Sunset watched as three younger fillies rushed into the room, an earth pony with her red hair tied back with a large bow, a pegasus with orange fur and stylized purple mane, and Sweetie Belle bringing up the rear.

“Oh, hi again, Sunset!” Sweetie Belle squeaked as she waved at the mare she had seen earlier in her sister’s boutique. “Do you know my friends as well?”

“You three…” the three fillies were caught off guard with how deadly Sunset’s quiet voice was, venom dripping from every syllable. “Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle… The secret spreaders…”

“O-Oh… You, uh, heard about that, huh?” Sweetie Belle said awkwardly, a slight, scared tremor coming to her voice as she rubbed the back of her front leg. “Yeah, not our brightest moment…”

“You… You three ruined my life!” Sunset yelled loudly, the room shaking and causing the fillies to all back away in panic as Applejack and Twilight rushed to the unicorn’s sides.

“Sunset, relax. That’s not them.” Twilight cautioned, trying and failing to pull Sunset’s head toward her with her hoof.

“Hey now, Ah don’ need ya ta break anythin’ else now, ya hear, Sunset?” Applejack warned as she stepped between Sunset and the trio of trembling fillies.

“After everything I did to try and atone…!” Sunset could feel herself vibrating violently as she stared blankly through Applejack. “You three…”

“Sunset, these three are innocent! You know that!” Twilight dashed to stand beside Applejack.

“Innocent…?” the swirling blackness in Sunset’s eyes calmed, slowly starting to ebb as the mares breathing calmed. “They… No, no you’re… Oh god…”

“Sunset!” came the mirrored cries from Applejack and Twilight as Sunset collapsed onto the floor, her head rushing into her hooves as she started bawling loudly.

“I’m no different than them…!” she sobbed, looking up at the pair of mares. “I went and judged someone without knowing the truth- Just like those five!”

“It’s fine, Sunset. Anypony would be emotional if they found out who was behind the destruction of their life.” Twilight said gently, trotting forward.

“But those three are innocent! I shouldn’t have yelled at them like that!”

“No, you shouldn’t have, but everypony goofs up at some point in their lives. If anything, Sunset, you should blame me for what happened to you.” Sunset looked at Twilight in shock, slowly shaking her head as she babbled incoherently. “It was me that left you in their care without taking the time to really get to know them…”

“No, Twilight! How could you have known that they were going to be different?” Sunset started shaking her head. “If I wasn’t such a total bitch when I first arrived, I- Hey, you three? I’m really sorry for yelling at your girls. I shouldn’t have done that.”

“A-As long as yer not really mad with us…” Apple Bloom managed to get out between chattering teeth as her sister helped the three of them back up onto their shaky hooves.

“No, I’m not mad with you three exactly… Just the versions of you three in the other world potentially.” Sunset gave an uneasy chuckle as she wiped away her tears. “Again, I’m really sorry about that, and I hope you don’t judge me too harshly for my outburst.”

“Well it was better than having your idol literally rain on top of you.” Scootaloo grumbled as she tried her best to still her still quaking limbs.

“An’ gettin’ shunned by yer family…” added Apple Bloom softly, kicking at the floor.

“Ah believe that they meant ta say yer apology was accepted, right?” Sunset watched as Applejack looked back at the three fillies, a slight hint of a grimace on her face as she stared at her younger sister.

“Y-Yep!” it was Sweetie Belle’s turn to speak up in her ever squeaky voice, her two friends nodding in time.

“Still… I’m sorry…” Sunset rubbed the back of her head as she slowly stood up. “And I do appreciate that your fine looking past it… I just don’t look forward to having to meet the other three of you if they are behind Anon-A-Miss.”

“That does worry me…” Twilight said, taking a half step back to give Sunset a little personal space. “I do hope it won’t affect your meetings with them.”

“Oh, Celestia… Please don’t remind me that I still need to meet with those… Yeah.” Sunset shuddered, her eyes clenching. “Anyways, I think we should head back to the Castle, Twilight. I should get back home.”

“U-Uhm… Sunset?” Apple Bloom had walked forward. “Ah… Ah know it ain’t much, but Ah’m real sorry if’n the other… us’ were tha ones responsible fer ya tryin’ ta go an kill yerself.”

“I don’t know why they would do it, but I hope you knock some sense into them!” Scootaloo said, earning surprise glances. “What? What was their motivation for spreading secrets like that?”

“I hope everything goes fine for you, Sunset. You really are a nice pony, even if you can be scary at times.” Sunset gave an uneasy chuckle at the squeaky comment from Sweetie Belle.

“Thanks, you three. I appreciate it. Now let’s go, Twilight. Thanks again for the pie, AJ, and, uh, sorry about the table.”

~

“Mom? What are you doing here?” Sunset paused as she entered the map room of Twilight’s castle, surprised to see the snow white form of her mother standing there waiting.

“Hello, Sunset.” the alicorn responded, a sad smile on her face. “Twilight? May I ask you to wait for a moment longer? Sunset and myself have something important to talk about.”

“O-Oh, uh… Sure? S-Should I give the two of you some space?” Twilight started backtracking, only to pause when she watched Celestia slowly shake her head.

“Sunset.” the amber unicorn stood ramrod straight as she heard her name, nodding quietly. “Ha… As you well know, I am quite protective of you, and while I have messed up in my raising of you at time, I am still focused on your well being.”

“Quite so.” Sunset interjected. “You crossed across the portal with the Elements of Harmony to try and rid me of my supposed corruption.”

“Right. And as you know, I am indescribably impressed with how you have changed since you left all those years agos. Yes, you may have had some hurdles along your way, but once you found your way, you have done nothing but try and improve yourself.”

“If anything, your speech last night at the ball only cemented the fact that I am beyond proud to call you my daughter. You have shown that you have grown, becoming someone that can be looked up to, regardless of your fiery outbursts.”

“That is why, here alone with the one who finally set you on your path, where no one else can judge you, I bestow upon you the gift you always wanted.” Sunset gave a surprised gasp as she found herself starting to float lightly into the air, a pale light starting to glow around her. “Many will say this was a selfish action for me to invoke, and I will not deny it. I do this so that I will have to know the pain of loss.”

Sunset made a startled sound as the light brightened, her mother’s voice starting to fade away as she felt ancient magics flare to life around her, suffusing itself into her very being. Amongst the last things she heard, was Twilight giving a shocked cry, and her mother whispering impossibly softly, yet her words unmistakable to Sunset’s ears.

“I love you, my daughter. Always know that…”

~

“Princess Celestia! What did you do!?” Twilight Sparkle shouted as she watched the glowing, unconscious form of Sunset descend softly onto the floor.

“I did the same as I did with you, Twilight.” was the mare’s response as she walked over to her daughter’s slowly dimming body. “I granted her her childhood dream, and myself the knowledge that I will never have to bury my daughter.”

There was a groan from Sunset, the mare starting to shift as she awakened from her momentary blackout, causing Twilight to rush over to her friend with a worried look in her eyes.

“You made her an alicorn!?”

“How else could I ensure her eternal life? To ensure that my only daughter will be safe.” a single tear rolled down Celestia’s muzzle. “For once in my length life, I desired to be selfish, Twilight.”

Twilight stood in silence as she watched Sunset move a hoof up to her head, another low groan escaping from her lips. “Mom…? What… What just happened…?”

“I gave you your wish, my daughter.” Sunset blinked as she looked up at her mother, pausing when she noticed the sorrow filled look on the Princess’ features, a similar look coming to her own face as realization dawned on her.

“No… Mother, how… How could you? Don’t you worry what everyone else will say? What they will think when the hear that-” Sunset slowly shifted around, only to be silenced with a simple movement of Celestia’s regal head.

“I have granted you eternal life, Sunset. All so that I can sleep in peace. I have been the most self-serving individual that Equestria has ever known.” Celestia knelt down fully, prostrating herself before her daughter. “...Can you ever forgive me…?”

“Mom, you…” Sunset reached out, gently rubbing her hoof along her mother’s face. “Of course I forgive you. All your life you have lead Equestria, focusing entirely on the well being of both the country, and those that inhabit it. I think you are allowed to have one selfish desire.”

“But it will affect you for all eternity, my dear, dear daughter. Immortality is more a curse, than a blessing. It will lead you to more pain and suffering than you can possibly comprehend, and I forced it upon you for my own greedy whims. My own desire to not feel that pain.”

“I think becoming the thing that I wished to be on my birthday every year will more than enough compensation.” Sunset chuckled, looking back at the wings she now wore. She could feel them their, but their movements were awkward, due to the limbs being entirely new to Sunset. “But… If it means that you won’t suffer by losing me? I will gladly be your selfish reason.”

Celestia’s face contorted, emotions raging as she reached forwards and grabbed her daughter, embracing her tightly as tears streamed steadily down her face. Sunset couldn’t help by cry softly herself. While her single greatest desire from her youth may have been fulfilled, the thought of being an Alicorn Princess had long faded from her wishes. Her ascension was not a grand happening that all of Equestria would see, and she was happier for it. This was for her mother, the one who had rescued her from the streets and raised her as her own. The mother who worried for her every day even after she ran away because of her own youthful pride.

“I love you, mom.” Sunset said, closing her eyes as she focused on her magic, a brief smile coming to her face. Celestia gave a surprised sound as a flash of bright light erupted from her daughter, her limbs suddenly stretching out farther to embrace the now larger figure.

“Sunset, give me some warning when you try transformative magic! You could have-”

“I knew what I was doing, mom.” Sunset chuckled as she reached out with a hand and scratched her mother on the head, the alicorn’s annoyance, as well as her face, freezing over at the sensation blossoming from behind her royal ears.

“O-Oh…! Oh my!” Sunset laughed as she watched her mother’s rear leg start to shake, urging the girl to press the attack. “W-W-What is this feeling? S-Sunset, I demand that you stop! This- This is unsightly for a Princess!”

“Oh ho ho! No way am I stopping now, mom!” Celestia’s face drew back in fear as she watched a predatory look spread across Sunset’s face, even as her blush deepened. “I think you need to get a visit from the Tickle Monster instead!”

“Twilight! H-Help me! I- Hehehe!- I beg of you!” Celestia couldn’t help but emit loud peals of filly-like laughter as she felt the full fury of her daughter’s mad tickling for the second time that day, only enhanced thanks to the range of motion provided by her now human fingers.

“I, uh… I’ll see you around, Sunset…” Twilight waved awkwardly, a sheepish look on her face as she blinked out of existence.

“Twilight! Ho-Ho-How could yooou!” Celestia wailed as she shifted around in weak attempts to dislodge her daughter.

~

“Hey girls, I’m back!” came a happy shout, followed by a pained groan, alerting all three Sirens that currently resided in the living room that they should rush upstairs.

“Sunset! You’re back!” Sonata yelled joyously, vaulting up the stairs on all fours as she rushed to see her favourite person.

“You should have told us, you jerk!” came Aria’s grumbling response as she rushed to button up her jeans properly.

“I do agree with Aria, for once.” added Adagio, earning a none too friendly gesture from the pigtailed Siren. “What prevented you from- Oh my!”

“Ouch.” Aria grimaced as she took in her sister’s appearance.

“Sunshim! What happened to you!?” Sonata rushed to her sister, pawing gently at the welt building around her left eyes.

“And what’s with all that… raw magic flowing off of you?” Adagio walked up, pacing around Sunset who stood there trying to comfort the tearing up Sonata.

“Uh… First- Never tickle an alicorn Princess, she is liable to put her hoof in your eye.” Sunset chuckled, a painful knowing on every song-like tone. “And second, I’m, uh… I’m an alicorn now.”

“Surprise?” Sunset smiled awkwardly as she watched all three of her sisters face’s drop in awe and disbelief.

Author's Note

Oh boy...

So, uh, surprise, everyone! Sunset's an alicorn now? ^^;

I'm biased cause I love the character of Sunset Shimmer, and I know that if she were in the show proper that she would have every reason to be an Alicorn at this point. However my Sunset still has some things to figure out if she were to be a proper Alicorn Princess(tm), so instead I focused on Celestia, and the fact that she doesn't ever want to lose her daughter again.

I hope you all don't freak out too much about this happening, and I PROMISE that this isn't going to break the story. Sunset isn't going to be any different that she is an Alicorn now.

Besides that, we are now at the end of the Princess' arc, so that means it's time for all of you readers to vote on which group Sunset should reveal herself to next! 8'D hopefully this will make you guys focus more on that then the whole Alicorn thing >.>

ANYWAYS! Here are the Three groups for you all to vote on! Comment here, or in the blog that is live, or PM me here!

1. Orchestra Group
   
2. Shadowbolts
   
3. Sparkle Family

Reminder that after these three are done we will be going to the Rainbooms! So don't ask for them yet xD