//------------------------------// // Reconciliations Part 1 // Story: Cadere a Gratia (Fall from Grace) // by Echo Breeze //------------------------------// The ride over to the portal was less than pleasant, but then again, neither was meeting everyone at Sugar Corner. I still found it hard to believe that it took me trying to end it all for the girls to finally see sense. Though I have to admit, Dash being the one to save was a bit ironic. She is the one that I have the strongest feelings for, that we could be more than friends. “You know that’ll never happen. You’re a fuck up waiting to happen. You fucked everything up in Equestria, who is to say that you won’t fuck this up too?” Sundown taunted me. ‘Shut up, Sundown. I know that…’ I said to her in my head. “What? That you are a fuck up?” she said with a maniacal laugh tinged with a bit of scorn. ‘That I was a fuck up. I’ve changed.’ “Really? Then why don’t you try?” she said, perching herself on the seat next to me. ‘It’s not that simple. I don’t even know if she likes girls, not to mention even remotely liking me the same way.’ I said, a downcast look in my face. Rainbow looked in the rear view mirror and saw the downcast look. “Hey, Sunset? You okay back there?” she asked, voice full of concern. Twilight looked back at me as well. “I’m alright. It’s nothing.” I deflected. Twilight seemed placated, but I could tell by the look Dash was giving me in the mirror that she didn’t quite believe me. “If you say so.” Dash said as we turned onto the street where Canterlot High was located. We came to a full stop on the curb by the statue that doubled as the portal to Equestria. We all climbed out and proceeded to walk to the statue. “Well, this is where I leave you guys.” Twilight said, turning to Dash, she said, “Take care of her. She really needs a friend right now.” “I will.” Rainbow Dash replied. Twilight nodded and turned to me. “The second things here become too much for you to handle, let me know. I can have the portal open for you to come through. Even if you come through for a little while to clear your mind.” she said, to which I nodded. We all shared an embrace, then Twilight walked through the portal after Spike. “Well, let’s get back to your apartment.” Dash said as she turned to walk away. I took one last look at the portal before turning to follow her. _____________________________________________ I came through the portal, expecting the castle to be empty save for my friends who were waiting for me to return, but I wasn’t expecting what I saw when I came through this time. Princess Celestia was sitting at one of the reading desks in the library where the portal was. “Princess Celestia! I wasn’t expecting you here.” I said, trying to hide the shock I felt. “I came by to visit and maybe give you a heads up on when the next summit would be. Imagine my surprise when I got here and your friends said you had gone through the portal to assist Sunset Shimmer with a problem.” she said, getting up from where she was sitting. “And then I read the journal entries. Sunset is not hurt, is she?” “I-I d-don’t know h-how to respond t-to that.” I said, gulping. I could see Celestia starting to lose her patience. “Twilight. As your former mentor, it is my job to tell you that you are a terrible liar.” she said, staring right through to my soul. “So tell me. Now.” I could hear traces of the Royal Canterlot Voice thrumming in her voice. “I-I…” I started, sweating. “DAMN IT, TWILIGHT! TELL ME MY DAUGHTER IS OKAY!” she yelled, all self control gone. The force of the yell nearly knocked me off my feet. “Well… Wait. Sunset is your daughter?” I asked in disbelief. It took a second for Celestia to regain her composure. “*SIGH* Yes, Twilight, Sunset is my daughter. After she was born, I gave her up for adoption. I wanted to give her a normal life, away from the fame of being a princess. After I had learned that she had run away from her foster home as a filly, I took her in as my student. I had hoped that she would grow to become a pony worthy of being a princess, but it was not meant to be. She got her hoof on the papers that signed her away to the orphanage and questioned me about it. That was when she started demanding that I make her a princess.” Celestia said, tears streaming down her face. “Oh, my poor baby. How I wish I could take it all back.” I went over to her and wrapped her in an embrace, tears of my own falling down my muzzle. Here was the strongest mare I knew, reduced to a sobbing mess over the mistakes she had made. She hadn’t even cried this much after Luna was freed from Nightmare Moon. “Does Luna know of this?” I asked. “As far as I know, she doesn’t know that she has a niece in another dimension. Though I’m not sure. She may have an idea from some of the dreams I have had about Sunset returning.” Celestia replied, a little bit of her composure returned after we broke the embrace. “Well, your daughter is fine, now.” I started. “What do you mean ‘now’?” she asked. “Well, she tried to commit suicide.” I replied, to which she gasped, fresh tears forming in her eyes. “She was saved by that world’s Rainbow Dash and is now being taken care of by her.” “Well, at least she is okay now. That’s all i could ask for.” Celestia said. “I can arrange for you to meet with her.” I said, trying my best to convince her. “*SIGH* Fine, Twilight, set it up.” she said in defeat. “But I’m… Wait, what?” “I said you may set it up. I know I’m not gonna convince you otherwise.” she said. I nodded and grabbed the journal in my raspberry aura. I penned a quick message to Sunset. Dear Sunset Shimmer, Would it be possible to meet tomorrow? I have somepony who wants to speak to you. I put down the quill and awaited a response.