//------------------------------// // Who you gonna call? 02 // Story: The Many Destinies of Sunset Shimmer // by ratedoni //------------------------------// They haven’t seen their redheaded friend in several days alongside the bespectacled girl they knew as Twilight Sparkle, or at least the human version of Twilight since Rarity and Fluttershy were accompanied by the Equestrian version. The three had met in front of the address Pinkie had given them; apparently being the current location of their friend Sunset Shimmer. The three girls looked at each other not quite sure if the address was correct considering that they were in front of an abandoned firefighter station. Rarity and Fluttershy knew the place had been abandoned since the 80’s but apparently it had been inhabited once again because they saw lights flashing behind the windows and could even hear music and other sounds being muted behind the raucous rock song being played. They all shrugged before knocking on the massive doors but then one section of the door opened up showing a smaller entrance in the middle of the massive one. Immediately they were assaulted by the noise of a radio and the sound of something emitting a lot of sparks inside the main area of the station. After a couple of seconds the girls already inside the place stopped what they were doing to join their friends. Rainbow Dash jumped down from a scaffold and it was obvious she was painting due to the one piece overall she was wearing and the brush on her hand. The half-finished wall behind her showed how amateur she was at painting but that Rainbow Dash was doing manual labor surprised the girls considering that the only arduous thing she ever did was training for different sports. Meanwhile, Twilight and Sunset took off their soldering goggles and joined the other girls who by now were wondering what was going on. “Hey girls; didn’t know you were coming, but is okay, Pinkie went for pizza and she always buys more than necessary.” Sunset said while others examined the place and noticed how well maintained the station was despite being abandoned for more than twenty years. “Oh well, this was mostly a last minute thing my dear, the princess wanted to see what you all were doing and we decided to come with her.” “Well, it was a little bit curiosity and also an official visit.” Princess Twilight said trying not to maintain visual contact with her human doppelganger. Even after all their adventures she still felt out of sorts in the company of the other girl and she was sure it was reciprocated by the way the other girl also reacted in her presence. “What do you mean by that Twilight?” Sunset asked really curious about the words of her friend. So far every visit of the princess was just so she could escape from the daily life stress she had since she was recognized as a fully-fledged Princess of Equestria. Since then visitors and problems seemed to swarm her daily life and Twilight enjoyed a day off by being around her human friends; but never before had she come to visit them in an official matter. “I received your message about the alarming rate in which ectoplasm apparitions had been sighted on this side of the mirror and that is worrying.” “Yes we know; they are being sighted on an alarming rate. Some of them have even made it to television, although most people seem to think they are nothing more than a hoax or a publicity stunt.” The native Twilight Sparkle said checking on her smartphone for a second before showing the others the article from the web version of the newspaper. “And that’s the main reason why I was being sent from Equestria. I’m sorry Sunset, but I had to tell Princess Celestia about your findings since this is the first time the mirror has acted upon the inherent magic field on this world.” “Translation for those that are not originally ponies?” Rainbow dash put her hand up after getting lost on the words from Princess Twilight. “Basically, they don’t know if the magic from the mirror made this world also have ghosts like in Equestria. Now give me the bad news Twilight.” “I’m sorry, but if it is found that the mirror is the one responsible for the anomalies then… Princess Celestia and Princess Luna have decided that before things get worst they will have to close the connection of the mirror… permanently.” Twilight said not feeling very proud of giving that kind of news to her friends. “Wait, you mean that the mirror will cease to work? But what about Sunset?” The lovely soft pink haired girl asked immediately worried about her good friend. “Is okay Fluttershy, even if the Princesses find any evidence then the only thing I have to do is catch every single ghost that appears on this side of the mirror.” Sunset said with her usual bravado and confidence while all the girls cheered at those words. “Then I can tell them that you are on the case. Are those what I think they are?” The Princess asked walking to the working table where several machines were stacked. “Yeah, those are ectoplasm linkers, heavily modified since we have access to better technology on this side.” Sunset said showing one of the machines that had two straps at each side so it could be used almost like a backpack “had to modify most of the machine so it could be easier to handle and it won’t take as much energy as the original back in Equestria.” “Sunset and I also worked on the catching device based upon my original magical compass. We also had to install a handle since it becomes overheated after a successful capture.” Twilight said showing the apparatus they already knew but with a handle at the end looking much more impressive. “Meanwhile I’ve been doing renovations on this place, can you believe Sunset used to live in here? Hell, she even owns the place.” “It is alarmingly easy the way I got this station considering the city practically forgot it existed.” “So what are you going to do in here? Are you seriously thinking about making this ghost hunting your business?” Rarity asked a little surprised about how much work the girls were putting into this adventure. “Well, the way I see it, we are doing scientific work, keeping the city protected and probably gaining money from it, what’s not to love?” Both Sunset and Rainbow high fived while Twilight simply sighed at the way her coworkers acted. Before the talk could continue they heard a car stopping outside of the station. Thinking that it was weird for someone to park, they all went out just to see a grinning Pinkie on top of a long car right in front of the station. “Pinkie, where in the name of the Sun and Moon did you get this car?” “Well, that’s one funny story, well, not really in the ha-ha kind of story but is still a nice story. So you guys remember that my dad finally went back to check the old family farm?” “Isn’t that the one where your grandfather found oil underneath it?” Rainbow asked since she remembered the story Maud Pie had told them once one day they visited the pink party girl. “That one, so apparently daddy found this old car in the garage and decided to bring it home. It took some work but it was finally finished but my dad thought, now that I have the car what am I going to do with it? So it stayed in our house for two months before I remembered, weren’t you, Twi and Dashie working on your ghost busting business? Wouldn’t it be nice for you to have your own transport? I mean, you guys will probably have to drive around the city so what better gift than your own company car?” Pinkie said without even stopping for air making every single girl blink at what had just happened. “So let me get this straight? Your dad is giving us a car?” Sunset was not quite sure how to take the sudden news that they had their own car now. “Well, once I told them what you wanted to do my mom and dad simply nodded and gave me the keys so yeah, you guys have a new car!” “That’s all good and dandy, but what’s this car and who left it in your house?” Rainbow said checking every single side of the car with a huge grin on her face just thinking what they could do with the car to make it look cooler. “Well, apparently one guy didn’t have money to pay my grandpappy and gave him this car but in the end left it in the garage; and it is a 1959 Miller-Meteor Cadillac.” “Wait, are you telling us that this… ‘thing’ is a Cadillac?” “Oh, come on Rarity, with some mods this thing will be the coolest thing on wheels.” The talk could have continued but a phone ringing stopped everyone. Rarity quickly checked on her bag and took out her own smartphone quickly answering the call. “Hello? Oh Bon-Bon, it is a pleasure to hear from you, how are you?... I see… Well, is true, she is starting to look on these accidents… don’t worry, I will tell her, they will be there shortly. So apparently Bon-Bon and Lyra swear that there is some kind of green flying blob haunting their new apartment and they want Sunset and company to check out if it is true.” “Oh wow, we aren’t even open yet and we get our first call? This is so awesome!” Just as the girls were being all excited or worried about what this could mean a new figure appeared on the station looking a little lost. “Excuse me… is this where you are hiring extra help?” The girl said not quite sure how to take the surprised looks from the redhead and one of the apparent twins. Was it something she had said? “Starlight Glimmer?” One of the twins said making the purple haired girl frown in confusion. “Yeah, how did you know my name?” “Doesn’t matter! Rainbow, get the proton packs -and yes, that’s how Sparky wanted to call them- and you, Starlight, come with us, if after what happens today doesn’t make you run away in fright then the job is yours and you get a raise!” Sunset said quickly giving instructions as she, Rainbow, Twilight and Starlight got inside the car and began to drive in search of a new ghost to capture. As the car began to move farther away the other four girls took a look at each other and simply shrugging went back into the station with several pizza containers in their hands. Someone had to keep an eye on the headquarters as the others took the first step as the city’s Ghostbusters.