//------------------------------// // The Chains (Part 7 of 8) // Story: The Rainboom Thieves // by KingJoltik //------------------------------// A day and train ride later after Sunset had read the letter... “You wished to see me, Princess Celestia?” asked Sunset Shimmer. “Yes my student.” said Celestia with a small smile on her face. “It's good to see you again.” “It is good to see you as well princess.” said Sunset while bowing. She had made sure to clean herself from the fight before meeting Celestia. “I have called you here for a certain purpose my student. I need to confess something to you.” “Confess?” “Yes. Due to recent events...I have decided that it is time you learned the truth.” “I don't understand...do you mean about when that unicorn attacked you? What was her name...Twilight Sparkle?” “Well...technically, she is part of the reason I decided to tell you this. However, I also believe you are more than ready to learn the truth.” Sunset then nodded her head. “Okay, I'm ready.” “Let me start by asking you this...why do you think I made the School of Gifted Unicorns?” “Well...if I had to hazard a guess...it was to find an apprentice?” “Well, you're not wrong. However, that's not the full truth. The real purpose was to find the unicorn destined to become the Element of Magic.” “Element of Magic?” “Yes, it is the head element of the Elements of Harmony. I believed by establishing that school, one day the unicorn destined to wield that power would eventually come.” “Let me guess, that unicorn is Twilight Sparkle?” “Yes, the school was made to find her...However, fate apparently loves using irony to mock me.” “What do you mean?” “Twilight...when she was a filly, she wanted to go to my school no matter what...but her parents wouldn't let her.” “So, the unicorn you were looking for wasn't allowed to join the school you made...Wow.” said Sunset with a surprised look. “You're right...irony really was after you...” “Yes...so that brings me to you, Sunset Shimmer.” “What do you mean?” “Sunset...originally, I was looking for Twilight Sparkle, but she refused such a destiny. She even left a note telling me to find a different pony for the job of inheriting Harmony. However, I believe nopony exists.” “Why? Are the Elements that hard to inherit?” “Well, it's not about difficultly or who the pony is...the elements...they were made in a way that they only respond to certain ponies.” “I don't get where you're going with this.” “When I began to teach you as my personal student...I began to believe that the unicorn I was looking for was you. However, that was not the case once you gained your cutie mark.” “My cutie mark?” “Yes, like my cutie mark, it represents the sun. The pony that is destined to inherit the elements is one with the mark of the six pointed sparkle.” “If that's true...what have you been teaching me?” said Sunset as confusion set in mind. “I have been training you...to be my successor if I ever fall...” “Fall?” “Yes, I believe you have the power to become the next Princess of the Sun.” Sunset's eyes began to shine at the idea, “Really?!” “Yes, but things have changed...In doing so...I have asked you to come here Sunset Shimmer.” “Wait...what do you mean?” “I need you to choose.” “Choose?” “Yes, I need you to choose your destiny. Due to recent events, there is a chance that Equestria will be put into serious danger.” “Danger? You mean Equestria is in trouble?” said Sunset with a slight panic. “Is this why you need somepony to inherit the Elements of Harmony?” “Yes. Therefore, I am going to give you three options Sunset Shimmer.” “Three options?” “Yes. The first is to continue your training to becoming the next Princess of the Sun. I will warn you though, that road is very long and it will take many years.” “A long time huh? I had a feeling you would say that...” “The second is that I will train you to inherit the Elements of Harmony.” “You can do that?” “Realistically...no, but I no longer have a choice. The elements must be inherited in at least a year.” “A year? What's coming that requires the elements?” “My sister...Nightmare Moon.” said Celestia with hesitation. “Nightmare Moon? You mean that old pony tale is true?” “Yes. A year from now, she will escape her prison and attack Equestria.” “I see...What's the third option?” “I will allow you to leave and pursue a different study.” Sunset froze at that very second. 'Leave?' she thought. 'I never thought of that...why would she suggest that?' Sunset then spoke up, “Um...when we started this conversation...it sounded like you needed my help Princess Celestia...why suggest leaving?” “Due to my meeting with Twilight Sparkle, I have realized that I never gave you that option...and I am sorry I didn't. So...if you wish to leave my teaching...I will not stop you.” “But if I leave...you won't have anypony to inherit the elements!” said Sunset in a panic, “Why would you even suggest this?” “Because...you are still an unicorn.” “I don't understand...” “Only alicorns or ponies destined to be alicorns can inherit the Element of Magic. That also means if you inherited such power, you will never be able to become the Princess of the Sun.” “But you said I probably couldn't inherit the elements...so why tell me the pony who inherits this is destined to become an alicorn?” “Because...alicorns are bound to destiny. Let me ask you, what do think cutie marks mean to alicorns?” “Um...they symbolize the pony's talent so I guess it would mean the same for alicorns.” Celestia the sighed and said, “You're not wrong...but the truth is a little different for alicorns. Alicorns are always bound by their destiny no matter what. Regular ponies who get their cutie marks are not completely bound by that mark. For them, it represents less on what they are bound to do for life and more what the love doing with their life.” “But for alicorns...it means they must do it?” asked Sunset, “No matter what?” “Yes.” said Celestia, nodding. “That is the truth behind alicorns. So, that is why I want you to choose.” “Choose? You mean I have to choose the sun, harmony, or leaving? Isn't that...well...” said Sunset as began panicking. “Calm down my student, you don't have to choose right now Sunset Shimmer.” “Um...right...sorry.” said Sunset as she rubbed her hoof behind her head. Celestia then started giggling, “Thank you for listening to me Sunset Shimmer.” “Of course princess.” “If you don't mind Sunset...why don't you return to your room for now and think about what I've told you. Also, thank you for listening to me Sunset Shimmer.” Sunset Shimmer then nodded and left to go to her room. Celestia slumped in her throne as her adivser entered the room. “You told her?” asked her adviser. “Yes...” said Celestia as she put her hoof on her face, trying to hide her tears. “I hope I didn't lose her as well...Sunset...I'm sorry...” Sunset Shimmer returned to her room and began to think, 'Three options...wow...to think that Princess Celestia has been trying to make me her replacement this whole time...More importantly, she made the school to find somepony to inherit the Elements of Harmony...unbelievable...to think she would think this far ahead. So, what do I do? I always wanted to be a princess but...now she's asking me if I will choose a different destiny...do I really just want to be just a princess? Or do I go down a different path...' “Hey Sunset, how did it go?” asked Spike as he entered the room. “I don't know Spike...I just don't know...” said Sunset as she laid down on her bed. “I don't know what to think Spike...” Meanwhile in Manehattan, inside the Rainboom hideout... “Remind me why we're going back to Manehattan Twi?” asked Applejack. “Because if you immediately returned to Ponyville after what we did Canterlot, ponies would get suspicious. We'll stay in Manehattan for a bit and then you go back to Ponyville.” said Twilight in a calm tone. “Right...Good thinking Twi.” said Applejack. “Now Twilight darling, let's talk about what you told us on the train here.” said Rarity as she sat down at their meeting table. “Right...the story about how I'm 'destined' to be some inheritor of 'Harmony'” said Twilight as she tried to put air quotes with her hooves. “I'll say it again Twi, your story sounds like a bunch of rotten apple lies.” said Applejack with a small smile. “I would like to agree with you Applejack, but that's the truth.” said Twilight. “The whole reason for the missing posters, Cadance getting involved and my parents...it was all to find me because of my cutie mark.” “So...um...Princess Celestia wants you to save her sister?” asked Fluttershy slowly. “Yes Fluttershy...Celestia wants me to inherit a power known as the Elements of Harmony. With that power, she believes I will be able to beat Nightmare Moon and save her sister Luna.” “Like I said, a bunch of rotten apple lies.” said Applejack, “Your saying you're saying she told you that you were always destined to inherit some Harmony power to beat her sister?! That sounds too stupid to be real!” “I couldn't agree with you anymore Applejack...but...I still don't know what to do. I mean, she even bowed down to ask me to do this!” said Twilight in a panic. “I...I don't know what to do...” Rarity then patted Twilight on the back, “It's fine Twilight...we'll help you with this darling.” “Thanks Rarity...” “Of course darling.” “Yeah Twilight...we'll always be there to help you.” said Fluttershy with a small smile. “Thanks.” “So Twi, I don't mean whine or anything...but what do we do now?” said Applejack. “The better question Applejack is what do I do now?” said Twilight as slumped down in her chair. Rarity looked at Twilight with sad eyes and said, “Twilight...why did you want to go to that school when you were a filly?” “Well...” said Twilight as she began to remember, “It was when I went to the Summer Sun Celebration as a filly. There I saw her...Celestia, the Princess of the Sun. I saw her spread her majestic wings and raise the sun in all its glory. When I saw that, at that moment...I knew I wanted to be like her...to be her student...I thought it was my destiny to be her student...but then...” said Twilight as tears went down her face. “I realized what reality really was...I was denied my dream by my parents...and then...” said Twilight as she began to laugh. “I found out that it was my destiny all along to be her student. Heh heh heh...And to top it all off...I met my parents again, and they kept asking me to forgive them...ha ha ha...they kept saying 'We're sorry! We're so so sorry!'” said Twilight as more tears went down her face. The others then went and hugged Twilight. “It's okay darling...everything's okay...” said Rarity. “It'll be fine sugarcube...” said Applejack. “We're here for you...” “You don't understand!” yelled Twilight as tears flowed from her eyes. “I...I don't know if I even want to forgive them or not! I...I don't know what to do!” “It'll be okay Twilight...we'll help find you an answer...” said Fluttershy as she hugged Twilight more and more. “Thank you...thank you so much...I don't deserve to have friends like you.” said Twilight. “It's fine darling...let it all out...” said Rarity. The four sat there for a long while as Twilight continued to cry. “Even now...I just don't know what to do...” said Twilight. “I just...don't know.” Back in Canterlot, Sunset Shimmer entered Celestia's throne room again... “Sunset...don't tell me you already made a decision.” said Celestia as Sunset entered the throne room. Sunset walked in with a somewhat sad face and said, “No...I haven't decided yet...I just...wanted to ask you a question Princess Celestia...” “Very well, what is your question?” “It's just...I first need to confess something to you...” said Sunset slowly with her head down. “You became my student to become a princess didn't you?” said Celestia suddenly. Sunset froze for a second and then said while her hooves were shaking, “Um...you knew?” “Yes...I've always known my student.” said Celestia with a smile. “Oh...I'm sorry...” said Sunset as she began to shake more and more. “I...” “It's fine Sunset Shimmer. I will not judge you for wanting to accomplish such a goal.” said Celestia, “When you became my apprentice when you were a filly, you were very arrogant and greedy to accomplish that goal. However, you've changed over time Sunset. I now believe that goal is helping you.” Sunset wanted to faint. “Thank you princess...” “You're welcome, now what is your question?” “Well...would I have the ability to become a princess if I inherited the Elements of Harmony?” Celestia knew this question was coming. She then slowly spoke up, “To be perfectly honest my student, I'm not sure.” “You're not?” “No. When I first inherited the elements, I was already the Princess of the Sun.” “So...you were an alicorn already when you inherited the elements?” “Yes...Because of this fact, I am not sure that your goal will be accomplished if you inherited the elements.” “So...you told me that if a pony is destined to become an alicorn...it will happen no matter what right?” “Yes.” “So...is Twilight Sparkle really destined to inherit the elements if the elements might not turn her into an alicorn?” Celestia then rubbed her hoof under her chin and said, “Hmm...you raise a good point...however, I must confess something to you Sunset Shimmer.” “Confess?” asked Sunset Shimmer, confused. “I...even though I have used the elements through the ages...I barely understand the elements myself.” “Oh...” said Sunset as her head slumped down. “You still don't have an answer for me, do you?” “No...I still need time to think princess.” “Go ahead and go back to your room. You can give your answer later.” said Celestia with a small smile. “Thank you.” said Sunset as she bowed and left the room. Celestia's adviser then spoke up, “You already know what she's going to choose don't you?” “Yes...I do.” “What should we do then?” “Call a meeting with my counselor and the head guards...I need to tell them I'm leaving Canterlot for a few days.” said Celestia with a serious face. “Where are you going?” “I don't have a choice now...I'm going to go to the Tree of Harmony. I must make sure Twilight Sparkle is the one...or...I might just find another solution to this problem. No matter what happens...I must stop my sister!”