How Sunset Shimmer befriended all (and grew closer to another)

When Sunset was told of her return to Equestria, She was less than happy. The yellow skinned girl begged to stay and mend her ways here on school campus, but Twilight explained to her that she had caused damage in Equestria as well.

"Princess Celestia probably won't expect her original student to return with me...but I think it would please her to see you again." Twilight told her calmly, while Sunset wiped slowly at her soaked cheeks.

"B-But...I feel...so stupid for treating this school like dirt!" Sunset exclaimed, gesturing to the many students behind her that looked confused. Twilight nodded at this.

"I do see that...I really do..." Twilight tried. "But you need to isolate yourself from here. Just for a little while, at least."

"Um...if it helps..." Fluttershy rubbed the back of her head. "I don't think...you're as mean as you looked before."

"DEFINETLY NOT!" Pinkie smiled widely.

"Indeed!"

"Fer Sure!"

"Right!"

Sunset sniffles at their kind remarks about her, still not entirely convinced by Princess Twilight....but luckily for her, She looked convinced enough. "...I...You promise it's...just for a little while?"

"It's really up to you on that, Sunset. Whenever you wish to come back here...you're welcome to." Twilight explained.

Sunset swallowed nervously and shook like a leaf as she  crept towards the mirror with Twilight. Deja Vu took hold of her mind like a Python constricts it's prey in a death grip, and just like the doomed prey, she felt fear seep into the rest of body if she was about to die. Who knows how angry Princess Celestia would be when she got back...or what she would do about her betrayal to Equestria. Oh, how she wished could have stopped herself sooner and saved her heart the trouble of deep regret.

"All we gotta do is walk through here..." Twilight frowned. "And then we're home..."

Spike barked from beside their feet with a nod.

Sunset nodded, already knowing what the portal would do. "I know...T-Twilight...?"

The Alicorn human heard the urgent sadness in her voice and turned to face Sunset with a look of worry. Sunset failed to meet her eyes, and merely gazed at her boots. "Yes, Sunset?"

"..." Sunset swallowed, frowned deeper and sighed forlornly. "I'm...I'm...I-I'm scared."

"...I see..." Twilight reluctantly placed an arm around her shoulder, as if it was deeply awkward to do so. "And it's perfectly fine to be scared...Honestly, I've been scared thousands of times..."

"You mean...when I tried to kill you?"

"No..." Twilight shook her head. "I was scared that you had changed completely. That you wouldn't want to take the huge step you're taking now. To right your wrongs..."

"Really?" Sunset Shimmer was deeply curious about this. "That's...very surprising to me."

"Oh?"

"Yeah...I didn't think anyone would ever really care about me...especially after..." She paused and sighed. "...Thank you for this."

"...You're welcome, Sunset Shimmer. " Twilight smiled softly.

Twilight was the first to appear in Equestria once again. Thanks to her being used to standing on two legs for so long, the Alicorn was still standing on her two hind legs when she did appear. She wobbled with no balance for a moment, and finally clipped down on all fours once again. The instant after, Twilight was tackled by the very four ponies she wanted to see again for so long.

"TWILIGHT!" They all shrieked with joy. "YOU'RE BACK!"

"WE MISSED YOU SO MUCH DARLING!" Rarity exclaimed, tightening her hug on Twilight.

"And you've got your crown back!" Rainbow Dash cheered.

Pinkie Pie suddenly stared at Applejack worriedly. "Hey...are you crying?"

"HUH?!" Applejack furiously wiped her eyes. "N-No! I just had somethin in my eyes!"

"Tears, Darling?" Rarity asked calmly. "Because we all feel like crying, somewhere within us right now."

Applejack blushed and grinned. Their reunion was interrupted by a worried Princess Celestia, who gazed at Twilight anxiously. "Is Sunset Shimmer alright?"

Before Princess Celestia could get an answer from Twilight, Spike poked his head out from the mirror. "Well, Princess Celestia, I think you should find out for yourself!"

He quietly began to coax an unseen person out from the mirror. And as soon as he face surfaced out, Everypony knew that it was Sunset Shimmer, just as they had last seen her before she left. The Pony scanned the room with wide eyes, and apparently didn't expect everyone to be here like this. Or for Rainbow Dash to be the first to speak...angrily for that matter. "YOU!"

"*whimper*..." Sunset looked as if she was going to jump back into the mirror, which she knew wouldn't work now.

"Dash, wait!" Twilight commanded. "Everypony! She wanted to come back here on non-violent terms...She...has something to say to Princess Celestia."

Princess Celestia gazed at Sunset Shimmer as if she were the most important pony in the world. Sunset swallowed again, and her entire body shook fearfully under the gazes of all these ponies. But even so, she cleared her throat with a tiny cough and began to speak. "...So...I,um...In the past, I've done some terrible things...I was so selfish that when I didn't get  the things I wanted, I left Celestia...almost forever...and then I stole Twilights crown. I had no good reason to do anything like that, and I know that now...I was so stupid back then, trying to have so much power and...and trying to come back here with an army. And even if I did, I'd still be as sorry as I am now because...because it's not what I would have wished for. I never realized it up until now,and I feel like...Celestia was trying to tell me herself, that Friendship truly is Magic. The most powerful magic. And it's not something I want to destroy or control for bad things...I just...I want...I--"

Princess Celestia didn't give her the breath to finish, because she had gripped the pony in the warmest hug possible. Sunset was shocked, and from the looks of the mane six, They were just as surprised as she was. The pony only grew more surprised when Princess Celsestia drew back slightly, and she looked close to tears. "P-Princess Celestia?!"

"Did you think I was angry with you?"

"Yes..."

"...I am not."

"WHAT?" Sunset all but exclaimed. Princess Celestia smiled slightly.

"I am not angry with you. But I was deeply worried for you...I always was...ever since you left." The Alicorn frowned now. "You were too confused when you left, and I feared you had lost yourself...But it seems that Twilight has convinced both of us otherwise. So...I am not angry nor worried with you. In fact, I am proud that you have found your way back with us. You AND Twilight."

For some reason, despite her still feeling terrible about everything, The yellow furred pony smiled as widely as she had ever smiled before. Seeing Sunset so happy, Twilight smiled as well.

"...There is still the Subject of your punishment, however."

Shimmer frowned, but nodded. "I take full responsibility for this, and therefore I willingly except my punishment."

"Oh, you misunderstand. I must first decide if you NEED to be punished." The Monarch explained. "Which I don't think you do."

"I...Don't understand! I should be punished for this!" Sunset tried to reason. "Don't you what I did?!"

"You had a misunderstanding. And everyone in this room has been through such things." Princess Celestia gazed st the Mane six, who nodded in agreement. "Tell me, Sunset Shimmer, do you wish for me to be what is known as a Hypocrite?"

"No, Ma'am!"

"Then you will not be punished. However, you will be...in custody, we shall say. Princess Twilight, you are to return home now as will your friends...and you are taking Sunset Shimmer with you."

"Yay!" Fluttershy cheered, joined by the smiles of everyone else.

"You all actually want me to come?!" Sunset's eyes went wide.

"Duh!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed. "We were pretty cautious at first, but we're cautious with plenty of ponies!"

"Not really." Applejack shrugged. "But you're worth a try, Sugarcube!"

"Sooooo," Rarity began. "What do you say, Darling?"

"I hope it's yes!" Twilight smiled. "I could always use another girl's touch at the Library...no offense Spike."

"Hmmph..." The Dragon grumbled and crossed his arms.

"Weeell..." Sunset rubbed her chin in deep thought. It wasn't punishment, which she still thought she needed...but this was still great. A new start to her life that could begin with new friends like them, and in time she could even clear her dark past from memory. And maybe...just maybe, she could enjoy the Magic of Friendship. The Pony smiled widely at the girls. "It HAS been a while since I've been to The Library."