Sunset Shimmer always though going through the portal from her world back to Equestria felt like walking through a sheer curtain made of oil, feeling both incredibly fast and exhaustingly slow as the magic stuck to her skin the spell ended spitting Sunset out onto the marble platform of the portal.

For a moment she tried to balance on her hind legs before falling awkwardly to all four her saddlebag falling hard against her sides. But she had no time to think on how she was more used to her human body than her original equine one as her eyes fell on Twilight at the foot of the stairs, her head bowed down, alicorn wings hanging listly next to her.

Without a thought she raced to her friends side but before she could speak Twilight raised her head to look up at Sunset, eyes puffy and red rimmed as if she had been crying, which she actually started anew as a whine formed in her throat. Almost desperately she reached for Sunset burying her face within her friends chest as she tried to speak, broken sobs making her hard to understand.

Sunset hugged her tightly before grabbing her shoulders and pushing her back so they were once again face to face. Softening her expression Sunset raised a hoof and brushed away the tears on Twilights cheek, calming her down.

“Twilight Sparkle, you know I can’t understand you like this. I know you are upset but please tell me what’s wrong. I got your message in the book saying something had happened with the Princesses. What’s going on?”

With a hard sniff and a rough swipe of her foreleg across her face Twilight pulled herself together enough to speak clearly.

“P-Princess Celestia a-and Princess Luna have fallen asleep and haven’t woken up. S-Starswirl had to raise the sun this morning so no pony would notice. We are all going to the Castle to find out how to help them bu-but I couldn’t do this without you Sunset. You had to be here. Shes your teacher too.” Her final words almost came out like a whisper as she looked back up at Sunset, fresh tears gathering in her eyes again but this time they matched Sunsets own.

Taking in a shaky breath Sunset reached forward to hug Twilight once again, both holding on tight almost trembling.

This time it was Twilight that broke the embrace. “There’s a carriage outside to take us to the Castle as fast as the guards can fly, we shouldn’t keep the girls waiting. I’ll tell you everything else on the way there.”

Tears now staining her face too Sunset nodded and followed Twilight out of the Castle of Friendship to the waiting Pegasus guards.