//------------------------------//
// A Tearful Reunion in Canterlot Castle 
// Story: Sunset Shimmer's Redemption 
// by 00RaiserGundam 
//------------------------------//

During Sunset Shimmer's stay at the Crystal Empire's castle infirmary, her recovery progress was going very smoothly. The head injury that she received from her tumble did not damage her horn, nor did it affect her ability to use magic, though the doctor strongly advised against using any spells more complex than levitation for the next few days following her discharge from the infirmary, which it just so happened, would be later on that day.

Meanwhile, Cadance had already sent a letter each to Princess Celestia in Canterlot and Twilight Sparkle in Ponyville, informing them both about Sunset's return from the other world. In Celestia's letter, Cadance informed her aunt that she would be sending Sunset to Canterlot by train. And almost immediately after she had sent both letters, Celestia had already sent her a reply requesting that she have Sunset wait for a Canterlot Royal Chariot instead.

Cadance, sensing some eagerness to reconcile with her former student coming straight from Celestia's heart behind the letter, could only agree with a heartfelt smile.

With Sunset's body fully recovered, and her ability to use magic just as healthy as ever, the doctor decided to discharge her from the infirmary.

"You don't have to worry about your body in any way whatsoever." He told Sunset as they both left the infirmary. "And your magic looks good as well, so you are free to use it as you wish, although I advise that you stick to just levitation and telekinesis for now. I would probably wait at least 24 to 48 more hours before trying any spells more complex than that."

"Thank you for the advice, doctor." Sunset politely replied with a smile. "I can definitely wait that long. And thank you for everything these past few days."

"No need to thank me, Miss Shimmer." The doctor replied back with his own smile. "I was simply doing my duties and happy to help." And with that he parted ways with her to resume his castle duties.

"I see that you have made a full recovery." A voice called from across the hall. Sunset turned her head in that direction to see Princess Cadance smiling at her, before walking towards her as she continued speaking. "That's very good to see. And how are you feeling today, Sunset Shimmer?"

"Wonderful, princess." Sunset replied. "Much better than I felt yesterday, or the day before that, or the day before that."

"I am also glad to know that I can still use magic." She continued as she demonstrated by using her telekinesis to catch a piece of crystal that had fallen off the chandelier hanging at the top of the same room they were in. Then with her horn and the piece still wrapped in a teal aura, she lifted the same piece back up to the chandelier, and fixed it back into place before continuing. "Although the doctor did say I should take it easy with my magic and try not to do anything more complex than levitation or telekinesis for the next 24 to 48 hours. Though I can definitely wait that long."

"Now, please don't take this the wrong way, but when is the next train for Canterlot?" She asked. "I really wish to get there and apologize to Princess Celestia before I forget that whole idea."

Cadance only giggled in response. "Well, we certainly don't want that to happen, now do we?" Sunset joined in on her giggle fit.

"Anyway," Cadance continued. "I already wrote Aunt Celestia a letter informing her of your return. I told her I would send you to Canterlot via train, but she insisted on sending a royal chariot to take you there instead, so I obliged. It will be another hour before it arrives here at the castle. Feel free to explore the Crystal Empire until then if you want."

"Thank you, Princess." Sunset responded. "I think I will. I could use the exercise anyway, not to mention I've got to get used to having hooves again." She giggled after that with Cadance following suit.

"I'll see you in an hour, then." Cadance replied and left for the castle throne room.

Sunset then walked down the steps of the foyer to the doors leading out into the city. As soon as she opened those doors, however, her eyes were immediately blinded by all sorts of bright lights coming from many different angles at once.

"Oh! Wow, that is bright!" She exclaimed as she still could barely see anything. "Is it always this bright here during the day?!"

When her eyes finally got use to all the bright light, what she saw baffled her at first but finally amazed and astonished her.

Lying just several yards beyond the steps to the castle doors she just came from, was the Crystal Heart, nestled between a crystal stalactite and stalagmite sprouting out from the outer castle ceiling and floor respectively, as the Heart constantly spun while generating a shield over the Crystal Empire made from the light and love that is housed within all of its Crystal Pony inhabitants.

One of which, was able to draw Sunset Shimmer's attention away from the Crystal Heart just by walking past her while in her field of vision. Snapped out of the Crystal Heart's beauty-induced hypnotic trance, Sunset trotted into the city's main complex and took in every moment of wonder. She stopped by the local park for a rest, where she kindly kicked a ball back to the group of playing foals who had almost lost it. The foals then thanked her for her good deed before she was back on her way.

She even managed to look inside the window of the local spa, where she could see ponies actually getting into a crystal mud bath. 'Strange sort of spa treatment' She thought to herself. 'Maybe I ought to try that for whenever it's the next time I come back here. Wait…Time!?...How long was I exploring?!'

"Excuse me, sir?" She asked a passing Crystal Pony Stallion. "Would you happen to know what time it is right now?"

"Sure" he answered. "It's about quarter to two."

"Thanks!" Sunset exclaimed, and then bolted for the castle after realizing she only had fifteen minutes before her chariot escort to Canterlot arrived.

As fast as her legs could carry her, Sunset ran for the castle, not wanting to miss her chariot, all the while shouting "excuse me", "coming through", and "pardon me" at various Crystal Ponies she did not wish to injure or crash into during her rush, as well as various apologies to anypony she did end up accidentally bumping into.

Finally reaching the main castle doors, Sunset paused for a moment to catch her breath before going inside to meet Princess Cadance. After reaching the throne room doors, Sunset paused, and then gave a polite knock.

"Come in." The unmistakable voice of Princess Cadance called from the other side. Sunset could only gladly oblige with her entrance.

"Ah, Sunset." Cadance greeted with a smile. "So how was your self-tour of the Crystal Empire?"

"It was wonderful" Sunset replied. "I had no idea that this city was so beautiful. I don't know how or why King Sombra even wanted to enslave this entire city, but seeing it free from his control is definitely more than worth it. I will definitely consider coming back here for a visit once I have made all possible amends here in Equestria."

"I am glad to hear that." Cadance replied warmly, until the sounds of flapping wings and hooves and chariot wheels landing caught the attention of both ponies. "I do believe that would be your ride to Canterlot arriving."

"Let's not keep them waiting, then." Sunset responded following Cadance out to the waiting carriage.

"So Princess," Sunset began. "Since Princess Celestia already knows about my return, will the carriage take me to Canterlot Castle or within city boundaries?"

They had just stopped beside the royal carriage, before Cadance responded. "Well, knowing Aunt Celestia, the carriage will probably take you directly to the castle, where another group of guards will then escort you to her themselves."

"Did I get all of that right?" Cadance then asked one of the pegasi guards pulling the carriage, who then nodded yes in response.

"I see." Sunset acknowledged, though one question still burned in her mind. "One last thing. Why do you keep calling her 'Aunt Celestia'? Are you really her niece?"

"Oh that." Cadance answered with a giggle. "Well, technically I'm her adopted niece. But still, being counted among her family is more than enough for me."

"Oh, that makes sense." Sunset replied. "I just hope that she can forgive me as easily as you and Twilight did."

"Well" Cadance began. "To be fully honest with you, at first I was only giving you a chance for Twilight's sake because she was willing to forgive you."

"Somehow, that doesn't really surprise me." Sunset responded before realizing what she just did for a second time. "Oh, sorry Princess. Please, continue."

Cadance could only giggle before responding. "It's ok, Sunset. Anyway, that was the only reason at first. But when you told me in the infirmary why you came back to Equestria, I used my spell to look into your heart and mind. I was looking for any hidden lies and deceits, and do you want to know what I found?" Sunset gulped nervously at this.

"Nothing." Cadance continued with a sincere smile. "Absolutely nothing. No lies, no deception, no hidden ambitions. The only thing I could sense was the full hundred percent honest truth behind your words. And Aunt Celestia was the one who taught me that spell. That's how I knew that you really have changed. So don't worry about Aunt Celestia not forgiving you. I am certain she will. Her answer might even surprise you."

Sunset returned a smile of her own as she bowed one last time. "Thank you for everything Princess Cadance, especially your hospitality. I probably did not deserve it, but you gave it to me anyway. I cannot thank you enough for the newfound hope that you have just given me as well."

"Alright, sirs" she addressed the two pegasi guards pulling the carriage. "I'm sorry to keep you waiting, but now I'm ready when you are. Let's not keep Princess Celestia waiting any longer."

The two guards nodded and broke into full gallop before taking off and heading directly for Canterlot Castle. Seeing as how this was her first time in five years riding a royal carriage, Sunset was a tad uncomfortable at first. But once the carriage had reached peak flight altitude, she began to relax and take in the whole landscape of Equestria in its harmonious beauty.

It was not even a whole half hour before the carriage finally landed in the Canterlot Castle. After disembarking, Sunset then found herself being escorted by a pair of unicorn royal guards. Sunset then remembered why she was here to begin with, and could only gulp nervously. She was expecting to meet her former mentor in the throne room, but when the guards took her past the throne room, not only did her nervousness heighten, she became severely confused. If the guards weren't taking her to the throne room, then where were they taking her? It was then that her nervousness skyrocketed.

'Oh no!' Sunset panicked to herself. 'Maybe Princess Celestia does not forgive me after all and has already sentenced me to banishment, or life in the dungeon, or banishment then life imprisonment in a dungeon in the place that she has sentenced me to be banished me to!'

She then shook her head furiously before resuming her train of thought. 'What the hay are you thinking, Sunset!? This is PRINCESS CELESTIA! She would NEVER be that cruel! And you heard what Princess Cadance said. I was the first thing that she asked Twilight about when Twilight returned after the whole Fall Formal ordeal. You can't back out now. It's already too late, you've come this far, and this is why you returned to Equestria in the first place. It's time to pony up and face the music.'

By the time she finished her train of thought, the guards escorting her had informed her that they arrived at her destination. One stood by her side while the other went to knock on a door, which Sunset immediately recognized as the entrance to Princess Celestia's personal chambers.

The guard then politely knocked three times. After which a powerful yet gentle voice answered "Come in."

The guard entered. "She's here, your highness." He told her. To which Celestia answered, "Thank you. Please send her in and that will be all."

"Yes, your highness." The guard bowed and then left before turning back to Sunset. "The Princess will see you now."

"Thank you, sirs." She acknowledged both of her escorts before stepping inside the Celestia's chambers and using her telekinesis to close the door behind her.

'This is it.' Sunset inwardly told herself. 'The big moment of truth.'

"Princess." She addressed Celestia with a bow, while also bowing her head in shame.

"I know that I am probably one of the last ponies you want to see right now, Princess Celestia," Sunset began with tears forming in her eyes, "but I want you to know, that I truly and deeply regret abusing your trust all those moons ago, and I now understand what you were trying to show me all 60 of those moons ago. I am so sorry, for everything. If you can't find it in your heart to forgive me, I understand. Honestly, I wouldn't really blame you if you didn't; I mean…you have every right not to forgive me. I don't even deserve your for-" And with that Celestia cut her off by placing a hoof on her mouth, confusing Sunset to the point where she thought her brain would short-circuit.

Sunset then looked up, to see her former teacher's face showing various complex emotions, many of which she could not even describe in words. "Princess?" Sunset asked while muffled by the hoof on her mouth, in a severely confused tone.

Princess Celestia's face broke into a sincere smile, and it was only then that Sunset noticed what she suspected might have been tears of joy in the princess's eyes.

"Oh, thank goodness." Celestia almost gasped, crouching down to tug Sunset off the ground with both hooves and both wings. "There you are, Sunset Shimmer. At long last, you have finally returned. I had almost given up hope that I would ever see you like this again. You have no idea just how much I missed you these last sixty moons."

"I…" Sunset sniffled. "I…missed you too…Princess Celestia." And with that, she could no longer take it and started sobbing uncontrollably into Princess Celestia's chest while returning the hug, all the while Celestia shedding tears of her own, but comforting Sunset in any way possible, like a mother would her own daughter.

In fact, that was one of the most perfect ways to describe this very situation and relationship right now. To Princess Celestia, Sunset Shimmer was one of the closest things to a daughter she ever had. That falling out they had those 60 moons ago, had left her brokenhearted practically. In fact, almost as much as it did when Celestia had to banish her own younger sister to the moon for a millennium.

"Princess?" Sunset asked while sounding a little muffled. "I don't understand, after everything I've done since we last saw each other, how can you possibly forgive me this easily? I'm so confused."

"Everypony deserves forgiveness, Sunset," Celestia answered her. "And you were not entirely to blame for those events. I showed you the mirror, knowing full well that you weren't ready, in the hopes that you would see the error of your ways at the time. And even after that, I still was not the mentor I should've been to you. Had I known that showing you that mirror would have sent you down the wrong path, I never would have shown you that mirror, and instead just forced you to make friends myself. I know you came back to Equestria to ask for my forgiveness, but in actuality, I am the one who should be asking you for forgiveness, for how I failed you as a mentor."

"Oh, Princess." Sunset sniffed. "I already have forgiven you, but really there is nothing much to forgive. You may have 'failed me as a mentor' as you put it, but you forget, greed and ambition were already in my heart even before you showed me that mirror. So most of the blame should still be on me."

"Be that as it may," Celestia replied "it does not matter anymore. All that matters now is that you are back home in Equestria, where you belong. And since Twilight Sparkle has already reached the highest point of her friendship studies, I am willing to appoint you as my personal student once again."

Sunset widened her eyes upon hearing this, and she could not believe a single word of it. "Do you really mean that, Princess?" She asked.

"Of course I do, Sunset" Celestia answered before continuing on. "I believe this is the perfect way for the both of us to earn each other's forgiveness. I can already see that you have accepted friendship into your heart, but you still have much to learn. Are you willing to accept this chance?"

"I am, Princess," Sunset replied excitedly and yet still teary-eyed at the same time. "I know I still have much to learn, but I am willing to go all the way. I'll do my best to learn about friendship and study it harder than ever before, and I promise you, I won't let you down this time."

Princess Celestia could only smile warmly at her. "I know, I believe in you."

"But Princess," Sunset replied. "Before I start, there are still some amends I need to make."

"Like what?" Celestia asked in a confused way.

"There are still five former classmates that I need to speak to." Sunset answered. "I need to tell them something, something that I should have told them 60 moons ago. Even if they never forgive me, I just want to tell them, at least to get some closure."

Princess Celestia could only smile. "Say no more, my now faithful student." She answered in the sincerest of tones. "I know just who you are referring to. I shall send each of them a letter asking them to come to the castle. Then you can apologize to all of them at once."

"Thank you, Princess." Sunset responded. "Would you mind if I took a stroll around the gardens until they arrive? I would like to take a while to get in some fresh air, and also get accustomed to my natural form once again."

"Of course, Sunset" Celestia replied warmly. "I shall send one of my guards to fetch you once your former classmates arrive."

"Thank you, Princess." Sunset replied and bowed one last time before heading off to the castle gardens, with a bold newfound sense of joy and hope running through her like never before.