#s:Shimmering

[scnsetting]

vs Celestia (FE)

Strong steps all around. Fights rage on across the castle. The throne needs to be seized, and while some of the other magic-inclined allies take the royal guard from afar, the hooded Sunset approaches the magnificently dressed Queen, dark sparks already flaring from her tome of choice.

“Ah. I see you have relinquished your haughty nature and recognized who is superior. It behooves you to stay your tome, Sunset Shimmer.”

“Tch. As if. I came here for you. To shove some sense into your face.”

“Hm?”

“You’re inept. Always hiding behind someone. The Elements of Harmony. Your new protegé turned princess. Your sister. Even as your servants fall, you don’t stand from your throne. You never gave me any power because you had none. I should have figured.”

“You resent your own weakness so much that you’ll blame it all on me? Sunset, my dear. This was what I was trying to avoid. True strength can never come from one person alone. Even when surrounded by all these friends, are you still blind to this, like you were all this time?”

“I’m not weak!! No thanks to you! I know exactly what you mean. I have allies now. I know this power. But it’s not mine to do what I wish with. That, I had to get on my own. And I did! I’ll show you right here, right now, how wrong you were!“

“... Then come. If you’ll pit your life on these ideals, I’ll have to show you the folly of it.”

Sunset raises her hand forth, and a wide dark matter materializes between them, shooting forward to Celestia in interrupted burst, which makes her back down a step, but keep standing with no other signs of pain.

Celestia, in turn, raises a scepter with a blue orb on top, that glows bright, before the room and especially Sunset are bathed in schorching sunlight, that makes the girl yelp and kneel, unable to stand up for a while after the attack that devastated her.

Galloping is heard, and a sword sheathes. Sunset sees the looming shadow of a cavalier with a hat stretch a hand to her. A rescue.

“No, I-”

She wants to resist, but is forced to take it when the armor-clad country girl takes her in anyway.

“Ya’ll did yer part. Leave it to Twi now.”

The turn was not over, but her part was.

[scnsetting]

Recruitment (FE)

(Some music)

“Halt! You there!”

A hand wave of the princess Twilight Sparkle, wearing her royal robes that cascaded down into purple and pink and with a tome of magic under the motionless arm, made the marketplace draw to a standstill.

Specifically, the Princess had been turned to another woman that wore heavier, dark-red robes and a cloak over her head, hiding most of her hair but still giving way to piercing green eyes. Her huge sleeves were almost concealing a black tome held in her right hand.

“I see your weapon. Can you tell me why you haven’t answered the call to arms earlier?” The Princess continued, in a less regal and more friendly tone, which was snapped back at.

“The business of the kingdom aren’t my own. I’ve been banished and will have nothing to do with official business. You should know that, ‘Your Highness’.”

“What...? But I didn’t do it!” Twilight claimed, defensively. “... Did you have a dispute with Princess Celestia?”

“Hah hah. You could say that. She used to be my mentor, you see. We had a dispute over power and its meaning, and suddenly I had no place in her court anymore.”

“... This is news to me. I used to be her pupil myself. Sorry, I didn’t know-”

“I don’t need your pity. With that established, if you’re allied with her, consider us enemies. Now leave me be.”

She turned with a sharp motion, but Twilight stretched her arm to hold her shoulder.

“Wait! ... I’m making my way to confront the gryphon riders up north before they become a threat. It’s just me and my friends. If we had someone as capable as someone who served under Celestia before, it’d be an easier journey.”

“You’d take a banished woman into your ranks? Doesn’t that sound even a bit dangerous to you and your troops?”

“It’s my call, not Celestia’s. You don’t strike me as such a horrible type, anyway. I rather give way to a possible friend than leave behind any bad blood.”

The proposition was considered. The cloaked woman stood in place for a moment, and then raised her tome to chest level.

“Nowadays, I can only use my magic on bandits and thieves. Your journey sounds like a dangerous one. I wouldn’t mind some more practice under my belt.”

“Thank you!” Twilight Sparkle sighed in relief, and raised a hand for a shake, which was properly granted. “Now, you know my name, but you have the advantage on me.”

“My name’s Sunset Shimmer. My magic is darker than most, but I assure you I am in full control of it.”

“Welcome aboard, Sunset.” Twilight smiled, and turned the way from which she came. “Follow me. My friends are battling outside. We’ll be the reinforcements.”

With that, the two ran off the village, and to the battleground.