Princess Luna knew that the amber-skinned girl was afraid to come with her, and all for good reason. With both the stories of nightmare moon and the fact that she was Celestia's sister Luna understood Sunset's timidness however that didn't keep her from leading her to the privacy of an empty classroom.
“calm down Sunset Shimmer, You are not in any trouble with me.” she tried to assure the teen as she took a seat in front of her, putting them on both the same level. “I know how the elements and guilt can affect someone and I know that when I was recovering that I wished that I had someone to speak to about it.”
This caught Sunset off guard. Had princess Luna been in her position? Was that why Luna hadn't been around when Sunset had lived at the palace.
“Can I ask a question, Princess?” She asked, earning a nod.
“Of course Sunset Shimmer. However there is no need to be so formal with me, I do not bite.” Even in the formal way that the princess spoke, Sunset could hear the lightness easing in the former mare's tone.
“Sorry, it's just...You're princess Luna and I'm just....well me.” Sunset answered, whimpering a little when the princess of the night narrowed her eyes at her.
“Miss Shimmer, my rank matters not when it comes to whom I speak or do not speak with. Besides, just Sunset...you know more about this world than I do and I dare say that makes us equals here. Now, what is your question?”
Sunset bit her lip in nervousness as she debated rather or not just to bring out her question.
“Well...You said that you know how the blast feels. I was just wondering how you know...I mean, I know you and Princess Celestia used the elements to seal discord and that Celestia used them in the battle against Nightmare Moon....”
Luna didn't give the girl time to finish before she said: “That is why.”
“Nightmare Moon? Wait....Were you Nightmare Moon?” the teen wondered, eyes growing wide at the thought of someone so powerful, not to mention a royal falling under the spell of a negative energy.
“Yes child, I was. Would you like to hear my side of the story? Perhaps you will find that it relates in a way to your own.”
“I know I shouldn't judge so harshly but I really don't agree with Sunset's logic. Yes, she did do similar things however she never purposely put someone's life in danger.” Celestia sighed rubbing at her temples “I mean technically the magic corrupted her the night of the fall formal.”
“Yes and not only did it leave her humiliated but her back was in tatters due to the wings. I think that and all of this that has happened is more than enough to pay for those crimes. Although she is not getting out of detention until her time is up.” vice principal Luna responded, earning a nod.
“I know Luna, I was not trying to defend her and you know it. I just don't understand why she isn't angry about all of this.” Celestia sighed as she closed her eyes, remembering how the girl had cried at the thought of having to be put under, even if briefly. She remembered the girl needing a lot of affection the following few days because she was terrified.
“She has a moral compass. It may have been muddled when she first came here, but she wants to make things right and she understands that although she was possessed by the power the crown gave her, it was still sort of her own fault since she chose to steal it in the first place.” Luna answered as Chrysalis moved toward Celestia's side.
“I think you should at least semi allow the girl to have her way with this...But by no means make it easy for those brats. For instance, the idiots who are behind hurting her should at the very least pay the medical expenses.” The gray-skinned woman stated, crossing her arms over her chest as she added: “although I personally would be in favor of you to have their asses prosecuted.”
“I'm going to contact their parents and inform them of this situation. Chrissy, do you think you could print off all the names who sent something in to the site They'll get a lesser sentence but I need to make an example to show that bullying of no kind will be tolerated. After all, Sunset still has quite a ways to go with her detention sentence.” Celestia stated as she turned her attention to her computer “and Luna, I'll let you contact a lawyer...you know more people than I do.”
“Sure Tia, but I think you just broke miss. Moody here.”
Celestia looked up to see that Crysalis looked like she was in shock.
“uh...Crysalis? Are you okay?”
“Yeah ...But are you sure you're feeling alright Celestia? You never call me that anymore.”
Luna rolled her eyes at the pair before heading for the door “You two behave while I go try to figure out what a way to deal with our Anonymous mess without having a certain redhead on our cases. By the way, where is the Sun Princess and Twilight Sparkle at? Did they go back home already?”
“No, Twilight asked Celestia what was going on and why she and I were arguing so much. I think Celestia was going to tell her about what happened with Sunset.” the principal answered, earning a groan.
“I can't wait for this complicated mess is over. Sunset deserves a bit of a normal life, even if magic is somehow involved. I mean, I listened to the Night Princess talk about these...Windy-go things or whatever and if those things came from Equestrian that means that Equestrian magic is at work in this world now...and who knows where it'll pop up next.”
“I noticed that Sunset glowed this morning. She got really upset and it was almost like embers floating in the air around her but they didn't burn. Do you think that could be equestrian magic?” Celestia stated, prompting Luna to groan.
“first a winged demon, now who knows what! I have to admit that I do not want to deal with super-powered teenagers any more than we already have.”
“But what if I haven't changed? What if it only takes one thing to send me back on some kind of rampage?” Sunset asked, earning a chuckle from the princess.
“Sunset Shimmer, perhaps not all parts of your darker personality will vanish however with how you are now, I can easily see that you are not a monster. You see, certain things can grant the user incredible power, like the elements of harmony. However, should someone be ruled by negativity or greed it can take on a form of its own but in return, you lose yourself.” Luna explained calmly as she placed a hand on Sunset's shoulder, causing the younger girl to flinch.
“You said that the transformation left you...hurt after the battle. I think it was less about what you did and more about how small your magic reserves are in this world.” Luna continued, earning a surprised look
“but this world doesn't have magic!”
Luna chuckled at that and shook her head.
“Then explain to me why I keep feeling magic? It is very weak, nothing like one would feel while in a room of unicorn foals but it is there. Besides that, if magic didn't exist here then explain how five human teenagers were able to use the same powers as the elements of harmony?”
A heavy silence filled the room as Sunset tried to keep panic from building inside of her. What if I end up turning into that thing again? What if I am still that bad of a person and I end up hurting someone with magic?
“Are you ever afraid that you'll turn back into Nightmare Moon?”
Sunset regretted the question as soon as it left her lips, however to her surprise the former Alicorn just shook her head.
“No, I do not fear that I will truly become that creature once again. However, I do regret being that creature. Tell me, Miss. Shimmer. Do you ever find yourself wanting to do the same things that you did before? Do you ever want to cause harm to anyone?”
Sunset bit her lip as she hung her head “well I do want to punch certain people in the mouth sometimes.” she answered, half expecting the woman to tell her she would never change, however instead of an accusation she heard a chuckle.
“Yes well...that is a common feeling at times. It would just do you well not to act on it.” Princess Luna's response confused her. Wasn't anger what caused me to transform into that monster?
“Doesn't that mean that I am still a part of that thing?” Sunset asked, remembering what she had seen when she had been put into the trance by Zecora.
“That thing as you call it was a manifestation of the anger and bitterness that you felt. The only reason that the element of magic manifested itself in that form was because you were so caught up in your anger that you let it take over every other part of your personality. The same happened when I became Nightmare moon.” Luna explained calmly.
“I'm just glad that most of this mess is cleaned up. I mean seriously...” Spitfire commented later that day while she, Fleetfoot and Soarin sat outside, underneath a canopy that covered one section of the front lawn.
“I just wish that it would stop raining! I mean seriously, how can we expect to win the nationals this year if we can't practice!” Fleet complained, earning a chuckle from both of the other seniors.
“Fleet...The weather will change soon enough. Let's just enjoy one period where not everyone is fighting. I mean after Diamond Tiara and the others came clean about being behind that stupid website everything just kind of lapsed into a null.” Soarin commented, rubbing a hand through his hair in a slight irritation as he added:
“Have they found out who was behind the whole Diamond Dog issue?”
“Dunno. How about I go ask Rainbow Dash or someone within Sunset's inner circle? If the VP is going to tell anyone it's going to be one of those five...um...Six I guess if you count Trixie?” Spitfire responded as she got up from her seat.
“Trixie? Uh...How did that happen?” Fleetfoot asked, earning a shrug.
“No idea. I'm just glad that Trixie seems more keen on keeping people off Sunset's back than practically blowing herself up in the hallways with a smoke bomb.” Spitfire stated, “I don't want to have to hold my breath every time I walk down the hall because of some half-baked magician.”