//------------------------------// // Preparation // Story: Through the Mirror // by Darth Link 22 //------------------------------// Celestia listened for the drive back home. Once Twilight was finished, Celestia smiled. “You friends are lucky to have you, you know. And if your devotion of them is any indication, you’re lucky to have them.” “I am,” Twilight smiled. “Then when Monday comes around, you’ll have to get started on that,” Celestia said, pulling into her driveway. “For now, we need to get you up to speed on what you need to know in the curriculum.” Twilight nodded as she unbuckled her seat belt. They entered the house. It was Spike who greeted them first, jumping into her arms. Luna sat on the sofa in the main room with a book. “Any luck?” she asked. Celestia and Twilight explained everything that had happened that day. “So... that’s a no?” “So far,” Celestia said. “I’ll try getting a hold of Hope and convincing her to give up the crown, but you know her.” Luna nodded. “I got in touch with Yearling. The electronic copies of Twilight’s records are almost ready, and she’s getting into the school’s mainframe to register her. I downloaded a copy of the placement test on the computer. She might already be in, but it will help if she knows everything.” Twilight smiled. “The math and language in this world seem to be the same as my own, at least.” Then she thought a bit. “What were those rumors Rarity was talking about?” Luna looked at Twilight. “You ran into her?” Twilight nodded. “She said she was the last one to run against Sunset. What were these rumors I heard spread?” “You saw the other Rarity? And I missed it?” Spike pouted. Twilight giggled before picking him up and setting him in her lap. “You’ll see her soon enough.” The two principals winced. “Well, not two days after Rarity announced her campaign, her parents suddenly came marching down to the school. It seemed they had heard a rumor that Rarity... well, that she got intimate with a few members of our soccer team.” Twilight felt a shiver run down her spine. “You mean...” Luna nodded. “It went through the PTA and the school board. The parents were demanding the ‘harlot’ be expelled. Her parents nearly sent her to a reform school. We eventually convinced everyone it was just hearsay, but the damage had been done. Rarity was so humiliated she dropped out.” Twilight felt the tears come again. “And the students? Did they...” Celestia shook her head. “No, that was the one grace. Everyone suspected it was Sunset, but Rarity’s reputation of flirting with boys didn’t help. Only a few teased her about it, and we dealt with it. We even managed to finally expel a trio of troublemakers that used up their last chance.” Twilight breathed deeply. “I... I can’t let Sunset get away with all this. I have to stop her. You need to show me what I need to blend in.” Celestia smiled. “No problem. Let’s get you back on the computer and to work. We’ll start with a math review, just in case, then move on to science...” Math had worked pretty much the same, to Twilight’s relief. Science was daunting, but she quickly realized she had a lot of the base elements in magic. Chemistry, physics, and even biology all had similar basics. So... why such advanced technology? Was Equestria just so dependent on magic it couldn’t see what could be accomplished without it? History ended up being the hardest, at it had to be learned completely from scratch. This was one, fortunately, that Celestia said could be faked if absolutely necessary. Aside from some major figures most teenagers were woefully under-informed on this topic. English turned out to be similar to Equestrian, in an oddly convenient twist. The basic structure of a story was also something Twilight was familiar with. Lunch that day had been sandwiches brought to them by Luna, but at one point Celestia excused herself. It was her turn to make dinner. That night turned out to be a large garden salad with gluten-free pasta. After the meal was dished up, Luna spoke. “How’s it looking? Do you think you can fool everyone?” Twilight nodded. “There’s no way I’m learning History in time, but I think I can complete the rest of the placement test.” “That’s good. I also had Yearling write up some medical records. You have asthma now, which should keep you out of gym.” Twilight hadn’t even considered that. Still she wanted to kiss Luna’s feet for getting her out of it. The “required workouts” at Princess Celestia’s school had nearly killed her. “Can you tell me what you heard about what happened between the girls?” “Anything we tell you would likely be false,” Luna said. “They all said something different. Well, except for Fluttershy, she refused to speak at all.” Celestia shook her head. “Rainbow said that Applejack called her stupid, Applejack said the same about Rarity. Pinkie claimed that Rarity had wrecked her locker, and Rainbow said Pinkie had played a nasty prank on her. And everyone except Rainbow Dash accused Fluttershy of being Rainbow’s ‘little lapdog’.” She placed a hand on her head. “I think I need an aspirin just thinking about it. The incident was over a year ago, so I can’t tell you all the details off the top of my head, but I have my records of the incident in my personal files. I can pull it up after dinner.” “And no one thought Sunset was behind it? From what you told me, everyone suspects her of everything.” “This was before she had gathered her reputation. She was a new student,” Celestia said. “At the time, I didn’t think anything of it, but now... well, maybe it was her, but I’m not entirely sure.” “Why?” Luna spoke up. “As awful as Sunset is, she doesn’t just attack at random. She selects her targets for a purpose, like when she spread rumors about Rarity. We haven’t been able to pin a motive on her.” Twilight nodded. “Were the girls popular? Maybe she saw them as competition.” “From what I remember, Rarity and Rainbow Dash were. I think the other three were only known as their friends,” Celestia said. “Have you tried bringing Sunset’s involvement up to them?” “I have, but Sunset ran a deep wedge. It hasn’t been helped by how passive-aggressive they’ve been to each other since then. If I had more time to sit down with them I would, but they’re five students in a big school.” Twilight paused a moment. She had to remind herself this wasn’t the same Celestia, the ultimate power in Equestria. This was Celestia, the schoolmaster with limited resources and a boss to answer to. ‘Well, I think I want to have a look at your notes,” Twilight said before taking another bite. “If Sunset is behind this, she must have a reason. If I can find it...” “Well, I’m hopeful,” Luna said. “Sunset’s had her way for too long.” ”Do you see the stars, Sunset?” Sunset Shimmer looked up from her spot on the Princess’s back, gazing at the glowing lights above. “It’s very pretty.” “In my time, there were even more wonders in the sky. However, ponies foolishly ignored them to focus on what was on the surface.” “The story of the Mare in the Moon? Is it true?” The Princess looked away from her faithful student. “Even the most fantastical legend has a kernel of truth,” the Princess said. “It is true that ponies didn’t appreciate beauty that was gifted to them.” “Are you saying NightMare Moon was right to get angry?” “She had a right to feel upset, but not to do what she did. Understanding is important, and there are times when a good talk and forgiveness are more effective than punishment, but everypony is responsible for their own actions in the end.” “What if they’re brainwashed?” Celestia looked at her student. Sunset caught the smile just before Celestia’s magic tickled her side, causing her to shriek. She rolled off her mentor’s back, carefully caught by the magic before being sat on the grass, the magic still tickling her. “Don’t sass me,” Celestia said, a smile on her face. The Princess let up on her assault, and Sunset nuzzled against her side. A large wing covered her, making her feel warm. “Princess... the Mare in the Moon rebelled against her sister. Did her sister still love her?” “Yes.” Celestia said it quickly. She equally quickly added, “The Princess loved her sister, I’m sure. Love can’t be destroyed so easily.” “If I did something bad, would you love me?” Celestia looked at her with a sad smile. “Of course I will, my Sunshine.” She kissed her forehead. “You’re very special to me. Always remember that.” Sunset law awake in her bed. That conversation played for her nearly every night. Lies. It had all been lies. Celestia had cared about her, but only as a pawn, something she could mold and use against NightMare Moon. She was easily replaced by another filly, one too stupid to realize she had been shuffled off to a backwater town once her purpose was fulfilled and Celestia had no more use for her. It had hurt. Celestia had plucked her out of the orphanage and made her a star pupil. She had been the mare who had let her sleep in her bed after nightmares, who congratulated her on every successful attempt and encouraged her at every failure. It had been a lie. The whole time she had been holding her back. Celestia saw her as too powerful, somepony who needed to be just powerful enough to serve her purpose. She would have never let her take the Trials. Never allowed her to be her equal. But she’d show her. Soon, very soon, she’d have the Element of Magic. She’d have what she deserved. Three years of work, fifteen in Equestria, would not go in vain. She’d take her rightful place, and anyone who stood in her way would pay the price.