//------------------------------//
// Confrontation 
// Story: Just a Sunset Away 
// by Cameron Nightshade 
//------------------------------//

	“Princess Celestia,” Sunset gulped. “How nice to see you again.”

Princess Celestia looked at Sunset. “Come over here, Sunset Shimmer,” the Princess spoke. 

As Sunset Shimmer walked over to her former teacher, thoughts swirled into her head as to what the Sun Goddess would do to her. 

Princess Celestia opened a wing, and moved Sunset Shimmer to walk with her. Sunset began to worry. What if she throws me in the dungeon and she is walking me there herself so she knows I don’t sneak away or something? What if she is going to find a guard to bring me somewhere where no one will ever be able to find me again?

Sunset’s thoughts soon stopped as she felt herself step on cold tile. She was inside the Princess’s Throne Room. Sunset looked around and noticed the stain glass windows. Many of them depicted Twilight and her friends defeating foes. The one that stood out to her the most was the one of Twilight and her friends attacking Nightmare Moon with the Elements of Harmony. 

That didn’t make any sense to Sunset. Nightmare Moon was imprisoned on the moon for her crimes against Princess Celestia and Equestria. How could she even be back? Most ponies didn’t even believe in that tale because there was no evidence to support it besides a face on the moon and Nightmare Night. 

However, Sunset Shimmer never really believed in that tale. She had tried asking Princess Celestia if it was true or not, but she would always duck around the question, or never fully answered it. When she would somewhat answer, her most common answer was,  “Someday I will tell you about the Mare in the Moon. But now is not the time. That is something you will learn later on in your studies with me.” 

Sunset Shimmer looked back to her former teacher who was now sitting upon a throne. Next to her was another throne, slightly smaller and clad in blacks, blues and silvers. It was decorated with a crescent moon and starts around it. Sunset wondered who would sit there. She hadn’t heard of another Princess in this world besides Princess Twilight, but she had her own castle and her own throne. 

Then it hit her. The other part of the tale of the Mare on the Moon. That she would be back on the longest day in a thousand years. That would have only been a few years ago. Could Nightmare Moon be the one who assumed the throne?

An alicorn stepped out of the shadows behind the throne and sat down in the empty seat, almost like the world was answering the unicorn’s question. It wasn't Nightmare Moon, though. Sunset Shimmer had seen depictions of Nightmare Moon and knew that wasn't her. 

“Sunset Shimmer. Welcome back to Equestria. You may not recognise the mare sitting next to me. This is Princess Luna. She returned to us a few years prior. You were gone during that time so you may not know of the return, however that is not why I have brought you here today,” Princess Celestia commented, gesturing to her sister before turning back to Sunset. 

Sunset sat down on the floor, wondering where she should place herself. She hadn’t been told to move, so she decided to sit there. Sunset gulped, worried of why she was brought into the Throne room. This room was rarely used, and Sunset never really came in here, even when she was still a student who lived in the castle. 

The Throne Room always seemed like a private place, where Princess Celestia would come to do business with the ponies of the country. Sunset never liked to interrupt her teacher while she was working, so she tried to stay out as best as she could. The only times she would come in here was when she was invited to come inside. 

Sunset looked up at the two Princesses. “Then why have you brought me here?” Sunset began to worry once more. The thoughts returned to her head as to why she was here. Even though she was terrified of what the Princesses would do to her, she tried her best not to show her fears. 

Sunset had become quite adept at hiding her emotions. That was a skill that she had to learn somewhat quickly so the students at the high school wouldn’t be able to find a weak spot in her. She knew that once they found a weak spot and was able to target it multiple times, she would have probably cracked under the pressure. 

Princess Luna looked at the elder alicorn sitting next to her. Luna knew what was going to happen next, however she didn’t know what the outcome would be. 

“Sunset Shimmer. You have been brought here today by the High Princess of Equestria, Princess Celestia of the Sun to speak for your crimes against Equestria and Princess Twilight Sparkle of Friendship. These crimes include attempted war against Equestria, attempted usurpation of Equestria, grand robbery of the Element of Magic from Princess Twilight Sparkle, and attempted murder of Princess Twilight Sparkle and the bearers of the Elements of Harmony in the other world," the guard pony proclaimed.