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// Chapter 23 
// Story: To start over 
// by Midnight_Song95 
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Sunset wasn’t sure that she wanted to do this because it meant not only laying bare everything that she had kept bottled up inside her for years, having never really spoken about the memories to anyone but Sunburst on rare occasions when they were both still very young.

“You know that you don’t have to tell us anything that you don’t want to.” Celestia said softly, earning a nod.

“I know but it’ll probably come up eventually so I might as wells tell you now and get it over with.” Sunset’s response didn’t make the older woman feel any better about having this conversation.

“First off,” Sunset began as she began to fiddle with one of the buttons on the front of her pajama top “My parents were Solar wind and Sunspot. However, I never got to know them. They died in a train crash on the way to Las Pegasus when I was just a baby.”

Sunset paused before closing her eyes, trying to give herself the courage to tell them what she felt she needed to.

“I grew up in a place called Sires Hallow with my aunt and uncle and cousin but I didn’t know that they weren’t my parents until I was five years old.” Sunset began, sighing as she glanced toward the large picture window that looked out toward the road. “They never told me not to call them Mom and Dad so I grew up calling them that. Imagine how it felt when I not only learned they weren’t my parents but was told I suddenly had to start calling them by the proper terms.”

Sunset couldn’t help but tear up as she remembered that particular conversation, which had ended in an argument with her aunt. “She didn’t even seem happy about me becoming the Princess’s student. She just started stressing me out about not screwing up. I mean, if she had even tried to support me besides always criticizing I wouldn’t have minded so much but I could never just talk with her.”

Celestia moved to wrap an arm around the teen’s shoulders while Luna sat across the room, clenching her fists so hard that her knuckles were turning pale. What the hell? This is fucked up. Luna thought as she listened to Sunset who continued to talk.

“I had already felt like I was just some kind of bother to her and my Uncle. I mean, it was obvious that they cared more about Sunburst than me and it got worse after he made friends with this filly that lived in town. I spent most of my time back then alone, reading or drawing. I tried to make friends but it was difficult with living in my cousin’s shadow and well…My magical outbursts didn’t help.”

“Magical outbursts?” Celestia repeated quizzically, earning a chuckle.

“Right, you have no idea what I’m talking about. Unicorns born with a lot of magical talent can’t control it when they are young, which results in some quite embarrassing things like shooting a fireball on accident while sneezing.”

Sunset chuckled a bit at that particular memory before sighing “Anyway, after I got accepted into the School for gifted unicorns I thought it would get better but most students were intimidated by me because I was the Princess’s private student. As if that really mattered to a seven-year-old who wanted to spend the weekend goofing off besides reading.”

“What about this Princess of yours? What was she like?” Luna prompted, taking notice of how the girl stiffened at the question.

“She was great…really. I mean, she was kind and put her people first.” Sunset answered though something about her tone made Luna skeptical if that was the whole truth.

“Perhaps she was a good ruler, however, I fail to see how she was a good teacher. “ Celestia said, remembering how the girl had said she had been spoken to.

“She was…really. It’s not her fault that I kept screwing up.”