Sunset reached out a shaking hand towards the portal, but she hesitated and drew her hand back in, her hands clasping against her chest as she took a shuttering breath. She couldn’t do this. She wasn’t ready to face her.
But yet…
Even after all that she had gone through over the holiday season, in light of Anon-a-Miss rearing its ugly head, she had been dreading this moment for longer then she could remember. She had spoken to Princess Twilight about it, and after a lot of convincing (mostly to herself), she had finally agreed that she would go through the portal… and meet with Celestia once again. Her friend. Her mentor.
Her mother.
She let out a soft sniffle, but steeled her resolve and pulled her new jacket in on herself. Well, it wasn’t really that new. She’d had it for awhile, but ever since her old one got ruined in a fistfight, she need something to help keep up appearances. But it wouldn’t matter anyway, she supposed.
Taking one final look at her watch, she realized that the bell would be ringing soon. That meant students coming out and possibly seeing her, and that was the last thing she wanted. So, she sucked in a breath of cold air, stiffened up… and walked right through the portal.
Celestia left the classroom of youthful unicorns who clutched their books and scrolls in their magic and departed her quietly and waited until they were some distance before they started speaking again. It was always like that in the school. Ponies walking on eggshells with her. She stepped into the office where the portal happened to be and looked at the schedule where she kept her notes.
Dead silence except for Philomena’s soft snoring on her little perch. Then something sounded in left of the room. Celestia’s wide wings opened and she turned. That portal was not supposed to work unless–
The alicorn’s eyes went wide and her mouth gaped at the sight of her former student. She said nothing. Her expression remained blank.
Sunset Shimmer had returned.
The last thing she had expected to see was the inside of Celestia’s personal office. Last she remembered, the portal was in at the Crystal Empire. Or was it at Twilight’s castle? She couldn’t really remember at the moment, not with her nerves fired up to 11. Guess Celestia wanted it moved so she could keep an eye on it in case…
She trotted forward and quickly tried to make a run for it, but it had been a while since she had been on four legs. She quickly lost her balance as she tried to run, and stumbled slightly, her front hooves waving wildly in front of her. Before she knew it, she tripped, body flailing all over the place as she let out a cry of panic.
TheWanderingSunset2 