"Raven, what are these complaints for? Some of them are death threats."
"Your Highness, I have no idea what you're talking about..."
"I see."
"Really, I have no idea where they came from or why."
Celestia shook her head knowingly at the secretary from her throne. The little white mare was trying to keep an innocent smile, but it was faltering with every second. Now we have fourteen more official holidays, all of them completely pointless. What in Tartarus is Family Appreciation Day?
"I see."
"Seriously, I don't."
"I see."
Celestia pressed her disappointed scowl at the secretary. The brown haired mare gulped under the royal stare. Some drops of sweat ran down her white fur and she rubbed the back of her neck nervously. No longer being able to look at the accusing face, her eyes dropped.
"So, what made you think you could accept some of these ridiculous petitions?" Celestia asked.
"It wasn't me, it was Fate."
Was not expecting that answer. "Pray tell, enlighten me on Fate's dastardly interference."
Raven cleared her throat. "Well, you see, I threw all the papers about randomly, closed my eyes, and swung the signature stamps about. Whatever I rejected, I was fated to reject. Whatever was accepted was by chance."
The princess chuckled a dry laugh. "Hah! That's not how Fate operates, my dear. I know that you at least had your eyes open, otherwise not all the signatures would be perfectly on the spot where the signature is written. That and if you threw them up randomly, wouldn't some land upside down?"
"They were fated to land right side up."
"Well then, I guess you're also fated to get fired today."
Raven gasped. "What? But...but Your Highness!"
"I'm just kidding. Gotcha," Celestia winked. "I actually find all this humorous and I'm glad you brought some well-needed drama into pony politics once more. Lunch menu replacements for schools, a pro-cow law passed, and removing of spring break from secondary education are fascinating laws to pass. Not only will it trouble the earth pony farmers, but also the rich unicorns and some lazy pegasi. Just another day in Equestria."
"So, you aren't angry with me?"
"By all means, I would pat you on the head and give you a cookie, but alas, the last cookie was eaten last night, so you only get a pat on the head."
Celestia reached out and gently patted the bewildered mare on the head. The secretary took the reward with a bemused expression, but said nothing. When the princess was done, Raven gathered some papers and went over to her desk to start her work. The princess giggled once more, but was interrupted by the young mare who entered the throne room. She had a multi-colored mane tied up in a ponytail and a smile that was awfully contagious.
"Auntie Celestia!" the young pink mare called as she trotted over.
Why did my little princess have to come back now? The princess beamed. "Ah, isn't it my lovely niece, Cadance! What brings you here this morning?"
"Oh, nothing really," Cadance smiled back. "I'm back from my visit to Cloudsdale. It's a fantastic city."
"Indeed. I'm glad you're back," Celestia said as she stood up from the throne. "How long has it been? Three weeks?"
"Yes," Cadance answered and they gave each other a loving hug.
The pink alicorn then sat down on the floor and Celestia followed suit. Cadance was about to say something, but was interrupted by a "psst" from the Princess of Equestria. She leaned in closer to Celestia, who giggled once more before saying anything.
"A lot has changed since you left. Come, I'll show you."
"A new student? But I thought I was your student?" Cadance pouted.
"Oh? You never were," Celestia laughed. "How could I teach you anything? You ascending to alicornhood was impressive, and you did so as a pegasus. Not only that, but you saved your village. What could I teach you? No, I can only be some sort of role model instead."
"Alright...so who is this new pupil? I never heard of you taking one on by yourself like this. You even put me into your school for a year. Auntie Celestia, this is strange behavior from you."
"Yes it is. However, I'm doing something I consider extremely important and as of right now, my top priority. You see, she failed to be accepted by my school for some valid and yet trivial reasons. I have to teach her full-time. Ah, here we are. This is her room."
Celestia opened the door and they both entered Sunset's study. The two guards that flanked the door were still there and without Celestia's orders, left without a word upon their entering. Cadance raised a brow at this, but said nothing. Instead, she sniffed the air and gagged.
"Smells like something really old is burning," she stated.
Celestia nodded. "Get used to it. There's always a smoldering book somewhere in here."
"But why?"
"You have to ask her that."
"Who? The place looks empty."
Celestia looked about, looking for her student. She wasn't at the desk nor anywhere on the upper level. Could she be in the Cave? She then walked over to Sunset's bed under the stairs. She removed the bed curtain that blocked any light from reaching the bed to see Sunset sleeping there with an open book on her face. Little innocent snores left the book and her back legs kicked the air sleepily.
"Daw," Cadance smiled, "she's cute. She's a little angel, Auntie."
"Yeah, an angel from Hell," Celestia grunted.
Celestia reached out and poked Sunset's flank to stir her. All it accomplished was making Sunset turned to the side. She poked again, but the student would not wake. Finally, Celestia levitated the book up from her face and promptly dropped it on her.
"Gah!" Sunset yelped as the book smacked her muzzle.
"Wake up, young one," the princess said casually.
"I was up! I was studying real hard," the student moaned.
Celestia ignored the student. "Come on, there is one I would like you to meet."
Sunset rubbed her eyes and looked right at Cadance. Her eyes widened and she gasped loudly. She pressed herself against the back wall and pointed a crazy hoof at the pink mare.
"She's an alicorn! Aw shoot! I'm seeing double."
"I'm Princess Cadance," Cadance waved.
"'Princess?'" Sunset spat with disgust. "So there are two of you..."
"She's the Princess of Love," Celestia explained. "When she first arrived here, she was even younger than you. She earned alicornhood by defeating a love-stealing witch that was threatening her village."
"Earned?" Sunset blinked. "Um, I ain't getting this. Can I go back to slee-I-mean-studying?"
"No, I want you two to become well-acquainted at least. I can't be the only pony you talk to, so here's your chance to make a friend."
Like usual, Sunset was quick to protest, but was silenced by a raise hoof from Celestia. Seeing that she had stopped the incoming complaint, Celestia huffed in satisfaction and promptly left the two alone in the study. Sunset couldn't believe it and growled all the way until Celestia was out of the room.
"That's just brilliant!" she grunted.
"Heh-he! Auntie Celestia can be a funny one," Cadance giggled. "So, Sunset Shimmer, what brings-"
Sunset jabbed the pink mare with a hoof. "I don't know who you are, but don't you ever think I'm going to be like you. I can tell what ya are. You're a flank-kisser, a doormat. Some little princess pet of Celly."
Cadance's smile turned to a frown. "Well, that's rude. You think I'm a namby-pampy pony princess, huh?"
"Yes."
Cadance returned the favor by sticking her larger hoof into Sunset's chest. Her face darkened and her eyes focused on the student. "Well guess what, I'm not a namby-pampy pony princess, I'm the namby-pampy pony princess. I earned everything I got and I was not born or even raised in a palace. My cutie mark may be a heart, but that doesn't mean everything I do has love or kindness behind it. So you listen here, bub, I won't hesitate to sock you if you treat me or my aunt like how you're talking right now. You may be so tough and mean, but I can put you in your place. I'll beat you with love and happiness."
Sunset was almost completely on the floor while under Cadance's intimidating stare. She gulped loudly and held her front legs up defensively. With a slight shake of her head, she whispered.
"I'm sorry!"
Upon hearing the apology, Cadance instantly brightened. "Oh, it's nothing! I accept, hehe!"
"You're scaring me..."
"Well, I didn't mean to. You see, Auntie Celestia works very hard and is always stressed and I just don't want you to be another burden she has to bear. I mean, I thought you were going to be a nice pony, but now I see that you're kind of a jerk," her voice lowered. "I don't take kindly to jerks."
"I'm not a jerk. She just has me here as a prisoner, not a student."
Cadance raised a intrigued brow."Prisoner? Naw, Auntie will never do that."
"What? You're kidding, right?"
Cadance kept the brow raised. "You're serious?"
"Yes, hasn't she told you what I am? No? Well, fine. I'm a burglar. I steal things. I broke into here and well, she caught me. Due to her crazed fascination with toying with me, she's kept me here instead of locking me up. So if I seem like a jerk, it's because of that."
"You're a criminal? My aunt is teaching a...a criminal?"
"Yup."
"You don't look like a thief."
Sunset rolled her eyes. "Really? What, you expect me to be wearing a black catsuit with goggles or something? Let me tell you, I'm a very good thief. You want it, I can get it."
"Yet you got caught."
The thief sighed. "Well, one screw up goes a long way. Hey, enough about me. I think I need to hear about you. I mean, you're an alicorn and all. Did you go through what I'm going through?"
"No. Celestia never took me as her student. She never really ever took a personal pupil. I only like to think I was her student, but I never really was officially. Like she says, she couldn't teach me anything more after I became an alicorn."
"How did you become one?"
"By saving my village and-"
"Yeah, I get that, but what magic made you get wings?"
Cadance pointed at her long horn. "Actually, I got a horn."
"Whatever."
"Auntie Celestia granted me alicornhood."
Sunset paused in all body movements. Her eyes were wide and not moving in the slightest. Her breathing became long and quiet breaths. After finally blinking, she cocked her head to the side. Her mouth went up on down in silence , but she finally made sounds after these bizarre movements.
"Celestia can create alicorns?"
"Why yes."
"And you got it for saving a village?"
"Among other things, but yes."
"You are my hope," the student uttered absently.
Cadance raised a brow. "Excuse me?"
"Did I say that aloud?" Sunset laughed nervously. "Sorry, sometimes I say dumb things. I...I think I need to get to my studies. It's time for me to uhh, take them seriously. Yup. It was...uh...nice speaking with ya."
Cadance simply stood there, still confused by Sunset's sudden change of behavior. The student watched her with slightly crazed eyes as if they she severely lacked sleep. Her hoofs started to slid backwards, making her scoot towards her bed.
"Um," she croaked, "thanks. Don't ask why, just thank you."
Cadance's eyes narrowed. "Sunset? Are you okay?"
"I'm perfect, now please leave. I need to return to my studies. So please, like, go," was Sunset's reply, complete with a little gesture of her hoof.
"Are you all there?"
"More than you know. Now go."
"Alright then..." Cadance said suspiciously.
Sunset watched with impatient anticipation until Cadance left her room. As soon as the door shut, she let out a relieved sigh. She soon started to madly look about, a sly chuckle leaving her throat. The extreme and sudden exuberance she was feeling was making her jump about insanely.
"It's possible! It's possible!" she cried to the empty room.
She ran up the stairs and looked out to the city. "It's possible! It's possible, Dayshine!"
She calmed down slightly and pressed a hoof on the glass. Her reflection showed her now anxious and worried expression. She pressed her face closer to the glass, thus getting closer to her reflection.
"I need to earn it. Celestia is no longer my enemy, but a friend. A tool for me to use. I must get it right though. I need to act like her little pet until she gives me what I want. I can waste a bit more time here if it means I get what I came here for. Oh! This is going to be good! I'll practice, I'll study, I'll be the best student that royal flank will ever have! Why steal something to emulate when I can be the real deal?"
She tapped the glass, making her hoof and her reflection's hoof touch each other. Her anxious expression turned into a devious smile that darkened half of her face. Her eyes turned to Canterlot's high spires and white structures. She pressed her muzzle on the window and continued to laugh at her own scheming. Her whole sudden excitement made her clap her hooves and giggle madly.
"Just you wait, Celestia. A new Sunset Shimmer is coming out to play. I pray that you will be ready."
7121180 Thanks mate! Appreciate it!
But why is she evil? That's been the question on my mind...
Uh-oh...I didn't think Sunset would fall that fast. This isn't going to end well, is it?
7121199 Did she fall or was she already at the bottom?
"It's not over yet!"
7121215 Yeah but...I'm pretty sure I know where this is going and...its not gonna end well.
Thought she kind of was on the bottom but...if she's gonna start trying to manipulate Celestia, she's gonna fall even more.
Cadance it was you?!
(Cadance) Well I did not think she would take it that way. I blame Auntie Celestia for not explaining it to her properly. We did do it on our own.
7121229 Heck yeah.
7121215 It appears part of Sunsets end game has been revealed, Interesting.
7121234 Why do I have a feeling there isn't too many chapters left now...
7121233 "It's not my fault! It's not my fault!"
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7121243 Please, we gotta get through Sunset's backstory before we get to the endgame. The only problem with this kind of story is that we know how it will end. So it's my job to make that ride until the inevitable crevice as thrilling as possible.
7121245 That's awesome!
7121251 Hmm...I guess that's true. I hope you make it an enjoyable ride!
7121263 Well, if ya find anymore, I'd like ya to PM me so you don't accidentally "spam" the comments.
Thanks!
7121245
And that reminds me of how few good Star Wars crossovers are on this site.
Now I wish I had the ability to write.
7121271 Don't look at me. I ain't writing one
7121274
Since you do not do commissions you are safe, plus it looks like you have a full plate of stories the way it is! It would be far to expensive if I where to pay anybody anyway.
Nothing wrong with it per say but somepony might be more appropriate.
So I'm guessing what she wanted to steal from the vault was something akin to the Alicorn Amulet, if not the amulet itself?
Also, nice reference to the Cadence of Cloudsdale stories, I love that one to bits.
7121328 maaaaaaayyyyyyybbbbbeeeee?
7121330 I'm going to have to wait like the others to find out, aren't I?
7121359 maaaaaayyyybbeeee?
7121381 maaayyyyyybeeee?
Susnet rolled her eyes. "Really? What, you expect me to be wearing a black catsuit with goggles or something? Let me tell you, I'm a very good thief. You want it, I can get it."
susnet need to reverse the sn in the middle
oooh so this is what drove her mad , i like it :D can't wait to hear more of her trip down the rabbit hole
she wants to become and alicorn to help some pony. but why becomes the questuion.
And why does every fan version of Cadance has a scary side. I at least give a reason for Love Seriously.
So that was the turning point. At least in appearance. Wrong approach, because right now her reasons seem extremely selfish.
Guess Cadance forgot to mention that she was not striving to become an alicorn, but became one through her deeds.
Well, Sunset, too bad that Celestia will be able to see through your false behavior. Maybe not immediately, but since we know what happened in the end, she will find out.
This isn't going to go well ...
7121236 Agreed. Apparently Sunset needs to be an alicorn (or at least able to fake it) for this Dayshine pony ...
7121705 Well, Cadance does embody "Love" as a whole, which would include stalking and all the other unsavory parts as well as the good bits ...
Maybe I'm missing something here but it looks to me like Cadance spaghetti'd that one up pretty good.
7121705 Eh, I don't think she has a "scary" side, more like she has a tough side. There is a difference. One cannot be a simple ray of sunshine all the time. Sometimes there are clouds to block you. Also, with her achievements in the short novels and the show, she has a will to fight. But this "darker" side of her, which is probably more of a protective side, only comes out in the rarest of times or when she is directly insulted.
7121705 Father's love their daughters, doesn't make them any less scary when you threaten them.
Love can be both beautiful and scary.
7122663 that's the biggest problem, getting her head straight
Aaaw Sunset. Studying won't make you a better person. Only being a better person does that.
Interesting.
7123658 exceedingly
So, Sunset went from opposing the idea of being Celestia's "special project" to fully embracing it because she can see a pair of wings as that path's endgame. But it seems there's a ulterior motive than the appeal the alicorn package could offer...
So how long do you plan this story to be? Also are you planning on going past Sunset's departure to another world or will it stop there?
Love the story by the way, can't wait to see Sunset's attitude change as well as seeing if Celestia will catch on to or uncover Sunset's true motives.
7135136 It will end at Sunset's departure. It won't be that terribly long. It depends on if I feel like adding a few more scenes for more clarity (which I have already done and thank the sun I did).
That she is.
In other words: "I will love and tolerate the Shit outta you!"
Nice chapter!
May had found an error:
You meant "Sunset", didn't you?
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Warning profanity If you are not above the age of 10 please stray away from opening this image.
Ibas bien, pero este capitulo estubo tan fatal que se me quitaron las ganas de seguir leyendo.