//------------------------------//
// Part I:  Moon of Remorse || Chapter 4:  The First Day (A New Home) 
// Story: Full Circle 
// by Sotharan 
//------------------------------//

Celestia, Applejack, Rainbow, and Pinkie were gone for about three hours.  It was nearly noon when they came back.  Applejack came down to the basement to find Sunset still sleeping.  Rarity had fallen asleep too.  Applejack smiled to herself.  It was a cute picture – Sunset’s head was on Rarity’s shoulder, and Rarity’s head was resting on top of Sunset’s.  She pulled the chair from Fluttershy’s vanity over again and sat down next to the bed.
“Sunset.  Sunset Shimmer,” she said softly, taking Sunset’s hand and patting it gently.  “Sunset, please wake up.”
Sunset slowly stirred, furrowing her brow.  Eventually her eyes opened and she looked at Applejack blearily.  “Applejack,” she whispered.  Meanwhile, Rarity rolled over on her side, still sleeping.
“Yes, it’s me,” confirmed Applejack.  “We just got back from your…apartment, Ah guess?”
Sunset took a deep breath.  “Sorry you had to see that.”
Applejack smiled wryly.  “Well, we could tell you’d tried to make it kinda homey.  Ah think we got everything, but if you find anything missing we’ll go back for it.”
“Thank you,” Sunset rasped.
Applejack was quiet for a moment.  “Sunset, Ah gotta be honest with you.  Ah sure am glad you won’t be livin’ there anymore.  That’s no place for somebody to live.  Ah wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy.”
“Which I am, so I guess that counts,” Sunset said sadly, looking at the wall.  
Applejack didn’t miss a beat.  “You were, sugarcube.  You were.”  She smiled at Sunset.
Sunset’s eyes misted over a bit.  She looked a bit embarrassed, but nodded.
“C’mon.  Say it.  Say it out loud.  Trust me.”
“Were?”
“Were.”
The tiniest of smiles appeared on Sunset’s face.  She met Applejack’s eyes, and then with surprising earnestness, she agreed.  “Were.”
Applejack smiled again, amused.  
After a moment, Sunset’s face darkened again.  “Applejack…thanks for helping me to your pickup.  And…for the seat belt…and for getting me here.  I don’t think I would have made it if you hadn’t.”
“No worries, Sunset.  There’s no way we’d have left you there.  That would’ve been cruel.  Heartless even.”
Sunset’s eyes, which had fallen on to the sheet in front of her, slowly worked their way up to Applejack’s eyes again, but she did not lift up her chin.  “I have a lot to apologize to you for, too.”
Applejack didn’t respond right away.  Then she said, “Tell ya what.  Let’s go ahead and put that on hold for a little while.  Plenty of time for that kind of thing down the line.”
“You don’t…want to hear it?”
“Want is the wrong word.  Ah understand some things need to be said – the air needs to be cleared.  But, baby, Ah just don’t think you’re up to it right now.  Get a little stronger – then we can set everything right.”
Sunset just stared.
“Don’t worry, Sunset.  We’re going to forgive you.  In fact, Ah’m pretty sure we already have.”
Sunset couldn’t help it.  She started to cry again.  “How can you be so kind to me?  Don’t you know what I am?  You heard Twilight!  I showed you all what I really am – a demon!  A power hungry, murderous demon!”  Beside her, Rarity started to stir.
“She said that before she saw your eyes, Sunset,” said Applejack, again without a second’s hesitation.  To her, the matter was crystal clear.
“Before…what?”
“If you’d seen your eyes when you came up out of that crater, you’d understand.”
Sunset didn’t know what to say.  
“Now listen here, sugarcube.  What did Twilight do when she saw your eyes?  When she heard what you said?  When she understood how sorry you were?”
Sunset looked down again, remembering.
“She reached out.  She pulled you out of the crater and put you on your feet.  And then she put our hands on yours.  You need to cling to that.  That meant something.  It can help you when you’re feeling awful, like this.”
Sunset’s tears slowed.  She just looked into Applejack’s eyes.  
“Doesn’t it help?  Remember the hands, sugarcube,” Applejack encouraged, with a warm smile.
Sunset sniffed a few times.  Her breathing became easier.  Finally, she gave Applejack a wan smile.
“Yeah?” prompted Applejack.
Sunset nodded.  “Yeah.”
“Good.  And as far as the demon thing is concerned, from what Ah’m seeing today, and what Ah saw last night, Ah’m pretty sure that fits under the “were” category, too,” Applejack said pointedly.  “You’re already changing, Sunset.  Ah can see it.”
“Oh, I hope you’re right, Applejack.  I hope you’re right!” said Sunset, again with surprising earnestness.  
Applejack stood up.  “ Ah know Ah am.  So here’s the plan.  Time for you to get up and make yourself presentable.  Rarity will help.  Right, Rarity?” she said loudly.
Rarity groaned.  Without opening her eyes, she picked up a small throw pillow and hurled it at Applejack.  Applejack caught it effortlessly.  “Nice try, sugarcube.  Seriously, though.  Ms. Celestia’s gonna to take Sunset to the courthouse, then to the doctor, and then over to her apartment.  We need to get going.  Ah’ll get Fluttershy – she can help too.”
“Ok,” Rarity said, and sat up, trying to get a kink out of her neck.
Applejack winked at Sunset, then turned around and headed back upstairs.  Sunset stared after her in wonder.  Rarity gave her shoulder a quick squeeze.  “Come on, darling.  Let’s get you moving.”



Getting Sunset ready to go was quite a bit easier than last night.  For one thing, she had some ibuprofen in her already, so she was in less pain.  All they really had to do was get her dressed and make sure her hair looked ok.  In about 10 minutes they helped her out the walk-out basement doors, up the side yard, and into the front yard.  There, Celestia was waiting along with the other three girls.  They all smiled at her as, with Rarity on one side of her and Fluttershy on the other, she limped to Celestia’s white sedan.  The girls tried to keep smiling, but it was hard.  Sunset looked stunned and disoriented.  Even shell-shocked.  
Celestia opened the front passenger door for Sunset.  Applejack and Rainbow took over for Rarity and Fluttershy and they gently lowered Sunset into the seat.  “Ms. Celestia, how about Rainbow and Ah come along?  We can give you a hand getting her in and out of the car and such.”
“That sounds like a great idea, Applejack.  Hop in!”  She and Rainbow jumped into the back seats as Celestia went around to the driver’s seat.
Rarity waved at Sunset, trying to encourage her.  “See you later, Sunset.  We’re all coming over to Ms. Celestia’s later to help you settle in!”
Sunset looked up at her, but the stunned expression remained on her face as Celestia pulled out of Fluttershy’s driveway and started down the street.
Rarity deflated slightly.  “Oh, she looks so frightened.  Or maybe ‘lost’ is a better word.”
Pinkie hooked her arm around Rarity’s.  “Don’t worry, Rarity.  They’ll take good care of her.  Now come on!  We’ve got work to do!”  She grabbed Fluttershy’s arm and dragged them both toward the van.



The drive to the courthouse did not take long.  As promised, Applejack and Rainbow helped Sunset down the long hallway with Celestia clipping along in front of them.  The sound of her high heels echoed through the huge building, which was mostly deserted – it being a Saturday.  Soon they reached a large paneled wooden door.  An elegant bronze sign next to the door said:  ‘Chambers.  His Honor Heavy Gavel, J.D., LL. M.  Chief Judge, Canterlot District Court’.  
Celestia pushed the door open and held it as the girls went in.  They were in a well-appointed waiting room.  There was no administrative assistant at the desk.  
“Go ahead and sit down, girls.  I’ll go see if the judge is ready.”  Celestia turned and went through a door.  She returned after a few minutes.  To the girls, she seemed stressed when she came back.  Even anxious.  “Ok.  The judge would like to see Sunset by herself for a little while, first.  Let’s give her a hand.”
They helped Sunset through the door and down a short hallway.  When they reached the door at the end of the hallway, they opened it to reveal a large room with heavy wood bookshelves on either sidewall.  The far wall consisted of huge windows.  At a heavy, ornately carved wooden desk sat a portly middle aged man in black robes.  To Sunset’s surprise, he smiled kindly at her.  “Ah, here’s the young lady.  Please, come in.”  His accent was a lot like Applejack’s.  He got up, came around the desk, and gallantly took Sunset’s hand from Applejack.  “I’ve got her now, ladies.  Would you be so kind as to give us just a few moments of privacy?”
Celestia and the girls nodded.  Celestia gave Sunset a nervous smile, and they went back out and closed the door behind them.  
The judge helped Sunset to a chair and helped her to sit down.  Then, again surprising her, he sat down in a chair across from her instead of going back around his desk.  He looked at her for a moment.  
Sunset, feeling terribly self-conscious, did her best to sit up as straight as she could.  “Now you just relax, little lady.  This isn’t going to be an interrogation.  But I am required by the law, because you are “16” (here he winked at her) to be sure you understand what’s happening.”
Sunset’s mouth fell open a little.
“Yes, yes, Principal Celestia told me quite a bit about you, Ms. Shimmer.  Don’t you worry.  Your secrets are safe with me.  Your principal and I have a very strong relationship, and I trust her like I trust no one else.  Because of that, I’m willing to bend a few rules to make sure we do what’s best.”
Sunset closed her mouth and looked at the ground.
“I’m sorry to see you limping.  I hope you get better quickly.”
“I brought it on myself,” said Sunset quietly after a moment.
“I still hope it heals quickly.  So.  Here’s the deal.  Turns out Ms. Celestia’s heart is in the right place, but, not being a lawyer, she didn’t quite know the correct procedure that we need to execute here today.  We’re going to do something a little different from a guardianship.  But first things first.  Let’s address what happened last night, and where you might stand legally, and where I’ve decided you’re going to stand legally.  All right?”
“Yes, Your Honor,” Sunset answered in a small voice.
Judge Gavel smiled kindly at her again.  “As you probably suspect, we don’t have any statute in place covering mind control.  Not even our coercion or duress statutes cover it.  Ms. Celestia’s kindly decided not to press charges on that issue, and I’m satisfied with that, particularly because the effect was temporary and doesn’t seem to have left any permanent harm.  So that’s that.  Now as far as attempting to overthrow a member of a foreign government using lethal force, the problem that arises is that while you did it on U.S. soil, the means you used are…not characterized by U.S. law either.  And I have no particular desire to get it characterized.  To put not too fine a point on it, we probably need to keep you from the attention of any agencies of the U.S. Intelligence Community.  I have no desire to see you end up on a CIA autopsy table, Ms. Shimmer.  I mean that.  I truly do.”
Sunset looked terrified.  Judge Gavel tried to reassure her.  “Ms. Shimmer.  Sunset.  I don’t mean to frighten you.  But I think it’s only fair to you that you understand the stakes involved.”
With an effort, Sunset nodded.
“Ms. Celestia proposed a solution to me, and I have decided to accept it.  Basically, I’m going to say that you were released to the jurisdiction of Princess Sparkle.  She being a royal of your country’s government, which I understand is a type of principality, she apparently had the authority to decide your fate from a legal as well as a physical perspective.  Do you think that’s correct?”
Sunset understood that total honesty was the only option here, even though she had no choice in the matter because of the Rainbow Wave.  “Your Honor, when I left Equestria I was only aware of one princess – the chief princess, Princess Celestia.  She certainly held all the authority at that time necessary to judge any Equestrian, and to carry out, or direct the carrying out, of any punishment she sentenced anypony to.  But since I’ve left, Princess Celestia’s younger sister, Princess Luna, has returned.  And Twilight has become a Princess.  I’m honestly not sure how their different levels of authority interact.  But I do know Twilight.  She has impeccable integrity.  Disobeying Princess Celestia, or exceeding her own authority – those are things that would never even enter her mind.  If she felt she could release me and not punish me, she certainly believed it was within her authority to do so.  And most of my crimes (here Sunset hung her head) were against her personally, anyway.” 
Judge Gavel thought for a moment.  “That’s about what I suspected.  Well, here’s what I’m going to say.  I’m going to defer to Princess Sparkle.  She clearly pardoned you, or maybe put you on probation, and wants a second chance for you.  So we’re going to say that all possible criminal charges are satisfied for my part.”
“Thank you, Your Honor,” Sunset said again in her small voice.
The judge’s face became more serious.  “That being said, I must warn you, Sunset.  I cannot spare you this way a second time.  If you behave like this again, if you take it upon yourself to harm others, I will have to turn you over to the authorities and let the chips fall where they may, much as I may hate to do so.  Is that very clear to you?”
Sunset swallowed.  “Yes, Your Honor,” she almost whimpered, unable for a moment to meet his eyes.
Judge Gavel sighed.  He smiled reassuringly at her, then rose and poured some water into a glass on his desk.  He handed it to her.  
“Thank you again,” Sunset said gratefully, and drank some of the water.
The judge sat down once more.  “I don’t think we’ll need to worry about all that, though.  From what Ms. Celestia’s told me, you’ve already begun to change.  Now, as far as making Ms. Celestia your guardian, I’m afraid that won’t quite do.”
Sunset paled.  
“Now don’t worry, I’ve figured it out.  The problem, you see, is your citizenship.  I can’t directly appoint a guardian over a non-citizen.  You’d have to become a ward of the state, and that would require that you be placed in the foster system.  Now while I might be able to make it come to pass that Ms. Celestia would be appointed your foster mother, there would be a lot of paperwork and investigation involved – all of which might expose you to unwanted attention.  And it would take a long time.  So, we’re going to need to do something else.”
Sunset braced herself.
“Now I don’t mean to alarm you.  I’ve discussed the other option with Ms. Celestia, and it has several advantages, but the thing she wanted me to stress to you is that it changes nothing about her arrangement with you from your perspective.  When you graduate, you’ll still become a full-fledged adult, free to choose your path, should you decide to remain in our world.  But the advantages of this different procedure are twofold.  First, it has the advantage of conferring, with a little extra paperwork, U.S. citizenship upon you.  You can imagine how useful that could be.  Second, it means that Ms. Celestia’s sister, Ms. Luna, will have true, legal succession authority.  In other words, if, heaven for fend, something were to happen to Ms. Celestia, Ms. Luna takes right over without the need for any paperwork.”
Sunset just stared.  She truly had no idea what the judge was getting at.
Judge Gavel took a deep breath.  “Well, uh, Sunset, the long and short of it is, that it’s going to be necessary for Ms. Celestia to uh, well, to adopt you.”
Sunset’s mouth fell open and her eyes widened.
“I’m afraid there’s just no other way to do this that doesn’t expose you to risk.  And, as I said, it has certain advantages.”
Sunset was still just staring in complete astonishment.
Judge Gavel cleared his throat.  “I see that you are a bit surprised by this.  I think now would be a good time for me to go and get Ms. Celestia.  She wanted to talk to you a bit more before we decide if we’re going to do this.  Is that ok?”
Sunset just nodded slowly, still staring at the judge with eyes like saucers.
He nodded back and rose.  Having gone to the door, he called for Celestia, who came quickly.  She entered the judge’s chambers still looking a bit anxious, then came and sat in a third chair and looked at Sunset.
“Sunset, sweetheart, did the judge tell you everything?”
Sunset just nodded.
“I know it’s a bit of a shock.  I promise it won’t change anything about what we discussed.  If anything, it changes things for me and Luna a bit.  I know the judge talked with you about the two advantages of adoption.  But there’s a third advantage.  It means that if you do decide to remain in our world, Sunset, that no matter where you go, and what you do (here Celestia had to pause for a moment, as she was getting a bit emotional), you’ll always have a home to come back to.”
That touched Sunset's heart, bringing her out of her shock.  Her face softened.  
“I promise I’m not trying to take the place of your real mother back in Equestria,” Celestia explained, wiping a tear away.  “If you prefer, you can still call me Celestia, not mom.  I just want you to have a safe place here, where you can heal and grow.”
Sunset’s eyes were wet now.  The truth was, with her words, with her profound kindness and gentleness at Fluttershy’s house, Celestia had won her heart already.  Sunset finally found words.  “Celestia, if I had to choose anyone in this world for a mother, it would be you.”
Celestia was stunned.  “Sunset.  Wow.  Was that…was that a…compliment?”
Sunset nodded emphatically.
“That was…very sweet.  Thank you.”  This was all Celestia trusted herself to say.  She suddenly rummaged in her purse, but Judge Gavel produced a box of tissues, proffering it to Celestia and then to Sunset.  When both of them had wiped their eyes for a bit, the judge turned to Sunset.
“I gather, young lady, from the context of your words that you are satisfied with this arrangement?”
She nodded, with a true smile.  
“Good.  The paperwork is all drawn up.  It’s only necessary for me and for Ms. Celestia to sign a few things, and you’ll be her legal daughter, and a U.S. citizen, to boot.”
Sunset looked down at her feet demurely.



A couple hours later, as the two girls helped Sunset toward the door leading out of the judge’s chambers, Judge Gavel came up to Sunset and took her hand.  “Young lady, I truly do wish you the very best,” he said gently.  “I didn’t see what happened last night.  So, if it means anything to you, as far as I can tell you are quite a sweet, intelligent, and attractive young woman, with a bright future ahead of you.  Good luck to you!”
Sunset blushed, but did manage a small smile.  The judge returned it and went back into his office, giving Celestia a quick hug on the way.  



The girls and Celestia helped Sunset back to the car, and then they drove to the nearest urgent care center.  After the customary wait, they were taken back to an exam room.  Applejack and Rainbow came too, still helping Sunset.  The nurse triaged Sunset, asking her a few questions, and then left to get the doctor.  
After about 20 minutes, the doctor came in.  “Hello, hello, I’m Dr. Reflex.  Who’s the patient today?”
Sunset, sitting on the exam table, raised her hand as best she could.  
“All right, young lady, why don’t you tell me what’s wrong?”
Celestia and Sunset had agreed ahead of time that the story would have to be that Sunset had fallen off a wall at school.  They gave this story, answered the doctor’s various questions, then it was time to be examined.  The doctor looked carefully at her knee, testing its range of motion and doing other tests they didn’t understand.  The only painful test came when the doctor tried to bend Sunset’s straightened knee inward a bit – this caused her to gasp and pull away.  The area on the outside of her knee was tender and bruised.  
“Hmm,” said the doctor.  “Can you put any weight on it at all?”
With Rainbow and Applejack’s help, Sunset tried to stand.  She found that she was able to stand on it a little, even though it hurt.
“Ok, that’s enough,” said the doctor kindly.  “Sorry it had to hurt a little.  I think there’s only one thing we still need to do.  Let’s get a quick x-ray to be safe.”  He stepped out of the room briefly and returned with a wheelchair.  They all helped Sunset into the wheelchair and the doctor wheeled her out of the room.
He came back with her in about 20 minutes.  Sunset was allowed to remain in the wheelchair while the doctor pulled up the x-rays on the computer.  He looked at them for a minute or two.  Finally he pushed back from the computer and sighed a little.  “Well, Sunset, I think I can tell you what’s going on.  The good news is that nothing is broken.  The not so good news is that you appear to have a grade II sprain of your left lateral collateral ligament.  That’s the ligament that stabilizes the outside of your knee.  There’s a little bit of laxity, and the bruising indicates that some (but not all) of the ligament’s fibers are torn.  Also, you do have an effusion, which is fluid inside the joint capsule of your knee.  On the positive side, though, the tests I did for your meniscus were negative, so that’s probably all right.”
Sunset looked a bit confused.  “The long and short of it is that you’re going to recover fully, but it’s going to take some time and some physical therapy,” the doctor explained.  “I’ll give you some medicine to help with the pain for the next few days, and you’ll need to use crutches for at least the next week.  Don’t put any weight on it until next weekend, but don’t let it get stiff either.  You’ll need your primary care provider to put in a physical therapy referral.  You’ll probably need four to six weeks of that, but after that you should be just fine.”  He smiled at her again.  “Ok?  Any questions?”


	   
“Here is our development,” Celestia told the girls as she turned off the main road into a gated community.  Sunset looked out the window of the passenger seat of Celestia’s car, noting well-kept small lawns, short trees and high-quality landscaping, and rows and rows of brick townhouses.  They drove down the main street and took a few turns, parking finally in front of a three story end unit.  Sunset had to admit that it looked pleasant and inviting.  This caused her to feel even more disoriented and surreal.  She shook her head to herself.
“It’s going to be ok, Sunset,” said Celestia quietly, noticing.  “Ok, everyone.  Here we are!”
Applejack and Rainbow jumped out of the car.  Applejack whistled as she looked around.  “Dang.  Nice digs you got here, Ms. Celestia!”  Rainbow was smiling appreciatively as well.  Celestia had gone around to the passenger side and was helping Sunset out of the car.  “Luna and I both live here,” she explained to the girls.  
Applejack and Rainbow each took one of Sunset’s arms from Celestia, so that she could go up the short flight of steps and unlock the door.  She pushed it open and gestured to the girls, who began to help Sunset up the steps.  Once at the top, they stopped so that Sunset could look in.  Carefully, now with Celestia supporting her, she took a step into the townhouse.
A faint, pleasant floral smell greeted her nose.  Up another short flight of stairs was a dining area to her left and a living room to her right.  Pristine wood floors creaked under her feet as she slowly climbed the stairs.  A beautiful grandfather clock ticked serenely against the far wall.  The afternoon sun streamed through large windows set in the front wall of the house behind her.  Directly ahead was a short hallway leading to another room.       
Sunset had no idea what to do.  This was only her second time inside a human dwelling that wasn’t abandoned or condemned, and it was almost totally beyond her experience.  She just looked around.  Celestia watched her carefully with a soft smile, ready to help her start adjusting.
“I’d have to agree with AJ, Ms. Celestia.  This is a nice place,” Rainbow complimented.
“Ah love wood floors,” Applejack commented.  “Couldn’t live in a house without them.”
Celestia’s smile broadened.  “Thank you, ladies.”  Sunset looked up at her, but clearly didn’t know what to say.  “I have an idea.  Why don’t we start with a tour?”
Sunset managed to nod, as Rainbow and Applejack agreed enthusiastically.  They each took one of her arms again.  
“To your left is the dining room.  And this large room to the right is called the living room.”
“Ok,” was all Sunset could say.
“Let’s finish on the main floor first.  Come this way, ladies.”  Celestia headed into the hallway.  “This door to the left is a coat closet, and the next door leads to the stairs down to the basement, where we have our TV and storage room and another bedroom.  The door to the right is the powder room.”
“Powder room?” Sunset asked.
“Yes, in other words a half bathroom.  It has a sink and a toilet, but no tub or shower.”  Celestia headed on down the hall and they came out into a very large room.  To the left was clearly the kitchen, with a large island.  To the right was an eat-in area.  Celestia explained these areas to Sunset, who continued to be amazed.  “The door directly ahead, in the back of the house, leads out onto a deck.”
“A deck?”
“Yes.  Come and see.” Celestia led the girls to the door and opened it to reveal a wooden platform bounded on three sides by wooden rails and on the fourth side by the back wall of the house.  There appeared to be a roof of some kind above them that was similar to the floor of the deck under their feet.  A short distance away, a forest began, stretching away into the distance.  “We are very fortunate not only to have an end unit, but to be in a corner of the development.  So our back yard backs up on undeveloped land.  The trees are pretty, don’t you think?”
Again, Rainbow and Applejack seemed pleased.  Sunset just nodded.  They went back inside.  “We’ll show you the basement later, Sunset.  I don’t want you to have to handle stairs more often than necessary, at least until we give you some more pain medicine,” said Celestia.  
“Do you mind if we take a look, Ms. Celestia?” Rainbow asked, curious about the TV set-up.  
“Not at all, Rainbow Dash.  I suspect you and your friends will be spending quite a bit of time here in the future, so you need to get to know the house as well,” said Celestia with a smile.
Rainbow and Applejack grinned and headed down the hallway.  Celestia deposited Sunset on a chair at the eat-in table and went over into the kitchen.  “Are you thirsty?  Hungry perhaps?”
Sunset just stared at her.  Celestia cocked her head at her understandingly.  “Sunset.  How about a little water at least, to help you take your medicine?”
Sunset nodded slowly.  Celestia filled a glass from the water dispenser on the front of the gleaming stainless steel fridge and handed it to her, along with a large, single white pill.  “It’s ibuprofen.  Rarity said you had some this morning, but that was a lower dose, so it’s ok for you to have some more now.”  Celestia showed her the bottle and made sure she understood the instructions so that she could take it on her own if needed.  
Not long after she swallowed the pill, Applejack and Rainbow came stomping up the steps from the basement.  Rainbow’s eyes were wide and she was grinning, if it was possible, even more broadly than before.  “That is one sweet setup you’ve got down there, Ms. Celestia.”  Rainbow actually rubbed her hands together.
Celestia laughed.  “You can thank Luna for that.  I enjoy a nice large TV screen as much as anyone, but the sound system and the gaming systems are all Luna’s doing.  Now, why don’t we head upstairs?”
At the bottom of the stairs, Sunset looked up.  Fortunately, there were rails to hold on to.  Also, the middle of each step was carpeted, which made the steps seem a little less intimidating.  “I think what we will do is have a crutch or two on each floor.  Then you won’t have to lug them up or down the stairs.  I want you to try to go up the stairs on your own,” said Celestia.  “It’s important for us to know if you can do that or not.”
The basement stairs at Fluttershy’s house had not had a rail.  Taking a deep breath, Sunset grabbed the rail and tried to pull herself up.  To her relief, she found that, while she was slow, she was able to do it on her own.  Celestia gave her an encouraging smile.  After about a minute and a half, they reached the top of the stairs.  
Sunset was a bit out of breath.  “Ok,” she said.  “Going up is do-able.  But going down might be another matter.”
“You might find it easier to sit down and then ease yourself down each step,” Celestia pointed out.  Sunset looked embarrassed.
“Don’t sweat it, Sunset,” said Rainbow unexpectedly.  “When I broke my leg in 8th grade, I went down the steps at my house on my butt for the first two weeks.  There’s no shame in it.”
Reassured, Sunset started looking around.  They were in a carpeted hallway lined with family pictures.  Five sets of doors opened onto the hallway.  Celestia stepped toward one set of double doors.  “Here is the laundry – you don’t need to worry about that for now, Sunset.  And this door leads into the hall bathroom.  This is the one you will share with Luna.  Go on in and take a look.”
With some trepidation, Sunset limped carefully into the tiled bathroom.  It was large, clean, and airy.  A stylish shower/tub with glass doors was at the end of the bathroom, separated from a double sink by a toilet.  Everything was neat and in order.  “Luna said you can have the sink nearest to the door,” said Celestia gently.  Sunset swallowed and headed back out.  Celestia gestured toward a large set of double doors at the end of the hallway facing the back of the house.  “Those doors lead into my room.  For privacy’s sake, Luna and I ask that you not go into our rooms when we are not there.  Ok?”
Sunset’s eyes widened.  Feeling she was already on critically thin ice, she had not had any intention of trespassing on either woman’s privacy.  She nodded vehemently.
“Don’t be afraid.  When we are in them, you will be welcome in them too.”  Celestia turned to Sunset, putting her hands on her shoulders.  “This is going to be your home, Sunset.  I want you to feel welcome and safe here, and Luna does too.  I promise.”
Sunset attempted to smile, but Celestia could tell she was not completely reassured.  It would take time.  “Now, let’s go and see your room.”
“I get a room?” Sunset asked, stunned.
Celestia did not tease her – she understood that her newly adopted daughter was totally disoriented and was trying to deal with a completely unanticipated situation.
“You certainly do.  Your very own,” said Celestia happily.  
Sunset’s eyes widened again.  “Oh.  Wow.  Ok,” she responded.
“Come.” Celestia took Sunset’s elbow and helped her to the last door, which was closed.  She leaned forward, pushed the door open, and led Sunset inside.  The room was not large, but not small either.  Two tall rectangular windows, topped by semicircular panes, were in the wall facing the front of the house.  White curtains and venetian blinds framed and covered them, making the room a bit dim.  Celestia went over to the windows and raised the blinds and threw the curtains open, causing warm afternoon sunshine to pour into the room.  Sunset caught her breath.  The view from her windows was beautiful.  To the left a row of townhouses marched away into the heart of the development.  To the right a wide field opened, bounded by trees, and in the distance hills rolled to the horizon.  Celestia didn’t interrupt her; she just let Sunset absorb her new surroundings.  Rainbow and Applejack looked on with satisfaction.  
Caught up in the serenity of the moment, Sunset limped to the closer window and looked out.  “I see you like the view,” Celestia said softly, at last.  Sunset turned to her, a look of awe on her face.  After a moment or two, she seemed to come to herself.  She looked around the room.  Soft carpet was under her feet.  The walls were white and unadorned.  In the center of the room, between the two windows, was a full-size bed with conservative but tasteful bedding.  A small wooden bedside table, upon which sat a lamp, was on the far side of the bed, under the far window.  On the near side was a simple desk and chair set.  Otherwise there was no furniture.  Double doors were in the wall that backed up to the hall bath room.  “Those doors are for the closet,” Celestia explained.  Last, Sunset looked up.  A high, vaulted ceiling soared above her, from which descended a ceiling fan/light combination.  
“There isn’t much furniture, but we will soon fix that,” Celestia commented.  “This has been our guest room up until now.  Rarely used, I’m afraid – most of our family lives far away and doesn’t visit much.  But you are not a guest, Sunset.  You live here,” she finished meaningfully.
Sunset was overwhelmed.  “I…live here?”
“Yes, sweetheart.  I know this is not Equestria, but here in the human world, this is now your home.”
“I don’t know what to feel or say,” Sunset confessed.
“That’s ok.  But you have our permission to be happy, if you want.  Truly, Sunset.  We want you to be happy here.  You don’t have to feel only sorrow and remorse.  You are allowed to feel positive emotions too.  I promise.”
Sunset looked at Rainbow, who was smiling and giving her a thumbs-up, and Applejack, who was nodding encouragingly.  She looked back at Celestia, who was watching her closely again.  Slowly, Sunset began to smile slightly.  “Really?” she asked.
“Really,” Celestia reassured her.
Sunset’s eyes became moist.  She started to move toward Celestia, but Celestia crossed the short distance to her in a single stride and hugged her tightly.  “Thank you,” Sunset breathed.  “Thank you thank you thank you thank you!”
Applejack and Rainbow sighed simultaneous contented sighs, then looked at each other in surprise and burst out laughing, which served to lighten the mood in the room considerably.  Celestia and Sunset chuckled as Sunset pulled away a bit.  She wiped away a tear, but was able to retain her composure.  She realized she was happy.  She still felt the other things, but she was happy too.  And that was ok.  But she was exhausted.  She allowed herself to plop onto her bed, which was so soft it almost made her start crying again.
“That’s right.  Why don’t you rest for a bit?” asked Celestia as the doorbell rang.  	“Ah’ll get it,” volunteered Applejack.  “It’s probably the others with Sunset’s stuff.”  
“Thank you, Applejack.”  Applejack went out, followed by Rainbow.
Celestia sat down on the bed with Sunset, who immediately slumped against her.  Celestia put her arm around her.  “Just relax.  It’s ok.  It’s going to be ok,” Celestia whispered softly.  Sunset took deep breaths, slowly, trying to remain relatively calm.  To her pleasant surprise, she found herself becoming more and more relaxed and relieved.  Celestia’s presence and affection, plus the joy and wonder of having true shelter after years of squatting, were genuinely comforting her.  Celestia could tell, and this made her very happy.  	
The sounds of the girls greeting each other filtered up the stairs.  It was only a few seconds before all five of them were in the door to Sunset’s new room, grinning and squeeing.  
“SUNSET!” Pinkie exclaimed.  “ISN’T THIS GREAT?”
Sunset was able to smile at her, but Rarity rolled her eyes.  “Pinkie, can’t you see how exhausted she is?  Must you shout at the top of your lungs?”
“Don’t worry about that, Rarity!” Pinkie cheered.  “I can give her energy just by being in the same room with her!”
“This is such a nice house, Ms. Celestia,” said Fluttershy.  “I’m so glad that Sunset will be safe here with you and Ms. Luna.”
“This is what we want to do, Fluttershy.  It’s a privilege,” Celestia responded.
“You’re setting our minds at ease and no mistake, ma’am,” said Applejack.  “Not that you’re a burden, Sunset, but there’s no doubt that the logistical challenges are pretty much solved!”
Rainbow laughed.  “We were going to try to use a spreadsheet to figure where you were going to stay each night!  Can you believe that?  How well do you think that would have gone?”
Sunset smiled at Rainbow in complete amazement.
Rarity, however, was slightly offended.  “Don’t be ridiculous, Rainbow.  I use Excel all the time to track inventory and design schedules.  Drafting a schedule for Sunset’s sleeping arrangements would have been child’s play.”
“Well, EXCUSE me, Ms. Microsoft Office!” Rainbow teased.  Rarity just snorted.  
“We should start gettin’ Sunset’s stuff out of your van, Fluttershy,” said Applejack.
“Ok.  Let’s do it then,” agreed Fluttershy.  All of the girls headed down the stairs except Rarity, who turned to Celestia.
“Is there anything I could help you with, Ms. Celestia?  Perhaps there are still some preparations for Sunset’s room that I could assist you with?”
“Thank you so much for offering, Rarity, but everything is good to go for now.”
“All right.  I suppose I will go and help bring things in then.”  She gave Sunset a smile and went down the stairs.  
Soon the girls started coming back with boxes.  There were just a few, and after only about five minutes everything Sunset owned in the world was in her new room.  Applejack brought up the last box.  For the moment she and Sunset were alone in Sunset’s room, as the other girls were getting the tour from Celestia.
"Well, here's everything we found," said Applejack simply. 
Sunset sighed heavily.  "Thank you," she said quietly.  Gingerly, she reached for one of the smaller boxes and opened it.  Immediately she set it back down and her lower lip started to quiver. 
Applejack's heart fell.  What could Sunset have found so quickly that would distress her so, even after just opening a single box?
She went over to Sunset and sat down next to her.  Sunset wasted no time in leaning against her and putting her head on Applejack's shoulder.  Applejack was pleased she felt safe to do it without asking.  That was some true progress, at least. 
"Well sugarcube, what's wrong?" Applejack asked gently.  "Bad memories?"
Sunset nodded silently and gestured to the box, encouraging Applejack to look inside.
Applejack leaned forward and carefully moved the flaps aside.  In the box she caught a glint of shiny gold color and sparkles.  She reached in and felt something heavy, hard, and pointy wrapped in tissue paper.  It seemed circular, about 7 inches in diameter.  She lifted it out and pulled back the tissue paper to reveal a crown.  Sunset hung her head.  Applejack leaned back again and put her arm around her. 
"Is this what Ah think it is?" she asked. 
Sunset nodded. "One of them, anyway," she confirmed sadly. "There should be three altogether."
Applejack thought for a moment.  "Ah'm guessin' your distress might stem from the fact these crowns might not have been obtained...shall we say...fairly?" she ventured. 
Sunset nodded again.  "Or honorably," she agreed bitterly.
"Ah get it," Applejack said.  "Well. What do you think you want to do with them? Ah don't expect displaying them is gonna fly..."
"Please.  Just throw them away.  I don't ever want to see them again!" Sunset bit out with a vehemence that startled Applejack. 
Applejack sighed.  "Ah guess that's for the best. For what it's worth, being willing to part with them is another sign of how much you've already changed."
But Sunset didn't respond.  She just frowned angrily at the wall. 
"Ok, partner."  Applejack got up, put the crown back in the box, and hefted it.  She started toward the door when she suddenly heard Sunset gasp. 
"Wait, Applejack, please!"
Applejack turned back to her new, distraught friend. 
"I've thought of something better to do with them.  Please, just put them in the corner by the door."
"You got it.  C’mon, sugarcube.  I think I heard Ms. Celestia talking about getting some dinner."