Shimmering Twilightby David SilverChapters1 - New Student2 - A Master Plan3 - Getting in Good1 - New StudentTwilight trotted down the hallway of Canterlot Castle, her eyes wide with wonder. "I really made it," she sighed out, still processing that it had truly happened. It had only been a few days ago that she had been living in her home with her parents, studying and practicing, just waiting for the entrance exam to be posted. And then, in an instant, her dreams had come true. It had been quite an instant, causing a dragon to be hatched. She rubbed behind her head, imagining that moment. "Lost myself there." A hoof slammed down in front of her, causing her to skid right into the attached leg. "Sorry." She looked up to see a fiery-maned pony, a teenager, glaring at her. "Miss?" "Sunset," provided the larger pony, leaning in towards the smaller Twilight. "You're the one they snatched up, huh? Celly sure is fast about getting a replacement." "Replacement?" She pushed her head back, trying to keep her eyes on Sunset, who was drawing close. "Are you a student?" "I was," Sunset replied bitterly, pulling her muzzle away from Twilight and standing back up straight. "But what I want, Celestia wouldn't give. So I'm looking for my own way." She chuckled, looking Twilight over. "You're the best they could find?" Twilight rubbed behind her head as she sank to her haunches. "I'm just me, um, Sunset. I hope to learn all about magic." She clapped her hooves, visions of what lay before her dancing in her mind. "Now that I'm in the school, I'll—" "You're in the wrong place." Sunset's horn glowed, picking Twilight up and twirling the filly to face a new way. "The school is over there. This is the castle. You won't find any classes in here." "Oh." Twilight drew out a book and made a note in it. "Thank you. I haven't learned my way around yet." "Clearly." Sunset rolled her eyes. "Look, I'm sure you're nice and everything, but I have a mission here. Just, don't be so starry eyed, okay?" Sunset turned her muzzle away, letting a smile form. "Need a helping hoof? I know how to get to the school." "Oh, yes!" Twilight clapped her hooves again. "I'd really appreciate it!" Sunset nodded her head, starting to walk off, her motions sharp. Twilight followed after her. "So, what's your name, kid?" "Twilight Sparkle." Twilight bounced with her name's mention, a bright smile on her face. "It's nice to meet you. Oh, um." She glanced away and back, some thought clearly there, but unspoken. Sunset laughed at the expression. "What are you holding in? Out with it." "Well, it's just." Twilight's voice got small, like she expected to be punished for what she was about to say. "You're not very nice, but you are helping me. I don't know what to think about you, Sunset." Sunset raised a hoof to her chin. "Astute for such a small filly. Must be why they picked you. Look, I'm a bit peeved, but that's at Celestia. You didn't do anything I know of, other than being her next little pet. C'mon." Sunset motioned her over, smiling at her. "You might be my replacement, but that's no reason to be rude to you. I can still be helpful." "Okay." Twilight followed her, her head turning to look over all the decor of the castle. Her eyes trailed over paintings and ornate windows as they passed them. Her attention slid forwards as they came out of the castle and followed a sidewalk. "Oh, the school is this way?" "Just through this gate." Sunset tossed her head with a flick, her magic opening the gate not far ahead of them. "Celly's school for unicorns she likes." She rolled her eyes with the cynical words. "They do teach good magic here, won't argue that. What kind of magic are you looking forward to?" Twilight's eyes lit up as she bounded forward. "Oh, I can't wait to read more about Equestrian history. It's so fascinating! But there's also the possibility of learning more about how magic can shape things, and that's so useful." She paused a moment to pantomime with her hooves. "Spells to make things, find things, or examine things. I want to do them all!" "You've got a lot of drive." Sunset smirked, picking up the pace to match the younger filly. "I like that, even if you are her little protégé." "I'm no one's protégé," Twilight huffed, her head tossing. She paused a moment. "Oh, wait. Yes I am." She looked away with a sheepish smile. "I forgot what that word meant a moment." She looked up at the school, both of them in front of it. "Oh yeah! This is the place." "Uh huh." Sunset smiled, patting her back. "Have a great first day, okay?" "You too," Twilight offered, turning her head. "I'll see you around, right?" Sunset ruffled the filly's mane. "I think you will. Go on, don't want to be late, do you?" "No!" Twilight galloped up the steps of the school, leaving Sunset behind. Sunset shook her head, laughing quietly. "She's cute. Who am I kidding? Of course she's Celly's pet filly." She flicked her mane as she turned away. "And, maybe, just the right tool for this job." She chuckled darkly as she walked away from the school that had once been her own home. She wasn't there every day, but often enough that Twilight stopped being surprised when Sunset Shimmer appeared, right around a corner or in her way with that curious smile. They would spend time together between classes, talking about the spells Twilight was learning. Twilight was eager to share what she had been studying, her rapid fire words making Sunset's head spin at times, while Sunset would give advice on ways to approach some spell or another. "You are a fast learner." Sunset wobbled a hoof in the air. "I bet you're one of the best of the batch." "There's another pony." Twilight tried to pantomime it with dubious success. "She's just as smart! I think she's older, though." "Oh?" Sunset's eyes narrowed slightly. "And, do you talk about me with her?" "Not everything!" Twilight chirped, a smile on her face. "Besides, she doesn't like talking about ponies. She's more of a, hm, book pony. She loves reading, maybe even more than me, and I thought you couldn't do that." Sunset smirked, her eyes brightening. "More of a book pony than you? That's hard to imagine." "Isn't it, though?" Twilight bounced with her laughter. "But, I like Moondancer. Sunset leaned back with a nod. "Good to have a friend that understands you, right? I get that." She grumbled under her breath, recalling nopony that would fit that bill for her. "So, about that teleportation spell?" "I was told to stop trying that one." Twilight looked away with a sheepish grin. "I keep messing up the spell and getting stuck in things. Last week, I got myself half stuck in a book and couldn't see anything. It took hours for the librarian to find and dispel me." Sunset laughed at the mental image that summoned. "You poor thing. Maybe it's for the best. I was told teleportation is a very complicated spell." She put a hoof on Twilight's back. "Keep practicing. I bet you'll get the hang of it eventually." "Thanks, Sunset." Twilight nuzzled into her friend's side. "I appreciate it. You're really nice to me." "I'm just looking out for my friend." Sunset's smile brightened, at least for a moment. She took a slow breath, thinking of her darker intents. "Say, Twilight, they trust you, around the school, right?" "Sure." Twilight looked confused. "I'm a student here. They expect me to be here." "Right, right." Sunset let her eyes close, thinking over her plan. "Well, you see, I was doing some research. I thought of a way we could both surprise Celestia, it'll really put a smile on her face." Her smile was tight, but she kept up the appearance of happiness. "I need you to get me access to the library, though. There's a book in there that will let us pull it off. Twilight clapped her hooves with naked joy. "That's easy! Just tell me what book you're looking for and I can check it out. They have to be returned in a moon." She waved a hoof at Sunset as if reprimanding her for even thinking of being late on that. "That's just it." Sunset drew a sigh. "I can't check it out. I was already kicked from the school." She hung her head in mock shame. "It's a library book, and I need to borrow it." Twilight pointed at herself even harder. "Tell me the name. It's not a secret, is it?" "Sorry, but it is. I can't share the spell with you, and I can't let you take it from the library." Sunset leaned in closer, her face growing sad. "I really need your help with this, Twilight." Twilight fidgeted in place with a little grumble. "If I can't check it out, and you can't either." She paused, doing a little circle in place. "Then how do we get the book?" Sunset smiled at the question, her heart racing as she spoke. "We take it. Just for a little bit. Then, once we've done the spell, we bring the book right back and return it to the shelf." Twilight made a shelving motion with a hoof. "Good! I don't want to take books from the library! What will a pony do if they want to check it out and it's missing? That would be awful! I've been so sad when the books I want are already being read." "Exactly." Sunset patted Twilight on the back. "That's why it has to be quick. And, that's why you, Twilight, need to help me." She leaned in close. "Just stay late one day, all you have to do. Study something complex. Then, come to the back door, over there." She pointed at the one she meant. "And I'll be there to slip inside, grab that book, and we're done. Easy, right?" Twilight thought about that, nodding her head. "Yeah. Yeah, that sounds like a simple plan. I'll do it." She gave Sunset a big hug. "You're the best, Sunset." Sunset squeezed Twilight gently. "Right back at you." Her smirk was far more malign, but Twilight couldn't see it as they hugged together for a warm moment. "Tell me the day you can do it, and I'll be waiting, okay?" "Right. I'll see you then, Sunset." Twilight got her hooves back under her. "It'll be a pleasure." Sunset pulled out of the hug and trotted away. "I'll see you, Twilight." Twilight waved as Sunset left. 2 - A Master PlanThe day of reckoning came at last. The sun was setting, the students of the academy were filtering out, but one little unicorn filly remained behind. Twilight Sparkle was in the library, her muzzle buried in a book. Occasionally, a teacher would stop by to check on things. "This is fascinating." Twilight waved them along, continuing her reading. One by one, the lights were turned off, until only one was left for Twilight to read by. "Head home when you're finished, and don't stay up all night. You have class tomorrow." The teacher gave a final little smile and walked off. The sound of the back door being locked came soon after. Twilight waited in silence for a few moments. Then, with a little grumble, she closed her book, her horn glowing to carry it with her. She tucked it into its proper place on the shelves as she raced for the back as quickly as she could go without actually running. The door rattled as she shoved it, finding it locked. "Oh no." Twilight tapped the door gently, hoping Sunset would hear it. On cue, there was a thud at the door. Twilight backed a step, but a voice called her forward. "Open it," came the muffled voice. Twilight folded her ears back, looking around for some clue on how to open the door. She reached up, feeling a key in the lock. "Oh!" She grabbed the key with magic, turning it, and opening the door. "Excellent." Sunset leaned down, patting Twilight's head gently. "I see why they see a bright future ahead of you." Twilight beamed at the praise, but Sunset already had her eyes forward. "Keep an eye out and tell me if any of them come back. Probably won't happen. Let's get that book and split." Sunset strode in with confidence, her eyes scanning the shelves. "Right." Twilight closed the door and locked it, making sure that the school stayed safe. She kept her eyes on the door, not watching where Sunset went. Sunset found the book shortly. "They did love keeping things organized." She tucked it away with a low chuckle. "Makes it easier to find. Twilight?" she called into the dark. "Come here." Twilight came trotting, her eyes still on the door. "Yes, Sunset?" "I want you to see where the book came from." She pointed to the spot where there was a book missing. "When I'm done with it, I'll give it to you, and you can put it back, right in the proper place. So ponies can read it later." "Thank you." Twilight bounced over to her friend, hugging her tightly. "I know this is a secret. But can you tell me what the spell does?" Sunset looked down at Twilight, her lips curling into a smile. "It's a complicated spell, it may be more than you could handle." Twilight pouted up at her, earning a laugh from Sunset. "Easy. I'll show you when we're not right here." She tapped the ground. "I'll go out the back I came in through, you go out the front like nothing happened, okay?" "Got it." Twilight smiled, heading towards the front. "I'll see you soon, Sunset!" She paused. "Oh." She went in a circle towards the back and raced there to turn the key to the unlocked position. "They must have left this in case I wanted to go out this way." "Probably," Sunset said, amusement thick in her tone. "Thanks. See you, Twi." "See ya." Twilight watched Sunset make her escape and locked it behind it. "In its proper place." She nodded, pleased to leave the key just as she found it. With that settled, she rushed for the front door. It had a key in its lock too, waiting for her. She frowned at it. "But if I unlock it getting out, how do I lock it again from the outside?" Twilight thought, her mind racing, as she considered the problem. She didn't want the school to be unsecure. That would be dangerous. Somepony could come in and steal books! She shook her head at the awful idea of allowing that to happen. She turned the key. "Maybe." She opened it and turned it back while it was open. It made a metal thump, unable to finish closing while locked. "That won't work." Twilight grumbled, pressing her small face against the door jam. She could barely see the key, which was enough to get her magic around it with her glowing horn. She turned it unlocked and the door closed with a loud click. She yelped, horn flickering off as she fell back. Unfortunately, that means the door was unlocked, and she couldn't see the key anymore. "No." Twilight looked at the door, tears forming in her eyes. She had messed up. "How could I have been so careless?" She banged her head against the door. "Stupid." She opened the door and darted around it. "Guess I'm sleeping here." She locked the door, from the inside, and curled into a little ball on the cool stone. "I'll keep it safe." She felt awful, her mistake weighing on her. Sleep was hard in coming, and when it did, she was wracked with nightmares. Twilight's dreams were full of books being stolen and unicorns failing to learn their spells, all because of her. The morning came, a thing she only learned when a janitor poked her. "Huh? I did—Oh." She sat up, blinking at the janitor. "Hello." He just gave her a quizzical look. "I was studying, and I didn't want to go home. So, I slept here. Is that okay?" He gave her a flat look that said he wasn't quite sure what to do about a student who stayed in the library overnight. "They didn't kick you out last night. I'd suggest getting somethin' to eat before you have classes, little pony." "Okay." Twilight got to her hooves, her legs shaky from a poor sleep. She stumbled her way out, and then looked around. "Something to eat." It hit her and she got her footing back in a hurry. She raced home in a tizzy, crashing into the door instead of opening it the first time. "I'm okay!" She blurted, flopping into the living room. Her mother, who had been cleaning, perked up. "Twilight? What happened to you, dear? You're a mess." "I'm okay!" Twilight repeated, stumbling to her hooves. "I just studied late and fell asleep at the library." She laughed tensely, though none of what she said was, at least technically, a lie. "Sorry if I made you worry, Mom." "Sweetie." Her mother trotted over, helping her stay on her hooves. "You should have come home. You're going to be a mess for school." "Oh no." Twilight sagged in her mother's hooves. "But I can't fix that." She swallowed thickly. "I got some sleep, um, just not the best kind. Can I have breakfast, please?" Her mother gave her a smile and helped her over to a seat. "Of course, dear. Your father could tell you about the times he stayed up late, cramming for a test. He never slept in the school, though." Velvet went to get breakfast together with a soft hum. "I'm glad you're taking your study seriously, but don't get in so far you don't come up for air." Twilight nodded her head, the mention of staying up late making her feel a bit better. At least, it was good to know she wasn't the only one. She waited for her meal to come, relaxing in her seat. She was home, safe, with a pony that loved her. She lifted an ear with a sudden thought. Did Sunset have a mom to go home to? *** Sunset had the book. That's what mattered. She didn't have a mom to go home to, and her father was, well, he wasn't really there anymore. He had left shortly after she had come to Canterlot. She shook her head free of those thoughts and opened the book instead as she got as cozy as any pony could be, in that alleyway. Flipping through the pages with her magic, she let out a soft sigh. "Been too long since I could curl with a good magic book." There, laid across her arms, was the spell she had been looking for. "Mirror magic, now that's interesting stuff." She grinned as she read the explanation. "That's exactly what I need." She let out a soft chuckle, thinking of how she could use it. The annoying part was that it wasn't a spell one could just cast. It was more of an object. She flipped to the next page with a frown. A rare object Celestia kept locked away where only she could access it. "Well, that's no fair." She pouted at the thought. "There has to be some other way." She kept reading, hoping to find something else. Anything, really. A mirror of this power, created through magic, would be immensely powerful, allowing a pony to access a whole new world that could be very familiar, or not, depending on the mirror used. There were warnings about balances and stuff, which she ignored, reading on. There was magic for forcing a mirror open, and another for closed. She studied the opening one curiously. "If I run into one and can't get it open, I'll feel really foalish." She chuckled at her own pun, continuing to study the page. It had a lot of information she didn't understand, but that was okay. She was still learning magic. She was sure that, with more study, it would make sense. The spell, well, it was a spell. She practiced it and understood the symbols that made it up. If she ran into a mirror, she could open it! She was at least mostly sure. Sunset read into the late morning, her eyes narrowing as her belly complained at her. She didn't have any bits to her name at the moment, which was a problem. She'd have to find a way to eat that wasn't going to involve begging. Tucking the magic book away, she trotted out into the street and looked left and right. Around her, snooty Canterlot ponies were going about their business and paying her no mind. "Right." Sunset started to walk. She was pretty sure she remembered how to get to the market. And if there was anywhere to find a loose coin, it would be a market. She trotted along, keeping her eyes on the ground. She arrived to smell something good. A soup stall was open and serving any pony that wandered up with bits to buy some of the thick vegetable stew. She licked her lips, belly rumbling at the sight of it. There were easier marks, and places to look for coins, but she couldn't wrench her eyes away from that hearty dish. She was drawn to it, her hunger getting the best of her. She didn't have any bits, but maybe she could convince him to give her some. Maybe he would take pity on a poor, homeless unicorn filly. Sure, she was older, as fillies went, but no matter. She waited on line with the other ponies. When her turn came, she wandered up with the most piteous look she could conjure. "Your soup smells so good," she started the conversation with, smiling at the pony. The unicorn nodded. "It came out extra good today." He ran a hoof along his chin, ruffling his mild beard. "Did you want a cup, or a bowl?" Sunset only realized then that he had two serving options. The bowl was bigger, but she had no bits. An idea came to her with a cunning smile she hid as quickly as she could. "I probably can't afford even the cup." She shivered in the chill of the morning more than she had to. "How much is it?" "Two bits," he said with a nod. "The cup is two, the bowl is five. I'm sorry to say, I can't give it away." Sunset put on her best puppy eyes, making herself look as miserable as she could manage. He looked away and back. "Poor thing, look." His horn glowed as he picked up one of the smaller cups. "We can call it a taste test, yes? Try some, then go get your parents. They might like to get some as well, if they know I make such good food." He smiled, pouring a portion out for her. "Thank you." Sunset took the cup, her tail giving an eager wag. "Thank you." She hurried off the line, cup floating beside her. "Yes!" Bringing it to her lips, she drank it down, chewing just enough to get it into herself with a pleased sigh of relief. Her stomach was happy with her. "You were good." The cup was empty, so she kept her eyes out for a bin where it could be dropped. Finding a small can with a sign that read, 'Please Recycle,' she dumped it in and moved on. Author's Note Sunset, do you know what you're doing? Is this a good idea? Join the special community of folks who like my stories and/or get your own here at atreon! Don't want to do an ongoing thing? You could Join my discord to chat! 3 - Getting in GoodThe problem with the portal magic was simple. "She has them locked up." Sunset glared at the royal castle and its many treasures within. "Why would they lock them away from us? We could learn so much." She shook her head with a growl, her mood only growing worse as she realized she'd need to find somewhere to stay for the night. "Focus on the here and now." She stomped off, abandoning the day's search. The next day she was right where Twilight would find her. "Oh, hello!" Twilight rushed up to her, as planned, with a smile on her little face. "I learned some new spells! My first!" She danced with giddy excitement. "May I show them?" "You can do a bit of magic here." Sunset motioned around. "It's a nice area, and no pony is around to watch us." She smiled, putting on her mask for her young friend. "Let's see what you've learned." Twilight sank to her haunches and brought up her hooves as her horn glowed. "The first one does this!" A piece of paper appeared, floating there in the air. "Ta da! It's a teleportation spell, and I did it!" She clapped her hooves together. "What do you think?" "Amazing." Sunset nodded her head in appreciation. "That's impressive, Twi. You've learned so much, and so fast." She gently patted the top of the filly. "Does it only work on paper?" "N-no, but." Twilight looked away. "Doing bigger things is harder. Doing alive things is even harder harder! A paper is the most I've done so far." She tucked that paper away. "I have to practice a lot more. But that's fun, so I will!" Sunset laughed, ruffling Twilight's mane. "Of course it's fun. What else can you do, hmm?" Twilight thought about that for a moment, bringing her hooves together. With a tap, they exploded in showers of magical streamers and sparks. It did nothing but be bright and colorful. This was enough to make the little filly beam with joy at what magic she'd done. "Colorful." Sunset had to admit, it had style, though not much use. "You're doing great, Twi. You're making Celestia proud." "I am?" Twilight perked up and danced on her hooves. "She's so big, it's a little scary. I have my first personal lesson with her later today after class." Sunset flipped an ear back, thoughts going to when she had her own lessons with Celestia. "She can be a little intimidating, but don't let her scare you. Oh!" She dug out the book and pressed it against Twilight. "Make sure this gets back where it should, alright?" "Oh, right!" Twilight took the book and put it into her saddlebag. "I'll take care of it. What did the spell do?" Her eyes were wide with curiosity. She'd done her part in helping Sunset get the book. Sunset considered that. "Well, only if you promise to keep it a secret." Twilight mimed zipping her lips. "It's a how-to to activate an artifact, but, silly me, it's really hard to get to that artifact. What a goof, eh?" "Really? Where is it? What is it?" Twilight looked around as if it might appear at any moment. "It's locked up, away from me." Sunset shook her head. "It's in the castle." She pointed the way to the castle so close to them. "Celestia has it, and she's not sharing it. Mean, isn't it?" Twilight frowned deeply. "Why wouldn't she let you study magic?" That was just awful, in her mind. "Maybe you could ask her, or would she say no?" "She's already told me that one is too dangerous." Sunset flipped her mane. "I'm a mature mare, I could handle it. In fact, I bet you could too, with a little help. That's what good ponies do, help each other out." Twilight tapped her hooves together, thinking about it. "You can really do great things with magic, if I help?" She looked up to Sunset with wide, sparkling eyes. "Of course!" She leaned in close to Twilight, noses almost touching. "For today, enjoy your lesson with Sunny-butt." Twilight burst into peals of laughter even as she darkened furiously. "You can't call her that!" She covered her mouth, looking around as if Celestia might be hiding nearby to overhear. "It's not nice." "Nice isn't what I'm going for." Sunset chuckled softly, her expression turning to a pouty frown. "But you go on. You have class, then personal time. We'll talk tomorrow, alright?" "Right!" Twilight beamed, giving Sunset a big hug before she darted off. She paused, turning back with her eyes narrowed in thought. "Um, but, how do we know Celestia won't just get mad?" That she would if approached badly seemed clear to Sunset. "We'll work on a clever way to bring it up that won't get her upset. Don't mention it today. Today, learn. Tomorrow, you can tell me all about your lesson with Sunny-butt." That got Twilight laughing and blushing again as she trotted away to class. Sunset glared after her, watching the filly until she was out of sight. "Ugh. You replaced me with such an innocent nerd." She kicked a rock away as she turned. "Was I that easy to find a replacement for? Ugh!" Sunset stomped off, grumbling to herself. Her mind was boiling in anger and frustration. "Hey!" The shout brought Sunset to a skidding halt. "Who said you could just go around kicking rocks?" Another filly was approaching with a smirk which turned into a laugh. "Just messing with you. Hi! I'm Minuette, and you're my friend now. Deal with it." "Deal with it?" Sunset looked the mare over, seeing someone older than Twilight, but just that barely. "Fine, I'll deal with it. Got a name to go with this friendship?" Minuette looked baffled at that question. "I just told you mine. Do you mean yours? You want me to guess it? Okay!" She circled around Sunset curiously. "Mmm, bright warm colors. Oh! Sun! You're Sun!" Sunset rolled her eyes. "The worst part is that you're not that far off. I'm Sunset." "Oh, even better!" Minuette laughed. "I was close!" She bounced on her hooves and trotted in a circle around Sunset. "You're the girl who was kicked out of the school, aren't you?" Sunset cringed back a step. "They're talking about me?! I mean, uh, no. I left, they didn't kick me out. There's a big difference." Minuette laughed. "There it is! I was sure it was you. They talk about you all the time! How you had a tantrum when Celestia didn't let you read something, so she kicked you out of the school." Sunset felt her face heat, not with embarassment but building fury. "It didn't work out that way!" Her horn lit and struck the ground hard enough to make a crack in the sidewalk. Minuette stumbled backwards. "Whoa, easy, Sunset! I'm sorry. I didn't know it was such a tough subject." She sat up with a giggle. "Sorry. But friends don't hit each other with their horns. That's rude." She stuck out her tongue at the idea. "Horns are for magic." "That they are," she agreed with a slight nod. "I should be practicing. Sorry." She turned away. "I have stuff to do." She walked off, her tail flicking with clear agitation on the way. *** Twilight curled next to Celestia, basking in the warmth the large alicorn provided. "Then I—" With a twinkling horn, she followed as Celestia instructed. "Wow. That's amazing. And so easy!" She clapped her hooves with excitement. The spells had gone off beautifully, her practice paying off. Celestia nodded. "That you've mastered these already is quite impressive, Twilight." She nuzzled her tiny student. "I hear from your teachers you are paying attention well, even in not-magic classes. I'm here for you with those too, if you have questions." "Really?!" Twilight bounced to her hooves with wide, excited eyes. "That's great!" She looked around. "Um, do you have time now?" Celestia's eyes slid to the clock, which told her they were nearly out of time. "Time enough for at least one question right now. What is on your mind?" "Oh, I didn't have one in mind. I'll just, um, think." She closed her eyes and tried to focus, though that was a bit of a difficult prospect with the sun princess herself asking her about her schoolwork. "Oh!" She perked up, ears upright. "Would you hide magic away from other ponies? If so, um, why?" Celestia's wings gave a flutter, her expression growing concerned. "Hide? That's an interesting question." She smiled at Twilight, gently rubbing her back. "Are you sure you aren't thinking of something like our unicorn history class, and how a long time ago, unicorns had many troubling magics to deal with a far more inhospitable world." Twilight nodded her head, though the real reason she was asking was because of what Sunset had said. "That's pretty neat. But, I mean." She looked around. "I learned that you have a few artifacts here in the palace." Celestia picked up Twilight in her magic as she sat up. "Any artifact I keep stored away are for two reasons." She lifted her hooves, one higher than the other. "One, so they are there if we really need them, in an emergency." She switched which hoof was higher. "And two, so nopony hurts themselves with them outside of that. Some magic is dangerous, even for young unicorns as smart as you, Twilight." Twilight wilted slightly. "But, what if you're careful?" Celestia hummed at that. "Some things are difficult to be 'careful' with." A little smile appeared despite her words. "But, you know, there are ponies who do exactly that, be careful around the artifacts to learn how they work. You will need to get a good deal better at your spells, first. Then, maybe I can show you, if you still want to know more." She nuzzled Twilight's cheek. "Does that help?" Twilight giggled at the nuzzle, little hooves cycling in the air. "I will learn! I'll get better and maybe I can be one of those ponies." Celestia's gaze went out further than where Twilight hovered. "You have quite the future ahead of you, but I don't think hiding in my castle with any of the artifacts will be one of them, dear filly. You have so much potential in you." She set her gently on the ground, letting her regain her hooves. "But that does bring us to our time for today." She leaned to look at the door, which opened without being touched. A guard peeked in. "Follow her out, and we will meet again, this I promise." "Right!" Twilight bounced on her hooves, then trotted for the door. It was time for her to head home. What she didn't expect was to spot Sunset a block away from the castle. "Sunset!" She hurried towards her older filly friend. "Hello!" Sunset looked startled, but recovered quickly. "Hey." She smiled warmly at Twilight's approach. "How'd your day go?" "Great! Thank you for asking." Twilight nuzzled her cheek, getting an awkward nuzzle in return. "I asked Princess Celestia about the artifacts." Sunset folded her ears back. "Oh, uh, did she get mad?" Her thoughts went back to her last personal discussion with Celestia. She shivered, not wanting that to happen again. But Twilight wasn't like her. "Or, what happened?" "She said I can help, if I study a lot." Twilight clapped with joy for that possible future. "Only really smart ponies who studied lots can help her learn how to use the artifacts. But, she won't let you, because it's dangerous magic." She looked at Sunset with wide, concerned eyes. "But I'm sure she'd let you, once you know a lot of magic, too." Twilight frowned with thought. "How much magic do you know?" "A lot." Sunset shrugged it off, trying not to think about the past again. "More than most." She reached to pat Twilight's back. "If you want to help me, why don't we become study buddies?" Twilight's eyes shone at the idea. "Can we really?!" "Sure can." Sunset lifted Twilight's head with a hoof. "I'll teach you magic, and you teach me magic. We'll share the spells we know. Doesn't that sound fun?" "Yeah!" Twilight nodded quickly, her little face full of joy. "We can start tomorrow. I'm free after school. Does that sound good?" Sunset gave a nod. "Meet you in the usual spot." She pushed Twilight back along the way she had been going before spotting Sunset. "Night, kiddo." Twilight beamed at her. "Good night, Sunset." Author's Note Sunset and Twilight are growing closer, but is Sunset getting any closer to her master plan? A thank you to my Supporter Patrons: Zap Transfer and Dapple!👋🏽 Join the special community of folks who like my stories and/or get your own here at atreon! Don't want to do an ongoing thing? You could Join my discord to chat!
1 - New StudentTwilight trotted down the hallway of Canterlot Castle, her eyes wide with wonder. "I really made it," she sighed out, still processing that it had truly happened. It had only been a few days ago that she had been living in her home with her parents, studying and practicing, just waiting for the entrance exam to be posted. And then, in an instant, her dreams had come true. It had been quite an instant, causing a dragon to be hatched. She rubbed behind her head, imagining that moment. "Lost myself there." A hoof slammed down in front of her, causing her to skid right into the attached leg. "Sorry." She looked up to see a fiery-maned pony, a teenager, glaring at her. "Miss?" "Sunset," provided the larger pony, leaning in towards the smaller Twilight. "You're the one they snatched up, huh? Celly sure is fast about getting a replacement." "Replacement?" She pushed her head back, trying to keep her eyes on Sunset, who was drawing close. "Are you a student?" "I was," Sunset replied bitterly, pulling her muzzle away from Twilight and standing back up straight. "But what I want, Celestia wouldn't give. So I'm looking for my own way." She chuckled, looking Twilight over. "You're the best they could find?" Twilight rubbed behind her head as she sank to her haunches. "I'm just me, um, Sunset. I hope to learn all about magic." She clapped her hooves, visions of what lay before her dancing in her mind. "Now that I'm in the school, I'll—" "You're in the wrong place." Sunset's horn glowed, picking Twilight up and twirling the filly to face a new way. "The school is over there. This is the castle. You won't find any classes in here." "Oh." Twilight drew out a book and made a note in it. "Thank you. I haven't learned my way around yet." "Clearly." Sunset rolled her eyes. "Look, I'm sure you're nice and everything, but I have a mission here. Just, don't be so starry eyed, okay?" Sunset turned her muzzle away, letting a smile form. "Need a helping hoof? I know how to get to the school." "Oh, yes!" Twilight clapped her hooves again. "I'd really appreciate it!" Sunset nodded her head, starting to walk off, her motions sharp. Twilight followed after her. "So, what's your name, kid?" "Twilight Sparkle." Twilight bounced with her name's mention, a bright smile on her face. "It's nice to meet you. Oh, um." She glanced away and back, some thought clearly there, but unspoken. Sunset laughed at the expression. "What are you holding in? Out with it." "Well, it's just." Twilight's voice got small, like she expected to be punished for what she was about to say. "You're not very nice, but you are helping me. I don't know what to think about you, Sunset." Sunset raised a hoof to her chin. "Astute for such a small filly. Must be why they picked you. Look, I'm a bit peeved, but that's at Celestia. You didn't do anything I know of, other than being her next little pet. C'mon." Sunset motioned her over, smiling at her. "You might be my replacement, but that's no reason to be rude to you. I can still be helpful." "Okay." Twilight followed her, her head turning to look over all the decor of the castle. Her eyes trailed over paintings and ornate windows as they passed them. Her attention slid forwards as they came out of the castle and followed a sidewalk. "Oh, the school is this way?" "Just through this gate." Sunset tossed her head with a flick, her magic opening the gate not far ahead of them. "Celly's school for unicorns she likes." She rolled her eyes with the cynical words. "They do teach good magic here, won't argue that. What kind of magic are you looking forward to?" Twilight's eyes lit up as she bounded forward. "Oh, I can't wait to read more about Equestrian history. It's so fascinating! But there's also the possibility of learning more about how magic can shape things, and that's so useful." She paused a moment to pantomime with her hooves. "Spells to make things, find things, or examine things. I want to do them all!" "You've got a lot of drive." Sunset smirked, picking up the pace to match the younger filly. "I like that, even if you are her little protégé." "I'm no one's protégé," Twilight huffed, her head tossing. She paused a moment. "Oh, wait. Yes I am." She looked away with a sheepish smile. "I forgot what that word meant a moment." She looked up at the school, both of them in front of it. "Oh yeah! This is the place." "Uh huh." Sunset smiled, patting her back. "Have a great first day, okay?" "You too," Twilight offered, turning her head. "I'll see you around, right?" Sunset ruffled the filly's mane. "I think you will. Go on, don't want to be late, do you?" "No!" Twilight galloped up the steps of the school, leaving Sunset behind. Sunset shook her head, laughing quietly. "She's cute. Who am I kidding? Of course she's Celly's pet filly." She flicked her mane as she turned away. "And, maybe, just the right tool for this job." She chuckled darkly as she walked away from the school that had once been her own home. She wasn't there every day, but often enough that Twilight stopped being surprised when Sunset Shimmer appeared, right around a corner or in her way with that curious smile. They would spend time together between classes, talking about the spells Twilight was learning. Twilight was eager to share what she had been studying, her rapid fire words making Sunset's head spin at times, while Sunset would give advice on ways to approach some spell or another. "You are a fast learner." Sunset wobbled a hoof in the air. "I bet you're one of the best of the batch." "There's another pony." Twilight tried to pantomime it with dubious success. "She's just as smart! I think she's older, though." "Oh?" Sunset's eyes narrowed slightly. "And, do you talk about me with her?" "Not everything!" Twilight chirped, a smile on her face. "Besides, she doesn't like talking about ponies. She's more of a, hm, book pony. She loves reading, maybe even more than me, and I thought you couldn't do that." Sunset smirked, her eyes brightening. "More of a book pony than you? That's hard to imagine." "Isn't it, though?" Twilight bounced with her laughter. "But, I like Moondancer. Sunset leaned back with a nod. "Good to have a friend that understands you, right? I get that." She grumbled under her breath, recalling nopony that would fit that bill for her. "So, about that teleportation spell?" "I was told to stop trying that one." Twilight looked away with a sheepish grin. "I keep messing up the spell and getting stuck in things. Last week, I got myself half stuck in a book and couldn't see anything. It took hours for the librarian to find and dispel me." Sunset laughed at the mental image that summoned. "You poor thing. Maybe it's for the best. I was told teleportation is a very complicated spell." She put a hoof on Twilight's back. "Keep practicing. I bet you'll get the hang of it eventually." "Thanks, Sunset." Twilight nuzzled into her friend's side. "I appreciate it. You're really nice to me." "I'm just looking out for my friend." Sunset's smile brightened, at least for a moment. She took a slow breath, thinking of her darker intents. "Say, Twilight, they trust you, around the school, right?" "Sure." Twilight looked confused. "I'm a student here. They expect me to be here." "Right, right." Sunset let her eyes close, thinking over her plan. "Well, you see, I was doing some research. I thought of a way we could both surprise Celestia, it'll really put a smile on her face." Her smile was tight, but she kept up the appearance of happiness. "I need you to get me access to the library, though. There's a book in there that will let us pull it off. Twilight clapped her hooves with naked joy. "That's easy! Just tell me what book you're looking for and I can check it out. They have to be returned in a moon." She waved a hoof at Sunset as if reprimanding her for even thinking of being late on that. "That's just it." Sunset drew a sigh. "I can't check it out. I was already kicked from the school." She hung her head in mock shame. "It's a library book, and I need to borrow it." Twilight pointed at herself even harder. "Tell me the name. It's not a secret, is it?" "Sorry, but it is. I can't share the spell with you, and I can't let you take it from the library." Sunset leaned in closer, her face growing sad. "I really need your help with this, Twilight." Twilight fidgeted in place with a little grumble. "If I can't check it out, and you can't either." She paused, doing a little circle in place. "Then how do we get the book?" Sunset smiled at the question, her heart racing as she spoke. "We take it. Just for a little bit. Then, once we've done the spell, we bring the book right back and return it to the shelf." Twilight made a shelving motion with a hoof. "Good! I don't want to take books from the library! What will a pony do if they want to check it out and it's missing? That would be awful! I've been so sad when the books I want are already being read." "Exactly." Sunset patted Twilight on the back. "That's why it has to be quick. And, that's why you, Twilight, need to help me." She leaned in close. "Just stay late one day, all you have to do. Study something complex. Then, come to the back door, over there." She pointed at the one she meant. "And I'll be there to slip inside, grab that book, and we're done. Easy, right?" Twilight thought about that, nodding her head. "Yeah. Yeah, that sounds like a simple plan. I'll do it." She gave Sunset a big hug. "You're the best, Sunset." Sunset squeezed Twilight gently. "Right back at you." Her smirk was far more malign, but Twilight couldn't see it as they hugged together for a warm moment. "Tell me the day you can do it, and I'll be waiting, okay?" "Right. I'll see you then, Sunset." Twilight got her hooves back under her. "It'll be a pleasure." Sunset pulled out of the hug and trotted away. "I'll see you, Twilight." Twilight waved as Sunset left.
2 - A Master PlanThe day of reckoning came at last. The sun was setting, the students of the academy were filtering out, but one little unicorn filly remained behind. Twilight Sparkle was in the library, her muzzle buried in a book. Occasionally, a teacher would stop by to check on things. "This is fascinating." Twilight waved them along, continuing her reading. One by one, the lights were turned off, until only one was left for Twilight to read by. "Head home when you're finished, and don't stay up all night. You have class tomorrow." The teacher gave a final little smile and walked off. The sound of the back door being locked came soon after. Twilight waited in silence for a few moments. Then, with a little grumble, she closed her book, her horn glowing to carry it with her. She tucked it into its proper place on the shelves as she raced for the back as quickly as she could go without actually running. The door rattled as she shoved it, finding it locked. "Oh no." Twilight tapped the door gently, hoping Sunset would hear it. On cue, there was a thud at the door. Twilight backed a step, but a voice called her forward. "Open it," came the muffled voice. Twilight folded her ears back, looking around for some clue on how to open the door. She reached up, feeling a key in the lock. "Oh!" She grabbed the key with magic, turning it, and opening the door. "Excellent." Sunset leaned down, patting Twilight's head gently. "I see why they see a bright future ahead of you." Twilight beamed at the praise, but Sunset already had her eyes forward. "Keep an eye out and tell me if any of them come back. Probably won't happen. Let's get that book and split." Sunset strode in with confidence, her eyes scanning the shelves. "Right." Twilight closed the door and locked it, making sure that the school stayed safe. She kept her eyes on the door, not watching where Sunset went. Sunset found the book shortly. "They did love keeping things organized." She tucked it away with a low chuckle. "Makes it easier to find. Twilight?" she called into the dark. "Come here." Twilight came trotting, her eyes still on the door. "Yes, Sunset?" "I want you to see where the book came from." She pointed to the spot where there was a book missing. "When I'm done with it, I'll give it to you, and you can put it back, right in the proper place. So ponies can read it later." "Thank you." Twilight bounced over to her friend, hugging her tightly. "I know this is a secret. But can you tell me what the spell does?" Sunset looked down at Twilight, her lips curling into a smile. "It's a complicated spell, it may be more than you could handle." Twilight pouted up at her, earning a laugh from Sunset. "Easy. I'll show you when we're not right here." She tapped the ground. "I'll go out the back I came in through, you go out the front like nothing happened, okay?" "Got it." Twilight smiled, heading towards the front. "I'll see you soon, Sunset!" She paused. "Oh." She went in a circle towards the back and raced there to turn the key to the unlocked position. "They must have left this in case I wanted to go out this way." "Probably," Sunset said, amusement thick in her tone. "Thanks. See you, Twi." "See ya." Twilight watched Sunset make her escape and locked it behind it. "In its proper place." She nodded, pleased to leave the key just as she found it. With that settled, she rushed for the front door. It had a key in its lock too, waiting for her. She frowned at it. "But if I unlock it getting out, how do I lock it again from the outside?" Twilight thought, her mind racing, as she considered the problem. She didn't want the school to be unsecure. That would be dangerous. Somepony could come in and steal books! She shook her head at the awful idea of allowing that to happen. She turned the key. "Maybe." She opened it and turned it back while it was open. It made a metal thump, unable to finish closing while locked. "That won't work." Twilight grumbled, pressing her small face against the door jam. She could barely see the key, which was enough to get her magic around it with her glowing horn. She turned it unlocked and the door closed with a loud click. She yelped, horn flickering off as she fell back. Unfortunately, that means the door was unlocked, and she couldn't see the key anymore. "No." Twilight looked at the door, tears forming in her eyes. She had messed up. "How could I have been so careless?" She banged her head against the door. "Stupid." She opened the door and darted around it. "Guess I'm sleeping here." She locked the door, from the inside, and curled into a little ball on the cool stone. "I'll keep it safe." She felt awful, her mistake weighing on her. Sleep was hard in coming, and when it did, she was wracked with nightmares. Twilight's dreams were full of books being stolen and unicorns failing to learn their spells, all because of her. The morning came, a thing she only learned when a janitor poked her. "Huh? I did—Oh." She sat up, blinking at the janitor. "Hello." He just gave her a quizzical look. "I was studying, and I didn't want to go home. So, I slept here. Is that okay?" He gave her a flat look that said he wasn't quite sure what to do about a student who stayed in the library overnight. "They didn't kick you out last night. I'd suggest getting somethin' to eat before you have classes, little pony." "Okay." Twilight got to her hooves, her legs shaky from a poor sleep. She stumbled her way out, and then looked around. "Something to eat." It hit her and she got her footing back in a hurry. She raced home in a tizzy, crashing into the door instead of opening it the first time. "I'm okay!" She blurted, flopping into the living room. Her mother, who had been cleaning, perked up. "Twilight? What happened to you, dear? You're a mess." "I'm okay!" Twilight repeated, stumbling to her hooves. "I just studied late and fell asleep at the library." She laughed tensely, though none of what she said was, at least technically, a lie. "Sorry if I made you worry, Mom." "Sweetie." Her mother trotted over, helping her stay on her hooves. "You should have come home. You're going to be a mess for school." "Oh no." Twilight sagged in her mother's hooves. "But I can't fix that." She swallowed thickly. "I got some sleep, um, just not the best kind. Can I have breakfast, please?" Her mother gave her a smile and helped her over to a seat. "Of course, dear. Your father could tell you about the times he stayed up late, cramming for a test. He never slept in the school, though." Velvet went to get breakfast together with a soft hum. "I'm glad you're taking your study seriously, but don't get in so far you don't come up for air." Twilight nodded her head, the mention of staying up late making her feel a bit better. At least, it was good to know she wasn't the only one. She waited for her meal to come, relaxing in her seat. She was home, safe, with a pony that loved her. She lifted an ear with a sudden thought. Did Sunset have a mom to go home to? *** Sunset had the book. That's what mattered. She didn't have a mom to go home to, and her father was, well, he wasn't really there anymore. He had left shortly after she had come to Canterlot. She shook her head free of those thoughts and opened the book instead as she got as cozy as any pony could be, in that alleyway. Flipping through the pages with her magic, she let out a soft sigh. "Been too long since I could curl with a good magic book." There, laid across her arms, was the spell she had been looking for. "Mirror magic, now that's interesting stuff." She grinned as she read the explanation. "That's exactly what I need." She let out a soft chuckle, thinking of how she could use it. The annoying part was that it wasn't a spell one could just cast. It was more of an object. She flipped to the next page with a frown. A rare object Celestia kept locked away where only she could access it. "Well, that's no fair." She pouted at the thought. "There has to be some other way." She kept reading, hoping to find something else. Anything, really. A mirror of this power, created through magic, would be immensely powerful, allowing a pony to access a whole new world that could be very familiar, or not, depending on the mirror used. There were warnings about balances and stuff, which she ignored, reading on. There was magic for forcing a mirror open, and another for closed. She studied the opening one curiously. "If I run into one and can't get it open, I'll feel really foalish." She chuckled at her own pun, continuing to study the page. It had a lot of information she didn't understand, but that was okay. She was still learning magic. She was sure that, with more study, it would make sense. The spell, well, it was a spell. She practiced it and understood the symbols that made it up. If she ran into a mirror, she could open it! She was at least mostly sure. Sunset read into the late morning, her eyes narrowing as her belly complained at her. She didn't have any bits to her name at the moment, which was a problem. She'd have to find a way to eat that wasn't going to involve begging. Tucking the magic book away, she trotted out into the street and looked left and right. Around her, snooty Canterlot ponies were going about their business and paying her no mind. "Right." Sunset started to walk. She was pretty sure she remembered how to get to the market. And if there was anywhere to find a loose coin, it would be a market. She trotted along, keeping her eyes on the ground. She arrived to smell something good. A soup stall was open and serving any pony that wandered up with bits to buy some of the thick vegetable stew. She licked her lips, belly rumbling at the sight of it. There were easier marks, and places to look for coins, but she couldn't wrench her eyes away from that hearty dish. She was drawn to it, her hunger getting the best of her. She didn't have any bits, but maybe she could convince him to give her some. Maybe he would take pity on a poor, homeless unicorn filly. Sure, she was older, as fillies went, but no matter. She waited on line with the other ponies. When her turn came, she wandered up with the most piteous look she could conjure. "Your soup smells so good," she started the conversation with, smiling at the pony. The unicorn nodded. "It came out extra good today." He ran a hoof along his chin, ruffling his mild beard. "Did you want a cup, or a bowl?" Sunset only realized then that he had two serving options. The bowl was bigger, but she had no bits. An idea came to her with a cunning smile she hid as quickly as she could. "I probably can't afford even the cup." She shivered in the chill of the morning more than she had to. "How much is it?" "Two bits," he said with a nod. "The cup is two, the bowl is five. I'm sorry to say, I can't give it away." Sunset put on her best puppy eyes, making herself look as miserable as she could manage. He looked away and back. "Poor thing, look." His horn glowed as he picked up one of the smaller cups. "We can call it a taste test, yes? Try some, then go get your parents. They might like to get some as well, if they know I make such good food." He smiled, pouring a portion out for her. "Thank you." Sunset took the cup, her tail giving an eager wag. "Thank you." She hurried off the line, cup floating beside her. "Yes!" Bringing it to her lips, she drank it down, chewing just enough to get it into herself with a pleased sigh of relief. Her stomach was happy with her. "You were good." The cup was empty, so she kept her eyes out for a bin where it could be dropped. Finding a small can with a sign that read, 'Please Recycle,' she dumped it in and moved on. Author's Note Sunset, do you know what you're doing? Is this a good idea? Join the special community of folks who like my stories and/or get your own here at atreon! Don't want to do an ongoing thing? You could Join my discord to chat!
3 - Getting in GoodThe problem with the portal magic was simple. "She has them locked up." Sunset glared at the royal castle and its many treasures within. "Why would they lock them away from us? We could learn so much." She shook her head with a growl, her mood only growing worse as she realized she'd need to find somewhere to stay for the night. "Focus on the here and now." She stomped off, abandoning the day's search. The next day she was right where Twilight would find her. "Oh, hello!" Twilight rushed up to her, as planned, with a smile on her little face. "I learned some new spells! My first!" She danced with giddy excitement. "May I show them?" "You can do a bit of magic here." Sunset motioned around. "It's a nice area, and no pony is around to watch us." She smiled, putting on her mask for her young friend. "Let's see what you've learned." Twilight sank to her haunches and brought up her hooves as her horn glowed. "The first one does this!" A piece of paper appeared, floating there in the air. "Ta da! It's a teleportation spell, and I did it!" She clapped her hooves together. "What do you think?" "Amazing." Sunset nodded her head in appreciation. "That's impressive, Twi. You've learned so much, and so fast." She gently patted the top of the filly. "Does it only work on paper?" "N-no, but." Twilight looked away. "Doing bigger things is harder. Doing alive things is even harder harder! A paper is the most I've done so far." She tucked that paper away. "I have to practice a lot more. But that's fun, so I will!" Sunset laughed, ruffling Twilight's mane. "Of course it's fun. What else can you do, hmm?" Twilight thought about that for a moment, bringing her hooves together. With a tap, they exploded in showers of magical streamers and sparks. It did nothing but be bright and colorful. This was enough to make the little filly beam with joy at what magic she'd done. "Colorful." Sunset had to admit, it had style, though not much use. "You're doing great, Twi. You're making Celestia proud." "I am?" Twilight perked up and danced on her hooves. "She's so big, it's a little scary. I have my first personal lesson with her later today after class." Sunset flipped an ear back, thoughts going to when she had her own lessons with Celestia. "She can be a little intimidating, but don't let her scare you. Oh!" She dug out the book and pressed it against Twilight. "Make sure this gets back where it should, alright?" "Oh, right!" Twilight took the book and put it into her saddlebag. "I'll take care of it. What did the spell do?" Her eyes were wide with curiosity. She'd done her part in helping Sunset get the book. Sunset considered that. "Well, only if you promise to keep it a secret." Twilight mimed zipping her lips. "It's a how-to to activate an artifact, but, silly me, it's really hard to get to that artifact. What a goof, eh?" "Really? Where is it? What is it?" Twilight looked around as if it might appear at any moment. "It's locked up, away from me." Sunset shook her head. "It's in the castle." She pointed the way to the castle so close to them. "Celestia has it, and she's not sharing it. Mean, isn't it?" Twilight frowned deeply. "Why wouldn't she let you study magic?" That was just awful, in her mind. "Maybe you could ask her, or would she say no?" "She's already told me that one is too dangerous." Sunset flipped her mane. "I'm a mature mare, I could handle it. In fact, I bet you could too, with a little help. That's what good ponies do, help each other out." Twilight tapped her hooves together, thinking about it. "You can really do great things with magic, if I help?" She looked up to Sunset with wide, sparkling eyes. "Of course!" She leaned in close to Twilight, noses almost touching. "For today, enjoy your lesson with Sunny-butt." Twilight burst into peals of laughter even as she darkened furiously. "You can't call her that!" She covered her mouth, looking around as if Celestia might be hiding nearby to overhear. "It's not nice." "Nice isn't what I'm going for." Sunset chuckled softly, her expression turning to a pouty frown. "But you go on. You have class, then personal time. We'll talk tomorrow, alright?" "Right!" Twilight beamed, giving Sunset a big hug before she darted off. She paused, turning back with her eyes narrowed in thought. "Um, but, how do we know Celestia won't just get mad?" That she would if approached badly seemed clear to Sunset. "We'll work on a clever way to bring it up that won't get her upset. Don't mention it today. Today, learn. Tomorrow, you can tell me all about your lesson with Sunny-butt." That got Twilight laughing and blushing again as she trotted away to class. Sunset glared after her, watching the filly until she was out of sight. "Ugh. You replaced me with such an innocent nerd." She kicked a rock away as she turned. "Was I that easy to find a replacement for? Ugh!" Sunset stomped off, grumbling to herself. Her mind was boiling in anger and frustration. "Hey!" The shout brought Sunset to a skidding halt. "Who said you could just go around kicking rocks?" Another filly was approaching with a smirk which turned into a laugh. "Just messing with you. Hi! I'm Minuette, and you're my friend now. Deal with it." "Deal with it?" Sunset looked the mare over, seeing someone older than Twilight, but just that barely. "Fine, I'll deal with it. Got a name to go with this friendship?" Minuette looked baffled at that question. "I just told you mine. Do you mean yours? You want me to guess it? Okay!" She circled around Sunset curiously. "Mmm, bright warm colors. Oh! Sun! You're Sun!" Sunset rolled her eyes. "The worst part is that you're not that far off. I'm Sunset." "Oh, even better!" Minuette laughed. "I was close!" She bounced on her hooves and trotted in a circle around Sunset. "You're the girl who was kicked out of the school, aren't you?" Sunset cringed back a step. "They're talking about me?! I mean, uh, no. I left, they didn't kick me out. There's a big difference." Minuette laughed. "There it is! I was sure it was you. They talk about you all the time! How you had a tantrum when Celestia didn't let you read something, so she kicked you out of the school." Sunset felt her face heat, not with embarassment but building fury. "It didn't work out that way!" Her horn lit and struck the ground hard enough to make a crack in the sidewalk. Minuette stumbled backwards. "Whoa, easy, Sunset! I'm sorry. I didn't know it was such a tough subject." She sat up with a giggle. "Sorry. But friends don't hit each other with their horns. That's rude." She stuck out her tongue at the idea. "Horns are for magic." "That they are," she agreed with a slight nod. "I should be practicing. Sorry." She turned away. "I have stuff to do." She walked off, her tail flicking with clear agitation on the way. *** Twilight curled next to Celestia, basking in the warmth the large alicorn provided. "Then I—" With a twinkling horn, she followed as Celestia instructed. "Wow. That's amazing. And so easy!" She clapped her hooves with excitement. The spells had gone off beautifully, her practice paying off. Celestia nodded. "That you've mastered these already is quite impressive, Twilight." She nuzzled her tiny student. "I hear from your teachers you are paying attention well, even in not-magic classes. I'm here for you with those too, if you have questions." "Really?!" Twilight bounced to her hooves with wide, excited eyes. "That's great!" She looked around. "Um, do you have time now?" Celestia's eyes slid to the clock, which told her they were nearly out of time. "Time enough for at least one question right now. What is on your mind?" "Oh, I didn't have one in mind. I'll just, um, think." She closed her eyes and tried to focus, though that was a bit of a difficult prospect with the sun princess herself asking her about her schoolwork. "Oh!" She perked up, ears upright. "Would you hide magic away from other ponies? If so, um, why?" Celestia's wings gave a flutter, her expression growing concerned. "Hide? That's an interesting question." She smiled at Twilight, gently rubbing her back. "Are you sure you aren't thinking of something like our unicorn history class, and how a long time ago, unicorns had many troubling magics to deal with a far more inhospitable world." Twilight nodded her head, though the real reason she was asking was because of what Sunset had said. "That's pretty neat. But, I mean." She looked around. "I learned that you have a few artifacts here in the palace." Celestia picked up Twilight in her magic as she sat up. "Any artifact I keep stored away are for two reasons." She lifted her hooves, one higher than the other. "One, so they are there if we really need them, in an emergency." She switched which hoof was higher. "And two, so nopony hurts themselves with them outside of that. Some magic is dangerous, even for young unicorns as smart as you, Twilight." Twilight wilted slightly. "But, what if you're careful?" Celestia hummed at that. "Some things are difficult to be 'careful' with." A little smile appeared despite her words. "But, you know, there are ponies who do exactly that, be careful around the artifacts to learn how they work. You will need to get a good deal better at your spells, first. Then, maybe I can show you, if you still want to know more." She nuzzled Twilight's cheek. "Does that help?" Twilight giggled at the nuzzle, little hooves cycling in the air. "I will learn! I'll get better and maybe I can be one of those ponies." Celestia's gaze went out further than where Twilight hovered. "You have quite the future ahead of you, but I don't think hiding in my castle with any of the artifacts will be one of them, dear filly. You have so much potential in you." She set her gently on the ground, letting her regain her hooves. "But that does bring us to our time for today." She leaned to look at the door, which opened without being touched. A guard peeked in. "Follow her out, and we will meet again, this I promise." "Right!" Twilight bounced on her hooves, then trotted for the door. It was time for her to head home. What she didn't expect was to spot Sunset a block away from the castle. "Sunset!" She hurried towards her older filly friend. "Hello!" Sunset looked startled, but recovered quickly. "Hey." She smiled warmly at Twilight's approach. "How'd your day go?" "Great! Thank you for asking." Twilight nuzzled her cheek, getting an awkward nuzzle in return. "I asked Princess Celestia about the artifacts." Sunset folded her ears back. "Oh, uh, did she get mad?" Her thoughts went back to her last personal discussion with Celestia. She shivered, not wanting that to happen again. But Twilight wasn't like her. "Or, what happened?" "She said I can help, if I study a lot." Twilight clapped with joy for that possible future. "Only really smart ponies who studied lots can help her learn how to use the artifacts. But, she won't let you, because it's dangerous magic." She looked at Sunset with wide, concerned eyes. "But I'm sure she'd let you, once you know a lot of magic, too." Twilight frowned with thought. "How much magic do you know?" "A lot." Sunset shrugged it off, trying not to think about the past again. "More than most." She reached to pat Twilight's back. "If you want to help me, why don't we become study buddies?" Twilight's eyes shone at the idea. "Can we really?!" "Sure can." Sunset lifted Twilight's head with a hoof. "I'll teach you magic, and you teach me magic. We'll share the spells we know. Doesn't that sound fun?" "Yeah!" Twilight nodded quickly, her little face full of joy. "We can start tomorrow. I'm free after school. Does that sound good?" Sunset gave a nod. "Meet you in the usual spot." She pushed Twilight back along the way she had been going before spotting Sunset. "Night, kiddo." Twilight beamed at her. "Good night, Sunset." Author's Note Sunset and Twilight are growing closer, but is Sunset getting any closer to her master plan? A thank you to my Supporter Patrons: Zap Transfer and Dapple!👋🏽 Join the special community of folks who like my stories and/or get your own here at atreon! Don't want to do an ongoing thing? You could Join my discord to chat!
