The Sisters of Empathy and Trust

Narrator's POV.
Another day, another brilliant episode of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic.

My younger sister and I sat on the couch with a bucket of popcorn and a shared cup of soda. Today was the two-parter finale of Season 9. The reviewers said that this episode was gonna be their best one yet. So, it has me and my sister excited when it aired in Canada.

The episode was the best one in the series. It made us laugh, it made us cry, character development that actually stuck and the bad guy was defeated. A good season finale.

But, then there was an aftershow notification from Hasbro, informing us that My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic has reached its series finale. And That they'll be preparing the first episode of the new generation of My Little Pony.

"What? You can't be serious!" Sam, my younger sister by one year and two weeks, exclaimed, throwing the nearly empty bucket of popcorn over her head, "That was a great show! Why finish it?!"

I rubbed my nose under my black rimmed glasses and shrugged, "Maybe the children need something new?"

Sam leaned back on the sofa and sighed, "It's just not fair. I hoped for one more season, or another movie."

I stood up and sighed. I walked to the corner of the living room and grabbed the broom. I started sweeping the crumbs and thrown popcorn from the hardwood floor and started to wonder. I caught something at the corner of my eye and looked out of the window.

The sky was a violet color with an orange glow fading into the horizon. It was reaching sunset, nearly time to get ready for bed. Within the violet sky, I saw a star. It was shining brightly and was a little bigger than the other stars I've seen in the night sky. It felt like it was talking to me.

"Ever wondered what it would be like to live in Equestria?" I wondered.

Sam looked at me with her light blue eyes, "What was that?"

I shrugged, returning to sweeping up the popcorn, "It was just a thought. Living in Equestria. Have you ever thought what it would be like?"

Sam started at me, then nodded with a smile, "I'll be honest, Ellie. The thought has crossed my mind every now and again..." Her smile faded into a frown, "But, it's impossible. Equestria isn't real."

"I believe it does." I answered, "It just can't be reached by normal people." I waved my free hand in defense, "That's what I believe, anyway." Then I smiled, "It would be cool, though, eh?"

Sam smiled with a giggle, "Yeah. It would be cool. Knowing what we know, we can easily predict what's gonna happen and remain safe."

I chuckled, "Where's the fun in that? I love to see how they would react with us. Your sass and my logical thinking." I smiled at the thought, then shrugged, "Just like I said. It was just a thought."

With that, Sam and I resumed what we were doing. Me cleaning up and Sam making a small mess. Once I was done and Sam was finally getting sleepy, it was time to hit the hay. The sky was now a beautiful midnight black with numerous shining stars and the full moon glowing over the fields.

Sam and I entered our own separate rooms and climbed into bed. Before I rested my head against the pillow, I looked at the stars and the moon. I could see the large star as it shined brighter than the other stars.

I smiled, "Yeah. Wonder what it would be like to live in Equestria..." I rested my head and closed my eyes, waiting for the Dreamscape to take me to my adventure for the night.

*Dream*

*Dream End*

Unknown to the two sisters, they weren't the only ones that saw the bright star in the night sky. Upstairs, in the master bedroom of their house, their mother was staring at the same star, as the sky grew the soft shade of violet-blue.

The mother, Lorraine Susan Gentry, closed her eyes and whispered, "I wish, I hope, I dream, I pray. By the Princess' rule, light my way. I wish... I wish..." A stray tear fell from the mid-aged woman's cheek, "I wish to return home. I've lived this lie long enough. I want to see my mother, my brother, my sister... I wish to see my family again. Please..."

The star glowed brightly and a light shined brightly upon the house.

Ellie's POV
With a groggy groan and aching muscles, I opened my eyes and sat up. I tried to look around, but my vision was blurry and getting worse every time I blinked.

I rubbed my eyes and started searching the ground for my glasses, "Sam? Have you seen my glasses? You know I can't see without them."

I gasped and put my hand over my throat. My voice sounded younger than I remembered. Like I've been regressed back to being 6 - 7 years old.

"Oh! You mean these?" A familiar young female voice with a strong Southern accent asked, as I felt something being placed on my face, "There we go. All better?"

I blinked and my vision was crisp and clear. I smiled, "Much. Thank you..." I turned to see something I thought I would never see again.

I saw a familiar amber-golden pony filly with sap green eyes and brown hooves. In her coat were white coat markings of a blaze, underbelly and socks. Freckles under her eyes and across her back. Her mane and tail were a dirty blonde color tied in low ponytails with red bands. She looked about 6 - 7 years old.

(https://derpibooru.org/1702384?q=artist%3Ahioshiru)

I narrowed my eyes for a second, then gasped, "A-Applejack?"

The golden pony looked at me and raised a brow, "How did you know my name?"

My eyes dart around, wondering if I should lie or avoid the question. I was about to answer, until an orange-golden Earth Pony mare, with blonde mane and tail and light blue eyes, gasped and smiled.

"Applejack!" She gasped in a familiar voice, as she wrapped her hooves around the filly in a warm hug.

I narrowed my eyes and my ears twitched, "Mum?"

The mare looked at me and smiled, "Ellie! Look at you. You look just like your father."

I raised a brow at the mare, who I recognized as my mother. I felt something move behind me and I looked. A pair of ravenette wings with deep green membrane flapped in response as I moved the muscles inside them.

Curious, I looked myself over. My body was covered in a ravenette fur coat with malachite green hooves and dark green underbelly and gradient socks. My mane and tail were long, in a pastel color with deep green tips. I couldn't see my eyes or my face, but I hope that my eyes are still hazel.

(A combination of https://derpibooru.org/985817?q=my%3Afaves%2Cthe+moon+rises, https://derpibooru.org/1827272?q=oc%3Asoothing+leaf and https://derpibooru.org/1702384?q=artist%3Ahioshiru%2Capplejack)

I looked next to me and gasped with wide eyes. There was a 5 - 6 year old unicorn filly with a light blue fur coat and a leonine tail. She too had a white underbelly and socks, but her grew a gradient dark blue as it reached her back and the top of her head. Her hooves were an amethyst purple and her mane was wavy, its normal dirty blonde color with pink and blue streaks. Even her eyes were still blue.

(https://derpibooru.org/1756087?q=artist%3Ahioshiru)
(Just picture her blue with blonde mane and tail.)

I narrowed my eyes at the unicorn filly, "Sam?"

Mum turned to the unicorn and smiled with a hug, "Sam, look at you. A unicorn."

The unicorn filly looked her Earth Pony mother, "Mom?" Then she looked at me and her eyes widen, "Ellie? You're a pony!" She looked at herself and gasped again, "And I'm a pony too!"

Applejack waved her hoof, "Excuse me. I'm talkin' to ya."

Mum blinked and turned to the golden-amber filly before us. She released her hug and smiled at Applejack, "You... May not recognize me, Applejack, but I'm your aunt from your father's side."

Sam and I gasped, "Aunt?"

If Mum was telling the truth, then that means Sam and I were born in this place, wherever we have appeared.

I took a look around and found that Mum, Sam and I have appeared in a large orchard of apple trees. My eyes widen in shock. I recognized the orchard. Sweet Apple Acres!

Then I tried to stand up, but lost my balance and landed on all-fours. I found myself to be as tall as Fluttershy when she was a filly.

Applejack thought for a second, then asked us, "Well, I don't remember any aunt, but do ya'll have a place to stay here, in the meantime?"

"Not really. No." Sam shook her head, as she tried to stand up too, "We just appeared here. So, we have no idea what to do, or where to go."

I thought for a second, then looked at Applejack, "Since you're the first Pony we've met. I don't suppose you have room for two extra hooves, do you, Applejack?"

Applejack looked behind her, at a large red barn and farmhouse, then she smiled at us, "I guess I can squeeze two more helpful hooves into my home." Then she asked, "Do y'all have names? Since you appear to know mine."

Sam and I looked at each other in uncertainty. Since this is Equestria, the naming system is different from Earth. But, we can't give her fake names, she'll catch a lie faster than a snake can catch its prey.

I cleared my throat and took a breath, "My name is Eleanor." I gestured to my sister, "And this is my sister, Samantha."

"Sam or Sammy is fine." Sam smiled sweetly.

"Eleanor... Samantha..." Applejack repeated in thought, then looked at us, "You two really aren't from around here." Then motioned to the farmhouse, "Since you're gonna be stayin' a while, why don't I introduce ya to my family? It was Granny Smith's idea to find and talk to ya."

I nodded with a smile, "Sure."

Mum smiled, "Ma Smith is still around?"

But Sam waved her hoof and smiled, "You guys go ahead, we'll catch up."

Applejack nodded and she and Mum trotted over to the farmhouse. I looked at Sam. Her face was beaming with excitement. She looked at me and squealed like a crazed fan, "Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh! We're here, Ellie! We're in Equestria! I can't believe it!"

I nodded with a smile, but furrowed my brows, "Yeah, but aren't you curious how we got here? Magic doesn't exist on Earth."

Sam shrugged, "Who cares. This is amazing!" She took hold of my right hoof, "You've always said that we have to make the best with what we have. Well, we're in Equestria, in Pony forms, and the first Pony we meet is Applejack."

I nodded, then noticed, "But doesn't she look a little different to you?"

Sam thought for a moment, "Well, it's not the Applejack from the show, but it's still Applejack."

I shrugged, "I guess I can't argue with that." Then I took hold of her hoof, "Come on. If we're gonna make a first impression of this opportunity, we'd better make a good one."

With that, Sam and I walked toward the farmhouse and entered. It was a struggle walking on all-fours, but I remembered that it was a little different from when Sam and I played horses when we were kids, so it made things a lot easier.

Maybe living in Equestria isn't as bad as I thought.

Suddenly, before I can move, a magical circle appeared under my hooves and the next thing I knew, there was this bright light.

"Hey, you okay? Are you hurt?" I heard a young, female voice ask.

I lightly moaned in pain. My head felt like it was hit by a football. What hit me? I opened my eyes and saw that everything was very blurry, but full of color. I rubbed my eyes and the blurs just got worse. I wasn't wearing my glasses again...

"You alright?" The voice asked again.

"I'm fine. Can you help me find my glasses? They're black." I answered, the asked, searching the cold, tiled ground around me.

After a few seconds of searching, I felt a pair my glasses over my face.

"Are these your glasses?" The voice asked.

The blurred images cleared to reveal I was inside a classroom. Occupying the room were a small group of six... Unicorns? Five adults and one foal. Three females and three males. All of them different colors. I blinked my eyes twice and looked beside me. It was the unicorn filly around the same age as me. 6 - 7 years old.

Her fur was a light amber color. Her eyes were a normal cyan. Her mane was was red with yellow streaks with a natural curl. Her leonine tail matched her mane. The color scheme kinda remind me of a sunset. Upon her flanks were a mark of a yin-yang styled shimmering sun.

My eyes widen in recognition, "Sunset Shimmer?"

Sunset Shimmer tilted her head, then glared at me, her horn glowing in her cyan magic aura, "Who are you and how do you know my name?"

My eyes widen again and I put my hoof over my mouth. I must have said her name out loud. I bowed, "I'm sorry. My name is-"

"Sunset Shimmer, what happened?" An older, more regal voice spoke from the other side of the classroom.

The filly, Sunset Shimmer, and I looked at across and saw very pale golden, almost white unicorn with large wings, walking toward us.

An Alicorn....

Judging by its figure, it was female. She was very tall for a pony. Her eyes were a pale magenta. Her mane was lower-back length, pastel-toned and was flowing, like there was an invisible wind. Her leonine tail matched as well.

Upon her head was a golden crown with an amethyst in the center. Around her neck was a matching necklace. She also wore golden princess shoes. On her flanks were a sun-like symbol.

(https://derpibooru.org/1756351?q=artist%3Ahioshiru%2Cprincess+celestia)

My eyes widened in recognition and quickly bowed. It was Princess Celestia. The Alicorn Princess of the Day.

"Princess Celestia." Sunset Shimmer gasped, standing still as a statue, "Please, I can explain."

The alicorn, Princess Celestia, looked at me. Her eyes had a gentle, motherly feel to them. She was not cross, but surprised to see me.

Princess Celestia looked at Sunset Shimmer, "There's no need. I just wish to know what happened."

Sunset Shimmer looked at me, then looked at the Princess, "Well, I was casting the growth spell on the vine, and something came to my mind. And the growth spell became a summoning spell." She pointed to me, "Then this bat pony appeared and well, you came."

I folded my arms and lightly glared.

Sunset Shimmer looked at me again, noticed my glare and stopped pointing.

"Do you have a name, young bat pony?" Princess Celestia asked me.

I looked at her. I couldn't say nothing to her. I bowed in respect, "Eleanor May Carter, Your Majesty. But, I also go by Ellie."

"It's very nice to meet you, Eleanor." Princess Celestia greeted with a smile. She looked at Sunset Shimmer, "Sunset Shimmer, I have noticed that your studying has gotten quite rigorous. How would you feel if Eleanor could help you?"

"Like a study partner?" Sunset Shimmer asked, then she smiled, "Of course. There must have been a reason why I summoned her."

I smiled back. Maybe I can help Sunset Shimmer picked the right path this time around.

*The Next Day...*
Sunset Shimmer and I got to know each other better, over time. The books she studied with were most fascinating. Magic, laws of physics, rules on how to use magic, even the history of Equestria. How much I missed from the lore of this place...

The only thing I was having trouble with was leaning how to fly. Every pegasus I asked in Canterlot avoids me like the plague. Even the Wonderbolts refuse to teach me. I guess bat ponies aren't seen as normal ponies in Canterlot.

Anywho, I'm rambling too much again.

Today was a nice summer day. Sunset Shimmer and I were sitting on a bench, reading some of the advanced spell books. Around us, Unicorns were enjoying the day and having picnics.

Across from us, I saw a teenage male unicorn and a teenage female alicorn playing with a young unicorn filly, around mine and Sunset Shimmer's age. I recognized them as Twilight Sparkle, Princess Cadence and Shining Armor. They looked like they were having fun.

"Sunset Shimmer!" A voice called.

I yelped in startle, then calmed down. Sunset and I looked over and saw five young unicorn fillies.

One was yellow with a curly blue mane and tail.

Another was in a full blue color scheme.

The third was in a pink color scheme with blue eyes.

The fourth was a shade of mint green. Her mane was the a deeper color, but with a white streak, same with her tail.

The last one had a combed, red mane and tail, with a two-toned purple highlights and dark purple eyes. Her fur was a light yellowish grey. She wore a pair of black-rimmed glasses.

"That vine you made was amazing!" The blue one exclaimed with a smile. Sunset raised an eyebrow.

"Really exquisite." The pink one added.

The green one nodded and asked, "Would you like to come have lunch with us." She looked at me with a smile, "We can get to know your friend."

I smiled and was about to answer, but Sunset Shimmer scoffed and walked off, dragging me along, "Hmph! Ellie and I have better things to do than socialize! I'm going to re-read 'Advanced Elemental Magical Practices', and then Ellie's gonna help me practice for my advanced summoning spells exams. What are you studying for? Nothing, that's what."

I looked back at the unicorns. They looked hurt by Shimmer's words. The light yellowish grey one looked at me. I gave her a sympathetic look then turned to Shimmer.

"Actually, Shimmer. I'd like to get to know some of your classmates. Practice Princess Celestia's lesson on humility." I told her.

Sunset Shimmer rolled her eyes and scoffed, "Fine. But don't take too long. We're study partners for a reason."

I nodded and joined the other fillies. The light yellow filly regained her smile and we got to know each other over lunch.

The all-blue filly was named Minuette.

Lemon Hearts was the yellow and blue one.

Lyra Heartstrings was the green one.

The pink-schemed Unicorn was Twinkleshine.

And Moondancer was the yellow one with glasses.

*A Little Later, in Celestia's Castle...*
Princess Celestia has called Sunset Shimmer into the main foyer, so she could talk to her. Shimmer insisted that I'd come along. Just in case something goes wrong.

"Sunset Shimmer, I've heard that you're not getting along well with the other students." Princess Celestia told Sunset Shimmer, "We've talked about the fact that personal relationships-"

Shimmer cut the Princess off, "Personal relationships? Who needs anypony? The most important thing in life is to be the best."

I shook my head, "Shimmer, trying to make friends doesn't make you weak." Princess Celestia smiled and nodded at my words.

Then she looked at Shimmer, "We've talked about friendship and its importance before, and we've discussed that you need to open yourself up to new friends." Then she lightly smiled, "And you remember that talk we had about humility?"

"I remember how boring it was." Shimmer answered.

"I enjoyed it. The other classmates don't think I'm weird, thanks to a chat about it." I answered with a small smile.

Princess Celestia smiled at me, as she lead us to a small room with a strange mirror. There was something about the mirror, that made me feel uncertain.

"Look into this mirror, and tell me what you see." Princess Celestia told Shimmer.

"A beautiful pony that has nothing but power and protential." Shimmer answered, looking at her reflection and touching her face with a smile.

She stepped aside and it was my turn to look. I looked at my reflection.

I saw my face. My eyes were hazel, but my pupils were narrow and slit. My ears were fluffier than Sunset Shimmer's. I was a bat pony alright. I had a deep green blaze too. Then something happened.

Behind me, I saw two adult ponies. A tall, handsome, dark unicorn stallion and a beautiful earth pony mare. Both of them were smiling and looking at me with loving eyes. I felt like I knew them, I recognized the mare as my mother. The dark and handsome unicorn looked like...

(https://derpibooru.org/988250?q=a+tale+of+one+shadow)

I narrowed my eyes... Sombra?

The couple morphed into a vapor and the vapor flew around my reflection and took the shape of a group of 7 colors; Purple, orange, yellow, pink, cyan, blue and white. My reflection glowed green.

"I see a loving family. A group of friends. Rainbows. Happiness and smiles." I answered.

Princess Celestia smiled at my answer, but turned to Shimmer, "Care to try that again with our talk about humility taken to account?"

I stepped aside. Sunset Shimmer growled under her breath and looked at her reflection again, "I see a pony, who isn't powerful enough. Somepony who could be great, powerful... Somepony that could rule Equestria."

I looked at Shimmer's reflection and saw her as an Alicorn. But something felt off. The reflection smirked and stood up on her hind legs, morphing into a teenage human girl. Then she was engulfed in fire. I took a step back in fear, as I saw a pair of menacing cyan eyes and draconic wings sprouting out of the flames.

Princess Celestia must've noticed my fear and moved Shimmer and I away from it, "Maybe we better move on..."

"Wait, what was that? I thought I saw-" Shimmer exclaimed, as Princess Celestia guided us away from the mirror.

"Oh, it was probably a trick of the light. Our lesson is over for today. For tomorrow, I want you to reflect on the discussion we've just had." Princess Celestia answered.

Sunset Shimmer kept her eyes on the mirror. I guess she doesn't know what the meaning of her reflection's actions meant.

I shuddered, as the thought came to me.

*A Few Weeks Later...*
It's been a few weeks since the lesson with the mirror. It still worries me that Sunset saw what her reflection did. However, it seemed to have caught Shimmer's attention. Through the past few weeks, Shimmer kept asking Princess Celestia about it, and Celestia kept refusing.

One day, during a windy picnic, Shimmer brought it up again, "You know what's fascinating? Mirrors. About that one in..."

Princess Celestia had enough, "Sunset Shimmer. We've been over this, we will get to the mirror and many other lessons in due time. When you're ready."

The windy weather turned into rain. Worried that this weather will turn into a storm, I cuddled close to Princess Celestia. Celestia saw me, and put her wing over my head. Dang it, I hate rainy weather. Celestia and I walked back to the castle. Sunset Shimmer made her own way back.

With my strong hearing, I was able to catch Sunset Shimmer mutter under breath, "I am ready."

I looked back at Shimmer, as she walked off. My heart sank, she's slowly turning into the demon I saw in the mirror. That's not good.

*Later, that Night...*
I was in my room, in the castle, laying on my bed, staring at the night sky. The moon was in the center of the sky. The moon's eye glowed. I heard a voice speak to me.

"Protect your friend. She is following a path not destined for her..."

With that, the moon's eye stopped glowing and continued its duty. I heard a rapid knock on the door. I walked over and opened the door. It was Sunset Shimmer at the other side. She had a large grin on her face.

"Shimmer? It's the middle of the night. We have exams in the morning." I whispered.

"I think I've found something about that mirror. Why we saw what we saw." Shimmer answered.

I sighed. This again? Shimmer is very persistent when she wants something. Whether it be magic or answers.

"There's a section, in the library, that is about certain books on types of magic. I need your help to find it." She explained.

I thought for a second and remembered what the moon told me. I looked at Shimmer and nodded. She smiled, grabbed my hoof and lead me into the library. I hope I'm making the right choice in protecting Sunset Shimmer.

Sunset Shimmer lead me to a door, that was locked tightly. The door said 'Dark Magic. No Entry'. A voice inside my head told me to go back to bed. But my gut told me I needed to stay with Shimmer. She needs me. With a simple lock-pick spell, Sunset Shimmer opened the door and we entered the room.

I gotta say, there were a lot of books in this section. Why did Princess Celestia keep this room locked like a secret?

'Dark Magic'......

"Not ready? I'll show her not ready." Shimmer muttered under her breath, then she joked, "You'd think this place would be better guarded."

I suppressed a giggle, then started looking through the books. Sunset Shimmer and read through a bunch of books.

'Crossing Over', 'The First Ponies', all sorts.

"Nothing on the mirror yet, but a few of these spells will come in handy..." Sunset Shimmer said, as we read the books.

I closed my book and set it aside. Then, another caught my eye. 'Canterlot Castle. A History. Vol II'. I picked up the book and started reading it. I smiled, "Shimmer, I think I found something."

I gave the book to Shimmer and she started reading it. She smiled, "Well done, Ellie. You've got really good eyes."

I smiled and pushed my glasses up, "Thanks to these babies."

Shimmer flipped through the pages, "The Crystal Mirror... Every 30 moons, a portal will open to... Another world?"

I shook my head, "I'm pretty sure it's not my world. I would've noticed something."

"That's not really for you two to know, now is it?" A familiar voice asked from behind us.

Sunset Shimmer and I turned and saw it was Princess Celestia and a couple of her guards. How did she know we would be here?

Of course, the librarian. She must've slipped past us. The guards grabbed me and dragged me away from Sunset Shimmer.

"Please, let me go." I asked the guard on my left, trying to struggle free.

"I'm sorry. Princess' orders." He answered.

"How dare you keep this kind of magic from me! You know that I'm ready for this, that I can be great!" Shimmer shouted at Princess Celestia.

"You could be great." Princess Celestia corrected in a calm tone, "I thought I saw compassion and sincerity in you, but it was nothing but ambition. The compassion and sincerity came from Eleanor. You're being selfish, you need to step back and reflect-"

In anger, Sunset Shimmer's horn glowed black with a cyan hue. Her eyes emitted a black haze. Oh no.

She cut Princess Celestia off, "I'm selfish?"

Her horn fired a strong beam of magic. I forced myself out of the guards' grip and pushed Celestia aside. Shimmer's beam hit me in the chest, where my heart was. A sharp pain struck my heart and my body was overwhelmed with pain. I fell to the ground, holding my chest in pain.

I felt a pair of soft, furry hands over my shoulders. I looked up and saw Princess Celestia's deeply concerned expression.

"That book, right there, says that I could become as powerful as an Alicorn Princess! I could rule here! It's selfish of you to keep me from my rightful place!" Shimmer continued, "I deserve to stand beside you and be your equal... If not, your better. Make me a Princess."

"No." Princess Celestia answered in a low tone, "Being a Princess must be earned. I have been trying to teach you everything you need to know, but you've turned from it. Everytime you say you 'deserve' to get something without the effort just proves to me that you're not ready."

Then she announced, standing up and held me close to her, "Sunset Shimmer. I am removing you from the position of my pupil. If we cannot get past this, your studies end here. You are welcome to stay in Canterlot, but you are no longer welcome in the castle."

"We'll never get past this because you aren't seeing how great I deserve to be. Is that really all you have to say to me?" Sunset Shimmer asked with a sharp glare.

"No. The guards will escort you out." Princess Celestia answered.

With that, the guard walked beside Sunset Shimmer and escorted her out of the building, at the doorway Shimmer hissed, "This is the biggest mistake you'll make in your entire life."

Once Sunset Shimmer was gone, Princess Celestia lowered her head with a sad look, "One of many." She turned her attention to me and helped me back to my hooves, "Are you hurt?"

I stood up and answered, "A bit sore, but I think I'll be alright." Then I looked at the regal Alicorn of the day, "Uh... Princess Celestia? Am I in trouble too? Are you gonna banish me as well?" I asked, as my mind raced with paranoid thoughts.

Princess Celestia looked at me with a small smile and shook her head, "No, Eleanor. Like I told Sunset Shimmer, I see compassion and sincerity in you. You went out of your own way to help her. I even saw you with the other students. You can stay in the castle, and we'll find you a new friend."

I regained my smiled. Princess Celestia and I entered the room, with the mirror inside. To our surprise, the guards were inside and were knocked out. Sunset Shimmer was nowhere to be seen.

"Oh, Sunset Shimmer... No..." Princess Celestia grimaced.

Celestia and I helped the guards back up their hooves. "Sir, what happened?" I asked.

"She took us by surprise and just... Just... Jumped into the mirror. I don't know." One of the guards answered the best he could.

"Shh. It's fine." Princess Celestia assured, then asked, "If you're feeling up to it, would you please help move the mirror to a safer place?"

*The Next Morning...*
While Princess Celestia and the guards were moving the mirror, Princess Celestia advised me to stay in my room and just wait. I laid on my bed and stared at the sky in sadness and wonder.

Will I be able to see Sunset Shimmer again?

Can she be forgiven for what she's done?

Who will be the next pupil for Princess Celestia?

Will she, or he, be as good as Sunset Shimmer?

And what the heck is gonna happen to me?