Once upon a time you died a death you will never remember. You believe this will be the end. Fortunately, the light heading your way growing brighter and larger seems to promise otherwise. As the empty void around you fleas from the light, you begin to feel familiar sensations. Unfortunately, one of them you wish you could have been left without. A pit in your newly forming gut tells you there was something in your past life you were denied. Something small, yet so crucial, it's absence leaves a hole you wish to fill, even as you begin your new life.
As you open your eyes you see a feminine equine with a horn on it's head standing above you. Her coat is a bright orange and her mane is a mix of yellow and red, the rest of her obscured by a cloak. A name comes to mind even though you can't remember meeting her before. Not that you remember much of anything of your past life. "Good, your breathing." She proclaims. "A spell this complex has a tendency to require a few practice casts to work out the kinks. Fortunately for you, I am more talented than even I gave me credit for. You should know my name, but just to get introductions out of the way my name is Sunset Shimmer. Do you have a name, or am I going to have to give you one?"
As you absorb your situation and the information given to you, you begin to look over yourself. "I don't remember if I..." Before you finish your sentence, you begin to realize a horrifying fact. As your eyes widen and your breath quickens, you look from Sunset to yourself again and again, each time the fear in your gut growing larger and larger until this information can not be denied. You are not only her species.
You. Are! HER!!! "AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!"
"As much as I can see finding out you are a clone can be rather scary. I am going to have to ask you to please shut the hay up." A small amount of fear is replaced with contempt at her words. "I created you to help me with my research, not to wake up the whole castle." As you place your eyes back on Sunset you notice a dome of light surrounding the two of you. "So." Sunset continues. "You have no name and no knowledge of being a clone?" Sunset places a hoof to her chin in contemplation as looks to your flank to see no cutie mark. "Well, as I said before, kinks are to be expected when casting a new spell. Still, I suppose this isn't too bad a side effect. As for the name. I think I'll go with something simple. From now on your name is Twin-Sun Shimmer."
Your fear is fully consumed by contempt as you stand to your hooves. "What?" You scream. "Your just going to name me after yourself?"
"I don't see why not." She huffs. "I am your creator after all. I brought you into this world, therefore, I get to name you as I please."
Your contempt disappears as your eyes widen again, this time misted with tears as you begin to recall her words. Creator? Brought me into this world? "Does... Does that mean your my M-mom?"
Sunset's frown deepens as her eyebrows harden. "Don't call me that. I will not be your mother. Maybe I did give you life, but you are a fully functional individual, and I will treat you as such."
"Oh." You hang your head as you begin to feel that pit in your stomach resurface stronger than before, your tears flowing faster as you contemplate why you even care, only to come up without an answer.
Sunset gives you a studying glance before then giving you a knowing smile. "I created you with all of my knowledge, so you should know what I want, where I can find what I want, and how you can help me get what I want. Correct?"
You eye Sunset with a questioning glance. "You want to learn about the mirror and ascension and you believe we can find the information we need in this library."
"Yes exactly. Now we've wasted enough time. We could be caught at any moment and I don't think Celestia will be very happy finding me in the restricted section. Never mind with a second me. And seeing as you seem so insistent on seeing me as your mother. If you help me find a way to ascend, I'll let you ascend as well, and I will adopt you as my daughter."
Before Sunset can say another word you wrap your hooves around her in a tight embrace. "Thank you thank you thank you."
"Let go of me right now." She commands.
Realizing your mistake you quickly let go of her and hang your head, tears once again leaving your eyes. "Sorry Mo- I mean Sunset."
Sunset holds her temple with a hoof trying to relieve some of her anger. "Lets just get to work now shall we? Your not going to become anypony's daughter if Celestia finds us here and decides clones are too dangerous to allow them to exist."
Your heart stops for a moment as you think of the implications. "Y-you don't really think she would-" You swallow a lump in your throat.
"In all honesty. I don't. But then I've come to realize, I don't know as much about her as I thought I did. Now, come on and help me find answers."
Looking through book after book you begin to discover the extent of the knowledge that has been pushed upon you little by little, as though the books themselves were teaching you about not just how to use them properly, but the very world you now inhabit and the secrets of magics you could never have imagined. As the information continues to enter your brain, you drop your books and hold your head in an attempt to stop the rising pain.
"Hey." Sunset calls out as she trots back your way. "We don't have time for this." As you turn back to her with a pleading look you see her horn light up as your head begins to calm. "That should help with the pain. I'll give you a few minutes, but..." Looking back to the book in Sunset's view you wander what she's found. "WHAT THE HAY IS THIS?!" She screams.
"Princess." You hear a guard call out from afar before he gallops away.
Looking in the direction the guard left for only a moment, Sunset turns her gaze back your way. "Go hide as best you can." Without another word you gallop off to find a place to hide behind the wall of an open doorway.
As you hear the sound of hooves getting closer you begin to feel your fear resurface. Peeking from the doorway you see the one pony you hope you will never have to meet. As large as two or three of you, a coat as white as clouds, and a mane bright and colorful flowing with magic, her head adorned with a long horn and large wing connect to each side of her barrel. "Celestia." Grasping your muzzle you hope nopony heard your announcement.
From your hiding place you watch as Sunset and Celestia argue amongst each other. "Liar." Your fear grows again as Sunset throws her book at Celestia. As their conversation goes on you see Sunset grow angrier until she breaks into tears her features revealing sadness, only to soon become angrier than ever. Meanwhile, Celestia reveals no emotion until the end of their argument as her face shows more disappointment than anger, and her wings flare out with authority. As the guards take Sunset away Celestia looks back your way. The sound of her hooves leaving the library tell you she did not see you.
A few minutes later you note that, apart from yourself, the library remains empty of occupants. Deciding now would be the best time to act, you leave your hiding spot to look for a few more books to study. The book Sunset had been interested in seems like an obvious choice. Next you gather a book about a powerful relic used by an evil sorcerer named Grogar and a book you can't help but find fascination in yourself about something called the elements of harmony. And finally, a book with a recipe for an age reduction potion.
Before you can begin reading your small collection of books, you hear hooves running back towards the library. In a panic, with books in hoof, you hide in the closest hiding spot you can find. Under the table, right in the middle of the room, covered only by a table cloth. It doesn't take long to find out who's hooves you hear. "Twin-Sun." You hear Sunset call.
You lift the cloth so you and Sunset can see each other. "I'm down here."
Sunset snaps her gaze your way before proclaiming. "I'm leaving through the mirror to search for answers. I need you to continue your own search on this side, understand?"
You nod your head. "Yes ma'am."
Sunset gives a small huff and hardens her gaze at you for a moment before giving a commanding look. "And remember. When we ascend, only then will I adopt you." Sunset tosses you the cloak she was wearing. "Wear this. You have no cutie mark and I need ponies to believe you are me for as long as possible."
With her commands firmly in your mind, you watch as she steps through the mirror. "Don't worry mom. I'll make you proud." Just as you finish your own proclamation, you hear the frantic clopping of another pony's hooves and drop the cloth to again hide yourself from view.
You hear the other pony stop were you last saw Sunset before then hearing the sound of magic taking shape, or perhaps losing shape. "No!" You hear Celestia scream at which you feel your fear increase. "It can't be closed, not now of all times." You hear the sound of a hoof touching glass. And then you hear sobs. "Sunset. What have I done?" Your fear diminishes as you listen to the sad display. "Stay safe Sunny."
As you hear hoof steps leave the library, you risk a peak to see Celestia leaving, a trail of tears in her wake. Calming yourself, you put on the cloak Sunset gave you and return to your task. You are about to take the books out of the library, when information surfaces, telling you there are enchantments to prevent this or making magical copies of the books themselves. You find some paper and a quill, and summon ink from Sunset's room. You lay yourself down, open the books before you and copy anything you deem important.
After hours of writing you summon a satchel to gather your papers into before casting another spell brought to your mind, this one making it harder for others to notice you. As you step out of the restricted library, you hear your stomach growl as if to beg for food. Spell or no spell, such a noise will make it almost impossible to escape the castle undetected. With little choice other than to move forward, you make your way through the library carefully watching for guards.
You see a unicorn guard standing spear in hoof in front of the entrance. You gather a nearby book in your hoof and chuck it at a bookshelf causing many of it's contents to spill out before ducking behind another. "Huh?" The guard asks before moving to inspect the mess. "What was that noise?"
As the guard searches the library for the perpetrator, you make your way out, and slowly make your way down the hall making sure you are not followed. As you turn around, you give a small gasp as you notice you nearly bumped into a guard...
As you look closer you notice it was just a suit of armor. Sighing in relief, you continue down the hall, taking extra care not to make the same mistake in front of any armor with inhabitants greater than 0.
As you near the exit of the castle you see four guards standing in place. Two outside, and two in the hall leading outside. Thinking this would be the worst time for your stomach to speak it's opinions on the value of your life, you head back toward the kitchen.
You decide to use paper and quill to make an order for what your thoughts tell you is mother's favorite breakfast item, apple fritters, before setting said order on a nearby table. You watch as a waitress comes by your table and take your paper just as your stomach lets her know of it's unwillingness to wait. "Sunset?" The waitress asks. "Didn't the princess banish you?"
You give her a pleading look "Yes." You answer. "But she said I could get something on the way out."
"You really think I'm going to buy that. Especially while your wearing something like that?"
"Ummm."
The waitress gives a small sigh. "I'm going to feed you this time. But I'm going to make sure you leave when your done. And don't think the princess isn't going to hear about this."
You nod your head. "Thanks."
As you eat your fritters, the waitress sits with you. "So?" She asks. "What did you do to get kicked out."
"I'm pretty sure what I did is classified information."
"That bad huh?"
You shrug your shoulders. "I think I was trying to learn things she thinks I'm not ready for. I'm not really entirely sure."
"How can you not know what you did?"
You turn your head away from her. "It's complicated."
"I've got time for complicated. I happen to be on brake."
You look back at the waitress with a worried glance. "What do you think Celestia thinks of clones?"
"Clones?" She asks with confusion on her face. "Is that what this is about? I could see why Celestia would be weary of them given how bad a changeling infestation can be, but if we're talking about cloning ones self, I don't see much of a problem with that." She puts a hoof to her muzzle in thought. "But then again, I haven't been around nearly as long as she has, so If she says clones are bad, I guess I'm just going to have to trust her."
You sink a little into your seat "Oh."
"But hey. I bet if you were to tell the princess..."
"NO!" You scream as you jump to your hooves.
The waitress just stares at you a moment in shock. "Now Sunset." She scolds you "This is no time for you to protect your pride. If the princess thinks you've done something wrong, you should at least hear her opinion. Who knows. If you respect her opinions, she may just see were your coming from with yours and change her mind."
Before you can continue your conversation, a guard enters the kitchen to see what the commotion is about. "Sunset?" He proclaims. "The princess has ordered you banished from the castle, please stop procrastinating and leave."
"Huh" You think to yourself. "Did what happened with Mom not reach the rest of the guards yet?"
"Am I going to have to call for the princess?" He threatens.
"No. I'm going." As you leave you notice the guards aren't nearly as interested in you as you had imagined.
Just as you leave the castle, a certain princess makes her way to the kitchen. "Bring me your freshest carrot cake." Celestia orders.
"Good afternoon princess." The waitress greets. "Before I get to your order I feel I must inform you that Sunset was in the kitchen but a moment ago and has only just left the castle."
Celestia looks to the waitress with wide hopeful eyes. "Sunset Shimmer was just here?" Before the waitress can answer, Celestia bols as fast as she can to see her little sun.
As you walk down the concrete path you hear hooves galop your way and look back to see it is Celestia. "Sunset Shimmer." Celestia calls to you. But before she can reach you, you clutch your satchel to your chest and teleport far away almost on instinct.
One moment you were watching Celestia running toward you, the next you feel your own magic envelop you before hearing a pop sound and finding yourself above a trash can, knocking it over as you fall in face first. "Hey!" A masculine voice berates you as you turn around to see a unicorn stallion with a silver coat, his mane and tail a mix of silver and black. His anger turns to sympathy as he watches a banana peel drop from atop the muzzle of a pony he recognizes. "Sunset Shimmer? not even a day and your already stooping to eating garbage?"
After searching your mind for information on the pony in front of you and finding nothing, you decide to expand said knowledge with a question. "Who are you?"
With that one question, his expression changes once again, this time to one of sadness. "I realize you hardly interact with others, but to hear you don't even remember my face hurts a little." He sighs and recomposes himself before continuing. "My name is Silver Smith. Your father is one of my investors. I also consider him to be a friend."
"Sunset has a father?" You think to yourself. "Why don't I have that information? Seems like something that should be important."
Silver Smith walks in back of you and pushes you forward. "Alright now filly, let's get you home."
As you begin walking on your own, another question enters your thoughts. "Did you know Su-, I mean I got kicked out of the castle?"
"You were the princess's personal student. News this big tends to get around fast when ponies social lives live and die on social relevance." Your ears droop as you process this new information.
You find yourself walking, alongside Silver Smith, up to a large home surrounded by other large homes, all with their own gates and decently sized lawns. The door opens a few moments after Silver Smith knocks to reveal a stallion with an amber coat and a mane and tail a mix of yellow and light blue. "Good afternoon Silver Smith." The stallion of the house welcomes.
"Good afternoon Sunlight Mirror." Silver Smith greets back as he waves you forward. "I caught your daughter eating out of my trash and decided to bring her home."
Sunlight Mirror gives you a hug before moving back to meet your gaze, his hooves still on your shoulders. "You were eating garbage? have your mother and I not taught you manners?"
With no information to draw a conclusion from, all you feel you can do is shrug your shoulders. "I honestly don't remember."
His lips droop into a frown before he answers. "Sunset Shimmer." He gives a thoughtful look before he begins anew with a sigh. "I suppose your mother and I haven't given you much attention have we? And it only got worse since Celestia took you on as her personal student. Come in we'll talk more inside."
As you and Silver Smith head inside a unicorn mare with a light blue coat her mane and tail a mix of red and yellow and a cutie mark of a gold coin being painted walks down stares to meet Sunlight Mirror. "I want a divorce."
"What?" Sunlight asks in surprise.
"You heard me. I want a divorce. I know the ponies you do business with no longer want anything to do with you anymore. You and I both know what that means, and I need a pony who can take care of me and my filly."
"Your leaving me because of money?" He exclaims.
"Mom always told me I was a fool for marrying a stallion who doesn't live by their cutie mark. You had money so I figured she didn't know what she was talking about, but it looks like I was the one who didn't know after all." At her words you look to Sunlight's flank to see a mirror with light shining off of it. She then turns to you. "As for you young lady. We need to work to get you back into Celestia's good graces."
Your eyes go wide at the idea of confronting the alicorn in question. "No thank you. I have other plans."
"Other plans?" She questions. "Do you not know the position you were in as her student?"
Sunlight moves between you and the mare. "Painted Coin, if she doesn't want to go back to being Celestia's student we shouldn't try to force her."
Painted Coin gives her soon to be ex a sneer and a huff. "Well it's not like you'll have much say in the matter when I take custody anyway."
"I don't want to talk about this in front of our child, can you just save this conversation for later?"
"Fine." Painted Coin Huffs while heading out the door. "But while you sit on your flank, I'm going to start looking for a lawyer."
After holding his head in his hoof for a moment he looks back to Silver Smith. "Smith, your heading down to ponyville soon, right?"
"Yes." Silver Smith responds. "Tomorrow in fact."
"Do you think you could take Sunset with you. I really don't want her around all this drama and I still need to make plans for the future."
"I suppose I could do that if Sunset is okay with it."
"Sure, why not?" You answer.
As you walk down the street Silver Smith gives you a question. "Do you have any business in ponyville or would you like me to give you some work while we're down there?"
"Actually." You begin. "Do you know how to get to the Everfree Forest?"
He turns his head in your direction with surprise on his muzzle. "What would a filly your age need to go into the Everfree Forest for?"
Your ears droop at his words. "Well. I need ingredients for a potion."
"And exactly how important is this potion?"
You give a sigh. "I've been given a fresh start and I want to make the most of it."
Silver Smith gives your words some thought before giving an answer. "I suppose I can understand that."
You ask your next question with hopeful eyes. "So you'll help me."
"Now look here. The everfree is no place for a filly your age. If you absolutely must have those ingredients, I'll hire somepony to gather them for you."
"I can take care of my-"
Before you continue, Silver Smith cuts your words off with a hoof. "I don't want to hear it little missy. Your father put me in charge of you while we're at ponyville and I am not going to just allow you to go into a monster infested forest. Besides, my policy would never allow me to forgive myself if something happened to you while you were in my care."
You look back to him with a questioning look. "What's a policy?"
He looks at you with a smile. "That little filly is something I'd love to explain." His eyes gleam with pride. "A policy is basically just a list of morals for somepony to live by. Something to believe in to keep them on the right path."
You look at him with surprise. "Like a cutie mark on paper?"
Silver Smith gives a small chuckle at your comparison. "I believe a pony should live by more than just what their cutie mark tells them to. A policy they can believe in and live by. My policy is simple. Tell the truth as often as possible and give help to those who need it. Oh and remain loyal to those you love. I added that last one the day I married my wife."
As you recall the information your brain has on file about cutie marks, you look back to your own blank flank to contemplate what your own will be before taking a look at Silver Smith's cutie mark, a silver ring inside of a ring cast. "I don't have a cutie mark to tell me how to live." You think to yourself. "Maybe that just means I need a policy more than other ponies."
Silver Smith makes himself known as you and he enter his home. "Honey, I'm home, and I brought a guest."
You watch as a unicorn mare walks your way from what you can tell, from the appetizing aroma, is their kitchen. Her coat a lovely white and her mane and tail a brilliant silver. Her cutie mark is a cash register floating on water with a white flag depicting a silver ring sticking out of it. "Welcome home Muffin." The mare greets before giving her apparent husband mouth to mouth. Looking your way she then asks. "So who might our guest be?"
You contemplate whether you should tell them your real name or not when Silver Smith makes the decision for you. "This is Sunset Shimmer, Sunlight Mirror's daughter. She needs a place to stay for a while for reasons I think you and I should speak privately about."
"Hello Sunset. My name is Silver Sales. Dinner will be done soon. Why don't you go freshen up while you wait." After giving you directions she then turns to her husband as you leave. "I still have a meal to prepare, do you mind talking while I cook?"
"Not at all." He answers. "Lead the way my lady."
As you stare at yourself in the bathroom mirror, you ponder your situation, how you got here, and the meaning of your existence. Looking back to your flank you recall your conversation with Silver Smith. You take a seat on the toilet and with your magic remove a paper from your satchel to study, it's contents telling of artifacts called the elements of harmony. You can't recall why you decided to copy notes on the book, all you can say is it just seemed to speak to you.
"Honesty. Kindness. Laughter. Generosity. Loyalty." As you recall these elements, you can't help but think back to the topic of policy, the elements themselves seemingly creating the blueprints for a policy all there own. Well accept for the element of magic. "Then again these are relics of great power." You reason. "Perhaps they need the user to be powerful."
You take out a new paper, a quill and ink and begin writing up a paper you title "The Policy Of Harmony". "Honesty. Tell the truth as often as possible." "Kindness. Be nice to others as often as possible." "Laughter. Bring joy to those around you." "Generosity. Give help to those who need it." "Loyalty. Never betray a friend or leave them behind."
As you look back to the element of magic and measure it against the other elements, you begin to rethink it's purpose. With an idea of how you can fit it in with the others, you put your quill back to work. "Magic. Use all the power at your disposal to protect those who can't protect themselves."
Before you can truly appreciate your work, you hear Silver Sales call from the door. "Dinner is ready Sunset."
"I'm coming." You call back as you put your things away before flushing the toilet.
When you open the door you see Silver Sales standing before you. "Please wash your hooves before you leave the bathroom."
At that moment your brain sends you another bit of information that you wish it would of given you before you had embarrassed yourself. "Y-Yes ma'am." You answer with said embarrassment spread across your face as you slowly shut the door.
As you enter the dining room you see the two adult ponies of the house sitting at a rather large table alongside two younger unicorn ponies, one of them a filly who looks to be your age. Her coat is silver and her mane and tail are a full pink. The other is a colt who you can tell at a glance is younger than the filly. His coat is black and his mane and tale are silver.
"Take a seat Sunset." Silver Sales commands. "Eat your fill before it gets cold."
As you take your seat you look to see the food spread around the table. Plenty of options meet your gaze. However what truly catches your eye is what could very well be the best food on the table, if not in existence. A steaming plate of baked apple slices with a heavy scent of cinnamon.
As you reach out for the apples, a wooden spoon meets your hoof with a smack. "Dinner first." Silver Sales scolds. "You can have desert when your finished."
While you take from acceptable dishes, Silver Smith decides to introduce his family to you. "Sunset, these are our foals." He says pointing his hoof at the colt. "This is our son Silver Shade." He then points to the filly. "And this is our daughter Polished Silver." After introducing his foals, he then points your way. "Kids, this is Sunset Shimmer. She'll be staying with us while we're in ponyville."
As you look toward Silver Smith you recall the conversation you had with him that led you to write up your own policy. You wonder then if you should tell these ponies the truth about yourself. They could tell Celestia about you and then you'd have to face her. On the other hoof Silver Smith values honesty, the element that also happens to be at the top of your list. Besides you are searching for a way to ascend. Alicorns aren't just powerful, they are royalty. Surely such beings need good morals to rule their kingdom. If you don't start trying to live by those morals, how long will it be before you just give up on them. And then how will anypony be able to see you as worthy to rule anything. And then Sunset will never adopt you.
With a gulp and trembling hooves you decide to take the risk and trust the ponies before you with your future. "I... I have something to confess."
The ponies at the table all turn their eyes your way only making your anxiety worse. "Is something wrong filly?" Asks Silver Smith.
"I... I..." You take a deep breath to calm yourself before Clamping your eyes shut and blurting out. "I'm not Sunset Shimmer."
...
"Well then who are you?" Asks Polished Silver, her hooves crossed with a glare that shows irritation.
"Sunset?" Asks Silver Sales. "What are you trying to say?"
"My name isn't Sunset Shimmer." You answer. "Sunset Shimmer is my mother. My name is Twin-Sun Shimmer."
Polished Silver gives a snort. "Twin-Sun Shimmer? How very original." She says with sarcasm and rolling eyes.
"Polished Silver." Silver Sales warns.
"Please mom. you don't know her like I do. Sunset Shimmer will do anything it takes to get what she wants. She doesn't care who she hurts along the way. It's because of her that my friends stopped talking to me. Do you know how long it took me to convince them that I had nothing to do with the rumors she started?" She asks pointing an accusing hoof at you. "And now she's trying to get out of everything by claiming she's not the pony who did those things."
"But it's the truth." You say. "I'm a clone that Sunset created to help her with her research." You stand your front hooves on the table and turn so the others can see your flank before lifting your cloak. "See. I don't even have my cutie mark yet."
"So you hid your cutie mark?" Polished Silver asks. "Did you paint over it or is this a spell you came up with?"
"Polished Silver." Silver Sales scolds. "Stop antagonizing her." Silver Sales then turns her angry gaze your way. "And as for you young lady. Please sit down. Guest or not, you are in our care and I will have you spending the first day in ponyville locked in the guest room if this behavior continues. Am I understood?"
"But I-"
"Am I understood?"
Your ears droop as you sense the seriousness in her voice. "Yes ma'am."
"Good. Now if you wish to continue this, we can do so later in private."
"What?" Asks Polished Silver. "So you believe her."
"Sunset is a very powerful unicorn. Princess Celesita doesn't just take in anypony as her personal student after all. And we don't know why she was banished from the castle. For all we know, this may be the very reason. Of course we'll have to see a specialist to know for certain if she's telling us the truth."
"A specialist?" You ask with eyes wide open. "Will Celestia find out?"
"Most likely. Yes." Silver Sales answers.
"Yeah." Polished Silver taunts with a grin. "And then we'll all know your a liar."
"Polished Silver." Silver Sales berates. "Go to your room."
"But mom!"
"Do as your mother says." Silver Smith Commands. "Or maybe you would like me to take you outside and have you running laps around the estate."
With pure horror in her eyes, Polished Silver bolts to her room without another word.
You sit in the train heading for ponyville. Silver Smith sits next to you as you stare out the window watching the far off scenery as it seems to slowly move. Silver Sales sits on the seat in front of you, Polished Silver and Silver Shade sitting on either side of her. Silver Shade stands to peer out the window, his hooves firmly against it.
"So, Sunset. I mean Twin-Sun." Silver Smith begins. Polished Silver huffs and almost voices her argument before a stare from her mother reminds her of what almost happened the last time she went down that road. "Have you given any thought of your future?"
"My future?" You ask as you turn your eyes to his.
"Clone or not, it's never too early to start thinking about your place in the world."
Silver Shade searches through his bag before placing a book into your view, it's cover art featuring an earth pony mare in sunglasses, two long tails sticking out of the short dress she wears. She stands resolute before an ominous building in the distance, the faces of a griffon and a unicorn stallion above said building. The title reads Double-Tail Brazen and the Dangerous Duo. "This is Double-Tail Brazen." Silver Shade explains while pointing to the mare on the book. "She's a spy in a secret agency so secret nopony knows the name of it. She's the best in the agency and when I grow up I'm gonna be just like her."
"Why does she have two tails?" You ask.
"She doesn't. She just wears it in a way that makes it act like two to help her get out of tuff situations. I haven't been able to figure out how to do it yet though."
"That's just fiction." Polished Silver interjects. "Besides your good with magic, so why would you need two tails anyway."
"Your good with magic?" You ask.
"I'm the first unicorn in my class to use telekinesis." Silver Shade brags. "But I didn't get my cutie mark until the day I took Polished Silver's chair from the dinner table and used a spell that made it look like it was still there." Silver Shade gives a snicker before showing you his cutie mark. It features a transparent dagger surrounded by a silver mist.
"I'm pretty sure a dagger implies criminal activity." Polished Silver accuses with a smirk.
"What?" Silver Shade exclaims in offence as Polished Silver laughs in his direction. "No way. I'm gonna be the one stopping the bad guys. You'll see."
"Young lady." Silver Sales warns. "Apologize this instant or when we get to our ponyville home your father will have you running till lunch time."
Polished Silver looks to her father for help. "It was only a joke." Her father pulls out a whistle silently telling her she won't like the punch line. Her ears droop before she looks back to her brother with a sigh. "I'm sorry I called you a criminal."
"Mom says a hero should be forgiving." Silver Shade explains. "So I forgive you."
"That's my little hero." Silver Sales praises as she messes her son's mane before giving his forehead a kiss. Silver Shade gives a laugh at the attention.
"Polished Silver?" You ask "What's your cutie mark look like?"
Polished Silver looks your way "You want to see my cutie mark?"
"Yeah. Yours is the only one I haven't seen yet."
"Please Sunset." She huffs before showing you her cutie mark. "Ringing any bells?" Her cutie mark features a silver ring surrounded by what seems to be a magical aura.
"What's it mean?"
"I may not be as good at magic as my brother, but I still managed to get into Celestia's school for gifted unicorns because of my gift for enchanting objects." She stares back at you. "But then I've never known you to give much interest in other ponies talents. Your pretty good at acting. Maybe you should try joining the drama club."
"Polished Silver behave yourself." Her mother warns. "I'm not warning you again."
At that moment a giant rainbow could be seen spreading across Equestria with the sound of an explosion in the distance.
"Wow." Silver Shade exclaims his hooves again against the window. "Hey mom, what is that?"
"I don't know." Silver Sales answers. "But whatever it is, it looks quite lovely."
"Yeah." You agree, your eyes fixed on the rainbow. "And powerful."
You step out of the train trying to read a map of ponyville you got from a service attendant. "How do you read one of these?" You ask while rubbing your head and turning the map from one position to another in an attempt to make sense of the position of each area on the map.
"Put the map away for now." Silver Smith commands. "I want to get us situated into our ponyville home before we do anything else. I'll teach you how to use it later tonight."
After putting your map away you follow Silver Smith and his family to a house you feel is surprisingly small. "Why is it so small?" You ask.
"Most ponies live in homes around this size." Silver Smith answers. "We just live in an expensively large house back in Canterlot. When we come down here, we like to live like the common ponies to keep our minds in perspective. Besides, it's much cheaper to own two homes like this."
Silver Sales walks up to the door, key in her magic. Turning the key she opens the door to reveal a home as modest on the inside as on the outside. "Come on in everypony." She invites. "Put your things away and wash up. We're eating out for lunch today." Silver Sales looks to Polished Silver. "Polished, show Twin-Sun to her room."
Polished Silver gives an annoyed groan. "Fine." She turns to glare at you. "Follow me miss clone."
You enter to see a moderately sized room. The room is rather plain with nothing much other than a full size bed with a small bed side dresser with a lamp atop it and a large book shelf full of books. "The blanket is double sided." Polished Silver explains. "If you don't like blue, the other side is pink." Polished Silver points to a nearby door within the room which you open to reveal a small restroom, a luxury tub taking up almost half the space. "Mom likes her guests to have plenty of privacy. You'll find the closet right next to the restroom." You leave the restroom to open a closet twice the size of said restroom, clearly telling you Silver Sales priorities.
After taking care of your business, you make your way to the living room to wait for the others. Before you can sit down, you hear a knock at the door. "Delivery for a miss Shimmer." The pony at the door announces.
You open the door with your magic to find a pegasus stallion in a blue uniform. "I'm miss Shimmer." You answer. The stallion gives a sigh before putting a large suitcase aside, pulling out a large bag and draping it over you. In panic, you begin to run around in circles screaming for help before you are stopped by a pair of hooves which soon take the bag off of you to reveal Silver Smith in a black suit.
"What's the meaning of this?" Silver Smith screams at the delivery pony.
"Sorry about that." The delivery pony apologizes. "New law from Prince Blueblood. If a minor answers the door, we are to drape a large bag over them. The bag must not be see threw as per his orders."
"What?!" Silver Smith exclaims. "Why would he make such a law? She could have hurt herself. And what if she couldn't breath in that thing?"
"Believe me sir, we know. We put enchantments on our bags to give the little ones air. Unfortunately, it is the law and we must obey it or lose our jobs. Blueblood already had 3 of my colleagues fired for disobedience. We have already brought this up with Celestia so I doubt it will last much longer."
"I'm guessing Blueblood is trying to look like he cares about the foals, am I right?"
"Most likely sir." The delivery pony collects the bag and gives a large suitcase to Silver Smith. "Have a good day sir." He turns your way. "Again I do apologize little miss."
Silver Sales and her two foals make their way to the door as the delivery pony makes his leave. Silver Sales is wearing a light blue dress. Polished Silver wears a similar dress in yellow. Silver Shade wears an adorable black suit that looks just like his father's. "Who was that?" Silver Sales asks as Silver Smith shuts the door.
"Delivery pony. He brought Miss Shimmer a suit case."
You pick up a letter attached to the suitcase and read aloud. "Some clothes to help you feel more comfortable along with some magazines and toys the sales clerk said a filly your age might enjoy. Love Dad."
You open the case to see at the top a pink dress and a small cardboard box full of cards, the latter of which you watch float over to Silver Shade. "Cool. You got the Rapidash deck. I got the Zebstrika deck" He looks back at you with a grin. "I challenge you to a pokemon battle." Polished Silver gives a small snicker which she muffles with a hoof.
"Maybe later." Silver Smith looks your way. "Take your things to your room for now and you can put them away later."
"And put on that pink dress." Silver Sales insists. "I'm Sure it'll look lovely on you."
You enter a restaurant right behind Silver Smith and his family, the atmosphere somewhat fancy. You can see that while most of the ponies inside are wearing clothes, nopony seems to be wearing clothes quite as fancy as what you and the Silver family are wearing.
"Good afternoon." The pony at the front desk greets. "A table for four I presume?"
"Five this time." Silver Smith responds.
"Very good monsieur Smith." The pony beckons another to him. "Take our guests to their seats."
"Follow me." The waiter takes you all to a table sat in the middle of the room and we are given five menus. "And what can I get you all to drink?"
"Waters all around." Silver Smith answers. "And I would like a glass of cider."
"I'll take a cider as well." Silver Sales announces.
"Apple juice." Silver Shade proclaims.
After You and Polished Silver decide water is enough for the two of you, the waiter sets off to get your drinks. After which you begin to look around and notice other ponies staring. "Is it normal for everypony to stare at us like this?" You ask.
"Don't worry too much about it." Silver Sales says. "We aren't just here to eat but also to let the ponies know we are in town."
You look to Silver Sales. "Is that why you wanted me to wear the dress?"
"That, and I do think you look lovely in it." You give a small blush and look away. "If you're uncomfortable with this we can go back to the house, we can leaves these clothes at home and go somewhere else to eat."
You shake your head vigorously. "No. I don't want to ruin things for you like that."
"Perhaps you can go to the ladies room and remove your own clothes before we eat?" Silver Smith offers.
"No." Silver Sales argues. "That would single her out from the rest of us and would only make the problem worse."
Silver Smith put his hoof to his chin in thought. "Perhaps we should have discussed our plans with you before we had left. I do apologize for putting you in this situation. To make it up to you, how about we find ourselves a nice shop in town when we are done eating and I'll let you buy anything you want, within reason of course."
"Do we get to buy anything too?" Silver Shade asks.
Silver Smith gives a nod. "Within reason, yes." Silver Shade gives a large grin at this news.
"What's all of this for anyway?" You ask.
"Every year we come down to ponyville to sell less fortunate ponies cheaper jewelry the rich ponies would never except. We polish them and make them as pretty as possible so the less fortunate feel like it's something like what rich ponies buy. This way, ponies who normally can't afford it can buy our merchandise."
"Why do you sell bad jewelry to ponies?"
"It's not that it's bad. Rich ponies like to buy things most ponies can't. You make something pretty expensive enough and rich ponies will buy it to feel superior to others. Every now and then you take what is too low of quality for them and reduce the price and ponies with less feel like they bought something normally reserved for the rich. Of course some ponies prefer our products to have utility, which is where my wife comes in."
Silver Sales gives a smile before embracing Polished Silver in a hug. "I'm good with enchanting, but my daughter will soon be better than me."
Polished Silver gives a blush and a shrug. "I'm still learning."
The waiter comes back and serves you and the Silver Family your drinks before taking your orders.
After paying the bill Silver Smith walks up to the front desk with us close behind. The pony at the desk gives Silver Smith a coupon book. "20 25% off coupons each for any one meal at our restaurant as usual."
Silver Smith gives the pony a nod. "Thank you my good stallion." As you and the Silver family walk down the road Silver Smith asks. "Anypony have an idea of where we should go?"
"Can we go to the toy store?" Silver Shade asks.
"I'd rather go to a book store." Offers Polished Silver.
Silver Smith looks your way. "Where do you want to go?"
"A book store sounds nice." You answer.
"Aaaawwww." Silver Shade cries.
Silver Smith picks up Silver Shade in his magic and places him on his back. "If you want to go to the toy store that badly, I'll take you while your mother takes the girls to the book store."
Silver Shade gives his father a hug. "I love you dad."
"I love you too son." Silver Smith gives his wife a kiss. "Do you want to meet back at the house or at the town center?"
"I'll meet you back at the house my sweet." Answers Silver Sales.
"As you wish my sunflower."
"Welcome to Ginger Treat's Books and Snacks." The mare at the counter welcomes as you enter the store, Silver Sales and Polished Silver already inside. "We are having a sale, buy two books get one free."
Silver Sales turns around to address you and Polished Silver. "The two of you go ahead and look around and find some books you like, and you can get some snacks too if you want." Silver Sales looks to Polished Silver. "And if I catch you fighting you'll be leaving with nothing."
You split up from the others and search through one end of the book section as Polished Silver searches the other. You see many books in the fiction isle ranging from high fantasy to science fiction and even some pokemon books that remind you of the cards Silver Shade seemed so interested in. You see a fantasy book depicting a giant fire breathing wolf, a what looks like a sea pony with a horn surrounded by a sphere of water, and a dragon pony hybrid standing on two hooves and wielding a lance in it's two claws. It's wings seem to be that of a pegasus and it is covered in high tech armor. With your interest peaked, you look at the title reading Monster Team Alpha. Book in hoof you then move to non-fiction.
In the non-fiction section you find books about athletes and how to become an athlete, books about history and historical artifacts, and books about all kinds of skills you can learn.
An employee walks your way. "Can I help you with anything ma'am." He asks.
You give some thought before asking your question. "Do you have anything that can teach me how to read a map?"
"Follow me." The employee walks to another isle of the non-fiction section before pulling out a book. "I think you could make use of this book." He gives you a book on camping for beginners. "It'll give you plenty of information on how to read a map and even how to make your own compass, which will be quite essential for any map."
"Thank you, but do you have anything more direct?"
The employee turns back around to search through the books again and pulls out a book on map reading and navigation. "This book will teach you everything you need to know about the more advanced stuff."
You look down to the book and ponder on whether or not you need anything else. "I think this is all I need, thanks for the help."
"Very well ma'am, have a good day."
"You too."
As you walk up to the counter you see Silver Sales talking to Ginger Treat. "Did you find everything you need?" Asks Ginger Treat.
"I think so." You answer as you give her the books you want.
Polished Silver walks over to give her own finds to the sales pony.
"Does anypony want to get a snack for later?" Silver Sales asks. You pick up a bag of taffy and show it to Silver Sales as Polished Silver takes a bag of chips. "Put them on the counter. And I'll take a three extra bags of taffy for me, my husband, and my son."
As Silver Sales pays for the books and snacks you see something that catches your eye. "What's that?" You ask, pointing a hoof at said item.
"This?" Ginger Treat asks bringing the item closer into view. Laying on the counter is a metal medallion with a purple six sided star engraved into it, a twine string strung through a hole at the end of one of the stars points. "It's just a hearths warming ornament. The symbol represents magic. We are throwing them away to make way for new products so you can have it for free if you really want it."
"Thank you ma'am." You thank her as you pick up the ornament to take a closer look at it.
Silver Sales opens the bag now containing your books in front of you. "Lets put that away until later." You put the ornament in the bag and follow Silver Sales home, Polished Silver close behind.
Back at the Silver's home Silver Smith and Silver Shade are already home. Silver Shade is playing with a pegasus guard toy you presume to be new while Silver Smith looks up from a book he is reading before coming your way.
"Did you girls find anything interesting." Silver Smith asks.
"Fantasy and romance books." Polished Silver announces.
You pull the ornament out of the bag. "I found this."
Silver Smith looks over the item. "Is this a hearths warming ornament?"
You put the ornament around your neck. "I got it as a symbol of my new policy."
"Policy?" Silver Smith asks before he remembers. "Oh I suppose you took our talk seriously then didn't you? Do you have this policy of yours written on a paper I could see?"
"Yes." You answer as you hoof him said paper.
He looks over your policy before giving a nod of approval. "I like it, but I'm going to have to ask you to leave most of the protecting to the adults for now." He looks over your ornament again before giving back your policy. "Would you mind if I spruce up that amulet of yours? Something with such a meaning behind it deserves better than twine."
You lie on the guest room bed as you look down at the ornament you recently obtained, it's twine string replaced with a much stronger and more beautiful silver chain courtesy of Silver Smith. The ornament it's self has been polished and protected with an anti-stick enchantment to keep it clean along with the chain.
You place the ornament back around your neck and begin reading the book on map reading and navigation Silver Sales had bought you. With how much knowledge Sunset left you with on studying, you find that you don't really need to use the book on camping for it's easier map reading lessons. Still, you think to yourself, you might find need of it for other things. Learning how to make your own compass might come in handy.
Pulling out your map of ponyville, you begin to make sense of things as you find the compass symbol on the map, the symbols indicating destinations, and the names and numbers for the streets. You then locate the Everfree forest and begin to plan a route.
As you finish your plans you hear the door open and look up to see Silver Shade enter the room with a toy castle on his back. "Wanna play with me?" He asks as he sets the castle in front of the bed.
"What are you playing?" You ask as you leave the bed for a closer look at the castle.
"Guards and monsters." He opens the castle to reveal a playset. A Celestia figure stands on a thrown with three guards, each one a different tribe, below her in a room you think is ment for training. Two wooden wolves along with a large star covered bear are found in another section which opens to look like a forest. The other section opens to reveal a dungeon which houses a pony in a dark cloak and a three headed dog.
Silver Shade takes the hooded pony and hoofs it to you. "He's the bad guy who controls the monsters." He explains before giving you the monsters and taking the soldiers for himself. "Your the evil pony and the monsters and I'm the guards who save the day."
"Sounds fun." You agree as you grab the hooded pony and a wooden wolf with your hooves.
"Oh and mom says using your magic when playing is good practice." He demonstrates by lifting the guards from his hooves with his magic and placing them on the ground still in his magic and ready for battle, plastic swords and spears at the ready.
You reply by placing the figures in your own hooves on the ground and enveloping them in magic along with the other wooden wolf. "Surrender now." You demand, while you have the hooded pony walk in front of the wolves. "With my army of monsters I'm going to put Celestia in the dungeons and take Equestria for myself."
"I don't think so." The unicorn guard shouts. "We are the royal guards and heroes of Equestria. If you want to hurt the princess you'll have to get through us first."
"As you wish heroes. Attack the guards my pets." As you give the command, your two wooden wolves race from behind you straight for the guards. One attacks the pegasus while the other attacks the earth pony.
"We're not afraid of your timber wolves evil doer." The unicorn proclaims. "For Equestria." As the other two ponies defend their home and princess from the timber wolves, the unicorn charges toward the hooded pony. Plastic meets plastic as the unicorn and the hooded pony cross swords. "Evil never wins. Give up now and maybe we can reduce your sentence."
"Never!" The hooded pony bellows before casting a lightning spell on the earth pony. "Get the princess." You command as the timber wolf now free of enemies make for the castle.
"No!" The unicorn calls out. "Don't worry, I got this." The pegasus proclaims as he leaves the timber wolf to make his way for a ballista and aiming it at the timber wolf running toward the castle. "Your not coming any closer to our princess." The pegasus fires a large bolt straight at the timber wolf removing it from combat.
"Nooo!" You shout.
The pegasus moves to the other timber wolf along with the earth pony and take that one out too before making their way to the hooded pony. "Surrender now evil doer."
"It's not over yet." You warn them as a giant bear covered in stars stomps up behind you.
Before the battle can go any further Silver Sales enters the room. "It's about time for dinner everypony." She announces. "Put your toys away and get ready to eat."
"Can we play a little longer. We just got to the battle with the ursa."
"Alright but try to hurry. You have school tomorrow."
And so the battle continued with the ursa ultimately defeated and the hooded pony once again behind bars.
You sit at the table eating another meal with your hosts when Silver Smith asks. "Silver Shade, I hear you were playing with Twin-Sun earlier."
"Yeah." Silver Shade admits with pride. "We had a lot of fun."
"He didn't interrupt anything did he?" Silver Sales asks.
"No." You answer. "I had already finished when he asked me to play."
"Are you working on something?" Silver Smith asks.
You look up at him with a little gilt in your eyes mixed with a bit of fear. You ask yourself whether or not you should admit what you're up to when his glare sharpens, causing your ears to droop back. With tears in your eyes you decide to come clean. "I've been learning how to read maps."
"Your eyes tell me there is more."
You begin pressing your hooves together as you slouch in your seat. "I drew up a route to get to the everfree."
"I told you I would hire somepony for that didn't I?"
You slouch further. "Yes."
"Stop slouching and sit straight." Silver Sales admonishes. You do as she says and look straight into Silver Smith's disapproving eyes.
"I'm still willing to hire somepony for the job." Silver Smith adds. But if I find out you've gone in the forest without permission, I'll ground you for the whole time we're here and send you're father a letter."
You nod your head. "Yes sir."
"You made a good policy Twin-Sun. We can't just pick and choose when we get to abide by our policy. Otherwise what does it really mean?"
You give Silver Smith a questioning look before glancing down at the amulet around your neck as you hold it in your hooves.
"Polished Silver." Silver Sales addresses. "I'm putting you in charge while me and your father are gone tomorrow."
"What?!" Polished Silver exclaims. "You mean I have to watch her?"
Silver Smith nods. "After this I'm not sure We can completely trust her not to go in the forest." You droop your ears again at this news.
"Why don't the two of you find something fun to do together." Silver Sales suggests. "And please try to get along."
You look up with clear interest. "Can we go to the library?"
"Are you looking for more information on how to get to the forest?" Silver Smith asks.
You shake your head vigorously. "I want to know more about clones."
Polished Silver rolls her eyes.
"That sounds fine." Silver Sales answers. "Polished Silver, do you have anything you would like to do tomorrow?"
Polished Silver gives it some thought. "Can we go to the spa?"
"Is that okay with you honey?" Silver Sales asks her husband.
"Yes that's fine." Silver Smith answers. "Sounds like we've all got a plan. And Twin-Sun. I'll be needing a hair from you to take to the specialist tomorrow. It's necessary to find out whether or not you are indeed a clone."
"Um." You remember Sunset's warning about Celestia and how the specialist will be informing her. "Do you think maybe we could wait a while for that?"
Silver Smith gives you a confused look. "I suppose we could wait a day or two. But we can't wait too long. There are laws about this sort of thing Twin-Sun."
Your eyes go wide. "Laws?"
"Yes laws. now lets finish our dinner. And Twin-Sun." You look back to Silver Smith. "When we're done, I'm taking you to a friends place so they can explain to you just why the forest is so dangerous."
Later that night Silver Smith takes you down to the local farm to have the Apple family tell a story about timber wolves that leaves you shivering in Silver Smith's hooves. A mother and father sit on a couch with their recently born filly in hoof and their older son and daughter on the floor as they all listen to the older mare tell her story. That night as she tells her tale, a group of timber wolves venture outside the forest. The timber wolves are scared off by a certain phoenix on a mission. The phoenix makes it's way back to it's partner for said mission, a mare in golden armor.
"Did you find her?"
The phoenix answers with a majestic caw and a nod.
"Good. We need to send word to the princess at once." Taking a letter out from a satchel in her magic she writes a short message before the phoenix sets it on fire. The embers make their way to Canterlot.
