Shadowed Searching
Sunset Shimmer
Popping once more into existence in the darkened depths of the dungeons of the castle was a rather interesting experience. Not one that I would want to have to happen again, but an eventful experience nonetheless. I mused to myself as I burned away the rather large spider web I had managed to get tangled in. It appears that since the last time I had come down into the dungeons that a family of spiders had now laid claim to this forgotten domain. Watching the pitiful wilting of the web as the flames traveled farther I could see the denizens attempting to flee.
Yet I knew that my flame grew far faster than they could hope to flee. It was a futile struggle yet I watched as the colony attempted to defy the fate I had set upon them. The largest spider, the matriarch I hypothesized, was taking care to collect its spawn. Instead of fleeing the flames and guaranteeing its survival, it braved the flames to protect its young. It could have easily jumped out of the silken nest and spun a new home, yet for the sake of the youngling it stayed. I tilted my head as the flames crept closer to the family of arachnids.
I smothered the flames and quickly was on my way, deeper into the depths of the Canterlot dungeons. Leaving behind the startled family to swarm over the remains of their home. I kept my gaze steady as I ran through various spells to pierce illusions, find secrets, and of course, see what had been hidden. I spent a fair few hours scouring the darkened depths of the dungeons for any sort of hidden stash of relics. Finding little I ran my temporal spell and froze. It was nearly sunset. I instantly ported back to my room. Sighing in relief as I glanced through my window and saw the sunset. I hadn't missed it. That was good. I would rather not have broken my promise again so early.
Watching my namesake I relaxed into the few rays of light that still came piercing from the celestial body. The sun was as perfect as always, performing its duties as commanded. Not faltering nor failing, as it provided warmth to all of the ponies who embraced its touch. Much like the Princess who guided it, the warmth was given to every pony who wished for it. I put one of my hoofs on the glass pane of the window. I could faintly see the outline of a larger ponies hoof next to mine. Colored white with golden casings.
How simpler those times were when I was able to perform like the sun. Ignoring the phantom hoof I continued to watch as the sun was swallowed by the darkness of the night. The moon in its full entirety, revealing the Mare on the moon. Looking out on the once golden land now covered in stilled shadows, I could see the shades once more beginning to form. Like most nights I had no interest in the tormentors that hid in the dreaming depths, yet tonight I had bountiful reason to flee from their grasps.
Finding a relic or something similar to allow ascension was far more important than receiving a full night of terrors. I would be exhausted but unlike the other denizens of the castle, my reputation was already torn and bloodied. I wouldn't have to deal with the parasite's deceit, nor Princess Celestia’s fake care. My plan was cemented as I yawned out once more, embracing the chill that had grown over the glass.
I looked towards my hoof on the chill glass vainly hoping that the phantom hoof was still there. I only saw my hoof against the glass, no sign of the white hoof that I hoped for. Sighing I removed my hoof and watched as the reflection in the window shimmered. Instead of my amber hoof in the window was instead a charcoal black hoof that came to a pointed end. Frowning I moved my hoof, as I watched the blackened reflection do the same. I must be more tired than I thought. Glancing towards my bed I shuddered. It would be a far easier night to go relic hunting than fitfully resting.
Ignoring the reflection I turned and exited my room. Closing the door behind me I watched as the shadows quickly grew within my domain as the door closed. Leaving my domain in the darkness I contemplated locking my door, as the parasite knew where I rested. It would be prudent to at least deter the creature. However, the parasite was an alicorn, which alone meant that if it wanted to get inside my room it could.
Deciding against locking the door and leaving another promise unbroken for the time being. I made my way down the darkness-filled halls of the castle. Spinning together my invisibility spell to avoid any of the night patrols. Those ponies would undoubtedly report back to Princess Celestia that I was once more skulking about in the night. It would be an unneeded complication in an already complex scenario, so best to avoid the gleaming guards. Not as if they were true of any importance now that there was a second alicorn within the castle walls.
The pointless expenditure of the crown aside I continued my trot, shrouded in both magic and darkness. Coming across a few guards in their polished armor that was easy enough to evade. When I ascended I would have to retrain the guard. It was pitifully easy to avoid them. If they couldn’t even work as an early alarm system what use were they? None of the unicorns had cast any illusion-revealing spells, not that they would work on my version of the common spell. The Pegasus was content to forget they had wings and simply trotted alongside the flightless ponies. The earth ponies at least we're keeping their eyes on a swivel, unfortunately for them, I was invisible.
There truly were several failings throughout the guard but I was not going to alert Princess Celestia how easily her most elite were evaded. Perhaps one day, but that day was long off. Deciding to stop giving numerous failing grades to the ponies that swore to uphold the law and protect the crown, I made my way toward the kitchens. I had skipped dinner after all. I was already going to be tired tomorrow. I would prefer not to suffer from ravenous hunger as well. Arriving at the kitchen, only having to evade two more patrols, I slipped between the doors.
They had been left open; perhaps Ramse had an emergency? I knew that he preferred to have his kitchen spotless before he began to cook. This in turn led him to be the only pony that he trusted to clean the royal kitchens. I could remember when Celestia and I had snuck down for a late-night snack. The next morning breakfast was late and when summoned to explain, the earth pony stared down Celestia and explained that he had to clean the kitchen. I can only chuckle at the face the solar monarch had made at the statement. That had been one of the last good memories between myself and Princess Celestia.
“Who’s there?” a pony whispered out from further in the kitchen. Immediately I went silent and checked my invisibility. Still active. “I know you out there, you may as well come out.” It only took the second statement for my blood to begin to heat as I recognized the parasite's voice. Of course, I would encounter the damnable creature. Why wouldn't I, it's not as if I deserved anything more. The mental tirade would have continued, but the pink creature had trotted into view.
It was holding a candle with the tips of its wings. The tri-colored mane jostled as the creature's head swiveled. Its pink eyes narrowed and searched for its newest prey. I however would not be so easily caught. My beating heart stilling as I stopped moving. I kept my eyes on the parasite. It was unlikely to be able to find me without the use of magics I knew that it didn’t have. Unless it had hidden its talents to have an advantage in the future.
That seemed unlikely but was still a possibility. Silently I watched the parasite slowly trotting forward, its eyes focused on the door behind me. The creature was taking barely half a hoof step at once. The head was on a slight swivel causing its mane to slowly move in turn. I narrowed my eyes as the creature frowned and set down the candle. Why was it putting the only source of its light down?
“If this is a prank this is not a funny one.” The parasite called out with broken steel in its voice. I didn’t need the slight warble of its voice for the creature pathetically shivered as it spoke. Is an Alicorn afraid of the dark? I was half tempted to give the worm in front of me a reason to be afraid. Perhaps I could give a reminder on how to properly wield flames. I smiled at the thought of chasing the parasite before me through the castle with my flames nipping at its tail. It would be an therapeutic and enlightening experience.
I would be able to burn the Tartarus damned parasite, non-lethally of course, showing it to its proper place. I would also be able to figure out plenty of things as the burned and broken alicorn healed that would no doubt set me further ahead on my ascension. Truly what was the reason again why I hadn't charbroiled the parasite? Oh yes, Princess Celestia and the following smiting by the only deity of the sun. Even being flame-proof I knew from watching Princess Celestia defend Equestria from its would-be attackers. I had no interest in being flattened by a mountain thank you.
The parasite had stopped shivering and was now staring behind me. Turning my head around slightly there was nothing behind me. Was the parasite broken? The flickering light from the candle showed it folding its wings back. This made no sense. What if I was an attacker? I know that her earth pony strength would be more than enough for most foes, but she would no doubt have much more experience with her wings. She had been born with them after all. What was going through her head?
She knew nothing of controlling her new magics. Her increased strength was unrefined, but her wings were a tool that she had lived with for her entire existence. Even with the ascension giving a boost to the innate Pegasus within her, she would still have the training that had been given to her. Instead, she sheathed her most valuable defense in front of a possible foe. Did it not care that I could be an assassin seeking to sever her pink eyes from her skull? That I could have easily been a pony that would have meant her harm?
I could only stare at the pink alicorn in front of my own eyes. Watching as a small smile flickered onto her face. Her pink eyes gained the captivating glint once more as she once more broke the silence.
“Sunset?” As she said my name her smile grew. Her face lit up in turn, not from the candle, the flames were barely enough to shroud her form in light. Suns-. I instantly ran through a teleportation spell that deposited me into the royal library. My concentration shattered on the spell that had been my cloak this entire journey as I panted. How had she known who I was? Did I drop my spell? No.
Perhaps she recognized my scent? Unlikely as we had not had that many encounters, but was something to account for in the future. She couldn’t have seen through my shroud of invisibility. She had not performed any spells to reveal my hidden form. Then how had she known? She couldn’t have seen through my spell? That was impossible. Even for an Alicorn…
“Tartarus damn it all into flames.” I couldn’t help but shout. If she saw through my spell that meant Cele- Princess Celestia had been able to see through it all this time. I could feel how the ever-present heat that was pulsing within, quickly turned frigid. All of the times I had used the spell to escape from the Princess's notice, she had let me go. I knew that at times she had cast the counter spell and had prevented me from sneaking off. I had thought those simply had been the times she had noticed me before I had completely hidden. It turns out that those were simply the times she decided not to continue to treat me like I was still a damned foal. That the only reason I could get anything past her was due to her turning her all-seeing gaze.
I would prove that I didn’t need her anymore. I hadn't needed her for years. She had made clear that the feeling was mutual. Yet she still dared to treat me as a foal. What was worse I hadn’t even noticed? So giddy that I had managed to get one over the celestial goddess, that I hadn’t seen this for the trick it was. I had played into her hooves once again. It was only thanks to the parasite who was replacing me that I had finally caught on.
“You messed up Princess!” I snarled out into the darkness of the library. With one shaking hoof I propped myself up. “You didn’t inform your newest toy of your game and now it's been spoiled.” I continued my voice growing louder and louder. I commanded a surge of magic inwards to burn away the ice that had been running through my veins. Searing it away with a fresh gout of molten rage. “I wouldn't want you to blame your shiny new [Alicorn, however. After all, that's her, the upgrade isn't she? So much better than the broken one you had.”
After shouting into the void before me I could only gasp. Catching the fleeting gasps of breath so that I wouldn't pass out. Once more be woken up by the fearful eyes of the library ponies. Who would often flinch away in fear? It mattered not that I hadn't burned the library in years. They still told tales of one of my most public failures. Those ponies who still worked within the royal library repeated the tale, the fear was still spread.
With the other murmurs being spread throughout Canterlot by those who did not see my value. Painting me as a monster, a demon, that Princess Celestia had to take in and rehabilitate. Otherwise, the inferno would consume both it and the ponies around it. When I had first heard of that particular rumor I had put forth far more effort to fireproof myself. Succeeding of course had simply altered the rumors course for the worse.
I would show those fools that I was not to be trifled with. That I was not to be mocked. That I was not to be the plaything of Blueblood or his noble brethren. Not to be replaced by the shiny pink pony that had managed to get a horn. That I was not going to be forgotten by the only pony who mattered in this world.
I would show them all. Blueblood would learn that I was more than a pity piece that Princess Celestia picked up. The newest Alicorn would be forced to understand that it could not easily replace me. I would show her, Princess Celestia herself, that even if I am not good enough for her, I am Sunset Shimmer. That I needed no pony else. Not friends nor family, I had made it this far without either. I would not need them in the future. Only I alone could etch my name into history so that no matter how hard Celestia scrubs it. I will remain.
With that singular thought rampaging through my head. I forced myself up, ignoring the blurred world of books. I smashed a hoof into my face to wipe away the meager liquid from my view. Ignoring the stinging and the taste of iron that seeped into my mouth. I trotted through the library with purpose. Ignoring the many tomes that filled the grand room, taking no notice of the illustrious tapestries that hung. No, I only regained proper clarity when I was standing in front of an obsidian slab-shaped door.
Through this sheer piece of obsidian were the hidden books that Princess Celestia herself had deemed inappropriate for the masses. Books of magic dark and horrid, that if used could spill the blood of countless ponies. I of course had been coming here for a little over four years. Ever since the moment that I truly knew Princess Celestia and I was but a student and teacher. Nothing more.
Shielded by the Alicorn of the sun herself, for the average pony an impossible hurdle to open the treasure trove. However, I was taught since I could first remember by the sun herself. Watching and learning from her every action. Picking up everything that I could, even the things the celestial goddess would have preferred me not to learn. After all, who else but someone that had been stuck to the solar ponies side for her entire foal hood not takes after her, to beat her, to beat her at the game she had started?
This door was but a single example of this as my eyes burned black, the formation of putrid black and green crystals ripped through the obsidian. It made no sound thanks to the silencing charm I had prepared in advance, as I stepped through the now obliterated piece of enchanted obsidian. I could not break her enchantments directly, but that did not stop me from shattering what they were laid upon.
Even an immortal goddess makes mistakes and for the last 15 years, she sure had been making a number of them. I was all too happy to capitalize on her mistakes, as after all, I was her greatest one. Once more my will burned into the reality before me as the shattered shards of obsidian flew together. Reforming the door that I had demolished before it was positioned back in its proper place.
Leaving me in the restricted section of the library. The bastardized version of the night vision spell that had been cast long ago was not sufficient so I ended it completely shrouding myself in darkness. I instead took out a singular faerie light that I had made long ago and forced it awake. It stuttered and initially started dim, but after it had feasted on the food I was continually feeding it, its light grew.
With the growth of the light, I could once more see the restricted section for all its glory. Tomes, scrolls, and tapestries depicting various dark methods were carefully preserved in this hidden vault. Not heretical enough to be burned yet, dangerous enough to be forgotten. Princess Celestia was the only pony supposed to be able to enter this room. All this forbidden knowledge for her perusal. It truly was a waste of progress to have all of this lost to the ages, protected, and kept hidden from those who would wield it.
I couldn’t help but snort as I began my search for a process to ascend to Alicornhood. Picking up a wriggling tome that had no title I flipped it open to the yellowed pages that were contained within. Ignoring the writhing of the cover made of flesh I began my search for a path to ascension. I was no longer the filly that would bow to Princess Celestia’s every will. Those days had long passed to never return.
I spent my night there in the hidden vault, the only light provided by the flickering light of the faerie. Scouring heretical passages, recounts of terror, how to perform ritual sacrifices, and more. Yet the knowledge I sought was nowhere to be found. The closest I had found was being able to bind my soul to an anchor. However, that would prove useless to me if the anchor would be shattered. Truly for all the depravities gleefully performed by these numerous masters of the shadowed arts no one had discovered a path to Alicornhood?
I shook the thought from my head, as once more a yawn threatened to spill from my mouth. It would be unlikely for any pony to ascend to alicornhood and not have the entirety of Equestria hear of such matters. Especially one that would do so despite Princess Celestia. I would be the first to burn my way to ascension. Perhaps I would someday allow my research to fall into the hands of some other speculative young Unicorns. That would incite Princess Celestia’s fury like no other, the vaunted immortality and power she had control over. No longer hers alone to dole out.
A possibility for the far future as I was no closer to my ascension, and as always if anything was to change I would need to do it myself. I dove with zeal back into the awaiting nights of magic before me, unwilling to leave a single page untouched. No matter the horrors that were wrought, the bargains with demons, even if I had to tear my soul asunder I would ascend. I would not be forgotten by Princess Celestia. Not again. Not ever.
My pursuit of the lost knowledge did not stop until my physical hunger could no longer be filled with the metaphysical. It was only then that I restored the room to its initial state. Ignoring the pangs from my stomach I took one more long look throughout the room to ensure that I would not be caught. Everything but a singular tapestry was in its correct position.
I frowned as I didn’t recall touching that particular work of cloth. Trotting towards the linen mastery I once more fed more fuel into the faerie light. Frowning as the shadows that covered the tapestry refused to be smothered by the faint light. Instead, they danced over the delicate work of art. In the faint light that was nearly swallowed by the dark, I took in the tapestry.
It depicted a blackened Alicorn with large bat wings, fangs depicted coming from a cruel smirk upon its face, and fit in elegant form-fitting armor. The Alicorn was a creature of shadows. No, that was wrong. I knew naught how I realized but this Alicorn was a creature of darkness, not shadow. Inspired realizations aside, the Alicorn stood alone and proud in the darkness of the night enshrouding its very form. It needed not the accompaniment of any pony nor the warmth from their love.
This was not all that was depicted in this grand tapestry, what I was looking at was the middle. The tale is only halfway done with no conclusion in sight, I however looked towards the beginning and I could easily guess how this particular Alicorn’s tale will end. My eyes flicked over to the beginning of the tapestry and snorted.
What a waste of space for this old foal tale to be stored within these walls. I hadn’t recognized the Alicorn as Nightmare Moon initially but I could tell from the tapestry that this was another retelling of the Tale of the Two Sisters. I had been reading this story since before I could remember. Of all the fables Princess Celestia had read to me this one couldn’t help but stand out, as I can only recall her ever telling me it once. Even back then I prided myself on being able to understand the solar immortal and after I heard the pain in her voice I no longer asked her about this tale.
My eyes crept back to reality, beginning to look for alterations in the tale. If this version of the fable was within this hidden portion of the library and not outside that must mean something. Adding the fact that the tale impacted Princess Celestia so, proves that this version is dangerous. Within that danger, I may be able to figure out how the two sisters ascended. With that thought in mind, I began to read through the tale once more.
Once, twice, thrice, I had read through it noting no difference. The major story portions were completely the same just with a different art style that was far more realistic. If the tale is the same in this version it wouldn't explain why this particular retelling has been locked away with the other freely told. Princess Celestia would have simply banned the tale and not allowed it to continue being printed, eventually, she would have erased it. After all, she had plenty of time.
Frowning, looking once more at the tapestry, instead of looking at the foreground of the tapestry I instead looked at the background scenery. That was where I found the difference, a single different depiction of a singular scene. That was enough to get this tapestry hidden under lock and key. The elder of the two sisters was seeking the younger to see reason, not on a cloud as the picture books showed but in front of an elegant castle.
My body convulsed slightly as I broke into a smiling mess, I had figured out why this particular tapestry had been hidden. Probably. Either way, it was something to work towards. Finding this particular castle. It would allow me to escape the piercing gaze of the two Alicorns within Canterlot’s castle. Especially with what the newest Alicorn had accidentally given away, it would be prudent to avoid doing anything suspicious within these walls. That unfortunately included searching for Princess Celestia's hidden stash of relics.
Allowing the remnants of my joy to die away as I began to plan for my journey. I would of course need to figure out what castle it possibly could be. Off the top of my head, only a few nobles still held castles that had been in their families for generations at this point. Unfortunately, Blueblood was one of such nobles. It would be rather annoying if the secret to Alicornhood was something that he had been planting his plot upon this entire time. I was getting ahead of myself. I needed to make preparations before I could leave.
Getting a believable excuse that would work even if Princess Celestia decided to look into it. I could perhaps claim to go relic hunting. That would work especially since I knew that I could always loop back into my hideaway and grab a relic or two. My current job as the parasite's mystical teacher would be a little more annoying to prepare for. However, it needed to be done. I would simply have to prepare an extended curriculum for it to go through. It was not as if it were not an Alicorn within the walls of Canterlot Castle, it was plenty safe for the moment.
It seemed that there would be several sleepless nights ahead of me. Oh well. That was an easy payment for potential Alicornhood and one that I would gladly pay many times over. Better get started then I thought as I teleported back to my room. Looking through my still thankfully darkened room I couldn’t help but imagine the power that would soon be mine. The wings however would be a learning experience, but I was willing to learn.
I quickly began my work grabbing various maps together before laying them over my desk. I had a rough outline of Equestria but the finer details outside of the major settlements were unlikely to be 100% accurate. It would have to be enough. It would be enough and if it wasn’t I had crossed out another possible avenue toward my ascension. That would be one less place to look in the future.
Marking down the three castles and where they each were located, ignoring Canterlot Castle, I basked in the warm glow of the dawn for a moment. Before I made my way quickly back to the library, maps and notes were encased in my magic grasp. I knew that I would spend days pouring over the many ancient and new maps that had been stored within its walls. Ignoring the strain I felt throughout my body I pushed forth.
Making it back to the library's doors pushing them open, ignoring the glare of the librarians, and making my way toward where I knew the maps to be. Pulling the various preserved pictures out before comparing them to my current ones was a taxing process, one that took the entirety of the day. Thankfully however my time was well spent as I uncovered two more potential locations for the particular castle I was looking for.
The first appeared to be in the middle of the San Palomino Desert. That would have to be the last location to be checked as I would have to hire guides and spend countless days scouring the desert for the ruins. The second was thankfully in the middle of the Everfree Forest which was much closer. It even had a small town situated next to it. That would make restocking easier for expeditions towards the lost castle ruins.
Alright, then that was five locations. Five chances to find a path to becoming an Alicorn. I felt my blood quicken within my body as I stashed away the maps into their proper places. It wouldn't do any good to tip off the Alicorn of the sun because I was lazy. Hmm, that brought up the next step preparing the lesson plans for the youngest Alicorn. Well, no time like today. I didn’t allow myself to yawn as I forced myself deeper into the library, I had an alicorn to teach.