992 ALB

The sky had been clear that day, the streets busy with activity. Movement, as ponies traversed, and conversed. Unaware that, for a brief moment, the sky seemed to crack like glass. A clear fog fading, descending. Falling upon Canterlot, the capital city of Equestria itself. A brilliant citadel to the nations long history.

Expanded and constructed at an elevated point on the side of a mountain. The architecture, and fables of it stretching back ages. To the very founding of Equestria in some instances. The crack mending, as soon as it had appeared above this historic location.

For within the city, something was unfolding. An event that would, in one way shape what was to come. Playing out within a lonely section of an ancient library, the light cast, fading in through the stain glass above.

It was here, that a young mare sat upon the ornate floors. A collection of tomes around her person, one, older than the rest, opened before her. Her eyes scanning page after page with efficient haste, before...

"O-ow." She blinked, letting out a sound of pain. "What's-"

For a moment, the book seemed to split into two, different pages depicting the same thing. The sunny skin, mixed with a darker one. Different, yet in manys, the same. And as soon as it was present, it was gone. Her vision snapping back to normal, granting her a momentary headache.

"What was...I might be more tired than I thought." She reasoned, quietly, glancing up. "Well...just a couple more chapters."

The old library was today, as rain stormed down above it. The sound of raindrops against the ornate glass reaching her, calming the momentary tension. She reminded herself she'd need to try and get better sleep, once she was done. Her focus returning to the books, with a sigh.

Page, after page, she read on. A faint green magical glow flipping the pages. Her emerald eyes scanning them over.

"The crystal mirror...potentially a link to the...crystal heart...I'm not sure." The mare muttered while reading, making notes in another tome. "As I continue my research-" a quill glowed with magic, jotting down what she said. "I realize the mirror isn't just an ordinary one." The sound of hoofsteps echoed, unheard by her. over the rain "But in fact, a portal to another world. Entirely different from ours. This book says it... says it only opens every 30 eons. This is...amazing. She'll-"

The glint of excitement in her voice, was brought to an abrupt halt, as she noticed something. A shadow cast overtop her, darker than the rest, visible in the candlelit library. The sound of stepping having stopped, she looked up and was met with a familiar face.

"That's not for you to know, is it?" The stern voice of a much large mare asked, as she froze for a moment. "What are you doing here?"

"P-p-princess Celestia?" The mare stammered, her hood falling back.

Thunder rolled in the sky above, briefly illuminating the Princess. She was by far taller than the cloaked unicorn. With a white coat, and multicolored hair, that flowed as if animated by magics. She bore both a unicorns horn, as well as the wings of a pegasus. Her appearance draped in the dim light of the old library, doing little to hide the light of power and irritation in here eyes.

The unicorn on the ground, by far shorter, had a yellow coat, with an orange and red mane. It resembled the flaming colors of a sunset, even in the shadows. Her emerald eyes filled with anxiety, as she hastily got to her feet. Trying to speak, but unable to find the words.

The Princess stepped nearer. "I made it clear that you are not allowed here, and you have disobeyed me, Sunset Shimmer."

The use of her full name send a wave of anxiety through the unicorn. Compounded when she noticed a small group of guards that had followed along the princess. Her heart racing, a strange whisper in the back of her mind, compelling her to respond.

"I-I couldn't...I told you. I-I can't make friends." Sunset replied, glancing at the spears brandished by the guards. "An-"

"You didn't even try!" The Princess replied, angrily.

The whisper became two, indignation accompanying the anxiety. Her mind flashing with her many attempts, with her many failures. Or all the times she got left behind, or ignored. Of how poorly it had all gone. The whisper following with another thought.

"Y-you...you're a hypocrite." Sunset responded back. "You don't even have friends!" She stamped her hoof, the Princess seemed taken aback. "And...and-" the feeling of anger rose. "You know I'm ready for this. You know I can be something great. If I didn't have to try, and fail at some stupid friendship lesson. If you'd just-"

"You could be great." Celestia replied, catching her off guard. "I thought I saw compassion and sincerity in you. But it was nothing but ambition." The shorter flinched. "You're being selfish. You need to step back, and-"

"I-I'm selfish!?" Sunset replied with hurt in her voice, as she magically tossed a book at the princess. "That book there says I could become as powerful as you. That I-I could become as great as you." Her eyes briefly fell into shadows. "But...you're keeping me from my rightful place. Why?" The whispers inspired a set of words. "Make me a Princess."

The book was knocked aside by the Princess's own magic, tumbling open. One of a couple Sunset had gathered there. The pages of it written on strange material. Depicting the concept of a pony becoming an Alicorn. A being like Celestia herself. The thunder rolled, and the guards seemed to take a step back.

The Princess scanned Sunset, and replied. "Being a princess, must be earned." Her eyes falling to a glare. "I tried to teach you everything you would need to know. But you've turned from it."

"I've more than proven myself!" Sunset replied.

"All you've proven, is you are not ready." Princess Celestia boomed, while stomping her hoof, cracking part of the floor.

Sunset was taken aback, struggling to process the statement. Expression shifting from one of anger, to hurt, and a mixture of things in-between. Her mind racing. Trying to come up with a response, she simply couldn't muster.

"Sunset Shimmer." Celestia said quietly, at first, making the unicorn refocus on her. "I am removing you from my position as pupil."

"W-what?" Sunset asked.

"If you cannot get past this. Your studies, end here." The Princess added, sighing. "You may stay in Canterlot proper, but you are no longer welcome in my castle."

The guards moved nearer, Sunset taking a moment to respond to them. Before stepping back, absently shaking, shivering. Her magic grasping the books, before a brighter light snapped them away, letting them drop to the floor. The unicorns heart beating faster, and faster, the whispers having left her.

Sunset replied, tearing up. "We'll never get past this, because you aren't listening to me!" She replied, getting no response. "Is...is that really all you have to say?" She stepped back further. "To...to me?"

Princess Celestia was silent for a moment. "Guards. Please escort Miss Shimmer out."

"I...I..." Sunsets horn began to glow, tears falling from her eyes, presently flickering with anger. "this is...going to be the biggest mistake of your life!"

With a sudden glow of green light, she vanished, leaving the books nearby to scatter, including the tome she had been writing in. The spell knocking a few things off the shelf, in the process. Including an old dusty book, falling off a table, onto the floor, just out of sight. The Princess quietly processing all that just happened.

"One of many." Celestia said quietly.

A soldier asked. "Should we...go after her?"

Celestia turned, and starting out of the room. "No."

The unseen tome left opened to a page. Depicting a the scratched-out image of a unicorn. A name along the top, Hydia. A faint purple magic dragging it further into the shadows, alongside the journal of Sunset Shimmer.