Only Love Can Make You New pt.2

There was no real reason as to why Twilight should have been nervous, but butterflies fluttered through her stomach as she paced back and forth before the closed doors to the throne room. Though Canterlot wasn't her home, she was a princess now and could walk in at any time. Yet she knew Celestia never closed the doors unless whomever she was meeting with required privacy. The last thing she wanted to do was barge in on somepony who needed to confide in the older alicorn.

“Twilight Sparkle.”

She looked up at the sound of her name and resisted the urge to bow to Princess Luna as she approached. Then upon seeing the state she was in – a robe draped around her withers, mane and tail a mess, and a steaming cup of coffee floating before her in a magical bubble – Twilight had to fight the urge to giggle. Instead she kept her voice as steady as possible to offer an apology. “I'm so sorry for waking you up. I know it's the middle of the afternoon and you don't usually get up for a few more hours-”

Luna waved a hoof and took a rather un-princess-like slurp of her coffee. “Do not trouble yourself over it. As they say, I can sleep when I am dead.” Twilight grimaced and Luna looked to the closed doors. “Why have you not gone in to see my sister?”

“I didn't want to interrupt.”

The navy alicorn rolled her eyes. “The only thing you are interrupting is Tia's binge-watching of 'The Trotting Dead.' ”

“Oh! I...” Twilight's ears fell flat and she made a face. “She watches that show?” Luna said nothing in reply but walked past the guards and pushed open the tall doors blocking their way.

Celestia was draped across her throne, forelegs behind her head over one arm of the ornate chair, back legs crossed and hanging over the other as she stared up at the ceiling. The gory show about zombie ponies was being projected above from some sort of device on the floor. Popcorn sat in a big bowl beside Celestia but as soon as her solitude was invaded, she jumped to attention. The device stopped playing just as Twilight was pausing to examine it. It folded into itself and shot downward into the floor, a tile sliding seamlessly into place over it.

“Breathe, sister,” Luna chuckled. “It is just us.”

Twilight cast a questioning look to Celestia and the pale pink alicorn had the grace to blush. “We all need a break from our everyday lives.”

“No judgment here!” said Twilight.

“Is anything the matter?” Celestia slid the tub of popcorn behind her, eager to to get to the reason for the interruption.

Twilight shook her head. “Everything is fine. In fact, today has been blissfully peaceful. Or at least it was. Until this.” She floated the book up to Celestia and let the older alicorn take it in her own magic. “Look at the last page.”

Both Luna and Celestia leaned in close together to read what had been written. A wrinkle formed between Celestia's brows as her eyes moved over the page. After a moment she said a very quiet, “I see.”

“I haven't written back yet because I wasn't sure what to say.” Twilight sat and looked at Celestia and Luna. “And I didn't think it was within my rights to tell her either way. After all, I was just a filly when she was your student here at the castle. I wasn't here for anything that happened while Sunset Shimmer was still a pony under you tutelage.”

“But you have spent time with her in the human world,” Luna offered. “You know her perhaps better than my sister because you know her as she is today.”

Twilight nodded. “I do. And she's very different from the girl I met when I first stepped foot in that world. Just in talking to her through these letters I've even seen a change in her since the last time I was there. She is genuinely repentant of what she's done and strives to make it up to everyone.” Twilight fixed her eyes on Celestia, trying to glean something from her unreadable expression. “Princess, I know how power-hungry she was and that she refused to listen to reason.” Twilight took a deep breath. “But I am willing to vouch for her if you let her come back.”

For a long moment Celestia was silent. Her purple eyes were hard and it was clear that she was remembering all the moments she'd spent with Sunset Shimmer. But when Twilight was sure she was going to say no, Celestia's harsh exterior softened some and her gaze turned sad. “Sunset was once very dear to me, as dear as you are to me now, Twilight. She broke not only my trust and my confidence in her...but she broke my heart as well.”

Twilight's ears drooped. “I know that, Princess. I promise you, she's changed.”

Celestia and Luna looked at one another, a silent conversation passing between them that Twilight didn't quite understand. Luna placed a hoof on top of one of her sister's and gave a nod before saying, “Very well, Twilight. If you feel Equestria should give Sunset Shimmer another chance, we are willing to trust you.”

The same butterflies from earlier gave a joyous leap in Twilight's stomach. “Really? You'll let her come back?”

“We will allow it,” Luna conceded. “I will return to your castle in Ponyville with you to await her arrival.”

The happiness Twilight felt gave way to confusion and she looked at Celestia. “Oh! I guess I just thought...”

“We will be a sufficient greeting party.”

Twilight looked at Luna and gave a slow nod. “Okay. Yes, of course.” One more glance at Celestia gave her no insight to the older alicorn's thoughts. “Then I'll write back to Sunset Shimmer right now and let her know. I assume she'll be coming as soon as possible.”

Luna finished the rest of her coffee in one gulp. “Then we shall leave at once. Um...once I have brushed my mane.”

~*~*~*~*~

The constant beat of the soccer ball against Rainbow's knee as she bounced it up and down was beginning to get on Applejack's nerves. They'd all been waiting in near-silent apprehension, sure of Twilight's quick reply. When more than an hour had passed, they were losing hope one by one, and patience with the way each of them waited was growing thin. The fumes from Rarity painting and repainting her nails was giving Fluttershy a headache. Pinkie Pie, head in Fluttershy's lap, kept grabbing her curls and tugging on them, only to let them go to a loud “TWAG!” over and over. It was making Sunset Shimmer feel like she was on a pogo stick but without the fun of the actual toy. Applejack, pushed to her limits, sprang forward and snatched Rainbow's soccer ball mid-bounce and kicked it all the way down to the stage.

“Hey!” Dash cried, watching her ball soaring away. “What did you do that for?!”

“You're drivin' me nuts, that's what for!”

“Um, Rarity...” Fluttershy nervously twirled a strand of her light pink hair around her finger. “Don't you think seven coats is enough?”

“Nonsense!” The purple-haired girl held her sparkling blue nails up to the setting sun. “It is the only way to ensure total coverage.”

Sunset casually reached over to Pinkie to still her hand. This seemed to bring the younger girl back to reality and make her aware of what she was doing; her smile at Sunset was almost one of embarrassment but Sunset gave her a smirk of reassurance in reply. “Maybe we should all just head home.”

A cacophony of rebuttal surrounded Sunset for a minute before she raised her hand. “Seriously. We've been waiting long enough. Twilight doesn't always get back to me right away. I mean, from some of the stories she's told me she's away from her castle for days on end and I doubt she takes her book with her everywhere she goes.”

Rarity frowned. “If I had my very own castle you would be loathe to get me out of it for even a couple of hours, let alone days.”

“She's got her own castle because she's a princess,” reminded Pinkie. “Princesses have to do princess things and that means leaving the castle to go be a princess who does stuff.”

Rainbow Dash scratched her neck. “Still. I don't like the idea of just giving up. That's not really my thing.”

“We're not giving up,” said Sunset. “It's just waiting. I can't ask you girls to give up your fun evening to hang around with me just in case Twilight writes back. That's not fair.”

Applejack nodded. “You're right, it's not fair.” Her lips curved upward. “It's friendship.”

“Besides,” Rarity added, finally putting her nail polish away, “we wouldn't be able to have any fun knowing you're at home by yourself awaiting this important answer.” She stood and slung her bag over her shoulder, a firm look of determination on her face. “Rainbow Dash, you go get your soccer ball and catch up to us at the gate to the park.”

“Where are we going?” asked Fluttershy.

“We are going to get ice cream, of course.” Sunset opened her mouth to argue but Rarity held up a finger, having none of it. “We are going to get ice cream and bring it back to Sunset Shimmer's house where we will play games, put on mud masks, watch horribly sappy romantic movies, and do everything we can to keep ourselves busy until Twilight replies.”

“Mud masks?” Applejack deadpanned.

“Romantic movies?” Dash pretended to gag.

“Come along!” Rarity commanded. She ignored Dash and Applejack and pulled Sunset Shimmer to her feet, linking an arm with hers. “We have a night full of fun to get to!”

But just as Rainbow was turning to run down to her ball and the rest of the girls moving to leave the stadium area, the book in Sunset Shimmer's grasp began to pulse with light. “It's glowing!' shrieked Pinkie. “Open it! Open it!”

All of them sank back into the positions they'd just been in and Sunset hurriedly turned to the last page in the book. Her eyes moved back and forth quickly, all five of the other girls leaning in closer. When she lifted her head they all moved back, staring at her in question.

“Well?” asked Rainbow. “What did she say?”

Sunset's blank expression slowly shifted into that of worry. “She said I can come back, that she's eagerly awaiting me on the other side.”

“Why do you look so scared?” Applejack asked. “Isn't this what you wanted?”

“It is.” Sunset tucked her hair behind her ear and looked down at the book once more. “I guess a big part of me kind of thought or maybe even hoped the answer would be no. Then I could just write it off as something I couldn't do anything about.” Looking up, she took in the faces of her friends. “Now I actually have to go back to Equestria and face up to my past.”

Fluttershy squeezed her hand. “You can do it. We all believe in you.” Sentiments of agreement echoed around her but Sunset didn't feel any more at ease. As if sensing this, Fluttershy took her other hand and pressed them between her own. “Just look at all the wonderful friends you've made here at Canterlot High. It may have taken everyone a little while to understand how truly sorry you were, but they see you now for who you are; someone who apologizes for her mistakes and strives to be a great friend.”

“Well what are we doing just sitting around here talking?” Rarity demanded, trying to lighten the mood. “Twilight is waiting for you my dear, and you simply cannot keep a princess waiting!”

Sunset Shimmer had almost no choice in the matter. She was tugged to her feet and ushered along back toward the school. A flurry of emotions swirled inside of her at the thought of really going back to Equestria. She was a bit excited about returning to her pony form but also bit nervous in knowing she could use magic again. She's grown so hungry for it before she'd left that there was a deep fear of seeking that addiction once again. Maybe she could get through it all without having to use magic at all. If she could just avoid the very temptation, maybe she could avoid falling into old patterns all together.

So lost in her thoughts was she that Sunset Shimmer was surprised to find herself standing in front of the portal conveniently hidden in a statue at Canterlot High. She suddenly didn't know if she wanted to go through with it, summoning up every excuse she could think of and shouting them in her thoughts, but her lips refused to move. Her entire body seemed frozen before this choice she had to make.

All of her friends were giving her words of encouragement. Fluttershy was crying and squeezing her tight, whimpering, “I'm so glad we got to be friends!”

Bemused, Sunset looked down at her and muttered, “I'm coming back.”

“Goodbye!”

“Good luck!”

“You'll be fabulous, darling. Just fabulous!”

“Have fun being a candy colored pony!”

Her feet moved of their own accord. Sunset only had time to glance back at her friends before everything around her began to swirl and spin. Their familiar faces blurred into streams of color that ran together and faded into a light that was too bright to look at. She could feel her body changing even if she couldn't open her eyes to see it. There was no pain, just an uneasy feeling of general discomfort as bones shrank in some places and grew in others. She fell forward to dig her nails into the nonexistent ground to brace herself, but found her fingers were gone. With a gasp of surprise she opened her teal eyes. The light was slowly giving way to something in the distance, an image of sorts. On four hooves she walked toward it, feeling as though the journey was taking forever when in reality, the pass through the portals didn't even take a second.

As the image grew closer she could make out colors, shapes, and soon enough a smile on the face of a familiar pony. The last time she'd seen Twilight Sparkle in this shape she'd stolen her crown. Shame flooded her for the quickest moment, but Twilight's welcoming smile spurred her on again. Then, as though no time has passed at all, Sunset Shimmer set hoof onto the gleaming floor of the great hall in Twilight's castle in Equestria.

“Sunset Shimmer!”

The poor amber coated pony barely had time to get her bearings before Twilight was pulling her into an embrace. It took only a second to remember how to move all of her appendages and she returned the hug happily. When they parted, Sunset gave her a bashful smile. “It's so weird. We didn't get to hang out all that much the last time you were in my world, but we've written back and forth so often that I feel like we've been friends forever.”

Twilight nodded. “Me too. I'm so glad you're here. There are so many ponies I want to introduce you to!”

A pony standing just behind Twilight cleared her throat, causing Sunset Shimmer to look up in surprise. She was so excited to see Twilight that she hadn't noticed the taller navy blue alicorn watching them, her mane of blue and translucent purple looking like the night sky. Her expression was somewhat stern but mostly unreadable, and it made Sunset lower her ears.

“Whoops!” Twilight giggled. “That's right. You're here for a reason, not just a visit.” Stepping aside, Twilight motioned to the alicorn behind her. “Sunset Shimmer, this is Princess Luna. Luna, this is my good friend Sunset Shimmer.”

Luna took a step closer and came more into the light. Her expression was still stone, though she dipped her head. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Sunset Shimmer.”

Sunset bowed and kept her gaze downward. “The pleasure is all mine, Your Majesty.” Chancing a look up, she searched behind Luna for another pony. Twilight touched her withers and she rose to see the look of understanding on her friend's face.

“Princess Celestia is still in Canterlot.”

Disappointment flooded the amber pony. Was Celestia still so angry with her that she wouldn't even see her? Attempting to rid herself of the terrible weight that had formed in her stomach, Sunset Shimmer looked around. “You weren't lying about having your own castle, were you?”

This made Twilight giggle again. “Nope. Everything I told you was true.”

“Sunset Shimmer!”

The exclamation drew all three ponies' attention to the door to the hallway. Spike came rushing in and jumped, Sunset catching him mid leap and giving him a nuzzle as Spike wrapped his short little arms around her neck. “Hey, Spike. It's so good to see you.”

As he was set down, the baby dragon practically bounced on his feet in excitement. “I couldn't believe it when Twilight told me you were coming back to Equestria! How long are you here for? Are you going to stay forever since, you know, this is sort of where you belong right? Or is it just for a little while? Where are you staying? There's plenty of room here or maybe somepony could let you stay with them in Ponyville if the castle's a bit too drafty for you. It really does take some getting used to. Or-”

“Easy, Spike.” Twilight smirked at her assistant. “She just got here.”

He shuffled his feet in embarrassment. “Aw, I know. I'm just really glad to see you is all.”

Sunset couldn't help but smile at Spike. His joy as seeing her spread a warmth through her she hadn't been expecting, and it was a nice feeling. “Thanks, Spike.” She glanced at Luna. “I don't really know how long I'm staying and I guess I just assumed I would be staying in Canterlot.” Twilight and Luna shared a look that made her uncomfortable. “Forgive me, Princess Luna. I'm sure you know all about me and what I've done, but-”

“Save your apologies, Sunset Shimmer.” Luna's expression still had not changed and it was unnerving. “As I once had to learn, words may only take you so far. It is your actions that truly show a heart of repentance.”

Sunset ducked her head. “Of course.” She was not unfamiliar with the tale of Nightmare Moon and, for a time at least, had actually been close enough with Celestia for the older pony to confide how much she missed her sister. Knowing how Luna must have had to win much of Equestria back after such a betrayal, Sunset had hoped the princess of the night would be a little more sympathetic to her plight. So far that didn't seem to be the case.

“There is plenty of room here if you'd like to stay with Spike and me,” Twilight offered. She glanced at the gigantic map Sunset had failed to notice, a half-hearted smile on her face. “Though I can't promise I'll be around all that much. The map pretty much dictates my life right now and when it says to go, I have to go.”

The idea of being in such a big place all by herself – assuming Spike accompanied Twilight on her adventures – was not overly appealing to Sunset and it showed on her face. “That's really generous of you, Twilight. I was kind of hoping to stay somewhere...less easy to get lost in.” Twilight laughed making Sunset feel better about turning down her offer. “Actually, I was wondering if I might be able to stay with Fluttershy.”

Twilight's good humor faded into a sad smile. “I know you and Fluttershy are really close in your world, but you have to remember that nopony here knows you, save what I've told them about you.”

“Oh.” It was beginning to feel like Sunset's ears would be at a permanent droop. “Right.”

“That, and she has a frequent house guest who would have a field day with you. Plus, you know how Fluttershy can be around new people...er...ponies. Once she gets to know you she'll be fine but until then...”

“No, I understand.” She truly did but it didn't make her feel any better. She'd forgotten all about having to come here and basically start over with ponies she recognized in her own world but who had no idea about her here. Save what Twilight had told them. What had she told them? Would they run screaming from her? Be defensive? Ignore her all together? Maybe it would be better for her to stay within the protection of Twilight's castle. But then, wouldn't Twilight's friends come and go as they pleased? She had a strong urge to sink to the floor and cover her eyes with her hooves.

“If I may...” Luna cool voice was thoughtful and drew the attention of everyone in the room. “You are here for the sole purpose of seeking forgiveness for the actions of your past, correct?” Sunset Shimmer nodded. “And those you seek absolution from are both in Ponyville and Canterlot?” She nodded again, making Luna tilt her head and narrow one eye. After a moment she looked at Twilight. “I may have a solution if you would excuse me for a few moments.”

“We'll be right here,” said Twilight. Without further prompting, Luna disappeared in a flash of magic, and Sunset felt herself let go of a breath she didn't realize she was holding. Twilight smirked. “Luna's really a wonderful pony once you get to know her.”

“Is she always so...formal.”

“Not alw....well....now that I think about it, yes. But you'll see, she has a really unique sense of humor.”

“Is that what that was?”

Twilight laughed. “Come on. Spike and I will give you a tour of the castle while we wait for Luna's return.”

Spike hopped on Sunset's back, putting her more at ease. He grinned at her. “Yeah! And you can tell us all about what's been going on in that weird freaky other dimension of yours.” As the three of them set off together, Sunset began telling her two friends about everything that was going on back at Canterlot High. Just talking about her friends made her more relaxed and she realized, though she'd not been gone very long at all yet, she already missed them terribly.