Twilight's Pupil

Twilight's Pupil: Chapter 8

by Crystal Secret

The throne room was cold, damp and mysterious as the future of the filly who sat in the centre of it, crying out in desperation and confusion. The air sent cool, icy chills down her spine and the only light was the light that shone in through the glass stained windows that told of events that would someday become legends bound up in a old dusty history books, untouched for centuries and forgotten by all those except the historians themselves.

She had been here for about an hour or so but there really was no way of telling the time besides by the position of the moon as it drifted slowly across the midnight sky; watching down upon her with its bright, beautiful beam of light.

An evil cackle of delight shook the walls and filled the room with a intimidating and fearsome roar as bolts of lightning struck the ground around her. A familiar figure approached her, smiling in utter delight at the little pony shaking on the ground before her.

“Get up you little brat. Are you going to fight me or not?” spat Sunset Shimmer.

Starlight rose shakily to her hooves, her body shuddering against the cold air around her. She closed to her eyes and tried to concentrate.

She snorted. "Bring. It. On." was all she had to say before they raced towards each other, their horns igniting with aura.

As the two unicorns clashed in a collision of magic and immense power, a spark ignited in the filly’s eyes. A spark that unleashed an incredible fury of power that sent lightning bolts raining down upon Sunset Shimmer, Starlight rose into the air as her eyes went milky white as a loud boom of thunder shook the entire colossal throne room.

When Starlight was finally released from her god like state she was faced with the body of her nemesis lying on the cold ground before her in a weak, deformed state. Panting out of pure exhaustion for the force of the spell had left her undeniably defeated. When she realised what had happened Starlight didn't relish in her victory, but rather went over to her defeated opponent had healed the worst of her wounds.

“What...what are you doing?” asked Sunset Shimmer confusedly.

“Healing you.” replied Starlight simply.

“But why? I mean, you did just defeat me right? Why would you want to help somepony like me?”

Starlight helped the unicorn rise to her hooves and looked her squarely in her eyes and said;

“You’re not an evil pony Sunset Shimmer, but you are a powerful unicorn and it was the way that you were using your abilities that was evil. I believe that there is good in everypony, you should just need to seek it out. In the same way that Twilight needed to seek out the magic of friendship.”

Sunset Shimmer simply stared at her in complete shock as to what the little had just said, it defied everything that Sunset Shimmer had ever known about herself and other ponies. Not only that, but it had been said in such a way that she had no other choice than to believe it.

“So what you’re saying is-”

But before she could finish her sentence, a huge burst of colour and light came through and broke all the glass stained windows. As they opened their eyes once more, beautiful, golden rays of sunlight streamed into the throne room and it became clear that the Summer Sun Celebration had just occurred.

“Come on. Let’s go greet the princesses.” eagered Starlight as she started walking towards the entrance.

“Wait! What are the princesses going to do if they find out I’m alive?” asked Sunset Shimmer.

“Well, they’ll probably make you apologize for causing such fear and chaos among the citizens of Canterlot. Oh, and the rest of Equestria too.”

“That’s all? They’re not going to lock me away or anything like that?”

“Their not cruel you know, now come on.”

And with those last words, the two unicorns walked down the long corridors that make up the castle’s interior. As they walked, the pair talked and laughed forming an unexpected friendship.

“You know Sunset Shimmer, you’re not so bad after all.”

“You’re not so bad yourself kid.”

They made their way out of the castle and down to the area where the Summer Sun Celebration was being held. The princesses were all standing on the stage as they had just finished their routine. Starlight and Sunset Shimmer walked up to the stage and Twilight gave them a confused look. As they stepped up to join them, Twilight whispered;

“What is she doing?”

“Just wait and see.” Princess Celestia replied. “Starlight, it’s good to see that you could make it. Now, is there something I can help you with?”

Starlight nudged Sunset Shimmer in the side, indicating for her to speak up.

“I..I uh, I just wanted to say that I’m sorry. Sorry for all the trouble I caused and if you want to punish me I would completely understand.”

“That’s quite alright. Spike, take a note please,’ Spike leapt up and pulled out some parchment. ‘I, Princess Celestia hereby decree that Sunset Shimmer to be no longer a threat to Equestria but rather a citizen and professor here in Canterlot. She will teach the art of magic to the young ponies at my school and will do so for the remainder of her time here in Canterlot.”

“Oh thank you Princess Celestia! I would be honoured.”

Later that day, as the sun made its descent beyond the horizon, Twilight and Starlight sat side by side out on her balcony, watching the glorious sunset.

“Twilight?” Starlight spoke up after awhile.

"Yes my faithful student?"

“What will happen to me now that peace has finally been restored to Equestria?”

“Well, you’ll continue being my pupil of course.”

“But wasn’t the reason I was your pupil was that there was a new threat in Equestria that needed taking care of?”

Twilight simply sat in silence for awhile contemplating on how to answer. She wrapped a wing around the little filly’s body and drew her in close.

“No. The reason why you’re my pupil is because out of all the ponies whose magical were put to the test, yours was the one that shined the brightest no because you were the most powerful but rather because you were the one who I knew would have the ability to understand the true meaning of friendship when it came to being kind to even your worst enemies. You showed me that you knew what the right was to do even after believing for so long that you ultimate goal was to defeat Sunset Shimmer. You still pulled through and realised that there was good in everypony. And that is why you’re my pupil.”

“Okay Princess, I understand now.”

“Starlight.”

“Yes?”

“Can you remember just one thing for me?”

“Sure.”

“‘Always remember that no matter what happens, I love you.”

The End