She hated her. It was all her fault. That no-good-rotten-teacher-stealing-new-student, Twilight Sparkle. Who did she think she was? Just swooping in and taking away everything she had worked for. They had worked for. She would show Celestia. She would show them all.
Sunset stumbled along the pavement, kicking loose pebbles along the way. It was an early autumn evening and few people were about. The ones that were still out gave her strange looks, maybe it had to do with her messed up hair or ragged, dirt-covered clothing.
She walked into Canterlot Park and sat down on a bench near the fountain. She pulled her jacket closer as a cool breeze swept by.How did I end up like this?
---------------------------------------------------------------------- FLASHBACK----------------------------------------------------------
Sunset paced worriedly as she gazed in the direction the guards had rushed away. She glanced at the clock. Two days and six hours to the mark. Trixie still hadn’t been found.
When Trixie had disclosed her plans to runaway, Sunset hadn't believed her. Who would want to run away because of one student? And from being Celestia’s personal pupil no less. Nopony would be stupid enough.
Starlight had been right. When Trixie told her, she tried to dissuade her. But she didn’t listen. She never listened. She was thick-headed and stubborn. She wasn’t easily dissuaded. She agreed to stay. But she had gone and done it anyway. Idiot.
The Princess had immediately sent out guards to find Trixie. But with her ‘borrowed’ bits from the treasury, she was far gone. Celestia wasn’t dissuaded though.
When a new report of Trixie’s whereabouts had surfaced, the guards had instantly been dispatched. That's where they were now. Probably a false alarm. Again.
Knock.Knock.Knock
There were three timid knocks at the door. Only one pony ever knocked that way.
“Come in Starlight,” Sunset said, “the doors open.”
A small filly, no older than ten, walked into the room. Her blue eyes were filled to the brim with tears.
Sunset sighed. Of course Starlight was upset. Trixie was her best friend. They were inseparable. Almost like sisters, even. Obviously she would take it the worst.
“Will they find Trixie?” Starlight asked, her watery eyes filled with a spark of hope. Sunset wrapped her hoof around the pink filly.
“Well,” No point in lying. “Maybe. But you see Star, Trixie’s really good at illusions. If she doesn’t want to be found, she won’t be found.”
“But why’d she run away? I thought she’d listen. We told her to not go. didn’t we?”
“We did Star. But this is Trixie. You know how she can be.”
“You think we'll ever see her again?”
“Maybe, Starlight. Maybe.”
But no. Trixie had left. AND IT WAS ALL HER FAULT.
----------------------------------------------------------------------FLASHBACK END---------------------------------------------------------
No, it went wrong much before that.
----------------------------------------------------------------------FLASHBACK-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Princess Celestia had just left in the middle of a lesson. All because of her. That stupid filly had wanted to talk to the Princess about something or the other, and she had of course dropped everything to go talk to ‘precious little Twilight’. Everypony else in the castle was tripping over their hooves to do everything for her too.
Sunset sighed. Was it wrong to hate an eight year old? Even if said eight year old was taking over your life?
Princess Celestia had always paid attention to Sunset. She was the first student. Then Starlight and Trixie showed up. They weren’t that bad. Starlight was good filly, hard to hate. Trixie was stubborn and arrogant but her heart was in the right place. They became good friends.
Princess Celestia started teaching them together. A mini class of sorts. The Princess said they were ‘destined for greatness’. Even mentioned something about ‘The Elements’ and ‘Nightmare Moon’ once. But she never explained the connection between the Nightmare Night mascot and these ‘Elements’. “Only when the time is right” she had said.
Then Twilight showed up.
There was a giant rainbow, a sonic boom and a giant dragon involved. After that, everything changed.
Twilight was Celestia’s top priority. Sunset, Starlight and Trixie came after that. Sunset was eleven. She knew better than to be jealous. But she was.
She had studied and worked hard as Princess Celestia’s student for three years! Trixie and Starlight for two years each! Twilight hadn’t even spent a week here and was already the favourite. What did she have that Sunset didn’t?
She’s more important to the Princess than me.
That’s what she has that I don’t.
“Ummm, is she okay?”
“I dunno. Doesn’t she always looks like that?”
“Be serious Trixie. She looks really upset.”
Sunset shook herself out of her thoughts to see Starlight and Trixie looking at her worriedly. Well, Starlight looked worried. Trixie looked like she was holding back laughter.
“Why are you guys staring at me like that?” Sunset looked at them confused.
“You looked like you were gonna murder somepony, in fact you looked like this.” Trixie lit up her horn and cast an illusion of Sunset scowling.
Sunset scowled, looking exactly like the illusion causing Trixie to start laughing just as her horn flickered out.
Starlight shoved the azure filly out of the way. “Are you okay, Sunny? You don’t look happy.”
Sunset snorted. “Of course I’m fine. Why wouldn’t I be? The immortal goddess of Equestria only just left the lesson early to attend to the needs of that purple plebeian.”
Starlight frowned. “Okay. No need to get so passive-aggressive. And she’s more of an orchid than purple really.”
“I thought she was lavender.” Trixie added.
Sunset facehoofed. “We just got sort of abandoned, and you're worried about what colour the enemy's coat is?”
Trixie shrugged. “There’s not much we can do about her. Anyway, she’s not as powerful as us. Give it a few more days and Princess Celestia will kick her out.”
“But even if she isn’t powerful as us, I don’t think the princess would kick her out just like that. Twilight has a special Cutie Mark. Remember? The princess took her in because of the cutie mark, not her magical ability.”
Sunset thought. “I’m pretty sure it was because of Sparkle’s magical talent. Remember the giant dragon? Age spells are the hardest and she turned a baby dragon into an adult one.”
Starlight sighed. “One day you guys will realise that you’re more similar than you think.”
“No we’re not!” The two fillies chorused.
Starlight sighed again.
----------------------------------------------------------------------FLASHBACK END-----------------------------------------------------------
Sunset smiled bitterly at the memory. It was bittersweet. Only a couple days after, Trixie had decided to run away, soon followed by Starlight. But she had stayed. Luna, she had so foolishly stayed. Celestia didn’t care. She never did. That book had proved that.
----------------------------------------------------------------------FLASHBACK-------------------------------------------------------------------
It had been a fortnight since Starlight left. Sunset was the only one remaining. Apart from Her.
The bacon haired mare flipped the page of the book hurriedly, nervously watching over her shoulder for anypony.
She smiled. Sunset had found what she needed. “Bingo.”
“I had a feeling I might find you here, Sunset Shimmer.”
Sunset froze. Then slowly, ever so slowly, turned around.
There standing with the most disappointed expression ever recorded, was the Princess of the Sun herself.
“Princess.” Sunset greeted, hoping her mentor had not noticed the cover of the book.
“You appear to have a book there, Sunset. May I see it?” That was more of a demand then a request, as Celestia floated the book out of Sunset’s grasp. All the while, Princess Celestia’s expression did not change.
“Starswirl the Bearded: The Forbidden Tome. You know you not allowed in here Sunset. This is the forbidden section. You are not ready for this kind of magic.”
With that comment, something in Sunset snapped. With a growl, she snatched the book out of Celestia’s grasp.
“What do you know about me?!” She screeched.“Ever since that ‘Twilight Sparkle’ showed up, you haven’t given a flying feather about me. I’m not important to you, and neither were Trixie and Starlight. Why do you think they left? Because they were young and stupid? They’ve left and it’s all Twilight’s fault!” Sunset took a deep breath. The rant had taken a lot out of her.
Princess Celestia said nothing at first. She seemed to be taking it all in.
“Sunset. I am so very deeply ashamed that you would blame somepony who you’ve never even met for something she never did. You have also broken some of the only rules ever placed upon you. I’m ashamed that you, my student, would act in such a way.”
I’m ashamed that you, my student, would act in such a way.
I’m ashamed that you would act in such a way.
I’m ashamed of you.
Sunset took of running, sprinting down the hallway past the guards and maids. She ran towards the room at the very end of the corridor, the one that was forbidden. There had to be something in there.
She entered with ease, the guards not knowing she wasn’t allowed in. At the opposite end of the room was a mirror. Swirling and glowing, it seemed to pull Sunset towards it. Sunset attempted to touch it, only for her hoof to go through. Where did it lead?
Just then, Princess Celestia entered.
“Sunset Shimmer. You know you are not allowed to enter this room. You have broken my trust thrice within an afternoon. It is with a heavy heart, I must dismiss you as my student.”
No.
No.
NO!
Sunset didn’t think as she jumped through the mirror portal.
----------------------------------------------------------------------FLASHBACK END----------------------------------------------------------------
Clenching her fists, Sunset Shimmer got up and began to head towards her home for the night. The homeless shelter two streets away from Canterlot High. She had discovered it a week after arriving. Someone who saw her sleeping on the bench had recommended it to her.
----------------------------------------------------------------------FLASHBACK--------------------------------------------------------------------
Sunset landed with a thump. Her body ached from being stretched and she was still a bit disoriented. She rubbed her eyes with her hoof-
“Wait, where are my hooves?!”
-and began to panic.
The girl took a deep breath. “Okay, calm down. You’re just stuck in a weird place after jumping through a mirror because you got expelled as the Princess of the Sun’s pupil. Because of a nine year old.” She paused.“It’s a lot to take in when I say it all at once.”
“First things first. I need to find out about this giant castle in front of me.”
----------------------------------------------------------------------FLASHBACK END------------------------------------------------------------
Sunset laid down on a bed in the shelter. She would figure out how to get rid of Twilight. That pony deserved nothing. She deserved everything.
She would figure it out in the morning.
Author's Note
First fic. I know I said I would publish it in December, but I had this chapter ready, so why not.
I'm gonna publish as I write, so stay tuned. The next update might come when you least expect it.
Hope you enjoyed.
~N.F Striker.
Cutie Marks had done it again. First Sunburst, then Trixie,now Princess Celestia. Would Harmony take away everyone she loved? Would her own Cutie Mark eventually turn on her? Would she eventually lose Sunset too? Just like she lost Trixie? She couldn’t let that happen. Not again.
Starlight ripped the newspaper in half before launching it across the room.
“How dare she. How. Bucking. Dare. She?!” Starlight screamed as she paced around the room.
Double Diamond looked up in shock at the outburst.
“Are you alright, Starlight Glimmer?”
“No, I am not alright. I am far from alright. I am the furthest from alright that is ponyly possible. In fact I am un-alrigit.” Starlight Glimmer paused, allowing Double Diamond to speak.
“That last sentence made no sense.”
“You make no sense!” The mare shrieked at the snow white pony.
“Starlight, can you please explain what's wrong so I can get back to making sure the new ponies are feeling welcome?” Double Diamond gave a way-too-wide grin.
“Look at this then.” Starlight fished out half of the torn newspaper from the bin and shoved it in his face.
Twilight Sparkle: Protege to Princess
The title was accompanied by a picture of a lavender alicorn in a pink and yellow gown.
“Equestria has a new princess. I don’t see anything wrong with that, Princess Cadance appeared out of nowhere too.” Double Diamond looked perplexed.
Starlight groaned. “Not that. The fact that she made HER a princess.”
“What about her? She saved Equestria many times from what I hear. The only thing wrong with her is her hideous fashion sense.”
Starlight groaned again. “You don’t understand. Just go back to making Party Favour and Sugar Belle feel welcome.”
“If you say so.” The markless pony shrugged as he walked out the door.
Starlight sighed as memories overcame her.
FLASHBACK
Starlight walked out of Sunset’s room. The pre-teen had tried her best to comfort Starlight, but as good as she was with books, she was no good at comforting other ponies. She was too brutally honest for that.
She sniffed. Why’d you do it Trixie? Why’d you run away? Was Twilight really too much?
She began to sob. Another pony taken because of a Cutie Mark. Will I lose Sunset too?
As the pink filly broke down in the hallway, another heart broke inside the room.
FLASHBACK END
Starlight looked out the window at Our Town. The ponies walked around with wide smiles. She could see Double Diamond talking to two unicorns, both which seemed nervous. She smiled. They would soon enough understand. They would soon join her ranks. They would realise Cutie Marks were dangerous. Just like she had.
FLASHBACK
“Princess Celestia?” Starlight asked.
“Yes?” The princess answered before taking a sip of her tea. Even in her time off, the alicorn was regal and pristine. It was not hard to see why she was looked up to.
“Why did you make Twilight your student?” Starlight had cocked her head to the side and was attempting to look as innocent as possible. But the filly knew that Princess Celestia saw right through it.
“Why would you want to know that little one?”
Starlight nervously shuffled her hoof around in the dirt. “Oh, n-no reason. Just curious.” she stammered out.
Princess Celestia raised an eyebrow. “You really want to know?”
“Mmhmm.”
The princess put down her teacup.“Well then, to put it simply, Twilight has a special cutie mark.”
Starlight was curious. “A special cutie mark? How?”
“It’s just special. It means she’s destined for great things. She can do great things. She will do great things.”
Starlight cocked her head again. “Then what about me?”
Princess Celestia sighed. “Yes. Your cutie mark is unique. Yet Twilight’s focuses on a very different aspect of magic. Your cutie mark, my little pony, focuses on the magic of alteration.”
Starlight sighed. “I see. I’ll go now.”
As Starlight bolted out the door, she heard Celestia faintly whisper to herself.
“Her cutie mark is greater than you think, Starlight. Sadly, it may be greater than yours.”
Flashback End
Some memories are supposed to be buried. Starlight had her suspicions. Princ- No, Celestia, just confirmed them. Sunburst, Trixie and her mentor. Not mention Sunset. All of them left her. For their destiny.
Flashback
Starlight ran. She didn’t know how long she had been running. She just knew she had to get away.
The desert sun beat down on her tiny form, making her sweat. The heavy saddlebags on her back did not lessen her suffering either.
Will you torture me even here, princes? Will you never relent?
She began to slow down as she reached some rocks. They weren’t large enough to shade her while standing up, but if she sat at the right angle, they would provide some shelter.
As she sat down, she noticed something poking out from under the larger rock. Casting a levitation spell, she pulled it out from under the rock. It was a strangely shaped stick that branched off into two different sections, with another piece of wood twirling around the bottom half. It didn't look natural. In fact, it looked carved.
Starlight hummed to herself. “Wonder what something like this is doing out here?”
“And more importantly, how can it help me?”
She stared at the stick, in hopes of it offering the answer to its own usefulness. The stick didn’t respond.
“Well then, every little helps I guess. Maybe I could turn you into an umbrella? I just need some type of cloth. How about a hoofkerchief?”
Starlight rummaged through her bag until she found what she was looking for.
“Aha! This should do.”
I should really stop talking to myself.
The filly stretched the cloth across the gap in the stick between the split. She raised it over her two toned mane. It blocked out the sun. Perfect.
“Celestial Sun nil, Starlight one. Beat that, princess. Now I just need to find some obscure village out here, and we’re good.”
With that thought in mind, Starlight Glimmer set off.
Starlight smiled at that memory. I doubt the village would be the same without the Staff of Sameness, or if they would have believed me at all. Probably not.
She looked out the window, this time noticing that the ponies were coming towards her house. The mare straightened up, fixed a smile upon her face and threw open the main door.
“Welcome! Party Favour and Sugar Belle, was it?” The question was rhetorical, but the unicorns nodded anyway. “Have you made your decision?”
“Yeah, we have,” Party Favour answered, before looking towards Sugar Belle for permission to continue. The pink mare nodded.“We want to be unmarked.”
Starlight’s smile widened. “Excellent. We will head to the Cutie Mark Cave immediately, follow me.”
The group of three unmarked unicorns and one earth pony walked back into the vicinity of the village. They came to a stop next to Starlight’s house.
“Party Favour, Sugar Belle, you will be staying in my house until your houses have been built, if you will just head inside, I will get Brick Mould to get to work in your house immediately. Would you like anything else?” Starlight smiled widely at the two newly unmarked ponies, who shook their heads and headed inside.
The moment the door shut behind them,Starlight dropped her smile.
“Now that they’re gone, will you please explain why you're upset?”
Double Diamond’s voice wasn’t loud, but Starlight shrieked when he spoke nonetheless. She had forgotten he was still there.
“Nothing! It was just sad seeing the cutie marks again.” The moment the words left her mouth, she knew that the albino pony didn’t believe a word of her lie.
He shrugged.“If you say so.” Diamond then turned around. “I’ll go find Brick Mould, but remember, I’m here for you, okay?”
Starlight mumbled out a quick ‘yes’.
Double Diamond shook his head and walked away.
Author's Note
Okay, so this chapter took extremely long. Sunset's chapter practically wrote itself, but this chapter was so hard. Starlight and Sunset have very similar characters in the show, but I wanted to make her vastly different from Sunset.
Sunset is angry, but I wanted Starlight to have a softer character, and be more manipulative and bitter than aggressive.
You might have also noticed that Double Diamond is different here, as he has more of personality and seems to actually care for Starlight Glimmer. There is a reason for this. Double Diamond here is one of the longest villagers in Our Town, therefore he is given more lease by Starlight.
~N.F Striker
