Sunset’s gaze never left her hooves as the silence continued to stretch on. The only sound the filly could hear was the tick-tock of the Grandfather clock behind her father’s desk. “Well?” came her father's expectant voice. “Care to explain this, Sunset?”
Sunset finally willed herself to look up at the paper her father was holding up. The mere sight of the large red marking on the top corner was enough for Sunset’s gaze to drop down again. “I studied really hard,” she said quietly. “The teacher said I did really good.”
“But...Sunset,” said her mother, her strained cheerful voice causing her to swallow hard. “It’s an A minus.” Sunset didn’t have to imagine that odd smile that was on plastered her mother’s face whenever she was angry or disappointed. She could practically hear it in her voice. “I know you can do better than just an A minus, sweetie.”
“I don’t understand,” her father sighed. “We went over the spell books countless times last night. You should know all of these answers by heart. Did...something happen? Or What? What excuse could you possibly have?"
“I….” Sunset trailed a hoof along the carpet. She frantically wracked her mind for a good explanation, but none came to her. “I...I have no excuse, sir.”
“Who scored higher?” Father asked. Sunset finally looked him in the eye.
“W-What?”
“Who scored higher than you, Sunset?”
The filly glanced around before mumbling “Silver Lining…she got one point higher.”
Her parents sighed simultaneously before murmuring to each other in hushed whispers.
“We should have known.”
“Her father used to be a student at that Gifted Unicorns school.”
“She’s a threat to us!”
“We’re going to have to step it up if we’ll ever stand a chance…”
Eventually, her parents turned back to her. “When is your next test?” Father asked.
“In two weeks,” Sunset answered quietly. “Our teacher said that we’re supposed to do perform any spell we want that's within the rules. We get extra points for creativity.”
Father nodded curtly. “Good. We’ll make sure that your spell is the best then.”
“I’m still have the better grade,” Sunset said. "She's just really good."
Mother gave a tight lipped smile. “Well, that just means we’ll have to study extra harder, won’t we dear?” She grunted suddenly and her hoof flew to her enlarged belly.
“Honey!?” Father shouted, springing from his desk chair, immediately at his wife’s side. “Are you alright? What’s wrong?”
Sunset was also quickly by her side, wrapping her hooves around her mother’s leg with wide eyes. Mother exhaled before smiling. “I-It’s alright. It’s just the baby kicking. I think I’m going to go lie down for a bit.”
“Here, let me walk you--”
Mother waved a hoof. “No no. I can walk myself, thank you,” she said as she began making her way to the master bedroom, only pausing to give Sunset a pat on the head. “I’ll be in our room if you need me!”
Sunset watched her mother waddle down the hall, biting her lip with worry. Father frowned at her. “Well, there you go again, upsetting your mother like that. You’ve got to do better, Sunset.”
“...I’m sorry…” Sunset felt her self shrink a little. “I didn’t mean to…”
Father shook his head and sighed. “I’m going to the kitchen to make your mother some lunch. I want you to go to your room and start studying. We’ll go over your spells during dinnertime.”
Sunset nodded and took a hesitant step forward. “Umm...Sir? Since tomorrow's Saturday, I was hoping I could play with some of my friends a little before noon? We’ll only be out for an hour.”
Father’s eyes narrowed in suspicion. “Do any of those friends include Silver Lining?”
Sunset ducked her head. “S-She’s my friend, Sir...we sit together at lunch. And she’s really nice too. She let me have half of her peanut butter sandwich.”
“Sunset, It takes more than niceness to get far in this world,” Father replied. He paused, partly lost in thought. “If you spend too much time goofing off with the other kids, you’ll spend less time studying…” He levitated Sunset’s test and held it up for her to see. “And less time studying results in grades like these.”
Sunset’s ears drooped. “But Silver Lining plays with everypony, and she always gets good grades. Me and her are the best in the class.”
“But I want you to be the best in the class. Only you. We’re required to share a lot of things, but not this. This is your future. That’s why your mother and I push you like we do. Tell me, do your little friends care whether you get into a top school or not? Do they take the time to tutor you and make sure you’re prepared for your next test?”
“Well...no, but--”
“But nothing, Kiddo. Do you not want to get into Magic for Gifted Unicorns?”
“Of course I do. More than anything! But...Silver’s Dad graduated from that school...she’s got more than a leg up on me!”
“Then you need to start making some sacrifices. Now I don’t want you playing with Silver Lining or any other filly or colt until I see you ace that test. You can see them during school, but when school ends, you’ll come straight home to study. Is that understood?”
Sunset sighed. “Yes, sir.”
He placed his hoof on her shoulder. “It’s for your own good, Kiddo. One day you’ll look back and realize all the good we’ve done for you. One day, you’ll be grateful.”
As soon as her father left, Sunset retired to her room as told. She hopped onto her bed and reached under her pillow before pulling out a folded up flyer. She unfolded it and and set it against her pillow, staring at it fondly. Resting her chin on her hooves, she gazed at the faded picture of the School for Gifted Unicorns with Princess Celestia and the student faculty standing in front of it. She still remembered the day when her kindergarten teacher handed her parents the flyer when school had ended.
“Your daughter’s magic is growing exceptionally strong,” she had told them. “When she gets a little older, she’d be a wonderful student there.”
"We already had that school in mind," her father had replied proudly. "It's no surprise that other ponies are seeing her potential."
Naturally, it was the proudest day of her life, receiving such high compliments from both her teacher and her parents. From that day on, Sunset dreamed of going to that school and meeting Princess Celestia. Fortunately and unfortunately, her parents wanted that dream for her too, maybe even more than she did.
On one hoof, she was glad her they took the time to make sure to do well in school. On the other hoof, they’ve been very strict ever since she turned six years old. They didn't play with her quite as much anymore. An A minus was unacceptable, but a B or below was worthy of a good whipping. But overall, Sunset was grateful. It would be very tough school to get into, after all. Thousands of young unicorns from second grade to twelfth grade applied every year, and very few are able to get in.
Her name was currently on the waitlist, but next year, the committee would search for a class of new second-graders to enroll. Sunset wanted to be one of them. She looked up at the giant poster of a smiling Princess Celestia on it and grinned. It would be worth it. All of it would be worth it.
“I can’t wait to meet you,” Sunset whispered to the poster. With that, she refolded her old flyer and levitated one of her textbooks from her large bookshelf. She grabbed the floating book in her hooves and cracked it open, removing her bookmark. “Chapter 17…”
******
Two weeks later, Sunset and her parents arrived at Magic Elementary school in the late afternoon. The day of the test had finally arrived and every one of Sunset’s classmates and their family members crowded the front lawn, preparing for the testing to begin. Sunset’s mother nudged her. “Are you ready, sweetie?”
Sunset glanced at all of the equipment the kids had brought along with them. One had beakers and test tubes that exploded with color when he mixed the liquid inside; another had a toad the size of her head change into a flower pot in mere seconds. “As I’ll ever be,” she said with a wobbly smile.
“She’s ready,” Father said. He glanced down at his daughter. “Right, Kiddo?”
Sunset slowly bobbed her head.
“Why don’t you head on over there with the rest of your classmate's,” Mother suggested, nodding towards the children. “Dad and I will be over here with the parents.” She nuzzled her daughter before trotting off with Father. “Remember!” she called back. “First place!”
“There you are!” a voice exclaimed happily. Sunset looked over and frowned as she saw Silver Lining come running up to her. The small white unicorn with a short silver mane panted as she neared close. “I was hoping we could talk before it starts! You haven’t been saying much in school lately and every time anypony asks you to hang out, you keep saying you have to get home…” She tilted her head, offering a worried smile. “Are you feeling okay, Sunset?”
“I’m fine,” Sunset replied simply. “I’m just working really hard at home."
“Well, uh, great! I was wondering if after the test you me and Gingersnap can hang out for awhile.”
“I’m not really allowed to be around Gingersnap,” Sunset said warily.
Silver Lining snorted. “So? Nopony’s allowed to be around Gingersnap. That's never stopped us before. C’mon, we deserve the break!”
Sunset’s mouth curved downward. “I...don’t know if that’s such a good idea.”
“Huh? Why not?”
Sunset’s hoof dragged along the grass. “I just...think I need to start to spend my time doing more important things from now on. I have to focus if I want to get into my dream school."
“Well...that is important,” Silver admitted. “I mean, I wanna get in there too. But we’re the top of the class, you’ve got nothing to worry about. If you want, we can cut off our playtime earlier if that works better for you. Hmm?”
“Well...I--”
“Alright, everypony!” Miss Forthright crowed, her loud voice making everypony wince. “Line up, I don’t have all day! Step to it, step to it, hup, hup, hup!”
All of the children scrambled into a single file while the parents took their seats in some lawn chairs nearby. “We’ll talk after,” Silver said before turning and running off. Sunset bit her lip and simply walked over to join the rest of the class.
“I’ll call you in alphabetical order,” Miss Forthright informed, levitating her clipboard as she adjusted her glasses. ”So I hope you know which pony you’re getting behind. You should all know the alphabet already,” she added as her students figured out their correct spots in line. “If not, then I’ve failed as a teacher. Obviously.” She rolled her eyes.
“You all know the rules, so let’s get this show on the road! And for Pete’s sake, try not to embarrass your parents! Aquamarine, you’re up first!”
Sunset listened as one classmate went after the other. She didn’t feel like watching the others perform their spells, vaguely afraid of losing her focus. She had spent far too long studying and preparing to get distracted now. As time stretched on, the sun grew hotter, and ponies began to sweat. Sunset could hear the loud exhales from the kids behind her, but she refused to break her stoic character. At least it isn't raining, she thought.
She kept her gaze firmly locked on the back of Silver Lining’s head, who was quickly becoming matted with sweat.
“Gingersnap!” Miss Forthright shrieked. “That is a violation of rule number seven! And eight and nine!”
Time passed and Sunset’s throat began to go dry. Several locks of her fiery mane began to stick to her face and neck in small clumps as sweat rolled down her body. She began to shift and rub furiously at her forehead, but Father caught her actions and gave her a stern look. Groaning inwardly, she stood up straight and continued to wait for her turn.
By the time it was Silver Lining’s turn, most of the parents and kids had already left for home, leaving more room on the schoolyard. The remaining parents sat scattered on the grass and on the lawn chairs, a growing impatience in their eyes. Silver Lining trotted up and announced her name and grade before she performed her spell.
They watched as Silver touched her horn to the ground. Immediately, a tree sprung up from the grass, twisting and winding its way upward until it towered fifteen feet above the filly. The crowd oohed and aahed as the tree grew multiple branches. Sunset swallowed hard as each branch started to produce a fruit on it. The fruit grew larger and larger until it formed into full golden pears. When pears stopped growing, Silver plucked one off with her magic and proudly gave it to Miss Forthright.
The teacher accepted the pair with a hoof and took a large bite. Her eyes widened, and the corners of her mouth lifted as she chewed. “Mmm!” Swallowing, Miss Forthright declared, “This has to be the best pear I’ve ever tasted! Well done, Silver Lining!”
Silver Lining grinned and turned to the parents and kids. “Everypony gets one!”
Ponies cheered and stomped their hooves as she levitated the pears off the tree and started passing them out. “I wish she was one of the first ones,” said the colt behind Sunset. “It’s hot out here!”
“Sunset Shimmer,” Miss Forthright called. “You’re up next!”
Sunset took a deep breath and stepped forward. This was it. All those late nights studying and preparing lead up to this. “My name is Sunset Shimmer,” she announced in a loud and clear voice. “And I’m in the first grade.”
After glancing at the expectant gazes of her parents, Sunset closed her eyes and concentrated. Her horn glowed and a beam shot up into the sky. The crowd’s heads snapped up as the beam soared higher and higher into the sky, until it disappeared in the sun’s light. They waited, but nothing seemed to be happening.
Miss Forthright squinted at the sky confusedly and adjusted her glasses. “Sunset, I--”
Suddenly, the sun turned red in an instant. The crowd screamed and yelped as everything in sight was bathed in a blood red color. Golden shimmers and sparkles circled around the red ball in the sky, much to her classmate's delight.
“Wow!”
“Cool!”
“Look at her go!”
Sunset grinned as she conjured up more golden sparkles, this time in the shape of ponies. They whinnied and trotted together, running across the sky and rendering the crowd speechless. Silver gasped as her tree began to wilt. “My pear tree!” she cried, using her hooves to try to hoist it back up.
Sunset finally sparked her horn once more, and the sun returned to its normal yellow. The golden sparkles that were horses exploded in the sky, showering the cheering crowd. Miss Forthright’s smile spread from ear to ear as she checked something off on her clipboard. “Well done, Sunset Shimmer! That was a spell I’ve never seen before! Excellent work!”
Sunset flipped her mane as everypony continued to cheer for her. “Oh, it was nothing,” she said smugly.
“Look!” a filly cried, pointing at Sunset.
Sunset followed her hoof and gasped when her rump started to glow. Everypony gasped and whispered excitedly. In a flash of light, a picture of a sun instantly appeared on her flank. One half was yellow and the other was red. Sunset squealed and jumped up and down. “A cutie mark! I got my cutie mark!” She spun in a circle, looking at it from all angles. “Mom, Dad, look! I got my--”
“Aaah!” Mother screamed, clutching her stomach. Several gasps filled the air as every eye trained on Sunset’s mother.
“Honey, what’s wrong!?” Father shouted. “Are you okay? What’s happening!?”
Mother’s breathing came out in short, sharp gasps before she moaned loudly. “The baby,” she rasped. “It’s coming...I think the baby’s coming!”
Ponies started talking loudly as Father quickly helped Mother to her hooves. “Sunset, come on, let’s go!”
Sunset’s mouth fell open as her parents quickly made their way across the school grounds. “But..but Dad, look! I got my cutie--”
“SUNSET!” Father barked. “NOW!”
Sunset stared after them, her eyes slowly beginning to sting. Silently, she trotted after them before breaking out into a run.
“...Well,” she heard her teacher say behind her. “Looks like you’re up, Timestable.”
*****
Sunset’s face scrunched up. For all that fuss over the past eleven months, the baby turned out to be a disappointment. It just sat there in her mother’s hooves, wrapped tightly in a blue blanket. Sunset had watched him intently for half an hour, and still no movement. Its eyes remained closed, and its head shifted now and again, but other than that, it didn’t seem to do much of anything.
Her parents, however, looked thrilled. Their faces were practically glowing as they gazed upon the new foal, softly whispering to it. The filly raised an eyebrow. She never saw her parents this happy. What was the matter with them?
“I think it’s broken,” she said, casting a disinterested glance towards the baby. “I think we should get a new one.”
“Oh hush, Sunset,” Mother reprimanded. “Be nice to your brother Sunburst.” Sunset frowned, and Mother and Father went back to cooing over their child. As she continued to look at them, Sunset began to feel a heaviness in her heart. Her parents never looked at her the way they were looking at Sunburst. If they ever did, she couldn’t remember it.
Just then, the hospital door flew open. “Summer Breeze!” squealed a female unicorn. Her parents looked up in surprise.
“Nova!” Mother exclaimed, her eyes shining bright. Sunset yelped and sprang out of the way as Nova nearly trampled the filly on the way to her mother’s bedside. Nova was a on again off again friend of the family who was also one of Mother’s co workers. Her slender figure made her look like a supermodel, but Sunset thought she always wore way too much makeup. Her high and scratchy voice also put Sunset off, but she kept her mouth shut about it. She sounded like she was from Manehattan, like her distant cousin, but Nova never mentioned ever being there.
She was almost always at their house, and Sunset was often forced to go to her house to visit. And as fate would have it, Nova even ended up getting pregnant around the same time her mother did.
Nova kissed both of her mother’s cheeks and cackled loudly.
“What are you doing here?” Mother asked, looking Nova up and down. “Don’t tell me you had your baby already!” Her mouth hung open as Nova nodded excitedly.
“My water broke last night when I was still in bed! When we figured out it was time, I was just relieved I didn’t pee myself in bed!” She shrieked in laughter, making Sunset’s ears ring a bit. Nova looked over at Father and nodded. “Cloudburst, how ya doin?”
After rubbing a hoof in his ear, Father returned the nod. “I’m doing well, thank you.”
Nova glanced down and gasped loudly. “And who’s THIS handsome little fella?”
Mother tilted the baby a little and grinned. “This is our new son, Sunburst.”
“Awww, aren’t you the cutest little boy,” Nova cooed, making kissy faces at the child. “Where’s Cosmo, he should see this!” She looked over her shoulder. “COSMO!” she screamed. “GET IN HERE!”
A moment passed, and a stout looking stallion with a thick mustache poked his head in. “Whaddaya want?” he bellowed, looking irritated.
“Come look at this baby, he’s the cutest little thing!”
“I’m tryin’ to get your stuff loaded on the wagon! If we wait any longer, the hospital’s gonna charge us more than they already have!”
“Cosmo,” Nova whined. “Don’t be a cheapskate! Can’t you look at him for one measly second?”
Cosmo grumbled under his breath and finally entered the room. He glanced at Sunset and nodded. “Hey.”
Sunset did a little wave.
He walked up next to his wife and peered down at Sunburst. “Cute.”
“We were actually hoping for a boy,” Nova said with a wistful smile, gazing down at Sunburst. “But I guess fate had other plans. At least our little...uhm…” She turned to look at her husband, her mouth in a questioning grimace. “What’d we name our kid, Cosmo?”
“Starlight.”
“Starlight, that’s right! At least she came out healthy. Not every motha can say that for their child.”
The four adults sat in silence, smiling at each other. Sunset looked back and forth between them.
Her parents kept smiling, but stole a glance at each other before father asked, “Where is she?”
“Hmm? Where’s who?”
“The baby,” Mother said expectantly, not breaking her smile. “Where is she?”
Cosmo and Nova blinked before they looked at each other. “Cosmo, where’s the baby?”
“I thought you had ‘er!” He then smacked himself on the head. “Aargh, I forgot! We left her on your hospital bed when we were packing!”
“COSMO, YOU IDIOT! GET THE BABY!” Nova screeched angrily. Cosmo was already out the door, muttering about blanket sheet prices.
Nova shook her head and blinked at the ceiling. “I swear I shoulda listened to my motha,” she sighed. “Oh well. Ya get what you pay for. Or in my case, ya pay for what you get.” She tittered as she turned toward the door. “Anyhoo, we betta get goin’. Maybe our kids can play togetha sometime…” On her way out, she gestured towards Sunset. “She can babysit!” She smiled down at Sunset, her mascaraed green eyes piercing the filly’s soul. “How’s that sound, cutie?”
Sunset forced herself to swallow the bile that threatened to rise in her throat. “Toodles!~!” Nova sang as she exited the room.
Sunset’s family sat in silence until Father looked at Mother. “He’s never to go over to the Glimmer’s,” he said.
Mother nodded. “Agreed.”
Just then, Sunburst started to cry. Sunset whirled around, an anger bubbling up inside her. Quickly, she trotted up to her mother’s bedside and leaned over Sunburst. “It’s okay, it’s okay,” she said, patting him on the head. She repeated it over and over until Sunburst’s cries began to subside. “I know,” she whispered, stroking his little cheek. She placed her mouth close to his ear and whispered, “I don’t like her either.”
The foal cooed questioningly and leaned his head into Sunset’s hoof.
“Look, Sunset!” Mother beamed. “He’s opening his eyes!”
A quiet gasp escaped the filly when Sunburst’s two blue eyes peered at her as he continued to coo softly.
“Oh, Cloudburst, he has your eyes,” Mother said fondly.
Father said something back, but Sunset wasn’t paying attention. She and her brother gazed at each other and she smiled. Maybe you’re not so broken after all.
“Oh look, hun,” Mother said, looking at her daughter’s backside. “Our daughter got her cutie mark.”
Father tickled Sunburst’s chin. “Hmm? Oh, yeah. That’s great, Kiddo.”
*****
The next weekend, the doorbell rang early in the morning. “Sunset, get the door!” Father shouted above Sunburst’s crying. Rubbing her bloodshot eyes, Sunset slunk towards the front door, fighting back a yawn. Slowly, her hoof pushed against the door and instantly cringed at the sunlight hitting her face.
“Sunset? Geez, what happened to you?”
Sunset shielded her eyes with a hoof and cracked open one eye. From what she could make out, Silver Lining was standing on their porch. “The baby’s been crying nonstop,” she grumbled, brushing her tangled mane from her eyes. “Just when I thought I was getting my eleven month’s worth.”
Silver Lining grinned and bounced a little on the tips of her hooves. “Guess what I got in the mail~!” she sing songed. Before Sunset could open her mouth, Silver whipped out an unrolled scroll with the Canterlot Seal on it. “BAM!”
Sunset stared at it, blinking. “W..What--”
“I got in!” Silver Lining squealed hopping up and down. Sunset’s expression shifted as the words began to sink in.
“Wait...Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns?” she said, her voice hollow. “You...you got in?”
“Yep! Last week, my Dad asked miss Forthright to write a letter of recommendation. She did just that, and they checked my grades. I got in, Sunset! Isn’t this great!?”
Sunset stared at the paper and shook her head. “Well...I asked her to write me a recommendation too. I asked her a month ago. Didn’t they read it?”
Silver’s smiled faltered. “Well...I don’t know. But I do know that she told me that the school’s currently looking for more unicorns farther than the nearby cities to give the small town folk more of an opportunity. Their classes are so full already...I think they could only pick one from our villiage. And they...chose me.” Her smile returned as she shrugged. “But that’s okay. You can apply again next year!”
Something changed in Sunset’s eyes when she said that. Her expression darkened and her breathing grew more heavy. Silver Lining stepped back a little, but stopped upon Sunset’s sudden smile. “Really? Did they choose you, Silver? Or did they really choose somepony in their former student's shadow?”
Silver blinked in confusion. “What are you talking about?”
Sunset stepped forward. “The school does background checks, you know,” she sneered as Silver backed down the porch steps. “Are you sure they didn’t think about your dear old Dad when they saw your file?”
Silver’s face grew stormy. “They picked me,” she said calmly. “Because I’m a top student. I studied my backside off and I scored well on that test, and every test.”
“Yeah, right,” Sunset scoffed. “Sure you did, Silver. I mean, It’s not like you had any exclusive books to study from and had magic training your entire life or anything. My mom sells kumquats and my dad is an accountant. I had to start from scratch. And still, I end up doing a lot better than the older kids. Why? Because I’ve got potential!” She looked Silver up and down with condescending eyes. “I didn’t need to hitch off of somepony else’s success to get where I am.”
Silver stomped her hoof in the ground. “I got where I am because I have what it takes!I did those spells, not my Father! You’re just jealous!”
“What’s there to be jealous of? You grew a pear tree.” She threw her hooves in the air. “I changed the color of the FREAKING SUN!”
“You’re different, Sunset,” Silver said, tears gathering at the corners of her eyes. “I thought you’d be happy for me. Now you’re just being a bully!”
Sunset’s eyes narrowed. “Mother and Father were right about you. Befriending you was a mistake.”
Silver’s pupils began to shiver while her eyes misted. “Well, I’m beginning to think the same thing. I’m going to go home and pack my bags. Goodbye, Sunset Shimmer.” With that, she turned and trotted down the rest of the steps.
“You’re no better than me!” she yelled after Silver. “I deserve that spot! More than you ever could!”
Silver stopped and turned. “If that were true, then you’d be the one packing your bags, Sunset.” Sunset shook visibly as Silver Lining trotted through the neighborhood.
After watching her disappear, Sunset marched back into the house and slammed the door. A fresh wail erupted through the house, followed by the frustrated cry of her parents. “SUNSET!” they yelled.
With tears streaming down her cheeks, Sunset ran through the living room, briefly bumping into her mother. “Sunset, what is wrong with you!?” Mother demanded. “We just put Sunburst to bed, now you got him all upset!”
“I don’t CARE if he’s upset!” Sunset spat, pushing past her. She ran upstairs to her room and slammed the door twice as hard. She could hear Sunburst cry even louder from downstairs. Sunset joined him, sobbing softly as she pressed her back against the door and slowly slid down to the floor. She sat there, sniffling and gasping until eventually she didn’t have any more tears to shed.
With reddened eyes, she slowly hoisted herself up and made her way towards her bed. She climbed onto it and reached under her pillow, pulling out the crumpled flyer she had held so dear to her. She glanced up at the poster of Princess Celestia before sadly returning her gaze to the flyer. After staring at it, her horn sparked. She watched in vague fascination as the paper’s edge lit up into flames. “I’ll show you,” she murmured. “One day, I’ll show you.” As the paper quickly disintegrated in her hooves, Sunset’s eyes grew dark. “Nopony passes Sunset Shimmer over.”
One month later…
The door flew open and the lights flicked on. “Sunset!” Mother said, trotting over and shaking the lump under the covers. “Sunset, get up! Up up up!”
A low groan answered her and rolled away. “Go away,” the lump murmured.
Mother leaned over and gave the lump a hard smack. “Ow!” Sunset’s head poked out from the covers, squinting angrily. “What was that for?”
“Get up,” Mother grinned, crouching below the bed and pulling out a large suitcase from underneath the bed with her teeth. “There’s been a new development!”
Sunset slowly sat up as Mother opened the suitcase and starting to putting things inside. “...What development?”
“One of the students at the School for Gifted Unicorns has fallen violently ill, so ill, that they had to drop out for the semester. Maybe even the whole year! That leaves one spot open. Somepony who already has perfect grades, perfect attendance and a unique way of casting spells!”
Sunset’s eyes widened, now fully awake. “Wait...you mean they...b-but why me? There’s tons of other kids across Equestria who’re on the waiting list. Of all of those kids, why me?”
Mother gave an annoyed sigh. “Sunset, you just got into your dream school and now you want to look the gift horse in the mouth? Apparently the student who fell ill recommended you, insisting that you come, and they did some research on you. That’s all I know. Now come on and get out of bed! We have work to do! Your father’s getting your brother ready.”
Sunset froze where she sat and stared at her.
“Sunset, come on!”
Sunset frowned as she slid out of bed. She stood there numbly for a moment before eventually helping her mother pack her things. "Is...the student okay?"
“I don't know. All I know is that she fell ill. Now Sunset, we are to leave on a train to Canterlot at 8:30,” Mother bustled, putting in one thing after another.
Sunset glanced on the clock on the wall, which read 5:15.
“We don’t have much time!” After a few minutes of packing everything Sunset needed to bring with her, Mother finally closed the suitcase. “Come, sit on this so I can zip it up.”
The filly hopped onto the suitcase, pressing it down. “Now, when you get there, they want you to take an entrance exam to make sure you’re up to snuff,” Mother grunted, her magic encasing the tiny zipper and pulling. “So I want you to do your very best. Speak up and don't slouch. If ponies see you timid, they'll eat you alive like a pack of wolves. First impressions are everything!”
After a few tugs, the zipper went all the way through, and Mother nodded in satisfaction. “And should you come across Princess Celestia, you are to be on your best behavior. She’ll admire your spirit. Sunset, would it kill you to smile? You are attending a school of royalty. It’s the chance I never had, nor your father.”
“And what if they don’t like me?” Sunset asked. “What if they just ignore me again and send me packing?”
“They won’t.” She reached up and touched Sunset’s face with her hooves. “They’ll accept you. You just got to make them love you. But you can’t fall apart this time, we--you can’t afford to. Remember, Sunset. You are the best. I know it...you know it. Now it’s time to let everypony know it.”
Sunset looked into her mother’s eyes and nodded. “Yes, Ma’am.”
*****
Sunset waited on the school grounds while her parents were inside the school, filling out paperwork. Sunburst sat on her back, babbling and pulling at her mane. “Sunburst, stop that,” she said, shaking her head, breaking her hair free of his tiny grasp.
Sunburst squirmed and started to get fussy, making loud noises. Sunset groaned and levitated Sunburst onto his back on the ground. “Behave,” she said, poking his nose with a hoof. “The last thing I want is you embarrassing me on my first day.” Sunburst grabbed her hoof and stuck it in his mouth, slobbering on it.
“Aww, gross,” Sunset gagged, pulling her hoof away and wiping it on the grass. Sunburst’s lower lip trembled and his big blue eyes began to well up. Sunset sighed and dropped her head. “Great.”
Sunburst wailed, and his tears poured out like two fountains, soaking the grass around him. Sighing, she took him in her hooves and began to rock him back and forth. Sunset didn't fancy herself as a singer, but once and awhile, she would make an exception for her brother. “Shh. Hush now, quiet now, it’s time to lay your sleepy head. Hush now, quiet now, it’s time to go to bed…” Sunset smiled as Sunburst began to quiet down. “Drifting off to sleep, leaving the day behind you, drifting off to sleep, let the joy of dreamland find you. Hush now, quiet now, it’s time to lay your sleepy head. Hush now, quiet now, it’s time to go to bed~....”
By the time she finished, Sunburst had already drifted off to sleep, resting his head against Sunset’s chest. She exhaled and closed her eyes in relief.
“That was beautiful.”
Sunset’s eyes snapped wide open and looked up. There, standing right in front of her, was a tall and slender alicorn with huge white wings. Her mane sparkled and glowed in the air, and her smile held more warmth than the sun itself. Sunset gaped at the figure, frozen in shock. “P-Prin...Prin…”
Celestia chuckled and sat down beside the filly before nodding at Sunburst. “You’re quite good with him,” she complimented. “Is he your brother?”
Her mouth still wide open, Sunset slowly nodded, not taking her eyes off the Princess.
“You must be Sunset Shimmer.” Celestia nodded. “Silver Lining mentioned that she went to school with you. When she fell sick, she was able to ask if you could take her place.” Her eyes grew sad. “She wasn’t doing too well. We still don’t know how it could have happened, and so quickly. She’s in the hospital now, undergoing treatment. She’s stable, but the situation is...a little delicate.”
Sunset’s mouth closed, processing this new information. “Did...did she say why she wanted me to take her place?”
“She simply said that you deserved it.” The Princess smiled. “She also told me that you were the one that turned the sun red a month ago, and your teacher confirmed it.”
Sunset ducked her head. “I’m sorry.”
Princess Celestia laughed. Sunset thought it resembled a tinkling of a bell. “Don’t apologize, my little pony. In fact, I found it quite amusing.” She leaned in closer, whispering, “You should have seen the looks on the Royal Guard’s faces. They ran themselves ragged, trying to figure out what in the world was going on!”
Sunset’s eyes widened. “You mean they got scared? But I thought the Guards never get scared. They don’t even blink!”
“Everypony gets scared, Sunset. Some ponies are just do a really good job hiding it.” She tilted her head a little. “That kind of talent is hard to come by, Sunset. The Sundance spell is almost as old as time, but did you know that very few unicorns can do that, let alone a small filly?”
Sunset shook her head.
Celestia smiled. “You have strong magic, my dear. I see much potential in you. That is why I’d like to help you with your magic. How would you like it if I were to personally give you lessons on magic?”
Sunset almost dropped Sunburst. “L-Like...like a teacher?” she stammered, her heart thumping in her chest.
“Exactly like a teacher. Would you be willing to--”
“YES!” Sunset shouted joyfully. Then she remembered that she had Sunburst in her hooves and spoke much more quietly. “I mean...yes!”
Grinning, Celestia’s eyes shone brightly. “Wonderful. I shall have a chat with your parents this afternoon.” Shifting the baby, Sunset scooted over and hugged Celestia’s side. “Thank you!” she said happily. “I won’t let you down!”
Celestia draped a large wing around Sunset and her brother and nuzzled her. “I don’t see you letting me down any time soon, my student.”
Sunset Shimmer stared into the large mirror, her left hoof one step away from entering the portal that led to a new world. She frowned to herself and raised her hoof in the air, hesitant. Maybe I shouldn’t do this, she thought. Maybe I should apologize…
She looked back at the two unconscious guards, their bodies barely visible in the dark room. Sunset’s heart thudded, and she closed her eyes.
“How dare you keep this kind of magic from me?” Sunset demanded furiously. “You KNOW that I’m ready for this! That I could be GREAT!”
A moment later, Sunset winced at the memory of Celestia’s cold, sharp voice. “You COULD be great. I thought I saw compassion and sincerity in you. But it was nothing but ambition. You’re being selfish. You need to step back and REFLECT.”
Sunset snarled, slamming her hoof back down. “I have reflected, Princess,” she whispered. “Thanks for reminding me why I should never come back.”
She walked through.
Author's Note
And so begins the terror of Sunset "Kiddo" Shimmer. 
So, I thought a lot about the differences and similarities between Sunset and Twilight and I decided that it would be cool to try to figure out what her life was like before Celestia. She's craving the power and respect she didn't have as a filly. She wants what she wants!
As for the headcannon of Sunset and Sunburst being siblings...I've done this before, but I just couldn't resist putting it in. This story was basically one big headcannon drop, and I admit it 
But I don't regret it either. This was really fun to write.
Also, as you can see, I've had some help from the IDW comic, "The Fall of Sunset Shimmer", which you can check out here.
Critique would be wonderful. Thank you for reading, and Happy New Year!
