//------------------------------//
// Chapter 5: Medical Test 
// Story: Editor Required 
// by stupidhand14 
//------------------------------//

        It took Sunset several minutes to find the underused nurse’s office. It looked like any other room in the school, as if it was just converted to serve the needs of the medical personnel. The inside, however, couldn’t look any more different. There were several smaller rooms off to either side, a waiting area, and a desk, where the nurse was sitting.
        Sunset walked over to the nurse and held out the note. “Principal Celestia told me to give this to you.” Without looking up from the computer, the nurse took the note and read it with a glance. Only after it was read did the nurse take her eyes away from the screen.
        “Are you Sunset Shimmer?” she asked. Sunset nodded slowly. “Okay, if you can go into room 2, I’ll be there in a moment.”
        “What do you mean?”
        “That’s why you’re here, aren’t you?” The nurse gave the note back to Sunset, allowing her to read it.


Nurse Redheart, Sunset needs to take a medical examination, as well as a psychological examination. Make sure to send me whatever you find.


-Principal Celestia


        “This can’t be right,” Sunset said, giving the note back to Nurse Redheart. “Celestia would have told me about this, instead of tricking me here.”
        “Well, there might be a reason for that…” Nurse Redheart wheeled her chair over to a file cabinet and retrieved a manilla folder from it. “According to your records, you haven’t had a single vaccine since coming here, and I’d like to make sure are up to date, so I’ll need to draw some blood. You’re not afraid of needles are you?”
        “No,” Sunset lied. “I’m not afraid of them.”
        “Okay, if you can go into room two, I’ll be there in a minute.” Nurse Redheart walked into one of the side rooms as Sunset walked towards room two. However, before she could enter it, the front door swung open. Rainbow Dash and another student entered carrying a limp Lightning Dust between them.
        “Nurse Redheart!” Rainbow shouted. Immediately the nurse came out of the side room, two files in hand. The moment she saw Lightning Dust, she rushed over and shouldered most of her weight. With a jerk of her head, she began to pull the unconscious student to room two.
        “What happened?” the nurse asked as they walked. Sunset followed behind them, morbid curiosity taking over her.
        “Right before practice started, Lightning Dust just took a knee clutching her head.” Rainbow helped to lift Lightning onto the bed in the room. “After a few seconds she just went limp.
        Nurse Redheart nodded. Placing a finger on Lightning’s neck the nurse closed her eyes. After a few seconds she nodded, and began to examine the rest of the body.
        “It seems she’s dehydrated, though it looks severe.” After she said this, Lightning began to stir, her eyes opening slightly. “I’ll go get some water.” Within a few seconds, the nurse went out of the room.
        “What happened?” Lightning looked around the room, her eyes resting on the retreating nurse. “Why am I in the nurse’s office?”
        “You passed out on the field.” Rainbow went to the side of the bed. “Nurse says you’re dehydrated.”
        “What? Dehydrated?” Lightning Dust looked around, noticing the others in the room. “I’m not dehydrated. I just got a little dizzy is all.”
        “Don’t put on a strong face, you idiot.” Rainbow gave an uneasy smile. “Seriously, don’t say it was nothing. You were out for a solid five minutes.”
        The door opened to permit the nurse entrance again, this time with a cup of water with a straw. “Good, you’re awake.” She placed the plastic cup into the student’s weak palm. “Drink all of it, slowly.” 
Lightning Dust followed the nurse’s instruction, stopping only to ask, “Will I be able to practice today?”
“No,” Nurse Redheart answered firmly. “I want you to be in here drinking for at least the next fifteen minutes, then it’s off to home with you. Preferably with someone else.” Her eyes turned to Sunset. “In fact, it shouldn’t take me more than fifteen minutes to get your examination done with. Do you mind walking her home?”
Sunset blinked in surprise. “Uh, sure. I wouldn’t mind.”
“Thank you.” The nurse moved over to the door. “We’ll be in the other room if you need anything, Lightning Dust.”
“Alright, thanks.”
Sunset followed the nurse to the neighboring room. Needles weren’t that bad, right?





        Twenty minutes later, Sunset was walking down the hallways accompanied by Lightning Dust. The latter wasn’t even trying to stifle her laughter.
        “That didn’t happen,” Sunset said, her voice sounding dead even to her ears. “Nothing that occurred in the nurse’s office happened.”
        “Don’t worry,” Lightning Dust assured, stifling another round of laughter. “Though I don’t know if I can keep quiet about the nurse chasing you down the hallway.” This time she didn’t hold back, letting out all her stifled giggles.
        Sunset’s face only grew redder as the two exited the front doors. However, once the two reached the road, Lightning Dust began to walk towards the back of the school.
        “Where did you say you lived again?” Sunset was pretty sure she lived down the road from the school, not around back.
        “Hey, listen, don’t worry about it, ’kay?” Lightning Dust turned to look back at her. “I’m not going home. I need to head off to practice, otherwise I’ll fall behind.”
        “Wait, hang on!” Sunset rushed ahead before stopping, standing right in the way. “I promised Ms. Redheart I’d get you home after you left.”
        “Yeah, yeah, and I’ll get home, but I’m perfectly healthy now.” Lightning must have noticed Sunset’s suspicious looks, or perhaps it was simply that she knew she was lying straight to her face. With a small grin, she took off at a dead sprint. “If you can catch me, I’ll agree to go home with you.”
        Sunset hesitated for only a moment before charging after the fleeing girl. Unfortunately for Sunset, she hadn’t been keeping up on exercise since leaving Equestria, while Lightning Dust was still in her prime.
        Needless to say, it wasn’t even a contest. By the time Sunset got halfway to the back of the school, Lightning Dust had rounded the corner. Sunset, not wanting to break her promise, pushed herself harder. Upon rounding the corner, she almost crashed straight into Lightning Dust, who was waiting for her.
        “Woah!” Lightning Dust was able to get out before the two plunged to the floor. “Jeez, you trying to break your neck or something?”
        “I didn’t,” Sunset began, letting out a few deep breaths of air, “think you’d be standing there, waiting.”
        “What? You think I’d issue a challenge then ignore it once I’ve won?” Lightning Dust flashed her a smirk. “C’mon, you can see I’m okay. I’m not dehydrated. Now, will you just leave me alone so I can go practice?”
        “No.” Sunset’s answer seemed to catch the athlete off guard. “You’re getting home, whether you’re in shape to exercise or not.”
        “How does that make any sense?” Lightning turned around, only to notice Rainbow standing there. “How long have you been standing there?”
        “A couple of seconds after Sunset almost floored ya.” Rainbow looked past Lightning, at Sunset. “I assume the nurse said she’s not gonna be practicing today?” Seeing Sunset, nod, she returned her gaze to Lightning. “Then you’re not practicing.”
        “Why not?” Lightning asked, her face scrunching up. “I’m fine. I can practice without holding anyone back.”
        Rainbow locked gazes with her for a few seconds before her voice dropped to near inaudible levels. “Go home. That’s an order from your team captain.” Without waiting for a response, Rainbow ran off back towards the soccer field, where the rest of the team was in the middle of practicing.
        Lightning Dust stood, shaking slightly, her fists clenched. After a couple of seconds she turned around and began to walk towards the front of the school, pausing only to say, “Let’s go.”
        Sunset hurried to catch up with a speed-walking Lightning Dust. When they approached the front of the school, a voice called out to Sunset. Turning, she found Twilight rushing towards her, accompanied by Flash.
        “You going home, Sunset?” Twilight asked as she approached. 
        “No, I’m walking Lightning Dust home.” The girl in question was waiting a few feet ahead, her eyes closed, as if trying to calm down.
        “You know,” Flash brought a finger up to his chin, “I can give you a ride over, then back home, if you want.”
        “That would be appreciated.” Sunset turned back to Lightning Dust, raising her voice a little. “Flash is giving us a ride. Come on.” Lightning Dust took a deep breath before following the trio to Flash’s car.
        Sunset and Lightning Dust shuffled into the back, while Twilight and Flash got the front seats.
        “So, why are you walking Lightning home?” Twilight asked during the ride.
        “Well, she came into the nurse’s office, so the nurse asked me to take her home.” Lightning grumbled under her breathe.
        “Woah, Lightning, what happened?” Flash asked, looking at her through the rearview mirror. “Did something happen at practice?” Lightning, however, didn’t answer.
        “The nurse says she got dehydrated,” Sunset explained after a few seconds of silence. 
        “I wasn’t dehydrated.” Lightning shot a glare outside the window. “I wasn’t thirsty. I just fainted after looked at Rainbow.” Lightning finally allowed for a shiver to come over her. “It was weird.”
        “How was that weird?” Twilight looked back, cocking her head. “It sounds like a normal coincidence to me.”
        “When I saw Rainbow it was like…” Lightning tried moving her hands, as if trying to grasp the proper words. “It’s like my mind broke, I guess? It was like there were two ideas at the same time in my head, and it just beat me over the head with pain.”
        The car was silent for a few seconds. This silence was broken with an excited screech from Twilight, who all but turned around in her seat to look at Sunset. 
        “Do you think it has anything to do with the magic?” she asked, an enthusiastic smile on her face. “Do you think it may have affected her?”
        “It’s possible,” Sunset confessed. “But how can we know?”
        “I have a gadget back in my lab that would work for this very thing!” Twilight looked back forward, determination in her eyes. “I can get it on Wednesday, then we can test it.”
        “Hey, we’re here,” Flash announced, pulling the car to a stop in front of Lightning’s house. 
        “Thanks for the ride, dude,” Lightning said as she got out. “I owe ya’ one.”
        “No problem.” Flash waved goodbye before beginning to drive away. Once they were safely back on the roads, he looked through the rearview mirror at Sunset. “So, what are you two talking about magic?”
        “Oh, just some new magic problem that we’re trying to solve,” Twilight answered. “Don’t worry, it probably isn’t even a problem anymore.”
        “Well, if you two ever need a ride to handle these magic things, just give me a call.” Flash gave the two girls what he thought was his winning smile. “I’m pretty much free all the time, so I can drive you around whenever.” It didn’t affect either of them.
        “Thanks for the offer, I might take you up on that.” Sunset saw her house down the road. “And thanks for the ride.”
        “Yeah, no problem.” Flash pulled up to her house before putting the car in park. “Seriously, if you ever need a ride, just call.”
        “Will do.” Sunset hopped out, giving the two remaining people in the car a quick wave before heading inside of her house. Breathing a sigh Sunset moved to her couch, laying on the couch for a few seconds. She let her stress just melt away, feeling relaxed and comfortable.
        Unfortunately, the moment ended all too soon. Once her ears adjusted away from the noise of conversation, Sunset could hear the faint sound of buzzing. Opening her eyes, she moved down the hall, investigating where the noise was coming from. Finding that it was coming from her room, she opened the door.
        On her desk, next to the Book of History was the journal Celestia had given to her. At that moment, it was vibrating and shining a bright red. Walking over, Sunset opened the book to find new messages from Princess Twilight.

        Sunset, how did the test go? Did it act the same despite the name change or did it disenchant entirely?
        Awaiting a response,
        Twilight Sparkle

        Sunset reread the message over, slightly confused. She had looked at the book the night before. No message was sent, yet the entire page was filled up. Sighing, she read on.

        Sunset? You there? I’m starting to worry as I’ve yet to receive any messages from you since I sent the book over two weeks ago. I’m tempted to cross over there to see what’s going on.
        A worried friend,
        Twilight Sparkle

        Another layer of confusion fell upon Sunset. It didn’t make sense. The timeline matched up, but something was very wrong about the contents of the message. Sunset’s eyes moved further down the page, noticing the letters were becoming less neat, as if rushed in writing.

        I can’t cross over the portal. Sunset, please don’t tell me that the book has led to the destruction of Starswirl’s portal. But, please, if it is destroyed, tell me the truth. I need to talk to you, I’m starting to freak out. I even started a sentence with a preposition. 
        Currently freaking out,
        Twilight Sparkle

        The portal wasn’t broken, at least not from the outside. Was something wrong with the magic? That would explain why the messages were broken, but if it was broken how was she getting the messages? Reading down, she noticed the script changed hoofwriting entirely.

        Dear Sunset,
        Twilight has been freaking out lately, and I don’t think she’ll hold out very long without hearing from you. Please, send a message soon.
        -Spike
        Sunset picked up her pen immediately, and began to write.

        Twilight? You there? The portal and the book aren’t broken, I think. I just got your messages.
        -Sunset

        Sunset sat back in her chair. Nothing left to do but wait. She could probably go and cook dinner, maybe get some chores done. Before she could even leave the seat, words began appearing in the page in front of her.

        Sunset! Where have you been, what happened?

        Sunset breathed a sigh of relief, picking up her pen again.

        Some stuff happened with the book, some of which I can’t explain.

        Sunset tried her best to fill Twilight in on everything that had happened in the past week, including her scrambling to save Rainbow Dash. It was only going over everything that she realized she had forgotten to grab the one object that would shed light on the powers of the book.

        Sorry, Twilight, but I have to rush back to school to grab something. Talk to you later tonight?

        Yes. I may even be able to help solve this mystery.

        With a smile, Sunset flung her backpack across her shoulders before running out of her house, pausing only to lock it. With a deep breath, she set off on her walk back to school. Pulling her phone out of her pocket, she read the time. It was already 3:30. The school would probably be open for a few more hours.
        With a nod to herself, Sunset picked up her pace. By the time she got to the school, it was already 3:45. Pushing open the front door, she rushed over to her locker. Inside was a bright yellow book she didn’t recognize.
        Pulling out, she read over the title: The Akashic Records and You. Rolling her eyes, Sunset stuffed the the book into her backpack. Turning to walk outside, she was caught off guard as Rainbow walked towards her.
        “Is practice already done?” Sunset asked, though she already knew the answer. Practice lasted until at least 4:00.
        “No, but I wanted to talk to you…” Rainbow looked off to the side, as if avoiding looking Sunset in the eye. “I wanted to talk to you about the me from the alternate past.”
        “Oh, yeah. Sure.” Sunset followed Rainbow outside. Rainbow lead them over to the bleachers next to the field where the rest of the team should have been practicing, but it lay vacant. After sitting, Sunset turned to Rainbow. “So, what did you want to know?”
        “H… how was I, when I was changed?” Rainbow rubbed a hand through her hair. “Was I as awesome as I am now, or was I someone completely different.”
        “Definitely different.” Sunset hid a smile behind her hand. “You were very different.”
        “How was I different?” Rainbow adopted a cocky smirk as she eyed Sunset. “Was I into basketball instead?”
        “More like you were into cartoons.” Sunset wouldn’t admit it, but she loved watching the confidence fade from Rainbow’s face, changing to horror.
        “What do you mean, cartoons?” Rainbow’s eyes began to fill up with fear.
        “You were part of the anime club at this school, you knew a silly dance, and you even performed it on command when you broke a rule.” Sunset couldn’t hold back her smile anymore, nor even the laugh that escaped her mouth as she thought back to that day.
        “You mean… I was an egghead?” Rainbow fell back in her seat, laying her head on the bleacher behind her. “How could I have been an egghead?”
        Sunset finally felt some of the mirth leaving her. “There’s nothing wrong with being an egghead. I mean, you may still like the stuff if you---”
        “No.” Rainbow sat upright. “No way would I enjoy any of that nerdy stuff.”
        Sunset was taken aback. “What do you mean? You haven’t even tried it.”
        “Trust me, I know what I like.” Rainbow slid on a mask of confidence. “I like sports and stuff, not books and nerdiness.”
        Sunset eyed Rainbow suspiciously. “You seem to be very opposed to the very idea of you liking nerdy stuff.” Realization dawning, Sunset let out a sigh of relief. “Rainbow, are you hiding the fact that you---”
        Rainbow pulled out her phone raising a single finger to interrupt her. She put the phone up to her ear. 
        “Hello?” Rainbow looked around. “Yeah. Oh. Oh! Sorry! I’ll be there in a few.” Rainbow hung up the phone, giving Sunset an apologetic smile. “Sorry, gotta run. Dad needs me home for monthly family dinner.” Without waiting for a response, Rainbow took off running, slinging her backpack on in one fluid motion.
        Sunset watched her leave, almost disappointed. Was that really the best excuse Rainbow could come up with? After a few seconds, she pulled out her journal and a her lucky pen.
        
        So, how can you help solve this mystery?
        -Sunset

        Sunset put the journal back in the backpack and began her trek home. Halfway there, she felt her backpack vibrate, but decided to leave it until she got home. Once she was in the safety of her home, she opened it again.

        I think it’ll be easier for me to answer that question in person. I think this may be involved with the time anomaly I told you about, but I’d like to do some research into Starswirl’s Constants and Variables Theory. When is a good day for you?

        Sunset let out a loud sigh. She studied Starswirl for several years, but it seemed that every time she thought he run out of theories to make, he had another one tucked away somewhere. 

        How about this Saturday?

        That doesn’t work. I have to attend a Princess Summit. Does next Saturday work?

Sunset opened her calendar. Nothing too important was scheduled for that Saturday.

        Yes, that works. However, I need to read a book that will shed some light on the scenario, so I’ll have to message you later.

Okay. I’ll be waiting.

        Sunset smiled, comforted by the fact that her closest friend was always nearby. Opening her backpack again, she pulled out a bright yellow book.

        “Now, let’s see what you have to say,” Sunset said to no one but the book.

        Just by opening it, Sunset felt her head grow light. By reflex, she closed the book. After a few seconds, the light-headedness faded. Sunset glared at the book, silently cursing Hast. Sunset looked around the room. Unless she was wrong, she wasn’t going to be up for very long.
        Sunset got up and moved to her room. Laying on her bed, she didn’t even bother to read the book or get in a position to read it. Instead, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Opening the book, she felt the light-headedness return.
        The first few seconds were manageable. However, after them, Sunset was feeling almost sick. She was sorely tempted to just close the book and go see Hast, but she knew that he wouldn’t provide any answers. Instead, she persevered.
        As soon as she made that decision, all the ill effects of the book disappeared. In its place was the same pulling that the Book of History had when she first opened it. Sighing, she opened herself to it, and allowed it to pull her in.