Chapter 7: The Summer Sun Celebration

The Sparkle family had finished making their preparations for the Summer Sun Celebration. Sunset had held up for the remainder of the night, thanks mostly to Shining Armor's comforting. She chose to focus on the celebration at hand, and not to worry, even if those feelings kept trying to come back.

Twilight, though initially worried about Sunny, she quickly forgot all about the incident, having too much fun to think about it. And, since Sunny was acting happy, that helped keep Twilight from thinking back to earlier. Sunny was acting as she was beforehand, if not a bit happier. Shining, however, was still slightly worried about Sunny, and kept glancing at her, but her being happy gave him some relief. He knew what worrying could do to a pony, from first-hoof experience.

It was still dark when they left the house, but fortunately the moon lit the way for them, as well as some lamps. Sunset looked up and saw what looked like a mare in the moon. Perhaps this was their version of the man in the moon they had on Earth, and she started to wonder why it looked different. Maybe the same reason that she looked different, why she was now a pony instead of a human.

Princess Celestia had finished preparing herself for the Celebration as well. She was able to clear her mind, and she decided to go and talk to Cadance. Though Cadance had only been an alicorn less than a year, she had helped Celestia through a few things. However, Celestia knew that Sunset was jealous of Cadance, as she had ascended into alicornhood. Cadance had tried making friends with Sunset, to no avail. However, Celestia had not told her about Sunset's fall, not about how Sunset had gone through the portal. Maybe Cadance would help her feel better. Celestia knocked on Cadance's door.

Cadance opened it. "Auntie! It's you. Do you want to come in?" Cadance had started calling Celestia her 'aunt' soon after she became an alicorn. Celestia thought that it would be too much of a shock if an pegasus raised by earth ponies was suddenly a princess. So, to make it more bearable on her people, Cadance and Celestia had developed a niece-aunt relationship. Though initially it was awkward, they both felt like family now.

"Cadance, I need to tell you something," Celestia admitted to her.

"Is it about the Celebration?" Cadance asked, concerned.

"No, it's about Sunset."

"Sunset? What about her? Do I need to drag her out of the library again?" Cadance asked, as she had to do that many times. However, this time, Celestia seemed different. "Or...?"

"She's gone, Cadance. I've failed her."

"Gone?"

"Yes, to another realm. One that even I do not know what it is like. She left last night. A few days earlier, she and I got into an argument. She claimed that she should be made my equal, or even my better. I had to throw her out of the castle. I had always intended to take her back, but she turned from me, and decided to use the mirror portal to go to the other world. I failed to teach her friendship, and the importance of it. I just wish that she would come back."

Cadance put her hoof on Celestia's shoulder. "You did not fail her, nor did she fail you. You both just made mistakes. I'm sure that one day she will return. However, having her mentor waiting on the other side may daunt her. I am willing to watch over the mirror, and make sure that she is welcomed back by someone who tried to befriend her. Do not feel bad, auntie. She will return one day, I am sure of it."

"I do hope so," Celestia replied. She was able to keep herself composed. "Now, I must raise the sun. I hope that, whatever realm she is in, that perhaps she still might see it, and know that I am still here for here, and that maybe, in thirty moons, that she will return," she said as she turned around to leave.

It was nearly dawn when the Sparkle family, accompanied by Sunset, arrived at the square just outside of Canterlot Castle. Twilight Velvet and Night Light both trusted everyone in the city to let Twilight and Sunset go off on their own, as long as they were accompanied by Shining Armor. The three younger ponies made their way through the crowd to make it near the front in the last few moments of the twilight.

Princess Celestia readied herself, determined to give her people hope, and perhaps, if Sunset could see her, maybe give her a reason to return. So, she decided to make this one her best one yet. The fanfare played, and she walked up to go and raise the sun, and have the new day dawn, as well as begin summer.

As the fanfare occurred, the Princess of the Sun walked up. She then used her magic to raise the Sun, as she also used her wings to raise herself. When she arrived at high enough in the sky, with the Sun behind her, she spread her wings. The Sun shone around her, as if she was part of the Sun come down.

This amazed both Twilight Sparkle and Sunset, their eyes widening. "Wow," Sunset said, in complete awe of what was happening.

As the Sun rose above Princess Celestia, she looked down upon her little ponies. The cheering of her ponies had given her hope, as the sun had given them. However, when she looked upon them, she saw two fillies beside each other, one of which was Sunset Shimmer, but without a cutie mark, just like the one she had seen in the spell she had cast. Celestia almost broke down, at first thinking it was her Sunset, but she was able to keep herself composed. As she landed, she lost sight of this other Sunset, and as she looked out upon the crowd, she could no longer see her. Perhaps she was imagining things. She turned away and headed back to the castle. This was what she normally did after raising the Sun, as it normally took a lot out of her.

Meanwhile, in the crowd, the young Twilight turned to Sunset. "That was amazing Sunny, wasn't it?! Now I want to learn even more about magic! Just think about it!" Twilight said excitedly to her new friend.

Sunset, however, was still in awe of what just had happened. A magical pony with wings and a horn had moved the sun to create an amazing spectacle and start a season. And now, she was a unicorn with magic. But, not only that, it seemed like the Princess, the ruler of Equestria, with enough power to move the Sun and Moon, had looked at her. Sunset almost started freaking out about whether the princess would know that she wasn't from there, when Shining interrupted her train of thought.

"Really Twily? More reading? What do you think, Sunny?"

Sunset was pulled back to the conversation. "I think studying magic would be great. I mean, there seems like there is so much one can do with it."

"My thoughts exactly!" Twilight said.

Shining just rolled his eyes and smiled. "Well, before you two do magical research and such, why don't we have fun? This is a celebration after all!"

Both Twilight and Sunset agreed to that, as they went off to enjoy what else the Celebration had to offer.

Celestia had gone back to the palace, before breaking down again. She just could not remove her student, no, her daughter from her thoughts. She was walking down one of the halls when one of the guards trotted up to her.

"Excuse me, Princess, but somepony has requested access to the mirror, claiming that you allowed it."

"Who was it?" Celestia asked the guard.

"Princess Cadance," he replied.

"Yes, I did give her permission to access the mirror. I shall go there myself to ensure that she is allowed in," Celestia responded, before heading towards the room in which the mirror was kept.

She came to the door, and was met by Cadance. They both entered the room, and closed the door behind them.

"Cadance, I have one more thing I must show you before allowing you to take the mirror," Celestia said, with concern in her voice.

"What is it?" Cadance asked, wondering if it was a warning about danger, or how to transport it.

"This." Celestia raised her head and active her magic again, once more showing Sunset Shimmer leave, but then a Sunset falling through the mirror, and then the blinding light that left the other Sunset nowhere to be seen.

"But, that was Sunset Shimmer, but, she had no cutie mark. How?"

"I do not know. Perhaps I made a mistake in casting the spell, and my memories were interfering. My desire to have Sunset back, no longer seeking power, as she was as a filly. At least, that was what I had originally thought, until earlier. At the Celebration, after I had raised the Sun and was looking out upon the crowd, I thought I saw this other Sunset again. I do not know what to think of it, whether I was imagining it, or if somehow the mirror changed Sunset and she was sent back," Celestia admitted. She was torn up about it. The only pony she could confide in now was Cadance. At least she could confide in somepony this time. When she had banished her sister to the moon, she had no one to talk to, for years before her old mentor had disappeared, and her one confidant had been her sister.

Cadance thought for a moment, before responding. "Auntie, we both know that wherever Sunset is, she can take care of herself. Honestly, this could just be your imagination. You told me once that she was like family to you. I know that you've lived a long time. Has anything like this happened to you before?"

Celestia lowered her head. "Sunset wasn't just like family to me. I have never told anyone, but after her parents passed, I adopted her. She is my daughter, she is my family. And yes, Something like this did happen to me before. However, you must never tell anypony about it. It happened after I failed my sister, Luna. She, too, had to be sent away. She changed into something I could not recognize. But, even after she was gone, I thought I saw her a few times, as the pony I did recognize."

Cadance was surprised. "You had a sister? I'm so sorry, I never knew."

"Yes, and I failed Sunset just as I failed her. She is gone now, but my hopes of seeing her again are not. I cannot explain why. I hope that both Sunset and Luna will come back, and that they will be ready to be better."

Cadance walked up to Celestia, and put her hoof on her aunt. "Then I will do as I said I would, and take this mirror for when Sunset does return, to show her kindness. And I'm sure your family will love to see you when they return, both your sister, and your daughter." Cadance chose not to think about Sunset being Celestia's adoptive daughter, she was still taking in that Celestia had a sister.

"Thank you, Cadance. It means a lot to me."

Sunset, Twilight, and Shining Armor enjoyed many activities at the festival, before returning to the Sparkle house with Twilight Velvet and Night Light. Sunset smiled. It had been a good day.

Sunset then tried to remember when she had last had as much fun as that. She thought back to a little over a year ago, right before she and her dad had moved to Canterlot City. Her dad had slept in, and she was able to go out and enjoy her day with her friend, Starlight Glimmer. They did a lot together, when Sunset's dad wasn't keeping Sunset in her room or she stayed in there for fear. That day, she and Starlight went to a carnival with Starlight's mom. Sunset's dad had originally agreed to it, but Sunset was never sure that he wouldn't go back on his word. The carnival she and Starlight went to was fun, and it was the last day they had spent together. Sunset wished she could have stayed with Starlight, but her dad did not allow it. That day, the games, the rides, and the Ferris Wheel with Starlight and Starlight's mom were some of the best memories she had.

Sunset had eventually come to terms with leaving her home town and Starlight. She missed it, and now, here in this pony world, she was even further away. However, she did not feel that way. Twilight Sparkle reminded Sunset of Starlight. Sunset looked up, and whispered, "Starlight, wherever you are, I hope you are happy." She said it quietly enough so that nopony could hear her.

Sunset and Twilight then both went to bed, and soon the whole family had also turned in. Sunset fell asleep quickly, due to the activities of the day. She was tired enough that her thoughts did not wander before going to bed. When she fell asleep, she had a smile on her face.

Author's Note

Chapter 7 is finished! As is Part I.

I am planning on having each Part be 7 chapters, number of completion and all. I do not know how many chapters I will be making.

I am actually really happy with this chapter. In this story, I've spent more time on Celestia than I thought I would, and I am enjoying writing her scenes. I also now have Cadance! Yay! And I included a little Starlight (Human Starlight). Oops.

Also, now, thanks to a friend, I have a cover. This is only the part of it, but I love it so far. FILLY SUNSET IS SO CUTE I'M DYING.

I hope everyone enjoyed it! Writing all of these characters have been fun, to say the least. I tried to make this chapter happier than the last, and Sunset's scenes were happier, though Celestia's not as much. I really enjoyed Cadance's interactions with Celestia as well.

I will do my best to update on Fridays, but college is very busy, so I apologize for any and all delays.