“Wait, I don't understand why would you treat anypony like that? I mean, you saw what it caused Luna to do!” Twilight said, looking at the monarch with a narrowed gaze as if trying to see through anything that Celestia would say.
“I know Twilight. I should have seen the signs and on top of that I should have known better than to treat Sunset in the way that I did.” Celestia sighed I should have known something was up when she refused to go home for hearth's warming. I should have known that something was up when she would order Sunburst to leave her alone. Tears filled her eyes as she thought about how stupid that she had been.
“I didn't want to make her family think I was trying to step in. But I guess I should have.”
“You think?” Twilight snapped before sighing “Look, I'm sorry Princess Celestia but I just can't understand why you treated me the way you did but you were so distant with her.” Twilight added with a sigh.
“I oversaw previous colts and fillies education, however, I did not get directly involved. However, when I saw the pure magical talent in Sunset I thought about how she could have been one of the elements of harmony. So in a way she was the first student, I took on full time and it was hard not to enjoy her company but I felt myself getting too attached and...”
“And so you increased her workload and distanced yourself. Do you not understand how damaging that could have been? I mean it obviously did something to her to make her feel the need to run away!” Twilight stated then sighed and lowered her tone “I'm sorry I know it's not my place to say this but...”
“Don't worry Twilight. I needed to hear it. I didn't realize how badly it affected her until she blew up at me earlier. I just don't know what to do.” Celestia said as she added: “I wish there was a way that I could make things right, but I doubt that there ever will be.”
“I wouldn't say that...You never really know unless you try. Besides, neither of us know who Sunset Shimmer really do we?”
“Hold up! I admit I got in a fight with her but I did not hire someone to try to do something like that to her!” Thunderlane exclaimed “I mean I don't like the bitch but I am not going to go that far!” he stated, holding both hands up as he added, “I just wanted her to transfer schools so there wasn't any risk of her trying to become that controlling, manipulative asshole again.”
“You put manure on her desk!” Applejack pointed out, earning a sigh.
“Like I said, I was just trying to run her off from Canterlot High!”
Tempest sighed as she pinched the bridge of her nose as she listened the to the five teen-aged girls interrogate the boy. “you idiots aren't going to get anywhere like this. Hang on, let me go find Thorax and Pharynx. Those two can blend in with anyone. If anyone can figure it out, they can.” she stated, rolling her eyes as she walked past them.
“Man, she's intense.” Pinkie Pie stated, earning a smirk from the raspberry skinned girl.
“Get it right, little miss Cotton candy. I'm just downright Prig.”
“Okay I have to ask, How the hell did Sunset Shimmer meet someone as scary as that? Is she even from Canterlot?” Thunderlane said once the raspberry haired girl was out of earshot.
'I'll have you know that Sunset Shimmer has more friends than people think! You and anyone else who thinks they can just treat her however they want have another thing coming!” Rarity responded, a sour look on her face as she regarded him.
“Yeah! I mean sure she did a lot of things before but that isn't who she is anymore!” Pinkie pie added in earning a scoff from Sweetie Drops who was standing in the hall.
“And how do you know that? How do you know that she isn't just using you?” she demanded, earning a sigh from Applejack.
“For one thing, what she has told us before...No one could just make a lie up on spot like that not even her.” the country girl stated, earning a scoff from Rainbow Dash who said:
“a lie? Sunset was almost crying and she is not that good of an actor either.”
Tempest sighed as she walked along the halls, noticing that Thorax was hanging out with some guy with green hair while Pharynx was standing with a group of jocks. Great...the guy was already a dickwad...Last thing we need is for him to go dickwad times ten. Tempest thought as she walked over to them.
“Who's the babe? Your girlfriend?”
Tempest didn't know if she wanted to punch this guy or puke at the comment, although she grabbed Pharynx's hand, pulling him away from them as she retorted “None of your damn business!”
“What the hell Shadow? We're supposed to be fitting in!” he demanded, earning a sigh from the taller girl.
“alright look, our lead which was Thunderlane flopped and we need to figure out who else could have been behind the whole thing.” Tempest whispered, earning a smirk.
“Why didn't you say so instead of pulling my arm off?” he retorted, fishing a phone out of his pocket and handing it to her “I caught that footage in Sunset's PE class...although I have no idea where that girl vanished to. She hasn't been in her last three classes.” he retorted, smirking a bit before adding
“You do realize that those guys are going to swear you're my girlfriend right?”
Tempest glared at him as she shoved the phone into the pocket of her leather jacket. “Don't you dare get any ideas from those dude bros over there. I am not dating you...Not in a million years!” she stated before leaving her longtime friend standing in the middle of the hall before she rushed toward the main office.
First I'll give this to Celestia or Luna, then I 'll go and try to find Sunset and I better find her in one piece.
Sunset sighed as she found a quiet place to herself as she tried to absorb what Princess Luna had said. It isn't the magic or even the emotions that made you a monster. The magic just manifested the emotions you felt strongest into what you became. It was similar to what Zecora had said but that sparked different worries. What if I can become that thing again?
Sighing she leaned back against the wall of the band room, knowing that she was probably going to get yelled at for skipping class later but at that moment she didn't care. We may have solved anon-a-miss but what about these Wendigos? How can we stop something magical like that when none of us have elements or magic? She wondered, sighing as she put her face in her hands. What did I get this world into? This is my fault.
Sighing she stood, making a beeline not only for the room's exit but for the door that led toward outside to the back of the school. I feel so stupid right now. Luna can feel magic in this world and despite the fact that I could feel brief flickers of magic I don't understand how it works here! I have no idea what to do or how to stop this storm and then there are the princesses and then Pinkie Pie expects us to do something for Halloween....
She didn't notice anyone approaching her until a hand touched her shoulder, causing her to look up however as soon as she did she flinched back as if she had been burned.
“Princess Celestia! What do you want?” she stammered, eyes narrowing although her heart hammered in fear. What if she is mad because of what I said in front of the others? What if she forces me back into the portal and banishes me into a dungeon somewhere?
“Calm down, I just want to talk with you. That is if you will let me.” the Princess answered, trying to hide her emotions when Sunset pulled away.
“Okay but I am not going anywhere.” Sunset replied, earning a gentle chuckle from her former teacher who motioned back toward the building.
“Not even inside out of the rain?”
Sunset blushed at that and rubbed the back of her neck in embarrassment. “uh...yeah, sure.”
Princess Celestia followed the girl into the building and sighed once they were inside the band room. “Sunset, I know I am the last creature you want to talk to right now and I don't blame you. But I want to talk about what happened between us.” she began, earning a glare as Sunset's good hand tightened into a fist.
“I am not coming back to Equestria!” Sunset snapped, earning a slight smile.
“I know Sunset and that was not why I wanted to talk to you. I heard your story now will you listen to my side of it? I...I know nothing I can say is going to make up for what I did and didn't do back then but...”
Sunset didn't know what to say when she heard Celestia's voice waver slightly as she spoke. What the world? Is the Princess actually trying to have this conversation with me? She wondered.
“Don't, I get it....You were worried about your appearances, even more so since Princess Luna wasn't around and yes, your sister told me what really happened with Nightmare Moon.” Sunset replied with a soft sigh. She didn't want to have this conversation, not right now. Not when everything still hurt to think about.
“There was more to it than that Sunset.” The informality shocked the teen “I was afraid that I would overstep my boundaries as well as make the other's in the upper circles judge even more than they already did. I was a fool Sunset and I am sorry.” Celestia said in a soft voice.
“Princess...I...” Sunset was at a loss for words, one part of her wanting to tell the princess off but the other wanting to forgive her.
“I wanted to make sure that I didn't overstep one boundary or another. I had to stop myself from letting myself get to close to you. I was so blinded by my own desire to keep things formal that I didn't notice what you really needed.” Celestia continued.
She wasn't expecting Sunset to respond in any way however to her surprise the teen put a hand on Celestia's. “Can I speak? Please?”
“Of course.”
Sunset took a breath as she thought about how she needed to word this.
“I know I was a snide, arrogant, moron when I was studying under you...at least most of the time and I have a lot I need to apologize for and I'm not sure that I can be forgiven...I mean technically I was a traitor.” Sunset stated, her heart beginning to race once again and she felt bile rise into her throat.
“Sunset, stop. If I can forgive Luna for her mistakes then I can forgive you.” the sun princess stated removing her hand from Sunset's only to force the teen to look at her “You have no idea how much I missed you.”
Sunset couldn't keep the tears from stinging her eyes as she absorbed the words.
“You missed me? Why? I was just always under hoof...I acted like a complete spoiled brat...I don't understand.” she questioned, disbelief written across her face as she pulled away slightly so that she could avert her gaze.
“Sunset, you were not always such a brat and besides that, you were just trying to get attention...at least at first. What happened between us was just as much my fault as it was yours and I'm sorry.”
Sunset didn't say anything even though the words struck a nerve. Is she actually apologizing to me? Do I forgive her? Why does this sort of thing have to be so hard?
“Go with your gut dumb-ass.” her demon's voice rang clearly in her mind.
So without saying anything Sunset timidly put her good arm around the woman, holding her breath as she waited to be pushed away like so many times before. However, to her surprise the princess returned the embrace.
“I am so sorry.” They both spoke at once and Sunset felt as if the air had became lighter around her.