The Student and The Princess

by ModMCdl

7. Academic Probation

Princess Celestia stood on the edge of her balcony, eyes closed in concentration as she slowly lowered the sun. There moon rose up to take its placed, and she let out a sigh as she released her magic and slumped slightly.

"These past few years have been taking their toll on you, Princess."

Celestia turned to face Eventide, her expression tired. "I only need to manage for a few short more," she said softly. "Then I will have one less burden to carry."

Eventide walked out on to the balcony beside her. "Even an alicorn so powerful as yourself was not meant to wield both celestial bodies," she said. With a grim smile, she added, "And with Sunset, it seems you may be trying to wield three."

The Princess of the Sun let out a deep sigh and seemed to slump even further. "What am I to do about her, Eventide?" she asked quietly.

"Perhaps," the unicorn said softly. "It is time you add some real stakes to her game."

Celestia raised an eyebrow in question. "How do you mean?"

Eventide took a seat beside Celestia, gesturing for the princess to do the same. "So far, Sunset's residence and studies here have been absolute. You can be upset with her, and punish her, but right now, she thinks she can stay here indefinitely." She looked up at Celestia. "You need to change that."

"What, you want me to kick her out?" the alicorn asked, surprise in her voice. "I'm not going to do that."

The night seneschal shook her head. "Not immediately. She just needs to know that her actions have real consequences," she said. "I have watched the both of you for some time now, and by my count, Sunset Shimmer is on her last strike."

Celestia sighed. Perhaps Eventide was right. Over the past few years, Sunset had repeatedly pushed the limits of what she could do. She failed to show respect for most ponies, and her anger and temper had grown increasingly uncontrollable. If this were any other student, perhaps she would have been kicked out long ago. But she had graduated from the School for Gifted Unicorns, and was now under the constant tutelage of Celestia. The risks against her outbursts had significantly lessened.

But come to think of it, Celestia could not recall any incidents from Sunset's time at the school. Even when she first took the unicorn on as her student, she did not witness these tirades. It had only been fairly recently that Sunset had begun to act out and be mean, cruel, and rude.

The Princess shook her head. There was no time to dwell on the causes of Sunset's anger, there was far too much to do, and too much else to worry about. She would simply have to take Eventide's advice and give Sunset her ultimatum.

"Raven!" she called into her chamber.

A few moments later, her own seneschal emerged, quill and pad in hand. "Yes, Princess?"

Celestia turned away from the moon and looked at Eventide as she spoke. "Please make an appointment with Sunset Shimmer. I wish to speak to her tomorrow, privately."

---

Sunset did not wait for the Princess to invite her in. That was the first major mistake she made.

"Sunset Shimmer," Celestia said, her voice already tight at the unicorn's profound rudeness. "It is usually customary to knock on one's door before barging in."

Sunset sighed in annoyance, but acquiesced to her teacher's comment. "Sorry, Princess," she replied, her voice lacking sincerity.

Celestia pressed a hoof to her temple, her patience growing short and the topic about to be discussed was not lowering that at all. "Sunset," she said calmly. "Do you have any idea why I asked you to come see me today?"

"Let me guess," quipped Sunset. "I've done something that you don't approve of, and you're going to explain to me how I need to be a better pony," the unicorn deadpanned with a roll of her eyes. "We've had this conversation so many times before, Princess-"

"Yes!" interrupted the alicorn, sounding exasperated. "We have had this conversation countless times before! And nothing ever changes. That is the problem, Sunset."

Sunset sighed, plopping her rear down across the small table from Celestia. "Here we go again."

"Here we- Sunset! Are you serious?" Celestia's voice rose, causing Sunset to jump and look at her. "What on Equus makes you think you have any right to be so rude?" She stood and glared at her student from across the table. "Answer me! What makes you think you think that?"

The unicorn opened and closed her mouth, not actually knowing how to respond. "I, uh, I don't know," she finally said weakly.

"Sunset Shimmer, over these past years you have grown into nothing more than a vain coxcomb whose singular goal is to grow a pair of wings!" bellowed Celestia, the full extent of her wrath finally revealed. "I have given you everything, and perhaps in doing so, this is my fault. But let me assure you that mistake will be my last when it comes to you."

Sunset shrunk in terror at the amount of rage Celestia was leveling at her. Never before had she seen the alicorn so angry. Celestia was always calm and collected. It was a far different picture than the one she was faced with now. Why, she half expect the alicorn's made to suddenly burst into flames.

"I have given you chance after chance after chance, with some small modicum of hope that you will grow and learn to be a better pony. But no more. You have used them all up."

The unicorn paled in horror. She definitely bucked this one up, that's for sure. Sunset raised a hoof meekly, to do what, she had no idea. "S-sorry," she finally squeaked out, hoping to at least somewhat tame her teacher's fury.

"Sorry will no longer cut it, Sunset!" replied Celestia, her voice quieter than before, but none of the anger having vanished. "Unless you are truly sincere, which I doubt." Her pink eyes bore into Sunset's for a moment longer before she relaxed and closed them. She sat back down, taking a small sip of tea while she let her student stew in worry across from her. Swallowing, she spoke again. "Give me one good reason as to why you deserve to stay," she said. "Just one reason why I should not expel you as my student, and kick you out of this palace. Otherwise, you will be leaving by the end of this week."

Sunset sat there, doing her best to avoid making eye contact with the Princess. She knew that her threat was not weightless, and that her next words would make the decision for her, regardless of what they were. She desperately tried to come up with a reason that Celestia would accept, playing countless options though her mind.

She was a good mage, one might even call her prodigal. However, in her own admittance, she was probably one of the worst students Celestia had ever had. But she learned things quickly, and was always striving to learn more. Her quest for knowledge could not be satiated. Yet, Celestia would probably connect that to her idea that Sunset was also power-hungry.

In reflection, Sunset found that she was agreeing with many of the things that her teacher had said about her. She was rude, insolent, conceited, and horrible to most of the ponies in this palace. She failed to show even the most basic of respect to the Princess of all ponies. Sunset was a horrible pony.

"I- I can't," she finally said quietly. "I can't think of a good reason." Tears began to well at the corners of her eyes. The reality of the situation was finally taking its toll on her, and she didn't know if she could take it much longer. Sunset had not cried since she was a little filly, but she did not know if she could hold it back now.

"Nothing?" questioned Celestia, flatly. "Nothing at all?"

The lack of emotion in the alicorn's voice shook Sunset. This was a new experience for her, a position she never expected to be in. Up until now, she had thought herself untouchable. But it was quickly being revealed that she was helpless. In that instant, the unicorn realized that she depended on Celestia for everything, and it was all going to be taken away.

The dam finally broke, and tears streamed down Sunset's cheeks as sobbed, collapsing forward in a pathetic heap before Celestia. "P-please P-princess," she cried out. "Please d-don't send me away!" Her tears soaked into the carpet against her face as she begged. "I'll do better, I'll b-be better! I'm so sorry!" She choked as she spoke, fighting through the tears. "I promise I will change!"

A golden-clad hoof rested itself on Sunset's shaking shoulder, and the unicorn looked up at Celestia. Her teacher's eyes were softer than they were before, but her face was still stern. A handkerchief was levitated over to her, and Sunset took it hesitantly.

"Dry your tears, Sunset," said Celestia. "I will not be sending you away." Sunset went to speak but the Princess silenced her with a hoof. "But, this is your last chance. Your final warning," Celestia said. "You have promised me you will change, and I expect you to do so. There will be no more chances."

Sunset nodded, blinking away the last of her tears in relief. "I understand, Princess."

"I hope for your sake that you do."

The alicorn's words carried a heavy weight, and Sunset could not help but be fearful of the consequences should she break her promise.

"Take a moment to collect yourself," Celestia said after a moment. "There is more I wanted to discuss with you today."

Sunset wiped her face with the silken cloth, and folded it neatly on the table. "What is it you wished to discuss with me, Princess?" she asked quietly. Her voice held a degree of politeness that Celestia had not heard in many years from her student. At least not genuinely.

The Princess sighed. "I wanted to discuss your accusations at dinner a few nights ago," she said. "As valid as your concerns were, that was not the time or place to go about voicing them. Definitely not the manner in which you did, either."

"Wait," Sunset said. "What do you mean by 'valid?' Do you mean I was right?"

"Are you doubting the conclusion you came to?" Celestia asked in return.

The unicorn thought for a moment, before shaking her head. "No. I know what I saw," she said firmly.

Celestia nodded. "And I believe you," she said. "However, I also believe Cadence." Sunset raised an eyebrow questioningly. "Cadence does not believe she is intentionally manipulating you with her magic, and neither do I," Celestia explained. "However it is not outside of the realm of possibility that she is unknowingly using her magic. After all, she does not exactly know how to control it."

"But she is manipulating me," said Sunset quietly. "You just said so yourself."

To the unicorn's surprise, her teacher's eyes sparkled with mirth. "Cadence's magic does not create love, Sunset. She can not manipulate you by 'making you love her.'" She explained with a small smile. "Her magic can only affect what is already there. Perhaps you are in love with her and you do not even know it!"

"P-princess!" Sunset gasped, blushing at what Celestia was suggesting.

The alicorn laughed lightly at Sunset's discomfort, which despite the unicorn's embarrassment, was a welcome change to the tone she had only a few minutes prior. "I speak in jest," she said. "The feeling in the room was too stiff."

Sunset balked. "O-oh," she mumbled.

"But," added Celestia. "I was not lying. Her magic is incapable of creating love where there is none. It is not necessarily true that you love her, but I think that deep down, you do indeed care about her in some small amount."

The unicorn sat in silence, digesting Celestia's words. Even though the Princess had been making a joke before, her second affirmation did not seem too far off of her original comment.

"I just want you to think about it," the alicorn's voice interrupted her thoughts. "You are free to go."

Sunset nodded and stood, idly walking towards the door. She was still lost in her thoughts, and the implications of her teacher's words still ringing in her ears.

"Oh, and Sunset?"

She turned back to look at Celestia. "Yes, Princess?"

The Princess gave her a soft smile. "For the love of all that is good, will you please try to be a bit friendlier to her? She is all alone except for us."

Sunset nodded, Celestia's earlier warning echoing in her mind.

"I will do my best, Princess."

Author's Note:

Sunset seems to finally realize that her actions have consequences. Maybe she will do better.

Comments

[Vaguely Demented]

Celestia continues to be a dick I see.

[JustFalcon]

Good. Now Sunset has had the feal of God into her maybe she can get cracking on being the badass who isn't a whiny bitch we all know she can be.

[ModMCdl]

10424799
That's usually her MO

[Vaguely Demented]

10425253
True. I feel it bears noting on occasion for whatever reason.

[ModMCdl]

10425276
I wasn't particularly trying to make her out to be a massive asshole. However the more I looked into her and Sunset's relationship, (and even her and Twilight's to an extent), I felt that she always has this aura of apathy in the beginning. I think it just translated into dickishness in this story lol.

[Vaguely Demented]

10425361
Yeah, I’ve always viewed it as a sort of jaded planning. Celestia has spent centuries working toward goals and I think that taking such a long term approach to things lessens her finesse when it comes to more short term worries and actions. Sunset and Twilight are sort of the ultimate proof of that. Sunset was brought up with expectations that made her take too much for granted, then Twilight was brought up with no expectations so she panics and self doubts much of the time. Celestia is more than capable of learning, but it seems like she needs something earth shattering to push her into concluding that her methods need to change. As such while she did know to teach Twilight differently than Sunset she only grasped that the method needed adjustments rather than concluding that she needed to observe the effects her lessons have and make adjustments as time went on. It’s either that or she just decided that Twilights neurosis were within acceptable parameters and didn’t make any effort to help her with them.

[ModMCdl]

10425381

she just decided that Twilights neurosis were within acceptable parameters

HAHA! I think this is greatest analysis of Celestia's teaching that I've ever read!

[Admiral Q Ponyform]

Well Celestia lucked out there. That could have backfired spectacularly. Evening tide should be fired.

And note some the earlier comments I don't think Celestia even learns from her mistakes. She keeps making the core one. Not reading her ponies, she failed with her sister, failed with canon Sunset, and failed at the wedding.

[chris the cynic]

What stands out to me here is not that Celestia is being an asshole, though she certainly is, but rather that she's being stupid. Eventide is lying to her, and she's lapping it up even though Eventide is lying badly.

Specifically:

So far, Sunset's residence and studies here have been absolute.

That isn't true and they both know it.

Celestia took away half of Sunset's living space, destroying her lab in the process, in Chapter 1. Sunset has known since then that her residence isn't absolute, and (because of the lab) that Cadence is a direct and immediate threat to her studies. Sure, she was (presumably) acting out before that, but the majority of Sunset's behavior in this story is because Celestia showed Sunset that she's on the verge of being discarded.

Remember, Celestia chose not to tell Sunset beforehand. She just sent in maids and guards to take away the space that Sunset thought was her own. The "guards" part is particularly notable. Whether you think of them as police or the military doesn't really matter, Celestia sent a group of ponies trained for violence to deliver the message that Sunset doesn't even have renter's rights. If Celestia were Sunset's landlord, that would be illegal, but Celestia is Sunset's Princess, and that means that Sunset has no protection.

By the time Eventide said that, Sunset had been fighting tooth and hoof* too keep what little she had for six chapters because she learned that Celestia can and will take anything (and, by extension, everything) she has without consultation and, indeed, without warning.

Celestia knows this, Eventide knows this, "at least a dozen maids, guards, and general staff ponies" know this. It's a fair bet that half of the castle knows this. Literally the only thing we can say with any kind of certainty about Sunset's accommodations is that they are not assured. They are not remotely assured. Then Eventide tells Celestia, "Everything you know is a lie, you can't trust your memories and your senses are faulty, up is down, black is white, and the one thing --quite definitely and without doubt the only thing-- that has been true about Sunset's accommodations [for this entire story]† is false," and Celestia believes it.

Unless there's mind control at play here, this version of Celestia is stupid.

I mean . . . that or she's evil. If Celestia is trying to emotionally break Sunset, then we could pass off her response to Eventide as getting an idea from it instead of being stupid enough to believe it. I haven't seen any evidence that Celestia wants to hurt Sunset, and she doesn't strike me as a cackling villain who delights in the pain of those she has power over, so I reject the idea that she's evil, which leaves us with stupid. That said, I'd be remiss if I didn't at least acknowledge that "evil" does, theoretically, exist as an alternative to "stupid" when it comes to interpreting her actions here.

If I'm completely wrong, and Celestia really is being evil here, then this is supremely well played.

From the start, the only thing Sunset thought she had going for her was her belief that --even though Celestia had proven that she could and, if given a reason, would get rid of her-- Celestia didn't particularly want to get rid of her. The outburst that this is a follow up to was Sunset gambling that Celestia cared enough about Sunset to act against someone who was manipulating Sunset. Celestia just demolished that belief. Sunset has nothing left.

Sunset breaking down crying here is us seeing one of the more positive possible outcomes of that little exchange.

In fact, Sunset actually took this remarkably well. She seems to be impressively stable for someone with no real non-Celestia connections of any kind and nothing to call her own. It's not as though she has any kind of support network to fall back on. She can't comfort herself with "At least [friend or relative] still cares about me," for example. Neither can she really tell herself, "Well I still have [thing]," about any [thing] that might be significant. In spite of that, her response is just tears and fear; there's no despondency, and there certainly isn't anything worse. It's kind of impressive.

Then again, Sunset Shimmer has always been a survivor,‡ so I suppose that's the reaction one expects.

---

* A hoof is a type of nail, true, so ponies do have nails, but no one calls a hoof a "nail", so I figure "tooth and nail" becomes "tooth and hoof".

† Sorry for not doing a full reread to check how much in-universe time that is, but it's late here.

‡ Her debut was her thriving in a world she came to with nothing. If canon-Celestia is to be believed about how little the pony side knows about the human world, that doesn't just mean Sunset had no resources and no legal existence, it also means that she didn't have any real sense of the culture she was diving into.

Regardless, I figure that "since the character first appeared" counts as "always".

[ModMCdl]

10427613
I don't think I can address everything you said, but I will say this. The dichotomy of Celestia and Sunset is one of the key points here:

A). Celestia has watched Sunset slowly descend into this pit of pretentiousness and rudeness. This was established in cannon, so it's implied (and hinted) in the first chapter. She sees increasingly negative attributes of Sunset's character, and psych 101, will continue to see more and more as they're pointed out because she's now looking for them. Thus, she will increasingly make assumptions in that bias.

B). Sunset will see everything Celestia does as supporting Cadence, because everything levied against her recently has been surrounding Cadence. She feels that Cadence stole what was rightfully hers, and that Celestia was the one who gave Cadence the opportunity to. Thus, she will assume that Celestia will support Cadence over her.

Lastly, I have one problem with the statement:

So far, Sunset's residence and studies here have been absolute.
That isn't true and they both know it.
Celestia took away half of Sunset's living space, destroying her lab in the process, in Chapter 1. Sunset has known since then that her residence isn't absolute,

Sunset loosing her lab is not being thrown out of the castle. Celestia would not have thrown her out on the street, and Eventide's point is valid. Sunset is acting like she is Celestia's equal, and that is not true. The seneschal to a princess would know this, and most definitely inform their regency to act upon it.

[Bicyclette]

"And with Sunset, it seems you may be trying to wield three."

gottem!

Over the past few years, Sunset had repeatedly pushed the limits of what she could do.

Ah, that definitely places Chapter 1 Sunset in a better context.

The Princess gave her a soft smile.

The relationship between this Celestia and Sunset is very strange. Celestia had to be convinced to issue an ultimatum, so when she does, her wrath must have been an act. And then the sudden shift to an unrelated matter, and into softness? Very unnerving. Really feels like Celestia is the one manipulating Sunset here, with a sociopathic lack of concern for the unicorn. Makes sense why Sunset wanted to get out of there.

[hmaf43]

This sunset is wimpy as fuck.
But i guess it's closer to cannon. The cannon sunset get fucked easily by cyberbullying after all.