“So…you basically spent the past 30 moons in…another world?” Rainbow Dash asked again, just to be sure, as Sunset nodded.
“And in those dreams, we were your friends, and you helped us solve problems?” Applejack asked, to which Sunset nodded again.
“I’m kind of doubting it being a different world now though.” Sunset admitted. “Given that I’ve probably been asleep this entire time, that could’ve just been a dream.”
“But dreams don’t usually make any sense.” Pinkie added in, to which Sunset nodded.
“Exactly. And they aren’t usually continuous. So it doesn’t really make any sense if I were to say it’s just a dream, but at the same time, I can’t fully say for sure that it’s a whole new entire world too.”
“And it wouldn’t explain your wings either.” Fluttershy said. “Since Princess Celestia wasn’t there in your world to help you with your ascension like she did for Twilight here.”
“Wings? What are you talking about, Shy? I don’t have wings; I’m a unicorn, not a Pegasus, you know.” Sunset said, looking confused at Fluttershy’s words.
“No, darling. You do have wings. You’re an alicorn.” Rarity stated as Sunset looked behind, only for a scream to escape from her throat.
“WHAT ARE THESE?!” She leapt off her bed, landing ungracefully on her face. The two appendages on her back, the source of her shock, were flared out haphazardly. “What the- These can’t be real!” She spluttered as she pushed herself up and spread her wings out behind her.
“Pretty sure they are.” Applejack said. Sunset shook her head.
“Princess Celestia. Where’s Princess Celestia? I need to see her!” She said urgently before taking off towards the throne room.
“W-Wait, we went there earlier and she wasn’t there!” Twilight shouted as they all gave chase.
“Luna…” Luna sighed as she turned to Celestia with an exasperated look.
“Patience, dear sister. It will not be long.” Celestia just sighed.
“But…” She was cut off by the doors of the throne room being thrown open, and suddenly time seemed to slow as she came face to face with a pony she had dearly missed. “S…Sunset…” Sunset on the other hoof, was rooted to the spot. In her shock at finding out that she was now an alicorn, the situation between her and Celestia had slipped her mind, until she burst into the room to see the Sun Princess staring at her. She took a step back, her ears folded and her form lowered almost to the ground.
“P-Pri-” She had been ready to bolt, afraid that the princess was still angry at her and might throw her into a dungeon for trespassing.
“Sunset!” Without any warning, Celestia had thrown her hooves around Sunset, hugging her tightly as tears ran freely down her muzzle. “I’m so sorry, Sunset! Please forgive me!” It took a while before Celestia’s words clicked in Sunset’s mind.
“What?! No, you have nothing to be sorry for!” She exclaimed, wiggling out of the embrace. “You gave me everything! I was the pony who didn’t listen to you and was just too arrogant to see that I was wrong! If anypony needs to apologise, it’s me!” Tears welled up in her eyes as she poured her heart out to Celestia. “I’m so sorry for everything, Princess. You did so much for me and I was a stupid stuck up ingrate who threw it back in your face just because you didn’t give me what I wanted. You were right to send me away.” Celestia shook her head.
“No, Sunset. What happened between us and what I did was my fault as much as yours. Luna helped me open my eyes to how badly I’ve been treating you. You were more than just my personal student, but I was so scared that I chose not to provide you with what you needed. And even when I saw you go down the same path I once did, I did nothing to stop you.” Sunset’s eyes widened as she took in Celestia’s words. It reminded her of her talk with the other Celestia.
“Was it…Was it because you were still hurting from what happened to Princess Luna and you were afraid of growing too close to me and losing me too?” She asked softly. “Was that why you didn’t mind Princess Cadance being so close to you, but kept the relationship between us strictly professional?” Celestia hesitantly nodded.
“You mean so much to me, Sunset. I was scared that I wouldn’t be able to handle it if I had to do to you what I did to Luna. And yet, I lost you all the same.” She sighed before looking to Sunset. “When I adopted you, I knew that the responsibility I was taking would go beyond that of a teacher. And as I raised you, the more I felt the bond between you and I grow into something more, but I still never made my feelings clear to you. That was a mistake.” She hung her head in shame before reaching out to pull Sunset into a warm embrace. “I’ve always seen you as my own daughter, Sunset. Even when I had been afraid of growing too close to you, I longed to hear you call me ‘mom’. I love you so much, my little Sun, even if I haven’t been the mother you needed these past years. All of these could’ve been prevented if only I had admitted the truth to you earlier.” Sunset shook her head as she returned the hug, tears streaming down her muzzle.
“No… I’m…actually glad it happened.” Her voice broke as she nuzzled Celestia’s mane. “I love you too…mom.” Celestia felt her tears well up anew in her eyes as she listened to Sunset. “I’m sorry I was such a brat.”
“I forgive you. And forgive me as well, for being so blind.” Loud sniffling interrupted their moment as they looked over to see Pinkie bawling her eyes out. Looking to the rest of the ponies, they realised that even Twilight and the rest of her friends were crying as well.
“I…I never knew you have a daughter, Princess Celestia.” Twilight managed through her tears.
“It was something that my sister failed to inform me of as well, Twilight Sparkle.” Luna shook her head as she walked up to Sunset’s side and place a hoof on her back, shooting her a smile. “Leave it to my sister to be so oblivious to the longing of another, especially those closest to her.” She said with a wink before walking ahead, leaving Sunset with a confused frown on her face as she tilted her head. Why did Luna’s words sound so familiar?
“Oh, hush, Luna. No need to point out the obvious.” Celestia looked away, an embarrassed blush on her face. Luna merely smirked back at her.
“Anyway, sister, I believe we had a reason for calling them here, did we not?”
“Indeed, we did.” Celestia said with a smile as she pulled away.
“Oh, right, I wanted to ask about these too.” Sunset said, gesturing to her wings.
“All in due time, my little Sun.” Celestia replied with a little nod as she stood up, looking to Twilight and her friends. “I called you here to discuss something regarding the Elements of Harmony.”
“Did something happen to the Tree of Harmony again?” Twilight asked worriedly as Celestia shook her head.
“No, Twilight, it is nothing to worry about, but it will be easier to show you.”
“Should I wait here?” Sunset asked uncertainly as Celestia smiled to her.
“No, my little Sun. I want you to come along, for this concerns you as well.” Sunset only felt her confusion grow as she followed Celestia and Luna, with Twilight and her friends following along.