Chapters ...
"Trottingham! Woooo!" Pinkie cartwheeled all across the train, zooming about as a pink blur. Rarity demurely coughed into her hoof as she turned away right as Pinkie made her second trip around the interior (and over some poor stallion's tail.)
"Trottingham, indeed. You're hopeful she'll be there, Twilight?"
"It's the best I could think of. There aren't many magic schools that still teach transference. It's too risky. Princess Luna said Princess Celestia insisted she'd never seen the mare before, and CSGU is one of the only other places that cover it." Twilight frowned, turning to stare out the window. "Even if she doesn't end up being there, maybe we could find somepony who knows a mare that fits the bill."
"Chin up, darling." Rarity gave Twilight's shoulder a gentle pat. "We'll find this would-be princess and set everything back as it should be. All will be well."
...
"Ah, yes." The proctor settled into his chair with a weary sigh. "I believe I have just the pony in mind. We had a student, years ago. Absolutely phenomenal magical ability, unlike anything we'd seen here before. She would've gone far. But..." The proctor heaved another sigh. "She was cruel and addicted to knowledge, to the point we could hardly keep her in class with other students. One day, she had an outburst that destroyed a classroom wall. We'd have expelled her right then, had she not disappeared of her own accord.
She still resides somewhere in town, I believe. Lucent Streak, her name was. I do hope she's mellowed out by now."
Author's Note
Fun fact: Light Streak would also work when referring to Lucent. Lucent's cooler, though.
...
"There's no point in hiding," Lucent Streak hissed, "I know you're here. Do you think me a foal?"
"You don't want to know what I think of you," Twilight snapped back, filling the basement of Lucent's house with the bright glow of her magic. "You're coming back to Canterlot!"
"Mmm, no." Lucent's horn began to glow with a distressingly familiar magic that made Twilight gasp.
"Stop! You'll—'
"I'll roast the southern part of this town once Princess Luna stops fighting me ." Lucent's magic flared. "So settle down now, would you?"
Snarling, Twilight let her magic dim but kept the defensive bubble around her and her friends strong. "Fine . Just don't hurt anypony."
Lucent's grin was wolfish. "I think there's something you could offer that would make me consider doing so."
"What a disappointment you are."
Lucent's head hung low as she stared holes into the concrete. Celestia regarded her icily.
"My powers served to you on a plate and you still fail ."
"Your student tricked—"
Celestia stomped her hoof and Lucent fell quiet. "I had hoped that weeks to think on your shortcomings would lead to you admitting your wrongs, but..."
Lucent's shoulders began to shake. "Mistress, Mother Sun— I could try again! If you gave me another opportunity...!"
Celestia shook her head. "A vessel that couldn't even subjugate one little town? Only a fool would use your body as a replacement." She sighed. "Now I must find another foal with acceptable strength."
Lucent bit back a wail as Celestia turned away.
"Goodbye, Lucent Streak. The gallows are a more than suitable reward."
Author's Note
Edit: I was uh, not expecting all the reactions to this epilogue. Thought I made it pretty obvious what I was going for in regard to Lucent and Celestia. I could see PC doing something like this in canon, too, so I have no idea why some people are so on my back about it. Thanks to those that liked but some of you need to get a grip... I've had to delete way too many comments.
...
"This is insane!" Twilight paced in a perfect circle around the Canterlot throne room. All her friends, aside from Princess Luna, voiced their agreement. "How could something like this even happen? It— it's impossible!"
"And yet, it has happened." There was no force within Luna's tone, but it made Twilight stop short regardless. It wouldn't help anypony to fall into a blind panic, she internally chided.
"How is she doing?" Fluttershy said quietly. "Is Princess Celestia okay?"
"She is rightfully disquieted. Physically she has recovered, but her mind is still yet adrift. This turn of events has left her with much to think about.
So my request is thus: find the upstart. I have been able to manage both sun and moon for now, but every second she is loose is a chance for her to attempt moving it herself. I will try, but I wouldn't be able to fight her attempts for long, not with her having Celestia's magic."
"Hey, maybe she won't be able to figure out how to do much with it?" Dash flapped her wings and moved toward the closest window. "It's huuuuge! Even with Princess Celestia's magic I doubt she'd be able to get a feel for it that easily."
Luna shook her head. "Her being unable to get a grasp on Celestia's power would bode even worse. If she were to one day move the sun too close, too fast..."
Fluttershy and Rarity shuddered in tandem.
"We won't let you down, Princess."
"You haven't yet, Twilight Sparkle."
Author's Note
Super happy this has gotten so much interest, thank you all!! For all of you curious about the thief, better get ready for what I have in store...
...
Twilight strained against the pull of Lucent's magic. The air was thick with heavy energy as Twilight's power was drawn away.
Lucent watched in manic glee. "I'll be unstoppable! Equestria, no, the whole planet will be crushed beneath my hoof! All that and more, once I've taken your magic."
Twilight cracked open her eye. Rarity, previously motionless within the grasp of Lucent's magic, let her horn blaze to life.
"In your dreams, you horrid mare!"
Lucent cackled. "What would you do against me, you harpy? Weak as you are—" Lucent stopped short as her flow of magic began to fluctuate. Her horn throbbed as she felt her powers begin to slip away from her.
"No! How?!" She dragged Rarity closer, snarling into her face. "You have no strength, not like mine! You— gah!" Lucent shook her head, and with a hateful scream, she squeezed her magic tighter, making Rarity wheeze and let her magic fizzle out.
But Lucent's magic continued to bleed away. Horrified, she turned back toward Twilight, whose magic had begun to rapidly recover. Lucent tried to fight against the drag of Twilight's spell reversal, but it was too late. Her magic winked out and left Twilight and her friends free.
Before passing out, the last thing Lucent saw was the stern, empowered face of Twilight Sparkle.
Author's Note
"No more Sun magic for you, Streak."
