The Two Students of the Moon

Chapters

Sunset and Twilight
First Lessons
Forbidden Magic
Weekend Visit
Dreams of the Two Students
The Secret is Out
Aftermath

Sunset and Twilight

Author's Note

This will be very close to the canon. And considering the comic about Sunset Shimmer's fall, I don't think the writers did her backstory justice. In this story, we'll explore more of Sunset's and Twilight's youth.

Sunset and Twilight

The late afternoon sun illuminated the land in golden colors. Luna tried not to think about the spots on the sun. It had been generations since, and she couldn't remove the loneliness in her heart. Every morning, she expected to see Celestia sitting in the dining room, only to see an empty seat. The extra room a few servants fashioned was prepared for the elder princess. She took in a deep breath and closed her eyes. The memory of Celestia's banishment replayed in her mind. A sob caught in her throat as she masked her emotions. She couldn't cry in front of her subjects. "Tia, I miss you... please come back..."

Luna wished those words could magically bring Celestia here. But, nothing happened. She dipped the sun below the horizon. Another sunset without her sister... She sniffled. She knew that Celestia didn't want to transform into Daybreaker, but several ponies thought the opposite was true. What if she had bypassed Daybreaker's barrier to reach Celestia's dream before it was too late? The approaching hoofsteps interrupted her train of thoughts. She turned to face the guard. "Yes, sir?" She asked.

The stallion bowed. "The test for unicorns has begun," he said.

Luna glanced away. He didn't have to see her tears. As much as she wanted to be seen as a relatable ruler, she couldn't be seen as unstable. It hurt to be stoic. "Thanks for informing me. I shall visit the school now." She trotted out of the castle and entered the school. Young unicorns darted past her as she smiled. So many young minds, wanting to learn more about magic... Which pony would unseal the hidden Elements and rescue Celestia from Daybreaker's grip?

Unlike Celestia, Luna was the more emotional sister. Nopony knew how many times she had cried herself to sleep every morning, and how many times she asked to be alone in the dining room. Only the ponies closest to her assumed that she was in a permanent state of grief, never to be consoled again.

One of the adult ponies, Twilight Velvet, beckoned Luna into a classroom. "Twilight Sparkle wants to learn so much about magic ever since she watched the moon rise during the Evening Moon Celebration."

Luna stole a glance at the lavender filly. She was strangely reminded of when Celestia was a young filly. "She seems determined."

"Yes, she is."

Luna watched in silence. The filly seemed nervous, and if she stepped out of the shadows, it could make the little one feel anxious. To this day, there were ponies who were still shy around royalty. Twilight Sparkle seemed the type to be shy around them. She didn't dare make a movement, let alone an audible exhale.

Twilight grunted as the magenta aura fizzled out of her horn. She panted, then nudged the dragon egg. She stomped her hoof and took in a deep breath. Several minutes later, she hung her head and sighed. Just as she placed the dragon egg into the cart, a huge explosion caused the air to vibrate with magical energy. What happened? A huge surge of magic emerged from her horn and transformed Twilight Velvet into a plant. The egg cracked, and in place of it was a large dragon.

Luna didn't expect this. She calmly stepped forward and touched Twilight Sparkle's head. Everything went back to normal - the filly's parents, the dragon egg, and the rest of the magical chaos. The filly looked up, fear evident in her eyes. Silence filled the air.

"Pr-Princess Luna, I..." Twilight began.

A star, surrounded by five small stars, appeared on Twilight's flank. Luna smiled. Whoever created the large explosion, she would have to meet that pony someday. She imagined Twilight using the Element of Magic. This filly was a powerful bearer of magic. "You have potential, Twilight Sparkle, for you passed the test. You shall become my personal protege."

Twilight let out a delighted gasp. "Really? Yes! Oh my gosh, yes!" She jumped around Luna as she repeated the last word. Once she was done skipping like a cheerful filly, she left the classroom.

A filly with a red and yellow mane entered the room, levitating a potted plant. She faced the other teachers. "I will use a growth spell on this."

One of the instructors furrowed his brow. "Classic. But isn't that spell used many times?"

Another instructor spoke. This time, it was a mare. "We're hoping for an unique spell," she said.

An aura the color of the filly's eyes enveloped the plant, causing it to grow. It was swift. The plant transformed into a vine and punctured a hole in the ceiling. The instructors seemed shocked, yet impressed. The filly panted from exerting herself with the spell.

Luna's magic transformed the vine back to its original size, then she approached the filly. Sunset seemed as strong as Twilight. How would both have the Element of Magic? She and Celestia had used three of the six Elements a millennium ago before Daybreaker was banished. Would Sunset and Twilight become the next Luna and Celestia? "Sunset Shimmer, do you want to become my protege?" She asked.

Sunset tilted her head. "Twilight said she became your protege, right?"

"She is indeed my protege. Do you want to study magic with her or not?"

"Of course."

Luna led Sunset into the hallway, where Twilight Sparkle waited. Twilight Velvet and Night Light told their daughter how proud they were. She understood why they would feel proud. If the lavender filly was her daughter, she would feel just as proud.

Twilight hopped over to Luna's side. When she saw Sunset, she smiled. "How is the test?"

Sunset flashed a smug grin. "I passed the test. Now Luna will teach me about magic," she replied.

"We're about to learn from the wisest ruler of Equestria!"

The two fillies did a happy dance. Luna's heart melted at the sight. The fillies reminded her of a younger version of herself and Celestia. Now the sun wasn't the only thing to remind her of her loss. Twilight and Sunset were also reminders. She couldn't let this get in the way of being their mentor. Tears streamed down her cheeks. Grief had a way of reminding the strongest ponies of tragic losses. Sometimes the pain in her heart made her want to scream. She could let herself feel the intensity of her emotions if she wanted, but she chose not to.

"Princess, why are you crying?" Sunset asked.

Luna wiped her tears. "It's the tears of pride, not sadness," she said. "I'm happy for you. And just call me Luna. I'm not here to be formal."

"Oh, that makes sense."

Soon enough, Luna led both fillies to Canterlot Castle. Twilight and Sunset gasped in awe as they entered the castle. The giant structure's interior had bright colors. Most ponies weren't sure why she would give the halls and the throne room sunny colors. Only she knew why; it was because she wanted to honor Celestia. Once they were in the throne room, the parents of both Sunset and Twilight bowed.

Luna smiled benevolently. "They will live with me," she said.

Twilight Velvet hugged her daughter. "I'll visit sometimes," she murmured. She turned her attention to Luna. "Take good care of her."

Sunset's mother, Summer Dawn, stepped toward the door. "Bye, Sunset. Be good, and listen to Princess Luna."

Sunset nodded. "I'll be good."

After the conversation in the throne room, Sunset and Twilight walked to their new room. Luna had said that they could share the room. Sunset didn't mind sharing the bedroom with Twilight, although she initially expected to have a room to herself and nopony else. However, it didn't seem fair that they would share the privilege as Luna's student. What if Twilight outshone her? Earlier when she waited for her test, she heard ponies mention the power of Twilight's magic. Was her own magic powerful? Twilight's squeal interrupted her thoughts.

"Sunny, look at all the books we could read!" Twilight exclaimed as she levitated the ladder. "I can't wait to stay up all night reading all the best literature ever written in the history of Equestria!"

"We still have to sleep. How can a student perform in class without getting some rest?" Sunset replied.

Twilight didn't turn her head. She pulled several books from the bookshelves and organized them on a desk. She opened the books at once. "This is so perfect! Where do I even start?"

The door creaked open, revealing the moon princess. Luna wore a serene smile. "I see you're eager to learn. Being my student isn't only about the study of magic. Friendship is also important. Your studies will begin tomorrow. I still have duties as the ruler of Equestria, so I'll have you remain a student at the School for Gifted Unicorns. At the end of each day, you can tell me what you've learned."

Twilight closed the books. "Can't I stay up until midnight to read some books?" She asked as she pouted.

"You may. But make sure you get enough sleep each night."

"I got to read until midnight!" Twilight scrutinized each book cover. She pointed to a book with the silhouette of an unicorn's head. "This one's about prophecies?"

Luna nodded. "Yes. However, most prophecies are created by vivid imaginations and are therefore old mares' tales."

Twilight tilted her head. "Are you sure?"

"Of course." Luna's horn glowed. Her magical aura pulled a book from the top bookshelf. "This is a good book to start with. It's similar to the spells that I once practiced in my youth."

Twilight hopped like an excited filly about to discover a wonderful surprise. "Cool!" She yanked the book from Luna's magical aura. "And the text seems ancient. It must be-"

"A thousand years old. I have preserved it with my magic. You may come across some archaic words that are hard to understand. In that case, I'll help you understand what it means."

As Luna and Twilight held a conversation about the spellbook, Sunset approached a bookshelf. Her hoof wandered over the infinite choices. There were many genres to choose from, whether nonfiction or not. Had Luna prepared this room for the arrival of a future protege before the test at school? She turned to face Luna, but the alicorn was still speaking with Twilight. She trotted to the balcony. The cool breeze met her fur as she gazed at the full moon. The balcony had a full view of the courtyard and nearby towers.

"Sunset, check this out!" Twilight said as she peered into the telescope. "Tons of constellations to study. Our mentor's night is so beautiful and fascinating."

Sunset trotted to Twilight's side. Now it was her turn to look into the telescope. What she saw made her gasp. Twilight was right! The stars formed every kind of constellation. "Wow..."

"I'm gonna grab my sketchbook. It's filled with drawings of constellations." Twilight rushed inside the tower.

Sunset turned her gaze to the sky again. Not everypony loved the night, but she and Twilight preferred its peace and calmness. There was always a constellation to look at during the night. She couldn't wait to begin her studies tomorrow.

First Lessons

The early dawn's light penetrated the room, warming Twilight's bed. It was her first day away from her parents' residence. She yawned, then stretched her legs. She followed Sunset to the dining room, where Luna sat. A plate of pancakes waited for both of them. The delicious aroma caused her stomach to rumble. Would the food taste different from her mother's cooking? It wasn't that her mother's cooking was bland. She took a bite of the pancakes. The royal cooks must've done an awesome job.

"Good morning," Luna said. "The first lesson is about friendship. Have you made any friends?"

Twilight shrugged. "What does this have to do with studying magic?"

Sunset placed the fork onto the folded napkin. "Twilight's my only friend. And we haven't befriended other ponies. Why is this important?"

Luna sipped her tea. "Friends are like family. A true friend is trustworthy. They also comfort you in tough times. True friends also encourage you. You laugh with them and make memories with them. That's the beauty of having a friend."

"You do rule alone," Sunset pointed out.

Luna nodded. A sad smile replaced her normally stoic expression. "It's between you and me. I had an older sister. She once ruled by my side. We were so close, and Celestia was the best sister that anypony could ask for. One day..." Her voice caught in her throat. "I lost her to an evil influence."

Twilight was surprised that her mentor carried such emotions. More importantly, she was used to the aura of strength that Luna had. Who knew how much pain the alicorn had endured in past centuries? "Is there anything else to say about her?" She asked.

"It is hard for me to talk about. When you're older, you'll understand."

Twilight gave Luna an inquisitive look. The moon princess had always been enigmatic. Sometimes Luna would hint at something without telling the whole story. Somepony once called that subtext. Although she wasn't sure what to make of her mentor's words, her heart ached for the alicorn. She couldn't begin to imagine what it would be like to lose a sibling.

"When you're finished with breakfast, I shall have Miss Storybook accompany you to the School for Gifted Unicorns. Your saddlebags are prepared," Luna said.

Sunset shook her head. "I'm not sure anypony else wants to be my friend. They usually avoid me. The only other pony that speaks to me is Trixie Lulamoon, and she's not even my friend. She boasts too much."

"How can you assume that if you haven't given others a chance to become your friend?"

"I don't know. As I said, Twilight has been my only friend."

"I'll give you this assignment for today. Walk up to anypony who seems lonely, and ask her if she wants to become your friend."

"You make it sound like a requirement."

Twilight nodded. "Besides, our studies are more important."

One of the castle servants approached Luna. "Princess, you are needed in the throne room within a minute."

Luna glanced at Twilight, then at the servant. "I'll be there, Chancellor."

Twilight and Sunset walked to their bedroom and retrieved their saddlebags. Would it be like this every morning? Of course the day was busier than the night, unless certain ponies had nightmares every single night. It wasn't that she had a problem with her mentor's royal responsibilities. Ruling alone had to be this hectic. She stuffed the books into her saddlebags and navigated the hallways. The castle seemed huge. What secrets were hidden in here? The weekend didn't seem far off, which would give her a chance to explore the castle without interruption.

Once Twilight and Sunset arrived in one of the classrooms at the School for Gifted Unicorns, Miss Storybook started the class. They chose a pair of desks in the front. The young unicorns got to their seats right before the bell rang. Pictures cluttered the wall by the window. A group of unicorns by the door excluded the loners. In the back of the classroom, a filly with glasses sat alone, poring over her books.

Twilight exchanged glances with Sunset. "We should sit with her," she said.

Sunset nodded. "Good idea. Still, we're not supposed to talk during class."

Miss Storybook approached them. She had a light coral coat and a garnet mane, with a book and quill for a cutie mark. "I can't have you getting in trouble. The princess doesn't want to mentor a troublemaker."

"We're sorry," Sunset said.

"You can talk if I call on you." Miss Storybook walked toward the chalkboard. She cleared her throat as she faced the class. "Good morning, class. Today, you will learn the teleportation spell-"

A filly with a blue coat rose her hoof. "The Great and Powerful Trixie will show the class the art of teleportation!"

Miss Storybook narrowed her eyes. "You've spoken without a turn for the third time this week. I know you enjoy showing off your skills, but perhaps you should be more humble. Because of this rude interruption, you won't be allowed to showcase your ability to teleport."

"It's so unfair. Trixie wants to do it so bad!"

"Do I need to send you to the principal's office? It appears that a simple time-out in the hallway won't change your behavior."

Trixie didn't say another word. Instead, she pouted. Miss Storybook proceeded to lecture about teleporting, which seemed to take forever. Several unicorns fell asleep. She had to reprimand them several times. About five minutes later, she gathered the paperwork and a quill.

"We'll practice this spell outside. This isn't a competition about who's the best. I assure you that Trixie won't come with us. Somepony will watch her. Follow me," Miss Storybook said.

The whole class walked outside. Twilight had a feeling that she was being watched. She looked behind her. A familiar face from behind the window watched the whole scene. Why would Trixie be interested in observing the class from a distance? Was Trixie jealous? She had spoken with her a few times. It didn't have to take an expert to know how boastful Trixie was. The warm breeze caressed her mane. Miss Storybook repeated the instructions and reminded the class a second time that the assignment wasn't a contest.

"Twilight Sparkle, you're first," Miss Storybook said.

Twilight summoned her magical power. The aura enveloped her body and teleported her to the front door. She felt proud of herself. It wasn't too difficult. She returned to the school's backyard. Now it was time for Sunset to try the teleporting spell.

Sunset grunted. Her magical aura fizzled out. Hadn't she focused enough? After a long minute, she gave up. "I don't think I can do this."

Miss Storybook inclined her head. "Don't feel bad. In time, you'll master this spell. Patience is key."

By recess, everypony rushed to the playground. The same filly from Sunset's class sat on the bench, while Trixie attempted to perform certain tricks. She approached the bench. Would the filly want to become her friend? What if she messed up? She wasn't shy, but she didn't consider herself the type to make more than one friend. She had always been an independent pony. "Hi. I haven't talked to you before. I'm Sunset Shimmer. What's your name?"

The filly looked up. "Moondancer."

Twilight sat by Moondancer. "Do you want to play with us?" She asked.

Moondancer hesitated for a moment. "Nopony wanted to be my friend before. Also, I trust books more than ponies."

Trixie stepped forward, adjusting her hat as she smirked. "Anything you can do, Trixie can do better. Watch this and be amazed..." She summoned a cloud of gray smoke. Once the smoke disappeared, she was on top of a slide. "Twilight cannot do this. And neither can Sunset. Unbelievable how lucky they are to become Princess Luna's students."

Sunset cleared her throat. "The reason you didn't become Princess Luna's protege is because you're unfit to become her student."

Trixie snorted. "Remember yesterday's test? Trixie was meant to succeed. And then you and Twilight got in the way. If Trixie cannot become Princess Luna's student, then she can become a famous magician. Okay, time for more tricks. Prepare to stare in awe!"

Sunset had a feeling that the trick would go wrong. She glanced at the adult unicorns. At least they could intervene should chaos arise. "Didn't they tell you not to misuse magic?"

"Some rules are meant to be broken." A magical aura emerged from under Trixie's hat and caused the merry-go-round to spin faster. The foals on it screamed with fright.

Miss Storybook stomped toward the slide. "That's enough, Trixie Lulamoon! Apologize or you'll find yourself in the principal's office with a note for your parents."

Trixie shook her head. "One more trick." She levitated her hat and placed it on the ground. Several spiders emerged from the hat, causing the fillies to holler with high-pitched voices. A colt stomped on the spiders.

Miss Storybook's magic enveloped Trixie's body as she stalked off. "Perhaps the principal will teach you a lesson!"

"I'll have revenge on you someday!"

After Trixie and Miss Storybook entered the school, Sunset and Twilight played with Moondancer. A trio of unicorns walked up to them. They said that they watched Sunset stand up to Trixie. Perhaps she could also befriend them as she befriended Moondancer. More than one friend didn't seem like a bad thing, after all.

Sunset introduced herself to the trio of unicorns. "Twilight and I just became the students of Princess Luna."

The filly with a pink mane and a cutie mark of three blue stars was the first to speak. "You're so lucky. Congrats on becoming the students of the benevolent princess. I'm Twinkleshine. My friends here are Lemon Hearts and Minuette."

Now it was Minuette's turn to speak. She was a blue filly with a hourglass cutie mark and a deep blue mane. "Wanna play tag?"

"Yes!" Twilight, Sunset, and their friends shouted in unison. During the good part of recess, the six friends ran back and forth, giggling. Soon, other foals joined in.

By the time recess ended, Miss Storybook blew the whistle and led her class inside. Sunset and her friends could barely stop giggling. She had an interesting story to tell Luna once she and Twilight returned to the castle...

When Luna heard the whole story during dinnertime, she couldn't help but smile at the adorable parts. Especially the part where her students played tag with a group of new friends. She was also impressed when Twilight mentioned her first try at the teleportation spell. Once her students were finished, she inclined her head.

"My dearest students, you did a wonderful job today. Twilight, Miss Storybook's report told me that your teleportation was perfect. As for you, Sunset, you'll eventually become better at this spell," Luna said.

Sunset frowned. "If I cannot teleport, what kind of unicorn does this make me? Twilight can do that. Her magic is stronger than mine."

"You're still learning. Just because you can't do one spell yet doesn't mean you're inferior to Twilight. Don't compare yourself to her. It never feels good to compare oneself to another."

"I'll still practice it."

"Don't overwork yourself. Every unicorn's magical abilities develop at different rates. No two ponies are the same."

Sunset stared at the table. "I guess you're right. Still, I don't know if I can be a powerful unicorn someday."

"You're still young, which means you have a lot to learn. And as I pointed out yesterday, you have potential," Luna said.

The two unicorns ate in peace. Luna turned her attention to the window. It was a clear evening, with the first few constellations already scattered across the darkened sky. Things would have been different had Daybreaker never taken over Celestia's body. Speaking of Celestia, it had been a while since she last visited an universe similar to Equestria. She would never forget the time when she had visited that parallel universe several months ago and discovered that the other universe had changed. She had resolved not to visit the parallel universe again.

"Can we explore the castle?" Sunset asked.

"Yes, but don't enter the archives. Advanced magic is meant to be used by adult unicorns that have powerful magic," Luna said.

Twilight and Sunset walked out of the dining room, while Luna activated her dream magic. She had a feeling her students would feel curious about the archives. She had every reason to forbid them from entering the archives because an advanced spell could go wrong if a young unicorn used one.

Forbidden Magic

Sunset led Twilight into a dark hallway. The hallway did have a few torches, but it seemed the hallway was meant to be spooky. Murals and tapestries dotted the walls. Her gaze was drawn to a stained glass mural. It depicted a familiar blue alicorn standing next to a white alicorn. In this mural, the alicorns' magic enveloped a draconequus. A gasp escaped her lips. She glanced around to make sure that nopony heard them. The night guards were just as watchful as the diurnal ones. If somepony reported their whereabouts, the moon princess wouldn't be happy. She might ground both unicorns, or worse, dismiss them from the castle forever.

"Look at the door at the end of the hallway," Sunset whispered.

"Luna said not to touch the archives," Twilight replied.

"I want to learn more magic. From now on, you'll keep this a secret. Every night we explore the castle, I'll research some books in the archives. It's between you and me."

"We can't lie to her."

"Come on."

Twilight paused for a moment as she stroked her chin. "Fine. But don't blame me if something terrible happens and you're the one who cast an advanced spell."

Sunset furrowed her brow. "Don't even hint at the secret when talking to Luna."

Twilight seemed worried. "I'm not the best at keeping secrets."

Sunset walked ahead of Twilight. She didn't need to be reminded that secrecy wasn't her friend's strong suit. More and more murals drew her attention. One, in particular, piqued her interest. She took a closer look at the mural. This one depicted the same blue alicorn using the six glowing gems to banish a mare of flames. Was this what Luna meant when the co-ruler was lost to an evil influence? Did the moon princess intend to keep this a secret until all the magic lessons were completed?

Sunset reached the door to the archives. Twilight snuck in behind her. Somehow, the presence of countless books caused the lavender filly to let out an excited squeal. She didn't want to alert anypony of their location. What if this wasn't a good idea? She shook her head. Even a warning couldn't stop her from investigating this forbidden room.

"It doesn't feel right to sneak around, but look at the books! The archives hold such a wealth of information," Twilight said, grinning.

"Keep your voice down," Sunset replied.

Twilight inhaled, then exhaled as if to calm herself. She yanked a thick book from the tallest bookshelf and set it on the desk. "I will keep my voice down. Look at the cover." She ran her hoof across the book. "Gold letters. Ancient Equish. This is so awesome!"

"I'll explore the rest of the castle. Wanna join?"

Twilight pouted. "Can't I stay here?"

Sunset didn't expect Twilight to be obsessed with the forbidden books. Initially, her friend had been hesitant. Now Twilight wanted to learn more. She stole a glance at the ornate door. At least nopony followed them here. As much as she wanted to say no, she couldn't. How could anypony say no to Twilight?

"Alright," Sunset said. "But don't forget to leave the archives the way we discovered this place. We can't have Luna dismiss us for disobeying her orders."

"Yes. I'll keep that in mind," Twilight replied.

"After this, you can share with me what you've learned."

"Isn't that a way to cheat on future tests?"

"At least we'll learn something by then."

Twilight shrugged. "Maybe."

Sunset left the archives and navigated another hallway. Nopony had followed them, after all. However, the night guards might suspect something about Twilight. She could just say that Twilight teleported to their room, and they would believe her. But what about Luna? Their mentor would chastise her for lying. Perhaps that was related to dream duty and the ability to understand body language.

Twilight entered her room, anxious to read another forbidden book. She had taken notes after she finished reading parts of the thick book. The invisibility spell had worked when she snuck through the hallway, but she had a feeling that the truth would come out at one point. How would the truth be spilled? Would it happen if somepony cleaned the room? Would it be a slip of the tongue?

Twilight didn't want to consider the possibilities. She hummed to herself as she cracked the book open. The words on the pages drew her in. Instructions were included on certain pages. Time seemed to whiz by as she read the book. Hoofsteps approached the door. She swiftly concealed the book just as the door opened. She felt terrible for lying, but something about the books fascinated her.

Sunset closed the door behind her. "Did you expect our mentor to enter?"

"Yes," Twilight said. "Maybe we can try those spells tomorrow during class."

"No. What about someplace less visited?"

"What place do you have in mind?"

"Maybe in here."

Twilight gave Sunset a skeptical glare. "I don't think it's the best idea. Princess Luna might catch us in the act."

Sunset inclined her head. "Yes, it is. Try one of the spells you've learned. And if she does find out, we'll tell her that we're learning new spells."

"If you say so..." Twilight hopped off her bed and summoned her magic. She recited the words included in the spell. When she finished the spell, a mare with an appearance similar to hers materialized. However, the strange pony had a darker coat and glowing eyes. Was the unicorn a mare of darkness? She attempted to reverse the spell, but the pony simply chuckled.

"When will you unleash the midnight within?" The mare asked. Without another word, she disappeared.

Twilight tried another spell. This time, it was a disguise spell. She spied a mirror by the dresser and examined her reflection. The disguise wasn't too flawed, although it could use some work. She was sure the spell was reserved for alicorns. Weren't changelings the only creatures able to use disguises? Why would an alicorn use this spell? Was it for pranks or to be treated like a normal pony? She canceled the disguise spell.

Thirty minutes passed as Twilight tried other spells. Soon enough, she felt exhausted. She walked outside and sketched every constellation that she had seen. It was another clear night, but with more stars. It wasn't uncommon for many citizens of Canterlot to dim the lights an hour or two before bedtime so they could see the stars. Her horn glowed. A magical aura emerged from her horn and touched the sky, causing the stars to sparkle.

A familiar silhouette landed on the balcony. It was Princess Luna. As usual, she wore a serene smile. She was the only pony in Equestria with a magical, sparkling mane that seemed to be blown by an invisible breeze. It had always made Twilight feel curious. Was it because of being an alicorn?

"Twilight Sparkle, you have made my night more beautiful. How are your studies?" Luna said.

"I've been doing okay," Twilight replied. As much as she wanted to mention the new spells she had learned tonight, she held back. She couldn't disappoint her mentor. Not when she was new here. She showed the sketches to Luna. "Those are the constellations I've drawn."

Luna appraised the sketches. "Wonderful job."

"Can I ask you a few questions?"

"Yes."

"Why do we have constellations? And what makes your mane flow by itself?"

Luna stroked her chin. "Good questions. As for the first question, they've always been there since the world was formed. Before my sister and I ruled Equestria, there had been ponies who were fascinated by constellations. You weren't the first pony to ask the second question. The flowing mane is a result of powerful alicorn magic. However, when somepony becomes an alicorn, their manes doesn't immediately become like mine. There are other reasons why an alicorn's mane won't flow."

Twilight tilted her head. "Other reasons?"

Luna nodded. "Yes. When an alicorn is depowered, her mane will be like that of a normal pony's until her power returns to normal."

"Makes sense." Twilight wanted to ask about the archives, but she didn't say a word. No sense being removed from her position as a student simply for sneaking into the archives.

"Is something the matter?"

"I'm just tired."

Luna didn't seem to believe Twilight. "Sometimes my sister and I would say that to each other. It usually means that something is on our minds. So what's troubling you?"

Before this conversation even begun, Twilight had figured that Luna would ask at one point. And now she was being asked. "Why do you forbid me and Sunset from entering the archives?"

Luna's expression grew stern. "Let me guess. You entered the archives. Did you by any chance touch dangerous magic?"

Twilight knew that Sunset would be angry with her, but she couldn't lie anymore. "Sunset convinced me not to tell you. The books appealed to me, and I did cast a spell that wasn't supposed to be touched by young unicorns. A pony appeared to me and said, 'unleash the midnight within.' I don't know what that means. If you're upset with us, I'm very sorry for lying to you. I'll put the books back."

Luna nodded as she listened. Her expression shifted several times. After a long minute, she finally spoke. "You are forgiven. So you touched that dark spell? It can reveal your dark side. It should never be touched because of its dark influence. Legend has it that the first ruler of Equestria created this spell as a result of being usurped. This spell was created when Discord nearly destroyed Equestria with his chaos magic."

"Why do you still keep it, though?"

"When a spell is created, it cannot be erased."

Twilight became aware of somepony eavesdropping on the whole conversation. Sunset stood in the doorway, shaking her head. She figured that Sunset would feel upset about the truth being exposed. Before she said a word, Sunset turned away.

"Sunset, what do you have to say for yourself?" Luna asked.

Sunset didn't budge. "We were curious. And I wanted to learn something new, since my teleportation isn't-"

"Sunset..."

"What do you want to say? That I'll never teleport? My magic isn't as strong as Twilight's."

Luna's countenance softened as she tipped Sunset's chin up. "It's not what I intend to say. I won't remove you from your position, but even my patience has limits. Dishonesty can break somepony's trust. All I ask of you is that you be patient with your abilities and that you have no reason to lie. Do you understand?"

Sunset sighed. "Yeah. I'm truly sorry for lying. Can you forgive me?"

Luna patted Sunset's head. "Of course."

Twilight walked toward her bed and yanked the forbidden book from under the mattress. She was sure her mentor had better things to do than reversing an advanced spell that might go wrong. Once Sunset finished speaking with Luna, the lamps were turned off. The princess had left the room to attend to royal duties.

Twilight pulled the blanket over her body. Even though it was dark in the room, she could still make out the details. A thought came to her mind. "Sunset, are you angry at me?" She whispered.

Sunset yawned. "A little."

"I couldn't stand lying to our mentor, although I wonder what would have happened if we hid the truth for so long."

"Then she might remove our position."

"Maybe."

"Good night."

"Night." Twilight closed her eyes. Sleep didn't take hold. The pony she had encountered earlier remained fresh in her memory. Her mind focused on her family. Her parents had supported her. As for Shining Armor and Cadence, they hadn't been in Canterlot for a while because they took a vacation. They should be returning this weekend. If that happened, she wouldn't hesitate to visit her parents. Just thinking about this weekend made her too excited to fall asleep.

Weekend Visit

The weekend came. It was a clear day in Canterlot when Sunset and Twilight left the castle to visit the neighborhood they'd grown up in. The neighborhood foals frolicked on the playground while the adults watched from a distance. Nobles walked across the street as though they owned the neighborhood. A single carriage rushed past Twilight's house. The lavender filly walked ahead of her and knocked on the door.

Sunset didn't allow her jealousy to show, although her family life was a stark contrast to Twilight's. It wasn't that her mother was horrible; some ponies were dealt a rough hoof in life. This had caused her mother to complain whenever something went wrong. And the fact that she became Luna's student didn't even help matters. She remembered the moment she said goodbye to her mother. To be fair, her mother did pretend to be cheerful outside the home.

The door swung open, revealing Twilight Velvet. "Hello, girls. Come on in!" She said. "I haven't seen you in a while. How is the castle?"

Sunset followed the two unicorns inside the house. Twilight Velvet said that Night Light had recently gone to work, and that Cadence and Shining Armor should arrive within a few minutes. The smell of freshly baked cookies wafted from the kitchen. She considered taking the cookies with her to the castle, but she might have to ask first. Even though her upbringing wasn't as smooth as Twilight's, she still knew the importance of asking first. Maybe it was because she visited her friend often.

Twilight Sparkle chose a seat and grabbed a plate of cookies. "The castle is huge. Its hallways are like a maze. I'm learning the best magic in Equestria."

Twilight Velvet smiled. "Sounds awesome. Princess Luna sure knows so much about magic."

Sunset took a small bite of her cookie. "Our studies are going well so far. We made new friends. However, Twilight is more focused on her studies. Even in class, she doesn't strike up long conversations with them."

Twilight Sparkle nodded. "It's important to me. Way more important than friendship..." She paused.

Sunset frowned. "You'll remain my friend, right?"

Twilight shrugged. "Yes, but we haven't graduated. Still got tons to learn."

"What if we have to work together someday?"

"Sunny, don't get me started on this."

"Friends are like extended family."

The front door swung open. Cadence and Shining Armor entered. Twilight Sparkle rushed to greet them. "Hey, Shining Armor! How is your trip?" She asked.

Shining Armor hugged Twilight. "Relaxing. Even though Cadence and I are old enough to get married, we chose to wait until I graduate from the EUP Guard Academy."

"That's about four years away. How can you wait that long to marry her?"

"Cadence and I will contact each other with letters."

Twilight nodded. "Sounds good. We haven't gone to the park in a while. I want to spend time with you, because within a month, you will start your training."

"What do you want to do at the park?"

"I want to play ball with Cadence. And maybe we can have a picnic during lunchtime."

As if on cue, Twilight Velvet made four hay sandwiches and placed a batch of cookies into a basket, while her daughter grabbed a ball. After a long few minutes of Twilight Velvet speaking to Shining Armor, Sunset followed Twilight Sparkle to the park. She approached a swingset just as Twilight began playing with Cadence.

Sunset wished that Luna would come with them, but the princess was busy with royal duties. In the midst of those duties, the princess seemed to carry an invisible burden. How did Luna manage to conceal such frustration with a regal front? Most ponies didn't have that kind of strength.

Luna sat in her office, organizing the papers. She had stayed up this late every morning since Daybreaker's banishment. It wouldn't hurt to one day have a break from her duties. Because she was the sole ruler, some ponies assumed she didn't need sleep at all. That wasn't the case, as she still slept during a good part of the day. She tried to focus on the paperwork, but the feeling of loneliness visited her. Diurnal duties were no problem for her sister. Despite the burden of ruling alone, she had grown accustomed to public speaking.

Since the Grand Galloping Gala - or the Three G's, as Luna liked to call it, was coming within a few days, she wasn't sure if she should cancel it. The Three G's had always been a tedious event for everypony involved, save for a select few nobles. And those nobles were snobby. She had learned to maintain a pleasant attitude around them, although she was sometimes tempted to teach them about humility. It wasn't that she didn't enjoy greeting her subjects during the gala; there were ponies who had unpleasant personalities.

"Princess Luna," a male voice said. "May I speak with you?"

Luna looked up. Winter Dusk, one of the advisors, stood in the doorway. She stashed the other papers in the bottom drawer. "Yes. What is it now?"

"The Timberwolves have tried to attack the ponies who live close to the Everfree Forest. Now the ponies won't leave their homes."

"I'll deal with that problem. Anything else?"

"There is a dispute over who owns Sweet Apple Acres. A businesspony desires to buy the land, but the Apple family won't let that happen."

Did Luna have to be in two places at once? Creating an illusion wouldn't go well. Problems like this made her wish that Celestia could somehow escape Daybreaker's grip and deal with the issues outside Canterlot Castle. As for the Timberwolves, she thought they had gotten the message the last time she dealt with them.

Maybe somepony decided to provoke them, but Luna couldn't jump to conclusions. Sweet Apple Acres had been owned by the Apple family for generations, and nopony from that family could imagine surrendering the land to a greedy pony. It wasn't the first time that somepony tried to buy the farm.

"I'll settle the dispute, too. You may leave," Luna said. She knew she would be immediately recognized in Ponyville, but she couldn't ignore her royal duties. And it would be a relief if the citizens didn't rush to bow in her presence. Although she appreciated their display of respect, they shouldn't feel the need to act formal every time she spoke with them.

Luna left the castle and took to the skies. As she predicted, ponies on the ground stopped to watch her. Several foals shouted her name. They seemed grateful for serene dreams. Because of her wisdom, the young ones looked up to her. This fact made her think for a moment. If Celestia returned in the future, would the sun princess feel unappreciated? The ponies of Equestria needed the sunlight as much as they needed the nighttime, but in their minds, Celestia seemed to be either a fable or an obscure historical figure.

Luna knew better. Celestia was a real pony, the elder princess as seen in the Mare of Flames tale. Some ponies wondered if jealousy corrupted Celestia's heart, but something else did. When Daybreaker's spell had prevented anypony from entering Celestia's dream, the days gradually became longer than their usual hours. It was fear and mistrust that took root in the elder sister's heart, accompanied by the daily stress.

Even though Luna had been locked out of Celestia's dream prior to Daybreaker's banishment, she had overheard strange conversations. She had known that her sister's feelings strengthened Daybreaker's power.

Luna shook the thoughts from her mind as she landed by the entrance to the Everfree Forest. She didn't visit the forest often. A painful reminder from the past was the reason she preferred to avoid it. She wouldn't even approach the Castle of the Royal Sisters. The Timberwolves growled, but she didn't flinch. Would the Royal Canterlot Voice work better than a simply firm tone? It had worked on another creature before.

Luna stared down the Timberwolves. "Thou must leave Ponyville alone! Never return again! Dost thou understand us?"

The Timberwolves ran off. Luna walked toward Sweet Apple Acres. The position of the sun told her it was almost noon. As much as her duties exhausted her, she didn't stop putting others first. There had still been some mornings where she took a nap the moment she lowered the moon and left the dream realm. She reminded herself to smile as she approached a pair of ponies. The younger ponies played by the apple trees.

When the earth pony with white hair and a light green coat noticed Luna, she bowed. "Princess Luna, it's nice to see you. This stallion won't leave until he steals my farm."

Luna furrowed her brow as she turned her attention to the brown stallion. "Is it true? Why do you want to steal from the Apple family?"

The brown stallion scowled. "Your Highness, I want to build a mall over this lot. They can get the produce from a store."

Was the stallion that desperate? Luna maintained her composure. "The citizens of Ponyville like the farm the way it is. It doesn't need to be changed. I suggest you leave the farm. I once awarded this farm because of its fresh crops, and it shouldn't be removed anytime."

"You're biased."

The earth pony didn't back down. "Whether you like it or not, Sweet Apple Acres is here to stay," she said.

Once the stallion stormed off, Luna began flying back to Canterlot Castle. What lessons should she assign her students next week? Sunset would still work on the teleporting spell, while Twilight might learn a new spell. She hoped that they wouldn't touch the archives again. She might lock the door just in case...

Twilight took a bite of her hay sandwich. For some reason, her mind kept going back to the archives. Why couldn't she stop such thoughts? It seemed like a subtle temptation. In her mind, the door seemed to beckon her toward secret knowledge. Maybe it was related to the dark spell. She made a mental map of the castle hallways. Of course the archives would be located at the end of a dimly lit hallway. She found herself staring at the castle.

"Twilight, are you okay?" Sunset asked.

"Yes. Just thinking about my studies," Twilight said without glancing in her friend's direction.

"Did you know why we left the castle today? Sometimes we need a break from-"

"Princess Luna said it first. Don't get me wrong. I wanted to visit my family in the first place."

"Is it about advanced magic?"

Twilight jerked her head to the left, where Sunset sat. "What makes you think that?"

Sunset shook her head. "I can't read your thoughts, but I had a feeling you wanted to go back already."

"It's none of your business." Twilight managed to keep her tone pleasant, but she sounded annoyed when she said the last word. She proceeded to eat the cookies. One of the books she once studied had a section dedicated to magical mirrors and parallel universes. Maybe she could visit another world in order to be left alone.

Why did Luna of all ponies care what kind of magic Twilight would study? Either the princess was being overprotective, or she didn't want her to learn tons of spells. If only she could read for hours in the archives without somepony noticing her absence... It seemed like a perfect plan. Luna and Sunset didn't need to know.

Dreams of the Two Students

Author's Note

For a while, I had considered using another group of ponies other than the main five, but I decided to use the original five in a sequel instead. In this chapter, one of the five ponies from the canon appear.

Dreams of the Two Students

It was ten by the time Sunset and Twilight went to bed. The lavender filly had intended to read until midnight. This night was busier compared to other nights. Luna walked past the doors in the dreamscape, taking note of each cutie mark. A white aura symbolized a peaceful dream. A gray aura served as a warning, while a black aura suggested that somepony had a nightmare.

The first dream after nine was a mare's recurring dream. Some doors that used to be blank now had cutie marks on them. While the three doors had a white aura, the door with the butterflies cutie mark had a gray aura. The other door with the blue diamonds had a black aura.

Luna walked into a filly's dream. At first, the young white unicorn with purple curls finished a design. When the unicorn showed the dress to another unicorn, the mare criticized the design.

"This is just a nightmare," Luna said as the dream ponies vanished, much to the young unicorn's shock. "A warm welcome to you, Rarity."

Rarity sighed with relief. "Princess Luna, I thought it was real. I was about to burst into tears!"

"You are asleep. There seems to be something you're afraid of. What frightens you the most?"

Rarity pointed to her cutie mark, then she stared at the mannequins. "Sometimes I wonder if my fashion sense isn't as good as my favorite fashionistas."

Luna tipped Rarity's chin up. It wasn't too unusual for certain ponies to compare themselves to others. And it seemed even harder if the other pony was put on a figurative pedestal. There was no harm in looking up to role models, but jealousy could enter the picture if one wasn't careful.

"Rarity, you're not the only one who worried about being good enough. I once worried about that in my younger years. Don't try to be somepony else. No two ponies are the same," Luna said.

Rarity inclined her head. "You may be right. Still, the idea of others not appreciating my generosity is what bothers me."

"Can you define generosity?"

"Yes. It means giving to others. In my case, I like to give new designs to those who want one, whether it's for a social event or a play."

Luna nodded. She thought about Rarity using the Element of Generosity in the future, but again, another pony might use it. "Don't let fear hinder you from being generous. May your dream be filled with peace tonight." She left Rarity's dream.

Just before the clock struck twelve, Twilight concealed a forbidden book under her bed. She yawned as she pulled the blanket over her body. The soft sound of raindrops tapping the window lulled her into a deep slumber. As the time dragged on, she gradually became aware of a presence watching over her. Had the dark spell caused the mare to haunt her dreams? A blurry image appeared in her vision, replacing the blackness. A dark field replaced the blur. Other than the moon, no other lights illuminated the field.

It was strange that the moon didn't even gleam. It was as faint as a tiny star. The ground was a black storm cloud, yet it was solid to the touch. The dim expanse made Twilight not want to walk in either direction. Soft hoofsteps approached, causing her to whirl around.

"You look familiar," Twilight said to the mare.

"I'm a more powerful version of you. Instead of Twilight, it's Midnight," the mare replied. "We meet again. Who is that so-called mentor of yours to keep you from the archives? Princess Luna and all her stiff rules... no wonder some ponies want to rebel against her."

"What are you doing here? Aren't you just a result of a certain spell?"

"Result? I'm much more than a simple result. Midnight's a part of you. I'll lurk in the shadows. When you're ready-"

"But I'm smaller than you. How can an adult mare possess a filly?"

Midnight's horn glowed, creating a small crack in the sky. The crack expanded into a small portal. "Why does that matter to you? You are stronger than you believe. Just unleash your dark side. You don't need Luna to mentor you. She thinks she's protecting you from advanced magic, but in reality, she's keeping important knowledge out of reach. If you can't study magic here in Equestria, perhaps you can try it in another universe. You deserve to be the most powerful unicorn... if not more powerful than your so-called mentor."

Twilight watched the portal expand. "I'm still not an alicorn yet."

"Some unicorns can be more powerful than a single alicorn. Speaking of power, I will awaken you. Trust me when I tell you to find the archives."

Twilight stroked her chin. Hadn't Luna told her not to touch the archives? Was there a way to carry the books into the dream world? The dream whirred around her, then fled away into blackness. Her eyes flung open as she observed the surroundings. Images from the dream remained vivid in her mind as she crept toward the door. With a swift peek at Sunset, she turned the knob and nudged the door open. She cast an invisibility spell over herself and activated the silence spell. She didn't want anypony to hear her hoofsteps.

Midnight's voice whispered into Twilight's ear. "Go to the dark hallway. Do not alert anypony of your presence. If that happens, however, just confront your mentor."

"I still have a test on Monday, though," Twilight murmured.

"This kind of knowledge will help you pass the test."

"Maybe." Twilight found herself in the dark hallway. It was the same hallway that she explored several days ago. As usual, no lunar guards patrolled the area. A guard stood outside the hallway. As she approached the door to the archives, she saw that it was secured. How overprotective and strict could her mentor be? At least she learned the teleportation spell. She summoned her magic and teleported into the archives.

A sense of pride bloomed in Twilight's heart. She had just outsmarted a certain alicorn. As much as she wanted to boast about it in the morning, she couldn't let Luna know of this. If she fell asleep while reading one of the forbidden books, how would she avoid detection? Either Sunset or Luna would ask about where she had been. She yanked a book from the bottom shelf, then chose five other books.

It was strange to dream about a test that was impossible to pass. Yet there were some that were difficult. The dream had repeated itself tonight for Sunset. She tried to make out the incomprehensible squiggles on the chalkboard. They were distorted versions of actual letters. Miss Storybook was the opposite of her usual self. Any answer she tried to offer was rejected for another that didn't make any sense.

"I don't understand this," Sunset said. However, the teacher didn't budge.

Miss Storybook scribbled more words on the chalkboard. For a strange reason, the other unicorns around Sunset seemed to understand the words. "This isn't the right answer. If you fail the test, you may as well be dismissed. I can't handle lazy students. Nopony can... unless the teacher in question is just as lazy."

Sunset stole a glance at Minuette, but the blue unicorn concealed several pieces of paper. "I'm not trying to cheat. What is she talking about?"

Minuette didn't look up. "Let me focus."

Sunset had heard horror stories of changelings. What if everypony had been replaced by changelings? The thought made her shudder. She expected the unicorns to hiss at her. The fact that nopony hissed was odd enough. Sometimes changelings hissed at others to intimidate them. She looked to the right, but received the same words from both Moondancer and Lemon Hearts. Twinkleshine didn't utter a single word.

The classroom dimmed. Miss Storybook pounded Sunset's desk. "Don't gawk at their papers or I'll send you to the principal's office!"

Sunset jumped. "Sorry."

"If you want to avoid another punishment, just write a fifteen-paragraph essay."

"What?"

"You heard me."

As if on cue, every unicorn, especially Miss Storybook, vanished into thin air. The morning transformed into night. Before Sunset could wonder what just happened, a familiar alicorn emerged from the moon. Princess Luna stood in front of the window. Because of her mentor's intervention, she realized the scene was just a nightmare. It had felt so real moments ago. The moon princess wore a benevolent grin.

"My dear student, you have no reason to fear the upcoming test," Luna said.

"Thanks, Luna. By the way, Miss Storybook isn't that cruel in real life," Sunset replied.

"It took a while for me to enter your dream. This night has been busy. Everypony is afraid of something. What scares you about the test?"

"I don't want to fail. The teleportation spell is still hard for me to cast. If I don't get a perfect score, will you think less of me?"

Luna shook her head. "I won't feel disappointed. The score doesn't have to be perfect, but at least it shows that you have tried your best. In the end, you'll still be my protege."

Sunset shrugged. "Is it possible to learn a certain spell while dreaming?"

"Yes. Anything's possible in the dream realm."

Sunset sighed. "Here goes." Her horn glowed as she shut her eyes. The aura enveloped her. Unlike the waking world, the spell seemed to work. When she opened her eyes, she was in a hallway of doors. So it was as possible to teleport in the dream world as in the real one. She saw a cutie mark on each door. Only Luna had the power to enter dreams. How was this possible?

Luna landed in front of Sunset. "Whenever you look into each door, you see a pony's dream. I've been the guardian of dreams ever since I ascended to the throne. Even the worst nightmares do not surprise or shock me at all."

"I guess you're the only one who's fearless, much like a warrior princess would be," Sunset said.

"When the kingdom was young, my sister and I had to stop various threats. We did become scared sometimes, but fear never stopped us from defending Equestria. If we hadn't stopped them, you wouldn't be here right now. After I banished Daybreaker, Equestria has seen centuries of peace."

Sunset's eyes widened. When she grew up, she wanted to become as strong and courageous as Luna. Maybe someday, she could rise the sun and moon by herself, too. What would Twilight do, though, if only one of them became a princess?

The Secret is Out

After the test on Monday, Twilight and Sunset returned to the castle. Their papers had been graded after the test, which had different scores. When Twilight saw that she got ninety-five percent on her test compared to Sunset's perfect score, she rushed into Luna's office to complain. Even though her mentor didn't grade the papers, she had expected to reach one hundred percent because of her intelligence and magical talent.

"Princess Luna, my test is five percent short of one-hundred. I'm sure I got all the answers right. Miss Storybook questioned some of my answers and took five away from the original score," Twilight said as she showed the paper to Luna.

Luna scrutinized the paper. "You still did very well. The words in red were written by Miss Storybook, right?"

"Yes."

"This is what she wrote. 'The answers are honest and factual, but the paragraph at the end causes me to wonder. Not all spells are beneficial.' I have to agree with Miss Storybook. Haven't I told you the reason why you shouldn't touch the archives?" Luna gave Twilight a quizzical look.

Twilight maintained eye contact and resisted the urge to fidget. She didn't want to give the impression that she didn't tell the full truth. She did tell the truth about the test. The archives, however, was another story entirely. Dare she blame Sunset? She played with that choice in her mind for a long minute, but decided against it. There was no use being removed from her position for falsely accusing her friend. The door opened behind her before she could utter another word. Sunset's smile faded.

"I'm not interrupting the conversation, right?" Sunset asked.

Luna shook her head. "You can wait, though."

Twilight shot a glare at Sunset. "Of course I know the reason why the archives are forbidden. I'll go study." She left the office. She couldn't help but overhear what Sunset and Luna said to each other, so she peered into the office. Neither mare seemed to notice.

Sunset showed a piece of paper to Luna. "I passed the test."

Luna smiled. "That's wonderful! I'm proud of you. I knew you would-"

Twilight blocked out the last word from her mind. She wanted to be happy for Sunset, but something blocked that pleasant feeling. She couldn't tell what emotion overtook her heart. It wasn't anger or hatred. Once the hoofsteps approached the door, she backed away. Luna covered Sunset with her wing as their conversation continued. If that was the reward Sunset got for passing the test, it was because the yellow filly avoided the archives. What was so evil about the archives anyway? Forbidden spells? Advanced magic? Books written before the contemporary era?

Luna glanced at Twilight. "Is something the matter?"

Twilight shook her head. "I'm fine. The test drained my energy."

"Drained? Let me tell you this. Sometimes when a pony lies about their feelings, they would wear the same expression as you do. There's no need to bottle your emotions. If you want to talk, go ahead. I won't judge."

"I said I'm fine, okay? As I said earlier, I'll go study." Twilight stopped herself before she could lash out at Sunset. Her friend hadn't done anything wrong. What was the point of starting a fight? She raced to her bedroom and yanked a book from under her bed. Had there been a different outcome to the exam at the School for Gifted Unicorns, she wouldn't have to compete with Sunset.

Twilight placed a lock spell on the door. If Sunset was going to spend the evening outside the room until midnight, this would give her time to study enough dark magic. No, she had all the time in her life to study. She had an idea. Perhaps she could surprise Miss Storybook with unusual spells. The forbidden magic would help her outshine Sunset. A knock on the door broke her concentration as she promptly concealed the book.

"Princess Luna, I don't have time for this. I'm still studying," Twilight said.

"It's me, Sunset Shimmer. How did the door get locked?" Sunset replied.

"I didn't realize you want to come in." Twilight's magical aura unlocked the door.

Sunset walked in. She furrowed her brow. "You're not hiding something, right? You look like you saw a ghost."

Twilight chuckled. "That's silly. Ghosts aren't real. And I don't have any secrets." She hoped her body language didn't make Sunset feel suspicious.

"Okay, then. Have I done something wrong? You seemed a little mad earlier."

"You haven't done anything."

"Good. I don't want to be a bad friend. Still, I don't understand why you were acting strange. Is it the archives?"

Twilight jerked her head back and forth. "It's not related to forbidden magic. I had promised never to lie to our mentor again." How ironic. Luna won't be happy once she finds out.

However, Sunset wasn't too convinced. "I hope you're not deceiving me. Also, Luna doesn't take dishonesty lightly. She can get upset when somepony lies to her."

"I'm being honest."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes." Twilight bit her bottom lip and walked to the balcony. The golden rays of the remaining sunlight shone from the western horizon. As the sun dipped further, she noticed the shape of a unicorn head on its surface. The sound of a faint singing voice caused her to scan the area.

Although Twilight wasn't sure where the voice came from, it had a tinge of sadness. She stole a swift glance at the window to make sure Sunset didn't snoop around. As usual, Sunset focused on homework. Would her friend still investigate the room when she wasn't looking? She cast an invisibility spell on the forbidden books. Just in case Sunset thinks something is up...

Luna strolled through the courtyard, her gaze on the western horizon. "May all your dreams be sweet tonight, safe upon that bed of sunlight... And not know of fear nor gloom... Sleep..." she sang. As soon as she finished the lullaby, her sister's faint reply came to her ears. She never wanted her sister to be banished in the first place.

But Daybreaker wouldn't let go of Celestia. And Luna was forced to do what a wise ruler must do. On the first night of her sister's banishment, she had felt nervous. Public speaking hadn't been her forte. In the first few decades when she had ruled Equestria with her sister, she would become shy each time she had to speak to a large crowd.

Back then, Luna hadn't expected to become a sole ruler. And taking over diurnal duties? Even then, she knew those duties were more stressful. She entered the castle and navigated the hallways. Once she reached a darkened hallway, the murals drew her attention. One of them depicted the royal sisters' coronation. She remembered what life was like before they took the throne. Not the one where Discord was the tyrant, but the one where they were around a normal filly's age. Despite the tears, she smiled.

Luna went down memory lane as she placed her hoof on the mural. One of her favorite memories was when she took a night adventure outside the castle by herself. The reason she had taken a brief adventure was that wanted to prove Celestia that she was just as courageous. The brief adventure had taken a surprising turn when she encountered the Timberwolves. Although she stood up to them, her sister had warned against going out alone a second time.

The approaching hoofsteps brought Luna's mind back to the present time. She expected to see a lunar guard, but for some reason, Sunset wasn't in her room. Usually her students would stay in their room until bedtime. Why would Sunset enter this hallway? More importantly, why did the young unicorn seem concerned?

"Sunset, is there something you want to tell me?" Luna asked.

Sunset shrugged. "Yes. I can't deny that Twilight is hiding something. I shouldn't have introduced her to the archives. It's all my fault."

Luna processed Sunset's words for a minute. As far as she knew, Sunset hadn't touched the archives since the night they talked about forbidden magic. The idea of Twilight keeping a secret made sense. Was this why Twilight's body language was odd today? Twilight couldn't be lying to her. The lavender unicorn never showed any signs of pride or arrogance, nor did she pick a fight with anypony. Surely Twilight had potential, right?

"It's not your fault. And you had been genuine when you apologized for entering the archives. I may go talk to Twilight," Luna said.

Twilight skimmed the pages of a book about a certain mirror. Apparently that kind of mirror was a portal. Sunset had mentioned going for a short walk, but she couldn't help but wonder if her secret would wind up exposed. She brushed it off as anxiety and continued to read. This kind of knowledge might help in future tests. Midnight Sparkle materialized in front of the door.

"I'll lead you to the mirror," Midnight said.

"Alright," Twilight replied as she slipped out of bed. "Am I the only pony who can see you?"

"Yes."

Twilight followed Midnight into the hallway. As usual, the lunar guards patrolled the hallways. She crept past the doors and turned a corner. As she snuck around, a thought came to her mind. It was possible that Sunset had held another conversation with Luna about the archives. If that was the case, it would mean the end of her position as a student. What if she got stuck in another universe as a result of entering the mirror? In a sense, she wouldn't mind the possible result. She scrutinized the hallway for anypony who might tell on her.

Twilight sighed with relief. No snitches to deal with. She found herself in a room similar to the archives. This one had the legendary mirror. As she inched closer, she gasped. The mirror showed an alicorn version of her. Midnight Sparkle stood by her side. Subtle hoofsteps caused her to whirl around. One of the lunar guards saw her. She swiftly locked the door before anypony else could discover her whereabouts. She remembered the other books she had concealed under her bed.

"The books!" Twilight said before covering her mouth. "Great, how can I get back without being detected?"

"Don't return for those. I'll teach you more magic."

Twilight activated the teleportation spell. The door had been left open. Had somepony figured that she snuck out? She retrieved the forbidden books and chose the ones from her own bookshelf. She teleported back to the room with the mirror. The door had somehow been unlocked. A familiar figure stood in the doorway.

"Twilight Sparkle, stop what you're doing and explain yourself. You've been lying to me for a while," Luna said. Sunset stood by her side. "Why?"

"Because I can!" Twilight said. "You hid this wonderful magic from me. And I didn't get the perfect score, no matter how smart I am. And Sunset, how dare you tattle on me! We're not friends anymore."

Sunset stepped forward. "Twilight, don't do this. Please. Princess Luna didn't forbid us from using this magic out of cruelty. She's trying to protect us from being harmed."

Twilight chuckled. "Protect? More like shelter. And she never told me about the mirror before, either. If I can't succeed here, perhaps I can in another-"

Luna shook her head. "Stop. If you're not going to listen, then I'll remove your position."

"Fine. I don't want to be your student anyways." Twilight turned away so that she wouldn't see the expressions on Luna's face and on Sunset's.

Luna's tone sounded stern and regretful at the same time. "If that is what you want, then I won't force you to stay. You are no longer my student. Leave the castle at once."

The guards approached Twilight and led her around a corner. As soon as Sunset and Luna were gone, she teleported to the mirror. The guards seemed shocked. She gathered the books and stumbled through the mirror. The world she entered was the total opposite of her home world. Instead of ponies, she saw bipeds everywhere. It seemed to be a late afternoon. Her limbs felt strange. She glanced at herself in a puddle. A gasp escaped her mouth. At least the books were still here.

A tall biped with blue and purple hair gave her a concerned expression. This biped reminded Twilight of Luna. "I haven't seen you before. Are you lost?"

"No. How did you find me?" Twilight asked.

"I was just leaving the school." The biped turned her gaze to a taller one. The other female had multi-colored locks. "Celestia, do you think we can take her in?"

Celestia shrugged. "Maybe we can, but we have to become her legal guardians first." She scrutinized Twilight. "Hello there, little one."

Why couldn't anyone named Luna leave Twilight alone? She scowled. Her former mentor's sister would probably be just as annoying. At least the Luna of Equestria left her alone. She glanced at the stone statue and took a mental note. She might return to check on Sunset if something important happened...

Aftermath

The lunar guards rushed toward Luna. She tilted her head. Had something happened? Didn't they escort Twilight out of the castle? Did Twilight go through the mirror? If that was the case, would Twilight ever return? She didn't want Sunset to overhear the conversation, but the young unicorn would still figure it out. Had her former student left because of jealousy? The lavender filly had no reason to be jealous. She wasn't the type to play favorites.

"Twilight Sparkle surprised us. She-" The pegasus said.

"She what?" Luna prompted.

"Took us by surprise. Teleported to the mirror and left."

Luna didn't know what to say. She opened her mouth, then closed it. Was this related to Twilight's test score? It had to be just a phase, right? Maybe she was too strict. And Twilight's family! How would she break the news to them? She couldn't just say that Twilight entered another world and might never come back. It would shatter their hearts, yet she didn't want to lie to them.

"Guards, you can return to your posts," Luna said.

Once the guards left, Luna and Sunset began walking. This night had been shocking enough. It would take a while for the conflicting emotions to wear off. She expected Sunset to say something, but the unicorn had been silent the whole time. It seemed that she wasn't the only one affected by the revelation. She couldn't blame her for feeling upset. Perhaps she shouldn't have mentioned the archives in the first place. Twilight had found the dark magic too tempting to resist.

They walked into Sunset's room. The empty bed was a reminder of Twilight's current absence. Sketches were left on the mattress, and so was the homework. Miss Storybook would be shocked to discover the truth. Luna sighed. From now on, nopony would be allowed to enter the archives or to touch the mirror. Who knew what Twilight could be doing in another universe? She stared at the window.

Sunset frowned. "I don't understand. How could Twilight do this to us? I've told you, and now I'm not sure if I've done the right thing. All I wanted to do is to be a good friend to her. What should I do now?"

Luna understood how Sunset felt. When she had banished Daybreaker, she wasn't sure what to do without Celestia by her side. She tipped Sunset's chin up so that they would make eye contact. The unicorn's eyes glistened, but no tears fell.

"Maybe Twilight will come back someday. We never know what will happen in the future. You still have other friends. I'm here if you want to talk," Luna said.

"The future seems so distant," Sunset replied. "Speaking of the future, do you ever wonder if your sister will return?"

Luna hesitated. Although Twilight wasn't banished like Daybreaker, she could relate to Sunset. They both lost a close friend. Twilight had ran off to another world, while Celestia had succumbed to Daybreaker's influence. Silence filled the room. She reminded herself to remain strong in Sunset's presence.

Finally, Luna spoke. "Yes. I think about her every day. Not a single day passes..." Her voice caught in her throat. "...that I don't miss her. I still need her. I can't access her dreams due to Daybreaker's magic, but I still hear her singing a lullaby." Tears stung her eyes.

"That's sweet of your sister. By the way, does she sing to you every evening?"

"We would sing to each other, but there are some times when I'm too busy to sing."

Sunset inclined her head. "So, that singing voice from the courtyard is yours?"

Luna nodded. "Yes. I'll attend to my royal duties." She walked toward the door. As she navigated the hallway, she became deep in thought. When she founded the School for Gifted Unicorns, she didn't expect to watch some potential bearers of the Element of Magic run off. At least Sunset stayed.

The reason Luna could no longer use the Elements was because all six of them were used to banish Daybreaker. Consequently, Celestia was no longer qualified to bear three of the six Elements. She approached an orange stained glass window and pressed her hoof against it. If the vision she had at the moment she banished Daybreaker was true, her sister might indeed return on the longest day of the thousandth year.

And hopefully, Celestia would be released from Daybreaker's grip...

Author's Note

Did you enjoy the story? This chapter was shorter compared to the others, but that's how it ended up for me. I'll write a sequel.