“The eye,” Princess Celestia spoke at last, “Where is it?”
“Gone” Sunset sniffled, “I destroyed it after the Musical Showcase.”
“I see...”
Again, silence.
Sunset finally summoned the courage to look up at the ponies before her. Princess Celestia was stern, but Sunset could see the heartbreak within. Princess Twilight was still in a state of shock and confusion. Then, there was Starlight. It hurt Sunset to see Starlight like this. The light purple unicorn was on the verge of tears.
After a quiet moment, Twilight turned to Celestia. “Princess Celestia, may I have a private moment with you?” The elder Alicorn nodded and the princesses retreated to the back of the room.
Alone, Sunset turned to the purple unicorn. “Starlight...” she began, but Starlight turned away.
“No, Sunset” she said raising a hoof, “I...I...I need a moment.” Her tears released and she went galloping from the room.
Sunset curled into a ball and wished she were dead. She heard the sound of walking hooves on the stone floor. Celestia and Twilight had reached their verdict.
“Sunset Shimmer of the Human World,” began Princess Celestia, “Rise.”
It took a little work, but Sunset managed to bring herself to her hooves. Her head hung low. She couldn't bear to look up at the princesses.
“It's okay, Sunset” said Twilight. Her voice was warm and calming.
Tears blurred her vision, yet Sunset couldn't believe what she was seeing. “What is this?” she demanded, “A cruel joke? Why are you smiling?”
Twilight put a comforting foreleg around Sunset. “It's okay, Sunset” she repeated, pulling in for a hug, “It's all going to be okay.”
“But...” Sunset choked on her tears.
A second came into the hug. Opening her eyes, Sunset saw a coat of white. “Celestia?...but...why? I...I...”
Celestia placed a gentle hoof on the unicorn's head. “Shh, my little pony. Don't let yourself be troubled.”
“I'm sorry!” cried Sunset, “I'm so sorry!”
“I know,” there was a pause. Sunset wasn't prepared for what she heard next. “and I forgive you.”
The amber unicorn grit her teeth and wept. How could she? She cried inwardly, How could she forgive just like that? You're not worthy of such words! “You don't mean that!” she yelled.
“But we do” replied Twilight, “Sunset, there is no denying the horrible things you've done. You said you would accept any punishment we deemed fit. Princess Celestia and I agree you have been punished enough already. However, you can't go on forever punishing yourself. You said it yourself. You're not the person you once were.” She hugged the unicorn tighter.
Sunset said nothing. She felt like crying again, but she had run out of tears. Yet, this time was different. Suddenly, there was a lightness in her chest. The weight upon her heart suddenly lifted. For the moment, she reveled in the embrace.
Eventually, Princess Celestia broke away and looked down on the little pony. “Sunset Shimmer, let me be the first to welcome you to Equestria. It is a pleasure to meet you and look forward to knowing you—the human you.”
Sunset gave a weak smile and wiped her eyes. “Thanks.” She turned to Twilight. “Princess Twilight, if I could ask a favor of you.”
“Anything!” beamed Twilight.
----
Twilight turned to Sunset and gave a smile. “You ready for this?”
Sunset took in a deep breath. “No, but it needs to be done.” She took a step towards the mirror.
“Sunset!” a voice cried from the door.
Sunset winced. “Starlight?” The light-purple unicorn came galloping through the door, on a collision course. She tackled Sunset down to the floor in a hug.
“Starlight!” wheezed Sunset, “I can't breath!”
“I'm sorry” Starlight backed up, “I just had to catch you before you left. I...I've been doing some thinking.”
Sunset's heart stopped. “And...?”
“And, I'm willing to give this a chance. Give you a chance.”
“Starlight...”
Starlight put a hoof over Sunset's mouth. “There's more. I also have a confession.” Her ears flopped down in embarrassment and shame. “I wasn't going to forgive you at first. In fact, for a moment, I even hated you. But then, I realized, that if I denied you the same grace given to me, I am no better than my old self. I don't want to be a hypocrite.”
“I know” Sunset looked down, “And I am sorry.”
“You better be” Starlight's eyes narrowed, “I'm still mad at you, Sunset Shimmer! I do not like being lied to!”
Sunset cowered and Starlight recomposed and took in a deep breath. “But, I am willing to forgive and put this behind us. Here,” she produced a tin of tea cakes, “for the road.”
Sunset smiled and hugged her friend. “I promise,” she said, “no more lies.”
---
“Wait, what?” cried Rainbow Dash, “Sunset Shimmer is really the Sunset Shimmer of this world pretending to be the Sunset Shimmer from Equestria?”
Twilight only managed a nod and took a sip of her drink. The long story had left her quite parched.
“Poor Sunset...” Applejack removed her hat and placed it over her heart.
“Which one?” asked Rainbow Dash, “The pony or the human?”
“Both.”
Rarity sighed. “I find this all to much and hard to take in.”
Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie and human Twilight sat quietly. Pinkie Pie's hair had deflated, the sparkle left her eyes. Somewhere, there was Pinkie Pie, but right now, there was only the shell. Fluttershy sat with her head down, focusing on something interesting on the table. She looked like she was about to cry. Then there was Twilight. She sat peering into seamless space.
Princess Twilight was aware of the face. Her pony friends had said that's what she did when she was in deep thought. “So, that's what it looks like...” she wondered inwardly.
“So,” said Rainbow, “now what? You come telling this story and leave it at that?”
“That's up to you” Pony Twilight replied. “Now that you know, are you willing to give Sunset another chance?”
There was a silence around the table. Twilight's gaze darted about, trying to find an answer. Yet, the girls adverted their eyes.
“I don't know, Twilight,” began Applejack shakily, “What you're asking is—”
“—a bit hard” finished Rarity, “We've given her two times already.”
“Talk about a really tall order” added Pinkie Pie.
“Yes,” Twilight sighed, “But, don't they say 'third time's the charm'?” She gave a nervous, wide grin. Still no change in the girls. “Look, I'm not saying it will or won't be easy. However, Sunset is willing to come clean and open with you and start anew. Believe me, this isn't easy for her either. All she asks is for the opportunity.
“You already made such great progress. Are you really going to throw all that away?”
Rainbow crossed her arms, sat back and huffed. “If she were really serious, she would have told us all this herself, or, at least, be here.”
Twilight turned to the next booth over. “You can come out now.”
A collective gasp escaped as Sunset emerged from the neighboring booth. She wiped her eyes on a napkin. She tried not to show it, but she had been crying. “Hi, girls” she said, sheepishly.
Human Twilight couldn't take it any longer. With a cry, she jumped from her chair and lunged at Sunset, embracing her in a bear hug. “I don't care who you were, or what you did,” she said, tears steaming down her cheeks, “If for any bit of what we experienced together was the true you, then I am willing put this all behind us and move forward.”
Applejack approached Sunset. Her hat sat low and eyes narrowed. “Loot at me, Sunset” she said, “Look at me and tell me whether or not this whole year has been true. Aside from pretending to be the pony Sunset, was the you a got to know the real you? Do not lie to me.”
Sunset looked up. Her eyes met with Applejack's. The stare she received, she fought everything not to look away. “It's true” she said, softly, “All of it was true.”
Applejack backed up a little and let out a smile. “I believe you, Sunset.”
A smile fell over Sunset's face as Applejack moved in for a hug.
Pinkie Pie was next to get up. “How dare you?” she hissed. Sunset's heart sank. “Taking advantage of us like that! What sort of friend does that? Because,” she took in a deep breath, “FRIENDS DON'T LIE TO FRIENDS!”
“I know,” Sunset replied, pained, “and I'm really sorry.”
“I'M NOT DONE! Friendships are built on trust, Sunset! TRUST! Today, you broke that trust!” The pink girl took in a deep, calm breath, “Now that that's all out,” her hair bounced back to its curly mess, “welcome back, Sunset Shimmer!” She embraced and squeezed so tightly Sunset began to cry out for lack of air.
It took Sunset a little time to get her breath back. Pinkie Pie seemed small, but that girl had arms of a bear. Speaking of bears, Sunset noticed that Fluttershy was the next one to step forward. The two stood quietly for a moment. Fluttershy had a small smile on her face, which, with the silence, made Sunset feel rather nervous. Then, without warning, Fluttershy's smile broadened. “Oh, Sunset,” she finally spoke, “I know you've changed.”
Sunset gulped. “You do?”
Fluttershy nodded.
“How?”
“They way you behave with the animals. They can tell. Only a kind and gentle person would interact with them the way you do. They all love you at the shelter. They keep asking when you'll be back.”
Everyone stared blankly at Fluttershy for a moment.
“I say this with love, Fluttershy,” Sunset rubbed the back of her neck, “but I think you need more human friends.”
“Well,” Fluttershy moved in closer, “I can think of one.”
Tears welled in Sunset's eyes as she and Fluttershy hugged. “But, I'm still cross with you, Sunset Shimmer” Fluttershy said, sternly, “You shouldn't have lied.”
“I know” sighed Sunset, “You're not the only one.” She looked at the others assembled. “I imagine everyone here will be upset with me about that one for a while.”
“But, why not tell us the truth sooner?” asked human Twilight.
Sunset hung her head. “Guilt, shame, fear. How can you just bring up something like that?” For a moment, the old Sunset Shimmer they knew appeared. “Oh, by the way, I'm not really the pony you thought you knew. In fact, I'm not a pony at all.” Her face fell, “Yeah, how do you think that would have gone?”
Twilight took a moment to contemplate an answer. She adjusted her glasses. “Probably as well as this.”
“I don't believe this! Are you insane?”
Everyone's eyes returned to the table, where Rainbow Dash and Rarity were still seated. Rainbow Dash had pushed her chair way, her arms still crossed, but she had a wild look in her eye. Sunset felt her gaze burn through her.
Rarity looked unsure of the whole situation.
“Are you idiots?” continued Rainbow, “She's lied to us before, who or what's to say she's not lying to you now?”
Applejack's hand made a fist “Now, just wait a gosh darn minute, Rainbow Dash.”
“No, you wait a minute and think! She's been dishonest with us twice now, we're to allow her to do it a third? Not me! Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. I will not allow a chance for a third.” Though enraged, she let her face soften a bit. “I'm sorry, but I can't.”
Heartbreak could not accurately describe the feeling within Sunset's chest. She hung her head. “It's okay, Rainbow” she said, softly, “I understand.”
“What on earth were you thinking?” yelled Rarity, “Is that what you do? Play with other people's hearts? How much of it was the truth, Sunset Shimmer? How much of it did you fake? I can't believe you did this!”
“Exactly!” agreed Rainbow Dash. At least someone saw reason, “All that we went through, all that we did. Did any of that really happen? Or, are they more lies? Do I even know you?”
“Yes!” Sunset replied, she clenched her bosom “You know me, Rainbow Dash! Rarity, it's all true! All of you, I gave you my heart! Our friendship was real. Every thought, every feeling; it was all true!”
Rarity raised a brow. “Was it really, darling?”
“Yes! I'm sorry. I was selfish. I was envious. I wanted what others had without really working for it. I thought if I could live somebody else's life, everything would be better. Instead,” she paused, a new wave of guilt flowed over her, “I only made a larger mess of things.”
Another silence fell over the group. Rainbow Dash and Rarity sat in contemplation. It wasn't long before Rainbow let out a sigh, slapped her lap and took to her feet. “Whatever you want to do is up to you. I still can't.” With that, she took her leave.
Rarity was soon to follow. “I'm sorry, Sunset” she said, softly, “Maybe someday. But, not today.” Though she tried to hide it, the others could see tears come to her eyes.
Sunset waited quietly for Rarity to leave the shop before she broke down. The others had to support and guide her to a seat.
“Don't worry Sunset,” Applejack punched her fist into her palm, “we'll get some sense into those two.”
“Or, we could just talk to them” suggested Fluttershy.
Sunset blew her nose. “Thanks, but this needs to be their decision. I will not have you force anything upon them.”
It took a moment, but, eventually, Applejack agreed.
Human Twilight looked around. “Okay, so now what?”
“You tell me” replied the pony princess, “You have all followed your heart and cast your lot. The question now is how will you move forward?”
Pinkie's face grew a wide smile. “I know,” she squealed, “With a party!”
“I don't think so, Pinkie” sighed, Sunset, “I'm not much for a party.”
Applejack agreed. “Yeah, this doesn't seem something to throw a party to.”
“But, we need it” insisted the party girl, “We need to celebrate the beginning Sunset's new life. We need to celebrate the times we were all together.” She pulled up a tray of apple cider. Holding up a glass, she said, “To new bonds and to our momentarily lost friends. May we become stronger and may they eventually find their way.”
Princess Twilight raised her glass. “I'll drink to that.”
“I suppose it's something” Applejack fiddled with her drink.
Fluttershy gave a smile, “I, for one, like it.”
“Here, here!” smiled human Twilight.
Sunset felt all eyes upon her as she looked upon the drink before her. With a deep breath and heavy heart, she reached out, firmly took her glass and let out a small smile.