Sunset Shimmer decided that it would be best to avoid Princess Cadence for the next few days, or even possibly for the rest of her life. Being around the alicorn was giving her strange feelings that she really did not want to think about. She was beginning to feel bad for her. She had been thrust headfirst into a situation that she could not control, and it appeared that she really didn’t want to be a princess after all.
The unicorn had some to terms with this fact. Sunset was not stupid or ignorant, she knew when something was beyond her control. Cadence becoming an alicorn was not in her control, nor was it in Cadence’s. It simply happened the way it happened, and Sunset would have to live with it. Besides, there were more important matters to attend to.
Within a fort of books that rivaled the castle itself, Sunset was currently holed up in the library. She was scouring through tome after tome, attempting to gather any information she could about the mirror that Princess Celestia had shown her. She had encountered a few promising clues, but nothing substantial.
She tossed aside yet another tome with a sigh. Her eyes burned from all of the reading. Between her lessons with the Princess and regular meals, and even skipping some of the latter, Sunset had spent every waking minute reading about ancient arcane constructs. So far all she had come up with was a reference to a mystical mirror that Starswirl the Bearded had made to help predict the weather in the Everfree, and a strange tale of disappearances that always involved a tall, crystal mirror.
Her head fell to the desk with an unceremonious thump. Celestia’s lesson was in half an hour, and she had made no progress. Sunset decided that she was going to have to ask the Princess about the mirror directly, something she was not looking forward to.
Celestia had not mentioned the mirror since the incident, and any allusions that Sunset made to it were deflected. She figured that the only way to actually get any information was to confront the issue directly.
“Well she’s already annoyed about me and Cadence, so might as well piss her off more,” Sunset mumbled to herself as she slammed the book shut.
Sunset briefly flashed her horn, encompassing all of the scattered books in a bright red glow before sending them flying back to their respective shelving across the library. The two books that showed some promise were left behind, and she quickly stowed them in her saddlebag before heading out of the library, with the used catalog cards were unceremoniously dropped off onto the desk of the dozing librarian on the way out.
Her lesson, like the rest passed with little fanfare. Celestia was droning on about some unusual spell that she used once to navigate the Limbo several hundred years ago, and she had long since stopped paying attention. That is, until she heard the princess mention Starswirl the Bearded.
"Excuse me, Princess," she interrupted, seeing an opportunity to segue the conversation. Celestia paused mid thought and looked at Sunset with surprise. "You had mentioned Starswirl, and it just reminded me of a passage I had found in the library." The unicorn pulled the tome out of her saddlebag, and began to flip though it.
"Oh?" questioned Celestia. "An Archaic Antiquity of Arcane Artifacts?" she murmured, reading the title as Sunset paged through it.
"Yeah... here it is! It says that Starswirl had created a magical mirror to predict the future of weather, and the description of the construct seems similar to the one you showed me last week." Sunset held up the book to show Celestia the passage. "I was just wondering if it could be the same thing, because if it is, that would be a really strange coincidence-" Sunset rambled on, doing her best to sound overenthusiastic and excited about something as mundane as the implications of predicting the weather.
Celestia raised an eyebrow, doing her best to follow the nonsensical rant whilst also trying to read the passage. "Sunset," she gently interrupted, finally opting to just take the book from her student's grasp. "What is your point?"
Sunset stopped rambling and took a deep breath. It was now or never. "Well, it just got me curious as to how a construct designed to do one thing evolved into whatever it was you showed me in that closet," she inquired, hoping that it would work.
To her surprise, Celestia's eyes brightened, and she smiled. "That's quite an impressive deduction, Sunset," she complimented. "And an excellent question as well."
Sunset blinked at her own success. "Uh, thank you?" she replied questioningly.
"Hundreds of years ago, when Starswirl created this mirror, the art of constructional thaumaturgy was not quite as refined as it was now," Celestia explained. "Even today, unicorns have trouble mastering the art. Often times, artifacts created with one application in mind have unintended uses, and even side effects." The princess stood from her cushion, and walked over to a bookshelf across the room. "Starswirl, even as powerful a sorcerer as he was, wasn't immune to these mistakes as well." She pulled a tome from the shelf, and levitated it over to Sunset. "I believe this volume will satisfy your curiosity about the process."
The fiery unicorn took the book offered to her, and glanced over the title. "So Starswirl accidentally created a mirror that showed me my destiny?"
Celestia's expression fell slightly at that. "Destiny is a strong word to use, Sunset," she said softly. "The future is not set in stone, and it is up to you to choose your own path."
Sunset stood as well. "Then why did it show me that?" she asked, her voice rising in frustration. "All I want to know is why it showed me what it did, and how it knows it! Every time I ask you just change the topic and shoot me down! I deserve to know! It is my right to know!"
"Sunset," Celestia said, her voice filled with command. "We will have that conversation when you are ready. But right now, even at this very moment, you are proving to me that you are not ready."
"I am ready!" shouted Sunset. "I have been ready!"
"No, you are not." The alicorn's words were final, and Sunset's lesson was over.
The unicorn angrily stabbed her fork into her salad. Of course Celestia would not tell her anything of significance. She had been doing so well too, easing her way into the conversation. But then of course Celestia got mad, and of course she didn't think Sunset was ready.
She had already flipped through the book Celestia had given her. It was certainly interesting, however provided no real answers to her actual questions. It brought her closer, but the answers were still out of her grasp.
Sunset stuffed the last bite of her lunch into her mouth, chewing aggressively and pushing the bowl off to the side. How could the answer elude her so easily? She was the smartest unicorn in the entirety of Equestria, and she could not figure out one way that the mirror could accurately show her anything about herself other than her image.
Perhaps Celestia was right, and the mirror was wrong. But even so, how did it-
"Oh sorry," came a bright voice. "I didn't realize you were in here."
Sunset looked up and saw Cadence standing by the doorway apprehensively. "Well, I am," she replied icily, glaring at the alicorn for a moment before sighing. "But what does that matter? You're a Princess now, just sit and eat wherever you want. Don't mind little old me." The unicorn levitated a peach over from a nearby bowl and bit into it, returning her gaze to the book in front of her.
"Oh, uh, okay," replied Cadence sounding confused by the strange, almost dejected behavior. She walked over to the other end of the table, and one of the kitchen staff quickly came out to ask what she wanted to eat.
The unicorn paid little attention to her presence, choosing instead to continue her futile efforts in finding an answer. However, her studies didn't last long before Cadence spoke again.
"So, what are you reading?"
Her head rose in an angry glare. "I don't see how that concerns you," Sunset replied curtly, attempting to end the conversation.
Cadence started at the harsh reply. "Oh, sorry," she apologized.
Sunset glared back down at the book, but found it suddenly hard to concentrate. Her chest felt tight, almost as if she felt... bad? The unicorn internally groaned. This is why she had been avoiding Cadence. The alicorn made her feel weird lately, almost every single time they interacted with each other. Sunset did not know what it was, but she hated it.
She shook the feeling from her head, and instead picked up a small mirror she had brought with her for testing. Sunset lit her horn and examined it, her spell allowing her to see any magical power it was emitting.
The staff exited the kitchen again, a tray of food held aloft in their magical grasp. "Oh, thank you," said Cadence. "Could you possibly bring it to my room, please?" The staff nodded silently, and headed for the door. The alicorn stood, and paused before leaving. "Um, I'm gonna go now. Bye, Sunset." Then she turned and followed.
Sunset lifted her gaze to watch her leave, a sudden urge to ask her not to rising in her throat, before her eyes widened. Her spell was still active, and she could see Cadence pulsing with a faint blue glow. As the door closed behind her, the urge suddenly faded away, and Sunset dropped the mirror in shock, the object clattering to the table.
It all suddenly made sense. Why she felt bad about bullying Cadence, the strange feelings she had been having. Cadence, the so-called Princess of Love, had been using her magic on her. Cadence was manipulating Sunset's feelings to try and get her to like her.
A small part of Sunset felt flattered that the alicorn was going to such lengths to try and get her attention, but she quickly attributed that thought to the manipulation. The greater part of her was furious that any pony had the gall to dare try and manipulate her thoughts. Oh, Cadence had made a fatal mistake, and Sunset would waste no time in exposing it.
Tonight would be perfect. Celestia had been wanting her to join the two of them at dinner for some time now, and Sunset was going to finally accept that invitation. She would show Celestia just what Cadence was doing, and maybe that daft old alicorn would come to her senses.
Sunset quickly gathered her things and placed them into her saddlebag. There were things to be done, and schemes to plan. By the end of this night, she would finally be heard.
Her arrival at dinner was a surprise to the other two. Neither Celestia nor Cadence had expected Sunset to accept their invitation, but it seemed to be a pleasant surprise nonetheless. They enjoyed most of their dinner with small talk that Sunset neglected to participate in, but she still butted in here and there. It would seem odd if she didn't, and the unicorn wanted to maintain the ruse until her big reveal.
Finally, it was time for desert, and Sunset decided to make her move just as they were all taking the first bites of their sweet cake. "So, Cadence," she began, drawing everypony's attention. "What exactly do you do as the Princess of Love?"
The pink alicorn's face perked up with pleasant surprise. "Oh, well, I'm afraid I don't do much right now," she said. "But eventually, I will be using my magic to keep ponies happy!"
"By making them love each other?" Sunset questioned.
Cadence giggled, a sound that both infuriated Sunset and sent another wave of conflicting emotion over her. "Well, kinda. Princess Celestia says that my magic is unusually strong in emotional bonds. I should be able to use my power to help ponies stay in love, or strengthen the love they already have," she explained with a smile.
Sunset raised an eyebrow. "So, you don't have this power yet?"
This time it was Celestia who replied. "Of course she has the power, Sunset," she answered. "It is now just a question of her honing it and training it."
Cadence's smile fell a little bit as she added, "Yeah, I have no idea how to use it."
Bingo! A predatory smile suddenly came over Sunset's face. "Are you sure about that?" she asked. Cadence looked at Sunset questioningly, while Celestia's eyebrows raised, wondering where exactly her student was going with this.
"What do you mean?"
Sunset took the last bite of her cake before continuing, placing the fork gently down on the side of her dish. "I'm just saying I know what you're doing," she said smugly. "You did a great job hiding it, but you couldn't get it by me forever!"
The look of confusion on the other two only increased. Their denial was starting piss her off, and she rose from her chair. "Oh come on, you've been caught!" she cried. "Stop acting all innocent, I know what you're doing!"
"And what is it that she is doing?" asked Celestia, doing her best to try and figure out what Sunset was talking about, and hopefully calm her down.
The unicorn leveled a hoof at Cadence in accusation. "She's been manipulating me with her love magic every since she got here!" she cried. "I don't know why, or what her end goal is, but shes lying to us! She knows how to use her magic and she has been!"
Cadence's mouth dropped open, and she went to possibly speak up, but Sunset cut her off. "I couldn't figure out what all these strange feelings were, but today I caught you! I was casting an arcane reveal spell just as you used your manipulation tactics on me!"
What was your end goal, hm?" questioned Sunset, placing her front hooves up on the table. "Were you trying to get me to do whatever you wanted? Trying to get me to fall helplessly in love with you to server your every whim?" She glared down the table at Cadence, her mouth turning up into a snarl. "Or did you just want a quick romp with me because you're just the slutty Princess of Sex?!"
"Sunset Shimmer!" bellowed Celestia, having had enough her student's angry rant. The archaic volume of the royal Canterlot voice echoed in the dining room, making everypony in the room flinch. Sunset Shimmer fall silent as well, however the unicorn didn't move from her pose, still staring down Cadence in anger.
"You are not to brazenly accuse or insult any pony in this castle, is that clear?" Sunset Shimmer glanced at Celestia and gave a noncommittal nod. "I said is that clear?!"
"Yes, Princess," she mumbled, lowering her head to face the floor.
"Good," affirmed Celestia. "Now go back to your quarters at once. I do not wish to see you until your lesson next week."
Sunset Shimmer sighed in exasperation and turned tail, quickly making her way out of the dining room. Celestia stood menacingly for a few more moments in case she came back, but she did not.
"Princess," Cadence finally spoke, a tinge of worry in her voice. The alabaster alicorn looked down at her, her stance softening and nodding for Cadence to continue. "What if she is right? What if I really am manipulating her? What if... what if I can't control my power?" the pink pony asked frantically, the possibility of her actually doing what Sunset accused her of scaring her.
Celestia paused for a moment, before responding. "It is not impossible, Cadence. However I highly doubt it." The statement did not seem to reassure the young alicorn at all. "If it makes you feel better, we'll keep an eye on it." Her hoof found its way to Cadence's back, but the motion did little to make her feel any better.
"Sunset Shimmer is angry, and is grasping at straws," Celestia said softly. "She needs to calm down and accept this situation." She removed her hoof and returned to her seat.
Cadence remained standing, staring at the doorway Sunset had left through. She could not shake the nagging feeling that Sunset Shimmer might be right, and the prospect of not being in control frightened her. It frightened her a lot.