Chapter Text
With the Element of Magic in her possession, Sunset Shimmer felt like the most powerful being in existence. If she took over Equestria, she would prove to Celestia and the rest of her world that power really could grant a pony everything she wished for. But first, she had to get Celestia’s precious, pesky student out of her way.
But no matter what she tried, it just didn't work. Even with the crown on Sunset's head, it still gave Twilight the magic she needed to stand up against her. And it didn't help that her new friends were there, too. Somehow, despite being humans, they seemed to have magic in them as well. And it was making Twilight stronger.
“The crown may be upon your head, Sunset Shimmer, but you cannot wield it!” Twilight shouted. “Because you do not possess the most powerful magic of all: the Magic of Friendship!”
Most powerful? Was the Magic of Friendship really as powerful as Twilight claimed it to be? Sunset didn't believe it. At least, not until Twilight and her friends started glowing and creating a multi-coloured beam of light with their magic.
Alright, now she believed it. And she might be screwed.
The light surrounded Sunset, and she screeched in pain. All the magic the crown had given her was sucked right back out, and Sunset Shimmer was powerless once again.
As Sunset came to her senses, she heard Twilight's voice again.
“You will never rule Equestria. Any power you may have had in this world is gone,” she declared.
“I-” Sunset coughed. “I never wanted to rule Equestria! That was never my intention!”
“That's the effect of dark magic,” Twilight explained. Like Sunset didn't know. “The crown doesn't belong to you, so its magic consumed you. That's why you don't deserve it.”
Sunset looked down at the Element of Magic, now on the ground in front of her, a frown forming on her face. The crown wasn't hers to use; she should have expected being unable to tame its magic.
The Element of Magic was useless, if not dangerous to Sunset. She looked back up at Twilight.
“What you do deserve,” Twilight continued, “is a second chance.”
Twilight turned to all the other students. “What do you say?” she offered. “Will you all accept Sunset Shimmer as your friend? Will you teach her how to be a better person?”
No one said a word. Anyone Twilight tried making eye contact with looked away. Clearly, they weren't so keen on the idea.
“We will.”
Twilight turned to Fluttershy and the rest of the girls and smiled, pleased that someone had stepped up. Although Sunset had seen the power of the Magic of Friendship in action, she still found it strange that these girls could somehow manifest it - wait a minute.
Those girls - the human counterparts of the ponies who wielded the Elements of Harmony - could use the Magic of Friendship. It was pretty weird that they could, but that meant that they possessed the most powerful magic Twilight knew of. If Sunset could find a way to take this magic from them, she could become powerful once again.
Twilight turned to face Sunset again. “Well, Sunset,” she started, “you have five schoolmates ready to help you. Will you take this chance to redeem yourself?”
Twilight stretched out her hand, offering to help her up, and offering a chance at redemption. But to Sunset, it was a chance at regaining the power she needed to prove her point to Celestia. This was a perfect opportunity.
Sunset took Twilight's hand. “Alright. I accept your offer. I'll change my ways, I promise,” she lied.
Sunset handed Twilight's crown back to her. “I'm sorry for taking your crown. I won't be needing it anymore.”