We couldn't set up an appointment
Sunset pounded on her pillow as she tried to find comfort and sleep.
With the Battle of the Bands over and the Dazzlings nowhere to be found, Sunset thought she could find peace in her life for the first time in a long time. She had it all now: friends who cared for her, an amazing teacher in the Art of Friendship, a spot on the Rainbooms, and the forgiveness of probably 80% of the school. While some still hated her, she felt her allies were more stronger than her enemies, and that was enough.
But with order comes chaos. Her grades appeared to slip from her fingers, Flash now talks to her about Twilight, and now talks are going around that she and Twilight were working more together than they cared to admit. Sunset didn't swing that way, at least she thinks so.
Sunset opened her eyes and growled at the darkness that was her room. She couldn't get to sleep. Her mind was just racing, and she knew why. She always knew: the anniversary was coming up.
3 years ago tomorrow, Sunset Shimmer abandoned Princess Celestia's teachings and plotted on the downfall of the Solar Goddess. While she didn't like the idea of overthrowing her, the idea was there. Of course, that was until after her defeat at the Fall Formal and the idea was turned to dust. The anniversary date was always remembered in silence as she continued to hear herself yelling at Princess Celestia.
Anger expressed towards others will harm yourself, not the intended target. Withholding anger toward another will destroy your soul. Disharmony will become your grave, she read from one of Princess Celestia's old journals.
Sunset cursed at herself for being so stupid all those years ago. She spun around on her bed, now facing outside her window. Beyond her grasp was the Full Moon, shining bright for those who feared the dark.
Immediately, all of Sunset's self-hatred melted away as the light from the Moon caressed her face. She remembered walking into Princess Celestia's study on some nights to see her only staring at the Moon. On some nights, she was seen having a full conversation with the celestial body hovering above them. At first, she thought she was insane, but that was before she learned why she did what she did. She was talking to her sister.
Maybe Princess Luna can hear me, she thought to herself.
Seeing no other way to get rid of these nagging memories, Sunset stood up and approached her window sill. She leaned against it and sighed.
"Um, hello? Princess Luna?"
The Moon didn't say anything. Sunset sighed and questioned whatever she was doing. "I don't know what to really say to you right now. I know you've only heard wicked things about me from your sister and I know the last thing you want to do is listen to a coward's prayer, but I ask that you do."
Sunset shifted her weight to comfort herself. "I regret it all. I regret turning away from Princess Celestia all those years ago. I know that she was trying to mean well, but I just didn't see it. For so long, I thought she was only testing me just to see how long I would stay faithful to her. I only wanted what I thought I needed: power. I didn't see that my goals were what was driving a wedge between us until it was too late. I don't know why I did all the things I did, but I know whatever I did to hurt Celestia was too far. I can't ask you to forgive me, but maybe you can know that I don't forgive myself," she said.
The Full Moon only stayed in place. There was no indication that anypony was listening. She gave up on asking for forgiveness and jumped into her bed. Before she could say anything, her eyes felt heavy and she fell sleep.
Sunset was at Canterlot High. To be exact, she was in one of her classes getting bored to death by a pointless math lecture. She wanted to know how to calculate taxes and how to make a payment on a car, not how to find the circumference of a circle or know why Jimmy bought all those watermelons and his friends bought apples and oranges.
She looked around, hoping to find her friends in her class. Rainbow was the only one in the room and she had the math textbook covering her face like she was hiding the breakfast she would normally sneak in every morning. As she continued to look around, she felt the stares of her colleagues on her. She felt embarrassed and self-conscious. She didn't know why she felt this way. She felt so cold.
"Miss Shimmer!" came the voice of the teacher.
Sunset looked up. "Yes?"
"It is against school policy to come to class wearing only your undergarmets!" he said.
Sunset felt perplexed, but then she looked down. She was indeed in only her bra and panties and she was surrounded by teenage boys and girls. She knew some of the girls swung that way and she didn't mind knowing when they came out, but the last thing she wanted was a girl licking her lips while staring at her assets.
Sunset tried covering herself up with her hands, but they wouldn't move. They were glued to the desk in front of her. All the students in the room began laughing at her. Heat rose to her face as nobody came to her rescue. Rainbow was still hidden in her book.
One of the students, a boy, rose from his desk and approached the ruby-haired girl. She tried to run from the classroom, but now her feet were welded to the ground. She was now paralyzed in fear.
Before he got close enough to the former Equestrian, a rather long blade appeared at his neck. It was the blade of a rapier sword.
"Do not dare to advance any more," a voice said.
Sunset turned around. There was a woman holding the rapier at the boy's neck. She wore a flowing dark blue robe a cloak draped onto her back. She wore the greatest jewelry she had ever seen. Her hair was as dark as the night, yet the stars that were woven into it gave Sunset hope. Upon her head was a black crown.
Before she could do anything, the woman moved the blade, decapitating the teenage boy. Once the blade touched his neck, he evaporated in a cloud of smoke. The students in the room wailed in agony as they disappeared in smoke as well. Sunset looked over and Rainbow was on the floor. Her eyes were as black as midnight and she was as stiff as a wooden board.
The woman sheathed her blade and approached Sunset. She unstrapped her cloak and covered the former Equestrian in it. It felt really warm and furry. Sunset looked over at the body of Rainbow Dash, still frozen in what appeared to be fear. Her mouth frozen in a scream, probably a blood curdling scream that never passed her lips.
The woman knelled next to Sunset. "Time to wake up Sunset," she said.
Sunset's eyes flew open. She was back in her room. Her breathing was labored and she was covered in sweat. She moved the blanket. She was still clothed.
Sunset sighed as she fell back onto the bed. She shut her eyes, but only peace of mind occupied her. "Thank you Princess Luna," she whispered.
"You're very welcome," came a voice.
Sunset' eyes shot open as she fell off the bed. She picked herself up and searched for the origin of the voice. Her attention turned to the doorway, and leaning against it always the guardian herself: Princess Luna. She was still wearing her royal robes and jewels. Strapped to her waist was her rapier sword.
The princess approached Sunset's bed. Her fingers dragged against the soft comforters that were on her bed. As she did, a simple thought raced through Sunset's mind. She's testing her fingers.
Princess Luna approached the edge of the bed and reached out for Sunset Shimmer. She cautiously took the princess's hand and she was hoisted up. Sunset cleared a strand of hair from her face. "Um, Princess Luna? I didn't expect to, uh--"
Luna raised her hand. "I should apologize for the sudden intrusion into your dream, but you seemed to be needing my help in the matter." She clenched her fists. "That male was getting awfully close to you."
Sunset held herself for protection. "Just another one of those 'Wake up at school wearing nothing but your underwear' nightmares I suppose," she said.
Luna turned her head. "And appearing in undergarments is considered a nightmare? Very peculiar," she said.
Sunset smiled. She forgot that ponies don't wear clothes that often like humans. "Imagine going around in public completely shaven of any fur."
Realization dawned on the Princess of the Night. "What a horrifying nightmare," she muttered. She smiled at Sunset. "Lucky me that I heard your prayer tonight."
Sunset's eyes widened. "You-you heard me?"
Luna nodded. "While I cannot see past that you tried to take my sister's throne by escaping to this universe and corrupting the inhabitants with dark magic to create your personal army, I am proud of you Sunset Shimmer."
Sunset tightened her grip on herself. "Proud?"
Luna sighed and rose up. She approached the window where the Moon she controlled shone bright. "You know my story, yes?"
Sunset nodded. "You tried taking the throne yourself a thousand years ago by using dark magic, right?"
"Yes, and like you, I realized how powerful dark magic was too late. We both found the flaw in our plan at the last second, and we paid the price. I became the queen of darkness and you rose to a power beyond a normal alicorn."
Sunset's mind flew back to the moment before the Element of Harmony's power surged through her body. She felt a fear greater than anything. "I didn't know what would happen. I thought that-"
"The Elements of Harmony are very strong, Sunset Shimmer. They can bestow great power and knowledge to the one who possesses the purest heart, and they can bestow great powers of darkness and destruction if taken by the impure," Luna recited.
Great, I was impure, Sunset thought.
"But what is interesting about the Elements is that they have the power to make change. Thanks to the Elements taking over your soul and exposing what it was that turned you into who you were, your friends were able to correct the problem in your heart and have since given you a new life. The power you possess is what I find interesting about you."
Sunset looked up. "So, you're not disappointed in me?"
Luna looked back at the ruby-haired girl. "When I first heard about you, I wanted to seek justice personally. I will admit that I had mixed feelings when Twilight had her faith bestowed on you. After hearing how you rose up to help defend your school and saved your friends during the Battle of the Bands, I knew that you had changed for the better. So no, I am not disappointed in you."
Sunset smiled. One of the royal sisters was proud of her. "But, that is not why i am here."
"What do you mean?"
Luna took a deep breath. "I wasn't the only one who heard of your heroics during the Battle of the Bands the past week."
Sunset's heard began to beat at an alarming rate. Her eyes turned to the doorway and standing there was probably the last pony she ever expected to see again: Princess Celestia.
Wearing a sleeveless white gown and gold on the collar, Princess Celestia walked over to the bed where her sister was. Sunset had to stand up now. In the back of her mind, Sunset's mind and heart were about ready to explode, and she didn't know which will first.
Celestia met her sister at the edge of the bed. "Sister, do you mind if we talk for a moment?" she asked.
Luna shook her head. "Besides, I am eager to see what kinds of dreams these humans dream. Who knows, maybe this world needs a guardian as well."
Sunset shook her head. The humans dream some pretty nasty stuff, and she was one of them. Luna's body started to evaporate as she moved to the door. Once she met the doorway, she disappeared completely, leaving nothing behind.
Once she was gone, Celestia turned to meet Sunset's eyes. Her eyes were filled with fear. "P-Princess C-Celestia, um, I uh didn't expect to, uh-"
Celestia raised an eyebrow. She didn't expect her to be so nervous around her. "I just want to, uh, I want to. Err, I kinda want to-"
The Solar Goddess said nothing. She rushed to Sunset and pulled her into a big hug. Probably the warmest hug Sunset had ever received, well maybe Twilight's last hug goodbye was a bit warm but still, Celestia's filled her body with fire.
At first, Sunset froze. She didn't know what to do, or what to think. Hell, it could've been a trap to the ruby-haired girl. Finally, all fears keeping her from hugging her old mentor melted away as she threw her arms around her, sobbing into her shoulder.
"I'M SORRY PRINCESS CELESTIA! I'M SO, SO SORRY! I'M SORRY FOR TURNING MY BACK ON YOU! I'M SORRY FOR TRYING TO DETHRONE YOU! I'M SORRY FOR FEELING SO MUCH HATE TOWARD YOU! I'M SORRY!" she bawled out. Tears flowing like the waterfalls in the Unicorn Range.
As Sunset continuously apologized, Princess Celestia only hugged her tighter. Tears were forming in her eyes too, but since this world had to give her a ton of makeup, she felt it would be a bad idea to let the ink around her eyes get wet. But the tears were still there, waiting to fall.
Sunset began to settle down, but tears were still rolling out of her eyes. Her bawling was reduced to whispers of apologies and begs for forgiveness. Celestia eased her way to Sunset's bed and placed her head onto the pillows. She hummed a tune that Sunset knew all well as the song she used to sing when she was a filly. In this world, it was close to the tune of 'Rock a bye Baby'.
Celestia began to pet Sunset's hair. "You don't need to feel sorry Sunset. It wasn't your fault."
"Yes it was! All of it was my fault! I rebelled, I disgraced, I lied, I cheated, I did everything you warned me not to do and I made a mess of things! I am the one who ran away! I am the one who stole Twilight's crown! I am the one who nearly destroyed her! I am the one who almost invaded Equestria with an army at my command! It was all me! ALL OF IT! Why isn't it my fault?!"
Celestia held back tears. "Sunset, just try to relax. Everything is just--"
"NO! Everything is NOT OK! I let you down, Princess Celestia! I pushed you away when you tried to help me be a better mare than I was. I shouldn't be allowed to be at your mercy!"
"Hush now, just-"
"I tried to do it!"
Celestia stopped stroking her head. "Tried what?"
"I tried to stop the pain! I wanted to, I really wanted to! I wanted to end the pain the only way I could, and I couldn't!"
Silence. "The week after the Fall Formal, I came home completely destroyed. I had nothing left, not even those who Twilight said would help me. I was alone! I couldn't take it anymore! So I went to my living room window and opened it up all the way. I jumped onto the ledge and I looked down. We're three stories from the ground, Princess, and I wanted to jump. I wanted to jump and end it all, but I couldn't!"
Celestia's heart broke in half. "I don't deserve to have friends, Princess. I got lucky when Twilight came back. I mean, I have friends now and everything, but I didn't at the time. I was about to jump, leaving nobody behind, but before I could jump, Twilight's friend stopped me! Rainbow Dash robbed me of peace!"
"Sunset Shimmer, you will stop right now!"
Sunset looked up. "You cannot blame yourself for everything that had happened back in Equestria. If anything, I failed you."
Tears stopped flowing. "The night after you left me behind, I began to rethink about everything that had happened. I saw the look in your eyes in all the times you refused my help. You wanted me to insist and always be there, but I couldn't. You were my student, and I was your teacher. I should've been there for you from start to finish, but I wasn't there to even help you out of the gate. I gave up and allowed you to venture off without me when I should've stayed by you."
Celestia hugged Sunset tighter. "I locked myself in my chambers for a whole week, only coming out to raise and lower the Sun and Moon. I couldn't eat, I couldn't sleep, I couldn't find peace because what I did to you is exactly what I did to Luna a thousand years ago. I abandoned you when you needed me the most."
Sunset looked up, seeing tears welling up in Celestia's eyes. "I wanted to reach out to you, wherever you were, but I thought that if I did, you would hate me even more. You would continue into danger without any help."
Finally, tears began to fall. "I thought I lost you, Sunset. I thought you were gone like my sister. I thought to myself that I don't deserve to have friends like many of my ponies had. I thought that I would rule alone until my time was up, but to hear that you managed to survive out here without magic is great news to me," Celestia said with a crack in her voice.
Sunset's tears had finally dried up. "You shouldn't blame yourself for anything. I am grateful that you were given a new chance in life, I'm grateful that Twilight decided to give you a second chance, and I'm grateful that Rainbow was there to stop you. I don't know what would've happened if I had found out that you succeeded."
Now, it was Sunset's turn to comfort the Solar Goddess. She smiled as she grazed Celestia's head. "I'm here now, and it's all thanks to Twilight and her friends. There is no more need to worry anymore," Sunset said.
It took a few minutes, but now Celestia was calm enough to face her former student once again. Sunset then began talking about everything that had happened ever since she was cleansed by the Elements. She told her about Pinkie's various parties that she had to attend just to spread the word of her rebirth. While some of them worked, others only fueled more rumors of the ruby-haired girl, especially the rumor where she was only doing damage control just to appear to be reformed.
Sunset also told her of Rarity's many Girl's Trips which were usually held somewhere in Manehattan. She said it would usually just be her and Rarity and that they would normally leave after school on Fridays, arrive that evening and spend the whole Saturday just running around having fun and gossiping. Sunset even mentioned that Rarity's car broke down one night and Rarity almost walked away with a new car and a boyfriend/mechanic. The only problem was...
"Gay?"
Sunset laughed. "Yup, and he even got a call from his boyfriend before Rarity could do anything. She was completely embarrassed after that little fiasco," she said.
They both laughed and shared more stories of their lives. Eventually, Princess Luna returned with her eyes bloodshot and her body visibly shaking. Her robe was slashed into pieces and her crown was missing from her head.
Celestia looked over. "Oh dear, what happened to you?"
Luna raised her hand at her sister. "Don't. Ever. Ask. Again. Humans dream of the worst things in existence! This race is filled with nasty, chaotic, close-minded individuals who do not care about the well-beings of their fellow brothers and sisters. It was like walking in Pinkie Pie's dreams after she downs an entire bowl of cake frosting and lemonade."
Celestia flinched at that thought. "I swear to never say your job is easy again," she simply said.
Luna nodded. "Remember that." She sat down on the bed.
Celestia smiled. "Well, I don't want to keep Luna in her own personal Hell, and since she is my ride back, I feel it is time for us to leave," she said.
"Oh no, let's stay and watch more dreams of humans doing the sickest, most gruesome things in their dreams and watch as I tear my eyeballs out, put them in a blender and hit 'puree'," Luna said with in creased sarcasm.
Sunset began to laugh. She knew the dreams her friends would have sometimes. She even almost became victim to some of them becoming reality. Pinkie needs to work on her issues. Celestia rose up and helped Luna to her feet.
Luna rubbed her hands together, casting a blue light into the room. Before she could do anything Celestia grabbed Luna by the shoulders. "Wait!"
The light died down. Celestia turned around and pulled an envelope from the inside of a drawer. She gave it to Sunset, who looked at it with curiosity. "Umm, Princess? What is this?"
Celestia smiled. "That is my gift to you. Since you are not at fault for your actions in Equestria, and since you have cleared your status here in the human world, I feel it is best for you to have this."
Sunset looked at the envelope. "Inside are two things: a letter from Twilight and a spell. This spell, when used correctly, will open a separate portal in this world and you will be able to return to Equestria."
Sunset's eyes widened. "Wai-what?!"
"You heard me. Activate the spell in the envelope, and you will return to Canterlot Castle with all charges placed against you by my Guard Captain, who at the time saw it fit to charge what he considered a criminal with 10 counts of burglary, treason, theft, and overall disregard of royal law, lifted. Your name will be cleared and you will be free to roam Equestria as you see fit," she said.
Sunset looked up. "This spell will also bring back all those who have either been banished here or escaped through the portal as well. They will be sent to Tartarus for their crimes in the past, leaving this world with no dark magic. It will be as it was before everything went to Hell."
"And that was a long time before Starswirl," Luna said.
The ruby-haired girl smiled. "I don't know what to say. Thank you."
Celestia smiled. "Whenever you are ready, just activate the spell." She gave Sunset a hug and a kiss on the forehead. "I love you Sunset, and I want you to remember that. No matter what, I love you."
Luna smiled. Celestia returned to her sister's side as she charged her magic once again. The room was bathed in the blue light, and blinded Sunset Shimmer. The sleep that she planned on getting flew right out the window.
Bad time?
Once the light died down, Sunset looked up. The Princesses were gone, leaving nothing behind but the envelope in her hand. Without a second to waste, she ripped open the envelope and pulled out two pieces of paper. One obviously had the spell, which Sunset recognized as a Fail-safe Spell from the Canterlot Archive. It was designed as an emergency escape in case something happened.
The other was the letter written by Twilight. Sunset was confused as to why she wrote a letter instead of writing a message through the book. She opened the letter, and using the Moonlight behind her, she began to read:
Dear Sunset Shimmer,
I know the last few months have been impossible considering all of Canterlot High was against you, but to hear that you have picked yourself up and grown into a strong young lady made me very proud of you. I should've said it before I left, but you know me. I'm not good when it comes to expressing emotions in person. So, you can imagine what I had to say when Princess Celestia knocked on my door last week. She had the spell and told me that you would be given the chance to return.
I know you are attached to the human world, and I bet coming back would also be good for you, but I cannot tell you what to do or how to do it. Whether you choose to stay or come home is entirely up to you. What I can offer you is wisdom. Well, that and a chance. See, I had to take a chance after Nightmare Moon was defeated. Either I allow myself to return to Canterlot and continue on with my life, or stay in Ponyville and take a chance with new magic. Of course, you know what I chose.
I'm saying this because whatever choice you choose is the beginning of a new adventure. You can stay there and grow up as a human. Finish high school, get an education, find a career, find somepon-er someone special and have a family, and grow old with this special someone. In Equestria, you can do all of that too, but every accomplishment will be celebrated by us. The gang over there is the same over here, except they want to know the new Sunset Shimmer too.
I talked to Princess Celestia. Since you and her had stopped the education altogether, and since you will be writing to me, asking for advice, how about I offer this: let me be your mentor in the magic of friendship. What I mean is: you can be my student and I will teach you everything I know. I can have you learn magic over there or here. Let me be there for you from start to finish.
Well, hopefully you will make a decision soon. No pressure. Just write to me with the book your answers and I will do my very best in ensuring that everything works out for you. I hope to hear from you soon.
Yours in friendship,
-Princess Twilight Sparkle
Sunset dropped the letter. "Twilight? My new teacher?"
Her mind and heart exploded, but in a good way. She cheered as the words kept coming to her. Twilight, my new teacher! She was excited. She jumped up and down, probably annoying her neighbors downstairs, but she didn't care. She could go home.
Her excitement stopped. She had a chance to return to Equestria and grow up with her mentor, her friends, and at the same time, build a new life. She could go home again.
"But this place is my home too. I can't just disappear and never return," she told herself.
"But this is what I've been dreaming about: the chance to return home and live life the way I was about to. I can start over!"
"And flunk out of Canterlot High. I don't want to start my new life by quitting my old one."
"But Twilight will be my teacher. Ascending with her help will surely be a great way to begin anew."
"But it might take a while. What can I do?"
Sunset's mind was split in half. She fell back onto her bed with the letter and the spell close to each other. She didn't know that the spell would be permanent. She could either make the biggest mistake of her life either accepting or denying.
Whether you choose to stay or come home is entirely up to you, Twilight wrote.
Sunset made up her mind. She grabbed the papers and opened the drawer next to her bed. As she did, she pulled out a pen and wrote on the envelope: Deadline: June 14th, 2016. The day of her graduation.
Sunset yawned, feeling tired for the first time in what felt like days with the princesses in her apartment. She smiled as she jumped under the covers and rested her head on the pillow. As her eyes closed, she remember what Luna said about humans dreaming sick things.
Sunset felt herself drift. "Guess what Princess, I'm still human."