//------------------------------// // Chapter 21 // Story: To start over // by Midnight_Song95 //------------------------------// “I guess you listened to the audio file.” Celestia heard Sunset say as soon as she opened the door after not getting a response from the teen. However, Celestia only sighed and shook her head. “No, whatever Discord recorded is for you to decide who and when to tell. I am not about to go snooping through your business just because I am curious about who Sunset Shimmer really is.” Celestia answered honestly as she moved to sit down beside her on the bed. Even in the dim light of the room, Celestia could tell Sunset was crying. “Now you want to tell me what happened? Because I have a feeling Chrysalis is behind most of this and I already want to punch Discord for what he did.” Sunset couldn’t help but chuckle at the thought of the benevolent principal hitting anyone, though she had seen how the Princess could react at times. But Principal Celestia was so different than the Princess, that it was hard to see them as the same person anymore. “Chrysalis just gave me his phone and showed me the recording.” Sunset sniffled, trying to get control over her emotions although the memories that she had tried to suppress for years seemed to be repeated in a loop in her mind. “It just…I wish I could just forget everything! When I came through the portal I wanted to start over, or at least a part of me did!” Sunset exclaimed suddenly, fists turning pale as she gripped the pillow that she had been holding even tighter. Why did I have to be stupid as a kid? Why did I have to want all those impossible things? I knew that my parents were dead and that my aunt and uncle didn’t really want me so why did I dare think that anyone else would see something special in me? Something that they could be proud of me for besides all the constant disappointment that I seemed to always felt! She thought bitterly, not even noticing the arms wrapping around her until Celestia finally spoke. “I wish I could take this pain from you because I would much rather feel all the pain that you are feeling now than to see you be so upset.” Sunset couldn’t help it, with the combo of the emotions that were running rampant inside her heart combined with the soothing tone of her teacher something compelled her to turn and hug the woman tightly. Closing her eyes tightly she tried to ignore the painful feeling in her heart as Celestia’s arms tightened around her. Why does she care so much? She doesn’t have to. I’m just an alien who literally came into this world by chance. The unicorn turned teenager thought bitterly, though she was afraid to know the answer. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” She managed to sob, her voice sounding distant to her own ears as she buried her face into the woman’s shoulder. Celestia could feel the girl trembling with every breath, though her words confused her though she just shushed the girl as she tried to help her calm down. “Sorry for what Sunset? You haven’t done anything wrong.”She asked once the teen’s sobs had lessened somewhat. “Yes, I have! I keep making everyone’s lives miserable! I did it in Equestria and I am doing it again here! Sometimes I wish that the blast the night of the fall formal had killed me! At least then I would have been out of everyone’s way!” Sunset said, her voice breaking several times as she pulled away and put some distance between them suddenly. You’re starting to do it again. Wanting to get too close, it always starts with just wanting to talk then it turns into more hope and longing and you end up landing on your face completely alone again! Sunset mentally scolded herself, not even noticing that Celestia had gotten up from the bed until the aurora-haired woman had knelt down in front of her. “Sunset,” Celestia’s sharper tone broke Sunset from her thoughts and caused her to jolt slightly “You are not making anyone miserable and I don’t want you to ever think about yourself that lowly.” Celestia continued, maintaining eye contact with the teen who quickly glanced away, tears beginning to well up again. “Maybe not now but I will…I always do! Aunt Stellar and the Princess both eventually said they wished they never agreed to take me in!” Celestia had thought that she had been angry with Discord, but upon hearing those words out of Sunset’s mouth the Principal felt her blood begin to boil. “Then they are idiots.” Sunset looked back at her then, eyes growing wide in surprise “what?” she asked softly, having never heard the princess of the sun spoken about in such a way. “They’re idiots. I very much doubt that you were any more mischievous or ill-mannered than any other child your age.” One part of Sunset wanted to argue, to defend the princess by mentioning everything that she had done from sneaking into the forbidden section to the lesser offenses that she had committed however Celestia suddenly spoke again, her voice still holding the firm but friendly tone. “Sunset, tell me why they told you that.” Swallowing hard the teen glanced down, the memories resurfacing along with the emotions that she had felt during those days. “I accidentally caught a skillet on fire while trying to fix Stellar breakfast for mother’s day. I think that was the last time I went home for anything.” Sunset whispered, hoping that her new guardian wouldn’t press her into talking about what had happened between her and Princess Celestia. What the hell is wrong with those people….Ponies…Whatever you want to call them? No child deserves to be treated like that, even if Sunset could have been a handful which I don’t doubt given that attitude of hers. Celestia thought as she reached out to brush some hair away from Sunset’s face. “Sunset Shimmer, I can promise you that no one will speak to you in such a way here. I don’t know what on earth was going on in those people…Err…Ponies minds but I can promise you this: You will always have a home here and nothing will change that. I care about you too much.” Sunset couldn’t help but hug the woman yet again, though this time the tears weren’t from the betrayal and sadness that she felt. “Thank you.” She managed to mutter, though the only response she got was a kiss pressed to her temple. I don’t know what is going on in that head of hers but I do know that if I ever get to send a letter to that so-called princess I will give her a piece of my mind! No one should be spoken to in such a way, let alone a young child! Who knows what else happened to Sunset that she isn’t telling me. She is afraid to even touch me like I’ll just push her away or even hit her if she was to come too close. Not to mention the fact that she rarely could make eye contact with me for those first few weeks. Princess or not, whatever happened was inexcusable.