//------------------------------//
// Chapter 24 
// Story: To start over 
// by Midnight_Song95 
//------------------------------//

She was a good teacher; I mean…She was the princess. She didn’t have time for me to bother her with all the childish tomfoolery that I was constantly trying to engage her in. I mean, I should have known better. I mean, Cadence was a princess…That’s the only reason that she got to be so close with Princess Celestia. 

“Sunset, from what little you’ve told me that…Whatever…Didn’t know how to deal with a child let alone teach one.” Celestia’s voice snapped her from her thoughts, causing her to want to argue with the woman however one look into the sympathetic eyes caused the words to die in her throat.

But I was the one with stupid thoughts; she would have never gotten angry with me if I hadn’t wanted the impossible. Sunset thought, though she didn’t dare argue with the woman.

“Sunset, tell me the best memory that you have of the Princess.” Luna said, earning a dirty look from Celestia who obviously didn’t want to force the teen into telling them anything.

Sunset thought about it, shuffling through the memories that she had of the mare that had practically raised her. “Well there was this one time; it was during my first few months as her student.I was a bit homesick and couldn’t sleep. She actually set up with me that night until I finally passed out.”

She sounds like she still can’t believe that happened. Luna noted as she shared a look with Celestia before saying: “thank you for telling us all of this Sunset. It couldn’t be easy.”

Celestia couldn’t sleep, her mind lingering on the teenager that was currently sleeping down the hall. I am going to kill Discord for bringing all of this back up for her. I just hope that we didn’t make her feel like she had to tell us anything. She thought as she turned her attention back toward the TV.

“Miss. Celestia?”

Turning her attention toward the stairway, Celestia was surprised to see the usually confident teenager standing by the stairway, trembling slightly.

“What’s wrong?” Celestia responded, turning her complete attention to Sunset, who glanced away with a blush.

“I was wondering… Can I stay up with you for a little while? I mean…I understand if you would rather spend this time alone but I thought….It wouldn’t hurt to ask.” Sunset replied, biting her lip as she glanced up at her makeshift guardian.

Celestia hated the pleading look in those teal eyes.

“How about you go into my room and find a movie on the TV in there? I’ll be up in a minute.” Celestia suggested, earning a surprised look though the teen just gave a shy smile at that.

“Thanks.” Was the only thing that the red-head had managed to say before heading back up the stairs. I hope that I’m not overstepping some unspoken boundaries here…I just don’t want to be alone tonight. The unicorn turned human thought worriedly as she entered the master bedroom.

But if I did, she wouldn’t invite me into her room. Would she? I mean, she and Luna were so caring earlier today, even after how I’ve been acting. She thought as she glanced around the room before taking a seat on the bed.

For a house this big and fancy on the outside, her room is rather simple. Sunset thought, remembering the elegance of the Princess’s chambers back in Equestria.

“You know, you’re different than I imagined.” Sunset couldn’t help but say when the woman entered the room, earning a slightly bemused look as the woman took a seat beside her.

“And what did you think I would be like?”

And how do you tell someone that the person they have been getting so ticked off at is an alternative version of them? “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.” Sunset responded, earning a sigh from the aurora-haired woman.

“Let me guess, the other me acts differently?”

Sunset winced at that and nodded “Yeah, she does.”

Celestia could tell that this wasn’t exactly something that Sunset was comfortable talking about so she let it drop and instead motioned for Sunset to sit farther up on the bed, chuckling at her confused look.

“Well I don’t care how the other me acts, I’m not her.” Celestia stated before adding “Now make yourself comfortable. I didn’t invite you in here just for you to act like you were on trial.”

A comfortable silence passed over them as they sat there, the only sound in the room is the TV, although Sunset’s attention wasn’t on the screen, but on her own thoughts. Is this what it’s like having a family? I mean, I know I technically have family that is still alive but the last time I remember my aunt and uncle doing anything like this with me was when I was barely more than a foal. 

Closing her eyes for a second she let her mind wonder, not even noticing that she had subconsciously leaned against her guardian until she felt fingers begin to rake gently through her hair.

“If you keep that up I might fall asleep.” She warned, hearing the chuckle from the Principal

“It’s okay if you do. I’m sure this bed is big enough for both of us.”