"Send the next visitor in if you would Captain."
"At once, your Highness."
Celestia watched as the guard left behind the double doors and sighed once left alone. It was a long hard day and she couldn't wait for Luna to take over for the night. It wasn't that she hated talking to her ponies; she just grew tired of having to deal with some of the same problems during her years of being in power.
Every few centuries would be the same types of ponies asking for the same types of solutions. One asking for subjugation of dangerous wildlife. A noble asking for more of an edge against others of his standing. Researchers asking for funds on either new magic or magic that was lost to all save her. It was honestly boring to see them come and ask and for her to respond the same.
"They are not dangerous as long as you stop intruding on their habitat. I do not hold any pony higher in regard than any pony else and you should know that won't ever change. I shall provide funding but require you to give full updates on each step of your research."
Generic. It was all generic responses she had perfected over the years. She was overdue for some time off. Luna would certainly appreciate the extra attention she'd get if she went on a short vacation. Though that called for planning everything in advance by months maybe even years as emergencies were prone to popping up whenever she thought of such things.
"Perhaps I can get Twilight to help me in that regard. She has her own duties but I know she'd never pass up an opportunity to put her organizational skills to use."
She was proud of her former student. Throughout the years she had grown in to her position as a princess. She dealt with many of her former enemies and reformed even some of the most dangerous ones. She became a herald of friendship despite her obvious anti-social behavior in the beginning. However, secretly, there was one of her accomplishments she held in higher regard than all the others.
The successful reformation of the student that came before her; Sunset Shimmer. For millennia Celestia held a heavy heart for failing her sister and allowing her to succumb to the darkness she was too blind to see. The event itself created a strong shield around her emotions and made her wary of being close to any pony for fear of recreating the incident. It wasn't until she met Sunset that her heart seemed to grow lighter. The mare reminded her so much of a young Luna.
The smile she gave when accomplishing something. The way her brash nature seemed to work in her favor rather than against. There were also the times they spent together since she took her in at a young age. The times spent reading her stories and private celebrations of her birthday were amongst the best of times. Her favorite memories were of seeing Sunset with a smile as warm as her sun.
Yet, each time she remembered her smile, she remembered her tears and anger. The way she yelled and demanded what was impossible. The yelling and argument they held as Sunset's heart grew darker and darker. The feeling she felt once the mare she could consider the closest thing to a daughter ran away cursing her name. It was unbearable, she had isolated herself in the guise of an illness for weeks afterward. The pain of failing yet another pony close to her once again fresh after the incident.
A tear fell as she remembered Sunset's face once again. As she wiped it away she remembered Twilight's confirmation of Sunset alive and well in the other world. It was the first thing she asked once her student returned from her journey beyond the mirror. While it might have been cruel to Twilight; it was all Celestia could think of once she realized who had stolen the element.
"I guess it's a bit too late for apologies. Though, that doesn't mean I shouldn't explain myself to her. I'll make a note to do so next time I see Twilight. I just... I wish Sunset would come and see me. I know that Twilight said she needed time but I just want to see her at least one more time."
The hope in her heart to see her former student grew the moment Twilight mentioned talking to Sunset via the journal she once shared with her was constant. Every day a small part of her hoped that each letter Twilight sent would have something pertaining to Sunset. Every day she'd just find herself saddened to find nothing.
"The captain is taking pretty long. I wonder what's keeping him. Captain?!" she called from her throne.
The doors opened slightly and the captain stepped inside. His face was unreadable and yet it seemed he was slightly taken aback by something.
"Is something wrong Captain?"
"No, your highness. I apologize for the delay there was something that came up."
"Is it anything I need to know?"
"No, I handled the situation and everything has been taken care of in a proper manner."
"Very well, please send in the next pony then."
"Ahem. Announcing Princess Twilight Sparkle-"
"Twilight? She knows she doesn't have to make an appointment for such things. I apologize, continue Captain."
"Of course. Announcing Princess Twilight Sparkle daughter of Twilight Velvet and Night Light who is accompanying Morning Dew daughter of Summer Breeze and... Sunset Shimmer!"
Celestia found it hard to breath suddenly as the doors opened and Twilight walked in only to stand by the entrance. It took a minute and a soft word that she couldn't hear due to her ears being filled by the beat of her heart. A small yellow pegasus in a green sun dress walked inside. Her mane of soft pink with streaks of gold carrying some incredibly familiar saddlebags.
Morning Dew found it awkward to walk on all four but not having a handle of her wings meant she needed to get used to it quickly. She stumbled and almost fell only to be caught in an aura of purple magic as Twilight helped her regain her composure. Dew looked back and thank the purple alicorn silently with a smile as her hooves touched the ground.
She turned her attention towards the large majestic alicorn that she believed only existed in the stories her mother had told her as a child. As she grew older she found that they were less stories her mother made up for her amusement and more reality once she was told of the portal. It was hard to believe and she thought her mother and friends to be delusional until she witnessed the magic for herself.
For years after she kept asking her mother for a chance to visit the magical land of muti-colored pastel horses but was denied as Sunset kept saying she wasn't ready. Yet, now in her late twenties she found herself here for a reason different than to just see talking horses.
She came to deliver a message to someone? Somepony? That person? Horse? Princess was the same princess that was coming right towards her.
"God damn, you're tall." were the first words that left her mouth and she heard the sound of hoof meet face behind her.
"Twilight, Captain. If you could give us a moment. Please?"
"Of course, your highness."
"Yes, it's no trouble at all Princess. Dew, I'll wait for you outside ok?"
"Uh..." Dew watched the two leave and the doors close. Once they left there was a bright flash and she found herself in a completely different room. It was immaculate despite looking like chaos. Filled with books and scrolls sprawled around everywhere and a bed with red and gold tones. The window shone sunlight onto a small desk covered in what could only be notes.
Another bright flash and a soft pillow appeared underneath her along with one for the princess.
"Please, relax." Celestia said.
"Thanks. It was a little awkward just standing around like that. I don't know how you guys do it."
"It comes with years of practice."
"I bet." Dew found it hard to look at the princess without feeling a bit of nervousness. "I uh, bet you're wondering why I'm here huh?"
"Indeed I am."
There was sigh as Dew shuffled on the pillow. It was hard to bring up the reason for her visit and the Celestia's sheer royal visage didn't help at all. "Well... you see... uh..."
As if sensing her hesitation, Celestia looked around the room. "What do you think of the room?"
"Oh, its nice? A bit of a mess to be honest."
"Yes. Your mother was never one to clean up after herself. At least, not when she was still a student of mine"
"This is my mother's room?" Dew looked around in awe finding renewed interest in the room.
"Yes. I've kept it the same throughout the years in hopes of... her return."
"Oh..." Dew's ears folded back and the silence grew once more.
It took a few minutes and a glass of water provide by the princess for the mood to lighten. As Dew stopped drink from the straw provided for her convenience she finally worked the nerve to look at Celestia.
"She wanted to come and see you."
"Oh?" Celestia's ears perked up and she shifted a bit closer.
"She used to tell me stories about Equestria. It was one of my favorite things she did. Her whole attitude seemed to change each time she started another story. I always thought she just made them up for me. Imagine how I felt when she showed me it was all real."
"She always did love a good story. Is she-"
"There were stories where she was smiling from start to finish. Yet, the smile seemed forced more than anything. The stories always seemed to involve you in some way when it happened."
"..."
Morning Dew stood up and walked over towards the window as the sun was close to setting. She watched as it hung in the air as Celestia didn't move from her spot.
"My mom told me everything that happened between you and her. I found it hard to believe that a woman as caring and kind as her would have a past like that. She always stood as a pillar of perfection to me. Even when I was in my rebellion phase somehow she'd always know what to say."
Celestia smiled at the thought of Sunset being a considered a pillar of perfection even in her daughter's eyes. It was heartwarming to know that it wasn't just her that saw who Sunset really was underneath it all.
"Princess; my mother wanted me to come here and see with my own eyes the world she grew up in. The one she never forgot along with the people... er, ponies she never forgot." Dew tried to reach awkwardly at the right saddlebag but kept failing to reach it properly. It wasn't until Celestia undid the clasp and set it down in front of her that she blushed in embarrassment. "Thanks for that."
"Of course."
"Give me a minute. I have something I need to give you."
Celestia held back a chuckle at the sight of the pegasus trying her best to fish out whatever it was she was looking for from the saddlebag.
"Got it!" came a muffled voice as Dew took out a box she held in her mouth. She set it down in front of the princess and opened it to reveal a golden locket with Sunset's cutie mark. "Go on. It's yours."
The locket floated in a soft yellow light as Celestia pulled it closer. She let it land in her hoof and stroked it gently. It was incredibly well made and the mark on it was beautiful.
"Turn it over."
Celestia did as suggested and felt a lump in her throat. The back of the locket held a different symbol from Sunset's. It was her cutie mark in all it's glory. It was more than she could ever had hoped as a symbol of her former student.
"It's beautiful Morning Dew. I love it."
"Yea. Mother said you would. She also said that you'd do so before even looking inside."
Celestia once again took hold of the object in her magic and turned it back to open it. The inside held a picture of two bipedal creatures. A male with blonde hair and a small girl that could only be Morning Dew in her original form. It was then she noticed a different image on the side of the cover. It was a picture of Sunset Shimmer in her "human" form. She looked happier than Celestia ever remembered her being. She wore a light blue dress and her hair was in a pony tail draped over her right side. Her smile was the same one she held as a filly.
The image grew blurry as her eyes began to water. It was hard to hold her emotions back at the sight of former student being healthy and happy.
"Check behind the picture of me and my dad."
Magic took hold of the image as the part holding the picture was turned to reveal a picture she thought lost. It was of her and Sunset during one of their lessons. It was the first time Sunset had learned to teleport and she was beyond ecstatic even going as far as initiating a hug in the process. The picture was taken by her assistant at the time to commemorate the moment.
"Where is she? Why didn't she come?"
Dew looked away for a moment and sat down on her cushion once again. She took a deep breath and released it.
"I'm sorry. Giving you this was one of the things she left for me to do."
"Wha-"
"There was an accident. They were coming back from celebrating their anniversary and the plane crashed. They died instantly and this was left in her will along with instructions on how to contact this world's Twilight. It came with a letter as well just in case."
The letter in question was quickly snatched up in Celestia's magic. She hesitated at the familiar hoofwriting that read only her name. She opened it and looked at the last letter from Sunset.
Dear Princess Celestia,
I'm sorry for only contacting you now of all times and I'm sorry for making Twilight keep everything concerning my life a secret as I felt I didn't deserve to be a part of your life again. I'm sorry about so much more that I don't even know where else to begin but, with knowing how you are, you've already forgiven me a long time ago.
You getting this letter means I'll never be able to say this to you face to face but know that I've never stopped thinking about you. I asked Morning Dew to give this letter and a locket to you because she would be the best proof of my better life. I apologize in advance for her rather brash attitude. I'm sure she gets it from her dad more than anyone else.
I know that when we last saw each other it was not in the best of circumstances. I know that nothing I can say will ever change what I have done but I just wanted you to know that, despite everything that ever happened between us, our time together was some of the happiest in my life. Even now, I have always and will always consider you more than just my mentor.
You were like the mother I had always wished for and love you as much as one. I know that you never treated any pony better than the rest but it's not about you treating me better than the rest. It's about how I wanted to treat you and despite never accepting personal gifts such as this I hope that you'll at least keep it with you. I love you and always will no matter how much time has passed.
Your wayward daughter,
Sunset Shimmer
Celestia found herself in a hug looking up from the letter and found Morning Dew as the culprit.
"Sorry for being so forward. You looked like you needed one."
They held each other for while and Celestia collected her herself once again before they separated. She took a minute to put on the locket and cloak it in an illusion to hide it's presence.
"That'll always amaze me. Magic is so cool. Wish I could use it or at least know how to use these things." Dew said trying to flap her wings and only slightly twitching them. "Mother said she was a unicorn. I wonder why I'm a pegasus instead of one of those."
"Sometimes fillies and foals aren't always what their parents were; Sunset must have had ancestors that were pegasi."
Dew watched as Celestia stood up and her horn flashed and blinded her for a second. She opened her eyes to find herself once more in the throne room. "Listen, not for nothing, but I've been carrying that letter with me for a good while. I'm kind of curious as to what it said if you don't mind sharing."
"I don't mind at all. I think there are plenty of things for us to talk about concerning your mother and us."
"That sounds great. It really does and don't take this the wrong way but I have a life as a human. As much fun as I'm having being a talking horse-"
"Pony."
"Right. Pony. I have responsibilities back home."
A silence hung heavy as a frown grew on Celestia's face.
"But, I guess I can come visit from time to time. I would love to get to know the woman.. er mare? my mother talked about lovingly."
"I would love that as well. Consider her room yours and you'll always be welcome here."
The two hugged once again and Celestia watched her leave beyond the door. She took the letter out once more and read it as she held the locket in her hoof. As she reached the end once again a thought crossed her mind. She concentrated once again and produced a small flame underneath the paper. As a few seconds passed; new words appeared underneath Sunset's signature.
"Clever as always."
Love you Mom. was all that showed up as the flame died out.
"Love you too, my little Sunshine."