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Organised by
RogerDodger
Word limit
400–750
Keeping the Faith
“You should go to Ponyville. I bet you could make some friends there,” Princess Celestia said.
Sunset Shimmer staggered back a step. She’d never heard the Princess say anything of the like to her students. They normally stayed as a single group, all within the same block of rooms in the dormitories, all sitting together in the cafeteria, all with private study hours in their mentor’s office.
Later on, the Princess had offered Sunset her own room, open-ended curriculum, and full access to the library’s restricted areas. All because Sunset consistently earned the top spot in her grade, or so she thought.
Then Sunset had stumbled upon something disturbing in her research: Nightmare Moon. She’d never taken it as more than a legend. Everypony liked to spook each other with stories about the Mare in the Moon. Too many sources corroborated the legend as real, though, with another wrinkle—the Nightmare would be able to escape her prison in just a few years! At least the signs pointed that way, but Celestia would hear none of it!
“How would making friends help? I’m talking about a serious threat to Equestria!” Sunset replied. She barely kept the fire in her throat from causing her voice to shake. “What are we going to do about it?”
Celestia only stepped forward and put a hoof on Sunset’s shoulder. “Don’t worry about that. Please. Just make some friends.”
Had Sunset failed? Or had she discovered some dirty little secret? Either way, Celestia clearly wanted to get rid of her.
She turned and ran.
The coin dealer had never seen a bit before,
but at least the gold was still worth something.
So Sunset had managed to rent an
apartment and feed herself. Quite well,
actually. And she’d made a place for herself
at school, where she could learn about this
world. But that was years ago. Why would it
continue to occupy her mind?
She had her own life now. She didn’t need
her old one. Except…
The book. Celestia had given her a journal so
they could write back and forth, no matter the
time or place. Sunset had only stopped by her
room to grab her saddlebag before dashing
through that mirror she’d seen once. She
didn’t even remember putting the book in
there. But when she checked her bag after
arriving here, there it was.
Sunset should have asked. She should have
explained. She loved Celestia—maybe the
Princess didn’t understand that. Maybe she
didn’t know how much it had hurt…
She got out her pen and poised it over the
empty page. It had been long enough.
Celestia owed her a reason, and Sunset
probably owed one in return. So she
pressed the point down, ready to form the
first letter of the “Dear Celestia” that might
turn all this around. Black ink bled away from
its point, soaking into the paper.
The page wrinkled under her teardrops. It
wouldn’t work. It would never work.
Would the Princess even forgive her after
this long? Or… or could Sunset forgive
her?
No. Not yet. Sunset wasn’t ready. But later.
She put the book away for later. She’d show
Celestia what she could do. Celestia
wouldn’t lose faith in her, and a little longer
wouldn’t make a difference.
Sunset stuffed the book back in her bag.
Sunset Shimmer staggered back a step. She’d never heard the Princess say anything of the like to her students. They normally stayed as a single group, all within the same block of rooms in the dormitories, all sitting together in the cafeteria, all with private study hours in their mentor’s office.
Later on, the Princess had offered Sunset her own room, open-ended curriculum, and full access to the library’s restricted areas. All because Sunset consistently earned the top spot in her grade, or so she thought.
Then Sunset had stumbled upon something disturbing in her research: Nightmare Moon. She’d never taken it as more than a legend. Everypony liked to spook each other with stories about the Mare in the Moon. Too many sources corroborated the legend as real, though, with another wrinkle—the Nightmare would be able to escape her prison in just a few years! At least the signs pointed that way, but Celestia would hear none of it!
“How would making friends help? I’m talking about a serious threat to Equestria!” Sunset replied. She barely kept the fire in her throat from causing her voice to shake. “What are we going to do about it?”
Celestia only stepped forward and put a hoof on Sunset’s shoulder. “Don’t worry about that. Please. Just make some friends.”
Had Sunset failed? Or had she discovered some dirty little secret? Either way, Celestia clearly wanted to get rid of her.
She turned and ran.
The coin dealer had never seen a bit before,
but at least the gold was still worth something.
So Sunset had managed to rent an
apartment and feed herself. Quite well,
actually. And she’d made a place for herself
at school, where she could learn about this
world. But that was years ago. Why would it
continue to occupy her mind?
She had her own life now. She didn’t need
her old one. Except…
The book. Celestia had given her a journal so
they could write back and forth, no matter the
time or place. Sunset had only stopped by her
room to grab her saddlebag before dashing
through that mirror she’d seen once. She
didn’t even remember putting the book in
there. But when she checked her bag after
arriving here, there it was.
The book. It had been years now. Nothing had
appeared in it, if it were even possible anymore.
She’d cried enough over it, long ago, but it still
brought out that sinking feeling every time she saw
it on her bookshelf.
She used to check it every day. She used to hold
her breath, open the cover, and see if any ink had
materialized. Sometimes a shadow tricked her, and
her heart leapt. For a second.
appeared in it, if it were even possible anymore.
She’d cried enough over it, long ago, but it still
brought out that sinking feeling every time she saw
it on her bookshelf.
She used to check it every day. She used to hold
her breath, open the cover, and see if any ink had
materialized. Sometimes a shadow tricked her, and
her heart leapt. For a second.
Sunset should have asked. She should have
explained. She loved Celestia—maybe the
Princess didn’t understand that. Maybe she
didn’t know how much it had hurt…
She got out her pen and poised it over the
empty page. It had been long enough.
Celestia owed her a reason, and Sunset
probably owed one in return. So she
pressed the point down, ready to form the
first letter of the “Dear Celestia” that might
turn all this around. Black ink bled away from
its point, soaking into the paper.
Again, Celestia checked the book. And again,
nothing. Nothing except a strange black dot. A
speck of dust.
She could go through the mirror. She could get out
a quill and leave her own message. She could find
her student and make everything right. She could
also make as much of a mess as she had last time.
When Sunset was ready…
nothing. Nothing except a strange black dot. A
speck of dust.
She could go through the mirror. She could get out
a quill and leave her own message. She could find
her student and make everything right. She could
also make as much of a mess as she had last time.
When Sunset was ready…
The page wrinkled under her teardrops. It
wouldn’t work. It would never work.
Would the Princess even forgive her after
this long? Or… or could Sunset forgive
her?
The page wrinkled under her teardrops. If only
Sunset would write. If only she hadn’t lost faith in
her mentor.
Sunset would write. If only she hadn’t lost faith in
her mentor.
No. Not yet. Sunset wasn’t ready. But later.
She put the book away for later. She’d show
Celestia what she could do. Celestia
wouldn’t lose faith in her, and a little longer
wouldn’t make a difference.
Too long already. Despite her best efforts, she’d
lost her most promising student. She’d failed
Sunset utterly, and nothing could change that now.
Nothing. Celestia closed the cover.
lost her most promising student. She’d failed
Sunset utterly, and nothing could change that now.
Nothing. Celestia closed the cover.
Sunset stuffed the book back in her bag.
Celestia tossed the book in the pile to be taken
away.
away.