“Who’s there?” shouted Flash, turning his head towards the hoof steps.
“Flash, calm down!” cried a voice. “It’s me, Sunburst!”
Sunburst came up the stairs. He was a unicorn with an orange mane and tail, teal eyes and round glasses. He wore a cape with star patterns adorned on it. Flash sighed in relief, brushing his left forehoof through his blue mane.
“What was it you wanted me for, Flash?” asked Sunburst. “My half-sister has just lost her mother. And now her aunt wants Sunset dead too. She’s the rightful heir to the throne.”
“I’ve seen Sunset’s mother. She appears at midnight,” said Flash.
“Oh,” said Sunburst. “Well, how is that possible? Stellar Flame, my mother, always said “ghosts do not exist.”. I believe her.”
“Watch,” said Flash. “Just watch.”
A faint figure glided towards the 2 stallions. “Speak!” shouted Sunburst. “I charge thee!”
The Ghost did not reply. Sunburst sighed. He watched as the ghost glided away.
Princess Luna levitated a mallet and banged it on the table. “SILENCE!” she shouted. “Now, my sister died a few weeks ago. She was poisoned by a serpent. Thank you for all joining me for my dear sister’s death. Now, while my niece is still a young mare, my sister has given me the task of ruling Equestria.”
“LIAR!” roared Sunset. “My mother would never-”
Princess Luna summoned a roll of tape with her horn and placed it over Sunset’s mouth. She cut the spare bit of tape off.
“Anyway,” said Princess Luna in a sugar-coated tone. “King Sombra wants to take over Equestria and regain all the land. Spike!”
“Yes, your majesty?” asked Spike meekly.
“Go to the Crystal Empire and settle this fight once and for all!” commanded Princess Luna. She turned to Shining Armor. “Now,” she said in a gentle tone. “Shining Armor, how can I help you?”
“My Lady,” said Shining Armor, bowing respectfully. “I would like to return to university in Manehattan, please.”
“What does your father say?” asked Princess Luna.
“He has been badgering me,” said Night Light.
“Hey!” cried Twilight. “What about me? Sunset gets to go to school! Why can’t I?”
“You’re too young,” said Shining Armor gently.
“Hey!” shouted Sunset, ripping the gag off. “Twi and I are the same age!”
“Get out!” shouted Princess Luna. “This conference is not for teenage ponies like yourselves! Go!”
Sunset looked at Twilight. The 2 mares trotted out of the hall.
Sunset went up to her room. She sighed, climbing into her bed. “Oh how I wish my skin would melt and I would be invisible!” she lamented. But because Mother says I would go to Tartarus if I did. She was so much better that my aunt, my mother like Hyperion, God of the sun and my aunt like a stupid satyr. I just want to die! Without my mother, I have nowhere to go! Nowhere! Nopony to teach me how to be who I am.”
Somebody knocked. “Come in,” said Sunset, raising her voice mildly.
“Hail to her ladyship,” said Sunburst.
“Sunburst, don’t do old Ponish on me,” she said. “What brings you and Flash here?”
“We’ve seen your father,” blurted out Sunburst. “He glided to us and wouldn’t speak.”
“Show me tonight,” she said.
Twilight sighed. Shining Armor came to her, Night Light following. “Beware of Sunset,” whispered Shining Armor. “She may not be what you think she is. She won’t be around forever. Now, goodbye, dear sister.”
“Goodbye, Shining Armor,” said Twilight. “I won’t tell a soul.”
Shining Armor smiled. He punched her lightly with his hoof.
He swung his saddle bag on his flank. He smiled, getting ready to go. Night Light came in, looking quite jovial.
“Ye, here, Shining?” he shouted.
Shining Armor sighed. “Yes,” he replied. “Dad, what do you want?”
“Twilight, go out of the room for a few minutes,” said Night Light. “I’d like to speak to your brother alone.”
After Shining Armor and Night Light talked, Twilight went back into the room. She ignited her horn, lifting a chair and sat down.
“What did he tell you?” asked Night Light.
“To be careful of Sunset,” said Twilight. “She may not be what she seems. But I love her.
“Nonsense,” said Night Light. “This is just wishful thinking, my dear daughter. Come. Don’t talk to her, go near her or have anything to do with her. Do you understand?”
“Yes, father,” she said meekly.
Sunset, Sunburst and Flash trotted onto the gun platform of Canterlot Castle. “The air bites shrewdly,” said Sunset. “It is very cold. Hey, Flash. Do you know what time it is?”
“Five to midnight,” he replied.
A cannon fired. “Oh, it’s just my fricking aunt getting drunk,” said Sunset. “Why does it feel like minus 20?”
The ghost came towards them. “Mother?” asked Sunset in a gentle tone. “Who are you? Are you an angel, sent from heaven. Or did Satan send you? How are you walking the earth, Mother. Queen. Ruler of Equestria.”
The ghost of Celestia ignited its horn, beckoning the young mare with her left forehoof.
“She wants you to follow her,” said Sunburst. “Don’t, my good lady. Please.”
“Sunburst,” replied Sunset gently. “What is there to fear? I can find out the truth of my mother’s death!”
Sunburst and Flash grabbed her. She grunted. “If you gentlecolts don’t unhand me, I’ll kill you!” she shouted. “Let me go!”
She struggled against their grip. She ducked under Flash’s hoof, and cantered after her ghostly mother.
“Let’s follow her,” said Sunburst.
“Something is rotten in the state of Canterlot,” said Flash. “I’m nervous to what may happen to her.”
Sunburst squeezed his hoof. “Me too,” he said.
timings for inspiration for this scene: from 1:03 to 2:14
Sunset sighed. She ran after the ghost, towards a secluded place of the castle. “Speak!” she shouted. “I go no further! Tell me, who are you? I implore you!”
“Listen to me, my daughter,” said the wise, gentle voice of Celestia.
“I will,” replied Sunset.
“I appear at Midnight, but I cannot stay long,” said Celestia. “I have to return to the torturous flames of Purgatory. It’s horrific. Don’t ever find yourself there, my daughter. Just thinking about it makes me shiver, and would make your hair stand on end like a porcupine’s quills. It would freeze your blood if I told you. I can’t. I’m duty-bound by my master. But if, if you truly loved me, you would get revenge for my foul, most unnatural murder.”
“WHAT?!” screamed Sunset. “Murder? What sort of dickhead would murder a gentle giant as you, my dear mother?”
“Your Aunt. Luna,” said Celestia. “That’s who. Let me be brief. She came to me, and snuck up to me while I was sleeping under the tree your father planted when you were born. She poured Hemlock berry juice in my ear. Oh, it’s horrible, Sunset. Horrible! Then I woke up, with terrible, terrible scales all over my body, and in 2 hours, I was dead. I had no way of redeeming myself for my past... misdeeds. I want you to get revenge and kill her. But, Sunset. I must go. Just remember this:
”The ones you truly love never really leave us. You can always find them... in here 
.”
. Sunset, don’t forget me. Get revenge on her. So I can go to heaven. Please.”
Celestia held out her hoof to her daughter, as she faded away. Sunset fell to the ground, sobbing. “MOTHER!” she shouted. “Mother, don’t leave me!” She sighed. “Remember thee?” she asked herself. “Remember thee, huh? I’ll do that. I’ll do everything in my power to remember you, my dear mother. Oh. Luna, you villain! Dang it, you damn smiling villain. Whatever she does to deny it, she can smile. SHE CAN SMILE. And smile, and smile, and be a villain. I’ll remember her, but should I kill my aunt? She’s my family. I can’t. But I must get revenge on my mother. Maybe the time will come. Is it time for me to fulfill my destiny? One day, I’ll find out. But for now, I need to plan.”
Sunburst and Flash ran in. “What did you see?” she asked. “Did you see anything?”
The 2 stallions remained silent. She ignited her horn, casting a spell, which grabbed the 2 stallions by their necks. “I SAID “DID YOU SEE ANYTHING?” YOU SQUIRTS?” she shouted.
“NO!” shouted Flash. “We didn’t. I promise.”
“Swear, then I’ll let you go,” she hissed in a dangerous soft voice. “Swear on your life you did not see or hear what I was talking about.”
“I swear,” said Flash and Sunburst simultaneously, “We did not see or hear anything. We will not tell anyone, if we did see something.”
Sunset let them go. “Good,” she said. “Now, I’ll pretend to be mad, while I think through my action plan. As for you stallions, GO!”
The 3 ponies trotted into the castle. Sunset climbed onto her bed. “Okay,” she said. “What should I do?”
Author's Note
This is the inspiration for this story:
and of course, Shakespeare’s Hamlet
Quote:
”The ones you truly love never really leave us. You can always find them... in here .” Sirius Black- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
ALSO END OF ACT 1
