It was a solemn moment at the portal that led to Equestria. Each of the girls looked at Sunset Shimmer as if this would be their last meeting. Though Princess Twilight assured them it wouldn't be so, it was still hard for the girls to not believe they may have lost their friend forever.
With Sunset examining the portal, Princess Twilight pulled some of the girls aside. With a consoling smile, she handed Sunset's journal to her human counterpart. “I'll try to keep in touch every chance I get. Any new developments, and you'll be the first to know.”
“Right,” nodded Rainbow, as human Twilight received the book, “and we'll look around here to see what we can find.”
“Maybe Wallflower can offer a few more clues as to what happened” offered Rarity.
Princess Twilight smiled. “Sounds like a plan.” She turned to Sunset Shimmer. “You ready to go?”
Sunset glanced at the portal, then back at the princess and gave a weary nod. “Uh-huh.”
Princess Twilight stood beside the portal and gestured for Sunset to follow, “Then, after you.”
Sunset gulped and took in a deep breath before taking a step into the rippling stone. After a harrowing ride through a multi-color rainbow tunnel, she found herself in what appeared to be a library. Not any library she had seen before, though, never having liked being in libraries in the first place, she hadn't visited all that many. She quickly realized she was back in her pony form and was standing on her hind legs. Falling onto her front legs, she let out a sigh.
She looked around for a moment, before she saw her: a large, white mare with an ethereal mane. Her heart jumped into her throat. “Princess Celestia!” she cried out and quickly galloped to her mentor's side. She latched onto her teacher as tears escaped her eyes. “It's was so horrible!” she wept, “There were strange, furless creatures that walked on two legs! Drank horrible drinks... and... and no magic!”
Princess Celestia wrapped a gentle foreleg round her student. “It's okay” she cooed, “You're home, and safe, now.” She looked up when she heard the portal starting up again and a white light illuminated the room. In a short time, Princess Twilight emerged from the mirror.
She gave a brief moment to acclimate to her pony body once more before addressing the student and teacher. “Princess Celestia, if I may have a word with you. In private?”
Celestia nodded and turned to Sunset. “I'll be back in a little bit. You just wait here, okay?”
Sunset sniffled and clung tighter to her teacher. “Please,” she whimpered, “don't leave me again!”
“Sunset,” said Twilight, gently, “you must be hungry. How about I have Spi—Starlight make you some dinner?”
A low growl rumbled through the room. Sunset looked perplexed. She thought for sure she had eaten lunch that day. Still, the thought of food sounded comforting. She wiped the tears from her eyes. “Okay.”
---
With Sunset happily enjoying a small supper in the kitchen, Twilight and Celestia made their way to the Map Room.
Celestia frowned in thought as Twilight filled her in on the details regarding Sunset's condition. “Without knowing to what extent the Memory Stone has affected her, it's hard to tell where to begin.”
Twilight nodded. “As far as we know for sure, she has no memory of her time in that world. That's at least a start.”
“Not a very good start, I'm afraid. It means Sunset may have also reverted to the way she was at that time.” She let out a sigh, memories of her young pupil flowing to the surface, “Sunset may have been intolerable before she left, but, at times, she could also be down right insufferable.”
“How did you deal with that?”
“The same way I caused it.”
“What?”
“You remember when she remarked that I didn't used to have a sense of humor?”
Twilight shrunk back, remembering that conversation quite well. “Yeah?”
“Well,” Celestia sighed, “contrary to popular belief, I've always had a sense of humor--it's just no pony ever got to see it. After I lost Luna, I became distant, and closed. And was so for many years. Though I had many friends, I still held them at a distance. I held on to the grief I felt from my sister and didn't want to get too close to any other pony for fear of feeling the same. In many ways, I have you and Sunset to thank for showing me I was wrong.
“Sunset came to me under difficult circumstances. She needed me as much as I needed her. And, while I tried to be everything she needed, I still maintained some distance—an error I only realize too late.
“Sunset's response was to lash out. She became unruly and rebellious. Suddenly, everything became about proving herself better than anypony. It didn't help that she had the talent and ability to do it. In the end, I'm afraid I became the object of her obsession.
“Naturally, I became strict and stern with Sunset, which only drove us further away. Surprisingly, she responded well to it. Almost as if that's what she wanted. Soon, that was all I could be with her.” Her expression and ears fell, “I'm afraid some of that carried over when I started teaching you.”
Twilight felt her own body slump. “I can see why you've never talked about her before. Or, why Sunset shoots me down whenever I ask.”
“Sunset has never liked to discuss her past. That was something I learned quickly when she became my pupil. Even when I tried to have her seek counseling, she refused.”
“Well,” Twilight sighed, “this certainly makes things a lot harder.”
“Indeed. But first, let's try to discern where Sunset is. If we can pinpoint where in time she thinks she is, it might help in figuring out what the Memory Stone did.”
---
“So,” Sunset said, taking a bit of grilled eggplant, “you work here?”
“Work, study, pretty much little bit of everything” Starlight Glimmer responded, suppressing a nervous chuckle. It seemed so odd to be dealing with Sunset in this manner.
“Well,” Sunset spat the morsel back onto the plate, “please tell me you're not the cook here. It's a miracle half of Equestria isn't starving due to unpalatable food.”
“What?” Starlight snarled. She felt a surge of magic to her horn, ready to smite the impudent pony. But, remembering these were abnormal circumstances, she quickly forced it back down. “Well,” she smirked, “think you can do better?”
“Think I can?” Sunset turned up her nose, “I know I can.” She got off her seat and marched past Starlight with an arrogant air to her strut. “You are talking about Princess Celestia's own pupil, after all. I'd mastered all the advanced spells of Nebulas of Queen's Pasture when I was a third-year. Cooking? Pfft! Might as well be Intro to Spells 101.”
Starlight watched as Sunset placed a frying pan on the stove and proceeded to dice and season vegetables with a single flick of her horn. Though, something about what Sunset just said didn't seem right to her. She was aware of Nebulas of Queen's Pasture, and his work. An evil grin crossed her face. 'Fine,' she thought, 'two can play at this game.' She flipped her mane and nonchalantly approached Sunset. “So,” she said, slyly, “Nebulas of Queen's Pasture, huh? Mastered all his spells, huh?”
Sunset threw the vegetables into pan, the moisture in the vegetables sizzled in the heated olive oil. She smiled proudly. “Yep! Performed every last single one of them.” She was thrown off slightly when Starlight retorted with:
“That's impossible.”
“Oh, really?” Sunset snarled.
A snark smirk crossed Starlight's lips. “Nebulas was a magic theoretician. All of his spells were thought spells. None of them were actually meant, or even possible, to perform.”
“Well, I did it!” yelled Sunset, “I even wrote a paper on it!”
“Where's that paper now?”
“In the school's library. That's right,” she straightened up and puffed out her chest, “I've been published!”
“I don't believe you.”
Sunset huffed and returned to her pan. “Princess Celestia had me publish under an assumed name” she said in a softer tone, “Go look it up. It's written under the name of Sundown Glisten, but it's all my work.” She spooned the sauteed vegetables onto a plate and returned to the table.
Starlight watched the other unicorn with wonder. Could is possibly be true? “Why did she make you publish under a different name?”
“Princess Celestia didn't want it tie back to me for fear it would fan my ego.” She took a bite of broccoli, “Ha! Like that would ever happen!” She pondered as she chewed. “Surprised you haven't heard of it. Most everypony has. There have been a few seminars on it and it's now required reading for Advanced Magic Theory.” she took a second glance at Starlight, “Did you even graduate?”
Starlight lowered her head. “I never went to Celestia's school.”
“Ha!” Sunset cried, pointing a yellow pepper-laden fork to Starlight. “I knew it! The moment I saw you, I knew I was dealing with an inept!”
“Wait, what?” Starlight fought to control her magic.
“Only the smartest, most powerful unicorns can get into Princess Celestia's school. No wonder you couldn't make the cut.”
Sunset's salvation came in the form of the kitchen door opening and the entrance of Princesses Celestia and Twilight. Had they waited a second more, Starlight couldn't guarantee there would still be an amber pony sitting at the table.
“Now then, Sunset Shimmer,” Celestia smiled, “I trust you've eaten your fill?”
“Mm-Hm!” Sunset smacked her lips and rubbed her belly, “Starlight is such a good cook. I don't think I could eat any more!”
Starlight glowered.
“That's good” smiled Twilight, seemingly ignoring her student.
“Sunset,” Celestia continued, “we need to ask you a few questions so we can figure out what happened to you.”
Sunset's face fell. “You mean now I somehow got magically teleported to another world?”
Celestia nodded. “What's the last thing you remember?”
“Well,” Sunset jumped to the floor and paced thoughtfully, “I was in my room. I had moved from my bed to the balcony so I would watch the sunset.”
“What were you doing in your room?” Twilight pressed.
“I was studying for... Oh, no! I have my midterms they day after tomorrow! And my paper for Elemental Magic is due in the morning!” She quickly fell into a panic attack that even Twilight considered a bit excessive. “...and I still have to dress the crickets!”
“It's okay, Sunset” Celestia said, putting a tender hoof on her student, “I'll have a talk with your teachers. I'm sure they'll understand, given the extenuating circumstances. Right now, let's see about getting you some rest. I'm sure after all this, you must be tired.”
As if on cue, Sunset let out a gigantic lawn. “I suppose I am. But, where am I going to sleep? I don't recognize this place. Where are we?”
“We're in Ponyville.”
“Ponyville?” Sunset sneered, “You put a castle in that backwater town?”
“That's enough, Sunset” Celestia glared, “It's quiet and allows Twilight and Starlight to do their work in peace. And, being that it's so late, we'll be spending the night in this 'backwater town'. Now, come along, I'll show you to your room.”
Sunset scrunched her nose at Twilight. “Have you no other staff for that? This is so below Princess Celestia.” She cowered slightly when she heard Celestia's voice:
“Come along, Sunset Shimmer.”
Sunset glared at her hosts before following after her teacher.
Starlight watched as Sunset exited the kitchen. Her eyes turned downcast. “I hate her.”
“Starlight!” Twilight yelped, her wings flaring.
“Are you familiar with a paper written by Sundown Glisten?”
“Thought to Reality: The Works of Nebulas of Queen's Pasture?” There was a little too much excitement in that voice. “Yeah, I've read it.”
Starlight's eyes closed. Her words pierced her and caused her heartache. “I really hate her.”
---
“Well, she's asleep” Princess Celestia said, joining Twilight, Starlight and Spike in the library. There was a fresh pot of tea on the table and she quickly helped herself to a cup. “I've asked Luna to try to look into her dreams. Perhaps she can discover more that will help us.” She turned to Starlight and gave a sympathetic smile. “I'm sorry for what happened in the kitchen. I should have warned you.”
Starlight's ears fell. “I suppose I should have expected it. Sunset and I have talked about our pasts. She told me she wasn't the best of ponies.” She frowned slightly. “Wait, how did you...?”
Celestia let out a light chuckle. “I've seen that act of hers before.” She let out a sigh. “It's obvious we're dealing with a much younger Sunset Shimmer.”
“How much younger?” asked Twilight.
“That mid-term and paper she mentioned both took place about two years before I first showed her the mirror, which was about three moons before she left...”
“Crickets?” Starlight raised an eyebrow.
Princess Celestia let out a light chuckle. “An independent study portion of the exam. Students choose a topic they find interesting and do a presentation before the panel. 'Shimmering Crickets', as they were later called, were a group of five crickets Sunset had taught to tap dance. They were dressed in highly-sequined jackets and had little top hats.” She took a sip of her tea. “Quite delightful.
“She followed it up later with synchronized dancing cats.”
“I think I've heard of that one” Spike remarked.
“Still,” Twilight sighed, “that's a lot of years to suddenly be missing.”
Celestia nodded. “For the time being, I would prefer to leave her in the dark until we know exactly what happened and can provide her with a means to remedy it.
“In a way, we got lucky. That exam happened about this time of year. Hopefully, for now, she can accept losing only a few weeks.”
“I'm sure everything will be better once you two return to Canterlot” Starlight offered.
“I will not be bringing Sunset back to Canterlot.”
“What?” the other three cried in unison.
“Canterlot has changed too much since then. This castle, and Ponyville, are unknown enough to her that she won't notice the time loss. The main thing right now is to be gentle.”
Spike crossed his arms. “I can't believe you're asking us to treat a grown mare like filly.”
“That's what she is right now—” replied Celestia, “a filly. A confused, scared, arrogant, selfish filly.” She hung her head, ashamed to think if her student that way again. “I'm sorry, Twilight, but, I wouldn't leave her here I didn't think you could handle her. I'll come as often as I can, and am needed, until we get this all sorted out.”
“But, where could we even start?” asked Spike. Anticipating a study session for Twilight, he had begun picking through the stacks for books relating to memory magic.
“That paper that was buried with the Memory Stone is a good start. If you can translate it, and find the hidden message, if any, it may be the key we need.”
Starlight examined the mystery parchment. “You really think there's a hidden message in this?”
Celestia shrugged. “Sunset has often had good instinct for these sorts of things. If she thinks there is one, then it is certainly something worth looking into.”