Rising Sunset

A compass is a wonderful tool when traveling, with it you always know where north is, and alongside a decent map even a novice couldn't get lost, and I was no novice, I also had no map and no working compass.

"Aaahh, damn it all!" I curse as I franticly look around the forest nothing but trees as far as the eye can see with no landmarks in sight. "Eclipse be damned, where in Tartarus am I?!!!"

As my yell echoes like a roar through the trees, my ankle begins to sting again. "Ok, maybe I should've paced myself there," I whisper to myself as I bend down to message my ankle.

Continuing my walk in no clear direction to find a safe-looking resting spot I hear the stream of water, following the sound
I came across a large river, seeing tha it was clear of any beasts I refill my water bottles, looking up past the trees I could tell it was getting late or at the very least dark on account me also not having a damn watch on me.

"Might as well make camp." I grumble bitterly "How in Tartarus did my life get to this point?" laying on my back I look at the stars they were beautiful outside the city of Canterlot "I miss my bed, my boyfriend, my books, Celest..."

Skipping past THAT thought I turn over on my side to sleep, closing my eyes and focusing on the sound of the river. "Think of better times Sunset, think of better times."

As I lay resting on a bench listening to the Canterlot park fountain with my new daring do book over my face a voice cry out "Ms. SUNSET!!! Ms. SUNSET WHERE ARE YOU???"

"Over here Nany!" I yell back not opening my eyes.

"Oh, there you are Ms. Sunset!" Nany stammered "Her majesty Celestia sent me to get you, she sa..."

"It's just Sunset." I interrupt.

"Excuse me?"

Peeking one of my eyes out to look at her I say, "Ms. isn't necessary Nany."

Blinking twice Nany replied, "I'm afraid I don't understand Ms. Shimmer."

Rolling my eyes, I sit up on the bench staring into hers, and say, "Nany we've been over this, I'm still only 15 summers old I'm hardly the age to be called Ms., lady Shimmer, or Honored Protégé will do."

Nany simply stared at me for a few silent moments, finally responding with "As you wish young Ms."

"Oh, for the love of..." As I drag my hands across my face, I get up from the bench, "So... what were you sent for again, Nany?"

Eyes widening in realization Nany straightened her posture and recited what sounded like a rehearsed speech. "By royal decree, the adopted daughter Sunset Shimmer has received a summons, as such the young Ms. is to attend an audience with her Royal Majesty and Goddess Queen Celestia at the dining hall for a matter of great importance..."

"And cake." I interrupt again.

"Furthermore!" Nany continued pulling out a pocket watch and pretending to look at the time. "Due to the difficulty in finding you, her majesty has undoubtedly spent a considerable amount of time in the dining room alone, if we make haste now, we might be able to make it before the hour is up, now please come with me."

With Nany's back turned to me I walk right behind her as I pull out my lay line compass and set the combination to the proper coordinates, with a cheeky grin I say, "No need for that I know a shortcut, see you at the castle." As Nany turned in shock, I widened my grin and gave her a little wave as I was teleported to my tower.

Throwing the daring do book onto my bed, I open my closet undoing one of the floorboards "Welp, better head to the dining hall before Celestia eats all the cake." quickly take out a metal box, opening it I place the lay line compass next to the books my little treasures from my favorite secrete library, putting the box and floorboard back then I look through my clothes to see what dress would be good for this summons...black diamond with a red and yellow sash should do.

After getting ready, I slam my door as I rush to the dining hall. "I wonder what's so important for Nany of all people to come and get me: an apprenticeship with High Magus Scholar-spark, a new cake recipe she wants to share the experience with," stopping for a moment. "I hope she hasn't found out about me and flash?"

Reaching the dining hall, I see two figures at the other end of the table in the middle of a conversation surrounded by teas and cakes, Celestia and... humph Princess Cadance, what is she doing here, shouldn't she be freezing her wings off in the north or something? heading to their end, they stopped their conversation when they noticed me before I could hear anything. It looked like they were here for a while judging by the number of plates, they had stacked next to them.

Turning to me Celestia smiled warmly, "Ah, sunset good to see you, please sit we have much to discuss, you remember Cadence, yes?"

After sitting down, I gave a slight bow to Celestia "I'm sorry if I made you wait long, I came as fast as I could when I got the summons." looking at Cadence, I give her my most convincingly fake smile. "Hey there Cadance, long time no see."

"Charmed, I'm sure," Cadence said in a muted tone.

Looking over the spread on the table, there were quite a few treats, cakes, cookies, and pies, Celestia surrounded herself with plates angels' food cake and Cadance gathered a collection of different fruit pies. Sitting down I take a small slice of angel food.

"So, what's the occasion," I ask a little apprehensive "it's not every day the three of us are together, and I thought you were on a retrieval mission up north?"

Raising a finger as she took a large sip to wash down some raspberry jelly Cadence said, "My mission to find the Crystal kingdom was a success, the trick now is re-instating that section of the north as part of Equestria's national borders."

"Umm," I interject "wasn't it always Equestrian land, to begin with?"

"Yes," Celestia cut in "but since the kingdom's disappearance it's been a no man's land for several centuries, those of griffinstone have been trying to gain access to the crystal mines and the Yakistanians have been trying to expand their territory. Needless to say, the sudden appearance of a whole nation has got everyone a bit scrambled for alliances and connections."

"The joys of politics, right Celestia?" Cadance said jokingly.

Scrunching her nose Celestia In a darker tone said, "The disappearance of an entire nation is and was a lot worse, believe me when I say you dodged the worst of it by disappearing with it."

"Yeah, lucky me," Cadance said sarcastically "I'm surprised you didn't know Sunset, with all the books you bury your face in. With a smirk, she added, "Makes me a little curious as to what it is your actually reading."

Glaring right at Cadance I wave my hand over one of her forks and say Manus as a spectral hand appears snatching up one of Cadance's forks, swiping one of the strawberries off her plate and into my mouth.

Between chewing and grinning I said, "I ashore you Cadance all that time I've been reading I've only read about what's important to Equestria, nothing more." It was subtle but I saw her hand clench at that, good. "Though a majority of what
I read is about spell craft, I'm going to become the most powerful mage in all of Equestria so I can't distract myself with useless information much less the history of some dead society."

Stirring her teacup Cadance matched my glare with her own. "I'm happy that you put so much effort into your craft, but perhaps someone should get you a book on manners and punctually considering how long it took you to get here I was starting to get worried when you took so long."

"Oh, a few teleportations were easy enough, a healthy body means a healthy mind and healthy magic speaking of which care for another pile of pastries princess," I say with gritted teeth, Levitating a large plate of sweets.

With a loud clink from Celestia's teacup my blood went cold remembering where I was, and judging by Cadance's expression she felt the same way, we both turned to see a less-than-pleased expression on her majesty's face.

After taking a long sip of her tea she finally said, "Why do you two insist on bickering and refuse to get along?"

"SHE STARTED IT!!!" We yelled in unison.

With an irritated expression, Celestiagot said, "I was hoping we could enjoy our time before we had to get to the serious talk, but I suppose we should get right to it then." Celestia moved to a large corridor turning back to us Celestia calls "Come with me you two."

Getting up Cadence and I followed Celestia onto the long hallway keeping my head down in shame with a pit in my stomach I dared not say a word, the silent walk was only a for a few minutes but felt like hours, I darted my eyes around to see where we were going, the pit began to widen as I realized we were in the west wing and as we not only passed the starswirl library but going under it, it was obvious.

"The secret library!" I panicked in my head, "Did Celestia figure me out!? Where does Cadence fit into this!? What's going on!?"

"Um, your majesty?" Cadence mumbled, breaking the silence "What's going on? I don't believe I've been to this part of the castle."

Following Cadance's ignorance, I follow with "I've been on this wing before, but I don't believe I've been this far down."

After a small pause and without turning around Celestia says "With the exception of guard patrols and cleaning services I make it a point not to have anyone down here without making too much of a fuss about it, lest someone get too curious, ah here we are." Turning a corner Celestia reached a long corridor full of large paintings.

Swallowing nervously, I ask, "And where is here, exactly?"

Raising both arms in a faux grandiose gesture Celestia answered "The hall of triumphs, this hall holds artistic recreations of the key points of Equestrian history since its foundation."

Following Celestia deeper in, I recognize a few paintings referenced in history books, starswirl's defeat of the sirens, and Chancellor pudding head's first bake of the War of feather and Bones; Celestia didn't seem to like it here.

Reaching the end of the hallway Celestia was looking up at what looked like Equestria's founding, the founding heroes gathered around the Equestrian flag as spring flowers and grass pops up around a snowy plain.

"A change of seasons, a change of eras." I say.

With a raised eyebrow Celestia smiled at me and said, "I see someone has been keeping up with their history. Tell me what is the deciding factor in the three bloodlines' victory over the unending winter brought by the wendigos?"

"Umm?" Cadance said dumbfounded.

Giving Cadence my best-wicked smile and cracking my hands I recited, "Before Equestria, there was the Platinum Kingdom home of the star touched, the Gale Citadel home of the skyriders, and the United Foundations home of the Earthkeepers. Each territory had its own governing body, culture, and traditions but all suffered at the hands of the wendigos and the winter they brought causing famines, wild storms, and unnatural magics, all to feed on the populist's negative emotions for hundreds of years until they formed a specialized task force of their most powerful leaders and enforcers, after defeating the threat they chose to combine their territories becoming the most powerful country in the world."

After a short pause, Celestia responded "Well recited Sunset, I'm sure your history teachers are very proud of your ability to memorize their texts, but that doesn't answer my question; what was the deciding factor?"

"Uh," I stammered taken aback "The magical prowess of the Platinum Kingdom?"

Cutting in Cadance yells out raising her hand "Commander hurricane's battle tactics!"

With a chuckle, Celestia responded, "No, both were important but not the deciding factor, and before you say it." Leaning down our eye level Celestia gave her best I know you were thinking it smirk. "Chancellor pudding heads baking skill wasn't it either. "

I lower my head in defeat, well I'm out of ideas. I began to pace at this point, I hate not knowing things.

"Was it something specific they did together? Cadance asked sparing a glance at me.

Internationally I screamed, of course, Celestia would bring out one of her ridiculous moral puzzle games to teach us a lesson.

Celestia's smile widened with genuine glee "Ah, now we're getting somewhere, "As she spoke Celestia walked around us in a circle, "Though I suppose, it was somewhat of a trick question."

"You don't say. I mumble only for Cadance to elbow me whispering "Shut up Shimmer, she's doing the thing!"

"Oh, I do say, my dear daughter." Celestia chuckled again, turning her attention to Cadance she added "and niece!" To which Cadance immediately straightened her arms.

Turning her attention back to me Celestia continued "You touched upon it with the three bloodlines joining forces but what many academics often fail to recognize is that the three bloodlines hated each other, were it not for the wendigos acting as a mutual enemy they would have certainly been in all-out war, and even then they still bickered like children."

Cadence and I both shifted uncomfortably at that.

"The deciding factor, however, wasn't battle tactics or powerful magic; but was in fact... a conversation over lunch.

"What?" was all I could blurt out.

Celestia continued "Oh I'm serious, the leader's most trusted advisors Clover the clever, Private pansy, and Smart cookie had a conversation over lunch during one of their meetings, something about Pansy not bringing enough rations that day if I remember correctly, hearing this Smart cookie simply shared some of his food to which clover followed soot with a drink, of course, pansy feeling she owed the others something began telling them stories of her homeland and soon the others followed with their own stories and after several days of this a friendship began to form and because of that any animosity between the bloodline's leaders both during and after the fight against the wendigos, was quickly quelled in favor of uniting under one banner and the new counsel of six as the new leading body of Equestria at the time.

"Until the second age came with your ascesion to Godhood, taking over as queen and the six seats becoming adviser roles." I finish for her with enthusiasm as I point toward her Corinthian painting.

Waving her hand dismissively Celestia countered "Yes that, but you seem to be missing the point sunset."

"N-no I get it! I stumble out, my goal is to become high magus and the most powerful mage in all of Equestria, while Cadence will act as an ambassador or something for the Crystal kingdom, or whatever.

"And" Cadance interrupts" we need to get along for the sake of keeping the peace within Equestria to minimize any bickering within our own ranks," flicking her hair into place she gives me a smug look "I suppose I can tolerate you for the time being, considering."

Matching Cadance's sour face with my own I ask, "Considering what exactly."

"About that!" Celestia intersects with a knowing smirk "If all goes according to plan, you might be spending more time together than you'll ever realize."

Before I could ask to finally be in the loop of all this vague nonsense Cadence immediately interjects, "No! No, you can't be serious, of all people it had to be her, how could she even be on the list, Blueblood was on the list?"

"First of all, you're not giving bluey enough credit" Celestia answered calmly "but I digress, yes I've chosen sunset as well."

"Can I be in the loop now?" I ask a little annoyed being compared to that pompous paladin.

"Yes of course," Celestia said as she walked past me towards a painting depicting starswirl defeating a trio of sirens, as she stood in front of it my heart skipped a beat as I knew what was coming next, in front of the piece she said, "We must bring tomorrow, today." immediately a portal opens up and Celestia looked to us with Cadance appearing startled at the portal as Celestia calmly said "Shall we." And went in.

Armes crossed and a small scowl on her brow as she looked at me and said, "Whatever's past this portal is it's too good for you."

Holding back a snort I say "let's just get this over with." And we both enter the portal.