Sun Rise: A new dawn

Ten minutes earlier, Sunset Shimmer was trailing just behind Twilight with Spike riding on her back. The setting sun blinded their path as they galloped urgently towards the hospital.

“Twilight,” Sunset huffed, nearly tripping over her own leg yet again. Despite being a pony for the greater part of her life, she wasn’t used to galloping and was struggling to keep up. “Wait,” she begged Twilight.

But Twilight didn’t hear her. Instead, her attention was focused solely on reaching the hospital which was now in view. As they came closer to the main entrance, Spike suddenly jumped up and began to panic. “Twilight, the guard,” he yelled, pointing to the door.

Sunset and Twilight looked as one of the security guards was whistling dutifully towards the door. His keys were hanging from his belt as he readied to lock up for the night.

“We’re not going to make it!” shouted Sunset worryingly.

“Oh yes, we will,” Twilight glared as the guard lifted the key to the keyhole. Her horn began to glow a bright purple. “Hold on everypony!” she shouted before summoning a gust of wind and slamming the doors wide open.

“Hey!” shouted the guard in surprise as the three blazed inside.

“Everypony stop!” beckoned one of the nurses at her station. The trio ignored the calls and screams from the hospital staff as they galloped down the hallway. As they turned the corner, their path was suddenly blocked by two security guards.

“Stop in the name of Princess Celestia,” demanded the unicorn guard.

Without saying a word, Twilight and Spike’s bodies disappeared in a flash of light before reappearing just ahead. Spike smirked as the two then darted around the corner and up the staircase. They were swiftly followed by another group of ponies led by Nurse Redheart.

Following Twilight’s lead, Sunset Shimmer tried to cast the same teleportation spell, but before she could cast it she was tackled by a pegasus security guard. “Got you,” he grunted as he held her down.

“Let me go,” she grunted under his weight. Suddenly she was surrounded by a light blue light and was lifted off the ground.

“You go after the others, Nimbus,” growled the unicorn security guard. “I’ve got this one.”

“Thanks, Night Light,” he nodded as he flew after the Princess.

“I’m sorry miss, but you are going to have to leave,” growled Night Light as he escorted her to the door with his magic.

“No wait-” she struggled. His magic is clearly stronger than hers. “Wait, I’m with Twilight. Let me go, the Princess needs me.”

“And she is going to have to leave too,” asserted the guard against her pleas. “Twilight may be a Princess, but in this hospital Nurse Redheart rules the roost. You’re just going to have to come back tomorrow.”

“No please.”

“Sorry Miss,” he said gruffly before dropping her outside and magically locking the door behind him.

Outside the locked hospital doors, Sunset Shimmer sat with her back resting comfortably against the cold, stone wall.

“It certainly is beautiful tonight,” sighed Sunset Shimmer serenely as she gazed up at the stars.

It had been such a long time since she had seen the night sky in Equestria. The moon was different than she remembered. No longer was it defaced with the shadow of the evil mare of the moon. Instead it shone brighter, and was nearly pure white.

She remembered listening to the stories when she was a young filly. The story of when the wise, brave and powerful Princess Celestia was forced to use the Elements of Harmony had banished her wicked little sister to the moon and saved Equestria.

It was that story that inspired her to become like Princess Celestia. A great pony that was able to defeat the ultimate evil of her time. A pony with amazing cosmic powers beyond measure. A pony with more than enough power to move both the sun and the moon. A pony like no other.

A power unlike any other. And she wanted it.

When she was a young filly, she displayed the kind of power and raw magical talent that was considered to rival that of even the greatest sorcerers of legend. Perhaps even better than Starswirl the Bearded himself at that age. No pony could compare to Sunset … or at least that’s what she thought.

Naturally a talented pony such as herself was quickly enrolled in Princess Celestia’s school for gifted unicorns. Her potential was noticed immediately by Princess Celestia, who took the young filly in as her protégé. Under the Princess’s guidance and tutelage she quickly learnt that raw talent did not account for the skills and knowledge that came from hard study.

Every exam was an opportunity to display her efforts, and reap in the praise and awe that came from her teachers, and classmates alike. When they actually wanted to befriend her, she scoffed at the notion and preferred solitude in books and ancient scrolls. The harder she studied, the more skilled she became and the more powers she gained.

Sunset’s isolation and behaviour began to alarm Princess Celestia. Her lessons of powerful spells and great magics were soon being replaced with lessons of humility and sincerity. Unfortunately, Sunset took these lessons as mere distractions for an even greater path. A path that she would later learn that could make her an alicorn.

An equal to Princess Celestia.

She always wanted to be as great as Princess Celestia, maybe even greater. But just like the human fable of Icarus the winged man; fly too close to the sun, and you get horribly burnt. Her selfishness, arrogance and ambition drove her too far. Pushed her too far. And before she knew it, she was banished to the human world … like Nightmare Moon before her.

Sunset sighed shamefully as she stared warily at the moon. She couldn’t help but think about the story of Nightmare Moon and how similar they had become to her own. How they both had desperately sought power. How they both wanted greatness. How were they willing to do anything to achieve their goal only to fail as Princess Celestia bested them both. The story of Nightmare Moon had become a mirror of her own heart. A reflection of her past ... and even now her present.

The new moon that glowed brightly in the sky now symbolised the defeat of Nightmare Moon and the return of Princess Celestia’s beloved sister, Princess Luna.

She had often seen Principal Celestia and Vice Principal Luna eating lunch together merrily as she imagined sisters would do, and wondered if Princess Celestia and Princess Luna were on similar terms too. Did they talk about the funny things that happened that day? Did they fight over the last piece of cake? Did Princess Celestia forgive Princess Luna?

If she did … forgive Luna that is … maybe could she even…

“Forgive me?”

Perhaps, she could even muster the courage to see Princess Celestia and apologise. But before she could think about it further, Sunset’s thoughts were rudely interrupted when suddenly Twilight burst outside, slamming the doors wide open and giving Sunset a fright.

“SUNSET? ARE YOU STILL HERE?” Twilight shouted frantically. She twisted her head from side to side, completely oblivious to the annoyed mare who was picking herself up just behind her.

“SUNSET, WHERE ARE YOUUU~AAAHH,” she screamed as Sunset tapped her on her shoulders.

“No need to yell,” Sunset responded after blocking her ears, “I’m right here.”

“Oh thank goodness, you’re still here,” she sighed with a breath of relief. “What happened? I thought you were right behind me?”

“I was. But then you teleported ahead and got past the guards whereas I uh didn’t. Well to be more precise, I couldn’t,” Sunset admitted shamefully. “Guess I’m a little out of practice.”

“Well I’m glad you’re still here. the others are awaiting with C-C-C-ele-ssSSTIA,” Twilight stammered, nearly crashing into her former mentor. “Wh-Wh-What-are-you-doing-here?”

“I followed you,” responded Princess Celestia, acting aloof. “Spike’s letter mentioned that a certain mare would be returning to Equestria. Given the circumstances of her departure, I don’t suppose you care to elaborate why she has returned?”

Twilight gulped. In her haste to report to the Princess of her findings, she had completely overlooked her past relationship with Sunset. She turned to Sunset Shimmer who stood pale as a ghost.

“Good evening, Sunset Shimmer."

“Hi,” swallowed Sunset nervously as she looked up at the scowl from her former teacher. Whilst Sunset knew she would need to make amends with the solar princess, she hadn’t expected to see her former teacher so soon. "Princess Celestia, I-”

“It’s my fault,” Twilight interjected, stepping between the two. “I asked Sunset to come”

Princess Celestia raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”

“Yes, and you see, Sunset figured out that the stallion’s speaking a human language. She has a book.” The Princess didn’t respond, but she didn’t look impressed either. Under Celestia’s intense glare, muttered Twilight as she began to falter. “And-she-uh-well-I-umm?”

Sunset sighed heavily. Now was as good of a time as ever, she thought before looking back at Celestia with a renewed sense of determination.

“Princess Celestia,” she began sternly as she slowly walked towards her. “The last time we saw each other, I was your snide little pupil who betrayed and abandoned you.”

“I wouldn’t have put it that way,” fretted Twilight under her breath.

Sunset ignored her, and continued, “I mean that I come before you a changed pony, humbly asking for forgiveness, guidance, and knowledge,” she ended with a slight bow.

She then turned to look up at Princess Celestia, whose stern scowl remained unchanged. The colour in Sunset’s face began to fade, as did her resolve. She slowly began to back down, her voice a little crackled. “Or I can just go and you never have to see me again-”

But before she could finish, Celestia wrapped her hoof around the young mare and pulled her into a warm hug. “I missed you, Sunset Shimmer,” she whispered with a gentle smile and a tear hidden underneath her wavy mane.

Sunset froze for a moment, as though her icy heart began to melt within her former teacher's forgiving embrace. As tears began to form into her eyes she broke down as a flood of emotions came gushing through. “I - I’m so sorry.”

“I’m sorry too,” Celestia whispered in her ear.

Twilight couldn't help but beam a wide smile at the sight in front of her, however there were more pressing issues and a group of very patient ponies (and possibly a human) waiting for them. Twilight let out a gentle cough, startling both Princess Celestia and Sunset Shimmer. "I'm sorry but..."

"You're right, Twilight," said Princess Celestia. "Let us go inside, and speak with our new friend. After all we wouldn't want to upset Nurse Redheart any further.