thinking them loudly enough. She's seen full flashbacks through other's eyes, and that's what happens with Twilight.

The familiar orange hue clouds the sides of her vision as Sunset latches onto Twilight's fingers and lets herself be taken into Twilight's mind. Unlike last time, there are no mirages of Midnight Sparkle. Instead, Sunset sees herself. She sees Sunset Shimmer standing where she is right now, in the middle of the Crystal Cave. Sparkly lights overhead and music under their breaths.

Sunset looks good in Twilight's eyes, she looks happy and she can even recognize a slight blush in her cheeks.

Then, Sunset sees herself on stage, herself in the Friendship Games when they were competing on chalkboard, herself across from the Canterlot statue when Twilight had her hood pulled over her face, investigating the magic at CHS.

The whole empath thing also comes with feelings, so Sunset is a little bit overwhelmed with the all-encompassing feeling of love that radiates from each memory.

"Whoa," Sunset says as the memories break.

She's still holding Twilight's hand as she sways backwards, but Twilight doesn't let go either. She does flush though, ducking her head and trying to shy away from Sunset's dumbstruck look.

"Sorry?" Twilight asks.

"No," Sunset replies hastily. "Don't be. It's just— wow."

Twilight laughs at how Sunset is now tripping over her words, "Is that okay?"

Sunset nods, pulling her closer as the music meets its end.

"More than," she agrees.

They both laugh and by some coincidence, end up knocking further into each other. Twilight squeezes her hand tighter, and then leans forward. They meet in the middle with a light kiss, both smiling too much for anything else.

When Sunset pulls away, Twilight's cheeks are bright red. She goes to say something, but Principal Celestia is holding the mic, telling everyone to go back to their tents.

"We do have to re-build the dock again tomorrow," Twilight says as they head out of the cave and onto the path to their tent.

Sunset laughs, "Hopefully the last time."

Their hands are still joined.