"Are you sure you want to see her? She's been fighting us most of the night."
"Corporal Armor, I believe that I am indeed sure."
"As you wish, Your Highness."
The Royal Guard bowed humbly before removing himself from the dungeon's entrance. Celestia then walked by him without a glance. She had been waiting all night for this. Her burns still itched and ached, and her wounds still stung, but she held her head high and marched on.
The dungeon was cool in the morning briskness. As it was located underneath the palace, not much fresh air ever entered it. The only vents were the few barred windows that overlooked the valleys far, far below. Besides that, it was a rather nice dungeon, especially when compared to the prisons of their neighboring nations. It was stifling, but clean. It was cold in the winter and hot in the summer, but well maintained. Celestia could not ask for a better prison.
"Which cell holds the impertinent thief?" she asked the young Guard who followed her.
"We placed her in one of the back ones, Your Highness," Corporal Armor answered swiftly.
"May I ask how she fared?"
"Heh, like an angry cockatrice," he said. "After all the fire and magic she threw at us, we had no choice but to cover her horn with an anti-magic device. Then she started kicking us and punching us. Got Private Whiplash with a left hook. So we had to restrain her too. Only a couple of hours ago did she relax and even slept a little."
Celestia shook her head in disappointment. Armor was laughing at his own tales, but she was contemplating too much to care. Corporal Armor was a silly Royal Guard, always making jokes and never being serious. The Princess did not mind the humor, in fact, she was glad there were some soldiers who were funny. At this time, however, she merely rolled her eyes at his antics and walked past the empty dungeon cells.
A Royal Guard at positioned in front of a cell saluted at Celestia. She noticed he possessed a black eye on the right side and some burns on his front legs. As he saluted, he almost fell over on the side that wasn't supported by his front leg. He regained quickly and obviously tried to hide his slight clumsiness, but it was too late and everypony there noticed.
"Whiplash, are you alright?" she asked him.
"Just some bruises, nothin' more, Your Highness," he replied proudly.
Celestia smiled motherly. "Good. I am here to see our new prisoner, so if you don't mind opening the door..."
"Right away!"
Private Whiplash turned swiftly and unlocked the cell door. With his pegasus wing, he slid the iron door open. The unicorn prisoner inside was snoring away on her hay bed. Her front hooves close to her chest and her belly in the air, much like a cat. As the unicorn dreamed in her slumber, her back hooves would kick the air lightly. If Celestia didn't know better, she would think the unicorn as the peaceful type, but the burglar's attitude returned quickly when she awoke from her slumber.
"Nice to see you..." the burglar hissed with a low growl. Her eyes were sharp and narrow at the Princess of the Sun.
"Good morning," Celestia sounded cheerful as she stepped inside the cell. The ceiling was far too low for her and she had to lean forward to avoid banging her horn or head. Why is everything so small for me? It was awkward to stand like that, but she managed with her usual upbeat demeanor.
The thief sat up in her stack of hay and folded her front legs. "What do you want?"
"No need to be hostile, young one," Celestia smiled. "I'm just here to get to know you. So, I'm certain you know my name, but what is yours?"
"My name is Sunset Shimmer," she said as if the name had no importance.
"A fitting name, I must say. So, Sunset, may I ask why you were trying to steal my stuff from me last night?"
"Because I wanted it. You know, that's like the reason for stealing." The amount of venom in her voice basically oozed from her words.
Celestia sighed. Here we go. "I'll tell you now, if you know what's best for you, you will treat our relationship with respect. I am not your enemy and I do not intend to hurt you in any way. So please, your honesty is valued here, not your rude remarks."
Sunset squirmed uneasily on her hay bed. Her red and yellow tail twitched nervously beside her. Celestia raised a brow at her. Is she going to speak?
"Fine," Celestia said, "if you won't answer, then I shall move on. Sunset, I can tell you have a talent for magic, especially fire-based magic. May I ask you who taught you such things?"
Sunset looked down. "No one. I taught myself pyromancy. Have done so ever since I earned my cutie mark."
"That is rather impressive. None of my students have ever achieved such finesse. You must have worked very hard."
"Yeah, I do. Anything that helps me gain an edge, I study."
"Yet you waste your magic being a lowly thief. Quite disappointing if you ask me."
Sunset rolled her eyes. "Look, I don't need to be lectured by a stuck-up princess. I was actually having a great time sleeping before you showed up."
"Maybe you should have stayed home last night and slept then," Celestia chuckled. "It would have saved you plenty of trouble."
"Yeah, real funny," Sunset hissed again. "How 'bout you just tie your wings together and jump off the palace. That'd be great."
"Hoofdini did that once. Lucky stallion actually escaped his bonds before reaching the ground," Celestia said casually. "Too bad it didn't work the second time."
Sunset buried her face in her hooves. "Why couldn't I have been arrested somewhere else..."
"Sunset, being caught is going to be the best thing that has happened to you!" The princess playfully nudged the burglar with a hoof.
Celestia smiled and lifted her head, only to receive a painful reminder of how low the ceiling was. Ouch! Her crown fell off and rang loudly on the stone floor, making all there wince at the noise. Her hooves felt the spot where her head struck the ceiling. Yup, that one is going to leave a mark.
"Serves you right," Sunset grinned.
"Yes, does serve me right for not thinking about this a thousand years ago. I should have known I would be too tall for these spaces. Gah..." she continued to rub the spot on her head. "Hehe, I see that grin. You look much better when you're smiling, young one."
This made Sunset frown once more. It was good while it lasted.
"Ah, Sunset, our first meeting has been a rough one. I had hoped we would start something new with this one. I can see you are a stubborn mare. Good, I'm quite stubborn as well, so we should get along nicely."
"Only in your dreams."
"Aw, that is what you may think, but it may actually be your dreams. You see, I have not done this before, but because of your talent and your young age, I shall make you a deal. You have two choices, either you stay in this cell until I come back tomorrow, or come with me now and spend the days upstairs where it is much nicer."
Sunset blinked in confusion. "You mean, you're letting me go?"
"Of course not," Celestia waved a dismissing hoof. "I'm giving you the chance to acquaint yourself with the palace. You have committed a crime, Sunset, and thus you still have to go through a sentence. I have already decided what the sentence shall be."
"You have?" Sunset jumped and her eyes widened.
"You have?" Corporal Armor and Whiplash asked in unison.
"Yes, Sunset Shimmer, for attempting to steal my artifacts, resisting arrest, and burning half my fur off, I shall make you my personal pupil."
"What!" The guards gasped.
"That's awful!" Sunset Shimmer panicked. "No! I won't go with you. I'll stay in here."
Celestia shrugged and winked mockingly. "Suit yourself."
The princess turned around and started to walk out the cell. Wait for it. She slowed down her pace to a snail's crawl. Each hoof going slowly up and then slowly down. Give her time to think. She wanted to giggle at her own cleverness. When she was about halfway through the door, the awaited cry was sounded.
"Wait!" Sunset yelled.
Bingo. "Oh? What is it, Sunset?" she tried to sound concerned.
"I...I am kinda hungry..." the thief began, "and...and I could, you know, get some cleaner air."
"Well, come with me, young one. We have plenty of food up there and you don't need to steal any of it."
The young unicorn got up and trotted out of the cell. Celestia let her pass. Just as planned. The two Royal Guards saluted once more and watched their princess walk on with the thief. Celestia could only look down at the young mare in silent anticipation. Food always works when trying to reform a pony.
A wild gleam appeared in the unicorn's turquoise eyes. "Haha! Tricked you once again!"
Sunset suddenly shoved Celestia (which did nothing) and began galloping down the hallway. Her shout of "freedom!" echoed on the ceiling and walls. The princess was confused, but mostly disappointed by the sudden deception. Really?
"C'mon! Teleport! C'mon!" Sunset tried to use her magic, forgetting the anti-magic device on her horn.
"I'll give you a head start!" Celestia playfully called to her.
"Aw horseapples!" the thief cursed when she realized her blunder.
"Naw, keep going!" Celestia mocked with a devious grin. "You've almost escaped us! Look! We can't even keep up with you. You're too fast!"
Sunset cursed once more before running away down the hall. Upon seeing her run, the two Royal Guards walked up to the princess. Whiplash opened his mouth, but shut it after saying nothing. Corporal Armor looked up at her expectantly, his blue eyes filled with bewilderment.
"Your Highness, should we chase her?" he asked sincerely.
"Go ahead, knock yourself out. Once you get her, bring her to the dining room," Celestia told them.
"Right away!"
The two guards started their chase and left the princess alone in the hallway. Only a smile was on her lips. I have to admire her determination. Reminds me of a certain sister of mine. She brought a hoof to her lips and started giggling. Step one was over. Now it was time for step two.
"Having her as a student? Oh, this is going to be fun for the both of us. Finally! Something to end all these mundane days. Oh, Sunset Shimmer, I have more plans for you than you know. I hope you don't disappoint."