Twilight Falls, Sunset Dawns
Chapter 7
"This is a grave disappointment."
Rosen adjusted his glasses as he stared out past the river stretching before him. Twilight sighed as she looked out from behind him. At the end of the river where it crashed into a waterfall, there was a rainstorm outside. Thunder rumbled, and Twilight saw the flash of lightning. "I thought you said there wasn't a storm scheduled for today."
"There was not, at least not one that I was aware of," Rosen replied. "I had planned for us to ascend the mountain to gather atmospheric data. But, obviously we are going nowhere in this weather. We will push it back to tomorrow." He turned and ascended the stairs back to his home.
Twilight followed him. "What do we spend today doing then?"
"I had planned experiments for myself tomorrow." Rosen's voice echoed down the stairs to her ears. "You have been dutiful and obedient since you have arrived. I saw fit to reward your gracious behaviour."
"Reward?"
"Since I am switching our duties between tomorrow and today, you shall receive it now. You have the day off. Spend it however you wish: read, catch up on studies, or relax. As long as you do not leave the confines of my home or cause any trouble for me, of course."
"Thank you." Twilight welcomed the break. She had enjoyed helping Rosen with his experiments every day, but even she needed a break now and then. Back in his home, Rosen headed down the hallway to one of his labs, leaving Twilight to climb the stairs to her room. Inside, she looked around and thought. She couldn't work on her escape plan with Rosen downstairs, so she'd have to find something to do here.
Some of these books actually do look pretty interesting… Rosen had rare tomes and books Twilight had only heard about. As she looked around the room, though, she found her gaze coming back to the red book on the table. Twilight walked over and picked it up. She lay on the bed and flipped it open to the page she'd marked.
"It's finally here! The Autumn Leaf Festival is next week, and I'm going back to Canterlot to see the Princess again! It's been months since I left her, but I still remember her like we just saw each other yesterday. I hope she's been doing well. I've studied so hard here and want to show her how much I've learned and tell her what Rosen has taught me. I'm taking the journal with me, so I can record all that the Princess and I do together. I can't wait. – S. S."
Twilight stopped reading and sighed. "I wish I understood you, Sunset. You seemed like such a nice filly when you wrote in this journal. Then…" She looked over the entry once more, and then turned the page to the next.
As she read, her eyes went wide.
Rain… bor-ring! Sunset pouted and walked away from the window. She had been looking forward to flying today, but she didn't dare chance it in this weather until she knew what she was doing. She shrugged and descended into the library. She had the castle to herself, since she had sent Spike off that morning to help Rarity with her dress. Now I'm wishing he was here. He'd have some idea of what to do. Sunset did not do well sitting on her hooves. Some of Twilight's books on magical theory were of interest, but she wasn't in the mood. Her efforts to find more information on the stone hadn't panned out yet, and she had grown tired with the project. She headed downstairs, intent to grab an early lunch, and walked down the hall.
Sunset paused and turned her head. Across the hall, another set of spiral stairs wove downward. "I've never checked out the basement before…" She smiled. A distraction for her rainy day had revealed itself, at least for a few minutes. She headed down the stairs and emerged on a smaller copy of the hallway above. Down either way the passage branched out into separate rooms. Sunset turned to her right and pushed the nearest door open. The gemstone in the ceiling lit up automatically as she stepped inside.
Sunset gaped. The room was full of shelves and tables laden with jewellery. There were dozens of crowns, tiaras, hoofguards, saddles, and necklaces, all gleaming silver and gold, and many with Twilight's six-pointed star featuring in the design. She thought back to Rarity's comment about Twilight having storage rooms. She stuck them all down here? I guess that's not too surprising, given her lifestyle. She lifted one piece with her magic to look at it, a thick silver necklace with a violet star emblem in the centre that seemed to be based on Celestia's and Luna's regalia. "Where did they all come from?" She put the necklace down and backed out into the hall.
Sunset pushed open the door to another room, revealing it was full of statues. Life-size sculptures of Twilight looked down on her, and shelves held busts of Twilight and stone carvings of her. Some of them depicted her rearing or in mid-flight, others were simply her sitting regally. One small statue was entirely of blown glass, and the light of the gem above made it glow blue and purple. "She wouldn't commission all these and then put them down here…" Sunset looked at one statuette of Twilight with a mane of spun glass. "Are these gifts?" Spike had mentioned receiving visitors. Visitors would bring tributes in thanks for an audience with the princess. "They must be gifts. But… so many…" She gazed over the room once more before leaving.
Sunset approached the door to a third room and headed in. This room was full of paintings, all of Twilight in some way. Her on her throne, some of which included her friends, her and Spike, her cutie mark against the night sky, portraits of her in royal regalia. Sunset looked between them. "To receive this many tributes of gifts this expensive…" She pulled a sheet off one of the paintings, revealing a watercolour work of Twilight looking over Ponyville from her castle balcony. Sunset gasped in spite of the subject. "These are masterpieces! I've seen museums in Canterlot that don't have paintings this nice." Twilight received so many generous gifts that she had to shove them into storage rooms?
Sunset looked at one painting hung on the wall. A white sheet covered it, but she could tell from the profile it was the largest painting in the room. She seized the sheet with her magic and pulled. The fabric came free and pooled on the floor.
Sunset's breath caught in her throat and she stumbled back, her eyes wide.
Looming over her on the wall was a painting of Twilight, sitting perfectly poised in royal regalia with a small smile. Behind her was Princess Celestia. The larger alicorn's wings curved down to wrap around Twilight, the tips meeting under Twilight's hooves. Celestia's face was the very image of love and pride as she looked at Twilight. Sunset had to crane her head to see the top of the painting, which depicted Canterlot's castle behind Celestia's left and Twilight's castle on the right. The wooden frame was in the shape of a rainbow swirling up and down the sides and along the top and bottom, and the star of Twilight's cutie mark formed the corners. Sunset noticed a plaque under the painting and read.
"Our Destined Princess. Long May She Reign."
Sunset stood motionless. Her heart pounded in her ears. Light gleamed off the plaque, drawing her attention to it once more:
Our Destined Princess. Long May She Reign.
Destined… Princess? Sunset's eyes turned back up to the painting itself. She stared into the smiling face of Twilight Sparkle wrapped in Celestia's wings.
The door to Celestia's room swung open with a small thud. Sunset Shimmer slowly entered, and the guard escorting her left and closed the door behind him. The foal gulped and stepped towards the open balcony door. The summer's night air was cool, and the stars overhead gleamed. Waiting for her on the balcony was Celestia, sitting poised and looking out over Equestria. She didn't turn when Sunset came behind her.
"Princess?" Sunset's voice was soft. "What's going on?" The guard had said Celestia had summoned her, but she had no idea why.
"I must speak with you, Sunset Shimmer." Celestia finally looked down at her. She was smiling. "Do not fear. This is good news."
"O-okay." Sunset came closer while Celestia turned back to Equestria.
"Tomorrow is the eve of the Summer Sun Celebration. We are holding this year's festivities in Manehattan, so I will be departing the castle this evening to arrive for the next morning. But before I go…" Celestia took a deep breath. "I feel there is something I needed to tell you. I wanted to wait until you were old enough to understand, and I believe that time has come."
"What is it?" Confused, Sunset tilted her head. Celestia seemed much more solemn than usual.
"You have heard the tale of the Mare in the Moon, yes?"
Sunset thought. "The ancient legend about the two sisters that ruled Equestria?"
"The same, but it is no legend. A thousand years ago, my sister Luna ruled the night as I ruled the day. Together we reigned over Equestria, the sun and moon were ours to command. Luna fell prey to envy and hatred, and transformed into a mare of darkness called Nightmare Moon. I banished her to the moon to save Equestria." Celestia looked down at Sunset. "A seer of the time foretold that after a thousand years in her prison, Nightmare Moon will return to Equestria, but the Elements of Harmony will rise again to halt her and return to her true form. I have waited for that day for a very long time, hopeful."
"Is it time then?" Sunset grew nervous.
Celestia shook her head. "No. It was my hope that, when the time drew near for her return, I would find new bearers of the Elements to wield them against her. I have met many special ponies in Equestria, seeking one with the spark of magic within them to point the way to the destined day. But my search has proved fruitless. I must face the possibility that my seer was mistaken. It seems that Nightmare Moon and the Elements of Harmony will never return, nor will my sister."
Celestia looked at Sunset, but the filly was silent. She continued. "For a thousand years I have ruled Equestria alone. Not a day passes that I do not mourn my sister. I would celebrate the day when she came back to me and we were together again; however, it seems that destiny has other plans in store for me… and then I met you."
"Me!?" Sunset sputtered. "You mean… you think, I could… the Elements of Harmony?"
"I do not know. It would be a joyous day if true. But you have already done enough." Celestia smiled and knelt. "When we first met I sensed something about you. There is power in you, Sunset, and I know there is greatness waiting in your future. I brought you here so I might witness that. Instead I found something I did not expect. Our days together have been some of the happiest in my life since Luna's banishment. You have brought joy and light to my heart I have not known in centuries."
"You're welcome, I guess." Sunset smiled sheepishly. "I mean, I like that I make you happy. But, the Elements of Harmony… I'm not sure I'm worthy."
"As I said, it is uncertain. But that is not why I have called you here. It is not too late for the chosen bearers of the Elements to appear. Should they not, and if Luna does not return, then I would face a destiny of loneliness. A thousand years already have gone by and I do not believe I have the strength to endure a thousand years more. But…" Celestia paused and looked at Sunset Shimmer with an expression Sunset didn't understand. "I do not believe I will have to."
"Princess?"
"I want you to do something for me, Sunset Shimmer."
"Anything, Princess."
"Watch."
Celestia turned to the balcony and closed her eyes. Sunset watched in awe, her eyes wide and her jaw hanging open. Celestia's horn began to glow, and an orb of light lit up on the tip. She unfurled her wings and rose into the air. Her mane and tail rippled behind her, her body shining in an aura of golden light. Sunset saw the shadows of the balcony begin to recede and turned. The moon above had descended, and in its place the sun had risen on the horizon. Sunset turned away from the light and raised a hoof to her eyes. The light of morning grew brighter as the sun rose higher, its rays casting down on the balcony and the two mares on it. When the sun had reached its apex, Celestia lowered back to the balcony and her magic faded.
Sunset looked up at Celestia, stunned. "You… that was the raising of the sun." She immediately felt silly for stating the obvious. Celestia nodded.
"For a thousand years I have raised and lowered the sun and moon, taking on my sister's duties in her absence. But it is time my reign as sole ruler of the sky came to an end." Celestia came closer and lowered to her stomach to look at Sunset eye-to-eye.
"There is an ancient ritual, created by a dear friend of mine many centuries ago. It has the power to transform a normal pony into an alicorn like Luna and I. When we two took command of the sun and moon, my friend granted this ritual to us. He said if we should ever meet a pony worthy of being an alicorn, we will have the means. I have safeguarded the secrets of its use for these many past centuries, but I have never met a pony I believe deserving of this power." Celestia smiled. "Until I met you. In you I have found a pony that could share ownership of the sky with me once more. A pony that could ease the loneliness I have suffered since I lost Luna, and stand by my side looking over Equestria. A pony with the heart and soul of a princess."
Sunset shook as she took in what Celestia was saying.
"Sunset Shimmer. I ask you to take on a great and terrible burden for me. It is my wish that you become an alicorn and rule Equestria with me for the many centuries to come."
Sunset began to breathe faster and stared at Celestia with wide eyes. "B-but… I'm too young! I'm not like you! I don't know anything about… anything you just said!"
"Not yet. That is why I have explained this all to you. When I return from the Summer Sun Celebration, I am taking you to meet a close aide of mine, Magistrate Rosen Cross. He has been an official in Equestria's government for many years, and is a former instructor at the School for Gifted Unicorns. He now serves me as royal archmage. Some of the greatest magical scholars of our time owe it to his teachings. You will study under him, to learn all you need to know about ruling. And then, someday years from now when you are ready, you will become a princess."
Sunset looked over the balcony, Equestria stretching to the horizon and beyond. "Do… do you really think I can do it?"
"I do. It was not by coincidence we met. I believe it was fate that our paths crossed, Sunset Shimmer. Even if I discover the bearers of the Elements and they should free Luna, I would have you join us both." Celestia smiled. "This is the destiny I ask you to take upon, Sunset Shimmer. Will you?"
Sunset slowly smiled, her eyes shimmering. "Of course! I'd be honoured!" She ran forward and hugged Celestia.
Celestia chuckled behind her head. "As I said, it will be some time until you are ready. Do not force yourself to reach that point, it must happen on its own. But it will come, I promise."
"I'll do my best, Princess! I'll prove I'm worthy!" Sunset looked up at the sun. "I will. I'll work hard. I'll do anything it takes, Princess."
Celestia opened her eyes. A glimmer of light drew her gaze and she gasped at the source. Sunset Shimmer's flank was lit up in pale yellow light. As Celestia watched, the image of a swirling orange and red sun appeared. "Sunset… look." Celestia pulled back and nodded towards her flank. Sunset turned and looked at her new cutie mark. Her breath caught in her throat.
"My cutie mark… you were right!" She turned back to the princess and grinned widely. "It is my destiny, just like you said!" Celestia nodded proudly. Sunset looked at her cutie mark once more. Tears of happiness rolled down her face. "Then I know I can do it… someday, Princess! I promise! Someday I'll be an alicorn just like you! And we'll rule Equestria together forever!"
"Little would make me happier, Sunset."
Twilight re-read the first part of the entry. It was so long Sunset had split it into two sections. Twilight couldn't believe what she was reading.
"This is ridiculous! I came back to the castle for the first time in months for the Autumn Leaf Festival, and the Princess says she has good news for me. But it wasn't good news at all, it was stupid! She says she has a new student studying with her. That makes no sense. I'm her student! Why does she need two? I asked and she took me to see her."
Twilight's mouth was dry as she finished the sentence. She left to live with Rosen Cross after the Summer Sun Celebration… that would be just before the School for Gifted Unicorns began accepting applications… Twilight shook her head. It can't be. Please no. She looked back at the journal and continued to the second section.
"We are here." Celestia led Sunset down a hall in Canterlot castle and stopped outside a large pair of wooden doors. Celestia slowly pushed the door open. "Look. But be quiet, I don't wish to disturb them." Sunset peaked through the door crack. A young lavender unicorn about her age was reading a book while a unicorn tutor in front of her lectured and drew on a chalkboard. Celestia smiled softly. "Sunset. Meet Twilight Sparkle."
"Her?" Sunset couldn't hide the distaste in her voice. The unicorn didn't look like much. "What makes her so special?" She gulped as soon as she spoke. She'd meant to think it, but the words came out aloud. She looked up at Celestia waiting for her disapproval, but it didn't come.
"Look at her cutie mark, Sunset."
Sunset did as ordered and turned her attention to Twilight's flank. A six-pointed violet star was there, smaller white stars surrounding it. "A star? So what?"
Celestia pulled the door closed. "It is not just any star, Sunset. That is the mark of Magic. The symbol of one of the Elements of Harmony."
Sunset gasped. "Magic? What does that mean?"
Celestia smiled and looked at the door. "It means my seer was correct after all. The thousandth year of Luna's banishment approaches as this young unicorn appears at my school with the mark of Magic as her cutie mark? It is the sign I have waited for, Sunset. I have found the first of the chosen bearers of the Elements of Harmony."
Sunset gaped as Celestia turned and walked away. She ran up beside her and looked up at her. "How do you know that? Maybe it's just coincidence."
"If it was just the mark, perhaps. But she demonstrated incredible magic at the school when she was attempting her entrance exam, greater than anything I have ever sensed from a pony her age. The same day there were sightings of an explosive burst of rainbow light in the sky. I don't know what the cause could be, but I know it must somehow be connected. I am certain she is the Element of Magic's bearer, the key to retrieving all the Elements."
"But…" Sunset looked back at the door. "Why does she have to study under you? I thought I was your student."
"Of course you are, Sunset. And now I have taken Twilight as my student too."
"Why?"
"Because Twilight's destiny is to one day wield the Element of Magic against my sister. When the Elements return to our world, darkness will surely follow in their wake. Twilight will need an understanding of magical theory beyond what normal ponies learn if she is to wield the power properly. Only I know the power of Magic, and so only I know what she must know to prepare her for that time."
Sunset stopped. "What about me?"
Celestia turned. "What do you mean?"
"You sent me off to study with Rosen Cross, and when the Autumn Leaf Festival ends, I'm going back to him. Why can't I stay with you?"
Celestia smiled and came back to Sunset. She draped a wing over her. "Sunset, are you jealous of Twilight?"
"Yes."
"Do not be. That is why I am going to keep the two of you separate. This is not a competition, nor should it be."
Sunset snorted. "Yeah. If it was I'd win." Celestia frowned at the remark. Sunset hung her head. "Sorry, Princess."
"Jealousy is unbecoming of a princess, Sunset." Celestia knelt. "Look at your cutie mark and tell me what you see."
Sunset turned her head to the sun emblem that adorned her flank. "I see a sun."
"I see the mark of a pony who has greatness awaiting her someday in the future. That cutie mark is a reminder of the day you were chosen to rule Equestria with me. That is your destiny, not Twilight's. I would rather wager that if Twilight knew, it would be she who is jealous of you."
Sunset looked back at Celestia. "I guess you're right…"
Celestia stood up. "I will not formally introduce you and Twilight for some time for this same reason. I do not want envy to cloud your minds while you learn matters of such importance as these. In your own ways you will each change Equestria for the better. Neither of you is any greater or lesser than the other on account of your differences. Twilight will wield the Element of Magic while you will become a princess to sit at my side." She smiled. "And when the time does come for the two of you to realize your destinies, it may come to pass that you need the aid of the other. I hope you two could become friends someday, Sunset."
Sunset looked behind her at the door to the room where Twilight was studying. "That might be nice…"
"Come along." Celestia turned and walked down the hall. "We have a luncheon waiting for us as I recall."
Sunset remained where she was for a moment. She looked back at the doors and then turned to follow Celestia.
"You already knew then." Sunset glared at the painting of Celestia and Twilight, the plaque on the bottom glowing in the violet light of her horn. "You made so many grand promises, false reassurances. Made me think you still cared. But deep down you had realized it already. And soon enough so did I."
"I'll hear no more of this, Sunset!"
Sunset met Celestia's glare with one of her own. The library shelves around them shook with the Princess's shout, but she didn't back down. "You kept it from me! That mirror showed me my destiny, the one you said is mine! But you refuse to talk about it or let me see it! I deserve this! I'm old enough and powerful enough! I'll do the ritual myself if you won't, just tell me the incantations!"
"There is more to being a princess than power and age!" Celestia shook her head. "I have tried to teach you this. Rosen Cross too tried to teach you, yet you persist in these shows of arrogance and entitlement! I told you I will perform the ritual and transform you when you are ready. By insisting you are ready, you only succeed in proving you are not."
"Because you're holding me back!" Sunset's horn lit up in teal light, and she floated the books around her in front of Celestia. She furled them open to show off their contents. "Every time I try to research alicorns or your history, you cut me off! How can I prove I'm worthy of being a princess when you won't give me the chance?"
Celestia used her own magic to take hold of the books and move them aside, dropping them on the floor beside her. "The only thing holding you back from your true potential is yourself. A true princess does not gain her title by demanding it or insisting that she deserves it."
"If you'd just give it to me I wouldn't have to. You know I'm right, Celestia! There isn't a unicorn in this kingdom who has the power or the knowledge of government I do! There isn't a pony in all Equestria who would make a better princess than me! You taught me everything I know in order to prepare for it!"
"Yes, I did. Yet for all you claim to have learned, you have let none of it sink in." Celestia took a breath and paused. "I have one last idea to help you in this. Twilight Sparkle has demonstrated a great understanding of the same topics you have studied. If you were to attend –"
"Don't dare bring her into this!" Sunset snarled the words to cut Celestia off. "I know how perfect she is, you've drilled it into my head enough! I don't care. I'm not her, no matter how much you obviously keep wishing it!"
"She is not perfect, and that is precisely the point!" Celestia snapped back. "She has flaws, and she makes errors, and she still has things to learn! However, she understands her shortcomings and works to overcome them. That it is why she is a good student; she has a sense of perspective you lack!"
"I know she does! You keep throwing it in my face! Every time that I returned from Rosen to see you all you ever talked about was how good a student Twilight is. Then I came back for good and you spend more time with her than with me! I barely even see you anymore outside of lessons! You're always with her!"
"She needs the lessons. The thousandth year is approaching and I must make sure she is ready to receive the Element of Magic! You on the other hoof, regardless of all my instruction, remain the same. I spend my time where it is most needed and valued, and contrary to your selfish shortsightedness, that is not you anymore!"
"Well, if I'm so useless and Twilight is so great, then why don't you make her a princess instead of me?"
"Do not think I've not thought of it!"
Sunset's breath caught in her throat. Her eyes went wide and her mouth quivered. Breathing heavily in the heat of the argument, Celestia still glared down at her. Sunset's mouth was dry as she slowly responded. "W… what did you say?"
As though her voice had dispelled some illusion, Celestia blinked and her face softened. "Sunset…" Sunset took a step back, staring up at her teacher. "I did not want it to come out that way." Celestia approached her but Sunset retreated two steps. "I was angry, forgive me. I merely meant –" She stepped forward again, but, as she spoke, Sunset ran away. She lowered her head and dashed around Celestia, her eyes clenched shut. "Sunset!"
Sunset fled down the hall from the royal library. The sound of hooves followed her and echoed off the walls. She opened her eyes to see where she was going. She turned a corner, her hooves skidding on the tile. She didn't pay attention to what path she was taking through the castle, nor did she care. The hooves following her were coming closer. Sunset stopped and spun around.
"Sunset!"
"Shut up!" Celestia stopped not far in front of her. Sunset, her breathing laboured, glared up at her. "Just shut up! I don't care! Shut up and stop lying to me! You always loved her more, always thought she was better than me, always talked about how great she is! Go ahead! Make her a princess, I don't care anymore! Just shut up and stay away from me!" Her voice was hoarse as she spoke, she barely recognized it as her own.
Celestia sighed and came forward. "Sunset, please… I'm sorry."
Sunset's ear twitched and her nostrils flared. "I said STOP LYING!" Sunset's horn lit up and a gout of flame shot forward. Celestia cried out and pulled to the side. The blast of fire shot past her and dispersed against the wall, embers fading in the air. Celestia looked at the black scorch mark on the wall and slowly turned her head back to Sunset. Sunset met her gaze evenly, her head low.
"I hate you." Sunset growled and raised her head. "I hate you!" Celestia recoiled as if struck and turned her head away. Sunset shook for a moment, and then turned and ran again. This time the hallway behind her was silent. The castle walls became a blur as she ran, pushing through guards and servants who cried out as she passed. Sunset stopped and looked behind her. The hallway stretched empty and silent before her eyes. She caught her breath and swallowed. No one had followed her, not even the ponies she had passed. She was alone. Her hooves shook and she collapsed to the ground. The hall filled with the sounds of sniffs and hiccups.
Sunset looked up and took notice of where she was. She stood and composed herself, and then set off at a trot, this time with a destination in mind. A minute later she turned the corner to Celestia's storage area. She ran down the piles of tribute gifts, her hooves echoing off the walls. She reached the end and flung the doors open. The mirror stood before her on a stepped platform. Sunset slowly approached it and waited. The mirror rippled and the shimmering image of an orange and red alicorn appeared. Sunset looked back at the room beyond, but again she was alone. She turned forward to look at the mirror. The alicorn faded to show her own reflection. She didn't look like herself. She inhaled deeply and closed her eyes.
… What's left to lose?
Sunset opened her eyes. A single tear ran down her face to drip to the floor. Raising her head, the gleaming mirror towered over her, the frame seeming to glow in the light shining through the window.
Sunset steeled her nerves and hesitated only a moment more before lifting her hoof and stepping forward.
The smiling image of Twilight's portrait mocked Sunset as she stood in Celestia's embrace. Below Sunset was breathing heavily.
"You took everything from me. You took my title. You took my home. You took Celestia!" Sunset gritted her teeth and thrust her head forward. The magic on her horn condensed into an orb of flame and sent shadows flickering over the room. "Well, now I took them back, Twilight! How does it feel to have everything you love ripped from you? How does it feel to be cast aside with nothing?"
The portrait didn't respond but to continue smirking at her.
Sunset glared at the image and took aim at the spot of fur between Twilight's eyes. Her chest heaved with her breathing, her mane fluttering with the magic she was conjuring. Seconds passed as Sunset stared at the painting, the magical fire dancing and rolling over her head. Darkness rose over the image of Twilight and Celestia, Sunset's shadow sweeping over the room in the light of the flames.
With a scream, Sunset whipped her head to the left and fired. A blast of scorching heat engulfed a painting of Twilight's castle. The wooden frame glowed orange and exploded in a shower of smouldering splinters. Sunset stared at the flaming painting, collapsing into itself, and gasped for breath. She seized what was left of it with her magic and flung it behind her. The burning wood and shrivelling canvas landed in the hall in a broken heap. Sunset watched the fire burn, the image of Twilight's castle vanishing beneath a sea of orange, red and black.
Feeling the mocking gaze once more, Sunset looked behind her at the portrait of Twilight and Celestia. She stomped a hoof on the ground and snorted.
"… Next time."
With a flick of her head and the glow of her horn, the white sheet on the floor flung itself into the air. It caught on the corners of the painting's frame and draped down to cover it once more. Sunset took one last look at the plaque at the bottom, and then turned to leave. Behind her, the remnants of the painting burned down to embers. The pieces of the frame continued to glow orange in the shadows as the gemstone in the ceiling went dark.
"Celestia thinks she's the chosen wielder of the Element of Magic. So what? She can have that silly thing. It probably doesn't even really exist. I'll be a princess someday, so who needs the Element of Magic? She has her destiny, and I have mine. Nothing Twilight Sparkle ever does can take that from me."
The section ended with Sunset's typical signing of her initials.
Twilight sat back on her flank in silence and lifted her eyes. I never knew… Celestia never told me… how could I not know? She looked down at the journal. Sunset…
Twilight heard hoofsteps and turned her head. Rosen Cross stepped up behind her with his eyes on the journal. Twilight tilted her head to look up at him as he stopped beside her. "Did… did you hear that?"
Rosen said not a word. Instead he lifted the journal with his magic. His face was blank as his eyes scrolled back and forth over the page. Twilight watched, waiting quietly until he had finished. When he did, Rosen set the journal down, slowly closed it, and turned to look at her.
"You could have had greatness." His voice was calm. "You could have ruled Equestria with the princesses. But you never listened. You never understood. Everything I tried to teach you, every value and lesson Celestia and I tried to instill. And none of it sank in for you. Then came the day Celestia arrived to see me herself, and I learned we had truly failed."
He turned fully to look down at Twilight, his eyes narrowing. "You cannot imagine the pain you have caused her. She loved you like her own foal, and you spat in her face and abandoned her. There was no Luna back then. Cadance never knew of you, and Twilight could not be told of these things. It fell to me to sit there on her balcony consoling her. I saw more tears drip on that balcony than there are stars in the night, but yet more came the day after. For weeks afterwards, each day brought more. I held her as they came because nopony else was there to take my place."
I remember those weeks. I almost never saw her, and when I did she was so forlorn and distant. Twilight slowly swallowed and opened her mouth. "I… I'm sorry."
"Are you?" Rosen continued to look down at her. "Perhaps you are. I cannot deny you have changed from the foal that graced my doorstep those many years ago. Yet it matters not to me. Twilight and Celestia think you can find redemption. Perhaps you can." Rosen turned and walked to the door. Twilight turned her head to watch him. "But nothing you can ever do will undo what is already passed."
Rosen stopped in the hall and looked back at her. Twilight had no response. After staring at her for a few moments, Rosen slowly closed the door behind him.
Sunset trotted down the hall with her eyes closed, humming a tune to herself with a smile over her face. She pushed open the door to the throne room. "Good morning, castle!"
"Good morning, Sunset."
Sunset opened her eyes at the familiar voice. Sitting on the throne opposite the door facing her was a too-familiar unicorn mare with an orange coat and a red and orange mane. A mare that was giving Sunset a knowing smirk.
Sunset glared at the intruder. "Twilight! What are you doing here?" Twilight giggled and looked over her head.
"I brought her here."
Sunset gasped and spun around. Princess Celestia loomed behind her, the light overhead casting shadows down her face. "No…" Sunset backed away into the centre of the thrones.
Celestia followed her, her mane billowing behind her and filling the air. "Did you actually believe you could get away with this?" Celestia's eyes and voice were cold as ice. "That I would let you steal my student's life and body and would do nothing?"
"I want what you promised me!" Sunset stopped her retreat. "You said I would be a princess! You said it was my destiny to rule with you!"
"Destiny?" Sunset turned her head to see Princess Luna emerge from behind another throne. "What would a childish foal like you know of destiny? It was Twilight's destiny to become a princess. Never yours. You stole it from her."
"No!" Sunset began to gasp for breath as she looked between the two alicorns. "She stole it from me first! Everything was in place until she showed up!"
"What sort of destiny is that?" Princess Cadance walked around a throne on the other side of her. "Destiny does not change for the whims of foals. Destiny happens because it is meant to happen. Twilight Sparkle was meant to be a princess."
"Twilight Sparkle was meant to be an alicorn," Luna said.
"Twilight Sparkle was meant to replace you." Celestia raised a hoof and gestured. The alicorns advanced on her. Sunset slowly stepped back out of the centre of the thrones. She looked at Celestia and glared.
"You don't get to be angry! You're the one who betrayed me, who cast me aside when you found someone better!" The three didn't respond as Sunset shouted at them. "I don't need you anymore, Celestia! I became a princess on my own! This is who I am now!" She bumped against something and spun around.
"Who you are?" Twilight snickered down at her from her throne rising high overhead. "You say that after taking my body to get your way? You want to take my place, think I replaced you? You've got it backwards, Sunset. I'm the one who was where I belong. You're nothing but an imposter, a usurper." Sunset backed up. Twilight sneered, her shadow falling over her. "No… you're something even worse." A spot of flame appeared on the throne's length in front of Sunset and grew into a ring of fire, a red void in the middle. "You know what you really are. You've known all along."
A pair of black eyes cracked open in the portal, and a cruel laugh filled Sunset's head. Her eyes went wide at the face leering out at her from the flames. "No! I'm not a monster!"
"Is that so?" The voice of the face cackled. "Then what do you call this?" A red claw came from the ring and reached for her. Sunset turned and ran out the doors to the throne room. She galloped down the hall, and torches and doorways raced past her. She glanced back. The claw was still coming for her, and its talons were scraping the ceiling and floor. She looked forward and skidded to a halt. The floor of the hallway before her split apart, and flames erupted from the crevice. The hall shook, and Sunset saw movement in the fire.
A giant red horseshoe-shaped mirror rose from the floor, gouts of fire licking along the frame. Gemstones in the frame glowed like hot coals. The mirror rippled and a crimson red alicorn with a mane of red and orange flame appeared. A field of fire surrounded her, the image of a blazing sun on her flank. The alicorn grinned, flashing pointed teeth. "What's wrong? Isn't this what you want?" Sunset backed away as the alicorn stepped out of the mirror. Its black eyes flashed, leathery wings rose into the air. "You want power? You want to be a princess? You want to rule?"
Sunset tried to turn and run, but her hooves couldn't find friction on the floor and she tripped and fell. The floor was melting from the heat, cracking apart and dripping into an abyss below. Soon Sunset lay isolated on a small platform. Above her the alicorn rose into the air, laughter echoing off the walls and filling her head. Sunset turned back. Twilight was watching her from the throne room, her lavender wings tucked against her body and a star-topped crown over her mane. Celestia stepped up behind her and swooped her wings down to wrap them over Twilight.
"Twilight!" Sunset reached out a hoof. "Help me! Please!"
Twilight sneered at her and raised a hoof to wave.
"Sorry it had to be this way, princess."
The throne room doors glowed violet and slammed shut. The heat of the hallway began to melt them, the image of a deformed sun forming and dripping to the ground. Sunset turned on her back and stared at the alicorn hovering over her. The alicorn's hooves rippled and shifted into a pair of bright red claws, its tips gleaming with fire. With a cackle, the creature descended. Sunset stared in horror as the claws came towards her.
Sunset half sat-up, half leapt-up. Her hooves tangled in the sheets and she tumbled to the ground wrapped in the blue fabric. Beneath the sheet violet magic flashed, and Sunset teleported back on the bed. She whipped her head around the room, panting heavily with wide eyes. She saw nothing but the shadowed silhouettes of the furniture, with moonlight from the window casting a silver glow on them. She looked down at the bed and jumped off it, backing against the wall without looking away from it.
Sunset slid her rear hooves forward to sit and swallowed heavily. Her heart pounded in her chest, cold sweat ran down her face. She looked beside her at the dresser. One of the drawers pulled open in her magic, and she withdrew her crown. Sunset stood and looked in the dresser mirror as she slipped the crown over her mane. It sat crooked. Sunset's magic seized it and tilted it. It was still crooked. She moved it again. Still crooked. Sunset yelled and seized the crown in her hooves. She flung it away, the golden relic bouncing over the floor and rolling before it hit the wall and fell over. Sunset glared at it, and then back at the bed. Her eyes darted between the two.
Spike mumbled in his sleep and cracked an eye open. The wall in front of him was lit up with a rectangle of light, rapidly growing smaller. As the light vanished, he heard the door to his room close. Half-asleep he wondered what it was. Then he felt movement. Spike looked behind him. A familiar purple and pink mane was on the pillow next to him, the owner facing the door away from him.
"Twilight?"
"Go to sleep, Spike."
Spike made a face. "What are you doing here?"
"I said go to sleep."
Spike considered replying again, but Twilight's command and the middle of the night won out over his mind's protests. He turned back over and closed his eyes with a yawn.
Behind him, lavender hooves pulled the blanket up tighter and purple eyes stayed open in the darkness, staring at the door across the room.