It had been almost a month since the both disastrous and amazing Fall Formal. Canterlot High’s front facade had been repaired to the extent that it could now be used as the main building entrance again, with the remaining cosmetic work being done on weekends when the student body was no longer present.
To say everything was back to normal however would be a bald faced lie.
Sunset Shimmer sat in the waiting area outside Vice Principal Luna’s office, staring at her boots. Her new boots, given to her by her new friend Rarity Belle.
“Darling, black and violet just do not go with your colors. A teal might work but shades of purple just don’t suit you, and black just projects too rough an image for everyday wear, don’t you agree?”
Rarity had insisted on helping her with her new look; “We can’t change who you are, or what you’ve done, but maybe we can give people a fresh perspective, hmmm?”
The red and yellow sunburst she insisted on wearing stood out now on a cream colored shirt, set off by her new teal blazer with the school’s symbol and name across the back, and a smaller version of her sunburst blaze decorating the pockets had been stitched on by Fluttershy, whose fine needle work skills seemed to even better than Rarity’s. Her new boots however were special; Whereas she has purchased her newer clothes with the advice of Rarity, the fashionista has refused to give direct recommendations for footwear, insisting that she had to give them some serious thought. Three days later a package has been waiting at her locker, with stylish if somewhat short ankle boots in a combination of yellow and teal, and several pairs of knee high socks patterned after her flaming red and yellow hair.
A buzz startled Sunset out of her reverie and she glanced at the door as the speaker beside it announced: “You may come in now Miss Shimmer.”
Sunset stood and took a moment to compose herself. She hadn’t been in the wrong this time. That alone should be enough. She straightened her shoulders and walked into the Vice Principal’s office. Luna eyed her from behind her desk and motioned her to take a seat. After she did so the older woman stood up and walked over to the print of Van Gogh’s Starry Night. Clasping her hands behind her back, the vice principal seemed to be studying the picture intently when suddenly she spoke, “I’m tired of your little games Miss Shimmer.”
“Games?”
“Please don’t act the innocent with me. Even though I’ve only been back from my sabbatical a short while, I’ve had sufficient proof of how deceitful and manipulative you are. I understand how you think, maybe better than you do yourself,” the vice principal turned around and locked her gaze coldly with younger girl’s eyes. “One could say I see recognizable patterns. Besides which that doesn’t even begin to explain what happened last month. Principal Celestia’s decision or not if I thought I had any hope of getting someone to believe me about what really happened that night I’d tell them in an instant if I thought it would protect my students from you, whatever it is you are.”
Sunset Shimmer just stared at her silently, determined not to break down. She was going to prove she could change. That she already had changed. But doing so would take time.
“But that’s not why you’re here now, of course. You know that. I’ve talked to almost everyone else involved already, why don’t you give your version. What happened at lunch?”
Sunset closed her eyes for a moment, “I’m not in the wrong here,” she thought, “just tell the truth and I’ll be fine.” Opening them back up she looked straight into the vice principal’s eyes. “I was passing the girls restroom when I heard talking. I couldn’t hear what was being said but I thought I heard at least one person crying. I looked inside and found Lightning Dust and Strawberry Sunrise crowded in the door of one of the stalls. They were teasing Bright Eyes about one of her episodes. I told them to stop. They told me to mind my own business. We got into a shouting match and it escalated from there.” She smiled grimly, “I managed to get them mad enough at me that they forgot about Bright Eyes and chased me back out into the hall.”
“And that’s when you had your goons ambush them,” stated Luna flatly.
“Snips and Snails are not my goons, and anyway I didn’t know they were anywhere nearby. In any case Snips was the only one that tried to do anything and that was just squeezing between Lightning and me when she hit him.
“Miss Dust and Miss Sunrise both claim you three assaulted them. Mr. Shears and Mr. Steady back up your story, mostly, but I believe they’d say anything you told them.”
“And Bright Eyes?”
“You are the first person to mention her. I’ll have to see what she says, but I’m not sure I could accept her word either way. She is, to put it kindly, far too easily bullied by the likes of people such as both you and Miss Dust to be sure if she’s telling the truth,” Luna turned back to the reproduced painting, “Frankly I’m inclined to accept Miss Dust’s version no matter the actual facts, just to give me a reason to get you out of my school”.
Sunset jumped to her feet, “You can’t do that!”
Luna turned slowly around and glared at the girl until she slowly sat down. “You’re probably right, I wouldn’t be able to. Not from personal choice but because Celestia doesn’t want to let you go. But perhaps you would be willing to educate me on the reasons I ‘cannot’ send you away. I assume this has something to do with last month’s events at the Fall Formal?”
The teenager slumped forward, peering intently at the floor, and began in a monotone voice, “If you send me away I may never go home. I may never get to see my family again. It’s possible that’s already the case but if I’m not here I feel,” she hesitated, “I know in my heart that I’ll never get to go back.”
Luna snorted, “You don’t lie very well. I’ve seen your record, you don’t have a family. Your mother and father died in a car wreck. They were only children. Your grandparents have all passed away. If a court hadn’t decided you were responsible enough you’d be living with a foster family or in an orphanage instead of having a social worker visit weekly and being allowed a stipend from your inheritance. Which, I might add, is quite plentiful.”
“You’re wrong, I lie far too well.” She looked up at the Vice Principal who had walked over so as to loom over the seated student intimidatingly, “I’m from the same place that Twilight Sparkle came from. Her and the talking dog. My mother and father were very much alive when I…” she hesitated a moment, “left. Though I can’t really say I had any friends, I did have the most wonderful teacher.” She closed her eyes and slumped over in the chair again, “I… I disappointed her so much; betrayed her trust and when she tried to help me understand what I was doing to myself, turned against her.”
“You didn’t just leave,” the vice principal said softly, “did you?”
“I… she…” stuttered Sunset, her voice beginning to choke up, “there was no choice. I was out of control. Dangerous. What I did at the Fall Formal was just a taste of what I could have done there. I was a threat to everypo…” she bit down on her lip, “to everyone. Even without the crown, even if I hadn’t learned even more of the sorts of things no-one should know, I could hurt far too much if allowed to run loose. I didn’t know it at the time but there were far greater threats than I was out there, but my ruthlessness and desire for power could have interfered with stopping those threats.”
Without a word, Luna stepped back and sat on the edge of her desk, her face softening.
Openly crying now, Sunset continued, “I was supposed to be part of her plans. But I wanted too much too soon. I thought I knew better than her, better than anypony, what was right for me. I was manipulative, deceitful, spiteful. I studied things that were forbidden to anyone, not just those who were not experienced enough to handle them; I was a prodigy after all, the best and brightest student anypony could remember. Who were the other teachers, who was she, who was anypony, to tell me what I could and couldn’t handle”.
Luna waited a few moments for Sunset’s crying to settle down, before she prompted with a single word, “And?”
“I crossed too many lines. My teacher… my Princess tried to clamp down on me. I ran, I hid, I plotted and planned. I was incensed when I found out she had replaced me with some snot nosed little purple brat. But while it seemed large to us, where I come from is really a small place. I was wanted; eventually, I was caught.” Sunset’s voice grew quiet, “she exiled me. She sent me to this magicless place where my knowledge could do no harm,” she snorted slightly, “at least no direct harm. I was still the conniving manipulative little brat I had always been. I used that to my advantage. Then I finally figured out the statue; When I arrived I was out cold, it took me a while to figure out the way back and even then returning, even for a short time, was risky. Also time flows differently between the two worlds when the gate isn't open. When I went back much more time had passed there than I had expected. I found out what had happened in my absence. Twilight Sparkle had saved the world. She was famous. Powerful. She was my former teacher's 'Most Faithful Student'.”
“She had taken your place,” said Luna. It wasn’t a question.
"And so I came back to come up with a plan. When I went back she wasn't just famous; she was a Princess now, in her own right. I was furious."
“Celestia,” she said, making Luna’s eyes widen in surprise, “my Celestia, princess, teacher, was grooming me for that role. The Element of Magic. Possibly the next Princess of Equestria. And I threw it away. But I couldn’t see that, I saw it stolen by that purple maned interloper.”
“Thus, the Fall Formal.”
Sunset was silent for almost a minute before she continued, "yes, the Fall Formal. I went back and stole the crown. I brought it here hoping I could use it’s magic even in this world. As you saw it worked far better than I expected, at least for a while.”
“If you’ve repented, why can’t you go back, ask forgiveness, perform some contrition less drastic than an exile to an unfamiliar world?” Luna asked softly.
“It doesn’t feel like I can. Something is holding me here, in my gut. Besides, she has little reason to trust me, just a month ago I was ready to invade her world with an army of mind controlled slaves.”
Luna sat silently for almost a minute on the edge of her desk, her face difficult to read, before getting up and walking behind her desk. Bending over, she sat a small box on the desk, opened the top and pulled out a sheet of paper, followed by a small pile of perhaps a dozen envelopes. “This box was found in the quad this morning. It was marked ‘Bring to Principal Celestia or Vice Principal Luna please’. As I was the only one here at the time, I got it. I’ve shown it to the Principal and we were not sure what to do with it; however I think I’ve made a decision now.”
She held up the sheet of paper and began reading aloud;
Dear Principal Celestia and Vice Principal Luna,
I hope this letter finds you well and things are more in order at Canterlot High than they were when I left. My fellow Princesses would like to apologize for the havoc caused at the Fall Formal, one in particular as she feels a great deal of the blame falls on her shoulders. Enclosed you will find a number of letters for several of the people at the school, I would ask you to deliver them unopened. If you decide it would be in the best interest of the students involved or your school in general not to deliver them, we understand and then ask only that you destroy them unopened.
In case you are worried, or someone has investigated the box, the box and letters were given an enchantment which should last for at least a few weeks in your world which will prevent others from realizing exactly what they have on their hands, or anyone other than the intended recipients from reading anything innocuous from these letters. We do ask that even this missive be destroyed in relatively short order, no matter what you decide.
You may wonder why I or someone else does not present these letters in person, this is difficult to explain, I’m only beginning to understand the theory myself. The easiest description would be if our two worlds were on separate sides of a very sensitive scale balance. Since we’ve discovered she’s been here prior to the incident, we’ve found that the balance is, in effect, oscillating from the transfers of ‘weight’. My own trip, compounded with the addition of Spike who was very much not supposed to come, caused additional gyrations. It will be some time before it will be safe for anyone to cross the threshold. This is not a matter of actual material mass but the spiritual existence or soul of an individual if you will, and the safety I speak of is not for those making the trip, but for the worlds themselves. I now know that had Sunset Shimmer managed to bring her small army across to Equestria the damage to both worlds would likely have been immense. That said, I am certain she was unaware of this at the time; few who would invade another world wish to do so just to see that world destroyed.
You may wonder how we managed to get this message to you given there has not been sufficient time for the gate to re-open since I have left. While we're unsure of the timing on your end, it has been three and a half lunar months since I returned to Equestria. While the portal will not be truly open for quite some time, I along with one of my fellow Princesses have managed to determine how to pass small, inanimate objects through the portal.
This brings up another matter of grave importance which you must pass on to Sunset Shimmer no matter what you decide to do in terms of the letters; While I and the others whose duty it is to decide such things believe she should be allowed a chance to prove herself redeemed, she cannot come back to Equestria for some time, and must not come back without our consent and cooperation. We have warded the gate to prevent others from entering Equestria, as many who were there that night are aware of the gateway and some may let their curiosity get the better of themselves, but these wards will not keep out one of our own. But for her to return now could very well be disastrous to both sides of the balance. If she wishes to come back I can explain in more detail later.
Thank you,
H.R.H. Princess Twilight Sparkle of Equestria
Sunset Shimmer stared wide-eyed across the desk as Luna put the open letter off to the side, after which she picked up four envelopes from the small pile, each marked with the same symbol that adorned her shirt in the corner, the first with an elegant cursive “For Sunset Shimmer, please read first.” As she flipped it over to open it, she paused at the wax seal holding the envelope shut, the impression in the wax vaguely similar to the symbol inked on the front but at the same time less ornate, with two simple imposed circles surrounded by 8 curling tongues of flame. The Cutie Mark of her teacher, her ruler, and the pony she had most thoroughly betrayed.
Princess Celestia.
Author's Note
Some of this story doesn't agree with some of the expanded story material (Sunset Shimmer ran into the mirror herself, for example). Also the only specified time for the gate's functioning is '30 moons', which is generally accepted to be 30 lunar months, or about 2.3 years. However I'm going to push some 'sliding timescales' in here to make things a little more compact, and also I may feel the need to adjust the actual lunar month of Equestria, which is never specified anyway.
Chapter 1: The First Letter
Chapter 1: The First Letter
Sunset Shimmer hesitated for close to a minute, staring at the seal holding the flap of the folded paper envelope closed. Finally, timidly, she slid her finger under the outer edge of the loose flap, bringing it across to break the melted wax.
As her finger touched the seal there was a small snap and a pulse of what most in the school would describe as static jolting her finger, but the former unicorn recognized the feeling for what it was; magic, and instead of the a sting or tingle, a gentle warmth flowed up her finger as the seal parted. She may not have magic, she may have only the senses of a normal human now, but she knew she’d broken a ward, designed for only her to break, made by Princess Celestia herself. She unfolded the letter contained within, and began to read the immaculate, stylized penmareship that could only be Celestia’s.
To my former student, Sunset Shimmer,
This is a difficult letter for me to write. There have been arguments over some of the things I want to say. I have to listen to the others now, for as I’m sure you are aware Equestria has changed in your absence. Princess Cadence has been given a proper fiefdom of her own and now stands as my equal, ruler of the Crystal Empire. My sister has returned from her exile and been purged of the Nightmare by the Elements of Harmony, and rules from Canterlot at my side. Finally, Twilight Sparkle has proven herself in ways I could never have hoped for and now, though she still wishes to remain in Ponyville for the time being, is consulted by Luna and I on most important matters.
That said, the following comes truly from the depths of my heart. I hope that one day, in the fullness of time, you can find it within yourself to forgive me. When I found you I thought I had found the one who would bring my sister back to me, to cleanse her as I was unable to do. I pushed you in ways you were not ready for only to hold you back in other ways without truly explaining why it was necessary. Once again I failed someone close to me because I let myself be blinded by things which which I selfishly thought I understood better, and failed to take those other’s hearts and minds into any consideration.
I will not lie and say I would rather have you by my side than Twilight Sparkle. She is a wonderful mare and in many ways will, in I believe a short amount of time, make a better leader, teacher, mentor, and guide to my little ponies than I ever have. But, princess or not, I wish I could have you here by my side as well. That I could call the both of you my faithful friends.
Even if you are unwilling to forgive my ineptitude and arrogance, but wish to return to Equestria you have my support. There are difficulties involved beyond just in the timing of the gate openings. We can address those things as needed however.
Finally, and this may surprise you the most, I have to thank you. Because even one as old as I can still learn from my mistakes. Had I not lost you to my failures as a teacher and friend, I would have most certainly not been able to correct those mistakes with Twilight. Also, her trip through the mirror to the world you now inhabit was almost as transformative as her time in Ponyville and her ascendance to the status she now maintains. In a few short days she became much more sure of her new place in our society, both her new abilities and responsibilities. This is something that would have taken much longer, perhaps even years, had you not done what you did.
Your former teacher and hopefully future friend,
Celestia
P.S. I wanted to let you know that I have kept an eye on your family since even before you were exiled to that world. While they miss you, I have avoided them learning your true fate. I am led to understand they simply believe you to have struck out on your own, as you were strong willed, determined, and fiercely independent even as a younger filly, and that one day you will return a strong and independent mare, having proven to yourself and the world that you need no-pony to help you.
As she finished her first read-through Sunset’s eyes unfocused and the words on the page blurred together. Squeezing her eyes shut for a moment she reskimmed the letter, simply not believing what she had just read.
Princess Celestia was asking her for forgiveness? The betrayer, criminal, the one who just tried to usurp the power of the Elements and had she succeeded could have inadvertently destroyed not one but two worlds. She was even thanking her for what she’d done as horrible as it was.
It was far too much for her to process. Of course she knew that Twilight Sparkle had ‘forgiven’ her for her actions but she had done far less to the young Princess than the deep betrayals she had laid on Princess Celestia. Also while forgiven she was still exiled here, in a world she was not always comfortable with even after the years she had been here.
She would have to think things over later, she glanced across the desk towards Vice Principal Luna whose face was entirely unreadable, then after folding the letter back into it’s envelope, picked up the second from the pile of four.
Addressed like the first one, the top corner contained her cutie mark and a slashing, bold script covered the front with the words, “For Sunset Shimmer, please read last.”
A quick glance at the other two envelopes confirmed their fronts were identical except for the pensmareship; One an elegant, flowing and stylized cursive, almost artistic, the other a clear, practical and clean writing, the letters blocky yet well formed and clean. Both bore the same, simple legend “For Sunset Shimmer,” with no indication of which order to read them in.
She flipped over the letter labeled with the stylized cursive and her finger paused less than an inch from breaking the seal as she saw the emblem stamped into the dark indigo wax. It was a symbol everyone in Equestria knew, but she had only seen in abstract form. The crescent moon embossed on an irregular blotch the symbol which adorned one side of every other bit coin stamped in Equestria, alternating with Princess Celestia’s solar blaze with the alternate face reserved for the denomination of the various coins.
Now of course she knew this was Princess Luna’s cutie mark. The long lost sister which had rebelled and fought Celestia, which Twilight Sparkle and her friends had redeemed, and which now ruled as Celestia’s equal once again.
Chapter 2: The Second Letter
Chapter 2 - The Second Letter
After another moment’s hesitation Sunset shoved her finger across the center of the envelope’s flap, breaking the seal and feeling an icy shudder shoot up her arm and down her spine.
Carefully unfolding the paper contained within, she glanced at the Vice Principal, wondering if the woman knew she was about to be reading something from her counterpart across the bridge between their worlds.
In large ornate calligraphy, stylized and fluid almost to the point of illegibility, written not just with a normal quill point but with the type designed to create letters which were each as much a work of art as a form of communication, the letter spilled out across the page in an ink not like the modern blacks and blues used by most ponies, but a glittering, ancient look like tarnished silver.
Greetings former subject of Equestria, Sunset Shimmer.
I have drafted this missive to you at the encouragement of my sister, your former teacher Celestia, and the newly crowned Princess Twilight Sparkle. I must ask your forbearance of my rudeness but I shall be direct in my statements regarding the letters sent to you. I am aware of their contents as all three of my fellow Princesses showed me them in an attempt to persuade me to add remarks on my own thoughts to theirs.
One the one hoof, you have repeatedly presented threats both passive and active to the citizens of Our realm by bringing disharmony and chaos with forbidden magics, and sowing discord with your naught but your tongue. Your latest attempts to take what you have not earned could have resulted in more than one form of catastrophe for the subjects of Our realm and indeed one or both of the worlds involved could very well have been destroyed.
More than a thousand years ago, one who threatened my little ponies in such a way would have felt my swift and immediate retribution. Were I still that mare I should demand the portal buried to prevent your return in any conceivable duration of your lifetime.
In many ways, I still am that mare.
But I have learned that redemption can be earned by nearly anypony, for those deeds that are the dark beyond even your imaginings.
For on the other hoof, I too once fell to darkness, for reasons in many ways more petty than your own. When then not yet Princess Sparkle wielded the Elements against against me only a few short years ago, my inner demons were stripped from me and I was forced to confront them.
Much, possibly, as you have been.
I was confused, terrified, saddened, and disgusted with what I had become. I sought not to help my little ponies as a ruler should, but to control and own them.
My Sister and her Student may not know this, and we have agreed they shall not read this letter I have drawn up for you, but I still had a choice. I could have still embraced the Nightmare and fought the Elements. The Nightmare within me thought we could still win, though given what I have seen of Twilight Sparkle I think there was never any possibility of such an event. Had I lost the outcome would have been in even more doubt. Wielding the Elements with her fellow bearers enabled Twilight Sparkle to strip the Nightmare from me, but had I resisted I am unsure she understood well enough what she had undertaken that I would have ended back, trapped within the Moon that had been my home for a millennia. No, had I fought back I believe the outcome would have been my death. Such an event would have wounded my Sister more than even my battles with her, and my forcing her to banish me from the face of our world.
In the end, that’s why I allowed myself to be purged be the Elements. Stripped of my powers, and placed at the mercy of my Sister, the Bearers, and whatever justice she would meet out upon me for my treachery. I was fortunate to earn another chance.
On yet another hoof, I find myself wondering if it is possible for us to trust that the Elements have acted as we would expect them too. It should not have been possible for anypony to tap any of the power of the Element of Magic aside from Twilight, and even for her the powers should have been much reduced as the physical manifestations of the other Elements were still safely isolated on this side of the portal. While I accept that the embodiments of those Elements wield power in their own right and that the rules of the world you inhabit are different, it is those differences that worry me.
Thus I shall withhold my judgement upon allowing you both return and leaving you at liberty, especially given the constraints we must deal with to enable such a return. But I get ahead of myself.
I have however consented to assisting Twilight Sparkle in enabling the gate to pass these messages. As the portal is linked to the cycles of the Moon, the pair of us are able to make small changes to its normal function, though not without considerable effort.
I suggest you carefully consider your response to Princess Sparkle’s offer.
Her Royal Highness, Princess of Equestria,
Guardian of Dreams, Herald of the Night,
Grand Artist of the tapestry of the Night Sky,
and Shepherdess of the Moon,
Princess Luna Sélénia Nocturna
Sunset took some time to absorb the contents of this second letter that she had read. It appeared the one princess she had never met in any form was highly suspicious of her motives.
To be quite frank with herself, at this point she wasn’t really sure what her motives even were. Did she even want to return to Equestria now, assuming it was possible? What were these conditions that kept being hinted at, and what was this ‘offer’ of Twilight’s?
Hopefully the other letters would answer at least the last of these questions.
After placing the second letter back in it’s envelope, she picked up the other letter not marked to read last, and was not entirely surprised to see a wax seal on the back in the shape of a faceted heart gem surrounded by some filigree. Given what she’d read so far, she had already figured out the final letter would be from Twilight. Sunset assumed she would have to wait till the end to satisfy her curiosity about what her offer was.
Author's Note
I tried to give Luna some 'language lessons' but still a distinctly 'olden' form of writing. And of course she'd use her full name and titles. Not that we know what they are but I tried to make them sound suitably impressive.
I'll admit there's a lot of exposition going on right now in the form of letters, but I felt if I was going to give Celestia and Twilight a letter to Sunset Shimmer, it was only fair to give one to Luna and Cadance. Also as Celestia's student, Sunset would presumably have met Cadance at some point given that Celestia 'adopted' Cadance as her niece. (Cadance, like Twilight, is a recent recruit into the group of Princesses, having ascended sometime roughly when or shortly after Twilight was born, according to the books.)
By the way, comments make authors happy. Even complaints would make me happy knowing someone read far enough to be able to frame them.
Chapter 3: The Third Letter
A quick jerk of Sunset’s finger broke the wax seal, sending a mild warmth spreading through her arm. Unfolding the letter inside, her eyes began to scan down the blocky writing, scribed by a magically held quill but bearing the stylistic hallmarks of earth and pegasus pony mouthwriting, simple but legibile.
Sunset,
This is Cadance, I hope you can recall me from our brief interactions in Canterlot. I certainly recall you. Perhaps I should use my full title, as that’s the only way I ever remember you referring to me, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza.
I’m very good at reading ponies tone of voice, hearing the verbal slings and arrows they hide within their speech to others; it goes along well with my talents. But you never disguised the absolute venom in your voice when you spoke to me. The only pony, if you can call her that, whose voice showed her utter hatred for me more was the changeling Queen Chrysalis, somepony else who made an attempt to conquer Equestria in the recent past. Based on the timing it would have been shortly after your last investigative foray back through the mirror.
At the time I really didn’t understand why. I can read most pony’s emotions like a book, I can help rekindle love and friendships which are strained, but why you hated me so much when Celestia took me under her wing escaped me. I’ll admit to being somewhat naive about what drove a lot of things that went on in the capital and interpony relationships at the time. That’s one of the reasons Celestia arranged for me to become a foalsitter for several families, to give me time away from the manipulations of the court so I could get my feet wet first, as it were.
I even sensed that the relationship between you and Celestia had become strained and attempted to fix it. I’m not sure you noticed; Princess Celestia did and requested politely that I avoid interfering in this particular situation. In her favor, everything seems to have gone from bad to worse at that point. Maybe in some small way I was to blame.
I wasn’t wise enough to the ways of the world to understand the source of your dislike; you didn’t hate me per se, you were jealous that I was taking away the attentions of your teacher, some upstart pegasus who had grown a horn she could barely control taking time away from one of the greatest magical prodigies of the last two centuries.
I never knew what happened to you, just that you disappeared. I’d say fewer than a few dozen ponies actually knew your fate. In fact I found out yesterday that I married one of them and he saw fit to keep that little secret from me.
You stole something precious to Equestria, and threatened everypony in not one but two worlds by your actions. On a more personal note one of those fillies I foalsat for was Twilight Sparkle, and while I tried not to play favorites, I’d have to say she was certainly one of them. Now of course she’s my equal, a fellow Princess of Equestria, and while I’ve had a few shining moments myself she has been far more critical to recent events than anypony could have ever imagined. I should mention as well that she’s my sister in law.
I’ve read her full report, in detail, of what happened over there. Not only were you a megalomaniacally treacherous little madmare fooling with powers you couldn’t comprehend, but you tried to kill my little sister.
Celestia wants you given the benefit of the doubt. Luna argues for caution, but acknowledges that everypony deserves the opportunity for redemption. Hopefully we can convince her to write her own letter to you, she feels reluctant to get involved. Twilight, well, I’ll leave that for her letter.
It may not behoove the ‘Princess of love’ to hold such an opinion but my initial reaction was that had I my way we’d force you back to Equestria at the earliest opportunity, permanently bond a limiter to your horn, and stick you in one of those few facilities we maintain for those ponies who cannot keep their criminal impulses under control. Leaving you free on the other side of that gate is too dangerous for everypony involved.
But dealing with some of the remaining miscreants and toadies left over in the Crystal Empire from Sombra’s days, the handful of hucksters and shysters from across Equestria looking for fertile grounds, not to mention a visit from Discord, I’ve quickly learned to give ponies the benefit of the doubt, and opportunities to make restitution for their wrongs.
So for the time being, I am withholding my judgement on you, and have chosen to sit on the fence as to our options with regards to your long term situation. Assuming you take advantage of what is going to be available to you, I will be willing to give you the benefit of the doubt, but Elysium help you if you threaten my ponies, friends, and family again.
Princess Cadance
Sunset focused on the last few lines of clear, bold block writing and tried to remember what she could of the small pink alicorn that had been new to the court shortly before she became completely estranged with her former mentor. Truly, while jealous of attention the newly minted ‘Princess’ she had been more focused on what secrets and knowledge Celestia was withholding from her. Not to say she had treated Cadance with anything like respect; Having grown up in an earth pony village Cadance had been, in her assessment, a barely competent pegasus and would probably never amount to anything more than a foal’s basic magic skills. Sunset had figured her title of Princess was given solely to insulate her from all but the boldest of noble’s schemes.
It seems, yet again, she had been wrong.
Folding the letter and carefully setting it aside, she flipped over the last envelope, which was sealed, to her surprise, not with purple stamped wax but with what appeared to be a finely painted seal. Something like lavender lacquer had been applied in a circle, with a deeper magenta 6 pointed starburst covering another starburst in brilliant white. Unlike the cutie mark she had seen on the mare in question however, the five symbols surrounding the central stars were not simple white stars but instead multicolored symbols; a red lightning bolt, a purple diamond, a pink butterfly, an orange apple, and a blue balloon.
Before reaching to break the seal, Sunset stroked her fingers across the smooth surface. A strange… something washed over her. She was almost simultaneously giddy and nauseous. This was made by the Element of Magic. The true one, not the twisted thing she had touched a month ago. Not just Magic. She could feel the echos, the connections, the bonds between Princess Twilight and the other mares who were her friends. Those mares whose counterparts had helped crush her insane schemes.
Perhaps one day she’d get to meet them. In the mean time, glancing at the clock ticking across the desk, she noted that even though Vice Principal Luna wore an expression of infinite patience, if she didn’t get things sorted out soon her after lunch study period would be over and she’d be late for physics. Sunset had managed to get away with a lot of manipulation, recklessness, and bad behaviour without much if any consequences over the last few years but no-one was late for Miss Romanadvoratrelundar’s physics class. No-one, under any circumstances, principals, magical pony princesses, overcrowded hallways, there were no acceptable excuses. Miss Romana (as she allowed her students to call her because of her tongue twister of a name), or quite oddly ‘Fred’, (though few were brave enough to consider using the moniker, even though the few who had appeared to have suffered no consequences anyone knew of) was very, very stringent when it came to all things related to time.
Sunset prepared herself for whatever ‘offer’ Princess Twilight was about to make, though oddly felt not a jolt or any other feedback as her finger tore through the odd, painted seal on the envelope’s back.
Author's Note
Cadance and Sunset have that odd disconnect of not remembering the same level of impact of each other; Sunset treated everypony as badly as Cadance really, it's just that Cadance has never really realized this.
I hope you don't mind the Easter Egg. I pulled Romana aka Minuet aka Colgate into the role of a teacher because I need more. (she's the blue-white maned unicorn mare with the hourglass.) As for Fred... well just go watch the 'Key to Time' series. I also felt the need to move time in the 'real world' along... Sunset IS in school at the moment after all.
I'm sorry this took so long I've been dealing with family things and it's not getting much better yet.
Cadance seems a little vengeful maybe but she lacks the long view of both Luna and Celestia. She's also possibly becoming a bit fed up with what seem like constant personal attacks on her and those she loves; the changeling invasion, Sombra when the Crystal Empire re-appeared, and finally the attempted attack on Equestria in general and Twilight in particular by Sunset (after she goes all uber-demon Sunset decides on some roast pony princess, so yes she DID try to kill Twilight.) Give her three or four hundred years of experience and she would have kept a cooler head and written a more diplomatic letter I'm sure.
If you're wondering why Twilight has such a gaudy/stylish seal, well darling who do you think she would ask to design it for her of course?
Comments, criticism, corrections, and verbal abuse welcome.
Chapter 4: Twilight's Letter
Sunset unfolded the letter inside the final envelope, peering at the crab-like horn writing of the type of pony who normally writes only caring about their own ability to interpret their scribblings, but is trying to reign in their chicken scratch to be legible to a larger audience.
Sunset Shimmer,
Hopefully the sixth writing of this letter is the charm. I’m being asked to do a difficult thing, but it certainly isn’t the first difficult task I’ve had placed in front of me.
I don’t know if you’re aware but while there has been a position of ‘Princess Celestia’s First Student’ in Princess Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns for the entire eight hundred years of its existence, you were the first pony since the founding to actually receive instruction from ~~Princess~~ Celestia herself. ~~Princess~~ Celestia the ~~Princess~~ ~~Princess~~ Luna ~~Princess~~ Cadence ~~Princess~~ Celestia.
I am not starting over on this letter again.
I’m sorry ~~Princess~~ Celestia is having some fun at my expense. She has apparently enchanted this paper to deal with the whole ‘Twilight you are a princess as well you don’t have to address me as ~~Princess~~.’ thing.
Back to the subject at hand, since the fall of Luna to Nightmare Moon you really were, in many ways, her first real student, and she regrets horribly how she failed you.
At any rate there have been several debates between the three other princesses and myself and both Celestia and I have reflected on our mistakes. She failed as a teacher, mentor and friend to you, and I failed as well. I failed to find the forgiveness within my heart to offer you the chance to return to Equestria, to your home.
I’m so sorry, I just didn’t think.
On the other hoof Cadence and Luna would have reacted poorly to your return just then I think. Very poorly. Also though I was not aware of it at the time, there are certain thaumatalogical constants of exchange which need to be balanced, for the safety of both Equestria and the human world.
I just realized I never actually learned where I was other than Canterlot High. Maybe you can fill me in on that later.
Even now, Luna and Cadence are very much on the fence about allowing you to return, especially considering the issues involved. We are very much at an impasse.
Celestia has made what she feels is an excellent suggestion to me, and both Cadence and Luna have approached this idea with an almost alarming amount of enthusiasm. In short, they wish me to take you on, in long distance fashion, as my personal student, teaching you of the magic of friendship and the lessons I’ve learned in its many elements; Honesty, Kindness, Laughter, Loyalty and Generosity.
I’m sure you know where this is going but I’m afraid you’re wrong. While the key to my becoming an alicorn and defeating many of Equestria’s recent threats may have been my understanding of the lessons of friendship and their ties to the Elements of Harmony, I don’t feel I have reached an understanding of this on a level strong enough to become a teacher of it. Additionally, despite being Celestia’s student, the lessons I learned came not as much from her as from the friends I had made. In the end I have realized she was mainly a guiding hoof over the last few years, and not truly my teacher at all.
I'm afraid in all our best interests, for once I have to really disappoint my former teacher, and decline. I'm feel it is in everypony's best interests I not become your teacher.
So what is this ‘offer’ which you’ve no doubt seen mentioned by the other princesses? It is three fold. First, if you desire to return I offer to work toward the necessary arrangements and the appropriate conditions to allow you to do so, and do so as a free mare. Secondly, I offer to be, not your teacher, but your mentor and sounding board. I want you to learn from those around you, not me, to make some friends there in that world, and learn the lessons they have to teach, as my friends taught me, and as we taught each other.
My final offer is one I hope you will accept even if you do not wish to return to Equestria, even if your wish is to seek the knowledge of friendship on your own without any of my help. I, Twilight Sparkle, would like to be your friend Sunset Shimmer.
Whatever you decide to do we would appreciate if you responded at least once; To do so you need to place a small parcel, no bigger than the box these letters came in, behind and against the right rear hoof of the statue. Do this before midnight on the 7th night after this arrived (one Equestrian week). I’m fairly sure you don’t need to be told this having been Celestia’s prize student but don’t put anything alive in the parcel! The transposition matrix we’re using isn’t entirely stable. Things where moving bits and pieces around randomly inside the object… well it would be bad. Very bad.
Hopefully your friend,
Her Royal Highness Princess Twilight Sparkle of Equestria
P.S. Um… don’t think I’m letting things go to my head, apparently ~~Princess~~ Celestia had another enchantment on the paper as well.
Sunset sat there, somewhat stunned. Teacher? Mentor? A very small part of her bristled at the thought. She had been the personal student of Princess Celestia! One of the most talented unicorns to set foot in her school for more than 200 years!
And yet that was exactly what had gotten her in her present position in the first place.
She looked up at Vice Principle Luna, "Do you know what's in any of these?"
"No."
"I uh, need to get to class soon. Physics. I've got Miss Romana, and you know how she is about tardiness."
Luna's eyes bored into hers, her expression unreadable, until she finally spoke flatly, "Return after classes and we'll discuss things further."
Sunset Shimmer stood and walked to the door, however as she touched the doorknob, Luna cleared her throat. Sunset looked back over her shoulder. Luna was holding up 5 more envelopes, spread so Sunset could see the 5 symbols drawn on their faces.
"Bring your friends," she said.
Author's Note
As to the 'strike through' magic, 'princesses' non specific wasn't affected by the spell. The two mentions of her school the Princess is part of the name, which is why it is not marked through.
And the twist. A small one.