Conflicts Between Dusk and Twilight

by Sparrow9642

Rating: teen
Tags: Dark, Alternate Universe, Mystery, Suicide / Self Harm, Tragedy, Violence, Princess Celestia, Sunset Shimmer, Twilight Sparkle, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
Length: 16321

When Celestia tasks her protege, Sunset Shimmer, on befriending Twilight Sparkle, much is discovered. A discovery that could potentially lead to grim consequences...

When Sunset Shimmer, the current protege of Princess Celestia, befriends and agrees to engage in magic lessons with Twilight Sparkle, an introverted filly with a great desire to learn everything possible about magic, she quickly learns that she is far from a normal unicorn, which leads to speculation upon Canterlot society. Speculations that lead Sunset to questioning her friendship with Twilight while also struggling to keep her bond with Princess Celestia as her mentor strong.

UPDATE 1/16/21: Fully remastered mp3 version here: https://www.mediafire.com/folder/k2qhht0a5oiaa/Conflicts+Between+Dusk+and+Twilight+FULL+AUDIOBOOK+REMASTERED

GRIMDARK:pinkiecrazy:

Published 2020-10-31 21:50:00 UTC
Last updated 2020-10-31 21:50:00 UTC

The Unicorn and the Protege

In the courtyard of Canterlot Castle, the aspiring students of Princess Celestia went about their business, socializing and sharing knowledge with one another. It was a beautiful day within the royal capital city of Equestria, the birds chirping tunes in the many trees across the large clearing of vegetation and the city sprawling with both the Nobles and lower class ponies alike. All except for the young unicorn, Twilight Sparkle, occupied in her own little area with a book hiding her face from the rest of her classmates.

Nopony paid her any attention, knowing that she preferred to be alone, rather than associating with anypony else. Something most of the others found bizarre, but at the same time, really didn't bother to care about. Some of them had made an attempt to befriend Twilight, but only received either a dirty look or nasty remark as a result, earning Twilight both a bad reputation and giving any other individuals a hint that she preferred to be left alone. Therefore, the young unicorn sat under a shaded tree, accompanied only by the book shielding her face, a notebook, and a lone drink off to the side.

She was currently enveloped in a piece of literature about advanced magic, taking notes on the many spells and how to perform them. Twilight had an obsession with magic and EVERYTHING to do with the subject itself, and while she struggled with even casting the simplest of spells, she was more than determined to learn everything she could possibly learn about magic and all of its properties. A feat that she had come to realize was hard to accomplish on her own, but being stubborn, she refused any sort of help from any of her classmates or even the princess herself.

Princess Celestia herself had eyed Twilight's demeanor and actions towards her other classmates, and had found it sad and very depressing on how one of her top students preferred to go about her goals so lonesomely. On top of that, she had her own challenge to deal with; her current protege. Sunset Shimmer, a very talented and determined unicorn that had exceeded her expectations during her years of attendance at her school. While Sunset was talented, there was one problem with her that matched Twilight's preferred introverted lifestyle.

Both of them were focused more on knowledge and less on socialization with anypony.

Just like Twilight, Sunset spent more time in libraries than out and about with both her classmates and the citizens of Canterlot, wanting to learn more and more on how to expand her talents with magic and much more. Celestia had tried to address Sunset on the matter, but she merely ignored it, feeling like she didn't need friends being the protege of the princess of Equestria. She already had all she needed, so why would she need friends? She only saw it as something that would get in the way of her goals, just like Twilight did. That was enough for Celestia to resort to a plan that would solve the problem with both of the mares, killing two birds with one stone.

"I still don't understand why you're making me do this," said Sunset, standing alongside her towering mentor.

"My student, you have been too focused on one thing for too long," Celestia started, eyeing her protege with a kind expression. "If you ever plan to expand your knowledge, you must be willing to learn from others, not just literature books."

"What makes you so confident that I'll learn anything from her specifically?" Sunset questioned indignantly.

"She's one of my most successful students, Sunset," Celestia replied. "Much like you, she only wishes to learn all that she possibly can, but refuses to try learning from others. I feel that you two can benefit from one another, even if it's only for the sake of knowledge."

Sunset groaned in ignorance, knowing she had no choice in this matter, holding a look of disapproval on her face.

"Ugh, fine, I'll try talking to her," Sunset responded in an annoyed tone.

"Very good," Celestia responded simply. "I expect a legitimate attempt as well, as much as a report on what you learned while associating with her."

"And if she refuses?" Sunset questioned.

"She won't," Celestia stated. "Now, off you go, Sunset."

Sunset obeyed, slowly walking from the castle entrance, down the staircase, and out into the courtyard. Upon noticing the princess's protege out in the open, glances from Celestia's other students were exchanged. Sunset felt as if she were being spotlighted upon her approach towards Twilight, making her fruitless attempt to achieve Celestia's demands all the more uncomfortable, especially considering who she was walking towards. She practically had an audience, coming to a stop right in front of the lavender unicorn buried in a world of literature and notes.

Sunset took a moment to pause and think of how to even get Twilight's attention, her demeanor seeming awkward and unsure. The golden clad mare took a deep breath inward and took her best shot at starting a conversation.

"Um, excuse me?" Sunset murmured, her tone seeming choked and uncomfortable.

Her selfless attempt to get Twilight's attention had worked, the book lowering and revealing violet irises, her face holding a look of annoyance.

"What do you want?" Twilight spoke with mild irritation. "I'm kinda busy with something."

Sunset tried to find words, but they seized in her throat, and she expressed an awkward smile that caused Twilight to even raise an eyebrow. A long moment of silence passed between the two, the golden-clad mare only continuing to hold the same awkward and unusual smile that made her appear as a crazed mare.

"Look, if you need something, pick up the pace!" Twilight demanded.

Sunset jumped, not expecting Twilight to be such a hasty and demanding individual. The words finally escaped Sunset's throat, coming out more objective than she had intended.

"Look, I'm no happier to be in this predicament as much as you, so give me a break!"

Twilight raised another eyebrow, eyeing Sunset with curiosity.

"Predicament? What the hay are you talking about?!" Twilight snapped back.

Great job, Sunset.

Sunset chastised herself in her mind, realizing she had just made the worst first impression she could've ever made towards the mare before her, but one positive out of the entire endeavor was that she still had Twilight's attention, therefore, she took advantage while the opening was still there.

She sighed, calming herself down in hope that she could rebound from her first attempt at making conversation.

"Forget what I just said, Twilight" she said calmly. "I'm not much of a pony for conversation, so this is just as awkward as it seems."

Twilight's eyes went wide with confusion.

"How do you know my name?" Twilight questioned. "I don't recall you being in any of my classes or ever associating with you outside of school."

"Oh, I'm Princess Celestia's personal protege, so I know the names of almost every pony in Canterlot. It's not a requirement, just something you pick up on naturally."

"You, Princess Celestia's protege? Yeah right." Twilight replied cynically.

"It's true!" Sunset capitalized.

"I doubt the ruler of Equestria would put all her trust into a pony who can't even make conversation with other ponies," Twilight objected.

"Says a pony who only talks to her books and has never made any sort of attempt to associate with anypony else," Sunset lashed back with confidence.

Twilight attempted to lash back, but held her words in her throat realizing that Sunset was right. Upon Twilight's contemplation, Sunset spoke out to Twilight once again.

"In fact, I can prove that I'm her protege," Sunset proposed. "Try anything, and I guarantee I can pull it off."

Twilight took the mare's proposition to her advantage, and decided to see if this pony that had approached her out of nowhere could actually hold to her words. Grabbing her notebook where she had written down a list of spells that required very advanced unicorns to perform, she held it out to Sunset.

"Perform any of these spells and then I'll believe you, but be warned, I wrote down only the hardest ones I could find in the book I'm looking over, so it'll take some strong magic skills to pull any of these off."

Sunset eyed the book in Twilight's lap, curious of just how "advanced" this magic really was.

"Mind if I see the title of the book you have?" Sunset asked.

Twilight rolled her eyes, seeing the mare before her had just completely ignored her proposition, but didn't argue and lifted the book to where the hardback cover could be seen. Once Sunset saw the cover, she immediately burst into laughter, causing Twilight to grow confused and lost, up until Sunset came out of her fit and spoke.

"Oh please, those spells are child's play! I mastered those years ago!" Sunset claimed assuredly.

"You can't be serious!" Twilight snapped back. "These spells would take years to learn and master! Somepony like you wouldn't even fit that area of expertise!"

"Watch and learn, filly," Sunset claimed, taking the notebook in her magic and reading the first spell on the list; transfiguration.

A sudden burst of light blue light alighted Sunset's horn, turning her focus on a spare tree branch next to Twilight, quickly being gripped in a magical aura. At first, nothing happened, but then Twilight watched as the tree branch wriggled and morphed into many different forms, eventually taking the form of a red apple, following with a pop. The lavender filly's jaw dropped, eyeing the fruit on the ground. Her stunned gaze turned from the apple to the unicorn above her holding a smug grin on her face with no sign of struggle.

"Go on," Sunset proposed. "Try it, and you'll see that I wasn't lying when I said I could perform such an advanced spell."

Twilight followed, grabbing the apple in her own magic and taking a small bite out of the fruit. She expected to be met with a rough texture that resembled the bark of a tree and a bland taste, but was amazed as her tastebuds danced at the sweet juice caressing the surface of her tongue, it's taste devoid of anything she had originally thought. As she chomped down on the shred of the apple that was once a branch, she couldn't believe what she was tasting. Part of her wanted to spit it out, but she didn't and only continued to chew until it was to the texture of applesauce, and gulped it down into her belly.

It tasted just like any other regular apple she had eaten in her life.

"B-b-but how?" Twilight muttered.

"I told you, Twilight," Sunset replied nicely. "I'm Princess Celestia's protege. I know almost any form of magic that you can name, minus the darker forms of magic. The princess told me that those are strictly forbidden, along with any other form of dark magic."

Twilight couldn't argue. The display of magic she had just witnessed was enough to throw away all doubts on the unicorn before her not being qualified to be her ruler's right-hoof mare.

"You didn't even break a sweat, yet I struggle enough with just a simple light spell!" Twilight barked. "It's not fair! I study for hours upon hours, but you seem to do it so flawlessly!"

Sunset suddenly felt something spark within her, remembering her early days of learning the simplest forms of magic as much as her struggles. She felt for the filly before her and understood her frustration, so she quickly decided to sympathize with her in a way that she knew Twilight would deem acceptable.

"Look, I get it," Sunset started resting herself on the ground. "More than you may think."

Twilight looked up, her face holding a look of annoyance. "You don't know anything about me! Up until now, you never even knew I existed! Just leave me alone!"

Sunset had expected this, so she kept her distance. She didn't take the words as an act out of spite. She had been where Twilight currently was in the field of learning magic, how to master it, and trying to find your inner strength to perform it correctly and efficiently. It took more than just reading books and taking notes. That was where Sunset was at the time when she had found her inner strength, then was guided by Celestia in her quest to become a master at magic.

That inner spark ignited once again causing Sunset to act.

"Twilight, I've been where you are, therefore I know how hard it is," Sunset consoled nicely. "It's going to take more than books to master magic. Trust me, I thought books were the key to meeting the same goal you are trying to reach, but eventually I learned otherwise."

Twilight's expression changed quickly from annoyed to understanding, but she didn't speak, allowing Sunset to continue.

"It took a teacher. A master. Somepony that had ascended from student to mentor. For me, that was Princess Celestia, but it didn't happen overnight. It took years of learning, hours of practice, multiple failures before I eventually succeeded, and a lot of confidence in myself. Magic isn't an easy thing to master and requires more than just literature to do so."

Twilight held the same expression, looking at Sunset with unsure eyes.

"Where are you going with this?" Twilight asked unsure.

Sunset approached closer, knowing she had Twilight's attention.

"Well... if you'd like, I could teach you what I know," Sunset proposed confidently. "I've only shown you a mere fraction of what I can do and can show you more, but that's up to you, filly."

Twilight jumped at the offer. Nopony had ever cared or even dared to propose such a mighty feat with her, but here she was, being given such a proposal.

"I'm... sorry," Twilight muttered. "Did I hear that right? You? Teach me?"

Sunset nodded. "If you want me to. You and I aren't much different, Twilight. You have the persistence, you just lack the proper needs to accomplish what you seek. I have the knowledge of our fair princess, but only if you want to take this chance will I share it."

Twilight sat baffled, still unsure of all that she had just heard was fact or fiction. She only knew two things about the mare before her; she was the protege of Princess Celestia, and her magic abilities were miraculous without a doubt. Yet somepony of such stature was willing to teach her, a struggling student of said matriarch, all she knew about magic and how to properly master it?

"What's so special about me that you, the right-hoof mare of Princess Celestia, would take time out of their schedule to teach some filly like me such things?" Twilight asked forwardly.

"Honestly, I don't know," Sunset responded. "I guess you could call it... unicorn intuition. After all, we both are unicorns.

Twilight giggled at that, knowing Sunset was joking around, then she felt something inside of her erupt. A spark of some sort that startled her. Eyeing Sunset, she smiled, surprising Sunset as much as the lavender filly.

"Alright, I'll take your offer, uh...

The sudden confusion made Sunset realize that she had never even properly introduced herself. She wanted to facehoof herself so hard but shrugged her self-conflict away with a heavy sigh, smiling at the filly before her and finding the words to say next.

"Oh, I never introduced myself," Sunset said sheepishly. "My name is Sunset Shimmer."

Twilight giggled again, hearing the conflict in Sunset's voice. She just held her gaze and responded back to the mare.

"It's nice to meet you, Sunset Shimmer," Twilight proposed. "No need for me to introduce myself, seeing you already know my name."

A set of laughter followed between the two which resorted in the surrounding audience of fellow students gasping in shock. Twilight Sparkle, the filly who never spoke to anypony, unless addressed to do so, associating with the princess's protege. An action that seemed quirky to them, but from beyond the courtyard, Princess Celestia spectated the event unfolding in the courtyard, smiling at the fact that her student had successfully made her first friend.

Magic Lessons

The day had departed along with Sunset Shimmer returning to her provided bed chambers, planning to write a report of the day's events, mainly her meet and befriending of Twilight Sparkle. The two had shared stories in the many following hours of daylight and had made plans to meet up for lessons on magic, which was hard to arrange accordingly, given Sunset's role as Princess Celestia's protege. She had much to attend within the next couple weeks, but she had sworn to find an opening in her swamped schedule for her new and only friend.

Closing the door to her provided bedroom, she quickly proceeded to laying out a piece of parchment paper on her desk, grabbed a quill in an aura of magic, and dipped it into her desktop inkwell, caressing the writing utensil's tip gently across the surface. She started with a simple introduction, feeling silly that she had to address her mentor after years of being guided and taught much by said mentor. Giggling to herself in her mind, she continued writing, explaining every little thing that had occurred earlier that day.

It didn't take her long to write everything out, her writing pace seeming efficient enough, seeing as she guided the quill with careful focus, she found herself smiling and even making gestures like a giddy filly. It didn't seem to bother her though, and she only continued to write more and more, pauses only being taken inbetween dips in the inkwell and when she eventually found herself at the bottom of the page. This caught her by surprise.

"I'm at the bottom already?" she questioned, sketching over the scripture with her bright-blue irises.

To her surprise, she hadn't realized just how much she ended up writing, each sentence being full of detail and descriptive terms that would even make the highest Professors of Celestia's school bat an eye in awe. She pondered on her actions for a second, but was quickly startled by a sudden set of knocks from her bedroom door.

"Come in," Sunset proposed, rebounding from her overactive nerves still dancing at the sudden knocks.

The luminescent golden aura engulfing her door handle immediately gave her assurance on who was behind the thick wooden door, as it creaked open and revealed the mighty figure in the doorway.

"Princess Celestia," Sunset addressed, "I wasn't expecting you."

Celestia merely smiled, walking further into the room and closing the door tightly with her magic. Sunset followed with the action of bowing in the presence of her mentor and matriarch, an action of which that Celestia shooed away with a hoof.

"My dear, you need not bow before me," Celestia cooed. "While I am your princess, you are my most loyal assistant. You are more than as royal as I am, so there's no need for such gestures in my presence."

Sunset rubbed the back of her neck, smiling and blushing in embarrassment upon her response.

"I suppose you are right. After all, you are the teacher."

Celestia nodded, working further into the room.

"I saw that you and Twilight connected well," Celestia stated. "Just as I expected you would."

"It could've went better, but I suppose after we got past all the little nooks and crannies, we really clicked well," Sunset confirmed.

"Indeed," Celestia paused, her gaze meeting the massive piece of parchment upon the desk behind Sunset, as much as its contents. "I see you have a report on how the meeting between you two went."

Sunset quickly responded, not wanting to present her mentor with an incomplete report. "It's not quite finished yet. Still need to go over a few other things that we discussed."

Celestia nodded in assurance, continuing to eye the one thing of interest; its length. "Judging by the length of your report, you two seemed to have discussed much. I merely came to check on your progress, and I can see that it's coming along quite well. I look forward to seeing it complete in the morning,"

Sunset smiled, watching as her mentor walked toward the door, turning to face her one last time before her departure.

"I'm proud of you, Sunset," Celestia said in a motherly tone. "I can assure you that you will come to learn more than I could ever teach you from Twilight. Once you are finished, I want you to get some rest. No reading before bed tonight."

"Alright," Sunset replied simply.

With that, Celestia turned from Sunset and exited the room, leaving Sunset to finish her assignment. Once the door shut, Sunset turned back to her desk and met the view of the massive piece of literature sprawled out before her. Flipping over the elongated parchment, she dipped the quill into the inkwell once again and proceeded onward, taking careful note not to be so expressive with her word play, otherwise she might be needing more paper than she had at her leisure.

The following morning was the same as any other day as Sunset rose from her bed, proceeding with her usual everyday morning rituals such as bathing herself, fixing her mane and tail, brushing her teeth, and of course flossing afterwards. With her mouth, coat, mane, and tail clean and neat, she grabbed her rolled up report and proceeded down to the dining room where she had breakfast with Celestia every morning.

As always upon her arrival, Celestia was seated with a cup of morning coffee nested gently upon a coaster in front of her, on the table. Sunset took a seat at the opposite end, resting her assignment upon the table, and scooting the large chair closer to the table, so she could reach whatever the Royal cooks had brewed up for the morning meal. After taking a sip of her coffee and nestling it back onto the coaster, Celestia eyed Sunset nicely, following with a greeting.

"Good morning, Sunset," she proposed motherly. "Did your night go well?"

"Very," Sunset replied. "It didn't take long to finish up after you left. I found my writing process to be a lot more consistent than usual."

"Is that so?" Celestia pondered. "Usually you take your time in writing your reports, so what makes this an exception to your usual pace?"

Off that last statement, Sunset realized that the matriarch was being sarcastic. Something that both enticed her and made her giggle at the same time in realization. Upon a sudden aura of golden magic levitating her neatly organized homework to the opposite side of the table, Sunset made a remark of her own.

"I suppose you can say that a "little filly" has inspired me in my writing. Something tells me she has a lavender coat... Oh! And a heavy kink for magic!"

The joking caused both mares to burst in mild laughter.

"I'm glad you see it the same as I do," Celestia confessed, bringing her intentions to light. "Now, let's see what you learned in your time with Twilight."

Unrolling the scroll, double-sided with text, Celestia read over the scripture, pausing now and then to take a small sip of coffee. Given the alicorn's extensive experience in reading over any form of ink-made wording, it only took little time for Celestia to finish up, rolling up the report back to it's original form beforehand. Upon one look from Celestia however, Sunset felt a sudden chill go down her spine.

"I see that you have made a proposition to teach the filly magical knowledge," Celestia said calmly. "While I find this good, it also worries me. Do you really feel like you are up to that sort of a proposition, Sunset? You are proposing a very heavy responsibility that I fear you may not be able to uphold."

Sunset calmed herself, having overreacted upon Celestia's sudden glare after the scripture hiding her face had revealed the image now presented. With a heavy exhalation of breath, she turned her attention back to Celestia, her nerves slowly calming back to a docile state.

"Why do you say that?" Sunset asked. "You know that I'm more than capable of performing any spell you've taught me."

Celestia paused, taking another sip of her morning drink. After settling the cup back onto the coaster, she answered to Sunset's questions.

"I don't doubt your magical abilities, my student," Celestia started with a hint of reassurance. "However, it takes more than magical experience to teach another such abilities. Especially somepony as fascinated with magic as Twilight."

That comment took Sunset aback. She wasn't sure what to think about it. Twilight was a filly. She was clearly the successor over a pony nearly half her age, so what did Celestia mean by all that she just said? She had taken it as her mentor claiming that Twilight had more experience and skill with magic than she did, and that was enough to make her pause.

"Are you saying that Twilight, a filly, has more magical abilities than me, a grown mare?" Sunset stated with confusion.

"Yes and no," Celestia responded with mild strictness. "While Twilight is indeed a filly, and you are much older and mature than she is, I have had my eye on Twilight for some time and have seen differences in her magical abilities from the regular unicorn. Differences that you may not be able to withstand or control on your own, Sunset."

"I'm not sure I understand, princess... what kind of differences?" Sunset pleaded mildly, now unsure of whether or not she wanted to go through with her proposition towards Twilight.

"I'm afraid it's not easy to explain, my dear," Celestia confirmed. "I only say these things for your own safety, shall you choose to go through with this. All I ask is that you're careful in just what you teach the filly. She's more talented than you may think."

Sunset paused again, thinking deeply and slowly starting to piece Celestia's words together. Eventually, she began to understand her mentor's words and took it upon herself to memorize them well. All unicorns are different and Twilight, although she was a filly, was no exception to the concern.

"I understand, princess," Sunset clarified gently. "You are right in one way, but in another way, I feel like I should at least try to guide her. Don't worry, I'll start out with something simple and see if I can't spot these "differences" that you've spotted."

Celestia nodded. "So be it then. Just remember what I said here, and be careful."

"I will," Sunset confirmed as she caught site of the cooks bringing out multiple plates of food from the kitchen.

She was presented with a massive stack of pancakes with a side of toast and a pot containing sweet maple syrup. As she grabbed her breakfast and placed it on her provided plate, she thought hard about all that Celestia had said, plaguing her mind with it by replaying them over and over like a broken record. She didn't know what to expect in her first meeting with the filly, but it was best to say that it was going to be an experience unlike any other.

Sunset had found an opening within the following week and using the provided journal that all of Celestia's students were gifted to keep in touch with fellow students, she and Twilight had met up in the Canterlot Castle Courtyard again. Sunset had decided to read up on lower level spells for the occasion, just in case the lesson had gone any longer than she had intended. Regardless, she had a plan set for their first meet together as teacher and student, and as promised, Sunset kept Celestia's words of wisdom in her mind.

Twilight had already arrived when Sunset had exited the castle, catching the filly patiently waiting from atop the staircase that led from the castle, into the pasture of trees, grass, and vegetation. She had expected this, having done the same in her years of being taught by Celestia. It never earned her any sort of extra credit, but she didn't mind, being more interested in the knowledge than any sort of reward. The reward was being one step closer to becoming a master of magic, and that was enough for her.

Pacing herself across the courtyard, Sunset came to meet the filly, being greeted accordingly.

"Good day, Mentor Sunset," Twilight said with upmost giddiness.

Sunset couldn't help but giggle, feeling out of place in the endeavor.

"Sunset is fine, Twilight," Sunset assured. "No need to address me as anything fancy."

"Sorry," Twilight confessed. "I was always told to address anypony of higher stature properly."

"No need to apologize," Sunset stated. "It's good that you were taught to do so, but we're friends, so we should treat each other as we normally would in any other case."

"Got it," Twilight finalized, changing the subject. "So, what are you going to be teaching me today?"

Again, Sunset wasn't shocked, knowing that Twilight was a very curious and anxious filly, so her hasty questioning didn't seem out of place one bit.

"We're going to start with figuring out what needs to be addressed with your current knowledge on magic," Sunset explained nicely. "Before we can start even thinking about learning spells, your preliminary actions must be addressed, along with your posture and etiquette."

Twilight raised an eyebrow, unsure of what Sunset was trying to make her understand. Sunset caught this and resorted to explaining the matter in a way a filly her age would understand.

"Basically, we need to figure out if you are doing anything wrong that impacts how to do proper magic casting."

"Oh... Twilight mused, now understanding the aspect.

Sunset made her way in front of Twilight so that both teacher and student were in tune with one another. "So, let's start off with you showing me how you go about casting a spell."

Twilight nodded, then proceeded to getting into her usual position whenever she attempted to cast any spell in the past. Spreading her forearms and forelegs apart, Twilight proceeded to what seemed like a culmination of massive struggle and expressions that nopony usually made in a public environment. Groans and heavy breathing followed inbetween the filly's attempts to spark her horn to life with magical energy, but they all failed, and Sunset had already spotted flaws in Twilight's posture. Critical mistakes that explained why she wasn't even getting any sort of magical energy to manifest from her horn.

"That'll do, Twilight," Sunset commanded, waving her hoof as a gesture to seize her actions.

Twilight listened and stopped her fruitless attempts, breathing heavily and planting her flank on the grassy surface she stood upon.

"What am I doing wrong?!" she pouted in irritation.

"You're trying too hard," Sunset explained clearly, causing the filly to wince in curiosity and interest. "Magic isn't something you can force out of you, it's something that must be guided very carefully. Unicorn magic comes from the inner core of their being, and only if it's channeled correctly can it arise from within."

Sunset paused for a brief glance at Twilight to make sure she wasn't confusing the lavender filly. One glance, and she saw that Twilight had taken full understanding and interest at her teachings, her head high, ears perked, and eyes focused on only her. With that assurance, she continued.

"Like your soul, magic is a part of you, but to channel it, it takes more than just intense focus. There are many factors that play into bringing your magical energy to the surface; everything that is a part of you must be in sync with it, because like I said, it is a part of you, therefore all that is part of you must be connected with your magic as well. Only then, can your magic connect to the main energy source that powers it."

"My horn?" Twilight guessed.

"Yes," Sunset replied with a smile, continuing further. "The horn is the part of every unicorn that connects with their core, body, and soul. It's connected to every layer of the unicorn's being; their strengths, weaknesses, and emotions."

Twilight was beyond fascinated by all this information, never realizing just how important a unicorn's horn really was, along with the fact that it was like the epicenter of their body!

"That explains why a unicorn loses the ability to perform any magic after so long!" Twilight exclaimed in astonishment. "If the magic is connected to their strengths, then anytime you perform a massive amount of magic, you use a large amount of your physical strength as well!"

"Exactly, Twilight!" Sunset exclaimed herself, amazed at just how well Twilight was catching onto the lesson. "Only when your magical energy is in tune with your being can it connect to the horn and be used at your leisure."

"So.. how exactly do you do that?" Twilight asked curiously.

"That's what we're going to be working on first," Sunset answered. "Before you can channel your magical energy, you must know the proper preliminary actions to do said action. It's not something you will be able to learn in one try, and will more than likely take multiple lessons to learn naturally. Only then will we even attempt channeling your magical energy to your horn."

"How long did it take before you were ready?" Twilight asked.

"About two months, but remember, every unicorn is different, so it may be possible that you learn the preliminaries naturally in less time than I did, or it may take longer than it took me. It's all in who you are and your will to learn the skill."

Twilight wanted to pout at that, but she understood and stored everything Sunset had told her in her memory banks.

"I understand, Sunset Shimmer," Twilight assured. "Where do I start?"

Sunset smiled at Twilight's understanding, proceeding further with the lesson. "Well, now that you've shown me where the problems that we need to address lie, it's time for you to watch and observe. I'm going to do the proper preliminaries for casting a spell now, and I want you to tell me what you notice that is different from your attempts."

"Alright," Twilight agreed. "My eyes are open."

"Very good," Sunset stated nicely. "Now, watch carefully."

Twilight didn't blink, watching as Sunset got into a position much like her own and with all of her senses keen to the demonstration, the filly observed Sunset's actions very carefully. The first thing she caught was that there was no struggling involved, and instead, her mentor was surprisingly calm and mellow in her stance. Something she noted as she continued to observe the mare before her.

Like a spotlight, Twilight's gaze highlighted Sunset and only Sunset, as she saw the appendage sticking out of her fiery mane become emblazoned with a light-blue aura, encasing the horn and circling it in a repeating pattern. This action repeated, up until Sunset retracted the magical energy and reassembled her regular posture, her gaze meeting the lavender filly's own violet irises.

"So, what differences did you notice?" Sunset addressed.

"Well, there was no sign of struggle, and you were calm and unphased the entire process," Twilight replied, her teacher nodding as a response.

"Very good, Twilight," Sunset complimented. "You spotted the most critical aspect of casting or performing magic. Just like any other task such as eating or walking, you must be calm and not stiff. This leads to the next part of the lesson; proper etiquette when casting a spell."

The filly was already intrigued, so Sunset wasted no time and continued onward. Now the lesson had truly started.

"Stance, posture, and etiquette are all key to casting a spell correctly and efficiently, my friend. You did have the proper stance, but everything that followed was wrong. Your assumption was that if you struggle hard enough, magic will spark from your horn, when in reality, all that'll do is give you a massive headache and burst blood vessels. The true way to cast a spell is to calm your body, and let the magic flow naturally.

The first step to keeping yourself calm is to breathe naturally at your usual pace. Lack of oxygen is one of the easiest ways to send your body into a state of panic, feeling like you can't breathe. Slow and steady breaths are what you want to do in the case of casting or performing magic. You want casting and performing magic to feel like a natural thing, not as something that is outside of your ability as a unicorn; as natural as eating, sleeping, walking; basically any natural function you do in your every day life.

Second, is posture. You want your airway to be as open as possible, so your breaths can repeat in an equal and calm pattern. Therefore, your body should be narrow, your hooves spread apart, but steady enough, and your head up to where your airway is straight and not constricted. With this posture, your body is calm and you are able to remain calm.

Lastly, is the most important part of calming your body; calming your find while still maintaining focus. If you follow the proper etiquette that I just advised, this step is already being accomplished. While performing magic, your mind must have focus. Focus is the key to controlling a spell and keeping your magic tamed, but we'll discuss that when you actually manage to channel your magic to your core and horn."

"Understood," Twilight agreed, still intrigued and fascinated by the information and teachings of her friend.

"Good," Sunset replied. "Now, I want you to try again, but this time, I want you to do your best to follow the steps I just taught you."

"Okay," Twilight agreed. "I'll do my best, Sunset."

Sunset nodded, watching her student with observant eyes as she proceeded forward with the command she had given. Twilight spread her legs apart to the point of where she could still stand without feeling clumsy, closed her eyes, and held her head high to where her airway was no longer constricted, doing her best to breathe normally and isolate her mindset to only her reason for doing these actions.

For awhile nothing happened, but Sunset still observed Twilight like a predator waiting to pounce on it's prey, and was honestly shocked on how well Twilight was managing on her first attempt at proper magic casting etiquette. Twilight had begun to feel the same, feeling her body fall into a natural rhythm like her friend and teacher had explained earlier in the lesson. She wondered if she should stop, but just kept the stance, preferring to wait until Sunset advised her to stop.

Many minutes passed, and the natural flow continued to envelop Twilight's small body, not even aware that her mind had met the demands of her mentor as well, being calm and unphased by any of her surroundings. A breeze blew, but Twilight remained focused. She was as still as a statue unmoved by nature, and by the time Sunset finally told her to stop, it had been a time period of twenty minutes.

"That's enough, Twilight," Sunset commanded. "You can stop now."

As instructed, Twilight came out of the posture and eyed her mentor with curious eyes.

"How did I do?" Twilight asked.

"Fantastic," Sunset answered. "Definitely not what I expected out of a first attempt."

Sunset's response came out as if she had just discovered an ancient Equestrian artifact, which caught Twilight's attention.

"Did I do something wrong?" Twilight mused.

"No," Sunset replied. "You exceeded my expectations. In fact, I think that's a good place to end the lesson. You've learned enough for one day, and once you get down the entire concept of the etiquette, we'll work on channeling your magic. In the meantime, just keep practicing that same posture in your spare time, and we'll pick up on it during our next lesson."

Sunset felt as if she were speaking nonsense, considering what she had just experienced. A filly had just performed proper magic etiquette as if it were nothing more than fillies play. She was beginning to understand what Celestia had meant by Twilight having differences in terms of magical abilities. This attempt wasn't just a fluke or beginners luck.

"Everything okay, Sunset?" Twilight sympathized.

Sunset hadn't realized how obvious she had made her thoughts on Twilight's overly-progressive first attempt visible on her face, causing her to cuss at herself in her mind.

"Yeah, everything is fine, Twilight," she quickly stammered out. "I guess you could say I'm just impressed at your first attempt, and the fact that I know our lessons together are going to be interesting. I have much to report to Princess Celestia about you and your progress."

Twilight smiled as a result, feeling for the first time in her short life, she had succeeded at something she had been studying and trying to accomplish for years. To further express her gratitude and excitement, she embraced her mentor and friend in a tight hug, surprising Sunset at first, but once she realized what was happening, she just returned the kind act with her hooves wrapping around the filly that was her student.

Releasing the hug, the two mares departed, returning to their respective homes within the city. Sunset had much to write and report on this session, and Twilight had more practicing to do. With every step she took, all Sunset could feel was a warmth and sense of accomplishment. Something she hadn't felt since her enrollment as Princess Celestia's protege, and she knew deep down that as these lessons continued, things were only going to get all the more interesting if that day's events were only one sample of what her student was capable of.

Truth

The lessons had continued along with Sunset relaying the filly's progression in magic after each of them to Princess Celestia, and within only a year of lessons between the two mares, Twilight had become attune with her magical abilities. The following lesson had focused on Twilight channeling her magic from her core to her horn, and while it did take a few hours, the filly had finally achieved the goal of the session. After that, the lavender unicorn had begun to grow into a master.

Sunset was amazed at Twilight's progress seeing she had achieved her goals rather quickly, something that not most unicorns accomplish so easily. It had taken her years to get to where Twilight had grown within only a few months, but she didn't see it as abnormal or anything to get jealous over. If anything, she was more proud than anything else, especially considering how the two had met, and now they were nearly inseparable as mentor and student.

Sunset had learned much in her time teaching Twilight as well, both about her student and herself. She had learned what Celestia had intended from the start; there's more to life than just studying on something she had become a master at, and in her time with Twilight, she had come to see that mentoring others in something and guiding them to become masters at it was a thrilling sensation that she couldn't explain. It was a wholesome feeling and over the time that she had been teaching Twilight, she never thought that she would come to develop such a close bond with a filly nearly half her age.

All she knew was one thing; her student and friend would grow to be a master of sorcery, and she couldn't be more proud. However, there were some that saw Twilight's learning progression as something more malevolent and potentially a sign of danger.

Especially after what had happened when Twilight earned her cutie mark.

Celestia had grown curious on just how advanced Twilight's magical abilities had become, so she decided to test them. Sunset saw it as odd, but figured it was also a good way to see for herself just how far her student had come in her lessons, and as a good mentor would act, encouraged her student to take on the challenge. The whole endeavor was pretty simplistic; all Twilight had to do was perform spells accordingly, the range of spells going from simple to more advanced. Depending on how high Twilight's experience was determined just how good of a magician she was at that current time.

The result was unlike anything Equestria had ever seen.

"I'm not sure if I can do this, Sunset," Twilight said with worry in her voice. "I've never had to perform spells in such succession before and with the princess watching, it just... it just makes me more nervous!

Sunset stood before he antsy student trotting in circles in a frazzled manner. She could feel where Twilight was coming from in the moment, seeing she had been here before. It was nerve-wracking to be put in such a position, so she knew she had to reassure her student for her to succeed.

"Twilight, look at me," Sunset said with a mild sternness, catching Twilight's attention. "You need to calm down if you even want to have a chance at succeeding. Remember our first lesson together?"

Twilight nodded.

"Good," Sunset assured. "Then what is the main thing that you need to be in order to cast spells accordingly?"

Twilight let out a long breath she had been holding unintentionally. "I need to be calm both in my body and mind."

"Correct," Sunset confirmed, then smiled down at her student. "Don't think of this as a challenge but more as any other lesson with me. Just picture yourself in the courtyard with me guiding you on how to cast the spells. I'll be watching you from the stands, and if anything goes wrong, then just yell something as an alert and I'll get you out, okay?"

Another long sigh escaped Twilight's mouth as she looked up to her best friend and mentor with all the confidence she could possibly have expressed.

"Okay," she muttered softly with a slight shakiness in her voice. "I'll do my best!"

"Now there's the Twilight I know!" Sunset stated with confidence. "Keep that attitude in mind and you'll succeed with no trouble!"

Twilight smiled and hugged Sunset as an assurance before they parted ways. Sunset returned the hug, then with one final smile, she left Twilight to go join Celestia and company within the stands. With a deep breath in and long exhalation, Twilight walked forward into what seemed like a massive collosseum. She eyed the stands as she walked to the center of the massive structure, noticing Celestia, Sunset, and some other fellow company with clipboards and pencils placed behind their ears seated.

Once she was in the center of the room, she stopped and waited for any further instructions. Silence filled the sound waves for a moment, before she was addressed by Princess Celestia herself.

"Twilight Sparkle, you will be tested on your magical knowledge starting from the simplest of sorcery to some of the most advanced and difficult of spells that most unicorns cannot handle," Celestia confirmed, continuing. "Your magical ability will be judged by your response time to the spell you are tasked with, and your mental and physical state inbetween casting these spells. If at any time you feel like you are unable to perform or hold a spell, alert us immediately, and we will stop the challenge. Are you ready?"

Twilight nodded as response, signalling for the challenge to begin.

"Very well," Celestia assured. "We will start with a simple spell. Please perform a general light spell."

Twilight didn't see this as a challenge, and with a flicker of magical energy upon her horn, she cast a light spell with ease, holding it just in case it was necessary to impress what she assumed were judges.

"Well done, Twilight," Celestia said nicely. "Please release the spell."

Twilight followed, suppressing her focus and allowing the light spell to shimmer out. She didn't get comfortable though, knowing that this challenge was far from over and the spells were only going to get more hard as she continued forward.

"Your response time was excellent, and your current state is stable," Celestia said. "We will now proceed to the next spell. Please perform a levitation spell on the objects that will be presented to you. The timing will start once the spell is cast."

Twilight awaited the objects to manifest before her, but was surprised to see them being wheeled in on a long cart by another unicorn. Upon the cart were three objects; an apple, a table, and a large boulder twice her size. She grew nervous about the boulder, wondering if she even had the strength to lift something of that size and weight. Sunset saw this too, finding it strange that for a level two spell challenge it was something of this magnitude. She didn't say anything though and only watched in anticipation as the challenge started.

With careful focus, Twilight engulfed the apple in a magic aura and levitated it with ease. It remained airborne for a few seconds, then she released the delicious fruit, settling it back on the cart gently. Next came the table, which she quickly blanketed with her magenta magic and proceeded to lifting it from it's surface upon the cart. Upon lifting the wooden table Twilight had begun to struggle, having never lifted something of this size in any of Sunset's lessons regarding levitation. She had only ever lifted simple things like sticks and small rocks, never something of such heft like a solid wooden table.

She was about to call it quits, up until she just remembered what Sunset had told her before entering the room.

Don't think of this as a challenge but more as any other lesson with me. Just picture yourself in the courtyard with me guiding you on how to cast the spells.

While it costed her time, she didn't have any other choice, closing her eyes and putting herself in a setting of the Canterlot Courtyard with Sunset's voice guiding her in the spell. It worked perfectly as she felt the table start to lift from the cart, increasing the heft by a ton, but she just kept her focus and kept her mindset within the same setting of the meeting place where she and Sunset engaged in magic lessons. The table remained airborne for a few seconds, then with ease, Twilight placed the table back upon the cart.

Her success had caught the attention of all in attendance, shocked that a filly of her size had succeeded in something that most fillies would never be able to do. It wasn't easy in the slightest, but regardless of the difficulty, Twilight remained focused on the task at hoof. Her gaze turned to the massive boulder that she had yet to lift, trying to keep her breathing and body calm. She knew it was going to take all of her strength to accomplish this feat, so she just focused her magic on the boulder, quickly becoming encased in her magic aura, and lifted.

Immediately, the magic aura shimmered out, and Twilight fell back on the ground with a grunt. The weight of the boulder had caused her to lose focus almost immediately, feeling as if her magical energy had ricocheted backward and hit her with a force so powerful that it had caused her to lose nearly all of her physical strength. Sunset became worried in the mix of the challenge and eyed her student, struggling to get up from the ground from the result of the impact she had taken.

Sunset wanted to say something, but she didn't want to jump to expectations and gave a moment to see what would happen next.

"No!"Twilight chastised to herself. I can't give up now!

Regaining her balance and breathing heavily, Twilight once again focused her magic on the boulder. The massive object grew closed in a magic aura once again, and with all of her focus, Twilight proceeded to lifting the giant rock. The monolith shook upon the cart, the magical energy fading in and out inbetween Twilight's groans and heavy breaths. The shaking suddenly began to cause the audience to stir in bewilderment, looking upon a filly on the verge of performing a task no filly had ever succeeded in. But just as soon as the awe and shock came, it left all the same, Twilight falling back on her flank once again.

The boulder had become unstable, and as a result, the monolith had begun to fall from the cart right in the direction of Twilight, unstable and physically unable to respond. The horror had begun to unfold at a fast pace, as the scene played out like a culmination of creeping death. Sunset saw it first and didn't hesitate to act in response. She attempted to focus her magic on the rock, but for some reason, found her magical energy blocked off. She tried recasting multiple times, but it was no use, and in the stir of the moment, all she could do was yell.

"Twilight!" Sunset shouted as loudly as possible. "Get out of the way!"

Twilight merely heard the words and only managed to turn and see the inevitable end for her. The giant beast of a rock creeped downward, closing in on her like a giant maw of a beast engulfing her. She wanted to scream, but found she couldn't, and only one thing came to her mind in a sudden onset of memories; she had to save herself.

The boulder was inches from killing her, when she acted in quick succession, and in one last ditch effort, focused her magic again on the object that filled her vision. The magical energy stirred around the giant maw, and Twilight pushed as hard as her body's strength could muster upward. The boulder didn't seem like it was even going to budge, but Twilight didn't give up and just continued to push with all her might.

The audience had come to terms that the filly was doomed, and Sunset had fallen to tears, but upon a glance, her tears receded, watching in unbelievable awe and shock at the sight of the boulder airborne. Engulfed in bright and luminescent magenta light, the monolith that was moments away from ending Twilight's life remain in the air, a struggling filly holding her own in a mix of unlimited drama, horror, and sadness.

But this wasn't the same as any other time Twilight had cast a spell. This was different.

Her horn was aglow with unbelievable fiery magical light and her body surrounded by a light unlike anything ponykind had ever saw. She was still in control, and the boulder only continued to levitate higher and higher. Sunset and the others could only watch the phenomenon in complete shock and fear at what they were witnessing, and it only grew more and more astonishing as the light engulfing Twilight grew brighter and brighter.

Then it happened. Magical surges began to pulsate from the filly's horn, each of them resembling an aftershock of an earthquake. Fiery beams shot outward as well, striking the stands and slowly but surely destroying them. Everypony within the stands didn't hesitate and quickly evacuated their seated areas, running to the nearest exit. All except Sunset, who took the liberty of running to her friend's aid.

She just ran endlessly, until she was at Twilight's side and only placed a hoof upon the filly's shoulder within the aura of emblazoned light. She didn't care if she got hurt anymore, she just wanted her friend and student safe. Upon the contact with Sunset's hoof, Twilight turned to face her mentor and immediately calmed releasing the boulder from it's magical prison and the magical light fading away.

Sunset worked quick to get Twilight out of the way of the descending boulder, not risking her magic not being able to save them. She grabbed the filly and trotted quickly out of the way of the monolith, hearing it hit the ground with a massive boom. Both mares breathed heavily in fear and relief, standing up and looking back at the massive object that had collided onto the surface of the collosseum. It would've easily crushed both of them had it not been for quick action in the moment of impact.

Neither of them spoke and only hugged in relief that the horror show was over, but knew that there was many questions needed to be answered. The whole endeavor only grew more mysterious upon one glance upon Twilight's flank where a cutie mark now resided.

Instead of celebration, all that followed was looks of absolute confusion, horror, relief, and wonder. It only grew worse upon Celestia's intrusion on the moment of many mixed emotions.

"I'm... I don't know what to say," Celestia muttered.

Sunset eyed Celestia with fiery eyes knowing that there was more to this than Celestia was saying. A number of things didn't make sense, and she intended to find out the truth behind said matters.

"Twilight, you go with the guards," Sunset ordered. "Princess Celestia, I'd like to speak with you in private."

Celestia winced at the command. "Very well, Sunset."

Twilight only shivered in fear. "I'm sorry... I-I didn't mean to...

Sunset hushed Twilight. "We know Twilight, and none of this is your fault. Go with the Royal Guard. They'll escort you to safety."

Twilight bowed her head, then proceeded to following the Royal Guard out of the building. Once the coast was clear, Sunset turned to Celestia with a look of rage.

"Mind explaining why this happened, your highness?" Sunset questioned indignantly.

Celestia jumped at the accusation and followed up. "I-I don't understand, Sunset."

"Don't lie!" Sunset snapped back. "Who else can block magical energy from being cast?!"

"What are you talking about, Sunset?" Celestia replied with slight hurt in her voice.

Sunset drew in closer to further express her current emotions. "I tried to save Twilight from the boulder by lifting it with my own magic, but for some odd reason, my magic was blocked, and if it weren't for Twilight's will to live, she would've died!"

Sunset paused before continuing further with more accusations.

"Another thing, who the buck gives a FILLY a boulder to levitate?! You knew very well that Twilight was still lifting small objects, because you read my reports!"

Celestia's tone grew more firm in her response.

"It was to push her harder, Sunset. A filly must be pushed if she's ever going to succeed."

"You NEVER pushed me that hard!" Sunset exclaimed. "I don't know what kind of sick game you were playing today, but I know it was you! Nopony else in the room was capable to block spell casting, except you!

"Did you ever stop to think that Twilight's sudden "magical surge" may have had something to do with it?"

"Twilight wasn't even in that state when I first tried to save her! Stop making excuses and admit that you planned all of this! Are you jealous that I have my own student?! Is that why you tried to kill her?!"

A pause followed those words, and in that time Celestia's demeanor had changed and Sunset felt a chill go down her spine at the sight of her once-mentor.

"You must understand, Sunset," Celestia started. "I never intended to hurt you. I had set you up with Twilight to extinguish a problem that I had seen coming for a long time. Twilight is powerful. Too powerful. We all witnessed it today. She is a threat to Equestria, and I would've hoped you would have seen it before this all happened. Her power exceeds my own, and that is just simply something that I cannot condone within my kingdom. It's the same reason why I killed my sister."

That quote made Sunset's blood run cold. For the longest time, she had thought that the tale of the Mare in the Moon was true, but now hearing this, she was speechless and baffled in complete horror. It only got worse as Celestia continued.

"Luna had hidden potential, and I had seen it from day one. The whole story of the Mare in the Moon is just a cover up for what really happened that night. Starswirl had always looked upon Luna, and was even going to work on helping her unleash the full potential she had hidden inside of her. I was always the failure, the one could never get anything right, the one who always slaved over their wants and needs. I grew tired of it and got rid of the only obstacle in my path of becoming a ruler."

"H-how could you do t-that?!" Sunset's voice had fallen to a near whisper. "S-she was y-your sister!"

"I did what I had to do to rule!" Celestia's tone had gone more malevolent. "Nopony, especially a filly, is going to destroy what I've worked to become. That's why I needed you, Sunset. You and I are not much different, so I figured you'd see the danger that Twilight threatened in OUR rule. You saw it for yourself. Her hidden potential has been realized, but she has no idea how to harness such power. We must stop her from becoming greater than both you and I!"

Sunset shivered in absolute fear and disgust. She had no idea what she was witnessing, and just wanted to wake up from the twisted dream she had fallen into. She blinked multiple times, but nothing happened. Celestia only capitalized off of that.

"My dear protege, why do you resist?" Celestia cooed. "Don't become one of them. Not when we're so close to ridding a threat to our rule!"

Sunset's voice was shaky. "W-what are y-you talking a-about?"

Celestia followed up with a giggled that made every speck of fur on Sunset's body stand up straight.

"Do you think that you are my first and only protege?" Celestia said mockingly. "Dear Sunset, I've had many other proteges in my time as the ruler of Equestria, but unfortunately, they all were the same in the end. They all resisted me, and I had to rid the problematic unicorns that have found their way into my school on my own. Don't be like them, Sunset. Take your place by my side on the throne, and destroy Twilight Sparkle!"

Sunset had no idea what to do. She knew she couldn't run, use magic, or resist. She just stood in absolute horror at the realization that her former mentor was a crazed murderer and didn't hesitate to bring anypony down to keep her title as "Princess Celestia" clean. She was in a temporary state of shock and fear, and all she could do was stand in absolute horror.

"So, my dear, what will it be? You know you can't use magic, because I can block it with ease, and you can't outrun me or outsmart me, because I taught you everything you know. So, will you become one with the other proteges that have failed me, or will you be smart and follow through with killing Twilight Sparkle?"

Protege Twilight Sparkle (Ending 1)

“I-I don’t know who you even are anymore!” Sunset exclaimed. “How could you be so heartless and disgraceful to the very subjects that you are supposed to protect and guide?!”

Celestia followed with a chuckle, her demeanor no longer the usual motherly and kind princess she usually held. All that stood before Sunset’s gaze now was a sinister and psychopathic alicorn, eyeing her with a look of malevolence and pure evil.

“Dear Sunset, have you not learned anything?” Celestia questioned with indignance. “If you wish to rule, you must destroy any who stand in your way, and eliminate any who threaten to ruin all that you had worked so hard to gain!”

Sunset wanted to vomit. She had no idea what to do and scavenged her thoughts for any spells that may free her from this inescapable proposition that she knew had nothing but a grim ending for her. She dug into the deepest resources of her mind for anything. ANYTHING that could aid her in this situation.

“I will not ask again, Sunset,” Celestia spoke with demented sterness. “Are you going to aid me in destroying Twilight or will I have to do it myself?!”

Sunset knew that exclamation was no bluff. Celestia was dead serious, and it was now or never. She had to decide between killing her friend or joining the other proteges in death.

“I-I… Sunset trailed off, bracing herself for the worse.

“Yes?” Celestia questioned, knowing she had Sunset pinned in a position where she couldn’t escape.

Sunset looked up to Celestia with fiery eyes of rage and dignity. “I hope Twilight destroys you! I would never kill a friend over power or rule! You can take your proposition and shove it! You are not the mentor I thought you were! You’re just a power-hungry murderer who I hope burns in Tartarus for all that you’ve done!”

Celestia only frowned, eyeing her once-student and protege with eyes of demented hurt.

“Such a shame,” Celestia said calmly. “I really thought you were the one, Sunset. The one that would listen to reason, see my ways and reasoning for performing such actions, but I see now that you are merely nothing more than a delinquent, just like the others. Such a fool, willing to give their own freedom to save another pony’s skin. A clear threat to Equestria for that matter.”

Sunset only continued to glare at the demented mare before her, speaking her final words before what she knew was a lost cause, but she wouldn’t go down without a fight.

“No, you’re the threat, you crazed maniac! Besides, no matter what I would’ve chosen, you would’ve eventually ended up killing me, because in truth, you fear me just as much as Twilight!”

“Me, fear you?” Celestia said with a sarcastic tone. “Please, Sunset. I taught you everything you know, therefore, I know every spell you could possibly use against me.”

“Are you so sure about that?” Sunset replied with confidence. “You see, I didn’t tell you EVERYTHING that was discussed between Twilight and I. She taught me a thing or two about magic as well. Things that not even the almighty Princess of Equestria would know.”

Celestia didn’t express any sense of fear or intimidation, assuming that Sunset was just bluffing her.

“Oh Sunset, you never were the best liar,” Celestia mocked. “You know very well that you cannot do anything in this position. I can block anything you could possibly attempt to cast, and I know every little spell that you could use. Now, let’s not delay this any further.”

Celestia approached closer as Sunset prepared one last ditch effort to potentially save her friend from assured death.

“Here goes nothing,” Sunset thought, as she cast the one trick she had learned from Twilight.

A massive gust of force shot out from Sunset’s body, firing straight out to Celestia, and in complete shock and unable to block the wall of invisible force, Celestia flew back from Sunset. Having not perfected the routine, Sunset was left temporarily dazed, but worked quickly to recuperate and attempt a teleportation spell to get as far from the crazed alicorn as possible.

Celestia struggled to get back up, looking back at the unicorn, her horn flickering with light-blue magical light. Gritting her teeth in anger, she attempted to focus on blocking Sunset’s magic, but struggled on focusing accurately. It was clear that Sunset had put almost all of her strength into the unexpected defensive spell if it had shaken up Celestia this much. Sunset had a window of opportunity, but it was slim.

“Come on magic!” she exclaimed. “Don’t fail me now!”

The magical light flickered as Sunset continued to put all of her remaining strength into the spell, feeling her energy start to weaken fast. Like a dying lightbulb, the aura continued to flicker, and Celestia had begun to gain back her focus on Sunset efficiently and prepared a spell of her own. The window to get out was growing more slim for Sunset, her teleportation spell not gaining any sort of progress.

“Come on! Come on!” Sunset pleaded.

She pushed and pushed harder into the spell, but the light just flickered, and in a sudden moment, the aura diminished to nothing. The spell had failed.

“NO!” Sunset yelled, her body completely drained of all of its physical strength.

She tried to run but only found herself unable to, and upon one glance back at Celestia, now back on her hooves and horn ablaze with golden magical light, she collapsed onto the ground.

I’m sorry, Twilight. I tried…

Sunset awoke with a gasp, her vision blurry and head pounding. She rubbed her head with a hoof, but upon movement and a single touch to her skull, she noticed two things that made her heart skip a beat; her hooves were in shackles, and her horn was gone.

That’s when she remembered what happened before she fainted.

Her vision grew clear, and her body immediately fell to a panic. She wasn’t in any sort of room she was familiar with, only what seemed like a cell. The chains rattled as she attempted to lunge toward the door, the cell as dark as night. Upon the chains seizing her body, she saw that the only light source that lit her cell was torches outside the door to her prison.

She didn’t even question where she was, because she had no idea, and only proceeded to yell out pleas for help.

“HELP! PLEASE!”

Silence only followed her pleas, but she continued to yell, her demeanor depleting to hopelessness and emotions beginning to show.

“PLEASE! ANYPONY! HELP ME!”

Tears escaped her eyes as her pleas fell to nothing but a shallow whisper.

“Please! Anypony!”

She eventually gave up, and receded to the back wall where she only fell to tears, knowing she was defeated.

Time passed, seeming like forever to Sunset, when a sound caused the now-hornless pony to stir; hooves walking toward her cell. She rushed forward, the chains once again seizing her movement, and she shouted, her throat dry as sand, but she didn’t care.

“Help me! Please!” She pleaded in what sounded like a choked croak.

The hooves grew closer along with what seemed like the glow of a lantern or torch. Sunset grew relieved, up until she noticed the golden aura holding the lantern. Her assumptions became all the more true upon the face of Princess Celestia appearing outside the barred cell door window, a sinister smile on her face.

“You’re awake,” Celestia cooed. “Good.”

Sunset lunged forward with pure anger, her body immediately being pulled down by the force of the seizing of the chains. Sunset regained her footing, continuing to lunge and scream in anger at alabaster alicorn outside her cell. All attempts failed, and eventually, Sunset gave up, continuing to eye the matriarch with hatred.

“I have to admit, you did surprise me with that spell,” Celestia said. “Tell me, where did you learn such a spell?”

Sunset didn’t respond and only spat outward at the cell door. “Buck you!”

Celestia chuckled. “No matter, I’ll find out one way or the other.”

“Where am I!?” Sunset demanded. “What did you do to me?!”

“So demanding,” Celestia mocked. “I suppose there’s no harm in telling you, seeing there’s nothing you can do to stop me. You are in a place where nopony will ever find you, and only I know of, so save your breath on yelling for help, because it’s futile. To answer your second question, I simply took away your only defense and hope of escaping. Even if you ever did, I doubt you could ever find your way out of these tunnels.

These are what are known as the Canterlot Catacombs. An ancient dungeon where ponies were imprisoned in the first days of Equestria. Nopony has ever escaped and never will. As I stated, only I know the way in and out of these tunnels, so don’t even try to break free if you know what’s good for you. In fact, it’s best you get accustomed to your new home, because you’re going to be down here for a LONG time, and by that, I mean the rest of your life.

If only you would’ve listened, Sunset. You could’ve had a place by my side on the throne, but you chose to betray me, so now you will live your life in shackles with no hope of ever escaping or saving your precious little friend.”

“You would’ve just killed me like the rest!” Sunset accused. “You feared me just as much as Twilight, and trust me when I say that Twilight will destroy you! Your days are numbered, and I hope you die the worst possible way in Equestrian history!”

Celestia chuckled once again, and Sunset felt a chill go down her spine at it, feeling something off about it. Her thoughts were confirmed almost immediately.

“Foolish little Sunset. You don’t get it do you?”

Sunset’s blood immediately froze like ice.

“You see, with you now out of the picture, I am in need of a new protege, and I’ve had my eye on a particular little lavender filly for some time, and with her old teacher now having abandoned her, she will need a new guide in her magical knowledge. Now, I wonder who that might be?”

The mocking had caused Sunset’s heart to drop. Celestia had played her cards perfectly, and the hurt only continued to grow more and more with Celestia’s next words.

“You were merely a pawn in my game, Sunset, just as Twilight will be, along with any other protege that I gain in my time as the ruler of Equestria. This is how I’ve managed my rule for so long, and it will continue to remain that way. Friendship is what allows me to coax my proteges into these dungeons, only for me to repeat the cycle for eternity. I’ll assign Twilight with a fellow friend just as did you, and the same story will play over and over.”

Sunset couldn’t do anything except stand, baffled and defeated by a true monster. The one thing that binded Equestria together was the cause of her eternal rule, and it only was going to continue for centuries and centuries beyond.

“Now, I must be going,” Celestia finalized. “I have a pony to enlist as my new and improved protege. Rest easy, Sunset, and do enjoy your stay in the darkness for the rest of your life.”

Celestia laughed maniacally as she turned from the cell door and walked back in the direction she had come from. Sunset only continued to try and break free of her shackles violently, but it was worthless. There was no hope for Equestria, and it would forever be ruled by a sadistic murderer. All Sunset could do was shout and plead, hoping that her friend could hear her calls to not listen to Celestia, but there was no hope. Celestia had won once again.

“NO! TWILIGHT! TWILIGHT!!!”

A Life for a life (Ending 2)

“I-I don’t know who you even are anymore!” Sunset exclaimed. “How could you be so heartless and disgraceful to the very subjects that you are supposed to protect and guide?!”

Celestia followed with a chuckle, her demeanor no longer the usual motherly and kind princess she usually held. All that stood before Sunset’s gaze now was a sinister and psychopathic alicorn, eyeing her with a look of malevolence and pure evil.

“Dear Sunset, have you not learned anything?” Celestia questioned with indignance. “If you wish to rule, you must destroy any who stand in your way, and eliminate any who threaten to ruin all that you had worked so hard to gain!”

Sunset wanted to vomit. She had no idea what to do and scavenged her thoughts for any spells that may free her from this inescapable proposition that she knew had nothing but a grim ending for her. She dug into the deepest resources of her mind for anything. ANYTHING that could aid her in this situation.

“I will not ask again, Sunset,” Celestia spoke with demented sterness. “Are you going to aid me in destroying Twilight or will I have to do it myself?!”

Sunset knew that exclamation was no bluff. Celestia was dead serious, and it was now or never. She had to decide between killing her friend or joining the other proteges in death.

“I-I… Sunset trailed off, bracing herself for the worse.

“Yes?” Celestia questioned, knowing she had Sunset pinned in a position where she couldn’t escape.

“I...I’ll kill her,” Sunset surrendered.

“Smart filly,” Celestia complimented. “Maybe you are the one I’ve been searching for for a long time.”

Celestia backed away from Sunset, allowing the unicorn to breathe normally. Not feeling so constricted anymore, Sunset took in deep breaths wiping the sweat from her brow. Celestia’s demeanor hadn’t changed the slightest, but she didn’t seem to hold the same demented glare like before which Sunset was relieved at.

“So, how do you propose I kill Twilight?” Sunset asked.

“Oh my dear Sunset, you’re the smartest pony I know, I’m sure you can figure something out,” Celestia assured, walking out the exit of the giant colosseum.

Sunset merely stood, contemplating on what she had just agreed to do to save her own skin. The one positive was that she still had Celestia’s trust and wasn’t in a scenario where she had only two choices to decide anymore. So much had just happened too fast for her to comprehend, and Celestia was leaving it in her hooves to do the deed. She felt sick for agreeing to such a revolting task, but she literally had no other choice.

It was up to her now to decide whether or not to agree with Celestia, now aware of who she REALLY was behind the facade of a motherly princess that loved and respected all of her subjects equally. She knew she had much to think about, so she took her leave, while her mind conflicted itself on what had just happened.

Two weeks later

Much had happened in the following weeks after the incident in the colosseum. Twilight had been harassed with questions on what exactly had happened in that moment of saving herself from what should’ve been her demise, and the truth was that she had no idea, only that it had earned her her cutie mark, and as Celestia had stated, her full potential had been unlocked, but Twilight had not realized it.

Exactly what Celestia had wanted.

Sunset had kept her mouth shut on anything Celestia had revealed, as much as the magic blocking during the whole occasion. All she had been focusing on was a way to do the deed that she had been tasked with, and had come up with a way to perform the task without any suspicion from Twilight. A forbidden spell that if cast, kills the host. A spell that had been buried away in history for good reason, used mainly for killing imprisoned ponies without any sort of trace or evidence that it was a murder, but a suicide.

Celestia had allowed her to learn the spell, considering the spell was only available in dark necromancy literature, stored away in a hidden library of Canterlot Castle. The spell was relatively easy, and how it was normally performed was in a way of forcing the pony that was the target to speak the words “detola esperium” which translated to “death’s grasp.” Upon speaking the words, the pony would die instantly.

No blood. No sign of struggle. No evidence. It was magic of very dark and grim nature, and if this were only one of the spells that Celestia had originally forbidden her from learning, Sunset didn’t want to know what else lay in those scriptures. For one to even possess the power to force death upon somepony was enough to make her shudder, because that was what she planned to make Twilight do.

She had scheduled the lesson, and the day had come. Upon opening her eyes that morning, she felt an unsettling feeling in the pit of her stomach, and it only grew more unsettling upon getting herself freshened up to meet Celestia for breakfast. She had been under tight security by Celestia’s guards, showing that she didn’t have Celestia’s full trust, given how she had reacted on that day two weeks ago.

She couldn’t go anywhere or do anything without being watched, aside from personal tasks such as bathing, using the bathroom, dressing, or sleeping. She had considered casting the spell on herself, but knew that doing so would accomplish nothing, seeing Celestia would just do the task herself, and given the fact that she had murdered her own SISTER for royalty, Sunset had no doubt in her mind that would be the end case scenario.

With a sickness plaguing her entire mind, she opened the door to her room, two guards meeting her on the adjacent sides in golden clad armor. Like every morning, she made her way to the same dining room, taking a seat in the same seat as usual. Across from her was the same alabaster alicorn that she saw every morning, her face hidden behind the morning paper. Shaking in her seat, Sunset pulled the chair closer to the table. Celestia was the first to make conversation.

“You seem tense, Sunset,” Celestia acknowledged. “Are you having second thoughts on the task of which you have been assigned?”

Sunset gulped then answered with the partial truth. “No, it’s just…

Celestia lowered the newspaper from her irises, revealing her face. The same one she always wore in the mornings they met up.

“Just what?” Celestia questioned, a hint of indignance in her tone.

“Well, I’ve… I’ve… never killed a pony,” Sunset confessed. “Even if the death is… you know… quick and painless, I… I… just don’t know if I’m… capable of something so… grim.”

Celestia lowered the newspaper onto the surface of the paper, her golden aura dimming away slowly. “Look at it this way, Sunset. It’s either you or her.”

Sunset shivered at that statement, knowing Celestia was being blunt, yet she still held her usual motherly tone which disturbed Sunset even more. Celestia truly was heartless.

“Now, you’d best be off to your lesson,” Celestia stated, holding that same tone. “You wouldn’t want to be late now, would you?”

That comment came out as sarcastic, and Sunset didn’t even hesitate on objecting to the matter. She just grabbed her things, got down off the chair, and carried on out to the Canterlot Courtyard where in the distance, she could see a lavender coated filly awaiting her arrival. A sight that made her stomach turn and nearly hurl out the excrement. She didn’t, and instead made her way to where Twilight stood in wait, a smile upon the filly’s face. Yet another sight that made her nearly vomit. Upon approach, she was greeted.

“Good morning, Sunset!” Twilight greeted with joy.

Sunset attempted to compose herself, suppressing the shakiness in her voice, as much as her hooves. “G-good morning, T-twilight.”

Her attempts had failed, considering Twilight’s face falling to a look of concern. “Are you okay?” Twilight questioned.

Sunset attempted yet again to calm herself, but as soon as she remembered the reasoning for being there, the attempts faltered like ice to fire.

“Y-yeah, just a little... c-chilly! That’s right! C-chilly!”

Another fail. It was far from cold and more a content temperature that was neither too hot or cold. Twilight saw that and immediately raised an eyebrow.

“Sunset, what’s wrong?” Twilight questioned yet again, worry staining her tone.

The urge to vomit once again enveloped Sunset like a blanket to a foal on a cold night. It was nearly unbearable, and she could feel the vile content slinking up her esophagus like a serpent. She quickly swallowed it back down, trying to break any eye contact with Twilight.’

“Nothing!” Sunset said in a panic. “Let’s get to the lesson!”

Twilight remained in a worrisome manner, but agreed nonetheless. Sunset was relieved that Twilight had just agreed rather than questioning further, and with as steady a pace as she could go, moved onto teaching Twilight what would be her demise.

“Considering how… advanced you are in simple spells, today we’re going to be learning something of a higher magnitude.”

Twilight immediately grew curious, just continuing to listen to Sunset’s instructions.

“Now, don’t worry, it won’t be anything difficult, it’s a relatively simple spell, but definitely has more advanced elements compared to things like levitation and transfiguration. Today, you’ll be learning how to control others with magic.”

Twilight winced immediately, taken aback by what Sunset had just said. “That sounds… dark, I’m not sure if I want to know how to control another pony. That just sounds like necromancy.”

Sunset cussed in her mind. Twilight had more knowledge on darker magic than she had originally thought prior to this. She thought quick on how to convince Twilight that the spell wasn’t dark magic, but it was kinda hard not to think it was. With “controlling others” as the main effect of the spell, how could it NOT sound like necromancy? This seemed like something along the lines of something King Sombra or even Grogar, masters of necromancy, would even think of performing.

“Oh, buck it!”

“Don’t worry, Twilight, this form of magic isn’t like puppetry, but more like a silly magic where… the victim gets pranked. It’s nothing sinister, just a spell for fun.”

Twilight’s glare didn’t seem to change.

“I don’t know,” Twilight said unsurely.

Sunset had no choice. If she couldn’t convince Twilight, then she just had to use her ace in the hole. “Come on, Twilight. We’re friends, right? Would I teach you anything that would get you in trouble, or anything that you wouldn’t be comfortable with?”

The ace worked. Twilight’s face changed to a more assuring one.

“Alright, Sunset. I trust you.” Twilight replied.

Relieved, Sunset proceeded forward, her stomach knot growing tighter and tighter. It was time to perform the spell.

“Alright, I’ll do a demonstration with you as the spell’s target first, then you can try.” Sunset proposed, feeling like she was going to faint and her blood ice cold.

She lit her horn with the same light-blue magic aura and focused on the filly in front of her, feeling the spell take it’s grasp on the lavender unicorn. Almost immediately, Twilight started to object, feeling her limbs seize and all control over her body dying away like embers of a fire.

“Sunset! Stop the spell! It hurts!” Twilight objected painfully.

Sunset ignored Twilight’s pleas, trying to focus less on her best friend’s pleas for mercy, and more on saving herself from Celestia’s wrath. She could feel the grasp of the spell on Twilight at full control, and now all she had to do was make her mutter the two words.

“Sunset! Please stop!” Twilight objected again, tears falling from her eyes. “It burns! Please stop!”

“Just make her say the words. Just make her say the words.” Sunset told herself in her mind. “She won’t feel anything. It’ll all be over in seconds. JUST MAKE HER SAY THE WORDS!”

“SUNSET PLEASE STOP!” Twilight pleaded again.

Something immediately clicked in Sunset’s head and tears had begun to leak from her eyes. She couldn’t do it.

In that moment it all came to the surface. Her fear had caused her mindset to be fogged by the truth of what would follow the action. If she killed Twilight, she would be nothing but a selfish murderer. A mare that killed her one and only true friend to save her own skin. She would be no better than Celestia was and would only be a monster just like her. She refused to become the monster that had fooled and manipulated her into doing this heinous action out of fear for her own life.

She fell to the ground in tears, releasing the spell and freeing Twilight from the pain. She didn’t care about what Celestia would do to her, and refused to kill her best friend over a promise of a seat upon the throne as a royal. She wasn’t heartless like Celestia, and wouldn’t fall to murder to save her own skin.

Twilight recuperated from the spell, and quickly objected to Sunset's actions.

“What was that all about!” Twilight protested. “I felt as if I was being suffocated!”

Sunset only hung her head, not expecting Twilight to forgive her for what she just did.

“What is wrong with you today!?” Twilight continuously yelled. “You have been acting strange since you got here, and I highly doubt that was an unintentional mistake!”

Sunset was caught and with nowhere else to go, she just told the truth.

“You’re right, Twilight,” she started. “That wasn’t a mistake. It was a dark spell that was outlawed centuries ago. This was all a setup to kill you.”

Twilight stepped back, her face pale as a ghost. “W-what?!” she replied with hurt in her voice.

“I had no choice!” Sunset pleaded. “Listen to me, and I’m serious this time.”

“Why should I listen to you, when outright lied to me and tried to kill me!?” Twilight shot back.

Sunset couldn’t object. Twilight had a point, but she had to do something. Then she remembered a particular spell.

“Fine, but please give me one chance to explain myself, and to prove I’m not lying, cast that truth spell that I taught you. Then you’ll know I’m not feeding you lies. I only ask this one favor, then you don’t ever have to speak, look at, or even trust me ever again!”

Twilight hesitated for a moment, but then with a frown and flicker of her horn, Sunset was met with two words.

“One chance,” Twilight stated bluntly.

Sunset didn’t waste time and spilled every detail about everything that she had found out that day in the colosseum. She explained Celestia’s true colors, the proposition she had ended up in, and anything else she found she needed to explain to win back Twilight’s trust. The way the spell worked was that if a pony under the spell spoke a lie, the caster’s horn would flicker, and not once during the entire explanation did Twilight’s horn flicker like a candle in the wind.

Twilight was completely shocked at the truth and immediately resorted to hugging Sunset, now aware that she had only resorted to the result of killing her out of fear for her own life. Sunset was relieved, but at the same time was lost on what to do next. All she did know was that she refused to let Twilight fall victim to that witch of a princess.

“I’m scared, Sunset,” Twilight stated fearfully. “What do I do now? I’m only a filly and no match for Princess Celestia.”

“I know, Twilight, but trust me when I say that I’m going to make things right,” Sunset stated with indignance.

“What are you going to do?” Twilight asked, a pinch of curiosity in her tone.

“That’s not your concern, Twilight,” Sunset stated directly. “All I ask, is that you remember me for who I was, and not for what I did to you today.”

“What do you mean?” Twilight asked, slight sadness filling her voice. “Sunset, what are you going to do?!”

Sunset didn’t answer, dodging Twilight’s questions and pleas, knowing what she had to do to keep Twilight safe.

“Goodbye, Twilight,” Sunset stated proudly, a glint of tears forming in her tear ducts. “It was an honor being your teacher and friend.”

A sudden flash of magical light followed, and Twilight immediately knew where Sunset had teleported to, as much as what she planned to do. An agonized scream followed, but nopony could stop what was about to happen now.

A flash of light-blue light emblazoned Celestia’s irises, her protege standing before her with an indignant stance in the elongated throne room.

“That was quick,” Celestia mocked. “That is, if you-

Celestia was quickly silenced as Sunset seized up the alicorn’s body with the spell she was supposed to use to kill Twilight, fire burning in her eyes. Celestia didn’t have a chance to block the magic, and she was unguarded at the moment, so nopony could stop her from ending the life of a mass killer who had ruled over Equestria for far too long.

“What are you doing?!” Celestia objected.

“What I should’ve done long ago!” Sunset replied with vigor. “You should’ve stuck to your original teaching ways, princess. Had I never learned this spell, this wouldn’t be happening.”

Celestia struggled to break free of the hold of the spell, but having no control over herself, she couldn’t break free of the spell’s grasp.

“I realized it in the moment I nearly killed Twilight!" Sunset started. "I realized that you had led me to becoming no better than what you what you are! A monster! Now, I see the truth that you tried to hide from me, using your control over me as a way to manipulate my mind! You underestimated my ability to see past all of the corruption that you plagued my mind with, and now, it will be your undoing!"

“Fool! If you kill me, you’ll be no better than me!” Celestia taunted back with a chuckle. “Not to mention that you’ll end up imprisoned for my murder. So foolish, Sunset! Thinking you could ever get the upper hoof on me! Me! The one who taught you everything! The one who changed you from an outcast to one of the most trusted Royals in Canterlot! You are NOTHING without me!”

Sunset only responded with a smile and look of confidence as she spoke her final words to the matriarch.

"You're right,” Sunset muttered. “Which is why I won't be the one to carry on your madness! Even if it costs me my own life, Equestria will be ridden of somepony's rein that has lasted for far too long! My sacrifice will mark a new beginning for Equestria and all who inhabit it!"

Sunset seized Celestia from responding at her own will at the closure of those words, not wanting to hear another word from the witch. The spell coursed through Celestia’s body, and once Sunset had full control over Celestia’s body, she didn’t hesitate, forcing her once-mentor to utter the words that would end all of the tyranny.

Celestia couldn’t fight it, and with only two words, the sadistic alabaster was put to rest.

“Detola Esperium,” Celestia muttered forcingly, and with one swift intake of a choked breath, the demented matriarch fell limp on her throne.

Sunset quickly followed up, not allowing any chance of one of Celestia’s guards foiling her plan. She cast the spell yet again, only this time, she focused it on herself, and upon feeling the spell take hold of her, she ended all that Celestia had caused upon Equestria.

“Detola Esperium,” she spoke out, and with little to no hesitation, Sunset felt her body fall limp, and at long last, she was free.

The news broke not long after, and Twilight was devastated, even though she knew that Sunset had done Equestria a big favor in ridding it of a demented princess’s rule. The case remained unsolved by the Canterlot Homicide Unit, seeing there was no evidence to go off of. It was closed as an unexplained death case, and remains unsolved to this day.

Twilight grew up to be a Major in Magic, graduating with high honors, and now runs what-used-to-be Celestia’s school, which has long since been converted into a new school. She visits Sunset’s grave whenever she gets a free day to do so, and still remembers Sunset as her teacher and best friend, just as Sunset had asked her to on that fateful day.

As for the throne, Twilight's regular foalsitter and only alicorn in Equestria, Princess Cadence, took over as the Princess of Equestria at Twilight's request. Given their relationship, Twilight was enlisted as her protege, given Twilight being a major in Magical knowledge, and to this day, remains the protege of Equestria's new and better leader. While Cadence was converted into an alicorn by Celestia, she never knew of the former matriarch's true nature and has proven herself as a fit ruler.

Celestia was buried under a statue dedicated in her honor of ruling Equestria, seeing nopony ever knew the real truth behind the facade of a kind and motherly princess, and Twilight never did tell anypony what Sunset had told her, seeing they would never believe her. Too many were blinded by the false image of a matriarch that loved and respected her subjects equally, when in reality, behind all the smoke and mirrors, she was nothing more than a power-hungry witch that killed anypony who ever threatened to remove her from her place on the throne.

Twilight knows the truth and keeps it to herself, knowing that her teacher and best friend she ever had still watches over her and was proud to call herself a student and friend of the unicorn known as Sunset Shimmer. The one who she will always remember as the true savior of Equestria, at the cost of her own life. Something Twilight could accept and would never forget as long as she remained alive, continuing the legacy of Sunset Shimmer in honor of her sacrifice.