First Daybreak [Audio]

[raging_she_demon]

[Playing safe and going with audio, no way was she showing her face right now. Not after turning her back on everypony long ago.]

Umm... hi. Sorry to bother anyone, but... I just got here. I'm not exactly new to Equestria, but it's been quite a while since I've been here. Plus it looks like Equestria, but I know a thing or two about alternate worlds. So... I guess I just want to ask what exactly this Equestria is the one I think that it is and why I may have been brought here.

I'd appreciate an answer... though you don't have to give me one, I guess. I'll figure it out somehow. But if anyone... I mean anypony could help me, then I'd... I'd really appreciate it. So... thank you. That's all.

[Well she tried. She was still learning to ask out for others instead of relying on herself or manipulation, so give her some time.]

Comments

[visual]/[private]

[solequus]

[Oh, oh that's...

Audio or not, she knows who this is.]

Sunset Shimmer?

[visual]/[private]

[raging_she_demon]

[Oh... oh...

Out of everypony who could have answered, this was not the one that she was expecting to hear form first... even though she should have.]

Celestia... I should have known that you would have recognized me...

[visual]/[private]

[solequus]

How could I now know your voice? You are my former student, after all.

[She...is not sure what to think, and her confusion and wariness subtly reflects in her voice. Is this the Sunset Shimmer she had confronted less than a year ago? Or another entirely?]

[visual]/[private]

[raging_she_demon]

Yeah... former student.

[It may be surprising that Sunset didn't sound angry or bitter when she said that. She sounded more... guilty than anything.]

I supposed that it's been a long time... since that day I went through the mirror.

[visual]/[private]

[solequus]

[The princess is silent at this. Clearly ruminating on the words. Its clear that the Sunset Shimmer she knew was...well, what Sunset Shimmer had once been.]

It has been.

[She sounds sad, either way.]

[visual]/[private]

[raging_she_demon]

[She sighed. What could she say to her former mentor? That she was sorry? That she let her lust for power take over? That she should have listened to her all along and that she was right to strip her of her title as her student?

There was a lot that had to be said, and she didn't even know where to start.]

Celestia, I... what I did that day was foolish. No, even worst, it was disgraceful. I was obsessed with power, with getting my way and...

[She gulped, trying to get the two simple words out.]

I'm sorry... that's not even close to enough to make up for everything, but... I'm sorry.

Re: [visual]/[private]

[solequus]

[At this, Celestia gave a small, sad smile. If only her Sunset Shimmer could understand that. She doesn't know how, or if, hers can.]

Sunset Shimmer...saying you are sorry is the first step.

I'm so proud of you.

[visual]/[private]

[raging_she_demon]

[She was proud of her... she was proud of her. Those were the words that she never expected to hear from Celestia, not after what she had done. Despite herself, she couldn't stop her eyes form watering up.]

I... but I turned against you. I went behind your back, refused to follow your teachings and... how can you forgive me? I mean... if you are forgiving me...

Re: [visual]/[private]

[solequus]

I can tell you've changed, Sunset Shimmer. You've changed, seen the error of your ways, and begun to repent and grow.

[Getting a little bit misty-eyed, sorry.]

How can I not be proud of you?

[visual]/[private]

[raging_she_demon]

[She couldn't hold it in anymore after hearing that. The tears were rapidly pouring down her face as she tried to swallow a sob. All the guilt and shame that she felt since Twilight and her friends literally knocked the sense into her was hitting her harder than ever.

Canterlot High student body? The pony versions of the ones that she hurt? That, despite the difficulty, she could take. But this... this hit her harder than anything else could have.

She knew that she should try to talk. To say thanks to the princess for accepting her apology. Maybe even apologize some more. But whenever she tried, her lips quivered and the words wouldn't come out. Right now, she turned away to hide her tears as she tried to pull herself together.]