Chapter 1: The First Letter
Sunset Shimmer hesitated for close to a minute, staring at the seal holding the flap of the folded paper envelope closed. Finally, timidly, she slid her finger under the outer edge of the loose flap, bringing it across to break the melted wax.
As her finger touched the seal there was a small snap and a pulse of what most in the school would describe as static jolting her finger, but the former unicorn recognized the feeling for what it was; magic, and instead of the a sting or tingle, a gentle warmth flowed up her finger as the seal parted. She may not have magic, she may have only the senses of a normal human now, but she knew she’d broken a ward, designed for only her to break, made by Princess Celestia herself. She unfolded the letter contained within, and began to read the immaculate, stylized penmareship that could only be Celestia’s.
To my former student, Sunset Shimmer,
This is a difficult letter for me to write. There have been arguments over some of the things I want to say. I have to listen to the others now, for as I’m sure you are aware Equestria has changed in your absence. Princess Cadence has been given a proper fiefdom of her own and now stands as my equal, ruler of the Crystal Empire. My sister has returned from her exile and been purged of the Nightmare by the Elements of Harmony, and rules from Canterlot at my side. Finally, Twilight Sparkle has proven herself in ways I could never have hoped for and now, though she still wishes to remain in Ponyville for the time being, is consulted by Luna and I on most important matters.
That said, the following comes truly from the depths of my heart. I hope that one day, in the fullness of time, you can find it within yourself to forgive me. When I found you I thought I had found the one who would bring my sister back to me, to cleanse her as I was unable to do. I pushed you in ways you were not ready for only to hold you back in other ways without truly explaining why it was necessary. Once again I failed someone close to me because I let myself be blinded by things which which I selfishly thought I understood better, and failed to take those other’s hearts and minds into any consideration.I will not lie and say I would rather have you by my side than Twilight Sparkle. She is a wonderful mare and in many ways will, in I believe a short amount of time, make a better leader, teacher, mentor, and guide to my little ponies than I ever have. But, princess or not, I wish I could have you here by my side as well. That I could call the both of you my faithful friends.
Even if you are unwilling to forgive my ineptitude and arrogance, but wish to return to Equestria you have my support. There are difficulties involved beyond just in the timing of the gate openings. We can address those things as needed however.
Finally, and this may surprise you the most, I have to thank you. Because even one as old as I can still learn from my mistakes. Had I not lost you to my failures as a teacher and friend, I would have most certainly not been able to correct those mistakes with Twilight. Also, her trip through the mirror to the world you now inhabit was almost as transformative as her time in Ponyville and her ascendance to the status she now maintains. In a few short days she became much more sure of her new place in our society, both her new abilities and responsibilities. This is something that would have taken much longer, perhaps even years, had you not done what you did.
Your former teacher and hopefully future friend,
CelestiaP.S. I wanted to let you know that I have kept an eye on your family since even before you were exiled to that world. While they miss you, I have avoided them learning your true fate. I am led to understand they simply believe you to have struck out on your own, as you were strong willed, determined, and fiercely independent even as a younger filly, and that one day you will return a strong and independent mare, having proven to yourself and the world that you need no-pony to help you.
As she finished her first read-through Sunset’s eyes unfocused and the words on the page blurred together. Squeezing her eyes shut for a moment she reskimmed the letter, simply not believing what she had just read.
Princess Celestia was asking her for forgiveness? The betrayer, criminal, the one who just tried to usurp the power of the Elements and had she succeeded could have inadvertently destroyed not one but two worlds. She was even thanking her for what she’d done as horrible as it was.
It was far too much for her to process. Of course she knew that Twilight Sparkle had ‘forgiven’ her for her actions but she had done far less to the young Princess than the deep betrayals she had laid on Princess Celestia. Also while forgiven she was still exiled here, in a world she was not always comfortable with even after the years she had been here.
She would have to think things over later, she glanced across the desk towards Vice Principal Luna whose face was entirely unreadable, then after folding the letter back into it’s envelope, picked up the second from the pile of four.
Addressed like the first one, the top corner contained her cutie mark and a slashing, bold script covered the front with the words, “For Sunset Shimmer, please read last.”
A quick glance at the other two envelopes confirmed their fronts were identical except for the pensmareship; One an elegant, flowing and stylized cursive, almost artistic, the other a clear, practical and clean writing, the letters blocky yet well formed and clean. Both bore the same, simple legend “For Sunset Shimmer,” with no indication of which order to read them in.
She flipped over the letter labeled with the stylized cursive and her finger paused less than an inch from breaking the seal as she saw the emblem stamped into the dark indigo wax. It was a symbol everyone in Equestria knew, but she had only seen in abstract form. The crescent moon embossed on an irregular blotch the symbol which adorned one side of every other bit coin stamped in Equestria, alternating with Princess Celestia’s solar blaze with the alternate face reserved for the denomination of the various coins.
Now of course she knew this was Princess Luna’s cutie mark. The long lost sister which had rebelled and fought Celestia, which Twilight Sparkle and her friends had redeemed, and which now ruled as Celestia’s equal once again.