Sunset stared in disbelief at her former mentor who was smiling cheekily.

“You seem to be doing well, Sunset,” Celestia said.

Sunset opened her mouth, but no words came out. She was still in shock at seeing her former mentor here.

“But you seem to have lost some color since the last time I saw you,” Celestia noted, her tone worried.

Sunset swallowed a large lump in her throat as she attempted to speak.

“W-what a-are you doing h-here?”

Celestia detected the nervousness in Sunset’s voice which saddened her.

“Ah messaged Twilight to bring her here.”

Sunset and Flashed turned around to see the Rainbooms, CMC, and Princess Twilight.

“Girls? Twilight?” Sunset said in confusion.

“Sunset?”

Sunset turned to look at Princess Celestia.

“Is it alright if we talk in private?”

Sunset merely nodded and ushered Celestia to follow her.

“So?” Rainbow Dash started as she crossed her arms and looked at Flash with a sly smirk. “Are you and Sunset out on a date?”

“Something like that,” Flash said, looking at Applebloom. “I overheard her conversation with Applebloom, so I asked her to hang out so she didn’t spend Christmas Eve alone. Sunset can be very hard on herself.”

“And that kiss at the end was part of your plan?” Twilight teased.

“Wha-uh, that just sort of happened!” Flash quickly defended, his cheeks turning red which caused Twilight to giggle.

“It’s alright Flash,” Twilight assured him. “If I were in your shoes I would probably get caught up in the moment and kiss Sunset too.”

“You’re not mad?” Flash asked.

“Why would I be mad?” Twilight asked, looking confused.

“It’s…never mind,” Flash sighed.

“Oh! If you’re wondering if I have feelings for Sunset don't worry, I just consider her a friend,” Twilight assured him, completely misunderstanding what Flash was trying to say.

“I agree with Twilight,” Rarity spoke up. “There’s nothing to be embarrassed about, darling. It’s pretty obvious you two still have feelings for each other, and now that Sunset isn’t the queen bee she used to be, you two can freely pursue your romantic feelings.” Rarity sighed dreamily.

“Yer hopeless fer a good love story,” Applejack said, crossing her arms and smirking at Rarity.

Flash turned to the direction Sunset went with Princess Celestia and hoped that everything would go well.

Sunset led Princess Celestia a little ways away from the others just around a corner to the garden area that was decorated for Christmas, they stopped in front of a Christmas tree and Sunset stared at the tree as she tried to think of what to say.

“Sunset?”

Sunset quickly snapped her neck to look at the Princess who was now very close to her and looking very worried.

“Y-yes?” Sunset nervously said.

“Are you aware that you have lost your color?” Celestia asked.

Sunset looked at her in confusion before looking at herself.

“Flash mentioned it too but I guess I never really paid it any mind.”

“Sunset,” Celestia gently takes Sunset’s hands in her own. “I’ve heard from your friends about the situation but I would like you to explain to me what has been happening to you?”

Sunset looked into Celestia’s purple eyes filled with concern, she breathed out a sigh as she started to explain. Celestia listened patiently as Sunset recounted her conversation with Applejack, Anon-A-Miss's first post, the conversation with Sweetie Belle, talking with Applebloom, trying to mend the CMC’s relationship with their sisters, making her friends feel jealous, the realization that she keeps hurting her friends if they get too close to her; her ultimate decision to reject their offer to be her family and spend Christmas alone like she always has. She didn’t leave anything out, not even her nightmare.

“Oh Sunset,” Celestia whispered Sunset’s name, tears pooling in her eyes. “You’ve been through so much.”

“It’s what I deserve for being such an awful pony in the past,” Sunset said, lowering her head in shame.

“No,” Celestia spoke firmly, gently squeezing Sunset's hands. “You don’t deserve what has happened to you.”

“But I do,” Sunset argued, pulling her hands free and turning away from Celestia. “I deserve to be alone.”

Celestia walked around Sunset and placed her hand underneath her chin to gently raise her head to look her in the eyes.

“You never deserved to be alone.”

“Even after what I said to you?” Sunset asked, her eyes brimming with tears. “I yelled at you, demanded things from you, accused you of holding me back….I said I hated you.” The tears started to slide down the sides of her face.

“I know,” Celestia admitted, recalling that bitter memory pained her heart. “You were right to hate me.”

“No!” Sunset shook her head. “I don’t hate you, I don’t want to hate you! I was just angry and bitter that you didn’t get me what I wanted and….and I wanted to hurt you.” That confession hurt Sunset, it was more proof to her how terrible of a pony she was. “Princess Celestia, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry for everything!”

Princess Celestia wrapped her arms around Sunset and held her tight as she cried, she felt the former unicorn wrap her arms around her waist and hold on to her for dear life. When Sunset’s sobs started to die down, Celestia pulled back without letting go to look at Sunset’s tear-stricken face.

“Sunset, not a day went by after you left that I didn’t think of you,” Celestia spoke in the gentle tone she is always known for. “I repeated our argument over and over in my mind, wondering what I could have done differently.” Her expression turns somber. “I’ve realized that I could have answered some of your questions about the mirror to satisfy your curiosity without giving too much away, if I was a little more patient with you then I could have prevented you from seeking answers somewhere else.”

Celestia remained quiet, looking into Sunset’s eyes before speaking again.

“I have failed you, Sunset.”

Sunset’s eyes widened at the admission, she wanted to say something but Celestia placed her closed fist over Sunset’s lips.

“As your teacher, it was my duty to keep you on the right path, to reach the full potential I knew you could achieve. But something changed. The more time we spent together, the closer we became. I started to see you not as my student but as my daughter.”

Sunset froze, her mouth agape. Did she hear the princess right? Did she really think of her as a daughter?

“We were inseparable when you were a foal and being my personal student added to that, I loved you with all my heart,” Celestia explained as tears welled up in her eyes. “But when you got older I started to notice how arrogant and prideful you have become, it reminded me of myself when I was learning under Starswirl The Bearded with my sister. Luna wasn’t as quick to pick up on magic as I was, she wasn’t as strong as me and I looked down on her because of it. I didn’t want that for you so I showed you the mirror in the hopes that what it shows you can help you learn humility. I was wrong.”

“Instead of helping you, I only accelerated the problem. And as I explained earlier, my impatience led you to seek answers in the forbidden section of the Canterlot Library. When you demanded I make you a princess, I no longer saw my sweet daughter but the arrogant and prideful princess I once was. I made the fateful decision to terminate your role as my student and banish you from the castle. I justified it in my mind as maybe some time apart will be good for us. But I should have known you wouldn’t take this lying down, I know I wouldn’t if I were in your place.”

Princess Celestia was openly crying now, Sunset had never seen Princess Celestia cry, and it broke her heart to see it.

“I took it pretty hard,” Celestia sobbed. “I have lost my sister and now I lost my daughter as well. I was able to put on a brave face for everypony but I was a shell of myself. I started to wonder if I was cursed and if I was doomed to witness my family fall because of me. I thought that I was being punished for how I never helped my sister, for never noticing how unloved she felt by our ponies. I began to think that maybe I deserve to be alone.”

“I know the feeling,” Sunset interrupted.

“I kept the mirror close by in the throne room in hopes that you would return,” Celestia said as she wiped away her tears. “When Luna was returned to me thanks to Twilight and her friends, it made me even more hopeful that you would come back. But when you did come back, you stole Twilight’s crown.”

Sunset lowered her head in shame but Celestia lifted her head.

“When Twilight returned from the other side of the mirror, the first thing I asked was if you were alright,” Celestia said. “She smiled as she told me that you were in good hands.”

Sunset chuckled at that which made Celestia smile, but it quickly disappeared when Sunset looked at her with a serious expression.

“If you were worried about me, why didn’t you write to me in our journals after Twilight came back?” Sunset questioned. “Why did Twilight answer the journal when I wrote to you?”

“Because I sent the journal to Twilight,” Celestia confessed. “Twilight succeeded in getting through to you and saving you, I believed she would do a better job at guiding you than I ever could. And I was right.”

“But that doesn’t mean I don’t want to talk to you,” Sunset said, taking hold of Celestia’s hands. “I missed you so much, but I was too ashamed to face you after what I did.”

Celestia leaned her head down until her forehead was touching Sunset’s.

“I’ve missed you too, Sunset Shimmer.”

Upon hearing those words, Sunset smiled brightly, her heart filled with joy. Both of them nuzzled each other as they would in their pony forms, Sunset’s hair shined as it regained its color, followed by the rest of her body. A heavy burden had finally been lifted from their hearts. Sunset was the first to pull away, she looked at Celestia with a smile that the sun princess had not seen in years.

“You look brighter than you did before,” Celestia noted, looking at Sunset’s form. Red and gold hair, shining like the sun. Her bright cyan eyes which reminded her of her sister shone with life. Her skin looked as if she was glowing.

“I feel brighter,” Sunset responded, before fidgeting. “So um, what does this make us? We just admitted to thinking of the other as a mother/child.”

“Exactly that, you are my daughter and I am your mother,” Celestia responded with a warm smile.

Sunset smiled as she hugged her mother, Celestia returning the hug.

“What do you say we return to your friends?” Celestia asked. “I’m sure they would want to hear the good news.”

“Pinkie Pie will throw us a mother/daughter party,” Sunset chuckled, knowing her party planner friend would totally do it.

“It’s long overdue,” Celestia said before nuzzling Sunset.

The two pulled away and made their way back to the others, upon seeing them, the group of students rushed towards them.

“Sunset!” Pinkie shouted as she enveloped Sunset in a bone-crushing hug.

“Hey Pinkie,” Sunset grunted as she felt the air being squeezed out of her.

“We’re so sorry Sunset!” Sweetie Belle said as she tackled Sunset in a hug, she was soon joined by Applebloom and Scootaloo.

“How are you feeling, darling?” Rarity asked.

“A lot better,” Sunset responded as Pinkie and the Crusaders let her go, she glanced at her mother. “I finally worked things out with my mom.”

“Darling, that is wonderful to hear!” Rarity said with excitement.

“Listen um, I’m sorry for being so distant and missing the party,” Sunset apologized, rubbing her arm in shame. “You girls went out of your way to treat me like family and I pushed you all away.”

“It’s alright sugarcube,” Applejack said. “Yah had issues yah were still dealing with and weren’t ready.”

“That’s still not a good excuse,” Sunset said, looking at Applejack. “But thank you for understanding.”

“It’s like ah keep telling yah, that’s what family does. They look after one another and stick together through thick and thin,” Applejack said proudly.

“Family,” Sunset whispered as she glanced at Celestia before looking back at Applejack. “I would like to accept your offer of being an honorary Apple and being a part of your family if you still want me,” Sunset said timidly.

Applejack’s smile got even wider and she let out a triumphant cheer.

“Darn tootin yer an Apple!”

“Yay! We're cousins now!” Pinkie Pie cheered as she hugged Sunset again.

The rest of the group joined in on the hug, Sunset felt elated. Once more she is surrounded by those who love her but this time she is able to accept it wholeheartedly, she tries to wrap her arms around everyone and hug them as tight as she can.

“What do yah say we get back to Sweet Apple Acres and enjoy spending Christmas Eve with yer family!” Applejack said cheerfully.

“Wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Sunset said before looking at Celestia. “Do you think you can come?”

“Of course, but I’ll have to inform Luna first. Wouldn’t want her to miss meeting her niece,” Celestia said as she winked at Sunset.

Sunset nodded happily, as the group started making their way towards Applejack’s truck and Flash’s car. Sunset was smiling the whole drive there, and it only got bigger once she started celebrating with her new family and meeting her aunt. With the Magic of Friendship and her new family by her side, Sunset never felt alone again.

Author's Note

Hope has been restored, a family rift has been mended and Sunset has finally accepted herself as an Apple. Thank you all for sticking with the story this far, I enjoyed reading your comments. There's one more chapter to go before this story ends, I look forward to reading your comments.