This was Sunset Shimmer's first time celebrating Hearths Warming Eve with friends. For this day, she had specifically looked up some information to understand what she needed to prepare.
She placed the things she brought in a relatively empty spot, then started opening the box and quickly assembled the largest item, finally covering it with a cloth.
This was the Hearths Warming Eve gift she had prepared for Aurora.
As for the portions for Twilight Sparkle and Spike, she had also prepared them properly and set them aside.
Finally, Sunset Shimmer cleaned up the debris scattered during her assembly process, as well as the tools scattered on the floor. Now, all she had to do was sit and read for a while, waiting for them to arrive.
Sunset Shimmer chose an unfinished book from the bookshelf, then sat down to read while waiting.
However, she was clearly somewhat absent-minded; it was hard for her to focus her attention on the text in the book, and instead, it kept wandering between the wall clock and her gift.
She really couldn't wait to see Aurora's reaction when she saw it.
Meanwhile, having finished breakfast and set out, Aurora was also on her way, carrying the things she had prepared.
The moment she thought about being able to see her senior sister wearing it (optical projections didn't count), Aurora couldn't quite control the corners of her mouth.
However, when she inserted the key into the lock, she discovered that the lock was already in an unlocked state.
"Wait... Senior sister, how early did you come today?" Aurora pushed the door open directly and started shouting inside before she had even entered.
She had originally thought that since she had stayed up all night, she must be the earliest pony to arrive, but it turned out there was an even bigger expert. Could she have stayed here directly last night?
'That's right, why didn't I think that I could just stay here directly?' Aurora's eyes looked dazed for a moment, and only then did she realize in hindsight that she had made a miscalculation.
In the last few days, she had been patrolling back and forth at home, wanting to properly arrange everything, hoping to leave a good "come back next time" impression on her senior sister.
It would be even better if it were "I'm not leaving." But that was obviously impossible.
The result of placing too much importance on the family situation was that she had somewhat neglected The House of Academic Studies.
Aurora walked into the cottage and quickly found Sunset Shimmer who was reading, while also seeing the things she had brought, as well as the large item that hadn't originally existed in the cottage, covered by a piece of cloth.
If Aurora remembered correctly, this spot was originally where her beloved bookshelf, which had been sent to the recycling center a long time ago, used to be.
"Happy Hearths Warming Eve, Aurora~!" Sunset Shimmer smiled slightly and greeted Aurora.
At this moment, Flying Light was gently covering her slightly open mouth in surprise with her hoof, her eyes staring brightly at the object covered by the cloth.
She obviously knew what it was. After all, the size and position of this thing were too deliberate; it would be strange if she couldn't recognize it.
Because so much had happened in the last six months, Aurora had originally planned to wait until after the New Year to consider the bookshelf matter; she hadn't expected Sunset Shimmer to have prepared such a surprise.
"I love you to death, senior sister!"
"Ew, don't suddenly say such mushy things."
Although she said words of disdain, seeing Aurora's reaction, Sunset Shimmer still felt relieved; at least she really liked it, and it hadn't made her efforts go to waste.
Unable to hide the ecstasy in her heart, Aurora sat opposite Sunset Shimmer, the smile on her face making Sunset Shimmer inexplicably creeped out.
Flying Light wouldn't normally show this kind of aunt-like smile.
"I thought for a long time and couldn't be sure what you would truly like, so I picked an item that I felt was the most suitable as a Hearths Warming Eve gift for you." Saying this, Aurora pushed a relatively flat gift box in front of Sunset Shimmer.
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