A light brilliant amber unicorn with a crimson red with brilliant yellow striped mane and tail lies on the grass outside near the castles courtyard reading a book "hmm elements of harmony now where have I heard of those before" Sunset Shimmer gets up and the book is lifted by a teal aura into the unicorns saddlebag.
She starts running towards one of the towers when three unicorns stop her "there you are Sunset, Vinyl's having a dance you wanna go with us?"
"oh um really need to study for my mid term" Sunset walks past them and opens the tower doors, Sunset walks down the long hallway and stops at a door and bursts though the door scaring the librarian
"SUNSET I've asked you not to do that!"
"I'm sorry Mr.Pace, do you happen to have any books about the elements of harmony?"
"hmm have you tried the E shelf?"
"That would be a good place to start" Sunset laughs sheepishly and walks to the E shelf "eagles are friends too, easy recipes, ah we go elements of harmony" Sunset opens the book to the table of contents "see colt in the moon isn't that an old ponies tale?."
"The colt in the moon happened in olden pony times, two siblings ruled Equestria, the eldest used her powers to raise the sun at dawn, While the younger one used his powers to begin the night, but as time passed the younger became more and more angry that his beautiful night was being ignored. Eventually he transformed into a evil being called nightmare moon, his sister having no choice used the elements of harmony to imprison her brother in the moon and took on both tasks of raising the sun and moon everyday. Legend has it on the 1000th year the stars will aid in his escape and he will bring eternal night" Sunset gasps loudly being shhh'd by the librarian.
"King Sombra must be warned right away" Sunset runs out of the library and heads to her room, she runs outside to the rooming building and runs inside to her room, Sunset bursts though the door knocking down a grey dragon with blue spines "Rex where are you? REX" Sunset hears a low cry of pain "right here" Sunset peers behind the door "sorry Rex but could you send Sombra a letter for me?"
"now? isn't the harmony festival tomorrow?"
"yes but this is extremely important" Rex grabs a nearby quill and parchment "okay ready to write"
"Dear king Sombra my daily reading has brought to my attention that the colt in the moon isn't an old ponies tale, it's real and he will escape the day of the harmony festival to bring everlasting night, something must be done to make sure he's stopped" Sunset stops when she hears Rex bursting into laughter "what's so funny?"
"you are that's ridiculous"
"it is not just send the letter"
"fine fine" Rex breathes out blue flames burning the paper and sends it "i wouldn't get high hopes for a reply Sunny"
"oh i'm not worried i'm his personal student he's never once doubted my word" Rex belches out fire and a scroll appears.Sunset picks up the letter and begins reading it giving a scowl as she finishes reading it,
"whats wrong?"
"he told me it was an old ponies tale and he wants me to check on the harmony festival in Ponyville" Sunset gives a dejected sigh and walks outside, Rex picks up the letter and follows Sunset
"you forgot the last part"
"did I? what's it say"
"make some friends" Sunset groans louder and a light opal aura picks up Rex and places him on her back
"come on we have a train to catch next stop Ponyville". Sunset watches the passing scenery as many sizes of trees pass by the train
"cheer up Sunset you get you stay in a bookstore doesn't that cheer you up?" Sunset remains silent watching the trees and sighs, why didn't he believe me i'm his most loyal student and make some friends is he serious i don't need friends. Sunset's thoughts are interrupted by the conductor pony announcing the next stop
"next stop Ponyville".
Sunset and Rex get up and exit the train "okay Rex what's the first item on the agenda?" Rex looks at the list
"music duet with Lyra heartstrings and Octavia Melody in the town square" Sunset begins walking to the square when she hears voices, A grey earth pony with a dark grey mane and tail with a treble clef cutie mark argues with a aquamarine unicorn with a light grey cyan mane and tail with white highlights and a lyre cutie mark.
"Don't act all high and mighty Ms. perfect this is a duet not a single performance"
"I'm not the one being difficult, you are Ms. Heartstrings" Sunset begins walking towards them
"What on earth on you two fighting about?' Lyra looks at Sunset
"Well Octavia here started showing me up and that made me mad"
"I was not" Octavia has a Trottingham accent interesting
"i'm good at music, you Ms.Lyra are good at playing the lyre do you see my point?' Lyra pauses "now i do sorry about what i said"
Lyra and Octavia both look at Sunset " now who are you?"
"My name is Sunset Shimmer, I was sent to oversee preparations for the harmony festival i would like to hear what the music sounds like" Octavia and Lyra begin playing and the gentle sounds of the cello and lyre mix in harmony. "That sounds beautiful" Lyra smiles
"thanks Sunset we should hang out later" Sunset grimaces
'I have other business to attend to maybe later" Sunset turns away and walks east, Rex runs after her
"wasn't making friends part of your tasks?."
Sunset faces him "I don't need friends i have my books, now what's next on the list?" Rex sighs and looks at the list.
"Aerial performance with Fleetfoot and Flitter" Sunset's mane starts picking up "It sure got windy all of a sudden" she looks around and spots a light grey and grayish opal tornado heading straight towards her.
Sunset tries running but gets caught in the tornado, knocking into a light arctic blue Pegasus with a light grey mane and tail. "oh i'm so sorry, we were trying to perfect our finishing move but clearly we failed" Sunset gets up slowly This Pegasus has a lisp[/i
]"i'm fine, i'm guessing your Flitter and that's Fleetfoot" Sunset points to the other Pegasus. A light gray blue pony with light gray opal mane and a pink bow
"actually i'm Flitter and that Fleetfoot."
"Oh I'm Sunset Shimmer i was sent to check on the preparations for the harmony festival"
"sweet but as you can tell we need to perfect our final move maybe afterwards we can hang out" Flitter and Fleetfoot takeoff elsewhere.
"arrgh does everypony want to hangout with me or something,Rex whats next?"
"Sweetie Drops, treat maker"
"alright let's go" Sunset walks towards a building,brightly colored red and white like a candy cane. Bon Bons? maybe Sweetie drops lives here Sunset walks inside greeted by a cream colored earth pony with a cobalt and fuchsia mane and tail
"Hello i'm Sweetie Drops and you are?"
"Sunset Shimmer, i'm here to check on the treats for the festival"
"ooh that sounds fun, you care to sample some?"
"sure"
Sweetie Drops leads Sunset to a table and sits her down, she puts a tray of treats down in front of her "these are the treats i'll be serving, we have cherry tarts, cherry pie, cherry cupcakes and cherry chocolate cake" gee everything has cherries in it, doesn't she have non cherry treats? Sunset picks up a cherry cupcake and takes a bite.
"this is good" Sweetie drops smiles and walks behind the counter
"Hey Lyra how's it going?" Sunset eyes widen slightly at the mention of Lyra's name
"It goes good, I met this weird unicorn earlier, she give me and Octavia an odd look when I asked her if she wanted to hang out later" Octavia enters the sweet shop
"Really Lyra not Everypony can be bothered with friends right Sunset?."
Sunset gets up and walks near the three "I should go, delicious treats Sweetie Drops" Sunset walks outside towards the town square and sits near the fountain,Rex runs towards her
"Sunset why'd you leave so fast?" she looks at him
"I don't have time to "make friends" I need to find proof that nightmare moon is returning, It's almost sundown and the festival starts at midnight" Sunset storms off to the bookstore shes staying at.
Sunset looks at the store, a normal sized building with a book painted on the first floor window, Sunset looks at the sign above the window "Magical rifts bookstore" Sunset unlocks the door and walks inside, Sunset is greeted by dust flying up at her " doesn't look like anypony has set hoof in here in years" Sunset walks around slowly trying to find a light switch. Her hoof touches a button on the wall turning on the lights "That's better."
Author's Note
Pointers are welcome to improve the writing hope you enjoy.
Sunset looks around the light room, book shelves lining the walls with a variety of book genres,she walks further into the room noticing a chained door. "why the hay is it chained?" Sunset reaches out to pull on them only to hit a magical barrier protecting them. "I'll figure what's behind you later."
"Sunset I found the living space" Rex stands before a staircase leading upstairs, she walks over and goes upstairs, Three doors line the left side while two doors line the right.
"which one is the bedroom?" She opens the first door on her left and see's two chairs and a couch sitting in front of an fireplace, Sunset hears the door open downstairs and walks back down.
"hey Sunset you wanna chill till the festival starts?" Flitter stands behind Fleetfoot looking a bit nervous "It was the others idea" Sunset stare blankly for a few seconds before replying.
"others?"
"yea Lyra, Octavia and Sweetie Drops"
Sunset sighs "I guess, but only because I need help finding a book"
Fleetfoot signals the others to come inside "Great book search, what are we looking for exactly?."
"Anything to do with the colt in the moon or elements of harmony" Sunset starts looking through the shelf closest to her, Octavia walks over to Sunset.
"Why in equestria do you need them, don't tell me you believe the legends?" Sunset looks up a bit shocked "what? you think just because I'm a simple earth pony that i don't read, I've spent my time reading legends Sunset."
" I never thought that Octavia but i won't lie I was a bit surprised, Do you happen to know about the elements then?"
"Hmm I did read a little about them, six exist in total but only five are known. Honesty, Loyalty, Hope, Generosity and Kindness, Anyway the elements are just an old mares tale quit worrying".
Sunset gives an annoyed look at Octavia "You really don't believe that do you?, I mean they would have had to exist for them to be written down"
"Maybe the writer is an excellent story teller"
"I seriously doubt that, King Sombra has mentioned them to me before he wouldn't make stuff up"
"Right I forgot, The king picked you as his personal student" Octavia moves her mane with her hoof in a mocking tone, Sunset's face starts turning red from anger, Flitter flies between them.
"ENOUGH, listen you two the harmony festival starts in 15 minutes can we please get there in one piece?. Octavia turns away from Sunset and walks outside the bookstore.
Sunset puts her head down "Maybe I shouldn't have gotten so angry at her" Sunset feels a hoof being placed on her "Sweetie Drops?"
"we have all gotten mad at Octavia before, She is really honest to the point of being blunt but we're all friends so we've all learned to accept it."
"Friendship sounds so complicated"
"It is at first but once past that it becomes a wonderful thing Sunset" She looks up to see the others leave.
"Sunny?"
"Yes Rex"
"Can I go to the festival with you?"
"well yes I wasn't going to leave you here alone, Come on let's go" Sunset walks outside while Rex follows her. The streets are lined with lights and all sorts of closed booths, "They must open later" She looks around noticing Lyra waving at her.
Lyra walks over to her "hey Sunny glad to see you made it, Octavia was looking for you"
"Unless it was to say sorry, I don't wanna talk to her"
"Oh" Lyra walks away a bit sad, Sunset looks at the moon four stars start going near the moon.
"I really hope i'm wrong"
"SUNSET" startled by the yelling Sunset looks for the source, seeing Octavia walk over "I've been looking for you"
I know Lyra told me"
"well I'm sorry for what I said, it wasn't my best moment" Sunset tries hard to listen but can't help darting her eyes back and forth between the moon and Octavia.
"What do you keep looking at?" they both look at the moon, noticing the silhouette on it disappear "well that can't be good"
"we need to find the others now" Octavia sprints off.
"Wait Octavia" Sunset follows her and runs beside her
"why? they can help us"
" I don't need help"
"Well I won't let you do whatever you plan by yourself" They reach the town square and stop near a large crowd of ponies standing in front of a stage.
"you don't give up do you?"
"nope now wait here I'm going to find the others"
Sunset sighs "alright" she turns her attention to the stage where a tan earth pony with a white mane and tail taps the mircophone
"Mares and gentlecolts, welcome to the harmony festival I'm sure everypony is excited that ponyville was chosen this year." The crowd taps their front hooves on the ground in cheer. "Of course the festivities don't start until morning but now onto the mane event, The kings speech please welcome King Sombra."
The curtains behind the speaking mare open and two lights shine on stage revealing nothing, sounds of panic are heard from the crowd "now calm down everypony no reason for alarm'
"Oh i seriously doubt that" a cloud of black mist appears on stage, the cloud begins to shape into a black alicorn with purple armour and a short dark blue mane appears before everypony.
Author's Note
Yeah sorry for the wait been trying to find an editor but no luck yet so please bare with the mistakes, also been a bit unmotivated and yes I changed two the of elements names, This is an alternate universe anyway.