“You t-turned into a demon?”
Sunset nodded, she could already feel the guilt build in the pit of her stomach, “That’s why everyone one has told you how alike we are but we’re not. It wasn’t the same for you.” She looked up wistfully at Twilight.
“That can’t be true.” Twilight said, “You’re so nice and loyal. You saved me.”
“I wasn’t always like this Twilight.” Sunset said, “You are a better person than I ever knew how to be. You didn’t understand what that would do. Me? I knew exactly what I was doing. I wanted the power, to go back to Equestria and take over. To prove to…someone, that I was worth it. I was a nightmare for everyone at CHS and eventually, I became the physical representation of what I was. A demon, a monster.”
Much to Twilight’s confusion, Sunset suddenly ran into the kitchen and returned holding a sketch book. Sunset flipped to a page and handed it to Twilight. Her eyes went wide at the demonic image of what Twilight concluded to be Sunset.
“The other you, the princess, and our friends took me down with a magical laser that literally ripped the demon away.” Sunset continued, “It hurt…a lot and since that day, magic has remained in this world. I was a really bad person for a really long time. After that it took a really long time to get everyone to stop hating even the mention of my name.”
Twilight remained silent while she took it all in.
Sunset rubbed her face, struggling to keep her composure.
“What happened at the games, Twilight, wasn’t your fault.” Sunset said finally, “It was mine. I’m the reason the magic you were studying is even here. I should have never yelled at you in the field and I should never have stolen that stupid crown. I am so sorry you had to go through that.”
After another few more moments of silence, Twilight met her eyes, “What happened at the games was not your fault.”
Sunset gave her a funny look.
Twilight adjusted her glasses, “I have spent the last week compiling the variables and I have concluded that Principal Cinch was the primary catalyst.”
Sunset just stared at her, unsure of what to do.
“I mean think about it, sure you brought magic here but that’s just amazing! But Principal Cinch was the deciding variable. I never even wanted to be in the games! Sure; I was going to study the magic anyway but I would have never had accumulated it like I had if I wasn’t on the Crystal Prep team. Cinch pretty much threatened my Everton application and pressured me into releasing the magic.” Twilight smiled, “Sure you could have just taken my spectrometer but that would have just been mean.”
Sunset blinked. I have no idea how to respond to that.
“Besides I’m kind of glad it happened.” Twilight said, “If it didn’t, I would have never transferred or made any friends.” When Sunset didn’t respond, Twilight spoke softly, “Was that why you were acting so strange? You blamed yourself for what happened?”
Sunset nodded, “Yeah and I still kind of do and part of me always will. Every time I looked at you; I saw my own failures and mistakes staring back at me.”
Twilight snorted, “Failure; no but you do have a bit of a temper.”
Sunset smirked and shook her head, “I don’t even think you’re trying to make me feel better but it’s working.”
“I don’t need to try if I’m just giving you the facts.” Twilight sad and smiled.
Sunset started to laugh, soon followed by Twilight.
Just as they were calming down, the front door opened and two sets of foot steps entered the house.
“We’re home.” Celestia’s voice called in.
“And we have brought food that we actually cook ourselves!” Luna said pridefully. She walked past the living room and smiled at the girls, “Greetings, Twilight.” She said, then continued to the kitchen.
“Hello, Twilight.” Celestia greeted then furrowed her brows, “What’s wrong, dear?”
Sunset looked back and almost laughed at how her jaw hung open in shock, “I haven’t told her yet.” She said sheepishly.
Celestia nodded and smiled at her.
“You. Sunset. What?” Twilight said, “Cadence didn’t tell me you had any kids!”
“This is still a fairly recent development.” Celestia said, “She didn’t know until the games. We thought it was best to let Sunset decide when to let you in on our little secret.”
“You’re adopted?” Twilight questioned.
Sunset nodded, “As of, what? Two weeks ago?” She looked to Celestia who nodded her confirmation, “I was living on my own since I came to this world up until November.”
Celestia scoffed, “If you could call that living.”
Sunset blushed, “Anyway yeah, Principal Celestia adopted me.”
Celestia smiled and leaned towards Twilight, “No one except for a select few know of Sunset’s living situation. I thought it was best to give it the rest of the school year to let it be known just in case the students react badly towards Sunset.”
Twilight nodded, “I understand. The last thing you want is for the other students to think you’re getting special treatment because you’re the principal’s daughter.”
“Don’t forget the vice-principal’s niece!” Luna yelled from the kitchen
“Now, do you prefer hamburgers or veggie burgers?” Celestia asked, chuckling at her sister.
“Veggie burgers?” Twilight questioned.
“I’m a vegetarian minus the Chicken and Fish.” Sunset explained, “A pony thing I can’t quite kick. Don’t feel bad about eating it around me though, as long as I don’t have to. “
“Hamburger please.” Twilight smiled politely
“Oh! Me too!” Spike said from the floor before his eyes widened and used his paws to cover his snout.
Celestia stared wide eyed for a moment before regaining her composure, “Right, Spike can talk. How could I have forgotten.”
“Sorry,” Twilight said sheepishly, “I know it’s weird.”
Celestia smiled, “It’s alright, Twilight. My daughter is a horse.”
The woman winked at Sunset with a smile before walking off into the kitchen.
“Not anymore! And I was a pony!” Sunset called back before both teens broke into laughter.
***
Dinner was a lot less awkward than she thought it would be and Twilight was pleased to see that Sunset was finally relaxed around her. It became abundantly clear that Sunset’s trust circle wasn’t very big, noticing that she skimmed by some topics of conversation presented by the two adults. It was fine with her though; everyone was entitled to their privacy.
The rest of the evening, Sunset and Twilight sat in Sunset’s room talking and doing their homework.
Around 8, the doorbell rang. The girls looked at the clock and were a little disheartened when they deduced it was Twilight’s dad.
“Wow, that went by fast.” Twilight said as the walked down stairs.
“Yeah I kind of wish you didn’t have to leave.” Sunset said, rubbing the back of her neck.
“Me neither.”
They smiled and giggled as they came down the stairs just as Celestia opened the door.
“Oh! Are you Mrs. Shimmer?” Night Light asked.
Sunset choked on her spit but Celestia played it off.
“Celestia, please.” She said with a kind tone
“Well it’s nice to meet you, I just wanted to meet Sunset’s parents.” He said, “I’ve heard a lot about her.”
Sunset and Twilight both turned beat red.
“I am so glad Twilly is making such good friends.” He said with a grin
“Yes, Sunset too.” Celestia smiled proudly.
“Anyway, it’s getting late, we should get going.” Nightlight smiled as Twilight and Sunset joined their parents at the door.
“See you Monday?” Sunset offered.
“Yes, goodnight Sunset.” Twilight said before turning with her father and headed for the car that was parked at the end of the walkway.
Celestia closed the door as Sunset let out a sigh, “I feel a lot better.”
The older woman smiled and pulled Sunset in for a hug, “I’m glad. You need to stop blaming yourself for things you can’t control.”
“I’m honestly not sure if I can ever really stop feeling guilty about magical mishaps.” The teen admitted.
Celestia furrowed her brows, “Sunset...”
“I’m fine, Celestia. Really.” Sunset assured her.
“You still have those nightmares?” Celestia asked as they went to sit in the living room.
“Not really. Just little bits and pieces.” Sunset admitted, “It’s nothing like it was before.”
“Yes but, other than this incident, how do you feel about them?” Celestia said.
“You’re slipping into to councillor mode.” Sunset said.
“No, this is my concerned parent mode.” Celestia corrected.
Sunset smiled, “After the battle of the bands, I see them as...a history book. It’s like a log of me eventually becoming someone I am actually happy being.”
This made Celestia’s heart fill with pride as a tiny bit of that concern faded away. Still, due to everything that had happened to the young teen’s life, Celestia knew there were still personal issues Sunset needed to deal with. However, the talk with Twilight was definitely a win and she wasn’t going to take that away from her.