Sunset Shimmer approached the statue in front of Canterlot High, the landmark casting imposing shadows in the morning sun. Magic radiated from it in waves, the marble base rippling and shimmering ever so subtly. A human wouldn’t even be able to sense the change, but she could.
The portal was open.
It was May now, the events of the Fall Formal long behind. Sunset had settled comfortably into the human world with the help of her new friends, all the while trying to make up for what she had done, knowing that she never fully could. In that time though there was one thing that hadn't stopped nagging at the back of her mind. One loose end that filled her with dread every time she thought about it, but something she felt couldn't be put off any longer. A few weeks ago she had calculated the date. Now she stood there before the statue, unable to bring herself to step any closer.
The sun seemed to taunt her, crawling its way through the sky, reminding her that she had precious little time. She had waited until the last day; each time she had tried to go, doubt and anxiety would overwhelm her and she would back out. This was her last chance. If she didn't go now, she wouldn't have another opportunity for thirty moons; and she knew the longer she waited, the harder it would be.
Taking a deep breath, Sunset stepped through.
. . .
Canterlot castle was quiet. Sunset's legs felt unsteady as she walked through the vast throne room, her hoof steps echoing off the walls; but not because of being back on four legs for the first time in who knew how long. She had been preparing herself for this trip for a while now, but when she had set eyes on the familiar room it had caused her resolve to shake just a little. She briefly considered turning tail and running right back through the portal when two guards entered and called her name.
“The princess has been expecting you,” one of them said as he gestured with his hoof. Sunset stopped in her tracks, her eyes widening in panic. Was Celestia going to arrest her. Why had she sent guards to greet her? The urge to race back through the portal grew, but the two made no move to apprehend her. They were simply waiting for her. Exhaling and nodding respectfully, Sunset followed.
It felt surreal to be back in this place. Everything looked both so familiar and so alien all at once; something from a dream, or a distant memory. Sunset found she remembered almost everything. There was the royal library, and the ballroom. That hall led to where she had stayed when she lived here. Memories of a happier time weighed heavy on her heart as she took everything in. She didn’t have much time to spare for this nostalgia however, as the guards kept her moving along until they reached Celestia's private quarters.
"She's here, your highness," one of them announced into the open door.
Celestia's voice carried from the room. "Send her in."
Sunset had been prepared to accept whatever the princess's reaction to her visit might be, but she was still anxious as she entered the cozy sitting room. She could still very easily be arrested, or banished, or any of Celestia's number of creative punishments. Her former mentor sat waiting for her, watching her with a carefully neutral expression. She nodded to the guards, thanking them, and they left the two in privacy. Celestia regarded her former student quietly for a moment.
“I thought you might come back,” she began, her tone as neutral as her look. “After Twilight returned and told me what happened, I had the mirror moved back here for just this occasion.” She rose to her hooves and approached the meek Sunset, who had stayed near the door.
“I just came to… to talk,” Sunset explained, unable to meet the princess's eyes.
Celestia nodded silently, but the younger mare made no effort to say anything more. The princess waited patiently.
"No guards?" Sunset noted finally. "I figured you'd want me under watch while I was here," The statement was quiet, but held a slight note of contempt.
"I don't believe you are any danger," Celestia said.
"How could you possibly know?"
"Sunset, I was hoping that when you finally returned you'd show me you've changed. I want to give you that opportunity," She gave her a serious look. "I don't want to treat you like a criminal if I don't have to,"
Sunset finally looked her old mentor in the eye, amazed at what she was hearing. She had forgotten what a vast capacity for forgiveness the alicorn had. She didn't deserve such generosity, and yet she had offered it without hesitation.
They fell into silence again, Celestia still poised and polite and Sunset stiff and uneasy. She hadn't really come here with a concrete plan, and it was coming back to bite her as she struggled with how to say all of the things that she wanted to. Luckily Celestia saved her by speaking first. "Would you like to sit down?" she asked, gesturing a wing to some plush looking cushions near the fireplace.
"I guess so," Sunset accepted, moving more into the room and settling down on the soft pillow. Celestia made herself comfortable opposite her.
"You probably won't believe me, but I'm actually happy to see you," the elder mare said.
"Really?"
"Of course. I didn't think I'd ever get to see you again, after..." A touch of sadness clouded the regal alicorn's face.
Guilt pressed heavily on Sunset at the look. Even after all this time, she had never considered just how much her departure had affected Celestia. "I'm sorry..." Sunset whispered. "I know it doesn't change anything, but I really am sorry..."
"I know," Celestia said simply. "It's alright, I forgive you,"
"No it isn't. I was awful to you, and to everyone else who was kind to me. I was awful and selfish and... and..." She took a shuddering breath, "I don't deserve this, your kindness. I never deserved it, any of it. I just took everything I had for granted,"
"But you've realized that you were wrong. I believe that in and of itself shows how much you've grown."
"A bit too late, huh?" Sunset said wryly.
"Mmm," Celestia nodded sagely. Someone came in requiring Celestia’s assistance with something, but she waved them off. Luna could take care of it, she said, whoever that was. Probably some new assistant, Sunset thought. It was silent again as Celestia waited for her former pupil to speak, sensing that she had more to say.
"You sure replaced me easily, didn't you?" Sunset said finally with a note of bitterness.
"What?" Celestia said, shocked at the accusation.
"Maybe it was for the best, what happened," Sunset continued, her words full of venom. "Now you've got the perfect protege you always wanted, one who’ll do whatever you say. She can follow in your footsteps while I…” She looked down at her hooves. “I get to just be the mistake," Her voice cracked on the last word, bitter tears stinging her eyes.
Celestia looked appalled. Rising from her place on the large pillow, she moved to lay beside Sunset Shimmer. "How could you say that?" she asked. "You are not just a mistake, Sunset. You were once my closest friend, as well as my star student,"
Sunset cringed at that word: once. Meaning no longer. Though of course she could never have expected anything different.
"And though I was, and admittedly still am, not happy with the path you chose," Celestia continued, "I would have welcomed you back without hesitation, because I do care about you Sunset Shimmer. Please don't think I don't. Of course Twilight is important to me as well, but you were my very first student. That is something Twilight can never have,"
She laid a comforting wing over her old friend, and Sunset feared that she would not be able to hold back the tears that threatened her. It was dawning on her, the full gravity of what she had given up that day. Not just knowledge and power, but a friend. A friend who had once cared about her, had sought to save her from what she had become. A friend who was now welcoming her back as easily as if nothing had ever happened. Sunset leaned into the white alicorn's embrace, and a few tears did break free. The two stayed like that for a while, Celestia comforting the crying unicorn as she apologized over and over.
"I'm sorry too," Celestia said quietly. "I truly am. So, so sorry,"
For Celestia had regrets too. She had not been able to save Sunset, had not been able to show her the error of her ways. She felt she had failed the young unicorn. She had had so much potential, and she allowed her to throw it all away just like that.
Finally Sunset addressed the elephant in the room that both of them had been avoiding. "So you're really not going to do anything about that whole 'tried to take over Equestria with an army of innocent mind controlled humans' thing?" Her voice was weak, but she attempted to regain her composure.
Celestia frowned. "I think you've learned your lesson..." She did not want to have to punish her former student any more if it was not necessary, and somehow she felt it wasn't. Some might call it a weakness of hers but she believed everyone deserved a second chance. Especially a friend.
. . .
After that the two just talked for a while. They drank tea and ate cookies and reminisced and enjoyed each other's company. For the first time in a long while Sunset truly felt at peace.
Time flew much too quickly though, and soon the light outside the window began to dim. Sunset knew she had to leave before the portal closed. Regretfully she raised herself to her hooves, feeling lighter than she had in ages. "Well, I suppose I've got to get going..." she sighed. Celestia saw her out.
"You aren't going to stay?" she inquired as they walked through the silent castle. Sunset knew what she meant.
"I've thought about it, but I've been away from Equestria for so long. I think I'd have a hard time fitting in... I've made a home in the human world; it's where I belong now,"
She nodded, "I understand. Will you at least come and visit?"
"Of course I will," she said with a smile. Eventually they reached the throne room. The mirror stood there waiting for them, still sparkling and rippling, but not for long. The two old friends shared a brief embrace and then Sunset turned to face the portal.
"Goodbye Princess," she said.
"Goodbye, Sunset. You're welcome back anytime. And next time I promise I won't sic the guards on you," she winked.
Sunset chuckled. "Well, see you in thirty moons," With that she stepped through the portal, and with a flash of light she was gone. Celestia watched her leave with a sad smile.
"See you soon, my faithful student..." Outside the moon shone brightly against the quickly darkening sky.
The mirror flashed, and then was solid once more.