//------------------------------//
// 1 - Sight 
// Story: First Hoof Account 
// by TCC56 
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Niece.

That lemon juice word roiled through Sunset Shimmer, curdling every emotion it came in contact with.

Not that there was anything sour about the cotton-candy filly in front of her - gawky and gangly, bashful and hopeful, lost and lonely - but that one word from Celestia made Sunset want to vomit. Like a pile of iron filings, the magnetic word had every iota of Sunset's being drawn towards this Cadance with a singular hatred.

Of course, Princess Celestia smiled blithely, missing the entire thing.

The younger alicorn - alicorn! - was more cognizant of Sunset's incredulous glare, eyes downcast and clumsily trying to hide within herself rather than face the withering hate that poured from Sunset.

Celestia kept talking, explaining Cadance's circumstances and background, but Sunset wasn't listening. (Actively, at least - she'd long since learned how to listen and file away information while her concentration was elsewhere. It wouldn't do to miss key points, but planning also required time and there were always adaptations that had to be done on the fly.) While Celestia proceeded with the gormless introduction, Sunset's mind was set to other things. More important things. It was already obvious how Cadance had been gifted everything Sunset had ever wanted - the smile on Celestia's face as she blathered filled in the lines between the words. Here was a nopony from nowhere who had earned nothing, and Celestia loved her. She'd made the nopony an alicorn and a princess and family in the span of hours after discovering her. Meanwhile Sunset's years of work still left her relegated to 'my brilliant student'; still had her alone at night; still kept her on the outside.

Silently, Sunset searched for a word stronger than hate.

Cadance's wide eyes kept flicking back to Sunset when she thought the unicorn wasn't paying attention, searching to try and find an emotion on the unicorn's face that matched the aura of rage. There was none, because years of being Celestia's student had taught Sunset well in hiding her frustrations and anger. And without those, she felt nothing.

"--And then she became an alicorn!"

Sunset's attention snapped back when Celestia said those words. "Became?" The brilliant student's light focused to a laser. "You're saying you didn't make her one?"

"Harmony made her one," solemnly intoned Princess Celestia in the most sickening way possible.

She'd caught it, though. That first 'became' instead of 'made' changed everything. It told where the power lay, and that was always something that grabbed Sunset's interest. Celestia hadn't made the alicorn - Cadance had made herself one.

The Princess continued on as if nothing of importance had happened, but Sunset knew better. Celestia had made a mistake - she'd let slip crucial information by accident and was trying to pretend it was inconsequential. But it had been said, and Sunset's mind was already working overtime with it.

It was possible to become an alicorn without Celestia's aid or permission. Which in turn meant that Sunset could become one even though Celestia kept refusing her. Sunset didn't need Celestia anymore - not if she found out how Cadance did it.

She didn't need Celestia.

Those four words rocked Sunset's world, her head swimming with how much of her life that changed. Years of assumptions flipped on their ear in an instant.

Princess Celestia didn't notice. As usual.

"--So I'm hoping that the two of you will be able to help each other," blathered the Princess. "I think that together, each of you can compliment the other's strengths. Don't you agree, Sunset?"

"...Yes." Sunset hesitated because Celestia would have expected her to hesitate. If she was too eager, Celestia would realize something was up. Sunset couldn't allow that - not when she finally had an opening. Now was the time to play things conservatively and avoid revealing what she knew.

She might not need Celestia, but that didn't mean Celestia couldn't be an obstacle.

Still, Sunset couldn't help but smile, even if it was mostly to herself. "Yes, Princess Celestia. I understand. I'm sure that she's got a lot to offer me."





Dinner that evening was a fine something something with a side of whatever, Sunset didn't really care. It was tasty enough, but her mind was elsewhere. Sustenance was taken in while she hawkishly watched every move that Cadance made. (Sunset would not associate the title with that pink moron. She'd sooner watch Discord bowl with the moon than think it.)

Observing Cadance's movements throughout the meal was enlightening - for starters it was obvious she had no idea how to behave in polite company. Half the time she didn't even look at a pony when she was being spoken to, instead quietly staring at her plate. She was also a pegasus for certain, as a simple request to pass the salt had her rudely reaching with a wing rather than her magic like any sensible unicorn would.

But most enlightening was how every time Sunset spoke - even to ask for the salt - Cadance flinched. Just being in the same room as each other for two hours and barely exchanging words had already instilled fear into the pink pretender.

All Sunset needed was an opening where they were alone and Cadance would fold. Sunset would have her answers in mere minutes.

Meekly, Cadance pushed her chair back. "Um, I need to use the filly's room, please. Maybe could somepony--"

Sunset's chair scraped as it flew backwards. "I'll show her." Celestia's questioning eyebrow was met by Sunset's indifferent shrug. "The faster she gets back, the faster we have dessert." It was a weak excuse, but Celestia was dumb enough to buy it. A nod giving them both leave - and Sunset had her opening.

No words were exchanged for two hallways worth of trotting - Sunset to get out of Celestia's earshot and Cadance out of apparent fear for her companion. Their first direct exchange, in fact, was Sunset motioning at the door. "In here." Then she stood back with amusement as Cadance fumbled at the knob with her wing.

Sunset bided her time until she was certain Cadance was fully occupied before leaning against the door to prevent escape. There was no chance Cadance knew how to teleport, so it was the only way out. "So," she drawled to her trapped prey, "We should get to know each other, shouldn't we."

Hesitation. Cadance's first response was a dull croak before she cleared her throat. "I, um, yes? I--I guess we should?"

"You're Princess Celestia's new pet project." Sunset put extra emphasis on 'pet'. "Did she tell you yet what she wants to do with you?"

The barb must have dug deep, as Cadance's reply was slow. "No? She was just crying a lot when she found me. Happy tears!" The clarification was fast - almost panicked. "We talked a bit, but most of what she said is that she needed to teach me how to be a princess."

Sunset had to put effort into not gagging. "And just what does that entail? Hm?"

"Well, magic for one." That part was eager to Cadance's lips - and something Sunset could understand. The prospect of having true magic was a dream for most feather-heads, so why wouldn't she be excited? "And some lessons about government and history. Oh! And etiquette."

Unable to hold herself back entirely, Sunset snorted. "Yeah, you could obviously use those."

The strike drove Cadance to sullen silence again.

With a sigh more internal than aloud, Sunset pushed to get her talking again. "Besides the magic and the etiquette, is she setting you up for any other classes? Like basic math or literacy? I'm sure that whatever backwater you're from doesn't have the same kind of education you get here in Canterlot."

"Um, Florentina. That's the name of the village I'm from."

Sunset scowled. "Yeah, sure, not the question I asked."

On the other side of the door, Cadance audibly cringed. "Sorry. I-- She didn't mention anything about that. Maybe I'll have to? I don't know. I thought I was okay with maths but you're right. This is Canterlot." Her voice hitched. "I'm in Canterlot. I'm in the Palace." Awe crept in. "This is really happening, isn't it?"

"What, you thought this was a dream?" Sunset scoffed at the door.

Behind it, Cadance was hyperventilating. "Yes? I mean, it's all so much! Two days ago I was just afraid because nopony in my village seemed to care about each other anymore! Now I'm... I'm all of this!" Her voice, rife with panic, rose to a fever pitch as she stretched out desperately for help. "Was it anything like this for you when you arrived?"

The first response was a low growl before Sunset could find her words. "My arrival was nothing like yours. I earned my way into the Palace. I got here through my blood, sweat and brains. What did you do to get here?" Maybe not the smoothest opening to the interrogation, but Cadance didn't sound like she was emotionally stable and Sunset's temper was already heating. A quick jab might be just enough to end things quickly.

"I... I don't know," Cadance admitted shakily. "I don't think what I did was this special." The doorknob rattled as she tried to open it - and found the door blocked by Sunset's weight. "Huh?"

Sunset leaned harder and clamped down on the knob with her magic. "Nuh uh. You're not going anywhere until you answer my question. One thing you need to learn about living here is that when I ask you something, you had better answer."

Just that little bit was enough to send Cadance's already ragged nerves over the edge. "I don't know! What do you want me to say? It really wasn't anything--" The door rattled uselessly as she tried to escape, pitting her feeble wings against Sunset's weight and magic. "Please, I don't understand what you want! Auntie Celestia--"

Any plan Sunset had evaporated in a burst of rage as she saw red. "Don't you dare! Don't ever EVER call her that, you pathetic little--"


"SUNSET SHIMMER."


Sunset froze as the Royal Canterlot Voice boomed from behind her.

"Just what do you think you're doing?" The Princess' question was nothing of the sort - she could see at a glance what was happening, even if she couldn't possibly know why. Her golden magic enveloped Sunset, pulling her away from the door effortlessly and freeing Cadance. The youngest alicorn came tumbling out of the bathroom as the door abruptly opened, landing in a bubblegum-colored heap at her aunt's golden horseshoes. Fell violet eyes looked first to make sure her new charge was unharmed - then turned coldly to her student. "Care to explain yourself, Sunset Shimmer?"

The two stared each other down - one The Unconquered Sun, ruler of Equestria for a thousand years, vanquisher of Discord and of the Nightmare. The other, a teenage filly with a brilliant mind, a fiery temper and an ego to match. Their eyes locked, neither willing to blink or flinch away as the temperature in the hallway started to creep higher. Then Sunset ended their battle by striking a single decisive blow.

"No."

She turned on her frog and walked away, leaving one furious Princess and a second distraught one in her wake.

It wasn't until Sunset was back in her room that her nerves caught up with her and she dropped onto her bed, shaking.