Looking Glass

by Krickis

Prologue

⠀

⠀
It wasn’t like Celestia had really left her with much of a choice. Sunset knew what she had seen in the mirror; she had been an alicorn princess. Naturally, Sunset had more than a few questions concerning that, and yet Celestia had continuously refused to answer any of them. She was supposed to be Sunset’s teacher, and she had the nerve to withhold the most important information of Sunset’s life. Celestia had been the one who decided to show her the mirror in the first place!

And so, Sunset found herself breaking into the dark magic section of the Canterlot Archives. Really, what else was she supposed to do?

A pile of books sat beside her, all useless. She set aside the one she was reading – a nameless spellbook with a face on it – and picked up ‘Canterlot Castle: A History, Vol. 2’. Sunset had almost passed it up, given that she was intimately familiar with the history of Canterlot Castle, but she was running low on promising books. She flipped through idly, debating if she should look elsewhere when something caught her eye.

“Here we go!” she said aloud as she finally found something promising. It was a description of the Crystal Mirror, an artifact which had supposedly once resided in the fabled Crystal Empire. While nopony was positive if the Crystal Empire ever actually existed, the description of the mirror was a perfect match.

“The Crystal Mirror…” Sunset quickly skimmed the pages and found what she was looking for. The mirror seemed to show possible worlds – things that weren’t, but could still be. That meant that Sunset could become an alicorn princess after all! But how? She continued to read. “Every thirty moons a portal will open to… another world?”

“That’s not really for you to know, now is it?” Celestia spoke up from behind her, causing Sunset to drop the book in surprise.

Her shock didn’t hold out for long, as it was soon replaced by a much more prominent emotion. She wheeled around and glared angrily at Celestia, who was flanked by two of her royal guards. “How dare you keep this kind of magic from me!? You know that I’m ready for this, that I can be great!”

Celestia held none of her usual patience, meeting Sunset’s glare at full force. “You could be great. I thought I saw compassion and sincerity in you, but it was nothing but ambition. You’re being selfish, you need to step back and reflect –”

“I’m selfish!?” Sunset smacked the book towards Celestia, who effortlessly deflected it away. Stout Shield, one of the guards, moved to approach Sunset but was stopped by Celestia. “That book right there says I could become as powerful as an alicorn princess. I could rule here. It’s selfish of you to keep me from my rightful place!”

Sunset stepped closer, replacing some of her anger with cold determination. “I deserve to stand beside you and be your equal.” But that wasn’t quite right. Sunset would never prevent somepony from achieving the glory that they rightfully deserved. “If not your better,” she corrected. “Make me a princess.”

“No,” Celestia said definitively. “Being a princess must be earned. I have been trying to teach you everything you need to know, but you’ve turned from it. Every time you say you ‘deserve’ to get something without the effort just proves to me that you are not ready.”

Celestia stood upright and adopted the tone she used when issuing royal proclamations. “Sunset Shimmer, I am removing you from the position of my pupil. If we cannot get past this, your studies end here. You are welcome to stay in Canterlot, But you are no longer welcome in the castle.”

How dare she!? Sunset had worked harder than any of her peers and was beyond all doubt the most talented unicorn of her age. How could Celestia possibly reject that? Reject her? “We’ll never get past this because you aren’t seeing how great I deserve to be. Is that really all you have to say to me?”

“No. The guards will escort you out.”

And that was it. For seven years Sunset had dedicated herself to studying under Celestia, and that was all the ‘benevolent’ ruler could manage to say to her. As the guards approached to escort her, Sunset began walking out on her own accord. Nevertheless, they flanked her as she walked out of the door. “This is the biggest mistake you’ll make in your entire life.”

The guards didn’t speak as they walked, and neither did Sunset. She was far too preoccupied with thoughts of what had just happened, and thoughts of what to do next. They reached her room, and she haphazardly tossed a few possessions into a saddlebag, slung it onto her back, and walked back out. If the guards thought it was odd that she wasn’t sentimental, they never said so.

‘Celestia doesn’t want me anymore,’ Sunset thought to herself as they walked. What would she do then? Go back to living with her parents? Buck that. It seemed Equestria no longer held anything she wanted.

But somewhere else might, and it just so happened that they were passing by the room with the mirror. Without giving any warning, Sunset teleported through the door and found herself staring at the mirror.

She paused, reflecting on what she was considering. She would be leaving behind everything she ever knew and cared about, just to have a chance at something better. And that was only if it even worked, of course.

Then the guards charged into the room, wings flared out defensively and wearing matching scowls, and Sunset realized she was being foalish; she’d already lost the only thing she cared about when Celestia dismissed her from her tutelage.

Sunset grinned. It really wasn’t even fair. The guards approached her confidently, no doubt expecting that as it was two against one they’d have the upper hoof. She could strike them both at once, but what would be the fun in that? Instead, she grabbed Stout Shield with her magic, while the other guard prepared to charge. Sunset never gave him the chance, however, throwing Stout Shield into him. There was the sound of metal on metal, and both stallions grunting.

Smirking at how easy it was, Sunset flung Stout Shield to the other side of the room and turned back to the mirror. The reflection no longer showed her as an alicorn, but that was okay. In the other world, Sunset would realize her full potential. And then every mirror would show her as an alicorn.

Without ever looking back, Sunset stepped through the mirror.

Author's Note:

Sunset’s cutie mark in this and future chapter headers was made by ChainChomp2

For those who don't keep up with the IDW comics, this is pretty much a direct adaptation of The Fall of Sunset Shimmer, written by Katie Cook. I don't normally directly adapt stuff, but not everyone reads the comics and this set up is important to the story proper. Although the comic is short, there's a bit more to it than what I adapted here (this is about half the comic), so if you're interested in a better look, Google is your friend.

Comments

[Everglue Horace]

Every time you say you ‘deserve’ to get something without the effort just proves to me that you are not ready.”

Yes, heaven forbid someone expect __growth privileges__ if they're greedy. The whole world would end if that were to happen. Remember, need before greed. After all, wanting to accomplish your goals, to achieve recognition, and (of all the nerve) expecting to be proud of who you are and what you do mean absolutely nothing if you don't have the right attitude young cosset, and I do expect you to behave as a young cosset. When you understand the difference between a reward and a privilege then you'll understand why this system is still in place.

After all, if I can trick you into thinking a basic privilege of working is a "reward" you'll appreciate it sooooooo much more when I give you a growth privilege you can __only use__ if you achieve recognition, accomplish your goals, and can be proud of what you do and who you are. That's totally different from wanting recognition, pride, and accomplishment because you will still need them after you've become a winged pinniped (pinup-head???). Only when you can prove to me you possess insight will you be worthy of the insight that comes with growth.

[Krickis]

7739938
I feel like this is removing some very important context from the situation. Sunset's goal here is that she's trying to become a princess. A leadership position where she'll be put in charge of other ponies and plausibly play a part in the making of laws and running of Equestria (they're pretty vague on what princesses do). It's not unreasonable to expect someone given such a position ought to have a personality that goes with it before being given the position. This isn't just some promotion at work, it would be elevating her to the literal highest position available. Nothing of Sunset's pre-reformation personality suggests she ought to be given that role.

Although I will agree Celestia is also in the wrong here, just not about refusing Sunset's demand – because she did demand, rather than approaching her goal in a realistic way. If I want to be a senator, I don't demand the president make me one, I figure out the necessary steps to getting that position and then I do them; likewise, Sunset could have asked what she needed to do to achieve her goal, rather than expect it to be handed to her. So the passage you quoted was entirely grounded in Celestia doing the right thing with what was presented to her.

Where Celestia didn't do the right thing was her failure to inform Sunset about the mirror, and her immediate dismissal of Sunset as her student (I suppose the latter could be attributed to the short 8-page structure of the comic this is adapting). Celestia presents Sunset with knowledge by showing her the mirror, and then she forbids her from further questioning it. Had she been open in the beginning, this wouldn't have happened.

As for Sunset's pride, desire of achieving goals, and attempts at gaining recognition, there's nothing to suggest Celestia doesn't approve of these things, in this story or in any official source. Just the anti-social behavior and the whole 'Make me a princess' thing.

[Dream Dusk]

Came here because of Moliminous in youtube. and Im glad I did.

[Krickis]

7812148
I was unaware of anything on YouTube pointing back to me Any chance I can get a link? edit: Never mind, impatient bun went and found it themself

In any case, hope you like the story now that you're here

[Emperor]

It's rather disappointing that every time somebody adapts The Fall of Sunset Shimmer, nobody has yet had Sunset going "So how did Cadance 'deserve' being a Princess? Because she beat a monster with an artifact? Funny how Clover, Pansy and Smart Cookie didn't ascend, or any of the other heroes of Equestria".

But I digress. Seeing as I wrote a story myself where Sunset came out the portal as a young girl, interested to see where this goes.

[Krickis]

7862771
The fickle nature of alicorn ascension is something I touched on in a different fic, but not directly with Sunset and Cadance. I decided to downplay Cadence to a few small references since there was already so much else to cover in this story, and Cadance essentially is a problem that gets left in Equestria. As for not adding it in here, I directly adapted the dialogue from the comic (up to where Celestia and Sunset part ways) so adding a line about Cadance would've contradicted the source material. Suppose it could've been internal dialogue.

[Snow]

... ... Wow. I think that mirror has a short-term stupefying effect on everyone who looks at it. It would explain so sodding much in both show and comic canon.

[Krickis]

8182390
Ah, the problems of cramming an origin story into an eight-page comic On top of Sunset's foolishness with the mirror, the comic also makes Celestia exceedingly dismissive of Sunset. I kinda always wonder if I would've been better off not adapting the comic, but it is what it is by now

[Ice Star]

Sunny is certainly as firey as her name here! Looking forward to seeing where this goes.

[SevenEyes]

Alas re reading my new favourite fan fic.

Like looking into a mirror and seeing my self with a new pair of socks, one can never have too many socks.

Talk about catching Celestia at a bad time she is way way more sympathetic later

I know you didn’t want to stray from the comic so I won’t say anymore one it

Also just think what Equestria would be like if sunset instead saw herself in adorable socks she could have been the princess of socks or princess of brony art fads; either or.

[Krickis]

8673386
Celestia's dialogue here has always bothered me, and I've considered changing it from the comic canon dialogue frequently. On top of Celestia being so harsh here, everything is so dammed rushed. I mean I get it, it was a six page comic so they didn't have time for wordy rabbit length conversations, but I kinda feel like I held myself back on this one

Oh well, I'll probably never bother to change it since either way I'm not gonna be happy, and at least this way I can be unhappy and stick to canon. And Princess of Socks is something we should all aspire to

[blue skys]

8678871
I wonder stand what you mean. I mean if I was Celestia's student for 7 years and we hade a little fight and she declared me not her student anymore id be pissed. ok just watch a fan dub on the comic and I'm guna shay sunset is kind of is a dick. but celestia is also acting harsher the in the show

[ScopeEva]

Heh, feel like I'm parroting everyone else here when I say I never liked the comic origin story. Doesn't feel deep enough or even sensible enough. Then again a lot of the comic villain origin stories are like that. Personally don't consider it canon except in the remotest sense that it depicts a caricature of events that might have happened.

Still, interesting story idea and well written in spite of following the comic's events. Want to see where it goes so will be reading on now~

[Krickis]

9480977
I don't mind it exactly, but I do feel it's very limiting. In retrospect what I think I should've done is kept the general plot whole rewriting all the dialogue. But for all the faults in EqG 1 and its attached comics, this is the only place I felt limited by the source material. Shame that it's right at the beginning, but I'm glad you're continuing the story anyway; I promise it gets better from here

[The Scarlett Mare]

Wait a second, Novel Idea? I mean, I love a conspiracy theory but Sunset's cutie mark to mark a break between scenes can't be a coincidence, can it?

(I'm trying to brighten my own mood, I'm so sorry)

[Krickis]

9860182
The real coincidence is that we both got the idea from other people lol. Novel got the idea from Monochromatic, and I got it (I think) from Wanderer D. Novel's a good friend of mine and fantastic author, but I wrote the majority of this series before I ever read any of his stuff, so he hasn't been an influence on it.

I'm glad to see you're so excited for this series and hope to see more of your thoughts as you read it! And regarding the queer themes from your other comment, you can trust them to always be done with care (I'm quite queer myself )

[The Scarlett Mare]

9860225
Not gonna lie, I've had a breakdown between that comment and this one.
I've managed to calm myself down, hopefully my mind doesn't start with the ridiculousness of whatever it was again.
I feel a bit reassured (and I just needed to get typed that I had a depression attack and am okay now, but either way).

I read every single Monochromatic story on Fimfiction... and maybe I have terrible memory after an episode, but did she ever put the cutie mark of each character POV? And if the answer is yes, because for a moment I thought not, I think, Injuring Eternity?

[The Scarlett Mare]

9860236

(Acknowledging episodes goes a long way towards healing. Just in case anyone finds themselves on a similar situation. Of course, it's not always easy and not everyone works the same way, but that's just how I manage.)

[The Scarlett Mare]

“ I’m selfish!?” Sunset smacked the book towards Celestia, who effortlessly deflected it away. Stout Shield, one of the guards, moved to approach Sunset but was stopped by Celestia. “That book right there says I could become as powerful as an alicorn princess. I could rule here. It’s selfish of you to keep me from my rightful place!”

Gods. I've seen so many reenactments of this scene and it never gets less scathing. Sunset's a little prick.

[Krickis]

9860236
I confess I've never read Mono's stuff despite that we've always gotten along splendidly and I've had it recommended to me many times. I believe Novel told me it was Mono that inspired him, but I could be misremembering. I'm positive he told me he was inspired by someone else to do the cutie mark headers though.

I also have to say I'm a little concerned about you reading the fic considering how much it already seems to be affecting you, what with you mentioning crying before you read it and now having a breakdown. I'm not telling you not to read it of course, that's up to you, but I'll warn you it's a rough ride. This is not a story about how Sunset was misunderstood all along, it's a story of her becoming the horrible person she was in EqG 1. It's ultimately a positive story and treats get redemption into a better person after the movie more carefully than EqG does, but even if it's positive, it is not happy. I love how into the story you seem to be off the bat, but don't push yourself into anything uncomfortable by reading it if it's going to affect you too much.

[Krickis]

9860245
Oh yeah she is. I'm honestly unhappy with that scene because it was so rushed (it was an eight page comic after all), and I consider it the worst part of this story But it's important for setting the scene with the story as a whole.

[The Scarlett Mare]

9860245
Also, I've read the comic, it's really fun. She's still a little prick.

[applejackofalltrades]

And so it begins

I already feel like an intense Celestia-Sunset staredown would be a cool illustration LMAO

[Krickis]

10669580
I'm a little iffy on getting anything from the prologue done just because there's official art of that; this is a direct adaptation of an official comic.
images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/f/f4ed7de5-53c8-41a7-91f9-e2a1782f5a16/d7uy78a-2235602c-3c91-452f-9435-296dcb535b93.png/v1/fill/w_715,h_1118,q_70,strp/6_by_ipandacakes_d7uy78a-pre.jpg?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJ1cm46YXBwOiIsImlzcyI6InVybjphcHA6Iiwib2JqIjpbW3siaGVpZ2h0IjoiPD0xNjAwIiwicGF0aCI6IlwvZlwvZjRlZDdkZTUtNTNjOC00MWE3LTkxZjktZTJhMTc4MmY1YTE2XC9kN3V5NzhhLTIyMzU2MDJjLTNjOTEtNDUyZi05NDM1LTI5NmRjYjUzNWI5My5wbmciLCJ3aWR0aCI6Ijw9MTAyNCJ9XV0sImF1ZCI6WyJ1cm46c2VydmljZTppbWFnZS5vcGVyYXRpb25zIl19.2N7yI_cZNWQW1JNFWgr8UEcxPxQ5_IO9PqyeWO_K6kg

[Bicyclette]

And so, Sunset found herself breaking into the dark magic section of the Canterlot Archives. Really, what else was she supposed to do?

so true actually, very normal response

Then the guards charged into the room, wings flared out defensively and wearing matching scowls, and Sunset realized she was being foalish; she’d already lost the only thing she cared about when Celestia dismissed her from her tutelage.

in retrospect it really feels like Celestia should have seen this coming!

[The Local Rat Queen]

Take 2 baby
read again

[Krickis]

11758759
Enjoy!