"What do you mean, I can't become an alicorn?" Sunset Shimmer asked, her voice was strained, from apparently yelling at the alicorn for a long time. She was standing in front of an big, white coated and pastel colored maned pony, Celestia. Sunset's eyes were red in hatred and her horn was glowing. There were large ugly circles under the eyes of the unicorn, showing that she had stayed up late the night before. Around the two ponies, there were books levitating in a spinning circle.
The classroom they were standing, hasn't been used since Sunset started going to the School for Gifted Unicorns. Apparently they found the course unimportant. She could remember the pendition that Twilight had put together to stop the class from canceling, but no pony would support her in doing so. They found it being a laugh. Cobwebs of this old history class were in the corners, the chalkboard was dusty, with the date June 17 2013. Illegible notes where scribbled on to the board. Old textbooks were laying on the rickety desks that nopony had sat in for over five years, but now they were up in the air. The pages where falling out of some, papers and pencils that were stuffed in the books were flying everywhere. There was a large packet of papers that were highlighted in a bunch of colors. It had a name scribbled on to the top. Twilight Sparkle. Only this student would have notes like that. Sunset in fury chucked the packet out of the window.
"Sunset. Put down the books, before you hurt somepony." Celestia said. Her voice was calm, not worried that books and other school supplies were flying at her head. Her horn was now glowing too, repelling the books from hurting her.
The books would fling against the wall with a thud The yellow and red unicorn would add the book back in the circle, only to be thrown back to the wall. The number of books would increase as the unicorn pulled more books off the wooden desk.
"Please-" Celestia said, still repelling the books. "You are making a fool out of yourself. Also, you are going to have to organize this classroom once you are done throwing this fit."
"No, Celestia. Not until you turn me into an alicorn. " Sunset grinded her teeth. She was now circling the alicorn as if she was ready to attack. " I have lost hours, friendships, my fillyhood, to this school. You told me that I had the capabilities of turning into a princess, with wings and a horn." She was breathing heavily. "It's been thirteen years, Celestia, of me giving up my time to study, only to be let down."
"Sunset, as a superhero said in another world, "With great power comes great responsibility."
"Well, I am resp-" the books came down with a big thud Her magic pouring out of her horn stopped. Sunset looked up at her teacher. Her breathing slowed to a normal pace. "Wait. Did you say, another world?" Sunset stopped in her tracks, her bloodshot eyes were large, showing she was very interested.
Celestia, who didn't realize what was going through Sunsets head, said, "Yes. You learned about this in school. We spent a whole week on the theory of time and space travel. Really, I expected you to pay attention more. " Her magic made a book on theories appear. She levitated it over in student's direction. "Twilight remembers, and she hasn't been in this school for so many years. And she wants to know everything. Somehow she remembers all of it too. You know, we should do a study on her brain. That way we could help my subjects become smarter..."
The unicorn didn't pay attention to the rest of the sun princess's yacking. She stole the book, and realizing what information it could have, she walked right out of the room. Celestia did not even notice as she was still carrying on about Twilight Sparkle.
"Twilight must have learned from her, being so caught up in explaining something that nopony cares about," Sunset muttered.
Walking down the long corridors, finding her way to the library, Sunset thought, and thought, and thought some more. Only she knew what the evil plot twisting in her mind. The evil plot that she could conquer, once she got to this so-called another world. A large laugh came up from her chest, echoing off the walls and high ceilings. I will finally get what I want. I will finally be loved.
What many other ponies didn't know about this particular unicorn, was that she was never favored. Never once had someone bragged about her. Her parents would always talk about her brother. Her brother was better in there blinded by love filled eyes. Never did they notice Sunset's accomplishments. They didn't care when Sunset was accepted in The School for Gifted Unicorns. Her parents just noticed him.
Once Sunset got into the marvelous school, Celestia acted like she wasn't even there. It was always about how Twilight was one that every student should look up too. And here now, she was a princess, and still the "star pupil" that Celestia would brag about.
She thought about those horrible memories.Why was everything about somepony else? Couldn't she shine in the spotlight sometimes too? Or was it too much to ask for?
The pep that was in the step that she had when she exited the classroom, as now gone. The memories had drained her happiness and energy, or maybe it was because of her lack of sleep. A single tear glided down her face, falling like a raindrop, only to splatter against the hard and cold tile floors of the school. Her stomach twisted into a knot as she realized the school had only brought her down. It had brought every pony down, except Twilight Sparkle. She had hit rock bottom, and the only way was up. Only three more corridors. a few books, and a portal, till I get what I deserve.
By the time that Sunset had reached the library, she had pulled herself together. Fixing her mane, she took a few deep breaths and pulled the library doors open. Not even as the door was all the way open, a frail old unicorn popped up.
"Sunset, dearie! Long time no see! Come in! What books would you like to read?"
"Hello, Fluffy Diamond. I guess it has been a long time." Sunset smiled. I was just here three days ago. Her memory must be getting worse. "Celestia had given me this book on a theory about space traveling. I was wondering if you had any books on alternate universes."
A grin appeared on the old pony's face. "Yes, right this way!"
The two walked down the long, thin, pathways in between bookshelves that were jammed pack with books upon books. The books had colorful spines, proudly bearing their name and the author who gave life to them. Other books, as Sunset observed, had broken spines, their color was fading, and the print was peeling. They must have been popular books.
"Right here, these three shelves have books on alternate worlds. " Fluffy Diamond began pulling books off of the shelve. Turning to Sunset she asked, "School project?"
"Yes," Sunset quickly said. No pony needed to know what it was really for. Fluffy Unicorn would fall for it, she probably doesn't remember that I have graduated.
"Are you lying to me, missy? I remember your graduation. Class of 2015. You were 15 years old. Top of your class."
"Actually, Fluffy Diamond, Twilight was." Sunset corrected. She immediately regretted in doing so because the old unicorn started rambling off about the newest alicorn princess. Sunset sat there, not wanting to take a risk of being disrespectful again, especially to the one pony that seemed to care. However, she did have reading to get too. "Look. I have some reading to do. I would love to talk another time."
Fluffy Diamond just kept on talking and talking. No matter how many times Sunset tried, it was like she couldn't be heard. "Ok... well, I gotta go now. Bye."
Sunset walked off to a desk, once again saddened by the fact that everypony loved Twilight. Behind her, several books followed, flying in mid-air, with a blue sparkly tinge to them. She sat down, and the books plopped on to the desk. "There was something about humans," Sunset said aloud, remembering back to when she learned about alternate universes in school. Flipping through the thin pages of the first book, she looked for the word human.
"Human. Human. Human. Human. Human" she repeated to herself. The book had many words, but not the magic word she was looking for. While searching, Sunset could hear the faint voice of Fluffy Diamond, talking a few aisles down, her voice was like an old record, that had been played many times, in the distance.
"Human. Human. Human."
Sunset continued looking. It was not until the last book that she found the word. "HUMAN!" she yelled, relieved that she was down looking.
Fluffy Diamond had stopped yapping, now her old crackly voice yelled back, "QUIET!"
"Sorry" the exited unicorn whispered. Sunset began reading the chapter on this particular world.
One of the best known to Equestria, alternate worlds is the human world. This is a world where you have legs and hands. They have many strange tools, like a computure.
To get to this alternate world, you must go through a portal. This portal is a mirror and only opens once every 30 moons.
"The full moon," Sunset said, her hoof slightly raised to her head. "That's tomorrow!" Her hoof slammed down on the table, causing the stack of books to crumble into a pile.
"QUIET!" Fluffy Diamond yelled again.
Sunset Shimmer rushed over to the old librarian. "Fluffy Diamond. I have a question, about the mirror portal. Do you know anything about it?"
"Well....", she started.
"Well," the old librarian said, a grin once more on her face.
"Yes?" Sunset leaned in, eager to hear what she had to say.
"I sure do hope I know about it. I am the one who invented it, after all."
Sunset's mouth literally dropped to the floor. She fell on to her butt and stared at Fluffy Diamond. It took several minutes before she could find words to express every thought bouncing in her head. Her brain went into a giant party mode, and it might as well have been controlled by Pinkie Pie.
"Her brain was controlled by me, silly."
"Pinkie, I am trying to tell a story, here."
"Well then, Lunar Sapphire, tell it right."
Sunset finally was able to have words, well parts of them at least, sputter out of her mouth. "Wha- Wait. Y- HOW?"
The old librarian looked around and said. "If I told you, would there be any fun in the celebration of making a portal to one? It took me years to get it right. Would you like to see the mirror?"
Sunset couldn't believe Fluffy Diamond had asked that. Of course, she wanted to see the mirror. "Duh, I have got to dominate some-" She slapped her hoof over her mouth, just realizing that she was giving out her wonderful evil plan, that this smart, but old pony could very well accomplish, probably faster then she could. " I mean-"
"Is Celestia giving you some hard times, Sunset?"
"Yes, Mam'." She nodded. " I just want some power and somepony to pay attention to me not Twilight, not my brother, Sunburst. Just me for once." She looked down, just noticing how selfish it sounded.
"I understand. The mirror is just down the hall, second door to the left, down the stairs, and first door on the right."
Sunset couldn't do anything except for hug the old mare. "Thank you." She whispered.
Trotting down the hallway, Sunset hummed a tune she had sung since a filly. She couldn't remember most of the words now, but the happy feeling she was experiencing at the moment, made her not care.
Then she got to the stairs.
They were crumbly, and if you didn't step carefully they would turn into a downward spiral, of pointy debree. Anything for world domination, right? She thought to herself as she took the first couple steps in the stairs. To make matters worse for the unicorn, it got darker, the farther she went down the stairs. Sunset performed a spell so that the tip of her horn produced just enough light to see a few steps in front of her.
This caused shadows stretched up against the wall, but there was one shadow that she noticed, that seemed to move. It followed right behind her, and she could not escape it.
"Sunset?" A voice asked.
Sunset jumped in mid-air and landed on a step with one of her hooves controlling all of the pressure. "OWWW!" She screamed in pain, it echoing off of the walls.
"Sunset? Oh my Celestia, I am so sorry! Are you ok?" the shadow rushed over to her.
The shadow got into the light, revealing a small tan unicorn. Her orange main fell over her eyes, but you could still see the sparkle in them."Pumpkin Cake?" Sunset whispered. "What are you doing here?"
"I overheard your talk with the librarian." the small unicorn said.
"No, no, no!" Sunset whispered. "How much do you know?"
"Enough to know that you should let me go with you."
Sunset stared at the filly. She could send her back, but she would probably tell Celestia. If she let her tag along, she could annoy her.
"Well?" Pumpkin Cake said. "You are hurt, aren't you?" she looked down at her bruising hoof.
"Yes," Sunset said quietly. "Look. If I let you tag along, you can't be an annoyance. "
"Really? I promise I will be the quietest and helpful filly you have ever met."
"I said if!" Sunset corrected. "But seeing that you already know my plan, and Celestia would love to yell at me even more, I guess I am forced to bring you along. Also, I need somepony to help me with my hoof."
"Thank you, thank you so much! I have never been to an alternate world. I wonder what it is like..."
Is it just me, or am I the only pony in Equestria that doesn't go in rambling on and on like that? Sunset thought as the overexcited foal yapped and yapped and yapped.
She continued to limp down the narrow and steep stairs, till she finally got to the bottom.
"I can't believe we are doing this" Pumpkin Cake continued to squeal, very excitedly.
"Hey, didn't you say you would be quiet and helpful?"
"Sorry!"
Sunset expected the door to be right there, however, there was a long corridor, until there was a door on the right. There were lots of doors on the left, to her surprise. Trotting down the dark hallway, with Pumpkin Cake behind, she came close to the door. "Alright," she whispered, as she opened the door with magic. The door flung open to reveal - nothing?
"I should have told you this earlier, but this is the right." The small filly said.
"WHAT?"
"Well you wanted me to be quiet, so I didn't tell you."
"Ok." Sunset paused, taking a big breath in. "Look, Pumpkin if there is something you think will be helpful to me, then say it. If you are incapable of doing so, I will send you right back to that prissy princess. We are doing this so that I can take over the world, not to pick dandelion fluff. "
"Oh, sorry." the fillies eyes got big, and she pulled on her "puppy dog" face.
"Whatever" they started walking back to the other end of the corridor. "Tell me, why didn't you decide to help your mom and dad with the bakery?"
"They have Pinkie Pie and Pound Cake. I want better things in life, Sunset."
"So you came here. Kid, that is the biggest mistake you have made. When Celestia put in the words at the bottom of your acceptance letter, 'Unleash the possibilities of wings',she meant Twilight. I have been there, the false hope of becoming someone everypony looked up too. It will not happen"
"I and my friends look up to you, Sunset."
Sunset let out a chuckle, how could somepony possibly look up to her? She stopped in front of the door, that she hoped was the one Fluffy Dimond was talking about. She opened it up and, yes, there was a mirror! "Thank Celestia!"
"Don't you hate her?" The young filly questioned, her head tilted to the side.
"Thank Luna, is that better?"
"No pony says that."
"Can we just go through the portal?" Sunset asked as she walked up to it. The power, the love, I can feel it from this world. I need to get there. I'm surprised the changelings haven't gone through here.
The two jumped through it, unsure of what may happen.
