Chapter 3: Birthday Surprise
Archmage Sunset Shimmer
As I woke up, I stretched the tiredness from my body. I looked over to the side and noticed I was alone. Normally I’m up before Rarity and wake her when I head for the castle.
I yawned as I pulled myself from the bed.
After straightening my mane and tail, I headed downstairs to the kitchen. Reaching the bottom of the stairs, I started to smell something wonderful.
As I looked into the kitchen, I noticed that Rarity was cooking.
I smiled and snuck towards her. When l got close to her, l gave her a quick kiss on the cheek.
“Good morning love. I didn’t expect you to be up so early.” I said to my wife, looking into her eyes.
She smiled at me before kissing me softly.
“Good morning, Sunny. I thought I would make you breakfast this morning, so I woke up a little earlier.”
“Don’t you enjoy sleeping a little longer though before you have to start working?” I asked my wife.
Rarity almost never wakes up early unless she’s planning to go to ponyville to see our friends.
“Let me guess. You forgot what day it was, didn’t you Sunset Shimmer?” Rarity said, glaring at me.
‘Oh shit. She’s glaring at me. Only time she glares at me is if I bucked up really bad, or if I forgot something. Think Sunset, THINK! What day could it be?’ I thought to myself, while moving slightly backwards, not wanting to incur the wrath of my wife. She’s the only one in this world that I’m scared shitless of.
“How could I forget a day as important as this? This day is one of the biggest days of our lives together.” I said with an awkward smile, hoping she’d buy it, and maybe forget about it.
“And tell me, dear Archmage. What day is today?”
‘Shit, didn’t work. Okay, what now Sunset?’ I thought to myself.
I waved my head back and forth hoping to see something that could give me a hint. That’s when my eyes fell on the calendar, causing me to sigh in relief.
“Oh, it’s only my birthday. Wait, why are you glaring at me? It’s not like I forgot our anniversary or your birthday.”
“Sunset! I’ve told you before you need to at least try and remember your birthday. I understand that your family wasn’t able to celebrate your birthday when you were young, because of how poor you were, so it would be easy to forget. But now we can celebrate it.” Rarity said to me, her eyes softening.
“Rarity. I’ve told you several times, there is no need for that. My birthday is nothing special, it never has been.”
“And as I’ve told you, that is not true. Your birthday is special, because you are special to me. Isn’t that the only reason we need to celebrate it?”
I sighed in defeat. Me and Rarity have this conversation every year. Maybe I should finally try and remember my own birthday. If not for myself, then for her.
“Why don’t we sit down and eat breakfast together? It’s getting close to you needing to leave isn’t it?”
I nodded my head and sat down at the table, while Rarity placed our food on our plates.
Once our breakfast was done, I kissed my wife goodbye and headed for the castle.
My trip to the castle didn’t take long, though I remember when I first became the archmage. Travel to the castle took me so much longer because everypony would stop me and ask me questions, or congratulate me.
Now though, most ponies just wave to me or wish me a happy day as I walk past. A lot of ponies ask me why I don’t just teleport to the castle like most of the archmages.
“I enjoy seeing ponies smile, as I walk to the castle. It give me reason to always make sure I’m ready for anything that’s thrown at me.” Was my response, when I was asked.
As always, two guards stand outside the castle gates. Completely unmoving and unflinching. When I was young, I would play jokes on the guards to try and make them move. I never did succeed though.
Once I passed through the main gates of the castle, I started to head for the dinning hall. Just incase events change, I always talk with Celestia and Luna every morning before I start anything.
I pushed open the doors to the dining hall, and noticed Celestia sitting alone.
‘Oh great, what is Luna planning this time?’ I thought to myself, walking inside and closing the doors. ‘Sometimes these birthday pranks of hers go overboard.’
I went over and took a seat near Celestia.
“Good morning, Celestia. How did you sleep?” I asked the age old alicorn beside me.
Celestia looked over at me with a smile on her face.
“I slept well, Sunset. Thank you for asking. Though I must ask how our birthday mare slept.” She said to me, a small grin forming on her face.
My eyes widened seeing that grin on Tia’s face. That was her prankster grin.
‘Oh buck me. They teamed up this year.’ I thought to myself, looking around for a quick exit. When Luna and Celestia team up for a prank they are worse than Discord.
I let my face twist into a smirk, knowing how to stop at least Celestia.
“You know Celestia. I slept pretty well. Though to be honest, I think our budget is calling for a few cutbacks. So I have cut the shipment of cake mix in half for the next year.” I say, using my magic to pour me a glass of juice.
I watch as Celestia’s grin falls from her face and her eyes widen.
“You wouldn’t do that, would you? You know that I need my daily amount of cake.” Celestia’s said, a small panic in her voice.
“Only if you’re going to help Luna prank me.” I say to her, sticking my tongue out at her.
I watched as Celestia sighed.
“Okay, Sunset. You win. I won’t help my sister prank you.” She said, hanging her head in defeat.
I laughed a little watching Celestia hang her head.
“Sorry, Celestia, but every time you and Luna team up for a prank you guys are worse than Discord.” I tell her with a small smile on my face.
“Then you would have really hated this year’s prank. Discord is part of it,” she said with a sigh. “I guess I don’t get to be part of this one though.”
Right as Celestia said Discord’s name, my eyes shot open wider than they have ever been.
‘Discord is part of the prank? Oh feather dung. I’m so screwed even with Celestia backing down.’ I thought to myself, trying to think of some way out of the castle.
My mind went on autopilot, summoning a barrier over myself and Celestia, as a shower of glass pelted us, as something large crashed through the window on the far side of the dining hall slamming into the floor cracking several pieces of the tile flooring.
I jumped up and teleported next to what ever crashed into the floor, keeping the barrier I summoned over Celestia. My eyes widened, as I let the barrier around Celestia fade. In front of me was a large dragon with a hide of purple scales, and green spines.
“Celestia! It’s Spike.” I said, calling my magic, running a thin membrane over the fallen dragons body, to check for injuries.
I heard Celestia’s hoof steps as she quickly got next to me to look at Spike. “Is he alright Sunset?” She asked worried.
I let out a sigh as my horn’s glow faded. “He’s fine. Why he crashed I have no idea.” I said, looking over the purple dragon’s body.
I raised an eyebrow, as Spike began to stir, slowly lifting his bulk up to sit up.
“Ow... What happened?” Spike said, lifting a claw to rub his head.
I watched as Celestia got up next to him. “You crashed through one of the dining hall windows, Spike. You even cracked some of this marble tile.” She said, looking around at the floor where the dragon sat. “What happened to you? And how did you crash?”
Spike blinked his eyes, looking down at the floor, before turning his gaze to the princess.
“I was heading to Ponyville to see mom. I’ve been flying for over thirty-six hours straight now.” He had said wearily.
I blinked staring at the dragon. “Thirty-six hours, but how? I thought Drakonia was at least sixty hours by flight?”
Spike looked up at me with this look in his eyes, that I have seen for years. For some reason he and I just never really took. He didn’t much care for me, and for what reason I could not fathom.
“I rode one of the air currents over the sea. As I was nearing Canterlot I went to get out, I must have hit bad wind. All I know is my wing locked up, and I couldn’t move it. Once I fell into a dive I couldn’t pull up out of it.” He spoke, continuing to look at me with that look.
Celestia stomped her hoof into the tile cracking even more of the marble. “Spike! Me and Twilight have both told you never to fly into air currents. You could very easily be killed entering or exiting them.” She said glaring at the dragon on the ground. “I thought Rainbow taught you better.”
Spike turned and looked at Celestia. “She did teach me better. She told me never to use them unless I thought the need was great enough, and I had to get back here as quickly as I could.”
“And tell me, what need is so great that you would risk your life to get back?” Celestia said, her expression still hard, as she stared at the dragon.
I noticed Spike shiver, as he looked down at the cracked tiles under him.
“War.” The purple dragon said, just loud enough to be heard.
Celestia’s eyes widened hearing the word and took a step back. “War? You couldn’t possibly mean that...” she started to ask, before trailing off.
Spike nodded as he began to speak. “King Bahamut has called for war against Equestria. All of Drakonia knows, he made a huge announcement about it. I don’t know how long we have.”
I stood there looking at Spike in horror. War with the dragons, some of the largest creatures in all of Equestria now seek to destroy us.
I screamed, rearing up onto my hind legs as my fore hooves shot up to hold my head. A shooting pain echoing across my entire mind, my horn glowing bright enough to blind even the princess standing near me. The next thing I remember, is the floor coming to meet me as I fell, Celestia’s voice calling my name, sounding as if it was halfway across the world, as the world around me faded into darkness.
I stood up onto my hooves shaking my head to try and remove the dizzying sensation that I felt. As I was able to get control of my thoughts and the dizziness went away, I looked around, my eyes widening. The castle was gone, around me was a wasteland. A wasteland littered with bodies.
I couldn’t believe my eyes, and I kept looking around. I saw a blackened oak door with the faded crescent moon and small white dots all across the door.
I didn’t understand, If Luna’s bedroom door was here, where was she and Celestia? Where was Canterlot Castle? I kept thinking to myself, looking around more, until I saw him. A beast of a dragon. His size was easily twice as large as Spike, who now stood taller than even Celestia.
His black onyx armor shined in the glowing sunlight, droplets of blood covered him. He was howling in laughter, calling out how weak the princesses were.
That’s when I noticed the oddest sight. In his uplifted claw, was me. I hung lifeless from his claw, my normal robes shredded, my horn cracked down the middle. On my chest was three large gashes that blood spilled from and down the dragon kings arm.
My whole body shook at the scene before me, before slowly looking down at the floor at the kings talons. There laying in a pool of blood, was Twilight and her friends, the gems of the elements of harmony shattered.
“No....” I said softly, slowly backing away from the sight before me. “No...” I said louder, shaking my head. I turned and ran as fast as my hooves would carry me, trying to get away from what I saw.
“Sunset!” I heard a voice call out, in the distance. “Sunset, wake up.” I heard the voice call again but more urgently.
I saw a flash of white in front of me before everything went dark again.
I let out a groan, my eyes slowly opening showing Celestia over me, a worried look plastered on her face. I slowly sat up and shook my head looking around. I was back in the dining hall with the princess, the shattered glass still littered the floor from Spikes crash.
“What... Ow...” I tried to say, a pain radiating from the back of my head.”What happened? Everything went black.” I said rubbing my head for some comfort.
A white hoof touched my shoulder as I looked up to the see Celestia. “I’m not sure, but I’m happy you’re alright, Sunset.” She said to me sweetly with a smile.
I continued to rub my head with a hoof, trying to piece together the vision I saw. After waking up it had become fuzzy and I couldn’t remember it very well.
“I saw something, but I can’t remember what. It’s all fuzzy now.” I said out loud, grinding my hoof into my head to try and remember.
I felt the hoof on my shoulder rub into my fur, causing me to look back up. “It’s alright Sunset. Whatever you saw, I’m sure it will come back to you.”
I nodded to her before moving to stand up. As I got all four hooves to support me, I felt a dizzy spell hit me, causing me to tumble around. I caught myself before I ended up falling onto the floor again, and shook my head to try and clear the dizziness.
“Has that ever happened before?” Spike asked, having apparently stood up while I was out.
I shook my head, trying to look up at the dragon. “No. And I don’t understand why it did.” I said, trying to get my thoughts focused.
“I might know.” Luna said, coming into the dining hall, Discord following close behind her, scratching at the stub of his beard.
I looked towards the door, my eyes widening seeing the night princess and Discord walk into the dining hall.
“Oh fudge. Please Luna, Discord. No prank. My head is hurting as it is, and I would much rather not have to deal with a prank from you two.” I said, rubbing my temples with my front hooves trying to get rid of the splitting headache.
“No worries, my friend. We know about your collapse.” Luna says stopping in front of me, and looking me in the eyes.
I watched Discord from the corner of my eye as he continued scratching at his beard, before lifting his talon and snapping, causing him to disappear.
Luna rolled her eyes, seeing Discord disappear. She reached out, lifting my chin with a hoof, and looking me in the eyes. She withdrew her hoof after a moment and turned around, humming lightly most likely thinking.
“Did you see anything when you collapsed?” Luna’s asked me, still facing away.
“Yes... but I can’t remember what it was. I just remember running right before I heard Celestia’s voice.” I said, shaking my head.
Luna turned to look at me before looking up at her sister. “I think it’s time sister.”
I turned my head to Celestia, watching as her eyes widened hearing Luna’s words.
“Wh... what do you mean Luna? You can’t mean... Luna... you know it’s too soon.” Celestia said, having apparently understood what her younger sister was saying.
Luna shook her head. “No, I think we waited to long. We both know how quickly she’s advanced. She was the youngest after all.” She said to her sister.
“Ummm... excuse me. Luna, Celestia, what are you two talking about.” I asked sitting there confused.
I watched as Celestia turned her head, as if examining me. She let out a sigh, before turning back to Luna.
“I’ll defer to your judgement on this little sister, but before you go through with it. Please ensure her safety.” Celestia said with a hint of sadness in her voice. She looks over at Spike who had been quiet. “Come with me Spike, I want you to tell me exactly what was said if you would.” I watched her say before turning away and walking towards the door.
Spike followed behind Celestia, his gaze turning to me before he left the room.
“Now Sunset.” Luna said, causing me to turn my attention to her. “Come. We must speak in private in my room.” She said, almost hastingly as she turned to walk out a different door that lead towards the Lunar Wing of the castle.
I quickly got up and followed Luna, doing my best to match her long strides.