The magic lesson's Sunset Shimmer could see the value of, but why had so much time been spent on studying philosophy and rhetoric. Learning the arts of speech making and persuasion, how to shape opinion and gain support. Did Celestia plan for her to be a powerful unicorn or a mere politician, endlessly campaigning for support amongst the masses? What would be the point? Everyone knew there was only on ruler of Equestria, and there would be no support for any silly enough to challenge that.
There was no way of shaking the feeling that there was a master plane, and nursing a growing fear that she was viewed as a pawn. She couldn't see the board or the other pieces on it, but knew that at some point Celestia would guide her into place. Would she be a simple sacrifice or a queen's gambit? Whatever happened, she felt that her safety wasn't the highest priority in this game and had to escape somehow before she was played.
It was hard to contemplate trotting away from Celestia's magic school though. This was the conduit to everything Sunset Shimmer desired. The prestige of being a pupil here was lovely to bask in, but what was truly making it hardest to leave was the promise of power. Such unequalled potential to bend the world to her will, either by force or status. Already it seemed the other ponies were deferential towards her and she was just a student.
No matter what track she chose, her infuriating mentor refused to engage when Sunset tried to speak of the future. It was as if, beyond a specific time, there was no further interest in what happened to her. Sunset didn't wish to arrive at that moment on another pony's terms. She knew that she could attain greatness and take her rightful place amongst the greatest that Equestria had ever known, all she needed was for Princess Celestia to stop holding her down.
If the princess wouldn't get out of the way then Sunset would need to find a way to sweep her aside. It seemed impossible that a unicorn, no matter how skilled and powerful, would have the strength to overcome an alicorn. To complicate things further Celestia couldn't be destroyed, as she would still have to perform her role in the raising and setting of the sun. The princess would have to be enslaved, which seemed an impossible task.
Sunset did have a plan though, or at least she had the beginning seeds of one. A chance discovery deep in the royal archive hinted at a destiny that could be of Sunset's own choosing instead of something preordained by another. If Celestia was aware of this ancient text she had given no indication of it, and Sunset had no intention of sharing what she knew.
Heart beating fast, Sunset scrambled with her notes. An uncatalogued prophecy of Clover the Clever was hidden within, one that she had kept secret from the moment she found it. Incredible as it seemed, it appeared to address her directly with a dire warning. The text referred to it as the third prophecy: the first warned of a terrible event and the second was lost, but this one was direct and spoke to Sunset's heart. And her ambition.
"Oh, pony of dusk, heed my word,
And listen well to what I heard.
For in thy heart, there burns a flame,
But beware, for it will lead to shame.
Thou art a student of great power,
But in thy quest, be not devoured.
The Princess of Day guides, it may seem,
But beware, for 'tis but a dream.
She seeks to mould thee to her will,
To shape thy power, and bend it still.
But take care, lest thou become,
A puppet on a string, a lifeless one.
Escape through the mirror, turn pony to girl,
And that tight grasp, thou shalt unfurl.
For in the land beyond, a new destiny,
And the power to shape thine own legacy.
Follow the light that shines within,
And let thy heart be the guide therein.
For in the end, the power is thine,
To break free, and let thy spirit shine.
Seek out a new kingdom, to call thy own,
Rule with kindness, or let power be shown.
For in the end, the choice is thine,
Find a new world, and you will shine."
From what she understood, she was certain that the oddly shimmering mirror in the royal archive that she'd briefly gazed into was some kind of doorway or portal, although to which distant corner of Equestria she had no idea. Perhaps it led to some land beyond the border of the Princess's control. She'd seen… something. It was dark and clouded with oddly proportioned figures, but the face looking back at her was undoubtedly her own, only it wasn't too. The orange and red mane and teal eyes were hers. Those eyes though, were both chilling and captivating. They seemed so piercing, so measured. So utterly in command of all they saw, holding the promise of a greater life than being Celestia's pupil. The means to be her equal, or even master.
With a manic grin, Sunset held the ancient manuscript to a candle's flame. As the paper burst into a brief but brilliant flame she felt the thrill of such wanton destruction of an irreplaceable artifact. Only she now knew the message it had contained, which meant that nopony would be warned about what might happen, especially her Mentor.
She had to find out more though, and fortunately there was just the place to find it. The Dark Magic section of the library was off limits to students of the school, but what was the use of books that weren't read? The certainty with which she felt this was where she'd find her answers overwhelmed her fear of the consequences. Sunset threw on a dark cloak and slipped out of her chamber before doubt, or good sense, could stop her.