Luna was not happy about the fact that her sister had decided yet again to try and save the Shimmer girl. Honestly, she didn't believe the girl could change or had. She kept claiming she was sorry but Luna honestly felt that the girl was fibbing to lessen the backlash she would receive or if she was genuine in trying to turn over a new leaf, would end up acting the same way she had for the past three years. She had see it happen before with many problematic students at Canterlot High.
Luna pressed her ear against the basement door. She felt weird spying on her sister in her own house however she felt that she had to honor her sisters wishes and allow the older woman to continue her never ending task of trying to reform Sunset Shimmer. Celestia had asked her to get involved and help in the past and while she had, it had always failed and over time she decided that the girl was clearly not worth her time and told her sister that on more than one occasion. So while she would allow the girl to remain in their house [Not like Celestia would allow her to evict someone without her permission especially when that person was her child.] and act sweet, she wasn't expecting anything to happen.
Besides, at least it would give her a chance to spy on the girl and see if she was going to try anything. Like turning into a demon. Such power, if possible to repeat [Which Luna doubted as it seemed to be linked to that crown she had gotten her hands on.] needed to be watched carefully. Besides, she didn't know if the girl was able to preform other types of “magic.” Twilight Sparkle had mentioned magic existed in her dimension and that ponies used it but she hadn't explained what the limitations of magic was and what it could and couldn't do.
Luna admitted she was curious for another reason other than wanting to make sure Sunset Shimmer didn't attempt to harm anyone with such uncertain power. Having spent many years reading fantasy novels and playing games such as Skyrim, Luna was interested in the subject of magic and had often imagined herself as a powerful sorceress with power unmatched by any. The mere fact that magic actually existed, excited her beyond belief. Still, she wasn't going to go and ask the young girl about it, even if she really wanted too. It was then Luna realized that she really shouldn't be into this sort of stuff at her age. Sighing, Luna pulled away from the basement door from which she had been listening to the the exchange between Sunset, Celestia and Scootaloo. She winced slightly as she heard a door slam shut with a resonating thud.
Things were quiet for a moment before Luna heard her sister sigh and begin talking once more to Sunset Shimmer. Celestia talked about setting up the guest room for the girl while Sunset, from what she could hear, was still crying a bit. Luna moved away and picked up her wired Xbox Controller briefly before setting it back down. For the first time in forever, Luna was just not in the mood to play.
When Sunset awoke the next morning, the girl was both unsure on where she was and had briefly forgotten about the events of last night. It wasn't till the light tap on the guest room door and the eerily flat voice of Luna, did that Sunset remember where she was and what had happened.
“Sunset Shimmer?” Sunset felt it was a bit weird to be called by her full name though Luna had always been formal and tended to call people by their full or last name; she usually didn't call anyone by nicknames or anything like that. Sunset pulled back the plush, blue comforters of the guest room bed and made her way to the door, briefly taking notice of the rooms furniture and contents; something she hadn't done last night as she had been too busy crying in bed.
The room was modestly sized with a dark purple carpet and light cream walls. There was a double bed with plush blue comforters, sheets, and pillows. A desk sat unused and shoved in one corner next to a small closet that appeared to be empty save for the racks and shelves inside. There was also nice sized magon chest of drawers which Sunset guessed was also devoid of items, a chesterfield armchair and next to the room door was another door, which Sunset assumed was connected to a bathroom.
When she opened the door, she was greeted by a tired and irritable looking Luna, who clearly looked like she needed more sleep and didn't want to be talking to her. Her blue hair was tangled, messy and snarled in multiple places. There were bags underneath her eyes and the woman was only wearing a dark blue tank top, panties that had little smiley faces on it and a pair of worn, purple slippers. Honestly, it was a bit odd to see her Vice Principal in her undies, really, really weird.
“Take a picture; it'll last longer” snapped Luna, crossing her arms and mumbling something about coffee under her breath. Sunset blushed and coughed awkwardly.
“Oh...Um did you need something Vice-Principal Luna?” something told the girl that the women before her would not appreciate being addressed simply by Luna. She could tell that the woman did not like her and honestly, Sunset couldn't blame her one bit. Luna looked her over for a moment before jerking her head towards the stairs.
“Tia has sent me to get you for breakfast.” No sooner had Luna said that, did she turn on her heel and walk down the stairs at a fast pace, perhaps very determined to be out of her presence. Sunset watched her go and when she was gone she contemplated. On one hand, she wanted to go back to crying in bed but at the same time, she knew she couldn't run away from her problems, from her mistakes. Besides, she was hungry as she came to realize when her stomach growled loudly. She slowly made her way down the stairs and made her way to the kitchen which she remembered from the brief time she lived in the house three years ago.
To get to the kitchen from the upstairs, you had to go down the stairs, go right down the hallway, enter the dining room, pass by the basement door and foyer before coming upon the large and spacious kitchen. Sunset awkwardly stepped inside the kitchen and took in the sight of the kitchen and it's inhabitants. Luna was drinking coffee, still in underwear, sitting at the kitchen island with Scootaloo, who was also in underwear from the looks of it [A purple tank top with matching pajama shorts.], eating eggs and toast. Celestia was at the stove, only dressed in a short aqua robe and a pair of fluffy, white bunny slippers. She was flipping an omelet in the frying pan while reading the local newspaper, Canterlot Times. It seemed Sunset was the only one in regular clothes; having dismissed Celestia's offer for a pair of pajamas and instead choosing to just fall asleep crying in her day to day wear.
Almost as soon as she stepped into the kitchen, everyone turned toward her, taking her in. Scootaloo scowled at her and pulled her breakfast of Omelets closer, and Luna gave her a look that she could not distinguish. Perhaps a mix of annoyance and anger? Celestia was the only one who seemed happy to see her. She pointed Sunset to the empty spot at the kitchen island, next to Luna who was in the middle, where a plate of cheese and red pepper omelets, was waiting. Sunset hesitated, not sure if she should, feeling out of place and unwelcome.
Luna sighed dramatically and got up from her chair before dragging the girl to the counter and sitting her down before quietly resuming her meal. Celestia gave her a smile and gestured for her to eat. Silently, Sunset did and grabbed the half empty milk jug and poured a moderate amount of milk into the empty cup next to her plate. She dug in and realized that she was a lot hungrier than she thought and within a few minutes her plate was empty.
“Enjoying it?” asked Celestia, smiling at her as she turned the page of her newspaper. Sunset nodded, quite full and content.
“Aren't you going to eat?” asked Sunset, noticing that Celestia was without a plate of delicious, soft, cheesy goodness. Celestia shook her head as she turned another page.
“No, I tend to rise earlier than Scootaloo and Luna so I usually make myself breakfast WAY before they get up. Don't you remember? You did live with us before; I recall during those few months a few times where you got up around the same time as me.” spoke the high school principal as she finished cooking the last omelet and turned off the stove.
“Right, I think I remember that too.....um....Oh no thanks” said Sunset trailing off, dismissing the omelet that Celestia offered her. “I'm quite full but thank you for breakfast. Actually, it means a lot” Celestia smiled at her again and then offered the omelet to the other occupants of the house. Luna shook her head, getting up and leaving the kitchen [Coffee in hand], no doubt headed to the basement to play on of her systems or to do housework. Scootaloo also didn't want the omelet and left almost soon after her aunt, shouting that she was headed out to meet up with the other members of her trio, Applebloom and Sweetie Belle at the park. Of course, not before she changed her clothes which featured her usual outfit.
“Don't go wandering off with strangers and come home before dark or if anything happens.” said Celestia, as she watched her daughter zip by. Scootaloo stopped briefly in the kitchen doorway as she passed by [She was attempting to find her misplaced scooter] and snarled.
“I'm not a baby and I'm not stupid!” Celestia started to reply but the girl was already gone before she could open her mouth. The mother sighed and shook her head; she honestly had no idea what was up with that girl. Sure, Sunset suddenly re-entering the family picture seemed to anger the girl but last nights outburst was one of many. She was acting out more and more; throwing hissy fits over small stuff like being expected to load the dishwasher or not being allowed to have her nose pierced. It was the obvious the girl was going through a rebellious period but Celestia was not at all ready to deal with that.
Celestia shook her head and turned her attention towards the last remaining individual in the room; Sunset who was staring at the granite counter top of the kitchen island in silence, a mixture of sadness, fear and anger on her face apparently lost in thought. The older woman moved over to the island and sat down next to the girl.
“Sunset?” the girl looked at her, a look of dread on her face; a look Celestia didn't understand why she had. Was the girl worried she would punish her or something similar? Celestia guessed that's what the girl thought, from the way she seemed to be fidgeting with the hem of her jacket and looked at her in fear.
“Y-yes?” replied the girl softly, bracing for the worst. Honestly; she was unsure if Celestia truly meant what she said the night before about having Sunset be a part of the family and about not kicking her to the curb. She expected to be booted any moment, though she really couldn't blame Celestia if she did.
Celestia placed her hand on her shoulder. “If you're going to live here, we need to discuss some things.” the woman said this firmly, clearly sending the message that this was not negotiable. Sunset gulped and pulled her jacket tighter around her as if it would protect her.
“W-What kind of things?” she asked, nervously biting her lip.
“First, I want to say I do want you here. I know Scootaloo and Luna are un-inviting right now but they'll come around.
Second, you're still in trouble for blowing up part of the school. However, me and Luna both know that you are more than likely not capable of repairing a school or licensed to do so in anyway, but we do expect you to help out with the construction company we've contracted in terms of cleaning up the mess. Starting Monday, you'll be helping out the man I hired to do it, an old friend of mine by the name of Hard Hammer. You'll be helping out after school from three to six pm until he no longer has any need for you. Most likely you'll only be cleaning up the rubble, moving and discarding things and other odd things.
On top of that, while I highly doubt we can expect it at this point, no more bullying students; none of them, I will know if you do. Also regarding Doctor Lang; I think there is no point in you seeing her anymore. Honestly, she's gotten nowhere with you in the last three years, and all of us know it's a waste of time and money. Though in all honesty, I should have been more involved in that aspect.
Third, with you moving back, not negotiable, we'll need to speak to the landlord sometime this week and move your stuff here as well as end the lease. As a member of this family, I expect you to help around the house with chores. Cooking, cleaning, whatever. Everyone, including me helps out so you don't have to worry about suddenly becoming some sort of servant because you won't and aren't. You're also on a ten o'clock curfew from now on and no sneaking out like you used to do when you first lived here or anything like that, or there will be consequences. Got it all so so far?”
Sunset nodded in response, quietly taking in the information. Celestia being satisfied enough with the confirmation that the girl understood, continued.
“Now, of course, some people are not happy with you. Scratch that, a lot. I expect since you've been kicked off your “throne” of Tyranny in the school that many are going to retaliate after years of abuse. While I will protect you from anyone who tries to harm you, an apology for the student body is in order. How you deal with that is up to you. I won't put a time limit on it."
"Now. The second last topic I want to discuss with you and honestly one of the most important things on the table. You need to make some friends Sunset Shimmer-Solaris” spoke Celestia firmly. Sunset looked at her with her mouth agape and a look that clearly read apprehensive on her face.
“B-But how am I supposed to do that? I know nothing about friendship! Besides, no one will want to be my friend after....aft...after all that pain and suffering I've caused them.” Celestia wiped the tears that were running down Sunsets' face with the sleeve of her robe and pulled the girl into a hug.
“I know. It won't be easy, but if I've lived in Canterlot long enough, I know for a fact that there is in fact three other high schools in this city with teenagers that probably know little or nothing about you. You don't have to try and make friends with people solely from CHS. Canterlot is a big city Sunset, besides who knows? You could end up befriending someone from CHS down the line, but the fact is, you have options.”
Sunset was still unsure, but the woman did have a point. She had little interaction with students outside of her own school. The orange skinned girl when not in school or at her apartment, only really frequented places in the general area in-between. Given that CHS was actually the more secluded school, with it being on the edge of one side of the city and the other three on the opposite end or near the middle, most teens she ran into were from CHS. There had to be someone in this forsaken city that could be her friend....right? The teenager bit her lip and turned her attention back to the alternate-world version of her mentor.
“Okay, I guess I can try....what was the last thing you wanted to talk to me about?”
“Tell me about Equestria.”
Sunset froze, and the hairs on her back stood on end. She honestly should have expected that the woman would want to know about that place now that her true origins had come to light. From the way Celestia looked, serious and a bit curious, that it was not something she could avoid.
“What...specifically?”
“How about we start with something simple? Who is the real Sunset Shimmer and who is 'Princess Celestia?' Aside from the fact that I assume she is my alternate world identity, correct?” The girl sat for a moment, playing with her coat before she delved into her tale
“My name is Sunset Shimmer. I was born Washneighton, the Equestria version of Washington, to Radiant Sunset and Shimmering Blaze. They named me after themselves, combining part of their names. I had an older sister of five years named Radiant Blaze. My mother was an abstract painter who was a bit known in the art world for her beautiful art pieces, and my father was an architect. I lived in a beautiful house like this in the hills; the house was built entirely by my dad from the ground up. “ Sunset paused briefly to catch her breath before continuing.
“When I was three years old, my parents died. A fire started in the basement of the house in the middle of the night and we only found out when it was too late. I awoke up to fire and smoke; my parents were trapped in their room by the fire that had spread to the upstairs and main floor by that time. My sister was the one who saved me; she burst into my room at two in the morning and lowered me outside through the window with her magic even though she didn't need to and could have probably saved her self. But she saved me. I tried to get help, I ran to the neighbors door and yelled but by the time the Washneighton Fire Squad arrived with clouds to douse the flames my father had died from his burns while my mother would wait another week while in a coma before dying. My sister died from smoke inhalation. I was the only one left.
Equestria does have foster families but for some reasons, even with the amount of couples who were looking for a mixed family or those that couldn't conceive, no one seemed to want me. So I was sent to the Washneighton Orphanage. I stayed there until I was only eight. The mare there. Ms. High Charm, was a shrewd woman who enjoyed verbally abusing me and the other foals in her care. The only reason she ran the orphanage was so she could take advantage of the money the Equestrian government gave the place. We often were forced to do chores upon chores with little food and poor living conditions.
When I left, I lived on the streets and was lucky I didn't die or worse. I stayed alive by rummaging through trash bins and stealing from market vendors or unlucky bastards who happened to make the mistake of carrying their bit bags on their saddles or out in the open where it could be easily stolen.
One day, I was starving. Actually, really starving. I was ten. I need food and not just a single piece of bread; I realized unless I got a large stash of food for the winter I probably wouldn't make it. Now a giant mass of food disappearing opposed to a single loaf or slab of cheese would draw attention but perhaps not a young filly picking up the groceries for her family. So I decided that the best course of action would be to steal the coin purse from this mare who was carrying it around on her saddle with the loosest of knots.
I would have gotten away with it hadn't it been for the mare's friend noticing me just as I was finishing undoing the knots. Naturally, I ran, but the town guard came to the aid of the mare and her friend and gave chase. That's when I ran into her; Princess Celestia.
Princess Celestia has been our ruling monarchy for a little over fifteen hundred years. I know, surprising to those who aren't familiar with Equestria. She raises the sun and lowers it later in the day so she can raise the moon. She is what we call an 'Alicorn' in my land, or rather former land. A winged unicorn capable of great feats of magic and is skilled in many areas. But don't be deceived, I have asked more than once and she has stated that she is not a god or even remotely close as she has had parents of mortal blood and has never traveled past the hemisphere of Earth even though she has tried. She has said that she will with time come to pass like many of the ponies before her have. When, I cannot say for I will most likely pass centuries and maybe even thousands of years before she does.
She was with the mayor of Washneighton, visiting the market when I ran into her, head first. I tried to run from her but even when I managed to teleport a foot away; she managed to catch me. She took pity on me I think or perhaps she truly thought I was one of the most capable unicorns she had seen in “over several centuries”, I honestly have no idea, so she offered me a chance at something I had always wanted: the chance to learn magic, to study and hone my abilities. I had spent the last few years learning magic from other homeless unicorns and from books I “borrowed” from the nearby Library. So she took me away to Canterlot Castle, where I became her student. I had honestly hoped I could become more; her daughter. Having not had a family in forever, I thought: this would be my new family.
But she refused to let me call her mom or consider her family. She kept me at an arms length. I felt...inadequate. I honestly thought that if I mastered magic, became the best unicorn magician since Starswirl The Bearded, if I could just do something worthwhile, she would turn me into an Alicorn then accept me as her own, would love me as I loved her. So even when she kicked me out of Canterlot Castle at the age of thirteen after I refused to stop trying to tamper with the portal to this world, I thought; If I just harnessed the power of this world, then I would finally be loved.”
But...Shortly after I arrived in this world and I meet you, I realized the truth. She would never want me; she never wanted me. And so, that lead to anger and hatred and instead I became determined with trying to destroy her instead. The rest is history you could say.”
Sunset became aware of the tears that were running down her face. When had she started crying? She couldn't tell, all that she knew was that a fresh wave of pain was hitting her as she remembered the rejection from the mare she once hoped could love her. Suddenly, she found herself in a tighter hug with her head practically smooshed against Celestia's chest. That's when she realized that the older woman was crying as well. Why though?
“Oh Sunset, I wish I had known this about you sooner. I honestly do. I can indeed see your pain now. But it's okay, sweetie; you don't have to be alone anymore.”
“Why? Why bother with me? Why don't you just get rid of me already! I know you hate me!” Celestia kissed her forehead as the tears began coming full force.
“No...No. I don't know what issues this other 'me' has, but I want to be your family Sunset. I didn't invest three years into you for no reason. But I can't if you won't let me. Please, let me be the family you need because after knowing you these last few years, even with your problems and setbacks, I can't be without you in my life even if you don't realize it.” If Sunset could cry any harder she would have because for the first time in a long time she had what she had always wanted above all else: love.