I've put a lot of work into this...I hope you guys enjoy.


In Cantorlot, it was a cloudy day and it was lightly sprinkling. Despite this, almost everypony in the city was outside their homes with umbrella's and cheering, smiling, and waving for one reason and one reason only. Equestria's one and only Princess Celestia was having a carriage ride through town.

Her golden carriage was being pulled by two Pegasus royal guards. The solar princess waved to her subject with her usual smile and said. "Thank you. Thank you everypony." Like she always does when passes by.

As she was waving, one of the guards pulling her carriage turned his head back and said. "I'm sorry about the weather today. We were unaware it was supposed to rain on your day out."

Celestia simply waved a hoof to him and shook her head with a smile. "It's perfectly fine. I rather enjoy a light sprinkle. It makes the air smell rather refreshing." The solar princess reassured as she took a deep breath through her nose and sighed in pleasure.

"Still, if at any point you wish for it to stop, I'm sure we can just-"

CRASH!

Interrupting the Pegasus guard was a loud sound of banging metal. The two guards and Celestia looked to the source and saw a trash can rolling out of the alleyway to the left of Celestia's carriage. The two Pegasus guards quickly ran up in front of the alleyway with the second one saying. "Halt! Who goes there!"

They didn't get a response. The two Pegasus guards kept glaring forward, waiting for any sort of ruffian to show themselves. But, when Celestia looked forward and spotted a figure deep in the alleyway. They weren't big, it seemed like it was only a young pony.

Celestia surprised her guards as she jumped out of the carriage and started walking into the alley. "Your highness, what are you doing?" The first guard asked as he and his fellow Pegasus put on a surprised expression.

"I'll go check it out." Celestia told them simply.

"But your majesty-" The second guard said but was interrupted by the Princess.

"I can take care of myself. Don't worry." Celestia reassured them as she walked in the alley. As Celestia walked in, she noticed the figure slowly become easier to see as she got closer. She was able to confirm that it was either a young filly or colt by their size.

"Hello there. It's alright. There's no need to be scared." She said in a gentle tone, thinking that the poor thing was probably a little more then intimidated by both her guards and Celestia herself. However, Celestia saw the little pony didn't move or even react to her words or her coming closer.

Celestia put on a slightly concerned expression as she proceeded to light her horn up with magic to illuminate the area.

And her eyes widened in horror at what she saw.

In front of her was a young filly in seriously bad shape. Their fur, mane, and tail were covered in so much dirt and grim that it was impossible to tell what their original colors were. They were seriously malnourished with Celestia able to see all of their ribs clearly. "Oh my goodness! Oh my goodness! Oh my goodness!" Celestia quietly yelled as she rushed over the filly.

Celestia put her ear what appeared to be the 7-year-old filly's chest and desperately hoped to hear a heartbeat. Thankfully, she heard one. The Filly's heart was beating extremely fast, working on overdrive to keep the young one alive.

And Celestia could tell that the poor thing was just barely alive.

But the Solar Princess wasn't just about to let this pony die. Celestia put on a determined expression as she quickly wrapped the filly tightly in a single hoof and spread her large Alicorn wings and took off it the sky. The two Pegasus guards watched as the pony they were supposed to protect take off into the sky and fly away as fast as she could. "Princess!" The two called out to her.

Celestia didn't respond as she flew towards her castle as fast as she could.

It took her about 7 minutes to reach her castle and every few seconds she would look down to check on the filly. She made sure to hold her tightly so the filly wouldn't fall, but not so tight that it would cause damage since the filly was already in very bad shape.

Once inside her castle, she quickly ran through the hall and headed to where she knew the infirmary was. She would occasionally pass by a servant or guard who would ask her wants going on, but she never stopped. This filly didn't have much time. She needed to get her to the doctor and nurses fast.

Finally, she reached the door to the infirmary and didn't bother knocking as she used her magic to open the door as she ran towards. Once she was in, she slid to stop before she crashed into the wall. The Unicorn nurse inside was stunned to say the least as the Princess suddenly and abruptly came into the room.

"P-Princess Ce-Celestia! Wh-what's going-" The nurse asked before she was interrupted by the princess.

"No time! This filly needs treatment! Fast!" The Princess explained quickly as she set the filly she took from the street on the free bed.

The nurse looked to the filly and covered a horrified gasp with her hooves as she looked at the 7-year-old Unicorn's incredibly dirty and skinny body. The nurse quickly sent to a supply closest and got out an IV drip and attached it to the young unicorn and told Celestia. "Go get the other doctors and nurses! Quick! She won't last much longer without serious treatment."

Celestia quickly nodded and went to go inform the rest of the medical staff in the castle about the little Fillies who life was on the line.

About an hour later, nearly all the castle's medical staff was in the single infirmary watching over the young filly. Various medical machines as well as a few spells were being used to keep her alive as one of the nurses was carefully cleaning all the dirt and grim off her.

Celestia, meanwhile, was watching from the opposite end of the room with worry. She watched as the doctors and nurses gave extreme attention to everything they did. Celestia then turned to a nurse who was getting something out of a cabinet and asked in a worried tone. "Will…will she be alright."

The nurse turned to Celestia but averted her gaze and took a few deep breathes. "Well…it's good you got her when you did. She was in very bad shape. Horribly malnourished. Weak bones. A few small cracks in her horn. And that's not counting all the bacteria in her and potential illness's from being on the streets." After she listed these things, the Nurse looked down and took another deep breath and said. "I…I can't promise she'll make it. It's…it's gonna be a close one."

Celestia felt her heart skip a beat at this. She was filled with dread as she slowly looked at the filly that was most likely on the verge of death. In her long rule she has unfortunately seen many ponies die. But this was just a little filly. She didn't deserve to die at such a young age. Nopony did.

"P…Please. Try to save her." Celestia asked in a pleading tone, her eyes never leaving the filly.

"We'll do our best Princess." The nurse answered her ruler.

Princess Celestia simply nodded as she slowly started exiting the infirmary. She kept her eyes on the barley alive Unicorn filly as long as she could before she inevitably had to leave.

Everyday for the next two weeks, Celestia would stop by the infirmary at least once a day to check on the filly. The nurses and doctors would take shifts watching over her and doing their best to make sure the filly would stay alive. Due to cleaning all the grim and dirt off her, they were able to see that the filly had yellow fur and horn and yellow and red striped mane and tail.

The medical staff would feed her liquified high protein meals and plenty of milk to help her malnourished body and weak bones respectively as well as giving her the proper medichine to help any potential illness's or bacteria within her.

Celestia herself would help in anyway she could when she visited. And currently, during the two and a half weak mark, Celestia was currently sitting next to the filly's bed looking over the 7-year-old unicorn. She has gotten slightly better; her breathing was more regular, and she wasn't as skinny, but the solar Princess could still see the outlines of the filly's ribs.

Just then, as Celestia was gently stroking the filly's mane, the Princess watched as suddenly as the young Unicorn's eyes slowly start twitch. Celestia froze as she watched the filly's eyes start to twitch more and more, consciousness finally returning to her. "Nurse Star! Quick! She's waking up!"

The Nurse in the room with Celestia almost dropped the bottle of pills in her hooves as she quickly rushed next to the Princess so she could look at the filly's face.

The Unicorns eyes twitched more and more until they finally started to open. The filly's vision was incredibly blurry at first as she very slowly opened her cyan eyes. She was only able to make out two blurry ponies in front of her.

She felt incredibly weak, barley able to move. She could hear her own breathing asked she said in a barley audible volume. "Wh…what's…going on." Her voice was weak and a bit raspy. "Am…am I…dead…"

"No. No you're not little one. You're ok. Everything's going to be ok." The filly heard a voice of relief as she felt a gentle hoof stroking her mane.

"Who's…who's there…" The filly asked as she tense up incredibly from being touched and her tone now filled with fright.

"It's ok. Don't be afraid." The voice told her again as they sensed the fear that suddenly entered the young filly. "I'm Princess Celestia."

The filly's eyes widened a tiny bit at hearing this and start shaking her head as much as she could. "No…no…you're lying. You can't be her." The filly said in denial. "No way a pony like her would care about me."

"Actually, it's thanks to Princess Celestia here that you're here and alive." Nurse Star told the filly as Celestia looked to the filly with sympathy. The way she said that last part showed this filly's been through a lot along with nearly dying on the streets.

The filly continued to shake her head in denial as her vision slowly but surely returned to her as the blurry pony's in front of her started to become clearer to her. And she saw her. That white coat. That flowing mane and tail. That crown. "Princess Celestia…" the Filly said in awe as Celestia gave her a warm comforting smile.

"Yes, little one." Celestia answered with a nod.

The filly continuing staring at the Princess in complete disbelief as she asked. "Why…why did you save me?"

Celestia was confused by that statement. She would help any of her subjects if she saw them in the kind of situation this Unicorn filly was in. "Well why wouldn't I?" Celestia told her while looking into the little cyan eyes. "I wasn't just gonna let you die."

The Filly was surprised by even this statement as she averted her gaze from Celestia. "Nopony's ever cared about me before…"

Celestia's heart stung a bit at what the filly said as the Solar Princess Cautiously asked. "You don't have family, do you?" The filly's only response was barely being able to shake her head.

Celestia and Nurse Star looked at the filly sadly for a moment before the latter spoke up. "Well, I know about an orphanage in the city. Maybe once you're all better we can take you there and find a family that will adopt you."

However, at hearing those words the Unicorns filly's eyes widened in complete fear as she used all the strength she could muster and crawled under the pile of pillows on the bed. All the while she trembled as tears started to build up in her eyes as she said. "No, no, no, no, no, no!" The filly pleaded as Celestia and the nurse watched her hide herself under the pillows. "I don't wanna go back! Please don't take me back! Please! Please! Please!"

Celestia watched the poor terrified Unicorn as she begged not to apparently send her back to the orphanage Nurse Star spoke of. Celestia then reached her hoof out to stroke the filly's mane again, but when she did it this time the filly froze and tensed up more then before. "It's ok. It's ok. We won't send you there." Celestia reassured the small Unicorn while carefully stroking their mane, making sure not to do it with much force in fear of scarring the poor things to death.

The filly carefully looked up from their pillow fort and looked at Celestia with terrified eyes. "Y…You won't." The filly asked, or rather pleaded, to make sure she didn't hear anything.

Celestia gave the filly a warm smile as she asked. "Tell me, what's your name little one?" Celestia asked, hoping to learn the name of the filly she just saved.

The filly was silent for a moment, as she tried to gather up the courage to speak up to the princess again. "Sun…Sunset Sh-Shimmer."

Celestia gently stroked Sunset's mane again as she said. "I promise I won't send you back there Sunset Shimmer."

Tears started going down Sunset's eyes as she nuzzled into the hoof Celestia was brushing her mane with and said. "Thank you…thank you…thank you…"

"You're welcome my little pony." Celestia told her in a comforting tone.

Just then the solar princess felt a hoof tap her side and looked to see Nurse Star looking at her with a concerned look. "Your highness what are we going to do with her?" Nurse Star asked as she gestured her head to Sunset. "If we can't send her to the orphanage where are we going to send her?"

Celestia hummed in thought. She really didn't think about that when she promised Sunset that she wouldn't take her there. But after seeing the filly's reaction to Nurse Star suggesting sending her there, there's no way she could go through with it.

But just then, Celestia smiled as an idea came to her head. "I think I know the perfect solution." Celestia said as she stood up and started walking away.

"W-wait…" Celestia heard Sunset call to her in a pleading tone. Celestia stopped and looked back to see Sunset staring at her with misty eyes. "Wh-Where are you going?"

"I'm just going to arrange something for you. I promise you'll like it." Celestia reassured her as Sunset kept looking at her with pleading eyes.

Sunset took a few heavy breathes she asked, "You'll…You'll comeback, right?"

Celestia was taken aback by this question a bit but managed to give the filly a warm smile and say. "I promise I'll visit you here when I can." The Solar Princess's reassured the filly. "Now get some rest little one. You still need to recover."

Sunset was still extremely hesitant about watching Celestia, the Princess that saved her life, leave. But she swallowed a lump in her through and nodded a tiny bit as she laid backed down and went to sleep.

Celestia smiled as Sunset instantly went back to sleep once she closed her eyes. Just talking seemed to use up all the strength she had. The Solar Princess then walked out of the infirmary as she went to go through with the plan she thought out.


For the next week and half, Celestia would visit Sunset Shimmer everyday while she was in the infirmary. The yellow Unicorns condition would slowly get better and better. After 6 days, she was well enough to actually stand up and start walking. The doctors prescribed her with physical therapy to help her even more with walking again.

And then the day came where Celestia had something to show Sunset Shimmer.

Sunset was currently riding on the Princess's back as Celestia took the young filly across the halls of Cantorlot castle. Despite Sunset's increasingly better condition, Celestia didn't want Sunset walking through the halls of her castle in her state so she let the little Unicorn ride on her back. "Wh-Where are we going P-Princess Celestia?" Sunset asked as Celestia carried her through a hall with many doors on each side of the hall.

"It's a surprise." Celestia said as she looked at Sunset with a small smile. Just then Celestia stopped in front of the last door to the left in the hall and knelt down so Sunset Shimmer could stepped off her. Sunset carefully crawled off Celestia's back and stumbled a bit as she tried to balance herself. Despite her recovery, she was still getting used to walking on her hooves again after weeks in bed and having her body close to death.

"Here it is." Celestia said happily as she opened to the door in front of them and gestured her head to let Sunset in.

Sunset carefully walked into the room and saw it was a bigger than average bedroom with a big bed to the left of the room and a large desk and a couple of drawers. "Surprise!" The Solar Princess said as she walked into the room.

"Wh-Who's room is this?" Sunset asked as she was amazed by the size of the room as well as the soft and comfortable looking bed.

"It's yours." Celestia said, making Sunset's eyes widened in surprise as the 7-year-old turned to the Princess in shock. "Well, since we can't send you back to that orphanage, I had the maids set up a bedroom for you to stay at the castle until we can find a permanent solution."

"R-Really…" Sunset asked her as she looked around the room again. "I…I get to stay here?" Celestia nodded with a smile, but then looked down to see Sunset was suddenly holding onto Celestia's left hind-leg in a hug with a few tears going down her face. "Thank you…thank you…"

Celestia gave a warm smile to Sunset as she leaned down and gave a nuzzle to the yellow Unicorns mane. "Your welcome Sunset Shimmer." Celestia said as she used her magic to gently take Sunset off her leg. "I'm afraid I must be off to my royal duties. The doctors will be here in a few hours for your next exams and I have the maids making you dinner. If theirs anything you need just ask one of the servants that walk by, alright?"

"O-Ok." Sunset said with her head lowered, sadden that the Princess had to leave again. "Will…will you still come see me?"

Celestia gave Sunset a warm smile and nodded. "Of course I will." The Solar Princess reassured the unicorn. Just then Celestia's horn glowed as she used her magic to open up the drawer attached to the nightstand. Sunset watched as the princess used her magic to levitate a red book out of the nightstand and hover it in front of Sunset.

"What's this?" Sunset asked as she carefully grabbed the red book and looked inside to see its pages completely blank.

"It's diary." Celestia answered as Sunset looked up at her. "I thought you could maybe use it to write down your feelings. I think maybe it'll help you feel better. I can tell you have a lot bothering you, and I want to be able to help you."

Sunset didn't say anything and simply looked down at the diary in thought. Celestia didn't urge Sunset to respond if she didn't want to and simply gave Sunset one last nuzzle before walking out of the room and heading to preform her royal duties.


A week later, everything went by well enough. Sunset would mostly spend the days inside the room Celestia provided to her. The doctors and nurses would visit her every few hours so they could perform her physical therapy and maids would stop by to bring her food, drink, and snacks.

And of course, Celestia would visit whenever she had a bit of free time. Sunset seemed to enjoy her visits the most as Celestia would bring over games and puzzles for the two to do together or even just have some tea and talk.

However, there was one thing Celestia noted about Sunset ever since she woke up. The young unicorn never seemed to smile. No matter what, it seemed that Sunset Shimmer was incapable of giving even the smallest smile. It was obvious that Sunset Shimmer's been through some serious trauma, most likely during her time at the orphanage which would explain why she begged not to be brought back there.

And then one-night, Sunset Shimmer was seen tossing around in her bed at night. She opened her eyes as she started breathing heavily and sat up on her bed. She found herself unable to fall asleep tonight for reason's she couldn't explain. Sunset got out of bed and walked to the door in her room and quietly opened it up and looked outside.

She's barley, if at all, left her room. But she couldn't sleep, and she thought maybe she just need something to make her sleepy. Maybe just a little walk around the castle would help. She just couldn't go far so she wouldn't get lost.

And so Sunset exited her room and quietly closed the door and looked around the empty halls of the castle. Sunset slowly walked forward and kept on a straight path so she could easily find her way back to her room. As she was walking Sunset looked to the left and right constantly and took the time to look at the things she was passing by.

She saw a lot of the fancy paintings and stained glass on the castle walls. She also noticed some plants with really well-crafted looking pots holding them and overall some well-crafted and fancy pottery around the halls.

And as she admired all the art, she noticed a door that was left open. She looked around for anypony around that might have left it open but found nopony. She then carefully walked towards the door and peaked her head through, and her mouth gaped a bit at what she saw.

It was a giant library filled with shelfs upon shelf of books. Sunset walked in and felt a little intimidated by the sheer size of the room. The bookshelves went so high she swore she got dizzy when she looked up at them trying to find the top. She then looked behind her and saw tables and chairs around the center of the giant library. Sunset walked up to one of the tables and saw that still had a pile of books on them, most likely from somepony who was here but didn't put the books back.

Sunset then got an idea. Maybe a little reading will help get her tired. So Sunset crawled up onto the chair of the table and grabbed the book closest to her. It was labeled. 'Advanced Magic Spells and Potions.' Sunset tilted her head at the title and simply opened it up to a random page.

"Transmutation spells." Sunset read as she used the moonlight shining through the window to help her see the words on the pages. Though she made sure not to look at the moon. The Mare on the Moon honestly scared her.

As she read the book, she learned about the magic of being able to turn one object, into a completely different object. Sunset, despite being a unicorn, has never really tried magic before. Not even simple telekinesis. Everypony always told her that she would simply mess it up anyway, so what was the point?

But this time, thanks to the book, Sunset's curiosity got the better of her. She looked at the table and saw an apple somepony left there and looked to the book again. Just then Sunset clenched her eyes shut as she focused all her energy on her horn.

Just then her yellow horn glowed turquoise as she fired a magic beam at the beam. Sweat went down Sunset's head as she clenched her teeth, trying to keep her concentration. Just then her magic beam ceased, and she opened one eye and fully expected for nothing to happen or for her to have messed it up.

But to her complete surprise, when she opened her eye to look at the apple…it was an orange. She looked in awe as the fruit had turned into a completely different fruit. "W-wow…" Sunset managed to say, completely surprising herself.

"How did you do that?"

Sunset tensed up incredibly at hearing the familiar voice. Sunset slowly looked to the side to see Princess Celestia herself standing at the entrance to the library and staring at her with an expression that was both surprised and curious. "Pr-Princess C-C-Celestia! I-I'm so-so sorry! I didn't m-mean to do any-anything wrong!" Sunset quickly apologized as she closed the Advanced Magic book. "I-I-I c-couldn't sl-sleep a-and I found the l-library a-and-"

"Ssh, ssh, ssh, ssh, shh. It's ok Sunset Shimmer, I'm not made." Celestia reassured her as she walked up to Sunset and gave her a one hoof hug. She rubbed Sunset's back to comfort and calm down the poor filly. Sunset took some deep rapid breaths to calm herself down, and once Celestia saw that the Unicorn was calm again, she pointed to the orange that used to be an apple and asked. "Now, please tell me, how did you do that?"

Sunset gulped a bit as she pointed to the book she read the spell from. Celestia levitated the book up with her magic and turned to the page she knew the spell Sunset used was on. "The transmutation spell?" Celestia asked with a raised brow as Sunset nodded. "But…how?"

"What do you mean?" Sunset asked with a raised brow. Despite the reassuring, she was still afraid she did something to displease Celestia.

"How did you do it?" Celestia asked with a raised brow. "Normally Unicorns can't even begin to try transmutation until their twice your age. How did you do it?"

"I-I just did what the b-book told me to do." Sunset answered quietly as she tried to hide her face in her mane.

"You just did what the book said?" Celestia asked in a slightly confused tone. Sunset meekly nodded as Celestia looked at the book again. Just then Sunset looked to see the book being place in front of her as the Solar Princess asked. "Can you do another one?"

"A-Another spell?" Sunset asked for confirmation with Celestia nodding. "Wh-What do y-you want t-to see?"

Celestia hummed for a bit before she looked to Sunset with a small smile and said. "Why don't you try surprising me again?"

Sunset quietly gulped and nodded as she opened the book to another random page. 'Teleportation' the page was labeled. It was simple in context. Simply teleporting from one spot to another. Sunset looked over the page a couple of times before she gave it a try. Just like with the transmutation spell, Sunset clenched her eyes shut, gritted her teeth and focused all her energy on her magic.

Celestia watched as beads of sweat went down Sunset's head as her horn glowered turquoise again. This was taking a lot more magical energy then the transmutation spell. Celestia feared this one may be much more then the filly could handle and said "Sunset sto-"

POOF!

But interrupting Celestia was Sunset suddenly disappearing from her spot at the chair. Celestia looked around in a panic for where Sunset was. Just then she heard another poof and looked to see Sunset Shimmer reappearing about 3 feet away from the spot she was just at.

Sunset started to collapse to her knees as that teleportation spell took all the magic she had out of her, however she was quickly held up by Celestia's golden magic as the Sun Princess muttered. "Incredible…" Even most adult unicorns couldn't use teleportation, and yet Sunset, a 7-year-old filly that had no prior training in magic just pulled it off just being reading from the book.

"Sunset…that was amazing." Celestia said as she brought the drained Sunset Shimmer over to her and held her with one leg.

"R-Really…" Sunset asked, completely taken aback by the praise but unable show it due to being exhausted.

"Really." Celestia confirmed with a nod. Just then Celestia hummed in thought as an idea came to her head. She recalled the two spells she just saw and finally decided on it. "Sunset, I think I finally have a permanent solution for what to do with you."

Despite being exhausted, Sunset tensed up when she heard this and asked in a worried tone. "R-Really?"

Celestia nodded and said. "Why don't you stay here in the castle. And became my student at my school for Gifted Unicorns?"

Sunset's eyes widened a bit at Celestia's offer. As her brain tried to comprehend what the Sun Princess just offered, she could only let out a. "W-what?"

Celestia giggled at Sunset's reaction as she added onto the offer. "And not just another one of my students, but I want you to be my personal protégé. What do you say?"

"…Y-Yes…" Sunset let out as her brain was still trying to catch up to the first offer as she hasn't even started processing the second one yet.

Celestia simply giggled again as she said. "Great! We'll get everything set up for your classes tomorrow!" Celestia explained as she levitated Sunset onto her back. "But first, let's get you back to bed."

"…Ok." Sunset squeaked out.


And the next day, Celestia did exactly what she said she would do. She brought Sunset to her school for Gifted Unicorn's and got her signed up for classes and of course announced her as her own personal student. Sunset pretty much hid under Celestia the whole time to avoid at least looking at anypony that might be staring at her.

While pretty much everypony else would have to go through a rather difficult entrance exam to get accepted into the school, but Celestia felt seeing Sunset do those spells from the other night was more then enough to get her approval to get into her school.

And so, for the next few weeks, Sunset studied the art of magic right under Celestia herself. But these were honestly some of the most nerve-wracking days of Sunset's life. Every time another pony would look at her, she would tense up and look away. Whenever another pony walked near her, she would either walk in the opposite direction or try to hide. And Celestia bid when another pony tried talking to her, she ran away.

She had an incredibly hard time with socialization.

She did however excel in her classes. She turned out to be a true magical prodigy, being able to learn things very quickly and use magic fillies her age could only dream of. And with great talent came a lot of praise. And with a lot of praise came a lot of complicated feelings for Sunset.

Why was everypony congratulating her? Why was everypony giving her kind smiles. Why…why was everypony being so nice to her?

She grew up in that orphanage since she was born. Her birth parents pretty much leaving her there since almost right after she was born and growing up with the other fillies and colts there. And it was awful. She didn't know, but they hated her. And pretty much tried to make her miserable by putting her down and even beating her up. Always taunting her about how nopony is gonna want to adopt a nopony like her and how she'll always be alone.

She thought ponies just hated her simply for existing.

So, seeing so many kind faces and smiles…it was completely foreign to her to the point where she didn't have any idea how to react.

During the incredibly rare times she didn't run when somepony talked to her they asked. "Why do you never smile? Why are you always so scared?"

She could only give them one answer.

"I don't know."

That's how things were for about 5 months. And then one day Celestia walked into Sunset's room and saw her protégé on her desk reading more magic books. "Hello Sunset, how are you doing today? Celestia asked getting a surprised squeak as she closed her book with her magic.

"O-Oh I'm doing fine. J-Just st-studying f-for the upcoming test is all." Sunset stuttered as she walked up to the Sun Princess.

"Very good." Celestia said with an approving nod. Just then Celestia looked down at Sunset and took a deep breath as she prepared to tell Sunset something about today. "Look, Sunset Shimmer, I need to tell you that I unfortunately won't be able to look after you today."

Sunset Shimmer froze. Time seemed to stop for the yellow unicorn as Celestia's words played through her head. Just then Sunset through herself at Celestia's hooves and held them tightly as she started crying. "No! Please don't go! Don't leave! What am I doing wrong?! I'll do better I swear! Just please don't go!"

Celestia was quick to pull Sunset into a comforting hug with her wings and she brushed her mane and quickly. "No, no, no, no. It's only for today, I'm not leaving you Sunset."

Sunset stopped crying as she looked up to the sun princess with teary eyes and sniffled. "You…you're not?"

"Yes, of course." Celestia reassured her with another stroke to her mane. "I just won't be able to watch over you today specifically. I'm a little busier then usual today so I'm afraid I won't have any free time today."

Sunset looked down, her tears now wiped away but sadness still in her due to Celestia not being able to be with her today. "S-so what's going to happen while your g-g-g-gone?"

Celestia then gave Sunset a small smile as she said. "Well, I was thinking I could have my niece Cadence foalsit you."

Sunset was taken aback by this as she looked to the floor with an unsure expression as an uncomfortable feeling came into her deck. "W-W-Will she l-like m-me?"

"She'll love you." Celestia reassured as she rose Sunset's head so she could look into the filly's eyes. "I promise." Sunset only groaned a bit in anxiety and nervousness. "Just give her a chance and be good. Ok?"

"…Ok…" Sunset muttered quietly.

Celestia patted her head and gave Sunset a, "Thank you." Sunset gave the sun princess one last hug before she was forced to separate from Celestia having to leave. "She'll be here in 45 minutes. You'll know it's here when you see her.

All Sunset did was nod as she watched Celestia leave her room. All she could do know was wait anxiously for when her foalsitter showed up.


True to Celestia's words, about 45 minutes later, Sunset heard a knocking at her door and froze when she heard a voice from outside the door. "Sunset Shimmer! It's your foalsitter!"

"C-C-Coming…" Sunset said incredibly timidly as she hesitantly got up from her bed and shakily walked towards the door. Sunset then opened the door slowly with her magic and looked to see a teenage pink Alicorn come in and look at Sunset with a sweet smile.

"Hello there." Cadence greeted Sunset in a soft tone like Celestia told her. "You must be my Auntie Celestia's student Sunset Shimmer."

Sunset didn't give a verbal response and simply looked down towards the floor and simply gave Cadence a tiny barely noticeable nod. Cadence gave Sunset a small smile in response. Celestia told Cadence ahead of time about Sunset's issue's and how shy and anxious she gets around other ponies. So, Cadence needed to make sure she made Sunset comfortable and not end up frightening the poor filly to death.

Cadence stepped a little closer to the filly, noting how Sunset seemed to tense up as the Alicorn got closer. "Hey, it's alright. I'm not gonna bite." Cadence told her reassuringly. Sunset was still nervous, very nervous, but was able to glance a little bit at the Princess of Love. That was progress in Cadence's book. "Is there anything you wanna do? We can do whatever you want."

"Anything…" Sunset asked quietly as she looked at Cadance more.

Cadence beamed a tiny bit at the inside. She was getting through to this filly and a lot faster than she thought she would. Cadence nodded. "Yup! Anything you want!"

Sunset hummed a bit in thought before she walked over to a drawer next to the window of the room. Using her magic, she opened it up and pulled out a box with a puzzle inside that showed a picture of the city of Manehatten. She presented the box to Cadence and said. Me and M…Princess Celestia were supposed to do this today."

"A puzzle huh?" Cadence said with a smile as she looked over the box. "Well that sounds great! Most fillies aren't really interested in puzzles. They always wanna play games and run around."

Sunset looked down in embarrassment a bit as she grinded her hood against the ground gently. "I've never really played before." She muttered quietly.

Cadence heard this however and rose an eyebrow and said. "W-what?"

Sunset blushed as she looked away. "I've never played with anypony before…" Sunset again as she started to tremble lightly.

Cadence looked at Sunset with a sympathetic look. Celestia told her Sunset had a bit of rough past, but she could feel the pain in the little filly. Cadence then set the puzzle box down on the floor and opened it up. "Well, what are we waiting for? We got a puzzle to complete."

Sunset looked up at Cadence a bit and saw the pink Alicorn giving the little Unicorn a sweet smile. Sunset then looked at the opened box and all the puzzle pieces and nodded before using her magic to take them out of the box. The two quickly got to work putting it together.

About 45 minutes later, the two had about over half of the puzzle complete. And over that time, very few words were said. Cadence didn't pressure Sunset into talking and having conversations. Meanwhile Sunset tried to focus on the puzzle, but she would every now and then take a brief look at Cadence, but whenever she did Cadence would look at her with a smile causing Sunset to flinch and look away.

After this happened a few times, Cadence got a little worried and turned to Sunset completely and asked. "Hey, is everything alright."

Sunset flinched a bit at the question and quickly focused her eyes on the puzzle and simply said. "Y-Yeah…"

Cadence wasn't buying it at all. Sunset clearly did have something bothering her. A lot of things actually but Cadence was gonna focus on the now. "Are you sure?" Cadence asked gently as she scooted a few inches towards the yellow unicorn.

Sunset didn't respond. She didn't even move as Cadence got closer to her and instead started shaking a bit. Cadence grew increasingly worried for Sunset as she saw the filly's reaction to her get closer. "Hey, you don't have to be scared, I'm not gonna hurt you."

Cadence then put a hoof on the Unicorns shoulder. But when she did this Sunset flinched hard and jumped back and curled herself in a shaking ball and said. "I'm sorry!"

Cadence was taken aback by this a lot as she stood up and looked at the poor trembling filly. Celestia told her that Sunset was fidgety and had trouble with socialization. But this was something else. Cadence then slowly walked over to Sunset and saw down in front of the yellow Unicorn and used her forehooves to wrap Sunset up into a gentle hug.

Sunset flinched again at the touch, but then looked to see Cadence pulling her into a gentle, warm hug and stroking her mane, much like Celestia did with her. "It's alright. It's alright. I'm not gonna hurt you." Cadence reassured her as Sunset started to relax a little bit. Cadence then looked down and Sunset and looked the Unicorn in the eye. "Why would you think I would try to hurt you?"

Sunset looked back down and sniffled a bit and quietly said. "Everypony always does…"

Cadence gave Sunset a concerned look and asked. "What do you mean?"

Sunset started trembling again, so Cadence quickly started comforting her again and holding her a little closer. After taking a few deep breathes, Sunset spoke again. "A-All the other k-kids at the o-o-orphanage would always hurt me whenever they could." Sunset explained as tears started to go down her eyes as the memories came flooding to her mind. "They would beat me up…make fun of me…told me how much of a screw up I was…how nopony would ever want me…and…and…and…"

It was then that Cadence pulled Sunset close to her chest as the Unicorn started quietly sobbing into the Alicorns pink fur. Cadence stroked her mane as she gave the Unicorn a light nuzzle. "It's alright. Let it out." Cadence said softly as Sunset held onto her tightly. "Those other ponies don't know what they're talking about if they said and did all those things to you. You're special."

Sunset then stopped sobbing and looked up at Cadence and said. "R…Really?"

Cadence gave a warm smile in response. "Yes. Really. Don't let anypony tell you otherwise, alright?" Cadence told the filly in her hooves. Sunset wiped her eyes a bit first but gave a shaky nod in response. "Good."

A few moments of silence went by before Sunset asked. "C-Can we stay like this for a bit…please?"

"Of course, we can." Cadence instantly answered back as she held Sunset in a soft embrace.

For the rest of the time, two simply sat there together and talked. Cadence got Sunset to open up a bit about herself and the Princess of Love in turn told Sunset a little about herself.

It was simple, but it was nice.

Eventually though, Cadence had to leave. Sunset was a sadden by this, but then Cadence promised to see her again whenever she could. That made Sunset a little happier…

But she still couldn't smile.

At least…not for now.


Weeks passed by since that foalsitting from Cadence. Cadence would stop by at least 4 times a week to look after Sunset. Whenever she did, she would get Sunset to open up more and more each time. And it was then that Cadence asked Sunset something.

The next time she's in the class, the pony she ended up sitting next to…talk to. Try to make a friend. Sunset was terrified about this but ended up promising her foal sitter she would try.

The next day at class, Sunset ended up sitting next to a filly named Moondancer. Moondancer was known for being a bit of a bookwarm. Often have her muzzle in a book. And Sunset was going to have to talk to her.

It…was awkward to say the least. Sunset tried to get her attention, but only silent words came up at first. Eventually though, Moondancer noticed Sunset's attempts to talk to her and asked her what's up. Sunset was finally able to make an audible response, but all her words would stutter and make her hard to understand. Moondancer was a little weirded out at first, and Sunset thought she blew her chances at finally making a friend, until Sunset noticed the book Moondancer was reading and accidently made a comment about it.

It was then that the two somehow got into a deep conversation about the book and their various opinions and theory's and such. Eventually they had to stop, but Moondancer said she would like to talk with Sunset again.

While Sunset Shimmer wouldn't call them friends, at least not yet. It was a start.

And then the weeks turned into months.

Things…things were looking better for Sunset Shimmer. She would still have her meetings with Cadence and the assignments from Celestia, but she loved those. She loved getting to play and talk with her foal sitter and she happily did anything the Sun Princess told her and just liked being able to spend time with her.

And then there was Moondancer. Yes, Sunset was still extremely anxious and nervous around other ponies, but she got a little used to being around Moondancer would have conversations with her and even worked together on a project or two. She even got to meet Moondancer's group of friends Minuette, Lemon Hearts, and Twinkle, but was too scared to hang out with them all at once.

And then one night…

Sunset was tossing and turning in her sleep. She was breathing heavily as sweat covered her body. Just then Sunset shot up from bed. Her body was shaking, her pupils were dilated, and tears started to build up in her eyes.

The young unicorn quickly ran out of her bed and into the halls, heading towards one room in particular.

Celestia was currently lying down in her bed wearing little reading glasses and reading a book. She was currently getting some light reading done before she went to bed. As she was reading she heard the door to her room being opened up and looked to see her faithful student Sunset Shimmer come in and looking completely terrified. Celestia put down her book as she looked at her with concern. "What wrong Sunset?"

"I…I had a nightmare." Sunset said quietly while sniffling.

Celestia then laid down on her belly and raised up of her wings. "Come here. Tell me about it." Celestia said in a comforting tone while gesturing Sunset to lie down next to her.

Sunset then walked over to the giant Alicorn sized bed and climb up on it. She then went over to her teacher and laid down next to her as Celestia gently laid her wing on Sunset, letting the filly use it as a blanket. "What was your nightmare about." Celestia asked as she lightly stroked Sunset with her wing.

Sunset sniffled a few time as she snuggled up to her teacher and said. "It…it was about me…and…and I was alone again." Sunset revealed in a broken tone. "I was…I was back on the streets…and I…I was…I was dying again…and…and nopony…nopony came to help and…"

"Ssh, ssh, ssh. It's ok. I was only a dream." Celestia comforting as Sunset starting to cry into her fur. This continued for a few minutes as Celestia simply comforted her student as she tried into the Princess's white fur.

Just then Sunset removed her head from Celestia and looked at the Solar Princess with pleading eyes. "P-Princess Celestia…can I please ask you something."

"Anything." Celestia said with a warm smile.

"Promise me…" Sunset began as she struggled to let the rest of the words out. "Promise…promise me you'll never leave me. Promise me you'll always be there when I need you. I…don't wanna lose you…I don't…I don't wanna be alone again."

Sunset clenched her eyes shut as she anxiously waited for a response, afraid Celestia will decline her promise. Just then she felt Celestia's hoof brush her mane and opened one eye and saw Celestia looking at her with a kind smile and said. "I promise."

Sunset's eyes widened in surprise as they slowly started to sparkle. "R-Really…" Celestia gave a warm smile and nod in response. More tears went down her eyes as buried her head into Celestia's fur again. "Thank you. Thank you so much."

"Of course Sunset Shimmer." Celestia said kindly as she spread her wing completely around Sunset's body. "Do you want to sleep with me tonight?" Sunset nodded in response as she snuggled up to Celestia's body completely and closed her eyes.

Celestia smiled warmly at her student as she said one last thing to Sunset. "I promise, I won't leave you."

At hearing this, Sunset suddenly felt all her worries leave her. She had friend and foalsitter in Cadence. A study buddy in Moondancer. And Celestia. The one who saved her. Who spent her precious time to save somepony like her.

And who just promised to never leave her.

Just then…Sunset did something's she's seen plenty of pony's do but she herself seemed incapable of it.

Sunset Shimmer smiled.


And then the months turned into years.

Sunset Shimmer truly felt happy. She was smiling. She was laughing. She was having fun. She was continuing her studies.

Everything seemed perfect.

Until one day…

Sunset Shimmer was seen walking through the halls of Cantorlot at night. She had the widest and most excited smile she's ever had. And this was for one reason and one reason only. On Sunset's flank was her Cutie Mark! It was a sun just like Celestia herself with the outside part being half yellow and half red and the center resembling a yin-yang with one half being red and the second half being dark yellow.

Sunset was currently running as fast as she could towards Celestia's room. Incredibly eager to show her mo-her teacher her brand-new Cutie Mark.

Celestia herself was currently sitting on her bed again reading, like she did those tears ago when Sunset had that nightmare, she suddenly her doors burst open scarring her a bit as she looked to see Sunset Shimmer standing there with an excited smile on her face.

"Sunset Shimmer, you know I don't mind you coming into my room, but please knock next time." Celestia lightly scolded as she got her heart beat down from her students sudden scare.

"I'm sorry! I just really need to tell you…I GOT MY CUTIE MARK!" Sunset Shimmer announced with nothing but excitement and happiness.

Celestia gasped as a wide smile came to her face. "Really?!" She asked excitedly as Sunset rapidly nodded. "Let me see it!"

Sunset happily complied as she turned to her side and showed Princess Celestia the new mark on her flank. "Look! It's like yours!"

Celestia looked at it…and her expression faltered a bit. "O-oh…" Celestia muttered quietly as she looked over the mark. "I…I see."

"Isn't it amazing!" Sunset said happily, not hearing what Celestia said. Sunset then eagerly looked to the Sun Princess to see her reaction. However, the yellow unicorn looked to see that Celestia's expression wasn't what she thought it would be. She looked…disappointed. "Is…Is something wrong?"

Celestia quickly snapped out of it as she gave Sunset a nervous smile and said. "O-Oh, no, no, no. Everythings…fine. It's just…I'm sorry. Day court was just busy. I'm just really tired right now."

"O-Oh…right." Sunset said with a sheepish smile. "I-I always forget how busy you are."

"T-Tell you what," Celestia said as she patted Sunset's head. "Why don't tomorrow, after we get some sleep, you show me again tomorrow."

"Ok!" Sunset nodded eagerly as she gave her teacher a hug. "Goodnight Celestia!"

"Goodnight my faithful student." Celestia said. But without hugging back. Sunset didn't seem to notice this as she pulled away from the hug and went to her room.

Once she was gone, Celestia sighed, looked down, and quietly said…

"She's not the one…"


And so the next day, Sunset showed her Cutie Mark again to her teacher. But things didn't change. Celestia didn't look impressed. If anything…she seemed disappointed. Sunset asked what was wrong, but never got a proper response from the Sun Princess as she simply gave a hollow 'It's fine' from Celestia before she gave Sunset her assignments for the day.

Sunset didn't see her for the rest of the day.

And just like that, things seemed to go downhill from there. Everyday became the same. Sunset would go up to Celestia, Celestia would give Sunset her assignments, and when Sunset would present them to Celestia, the solar princess would give her an empty compliment.

And then there were times Celestia seemed…annoyed with her. When Sunset would go on lengthy explanations about projects she was working on, Celestia would offered give annoyed sigh's or expression. Sunset was confused. Celestia usually loved hearing about her studies and projects but now…it seemed she couldn't care less.

And then there was…her.

A few months after Sunset got her Cutie Mark, a new filly passed the entrance exam to get into Celestia's school. Even be taught right under Celestia herself. Just like Sunset. She was a purple Unicorn filly who had apparently earned her Cutie Mark after experiencing a magical surge and hatching a dragon egg.

Sunset learned through other students that her name was Twilight Sparkle.

And most of the time when Sunset saw Celestia, it was at a distance…and she was always with that purple filly. Everything Sunset did with Celestia, she saw Twilight Sparkle doing with her. The stuff when Sunset did or asked to do it now, Celestia always seemed annoyed by it, or even simply saying no to it.

And it wasn't just Celestia. Cadence's visit's seemed to lessen as well. She would see the Pink Alicorn only twice a week. And that was if she was lucky. But Cadence didn't go through the same change Celestia did with her. She was always happy to see Sunset and was extremely proud when she got her Cutie Mark. So why…why didn't she visit her as much anymore.

Even Moondancer. Whenever she saw her or her friend group, they always seemed to be with Twilight. Even though the purple filly hardly acknowledged them and her muzzle was literally in a book practically 24/7.

Why…why was everypony focused so much on this filly.

Why…why did she start feeling alone again…

Celestia promised…

Things only seemed to get worse. The years went by and she could hardly call herself Celestia's student anymore. The Solar Princess hardly seemed to be bother with Sunset, if at all.

Cadence never came to visit her anymore. Yeah, you could say she was past of the age of being a sitter…but she still wanted to see her friend.

And she never really saw Moondancer either. Or any of Moondancer's friend group.

Whenever Sunset saw any of them, it was always at a distance. Through a window. And they were always with Twilight Sparkle.

She didn't get it. Why were they always around that filly? What made her so special? Why didn't anypony even bother with her anymore…

Doesn't anypony love her anymore…

Why…why…why was Twilight Sparkle taking everypony away from her?

Things kept getting worse. At this point, Sunset's newfound loneliness was overtaking her emotions. Whenever she thought of Twilight Sparkle, she could only feel hatred towards the Unicorn who took everypony away from her. Celestia. Cadence. Moondancer. It's like they all just abandoned her for Twilight.

She would lash out at others, often acting rude, cocky, and straight up being a jerk to them.

But when she was alone in her room, all she could do was crawl onto her bed and cry herself to sleep. Just praying the ponies she thought loved her would come back to at least visit her.

And then one day…


Sunset was lying down in her bed. A depressed expression across her face as she was spending yet another day by herself. Just then she heard her door opening and didn't bother to see who it was. "Who's there…" The yellow unicorn said in a tone that matched her mood.

"Sunset Shimmer." She heard a regal voice call out her name.

Sunset's eyes widened at the familiar voice. She shot up from her head and looked to see Princess Celestia standing in the middle of her room and at her. "Princess Celestia…" Sunset muttered, rubbing her eyes to make sure she wasn't seeing things.

"Come." She said in a professional tone. "I have something I want to show you."

Sunset watched as Princess Celestia started to walk out. Just then a small smile came to Sunset's face as she started following her teacher and muttered quietly. "She didn't forget about me."

A mirror.

That's what Celestia showed Sunset.

A mirror.

"Oh…" Sunset let out in mild disappointment. She was happy that Celestia didn't forget her and wanted to show her something new. But a mirror…was extremely underwhelming.

"This is not just any mirror." Celestia explained as she brought Sunset up to the mirror. "This is a special crystal mirror created by Starswirl the bearded. Once every 30 moons, it's said this mirror opens up a gateway to another world."

"Wooooah…" Sunset said in awe as the mirror suddenly got a lot more interesting. "Really?"

"That's what said." Celestia further explained as walked closer to the mirror and gestured Sunset to stand in front of it. "While nopony has ever went through to see."

Sunset looked at the crystal mirror with curiosity and asked. "So why did you want to show me this?"

"I want you to look into it." Celestia ordered her student. "Just simply look into the mirror and tell me what you see."

Sunset rose a confused eyebrow but did what her teacher said and stepped up to the mirror and looked at her own reflection. At first nothing happened. But suddenly, Sunset's reflection suddenly changed. The yellow Unicorn looked with sparkles in her eyes as suddenly her reflection gained wings.

She saw herself as an Alicorn.

But that wasn't it. Suddenly she watched as an outline of Celestia appeared beside her reflection. Smiling at her. Hovering a wing over her.

"Wow…" Sunset muttered quietly as she thought only one thing. 'I'm her little princess…'

But just then, the image in the mirror changed. She saw a imagine of…something. It seemed to be bipedal. "What's that?" Sunset asked as she got closer, but suddenly Celestia's hoof came in and dragged her away.

"That's enough for now." Celestia said firmly.

"But, but, but…" Sunset repeated as she wanted to continue looking into the mirror.

Celestia had to drag Sunset away from the mirror but had to listen to everyone of Sunset's questions about the mirror. Question's like 'What did I see mean' or 'What was that bipedal thing.'

"Sunset, I will tell you when the time is right." Celestia said with a said as she used her magic to put Sunset in front of her. "For now, just go back to your room and continue your studies."

"But, I just wanna know-" Sunset was saying before being interrupted by Celestia.

"Am I clear!" Celestia said sternly to the yellow Unicorn.

Sunset flinched and backed up from the Solar Princess with her head lowered. "Yes Ma'am…" Sunset said quietly before she started walking back to her room. But Sunset couldn't get the mirror out of her head. The image she saw. The strange creature that appeared which for some reason looked really familiar.

"I have to find out more about that mirror." Sunset said determinedly as she just had to learn more about that mysterious mirror.


ONE WEEK LATER

Outside of Cantorlot Castle, it was horribly raining as dark clouds covered the night sky. Suddenly the doors to the castle opened as two Pegasus guards came out carrying none other then Sunset Shimmer. Just then, the two guards threw Sunset out of the castle and into the muddy ground.

Sunset groaned as she looked up to see Celestia glaring down at her. "Sunset Shimmer, you have knowingly disobeyed my orders. You are hereby removed as position of my pupil. You may stay in Cantorlot, but you are no longer allowed in the castle."

"But…but…but…" Sunset barley let out in a hardly audible tone.

After looking into the mirror, Celestia refused to answer any of Sunset's questions about it. So, Sunset ended up doing so digging and ended up sneaking into the forbidden library and trying to find some books about it. However, the librarian ended up waking up and informing the princess about it.

And that's how Sunset got her.

Her body covered in mud and cold rain falling on her.

Celestia glared at Sunset before she turned around and walked inside with the two guards following behind and closing the doors.

Sunset was in complete shock as tears start falling down her face.

"…But you promised…"

At this point Sunset Shimmer completely broke and started sobbing hard then she ever has before. Again. She was completely alone. The very mare that saved her life and promised to always be there for her…threw her away like trash.

She never even got to say goodbye to Cadence and Moondancer. Not that they cared about her anymore. Rain continued pouring down her mud stained body as tears flowed down her eyes, getting her body even more wet.

And as this overwhelming sadness took over her…suddenly the imagine of one pony came to her mind…

"Twilight Sparkle…" Sunset growled as suddenly she removed her face from her hooves, tears still streaming down her face as her face turned to one of rage.

"It's her fault…" Sunset told herself as hatred filled her body.

"She took everything from me!" Sunset yelled as thunder boomed in the sky. "She took everypony from me! She turned them all against me! It's all her fault!"

As Sunset said this, suddenly her eyes widened as a thought came to her. "The mirror…" If she could get to the mirror, the gateway, she could go through and take whatever power it has. She could use it to get revenge on the filly that took everything she's ever had away from her.

Thunder and Lightning went off again as Sunset suddenly gained a malicious smile as she started to think of a plan.

Celestia was seen running through her castle to the room she kept the mirror. She heard a loud ruckus echoing through the halls and when she went to the source, she found a few of her patrolling guards on the floor and beaten up as well as muddy hoof prints.

Just then she went into the room with the mirror and saw the mare she just kicked out of her castle Sunset Shimmer standing in front of the crystal mirror. And she was preparing to jump in. "Sunset! Wait!" Celestia called out to her.

But it was to late. She watched as her former student jumped right into the mirror. Disappearing to a world unknown.


Lincoln continued glaring down at Celestia hard. Celestia herself was looking up at Lincoln in shock, still on the floor and with Lincoln handmark on her muzzle from the slap he gave him.

"Well?!" Lincoln asked aggressively. "Did I leave anything out?!"

After a moment, Celestia found the ability to speak. "Ho-How did you know all that?" Celestia asked in surprise from the information Lincoln just told her.

"Sunset told me herself!" Lincoln yelled harshly as his glare never left his face. "You're a filthy liar! Sunset never betrayed you! You betrayed her!"

Celestia tried to find words to say but was unable to as any words she formed seemed to get stuck in her throat. "What? Got nothing to say?!" Lincoln yelled as Celestia flinched. "Why?"

"W-w-what?" Celestia stuttered out at Lincoln's question.

"I said why?!" Lincoln yelled again to make sure he was heard. "Why did you just stop caring about her!? And you better have a damn good reason!" Lincoln watched as Celestia lips moved, but he couldn't hear what she was trying to say. "I can't hear you!"

"SHE WASN'T THE ONE!" Celestia suddenly snapped as she stood up and glared back at Lincoln.

"What was that?" Lincoln asked with narrowed eyes.

"She…She wasn't the mare that would save my sister." Celestia revealed as she started to stand up to Lincoln. "When I saw her Cutie Mark…I knew she wasn't the one. The Unicorn that would be connected to the Element of Magic and would save my sister from Nightmare Moon!"

Lincoln didn't respond. He simply glared hard at Celestia as his anger continued boiling as Celestia spoke up more. "Look, I truly am sorry for what happened to Sunset, but I needed to find the mare that would grow up to be the Element of Magic. The mare with a six-pointed star Cutie Mark. Twilight Sparkle."

"You don't know what it's like! I had to live 1000 years without my sisters and I wanted to get her back! I wanted to rid her of Nightmare Moon and be with her again! You can't possibly understand what I went through!" Celestia yelled as water built up in her eyes.

Lincoln's expression didn't change. But after a moment…he started light chuckling. But it wasn't a happy chuckle. "Oh right, you're sister." Lincoln chuckled as Celestia narrowed her eyes but tilted her head in confusion. "You mean the sister YOU banished in the first place!"

Celestia was taken aback by Lincoln's sudden statement as he continued yelling at the Solar Princess. "Twilight told me everything about that. About how Nightmare Moon took over your sister making you forced to banish her. But honestly…I'm not surprised about what happened with Luna."

"What?" Celestia gasped out in reaction.

"Luna was corrupted by Nightmare Moon because all the ponies in Equestria practically worshipped you and your sun, but Luna would be alone without any ponies looking up to her at night. Isn't that right?" Lincoln asked as Celestia shockingly nodded. "Well tell me this, how would you feel if for centuries, no one ever appreciated you? Never gave you any credit? Never did anything for you and simply left you alone?"

…Celestia didn't have an answer. She was completely frozen as Lincoln listed everything out and continued to call her out. "Honestly, I don't blame her. She had no one and felt unappreciated and constantly in your shadow! And what did you do about this? What did you do to comfort her and help her? Nothing."

"Had you simply ignored all the praise and worship your subjects gave you. Had you've emotionally support Luna. Had you just been a sister…none of that would have happened." Lincoln finished off as Celestia's breathing got heavy.

"I…I…I…" Celestia tried saying again but was once again cut off my Lincoln.

"And then there's you banishing her in the first place!" Lincoln continued yelling again. "Twilight told me of what the elements of harmony can do! They could heal! They could have uncorrupted Luna right then and there! But no! You could have done something, anything else. But you were the one who subjected you own sister to 1000 years by herself on the moon!"

Celestia gritted her teeth at Lincoln's words. Each one of them felt like a stab to her heart as she tried to hold back tears from falling down her eyes. "It doesn't help that it was all fake worship anyway." Lincoln suddenly said.

Celestia's eyes widened in surprise as she looked at Lincoln and said, "W-What…"

"Oh yeah, did I forget to mention that some of my aliens can travel through space?" Lincoln said in a sarcastic tone. "I already had my doubts that you and your sister were actually about to move the sun and moon, and it turns out I was right! You two don't move the sun and moon! You rotate the planet!"

Celestia froze completely. She had no idea how to respond with the information Lincoln knew. Lincoln saw her reaction and said. "So, don't act like the victim here! Luna was corrupted because you did nothing to comfort her all the while you basked in the worship of your subject who were worshipping a big fraud! You were the one who made the choice to banish Luna! And you broke your promise to Sunset!"

"..B-But…" Celestia let out before Lincoln completely snapped.

"NO BUTS!" Lincoln yelled harshly, causing Celestia to back up in reaction. Lincoln then took a deep breath to calm himself down and said. "You took an orphan off the streets, gave her a home in your castle, raised and nurtured her, and then just abandoned her? You were more than her teacher Celestia. You were her mother, she admired and loved you, and because she didn't get the wrong cutie mark, you toss her aside. Like she was nothing, less than nothing."

Celestia started trembling as she looked down and glared at the ground. "I suppose you're going to tell the others about this…" Celestia said quietly with a broken tone.

"…I think they already know." Lincoln said quietly as Celestia's eyes widened a bit. Lincoln then turned to the door of the room and said. "I know you're all there. Might as well come in already."

Celestia looked at the door and watched in horror as it suddenly opened up to reveal the Mane 6, her sister Luna, and her Niece Cadence right outside the room with stunned faces and on Luna, a look of shame and sadness.

"You…You were all listening?" Celestia asked quietly as they all came into the room.

"A-Auntie…that…that's wrong right?" Cadence asked in a shaky tone. "That's…that's a lie…right?"

"You've…you've been lyin…you've been lyin to everypony for centuries!" Applejack yelled as she suddenly glared at Celestia. Rarity was quick to go over to her marefriend to calm her down. But Rarity herself was in shock from everything they heard.

"You…You just abandoned Sunset!" Rainbow Dash, the Element of Loyalty, yelled as she started glaring at the Princess she's come to respect all these years.

Celestia didn't know how to respond. She wasn't prepared for all of this to suddenly be unloaded onto everypony present. She was completely stuck. Just then Twilight Sparkle, still wearing her crown, walked up to Celestia slowly and asked in a trembling voice. "That…That's all a lie, right? You…you never abandoned Sunset right? You do move the sun right?"

Celestia couldn't answer. She just watched as Unicorn turned Alicorn looked at her, trembling due to everything she just heard. Before Celestia could try to respond, suddenly Luna spoke up. "I'm…I'm afraid that second one…it's true." Luna admitted as she lowered her head as everypony gasped. "Me and my sister…we do only rotate the planet!" The night princess said in shame as she lowered her head as much as she could.

"You've…you've to everypony. To us?" Fluttershy said quietly in a saddened tone.

"How…how could you…" Rarity asked in a hurt tone as Applejack held her close and glared heart at the day and night Princess's.

"I though you trusted us…" Pinkie said sadly as her mane started to deflate.

"I'm sorry…" Luna apologized in a broken tone as she started trembling.

Lincoln remained stone faced the entire time. He simply watched everypony's reaction before he turned to Luna and asked. "Luna, let me ask you something." Lincoln said as the Night Princess looked at him. "Tell us, what was it like being on the moon for a thousand years?"

Luna flinched at the question as she watched everypony looked at her. She really didn't wanna answer this, but she was in no room to decline answering anything. "It…It was torture…" Luna admitted as she started shaking as the memories of being on the moon come flooding back to her. "It was far worse than being completely ignored by my subjects. It was a completely lifeless rock. Nopony there. Cold. Dark. I couldn't even talk or scream. And Nightmare Moon…she might have been the reason I was sent there, but she was the only reasoned I even remained sane. She was the only pony I had to keep me company."

As Luna described her experience of 1000 years of isolation, anger started building up in her. Anger for her sister. Anger for her putting her through all of that. She remembered what Lincoln said to Celestia about her sister banishing her. She could have used the elements to do something, anything else to help her. But no. Just because she felt jealous, lonely, and not even appreciated, Nightmare Moon corrupted her, and her own sister banished her.

"Now tell me this." Lincoln asked after Luna described her experience. "After you were freed from Nightmare and apologized for trying to bring eternal night. Did SHE ever apologize for sending you to the moon?"

Luna and Celestia froze. Both their eyes widened as their pupils dialted. And then…Luna started slowly shaking her head. "...No...No she didn't…You NEVER said you were sorry." Luna said as she started glaring at her sister.

Celestia started breathing rapidly as she was finally able to speak and reached out to her sister. "Luna! I truly am sorry! I really am! When you were corrupted, I didn't know what to do! I just…I panicked! I didn't want to send you to the moon! I really didn't! I'm so sorry!"

However, Luna started backing away from her sister and shaking her head. "No… Had you said you're sorry when I was freed I would of accepted it. But now, all I hear are empty words. I reject your apology…and I reject you." Celestia could only watch as her sister then left as tears started going down the night Alicorn's eyes.

"Sunset Shimmer…" They all heard Cadence squeaked out and she was taking deep breathes. "You…You left her…you abandoned her…all because of Cutie Mark…"

"Cadence…" Celestia said as she was still trying to recover from what Luna to her before she left.

"You said she didn't need me…you wouldn't let me see her…you told me I should spend my time with Twilight…" Cadence listed as she started gritting her teeth. "I wanted to see her so bad…and she needed me…because you stopped caring about her…you…you…YOU MANIPULTIVE BITCH!"

Everypony watched as Cadence suddenly tackled her adoptive Aunt to the floor and started punching her in the face with her hooves. "YOU SAID SHE BETRAYED YOU! YOU SAID SHE DIDN'T NEED ME ANYMORE! YOU LIED! YOU LIED ABOUT EVERYTHING!" Cadence yelled as she continued assaulting the Sun Princess.

Celestia tried pushing Cadence off her and even Pinkie and Rainbow tried to pull the pink Alicorn off Celesita. However, the Princess's of loves strength was more then they thought as she continued attacking the ruler of Equestria.

But what did get her to stop was a sudden pain in her stomach. She came to halt as she clenched her stomach in pain and started taking deep breathes. Celestia was finally able to free herself with her face now bruised as blood leaked down her left nostril.

Rainbow Dash and Pinkie looked over Cadence in worry as the Pink Alicorn continued holding her gut. "Cadence, what's wrong? Do you have a tummy ache?" Pinkie asked in worry.

Cadence didn't respond and simply rubbed her belly before turning to Lincoln. "What did…what did Sunset think I did?" She asked while taking deep breathes.

Lincoln looked down and sighed. "She thinks…she thinks you abandoned her for Twilight."

Cadence quickly started shaking her head as tears started to flow down her eyes. "No…I didn't…I wanted to see her…I wanted to…I wanted to…" Cadence couldn't say anymore as she buried her face in her hooves and started sobbing.

Celestia could only watch as pain was sent through her face and heart. She then heard hoof steps in front of her and looked to see Twilight looking at her with a shocked and disbelieving expression. "If I had gotten a different cutie mark, would you have turned me away as well?" The purple Alicorn asked in a shaky tone.

Celestia opened her mouth and wanted to say she wouldn't. But then she saw an incredibly harsh glare from Applejack, the Element of Honesty. The words got stuck in Celestia's throat, but Twilight knew what this meant as she said in a broken tone as tears started to build up in her eyes. "You…you really would!"

Tears started to go down Twilight muzzle as she took her crown off and looked at it. Her eyes glared at the gem that was the Element of Magic. She then rose it up and-

SMASH!

Twilight threw the crown down on the floor as hard as she could. The crown around the gem broke as the gem itself bounced on the floor and rolled around a bit before it stopped right under Celestia. Twilight then glared up at her ex-mentor as she said. "You want Equestra to be safe so badly, then do it yourself. I'm done being your errand filly. Find yourself a new bearer…and a new Princess. I quit!"

The rest of the Mane 6 then reached into their own saddle bags and pulled out their own elements of harmony. They brought them incase something happened, but now, they followed Twilight's example as they discard them to the floor. They all then started leaving the room while sending one last glare to Celestia before they left.

Cadence as the last to leave, as she stopped to glare one last time at the Sun Princess and said. "Well, you've successfully pushed your family and everypony that cared and looked up to you away. Again. I hope your happy."

Cadence then slammed the door hard, causing some items that were on shelf to fall down.

Once Celestia was alone, her face was hidden by her mane making her expression unreadable. She used her magic to pick up the discarded Elements of Harmony. Just then her horned glowed as she teleported away.

Celestia proceeded to teleport back to her castle in Cantorlot. Specifically, the library. The Sun Princess walked up to a specific shelf and used her magic to levitate books off the shelfs and put them in specific places. Just then the shelf lowered into the floor and revealed a door.

Celestia opened up the door to reveal a staircase going down. Once she entered, she closed the door and the bookshelf rose up to hide the door again. It was a large staircase that led down deeper and deeper. As she walked down, memories flooded her mind.

'I don't wanna go back! Please don't take me back! Please! Please! Please!'

'I-I just did what the b-book told me to do.'

'No! Please don't go! Don't leave! What am I doing wrong?! I'll do better I swear! Just please don't go!'

'Promise…promise me you'll never leave me. Promise me you'll always be there when I need you. I…don't wanna lose you…I don't…I don't wanna be alone again.'

'I promise, I won't leave you.'

Celestia finally reached the bottom of the stairs and found another door. She opened it up to reveal a study room. One that hasn't been used in a long time. Plastic wrapped covered the furniture and there was a layer of dust over everything in the room.

Celestia walked in a put the Elements she had inside a dust covered wooden chest that was in the room. She then walked to the end off the room where a single plastic covered chair was. The Princess sat down in it as she glared at the wall of the room as tears started to go down her eyes as what Cadence said to her played through her mind.

'Well, you've successfully pushed your family and everypony that cared and looked up to you away. Again. I hope your happy.'

"I am."


One week later…

Ring…Ring…Ring…Ring…

Click!

"Hey, you reached the voicemail of Lincoln Loud. If I haven't picked up, I'm probably busy helping one of my sisters or doing some other crazy thing. Just leave a message after the beep and I'll get to you when I can!

BEEP!

"G-Guess I shouldn't be surprised huh?" A familiar female voice was heard. "You are in another world after all. Still, guess I'll leave a message just in case."

"Hey Lincoln, it's Wallflower Blush." The voice revealed themselves. "So, quite a few things have happened since you and Twilight left."

"I myself have been spending quite a bit of time with Pinkie Pie. She's been helping me with my s-social skills and making myself known. And…it's actually kinda working!

"Pinkie ended up becoming the vice-president and second member of my Gardening Club. She's helped spread the word about it by making these really flashy posters and flyers she hands to other students. And n-now my G-Garden Club has a dozen members!"

"S-Spending time with Pinkie has also been really nice. She's very hyperactive but really sweet. She's good company and a great friend. She's pretty affectionate to. She pretty much hugs me at every chance. Although, I would be lying if I said I didn't enjoy them. Plus, her hair smells really nice. Like strawberry cotton candy…wait…did I just say that out loud? P-Please…forget I said that.

"So…About Sunset Shimmer…I won't lie…she's not doing to well. Not at all. She's hardly getting any sleep. Her eyes are always baggy, and she dozes off often. It doesn't help that pretty much everyone hates her. And there were some days where she didn't show up to school. We went to her apartment to check on her…but all we heard was crying from inside. We ask her to let us in…but she never responds. All we can do is stay there and hope. We've been keeping an eye on her when we can though. And, uh, we've been making sure to keep her away from high places and, um, sh-sharp o-object j-just in c-case she's…she's…ya know, I think I'll just stop there.

"We could really use you and Twilight now. I really hope you find a way to open up the portal again. Please don't forget your promise. At the very least, find a way for us to call each other. I know we're literally worlds apart…but Sunset could really use you guys. I'm worried about her.

"…Uh-oh. My phones almost dead. Guess I'll stop here. I hope…I hope we can at least see or talk to each other soon. Bye.

CLICK!


Next chapter...

"Aftermath"