//------------------------------// // Coronation Part 1 // Story: Coronation of Compassion // by Echo Breeze //------------------------------// Sitting still for prolonged periods of time had never been an easy feat for me, but it was even more so while Rarity was fitting my dress. She had spent hours on end, making all sorts of alterations and such, and it was beginning to make me antsy. Snowflake had patiently sat beside me the whole way, which surprised both Rarity and I. “Rarity,” I said, trying to keep the exasperation from my voice. “How much longer? I can’t take it anymore.” She looked at me, a smile on her face. “Won’t be much longer now, darling.” She said, turning back to her sewing machine. “Uh. You said that an hour ago.” I said, rolling my eyes. Snowflake giggled. “You can’t rush perfection, darling.” Rarity replied, tutting. “Perfection takes forever.” I said, the barely contained exasperation leaking into my voice, causing Snowflake to laugh. I ended up laughing with her. “Oh hush, both of you.” Rarity said in a playful manner. She finished up with the sewing machine and came back to where I was sitting. “Stand up, darling." I did as she asked and stood. She put the dress back on and proceeded to check everything. She nodded, went to a nearby dresser, and pulled out a golden tiara with my Cutie Mark on it, with a matching set of shoes. She popped the tiara on my head as I put on the shoes. "Right," she said, taking a moment to inspect her work. She nodded and brought one of the mirrors over in her blue aura. "What do you think, darling?" "It looks amazing." I breathed in awe. I stared at the cutie mark on my tiara. It was made from a fusion of topaz and ruby gemstones, clearly Twilight's work. "But it still feels so surreal." I looked down, a lone tear falling down my muzzle. Snowflake saw it, and immediately enveloped me in a warm and loving embrace. Rarity looked at me in sympathy. "Do you want to talk about it, Sunset?" she asked, joining the embrace from the other side. I nodded and sighed. "Just the other day, I was alone, regretting my every action. No friends, no family. I didn't know what else to do." I started, tears now starting to fall freely. "I don't know if Twilight told you about this." "No. She only told us that you had been deeply hurt." Rarity replied. "I see. Well, she was right about that, but she left out quite a bit." I said with a dad sigh. "I understand why. It is your story to tell, Sunset. She did not want to overstep her boundaries. If you want to, you can tell me." Rarity replied. I nodded and looked at Snowflake. She nodded with a sweet smile on her face. I steeled my resolve, and proceeded to tell Rarity everything. I had just gotten back home after checking up on Sunset's apartment, making sure that her mail made it to her desk. Everything was fine, apart from the scrunched up note I had in my hand. It was quite a shock to see it, and I damn near lost my temper when I saw it. It was a note, written in Gilda's distinctive chicken scratch. I read it once before scrunching it up. 'I know where you live now, she demon. Beware.' the note read. "What is that girl's problem." I asked no one in particular as I put my old Ford F100 in park. "Ah don't understand it." I climbed out and headed inside, out of the chill morning air. I looked over at the barn where Sunset's Camaro was sitting under a dust cover. "Ah should probably start you up, get those fluids runnin'." I took the keys out of my pocket, removed the dust cover, hit unlock on the key fob, and climbed in. The motor turned over once before it came to life with a throaty growl. I nodded, put it in first gear, and took off for a bit of a drive to let the battery charge. I had just finished telling Rarity the story, and she was in shock. Equestria never had any suicides. There was always a magical cure for mental ailments, but I had no such luxury. "That's why this all feels so surreal. It is difficult to believe that I am alive, have a marefriend, have my mother back, and am becoming a princess." I said, looking over at Snowflake. "I probably wouldn't be here now if it weren't for Snowflake." Snowflake blushed at that, and kissed me deeply. I returned the kiss willingly. Rarity shook her head and stood up. "Ahem. Right. Why don't you go see if one of the other girls' need any help? Let me finish up here." she said, taking the dress off in her blue aura. I nodded and lit up my horn, and gasped in surprise. Instead of my regular teal aura, it was a deep red, almost crimson in color. "Well, that's new. It was teal just a second ago." I said in surprise. "I know." Snowflake said, just as surprised. "Maybe Celestia or Twilight will be able to tell you why it changed." Rarity said. I nodded and walked to the door, Snowflake and Rarity following close behind. Rarity gave us each a hug once we were out the door. "Goodbye for now, Rares." I said with a smile. "See you soon." Snowflake added. Rarity nodded and we turned to leave. Our next stop was Sweet Apple Acres to see if Pinkie and Applejack needed any help with the food. "Hey, Snowflake." I said. She turned her head to look at me. "Mhm." she mumbled. "What would I do without you." I finished, giving her a peck on the cheek. She blushed. "Same as me without you." she replied. We continued walking, close enough together that our wings touched. I had just gotten off the phone to the girls. We needed to discuss the whole thing with Gilda. I shook my head and went to the kitchen to prepare some snacks. A couple of minutes later, I heard Pinkie's Audi coming up the drive, followed by the sound of a horn. I went outside to see that she had picked Fluttershy and Rarity up as well. She parked up next to my truck and climbed out, Fluttershy and Rarity following suit. "Hey girls. Come inside. Ah have snacks and drinks ready." I said as they approached. They nodded and walked in, leaving their coats and shoes in the foyer. I followed them to the living room and sat down. "Now, where do Ah begin."