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// Chapter 11: Starlight Comforts Sunset 
// Story: An Uneasy Reunion 
// by twilightsparkle3562 
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After seeing Sunset run out of the throne room in tears, Starlight Glimmer knew that she needed to step in and help the ex-student of Princess Celestia. Going out to the gardens once more, Starlight came across Sunset on the ground, sobbing her heart out. Starlight came up to Sunset and placed her hoof on Sunset's shoulder. "What happened in there?" she asked gently, but Sunset didn't respond. "I know something happened in there, Sunset. Can you tell me what it is?"

It took a few minutes for Sunset to calm down and answer Starlight's question. Once she did, Sunset looked up to Starlight with sympathetic eyes and sighed heavily, her voice ragged by her cries. 

"My folks don't understand me," she confessed, looking up at Starlight. "They don't care about what I’ve done, they never did. They were blinded to how I really feel because all they did was focus on my brother, and how he was going to excel in the family! And now, after years of not speaking to them, I come back to find them begging for me to come back into their life!"

As Sunset spoke, Starlight couldn't help but sympathize with her even more. This was starting to bring back memories of her relationship with Sunburst, who's Cutie Mark had torn their friendship apart to the point where she became the leader of the Cutie Mark-less town that she had become known for. On the other hoof, however, Starlight knew that Sunset was a pony that deserved a second chance as much as she did herself.

"Sunset," sighed Starlight, helping Sunset to her feet. "I can understand the stress that you are going through and sometimes we do things to ourselves that we come to regret. I don't know what you went through, but I do know that you can't hide your feelings forever. Tell them how you really feel, tell them what you’re really feeling. Let them see you for who you are here, not for who you were."

Still, Sunset refused to believe it. 

"Why should they know the truth?" grunted Sunset, stamping her hoof on the grass. "They didn't care if I ever became a princess, but I was going to show them one way or another! Even if my brother got all the attention, they seem to think they’re to blame for how I ended up! But why should they, they didn’t do anything wrong! I was the daughter who squandered her talents because she was too impatient to get what she deserved!"

As Starlight listened, she couldn't help think that Sunset was dealing with the same type of feeling that she had, rejection. She went through it with Sunburst and she was now seeing Sunset with her own family. Still, there was a way for Sunset to come clean about how she felt.

"Sunset," remarked Starlight. "I know that you can't change the past and correct everything that happened to you. There are times when I wanted to change the past and keep Sunburst from receiving his Cutie Mark. I made the same mistake you made by running from my problems and hiding under a false way of life. But, Princess Twilight helped me see the light and made me realize that I had to face my fears. Facing your family is your fear, Sunset, and you have to face it no matter what."

Sunset could only begin to process what Starlight was trying to tell her. She had to tell her family the entire truth of what she had been doing for such a long time in the human world. Yes, she first came to her new home as a troubled and determined young mare bent on becoming a Princess.

She had felt power and magic, but it was not what she was destined to have. She was destined to have friendship in her life and thanks to Twilight, Sunset was now a role model for her Canterlot friends. 

But, her family never knew about it and they needed to know the truth. "I think I know what you are saying I should do, Starlight," sighed Sunset, admitting defeat. "I need to tell my family what I have been doing in the world that I now call home, what I have learned, what I have experienced."

"They will understand, Sunset," replied Starlight. "You have to be open with them, just like I was with Twilight. If you like, I can go in with you for support."

This, to Sunset ,was a surprise, for she could well remember what had happened to Starlight upon her initial arrival into Canterlot.

"But, the guards will…" she began to say, but Starlight silenced Sunset.

"It doesn't matter," interrupted Starlight, accepting whatever fate was going to befall her. "You are what is more important right now, Sunset. Now, come with me."





So, Sunset took an enormous gulp and followed Starlight into the castle while under the watchful eyes of the Royal Canterlot guards, who now understood that Starlight was no threat to Equestria, despite what she had done with the time travel spell. 

Soon, the two high level unicorns approached the doors to the throne room, and Sunset nervously knocked on the door, loud enough for everyone else inside to hear her voice. "Open the door!" she said, nervously. "It's me, Sunset Shimmer."

Carefully opening the newly repaired doors, the guards allowed the two unicorns into the throne room, and Sunset nervously looked up at her parents, still reeling from her emotional outburst of earlier.

"Young filly," began Solar Eclipse, her voice still filled with shock and anger. "You better have a good reason to…." But, she was interrupted by Wild Fire, who used his magic to close his wife's mouth. There had been enough shouting to last them all a life time.

"Sunset," Twilight remarked as Sunset walked up to her parents. "These ponies have been waiting a long time to see you again. I think it would be best if you told them about what you have learned in the other world. What you’ve been through, what you’ve experienced. I know you think that your actions in that other world have not redeemed your actions in Equestria, and perhaps they haven’t. But your parents have not seen you for years, they’ve been worried sick about you. If the roles were reversed, and they were visiting you in the other world, wouldn’t you want to know if they were still alright? Wouldn’t you like to know of any life changing events, or major experiences?"

Sunset looked over to Twilight and Spike who returned their looks back at Sunset as a way of telling her that there was no turning back. Knowing that the time was now, Sunset closed her eyes, took in a deep breath and began to tell her parents the whole truth and nothing but the truth about her life in the place she now called home. But would they believe her?