//------------------------------// // TLM, Celestia Story I // Story: Sunset’s Feet Extra Stories // by TheOneAJ //------------------------------// Celestia sat on her throne, one hand fingering her triton, the other tapping on the arm rest as she reflected back… **** “So the Diamond mermaid,” Celestia read from the book the five year old Sunset Shimmer on her lap. “Ended up forever trapped in the witches' garden, while the Silver mermaid lived happily ever after with the love of her life.” “Yay!” Sunset clapped. “Don’t worry, Celestia, I won’t make any bad deals and will always listen to you!” “Good,” Celestia smiled as Sunset gave her a hug. “You’re a sweet child, my Sunset Shimmer.” ****** “What’s that?” a ten year old Sunset said as she pointed at some human trash. “That is human stuff!” Celestia warned, pulling the mermaid back. “Anything human is dangerous, so stay away!” “Why?” Sunset asked. “Because they’re fish killing savages,” Celestia said, glaring at the objects they stumbled upon. Sunset raised an eyebrow. “Don’t we hunt and eat fish as well?” There was a blast of thunder from Celestia’s triton, and the human trash disintegrated. “Just do as I say and have nothing to do with humans, okay?” Sunset took a moment, but eventually nodded her head. “Yes, Celestia.” “Good child.” Celestia smiled. ***** “Your majesty,” a mermaid named Raven said, snapping the queen out of her trance. Jolting upright, Celestia tried to ask in the most dignified manner, “Any news, Raven?” “Um,” the mermaid said, taking a swish back. “Still no sign of her I’m afraid, your majesty.”  Celestia glared, then softened. “No one is to rest until she is found!” Raven winched. “Is that a problem?” Celestia challenged. “N… No, of course not, your majesty.” She gulped.  Celestia sighed. “You’re right.” Gripping her triton tightly, she added, “Tell, half, the search party to rest, then alternate in a few hours. But I still want people searching at all times. Is that understood?!” “Yes, your majesty.” “Very well,” Celestia waved a hand. “Leave me be then.” Raven didn’t budge. “Is something on your mind?” Raven fidgeted. “Per… Permission to speak free- “Granted,” Celestia said with a roll of her eyes.  “Ah, yes, well… Even if we find Sunset, from what we were informed happened from the last time you spoke to her, and we do find her, would dragging her back really be the best course of action?” The triton shimmered. “You think I was too harsh on her?” Celestia challenged. “You think what I did was wrong? That I don’t have every right to make sure she’s safe, even if she hates me now? That I don’t- She paused at Raven's fearfulness. “I mean,” she rubbed her head. “Simply let me know that she’s alright, when you find her, and I’ll figure out what to do from there.” “Of course,” Raven saluted, and left the Queen to her thoughts. ***** “Celestia!” Sunset cried out as another bolt of lighting shot out of her triton, destroying a globe “No, don’t, stop!” Queen Celestia did not. Within her mind, there was no reason other than the fear that Sunset’s lifestyle was putting her in danger. As she destroyed a set of human utensils, she felt more sure of herself that this was the cause of all her problems with Sunset. That human doll she blasted, that was the reason Sunset sassed at her. The human painting, now gone, was why Sunset was rebellious on doing chores and missing important concerts. With a wave of her triton, the human box’s that were the cause of Sunset’s attitude problems, no more. Her attention then turned to the statue in the center of the grotto. “No, NO!” Sunset protested, pulling on Celestia’s arm. For a second, looking at Sunset’s horrified expressions, Celestia reconsidered her actions. Wondering if, maybe, she was going to far? Was this wrong, trying to ‘fix’ her like this? See then had a vision of a much younger Sunset Shimmer, smiling at her and clapping on her lap, turned to a teenage Sunset shouting at her in the thrown room about not being child anyone. Being mocked at by other mermaids for her child’s human obsession, and then of Sunset being caught in a human net and pulled away from her. Her triton fired, and the statue shattered into a thousand pieces as Sunset watched, and cried. ***** It was the right thing to do, wasn’t it? No, of course it was the right thing to do! Celestia assured with a shake of her head. Her Sunset needed protection, she needed to keep her safe! Sure, it was harsh love, but wasn’t that what being a parent was all about? Although she wished she hadn’t left Sunset alone after that. So stupid! Why had she done so? Quilt, perhaps? Possibly as a means to allow Sunset to reflect on her actions. She had been more than confident that Sunset would sulk for a few hours, then pull herself together, return to the castle, thank her for helping her break her human addiction, and they would go back to the way their relationship was before this human lifestyle nonsense had begun. Sunset had not returned for dinner. By around midnight, she ordered guards to go and see if she was still in her grotto. When her fears were affirmed, she ordered all available hands to find her! So far, in an entire day of searching, nothing. “Oh, my dear Sunset,” Celestia said, tears forming in her eyes. “Where have you gone?”