The rest of the dinner went great, the food was amazing. During which, Sunset and Snowdrop's grandparents asking about their life, school, and such. Despite the light-natured conversation, Sunset couldn't help but feel the heavy air surround her because once dinner ended, the real conversation would happen. Fortunately for Sunset, she had a bit of time before the actual discussion to talk with her mom, and it was decided that they will tell everything to them. That part did little to calm Sunset's nerves.
Sunset was glad to still have some control over her emotions because it wasn't long before the rest of the family had finished cleaning up the kitchen and piled into the living room. Sunset sat on the couch along with Celestia and Snowdrop beside her and Grandpa and Grandma sitting across from them. Luna took a seat in the chair of to the side.
"So, what's with all this secrecy?" Crescent Moon asked in a gruff voice. Celestia looked at Sunset, silently signaling to her to begin. Sunset remembered the conversation she had with Celestia just moments before.
The two walked into Sunset and Snowdrop's room. Sunset walked in first, more like ran to the back of the room, while Celestia shut the door behind them. The door had barely closed before Sunset was already leaving a divet in the floor from her pacing. She grabbed her hair and was having trouble controlling her breathing.
"Sunset, you need to calm down. Panicking won't do you any favors," Celestia said softly.
"How can I not panic? What do I tell them? What do I do if they don't believe me?"
"Me and Luna will talk to them, obviously."
"But what do I tell them? How do I tell them? If I screw this up and somehow cause a fight. I don't even know what I'd do," Sunset added quietly.
"You'll tell them everything, how you want to. You need to go at your own pace and try to remain calm. Don't forget you have me. You have Luna, and most importantly, you have Snowdrop at your side whenever you need it. We will help you if you feel too uncomfortable in some parts. Now take a deep breath and calm yourself," Celestia said, soothing some of Sunset's worries.
Breathing repeatedly with long-drawn-out breaths helped Sunset slowly calm her down, somewhat, "You're right. Okay, I've got this. I already told Fluttershy's parents I can do this."
"You told Fluttershy's parents about you?" Celestia asked.
"Well, I-yea?" Sunset said though it sounded more like a question to Celestia.
"... You know, there are a few more people that will be there for you even if they're not here now."
"Really? Who else-" Sunset paused before a small smile spread. "Yeah, they would. Especially Pinkie and Fluttershy. Pinkie would throw me a party to feel better, and Fluttershy would give me one of her hugs. The ones that could feel anyone with warmth and make all the sadness disappear. Her hugs are magical. You just can't be sad around her. It's like her kindness makes the sadness disappointed in itself for making you sad. She's amazing."
"Well, someone is quite the smitten kitten," Celestia said, trying to hold back her giggles.
"Mom, don't. You sound like Rarity," Sunset said as she blushed so hard that it would put her demonic skin color to shame.
Snapping back to reality, Sunset realized she was playing with her hands while she was zoned out. Clearing her throat, Sunset started, "Okay, um… *ahem*… right uh, this might sound... crazy… but I swear everything I'm about to tell you is the truth. Just, uh, keep an open mind, okay?"
"We are listening," Crescent Moon said as he leaned back into his seat with his hands on his knees.
"Okay, it's… about where I come from..." Sunset took a breath before continuing. "I know this is going to sound crazy, and I swear I'm not, you can ask Luna. So I'm actually… not from here. This world or dimension, really."
"Not from- I'm sorry, dear. I might have heard wrong-"
"Not from this world. You heard right," Celestia interjected her mom.
"It would probably help to just hear everything first. I can prove all this to you later," Sunset said. "As I said, I'm actually from a different world, an alternate world. You might even be able to call me an alien, and not the immigrants from other countries, if it wasn't for Luna's friend making my paperwork. So my homeworld doesn't have any humans. Instead… it is filled with various sapient animals- I know it sounds like a fairy tale, but it isn't. I have proof if you need some."
"I was not always in this body. I was a unicorn back in my world. A pretty powerful one at that, though I'm might be weak now—years of not training and being cut off from magic and that. Not to mention new spells that have been crafted. Anyway, I caught the eye of a ruler of the land, and they took me as their personal student from an orphanage. As time went by… I began to turn a little… prideful about myself."
"Little?" Luna interrupted from the side, which got her a glare from her sister.
Sunset winced, "Maybe more than a little. Being the most talented student and the Princess's personal student made me look… down on other students," She rubbed her left arm as she continued. "So, I didn't have any friends, and I was fine with that. I thought I didn't need them. Over time, I began to look at the Princess as a mother figure. Though she made it clear that we would never have such a relationship. So when I saw a way to be her daughter, I wouldn't let anything get in my way, not even the Princess. I found a spell and tried to use it, despite it being dark magic. Of course, the Princess found out and ordered the guards to take me back to my room.
"I've never heard her speak in such a cold tone before, even when we argued before. It was like I was nothing but a piece of scrapped iron or a worn shoe. Anyways, I was stubborn and so angry. I stunned the guards with a paralysis spell and teleported to a portal I found out about while looking for a way to be her daughter. I remember looking back and seeing the Princess. I hated her for not wanting to be my mother, but even as I glared at her in full hatred, her stoic mask never slipped. I saw her horn light up before I jumped through the portal and escaped to this world. If I'm honest with myself, I was terrified of her. She didn't say anything. She just looked at me. I use to read her like a book, but when I looked at her, there was nothing. No sign of knowing who I was, no emotion, just nothing. I felt like her enemy, one that she would surely crush if I stayed any longer," Sunset paused and looked at her grandparents.
"But when I arrived in this world, I was no longer a unicorn. I was a human. Since the only way to go back was closed, I decided to survive in this world. First, I found a place to stay. It was an old abandoned factory. Then I forged some paperwork and attended CHS so that I can learn more about this world. But since I didn't have any legal paperwork, I couldn't get a job. So, I became someone I deeply regret now. I became a bully and stole lunch money from the kids at school and wrote essays for money…"
"That is until recently, I went back to my world when the portal opened. I stole a magical crown that I thought could grant me enough power so… so the Princess would see me worthy of becoming her daughter," from here, Sunset became emotional. "B-but… something went wrong, and I… I-I turned into a monster… I-I turned into… a-a literal demon and… I-I tried t-to… I-I-" Sunset felt herself being embraced by her mom and her sister, to which she responded with tearful nuzzles.
"It's okay, Sunset. She didn't do it. She wasn't you. It's all over now," Celestia whispered to Sunset. Sunset breathed in and out for a while and calmed herself down.
"I'm fine, mom, thank you," Sunset said before looking back at her grandparents. They both looked puzzled but thankfully didn't say anything. "Sorry, it's still a fresh wound. After everything, the crown's owner turned me back and left me under the hands of her friends. They helped me to become good again, to reshape me into someone new. During this time, Celestia found about my living standards and took me in as her daughter. One of my friends took me to the local orphanage to help her look after the kids. That's where I met Snowdrop." Sunset said, looking at Snowdrop.
"She was… alone. All because of something she couldn't control. I needed to do something, but I didn't know what. Mom decided to adopt her. I finally got the family I always wanted. That's pretty much everything." Sunset said, finishing up her story.
"Okay, let me get this straight. You are a unicorn, from another world, who turned into a human, that did bad things, and is now trying to be good again?" Crescent Moon asked.
"Yeah, pretty much. Here's some evidence," Sunset said before pulling up her phone and playing a video. She hands it over to her grandpa, and together Cresent Moon and Solar Wind watched the video.
"I'm so proud of her. She came a long way since her bullying days," Celestia said, hugging her daughter.
The video was a song the girls played with Sunset after the battle of the band. Crescent Moon handed back the phone once the video was finished.
"So?" Sunset asked awkwardly as a moment of silence lengthened.
"Well, Celestia and Luna seem to support this, and they're not one to usually lie about something of this magnitude, but we need to see it for real. This video could be edited."
"Well, uh… I could try singing you a song. But I don't have my guitar with me," Sunset said.
"I have one, come," Crescent Moon said, standing up. Sunset followed her.
They walked to a closet near the kitchen, and Cresent Moon began digging through the cramped space. Sunset could hear some quiet conversation back in the living room. She tried to listen to what was being said but was unsuccessful. She heard a grunt and things being shifted as Cresent Moon lugged a guitar case out of the storage area. After receiving Cresent Moon's guitar, the two walked back to the living room. Sunset sat down to tune it while thinking of a song to play. The other's meanwhile asked Snowdrop about her story. Since losing her parents when she was little, she didn't have much to say other than her abilities. The elders were surprised to hear about them, especially about Snowdrop being able to listen to stars. Though the two quieted down as the melodic tunes of the guitar string filled the air. After one last test strum, Sunset pulled her phone out, and her eyes skimmed the phone.
"This is still a work in progress, but It should be enough to work," Sunset explained before reading over the notes one last time. After getting the tune where she wanted it, Sunset began to strum the strings and closed her eyes.
♫It's alright… yeah
I'm walking right beside you
I feel the way, feel the way that you do to
Oh, I can't lie, sometimes♫
♫Everything feels like it's just too much
You gotta let it in, even if it's tough
Know it gets better, know it gets better,
We push through the weather, weather♫
Everyone watched in amazement as Sunset suddenly began to glow. The transformation was quick and swift. Under everyone's eyes, Sunset's human ears turned into pony ears, her hair grew in length, and a unicorn horn sprouted on her forehead.
♫Let it ra-a-a-ain
Let it ra-a-a-ain
Don't be afraid of walls coming down
Sometimes it hurts, to figure it out
Let it ra-a-a-ain
Let it ra-a-a-ain
Let it ra-a-a-ain♫
Sunset finished the cords before she opened up her eyes. She saw her grandparents looking at her with wide eyes, just like she expected. They stayed like that for a while as their minds tried to grasp what was before them. Moments later, Solar Wind stood up and walked over to Sunset. She extended an arm and gently touched one of Sunset's ears. Sunset instinctually tilted her head and folded her ears.
"T-they are… r-real…" Solar Wind said disbelievingly.
"S-so… do you believe me now?" Sunset asked.
"M-my granddaughter is a unicorn…" They heard Crescent Moon whisper, which garnered a giggle from Snowdrop. Sunset soon joined her. But she suddenly flinched away when she felt someone touching her ears.
"Woah… they really soft," Snowdrop said.
After the demonstration, and everyone had a chance to calm down. The elders began their questions about Sunset, her world, and how she survived the years. Sunset happily answered them, relieved that she hadn't destroyed a family. After the questioning, everyone went about their own tasks. Celestia going over emails from the school and calling the stand-ins to see how the day went. Luna went to her room to set up her gaming stuff to play after everyone else went to sleep. Solar Wind began to shower before bed so she could watch her favorite TV show in her comfy clothes. Cresent Moon went through a door with his greased-covered clothes. This left Snowdrop and Sunset alone. Snowdrop was humming Sunset's song, and Sunset was relaying what happened to Fluttershy as the two walked around the neighborhood.
Her grandparents live in a little city. This meant the neighbor was calm, and everyone knew everybody, unlike in Canterlot. While walking back to the house, Sunset heard her grandpa working in the garage. Walking over to the garage opening, Sunset saw Crescent Moon fixing something in the car engine.
"Ah, Sunset," He said when he noticed Sunset.
"Hey. I heard you working and thought to check who your girl is," Sunset said.
"Hehe, a Chevy Impala. She's a beaute, isn't she?" He asked.
"Well… I don't know a lot about cars, but she looks great," Sunset said.
"I think it looks awesome," Snowdrop said with a cheeky smile.
"Hehe, you know what? I'll take you and Snowdrop for a ride, huh? Can you hand me that gas cap?" He said, pointing to a gas cap sitting on the worktable.
"Yeah, why not. So what's the problem with it?" Sunset said, letting go of Snowdrop's hand and retrieving the item.
"Oh, nothing serious. Just a faulty engine and a loose gas cap. Nothing I can't fix." Crescent Moon said. A few moments passed as Sunset handed him various tools before he straightened and stretched his shoulders. "Done, come on," He said before closing the car and getting inside.
Sunset followed him and got inside the car. Crescent Moon started the car and drove it out of the garage. They saw Snowdrop with Solar Wind out in the garden.
"Hey Snowdrop, grandpa is taking us on a ride. You wanna join?" Sunset shouted.
An excited laugh and bobbing head was the only answer as she stood up. Solar Wind guided Snowdrop towards them as she said, "Now be careful, okay, Moony. You are with two kids."
"Yes, yes, I know. Don't worry, I only drag race when I'm alone," He said, earning a glare from Solar, as he opened the door and helped Snowdrop to get inside.
Once inside, Crescent Moon started the car towards the road and revved the engine. Sunset was amazed at the capabilities of the vehicle despite being an old model. Then again, she's as dumb as a foal when it comes to cars.
Crescent Moon drove the car around the town, giving the girls a great view of the city or Snowdrop's case, enjoying the warm sun with a cool breeze. Both he and Sunset were saddened by the fact that Snowdrop couldn't see the amazing view. But she tried to enjoy the ride and scenery for both herself and Snowdrop.
All and all, the day was quite great. Sunset met her grandparents for the first time, and they were okay with who she was and is. Sunset almost forgot about her powers when she saw her grandparents accepting her. But the worry resurfaced when they asked about her unicorn magic, something she was hesitant to answer at the moment.