With her decision made, Sunset returned to Twilight's castle to begin her quick return to the other world followed by Twilight, Starlight, Celestia, Spike and her parents. It was a tough one, but it was enough to satisfy everypony and especially allow her parents, Wild Fire and Solar Eclipse. Although Sunset was looking forward to returning to the world she now called home, she made a strong mental note to keep those in Equestria that cared about her, in her heart and in her mind.
"Are you sure that you want to do this, Sunset?" asked Wild Fire. "You can always change your mind, and stay here with us. We could start from scratch, and give you the loving family you needed."
"Dad," sighed Sunset as they walked into the library where the mirror was. "This is the best choice for all of us. The inhabitants of the other world need me in their lives, but I will come back as I said. And I WILL keep my word."
Sunset then turned over to the mirror and for a moment, she wanted to not return and stay in Equestria. But, she couldn't do so. This other world needed her at Canterlot High, especially Sci-Twi, who was still getting used to life as a Canterlot Wondercolt.
"Sunset!" cried Solar Eclipse, running over to Sunset and pulling her into an embrace. "My baby! I wish you could stay with us! We have so much to catch up on and it feels like and I am losing you all over again!"
Tears formed at the corners of both Sunset and Solar's eyes as they hugged, while Starlight looked on, herself getting misty eyed as well. Seeing all of this reminded her of her old life before Sunburst received his cutie mark.
"You're not losing her," remarked Celestia, stepping forward with tears in her own eyes. "Sunset knows what she is doing and you have to trust her. Believe me, it is not easy to know that I will be without Sunset Shimmer a second time, but it is wrong and selfish of us to ask her to stay, for our benefit. She has grown up, and we must trust her to make her own decisions. Besides, we all know this is not the last goodbye. As long as the portal remains active, Sunset Shimmer can return to Equestria whenever she wants."
Hearing what Celestia had said, Solar Eclipse reluctantly backed away from Sunset as Twilight casted a spell to activate the portal.
Knowing that she needed to say something to Sunset, Starlight walked forward.
"Wait, Sunset!" cried Starlight. "Before you go, there’s something that I want to tell you."
"What is it?" asked Sunset. "What do you want to tell me?"
"I want you to know," answered Starlight. "That I can also come to this other world and be with you at anytime. Either with Princess Twilight and Spike, or on my own. We both have a lot in common and I can assure you that any problems that you have, we can work on them together. I am just like you, Sunset, a pony trying to atone for her past actions."
Hearing this made Sunset enter another embrace, this time with Starlight Glimmer. Both ponies had to remember that their next meeting could happen at any time and anywhere, whether it was in Equestria or the human world. After embracing Starlight, Sunset walked over to Celestia and looked at up at her with remorseful eyes.
"Princess Celestia," said Sunset, closing her eyes and lowering her head for a second. "I just wanted to thank you."
"Thank me?" wondered Celestia, trying to maintain her own composure. "For what?"
"For forgiving me for what I had done in the past," answered Sunset. "If it weren't for Twilight, then we could never have reunited after so many years. Can I also count on you to keep in touch with me in my times of need?"
"Of course, Sunset," replied Celestia as she and Sunset embraced each other for the first time in their relationship. "I will be waiting to hear from you and thank you for accepting my apologies. I truly meant it when I said you were like a daughter to me, and like any good mother I must accept that my child has grown up and must leave the nest."
Sunset wanted to say that Celestia had no apologies to make to her, but she couldn't. Her mind was overcome with emotion and the more she stayed in Equestria, the more she would continue to delay her return to Canterlot High. After backing away from Celestia, Sunset took in another deep breath and walked over to the portal. But, before she did, she had one last thing to say to all the ponies that were gathered to see her off. "Before I go," she said. "This is not goodbye in any way. More like, until we meet again." With those words said, Sunset closed her eyes and stepped into the portal as its magic carried her back into the other world.
Soon, as quick as it happened, Sunset could feel herself standing on two legs again and once again possessing hands. It took a moment for Sunset to struggle with her high heeled boots, but she quickly got the hang of it.
"Home," she thought to herself. "I'm home again, but it certainly doesn't feel like it right now."
It was to be a long walk for Sunset from Canterlot High to her house a few blocks down. But, she chose not to leave for her house just yet. Instead, she felt like she needed to clear the air with all that had been bottled up inside of her for some time. Everything that had transpired in her life was replaying again and soon, she walked up to the rooftops of Canterlot High and stared at the setting sun as she began to sing to herself while the winds blew at her back:
Power
Was all I desired
But all that grew inside me
Was the darkness I acquired
When I began to fall
And I lost the path ahead
That's when your friendship found me
And it lifted me instead
Like a phoenix burning bright
In the sky
I'll show there's another side to me
You can't deny
I may not know what the future holds
But hear me when I say
That my past does not define me
'Cause my past is not today
As she sang, Sunset looked into one of the smokestacks and saw her demonic alter-ego wearing Twilight's crown on her head. When she smiled at Sunset, Sunset merely swatted it away as a way of saying that her past was buried.
Ambition
Is what I believed
Would be the only way
To set me free
But when it disappeared
And I found myself alone
That's when you came and got me
And it felt like I was home
Like a phoenix burning bright
In the sky
I'll show there's another side to me
You can't deny
I may not know what the future holds
But hear me when I say
That my past does not define me
'Cause my past is not today
Throwing off her black leather jacket, Sunset ran to the edge of the roof as she felt a surge of magic race through her body that lifted her into the air and produced flaming wings that resembled a phoenix while her long flowing red hair stood up on her head.
Everything in Sunset's past was behind her and she now looked towards the future. Sunset had returned to Equestria and made amends with everypony that she had animosity towards. She can look to the future and once again knew that her past doesn't define her…
…but her past was not and never would be today or any other day!