Sun above was shining down on the city below. It was Canterlot, the capital of Equestria. This is a magnificent city on the Canterhorn Mountain. Princess Celestia, who ruled Equestria for thousand years, resides here as well as her younger sister Luna, who returned from the exile quite recently. After that, Luna regained her status of a princess and now rules alongside Celestia.

However if someone got her princesshood back, someone weren’t able to get it, even though, she had every right for that.

Twilight Sparkle, the scandalously known mage, former student of Princess Celestia herself and now an alicorn, who was rejected in the status of princess, went to the train station of Canterlot. She was under the illusion spell, so passersby couldn’t recognize her. She didn’t recognize the passersby as well as she was in hurry.

Well, that was to be expected, she thought. She was remembering the meeting with the princesses.

“Do you understand the consequences of your actions?” Celestia asked, glaring at Twilight with despise. That look didn’t change since that incident ten years ago, when she found forbidden books at Twilight’s place.

“I do, I guess,” Twilight replied, after she took mouthful of some salad. Before getting to the castle, Twilight went through the city and that was quite a sight. Correspondents and journalist of different newspapers, nobles, some shady persons and a way more of onlookers had been circling around Twilight until the first patrol of guards has organized an escort. In the castle, they’ve talked a little and Twilight retrieved the Elements of Harmony to princesses. After that, Celestia and Luna invited Twilight to a dinner. Twilight admitted that Celestia kept a stoic face until they got to dining room.

“No, you don’t. Do you understand why?” Celestia said with greeted teeth. “Firstly, your actions are an insult to our dignity, to our honor. An unknown pony wants into a royal court and not in the place of a maid, but a place of a princess such as I am.”

“Well, in your very law, there is certain rule: “Every alicorn is considered of a noble birth and he or she has a right to become a fellow ruler of Equestria,” Twilight remarked. Celestia smirked at that. “Besides, Cadence…”

“…Isn’t a ruler,” Celestia put in. “She isn’t a ruler, even though she is called princess. As to the rule that you mentioned… If you would’ve read it more carefully, you might have noticed that alicorn must ask me for permission. Only after I assent the proposal, they can fit into any governmental place as well as ruling with hard restrictions. Even Luna don’t have the power that I possess.”

“Does that mean that I won’t get the princesshood?” Twilight asked.

“You won’t get it,” Celestia nodded. “What were you thinking when you were making this proposal?”

“It’s not your business,” Twilight replied with a sigh. “Not like I even wanted princesshood in the first place.”

“So, Twilight,” Celestia began, after a moment of silence. “How did you managed to… Ascend?”

“Um… Luna gave me the spell,” Twilight replied. “Luna haven’t mentioned that?”

“What spell did you gave her, my dear sister?” Celestia asked Luna who was seating beside her.

“The one, that you once asked me to give to her,” Luna said. When Celestia showed that, she forgot what spell it was. “That one, eh… Pillars got injured after Starswirl casted it, you remember?”

“Oh, that one…” Celestia quickly remembered. “I remember now. Yeah, that was one of… ways I wanted to get rid of you, Twilight.”

“Thanks for telling me this, I guess,” Twilight replied, but something made her wonder. “So, who are these Pillars? Are they… The ones from the legend?”

“Yes, they are,” Celestia nodded. After seeing Twilight’s disbelief, she got highly surprised. “Out of all ponies, I guess, you are the only one who should understand that not all legends and myths are untrue.”

“So… Pillars are real?” Twilight asked.

“Yes, they were,” Celestia replied. “There were six of them. Mistmane, Somnambula, Flash Magnus, Rockhoof, Mage Meadowbrook and of course, Starswirl the Bearded, our teacher and the greatest mage of all time… They were quite a splendid team.”

“I see,” Twilight said. Nor Twilight, nor princesses found a topic to discuss, so the rest of the dinner was silent. After the dinner ended, Twilight parted ways with princesses, but before that, they taught her an illusion spell they often used, so she could get to the railway station without much turmoil.

When she was on the station, there was a slight feeling that something wrong. Someone was watching her. Following her.

Twilight started to look around every now and then. When she was getting tickets, she glanced over a shoulder twice, but there was no one. She did it once again, when she got to the station, waiting for the train to arrive. She watched the line before Ponyville ticket booth. She watched the crowd on the platform. She haven’t found the sudden stalker.

In the wagon, the feeling didn’t die out. Actually, it got worse. Twilight looked around a couple of times, but she couldn’t pinpoint anyone in particular. Many ponies looked in her way, but every one of them looked at a weird pony, who is turning her head around, as if she looked for something or someone.

Eventually, she arrived to Ponyville. A little crowd was waiting on the platform, but there wasn’t any friendly face. Twilight was expecting that. She talked with them before the ride and they said they had some chores to do.

Twilight observed the crowd for a little while, before she go for the exit. While doing it, she wished that her friends were there to help, since it would’ve help so much. She found a candidate, though.

That pony was following her through the Ponyville. She was constantly disappearing from sight, only to appear after a moment. When Golden Oak Library was in sight, Twilight also noticed that the pony, who followed her was using illusion spell, similar to her own.

“Golden Oak Library, how can we help you?” Spike asked from the desk, as he heard the door opening.

“Spike,” Twilight called, right as she discarded the illusion. “Go get some snacks.”

“Something in particular?” Spike asked, as he rushed to the kitchen. Twilight took a seat at the desk and yelled to Spike.

“Not really,” she said. “Bring me some tea… Two cups or three if you want.”

Twilight sat there, waiting. Soon after, a unicorn came in.

She wore a strange attire. A leather battered jacket with long sleeves over a white top was looking somewhat weird with the heat that was raising day after day. She also had a pair of leather gloves, a pair of knee-high boots and worker’s jeans. On the other hand, she didn’t had a worker’s cap or googles or something else common among the workers. Her boots and jeans were only barely battered in comparison with the jacket and her top was pristine. Besides, the gloves were looking like new ones.

As of her appearance, she was a unicorn with pale yellow coat and fiery red with some bright yellow strands. Her eyes were turquoise. Her cutie-mark hidden.

“Welcome to Golden Oak Library? You are looking for something?” Twilight asked.

“Yes, I’m looking for something…” The mare said. “For someone, to be precise. For you, Twilight Sparkle?”

“And what is your reason?” Twilight asked, though she guessed that she knew why that mare was looking for her. “Oh, where’s my manners? Want some tea?”

“Wouldn’t mind,” the mare replied. When they took the seats, the tea with some snacks were already served. The mare suddenly apologized, “Sorry, Twilight. I also lost my manners. The name is Sunset Shimmer. It’s nice to meet you.”

“Well, Sunset Shimmer…” Twilight observed the unicorn more precisely. Despite how eager she had accepted the offer, she didn’t really went for tea. She was lazily munching on a cookie, but the tea was slowly cooling down as no one really touched it since Spike put it on the table. “Why were you looking for me?”

“Oh, Twilight, isn’t it obvious?” Sunset responded. “You are the most famous ponies at the moment… But I was your fan even before.”

“Really?” Twilight asked.

“Yeah,” Sunset replied. “I’ve seen you and your team in the newspaper. You’ve saved us from Nightmare Moon and brought Princess Luna back. I know, you have used Elements of Harmony, but there isn’t really a pony who could’ve used the Elements of Harmony aside from you.”

“Let’s say,” Twilight nodded. That mare knew how to say sweet things. Twilight thought, she knows how to use flattery.

“Oh, you’ve saved us all,” Sunset continued. “And, can you believe… They say that you are nothing, but a rebellious scum and damned vagrant, who just was lucky to get to the right place and time.”

“I do,” Twilight replied, though she admitted that the last sentence sounded like she agree with it. “Um… Can you answer a question?”

“Yes?” Sunset nodded.

“I’ve been in Canterlot this morning,” she said. “And someone started following me right to the railway station and even when I got on the train, this someone followed. You don’t know anything about it?”

“What? Of course not,” Sunset replied, though her demeanor changed and she became somewhat nervous. “That’s probably another fan of you… I came yesterday at night. I’m from Dodge-city and I’m staying at my friend’s place.”

“Oh, and how is it in the Dodge-city? Don’t buffalos trouble you? Maybe dragons?” Twilight asked.

“Um… No,” Sunset said reluctantly, as she wasn’t sure in her reply.

“Even creatures from Badlands don’t come and demolish everything?” Twilight asked once again.

“No, they don’t,” Sunset suddenly became quite annoyed and Twilight noticed that. “It’s pretty nice in there. You can come and see for yourself!”

“I see,” Twilight nodded. “So… And that friend of yours...”

Twilight was about to ask another question, but someone knocked on the door. Twilight quickly recognized the manner of it and went to open the door. Besides, she sent off Spike.

“Hello, Pinkie,” Twilight greeted her friend, as she opened the door.

“Hello, Twilight,” Pinkie said with her cheerful tone. “Oh, I see a new face there.”

“Yeah, Pinkie, but before you do that…” Twilight said, emphasizing the word “that”. “I would like to talk with her.”

“Oh, fine,” Pinkie nodded.

“You wanted something?” Twilight asked.

“Oh…” Pinkie looked at Twilight with a confused face, before she remembered. “Oh, right. My Pinkie Sense said that one of my friend is going to arrive soon. It also said that one of my friends is in danger. What can you say about that?”

“Don’t worry,” Twilight assured her friend. “Everything is covered. Bye!”

“Have a nice day, Twi!” Pinkie waved her hand and quickly ran away. Twilight meanwhile closed the door and turned to Sunset.

“So, Sunset,” Twilight began. “Or, maybe, not Sunset? Is that your real name?”

“No, it’s pretty much my name,” Sunset replied. “You guessed right, by the way. It was me back then in Canterlot and on the train. However, you’ve made it too obvious when you started to look around looking for me.”

“And what was that for?” Twilight asked. “Why?”

She sighed and then she looked straight in Twilight’s eyes. “I challenge you to a duel of mages!”

“A duel?” Twilight raised her eyebrow. Sunset nodded at that and Twilight with uncertain face said, “Fine. After half an hour, before the town hall.”

“Fair enough,” Sunset agreed and headed to the door. “Don’t try to play tricks on me.”

They stood in front of each other. Sunset Shimmer, unicorn unknown to the Ponyville’s residents, and Twilight Sparkle, once a unicorn who lived in Ponyville for half a year and who ascended to alicornhood. Ponyvillians were quite thrilled with the sudden duel between these two, but since no one didn’t know Sunset at all, they were agitating for Twilight.

“I’m not sure how magical duels must proceed, but I guess as long as you wouldn’t kill each other and you wouldn’t inflict serious injuries, you are allowed to test your strengths,” mayor said, as she stood between the two unicorns. She made one step back and nodded to two. “Use your spells and knowledge and put your opponent into a state, where they can’t struggle anymore. That’s the goal for both of you. Begin the showdown.”

Both mares started slowly. Rays were flying and defenses were created and destroyed. Mayor stood on the veranda of the town hall, but quite soon, she understood the danger of this affair. When the ray hit the planks next to mayor’s head, she went into the town hall.

Ponies of the Ponyville were told about that beforehand, so all the spectators were watching the show from secure places. Twilight’s friends as well as some of citizens with some guts were watching the showdown from handmade shelters.

With each ray, Sunset was coming closer and closer. Twilight didn’t like it and she reminded herself of a spell she know. Eventually, she got closer and they engaged in a melee fight.

Twilight learned something from her times back when she was on the streets. Sunset was a worthy opponent though. Twilight couldn’t pinpoint what was the stronger side of her opponent. She was stronger and quicker but Twilight predicted all the attacks. She lacked years of trainings and real fights.

Eventually, blocks and counterattacks pissed Sunset off and she started to make blows fiercely. Twilight started to dodge and retreat gradually. Twilight felt it was the moment and she was right. Twilight’s eye caught metallic glimpse of something that was attached to Sunset’s fist, which was on its way to her stomach. Twilight shot her spell, causing a serious blast that sent Sunset away.

Twilight tried to find that something that glimpsed, but it was in vain. She noticed a strange line on backside of the glove. That line went from one side of the glove to the other, and on closer look, Twilight understood that it was a pocket.

She wanted to kill me? A late question came to Twilight’s head, as her opponent raised from the ground. I need to end this quickly.

She braced herself as she came up with a spell that should do the thing. When Sunset came back to her senses, Twilight charged her horn and shot the spell at Sunset. Sunset immediately responded with a magical shield.

It was a mistake. Twilight saw that her opponent was using only magical shield. It was a common technique, since it was easy to perform and highly effective. Other techniques like missile dissolving or disrupting missiles are harder to perform, they are more specific and they requires a good aim and reflexes.

When the ray hit the shield, there was a little explosion. After that, Sunset suddenly noticed that her shield suddenly dissolved and nothing stands before her and a stunning ray.

The stunning ray worked as intended. The spell knocked senses out of Sunset and she lost herself for a couple of seconds. It was enough time for Twilight to cast a spell that prevent Sunset from casting anymore spells.

When Sunset got back on her legs, she saw Twilight with a fireball in her hand. She tried to use some magic in response, but she find, she couldn’t cast a single spell.

“So, some destruction spells, Twilight?” Sunset admitted. She quickly calculated her chances and without magic it’s unlikely that she will get to Twilight or that Twilight would miss. “Aren’t they like, kinda illegal?”

“I have a carte blanche,” Twilight replied. “Besides, you went for melee. You know that you would’ve been disqualified for even touching me. It is forbidden.”

“It was,” Sunset countered.

“Magic duels are forbidden as well,” Twilight replied, but after seeing the look of Sunset, she corrected herself. “Well, they are not really forbidden, but Celestia is highly against them.”

“She didn’t forbid them, because…” Sunset was about to add more information, but Twilight already knew it.

“She needed an instrument to push her authority and gain power,” Twilight concluded. “So, you’ve been in the school for gifted unicorns, right?”

“Yeah, and I’ve been studying there when you were in kindergarten,” Sunset said.

“Eh, kindergarten?” Twilight cringed, as her memories of that place weren’t the most exciting. When Sunset was about to add something, Twilight snapped out of it, “um, whatever… So, and why are you here and wishing me dead?”

“Dead? I had never killed in my life and I didn’t want you dead,” Sunset retorted.

“But you brought two nicely hidden blades,” Twilight parried.

“I wanted to win in a duel,” Sunset said. “You see, I was Celestia’s personal student, before you and I was there when you became one as well. I’m not sure why, but I ran after that, being angry at Celestia, you and probably the whole world.”

“You got jealous?” Twilight asked.

“Maybe…” Sunset mumbled, as she suddenly started to realize the foolishness of the situation and started to feel bad. “I was in my teens.”

“That’s explains a lot,” Twilight nodded. “I guess, I can’t hurt you or kill you. You have potential… Would you like to be in our team?”

“I think, I don’t have another option here,” Sunset replied. “There isn’t really anywhere I could go now. Nor Celestia, nor my parents will accept me, so I guess I will stick to your team… If I can?”

“You can,” Twilight said, but there was the pause at the end, which meant something else is unsaid. Sunset waited fearfully for that unsaid part. “But, keep in mind that I and my friend will be watching you. If you are planning something against me or my friends, you should better forget that. You are with us and I promise it’s going to be such a wild ride.”

Author's Note

Wowie! It's been awhile.