Princess Sunset Shimmer would never harm her tree or her books. Sure, she’d throw her books around and sometimes they’d get bent. When she was in the ‘zone’, her house would become random piles of books. She’d always get her servants to clean up and fix the books afterwards. However, this wasn’t one of her studying binges.
She was angry beyond belief. That’s why she had triple checked the fire wards on her beloved tree library. She was a fire based unicorn, so as her temper flared, so did her flames. Every step she took, a small puff of flames shot up and died quickly. “Does she really think she can get away with this? I oughta just throw her out of town now.”
“I don’t think mother would approve,” Spike was leisurely lying on his back across the couch, flicking to the next page of his book. “Friendship is magic, remember?”
“Oh!” Sunset set him up with a nasty glare. “Friendship. I’m sure it’ll fix this problem in no time. Why didn’t I think of this before?”
“You don’t have to be sarcastic.”
“You don’t have to be dumb, but we have to live with what we’re given.” Sunset grumbled.
“You wound me,” Spike rolled his eyes. “You need to relax, sis. As much as I don’t like this whole thing, you still outclass her.”
“I know, but she’s always been a tricky unicorn to work around.” Sunset huffed. In all her years, Gingersnap had proven herself to be quite the nuisance. It helped that she was an accomplished unicorn, being the second best at Celestia’s school for the gifted. Sunset was the first, of course. Her competition might be cocky, but she wasn’t stupid. Gingersnap never went up against anyone unless she was certain she had a chance to win. Whether by playing fair, or fighting dirty.
Spike put down his books and sat up. “You know, you could always just call this off. Gingersnap is strong, I’ll give her that, but she’s not you. I’m afraid about you going overboard with this.”
“Overboard?” Sunset snort. “Pfft, as if. If anypony is going overboard, it’s her. I mean, making my friends look like foals? Daring to be proclaimed the greatest unicorn in the land? That’s me, Spike.”
Spike pinched the bridge of his snout. “Sunset, you need to learn to control your ego. One day I fear it’s going to blot out mom’s sun and I don’t think she’ll very much care for that.”
“Oh shut up,” Sunset huffed. ‘Stupid Spike and his stupid advice.’ Her ego was not a problem. If someone had a problem with it, too bad. They could all be burned to ash for all she cared. She’d make sure not to say that too her ‘friends’ though. It still felt odd thinking of them like that. They were ‘close’ in a manner of speaking, but she hadn’t really had much time to hang out the last week. ‘I’ll do that later and write a letter. I’m sure that’ll make mom happy.’
Friends weren’t important right now. Now she had to duel her ex-rival. Ex, in that the princess really didn’t consider her that anymore. She was just some washed up has been. Made her smile a bit inside, if only temporarily. She needed to bring her A-Game. So she had to bulk up, as it were. ‘A little fuel can go a long way,’ she thought, eying some candles. She took a few steps and literally slurped up the flames.
Elemental magic isn’t uncommon. Most ponies can use an element or two. However, there are others who find it much more natural to do so. These are Elementals, who naturally harness select elements with ease and power that can’t really be matched. Elementals aren’t uncommon in society, except for one subclass: Blood Elementals. Blood Elementals are the strongest type, giving them access to powers and abilities that normal Elementals couldn’t dream of gaining. The most important being attributes said flames carried.
The candles didn’t give her much power, but they made her coat shine a bit. The inherent nature of the candles flame was to give light to a room. That’s what Sunset had copied. Made her seem a bit more regal, if that was possible. She was Celestia’s daughter, of course everything about her was regal.
Sunset grinned deviously. “Do you honestly think you can beat me, Gingersnap? Me?!! I am Princess Sunset Shimmer, daughter of Celestia, the sun goddess, the immortal ruler of Equestria. You were doomed from the start.” Her mane took on a wispy, fiery appearance similar to a blazing candle. “I’ll make you regret ever crossing me. I’ll make you regret the day you were born!” She laughed, which could honestly be mistaken for a villainous laugh with how creepy and vicious it was. “Nothing will get in the way of our duel!”
The door slammed open. “Gingersnap moved the battle to tomorrow,” Lightning called inside.
“BUCK YOU, GINGERSNAP!” Sunset’s Canterlot Voice shook the entire library.
“Drama Princess,” Spike mumbled, catching a fireball to the face.
“Hey Sunset,” Fiddlesticks casually trotted in behind Lightning. “Are ya still upset?”
“Upset?” Sunset snorted. “Why would I be upset?”
“Ya were more ornery than a rattlesnake in a thunderstorm,” Fiddlesticks deadpanned. “It looked like ya wanted to burn that unicorn right then and there.”
“Tempted,” Sunset admitted.
“That ain’t right, Sunset.” Fiddlesticks said.
“Why?” Lightning frowned. “She’s a jerk. She has it coming. Didn't you see what she did to me? To Quickfix? Sunset’s gotta hate her for a reason.”
“Ah just don’t want ya to go rushin’ off and fight is all,” Fiddlesticks mumbled. “Ya could get hurt.”
“Relax,” Sunset said, a bit touched that Fiddlesticks was thinking of her. “It’s a Magic Duel. We aren’t going to trade blows, unless somepony steps up their game.” ‘I know that mare will. I’ll just have to smash her first.’
“Maybe ya can sort this whole thin’ out without duelin’ at all,” Fiddlesticks smiled.
“That’s very optimistic of you,” Sunset rolled her eyes. “But that’s not going to happen. You don’t know Gingersnap like I do.”
_______________________________________________________________________
*Previously, in the life and times of Sunset Shimmer*
Little Sunset was growing tired of all the parents coming over. It just wasn’t fun to run around and hope they’d pick her. That was becoming a fool’s hope. The filly tried not to cry. She was strong. That didn’t stop her from crying to herself some nights. The other children didn’t dare disturb. A few severe burns had taught them that. So Sunset was just lying down in her bed with a blanket over her head to cover up her red eyes.
“Hey you,” a new voice, a filly about her age from the sound of it, spoke up. “Get up.”
“Huh?” Sunset poked her little head out from the sheets. A brown filly was looking at her with a slight glare. “What do you want?” She matched it.
“Why are you in your bed?” The filly asked, stomping a little hoof. “Mommy and daddy want me to have a sister or brother. You should be jumping at the chance.”
Sunset scrunched up her muzzle as if she had tasted a rotten fruit. She didn’t like other kids taking that tone with her. “Why would I?”
“It’s because we’re House Razorsharp, duh.” Gingersnap’s tone made it seem like it was the most obvious thing in the world. “We’re one of the longest, purest, bestest unicorn families ever.”
“Good for you,” Sunset huffed and turned her head. She was going to ignore this loud filly. She wanted to be alone.
“Yes, good for me.” Gingersnap giggled. “It could be good for you too, if mommy and daddy accept you.”
“They won’t,” Sunset growled.
“But you’re a unicorn,” Gingersnap said. “We’re the best and mommy and daddy want another. Mommy says she’d gut dad if he tried to make another with her. I don’t want that to happen, because I love my daddy.”
Sunset wanted her to go away more than anything. ‘Rub more salt into the wound, why don’t you?’ The filly sniffed. “Nobody wants me.”
“You’re silly,” Gingersnap chuckled. “They could and it’d be an honor. We’re Razorsharps.”
“That doesn’t mean anything to me,” Sunset turned her head to glare at her. “It’s just some stupid title.”
“Stupid title?” Gingersnap narrowed her eyes. “We’re the bestest unicorns ever. We earned that title.”
“What did you do to earn it?” Sunset asked. “You don’t even have your cutie mark.”
“Neither do you,” Gingersnap snapped back. “At least I have a mommy and daddy. You’re just a mean orphan.”
Sunset snarled, standing up. That was the last straw. She was tired of all this ‘mommy and daddy’ nonsense. Why couldn’t this filly see that and just go away and leave her alone. “I’m a mean orphan? You haven’t seen me mean, jerk.”
“I have and mommy and daddy wouldn’t like it,” Gingersnap pointed her snout up into the air and walked off. “You could have been a sister, but too bad. I’m going to tell mommy and daddy not to take you. Enjoy being alone.”
She didn’t know why, but Sunset felt a little of herself break at that comment. She wanted to have someone love her like family. Tender Care loved her, at least she thought she did. However, she wanted a real mommy. Tender just looked after her and all that because she had to. “That’s not fair.”
“Why?” Gingersnap turned and snorted. “You don’t wanna see them, ‘cause you’re too busy hiding under your blanket. A real Razorsharp never hides from anything. We’re brave.”
“I’m brave,” Sunset jumped off the bed.
“That’s not what I saw,” Gingersnap said. “I want a brave sister, not some coward.”
“Shut up,” Sunset’s horn sparked. She was no coward.
“Coward, coward, coward.” Gingersnap smirked. “Is that bothering you? Maybe you should go and hide in your blanky.”
“You’d make a mean sister.”
“Take that back,” Gingersnap snarled, stomping a little hoof. “I’d be a great sister.”
“You’re being mean to me.”
“You’re not my sister.”
“I could be.”
“No,” Gingersnap scrunched up her snout. “I don’t want you.”
“You’re stupid.”
“No you.”
“No you.”
“No you.”
________________________________________________________________
*Present*
“NO YOU!” Sunset shook her hoof into the air.
“YES YOU!” Fiddlesticks shouted in glee.
“Fiddlesticks,” Sunset grouched. “Don’t interrupt me.”
“But ah just wanted to put a little positivity into the flashback,” she whined.
“Any flashback with Gingersnap in it is not positive,” Sunset said.
“Trust me on that,” Spike sighed as he put down his book. “Let’s just hope they don’t break much this time around.”
“Didn’t know that you two went that far back,” Lightning chuckled. “Sounds like you two could relate.”
“I have nothing in common with her,” Sunset groused.
“Except your tempers,” Spike pointed out, to which Sunset pounced on him with a snarl. Spike just laughed as his sister tried to beat him up. Given how he was an earth dragon and she was just a unicorn, her punches and kicks did little, if anything. Spike traded ‘blows’, mostly by either tickling a spot or light snacks. The two tussled about, until Sunset was laughing.
“Why can’t I beat you?” Sunset smiled.
“Because I’m the tussling champion,” Spike chuckled, pinning her down underneath him. “Also, these.” He lifted a clawed hand and twiddled his fingers in the air.
She narrowed her eyes. “You wouldn’t dare.”
“I do,” Spike’s assault was without mercy. The mare underneath him squirmed and laughed as his fingers did their magic. “Surrender.”
“N-never! Help!”
“On it,” Fiddlesticks was not one to leave a friend in trouble. So she tackled Spike to the ground and tried to tickle him. Needless to say, she quickly found herself to be his next victim. “H-help!”
“I’m staying out of this,” Lightning smirked.
“T-traitor,” Sunset huffed, trying to ease her breathing after all that tickling. Of course, Spike had wormed his tail around her while she wasn’t looking. Within seconds, it was wrapped around her and the tip went to work. “N-not fair.”