> Sunset Sparkle, Clash Of Magical Prodigies > by SilverTongueOfCanterlot > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Chapter 1: The Prodigal Sun Returns > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Twilight Sparkle was sitting at a desk in her library, a quill held in her magic as she wrote to her beloved mentor. "Dear Princess Celestia." she read aloud. "I have finally completed the task you assigned me and, researching some old reference guides, discovered four new elements of Harmony yet to be discovered, these elements once bonded to a barer like the six my friends and I already posses, will increase the elements power exponentially. I will send a follow up report once I have deduced the location of all four, however I do know that the first of the four new elements, the element of Trust, resides in the lake behind the garden Discord was placed in when he was a statue. I believe guards should be dispatched to retrieve it as soon as possible, your faithful student Twilight Sparkle." She rolled up the letter and handed it to Spike. "Alrighty, one letter to the princess going out." Spike said before breathing emerald flames onto the letter, making it fly out the window to the princess as a puff of smoke. "Hey Twilight, I'm gonna go head over to Rarity's is that alright?" the dragon asked. Twilight nodded. "Alright but if the Princess replies I want you to bring the reply right back here alright?" Spike nodded. "Yes ma'am!" Spike said excitedly, saluting Twilight and running off to Rarity's as fast as his little legs could carry him. Twilight shook her head with a smile, chuckling. "Little brother you've got a long way to go." Twilight said knowing full well Spike was only going to Rarity's to try score a date with her. "Hm let's see." Twilight levitated a schedule in front of her muzzle. "Huh, looks like I completed everything ahead of schedule." she then turned to the clock before giving a yawn. "Oh well.. guess I'll take a little nap, I was up pretty late last night." she said sleepily rubbing her eye with her hoof. As she passed a mirror Twilight saw her reflection, she had bags under her eyes, her mane was a tangle mess and her eyelids felt heavy. The lavender alicorn carried herself up to bed, her wings dragging behind her, giving another yawn as she climbed into bed and snuggled under the covers with a smile. The warm light of the sun shining down on her, making her feel warm and comfortable on her soft bed. Twilight managed to slip into a deep sleep but was abruptly woken as she suddenly heard a loud crash from downstairs. "Huh?!" she fell out of bed landing on the ground with a thud. "Oof! 'sigh' I swear if that's RainbowDash looking for the newest copy of Daring Do." she gave another, more frustrated sigh. "She knows it doesn't come out until next week." she got up, setting her blanket back on her bed and headed downstairs to find... nopony... anywhere, but a bunch of books were on the floor, a broken vase lay next to the messy pile. Twilight looked up and saw a gap on one of her shelves. "Hmm..." she used her magic to repair the vase and put it, and the books, back on the shelf. She looked around cautiously. "Hello?" she called out waiting a moment for a reply, when none came she repeated herself. "Hello... I know somepony is here so just come on out." Twilight really wasn't in the mood for any games right now. a suddenly noise made her turn to see an empty plate that had once carried a daisy sandwich spinning on the table, as if somepony had bumped into it. She walked over to it and placed a hoof on it, making it stop spinning before looking around again. "... Alright now enough horsing around, come on out!" a moment passed, then Twilight heard a faint muttering before her eyes caught sight of something. There, trapped in the crevice under the door to her broom closet was the tip of somepony's tail poking out from under the door. "Huh?" quietly but cautiously Twilight crept up to the closet door, taking a deep breath then she pressed her ear to the door, hearing somepony muttering something inside. "Ow ow ow ow ow!" Twilight then decided she'd had enough, using her magic she opened the door and an orange unicorn mare with a vibrantly yellow and red mane, a red and yellow Sun cutie mark, much like that of Celestia's golden solar orb adorning her flank, tumbled out of the closet landing face up on her back with an ungraceful "WOOAAAH!" of surprise. "Huh? Sunset Shimmer?" Twilight asked in Surprise. "What in the hey are you doing here?!" Sunset squinted her eyes up at Twilight before getting back up onto her hooves, glaring at the purple mare with a burning look of contempt and anger. "Oh like you wouldn't know, you tricked me Twilight Sparkle!" she yelled pointing a hoof accusingly at Twilight. "What?! Sunset what in the name of Celestia's mane are you talking about?!" Twilight replied, returning the former student of the sun princess's glare, not exactly in the mood for a game of guess why we're enemies. "look just explain to me what you're doing here, and what do you mean I tricked you?!" she asked thinking. 'sweet Celestia I got up for this?!' "Oh you know perfectly well why I am here, To reclaim what is rightfully Mine!" Sunset's horn glowed green as she concentrated on Twilight, charging a powerful and unfamiliar spell. Twilight's horn began to glow with a vibrant pink aura as she readied herself to counter Sunset's magic, the two mares lowered their heads as they prepared to fire. "Now I will reclaim my rightful place, and dispose of you, FOREVER!" As they opened fire on each other and their spells collided they were both knocked back by a concussive blast that rattled the entire library, making all sorts of things tumble and topple over, a stack of books landing on Sunset's head one by one as she slammed into a bookshelf. she spun her head dizzily then in her daze muttered. "Uuuuhhh I don't wanna go to school today mom." four miniature Celestia's circled her head reciting lessons to Sunset in a momentary vivid hallucination. Sunset shook her head, her dazed expression scrunching up into a glare as she returned to her hooves, Twilight meanwhile had slammed into the wall opposite Sunset and gotten her horn stuck a mouse hole leaving her vulnerable as she attempted to free herself, bent over in an undignified position. Sunset smirked. "Ah, perfect. nothing easier then a stationary target." she said taking aim for another attack. As the bolt of green magic hurtled towards Twilight she desperately tried to perform a short distance teleportation spell to save herself, this tactic was most effective as Twilight managed to disappear just in time for the mouse to scamper out to complain, getting hit by the blast and transforming into a slice of strawberry shortcake. Then Twilight appeared behind Sunset, making her eyes bulge wide and a slight blush spread across her face as she said. "Huh, you're more like Celestia then you admit." she giggled. "Sh-shut up!" Sunset yelled turning just in time to see Twilight's horn, glowing as she resisted blasting Sunset where she stood like a police officer pointing at a gun to a criminal, making Sunset freeze and raise her hoofs in a surrender like pose. Twilight let loose her magic and Sunset flinched, as she opened her eyes she saw Twilight's shot completely missed her. "Ha! you're aim is terrible!" Twilight smirked. "Look again Sunset." she said confidently and Sunset looked up, watching as the lamp above her head suddenly turned into a tractor tire which dropped down onto her, constricting her hooves and causing her to fall on her flank. "Ngh! Hngh! Gah! Let me go!" she screamed thrashing around, Twilight rolled her eyes. "Really? come on what are you? a little filly? just calm down!" she scolded Sunset. As Twilight stepped closer to the struggling mare Sunset kicked her hind legs, hitting Twilight smack in the face, breaking her concentration and breaking the spell over the tire, turning it back into a lamp at Sunset's side. "Ow!" Twilight cried out in pain bringing her hooves to her muzzle. "My nose! why in Luna's name would you do that?!" she asked furiously as Sunset Shimmer returned to all fours and let off a magical blast in Twilight's direction, as the bolt of green magic came closer Twilight just managed to avoid it, jumping out of the way and causing it to rebound off of the mirror behind her back at Sunset who went wide eyed. "Uh oh." she said quietly and a little scared as the spell collided with her and in a puff of green smoke Sunset looked down to see she had turned herself into a little Filly. Twilight stood over her, giving her a stern face like an overbearing babysitter about to scold the filly she was looking after for sneaking cookies from the jar. "Now look what you made me do!" Sunset yelled out in an adorable little voice, Twilight's lip quivered slightly as she fought back a smile and snickered. Then Composing herself Twilight retorted. "Now don't blame me, you did this to yourself, I wasn't exactly going to just stand there and let you zap me." "Why not?!" Sunset asked and Twilight froze for a moment thinking 'Is she being serious?' then realizing she was, finally allowed herself to laugh out loud, completely immobilized with laughter at how much of a filly the spell had made her. "Why you! hmmmm!" Sunset scrunched up her face and concentrating very hard reversed the spell she had put on herself returning to full size. Twilight suddenly stopped laughing as she looked up in wide eyed terror to see Sunset smirking down at her. "EEP!" she yelped in surprise. "Alright, my turn." Sunset said wickedly, using her magic to tie a rope around Twilight, as usual rushing her work, the knots would hold but not if Twilight struggled hard enough and her horn was completely unrestricted. "Now, lets see if this spell works." she said her horn glowing again as she charge an extremely powerful spell that Twilight didn't recognize, however she could feel it's power building to become almost at Celestia's level of skill. "S-Sunset! wait! that spell is too powerful! you won't be able to control it!" she warned her. "I am not like you Sparkle! my resolve is absolute! my skill unmatched! I!... I!" Sunset's expression became worried as the strain became too great, she started to panic as she quickly began losing control. "W-What's happening! I-I can't stop it!" Twilight, acting quickly tried to perform a counter spell, her horn glowing as bright as she could muster. As the spell finally released in a blinding flash, the entire town shook as a loud explosion sounded from the library. Twilight laid on her side, her head fuzzy and pounding from the loud ringing in her ears, her vision blurred as she looked around Frantically for Sunset Shimmer, completely shell shocked. However she was unable to locate Sunset before she quickly lost consciousness and blacked out. Twilight slowly opened her eyes, as she struggled to her hooves and looked up, she could instantly tell something was very, VERY wrong. The Library was shrouded in darkness, only a few candlelights flickering in the endless black void. as she slowly stepped forward Twilight brought her hoof to the mirror which was covered in dust, as she wiped it away and saw her eyes Twilight gasped. "No... no it can't be!" she muttered using her magic to lift a feather duster and wipe the rest away quicker, as she stared at her reflection she dropped the duster. Her eyes met those of her reflection, but they weren't her eyes, these eyes were like sparkling emeralds. Her coat wasn't it's usual lavender either, it was an amber orange and her mane was a messy red and yellow streaked flame like style as apposed to her neat and tidy purple mane with pink highlights. Her cuitemark had also changed, no longer the radiant sparkling stars but a blazing sun, Twilight Sparkle stared at her reflection and staring back at her with an equal look of shock and horror... was Sunset shimmer. "H-How?!" she asked beginning to panic "How is this possible?!" "Well she has to be here somewhere." a familiar voice sounded from outside the library, just beyond the door behind Twilight. "RainbowDash?" Twilight then turned as she heard more voices. "Oh my, I hope she's alright." Fluttershy said timidly before Rarity added. "I'm sure she's fine darling, after all this is Twilight we're talking about, she is prepared for anything.... well except a fashion disaster but luckily that's what i'm here for." "Well ah still think we should check up on her, just to be safe." Applejack said and Twilight felt warm tears roll down her cheeks as she bolted for the door. "Applejack! Rarity! Rainbow! I was so worried!" She opened the door and Twilight's smile suddenly faded as she saw the shocked, then furious faces of her friends. "G-girls?.. w-what's wrong?" Twilight asked worriedly and a little confused. "Sunset Shimmer?!" Rarity asked in disbelief. "What've you done with Twilight?!" Rainbowdash asked pointing her hoof at her, Twilight slowly backed away as her friends stepped forward into the Library, slowly backing her into a corner. "N-No! wait! girls please! I'm not Sunset Shimmer! it's me Twilight!" Twilight tried to explain but Pinkiepie cut her off. "Liar liar Flank on fire!" then looking at her tail she remarked. "Actually it kinda looks like it is with your tail like that." "Ahem!" Rarity interrupted. "Pinkiepie dear, the point?" "Oh yeah." Pinkie said re-boarding her train of thought. "Nopony likes a liar Sunset, I saw Twilight this morning!" "Huh?!" Twilight cried out, terrified and shocked at what Pinkie had just said. "What's going on here?" a familiar voice asked from the doorway, Twilight looked past her friends who were still all crowded around her and the sight she beheld made her feel like she might drop dead of a heart attack. There Standing in the doorway... was Twilight Sparkle, her wings outstretched as she beheld the state of her library. It was a bombsite, everything was out of place and half of it broken, soot covered the walls and there were scorch marks where Twilight had woken up on her side. Then the other Twilight looked over at the pony the rest of the main six were crowded around, tucking her wings in as her expression changed from surprise to annoyance. "Oh.. it's you, what are you doing here?" she asked sternly. Twilight couldn't speak, how could she? What could she possibly say to explain what was going on here? She was staring directly at herself through Sunset Shimmer's eyes while her friends all glared at her as if she'd just barged in proclaiming herself queen of equestria. The other Twilight gave a sigh. "I've had about enough of this... I'm done playing nice, Spike fetch the elements." The other Twilight said turning to the dragon beside her. "Right." Spike said saluting her and heading towards the stairs. "Huh? No Spike, Wait!" Twilight called after him but Spike didn't even pause as he ran up the stairs to where the Elements were being kept. "Oh just give up." the other Twilight said making Twilight turn back to her as the others all closed in, cutting off her retreat. "You've lost, how long before you get that through your thick skull? You had power beyond measure but it was never enough for you was it?" she asked sternly. "Well i've had enough!" Twilight coward as the other Twilight stamped her hoof for emphasis. "B-But! I'm Twilight Sparkle!" Twilight insisted placing a hoof on her chest. "Applejack, please surely you can see i'm not lying!" she pleaded hopefully. Applejack merely scowled and shook her head. "Yer right, ah can tell when a pony's lyin, or so ah thought, with you Sunset ah reckon ah can't tell an apple from an orange." Twilight felt her heart sink in her chest, Spike returned holding the elements as he passed them out to the six ponies and they all took their places facing Twilight. "Girls! please, you have to believe me! I'm not Sunset Shimmer, I'm Twilight!" she pleaded again but her pleas fell upon deaf ears as her friends simply glared at her, the other Twilight slowly opening her eyes as they glowed a pale white, her iris's and pupils completely gone. "I'm sorry Sunset Shimmer." the other Twilight said. "But this is the last straw, disappear! FOR GOOD!" as the Elements all shot a beam of light towards the other Twilight's crown, Twilight stared in wide eyed horror as a blinding white light followed by a prismatic aura flung itself towards her and in a blinding flash she felt the heat of a thousand suns begin to burn her alive. she screamed in agony and terror as fear and pain clutched her chest and within a matter of minutes... Only blackness remained, blackness... And a deadly silence.