Once upon a time, years and years ago, there was a young girl, destined to one day become a Princess. However, unable to reach her destiny, the girl fled, taking with her an object of great power. The girl became twisted and cruel, wielding the object's power without heed nor care, until one day, a powerful alicorn stepped forth to confront her. The mare's kind smile lit a spark in the girl's fragmented and lonely heart. She reached down, and pulled the girl from the crater of her sorrow.
"The Magic of Friendship exists everywhere... all you need to do is seek it out."
So taken with the mare's kindness, was the girl, that she stood tall, rebuilding the puzzle of her heart with a new conviction. She followed in the footsteps of that mare, with her guidance, seeking to spread that Spark of Friendship wherever she went. One day, however, the mare disappeared from the girl's life, leaving behind only a necklace, and a promise to meet again. And so, the girl set off on a journey to reunite with the mare that brought Friendship into her heart.
But, was that really such a good idea?
Sunset Shimmer groans as she returns to the waking world, rubbing at her eyes with a hoof. The bed beneath her is soft, and she finds it difficult to lift her head from the pillow. Wait... That difficulty evaporates as realization hits her like a freight train. Last I remember, I was busy in that crazy duel thing with Rarity, and then... Sunset shoots up, intent to take stock on her surrounding. The first thing her eyes find, however, is a familiar, crystal-glazed mare sitting at a nearby wooden table, facing Sunset as she eats. "You..."
Starlight Glimmer looks up, meeting eyes with Sunset. "Good morning, Mistress Shimmer." Her tone is the one Sunset is familiar with from the Courtyard of the Tree of Harmony. Sweet, yet measured and neutral, maintaining an emotional distance.
Sunset takes a moment to look around. Her height relative to Starlight leads her to surmise herself to be on the top level of a bunk bed. A large bureau rests against the wall across from Sunset, and between the bureau and the bed is the table Starlight is sitting at, surrounded by four chairs. The wood of both the bureau and the table set is ornately fashioned, but the styling is from a bygone era. In contrast to the age of the design, however, the items themselves, and indeed, the room itself, are meticulously kept. The rest of the room is simple, with a closet on the same wall as the door and a long window on the far side, made of the contemporary materials Sunset expects from one of the Academy's dormitories instead of the crystals of the facility itself. A nice enough room, but for Sunset, it has one problem - it's not hers, and its clearly not any sort of nurse's office. Indeed, she has no idea where it is at all.
"Where are we, Starlight?" Sunset runs a hoof up to her mane to scratch behind her ear, only to find something on her head. She pulls it down, to find it to be a light-blue pajama cap - her pajama cap. Pulling the blanket off her, she finds her uniform has also been exchanged for the cap's matching pajama shirt. But, how...?
"Your room, Mistress Shimmer." Starlight replies, in her usual tone, once Sunset's attention is back on her.
"But, my room is-"
"This is your room now, Mistress Shimmer." Starlight cuts off Sunset's declaration, motioning with the slight nod of her head to a paper Sunset hadn't noticed before, sitting on the side of the table closest to the beds.
Sunset hops down from the top bunk, landing on her hoofs with a thud against the wooden floor. Soon, she's sitting across from Starlight, reading the paper in question. Sunset skims past all the official notation - the ones that prove it to be a statement from Friendship Academy itself, and not some kind of forgery - to the meat of the letter, a simple two sentences:
NOTICE OF RELOCATION: Effective immediately, the recipient of this letter, Sunset Shimmer, is to relocate to Room 6 of the "Magic" Dormitory. A new roommate will be assigned upon successful relocation.
Friendship Academy is a boarding school, housing all its students in dormitories surrounding the six prongs of the campus itself. Each dormitory wing starts at the tips of these prongs and fans out, until meeting the edge of the next wing, creating a circle around the Academy itself. These wings each have a unique name - Honesty, Kindness, Laughter, Generosity, Loyalty, and Magic - equating to the six tenants that Friendship Academy professes to be the six aspects of Harmony. The sixth dormitory, Magic, is the subject of rumors, many of which Sunset has heard before during her attempts to research her necklace and the Academy itself. One thing she knows for a fact, though, is that nopony has lived in it for years, despite the Academy's constant upkeep of it.
"So, this is the mysterious 'Magic' dorm, is it?" Sunset quips to herself, looking up at the ceiling for a moment before turning back down to Starlight. "And you're the roommate the letter talks about?"
"Yes." Starlight replies simply.
"So, what happened? I don't remember moving in here..."
"You passed out in the Dueling Arena. You've been sleeping ever since."
The Dueling Arena! Memories flood back to Sunset Shimmer. The Dueling Arena... the contradictory place whose path involves a winding staircase, up a tower inside a tower, where a castle floats overhead, shining light downward. Sunset Shimmer's duel with Rarity involved a real sword, and an implication that...
"Did I defeat Rarity?"
"Yes." Starlight confirms. "You've become the current Champion of the Duels." Starlight's head nods slightly. "As such, you may do with me as you like, Mistress Shimmer."
Sunset blinks, staring at Starlight with a mix of disbelief and stunned silence. Is she serious? Her mind clicks back to the events under the Tree of Harmony. There, she called Rarity 'Mistress Rarity', and now she's calling me 'Mistress Shimmer'...? A hoof rises, gripping the necklace hiding beneath her pajama top. What sort of strange game has evolved around these necklaces?
Starlight, however, looks as serious as ever, continuing on once Sunset doesn't reply. "That is my duty as the Crystal Mare."
"Wait... that's a title?" Sunset remembers Rarity calling Starlight 'Crystal Mare', but before, she had dismissed it out of hoof as something derogatory. "I thought Rarity was just being a bully..."
"Rarity is simply a Duelist."
"I'm guessing there's more where she comes from, then?"
Starlight nods. "All of the Elements of Harmony are Duelists."
"But... why?" Sunset scratches under her chin with a hoof. "What's the point to these 'Magic Duels', or whatever Rarity called them?"
"To obtain the Crystal Mare."
Sunset finds herself once again in a silent stupor. Pieces of the conversation with Starlight, and with Rarity previously, begin fitting together for Sunset.
"Wait. The Elements of Harmony engage in sword duels, and the prize is... you?" It's the only conclusion Sunset can reach, but its one she finds unfathomably ridiculous.
"Yes." And, now, she also finds it confirmed by Starlight Glimmer.
"But...!" Sunset catches herself, resisting the urge to outburst on Starlight's uncomfortable complacency. I don't have enough information yet to say anything about what she's doing. Plus, the last thing a mare like her needs is me going off on her. Sunset's chin scratching resumes, this time brushing against the necklace under her pajama top. She decides it a fine way to redirect the conversation, and pulls it out, holding the six-point stone up to Starlight. "Can you tell me anything about these necklaces, Starlight?"
"Okay." Starlight nods slightly, then begins. "The gemstone on the necklace is called a Magic Crest. By wearing it, you signify yourself as a Duelist." Sunset remembers Rarity explaining something similar to that under the Tree of Harmony. "Duelists compete in games called Magic Duels, and the current Champion of the Duels gains ownership of the Crystal Mare. As long as you are Champion of the Duels, and wear the Magic Crest, other Duelists will seek you out."
Seek me out, huh? Sunset groans to herself. While it's mostly information she already knows, she still appreciates having it explained so succinctly. She grips the six-point star gem, conflicted. One the one hoof, she doesn't want part in any more of these sword fights. On the other hoof, she also doesn't want to let Starlight Glimmer get tossed back into whatever system exists between these Elements of Harmony. "Gah. Being a good pony is obnoxious, sometimes."
"Is that so?" Starlight asks, tilting her head slightly.
"Oh... I said that out loud... oops." Sunset shakes her head clear. "Anything else you can tell me, Starlight? Like who gives out these necklaces, maybe?"
"Letters containing the Magic Crests are sent to the chosen Duelists by The End of the World. It's the only way to receive one." Starlight's face finally displays an emotion besides neutral - curious. "Didn't you get one, Mistress Shimmer?"
End of the World? Some kind of pretentious alias? An organization, maybe? The phrase 'end of the world' tugs at Sunset. She feels like she's heard it somewhere, before. That's right, when Starlight pinned that crystal to my chest, she called it 'a fleeting crystal from the end of the world'... is that related, somehow? Sunset grips the gemstone on her necklace once more. "No, I've had this necklace for a long time now. A friend gave it to me."
"I see..." Starlight nods. "We should get going, Mistress Shimmer, unless you prefer to take another sick day from school."
Sunset's head turns to a clock mounted on the wall, and her eyes go wide. "Darn, we really are running late!" She hops from her chair and heads for the bureau, pulling each drawn open one by one until she finds her signature uniform, pulling it out with her magic. She stops with the uniform hovering above her head. "Wait... another sick day?"
"Yes." Starlight replies, back to her usual tone. "You slept all through yesterday, as well."
Sunset smacks her forehead against the bureau, her magic releasing and causing her uniform to fall directly over her face. "Just great. That's just how I wanted to start the year."
"Need help, Mistress Shimmer?."
"No." Sunset replies grumpily. "And stop calling me 'Mistress Shimmer', will you? Just 'Sunset' is fine, got it?"
"...Yes, Sunset."
The morning sun hangs over Friendship Academy, giving the crystals that make up the many buildings and pathways a gentle glow. On the outer campus, the wedge-shaped areas encased between the six 'prongs' and the dormitories, grass is tended with noteworthy care, and trees are sprinkled along gently rolling hills. In these areas, nearer to the Academy, the different sports fields are maintained, while the areas nearer the dormitories are left predominantly natural. This makes those areas, the seemingly few specks of untouched nature contained inside the Academy's sprawl, popular with the students for activities such as lounging or eating outdoors.
It's past these areas that Sunset Shimmer now trots briskly, with Starlight Glimmer on her heels. "First I sleep for a day, and now I'm going to be late! This is just perfect..."
As the two head toward the campus from the 'Magic' Dormitory, the pathways are clearer than what Sunset is used to from her first morning at the campus. Some students are still about, meeting and hanging out, likely from the dorms that flank hers on either end, but the crowd density is thin, allowing Sunset to power down pathways and cut through the fields without much issue. The problem of her new dormitory location, though, is that her first class is on the opposite side of the campus.
"Cheer up, Sunset." Starlight says with a bit of extra cheer, surprising Sunset with how effortlessly she's able to keep up with Sunset's pace. Sunset's expectation of the shy mare being the unfit type is soundly broken, as she seems to be fairing even better than Sunset herself. "It's only the third day. You can just say you got lost after being sick for a day, no?"
"With my luck, that's going to happen, regardless." Sunset grumbles. She spots one of the sports fields, empty, and makes a turn. Cutting across will be faster than following the path around. "Don't you have your own classes to get to, Starlight?" She asks, trying to soften her annoyed tone.
"I don't have an early morning class, Sunset." Starlight explains. "So, I normally just stay in the Courtyard of the Tree of Harmony until later in the day."
"Huh." Sunset knows it's not uncommon for students to have free periods, but she'd figured Starlight to be the type to throw herself at her schoolwork, if only to avoid other ponies.
As they pass the bleachers on the sports field, a mare's voice calls out to them, the pony owning it having escaped Sunset's notice due to the angle she and Starlight Glimmer approached the bleachers from. "Howdy there!" It calls out, friendly and with a bit of a drawl.
Sunset turns her head back over her shoulder, ready to fling back a 'sorry, I'm in a hurry', when she sets eyes on the pony in question, causing her to stop in place. The uniform is the first thing Sunset notices - orange body with black sleeves, in the style of the Elements of Harmony, followed by the hat - a stetson - atop her head. After a second, Sunset recalls her as one of the two ponies she saw playing sports during her tour of the Academy with Spike. Sunset turns, facing this new mare as she walks up to meet Sunset and Starlight. "Um. Hi?" She replies, skeptically. The explanation of the Magic Duels is still fresh in Sunset's mind, leaving her wary of any potential Element of Harmony members by default.
Once she closes the distance, the mare reaches a hoof up, popping off her hat and tipping it in greeting before placing it back on her head. "Sunset Shimmer, right? Name's Applejack." Her greeting is punctuated with a warm grin, her green eyes mirthful. The name is one that Sunset remembers Spike listing off, further confirming to her who she suspects this pony of being.
Sunset takes an instinctive step backwards despite Applejack's outward friendliness. "How do you know my name?"
Applejack chortles. "Missy, you're all our group's been talking about lately. I'd have to be deaf not to know your name."
"Your group?" Sunset decides to press and get her explicit confirmation. "The Elements of Harmony, right?"
"Got it in one." Applejack nods, walking beside Sunset and motioning to her with a hoof. "Come on, you're gonna be late if we don't get trottin', aren't you?"
"What's it to you?" Sunset asks, defensively, though she ultimately acquiesces and begins walking, as Applejack is correct about the being late part.
"Come now, Shimmer, it's not like I'm about to bite your head off, here." Applejack jokes, trying to break the tension between the two. "Just trying to see what kind of mare has Rarity in such a tizzy."
"So, sizing up the competition?" Sunset quips back. Looking over Applejack, Sunset finds her friendliness to belie an intimidating physical strength, even for an earth pony. Naturally, unicorns tend to be the least adept at raw, physical strength, while earth ponies the most, but the way Applejack carries herself implies a strength well beyond that. If Sunset's suspicion is correct, an attempted Magic Duel with this mare isn't something she's looking forward to.
"Maybe." Applejack shoots her a grin, but it lacks any of the smugness or cocksureness that Sunset expects a mare that associates with one like Rarity to have. Instead, its playful, and a bit aloof. "Can't make any promises I won't be challenging you, at least."
Sunset decides to take a gamble, given Applejack's forwardness so far. "Well, maybe what you can do is give me a better idea what the point of it all is. You don't seem like the kind of pony that would be involved in this sort of game just to pass a mare around. There has to be more to it."
"You really don't know anything, huh?" At the probing, Applejack's grin shrinks and her brow lowers, as she looks away from Sunset and to the path forward. "We all thought Rarity was making it up to be dramatic, but it looks like she was tellin' the truth. I'll be." Applejack contemplates for a moment as the two continue walking. Just as Sunset is about to probe at Applejack with another question, she speaks again. "You've seen it, right? The castle that floats over the Dueling Arena, that is. You'd have to be blinder than those bats Fluttershy keeps in some of the unused classrooms to not."
"Yeah." Sunset nods. "Rarity said the castle and all the other stuff is just a giant trick of the lights, but..."
Applejack laughs to herself, stopping Sunset from finishing her sentence. "Trick of the lights, huh? Gee, that mare is such a terrible liar, especially for a city girl. You don't believe that, do you?"
"Of course not."
"Good." Applejack reaches out a hoof, giving Sunset a playful pat on the shoulder. "You seem alright, Shimmer. I can't really say I know everything about what's going on, either, but with something crazy like that castle up there, there's gotta be something that's worth it, doesn't there?"
"I suppose so, but..."
"Well, sorry to cut and run, but I got Element of Harmony business to take care of." Applejack waves a hoof, then begins heading off in a separate direction. "See you 'round, Shimmer!"
"Uh... bye, I guess..." Sunset replies, far less emphatically, though she slowly returns the hoof-waving gesture as Starlight walks up beside her. "She doesn't seem as bad as Rarity."
"Is that so?" Starlight says, accompanying it with the head-tilt.
"At least, not yet, I suppose..." Sunset resumes her walk to her class, Starlight beside her as the two trot quickly down the halls. "Though, she could've at least said hello to you, Starlight."
"It's fine, Sunset." Starlight replies, curtly.
Sunset wants to argue, but the two reach the door to Sunset's classroom before she can find the words. "Looks like I made it. See you after class, okay, Starlight?"
Starlight nods. "Okay, Sunset."
Later, and elsewhere...
A small cassette player sits on the edge of a round table, surrounded by five chairs. In each sits a pony, their five colored jackets contrasting the white crystal of the balcony. An orange hoof reaches out, pressing the play button. The action itself constitutes a ritual between the gathered five. A six-point star emblazoned on the player's front glows a soft magenta as the tape begins to turn.
"If it cannot smash its egg's shell, a chick will die without ever truly being born."
The cassette cuts out, and the light dies, signifying the start of their meeting. The significance of the quote, and the identity of the girl speaking it, are both beyond the reach of the gathered ponies, but its a ritual they adhere to nonetheless.
These five, the Elements of Harmony, sit together in meeting, an activity that occurs whenever a member of the group makes a special motion, or when one of them receives a certain kind of letter. The balcony they sit upon is the top-floor balcony of the Harmony Building, a special dormitory that exists within the 'Magic' Dormitory wing - the only building besides Sunset Shimmer's own currently in use. An elevator - a rarity in pony architecture, even in urban sprawls - serves as the only entrance and exit to the balcony area, its door emblazoned with a magenta, six-point star. The white crystal of the balcony, and in turn, the building itself, furthers its distinction, making it the only dormitory-type building on the Friendship Academy grounds made from the same type of material as the Academy itself. The building sits on a high hill, meaning that, combined with the building's own natural height, the balcony makes it easy to look over much of the Academy grounds at once, even at such a distance.
The ponies gathered, however, are not here to enjoy the view. The view to them has become old, losing its splendor. Instead, sitting around their table, they play a game...
Wooden tiles clatter against a game board, a blue hoof retreating after placing her letters down. "So some new girl shows up, sporting a Magic Crest without any explanation, and just beats you in a Magic Duel, Rarity?" A mare with prismatic hair leans back in her seat. "That's pretty rough."
"What was I supposed to do, Rainbow Dash?" Rarity asks as her hoof moves gently across the board, leaving soundless tile placements in their wake. "She drew a sword from the Crystal Mare... the thing that sounded so outlandish, even we stopped believing it'd happen. Then just, before I can even think, she just..."
"Turns into an alicorn, rushes you down with inequine speed, and strikes off your crystal like it's nothing?" A pink pony grumbles to Rarity's left. Her raspberry mane cascades over one eye as she glares, the eye moving between her pieces and the game board.
"Well... yes." Rarity blinks in disbelief. "I'm just going to assume that was another one of your Pinkie things."
A pink hoof slams down on the table as she turns to Rarity, growling. "I told you to stop calling me that."
To the pink mare's left, Applejack rolls her eyes. "Come on, Pinkamena. You know she didn't mean nothin'. Besides, it's your turn."
"Hmph!" Her hoof slams against the board, nearly jostling the other pieces free as she makes her play.
Now, it's Applejack's turn to eye her pieces, deliberating her move. In front of her, a letter sits, its six-point star seal broken. "I suppose the question, then, is where Miss Sunset Shimmer got herself her Magic Crest. I spoke to her this morning, and she seemed way too green to have gotten it from End of the World."
"Speaking of End of the World..." Rarity leans forward, leaning her face on her hooves, eyeing Applejack playfully. "It looks like you get the pleasure of first dibs on the girl, Applejack."
Applejack laughs to herself as her eyes cross her letters once more. "Hope you're not too sore about that, Rares, gettin' the short end of the stick twice in a row like this."
Rarity smiles and waves a hoof dismissively. "It's fine, Applejack, really. You do you, and good luck."
"It's too bad." Applejack finally makes her play, letters clattering against the game board. "She's a nice girl. I was kind of hoping to get a bit friendly with her, but I s'pose this is how the apple falls."
Once Applejack finishes her play, silence falls over the group. The final mare leans forward, the sweep of her pink mane obscuring not only her face, but her letters as well, as she debates her move. A yellow hoof reaches for a letter, raising it, before placing it back on the row next to its brethren.
"...Fluttershy?" Rainbow Dash leans across the table, toward the mare. "You have anything to add? Or at least take your turn, maybe?"
"Uhm..." Her hoof reaches timidly across the board once, then twice, then thrice... a total of seven times, as she places letter after letter, connecting to one of the existing words. Once she finishes, she smiles sheepishly. "I win?"
"What?!" Rainbow Dash looks at the board, incredulously. "Quixotry?! There's no way that's a word!"
The afternoon sun hangs in the sky, classes at Friendship Academy releasing for the day. Ponies mill about the hallways, masses of manes, coats, and white uniforms as they form into groups and walk to and fro. Sunset Shimmer, however, isn't among them. She, instead, currently rests in the Courtyard of the Tree of Harmony, sitting below the tree as Starlight Glimmer goes about her tending duties, humming softly to herself. While they walk the halls around it, other students don't tend to come into the courtyard itself, leaving it a surprisingly private place despite being surrounded on four sides by bustling classrooms. It's this privacy that Sunset hopes to capitalize on, and possibly connect some with her new roommate. Initially, she had wanted to do this over lunch, but she opted to wait, not wanting to come on too strongly and possibly overwhelm the seemingly-anti-social mare.
"So, how was your day?" Sunset asks, looking over her shoulder at Starlight.
"Oh, it was fine, Sunset." Starlight replies, using her typical neutral-cheeriness.
Sunset doesn't allow the short, deflective answer to deter her. "So... what kind of classes do you take, Starlight?"
"Just this and that, Sunset."
"This and that, huh?" Sunset can't help but let her sarcasm drip. "Come on, Starlight, there's gotta be something interesting that you enjoy studying or doing. A club, maybe? Sports? You seem pretty fit, if this morning is any indication."
"I'm not part of any clubs or sports, Sunset."
Spike's right, she really is boring. It's a bit depressing, really... Not feeling like she's getting anywhere with the casual chit-chat, Sunset looks around. The halls on the ground floor with the Courtyard of the Tree of Harmony are thinning out, leaving few students left. Seeing an opportunity to not get walked in on, Sunset decides to direct the conversation toward something more concrete. "What's your opinion on this Magic Duel stuff, Starlight?"
"My... opinion?" She asks in reply, head tilting slightly, her tone questioning.
"Yeah." Sunset presses. "For example, why do you let yourself be tossed around as this 'Crystal Mare' or whatever for these duels between the Elements of Harmony?" She waves a hoof in the air to emphasize her point, despite Starlight's focus on her task meaning it won't be seen.
"Well, why do you wear a pegasus uniform?" Starlight asks back, catching Sunset off-guard.
"Uh..." Sunset tugs on the uniform with a hoof, looking down at it. "It's airy and comfortable compared to the other one. I just kind of like it, I guess."
Starlight turns to look at Sunset, giving her a content smile. "Then that's my answer, too."
"Yo!" A voice familiar to Sunset calls out, catching her attention before she can reply to Starlight. She turns, catching Spike waving a claw at her as he walks into the courtyard. "I was wondering where I'd find you, Sunset!" He then looks between her and her companion. He pauses, then gives Sunset a quizzical look as he motions the thumb of one of his claws. "Why you hanging out with Starlight Glimmer, anyway?"
"She's my roommate, actually, Spike." Sunset gives Spike a friendly smile, an idea forming in her head. I bet if I can get Spike and Starlight to be friends, she'll open herself up in no time!
"Your roommate...?" He shrugs. "Tough luck, it sounds like! Is she as boring in private as she is in school?" With that reaction, however, Sunset can feel her plan crumbling before her eyes. The dismissive way he treats her reminds her too much of her treatment by the two Elements of Harmony she's familiar with so far, causing him to accidentally press one of her buttons.
"Spike! She's right there, you know!" Sunset bursts out, before she can stop herself. "She's not a bad pony or anything, so at least show her a little respect!"
"It's okay, Sunset." Starlight Glimmer says, even-toned.
"It's not okay when ponies treat you like you're not even there, Starlight. Or dragons, in this case." Sunset casts her a sympathetic glance. Just how worn down is she from whatever she's been through due to these Magic Duels, anyway? She takes a deep breath, letting the tension go free as she softens her tone. "You can't enjoy that, can you?"
Starlight's eyes turn down to her hooves. "Well... I..."
"Sorry, Glimmer." Spike cuts in. "Sunset's right. And she seems cool so far, so if she says you're cool... I guess you're cool."
"Huh... 'cool'..." Starlight mouths the word like its from some foreign language. "No one's ever described me like that before."
"Just hang around us, then, Glimmer!" Spike gives her a thumbs-up. "If you stick close by Sunset and I, we'll get you whipped into shape in no time flat!"
Starlight's hoof covers her mouth as she giggles. "Is that so?"
Sunset grins, happy at her progress so far between the two as she leans her back against the tree, turning to the Academy building. As she looks up at the second-story window, however, she stops, eyes widening. In it, she sees the back and sleeve of a uniform, styled like that of the Elements of Harmony, with a magenta torso. Its owner stands upright, like Spike, but has a slender frame, and about twice the height of a pony. The figure turns its head and leaves, disappearing behind the crystal of the building, but as it does so, Sunset spots something that quickly has her on her hooves - a mane, or some kind of hair, tied in a ponytail, a deep blue with dual stripes of violet and rose.
Those colors stir the long-lost memories inside Sunset Shimmer, causing her to gallop, ignoring calls from Spike behind her as she finds the nearest staircase, taking the stairs in bounds. That was... that was...! She reaches the second floor, taking only the slightest of moments to get her bearings before she's off once more, following the last known path of her target. She whips around the corner, fast and blind - only to collide with a wall, knocking her flat onto her flank. No, no way that was a wall, it was way too soft. But, then, what... Sunset shakes her head clear and looks at what she's slammed herself into, only to find Applejack giving her an amused grin.
"In a bit of a hurry there, partner?" She asks, jokingly, offering a hoof to help Sunset back up.
"Sorry about that..." Sunset apologizes, but trails off. "I was just..."
"You might think that mane of yours is actually on fire with how fast you were going, Shimmer."
Sunset can't help but laugh slightly, tugging at a strand of her mane with a hoof, eyeing it. "Maybe it was." She then turns back to Applejack. "I feel like I don't need to ask, but you okay? I'm really sorry about that..."
"I'm fine, sugarcube." Applejack assures her. "I'm built like a barn. Gonna take more than that to make me stumble. Though..."
"Though...?" Sunset asks, picking the line up once Applejack lets it rest.
"I was actually looking for you, Sunset Shimmer." The joviality from Applejack evaporates in the span of that one sentence. "Business. Dueling Tower at midnight kind of business." A hoof reaches into her uniform and pulls out her own necklace, bearing its six-point star gem, as if offering it as proof to Sunset that she's worthy to issue the challenge.
"Really...? What if I'm not interested in any more of these Magic Duels?" Sunset asks, wondering - hoping - that there's some loophole she can exploit to avoid this situation.
"It's mandatory for the Champion of the Duels to accept all challengers." Applejack explains. "Those that refuse the Magic Duel once the challenge has been issued disappear from the Academy, so I recommend you don't consider trying to skip town on it." While her tone is firm and businesslike, her eyes betray a hint of regret.
"Is that a threat?" Sunset asks, reflexively, digging her hooves into the crystal floor of the hallway. While she knows she's no match for Applejack physically, she feels the need to bring out her bluster regardless, not wanting to stand down, in case this is some sort of bluff to force her into the dueling game. She knows as well, however, that Applejack may also be talking about something with far more weight, such as the Elements of Harmony having the clout to pull strings and get certain students expelled.
"No." Applejack shakes her head. "It's just a fact. The Magic Duel doesn't accept deceit. Those who try tend to disappear, and not be seen again."
"Deceit?" Sunset's eyebrow raises. Her expectation is derailed as soon as it's left the station. "You make the Magic Duel sound like a living pony."
Applejack continues her explanation without acknowledging Sunset's quip. "Attempt to deceive the Magic Duel, by either not showing, or by giving a half-hearted fight, and End of the World won't consider it valid. It's why we have to give it our hardest, instead of trying to rig the system."
"End of the World?" Sunset remembers the name from her conversation with Starlight this morning. "What is End of the World, Applejack?"
Applejack turns on her hooves, heading back down the hall in the other direction. "I'll see you tonight, Sunset Shimmer." She says as she walks away, again ignoring Sunset's question. Part of Sunset wants to chase after her, and try to drag the answers out, but Sunset knows how to read ponies, and she can tell that pony won't be telling her anything if she doesn't want to. So, Sunset turns as well, making her way back to Spike and Starlight Glimmer, intent on trying to get more answers out of Applejack during the duel itself, if the opportunity should appear.
Sunset Shimmer again finds herself staring up at the monolithic tower, an imposing visage when wrapped in the cloak of night. Its double doors stand before her, the six-point star emblazoned on the handles. She pulls out her necklace, and again, it shines, resonating with the doors and causing them to open of their own accord. As the glow settles, she finds herself staring in wonder at the necklace once more.
"This six-point star... what is this thing?" She asks the empty air around her. The thought gnaws at Sunset, for more than the simple mystery of how ubiquitous it seems to be at Friendship Academy. I know I've seen this symbol before coming here, on something besides this necklace... but, what?
Frustrated at her inability to remember, she drops the necklace, allowing it to dangle, and steps through the doors. Inside, as before, lies a second tower, its unfathomably long, spiral staircase seeming to stretch to the heavens itself despite it being inside another building. A trick of the light, Sunset muses over the line Rarity fed her previously. "This would be some crazy light trick if that were true, wouldn't it?" The staircase winds as it goes higher, and yet, Sunset never finds herself winded from the climb.
She reaches the top, again finding herself gazing at the castle, hanging down from the unnaturally midday sky like a chandelier. That castle really is there, somehow. Before her, the Dueling Arena stretches out, just as spacious as she remembers it being. She steps forward, through the gate of the Dueling Arena, eyes still turned upward at the castle.
"Don't gawk too much, Sunset Shimmer, or the Magic Duel will start without you." Applejack's voice pulls Sunset back down to the opponent in front of her. This time, Sunset pointedly notices the sword and scabbard draped across Applejack's left side. Her voice contains some of the friendless that Sunset Shimmer was initially familiar with, but despite that, it's clear the mare across from her means business. Her figure in the Dueling Arena, under the light of the castle, is somehow even more intimidating than it was previously.
"Why's it called a 'Magic Duel', anyway?" Sunset asks, both thinking to stick to her plan and trying to defuse some tension. "We're fighting with swords, after all, not magic."
Her opponent shrugs. "Beats me, sugarcube. I only participate. I wasn't around when they got named."
"You... don't know?" Sunset's eyebrow raises. "You Elements of Harmony fight these duels and you don't even know why they're named what they are?"
"Eeeyup."
Her eyebrow raises ever higher, trying to free itself from her face. "And you don't see any problem with that, whatsoever?"
"It wouldn't matter none if I did, would it?" Applejack's tone kills the bits of levity Sunset had cultivated.
Soft hoofsteps ring out to Sunset's left, Starlight Glimmer catching her attention as she approaches. "Good luck, Sunset." She says softly, again wearing the magenta dress from Sunset's duel with Rarity. She reaches a hoof into her chest pocket, and pulls out a small, six-point star crystal, twinkling under the light of the castle, pinning it to Sunset. "A small crystal from deep within me, for you..." She steps back, giving a small nod as she steps over to Applejack, repeating the ritual. "And for you... a fleeting crystal from The End of the World."
Applejack gives her a nod, and Starlight steps back, taking her place on the sideline, between the two Duelists. With a steady, measured motion, Applejack's right hoof moves to her left side, and draws her sword from its scabbard. Unlike Rarity's weapon, Applejack's is simple - no ornate designs, frills, or tassels. The blade is simple and curved, with a pointed tip and an oval hoof-guard. The sharp side of the blade glints in the castle's light as Applejack holds it above her head. Holding this stance, Applejack locks eyes with Sunset Shimmer.
Sunset's limited knowledge of sword designs can't identify the exact type of weapon Applejack brandishes, to her chagrin. Great, another thing to study when I get home.... However, she does notice something odd about Applejack's stance, in spite of that. "You're going to fight me on three hooves?" Sunset asks, confused. While not knowledgeable on sword types, she knows the basics of sword stances between the three races, from entertainment pieces, if nothing else. To her limited knowledge, most earth pony fighting styles revolve around them carrying the sword in their mouth, allowing them to maximize maneuverability with their powerful legs, emphasizing their primary advantage over the pegasus and unicorn races.
"Don't be getting cocky now, Miss Shimmer." Applejack retorts. Her voice is tempered, hiding any emotion she may be feeling, though her face fails to do the same as the lines of conflict etch across it. "Now draw your sword, if you don't mind."
"My... sword...?" Sunset stares stupidly for a moment, realizing she's forgotten something important. However, before she can panic too much, a hoof rests against her shoulder.
"Here, Sunset." Starlight Glimmer closes her eyes. "Spark of Friendship, which lies deep within..." From Starlight's chest, a white light emanates. It grows, brighter and larger, eventually taking the shape of a rod. Its shape solidifies, a curved, ornate guard appearing around the rod - now the hilt of a sword - the six-point star pommel glowing a soft magenta. "Heed me, and come forth..." The hilt takes full shape and extends from Starlight's chest. The blade, still buried within her, glows a fierce white, brimming with energy that sends Sunset's mane billowing.
Sunset reaches for it, gripping the handle in one hoof. She draws it out slowly, feeling the strange power again flow through her body. Once the blade is half-way free, she pulls it out in a swift motion and points it at Applejack. "Grant me the power to revolutionize the world!" The words spill from Sunset's mouth, without her recognition, as if they belong to someone else.
Somewhere, outside the Dueling Arena, a chorus of bells rings, flooding the ears of every pony on the platform.
"So, Rarity wasn't lying." Applejack muses. Those lines of regret become curiosity. "You really can draw a sword from the Crystal Mare. How?"
"How should I know how any of this works?" Sunset shifts the blade from her hoof to her magic, readying herself by digging her hooves in. "I still don't have a clue what's going on around here!"
"Alright, then. Best be ready, Sunset Shimmer!" Applejack punctuates her statement with a lunge, the speed impressive even on three hooves. Her sword raises, and in a panic, it's all Sunset can think to do to use the blade of the sword from Starlight's chest to block the strike. The clash of metal resounds through the Dueling Arena as the light of Sunset's horn glows brighter, a headache already beginning to spread.
From the sidelines, Starlight Glimmer watches, impassively.
Fast. Strong. Pain! The simple thoughts are all Sunset can initially muster in the face of her opponent. Applejack continues to press her blade down on Sunset's, though the exertion of it barely seems noticeable on the orange mare's face. Is she... trying to test my limit... or something...? Sunset Shimmer gathers herself enough to leap back, sliding her sword out from under Applejack's own as the swing finally follows through, only cutting air. "Geez! Give me a break, will you?"
Applejack rushes again, doing anything but. "I told you, Sunset Shimmer, the duel won't accept deceit!" Sunset pulls herself back just in time to dodge a horizontal slash, the tip of the blade coming far too close to comfort to more than just the crystal on Sunset's chest. Bits of red mane flutter in the wind as the sword strikes again, and with the strength Sunset knows is behind it, its all she can do to dodge.
"Then, tell me, Applejack!" Sunset yells out, in between the chain of back-steps and side-steps she needs to do to keep herself in one piece. Frustrated, she finally brings her sword forward for another swing, meeting Applejack's, though it takes everything she can put into the strike simply to hold a clash. "These duels... what's the point, Applejack? Why be involved in all this? What is everypony fighting so hard for?" She grits her teeth, frustrated at her inability to even budge the earth pony's stance, no matter how much power she seems to press into her magic or how much her head pounds as a result.
Applejack's first reply is a stroke of her sword, powerful enough to rend the sword from Sunset's magical grasp, her horn sparking amber energy as Sunset yelps and topples over with it. "These 'Magic Duels'... supposedly, they create a path to alicornhood. I'm sure you've heard of them - mythical beings, rumored to be able to move the sun and moon, build any friendship, mend any love... to be able to exist, eternally. They may as well have the power to grant miracles, revolutionize the world in whatever way their whims desire."
Sunset scrambles to reclaim her sword in hoof, her horn so frazzled that magic from it is essentially impossible. Gripping the hilt, she turns her eyes up, locking them with Applejack's from her position on the Dueling Arena's floor. "Revolutionize the world...? Why would you want a power like that to begin with?"
A small flicker enters the eyes of Starlight Glimmer, as she continues watching the duel.
Applejack's sword swings down, and while Sunset raises her own in a hoof to defend, it gets knocked aside easily. Sunset's only grace, this time, is her ability to retain grip on the handle, but she doesn't see it doing much for her right now. "That's none of your business!" Applejack's body spins with practiced precision, and before Sunset can process what's to come, a pair of hind hoofs buck her cleanly in the chest, sending her toppling along the Dueling Arena floor.
Sunset winces as she looks up at the looming form of Applejack, necklace dangling out of her uniform as her chest shudders in pain. She attempts to rise to her hooves, but stumbles and falls back down. Her hoof clutches desperately around the hilt of the sword from Starlight Glimmer, her mind racing as it tries to find a way to keep going in the face of a frazzled horn and a beaten body.
An anger previously unfamiliar to Sunset in her interactions with the mare boils behind Applejack's eyes. Her glare down at Sunset Shimmer is withering, and the sword she holds high above her head only emphasizes her darker demeanor. In the light of the castle, the blade glints, immediately making Sunset think of a guillotine. "I'm sorry, Sunset Shimmer, but I'll be taking the Crystal Mare, now." Her tone is flat, nearly hollow, somehow lacking even Applejack's distinct twang. "Prepare yourself!"
Sunset Shimmer keeps her eyes locked with Applejack's, refusing to back down. Alicornhood? Revolutionizing the world? Why would any pony ever believe sword fights could lead to contrived, idealistic junk like that?! Sunset's grip on the handle of her sword tightens ever still, refusing to compromise in her defiance to the mare looming over her. "If you think I'm letting you pass around Starlight Glimmer over junk like that, you've got another thing coming!"
Starlight Glimmer's eyes widen, as a bright, magenta light reflects off her crystal sheen.
The gemstone of Sunset Shimmer's necklace glows, alongside the pommel of her sword. Above them, the light of the castle brightens, flooding the Dueling Arena with intense, artificial light. Power floods Sunset's body as wings snap open. Of its own accord, her body lunges forward, the inequine speed barely perceptible to the naked eye. Her right hoof extends, amber magic enveloping her body, target true even as Applejack attempts to bring her own sword down to defend.
With one thrust, crystal shatters.
The bells chime once more, flooding the Dueling Arena deafeningly as a stillness falls over both Sunset Shimmer and Applejack.
Sunset pants, her heart racing, her body shaking with exhaustion, but this time, she keeps to her hooves.
Applejack laughs from behind her. "That's some power you have, Sunset Shimmer." Her tone is the playful, friendly one that Sunset remembers from when the two first met. She can hear the scraping of metal as Applejack's sword returns to its sheathe. "See you 'round, partner." Sunset doesn't reply as the retreating sounds of hooves signify Applejack's exit. Instead, she's grappling with her own, barely coherent thoughts.
That was... how did I... Her fragmented thoughts are punctuated with her heavy breathing. She looks to her hoof, still extended from her victory with Applejack, only to find it empty. The sword, it's... gone? Remembering something else, fleeting but vivid, her head snaps around, looking to her back, eyes wide, before her face falls in disappointment. I could've sworn I had... wings...