Oh, this is cute, well detailed and nicely executed. Colors, lines and shadows are crisp and that’s a sweet expression on filly Twi’s face. Despite the subject matter, which has been extensively mined by the fandom, this one will rank high on my slate.

This is too freaking cute

I think this looks quite fantastic and is definitely going near the top of my slate. If I were to nitpick it's that Twi's face looks a little odd (imagine her nostrils are her eyes. Cannot unsee.)

>>JudgeDeadd
Same - There's 4 pieces that are competing for the top 3 slots for me, way above everything else. This one takes my top, though, for several reasons:

1. Largely open-ended as to what you can write about with it.
2. Very clear prompt connection
3. Art quality is quite good, evoking the show but keeping artist's style in play.
Bonus #4. It's adorably cute.

The other 3 pieces in the running all hit at least 2 of the first 3, but none manages to do all of them.

I agree with the others that this is nice. Yet, whenever I look at it, the thought in the back of my head is that this is a less bold/imaginative version of "Tall." That being said, Twilight's expression here conveys more of a sense of awe.

Well someone around here certainly knows how to art.

I think we all know that this will medal.

Two nitpicks:
1) You've got a stray line from Twilight's hair crossing her eye.
2) The solleret on Celestia's upraised leg curves with her knee pastern rather than the metal extending straight.

Otherwise both technically and artistically excellent.

for being titled Shadow of the Sun, it keeps bugging me that the shadow here is so muddy and sloppy, compared to the rest...

>>horizon
I just assumed her hair was doing that anime "eyes are always visible through the hair" thing. But since this piece isn't particularly anime-like in style, I don't know why I assumed that. I haven't even been watching much anime lately. :p