"Welcome back Adagio!" The eldest siren hears as she walks out from the Apple family home and sees a large crowd of students from Canterlot High awaiting her, a huge banner with the spoken words being held from either end of the group. Sonata and Pinkie pop out from the crowd as they greet her.
"Aren't you surprised?" Sonata asks.
"Sure am." She turns her gaze as they guide her to the back of the house where the real festivities are being held, with all manner of games and food laid out for what is to be a very enjoyable day.
"Then let's party!" Pinkie shouts as the two rush off.
"You're not really that surprised, right?" Sunset says a short distant away, a smirk on her face.
"How could I be? She's been talking about it for the past three days." She replies. "But it makes her happy just to do it. So what's the princess going to do with that shard?"
"Twilight says she'll handle it. From what she says it looks like any power that was left is gone now. But just to be on the safe side, they're throwing it into a volcano guarded by a dragon."
"Well I don't know about them, but I'll be sleeping better knowing that. Hopefully I can finally put that little chapter behind me once and for all."
"So are you going to be heading back again?"
"I don't think so. Aria, Sonata and I, we're a team. We've always been together. They need me and I need them too. Thanks for looking out for them, but I think it's time for me to be their big sister again."
"I'm sure they'll appreciate that. Especially now that we have a new friend to hang with." The two look over to see Twilight Sparkle mingling with Fluttershy, Lyra and Bon Bon who, thanks to her friend is bound to a wheel chair with a large caste around her right leg. Along with them are Shining Armor and Cadence. As they share a laugh, Lyra accidentally swings her arm, connecting with Bon Bon's foot, causing her to tense up. To make things worse, she also spills her punch on her.
"The magic of friendship. I'm beginning to believe it can exist anywhere, Equestria or not."
"What do you say we get in on all of this partying? It is your special day after all."
"Sure. Besides, it looks like Sonata hasn't exactly gotten how pin the tail on the donkey works." The two look over to see the youngest siren with the game tail suction cupped to her forehead.
"Did I get it?" She asks removing the blindfold as Adagio shakes her head amusingly.
Across the large yard, Aria talks with some of the other party goers before spotting a familiar face. "Excuse me for a minute." She says as she makes her way over. "Hey Snails." She says, lightly bowing her head.
"Hey." Is his only response.
"I wanted to apologize for the other day and everything. I overreacted without giving you a chance to explain."
"It's okay. We're still friends though right?"
"Of course. You're one of the weirdest people I've ever met, but weird in a good way." She says, patting him on the back. "I do still owe you one. And a little Pinkie told me that a certain magician's assistant has their eye on you." She gestures a short distance away, where a group of students, Fuchsia Blush included, are watching Applejack and Curly Winds arm wrestle, with Rainbow Dash acting as the score keeper. Applejack barely makes an effort as Curly tries with all his might just to hang on, only to be slammed down.
"Come on. Best out of seventy-five." He says as he hops back into his seat.
"And that's Applejack's idea of a date." Aria says sarcastically as she turns her attention back to Snails. "Go over and talk to her. Fuchsia's a really nice girl and I know you two will hit it off." She watches as he confidently makes his way over to her and starts up a conversation.
"Aw, it is as I see. A matchmaker you prove to be." Aria turns to see Rope-a-Dope walking up behind her. "I hope you don't mind. Crashing the party, I knew you I would find."
"Please, not today. I'm not in the mood for taunts. This is my sisters party and I'd just like to try and enjoy it." Aria says as she remains seated.
"I do not mean to cause any further pain. Please, allow me to explain. I heard after the fight that something with your sister was not quite right."
"You could say that."
"I see now that when you entered the ring, you were not wholly into the thing. I know how you feel, believe you me, that is why I owe you an apology. A bit overzealous I was in the ring. I guess that's the bad competitiveness can bring."
"It's all good. Maybe next time we'll act more like athletes should." Aria says, making a rhyme of her own. The two shake hands as the crusaders approach Aria.
"Aria, Aria!" They say excitedly.
"Woah woah. Calm down you three. What is it?"
"We're so sorry about what happened." Applebloom says.
"What?"
"That Snails dumped you." Sweetie Belle blurts out.
"I mean, we weren't really..." she is cut off as the girls continue to explain.
"And we didn't want you to be said." Scootaloo says.
"So we found the perfect guy for you. Come on over!" Applebloom shouts.
"Look girls, it's really sweet of you to want to help me but..." She stops as a young man with greyish skin and an orange mohawk, walks up to the group. Aria is almost breathless as he makes his way over.
"What's up?" He says casually. "Hey, you're Aria Blaze! I caught your fight the other night. You had some pretty sick moves." His mood changes quickly from nonchalant to excited as he recognizes the girl. The young man's comment causes the siren to blush slightly.
"Oh, um thanks." She attempts to hide her face by turning her head slightly.
"Crimson Napalm is the name by the way."
"Aria. Of course you already know that." She says slightly embarrassed. "You wanna get some snacks or something?"
"I could eat." He says simply as they continue talking as they walk.
"Woo-hoo! Crusaders matchmakers!" The three girls shout as Sunset, Sonata and Adagio watch from a short distance away.
"I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes." Adagio says in disbelief.
"Yeah, me and the girls met him yesterday at the party supply store and we thought they'd hit it off. She likes singing, he likes singing. She's in a band, he's in a band. She's generally apathetic..." Sonata says before she is stopped.
"We got it Sonata. It was a really nice thing for you to do." Sunset commends.
"Wait, did you say apathetic?" Adagio asks, puzzled that her sister is using such an advanced word.
"Yes. Sheesh! Why don't you guys think I know stuff?" She says as the three stop to see Trixie approaching them. "Hey Trixie!" Sonata says joyously. "Can I get you some cake?"
"No, thank you. I'm actually here for something else."
"I hope it's to apologize for manipulating my friends, kidnapping my sister and putting all of our lives in danger." Adagio says with her arms folded.
"Pfft, hardly. I've heard that you write letters to Princess Twilight in your little journal. And I want you to deliver this to her." She hands Sunset a folded letter. "An send it exactly the way the Trixie has written it. Ta ta." She says casually as she walks away. "And remind Lavender and Fuchsia not to party too hard. We do have a performance tomorrow."
"Okay, bye Trixie. See you later." Sonata says, waving as the magician makes her exit.
"Always so dramatic that one." The three turn to see Sketchy with a bag over his shoulder. Sunset runs over and gives him a hug. "Nice to see you again kid. Just came to say goodbye."
"Goodbye?"
"I'm headed back to Equestria. Was wondering if you could call ahead and let them know I'm coming."
"Why don't you stay? We finally got things patched up."
"I think it's time for me to move on. You've found your place here, now I've got to find where I belong. That and I just lost my job so now's as good a time as any."
"Just promise you'll write once you get settled."
"Deal. Sure you won't stay for a piece of cake?"
" It's super delicious." Sonata says with a plate of cake already in hand and a huge smile on her face.
"Alright, maybe just one piece." Sketchy says as the girls guide him to the festivities.
"Hey Sonata, would like to do the honors?" Sunset asks, offering the girl her journal and the letter.
"For reals?" She says, popping back on her heels in excitement.
"This one's all you."
"So cool!" She hands Sonata the items as she sits and begins writing down the contents of Trixie's letter.
Dear Twilight Sparkle
The Great and Powerful Trixie has decided to grace you with a letter of what she has learned. Trixie is quite popular as you can well imagine. And of course it feels fantastic to be adored by so many. But I've come to realize that in my desire to want to be loved by so many I alienated those closest to me. I tried so hard to be loved by everyone and show up everyone that wronged me and I take full responsibility for what's happened.
As hard as it may be to believe, I don't have many friends. But the ones I have, Lavender and Fuchsia, have always been there for me and they've never let me down. Even after I treated them like dirt, they never stopped looking out for me and doing all they could to make sure I was alright. I think that is one of the greatest things about friendship. A good friend will help you even if you don't always agree on things. They'll always have your back and let you know when they think you're doing something that could be harmful to you or someone else. I'm fortunate to say I have friends like that. And though I hate to admit it, your friends are pretty okay as well.
Anyway, I should be getting back to my adoring fans, and more importantly, my friends.
Sincerely,
The Great and Powerful Trixie
As Sonata finishes sending the letter she rejoins the others as they continue with the festivities. Later that night, the collected group of the Rainbooms and Dazzlings stand by the statue outside of the school to see Sketchy off. Along with them are Curly Winds, Wiz Kid, Lyra, Bon Bon, and Twilight Sparkle. "Well, this is it. You sure you have everything you need?" Sunset asks as she gives her old friend one last hug.
He struggles to keep his balance with all the things he's been given as parting gifts. "Yeah, I'm pretty sure." As he moves, his suitcase falls and opens, revealing bundles of packed cash.
"Woah, you're rolling in dough!" Rainbow Dash says as the others join in her astonishment.
"Yes well, I've spent the last five years living under a highway overpass with nothing but revenge on my mind, only using the bare minimum of my paycheck to survive. So spending wasn't my main priority. Figure I'll keep it as a souvenir. Well be seeing ya." He says, having collected his things and heading through the portal.
Sunset begins to tear up as the other girls move to console her. "Are you going to be okay?" Fluttershy asks.
"I'll be alright, thanks."
"Well, I can tell hanging out with you guys is going to be interesting." Twilight says.
"That's for sure. Now how about that rematch?" Curly asks as he turns to Applejack.
"Not this again. I already beat you near two hundred times." Applejack says frustrated by his non-stop challenges. "Just admit that a girl is stronger than you." As the two go back and forth and the others begin laughing amongst themselves, Bon Bon looks around, noticing something is wrong.
"Uh, where is Lyra?" Her comment causes the others to stop, looking around to see that the girl is indeed gone.
Twilight's Castle
Twilight and her friends sit in the library, awaiting the arrival of Sunset's friend. A few moments later Sketchy, in his wyvern form, emerges through the portal. Lacking the long arms he had in the human world, many of his bags hit the ground, including the suitcase which bursts open revealing a large amount of gold bits. "Huh, what do you know? Dollars equal bits." He says casually as he looks up at the ponies. "Hello all." A few seconds later a mint colored unicorn emerges through the portal as well.
"Oh my gosh! Is this pony world? It looks like pony world!" She says bouncing around the room. "Your a pony and your a pony." She stops when she comes to Spike. "And I don't know what you are but who cares, this is an honest to goodness pony world! I was right all along. Is there a pony me for real? Is she here? Is she over there? I'll find her." She races off out of the library and out of the castle.
Sketchy floats there for a moment, as stunned as the ponies before commenting, a nervous smirk on his face. "Heh, tourists. What are you gonna do, am I right?"