Sunset couldn't sleep, no matter which way that she turned. It felt as if her stomach was made of lead and her thoughts kept shifting toward what-if scenarios. She had wanted to test Celestia, that much was true but she had a feeling that this was more trouble than she had meant to get in. She is definitely going to kick me out now...How could I be so stupid? I should have known I would get caught! She thought bitterly.
Sitting up she turned her attention toward the journal that she had brought with her from Equestria. Will she be like the princess? She wondered, remembering how that version of Celestia would have reacted to this. Or will she actually forgive me? No, that's stupid. I'm just a screw-up. I screwed up back then as the princess's student and I'm just a screw up now. No wonder not even my ambition could get me what I wanted. Her eyes burned at the thought although she refused to let the tears come. I deserve whatever Celestia does to me.
Celestia could tell that Sunset hadn't gotten much sleep from the way her eyes were bloodshot. She could only imagine what was going through the girl's head that previous night. I probably could have handled last night better but I needed the time to think, plus nothing good would come to trying to talk to a tired teen when I myself was running on fumes. She thought as the fiery-haired girl shuffled into the kitchen, not daring to make eye contact with Celestia.
“Did you get any sleep last night?” she asked, though the only answer she got was a negative shake of the head. She looks like she's scared to death. Celestia thought sympathetically, although she knew that she would have to remain firm for this. But how should I approach this without causing her to feel like I'm judging her based on her past? Celestia was used to handling the daily drama of teenagers, but that was in a more formal setting not as the sole role of authority like she now was over Sunset.
Glancing over at the girl, she took note of the dried tears stains and bloodshot eyes.
“Sunset, After breakfast....”
She didn't get a chance to finish that sentence before the girl cut her off, her expression contorting like she was about to burst into tears at any second.
“Please don't kick me out! I'm sorry!”
Celestia was at a loss for words at that. This seemed very different from the way that Sunset had behaved last night when confronted. Why does she think I'm going to kick her out? Sure she messed up, but it's no reason to go to such extremes. I mean teenagers do dumb stuff all the time, it comes with the territory.
“Sunset, what on earth are you talking about? I'm not going to kick you out.” Celestia finally managed to speak while closing the distance between the two of them before adding “ however, we are going to have a serious talk about what happened last night and there will be consequences.”
“But what I did...I...”
Celestia sighed as she saw the familiar, panicked look cross the teen's face.
“Come sit with me Sunset, we might as wells get this over with.” she said in her usual calm, soothing tone as she took hold of the girl's wrist, guiding her toward the living room.
“Now, first off young lady. Where in the world did you get the idea that I was going to kick you out?” she asked once they were both seated, though she was careful to keep her tone even.
“I embarrassed you...and I...I betrayed your trust.” the teen stammered out, her eyes finally spilling over.
This must have something to do with that Princess. Celestia thought before letting out a sigh.
“Yes, you broke my trust in you and perhaps I was embarrassed by your behavior however that is different than what you are implying.” the woman sighed, she never was good with these kinds of things although she knew that she had to choose her next words very carefully least she traumatize the poor girl.
“Sunset Shimmer,” the girl flinched at the sound of her full name, though she didn't offer to look up, instead keeping her head low. “Last night when I got that call I was surprised, shocked even. I have known Kibitz since I was only a little older than you and I do trust him so when he said he recognized you in the group I had to believe it. However, I want to hear your side of this whole thing but I want the truth Sunset.”
The yellow-skinned teen debated on rather or not to tell her exactly what had happened, or what exactly she had been up to the previous night knowing that she would basically be signing her own death warrant. However, she didn't want to lie and risk getting into even more trouble.
“I went out for a walk to clear my head, like I said I was going to do and I ran into some...I guess you could say they're friends of mine. I don't really know how I got involved with helping them paint the mural but...I did. Then we heard a voice and someone threw a smoke grenade and we ran.” Sunset answered, leaving out the details of what they had done after.
“I see.” was the only thing that Celestia said, causing the teen to look up to see that she had her eyes closed, her mouth pressed together in a thin line.
She must be so angry and ashamed of me right now. How could I have been so stupid? I should have known that I would get caught...there's no way that she will ever look at me the same way again. They all gave me a second chance and I blew it. Sunset thought, feeling as though the lump that had begun to form in her throat was swelling to the size of a tennis ball. Everyone's right, I'm not worth anyone's time. I tried to prove I was worth something by taking the crown and that blew up in my face...And now I've just proved to myself and everyone else that I'm not worth the effort either.
“You do realize that if you get caught you could be fined, sent to juvenile hall or even worse, convinced of a felony if the judge decided that the damage you caused was significant.” Celestia began after a few minutes of trying to figure out how to tackle this subject head-on.
“You're not going to report me are you?”
Celestia hated to hear that kind of fear in Sunset's voice.
“No, but you are going to volunteer to paint over it and you can forget going anywhere with your friends for the next two weeks however if they want to visit you here, they may. On top of that, you're going to have to earn my trust back Sunset.”
The redhead managed a nod at that before glancing up at her.
“So you're not angry?” she asked, brow furrowing as she tried to make sense of what just happened.
“Last night I was a bit upset, yes. However, I am more disappointed at your behavior than angry with you.”
The words made the sixteen-year-old shrink back and advert her gaze again. She says she's disappointed in my behavior but I bet it's just me that she's disappointed with. I mean she took me in when most people would have rather saw me suffer alone and this is how I repay her? By embarrassing her in front of one of her friends?
Suddenly she became aware of a hand gently wiping away some of the tears.
“Sunset, look at me for a second please.”
She was surprised to find that the woman was smiling gently down at her.
“Even if I am angry or disappointed there is something very important you must remember and do you know what that is?”
Sunset could only manage to shake her head at the question. After all, what could she be talking about?
“That I will always love you.”
Suddenly it felt as though Sunset couldn't breath as her mind tried to wrap itself around those five words. How could she mean that? How could she actually love someone like me? The teen wondered
“D-Do you mean it? Do you really l-love me?”
She questioned, practically choking on the word love as she tried to keep her emotions in check even though her mind flashed briefly back to another time that she had said something similar only to be let down.
“Of course I mean it.”
Sunset couldn't keep her tears at bay then, moving forward and hugging the woman. "I love you too." she muttered, smiling despite the bolt of fear that suddenly ran through her.
what does this mean? What if this is a trick to punish me for embarrassing her? My mom would....she tried to stop the thoughts before they got started. Celestia wasn't like that, She knew.
"It has been so long since anyone has told me that." she confessed tearfully, nuzzling into the woman shoulder as she tried to calm down but it was almost as if her heart had shattered as memories and repressed feelings began to boil to the surface.
"I was afraid you would tell me I had to leave." she found herself admitting "I don't want to be alone again." she felt Celestia's arms tighten around her.
"Sunset, you will always have a home here. Please don't ever think that anything would make me turn my back on you. We're family, albeit a strange and nontraditional one and family don't give up on each other."
"Are you sure you want me?"
Celestia winced at the sound of desperation in the teen's voice.
"Yes Sunset, I'm sure."