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// Chapter 9: No Longer a Threat to Equestria 
// Story: An Uneasy Reunion 
// by twilightsparkle3562 
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While Sunset Shimmer's parents raced to Canterlot tower after learning the news of their daughter's return, Twilight was meeting with Celestia and Luna in the throne room over the guards' shabby treatment of Starlight Glimmer. It was very apparent among the three of Equestria's four princesses that this kind of behavior was unacceptable, even with the security measures that were enforced.

"We are very sorry for how Starlight was treated, Twilight," said Celestia as she sat on her throne. "I can assure you that the guards who did this to her will be punished."

"Don't forget what happened to Spike as well," added Twilight, her voice filled with annoyance. "He got tossed into the moat for trying to protect Starlight. In fact, he deserves an apology as much as Starlight."

"Calm down, Twilight Sparkle," said Luna, calmly as she walked up to Twilight. "Anger will not solve anything faster. You must let us do what we have to do to maintain order. I apologize for the guards’ behavior, but they were only doing their job. What happened was a series of honest mistakes, and we will make sure this does not happen again."

Knowing that there was nothing that she could do, Twilight did her breathing technique that Cadence had taught her, and let out a heavy sigh. There was no question whatsoever that having Starlight as a student was a much bigger responsibility than being the Princess of Friendship. Sure, Starlight would have to learn from her mistakes, but Twilight was also responsible for Starlight's well-being.

"You're both right," said Twilight, looking down at the ground for a moment before raising her head back up. "It's just that Starlight is a student to me now, and I have a great responsibility to protect her from harm, even if she did take away my cutie mark."

"And tried to change the history of Equestria," remarked Luna. "I am sorry to say this, Twilight Sparkle, but Starlight Glimmer did steal a spell that could have implicated severe consequences. Just like when Sunset Shimmer tried to bring an army to Equestria from the other world."

"Indeed," added Celestia. "Equestria is far more vulnerable than it has been in some time. If Tirek's reign of terror was a sign, then we cannot take any chances. Nevertheless, I can assure you that both of our guards will be trained to determine who is a threat and who isn't."

This type of reassurance was not a complete sigh of relief to Twilight, but it was doable. As a matter of fact, she had far more important matters to attend to, like how Starlight and Sunset were seemingly bonding with each other.

"I greatly appreciate that," remarked Twilight. "But there is something else I need to let you both know about."

"What do you want to tell us, Twilight Sparkle?" asked Luna, trotting over to Twilight.

"Well, I know that they have been together for some time," answered Twilight. "But, I can't help but think that Sunset and Starlight are starting to…bond in a sense. They seem to share a connection with one another and it's something I am starting to take note of."

Hearing this made Celestia breathe easier for once, as she was now beginning to understand that Sunset Shimmer was making a friend in Equestria, something that she had tried to teach Sunset to embrace, to no avail.

Stepping off her throne, Celestia walked over to a window and looked out over the Royal Canterlot Gardens. She could see Sunset and Starlight sitting in the grass, continuing to get to know one another.

"I'm glad that she is making a friend," remarked Celestia, sighing lightly. "Perhaps coming back here to Equestria is a sign that she is finally embracing the magic of friendship at last."

"Something that I helped her understand," added Twlight, joining Celestia at the window. "It took more than just the elements of harmony to make her see sense. I should know, I was the one who saw first hoof how much she had changed. It would seem that the student has in fact surpassed the master."

“And what makes you so sure of that, Twilight?” Princess Celestia asked. “I have not heard from you about Sunset Shimmer since shortly after you obtained your new castle. You told me Sunset Shimmer had changed for the better, but there were still things about friendship she was only beginning to understand.”

“It all started with this event in Sunset’s world called The Friendship Games,” Twilight told Princess Celestia “Surprisingly enough, from what Sunset Shimmer told me, there wasn’t much friendship involved.”





Meanwhile, as the three princesses watched the two unicorns bond (and Twilight spent time explaining to Princess Celestia how far Sunset Shimmer had come), Wild Fire and Solar Eclipse ran towards the gates of Canterlot tower.Upon seeing the two ponies run wildly towards them, two of Luna’s guards crossed their bat wings and stopped the ponies from going any further. They had hastily brought in to replace the guards who had acted rashly and rudely treated both Starlight and Spike, but they still had a job to do. No one was to see the princesses without prior permission.

"Halt!" one of them cried.

"Who goes there?" added the other.

Wild Fire stepped forward and using his magic, showed the guards his firefighter's badge as proof of his identity. This made the guards drop their guard.

"Captain Wild Fire," said one of the guards. "We must apologize for not recognizing you. Canterlot is under high security…"

"Don't lecture me on security!" interjected Solar Eclipse, growing more and more desperate to find Sunset Shimmer. "Let us through so we can find our daughter, Sunset Shimmer!"

"Calm down, Solar," cried Wild Fire, raising a hoof to stop his wife from saying another word. "We must not be hasty. I’m sure these two will be more than happy to guide us to our daughter. It has been years since we’ve seen her, I wonder if she even remembers us."

The two guards could see the pain that was in Solar Eclipse's eyes and both of them couldn't help but feel sorry for her. This was a pony whose daughter had been missing for some time and here they were, preventing her from being able to see her child.

"We were told from one of our captains that you were coming," said one of the guards. "Your daughter was seen returning to Canterlot with Princess Twilight Sparkle this morning."

"Well, then, where is she?" asked Wild Fire. "Tell us!"

Rather than telling them where their daughter was, the two guards motioned for several castle servants to take the two ponies into the castle and towards the Canterlot throne room.

Doing as they were told, Wild Fire and Solar Eclipse followed the servants to the Canterlot throne room while Sunset and Starlight were making their way back to the tower. 

Over the course of an hour, the two unicorns had bonded greatly and now had developed a mutual respect for one another. However, before they could reenter the castle, a royal guardspony came forth and stopped them from going any further.

"Sunset Shimmer?" asked the guard, looking down at her. "I need you to come with me."

"Why?" wondered Sunset Shimmer, looking slightly confused. "Is something wrong?"

"No," replied the guard. "It's your parents. They are here to see you."

Sunset's mouth dropped in shock and surprise upon hearing this, while also letting out a sharp gasp. Her parents had returned and she knew very well that this reunion was going to be downright emotional. She had stopped talking to them after she became convinced Princess Celestia was preventing her from reaching her full potential, and had assumed they’d forgotten all about her. 

Knowing that it was no use in running, Sunset Shimmer said to the guards “Please lead the way,” then she turned to Starlight Glimmer and said kindly “I’m sorry, but something important has come up. I’ll try to meet back up with you when it’s all over.”

“That’s fine,” Starlight reluctantly nodded. “You haven’t seen your parents in years, who am I to tell you not to meet with them?”