It was a bright early morning as two figures walked a mowed path through the Royal Canterlot Academy. The Academy was one of the most prestigious places to learn magic, as well as train aspiring mages and its practitioners in the arcane arts. It had high spires, gleaming walls, and a slew of powerful mages as staff ran by two of the most famous mages in all of Equestria, the Royal Sisters Princess Celestia and Princess Luna.
The two were a man and a woman walking outdoors. The woman had beautiful features, long wavy red and yellow hair, amber skin, and a loose teal long sleeve blouse with a shimmery yellow fringe on the bottom, tied over it was a brown belt with a leather book sleeve which kept a brown hard cover book with a red and yellow sun symbol on its face, on her lower body she wore slimming black pants with brown boots. The man was toned with olive skin, had spiky blue hair, and wore a black long sleeve tunic with a blue shield and yellow lightning symbol on the back, slung across his back was a metal shield and his lower body had brown pants holstered with a double sided short sword and black boots. Their names were Sunset Shimmer and Flash Sentry, and they were walking side by side just chatting idly.
"I can't believe Celestia is gonna let me teach here after all I've done!" Sunset exclaimed.
"Well you must've proved yourself in the eyes of the Princesses, and if they trust you now then so do I." Flash replied.
"Thanks Flash, and I appreciate you taking me on a tour of the Academy, you must've had guard duty today right?" Sunset asked with a touch of worry in her voice.
Flash waved a hand dismissively, "Eh, it's no problem I took the day off and I could use the break." he assured.
Sunsets shoulders drooped as she glumly spoke up, "Still I'm a bit wary walking around my old school, especially since I was a problem child and basically dropped out."
Wanting to add some optimism Flash quickly pointed out, "Hey you're going to be a new teacher here at the Academy, I'd say you've got a lot to look forward to."
Sunset brightened at his remark and suddenly gasped at an idea. "How about we spar!" she blurted.
"Spar? You mean you want to have a magic duel right now?" Flash asked.
"Yeah! I haven't done it in a while and I want to shake off some rust before I start teaching." Sunset said excitedly.
"Hmm..." Flash took a moment to think over the pros and cons. Eventually he accepted the idea, "Well sure if you want to, but I won't hold back, got a reputation to uphold y'know."
"Well you may be a Royal Guard, but I used to be Celestia's personal student, I'm sure I can take you on." Sunset smirked.
"I'll hold you to that then Sunset." Flash smirked right back. "So were you a princess-in-training then?" he added.
"Well I wanted to be princess when I was younger, but now I'm just fine being me." Sunset said confidently pointing a thumb to herself.
They kept walking along the path until they reached a large circular structure. It was a colosseum, an arena used for large magical demonstrations and practice duels between other mages. Scattered on the seats were students reading books and various groups of friends hanging out waiting for morning classes to start. They both entered one of its high arched entrances and walked to the middle of the field.
"Gonna put up a barrier?" Sunset asked.
"Yeah just a simple protection ward, don't wanna hurt any others." Flash answered. "Don't worry it's not gonna affect our duel."
"I should hope not." Challenged Sunset as Flash conjured a ball of light in his hand and sent it to the sky. The ball popped and a barrier flashed white around the field before turning invisible.
Flash turned to Sunset, "You ready?"
Sunset turned to Flash and stated, "Born ready."
They both nodded to each other then took position at opposite sides of the field, eyes full of determination. Flash unslung his shield and slipped it onto his left forearm, then drew his sword with his right hand and got into a defensive stance. Sunset unbuckled the book on her belt and held it in front of her with both hands, she closed her eyes and the book levitated slightly as it then changed into a red and yellow hand. She opened her eyes and grabbed the handle with her right hand, a long fire whip forming out of it ending in a forked tongue.
Princess Luna sat in her office slowly waking up with a cup of coffee in her hand, waiting for the new day to start. Just as she was about to take another sip she felt a rise of magical energies that quickly gnawed at her. Standing she rushed to her Sisters office and slammed the door open.
"Sister I feel a disturbance in the school!" Yelled Luna.
"Yes I know Luna, and judging by their magical signatures I'd say it was Flash Sentry and Sunset Shimmer." Celestia calmly replied.
Instantly Luna asked "Do you think they may be in danger then?"
"No, Captain Sentry took an off day and Sunset is taking a tour of the Academy with him." Answered Celestia.
Just then a flash of yellow and red erupted from the direction of the colosseum.
Luna looked to the window and eyed the colosseum warily, "Perhaps we should go there just to keep an eye on them."
"Agreed." Celestia nodded and with a flash they were gone.
A yellow lighting bolt shot down from the sky and struck Flash sprouting ethereal blue wings from his back, he was now garbed in his Royal Guard armor, gold plate around his chest, arms, and legs, crowned with a blue plumed centurion helmet. His weapons also changed form and his metal shield was now blue with gold trim and the sword became a gold javelin the tip crackling with electricity. Sunset cracked her whip and flame shot up from below her feet enveloping her body, bands of gold armor wrapped around her hips, shoulders, and knees, all adorned with a her red and yellow sun sigil. Atop her head was a gold band that kept her hair back and a golden spire coming out of the center of it akin to a unicorns horn.
The Royal Sisters popped near the top of the colosseum seats and quietly scanned the field, seeing two figures standing on the ground both with golden armor and magical weapons in hand. There was also a sizable audience forming throughout the seats as students entered the colosseum contacted by their friends, all excited to see a magical duel. On the other side of the arena six female mages rushed through one of the entrances to also investigate the rising energies, but what everyone saw next was nothing short of astounding.
Flash banged his javelin on his shield twice and the rumble of thunder rang out in the arena, black clouds formed out of the sky as a lightning bolt struck him. His body disappeared from view and he now stood on one of the clouds, with his javelin he sent electricity to the black clouds chaining between them violently. Lightning struck out relentlessly at Sunset as she ducked and weaved between them teleporting often, eventually she summoned an orange shield around her body to block the blows from Flash's lightning. Sunset expanded the shield outward and exploded it giving her an opening from the strikes, she cracked her whip to the sky and two fireballs flew to where she thought Flash was. Not wanting to let up she continued to send fireballs to the sky while dodging the chasing lightning.
The barrage of fireballs started getting too close for comfort and Flash jumped off, swooping down he landed javelin first piercing the ground that sent lighting around the point of impact. Sunset swatted away the strikes heading toward her with her whip and tried a direct attack on Flash with his javelin still in the earth. Flash brought his shield up and blocked the blow while Sunset teleported away to get some space between them. Flash raised his javelin to the sky and brought it back down to eye level, his black clouds concentrated into crackling orbs that stopped at different heights in an effort to limit Sunsets teleportation. Sunset saw this and cracked her whip again pouring more magic into it as it grew into a coiling serpent of flame, she sent the whip around and started to destroy the orbs to retake space. Flash tried to retaliate but a low sweeping swipe from Sunsets flame forced him back in the sky, he banged his javelin on his shield once bursting the orbs now filling the arena with black fog.
Wanting to save energy Sunset returned her whip to regular size, and held her left palm up with a small flame to illuminate her surroundings. The field barely visible, a moment of silence passed before two lighting bolts shot from both sides of Sunset, trying to strike her in a crossfire. She narrowly teleported away and sent the fire in her left hand to the air, cracking it with her whip the fire pulsed and shone the entire arena in an orange glow. She saw Flash zooming through the fog towards her, his blue shield up and his javelin quickly closing. Sunset dodged right and cracked her whip against his shield, jumping back and away from his weapons.
Flash hoped she would be caught off guard with close quarter combat and quickly got in her face again. This time he swung his javelin from the right only to feint spinning around to give a back handed swipe from the left. Sunset ducked low to dodge it when Flash suddenly shoved his shield forward, causing her to stumble back. Reeling from the shield check Sunset tumbled backwards and landed flat on her face, angrily she propped up her body with an arm and swung her whip to his feet. The whip wrapped around his legs and Sunset pulled hard, causing Flash to slip and land flat on his back. Sunset pushed up to her feet and teleported away cracking her whip on the ground as she landed, two columns of flame sprung up and traveled to the still laying Flash.
Groaning Flash heard the whip crack and brought his head up, only to see the fire heading toward him. Quickly he brought his weapons close to his chest and rolled left, dodging the fire and getting back on his feet. Sunset coiled the whip in front of her and delivered another crack, this time a ring of fire shooting towards Flash. Flash took flight to dodge it and backed away landing far from Sunset, both now stood across the field the fog and fire disappearing from view. Both of them were breathing heavily, clothes unkempt, sweat leaking from every pore, despite them being exhausted Sunset spoke up.
"Giving up soldier boy?" Teased Sunset.
Flash teased back, "Not in a million years princess."
The arena seats were abuzz with activity, girls and guys alike cheering loudly for the mages on the field. The six female mages, otherwise known as the Elements of Harmony, were also watching the duel some watching it play out intensely, others cheering alongside the students. Meanwhile Celestia and Luna gave each other an apprehensive look that screamed 'This can't be good.'
Flash banged his javelin on his shield three times, the sound of rolling thunder booming as a large black storm cloud appeared behind him. He brought his shield in front of him and wound back his javelin preparing a lighting strike, the thundercloud sending electricity to its tip. Sunset smirked and first cracked the whip in front of her, then to the right, then behind, finishing off with her left. A ring of fire formed around her as her red and yellow sun sigil shone from behind, she then brought the whip back and let it lay behind in the ring of fire ready to strike. The crowd watched in anticipation as Sunset cracked her whip forward, a massive ball of fire barreling down the field as Flash thrust his javelin forward, a giant fang of lightning shooting through the field as well.
Just as their attacks were about to collide, just as they were going to see who was stronger, two figures teleported to the middle of the field. Princess Celestia and Princess Luna.
"ENOUGH!" Commanded Luna.
A booming shockwave from Lunas voice scattered Flash's lightning and snuffed out Sunset's fireball, it had even broke the protection ward, shattering it before fading away. Both fighters couldn't believe their eyes as their strongest attacks were stopped so easily, and by the Royal Canterlot Voice no less, but their disbelief was short lived as they heard the Princesses call out to them.
"Flash! Get over here!" Ordered Luna.
"Sunset, may I have a word please?" Requested Celestia.
It was no secret that Princess Luna was strict, in charge of the Royal Guard, and always pre-occupied with the might and safety of Equestria, while Princess Celestia was calm and wise, always smiling, often busy negotiating with various councils. Both Flash and Sunset knew they were in trouble so they dispelled their armor and weapons and reluctantly walked toward them in plain clothes.
"What were you two thinking!?" Shouted Luna.
Flash bowed his head in shame, "My apologies Princess Luna, we were having a practice duel to sharpen our skills."
Feeling guilty Sunset cut in, "Please don't blame Flash for what happened, I wanted to spar and things just got out of hand. Heat of the moment y'know?"
"Yes but you could've harmed each other, the students, and the school. I think you two need a refresher course on magical safety with Harshwhinny in order to get that through your heads!" Scolded Luna.
Both Flash and Sunset groaned inwardly, a class geared for first-years headed by the most boring teacher at the Academy. Not fun.
"Come now Luna don't you think you're being too harsh, need I remind you of all the duels we've had throughout the years?" Celestia interjected.
"Always supervised though! Besides I'm only thinking of their safety Sister." Luna shot back arms crossed.
"Then can I speak to them please?" Celestia asked sweetly.
Luna frowned, "I hate it when you do that." before rolling her eyes.
Celestia smiled and nodded softly to Luna before addressing Flash and Sunset.
"Captain Sentry it eases my mind to know Equestria is protected by a strong and unyielding guard such as yourself, and Sunset our school is ever stronger with a resourceful and powerful mage like you joining its ranks." She sighed before continuing. "But the amount of magical energies you fought each other with was incredibly dangerous, what do you have to say for yourselves." Celestia chided.
Sheepishly Sunset rubbed the back of her neck and looked away, "Sorry Celestia, I'm not really one to hold punches."
"I'm sorry too Princess, but I thought it would be unfair to her if I didn't bring my best." Flash explained his eyes never leaving Celestias gaze.
"In that case I have one last thing to say to each of you." Celestia started.
They were caught off guard as she embraced both of them in a wide hug, Sunset and Flash gave each other a surprised look before returning the awkward hug slightly. Celestia lingered a while before she broke between them.
"Take care of each other," she said to Flash sternly, "and enjoy the rest your day." she brightly told Sunset.
Celestia walked away with a faint smile on her face, leaving both of them dumbstruck. Luna only glared at them muttering "You're too soft on them Sister." as Celestia passed, before also turning away. Knowing her word was final Luna went to the clear the arena of lingering students, while six girls rushed to Celestia for answers.
Their brains eventually restarted and they found themselves still in the middle of the field, students now filing out.
"Well... that was weird." Flash said rubbing the back of his neck.
Sunset nodded in agreement and an awkward pause followed.
"So uh... wanna get some lunch?" Sunset blushingly suggested.
Flash cracked a smile, "Sure, I'd say we both deserve a rest and some food after that..." then he leaned close to Sunset and whispered, "though I still would've won."
Sunset laughed as she lightly punched him on the arm, "Guess we'll never know now." she said playfully before leaving the arena together.
Author's Note
Hey everyone thanks for reading,
Long time reader, first time writer and man is it hard. Mainly wanted to focus on the magical duel, and now I can't stop thinking of other characters to do. The world building, Celestia and Luna stuff, and the Flashimmer romance was extra. More stories are gonna focus on a duel and not directly continue from the last one, you won't see a story focusing on Sunset and Flash bonding and being in a relationship. Sorry.
Anyway hope you had fun reading it as much as I had fun writing it.
