It’s never easy to get along with one’s parents. It’s even harder when they gave you way and denied you your birthright. This is the story of Sunset Shimmer and how she fell out with and returned to speaking terms with her mother Princess Cele
It’s never easy to get along with one’s parents. It’s even harder when they gave you way and denied you your birthright. This is the story of Sunset Shimmer and how she fell out with and returned to speaking terms with her mother Princess Celestia of Equestria.
This happens between Rainbow Rocks and Friendship games. Human Twilight (Or Science Twilight, whichever you prefer) would have add a whole layer of awkward. Annual 2013 “The Fall of Sunset Shimmer” is also cannon to this but I cover all you need to know to follow the story in the prolog.
Dear Diary, I have just written three most hurtful words I ever could ‘Dear Princess Celestia’. Not for their content but for who I said them to. My mother Princess Celestia.
I know what you are thinking. How could Princess Celestia have a daughter? How can I hate such a caring mare? And I do hate her, well dislike her at this point. OK I am ambivalent but I have my reasons. Number one is how could she cover up my existence! I didn’t even know she was my mother until she broke down and told me when I was nine. Nine! I had already been her student for three years! Three years!
I guess that’s where it started. The ambition, the greed, the feeling better than anypony else, the desire to prove to my mother I was a worthy daughter.
Maybe I better start at the beginning, I was born Princess Sunset Shimmer, heir apparent of the throne of the sun (not that mom was dying any time soon). I wasn’t even five minutes old when my title and name was stripped from me! I was taken from the palace and placed in the Canterlot orphanage. I spend the next nine years as Glow Light, daughter of Star Light, sister of Night Light (Ya, Ya, laugh it up. Twilight is my cousin, not that I am going to tell her that any time soon). At age six I passed the test for Celestia’s school for gifted Unicorns with flying colors when I correctly identified the dragon egg as a fossil and unhatchable (How Twilight to managed hatch it I will never know, but I bet they are using a rock painted to look like a dragon egg now).
Three years later I found out not only was that I adopted, but I was the daughter of Princess Celestia. Needless to say this caused drama with both my mothers. From then on I was not only Princess Celestia’s student but her heir and a future princess. My feelings of entitlement only increased when I found out she was grooming me to lead the elements of harmony as the element of magic.
Actually that bears explaining in more depth. It was just after Cadence’s ascendance to an alicorn. I didn’t take that well, especially when I heard mom was adopting Cadence. At that time (still even) I wasn’t officially Celestia’s daughter. I thought she was replacing me. I thought I wasn’t good enough.
Celestia comforted me in her special way when she found out. She told me that due to certain historical conditions, no pony outside the nobility was supposed to be able to ascend to alicorn. But Cadence was a commoner and orphan with nothing actually known about her birth parents. If she had been introduced to the court without her lineage known, all the nobles would have fought among themselves about whose family she belonged in and thence whose family got the political power that comes with a princess. But since Celestia adopted her, all the power stayed with her and her sister. Don’t get me wrong. The nobles still fought but merely for the prestige of giving birth to an alicorn.
Next she told me about her sister and what happened back then; about the Elements of Harmony and my part in saving Luna. I was excited. I was going to be a hero. I was going to wield the most powerful magic of pony kind. I was going to reunite Celestia with her sister. The fact that there were supposedly five others that were to help didn’t seem important at the time. I was going to be a hero and princess like my mother. If five others were going to help, it didn’t matter. It was obvious I was going to do the heavy lifting.
Now where was I? Right, feelings of entitlement. In my later years under Celestia I was obsessed with the elements and princesshood/alicornhood. It all culminated in those last few weeks when Celestia showed me the mirror to the human world. Among its powers is the ability to show the future of a pony. For me it showed me with wings but in shadow. At the time I thought it was showing me as a princess, but I now think it was showing a pony version of my demon form. When I asked what the mirror was, Celestia kept dismissing it, saying I wasn’t ready (and I wasn’t).
Later that week, after exhausting the rest of the library, I snuck into the forbidden section. I found that the mirror was an artifact of Star Swirl the Bearded to show ponykind the infinite possibilities of the universe. Then I moved on to ascension. Just when found out that one Alicorn can ascend another pony to alicornhood, mom found me. We fought, I demanded she make me a princess, she told me I wasn’t ready. I threw a book at her. She banished me from the castle. Then I made the dumbest decision of my life, next to, you know, stealing the Element of Magic, becoming a demon and trying to take over Equestria with an army of teenage zombies (I have no idea what I was thinking with that last part). I knocked out the guards that were escorting me out of the castle and dived through the mirror. One hour later, at the stroke of midnight, the portal closed and wouldn’t open for another thirty moons. So I guess by the time mom found out I was missing, it was already too late. I wonder how she felt when she found out. I bet she was heartbroken. Good. She deserved it.
No, Sunset, you are reformed now no plotting revenge on the mare that…. That…. That abandoned you. That left you… That threw you out like the trash! Breathe, Breathe. It’s in the past. Sure, like that’s any comfort.
Where was I? Right, leaving Equestria.
Most of the rest, you already know. Twilight saved Luna. I spread pictures of Applejack in a pig pen covered in mud around the school. Twilight defeated Discord. I shoved Fluttershy into a locker. Twilight stopped a changeling invasion. I broke friendships right and left. Twilight became a princess. I stole her crown. And finally Twilight saved me from myself and gave me the best friends anybody could ask for.
My past is not today. Hee, that is easy to say but I still have a lot of work to do. I figure I owe Fluttershy about fifty more hours of volunteering at the animal shelter; Pinkie about five parties; Applejack four cases of warm apple cider; Rarity seven dresses; and Rainbow three games of… any sport really. I know, I know, I shouldn’t keep track, just do what good friends do, but they are my friends. They helped me turn my life around. They were there for me when nobody else was.
Mom. Why did you give me away? You never told me. You kept saying it wasn’t important. If it wasn’t important why did you never adopt me? Even after my quote unquote parents died. I know why. It was politics. It was all politics! If anypony heard you had a child, let alone a daughter, they would all be trying to take advantage in one way or another. And you couldn’t have that. No, you couldn’t spend the time protecting me. You couldn’t spend the time raising your daughter. You couldn’t spend time with me.
Twilight was heading off to see her human friends. Pinkie was bouncing around being her usual self.
Pinkie bounced along with Twilight. “Why can’t I come?”
“Because there is already another you over there,” answered Twilight.
“But there is already another you and two Sunsets.”
“True, but neither my human counterpart nor Sunset’s goes to the same school. It not the same.”
Pinkie stopped bouncing and pouted. “Bummer. Wait…” Pinkie suddenly shot up like a rocket. “I just got the greatest idea in the history of ideas! If we can’t go there then why can’t they come here! If they stayed in the castle then only we would know they were here.”
Twilight blinked and tried to find a flaw in Pinkie’s plan. OK, Twilight keep calm and reasonable. Worst case scenario one, Lyra sees one or more of them and starts a human panic and Ponyville becomes a ghost town for a couple of hours. Worst case scenario two, somepony sees two Pinkies, no, two Rarities and causes a panic about pod ponies or changelings, again Ponyville becomes a ghost town for a couple of hours while I prove my identity and the guard sweep Ponyville for Changelings. Worst case scenario three my brother hears the portal is open and charges through and scares Flash. Celestia knows he gave the pony version enough trouble, and I don’t even like that one. OK, one and two can be mitigated by informing the town I am going be doing an experiment and to not be surprised if they see two of my friends. Three can be mitigated by - Twilight brain glitched for a moment –actually I will just tell Cadence to keep him busy and not think about how she going to keep him busy or how it could make me an aunty.
I wonder how running endurance translates to endurance in- Twilight smacked herself three times. I said to not think about that brain. How does a foal fit though- la,la,la not thinking about it. She going to put her lips on his lips, their mouths are going to touch- *Smack* Not thinking about it! Not thinking about it! Party, party party. Not thinking- wait what? Twilight blinked and saw Pinkie in front of her repeating the word ‘party’ over and over again.
“Ah, Pinkie what are you doing?” asked Twilight.
“Oh, I was practicing saying party while you slept with your eyes open, on your hooves midstep,” replied Pinkie.
“Pinkie, I wasn’t asleep.”
“Then was Princess Celestia speaking to you telepathically? Can she do that talk to a pony in their mind? Where did she learn to do that?”
Twilight facehooved. “I wasn’t talking to Princess Celestia.”
“Then were you—”
“I was thinking about your idea and –” Twilight blushed. “-and kind of zoned out.” Twilight shook her head. “Anyways, I can’t find a problem with it. I will present it to them today.”
“Wait, just a second.” Pinkie zipped off and came back with a stack of six envelopes and hoofed them to Twilight. “Here’s their invitations and this one is yours.” Pinkie pull a final envelope from her mane and gave it to Twilight.
Twilight opened it and started reading. “Dear Twilight, you are invited to a party at Twilight’s castle for the first ever human-pony counterpart meet and greet. Signed party planner extraordinaire pony Pinkie Pie.” Twilight wasn’t even going to ask how she made these so fast, there was never a good explanation for Pinkie Pie.
“OK Pinkie I hope they all will be able to come.” Twilight placed the rest of the invitations in her saddle bags which would become her backpack on the other side. She turned and walked through the mirror.
-----
Twilight stepped out of the mirror on the human side. She saw Canterlot High for a second before her vision was filled with a cotton candy pink face.
“Hi, Twilight. What did you bring us? What did you bring us?” said Pinkie Pie.
“Pinkie, good gravy, give the girl some room. She’s about to fall back the way she came,” said Applejack.
Pinkie fell backwards into a crab walk and then did a back flip, landing on her feet.
“Pinkie! You could have shown Twilight *whisper*your underwear*whisper*,” said Rarity.
Rarity blinked. “You’re what? Pinkie, why are you wearing biker shorts?”
“So I can do back flips without you complaining,” answered Pinkie.
Everybody blinked at Pinkie wondering how much of the last five minutes Pinkie had preplanned.
Twilight coughed. “Getting back to Pinkie’s question. I brought you these.” Twilight pulled the invites out of her saddlebag turned backpack and handed them to her friends.
“A Party!” cried Pinkie. “Hosted by pony me!”
Twilight nodded.
Sunset took a step back and away from the group. She was wearing a black bomber jacket with orange stripes on the sleeves over a spring green short sleeved dress. The bottom hem was extended a good six inches more by a transparent maize yellow skirt. She wore a pair of steel blue tights. Her dark gray boots shared the same orange stripes as her jacket.
Sunset looked at the invite. Mom. How can I… How can I face you after all I’ve done. Her face hardened. After all you done.
Sunset finally spoke. “I’m sorry Twilight, but I can’t come.” Sunset handed her invite back to Twilight.
“WHAT!?” screamed Pinkie. “But you have to come! Don’t you want to meet your counterpart?”
Sunset Shimmer pointed to herself. “I’m from Equestria, remember? I was”- Sunset’s hands spasmed into fists-“born there.”
“Oh, ya,” said Pinkie. “But you’ll miss my party.”
“I DON’T CARE ABOUT YOUR STUPID PARTY!” screamed Sunset.
Everybody was quiet. Tears were gathering in Pinkie’s eyes.
Sunset looked at Pinkie and put her head in her hands. She then looked straight at Pinkie. “Sorry Pinkie. I didn’t mean that. Equestria just brings up bad memories. Over there I’m a snob, a liar, a thief and a traitor.”
Twilight put her hand on Sunset. “Sunset, I know you haven’t had the best history but you are making amends. I’m sure Celestia”-Sunset’s eyes hardened-“will see that and forgive you. Come on. This is just going to be a fun party between friends. Why don’t you come and make some good memories?”
Sunset sighed. “Fine, on the condition that Celestia isn’t invited.”
“Your old mentor, why?” asked Twilight.
“It’s personal.”
Twilight took a deep breath. “Ok, I promis—”
“WAIT!” screamed Pinkie. “You can’t just promise. Can’t you see this is too important to Sunset for a regular promise? You need to Pinkie Promise!”
Twilight rolled her eyes. No matter what universe Pinkie took the craziest things seriously. “Ok, I promise that Celestia will not be invited. Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.” Twilight did the motions as she said the words and actually managed to not put her hoof in her eye (Of course the fact that she didn’t have hooves at the moment helped).
“Good, let’s get ready,” said Sunset.
-----
Twilight came back the following Friday to guide her human friends through the mirror. “Ok, everybody, it will be a little freaky for a bit, but it is perfectly safe.” Twilight walked back through the mirror.
Her human friends followed after her.
After a light show and their bodies reshaping themselves to pony form they stepped out on the other side into what looked like a library inside a crystal building.
“Welcome to Equestria,” said Twilight.
Everypony turned and saw Twilight in all of her Alicorn glory.
“Eek!” Rarity covered her eyes. “Twilight, you aren’t wearing any clothes.”
“Uh, Rarity,” said Applejack. “Twi’s a horse. Why would she wear clothes?”
“Because otherwise she’s naked,” replied Rarity.
“Um, Rares. I think you have bigger problems than worrying about Twilight.” Rainbow Dash pointed at Rarity’s white coated body.
Rarity looked down at herself. She moved her forehooves over where her breasts and other private parts would be if she was human. “WHY DID NOBODY TELL ME I WAS NAKED!?”
Rainbow giggled. “I thought I just did.”
“CLOTHES! I NEED CLOTHES!”
Twilight blinked. “I think Rarity, I mean your Equestria counterpart, has a couple of outfits in the ballroom down the hall.”
Rarity ran out of the room, tripping a couple of times.
Rainbow Dash fall to the floor laughing.
“Rainbow Dash, that wasn’t nice,” chastised Fluttershy.
“Lighten up Fluttershy. She was going to realize it eventually.”
Twilight whispered to Sunset, “What was that all about? Why was Rarity so worried about being naked?”
Sunset whispered back, “Twilight, humans wear clothes all the time. As in, they are only without clothing when changing or bathing.”
Pinkie walked around on her hind hooves like it was normal. “So where’s the party?”
Twilight blinked at Pinkie being Pinkie. “Uh, in the ball-room. I thought you might want a little time to get used to being ponies.” Twilight lead them the ballroom.
As soon as they entered the ball room a pink blur appeared. “Hi, I’m Pinkie Pie. But you already know that. Here’s your name tags.” Pinkie handed each of the humans turned Ponies the word ‘Earth’ on a chain. “Please wear them or else this party will be confusing, nopony will know who’s who and who’s doing what.” Pinkie than handed Sunset and Twilight each a chain that said ‘Equestria’ then she zipped back so everypony could see she was wearing an ‘Equestria’ chain of her own.
The human turned ponies and the two unicorns put their tags on.
“Ok, now over here we have cake, lilies, hay and some Sweet Apple Acres cider. Lilies and hay aren’t normally party food but I thought you might want to try them while you are here. Now over there we have the makeover station where you can try Equestrian beauty products and clothing, and where your Rarity is already trying on an Equestrian dress.”
Earth Rarity was wearing a white ruffled dress from her Equestria self’s collection.
“Up there we have an open window so any pegsi who want to stretch their wings can do a couple of laps around the castle,” said Pinkie. “Over there is the dance floor. The bath room is just down the hall.”
-----
For the next hour the party was in full swing. The Fluttershys were talking about animals and to Equestria Fluttershy’s embarrassment, pegsi, especially wing and coat care. The Rainbow Dashs had a race around the castle. After which Equestria Rainbow Dash said her Earth counterpart had potential. Then Earth Rainbow Dash challenged Equestria Rainbow Dash to a ground based race on grounds she wasn’t used to her wings yet. Same result. Finally Earth Rainbow Dash won the two legged race. Which Equestria Rainbow Dash thought was unfair because Earth Rainbow Dash was more used to moving like that. Upshot was Earth Rainbow Dash was going to come over to Equestia to practice with her wings and hooves and Equestria Rainbow Dash was going to practice running on two legs.
The Applejacks talked about farming and the best ways to get the testiest apples.
The Rarities compared fashions.
And the Pinkie Pies, well picture a pair of super bouncy balls in a non-regular solid (i.e. lots of angles), now replace the rubber in those balls with flubber (a material that gains energy every time it bounces). Now drop the balls. The flight of those ball almost describes the motion of the Pinkie Pies, except the Pinkies were meeting more often than that model would suggest.
-----
The party when on for an hour more when the doors to the ballroom opened and in walked Princess Celestia and Spike.
“I can't understand why Pinkie didn’t invite you, Princess. That seems unlike her. Especially since…” said Spike.
Princess Celestia wasn’t listening to Spike anymore as she was too busy staring at her orange, flame haired former student. “Sun… Set…?” said Princess Celestia.
Sunset looked at Celestia like a jaywalking deer caught in front of the Canterlot Express.
Celestia ran over and hugged Sunset. “My little Sunbeam, why didn’t you return with Twilight?” Celestia held Sunset at hoof length. “Look at you. You’ve grown into a beautiful mare.”
Sunset pushed Celestia away. “Now you recognize me! Seriously!? I guess the nobles aren’t so troublesome anymore. Oh, wait they’re always troublesome. Goodnight, Princess. Have fun with your replacement daughter.” Sunset walked out of the room and down the hall.
Princess Celestia stared after Sunset then broke down crying.
“What just happened?” asked Earth Rainbow Dash.
Equestria Pinkie walked forward her mane as straight as a razor. “I messed up, that’s what. I thought if I didn’t invite her she wouldn’t come. Now… Now, it all messed up and they’re both hurting.” Pinkie cried into her hooves.
Twilight put a hoof on Pinkie. “We both did. I should’ve told Spike.”
“Told me what?” asked Spike.
Twilight turned to Spike. “Sunset didn’t want to see Celestia.”
The wailing of giant ball of white fur that was mere moment ago was Princess Celestia of Equestria increased in volume.
Twilight flinched. “Sorry.”
Earth Pinkie put a hoof on Twilight. “Twilight, we need to apologize to Sunset. We broke a Pinkie Promise. It’s not our fault. Not really but it happened and it needs to be fixed.”
Sunset ran down the hall of Canterlot High until she reached her locker. She attempted to dial the combination but her fingers kept flubbing it. She kicked the stupid thing.
Sunset started to get blurry with tears. She turned around and slid to the floor. Why? Why did I do that?
Her hands spasmed into fists. You know why! Because she deserved it!
Sunset shook her head. No. She didn’t. I was the disobedient one.
*Snort* Sure, that explains why she couldn’t wait to get rid of you.
She had her reasons.
Sure, terrible ones. Face it, she never deserved to call herself a mother.
Sunset looked to the side. That doesn’t change that she is. Or excuse dragging Twilight into it. The other half of Sunset was silent as the tears flowed.
Suddenly the voice of Twilight said “Sunset?”
Sunset stood up. She spun towards and glared at Twilight. “What do you want!?”
Twilight, Spike, and her five human friends flinched back.
Sunset closed her eyes and rubbed her nose. “Sorry, you didn’t deserve that, Twilight. Just don’t talk. The others can talk but I’m not sure I can control myself because—” Sunset shook her head. “Never mind. You will see. Let’s go to the music room and I’ll explain everything.”
-------
Later in the music room.
“So, Celestia abandoned you?” asked Rarity.
“Technically she had a guard drop me off at the orphanage. But basically ya,” replied Sunset.
“One thing, aye don’t get is what any of this has to do with Twilight,” said Applejack.
Pinkie jumped up. “Sunset felt replaced because Twilight is her cousin and she became Celestia’s student right after she left Equestria and Celestia made Twilight an alicorn princess.”
Applejack raised an eyebrow. “Pinkie, what makes you think Sunset and Twilight are kin?”
“Because Pinkie told me so,” said Pinkie Pie.
“I know, you know, Pinkie.” Applejack blinked and covered her face. “You mean the other Pinkie Pie. I think it’s going to take my brain a while to accept there’s two of you.” She shook her head. “And the rest?”
Pinkie bounced in place. “Well, Sunset and Twilight couldn’t have met before the fall formal because otherwise they would have history and if they had history it would change their whole relationship. And if Celestia had two students she would have introduced them to each other, so Twilight had to had become Celestia’s student after Sunset already left. And Twilight told us she’s an alicorn princess and Sunset said she wanted to be an alicorn princess. Therefore, Sunset felt Twilight replaced her in Celestia’s heart.”
Pinkie’s friends blinked. It was easy to forget Pinkie got straight A’s.
“So ya, basically that,” said Sunset. “I don’t want or deserve to be an alicorn anymore but the rest still hurts.”
Twilight reached over and touched Sunset’s shoulder. “I didn’t replace you. Celestia still cares for you.”
Sunset knocked Twilight’s arm off. “Do the math, Egghead! Your entrance exam was the very next day!”
Twilight jumped back. “What?”
Sunset covered her face with her hand and took a breath. She put her hands to her sides. “Sorry. I understand it’s not your fault up here-” She pointed to her head “-but in here-” Sunset pointed to her heart “-I still feel betrayed. I can ignore that most of the time but-” She looked to the side “-with my issues with that mare coming up again. I keep lashing out at everybody.”
Twilight looked at Pinkie. Pinkie looked at Fluttershy. Fluttershy looked at Spike. Spike looked at Applejack. Applejack looked at Rarity. Rarity looked at Rainbow Dash.
“What?” asked Rainbow Dash.
“Tell Sunset about Celestia,” replied Rarity.
“Why do I have to tell her?”
Pinkie cut in. “Because you couldn’t possibly be on Celestia’s side.”
Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes and looked at Sunset. “Fine. Celestia turned into a big ball of blubber after you left.”
“Rainbow!” said Twilight.
“You delegated it to me. Don’t complain how I handled it.” Rainbow turned back to Sunset. “So, ya. Celestia broke down and our Equestrian counterparts are trying to calm her down.” She turned back to the others. “Is that everything you wanted her to know?”
Fluttershy raised her hand. “She seemed very upset and she wailed louder when Twilight told her you didn’t want her at the party.”
“I didn’t mean to I forgot she was there!” cried Twilight.
“How could you miss her? She was a huge ball of wailing blubber,” said Rainbow.
“As uncouth as Rainbow is, she is right. Celestia was very noticeable,” replied Rarity.
Pinkie jumped in. “Speaking of what happened over there. Don’t you have something to tell Sunset?”
“Pinkie, really, now?” asked Twilight.
Pinkie nodded. “Sunset deserves an apology.”
Twilight turned to Sunset and hung her head. “Sorry, Sunset. I forgot to tell Spike your wishes.”
Tears gathered in Pinkie’s eyes. “Me, too. I should have worked with my other self to make sure she didn’t come.” Twilight and Pinkie looked at Spike.
Spike looked at the two girls. “What? Oh, sorry Sunset. If Pinkie—of all ponies—didn’t invite Celestia I should have known there was a good reason.”
“Will you three stop? I don’t blame you for—Ok, I did a little but I’m over it.”
Pinkie bounced back. “Good. Now how do we make you feel better Sunset?”
“You already have, Pinkie,” said Sunset.
Pinkie paced. “No. No. This won’t do. You deserve an apology from Celestia. But she’s hurting as well.” She spun around. “You need to apologize to each other!”
Sunset turned away and folded her arms. “I don’t need anything from that mare. I have been doing fine on my own.” A drop of water ran down Sunset’s cheek and fell to the floor.
“But there’s things you need to say. So put it in a letter. That way if it comes out wrong you can try again. Celestia writes a letter before she sees yours. That way you know how she really feels and not just the reaction to your letter. Twilight can play messenger.”
Sunset looked at Pinkie. “Pinkie that’s the stupidest-” She paused a moment. “On second thought, that isn’t half bad.”
Pinkie ran over to the side of the room and got a paper and pencil. “These are for music writing emergencies, but we can repurpose them.”
Sunset grabbed the paper and pencil and sat down to write.
Dear Princess Celestia, Mom
Pinkie, suggested I write this letter. So here it is. I was a horrible student. I was rude, condescending and egotistical. You were right to keep me away from the mirror. I’m both glad and ashamed to have used it anyways. On one hoof I used something without permission—going someplace I didn’t belong. On the second hoof, having to live without magic taught me valuable lessons and kept me from interfering with Twilight. I hate to think what I might have done if I was still in Equestria when she was your student.
Now that is out of the way. What were you thinking!? You gave me away and then expected me to treat you as my mother when you didn’t even acknowledge me as such. Even after I gained my cutie mark and our connection was clear, I was still a student to you. Do you want to know what inflated my head? You! You did! I looked up to you! I wanted to be you! I wanted you to be proud of me! I wanted you to love me! But that wasn’t going happen! All because you had to keep your image up in public and protect me! Didn't it ever occur to you I could take care of myself! Didn’t it ever occur to you that all I wanted was a little love?
Signed Your former daughterYour former student Sunset Shimmer
Sunset started to tear up her letter but stopped. She folded it instead and handed to Twilight. “It not perfect and is likely to hurt her, but a lot of it needed to be said.”
Twilight, Sunset and the rest of their friends walked down the hall, but as they passed Sunset’s locker they noticed a glowing light flashing from within. Sunset dialed her combination, grabbed the book she used to talk to Twilight with and opened to the last entry.
Dear Glow Light, Sunset, my daughter, my student,
There is are so many things that need to be said, but I think I will start with ‘I’m sorry’. Recently another family member I had issues with returned. Namely, my sister Luna and let's just say that she had some choice words for me when she heard the full story about me and you. I’m sorry I gave you away. I’m sorry it took you coming back into my life and gaining your cutie mark to tell you who you were and who I am. I’m sorry I kept you at wing width. I’m sorry I lost my temper that night and banished you from the castle.
Your aunt Luna and I send our love. We can talk more if you see fit to see me in person.
Your mother, Celestia
Sunset grabbed a pen from her locker and scribbled out the name Glow Light then wrote:
Dear Mom,
Twilight is coming back with a letter from me, you won’t like everything it says but I needed to say it.
Your daughter,
Sunset Shimmer (The rules about my other name still apply. Do not use it again. Especially in this journal)
Sunset closed the journal, sending her message back to Equestria. Then she took the letter from Twilight and added “P.S. sorry Mom, but like I said, it needed to be said. P.P.S. Love you, Mom.” By the time she completed her addendum tears were falling from her eyes. She handed Twilight the letter and pushed her towards the portal. “Go. Before I have second thoughts.”
As Twilight and Spike walked towards the portal, Sunset accepted the group hug from the rest of her friends.
