//------------------------------//
// Chapter 4: Aftermath 
// Story: Editor Required 
// by stupidhand14 
//------------------------------//

        Sunset felt a brightness pierce her eye. She tried to shield them, but her arms weren’t quite ready to obey her. Growling, Sunset braced herself and opened her eyes, only to get blinded by sunlight. Closing her eyes even harder, the young woman lurched her head back and tried to cover her head with a blanket. Unfortunately, the spell was broken. She couldn’t go back to sleep.
        With a sigh, Sunset threw the blanket off her head and gave the window a glare that would have shattered it, had it not been for the Sun now shining into her dilated eyes. Sunset’s hands flew to her eyes, covering them from the Sun’s onslaught. After several seconds, her irises readjusted and she could finally open them without pain.
        Sunset let out a yawn as she forced herself up. Looking at her phone, she saw that it was already 11:21. The tired girl couldn’t help but clench her teeth. Twilight was supposed to wake her up. Twilight was the one who set the alarm, after she was kept up for a slumber party.
        She already felt another headache forming. Trying to prevent any more annoyance, Sunset stomped to the living room, where Twilight was supposed to be sleeping. The night before, the living room was an absolute mess, with books and food bowls scattered around. Sunset saw no evidence of any slumber party having been in her living room.
        Everything was clean, relatively speaking. Sunset’s backpack was still by the door, and dirty dinner dishes were in the sink. The couch was put back together, the blankets folded and put away, and the pillow was missing. Along with everything else, Twilight herself was gone.
        Sunset’s heart beat faster. She walked through her house, checking all the rooms for her missing friend, but she couldn’t find her. Sunset pulled out her phone and, her hands shaking slightly, she touched Twilight’s contact and hit the call button. It only rang twice until someone answered it.
        “Hello?” Twilight’s voice came through the phone, triggering a sigh of relief from Sunset. 
        “Where’d you go?” Sunset’s panic was already replacing itself with anger. “I can’t go and save Rainbow Dash without someone watching over me.”
        “What are you talking about?” Sunset could hear Twilight opening a planner in the background. “Did we have something planned for today? Oh, I’m so sorry!”
        Sunset could feel her teeth grinding. “Just hurry back.”
        “Back where?” Sunset could hear Twilight rushing around, grabbing something. “I don’t have a ride, my parents have been gone all weekend.”
        “Back to my house?” Sunset’s anger was disappearing rapidly. Why was Twilight asking her this? It didn’t make sense. She was just there yesterday. “Twilight, are you feeling okay?”
        “Yes, I’m good.” Sunset heard a few taps on computer keys. “Okay, the next bus leaves in 20, so can we just meet up at Sugarcube Corner at 12:30?”
        “Sure, see you there.” Sunset hung up the phone before leaning back to think. Looking at the clock, she noticed only ten minutes had passed, leaving her an hour to meet with Twilight.
        And only twelve to save Rainbow.
        With a grimace, Sunset pulled out the Book of History. However, the pull that she had felt coming from it for the last few days was only noticeable by its absence. Sunset knew it was probably a bad idea to start this without Twilight being there to jump in, but she was able to escape without an external aid last time, so she would be fine. Hopefully.
        Sunset placed it on the other side of the room, before sitting in the center. Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes and opened her mind. She searched for the book with her mind, but couldn’t find the currents it usually gave off. It took an entire minute of searching to find it, and only then she could  barely feel its magical field.
        The moment she touched it, however, it sprung to life. She felt the portal opening before her, and she entered the Akashic Records once more.





        Sunset’s eyes opened to find herself back by the fountain and the front desk. Hast Soporific was nowhere in sight, though Sunset doubted he would stay hidden for long. Trotting past the desk, a voice spoke up from behind her.
        “What are you doing back here?” a masculine voice asked from behind her. Sunset turned to find the desk once more engulfed in a mess, and the mess creator back in the chair behind the desk, a goofy smile on his face. In his hands was a familiar looking book.
        “I need to fix the past.” Sunset pointed her horn and gripped the book in her magic. “I don’t have much time, so if you can just give it to me, I’ll hurry and get it done.”
        Hast let go of the book, allowing it to move next to Sunset before responding. “I’d suggest you read it before you go about ‘fixing’ it again. Oh, and before I forget...” Hast, with a wave of his hand, pulled an envelope out of thin air, and made it disappear with one fluid motion. “There we go, done.”
        Sunset gave him a flat look before opening the book, turning to the page she had all but memorized, a page she knew for fact was in the book. It wasn’t there. Sunset flipped through the book, doing her best to ignore the snickering from behind the desk. This book was definitely the one she needed, but there was no error markings or anything that screamed “fix me”.
        Sunset turned to Hast, and threw the book in front of his face. “What happened to the book?” She hopped onto her hind legs, her forehooves resting on the desk. “You said I had one more day!”
        “Why would you need another day?” Hast scooped the book from the air, and placed it to the side. “Everything’s fine now. No need to worry your cute pony head.”
        Sunset’s immediate response was just to glare at him. “Obviously it’s not fine. Twilight didn’t remember Rainbow Dash, meaning I didn’t do it right.”
        “Have you asked her that today?” Hast held out his hand and a book soared straight to it. Opening it, he scanned through one of the pages before looking back at her. “Nope, you didn’t ask her after the update.”
        “Update? What update?”
        Hast sighed before holding up his hand. “It’s all explained in the book. It really would have been easier if you just read it.” Looking over his desk, Hast pulled out a rectangular card scanner. “Now, just swipe it through here and we can both leave.”
        “No.” Sunset slammed a hoof on the desk while the other pushed the scanner away. “I’m not leaving yet. I’m tired of you piecemealing the information to me.” Grabbing Hast in a levitation spell, she forced him closer. “I’m not leaving until you tell me everything.”
        “Hm…” Hast pulled out a clock shaped as a duck out of nowhere. “Nope, I’m afraid it’s time for me to go, so…” Grabbing the scanner, he held it out to Sunset. “Would you kindly just slide your keycard through for me?”
        “Not until you answer my questions.”
        Hast gave out an overdramatic sigh. “Oh very well.” With a snap, the two were in chairs facing one another, Hast behind his desk. “I can answer one question, then I have to go.”
        “One question. That’s all I get?” Sunset would have spoken more, but was rudely cut off.
        “Yes, you only got one question.” Hast pushed the scanner where she could see it again. “Now, I must be going. Bye!”
        Before Sunset could even leave her seat, Hast was gone. Not even a snap, just nothingness where he was. Sunset sat glaring at the clean empty desk. It took several minutes for her to calm down enough to put her keycard through the scanner.





        Sunset’s consciousness returned to her body. Her headache was back in full force, not aided by her foray into the Akashic Records. Pulling out her phone, she pressed the contacts button and went straight to Rainbow Dash’s. The clock at the top read 11:51. Taking a deep breathe, Sunset hit the call button.
        The phone only needed to ring twice before a voice picked up.
        “Hello?” Rainbow’s voice came from the phone. “What’cha need?”
        “Rainbow…” Sunset realized she might not have thought this through. In an attempt to keep the conversation, she defaulted to, “How are you?”
        “Good.” Rainbow said something else, but it was cut off by the wind blowing. “I’m over at AJ’s right now, and it’s pretty windy. What do you need?”
        Sunset’s sigh of relief filled the entire room. Her head falling back, a smile grew on her face. Rainbow was with AJ. Her friend.
        “Sunset?” Rainbow asked, breaking her out of her reverie. “You there? You got suddenly very quiet.”
        “Yes!” Sunset focused on the conversation once more. “Yes, I’m here. Sorry, got lost in thought.”
        “Oh no.” Rainbow’s voice was tinged with sarcastic mockery. “Twilight’s habits are rubbing off on you. You’re becoming the third Twilight.”
        Sunset gave off a slight laugh, an idea forming in her mind. “In all seriousness, mind meeting me at Sugar Cube Corner?”
        “Oh, uh, hang on.” Rainbow’s voice turned distant. “Hey, AJ, Sunset wants to hang on Sugar Cube right now. Wanna head over?”
        Sunset couldn’t make out a reply, but Rainbow’s voice returned a moment later.
        “AJ and I’ll be there at 12:30-ish. See ya’ then.”
        “Bye.” Sunset hung up the phone. It was at this point she noticed her hand was trembling. Gripping the phone tighter, she let out a worried grimace. Turning her phone on again, she dialed in another number.





        Sunset walked into Sugar Cube Corner fifteen minutes before anyone else was supposed to arrive. Anyone besides Pinkie, of course, who was already sitting in her normal chair, a milkshake in hand. The rest of the shop was relatively empty, only one or two other patrons. As soon as Pinkie spotted Sunset, she gave a fast, energetic wave. Sunset walked over to her friend and sat in her normal chair.
        “So, why’d you call me here?” Pinkie asked, her eyes locking on the bulky bag Sunset brought with her. “And what’s in there?”
        “I’d prefer to wait until everyone else is here before I explain.” Sunset kept the bag a bit closer, giving the currently curious friend a smile. “As for the bag, it’s part of why I called you here.”
        “Can I at least have a hint?” At Sunset’s lack of response, Pinkie turned away, a finger resting on her cheek. “Maybe it’s a baker’s dozen of cursed cupcakes? Or perhaps it’s something to do with the magic from Equestria?” Latching onto an idea, Pinkie swung around, her face right in front of Sunset’s. “Does this have anything to do with that note I gave you?”
        Before Sunset could say anything else, she felt a presence behind her, only noticeable by the shifting of a chair’s weight. Turning, she found Fluttershy sitting, her bunny resting in her lap.
        “Sorry I took so long,” she said sheepishly. “Angel wanted to run around the park a bit before leaving.”
        “You’re good,” Sunset assured her, reaching out to pet the bunny. It seemed nice enough, until the point that it’s paw came up to stop her from petting it. Sunset didn’t press her luck, reclining back into her chair.
        Turning back to Pinkie, Sunset saw her pilfering her bag, taking a sneak peek at what was supposed to be a big reveal. Sunset moved behind Pinkie before giving a slight cough, causing the guilty girl to stand straight up, a smile creeping onto her face. Before Sunset could properly reprimand her, the door opened once more. 
        “Sup all.” Rainbow Dash spun a chair around and took her seat. Applejack was close behind her, though she just sat on the couch. “What’d you need, Sunset?”
        “She wants to show us something in the bag,” Pinkie answered before Sunset could. “I looked, but I don’t know what it is.”
        “Well, what is it Sunset?” Applejack asked.
        “I’d rather wait for Rarity first.” Sunset brought the backpack closer to where she was sitting. “Twilight can help me explain it once she gets here.”
        “What do you need my help with explaining?” Twilight inquired as she made her way over to her spot. 
        “Good, now all we have to do is wait for---” Before Sunset could get any further, the front door opened again to show Rarity entering with a dignified walk. “Nevermind.”
        “Oh, everyone else was coming as well?” Rarity looked around, her eyes blinking. “My, if I’d known that I would have brought something.”
        “You’re good.” Sunset cleared her throat before speaking a bit louder. “I asked you all to come here to warn of a new magical problem.” Pulling out the book, she set it on the table in front of them. “This is a magical book I got from Princess Twilight. It allows me to go back in time and fix the past that has been messed with.”
        “How can a book do that?” Rainbow raised an eyebrow. “Books don’t have any real powers, so how can a book from Equestria do that?”
        “It was an enchanted book.” Sunset held out her hand to Twilight. “Twilight can explain the process of what happens when I go into the past better than I can, since she was the one in the present at the time.”
        Awkward silence took control for a few seconds as all eyes turned to Twilight, who looked akin to a deer caught in the headlights.
        “How would I know?” Twilight finally asked, breaking the silence.
        “What do you mean?” Sunset’s mind spun at the possibility. “Don’t you remember what we did this past weekend? Our meeting with Ms. Spitfire, how I left to look for Rainbow Dash, coming to my house to watch over me?”
        “I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Twilight put her chin into her palm. “Though you were gone Friday, and your text didn’t make a lot of sense.”
        “What are you two talkin’ about?” Applejack chimed in. The five other girls were all sitting around the table thoroughly confused. 
        Sunset’s mind raced for an explanation. Time Travel was supposed to be a theoretical spell at best, and its applications ranged from world destroying to harmless, depending on the amount of manipulation of events. It was possible that her stopping the past’s mistake wouldn’t erase her actions in the present, but would affect other’s actions.
        “Earth to Sunset.” Rainbow Dash snapped her fingers in front of Sunset’s face, knocking her out of her thoughts. “You back to us yet?”
        “Huh?” Sunset shook her head wildly, clearing it of thoughts. “Yes, sorry… but I think I understand what happened, now.”
        “It’s not polite to leave us out of the loop, then.” Rarity cocked a single eyebrow, a knowing smile on her face.
        “Right, right.” Sunset collected her thoughts for a moment before speaking. “Someone messed with the past, completely rewriting Rainbow’s past.” Rainbow tensed a bit, but otherwise didn’t show any change. “This person got Rainbow Dash to accidentally break a teammate’s ankle in a soccer match, which led to her quitting sports entirely out of guilt.”
        “That’s awful.” Sunset put a comforting hand on her friend’s shoulder. “But I don’t remember that…”
        “Yeah, how does that work?” Applejack asked her brow furrowing. “I know what happened, and Rainbow hasn’t been acting unusual or different at all.”
        “Your memories were rewritten… Twice, I guess.” Seeing that nobody made the connection, she pressed on. “Each of you, when Rainbow wasn’t like she is right now, didn’t know Rainbow beyond what happened prior to that change, and now that she’s back, your memories are rewritten again.”
        “Oh… that definitely complicates things.” Rarity brought a hand to her temples, giving it a quick massage. “But, how do you know that’s how it worked?” Everyone glared at her. “I’m not saying you’re lying, but usually we can see the magic that affects us.”
        Sunset’s mind thought for a prime example, before turning to her pink haired philanthropist. “Fluttershy, do you remember telling me anything important on Friday?”
        “Um…” Fluttershy stared off into the distance, combing through her own memories. “Not that I know of.”
        Leaning towards her, Sunset cupped her mouth to Fluttershy’s ear and whispered so no one could hear her say, “Your first kiss was with Rainbow Dash.”
        Immediately the light yellow girl’s face turned a shade of orange as red embarrassment flooded her face. Quietly, she told the group, “She’s right.”
        The entire group was quiet at this, each one in the recesses of their minds having had a seed of curiosity planted. What could embarrass Fluttershy?
        “Well, now that that’s settled, what do we do?” Sunset asked.
        “You mean, how do we stop this creep?” Rainbow punched the palm of her hand. “I say we find this monster and use some Equestrian magic to put it back where it belongs.”
        “And how do you propose we find it?” Rarity gave the suggestion a dismissive wave. “We don’t even know what it is.”
        “It’s a person,” Sunset informed somberly. “I saw a glimpse of them, briefly. Their face was hidden, but their body shape was definitely humanoid in origin.”
        “Great, that just narrows it down to a couple billion people on the planet.” Rainbow rolled her eyes. “C’mon, don’t you have anything else to go on?”
        Silence reasserted itself, as the clues that Sunset prepared had dried up quickly. 
        “We’ll need to start investigating it,” Twilight announced, nodding her head. “I still have some of my old equipment that will help us find Equestrian magic, so we can use that.”
        “That seems like the best option, at the moment.” Sunset looked around the group. Most of her friends were in agreement. “When can you have something ready?”
        “It’ll probably take me a few days to get back to my lab in Crystal Prep, though if it’s in one of the boxes in my room, it’ll be much easier to get.” Pulling out her phone, Twilight sent a quick text. “I’ll check when I get home.”
        “Sounds like a plan.” Sunset finally let a smile show on her lips. They had a plan, and the person they were after was going to be caught. Things were looking up.





        “Sunset?” a voice called out.
        Her eyes reopened to find her in her history class again. Clenching her teeth, she mentally berated herself for falling asleep again in class.
        “Sunset, you have a note here,” the history teacher said, holding out a piece of paper. “And please, I know it’s Monday, but that’s no reason to fall asleep in my class.”
        “Sorry.” Sunset took the note and gave it a quick read.

        Come to my office after school. We have something to discuss.
        -Principal Celestia

        Sunset gulped hard, but the frog that just crawled up her throat refused to go down at all. A meeting with the principal was never good if she had to send a note.
        Despite dread making every moment seem like an eternity, the bell rang all too soon. Accepting her inevitable fate, Sunset moved for the door, only to be stopped by Twilight.
        “Wait for me!” the nerdy girl shouted, hurriedly shoving a book into her backpack before slinging it around her back. “What was the note for?”
        “I have to talk to Principal Celestia.” Twilight gave her a reassuring smile. “I’m sure it’s just something to do with magic.” Suddenly her eyes lit up. “Maybe she knows something about the past being changed?”
        “That’s… possible.” This Celestia was nothing like her old teacher, but that possibility made Sunset’s heart lighter, if only a little. However, before too long, they were in front of the doors to the office.
        “Alright, talk to you tomorrow,” Twilight said as she waved. Sunset waved back before turning to the door. Taking a deep breathe, she walked into Principal Celestia’s office.
        Principal Celestia was sitting behind her desk, a file in front of her. She didn’t move to put it away, instead looking up at Sunset.
        “Please, take a seat.” She motioned to one of the chairs on the other side of the desk. Her voice lacked any emotion. Sunset followed and took a seat right in front of her, knowing this would not end well. “Tell me Sunset, do you have problems with your history class?”
        “Nothing I can’t handle,” Sunset assured her, a false smile on her face. Inside, she was all but freaking out.
        Celestia looked down at the file in front of her again. “It seems to me that you’re having trouble with it, if these grades are any indication.” Sighing, Celestia lay back into her chair. “Sunset, do you know why I bring this up?”
        “I’m not entirely sure,” Sunset confessed.
        “If you don’t keep up a 4.0 GPA, then the grant that you get that I handle would disappear. You’d have enough money for a few more months of school before you wouldn’t be able to pay for anything.” Celestia closed her eyes. “If you don’t keep your grades up, it’ll be a slippery slope.”
        “I know that.”
        “Then why don’t you do anything?” Celestia stared at Sunset for a few moments, but the latter could give no answers. “Look, you have many friends in this school, get one to tutor you.  You need to spend more time on history, less time on other activities.”
        Sunset’s mind was in autopilot, so all she said was a timid, “Yes, ma’am.”
        “Good, now…” Celestia pulled out another note and slid it across the table. “Take this to the nurse.”
        “Okay.” 
        “Unless you want to talk about anything else, you may leave.” Celestia waited several moments for Sunset to get up, but the girl just sat there. “Is there something else you wanted to talk about?”
        “Yes…” Taking a deep breath, Sunset began to explain. “There is a new Equestrian magic threat that I am dealing with at the moment. It alters the past, but I undid the alteration.”
        “I see…” Celestia leaned back in her chair, eyes closed. “Which part of the past was affected?”
        “Rainbow Dash was completely changed by a single event in the past, and that event was changed for the worst possible outcome.”
        Celestia thought for a long moment. “Is there anything I should be on the lookout for, or is there something I can help you with?”
        “I was hoping you’d know something.” Sunset sighed. “I guess that was hopeful thinking.”
        “I’ll keep a lookout for suspicious individuals and objects, but I can’t be overt about it, or the school board would think I’m  crazy.” Celestia motioned to the doorway. “Take that note to the nurse’s office, and I’ll think more on this.”
        Sunset got up and left the room, leaving Celestia to contemplate. Several minutes after she was gone, Celestia opened a drawer in her desk. Inside were two files. Taking the top one out, she pulled out her phone and sent a text to Vice Principal Luna.


Schedule Rainbow Dash a medical exam and get me the files on Fluttershy.