Twilight Falls, Sunset Dawns

by DrakeyC

Chapter 9

Spike tossed an emerald in his mouth and chewed, looking over the notebook one more time. The next several days were clear to allow Twilight to go over her research after returning from Canterlot. All there was of importance to take care of was making sure Cheerilee got the promised bits from the tribute fund for the field trip to Appleloosa, and the money was sitting in a bag in his desk and could be taken to the school at any time. He sighed and put the book back on the desk. "Well, everything's in order. Nothing for her to do yet."

"Hoo."

Spike rolled his eyes and turned. Perched atop a birdcage on a stand next to Spike's bed, Owlowiscious turned his head upside down and blinked at him. Spike came closer and shook his head. "I told you before, Twilight's been going stir-crazy. I was hoping I could find something for her to do, but no dice."

"Hoo."

"Twilight, your owner? The Princess of Friendship?"

"Hoo."

"Ah, forget it." Spike waved his claw at him and went back to his desk to grab the last gemstone from his breakfast bowl. "I'm surprised she hasn't asked about you yet." Spike took a bite of the gem. "I'd have thought she'd want you moved back to her room."

"Hoo."

"Then again, she's been acting weird ever since she came back." Spike sighed and popped the rest of the gem in his mouth. I know there's something wrong with her. I just wish she'd tell me. It can't be Sunset Shimmer. Sure, Twilight's had some issues with self-doubt before, but never like this. Spike cracked his neck and approached the door. "Well, time for another day. I'll ask Twilight about moving you back to her room."

"Hoo."

"Yes, you."

Spike exited into the hall and froze.

At the end of the hall, two small busts of Twilight's head floated by his field of vision in auras of violet magic.

Well, the weirdness is off to an earlier start than usual. Spike walked to the end of the hall and peeked his head around the corner. He saw the statues floating into the throne room, but his attention was soon drawn to the hallway around him. Paintings of Twilight hung on the walls, and the doors to the throne room had two large statues of Twilight rearing up on either side.

Spike approached the doors and peaked inside. "Twilight?”

Inside the room, Twilight set the two busts down on the floor and turned. Her face brightened into a smile. "Spike! Did I wake you?"

"Uh, no." Spike came into the room. Between each of the six main thrones, a stone pedestal had been set up. Twilight floated the two busts on top of two of the pedestals, and then turned them to face the centre of the room. Two of the other four pedestals already had small stone statuettes of Twilight on them. Spike scratched his head and came closer. "Did I miss something? What's up with all the statues and portraits?"

"Oh, I got up early this morning and decided to do some decorating." Twilight was humming to herself as she worked. She trotted past Spike and down the hall to the stairs into the basement. Her horn lit up violet, and two small sculptures of Twilight floated into view, one of blown glass and the other of marble.

"Okay… I thought you didn't care for all this stuff," Spike replied.

Twilight scoffed and rolled her eyes when she came back into the throne room, sculptures in tow beside her head. "Spike, these are from my loyal and loving subjects. Ponies travelled from across Equestria to give me these." She smiled and turned to the window, the morning sun beaming down on her. "They adore their princess so much they throw their money away on these little trinkets. It's the least I can do to make sure future visitors know I appreciate the attention."

"Uh, sure. Okay." Spike watched Twilight put the glass figures on two more pedestals. "Are you feeling okay, Twilight?"

"Don't be ridiculous, Spike! I feel wonderful." Twilight flashed a smile as she finished with one figure and turned to the other. "And why shouldn't I? I'm one of the four princesses of Equestria, and effigies of me donated by my adoring subjects surround me! What more could a mare ask for?" She finished positioning the figure and stepped back to look at the other five. "I'm going to need to find a spell to hold these in place. Wouldn't want to accidentally nudge one and send it smashing to the ground."

"I can go get–"

"No need!" Twilight vanished in a burst of violet light. Spike blinked and stood still, tapping his claws together as he looked over the room. After a few seconds Twilight reappeared with a book floating beside her. "Got it!" She flipped the book open and scanned the pages. "Ah, here we are! A basic gravitational stability spell, used for protecting delicate objects of all kinds." She snapped the book shut and concentrated. The six decorations lit up violet and gleamed. After a moment the light faded. "That should do it!"

"Great…" Spike reached out and cautiously pressed a claw against one pedestal. It didn't budge a bit, nor did the glass figure of Twilight on top of it. "Are you sure everything is okay?"

"Of course. Why do you ask?" Twilight turned to him, still smiling widely.

"Well, it's just a bit sudden for you to put all these up like this." Spike gestured to the hall beyond the doors and the many paintings lining the walls.

"Well, I can't dump them in the basement forever!" Twilight chuckled and looked at the window again. "Oh, look at the time! Spike, be a dear and make me few sandwiches, please. I missed my usual breakfast doing all this work, and I'm famished. I'll be up in the library."

"Um… sure…" Spike slowly backed out of the room as Twilight looked around. She teleported away and he slumped down. Ho boy… two days in a row. Not a good sign. Spike headed to the kitchen, his eyes tilted up at the ceiling. At the old library, he was able to hear when Twilight was up to something, but the castle's crystal architecture didn't allow for that. He was missing it now. Luna visited her yesterday, but Twilight didn't say a word to me after she left. What happened? Spike entered the kitchen and grabbed the loaf of bread and a knife. And why is she only eating sandwiches? We have other food that she hasn't even touched. He pulled the flower holders off their shelves and plucked a few blossoms.

Spike began to cut off slices of bread and sighed. "Maybe I'm worrying over nothing." Saying the words aloud made them seem more truthful. Usually, Twilight would talk to her friends if something was bothering her, but judging from the amount of time she spent with Luna, she had preferred to talk to her about it. Dunno what it could be that she'd talk to Luna over me and her friends… unless it was about us. Spike turned that thought over in his mind again, and slapped the bread together over the flower petals. Did we do something to upset her? Something so bad she can't tell us about it?… Nah, it can't be. What could we have done?

Sunset held a thin gold chain with amethysts up to her neck. She looked at her reflection carefully and decided it wouldn't do.

"Of course it doesn't."

Sunset ignored the voice and turned to the shelves of jewellery she had set next to the dresser. The necklace went back on its hook and she took hold of another piece, a thicker gold necklace made up of interweaving strips. She put it around her neck and looked into the mirror. This wasn't suitable either.

"The silver from yesterday looked best."

Sunset grunted. "Leave me alone. I don't care what you think." She put the necklace back and looked over the shelf. After a moment's hesitation, she took down the silver necklace with the amethyst star in the middle, the same she had worn for Luna's visit. She clipped it over her neck and had a look at herself. After looking at half a dozen gold items, this one was still the best looking.

"Gold is more suited for Sunset Shimmer. My colour is silver."

Sunset gritted her teeth and turned. "Gold looks fine."

Behind Sunset, standing by the bed, Twilight shrugged. "Sorry. I just thought you wanted some help."

"No. I do not want help, and I do not need help." Sunset walked back to the jewellery shelf. "Especially not from hallucinations."

"I'm upsetting you, aren't I?"

"Darn, was I too subtle about that?" Sunset looked at the crowns now. Her eyes lingered on the one she had worn previously up until now, but she forced herself to move on from it.

"That one never fit right, anyway."

"Will you just shut up?" Sunset's eye twitched as she took down a silver crown that matched the necklace. She moved to the mirror and put it on, carefully centring it on her mane.

"It won't stay that way. Never does."

Sunset's nostrils flared. She spun around. "For the last–" she stopped herself. The room behind her was empty. She swivelled her head back and forth, looking for some sign of the spectre again, but there was none. Sunset smiled and turned back to the mirror. A purple and lavender alicorn was looking back at her, and she cried out in surprise and recoiled. It took her a moment to compose herself. She laughed and lowered her head, shaking it in amusement. "It's just your reflection, Sunset. It can't hurt you."

"Wrong again," Twilight replied.

Sunset's head snapped up, but the mirror was silent. Sunset stared at it, moving her head and lifting a hoof to watch her reflection copy her movements. It did, perfectly. She sighed and walked to the shelf by her desk. "Where are those sleeping spells Luna mentioned?" She looked over the books but didn't find any that seemed like what she needed.

"Twilight?" Sunset turned her head. Spike. She heard him coming up the stairs and closed her eyes. With a deep breath, her mind cleared and her body relaxed. Sunset opened her eyes and smiled widely. Spike reached the top of the stairs, a plate with two sandwiches in his claws, and he came towards her. Sunset's attention immediately turned to the bird slowly flying over Spike's head.

"Who is this?" Sunset watched the bird fly over her head and perch on the shelf next to her desk.

"Well, you hadn't asked about Owlowiscious in a while, so I was thinking maybe you'd want him back."

Sunset nodded. "Of course! Thank you, Spike, I'd forgotten about him." She looked up at Owlowiscious and smiled. "Hello, Owlowiscious."

"Hoo."

Sunset gave a fake giggle. "It has been a while, huh? It's me, Twilight."

"Hoo."

Sunset's smile vanished. "Princess Twilight Sparkle."

"… Hoo."

Sunset's eye twitched.

"Sorry, Twilight. He's been kinda grouchy today." Spike set the plate he was carrying on the desk. "Want me to bring his stand and cage up from my room?"

Sunset looked away from Owlowiscious and turned to Spike. "Sure."

"Okay, be right back." Spike descended the stairs back to the library.

Sunset threw up a soundproofing barrier over the top of the stairs and then turned back to Owlowiscious."So… you're the pet owl the journal mentioned."

"Hoo."

Sunset narrowed her eyes. She rose, putting her front hooves on the desk to balance herself and getting closer to the bird. "You know, don't you?"

"Hoo."

Sunset sneered. "Listen up, owl. You just keeping 'hooing', do you hear me? I'm having enough trouble adjusting to this life without worrying about you eavesdropping."

"Hoo."

Sunset stared at Owlowiscious. The owl turned its head upside-down and blinked at her. She groaned and fell back on all fours to the floor. I am arguing with an owl. Why is it every time I think I've hit bottom, I find out there's a trap door?

Sunset picked one of her sandwiches up in her magic and bit into it. Chewing, she looked around the room and considered her decorating. The painting and sculpture rooms were almost empty, and the jewellery room had so little in it she could move what was left to the bedroom if she wished. Twilight's friends might question it. I'll need to think of an excuse. Redecorating won't be enough to convince them. Maybe they'd buy if it I said I was trying to show appreciation to guests. Sunset thought that idea over. That could work. Tell them I thought putting all the tribute gifts in storage was disrespectful.

"I suppose it was, from one perspective. But putting them all on display seemed a bit extravagant and boastful. To each her own, hm?"

Sunset gritted her teeth at the sound of the voice. She didn't bother to turn to answer. "Stop talking to me. I don't want to hear anything you have to say. You're a hallucination, you can't do anything to harm me."

"Your nightmares would have to disagree on that one."

Sunset's eye twitched. She spun to glare at Twilight, but the room was empty aside from Owlowiscious. She shook her head and looked at the owl. He had his beak stuck under his wing cleaning himself and wasn't paying the slightest bit of attention to her. Sunset put a hoof to her head and growled. Why is this happening? This is stupid. Twilight isn't here. She's miles away with Rosen Cross. She is not here taunting you. It's all in your head.

"Well, actually it's in my head, but I suppose you'd consider that a technicality, right?"

Sunset let out a long sigh. She didn't bother to look for the source of the voice. I have to get out of here. I had something to do, but what? She struggled to remember, but her thoughts were jumbled and she couldn't focus. She heard movement and turned to the stairs. A few seconds later Spike reached the top, a golden cage held over his head.

"Here you go, Twilight. I'll grab the stand." Spike set the cage down next to the desk.

Sunset nodded. "Thanks. Spike?" He turned to her. "I feel like I'm forgetting something. Is there something coming up I can't think of?"

Spike thought. "Well, there is the field trip to Appleloosa Cheerilee's class is taking, but you've got until the end of the week to do that. Aside from that, I've got nothing."

Sunset narrowed her eyes. "Um… was it something to do with Rarity? I remember she was making me a dress for–" Sunset's eyes lit up. "I remember! I need to talk to Pinkie Pie." That would do well enough for a diversion, and she sorely needed one. "Spike, you finish bringing Owlowiscious' things up; I'm going to get ready."

"Sure." Spike barely got the word out before Sunset teleported in a flash of violet light. He looked at Owlowiscious on the bookshelf. "So, you got any ideas on what's wrong?" Owlowiscious fluttered his wings and nodded. "Good. See if you can do something, 'cause I'm still trying to think of something." Spike turned and walked back to the stairs into the library. He paused at the top and looked up at the wall. "At least she picked a good one to hang in here."

Spike descended the stairs. On the wall over his head, Twilight and Celestia looked down at him, the older Princess's wings sweeping down over her student's image.

Rosen held the vial of pink powder up to his eye and looked at the contents closely. Behind him, Twilight shuffled her hooves and looked around the lab nervously. "So, is that enough?"

"It will suffice." Rosen set the vial of calamine powder into a holder on the table. "There are some other compounds I need access to, but I will create them myself."

"What should I do?"

"Return to your room and read Equestrian Legal History Volume 1."

"Which chapters?"

"As many as you can get through before I call on you for dinner."

Twilight slumped down. "Right." She turned and walked out of the alchemy lab. Behind her, Rosen began moving between shelves and gathering ingredients. Twilight walked into the living room. She glanced back to make sure Rosen was still in the lab and then headed to a bookcase against the wall. The book on the end of the lowest shelf was sticking out further than the others, but the shelf concealed this unless one looked at it from the other side of the room. Twilight pulled the book out and set it down. At the back of the empty spot in the shelf was a brown sack with two small glass vials emerging from it. One was full of bright yellow powder, the other contained white powder.

Hopefully he won't notice a vial or two is missing. He's got scores of alchemical equipment; two vials shouldn't raise suspicion. Twilight removed the sack with the vials, and then put the book back and hurried up the stairs. She needed to get to her room before Rosen caught her. The yellow marcasite powder in the vial was the last component she had needed to synthesize for her escape plan. There were other ingredients she would need on the day, but Rosen had them in stock already.

I just need to wait. The storm is coming in the next few days and everything I need is ready. With her escape plan looming up ahead, obeying Rosen's orders didn't seem so important now. Twilight had spent the previous day and all morning trying to reason with him, but to no success. The reminder of what Sunset had done to Celestia seemed to have made him more spiteful towards her than ever.

Twilight reached the top of the stairs and entered her room. It's not like good favour will do much with what my escape plan demands. He'll be livid when he finds out. Twilight had inevitably been forced to face the reality that when she executed her escape plan, Rosen Cross had to somehow be incapacitated. The contents of the sack aside from the marcasite would take care of that, but it wasn't something she would enjoy doing. She had learned enough about Rosen's living habits that it would be simple to pull off, and her confidence was at a high. She was not only capable of escaping, but she was actually going to succeed.

Twilight set the sack on the ground and nudged it under her bed, kneeling to get it further back. With the bag back far enough that she was sure Rosen wouldn't see it unless he came looking, Twilight stood up and looked around the room. I could study Rosen's materials, but I don't think he really cares with the way he gave the order. Instead, Twilight reached for the journal again. She laid down on the bed and flipped it open. I haven't read anything since the entry about the Autumn Leaf Festival.

"First day back, and Rosen has me doing more stupid history quizzes again. Twilight Sparkle is busy learning all sorts of cool stuff about magic, and I'm up in some dingy old cave learning about history from somepony so old he probably lived through it. At least when Rosen had me doing alchemy I had fun, but this is just boring. I don't care about any of this history stuff. If I did, then just send me back to Canterlot with the books, and I'll read them on my own time. I wish Celestia would come to visit me, but she says she's too busy with royal duties to make it up here. Doesn't seem too busy to teach Twilight in her spare time… – S. S."

Twilight sat back. Now that escape was in sight and her return to her own body was sure to come not long after, she read the journal, hoping to find an answer to what to do with Sunset after the fact. I can't hope to hide this from Celestia, and it's too late to send her back through the mirror. Twilight dreaded to think what might happen to Sunset if she stayed in Equestria. She attacked one of the four most powerful ponies in Equestria, stole her body, and impersonated her for almost a full week. She'll be banished from the kingdom for the rest of her life, and that's if she's lucky. I could appeal to Celestia to show mercy, but I don't have any better options in mind…

Twilight sighed. After reading her journal, she had to believe there was still goodness in Sunset's heart. And if there was, Twilight couldn't stand by and let Sunset meet whatever awful fate awaited her once she had foiled her plan. Even Discord had found redemption and was now working for a good cause, acting as ambassador to the dragon clans. If Celestia will show Discord forgiveness and allow him to redeem himself, surely Sunset will get the same. Of course, Discord didn't betray Celestia like Sunset did… This is too complicated. Twilight looked back at the journal. Maybe if she kept reading, something would come to mind. She only had a day left before her escape, and she might as well have an idea before the time came. She flipped the page to the next entry.

"Good morning, Princess Twilight!"

It was the fourteenth time she had heard the greeting. As before, the stallion giving it did a double-take and looked at her a second time, then smiled and said the words before continuing on his way, his eyes straying to the top of her head as he passed. The first thirteen had all reacted similarly.

Sunset ignored the double-takes. It seemed Ponyville's citizens were not used to seeing Twilight Sparkle in proper royal regalia. Presumably, Twilight disliked the extra attention. Right now, Sunset wanted it. The greetings and waves kept her mind off the hallucinatory Twilight she had been seeing that morning, and wearing the crown usually helped improve her mood. So far, all the ponies they had passed seemed approving of the new look.

"Are you sure you had to wear that, Twilight?

There were exceptions to every rule, of course.

"Of course, Spike. A princess ought to look her best at all times." Though she said the words, Sunset was quietly agreeing with Spike's objection. For some reason, the silver crown and necklace she was wearing felt uncomfortable. The necklace's weight was hurting her neck, and she could tell from how it felt against her mane that the crown was sitting crooked, of course. But she wouldn't stoop to stopping and fixing herself in public. She had appearances to keep up. Just endure it for a bit, and we'll find some spell to fix it when we get home. Sunset was sure there was some spell that could help her, something to lighten the necklace and affix the crown in a proper position.

Sunset turned towards the door to Sugarcube Corner ahead of her and swung her head slightly as she approached. Her horn lit up and her magic swung the door open ahead of her. Mrs. Cake looked up from behind the counter at her entry and smiled. "Hello, Twilight! What can I get for you, dearie?"

"I'm here to see Pinkie Pie," Sunset said, stopping in front of the counter.

"Oh, of course. Just a moment." Mrs. Cake turned and headed back into the kitchens. Sunset looked at the treats on display around the shop. She'd never had much of a sweet tooth, reserving herself for royal functions with Celestia. From what she remembered of Pinkie in the other world, barely a day went by when she wasn't bringing in something she had baked for herself to eat.

Sunset wondered if the pony version of Pinkie was just as gluttonous. She snorted. "Probably even more."

"What's even more?"

Sunset screamed and jumped. She spun around and found herself looking into the smiling face of Pinkie Pie. "What? You… where did you come from?"

Pinkie giggled. "From behind you, silly!"

"But… that doesn't…" Sunset shook her head. "Nevermind. Pinkie, you like throwing parties, right?"

Pinkie's grin vanished. "No. I do not like it." She grinned again and wrapped her hooves around Sunset's neck. "I love it!"

"That's great." Sunset choked out the words from inside Pinkie's grip. "Because I was thinking..." Sunset groaned. She teleported a few hooves away and Pinkie fell to the ground without her to lean on. "I was thinking you could throw me a party."

Pinkie gasped loudly. "I knew you couldn't resist!" She zipped up to Sunset to hug her again, but she held up a hoof to fend her off.

"I was thinking we could celebrate our past adventures. It's been two and a half years since I went into the other world to defeat Sunset Shimmer and two years since my defeat of Tirek."

Pinkie put her hooves to her mouth. "Oh my double-gosh! It's your double-trouble evildoer trouncing anniversary!"

"… Sure."

"Not a problem!" Pinkie reached into her mane and withdrew a stack of papers bound with a ribbon. She untied the ribbon and began tearing through them, flinging them through the air. "I've got party plans ready to go at a moment's notice for just such an occasion!"

Sunset tilted her head. "You do?"

Spike picked up one of the pieces of paper and read the title at the top. "Engagement Party Plans for Fluttershy and Prince Blueblood?"

Pinkie shrugged. "I have party plans ready for anything… though, that one really is a long shot. But, you never know! Here we go!" Pinkie stopped throwing papers around and held up what was left of the stack. The title at the top read 'Party for Second Anniversary of Villain Defeat'. She looked over the paper and thought. "Hm, this one is only for the anniversary of the defeat of one bad guy. I'll have to double everything up since it's a double-trouble celebration."

"Great." Sunset cast a spell and drew the papers on the ground into a neat stack in front of her. "I was thinking maybe sometime next week."

"I was thinking the day after next."

Sunset gaped. "Two days?" She shook her head. "Why does it need to be that soon?"

"Because, silly, you went to study the mirror a week ago when it first opened, so two days from a week ago would be two and a half years since you beat Sunset Shimmer on the day the portal closed. That would mean the day after next is the one week anniversary of your two and a half year anniversary of Sunset Shimmer's defeat, so to throw a double-trouble evildoer trouncing anniversary party, we have to have it as soon as possible or else it'll be too late to count! Unless we do it on the two week anniversary of the two and a half year anniversary of Sunset Shimmer's defeat. But that would just be confusing."

Sunset groaned and hung her head. "I don't even understand that enough to argue against it."

"Don't worry, Twilight. Not everypony understands the delicate precision of party planning like I do."

Sunset thought. I was hoping I would be over Luna's visit by the time the party comes. Two days is fast even if I was at my best. Not to mention Rarity's dress, which— "Wait!" Sunset smiled as she thought of an excuse. "We can't have it in two days. Rarity is designing a special party dress for me, and I don't think she'll be ready in time."

"Actually, Twilight." Sunset turned to Spike as he spoke. "Rarity said it could be done tomorrow."

Sunset's eye twitched. "That's great."

"Any other reason we can't have it?" Pinkie asked.

Sunset swallowed a lump that had risen in her throat. "None are coming to mind."

"All right!" Pinkie cheered and began to walk around the room looking over her plan. "Hmm, says here we'll need five hundred cupcakes, but if we're doubling that, it'll be a thousand. Mrs. Cake!" She ran into the kitchen, shouting, "Cancel all orders, we have a royal party to plan!"

Sunset stared at the empty bakery, blinking slowly. "Spike. What did I just do?"

"You just asked Pinkie Pie to throw the biggest party she's ever given you."

"… What the hay was I thinking?"

"I'm wondering the same thing."

"I think Rosen is purposefully picking the most boring textbooks ever written for these quizzes now. I failed the one yesterday, and we both know I'm going to fail this one, so why bother? The spellcrafting lecture was at least kind of interesting. I miss Celestia, but I can't visit her again until Hearth's Warming Eve next month. Rosen just called me down for dinner. Celestia is probably sitting down to dinner with Twilight now. I'll bet she teaches Twilight all she could ever want about potions and spellcrafting. – S. S."

Twilight finished the journal and shook her head. That really was the start, wasn't it? After she came back from the Summer Sun Celebration… Sunset's attitude in the journal had noticeably shifted in the entries after that day. Her impatience over Rosen's lessons had intensified, and she made mention of Twilight regularly to ponder how their lessons compared. More than anything though, she kept saying she missed Celestia. She didn't have time to visit you… because she was busy teaching me.

Twilight made a face and shook her head. No. I can't think that way. Reading about how she was apparently the wedge that drove Celestia and Sunset apart hadn't sat well with her at first, and it still didn't. But, while she understood why Sunset blamed her for what happened, Twilight didn't share in it. I never set out to steal anything from her, or to drive her away from Celestia. I didn't even know Sunset existed back then, and I never asked Celestia to choose between the two of us. It wasn't Celestia's fault Sunset let her jealousy take over her life, and it's not Sunset's fault that I came around. Not that it matters anymore. Blame isn't going to fix anything.

"Not that I have any better ideas to fix things... assuming I can fix them in the first place."

Twilight heard a creak and turned her head. Rosen stood in the doorway to her room. "How goes the studying?"

She took a breath and told the truth. "I didn't read the textbook. I was looking through my old journal."

"Of course you were." Rosen shook his head, and walked into the room. "And what grand insights have you garnered from this book?" He looked at Twilight expectantly, and she turned away. "That is what I thought. I will not pretend I am surprised. Come down, dinner is ready."

Rosen turned and began to leave. Twilight bit her lip and lifted her head to look at the journal.

"… She got it backwards."

Rosen stopped at the sound of Twilight's voice and looked back. "I beg your pardon?"

Twilight looked up. "Cel – I mean, the Princess. She got us backwards."

"Us?"

"Me and Sunset… I mean, me–Twilight, and Sunset. You and the Princess… I think she got it backwards." Twilight looked at Sunset's diary. "You taught her history and government. You taught her the 'what' of things. She didn't want it, and she didn't need it. She needed the 'why' behind it." Twilight bit her lip and hesitated again. "I think… I should have been your student. Not Sunset."

Rosen was silent. Twilight turned to look up at him. His face was blank. After a moment he came into the room and looked at the diary. His glasses lit up in blue light and lifted off his face, the arms clicked closed and they set down on the table.

"It was a week before the Summer Sun Celebration. The Princess told me her intentions. I protested. I told her 'I do not tutor princesses. I tutor scholars.' She insisted I was the most qualified for the task. I knew she was wrong." Rosen's bared green eyes bored into Twilight's. "When you returned from the Autumn Leaf Festival and told me about her new student, I recognized our error immediately. I contacted the Princess and told her we should change our arrangements. I knew the history of the Elements of Harmony, and my knowledge of magical theory was without equal. Moreover, I am within rights to train and appoint a successor to my position of archmage. I could have made Twilight Sparkle the greatest unicorn Equestria would ever see. With her affinity for magic she could have surpassed Star Swirl himself in proper time."

Twilight thought back to her life before her ascension and the castle. She slowly smiled. "I think I would have accepted, back then. I would have liked to be your student."

Rosen gave her a slow nod. "I believe I would have liked having Twilight as a student as well. I could ask for no more promising pupil than the bearer of the Element of Magic. But instead, I got you. Whereas Twilight has proven time and again her greatness, you only seem to fall further and further whenever I hear of you."

"I've told you before," Twilight spoke softly, "I'm not Sunset Shimmer. I'm Twilight. But I am sorry she disappointed you."

"Sunset, Twilight. What difference does it make now? We both know your studies here are a waste of our time no matter who you claim you are. Yet, it is a royal order that I tutor you, and I do not see any other promising unicorns arriving for training any time in the immediate future. A bitter pill to swallow, but what other choice is there? If you devise a solution to our predicament, I would sincerely like to hear it. You may not yet be beyond saving, Sunset. But the task of it is beyond my ability."

Rosen lifted his glasses from the table and put them back on. He walked into the hall and looked back at Twilight. "Your studies tomorrow may wait. Spend the day as you wish. But I implore you to not bring up this nonsense of Twilight Sparkle again."

"It's the truth."

"I will not hear it again."

Twilight sighed and nodded. "All right."

"Come down once you finish. Dinner is ready."

Rosen shut the door to her room. Twilight heard his hooves move down the steps to the lower floor, and looked at the diary on the table beside her.

I know who I am. What Sunset Shimmer did to Rosen and Celestia isn't my fault… so why do I still feel guilty? She put a hoof to her chest. It felt tight. Or is that you, Sunset? This is your body, after all. Maybe this is your guilt instead of mine… Twilight shook her head. The matter was too confusing to think about, not when she knew so little about what sort of spell had switched them. I can't fix her mistakes, not yet. But I can at least get started on trying.

Twilight headed to the door and thought. She was sure there were a few topics she could bring up to chat with Rosen about over dinner that he would engage her in. If nothing else, he might finally perk up again after the last three days.