//------------------------------// // Chapter 1 - Assumption of the Throne // Story: Sunset Shimmer - Rainbow Light Empress // by Woomod //------------------------------// “They aren’t going to like this.” The orange and to be newly crowned princess of sun sighs rubbing her temple as a maid did her mane. “Next set of papers bluey.” “It’s parliment, Their job is to not like things.” Blueblood sighed. “Are you sure you don’t want a prewritten speech.” He asked as he moved a new stack of papers in front of her and poured himself a shot of whiskey. “Not my style bluey, I’ll just wing it.” Sunset said scanning another stack of papers, she did NOT have her mother’s talent for bureaucracy she was quickly realizing just from asking bluey for the overviews. “If i can’t figure something out I will trust RFG.” “....Considering it’s the most capricious entity in the world not named Discord, which I find debatable. Not on my sound plans list.” Blueblood tried to say in a diplomatic tone if his words were utterly undiplomatic. “Explain to me why it’s capricious then?” Sunset chuckled as she sipped some chamomile and looked over her moth….her land holdings. “Never sure if it’ll reform someone or imprison them.” Blueblood pointed out as he looked through Celestia’s paperwork for more good overviews pulling out two sheets. “Been inside one of those, twice, It’s a choice thing.” Sunset explained. “Fair enough I suppose...It only ever bails us out at the last moment so even if it’s reliable it’s only at the last moment?” Blueblood asked this time. “THE POWER OF THE DIVINE CHANNELED THROUGH OUR FRIENDSHIP! We use it as a weapon and fashion accessory.” Sunset chuckled. “Excuse me if the element bearers aren’t exactly the pinnacles of respect for the power they wield.” “You are mocking your best friend and her friends you know…..” Blueblood said softly. “And laughter is an element of harmony. Any more reasons?” Sunset Asked. “It thinks You and Blossom are the ultimate exemplars of it’s inscrutable and divine will?” Blueblood finally pointed out. Sunset took a long moment to read through reports on manehattan taxes and population demographics, while sipping an entire cup of chamomile before preparing a new one. “Yeah ok, I got nothing on that one.” “So are you actually going to prepare a speech?” Blueblood sighed in relief. “Oh by Celestia’s Plot no.” Sunset just cackled at that. Blueblood groaned, it was going to be one of those days. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sunset approached the Royal Seat, disapproving stares looked over every inch of her. Either from those who knew her be reputation, or those who saw a mere unicorn pretending to the throne. Sunset took the podium, her Mother or her Aunt’s place at the head of the Senate, she stood there not In the ball gowns of Twilight or Cadence, The Armor of Luna, or the Basic Regalia of Celestia. She stood there as if her mere presence, her mere existence was enough, to the onlookers they saw hubris she might be on the level of the element bearers with her fancy cutie marks and long horn, she might even be Royal by family right like Blueblood, but a true Princess….An Alicorn she was not. Only two pairs of eyes supported her, both in the royal box. Princess Twilight, and Prince Blueblood. That however was to swiftly change. For several awkward moments nothing was said, Sunset had prepared nothing and drew a blank, but then like a bolt of lightning it hit her so simple and obvious, say what was on her mind. “I stand before you speaking Truth, the Truth is I am not looking to this parliament for confirmation. I am both Celestia’s Daughter and Heir Designate, as well my abilities to perform the Duties of Princess of the Sun have been proven. I do not need Parliament or any Princess to confirm my Title. I am looking for your support. Ever since Discord's defeat we have been ruled by Harmony’s chosen representative, That power has made clear that my Mother’s time has ended. For all her Wisdom and experience she has lost touch with what it means to live by the very precincts she is sworn to, she could speak of friendship but lacked the peers to live it, and without friendship one cannot truly live Harmony. I know it may sound harsh to you for me to speak such ill words of my Mother, you hold her in great respect and awe, some of you even venerate her. But in the end the truth is and the truth she wished you all to know, that despite all her great power she was just a pony like any other and her inability to get this across to you was her great failing.” Sunset stopped, and gulped a glass of water before continuing. “Let us fondly remember the Day that has ended, the Sun that has set. But let us not fall into bickering an Disharmony as we enter a new Day but embrace its possibilities with Hope and Faith, let us remember that is all of us coming together that weaves the great tapestry of our nation.” No response, no galloping cheers, no boos. I turned to look at Twilight. “Ummmmmm Twilight do you think it a bit much? I know the Day thing about me and my mother’s rule’s thing is a bit poetic but....” “Sunset...you’re….Beautiful.” Twilight gasped out, As I looked and saw myself in full regalia, with a quick motion I flapped my wings and they had not even the presence of fire but they were there. But the last time I had taken this form in my duel with Mother I had transmigrated to human form, was I fully accepting that this was my home again now, was that the last gasp of my connections to that world, these questions and more raced through my head as I looked up. The crowd was nearly to a pony standing in Total Awe or Bowing, I had entered this room a mere Unicorn to them, but now….I was an Alicorn who could STEP DOWN. Once more I reflected on my own foolishness, on my own inability to realize I had turned myself into everything I wished Mother could be, Of course I would doom myself to step into the role. What other choice would I have? Anything else would be a betrayal of myself. The first to speak up was a unicorn, In back, she seemed meek and timid. Not the type to speak up first, but I could see it in her eyes for once she would lead the way. “Everything the Princess of Friendship and the Princess of the Sun Represent, You *are*. The Unicorn Delegation Confirms your Title as of Princess of the Sun, and More. Sunset, Princess of the Sun, we offer you the Title of Queen.” She said with probably more fire than she ever mustered in her life. Someone had to say something, no one had EVER been given the title King or Queen, EVER. The title only existed as some weird part of Equestria’s mish mash of insane rules because the Unicorns had it and didn’t want to destroy the title, but no one had ever been offered or tried to CLAIM it… A powerfully built and muscular earth pony stallion then shouted. “Let it be known, I support the nomination. All hail Queen Sunset, Paragon of Light.” I was speechless, as confirmation after confirmation flew in. Within 15 minutes it was done. I hadn’t just been confirmed the inheritor of my mother’s title, but the kingdom of equestria after 2,000 years finally had a Queen. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sunset slammed another glass of whiskey on the bar table in Blueblood’s personal home. “Oh sweet mother, QUEEN! THEY MADE ME QUEEN!” “Yes Cousin, it’s been thirty minutes and I think you are damaging my personal bar.” Blueblood sighed. “I know it’s a lot to take in but it shows their faith in you right?” “THEY ARE CRAZY THEN! They never offered my mother the Queenship, I mean I don’t need even more responsibility foisted onto me.” Sunset groaned as she poured a brandy this time. “Honestly, it’s more I just find it strange they never confirmed Celestia as Queen, If she and Luna had a higher title it would have made Cadence and My relationship as Jr. Royalty clearer legally.” Twilight interjected. “They couldn’t actually, Celestia and Luna’s titles are inherently linked by their crowning and with Luna gone for a thousand years no legal ability to crown her Queen, and they would have also had to Crown Luna queen which has a whole host of political problems.” A white unicorn with a red and green mane said without looking up from his book on theatre, beside him sat a frothy mug of mead. “Though honestly I just don’t see the big problem.” “Ok, I’ve been meaning to ask, Blueblood, who is he.” Twilight pointed to the unicorn who had finally interjected. Sunset chuckled at the question. “Probably Blueblood’s boytoy.” “I….What? Boytoy?” Twilight asked confused. “Bluebloods only into stallions Twilight.” Sunset explained. “Blueblood and I do have a quite friendly relationship, but I would prefer not to be called a Boytoy.” The unicorn sighed. “Wait…..Is that why you…...” Twilight started. “Yes, I kind of make it a thing to put off the media, make a big fuss and embarrass a gold digger every couple of months. I look like an ass but it’s better than being known as a coltcuddler. If I had known It was Dame Rarity I would have simply politely declined her offer, but Celestia was keeping you all on the down low at the time.” Blue blood explained. “So you would have treated her specially albeit not the way she wanted….” Twilight sighed. “Aren’t politics grand.” The Unicorn said sarcastically from behind the book while turning a page. “My Apologies. You’ve been here this whole time and I haven’t introduced myself, I’m Princess Twilight Sparkle.” She extended a hoof. “And you are…..” “Mistletoe.” He smiled sincerely looking up from his book with heart shaped shades and shaking her hoof. “Huh, Mistletoe. So what do you do, Gardening? Love Stuff? I mean.” She chuckled slightly. “If you were a Changeling you sure wouldn’t be hiding it, a parasitic plant related to love.” Mistletoe gave another much more disarming smile. “Most people don’t know that fact miss Twilight.” “Oh I have a friend who is all about Nature, the things I could tell you from conversations with her.” Twilight responded. “Yes Dame Fluttershy. But to answer your question a Little bit of column A, A little bit of Column B. and If I was hiding it I would be a terrifyingly awful ambassador don’t you think?” He once more smiled but, rather than disarming it felt predatory. “Am….bassador.” Twilight gulped. “Yes, well, technically this place appears to be my household but the truth is….” Blue bloods explanation was interrupted as one servant enveloped itself in green fire. “It’s actually the changeling embassy, we keep it disguised so no one freaks out.” “Ever so much easier to sell other countries dirty laundry with one place to deal.” Mistletoe grinned. “WELP! I’M GETTING DRUNK IN THE CHANGELING EMBASSY! HEY TWILY HOW MUCH  YOU WANNA BET A CHANGELING WILL TRY TO PRETEND IT’S YOU!” Sunset shouted. “I’ll bet 4,000 bits none will.” Mistletoe stated. “It would damage our working relationship for myself or any of my staff to take advantage of your feelings for Princess Twilight.” Mistletoe stated reassuringly before saying a little more conspiratorially. “We have harvesters and infiltrators for that.” “How very….thoughtful of you Mistletoe.” Twilight said with a guarded tone. “Hey I haven’t even brought up finalizing the peace treaty from the canterlot wedding incident seeing as the new queen is…..overwhelmed and in need of some personal time.” Mistletoe stated. “It’s been two years. How can that POSSIBLY not be finalized.” Twilight grumbled. “Because Mistletoe and Celestia are both stubborn and excellent negotiators.” Blueblood sighed. “The Reparations on the table are far, far, too low to be blunt.” Mistletoe stated. “....You want to pay us *MORE* reparations?” Twilight asked confused. “Oh, oh no.” Mistletoe laughed. “You owe us, quite a bit, and if you don’t pay us. Genocide and unlawful use of mega spells during a war are serious crimes.” Mistletoe stated bluntly before adding respectfully. “Though I must say Celestia’s willingness to pay bits of the reparations even before the treaty is finalized earns a lot of respect from me.” “WAIT WHAT?!” Twilight shouted. “Blueblood, i need a full debriefing on the canterlot wedding fiasco….tomorrow.” Sunset added with a groan. “I’m not trusting you to negotiate peace terms with a changeling who you are apparently friendly with.” “Fair.” Mistletoe and Blueblood stated in unison. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Twilight sparkle stumbled out of the portal, she figured she would lose balance but…Guess hooves were good for that. She turned looked at the table in front of her, kinda like the round table, she saw the sigils on the top, it looked like sunset’s friends sigils, and her own…. She knew those symbols meant so much more to ponies, she’d gotten that much out of Sunset, who had once called her own world’s personal sigil’s a pale meaningless imitation. Yet paradoxically Sunset was one of the few she knew with large collections of outfits without the sigil, sometimes she just didn’t understand. But she would, this world had so much magic, she had once tried to rip reality apart just to get here so she could understand it all. But that was the past, all she knew now was she had to find Sunset, tell her everything, tell her how she really felt. Who cared about college, She could learn all about magic HERE under Sunset. Besides statistically taking a year off before college was beneficial anyways, she nodded to herself. She needed to get her bearings, familiarize herself with her new form she turned around trying to get a good look before realizing the portal was a mirror. PERFECT! Twilight grinned taking stock of herself, lavender skin had become lavender fur, her hair had become mane and tail, hands and feet had become hooves, and on her head rested a horn. It seems her book bag had become a saddle bag….THE BOOK! The book was missing she frantically checked the saddle bag relieved to find the book, with it she’d be able to contact and find Sunset. Then she saw it, on her side, her sigil the eight pointed star over an opened book with ink and quill, no explanations would have ever sufficed….now she *understood*. She turned around and walked out of the room as she did so she saw another horned pony, a lighter shade of purple for a coat, and a green and dark purple mane and tail, a toothbrush in a pale green glow in her mouth. “Oh hey twiliiiiiiii…..Princess where are your wings?” “Wings? Princess? Um, Um...Who Are you?” Twilight Stuttered out. “Oh, must be tuesday, Hey weren’t you with ol’ sunny butt jr.? With the new coronation?” The unicorn asked through the toothpaste. “Sunny butt Jr.? Coronation” Twilight asked, a newspaper slid up in a glowing light green aura on it was Twilight’s greatest dream the destroyer of her nightmare’s, Sunset the Angel albeit as a pony she read the headlines. ‘Equestrian Crown Given to newest Royal pony’, and standing right beside her was her doppelganger albeit with wings. “Ummmm….Sunset and Princess Twilight….Are they?” -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Somewhere at a totally secret card game, there was even a sign outside saying ‘totally secret card game.’....well that and it took place at Discords house, which generally required some approriete or powerful magic. “Somehow I am utterly pleased and I don’t know why.” The draconequus stated out of nowhere. “Probably just my daughter finding out what running a country is like.” The first of two pegasi, white with pink hair stated. “It can’t be *that* bad, you run a tight ship.” Discord replied not sure if that was a compliment or insult but it was honest. “Honestly there is NOTHING more chaotic than the daily life of a pony.” The second pegasus this one with pink fur closed eyes and a purple mane stated. “Yes, yes, Equestria is descending into chaos, that’s all well in good.” The Dark blue alicorn said. “But Certainly far more pressing is the question of HOW ARE WE LOSING TO THE BLIND ONE! Also got any twos Celestia?” “Go Fish Sister.” The White pegasus stated. “Because I have to pay off my bartabs somehow Luna….” The Pink pegasus nodded as if it was the most logical explanation in the world as she slammed a bottle of wine back. Luna for her part just sighed and reached a hoof into the pile.