ACT 1 - FORMATIVE MEMORIES

CHAPTER 3 - THE SUN FALLS

AGE 20

The Chimera roared.

And Sunset roared back.

Three heads. Lion, goat, and snake. The snake lunged with its venomous jaws, and Sunset did a narrow dodge, quickly retaliating by slicing at its neck with her horn alight, and with a hiss, the snake was no more, tumbling to the floor erratically.

The lion roared in pain and rage. Sunset leapt out of a slash, jumping over it, slicing more of its flank with a fiery horn as she flew.

The creature turned quickly with a pained roar, striking the unicorn with its claws, making Sunset roll away in pain; The armor she wore was comfortable, but did not prevent the damage from the impact very well.

“If you need to stop at any moment, I can stop it.”

“I’m fine!” Sunset shouted out, as she breathed heavily, snarling. She galloped forward, ignoring that the Chimera was doing the same. The second they met, she teleported above the creature, landing on its back as it swiped the air.

“Open wide, asshole.” She gritted her teeth as she forced the lion head open, and unleashed a flamethrower from her horn inside it.

The goat head attempted to ram her, but it was too slow, with one more decisive, struggling slice, she decapitated it.

Everything paused for a moment, as Sunset breathed heavily, and allowed herself to roll away and tumble onto the floor.

“Admirably done.” Celestia’s voice spoke calmly, as she dematerialized the Chimera construct that had just fallen. “Every movement was decisive, you did not hesitate. Your legwork is a bit flimsy, but we will see to it that you do not misstep. Time for a break!”

Sunset watched the body of her opponent fizzle out, and sighed. “I need to be faster… Hit harder. I keep letting them get me, at least once… That’s not good enough.”

“Your progress is fine. Little by little, you are outmaneuvering every opponent.” Celestia assured calmly, as she observed the potential wounds Sunset might have gained from the training program. “Is the armor comfortable? Is it to your liking?”

“Meh, gray is a bit dull. I’d like to get one in black sometime.” She grinned with a shrug.

The Queen couldn’t help but chuckle, as she shook her head. “I meant to ask if the armor is doing its protective job, little one. If you continue growing, we will get armor that fits… Though this one is a bit loose.”

“I sure hope I grow into it. Sheesh.” She blew raspberries. Standing up, she quickly glanced at her surroundings. “Okay, what’s next?”

Celestia moved back to a console full of magic runes that connected and tied to the entire room. The room was circular and its ceiling was tall– A training arena that functioned primarily with construct holograms.

It was considerably safer than training with the real deal, and it had allowed Sunset to practice in a safe and controlled environment, something she would use frequently in the future.

“What’s next is that this training arena is only a taste, Sunset. We will get you trained for the real thing, and soon.” She smiled and nodded. “Our curriculum will be as so: You will unite the swiftness of Pegasi, the Strength of Earth Ponies, and the Magic of Unicorns all together into one fighting style, such is the way of true Paladins of the old age… And of the Valkyries of the past.”

Sunset’s ears perked up immediately, and she smiled involuntarily, running in place. “You’re gonna train me to be a Valkyrie?! YES!!!”

“Not exactly.” She chuckled, seeing the pupil’s excitement. “Valkyries were alicorns, so this training would not apply. Come, follow me.”

And with that command, the student was eagerly following the steps of the mentor.

“It’s crazy that this arena was hidden here in the lower floors the whole time and I never knew about it. Like, jeez.” Sunset looked back as the doors that closed behind them became as inconspicuous as a wall in the lower, storage-centric floors of the castle.

“There are many ancient parts of this castle that have long since been unused as the ages changed, Sunset.” She affirmed, looking beyond, reminiscing. “I will take you to another now.”

The unicorn nearly squealed with excitement at the joy of being shown more ancient secrets.

“Like I have mentioned… Your training will be that of a Paladin. Deadly, they most certainly were– But their strength was used to protect, above all else.” She affirmed, giving a lax smile to her student. “There is a code of honor you will need to study– There is a certain way of acting you will need to learn, to be the part.”

“Not a problem.” Sunset nodded back with a confident smile. “I’m SO ready for this!! I want to take down a REAL monster! The next Wyvern won’t know what hit it!!”

“One step at a time, little one.” If nothing else, she was happy to see the excitement and joy in her. “You will need to adhere to a strict exercise routine, where you match all those three traits.”

“Easy. Give me a script and I’ll memorize it!” She smiled wide. “I can work out in the gardens or even around town no problem! If I need to get shredded, I’ll do it with a smile!”

“Certainly so. We’re here…!”

And soon enough, they were at the Royal Library– Rows upon rows of books littered walls and even floors, stacked up high, The floors impeccably maintained and decorated, with many tables ready for use which at this time of the night sat idle.

Sunset walked forward with confidence and curiosity. “The library? Don’t tell me there’s a secret here I don’t know about? We’ve been here dozens upon dozens of times…?”

“Indeed– And yet, some secrets are hidden better than others.” She chuckled, leading the way. “The Canterlot public library certainly holds many archives similar to ours– It is the city’s pride and joy, after all, but ours has something that it does not.”

“Oh? What is it?”

“A restricted section.” She smiled deviously, leading the way. Sunset joined with giggles of excitement.

“Now, what I am about to show you is not the last of this Castle’s secrets– But please understand why I kept it hidden so well, and why I want you to maintain the secret, too.” She spoke sternly, as they reached a dead end, surrounded by bookshelves. “What lies beyond is precious history, ancient tomes… Many things that deserve the utmost respect. Now watch–”

Two books, seemingly normal, one with a sun engraving, and another with a moon engraving were pulled at once. And soon enough, the shelf moved out of the way, parting the way forward.

“Hohohohoooo this is awesome!” Sunset grinned widely. “Has this always been here?!?!”

“Always, since the castle was built.” Celestia smiled too, as she led the way down an ancient dark staircase, and Sunset followed suit, the passage closing behind them, with them lighting the way with their horns.

Immediately the dust made Sunset cough and sputter a few times.

“Yes, you can imagine I don’t clean here often!” Celestia chuckled to herself. “I have not entered here, well… Well since long before I took you in!”

“Damn. Is it because it’s personal…? Is it because it’s dangerous??” Sunset’s eyes beamed.

“No. Because it is boring.” Celestia joked, tilting her head. “I believe you may have the wrong impression of what I’m about to show you, Sunset. It is not a tomb of power, or a place where artifacts and treasure are hidden.”

Pouting in disappointment, she sighed. “Seriously? I was expecting something huge! What else could these secrets be if not dangerous?”

“Precious.” Celestia affirmed. “Books of ancient magic history, the tales of precious artifacts, stories, many of which predate even me… Many of which tell the tales of heroes that were my friends or peers, long ago...”

And just like that, they stepped through a chamber that led to the oldest library in central Equestria– a dark place, filled to the brim with knowledge.

Sunset gasped, as Celestia used her magic to light crystals all around the walls and ceiling, bathing the room in dim light. It felt like the air didn’t move here, and for good reason.

“From the many individual accomplishments of the Pillars of Equestria, to the hidden secrets of the trials of Clover the Clever… You will find many hidden truths here; If there is any question to be had about a spell or an artifact, how it works and how to use it, it is highly likely you would find it in this place.” The Queen led the way, delighted at the way that Sunset smiled.

“Clover the Clever? Hah!” Sunset snickered. “I've had enough fun studying his nerdy accomplishments that predate Equestria in school, thank you very much. I wanna learn about real warriors!”

“And that is precisely why we are here, little one.” She began inspecting some of the shelves pensively, looking for certain books. “Give me a moment.”

Eyes filled with wonder, Sunset kept taking quick inspections of her surroundings. “Wow… There are some artifacts here, though!” She snickered. Chests, vases, statues, and seemingly broken old weapons, there were indeed plenty of things left behind. “What’s this old mirror for?”

There was a large mirror covered by a cloth, of which Sunset peeked inside, wondering if it was magical.

“It is just a mirror, I believe.” Celestia spoke absentmindedly. “My old friend Star Swirl was not beyond vanity, at times.”

“Aw, man.” The Unicorn turned around, joining the queen. “I was hoping for something cooler…”

“Then hope no more. Here you go!” She dropped several books on a table. Many were incredibly dusty, but all seemed to have distinctive covers worn by time.

“W-woah…!” The history and lifetimes of ancient Paladins, their training regimens, fighting styles, and many books revolving uniting all schools of combat into one. “This is so cool…! Are there books about valkyries here too…?”

“Light reading, and one step at a time, little one.” She nodded with a smile, pointing at one of the placed books which depicted armored Alicorns taking flight in a circular pattern. “Focus on Paladin work for now… The Valkyries did not get to have a happy ending, so it’s best if you aspire for something better...”

“What happened to them…?” She muttered, observing the cover of the book with anticipation.

“In one word… Chaos. Or should I say Disharmony…?” She whispered dreadfully, and shook her head. “It is behind all of us. Pay it no mind, please. Let’s think about the future!”

“I can do that.” Sunset grinned, bringing another book closer, seeing a Paladin strike a pose on the cover. “That armor looks so awesome…!!!”

“Now, Sunset, listen to me carefully… I need you to remember to come here only when necessarily, and to never spend your time studying here. If you must study these books, take them elsewhere.”

“W-why…?” She shot a nervous glance around the dark corners of the library. “Is there something… Dangerous here?”

“No, little one, I’m telling you this because you need fresh air!” She snickered to herself. “These books are dusty enough on their own, and tenfold in this environment!”

They both laughed together, as Sunset dragged a hoof across her face in amusement. “Right! Duh, I’m such a dummy. Yeah, I don’t like the smell, so you’ve got a deal.” She began arranging the books into a pile to carry with her magic.

“It is important, however, that you do not take this secret lightly.” Celestia helped her, as they walked out of there together. “This place is precious, as is its history. You could do a lot of good with it, certainly, but… Maybe an equal amount of bad, were it to fall in the wrong hooves. So please, no matter what, maintain the secret.”

“Of course! You said it yourself, it’s just history– I doubt that’d give anypony the chance to slip up with these.” She pointed to her surroundings. “Besides– I got what I wanted, and I know what I want to be!”

“Good.” She affirmed with gentle joy. “Remember, this place is not a weapon… It is a solution. Now, what do you say we go out for ice cream?”

“You read my mind!”

AGE 21

The gigantic armored bird shrieked, and its sound pierced the air, shaking the leaves of nearby trees. The wave of its enormous wings blew a mighty gale that nearly toppled Sunset over, but she stood her ground.

“Yeah!? BRING IT!” She dared with a confident smile as she watched the enormous eagle with silver wings arrive in a meteoric pounce.

She teleported on the last second atop the beast and held on tight, both with magic and with sheer grip.

“GOING DOWN!!” She yelled into the air, and with a flip, she cast a spell that intensified her gravity to extremes, and she brought the bird down with her.

Their landing was rough for the both of them, as the monster was dragged across dirt and grass, even breaking a tree or two. Sunset was forced out of the ride with the impact, tumbling to the ground before it.

Before the eagle could even rise, the unicorn stood and did the rehearsed motion of a flip over the creature, landing onto its head with her own gravity intensified to extremes, leading to a stomp.

A sickening crunch.

Silence.

Sunset breathed heavily, tumbling away from the beast. “Ow.” she proclaimed, with a sigh.

“You really need to learn when to ask for my help, Sunset. You would have been hurt a lot less…!” Celestia approached calmly, having observed the whole fight. “Here. Let me help you with those.”

Sunset’s armor was peppered with the metallic scales of the beast, and some had pierced through. She stood as still as she could, as she and her mentor slowly removed the iron quills. “I was fine. There’s no point in asking for your help if I can’t do this alone.”

“That is exactly the point, Sunset.” The alicorn huffed and pouted with worry. “We do not all have the luxury of knowing when the enemy will deliver its final blow…”

“Oh, Sunset! There you are!” Celestia paused, as she moved by the Canterlot Castle gardens, seeing her pupil jog by. The unicorn halted, but kept jogging in place, putting her book away.

“Yeah? What’s up?” She stopped and began stretching. Her routine had been one that she had stuck to a T. Exercise, study and practice, nearly every day, sometimes all at once.

“I have received a letter of invitation, for you!” Celestia proclaimed joyfully, as she handed it out, and Sunset narrowed her eyes inspecting it. “It seems your old caretaker, Miss Peony, has a particular party she throws for orphans she has successfully led to adoption! It seems that it is a way for you to reconvene and show how much you have grown and your lives have changed! How sweet…”

Sunset remained silent, reading the letter, with a blank expression.

And the Alicorn continued with glee. “You are invited, it seems. Sounds like a lovely way to reconnect with your old friends and caretakers, don’t you think?”

“Eh. I’m not going.” Sunset handed her the letter back absentmindedly.

“W-what?”

“I didn’t really have friends there. This invite is just a formality.” She shrugged, and began stretching.

“Sunset, I believe you should reconsider.” She said not sternly, but with worry. “They are extending you a welcoming offer, and I believe reconnecting with your past could be good!”

“Again, there’s nothing back there for me. It really doesn’t matter!” The unicorn shrugged with a simple smile. “You really want me to take a train to the asscrack of nowhere now? Hollow Point is annoyingly far.”

“The distance should not be the issue, if the connections are worth it.” The Queen affirmed wisely, observing her pupil. “Don’t you think some of them might miss you? Or at the very least be curious about how your life is going?”

“Hah, that is a funny idea. Going up there to brag!” Sunset laughed to herself, but then shook her head. “But nah. It’d be just a waste of time to go. Besides, I’ve got better shit to do, I’m training!” She grinned, and began leaving. “See you at dinner!” She jogged away.

With a sigh, Celestia clutched that letter, and safekept it.

She was seeing a prolonged pattern of Sunset ignoring or outright avoiding connections, and that seemed dangerous.

“Remember, don’t be pushy. She fights against most suggestions, so…”

“Sheesh, auntie, please, I can be subtle when I need to!” Cadance huffed, rolling her eyes, leaning beside the Queen’s throne.

“I am sorry, can I get that in writing?” Celestia quickly bit back, tilting her head and raising an eyebrow. “Since when?”

“Okay, so my methods aren’t usually subtle.” She looked away in embarrassment, folding her wings close. “But still. I’m here, I might as well help.”

“She needs connections with others, and she resists my suggestions to do so. I’m hoping another alicorn could convince her to try… Anything.” The Queen leaned back, with a sigh.

“I’m the Princess of Love though. If you’re talking connections, I’m assuming you mean me telling her to go out there and get some–”

“When I ask you to be subtle, it also involves dialing that back.” A stern look made the young Princess stop in her tracks. “Sunset wishes to be an alicorn more than anything. Do not discourage her with your lax nature.”

“From what you’ve been saying it sounds like she needs to chill out, though.” Cadance snickered. “Isn’t that the whole problem? That she’s too uptight–”

The great doors of the throne room opened, and Sunset entered it, with her face buried in a book about combat, quickly putting it aside in the presence of Celestia. “Good evening, Queen Celestia!” She called out while putting away her things.

Her entire demeanor changed upon seeing candace, her eyes narrowing and her frowning. “Oh. Princess Cadance is here too.”

“What’s up?” The relaxed greeting was quickly reprimanded by a stern look from the Queen of the Sun. “I-I mean, um. Hello, Sunset Shimmer. It is a pleasure to see you again.”

An affirmative hum was all she got as a response, as Sunset turned to Celestia. “You wanted to see me?”

“Yes. The Princess is here on visit, and since she has not seen the castle in a while, I believe that a tour is in order. Please lead the way and show her the sights, will you?”

“Does she need to see them?” The Unicorn muttered in annoyance. “Like, is that really necessary? Doesn’t she know this place already?”

“Yes, it is necessary. Please do so, my pupil.” She spoke calmly while gesturing for the Princess to move forward, of which she obeyed.

“Let’s go then, star pupil!” The princess of Love giggled as she followed along.

Sunset groaned, but led the way. As soon as they were out of the throne room, she huffed, already thinking of ways to avoid this. “We’re going through the gardens, I’m taking you to the barracks first.”

“Sure thing!” The Princess noted, while quietly channeling her magic, with her eyes glowing, and her horn sparkling faintly.

She read Sunset’s heart, and what she saw made her grimace.

“So, um, Sunset…” She smiled awkwardly, trying to think just how hard this case was going to be, while they walked together through the halls of the castle. “What are your, uh, plans for the future?”

A frown and a side eye was her initial response, then a resigned shrug. “Graduate to Knight, then Paladin, become the strongest Unicorn in the world in all manners of combat, then become an alicorn, and then take my rightful place alongside Celestia as a Princess of the Sun.”

“Okay… And then what?”

“What do you mean?”

“What comes after you become the Princess of the Sun?”

“What else needs to come after?” Sunset grimaced in confusion. “I become a Queen, lead Equestria into a golden age, cement my name into legends and the stars themselves, that’s about it, really.”

“Okay. Are you going to do it alone?”

“Why wouldn’t I? Celestia is.” She grinned, looking forward, ignoring the Princess beside her.

“Because Celestia is an antisocial shut-in who has done great strides to improve this country but in the process has acquired little to no lasting family to speak of. She has made many friends, and lost even more–” She sighed, reminiscing on hearts read. “And now she doesn’t have a family anymore. We’re the only two, y’know?”

“You mean you’re the only one, right? I’m just her pupil.” She rolled her eyes. “Look, whatever you’re saying is bullcrap. Celestia is happy, and she’s the most powerful being in all of Equestria. What else would matter?”

“Not being a thousand-year-old virgin.”

“What?”

“Nothing. Look, the point is: Celestia isn’t necessarily living her life to the fullest– She won’t even swear. She lives everyday restricting herself.”

“Pff, yeah.” Sunset snickered, rolling her eyes. “I once saw her make a shameful face and apologize after she accidentally said ‘Sheesh’.”

Shortly after giggling at the expense of her aunt, the Princess of Love composed herself. “And how about you?” Cadance shot her an introspective glance. “How will you live as a Princess? Are you just planning on doing all of it by yourself? No lovers? No friends?” She asked genuinely, leaning forward, trying to meet the unicorn eye-to-eye. “‘Cause seriously, it’d get boring fast.”

They crossed into the gardens, and despite Cadance’s longer legs, she had to pick up the pace to keep up.

“I’m thinking ahead.” Sunset shrugged, looking at the sky, past everything. “Every friend and every lover you make is going to die of old age– If not dying of other causes. If you’re better than everypony else, why would you allow yourself to suffer through that?”

“Oh dear.” She pursed her lips, closing her eyes with a frustrated shudder. “You’re a tough nut to crack. And you don’t know the first thing about love.”

“Go ahead and try to school me, Princess of Love.” Sunset spoke in a mocking tone. “I don’t care about the fairy tale nonsense you’re talking about. And you can’t kid yourself into thinking your loved ones would last forever, either. You’re immortal, and the ponies around you aren’t.”

“Things are better because they end.” Cadance affirmed with wisdom. “How would you look back behind you and affirm that things were good without hindsight, without it ending?”

“By having things always be good, duh! Hah!” She mocked, laughing at her. “Seriously, if it’s good, it’s not going to end, simple as that. Celestia is still kicking, and she’s the best. Why would I commit myself to something finite?”

Rolling her eyes, the Princess of Love did not stop. “Take my advice, man. You’re in your twenties! You’re mortal! Go to a few parties, make some mistakes, live a little!”

“Yep. Yep. Sure. Oh look at that, we’re here.” Dismissing the thought entirely, Sunset pointed at the barracks before them. “These are the barracks. Welcome.”

The Princess of Love kept her focus on Sunset, ignoring the sightseeing. “Look, these are the best years of your life. You should make them precious, go do fun things with others!! Go get laid! Sure, you already beat Celestia in that regard, but–”

“--Hey! Captain! Over here!” Sunset commanded into the barracks, ignoring the Princess, she turned only to mutter a few parting words. “You don’t know me, or what I’ve been through. Becoming an Alicorn is all that matters, and I’m not getting distracted from it. You’ve already got your wings, so you wouldn’t get it.”

“Look, Sunset–”

“Hey Captain, I’ve got a task for you.” Sunset affirmed, as the Captain of the royal guard approached curiously, and with some confusion, eyes darting between the unicorn and the princess.

“Um, hi Sunset, what is–”

“--Queen Celestia asked me to babysit Princess Cadance and show her the grounds. I’ve got better shit to do, so tag, you’re it.” She immediately turned around and began walking away.

“H-hey! If the Queen gave you the job, then why–” But he was silenced swiftly by Cadance placing a hoof over his lips.

Her eyes glowed as she inspected the Captain top to bottom, smiling while biting her lips.

“Um, excuse me, Princess, I’ve got to go tell the Queen’s pupil–” He tried moving, but the Princess halted him in place immediately.

“No no. It’s okay. Let her go.” Cadance commanded, smiling fully, eyes still glowing. “Isn’t this a surprise…!”

He raised a single eyebrow in confusion. “Um… Weren’t you two talking about something important?”

“Nope!” She affirmed mindlessly. With a single, decisive, incredibly amused motion, Cadance removed his helmet, and ruffled his mane with a hoof. “Hah! I knew I recognized you! Hi, Shining Armor!”

“U-uum– Hi?” He blinked several times due to shock, clumsily backing up a bit, adjusting his hair with a fluster. “Sorry, do you actually recognize me? Wow…!”

“We went to the same high school together! I foal sited your little sister!” She declared with a smile. “Don’t tell me you don’t recognize me?”

“Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, you are unforgettable.” He chuckled to himself, shaking his head. “Of course I know who you are. You were the most popular and beautiful girl at our school, remember?”

“Well, I remember the first thing, but I’m sure glad to know the second!” Winking, she smirked, coming a little closer, walking around him, inspecting his sides. “Ah, the times you walked by with your friends, tripping over yourself when you saw me walking the halls… Wasn't high school wonderful?”

“I-it sure was!” He stuttered as her tail dragged on his muzzle.

Batting her eyelashes, she stepped closer. “How's little Twily doing?”

“Not so little anymore!” He tried looking away from the beautiful Princess dragging her tail across his flank. “She’s gonna be graduating college level in a few years– At Celestia’s school for gifted unicorns, too! She’s already planning her masters, haha–”

“Always the overachiever, that one. Knowing her, she’s gonna take her sweet time– But she’s going to do great things, I bet.” She came closer, close enough that their differences in height were noticeable and effective. Shining sat down nearly immediately, having to look up to meet her eye to eye. “How about you, big guy? I see you’ve been working out. Captain, huh…?” She placed a hoof on his chestplate.

With a desperate glance to any other direction, he continued to fluster. “Hah, yeah, um, after high school, I realized I could really apply myself, and um–”

“And you really, really did.” She was close enough that they could feel their breaths, as she dragged the hoof up the chestplate, going up his neck… “I can read hearts, you know? I can tell how you’re feeling, right now., seeing me…” She affirmed as she lingered on that touch, and he couldn’t back away.

“...H-how– W-what?” His high school crush loomed over him in a powerful position, and that easily rendered him speechless.

She couldn’t help it anymore, bursting into a giggle, backing away, if only a little. “I see that all this working out hasn’t made you any less easy to tease!” she proclaimed, giddily booping his muzzle.

“U-um, yeah, haha!” He chuckled nervously, face as red as a tomato.

“But you know, now that I’m ruling the Crystal Empire, I’m kind of dealing with a big problem…” She pouted, tail whipping about. “I don’t have a Captain for MY royal guard! What a bummer!”

The poor stunned unicorn blinked in confusion a few times.

She came closer once more, tilting her head. “Know any handsome hunky stallions that have experience in the role that you could refer me to?”

AGE 22

“C’MON, FETCH!” Sunset yelled out loudly, as she threw another large fireball at the guardian of the underworld.

Cerberus was not upset, in fact, this was like playing, and his tail wagged in kind, as he ate the fireballs she shot out with each of his heads, then lunged at the unicorn in various ways, with her dodging again and again.

Teleportation, flips, and even leaps, all executed with more and more precision, as she grinned confidently.

“NOW PLAY DEAD!” She commanded, teleporting above one of the heads and striking it (in this scenario, tapping it) with a decisive motion.

With barks of joy, the hellhound rolled over onto his belly, and Sunset skillfully did not allow herself to be crushed under him, giving him scratches. “Who’s a good guardian of Tartarus? You are! You are!!”

“It pleases me to see you getting along with him so well.” Celestia came closer, gently joining on the belly rubs. “Has he been behaving?”

“As much as I have, heh.” She chuckled, but then sighed, shaking her head. “The big guy goes too easy on me, though.”

“He is a creature made to defend the gates of hell itself, Sunset. Would you rather he showed the same treatment he would show one of the monsters that lies beneath?” She spoke with concern, attempting to make eye contact.

“...You’re going too easy on me, too.” She affirmed, looking down.

“What do you mean…?”

“I’m not made of glass, c’mon! I’m trying to get stronger, and the enemies you keep pitting me against… They’re too easy!” She affirmed in frustration.

“If they are easy, it is because it is YOU who is strong, Sunset.” She affirmed with pride and a grin. “How many unicorns do you think would have stood against cerberus with a smile?”

“I-I guess, but still…!” She huffed, turning around, and walking over to the gates of Tartarus. “I’m just… I’m just sick and tired of not being able to just… Y’know…”

“I understand. It is like I always tell you…”

“...Patience. Yeah. I know.”

She looked up and down, studying the enormous adamantine doors that prevented the foulest monsters from setting foot in Equestria, wondering just how much darkness lied within, and if she could match even one of them.

With a huff of frustration, she turned to the hellhound. “Alright, boy. One more round.”

Celestia snickered, as she took her distance from the arena. “You are not yet too heavy for me to carry.” She affirmed with a smile. “Would you like to fly back home, when you are done?”

She tried not thinking about how she would prefer it if she could fly by herself. But in the end, it didn’t matter. Because she had to be patient.

“I… I'd rather walk, this time.”

Another jog, like any other day. Another training run, where she would run across the gardens while catching up on some magic study, and at times would leap and climb over objects to challenge herself.

But this time, something called her attention. Her ears flickered, and she closed her book immediately.

Because not far from where she stood, she heard the echoes of a guitar playing in the gardens.

Curiosity got the better of her, and she made her way to the sound, noting that it was indeed quite adequate guitar playing– She had not played any herself in a while, but she could still tell.

Her eyes widened, as she saw a royal guard, a pegasus, playing guitar, sitting in one of the benches that had a view over Canterlot.

She nearly immediately barked out in disbelief. “Hey! You’re not at your post– And you’re playing guitar, too?!”

The stallion spread his wings far in shock as soon as he was addressed, turning to see the unicorn that arrived, and laughing awkwardly in response. “W-well, um, this is technically my post. The Captain’s been pretty distracted lately, so we’ve been kinda, well…”

“Ugh. Unbelievable. Slacking off?! What’s your name?” Sunset sat in front of him, narrowing her eyes, studying him top to bottom.

“Flash, Flash Sentry! Nice to meet you!” He lent a hoof that Sunset didn’t shake. “And you’re Sunset Shimmer, the knight, right?”

“The star pupil.” She corrected, angrily. “Are you seriously slacking on your duties just to play guitar?!”

“Well, my duties are to patrol this area here–” He gestured vaguely, smiling. “And I thought hey, why not have fun while doing it?”

Sunset watched with a glare as he strummed on his guitar, unintimidated by her. And her expression softened as he played a sweet calming melody.

He was dedicated to his craft– it was evident by this demonstration that it wasn’t just a hobby– Maybe it was now, but not always.

“You’re… Pretty good.” She affirmed, while watching him work.

“Yeah, heh–” He paused, flustering a bit, but still smiling truly. “When I was little I wanted to be a rockstar. Then whammo! Just haaaad to grow a conscience and want to make Equestria a better place. Now here I am!” He tapped his armor giddily.

The commentary made a genuine chuckle come out of the unicorn.

“Your laugh is nice…!” He spoke mindlessly, smiling, then shut himself. “Oh– Sorry. Is that correct procedure? Can I talk to you like that?”

“It’s fine, I don’t care.” She smiled back, shaking her head. “But you shouldn’t be slacking off on your post. I’ll have to report you.”

“O-oh, um, that’s not necessary, I’ll–”

“Unless you do something for me.” She commanded with a grin.

He fell silent, still flustering, clutching his guitar.

She snatched the instrument from his hooves, and tried strumming on it, and he watched, jaw dropped.

An attempt to reconnect with something from before, something she could barely feel. She was out of practice, and she was clumsy. But he could see, clear as day, that she was capable.

“...Can you teach me?” She looked down in shame.

“Baby, it seems we never, ever agree!!” Flash and Sunset yelled out into the mics together, with the dumbest grins in their faces, gleefully singing along to the lyrics presented.

“You like the movies, and I like TV!!” The Royal Guard completed, smiling fully.

“I take things serious, and you take 'em light!!” Sunset shouted with drunken glee.

“I go to bed early–” Flash commenced.

“and I party all night, YEAH!!” Sunset completed.

“Our friends are sayin', we ain't gonna last–” They both spoke together, hamming it in.

“'Cause I move slowly–” Flash begun.

“--and baby, I'm fast!!” Sunset finished.

“I like it quiet–” Flash whispered.

“and I love to SHOUT!!” Sunset yelled.

“But when we get together, IT JUST ALL WORKS OUT, YEAH!!!!” They both sang in unison, breaking out into laughter, ignoring the prompt, and just chuckling at each other.

Flash took the mic and addressed the rest of the bar with the widest drunken grin. “Can we give a few cheers to the future Princess of Equestria, Sunset Shimmer, my girlfriend?!”

The bar responded in kind, breaking out into cheers and hurrahs, as Sunset took the mic by force and yelled out with a wide drunken smile. “I’M GOING TO LIVE FOREVER, BABY!!!!”

AGE 23

“Hey, are you awake…?” Flash whispered, with the pupil of Celestia in his embrace, trying not to stir.

She hummed an affirmation, unmoving, holding him loosely. “Trying to sleep, though.” She muttered.

“I was just thinking, y’know…” His voice trailed off, trying to put the words in place. “...Maybe you’d like to meet my parents sometime? It’s a train ride away, but…”

“...No, not yet.” She affirmed quietly, yet decisively, having not even ever considered the idea, and not liking it. “I don’t want to talk about this right now.”

“...You’re really nice, they’re going to love you, I just–”

“Flash, please let me sleep.” She commanded, eyes shut.

“...Okay.” He resigned, nodding slightly.

A minute of unmoving silence passed.

Until Sunset spoke up once more. “...Can you put your wing over me?”

“Sure…!” He obeyed, covering her.

“...Thanks.”

She shut her eyes, feeling the familiar warmth and comfort of feathers over her, and fell asleep easily.

Sunset stood over the bodies of the twin Manticores, and scowled.

She had entangled their tails, forcing their spiked ends to be useless, and forcing the two beasts to have restricted movements.

From then, it was a simple exercise of brutalizing the restrained beasts. An exercise she did without getting struck even once.

“Are you satisfied with your display?” Celestia asked calmly, from the sidelines. “Your quick thinking and your agility continue to impress me. Incredibly done, Sunset.”

“I…” She breathed out, wiping the beast's blood off of her muzzle, looking past the edge of the Everfree forest, and into the night sky.

“Breathe, Sunset. Here, have some water…” The Queen hasted to her aid with a canteen, helping her drink it gently. “Is this too much for you? We can slow down, we can stop–”

“No.” She affirmed, with a weary sigh, but a grit of her teeth. “I can do it. I’ll get it right.” She breathed in and out. “...When do I officially become a Paladin?”

“By all intents and purposes, you’ve already claimed the title, in mere combat prowess alone…” Celestia muttered, inspecting her pupil for wounds. “...Except officially. You understand the code of conduct; You need to fight a mighty enemy, one that is both sapient and beyond you… And you need to spare it.”

“...Bah.” She groaned, looking at the sky. “...So I just wait for the right challenge to come along?”

“You know the life we live, Sunset.” Celestia led the way forward, and Sunset followed. “The next challenge is just around the corner.”

“Yeah, yeah, beat down an opponent that can talk back, smite them, whatever… Then I get the title, and a new armor, finally.” She shrugged, blowing raspberries.

“No, Sunset. You need to beat them, and then allow them to live– Be the better pony, be the better fighter.” She stopped, pointing at her pupil. “It is the ultimate proof of your battle supremacy.”

“B-but–” She paused, hesitating, confused. “But if they’re dangerous and powerful– If they’re a threat to Equestria and us, isn’t it our responsibility to stop them permanently?! Aren’t they going to think we’re weak for letting them go?!”

“Sunset, mercy is not a weakness.” The words were gentle, but she ensured that her pupil was paying attention. “We prove to our enemies that we can beat them, no matter how much they try to hurt us– We prove to them that we are a constant. That whenever their evil sprouts, we will be there to burn it. We strike them down… And we show them that we are better. We show them mercy.”

With a sigh, Sunset looked away. “I… Guess.”

“And with it, we always give them the chance to do better.” She smiled truly, looking up at the moon. “So that one day, our enemies just might be our friends.”

“That’s kind of dumb...” Sunset pouted. “But I hear you. It’s the duty of immortal beings to ensure that the world is safe, even if not by being judge, jury and…”

“Yes.” Celestia nodded firmly.

They walked in silence away from the Everfree forest, attuned to the sounds around them.

The Queen of the Sun cleared her throat awkwardly. “...So… That Flash boy you’ve been running around with…”

Sunset instinctively tensed up, letting out a quiet groan of annoyance that Celestia caught on to.

“I am just saying!” She smiled awkwardly at her pupil. “He seems to make you smile. And that pleases me.”

“He’s just a…” Her voice trailed off, as she looked away in embarrassment. “He’s just a stress reliever. We’re barely dating.”

“I don’t knoooow…!” Celestia smugly leaned forward, seeing the fluster on her student’s face. “He makes you happy. I can see that. I’d like to meet him.”

“If you talk to him about anything related to me I’m breaking up with him!!” Sunset barked out in a fluster, running forward.

“Oh, Sunset, do not be like that, I am simply curious!!” Celestia took chase, giggling.

Sunset, Celestia, and Raven enjoyed a nice tea together quietly, watching the sun gently lower behind the mountains in a cold, yet comfortable afternoon.

The Queen, hiding her lips with a cup of tea, brought the subject up again. “...Still, if I were to meet him, it would only be to thank him for treating you well. That is all.”

Sunset groaned, covering her face with her hands. “Queen Celestia, you’re not meeting my boyfriend!! I’m probably not going to be dating him in like– A year!!”

“That is a large gap!” Celestia rolled her eyes, still smiling. “And he has lasted more than your romantic entanglements from high school, I am merely noting…!”

“He’s a stress reliever!!” Sunset shouted out with a fluster. “I’m not marrying the guy!”

“The future holds many possibilities, my student.” She smiled smugly, tilting her head.

Sunset responded with a flustered glare.

“If you need any love advice, I am certain my niece could provide some wisdom…”

“If Cadance tries lecturing me on how to deal with my romantic life, I'm going to attack her physically.” She muttered with no lies behind her words.

Awkward silence.

Raven cleared her throat, having been nearly a spectator on this entire conversation, finally piping in. “If you do break up with him, I know of a bar for single mares to meet up. Could be good for you.”

More awkward silence. The Queen and her pupil stared at the secretary.

“I only know of it. I am not speaking from experience.”She lied poorly, flustering, looking down.

The awkward silence persisted.

“Thanks for the tea, you two. See you at dinner!” Sunset placed her cup down and nearly ran out of there, not interested in the awkwardness of this conversation any longer.

“What was that all about, Raven?” Celestia tilted her head analytically at her aide, looking through her.

Nervously fidgeting with her glasses, the secretary coughed. “I was just, well… Sunset seems significantly happier with a partner, and not just that, but her partnership with him has rekindled her passion for other hobbies. I think it is really good that she pursues other avenues… Do you remember when was the last time she tried playing guitar since you began her training…?”

“...Yes, I understand. She needs more in her life than just training.” The Queen let out a sigh, looking at the horizon. “She has resisted most other ‘distractions’… At least she has this. I wish I could nudge her in a more social direction, but she always resists it…”

AGE 24

“Fuck, fuck, FUCK!!”Sunset yelled out, clutching her guitar in anger.

“W-woah, easy! Slow down!” Flash attempted to assure her, clutching his own guitar, grimacing with pity. “What’s wrong, Sun? C’mon, talk to me…!”

“I can’t get these stupid fucking chords right!!” She snarled, trying, failing, trying, failing.

“It’s okay! It’s okay, you’ll get it right, you just have to–”

“--Don’t you DARE tell me to be PATIENT!!!” She yelled out in anger, dropping her guitar absentmindedly, letting it tumble to the floor. “FUCK THIS SHIT! I DON’T NEED IT!!”

“S-Sunset, c’mon, it’s not that bad!” He pursued her, while she began walking away. “I can show you the ropes, really! Just breathe–”

Letting out a primal scream of anger, Sunset sliced at the Hydra’s legs, a scream that the beast shared, no matter how much it tried hurting its foe, the unicorn was too agile.

She had no words to share with the monster, as she channeled her horn into a mighty solar blade, tearing through its legs, ignoring its head, immobilizing it.

And with one final channel of mighty magic, like a solar flare, like a meteor, she plunged through the heart of the beast, coming out through its side, covered in blood and entrails, crawling out of it.

Celestia ran to her aid, quickly wiping the blood from her muzzle so she could breathe properly, with a worried grimace. “Are you alright? It is my fault, I should not have allowed you to fight a monster this mighty–”

“I’m FINE.” The pupil declared, removing her helmet and shaking her mane, adjusting her now blood-soaked armor. “I killed it, didn’t I?!” She kicked the cadaver, still warm.

“Yes… You did.” Celestia nodded with concern.

“Okay. What’s next?”

An explosion resounded near them– the trees of the Everfree forest shook, as they noticed the dark meteor, or rather seemingly dark catapult fire, formed a crater near them.

The two of them took a weary battle stance, watching something crawl out of a crater.

It was a piece of armor– Or perhaps a pony automaton, old, rusted, blackened metal, crawling with only one leg, towards the duo; Shadows, a dark fog seeped from its cracks.

“...Celestia…!” The voice called out from within it with malice, but incredibly low power. Silence followed, as the automaton turned what resembled its head to Sunset Shimmer– No expression, no face– And yet, Celestia could tell what the creature was thinking.

With one movement, The Queen used her magic to twist the head off of the armor, and then blasted it’s inside with a ray of light, cleansing it.

Silence. The shell of armor was empty, and smoldering.

“...What is that?” Sunset approached carefully, but calmly.

“A vain, instinctual attempt to reach me, I imagine.” The Queen spoke coldly. “The shadows get desperate, at times. But… They cannot reach us. Not with the world bathed in my light.” She narrowed her eyes, looking up to the moon. “We are safe.”

“But where did it come from?” The unicorn walked forward, scanning the horizon.

“From Everfree. The specifics, you do not need to know.” The Queen shook her head, turning around. “Come, Sunset. Your training continues.”

Celestia was rarely angry, much less furious– Tempering her anger was something that she had mastered centuries ago. But on this day, she felt her mane flare up in deeply welled frustration.

Sitting on her throne felt almost restrictive, she felt the need to gallop, fly, maybe break something.

“Please explain to me, my pupil, why I had to hear of this occurrence from the reports of the guards that went to pick you up, and NOT from your own mouth?!” She sternly commanded, exhaling every word with anger.

“It didn’t seem worth my time to recall all of it to you!” Sunset shrugged, looking away. “I’ve fought bandits and thieves before, what’s the big deal?”

“The ‘big deal’, my student, is that you KILLED THEM!” Her voice echoed through the halls in anger, the few guards that stood doing their duty flinched, and Raven, beside her, nervously looked down. “That is NOT a part of your duties, you have stepped incredibly out of line!!”

“Hey! I thought you loved that little town!!” Sunset barked back in anger. “What was I supposed to do, let them do whatever they wanted?? They were hurting people– They were hurting CHILDREN!”

“ONE VIOLENCE DOES NOT JUSTIFY EXECUTION, SUNSET SHIMMER!” Her voice resounded even louder. “Have I failed to show you the benefits of diplomacy?!”

“There’s no value in diplomacy with fucking INSECTS!!” She yelled out in just as much anger. “I saw the threat, I saw the people that would be hurt by it, and I stepped in and SAVED THEM!! Didn’t I do the right thing?!”

“No. Not like this.” Celestia spoke in a mournful mutter. “This is NOT the way, my student.”

“I’ve been killing monsters and beasts all the time!” She shook her head in disbelief. “What’s so wrong with–”

“Sapient beings, Sunset. Ponies, like you and me.” She stepped away from her throne, speaking gentler, attempting to be calmer, coming closer. “You snuffed those lives out– Because you deemed them an enemy. Eye for an eye is not the way. Are you going blind?”

“They were NOTHING like you or me.” The pupil snarled, looking to the ground. “The slimy fuckers were hurting innocent people, and revelling in it. And you think I should have stood around and done NOTHING?!”

“It didn’t have to be you.”Celestia pursed her lips in sorrow. “And I know you could have done better than mindless…” She shook her head, stopping herself from continuing with a sigh.

“A-and what, if the cult of Tirek tries taking me, will you want me to just roll over and accept it?!” A flash of concern appeared in her face. “Am I supposed to let people get hurt because I just shouldn’t get physical?!”

“No, Sunset. I just… I just hoped you would know better than this.” She looked away shamefully. “I… I take responsibility for your failings.”

“W-what!? I AM better! I beat them all!! A-and what do you mean failings?!” She was in disbelief, recoiling.

“You could have defused the situation. You could have focused on saving the townsfolk. You could have defeated them without taking any lives.” Celestia noted sternly. “Have I failed to teach you any of these options?!”

Sunset fell silent, looking at the floor in shame and bitterness.

“Return to your room.” Celestia commanded decisively, narrowing her eyes. “Think about what you have done today. Think about how taking a life makes you feel. And think about the value of the lives you took.”

With a huff and a groan of immense frustration, Sunset turned around, galloping out of the room.

Shuddering, the Queen let out an exhale, returning to her throne, where she silently breathed, attempting to stabilize her temper.

Raven, from nearby, dared to speak. “...When you have a hammer, everything looks like a nail.”

Celestia couldn’t muster a response, simply turning to her aide in confusion and anger.

“...You are training Sunset to be able to defeat any foe. And she is taking it to heart. This was a… Tragic, yet foreseeable outcome.” Raven nervously adjusted her glasses.

“I never, since this all began, intended on teaching her to be a murderer.” The Queen shuddered with frustration.

“You need to… Take a step back. You need to slow down her training, maybe.” She tripped over her words with hesitation and anticipation. “The stronger she gets, the…”

“...I am not giving her more reasons to feel frustration towards me.” Celestia affirmed, shaking her head. “Don’t forget why I started this. I refuse to lose her to the dangers of the world. No external force will hurt her, not if I can help it.”

“Yes, but… In nearly half a decade, well…”

“She will be ready for Nightmare Moon.”

“Shut up, Flash.” Sunset snarled, rolling her eyes, continuing her jog through the Castle gardens.

He had to fly to keep up. “I-I’m just saying!! You’re so stressed, all the time! You could use a break! Why don’t we go hit up the canal again, maybe we could–”

“Stop trying to distract me!” She finally stopped, and he did too, with her stepping all over a small bush of flowers.

He recoiled in intimidation, but stayed. “I’m sick and tired of you begging me to go out like a sad puppy!” She huffed out in frustration. “Can’t you see I have better shit to do?!”

“Your eyebrows are doing ‘the thing’ 24/7 now! I’m just worried about you!” He sheepishly fidgeted, pointing at her face.

Nervously, she rubbed her forehead, and was annoyed to notice that she was indeed frowning frequently, and it was giving her another headache.

“Look, seriously, have you been getting enough sleep…? Isn’t your mom worried? Everytime we see each other, you’re so tense, so angry, I just want to try and–”

“--Stop.” She commanded with a frown. “First off, she’s not my mother. Secondly, I’m working hard, but it’s with purpose. I know what I’m doing, so stop coddling me.”

“E-excuse me…?” One of the gardeners, a green earth pony, sheepishly tried getting their attention, with questionable results.

“You don’t want to play guitar anymore, you don’t want to go out drinking anymore, I’m just worried that you don’t want to do anything… Fun? That can’t be healthy for you!” He came closer with genuine concern.

“What did you expect?! I’m the pupil of the Queen of the SUN! I have responsibilities other than YOU!” She bit back angrily.

Silence. Flash breathed in and out, regarding his girlfriend with tremendous concern and pity. “I think… I think your role here is becoming too much for you…!”

“What?!!”

“Excuse me…?”

“I’m just saying, you… Don’t you think you could do something different with your life? Something that isn’t as taxing to you emotionally…?” He tilted his head, trying to get through to her, demonstrating genuine pity. “You killed those bandits weeks ago and you didn’t even–”

“I’m sorry, who exactly do you think I am?!” She gritted her teeth in anger, tapping his chest plate. “This isn’t my day job, you idiot. This is my destiny!! I’m going to inherit the fucking sun!! And what, you want me to quit and work retail or something?!”

“N-not exactly…?” He blushed, looking away. “I was just going to say, working on the royal guard is really relaxing. It wouldn’t be stressful, and you’d still get to protect Equestria…? Maybe you could join us and–”

Sunset broke out in mocking laughter.

“Excuse me, p-please…?”

“HAH! WOW, YOU REALLY MEAN THAT?!” She mocked with a sneer. “You’re joking, right? PLEASE tell me you’re joking!!”

“I’m not, I mean it. I think what you’re doing now is bad for you, I see you nearly everyday, and you’re getting worse.” He affirmed with courage, and concern. “Seriously, Sun. The royal guard would be a fresh start… You’d still get to be close to Celestia, you’d still get to use all your training, you–”

“--If you think I’m going to start from the bottom again as a fucking Squire, you’ve got another fucking thing coming.” She snarled, narrowing her eyes. “I’m going to be a Paladin. And then, one day, I’m going to be a Princess. Being on the royal guard is beneath me– And the mere suggestion that you think I should abandon all this to start over as a recruit, a squire, is INSULTING–”

“--E-excuse me, you’re stepping on my flowers…!”

“FUCK OFF, GARDENER!!!”

The scream made the poor worker topple over and cower, with a whimper, covering her eyes, and Sunset paid her no mind, immediately turning back to Flash. “This conversation is OVER.” She commanded, turning around. “Leave me alone. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Flash let out a prolonged, weary sigh of frustration and sorrow.

He opened his eyes when he heard wincing next to him. The gardener was inspecting the damage on the bush, looking at the many flowers Sunset had just recklessly and callously stepped on, broken stems, torn petals. She exhaled and shuddered in fear.

“She’s really nice when you get to know her– She’s not usually like this…” He sheepishly apologized, fidgeting.

“She’s always like this.” She pursed her lips, with a small flash of frustration appearing in her face, but mostly fear.

Quietly, she removed a small stone with runic engravings from her sweater, and clutched it. “Whatever. Neither of you are going to remember this anyway, so… Just go.” She muttered in resignation.

“R-right. Sorry for your flowers!” He quickly muttered, and began taking his leave.

With a sigh and a shudder, she began whispering to the stone.

And tried her best to erase the memories of this small interaction from those two.

AGE 25

“Thanks for letting me use your room! Your balcony is really comfortable…!” Sunset spoke a bit sheepishly, as she separated which books she would study, sitting on a recliner.

“You are welcome in it at any time, Sunset.” Celestia nodded calmly, observing the horizon. “I will return tomorrow at the earliest. Do care for the castle while I am gone, will you?”

“Of course!” They shared a brief hug. In it, Celestia ensured all would be well. “Raven can take care of any need you have. Do not be afraid to ask for help.”

“Pff, I’ve been alone in the castle before, I’ll be fine.” Sunset chuckled, undoing from the embrace. “Also there’s guards all over.”

“Be careful.”

“You too!”

The Queen took flight, soaring into the horizon.

Sunset watched briefly, that light as it disappeared beyond the clouds. She took a moment to really drink in the vista– One of the tallest towers in Canterlot, and a view of it all, the entire city and the valleys below. Perfectly private, and yet, dominating.

A seat of power, if nothing else. She tried her best to envision herself in it. All this, hers, as a small grin appeared in her lips.

Closing her eyes, feeling the wind on her mane, Breathing in, then breathing out.

That was enough wandering. She went back to the recliner, and picked up one of her books, studying it for nearly two full hours…

…Until soaring back from the sky, Queen Celestia arrived on the balcony.

“You’re back? What happened?” She perked up in confusion, and the Alicorn seemed to be briefly surprised at her presence.

“I merely forgot something. As you were, pupil.” The Queen passed by her absentmindedly.

Sunset blinked once or twice in confusion. Then stood and followed her.

“What did you forget?” She followed her curiously, now in the halls of the castle.

“I just said you can stay as you were, pupil.” Celestia reaffirmed, giving her a side eye.

“...What happened out there?” Sunset persisted, still walking besides her.

“Nothing happened. I have already said, I simply forgot something.” The Queen rolled her eyes. “Now please, as you were, pupil.”

Sunset narrowed her eyes in suspicion, inspecting the Queen.

She took a moment to think while Celestia simply glared back at her, pointing at her to leave. “You do not have to be so worked up about something so small, pupil. Honestly, sheesh...”

Sunset’s eyes widened in surprise, then narrowed in suspicion. but with a sigh, she simply shrugged, looking away. “And you don’t have to be all formal when we’re alone, mom. Seriously.”

Blinking a few times in surprise, the Queen chuckled, with a warm smile. “Of course, daughter. Now please, move along now, I need to–”

With one single decisive motion, Sunset spun and kicked the Queen directly in the face, launching her back, hitting a wall and smashing a painting.

“You little SHIT!” She snarled, clutching her cheek.

“WHERE’S CELESTIA?! WHAT DID YOU DO TO HER?” She barked out, flaring her horn at the impostor.

With a malevolent cackle, Chrysalis revealed herself, looking down on her opponent with a grin. “My, I was expecting Celestia to have chosen a clever pupil, but isn’t this an interesting surprise? I suppose it makes sense for her offspring to be this cunning…!”

“She’s not my mother you idiot!” Sunset snarled, coming closer, with her horn aflame.

Ignoring her, she blew raspberries, rolling her eyes. “Sunset Shimmer, the star pupil. It’s a pleasure meeting you, though you are… Bigger than I expected. What, is Celestia taking you to the gym everyday? I trust that you know who I am?”

“Queen Chrysalis. Ruler of the changelings, and one of my mentor’s oldest enemies, one she's easily beaten hundreds of times.” She grinned confidently, seeing the commentary force a flash of anger on the Queen’s face. “Now tell me what you did to her, or I’ll fry you.”

“Oh please. I didn’t do anything to Celestia. I simply took advantage of her absence to infiltrate this place!” She grinned, walking around casually, hovering a hoof over some golden candle holders, tipping them over for amusement. “So who did Celestia mate with to have you? I’d like to know who to go after next.”

“Okay, shut up. Why are you REALLY here?” She gritted her teeth, trying her best to intimidate.

“Forgive my curiosity. Word does spread to the changeling kingdom, you know?” She tilted her head in a bug like manner, snickering. “But don’t try to wrack your head around what I planned to do once I had infiltrated this castle. Total usurping of a kingdom might be too much for a little one like you to think of.” She made cute faces infantilizing her opponent.

And in that same motion, she did a malignant grin. “Plans change, I improvise.” With one magical flash, she transformed into a perfect double of Sunset Shimmer. “I can simply bide my time to strike Celestia when her guard is down after I dispose of you. Ah, sweet betrayal, from her own daughter…”

“Oh, lady, you just made my day.”

“...I’m just sayin’, if I was tryin’ to live up to the Queen of the Sun, I'd be kinda grouchy too.” The first guard commented as he chatted by, moving by the halls of the castle.

“Eh, dunno, it’s no excuse.” The second guard shook his head. “We’re all going through something, you don’t have to be rude about it–”

The ceiling near them exploded, and two Sunset Shimmers fell through, rolling through the floor. They coughed through the dust and debris, until one Sunset tackled the other, forcing her to the ground.

The pinned one saw the guards, and yelled out, pleading. “You fools!! This impostor is attacking me, HELP!!”

And the other immediately glared down at them. “Don’t you DARE interrupt this!! This is MY FIGHT!!”

The guards side eyed each other in shock, and remained still, entirely confused.

Sunset grabbed her counterpart, and threw her out of a window, with them taking the battle elsewhere.

Silence.

The first guard coughed, then shrugged. “Anyways, as I was sayin’, she’s probably not that bad of a kid…”

“O-oh my goodness!” Celestia arrived the day after, seeing that her room had many guards in it standing idly and carefully, the Captain was present, and most strangely, two Sunset Shimmers, one of which was gagged and bound by chains, horn included, the latter of which was waiting for her expectantly, with several day-old wounds covered by bandages.

“S-Sunset, what happened here?!” The Queen shot confused, concerned glances at the two, then to the guards. “Changeling nonsense, I imagine?”

Sunset grinned, and sighed. “Chrysalis broke into the castle pretending to be you. I unmasked her, we fought, and I won.” She nodded with pride.

Besides her, Shining Armor stepped forward with a smile. “She fought bravely, I can vouch for that– it was a sight to see! We later found a changeling armada waiting outside of the barrier… They ran away very easily when they noticed we took down their queen. No doubt they were planning to invade when she took out our defenses from within…”

Celestia took in a few moments to exchange glances between the two Sunset’s with concern.

And her pupil grinned. “Don’t worry, if I was a changeling, I would never say this: Chrysalis is an absolute fucking idiot that couldn’t even beat a unicorn in a one on one fight– She’s pathetic, and I can completely understand why you’ve beaten her so many times in the past, because she’s just an overgrown housefly.” She shot a confident glance to her double that scowled at her.

Amused, Celestia chuckled. “It is good to see you again, Sunset. Taking down Chrysalis, at your age…! My goodness, you have grown so strong…!” She leaned forward and hugged her pupil. “And thank you for sparing her. It has been a prolonged and arduous process to attempt to reform her…”

“...Oh please, I did it because I remember the Paladin vows. This makes me worthy of the title, right?” She hugged tighter, smiling fully.

“Indeed it does, Paladin Shimmer.” Celestia smiled with true pride, undoing from the hug. “We shall get you official armor at once, but first…!”

She walked over to the chained unicorn, that kept making muffled noises, and ungagged her.

“P-please, mom! You have to listen to me– SHE is the impostor!! That clever, cunning, gorgeous Chrysalis, she–” With one single motion, The Queen silenced the prisoner with a hoof to the lips.

“That is a low blow, Chrysalis. Do not use that term lightly.” She frowned truly, with frustration, at the mere insinuation of her being appealed to by such a sentiment. “Sunset is not my daughter. She is my pupil.”

“Yeah, dumbass. And I beat you. I beat one of the most renowned enemies that Celestia has ever faced…!!! Though I understand why she beat you so many times before! ‘Cause it was EASY!” Sunset did a small, quiet, yet joyful victory dance near her double’s chained figure. “How does it feel, huh?”

The prisoner sighed, leaning back on the floor, and transformed back into Chrysalis with a defeated groan.

“Your daughter is a psycho, by the way. She nearly burned my whole mane off.”

“I am so proud of you… Not many living warriors in our world can claim this prestige…!” Celestia smiled fully, as she observed Sunset do the final fittings for her armor. “And still, to have bested Chrysalis…! She must have truly underestimated you– And you took advantage of her moment of pride. Well done.”

“I see why you’ve fought her so much… It’s just fun.” Proudly, Sunset looked around this hall of heroes, where armors and blades were forged in ancient times, and with her reflection in sight, she could see she was one of them. “This is… So cool.”

“Look at you…!” Celestia muttered with pride, beholding her pupil.

“Look at me…!” Sunset looked back at her with confidence.

The Paladin took a moment to drink it. She was so much taller now, so much stronger. She could scare off foes with a mere glare– She had gone toe to toe with a legendary monstrous Queen and had won. “...Heh. Who’s worthy now?”

Celestia chuckled to herself. “I will say, however, I did not expect you to pick this color…!”

Sunset wore a well fitting, incredibly protective yet versatile Paladin armor now. It was obsidian black, and made of Tartarian steel– Perfectly fitting for a brand new Paladin of Celestia. She moved her limbs around, flexed, and did short hops, while testing moving with it.

“Heh, I dunno why you’re surprised. You know I love black.” She grinned, shrugging. “I wish I had gotten this title sooner, but… Oh well.”

She gently approached, speaking softly. “Sunset, you have set a record in growth of power and talent. Is that not enough for you…?”

“...Do I have wings in my back?” The Paladin asked rhetorically.

“...No.”

“There’s your answer.” She muttered, with a sigh. “Okay, what’s next, then? Are we retaliating against the changelings? Are you taking me to fight–”

“What is next is that I have asked the royal caterers to bake us a celebratory cake, Sunset!” She spoke peppily. “Come along!”

Sunset followed quietly.

No, this wasn’t enough. She huffed, and asked again. “...What’s the next training routine? What do I do to get my wings?” She asked with a disappointed mutter, knowing what was coming.

“Sunset… You know that there is not a clear path to this… We have had this discussion many times–”

“--And you still haven’t given me a straight answer!! What do I do to be like you?! PLEASE just tell me what to do!!”

“Please, little one, you have to be pa–”

“I’m not little!!” She barked out in frustration. “And please stop telling me to be patient, I’m so sick and tired of hearing it!!!”

“Sunset, please know…” She placed a consoling hoof on her pupil’s shoulder. “If I could simply flick a switch and turn you into an alicorn, I would do so in an instant– But that is not how it works. It never has, and it never will be…!” She took a pause to breathe. “Your impatience will only lead to more anger. Everything will happen in its due time, and when it does… Better late than never.”

The Paladin had no response, as she looked down to the floor, gritting her teeth in immense frustration.

Yes, she had grown taller.

Yes, she had grown stronger.

But Celestia still felt as impossible to reach as ever.

She is lying to you.

Why would the Queen of the Sun leave her kingdom to a dirty little angry orphan from nowhere?

You know your place. You know where it’s always been. You know what you want. You just need to take it.

Sunset woke up in a cold sweat, tumbling from out of her bed, from out of the nightmare.

Horrible monsters, tearing her apart in the dark– Canterlot burning, by her hand, spewing flames from out of her throat…

She frantically looked around, to the shadows of her room.

Just a nightmare.

Nothing more.

She hopped into bed and went back to sleep.

AGE 26

A Wyvern’s roar did not even make her move an inch. She simply narrowed her eyes and charged forward, channeling fire magic all round her.

The beast would be felled, and it would not warrant a smile, it would not warrant a grin. After all, this was one more for the list.

And she did so without flinching.

You are worthy. You know you are. You know you’ve always been worthy.

She denies to you what’s rightfully yours.

You came from nothing. And you’ve proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that you are worthy.

Why do you sit there, and let her claim you are not?

Why a wince and a gasp, she shuddered awake, breathing heavily.

“...You okay?” Flash asked from the same bed, with groggy concern.

“I’m f-fine, it’s just…!” She gritted her teeth, shaking her head.

“Another one? Jeez, Sun, maybe you should tell Celestia about it–”

“--No. No I shouldn’t.” She spoke curtly, and covered herself with the sheets, rolling over, and trying to go back to sleep.

Even if the enemy was armored, even if the enemy was enormous, even if the enemy was made of earth itself– She would find a way to slay it.

A bleeding nose, an exhausted body, an unyielding spirit…

…And they would fall to her, all the same.

You’re replaceable. You are, and you know it. You’re nothing but the orphan she chose to pity.

Your life could be snuffed out, and the world would move on. No one would care.

Least of all her.

She woke up snarling in frustration, tossing a pillow at the wall angrily, knocking a lamp down, breaking it.

“Leave me the FUCK ALONE!” She yelled at the darkness, and got no response.

The gigantic centipede scuttled and lunged towards one of the villages outside of the Everfree forest with bulldozing intent.

And Sunset Shimmer the Paladin was there to stop it. To kill it. To brutalize it. To render it to ash. To crush its vertebrae, to twist its limbs until they broke.

She burned the remains, and wondered if this would get her any closer to earning wings. It wouldn’t.

She will never, ever make you an alicorn. You will never be worthy in her eyes.

She does not love you. She does not care for you. She has been leading you on, purely for her own personal entertainment. This has been a game to her.

She has lived a thousand years. Why would she care about you, any more than any other miserable creature that crosses her path?

You are nothing, just like you came from nothing.

“Gh…! SHUT UP!” Sunset yelled out, nearly biting her pillow as she woke up.

Her breathing heavy, frantic, she looked around the darkness of her room, paranoia making her believe that she could see figures around her in the dark.

Steadying her breathing, she closed her eyes, and tried going back to sleep.

Cleaving through flesh and bone, crushing spines, burning skin.

Sunset tore through the bandits like they were butter.

And she did so without flinching.

That throne is yours. It’s meant to be. You know it is. But she denies it to you– She denies it to you because of your weakness.

Outmatch her. Prove your worth. Do it by killing hundreds if necessary.

Day and night should be yours.

Burn the castle to the ground. Punish her for not loving you.

She woke up with a shriek this time, immediately lighting her horn, looking frantically around the dark corners, the edges, everything, unable to discern foe from object.

“W-woah! You okay?!” Flash nearly jumped out of bed, seeing her state. “Trying to caress her calmly with his wings.

“S-shut up!! LEAVE ME ALONE!” She yelled at the darkness.

“O-okay! Sorry…!” He shriveled up.

“N-no, not you, I just…! FUCKING DAMNIT!” She yelled out in frustration.

“Cm’here. I’ve got you.” He spoke quietly, gently, embracing her with a wing, one she accepted.

“T-this isn’t working, Flash.” Her voice shuddered silently in the dark. “N-none of this is.”

Changelings were worthless against her. A squadron of them fled in terror from her flames, but she would not let them escape.

Cowardish deceit, foolish deceptions, that was all they were capable of. And in a fight with her, they were nothing but bugs to be stepped on, and she did so without hesitation.

The viscera was hard to clean off of her armor after. But it was worth it.

What a joke. Why did you ever think you were worthy? Why did you ever think you would have deserved any of this?

Paladin Shimmer. One of a kind. What are you good for outside of hurting people?

Butchers don’t make for good Princesses.

This is what you deserve. Alone, empty, devoid of love and affection– Forgotten by any who would ever care for you. Of which, let’s face it– No one would.

Welcome to your world. The real world.

It’s just you.

She stood from the bed without a fuss. No screams, no thrashes, no fighting.

Opening her door, she immediately left the castle and went to the nearest bar.

Bounty hunting. That’s what she resorted to to get some action, ANY action, any sort of thrill, when there was not a monster or an opponent, or a challenge nearby.

At some point, she stopped studying what the crime was. If the bounty was high, if the people pleading to her to get the job done seemed honest, or simply pathetic, she’d take it.

A town far from her home, with people she had never known or would know, no word spoken from her. A rich man pleaded for his life, and she crushed his skull under her heel.

The perfect killer. The perfect butcher. The wolf among sheep, that’s what you are. Unbreakable, unbeatable. And yet here you are– Accepting life as a vegetarian.

Take what is yours. Take what you want. You’ve earned it. You’ve deserved it since you were born.

All the suffering, all the meaninglessness, has to have been for something.

And this is it. This is what it was all for.

Kill Celestia.

Take her place.

She woke up with a shiver on her spine, and opened her eyes wide.

She did not dare to move. Her eyes were still on a figure above her. An alicorn of shadows. Was she still dreaming? She did not know. She laid there, eyes open, for hours.

“I’m… really, really worried about you.” Flash winced as soon as she removed her helmet.

“Broken record.” Her voice was hoarse, raspy, but held anger. “If all we’re going to do when we’re together is hash out the same shit, then what’s the point of all this?”

“Look, if you just went and told Celestia about your nightmares, we could maybe sort out–”

“The LAST thing I need is for her to think I’m some little scared baby, afraid of the dark.” She muttered through gritted teeth.

“B-but shouldn’t she know about this?!” His voice held pity, too much pity. “You’re unstable, you’re angry, and you’re dangerously–”

“Okay, you know what?” She stepped forward, looking him deep in the eye. “We’re done. I don’t need you. I never needed you. You know what you were to me? Stress relief. Nothing more.”

“W-what? What do you mean?” He desperately tried grasping at the words.

“Do you need me to spell it out, asshole? We’re through.” She said simply. “Don’t come looking for me again. If I run into you in my routine I’ll just pretend you’re not there.”

“H-hey– C’mon, is that really how you want to end this?!” He stepped forward, pleading for eye contact.

“It's already over, Flash. It has been over for a while.” Sunset glared through him, with exhausted, infuriated eyes. “Now leave me the fuck alone.”

E-excuse me…!

Sunset’s rage nearly burst out, the moment she bumped into the gardener. It didn’t matter that it was an accident. She was in the way.

With one single forceful magical motion, she took the gardener and pinned her against the wall of a shed upside down, forcing her to be looked down upon.

All the mare could do was wince in fear.

“‘Excuse me.’ Is that all you can fucking say? You were in the way. If I ever bump into you again, you little shit, I swear I’m breaking something.” Sunset spoke plainly, bitterly, angrily.

She let go of the mare, letting her tumble and hurt on the grass and walked away not giving her a second thought.

In despair, in horror, the little mare desperately clutched the runic stone from out of her sweater, and whispered, begged it so that Sunset would forget this promise.

AGE 27

“This cannot continue, Queen Celestia...” Raven whispered with worry, sitting next to her old friend, as they both watched the moon in the night sky alone, filled with uncertainty. “...Have you seen the state she’s in? Have you seen her eyes?”

“I don’t know what to do, Raven. She won’t listen to me anymore…!” Celestia muttered fearfully, with teary eyes. “What did I do wrong…?”

“It can’t be all your fault, she…” The Aide stopped herself, looking away. “...She’s stagnant, and she’s bitter... And it seems by her own volition.”

“Have I made a mistake training her this well?” The Queen shuddered, folding her wings close. “I did not want her to be hurt, I just wanted to–”

“--I know. I know. But we need to focus on what’s urgent. In this state, do you think she can defeat Nightmare Moon? Do you think she can defeat any of the Umbrum army at all…?”

“I know she will fight them. Valiantly.” She muttered fearfully, looking at the ground.

Fearfully, the Aide shot a glance towards the moon, and then back to the queen.

The silence that filled the void between what she was about to say was agonizing.

“...I think you need to choose a new pupil.”

“What?!”

“In addition to Sunset. Just to be sure!” She corrected nervously. “Think about it– Sunset is unstable, she’s erratic, she… She’s murderous now. She needs to be humbled, to know that she isn’t winning the position by default! Do you really think she would make for a capable Princess in this state…?!”

“Replacing her is one of her deepest fears, Raven! I can’t do that to her, even the mere mention of it…!”

“But she needs to be humbled! If you just showed her how you can choose more pupils, if you threatened to abandon her training, maybe it would incentivize her to try harder, to push herself to do better– To truly be better.”

“Or it would fill her with even more resentment.” The Queen shuddered at the thought. “It could simply make her spiral downwards, ever downwards. I can’t take that risk.”

“Q-queen Celestia, if Nightmare Moon comes and your pupil is not ready, the entire world will pay…! Sunset can’t be more important–” Raven pleaded. “--Something has to give!”

“And I cannot hurt her.” She shook her head sternly, closing her eyes “Not after everything. My decision is final.”

“Your biases are blinding you–”

“--I do not care. I will go talk to her. Tomorrow. You are right, something has to give– But I cannot hurt her so deeply… I cannot see her lost. Anything but that.”

“Have you located Sunset Shimmer? I must speak to her urgently.” She asked as soon as the pegasi guard ran into the room, approaching him with anxiety. “Have you heard anything at all?”

“No, my Queen!” The guard shook his head nervously. “But I have seen something more concerning, before coming here– A massive dragon was approaching Ponyville, and it did not seem peaceful!”

“Oh dear.” Celestia’s hide shivered, as her ears twitched, predicting a certain outcome. “I must–”

A flash shined through the throne room, as Sunset teleported through it.

Behind her, she dragged the head of a dragon, one that was a few times her size, decapitated.

Blood spread and stained the throne room floor, leaking from the stump that was its neck. She turned, seeing Celestia, and smiled faintly, pointing at the decapitated head, tilting her own. “Oh hey, there you are. There was a dragon attacking Ponyville. I took care of it.”

“Sunset–” Celestia’s eyes were wide with concern and anger, as she approached. “What have you done?!”

The guards around them recoiled, giving them space. Raven entered the room absentmindedly and shrieked when she saw the dragon head.

“I took care of it.” Sunset reaffirmed coldly, wiping some of the blood that soaked her armor and face. “It was trying to attack the citizens of that town you love so much– It was burning homes. So I killed it.”

“Dragons are SAPIENT, SUNSET!” Celestia affirmed with anger and sorrow. “You may not speak their language, but you could have attempted to communicate– You could have waited for ME to arrive, to speak with him!”

“And let this thing hurt more innocent people? I don’t think so!” She huffed, rolling her eyes, then smiling proudly. “I killed a dragon, Celestia… I killed a mountain sized enemy, and it was easy…!”

“That is what concerns me, little one!” She approached her with distress.

“I’m not LITTLE!!” Sunset yelled back immediately, making the Queen recoil in surprise. “STOP LOOKING DOWN ON ME! Y-you ALWAYS do that!! Just look at what I can DO!” She pointed at the felled foe.

“You should NOT be comfortable with this violence! It should NOT be easy for you!”

“Why wouldn’t it be?” She grinned with a shrug. “I’m a Paladin. This is what we do.”

“Sunset Shimmer… This is not the way. You will not be a Princess like this.” She muttered, the words were heavy, but she spoke them anyway. “If you continue down this path…”

“What path? The path of the strongest?!” The unicorn snarled, now getting angry. “I’m finally getting close to all I ever wanted to be! I’m the strongest unicorn in all of Equestria!!” She bucked the enormous dragon head, sending it spinning morbidly.

“And can you say you are anything more…?” The Queen muttered shamefully, seeing truly just how far her pupil had fallen.

“What else is there?!” She yelled out with glee, laughing. “I CAN WIN ANY FIGHT!”

“Really?!” Celestia loomed over her with the sternest glance. “Would you like to challenge ME, then?!”

Sunset stopped, sheepishly shaking her head in surprise. “N-no…?!”

“So you DO know how to pick your battles!!” Celestia yelled out accusingly. “You pick and prey on opponents you know you’ll beat– But here and now, I offer you true discipline; Challenge me and I will show you how much you still have to grow!” She gritted her teeth daringly.

“I’m the smartest, I’m the STRONGEST! You trained me to be this way!! NOTHING ELSE MATTERS!!” She yelled out, approaching the dragon head, anger turning into a wry smile. “You asked me once to think about how killing feels, to me…”

She turned to Celestia, and for the first time, the Queen could not deny the darkness behind her eyes.

“...It feels like winning.”

“Sunset Shimmer.” This was it. No turning back. There was no way to fix this. Something had to give. Celestia raised her wings, looming over her pupil, and spoke as fiercely, as professionally as she could. “Effective immediately, you are no longer my pupil. You may continue living in this castle, but I will train you no more. Do you hear me?”

“W-what?!” Her spine shivered as her eyes widened in horror. “You’re joking, right?!”

“Your callousness, your bloodthirst, your recklessness, I can ignore them no longer.” Celestia continued fiercely, ever still. “You are unfit to be a Princess as you are. Your violent instincts go against everything alicorns are meant to stand for.”

“B-but I’m the strongest unicorn in the world!!” Sunset pleaded with both sorrow and rage. “I’m the STRONGEST! A-and that’s not enough for you?! I’ve done EVERYTHING right!”

“And therein lies a lie, my student!” The Queen folded her wings close, shaking her head. “You have ignored all my teachings of diplomacy and peace-making. You have refused to lend yourself to the idea of living with others– You have made no friends, and cut ties with every other being that so much as ever cared for you. You have rendered yourself strong, yes, but ONLY that.”

“B-but I’m ready!! I promise! I earned this!!” She pleaded, stomping her hoof on the floor, her head spinning. “I-I tried so hard to get it right– All of these fucking years– It can’t have all been for nothing!!”

“It will be only if you make it so.” She responded coldly, looking away, to the enormous beheaded dragon. “I have to clean up the mess you have made now. Hopefully this was not a diplomat from the dragonlands you so callously butchered. Return to your room and think of all the mistakes you’ve made in the past few months– In the past few years.”

Breathing unsteadily, seething, Sunset’s rage boiled up until it burst.

“I HATE YOU!!” She yelled out, her scream echoing in the throne room. “All you’ve ever done was sit in on your ivory tower and be better than everyone else– After everything I’ve worked for, I DESERVE TO BE YOUR EQUAL, IF NOT YOUR BETTER!!”

“If that is what you truly believe, then you have worked for nothing at all.” The Queen stated plainly, not giving her eye contact. “Return to your room. Come back only when you have thought of your mistakes.”

There were no more words to be spoken, nothing would come out right. Sunset screamed incoherently in anger once more, and ran out of the room, enraged.

Silence. The Queen shuddered, as she leaned onto the beheaded dragon, tears began forming in her eyes, but she did not yet dare to cry.

Slowly, nervously, Raven approached her with consoling intent.

“...She has fallen so, so far…!” Celestia muttered fearfully. “It is all my fault…!”

“Y-you did the right thing, I think…” The secretary eyed the beheaded dragon fearfully. “She… She needed a wake up call. This was it.”

“I pray that it works. I want my little one back…”

Sunset trashed her own room.

Breaking a mirror, dropping her armor on the floor and kicking it, overturning a couch, tossing a painting out of a window, bucking the closet door until it broke, shattering the lamp in the walls. She was about to burn her guitar, when…

We warned you.

She could hear the eerie whispers in the dark.

You knew this was coming.

No, not in the dark. From within her mind.

You know what to do.

“I… I… What do I do…?” She pleaded to the very air, confused, infuriated.

Not here. It isn’t safe. She could find us. Go to sleep… We will continue this conversation there.

Sunset looked around her destroyed room.

All distractions. Nothing else mattered. She laid on the bed, and tried her best to go to sleep.

Sunset Shimmer. Do you wish to wield the power of the alicorns?

“YES!” She yelled out into the endless darkness, pleading. “MORE THAN ANYTHING!”

Do you wish to surpass Celestia? To be the strongest of all?

“Y-YES!! I WANT TO WIN!” She continued, desperately.

Then we are on the same side. We can give it all to you. Should you choose to accept it, of course...

“Anything. Please.” She begged, bowing, fearing for what came next, but accepting it fully. “I’ll do anything to not let it end like this. It can’t have all been for nothing.”

Wonderful. Then you are ready. Do not struggle, do not resist… This will only take a moment, and when we are finished, you will have everything you have ever wanted.

The darkness around her shifted. She felt like there were hundreds of ponies made of pure shadow galloping towards her, flying towards her, turning into a pitch black smoke typhoon that siphoned into her horn.

She screamed louder than she had ever had in her entire life.

She woke up screaming, too. Pitch black tears streaming through her eyes. Too late for regret.

Her body twisting, bending, growing…

Her new wings unfurling themselves.

Roaring, snarling, bellowing fire from her jaws, she attacked anything she saw.

She laughed maniacally as guards ran away from her, as a single swipe of her claws or a quick strike for her horn or a decisive magic blast would incapacitate them immediately.

She tossed them aside like they were nothing. Delighted herself in watching them flee from her. Kicked them away like it was a game.

Her mane floated behind her as if it was made of flames. Fire was a part of her very being.

“STAND DOWN, DEMON!” The Captain of the Royal guard yelled out with determination and courage, standing against her alone in the end of a hallway.

Sunset Shimmer grinned with her newly malformed, sharp teeth. “Captain.” She said simply, as she began galloping towards him. “I’ve been looking forward to this.”

They ran at each other, and the Captain was the first to act– Casting a barrier that exploded on the impact of her strike, reflecting her blow back at her.

She roared in pain, and immediately turned to strike back even harder slamming him against a wall easily, then tossing him out from a window. “Let’s take this outside!” She laughed, bringing flames with her.

He tumbled and rolled, wincing, landing in the gardens, and she landed right after, her flames spreading through the grass and foliage around her.

She glanced around her, watching a place she once loved burned, and found that she did not feel regret or sorrow– That she was incapable of it.

Courageously, the Captain stood, attempting to challenge her again, and his courage was not rewarded. Sunset blasted him fiercely, sending him several hedges away, laughing as she did it.

She heard a wince of fear. A whimper, near her. And turned her head to see the gardener, cowering, attempting to hide inside her shed.

The malicious grin in the demon’s face did not leave her as she approached that shed, easily breaking its door down.

“Excuse me.” She mocked, she reveled, she grinned.

The poor gardener could do nothing against her. Sunset lunged at her with one single bite, grabbing her by one of her front legs, her teeth sinking into them– But just enough to not break and slice.

She walked out of that shed carrying the gardener, as she pleaded, begged for mercy and to be let go– Her leg firmly between Sunset’s jaws.

The demon reveled in it, taking flight, and entering the castle once more, bringing her in toll.

Flying was exhilarating. She had a brief moment to enjoy it, before crashing through a window.

The great halls. Finally, the throne room was in sight.

And what’s more, an amusing sight. “Hi, Raven.” The demon grinned, still holding the gardener with her jaws.

The Aide recoiled fearfully, her eyes wide with hesitation and confusion. “S-Sunset…?!”

The large monstrous demon approached her slowly, with that same grin. “What’s wrong, Raven? Scared?”

“P-please help me! Please!” The gardener pleaded in her grasp. Sunset chewed slowly, making the pain silence her.

“C-CELESTIA! I FOUND HER!!” Raven yelled out, running away into the throne room.

Sunset took chase, purposefully letting the secretary run, just for the sport, reveling in the fear.

The throne room seemed intact– The blood stains of the dragon head were still on the floor, but there was no more dragon. The fire that Sunset had spewed was spreading, and was visible outside of the windows.

“Where’s Celestia.” The demon asked curtly, seeing the Aide hide behind an empty throne. “WHERE IS SHE?!”

Raven did not reply, she simply hid behind the throne fearfully.

“Right here.” The Queen’s voice resounded behind Sunset after a flash, who turned immediately. “Let her go, Sunset.” She commanded.

With a malicious grin, the demon tilted her head, an act that caused even more pain to the gardener in her jaws.

“LET HER GO. NOW.” The Queen flared her wings wide, approaching even closer.

With one single decisive motion, Sunset bit down.

It was easy. The leg of the gardener came undone, her body fell on the throne room floor, and the demon spat the remains of the appendage before Celestia. With one single slap, she sent the gardener sliding to the end of the room, and the Queen had to quickly halt her crash with magic.

“Do you like my new wings?” Sunset unfurled her demonic wings before the Queen, grinning madly. “I didn’t need you to get them after all.”

“S-Sunset…!” A look of profound sorrow and pain flashed in Celestia’s face. “You are being used. This power, I know it well, it is not…”

“SHUT UP!!!”She yelled out with a snarl. “NO MORE TALKING. You asked me to challenge you. Here I am, Celestia! LETS GO!”

A tear ran through the Queen’s cheek. “...Then I will do what I must.”

Sunset lunged, and it was all she could do.

Celestia spread her wings wide, her eyes glowed, her horn flared, Sunset immediately crashed upon the floor, the weight of unbearable gravity squeezing her against the hard stone.

Her light enveloped everything, as multiple runic circles formed around her fallen pupil. Sunset could barely open her eyes as the Queen’s light burned her skin.

“Leave Sunset’s body, NOW.” Celestia commanded, as the demon writhed in pain. “I KNOW YOU CAN HEAR ME. YOU CANNOT HAVE HER!”

The trashing went quiet. Suddenly, the demon accepted all of the pain, with an eerie, welcoming smile, and spoke in voices that were not her own. “Oh, but we already have her, Celestia.” The voices boomed through. “And how easy it was…! A heart so full of anger, a heart so vulnerable…! What a wonderful vessel, she is.”

“LEAVE HER. NOW!” The Queen pleaded in anger, tears in her eyes.

“And the strongest vessel is yet to come, you know that. Nightmare Moon is almost free, Queen of the Sun– And you thought this little unicorn would help you with that?” The grin was sickening, the laugh even more so.

“PLEASE, JUST LEAVE HER!!” She begged, intensifying the light even further. “HAVE YOU NOT TAKEN ENOUGH FROM ME?!”

“Go on then. Purify your daughter. You know that you will kill her. In the end, whether you put her out of her misery, or you let us remain here, the result is all the same.”The sickening laughter was barely audible through the sound of her skin burning. “After a thousand years, we have taken your family once more… And you could do NOTHING to stop us.”

She couldn’t stall, she couldn’t negotiate any longer.

The choice had to be made.

So Celestia made it.

The runic circle changed, her light centered around it, swirling around the demon aggressively, entangling her, restricting her, burning her. Sunset yelled, begged, but her voice failed her between the screams.

“...One day, little one...”The alicorn whispered, shedding tears, as the light enveloped the monster.

The light increased, increased… And vanished.

Sunset Shimmer was no longer there.

The throne room fell silent– Matched only by the sounds of flames in the other chambers of the castle, being put out by the staff and guards remaining, and of course, the sound of sobbing, from the Queen of the Sun, and from the gardener, who continued to bleed in a corner of the room.

Raven finally stepped from behind the throne, in fearful anticipation.

“O-oh no… Did you… You didn’t kill her, did you?!”

“No.” A mournful whisper was all she could muster. “Banishment… It was all I could do.”

“T-to the moon? Please don’t tell me she’s with–”

“No. I could never allow her to be in their hands–” She breathed deeply, with a shudder. “...She is in Equestria. In a place where darkness cannot escape and light cannot enter. …So that I do not submit to the temptation of seeing her.”

“It's… It's…” Raven had to focus her breathing, to stop shaking, with a look of sorrow. “It’s probably for the best… B-but I'm so, so sorry…!”

“I have just killed my legacy. All of my work, all of my love...” The Queen muttered in tears, looking at the ashen circle where sunset previously laid. “It was… It was all for nothing. You were right, Raven. I was blinded by her. But no longer.”

The door to the throne room slammed open, and the Captain galloped forward, with a frantic limp. “Where is that thing?! Where’s the monster, did you–”

He stopped, seeing the Queen crying, mourning. “She is gone.”

“S-she?!” The Captain was in disbelief. “S-she– That was Sunset, wasn’t it?! How could you let this happen!?!”

Celestia had no response. Just more regret.

“I…” Shining Armor breathed deeply, shaking his head. “I can’t be here. Not anymore. Princess Cadance asked me to work for her in the Crystal Empire… Consider this my resignation. Pick your pupils better next time, Queen Celestia. All this??” He gestured towards the burning rooms behind him. “This was avoidable.”

He walked out of the room, saying no more.

“He is right.” The alicorn affirmed with a mourning sigh. “And so were you, Raven. No more biases. No more personal attachment– My next pupil will be here to fulfill a duty, and I will give her the tools she needs to succeed. Nothing more.”

“R-right. Yes.” The secretary affirmed tragically.

“Who is the top student at my school?” Celestia asked coldly, no longer shedding tears.

Raven quickly and frantically searched through some papers in her bag, finding the answer she was looking for. “...Twilight Sparkle. She is currently working on her masters, she has set records, and seems adored by her teachers…!”

“...Does she have parents?”

“Y-yes.”

“Good.”Celestia began making her way out of the room. “We will start with her, then. If she doesn’t fit, we will move to another.” She did not close the doors behind her, as she left. “I must go help with the damage. After we are done, send a letter to her relatives. Tell them she has the opportunity of a lifetime.”

“W-will do!” Raven nodded, frantically placing all the papers back in her bag.

She took a moment to breathe, stabilizing her pounding heart, after the many anxieties of the last hour– Only to realize she was not alone in the room.

A tragic, pained whimper could be heard from the corner, where the gardener clutched her torn apart leg, drenched in her own blood, unable to move, just cry.

“O-Oh my goodness!” Raven ran to her aid fearfully. “Do not worry, I will get you medical attention, what’s your name??”

The poor gardener sniffled incoherently, gritting her teeth in pain, but managed to speak one word.’

“W-wallflower…”

Author's Note

That's a wrap for ACT 1! Wow what a nice wonderful act where nothing bad happened whatsoever, isn't Sunset's life nice.

Okay for reals though. This entire first act was me doing a similar thing to what I did on Princess and the Peasant-- Taking characters we know and love, and forcing their backstories into extremes that influence their characteristics to go even further. Like Applejack being incredibly strong because she wanted to take care of her whole family after her parents died, or Rarity wanting to be royalty because she was raised in poverty, etc etc.

And this was the extremes. Sunset didn't function as a pupil, or as a daughter-- because her worst instincts were rarely stopped by a loving mother, and she actively resisted getting better because she genuinely believed with all her heart that she didn't need to. The ego of the century brew, she became a perfect killer, and the rest is history.

I thought of how interesting it'd be if Sunset's downfall and all of the worst circumstances she went through by her personal bad choices happened BEFORE Twilight, and man did it not disappoint.

This is where I tell you something very important: You NEED to read "Paladin Shimmer goes on a bender" Now, because the next chapter takes place before, after, and during it. For context, the fic STARTS with Nightmare Moon's DEFEAT. and it only builds from there-- Those are key events that I will cover loosely on chapter 4 here, at the beginning of act 2, but they will NOT be the focus.

When I was originally planning out both fics I wanted the bender to be a part of this, but I came to realize that it would become SO bloated if I did-- There'd have to be 5 acts, one reserved exclusively to Sunset getting drunk and kissing pinkie, all of her sisters, and THEN some, and nah lmao I'd rather that fic is its own thing! And so it is.

I also thought that this entire first act could have been one chapter.

I was stupid.

I strongly recommend reading it if ya haven't-- I know it's a weird structure to leap directly into Sunset having been rescued and Nightmare Moon showing up (three goddamn years later!) but still, it will give you a loooot of context. Next chapter here will be also hopping around in time.

If nothing else, I'm glad I got to set up Wallflower on this chapter, heh. Once again; Taking motives from the canon and pushing them to extremes.

I'm so fucking sorry but I must take the shot 🔫

Okay let's comment on some of the events that happened in this chapter:

Haha that restricted section, huh? That's a surprise tool that will help us later-- Srsly though if you've read the Shimmerverse, you know how I've made it so that most Sunset's never went to the human world-- Celestia didn't know of the mirror, so they both presumed it was a standard artifact without significance. Sunset can find plenty of vices without em. Star Swirl doesn't have to share everything!

First off, I was SO looking forward to having Cadance here, and she WILL return. I've already begun writing her as the annoying older cousin to Sunset who's like "YOU SHOULD BE AT THE CLUUUUBBBB" And isn't it fucking hilarious that she should have been helping Sunset, but she got distracted with himbo? And the fact that SUNSET IS THE REASON SHE MET HIM LIKE THIS. LMAO. Idk I just love how I made those turns of events.

I'm glad I got to keep having Mom Celestia moments in this chapter. If I don't have enough of those my body withers and I turn to ash

Also Flash Sentry, I'm sorry if it feels like their relationship was underdeveloped or rushed-- (Look at the fucking word count) But I really wanted to make it clear and cut that Sunset dissociated through a lot of these years, and that she wasn't good for him-- Even if it wasn't all bad, and they had their fun. Unfortunately, she couldn't bring herself to let that part of herself keep living. Maybe a certain bard will help her pick up guitar again, heh.

Bonus thing about Flash and Sunset: The song they were singing is called "Opposites Attract" And it's a banger-- I KNOW that the song mentions TV and movies which is just objectively counter to this universe but I HAD to use this song its too good lmao. I do not apologize

Man, I kinda fell even more in love with Chrysalis after I wrote that last one shot. Don't get me wrong, I already loved her, AND the changelings are some of the funner most developed races in MLP-- But now I kinda just wanna put her everywhere lmao CHRYSALIS WILL RETURN. AND SHE'S GOING TO LOSE AGAIN. I think its very funny to have the Queen of changelings not understand pony mating rituals or the way they birth or might adopt so she will continue to by default think that Sunset is Celestia's daughter, just because. (Also I hope you caught on to every little thing that she did that Sunset caught on to too, finding sussy.)

Chrysalis: "Ok who did Celestia fuck instead of ME to have YOU because whoever they are I'm going to kill them🔪"

And of course, the classic, the irony-- There's no Luna around to safeguard dreams. So Sunset was completely and entirely vulnerable to their influence-- Not that this absolves her of her actions. Sunset needs her auntie so bad.

Also RAVEN IS ALWAYS RIGHT.

We can only wonder what could have happened if Celestia had undertaken Twilight Sparkle as well as Sunset, following Raven's advice. We may never know

Anyways, before I work on the next chapter, let me give you a reward for enduring reading this far: I'm going to write and post a one shot before I continue this fic! The premise of this one shot will be simple: Princess Celestia vs Principal Celestia. 👊MOM FIGHTS.👊 I just want something funny and lighthearted to write real quick lmao.