From that day on, Sunset Shimmer woke up to the sound of Crystal Note’s violin in the morning and fell asleep to it late at night. During her study time, she would hear violin music and when she found Crystal Note in the garden, she would play violin.
Suffice to say, it grew old very quickly. After a week, it got downright on her nerves.
It wasn’t that Crystal Note played bad, far from the opposite. It wasn’t that she was playing the same song over and over, for a pony with amnesia, Crystal Note had a vast repertoire of songs at hoof.
What got on Sunset’s nerves was the simple fact that Crystal Note would do nothing else.
Sunset Shimmer gritted her teeth behind her book in Princess Celestia’s private study when Crystal Note took her spot at the window again and didn’t even try to do something productive. Instead, she immediately went for another song.
Of course it was nice to see Crystal Note smile more. And yes, the music was fine, even Princess Celestia enjoyed it. But it didn’t help getting more information on the Crystal Empire in any way. Neither did it help get Crystal Note out of her shell, in fact she was getting more secluded because whenever she played, she seemed oblivious to the world around her.
Sunset Shimmer just couldn’t take it anymore, so she slammed her book shut. The loud noise startled Crystal Note and made her stop playing her violin. She turned towards Sunset Shimmer and flinched when she saw the unicorn glaring at her
“I’m sorry.”
Sunset Shimmer snorted angrily, but instead of chewing her out like she had intended, Sunset managed to stay somewhat calm with Crystal Note
“What for?”
“I don’t know. But I didn’t mean to anger you, Sunset Shimmer.”
Sunset facehoofed. This is going to take a while.
“Did you remember anything new recently?”
Crystal Note nodded with a smile
“Whenever I close my eyes, there’s a new song waiting for me.”
Sunset Shimmer just rolled her eyes
“Let me rephrase that: Did you remember anything useful recently?”
“I suppose… not.”
Crystal Note’s smile faded and her coat stopped glittering as well
“I’m sorry I disappointed you, Sunset Shimmer.”
“Augh, stop that!”
Sunset threw her hooves up in frustration
“You’re making it really hard to get mad at you.”
“I’m sorry? Again?”
Crystal Note seemed rightfully confused and Sunset Shimmer took a deep breath
“Look, it’s not that I want to get angry at you. But, if we want to solve the secrets from your past, we need to do more than just sit around and wait. You need to do more.”
“But, I don’t know what I even can do. You probably know more about the Crystal Empire from your books than I could ever tell you.”
“That sounds to me like you’re not even trying, Crystal Note.”
At this, Crystal Note’s coat lost any trace of brightness, but Sunset took it as a step forward that at least she didn’t turn grey, even if her voice was more tiny than usual
“I’m afraid I’ll have another breakdown in front of everypony.”
“See? That’s our problem.”
Crystal Note kept her head low but glanced up at Sunset Shimmer as she hopped on her hooves and started pacing through the room
“You’re afraid and it’s getting in our way. You have to stop being afraid, Crystal Note.”
“Do you think I’m doing this on purpose? Do you think I like having nightmares every night?”
Sunset stopped and looked at Crystal Note, surprised at the sudden outburst. That was definitely something that would never have happened a week ago. Crystal Note seemed to come to the same conclusion, as she blushed ashamed
“I’m sorry…”
“Stop apologizing.”
Crystal Note clamped her mouth shut, but Sunset was not angry or frustrated anymore. Instead, she sounded almost concerned
“Those nightmares, how long did you have them?”
“Since the first night.”
Sunset sighed and nodded, she had expected that
“And you still have them every night?”
“I do, when I manage to fall asleep at all that is.”
Sunset nodded and rubbed her temple with a hoof
“And are they getting better, now that you have your music back?”
Crystal Note closed her eyes tightly and Sunset frowned when she realized that Crystal Note was fighting to hold back tears
“If any, they’re getting worse.”
“Worse? But that doesn’t make any sense!”
With that Sunset went back to pacing up and down the study
“You had some major positive events recently, every book I read says that’s the turning point you need to get over your fears. You shouldn’t have nightmares that much anymore, if at all!”
“M-maybe it’s just not like your books say?”
Sunset Shimmer stared at Crystal Note for her meek doubts, but dismissed them with a wave of her hooves
“Maybe we need to push this one step further. Crystal Note, what’s the thing you’re most afraid of?”
Crystal Note kept her eyes glued on the floor and a shiver ran down her body as her coat turned grey
“Please don’t make me say his name.”
“Beside him, I mean!”
Crystal Note stayed still for a minute, but then just shook her head
“I don’t know.”
“I do. Magic.”
Sunset Shimmer smirked knowingly at Crystal Note when she finally looked up again
“Magic?”
“Yes. You’re always freaking out when Princess Celestia or I do any spell. And whenever anypony just levitates something, you stare at it as if it would attack you any second.”
Crystal Note said nothing and just blushed, but Sunset when on undeterred
“So, you’re going to learn all you can about magic! That way you’ll see there’s nothing to be afraid of.”
As Sunset went to the closest bookshelves to collect some reference books, Crystal Note rubbed her hoof and whispered
“Sunset Shimmer, I think there might be a problem.”
“And that is?”
“I, um… I’m not a unicorn like you. I can’t do any magic.”
Sunset just rolled her eyes
“You don’t have to learn how to do magic, just about magic in general. Here, these are some books I used when I started studying under Princess Celestia.”
With a thud, Sunset Shimmer placed a tower of books on the floor in front of Crystal Note. The mare just gulped as the stack was almost as tall as she was. Tentatively, she picked up the top one and opened it, only to blush even more
“I don’t understand a single word.”
Sunset Shimmer turned around to check which book Crystal Note was looking at, then she frowned
“Maybe that’s because you’re holding it upside down?”
With her magic, she picked the book from Crystal Note’s hooves and spun in around. Crystal Note only blushed harder and her coat took a dark greyish hue
“I’m afraid that’s not helping much.”
“Huh?”
Sunset Shimmer stepped closer but slowed down when she saw that Crystal Note was cowering behind the stack of books and shivering from head to tail
“What’s wrong, Crystal Note?”
“I… I can’t read this.”
“Oh, come on. I know it’s a bit stuffy, but once you give a try you’ll see…”
“No. I can’t read. At all.”
“WHAT?”
Sunset’s jaw almost dropped to the floor, before she shook her head confused
“But you’ve been reading history books for three weeks with me!”
“They, um, they had the most pictures.”
Sunset’s hoof met her forehead with an audible smack
“Sweet Celestia, give me strength.”
“I’m not sure if strength is what you need right now, my talented student. I think you would rather need a lot of patience.”
Sunset Shimmer closed her eyes with a frustrated groan when she heard the voice from behind her
“You’re doing this on purpose, right? You’re waiting for moments like this to happen.”
Princess Celestia chuckled softly but instead of answering, she walked around Sunset so she could look at her and Crystal Note at the same time
“I’m afraid you need to teach Crystal Note about magic the old-fashioned way, Sunset Shimmer. And Crystal Note, I would highly recommend you get to learn how to read and write. You might not have needed it in the past, but nowadays, books are ubiquitous.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Sunset and Celestia both rolled their eyes, but the princess chuckled to take any bite from it
“I’ll have Kibitz find a tutor for you, even if I’m sure Sunset Shimmer will help as well.”
“Sure.”
Sunset Shimmer didn’t sound too enthusiastic, understandably, as there was a significant difference in high-magic research and teaching a grown mare how to read. But of course, she would never decline any task from Princess Celestia.
“Good. Now to the matter at hoof. Why do you think Crystal Note should learn about magic, Sunset Shimmer?”
“There’s multiple reasons, Princess. First, if she understands magic, she won’t have to be afraid of it anymore. She won’t get a panicked because she couldn’t tell a levitation spell apart from something dangerous.”
At this, Crystal Note looked down ashamed but Sunset ignored it and just went on
“Second, it will help her deal with other ponies as well. There are a lot of unicorns in the Palace and in Canterlot, she has to get used to it.”
At this, Princess Celestia nodded
“Agreed. There is a lot of benefit to it.”
“And there’s more.”
Sunset Shimmer threw a glance towards Crystal Note who had slumped back on her haunches, head still hanging low. Sunset bit her lip before she added in a more gentle, slightly apologetic tone
“There is also the chance that it might help her remember and understand some things King Sombra has done. Maybe enough to break through her amnesia, even. I know it’s a long shot, but I think it’s worth a try.”
As expected, Crystal Note flinched when she heard the name. Both Sunset and Celestia watched carefully, but nothing worse happened this time.
With a deep sigh, Celestia nodded once more
“Again, you’re right, my talented student. But because of the high risk, we need to be very cautious.”
“We?”
Sunset Shimmer smirked when Celestia affirmed what she was thinking
“Between you and me, we have all the magical expertise we need to teach Crystal Note. Also, it might be risky to rely on somepony who is not familiar with Crystal Note’s unique background.”
Sunset rolled her eyes
“You would think seeing her walk through the castle sparkling like a chandelier might give somepony a clue.”
Princess Celestia chuckled and nudged Sunset with her wing
“The knowledge about crystal ponies is nearly forgotten, my talented student. Not everypony has access to the old books and the skills to understand them like you do.”
“Yeah, I’m pretty amazing.”
Sunset Shimmer held up her hoof to deflect another swat from Celestia’s wing as they both giggled. Crystal Note watched their silly antics and could even smile a little
“May I ask a question?”
“Of course, my little pony.”
“If books won’t work, how will you teach me?”
“Just like this, of course.”
Both Sunset and Crystal Note blinked confused
“I don’t get it.”
Princess Celestia smiled kindly
“To teach you about magic, even the basics, would take years, Crystal Note. So instead, Sunset Shimmer and I will answer any of your questions for now. I will also ask you to watch the ponies around you, especially unicorns. If you find anything you don’t understand, I want you to come either to Sunset or me, and we will explain it to you.”
Sunset nodded with a smile. That plan sounded as good as any she had, and it would get Crystal Note get out of her room and do something else than play her violin all day.
Crystal Note waited for Sunset’s nod before she agreed with a humble voice
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
“You’re very welcome, Crystal Note. And since we are all together anyways, shall we start right away?”
Crystal Note once again checked for Sunset’s approval before she agreed and asked her first question
“Can you tell me about that spell you use to carry things?”
Princess Celestia nodded and looked at her student. Sunset Shimmer understood right away and took hold of a book with her magic
“Right. Levitation is the most basic of spells. Usually, it’s the first spell any unicorn learns as a foal. It works like this…”
Crystal Note listened attentively as Sunset Shimmer explained and demonstrated different forms of levitation. From time to time, Princess Celestia would chime in with an example when Crystal Note got lost in Sunset’s fast pace. Crystal Note only rarely asked any questions.
They spent the rest of the afternoon like this. When they finally got up to get some dinner, Crystal Note had fallen completely silent. Sunset Shimmer could see the gears in her mind running as she tried to process all she had been told today. At least, her coat had returned to its normal silvery-white at some point.
Crystal Note still hadn’t said anything when they sat down for their meal, so Princess Celestia decided to talk about something else for now
“I have received a letter from Cadance today. She will return to Canterlot soon.”
“Oh joy. How I’ve missed her.”
Sunset Shimmer didn’t even try to hide her annoyance from her voice. Crystal Note looked between the two others and asked with her typically meekness
“Um, who is Cadance?”
Before Celestia could reply, Sunset Shimmer did
“Princess Cadance is the other alicorn who lives in the palace. She just appeared out of nowhere some months ago and she’s been on a trip through Equestria, because she didn’t know any place except her backwater village.”
“Sunset! Try to be a little more respectful.”
“What? All I said is true.”
Sunset Shimmer ignored the chiding from Princess Celestia and watched the crystal pony next to her instead. At some point, Crystal Note had started staring ahead into nothingness. Sunset Shimmer had seen this before, usually when something didn’t fit together in the mare’s mind, like now
“Are you sure her name is Princess Cadance?”
Both Sunset and Celestia looked at each other surprised, then back at Crystal Note
“That’s her name alright. Why are you asking?”
Crystal Note kept staring ahead as she frowned
“I always though the name of the second princess of Canterlot was ...”
She didn’t finish her sentence and trailed off. This time, Sunset Shimmer seemed curious, but Princess Celestia interrupted any questions from her
“I’m sure you just mixed up some old legend you might have heard of, Crystal Note. Anyways, have you found any new songs today? I would love to hear some, if you don’t mind.”
Sunset stared at the princess, both confused and annoyed at her sudden change of topics. Crystal Note didn’t seem to noticed and just nodded absently. As she prepared her violin to play, Sunset leaned over to whisper at her teacher
“What was that about?”
Princess Celestia had an apology in her eyes as she replied as quietly
“I would like to keep the number of ponies who know about Princess Luna limited. At least for now.”
Sunset frowned but said nothing. During her studies, she had learned of Princess Luna’s existence and her fall, which led to the creation of Nightmare Moon, but that was about all she knew. Why would Princess Celestia want to keep this a secret? Even from her?
Just like that mirror, Sunset thought. There must be some connection. I have to find out more, with Princess Celestia’s help or not.
When Sunset didn’t reply, Princess Celestia sat back upright and watched Crystal Note as she played on her violin from them. Sunset did as well, but she barely listened, as her thoughts wouldn’t stop circling around the mirror.