The carriage slowly drove away from the busiest streets of Canterlot, and the surrounding environment became quieter and dimmer.
After about ten minutes, Sunset Shimmer pulled the curtain open just a crack to peek outside, and she could see a rather imposing manor in the distance.
If she wasn't mistaken, that must be Aurora's home; after all, there were no other residential buildings in the vicinity.
Although she had known about it for a long time, this was the first time Sunset Shimmer had seen it with her own eyes, and she couldn't help but turn her head to look at the "Sleeping Beauty" beside her.
She was usually so carefree and unpretentious; to think she was actually a young lady of status?
But this was also the difference between her and Princess Celestia; if she really acted in a way that befitted her status, they probably wouldn't be able to be friends for the rest of their lives.
Seeing that they were getting closer and closer to the manor, Sunset Shimmer was just about to wake up Aurora.
Suddenly, the whole carriage jolted; it must have been the wheels running over a stone on the road. The two ponies swayed, and Aurora, who had been leaning against Sunset Shimmer, bumped her head directly into Sunset Shimmer's shoulder blade.
"Ouch!"
Aurora rubbed the sore spot and sat up, looking around in a daze.
"Ah...? What's wrong? Are we home?"
"I'm sorry, young ladies! There was a stone hidden in the snow on the road. Are you alright?"
The carriage outside slowed down, and the driver's nervous inquiry came through.
Sunset Shimmer used her horn to conjure a bit of light to examine the part where Aurora had been bumped. After checking and finding no marks, she finally felt relieved.
"I'm fine, keep going. I should thank that stone for waking me up, but I just hope for a gentler method next time."
After all, it was just bumping into Sunset Shimmer and nothing serious; the pain faded quickly. Aurora called out to the driver and then stretched.
"Is that short nap enough for you?"
Sunset Shimmer watched as Aurora pulled back the carriage curtain, opened the window, and stuck her head out to wake herself up quickly with the cold wind.
"It's enough. This year, for Hearths Warming Eve, it's just you and our family. Besides, our family doesn't have any special activities for Hearths Warming Eve; basically, we just have dinner together and then we're free to do whatever we want."
As she spoke, Aurora leaned into Sunset Shimmer's ear and whispered mysteriously.
"Actually, it's because my mother doesn't like staying up late. It ruins her skin and even gives her dark circles. So, even on Hearths Warming Eve, our family doesn't celebrate all night."
Meteora was, after all, a top socialite in Canterlot, so she cared a lot about her public image.
When Aurora opened the window just now, Sunset Shimmer had also caught a bit of cold wind. Now her ears were cold, and she was a bit sensitive to the hot breath exhaled by Flying Light, so she had to pull away slightly.
"So that's why you can't be caught staying up all night?"
"Yes."
"Then what if you are found out?"
"Hmm... She would worry about it."
"That's it?"
"Isn't that enough?"
Aurora asked back, leaving Sunset Shimmer not knowing how to respond.
She only then remembered Aurora's standard "good girl" image (presumably) to the outside world, but good girls don't stay up all night.
And the reason Aurora stayed up all night was...
Sunset Shimmer suddenly felt a bit hot, so she opened the window a little more to let the cold air outside in.
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