All was peaceful in Ponyville, the town bustling with ponies going here and there. Rainbow Dash was relaxing on a cloud, the sofa clerk was selling quills, and the Cutie Mark Crusaders were out trying to earn their cutie marks. All was relatively calm, when suddenly…

*Crash!* *Slam!* “Ugh!” Twilight exasperated. “Where in Equestria is Advanced Combat Spells Vol. 3?! I swear I just had it!”

“Uh, Twilight? It’s right here,” Spike said, picking up the thick book.

“Oh! Thank you, Spike. What would I do without you?”

“No problem!” Spike said proudly.

“Just set it on my desk over there. We should probably get going to Sugarcube Corner for Pinkie Pie’s Pop-Up Party-tastic Extravaganza. You know how she is about ponies being late for a party,” Twilight said.

“Alright! Are you going to wear your crown?” Spike asked.

“What? Of course not. I don’t want to draw attention to myself. This party is for everypony,”Twilight stated.

“Oh, just making sure. I hope Pinkie has harvested for ruby season!”

Twilight rolled her eyes as they walked through Ponyville, getting plenty of friendly waves from the townsponies along the way.

“Just think, dear sister. Thrity moons ago, Twilight Sparkle became the newest Princess of Equestria,” Luna said, gazing up at her beautiful night sky she had just created.

“Yes, I know, Luna. I’m very proud of her. She’s come an astoundingly long way. Out of all the students I’ve ever had, I knew, I just knew she had to be the one back when I seen her for the very first time. Not to say I never worried about her at times,” Celestia said, chuckling as she looked up at the night sky.

“Whatever do you mean, dear sister?” Luna asked.

“I was worried she was going to turn out like Starswirl the Bearded. Secluded, scornful, never making any friends. Or even worse, Sunset Shimmer, becoming greedy for power, and wanting it as fast as possible. The magic of friendship has saved Equestria numerous times from many evil forces. Just think, without Twilight and her friends, we probably wouldn’t even be standing here, looking at your beautiful night,” Celestia said.

Luna took the thoughts in and said, “We sure wouldn’t dear sister.”

Sunset Shimmer is walking home, late at night after an afterschool project that she had to finish for Ms. Cheerilee.

*Sigh* “Finally got that stupid project done. I’m so done with all this useless schoolwork,” Sunset Shimmer said. She could have paired up with a partner, but she has no friends. Sunset Shimmer couldn’t seem to befriend anyone, no matter what she done. She ended up spending the next two and a half years of her life alone, getting funny looks in the hallway from what she had done.

Sunset Shimmer has never forgotten Twilight. Even though she tries to remember Twilight as a good friend who helped her immensely, she cannot help but genuinely hate her. Sunset Shimmer basically had it all for a few minutes. The Element of Magic itself, ultimate power surpassing that of Celestia’s, even a teenage army. It was all taken away from her as fast as she had gotten it.

“Why? Why is it so unfair?!” Sunset Shimmer said. She was now standing in front of the magic mirror that leads to Equestria. “I remember that night…” Sunset Shimmer thought of the night that Twilight Sparkle won the Princess of the Fall Formal. She remembered while laying down the bricks, she picked up a brick, and went over to the mirror. She touched its smooth surface, backed away, and with all her might, threw the brick at the mirror. Snips and Snails watched in awe as the brick flew through the air. But, when the brick hit the mirror’s surface, it didn’t do anything. The brick simply fell down, not even leaving a scratch on the mirror. Sunset Shimmer stood there, dumbfounded at what she just seen unfold before her eyes. She concluded that the magical portal to Equestria was forever linked somehow, and thus could not be broken.

Sunset Shimmer was glad she didn’t break the mirror that night; for it would have been yet another damage she would have had to pay for. She just wanted something to take her anger out on. She had never really accepted Rarity’s, Pinkie Pie’s, Applejack’s, Fluttershy’s, and Rainbow Dash’s friendships. She couldn’t, especially after what she did to all of them. She basically spent the next two and a half years alone, not being able to accept anyone’s friendship.

“It’s not fair!” Sunset Shimmer yelped, while rearing back and kicking the mirror. When her foot should have made contact with the mirror, she lost her balance and fell forward. She opened her eyes and was dazzled at the array of colors before her. She snapped back to reality and realized she was going through the portal, back to Equestria. Sunset Shimmer suddenly felt as if she were being spiraled, and launched forward. A blinding flash of white light hit her, and then she blacked out for a few seconds, and felt herself slam onto a hard, smooth surface.

“Owww, my everything!” Sunset Shimmer said, trying to compose herself. She rubbed her head trying to lessen the pain of landing face first on a hard floor, and suddenly felt very awkward. She looked at her hand, and realized it’s a hoof. She’s a pony, and she was back in Equestria. She looked back at the magic mirror, and turned back around, and snickered.

“Heheheh, this is going to be good.” Sunset Shimmer said with an acid tone. She had been seeking revenge on Twilight Sparkle ever since the Fall Formal. And now, Sunset Shimmer has the perfect opportunity.

The only question was, where in Equestria was she? Sunset Shimmer knows the Canterlot Castles like she knows the back of her hoof. However, she wasn’t in Canterlot. Judging by the appearance of her surroundings, she figured she was in the Crystal Empire. She had been here before, for she can remember the night she stole Twilight Sparkle’s crown. She knew that she had found the Elements of Harmony that night. Luckily, she was able to remember a spell that allows her to see magic as a substance that floats in the air. She could literally see the magical connections between all of the friends, and seen a very strong connection flowing directly to Twilight’s room. She just had to steal the crown, and get out. Which she admits, she failed horribly at. She can’t think about that now. She has to focus on getting out of the Crystal Castle, out of the Empire, and seek shelter somewhere safe.

“Hmmm… maybe this castle is modeled like the Main Canterlot Castle…” Sunset Shimmer wondered aloud. “Well, I’m certainly not going to get out of here sitting here and thinking. I need to get out.”

Sunset Shimmer scanned for any presence of Royal Guards nearby, and seen it was clear. She slowly opened the door, and stepped outside. The hall went only one main way, so she quickly and quietly trotted down it. As she was nearing a two-way fork, she saw the glow of a Unicorn Guard’s searchlight to the left. She panicked, and levitated herself to the ceiling to avoid getting caught. Sunset Shimmer waited in anticipation as the guard slowly and leisurely passed by, sweat glistening down her face in fear and intimidation. Once the guard passed, she slowly came down and landed on the floor. She figured the guard might have come from a central stationing near the entrance, so she took the left path when it was safe. She came across an opening that had many doors, and an open path that lead down. She decided to take the path that lead down, and was met with a huge, extravagant crystal door.

“I think I’ve found it.” Sunset Shimmer said. She decided to teleport to the outside of the door, assuming the door would make tons of noise when heaved open and shut. She found herself outside, under the Castle awning. She smiled in delight, and galloped through the streets of the Crystal Empire.

“Wow… this place is amazing!” Sunset Shimmer said with appreciation for the unique crystal architecture. “But… I’m not here for sightseeing.” Sunset Shimmer said, while hurrying her pace. After what seemed like forever, she came to some sort of crystal gateway. She admired its beautiful floating crystals, and quickly passed through the gate. It was wide open now, and she noticed it getting colder. Sunset Shimmer remembered back to her apprenticeship with Princess Celestia…

“…There was once a place in the Frozen North called the Crystal Empire.” Princess Celestia said to Sunset Shimmer, teaching her the unspoken and unwritten history of Equestria.

“What happened to it?” Sunset Shimmer asked questionably.

“Well, the place was cursed by a corrupted unicorn by the name of Sombra. He was banished by… another pony and I, turned to shadow. However, the Curse of the Crystal Empire had banished the entirety of the Empire into Oblivion.” Celestia said to her young student.

“Wow…” Sunset Shimmer said in amazement. “Will it ever come back?”

“Maybe one day, my young student.”

“It certainly came back.” Sunset Shimmer said. “Ugh, it’s starting to get really cold!” Just as Sunset Shimmer said that, she started to see something off in the distance, and seen it was a train station. She galloped as fast as she could, and seen that the place was unlocked, and went inside to seek refuge.

“Hello? Is anypony in here?” Sunset Shimmer asked.

“Who is that? What’re you doing here?” the owner of the train station asked with an edge to his voice.

“O-oh, I-I just need somewhere to stay for the night… you see, I’m new here, and I don’t have any bits to spend on a hotel…”

“Hmmm… fine. You can stay here for the night. I just don’t want no funny business, got it?!

“Yes, of course. Thank you so much.”

“Phew! That party was over the top!” Twilight Sparkle said, exhausted after Pinkie Pie’s crazy party.

“I just wanna know where she got all these jewels!” Spike said, eating a bowl full of gems.

“I just want to get home and have a nice night’s sleep. I will have to read that book of combat spells later.” Twilight Sparkle said tiredly.

“Oh yeah, why have you been studying combat magic so much lately?” Spike asked.

“Well, you never know when you might have to defend yourself from somepony. Especially with me being a princess, some crazy pony may assault me. I have to know how to control to only stun the pony that’s attacking me, and not seriously injure them or worse! Combat magic is really hard to control minimally in intense situations. It’s incredibly easy to shoot a deadly ray of magic.”

“Oh… well, ok. But I don’t think anypony’s going to try and take your position of princess-ship.” Spike said unworriedly.

“You never know, Spike.” Twilight said/

Author's Note

Well, this is my first fan fiction I've ever made. I hope I do a good job. Constructive criticism is greatly appreciated!