A harsh sun laid heat thick over the land below, the landscape bleached and air hot. Cool breezes were like tiny blessings, shading a gift from above. In a thousand years, the landscape changed, burned away and eroded flat. In time, the citizens of Equestria adapted with umbrella saddles and sleep houses. The Queen was not interested in lowering her sun, she wanted everyone to bask in its glory just as they did to her. Perhaps once a week she'd raise the moon for an hour or two, but not without her glorious sun to outshine it.
The grandiose castle attached to the mountain was a testament to her glory, constructed as a gift from the upper class. They lived in it's surrounding neighborhoods in as much excess as she allowed. Today the town was busy, flags raising and structures being built. The Summer Sun Celebration was drawing close, the days becoming longer and hotter.
"Where is the main celebration being held this year?"
"Uh..." The small pink mare flipped through her notebook nervously. "Ponyville! It's being held in Ponyville!"
"Hm...Didn't I send a student there?" Nightmare Star took a few steps forward to look at herself in the mirror on the far wall.
"I believe it was, Twilight Sparkle ma'am!" She winced and dropped her pen.
"Ma'am?" The tall alicorn's voice became suddenly harsh, turning her head to look at her subordinate.
"I'm sorry...I didn't mean to!" Tears welled up in her eyes, locks of blue falling down her snout as she backed up as best she could.
"Of course you didn't!" Her voice became soft and endearing, her mane however began to flicker and twist. She leapt and landed behind the assistant, wings unfolding to their full width.
"Really?" She bumped into Nightmare Star's legs and looked up, hopeful eyes full of water.
"NO!!!" The sound of her voice was a cacophony of anger, the very force of it throwing the poor pony out the window. The loud pop of flesh hitting the ground and the witnesses of the sudden casualty screaming in terror made her chuckle, wings folding as she turned away. "Guards! I need a new assistant, the old one..." She paused and twirled a gilded hoof in the air looking for the right word,"...had an 'accident.'"
"Yes your majesty!" Came a voice from behind the door, a guard pony that Nightmare Star was particularly fond of. Whether or not he found her fond back was up for debate.
"Good..." Her voice was a low mumble in response. The long legs of the alicorn brought her over to a book laid out on the bed, a pen tossed across it's open face. Picking it up gingerly she wrote something in it's pages and set the pen down again, looking out the now broken window. "Oh well, what a lovely window too..." A knock at her door caused her ears to perk up.
"Enter."
A golden orange mare walked into the room, her mane as fiery as Nightmare Star's. She was adorned in obsidian shoes and gems, her cutie mark decorated in crystals. Walking up to the Queen she bowed low, her mane flowing gently in an the invisible breeze.
"Ah Sunset Shimmer, my favorite student." She leaned on the bed and folded her front hooves beneath her," what brings you to my chambers?"
The unicorn stood and approached the other, "There are rumors being passed around Canterlot, my Queen. Surely you have heard them?"
"Hm..." The monarch replied, rolling her eyes and looking back at the window, "Yes... I have heard a few. Something about their dreams I presume."
"Yes. It worries me, my liege."
"Nonsense, silly rumors spread by bored aristocrats!"
"But what if-"
"Do you doubt your Queen?!" Nightmare Star rose from the bed and stood proud, her wings spread in dominance.
"Of course not my Queen." Sunset dropped to her knees in the lowest bow she could manage.
"Good," She very quickly laid back down as a knock on her door made her ears perk high. "What is it?"
"My Queen I have brought you a new page as requested." The guard returned through the door.
"Ah yes, that's right." Nightmare Star waved her hoof, turning her head to look at Sunset Shimmer again. "Why don't you quench their rumors. Give them something to really talk about?"
"Of course." Sunset smirked most evilly, standing up and turning to leave as a pegasus walked past her. She turned to look at her, the poor mare terrified and shaking.
"What did she say?"
"Nothing."
"You were expecting that weren't you?"
Sunset turned her head quickly to give a venomous look to the colt who answered her.
"Calm down Sunset, do you really think she'd care? What is a little shadow during our sleep going to do anyway?" Flash Sentry asked, his wings tucked lazily at his sides. He smiled and walked to her other side,, pulling one wing out to pat her on the back, " No one actually dreams anyway, it's all propaganda and fear mongering."
"Flash dear, I know you're the Element of Treachery but do try to not be so disrespectful." A blue mare looked up from her potions, " Nightmare Star I'm sure would replace you in a heartbeat."
"Pff, sure she would." He placed a wing on Sunset's back, " Just as soon as she replaces Sunset here. Our elements don't just work with anyone, or did you forget?"
A loud sound not unlike chimes echoed around the room, Sunset and the others turning to look out the window. A wave of blue cascaded down over the town of Canterlot and the surrounding settlements. The blue mare walked over to the window and stood, her hooves planted into the windowsill.
"The Queen must be covering her bases..." She leaned out the window and looked up, " That's twice now in one day..."
"Hm..." Sunset rubbed her chin and looked down." I'll be back later, Trixie. Make sure Flash doesn't get himself executed."
"Of course, it's what I do best!" She laughed and grounded the Pegasus rather violently.
The room was dark, large crystals jutting up from the ground in no particular order. A single wrought Iron gate separated the guards from what was held inside: Nightmare Star's secret weapon. Sunset approached the two guards with her head held high, the others bowing to her and putting down their spears.
"Open the gate," Sunset demanded.
"But Miss Shimmer, we have the Queen's orders that-"
"I am not some measly castle worker, open the damned gates!" She sneered at the guard who had replied to her, her eyes piercing through him with malice.
"Yes ma'am..."He replied, his horn glowing blue as a set of keys pulled from his armor to open the gate.
"Good boy," Sunset cooed, walked up to him to stroke his chin, the other jolting away and standing back to llet her in. Sunset walked past and into the room, her bright blue eyes resting on the site before her.
The room itself was well lit, a single chandelier hung in the center of the ceiling. Surrounding it were crystal formations all facing inwards, a single star shaped piece floating just below. Chained to the stone floor was another pony, pink as fresh flowers in spring and tall in size. She had been laying on the cold floor when the sound of the fence caught her attention. She struggled to stand, sores from laying on the hard ground visible on her flank and shoulders.
"Cadence," Sunset greeted her, standing just out of reach.
"Sunset Shimmer..." Cadence replied, her voice dry.
"I saw another wave of magic, did Nightmare Star request the calm?"
"Yes," Her head raised a bit to give her more height on Sunset Shimmer.
"What was her reasoning?" She began to pace around the other, the sound of her hooves echoing off the walls eerily.
"That is between the Queen and I, you have no business knowing." She did not follow the other around the room, instead she gazed at the fence.
"Come now, you don't really think I won't find out?" Blue magic surrounded her horn, her eyes locked down on the other.
"Threats will do you no good here, you know as well as I do if I get hurt Nightmare Star will have your head on a plate." Cadence could hear the other prepare her magic, purple and pink wings adjusting calmly. Sunset Shimmer snickered and lifted the other's wings up. Cadence made no sound, only the motion of pulling her wings back towards her body. She turned and glared at the other Unicorn, her eyes wide as they could get.
"What's wrong Cadence?" Sunset laughed, her horn glowing again. "Trying to escape are we?" She repeated the action, this time lifting the alicorn off the ground by several feet. Cadence finally let out a sound of pain, her horn lit up to counter act the spell. In a flash Sunset was tossed across the room into one of the crystals, Cadence collapsing to the ground in a heap.
"What's going on in there?" The guards were opening up the gate as quickly as possible.
Sunset sneered and stood to her feet, her hooves pushing her off the ground in a full on sprint towards the other. She lifted Cadence back to her feet before spears caused her to come to a halt. She stared down Shining Armor before throwing his weapon aside," Stand back!"
"I am under specific orders that no harm is to come to Cadence!" He stood steadfast over the pony below him, the Princess keeping her head down.
"Well I am ordering you to stand back!"
"My orders come from Nightmare Star directly!"
"STAND BACK!"
"Whatever is the commotion down here?" The tall alicorn glided in, her fiery hair waving behind her.
"Your majesty!" Shining Armor and Sunset stated in unison, both bowing down to the queen before them.
"I merely came down to talk with Cadence, Shining Armor does not agree."
Shining Armor gave a quick glare to Sunset, the Queen's hoof appearing beside him causing his head to snap upwards. "Your majesty?"
"Is this true Shining Armor?"
"Not entirely..."
"Are you calling my best student a liar?"
"No your majesty. I merely disagree. I am here to obey your orders as instructed, I was sinply relaying the message. " He brought his head down again to bow.
"Sunset?" She walked over to the yellow unicorn, lifting her head with her hoof.
"What he says is true My Queen." Sunset gave a sweet look, her approach empathetic.
"Very good then, come. Let's leave Shining Armor and Battalion to do their jobs. "
"Yes your Majesty..." She followed Nightmare Star as she walked out of the room, giving off one more poisonous look at Shining Armor. The other giving it right back before tending to his ward.
"Sunset, you know I love you dearly as if you were my own daughter. I know why you were down here," she looked down at her pupil, eyes gentle and voice calm.
"My Qu-"she stopped a second, her motives betrayed.
"Do you doubt my capabilities?"
"N-no!" Sunset trotted to catch up. "I worry you are looking too deep into this dream matter! I only wish for others to see you as highly as I do!" Lies, all of it. She had no interest in playing house.
Nightmare Star smiled and extended a wing to pull Sunset close, "I understand your concerns my dear however," she paused a moment, her demeanor suddenly changing, " don't let me catch you lying again!" Smiling and letting go of her, Nightmare Star left Sunset alone.
"Yes your majesty..."
