Sunset ran out of the library, as tears formed in the corners of her eyes. It was one thing for everyone else to keep away from her, but to see her lover’s memory of her erased. It was soul-crushing. She ran until she got to the castle’s wall, ignoring everyone along the way. There she looked for a corner and once she found one, she lowered herself to the ground on her rear. She covered her eyes as she cried.
“Doesn't anyone remember that I've changed?!” Sunset beat her hand against the wall, a small plume of fire appearing atop her clenched fist.
Sunset’s eyes widened as a sudden terrifying thought crossed her mind. “What if everyone’s forgotten?” She whispered. She jumped to her feet and started running back to her room, before bashing through the door like it had been barricaded shut.
She ran to her dresser where she kept the journal she got from Princess Twilight. Flipping it open to an available blank page, she pulled out a pen and began to mumble to herself. “Please don’t let me be a fugitive.”
She wrote on the page a simple letter: Dear Princess Twilight, this is gonna sound crazy, but... are we friends? Am I... nice? Sunset found herself waiting with bated breath as she prayed for a quick reply.
“Please answer…” She found herself whispering.
The tome then vibrated. She opened it and saw Twilight’s writing, ‘Um… yes… and yes.’ Sunset sighed in relief. ‘Are you okay? What's going on?’ Twilight asked to follow up. Sunset gave sad sigh as she started to write, ‘Kinda hard to explain. Might be easier in person.’
About fifteen minutes later, Sunset returned to the library and went to the mirror. She took a breath as she moved the stars and spirals to open the portal. Once opened, she went into it. On the other side, she saw a familiar demigod. “Twilight!” Sunset said as reached out to hug the princess.
“Sunset!” Twilight said as she flew over to hug Sunset. “Welcome back,” she said before they ended the hug. “So what’s going on?”
Sunset sighed, “Everyone seems to have forgotten all the changes I have made and every positive memory of me, but that’s not the worst part, my girlfriend only remembers when I yelled at her.”
“Excuse me, your girlfriend?” Twilight asked.
“Oh, didn’t I write it down?” Sunset asked nervously, “Um Sci-Twi and you are a couple…” Sunset then started to laugh nervously.
“So you and…” Twilight started to ask.
“Eyeup.”
Twilight blinked a couple of times, “But she’s a…”
“Eyeup.”
“Okay moving on, if what you’re saying is true. Then that-” Twilight started.
“I am not sure if I am actually sapphic.” Sunset cut off Twilight. “I think she’s my exception.” Sunset paused for a couple of seconds, “oh you were talking about the whole memory erasing thing.” Sunset then gave a nervous laugh. There was a solid minute of awkward silence between the two. Sunset then coughed, “So about the memory thing.” she gave a nervous chuckle.
“Well, um,” Twilight trailed as she tried to collect herself from the recent exchange, “this is not magic I am familiar with, but there are two people I believe who would know about that kind of magic,” Twilight said before she too started to laugh nervously.
Sunset raised an eyebrow, “Wh…” the pyromancer started but trailed off with a sigh. “Well, it’s time for me to confront her.” Sunset said as she started out of the library, “Well let’s get going, next stop Chantalot.”
“Are you sure you’re ready to meet her?” Twilight asked.
Sunset stopped and sighed. She didn’t turn to look Twilight in the eye, “No one remembers all the good I have done since I tried to steal your crown, and my love can only remember the one time I yelled at her,” Sunset then turned to reveal the small stream of tears coming from her eyes, “if there is the smallest chance my mom, Princess Celestia, might help me reverse that, then its time to let that demon roost.” Twilight silently nodded as she prepared to cast a teleportation spell.
After Twilight cast her teleportation spell, the two arrived in one of the hallways of the Chantalot castle. After a couple of minutes, they arrived at the throne room. Twilight opened the doors, “Just follow my lead.” She said to Sunset.
The hall that led to Celestia’s throne was just as gloriously lit as she remembered it. The bright summer sun was shining through the multitude of stained glass windows that depicted many major moments in Mystica’s history. Most of them showed Twilight and her friends’ accomplishments. They made Sunset feel more self-conscious than she already was.
After a short walk, they arrived at Princess Celestia’s throne. The daytime monarch addressed them with a blank, emotionless gaze, which greatly differed from the way she usually greeted her visiting subjects.
Both Twilight and Sunset grew anxious. They couldn’t help but worry that Celestia was debating in what way to speak to them. Would she openly state her anger and scold Sunset for the poor student and criminal she used to be? Or would she try to remain civil, letting only slight hints of disgust escape in small portions through her words? Neither option made Sunset feel better about talking to her old mentor.
Twilight finally decided to break the silence between the three, “Sooo, Princess Celestia…” She laughed nervously. “You'll never guess who's back! Actually, maybe you can guess, 'cause she's right here. But, um…” She immediately turned to Sunset for encouragement. “Am I helping?” She whispered.
Sunset sighed as she stepped to be in front of Twilight and closer to Celestia, “Mom, I know the last time we met I jumped at the chance to get out of prison.” Sunset paused and took a breath. She thought about how she ended up in that cell and it all traced back to her, “And to be honest, the reason I was there was because I was your snide little pupil who betrayed and abandoned you.” Twilight was about to speak but Sunset raised her hand and silenced the younger demigod in the room. “But I am not that person anymore. I come back because I need help. Back in Midnight Castle, everyone's positive memory has been erased, even my love. The only memory she has of me was when I yelled at her when she couldn't control the power she had. I need your wisdom and knowledge. Please, I don't expect you to-” Sunset was cut off by Celestia placing her right index finger on Sunset's lips.
“You were always a wordy one,” Celestia said rather neutrally. A smile then grew on her face as she pulled Sunset into a hug, “I missed you, my little sunshine.”
“Oh, Mom,” Sunset said as tears of joy started to form in her eyes. She completed the hug. Twilight could help but squee at the happy sight.
After a few more seconds, the two ended the hug. “I am not familiar with a specific spell that causes selected memories to be erased,” Celestia said. She then held her chin. “But this magic does sound familiar, like from a story my mother told me.” Celestia then started to lead them out of the throne room. “Both of you follow me.” She ordered. Twilight and Sunset looked at each other and nodded before they followed her.
“Where are we going?” Twilight asked.
“The complete archive of Clover the Clever’s memoirs,” Celestia answered. “If anyone has recorded magic like that, it was Mother.” She informed as the three walked.
Twilight stopped and started to hyperventilate, “There's a… a… ded...dedic…” she tried to say between breaths.
Sunset and Celestia stopped. Sunset placed her hand on Twilight's shoulder. “Twilight stop! Hold your breath!” Twilight obeyed. “Now slowly, slowly, slowly let your breath out. Understand?” Sunset asked. Twilight nodded and obeyed Sunset. “Now take a deep breath.” Twilight did so. And she slowly began to breathe normally.
After a few minutes, they arrived at the library and after a few more they arrived at one of the oldest parts of the library. Sunset forgot how extensive the library of Chantalot was. She couldn't recall ever seeing the part dedicated to any of the founders. Well not true, she had seen the wing dedicated to Star Swirl the Bearded, but that was during a darker portion of her life, ironically a portion she would rather have forgotten.
Celestia reached and grabbed the edge of a rather disinteresting book with a long-winded title explaining the difference between two types of soybeans. Obviously, no one in their right mind would ever pull this book off the shelf to read for pleasure, which made it perfect for hiding a switch to a hidden room. She pulled the book, revealing a hidden expanded wing of the library.
Twilight was so shocked and awestruck that Sunset was concerned her eyes would pop straight out of her head. She then gave a prolonged gasp, “Oh-my-gosh-oh-my-gosh-oh-my-gosh-oh-my-gosh-oh-my-gosh!” she shouted like a child at Hearth Warming Day, “So many books all unread! Ancient historical artifacts!” She then gasped again, “I just... I thought...! I can't...!” she could only wheeze as she held her chest, almost unable to stand.
Sunset placed her hand on Twilight’s shoulder, “Listen Twi-” she started.
“Don't take this away from me!” The more studious demigoddess shouted as she cut Sunset off before starting to run around the part section of the library and began looking over everything. “No way! Can you believe they have Chantalot Cantabiles Volume Thirty-One?” She asked as held up the tome in question for Sunset and Celestia to see, “You heard me! Thirty-One! Sunset, that's when it gets goooooooood!” she said as she hugged the book in an arguably too blissful way. She then gasped as she saw something, “ Over here! An original Windigo Weather Warning! Oh, my goodness! I can't! I just can't!” she announced from deep within the section of the library.
Sunset and Celestia could not help but share a laugh. “So any idea where to look?” Sunset asked. Celestia shook her head, “Well this is gonna make Twilight’s day.” Sunset said as she rolled her eyes. “Hey, Twilight! It looks like we’re gonna have to read everything!” She shouted. All the two heard was a squee of delight.
After what seemed to be hours, Sunset pushed aside the book she was reading. She yawned more so out of near boredom. “Did you know Chancellor Puddinghead tried to pass a law mandating Earthborn to drink carrot juice at every meal?” Sunset said bored. “I do. Know that. Now.” she said each word as if it was its own sentence before she let her forehead fall to the table.
Twilight then came up to Sunset from behind. “Awww.” Twilight seemed to whine, “Sounds like you got to read all the fun books.” Twilight yawned in what seemed to be boredom. “We should probably take a break from looking…” she trailed off as Sunset sighed in frustration. A massive smile grew on Twilight’s face, “Because I found something!” she shouted as she presented a set of scrolls. “You're familiar with The Seven Trials of Clover the Clever?” she asked Sunset.
Celestia giggled when she heard the title, “Mother always hated that how edit of er liked how it made her sound like some wondering hero searching for fame, and I am certain she never forgave Platinum for commissioning it.” Celestia committed and had another laugh. Celestia then placed the book she was reading aside, “Any particular trial…” Celestia started to ask but stopped after a second of thought. “Of course, The Memory Stone!” Celestia shouted as she snapped her fingers. “I remember the story now. There was an Earthborn sorceress who crafted a totem of sorts from stone and with it, she was almost invincible.”
“How?” Sunset asked.
Twilight pulled out the specific scroll, “Well, according to this, with the stone she could erase any and all parts of memory from anyone. Even erasing everything a person remembered.” Twilight summarized as she pointed to pictures on the scroll which showed the Memory Stone in use.
“Mother chased the sorceress all over Bullion's realm. But every time Mother had the sorceress cornered, she would erase Mother's memory of that day and give Mother the slip. But Mother caught on and wrote everything down,”
“That was pretty clev… oh got it,” Sunset said.
“Clover had to corner the sorceress and take the stone, but how?”
Celestia held her chin in thought, “If my memory of Mother’s stories serves, she borrowed Star Swirls' mirror, and instead of chasing the sorceress, Mother set up a trap. She sent out a message that she found a mirror that could restore lost memories. The sorceress took the bait and Mother was able to shove them both through the portal. Mother then took the stone and lept through the still-open portal and closed it behind her, leaving the sorceress on some desert island. Mother tried to destroy it, but she never could figure out how.”
“She must have hidden somewhere and left some sort of marker for her to relocate the stone once she figured how to destroy it. And if selected memories were erased, then it must have been buried somewhere near Midnight Castle...” Twilight mused.
“And someone is using it to make everyone hate and fear me again,” Sunset concluded. “But where was it buried and who could have it?”
Celestia was silent for a second in thought, “If I recall Mother, she would have placed a marker of three stones in a stone circle.”
“Question, why wouldn’t Clover either give it to Star Swirl or put it in a vault of some sort?” Sunset asked.
Celestia sighed, “You have to remember that the Seven Trials of Clover the Clever all took place during Bullion’s reign, and he was a very hands-on king, if anyone commissioned a vault that could house anything like the memory stone Bullion would have found out, and at that time Star Swirl was still mostly a researcher, he would have conducted experiments on and with the stone. The safest place for the stone until she found a way to destroy it, was for Clover to hid it far away.” Celestia pointed out.
“So I have to see if anyone found a stone circle of three pillars,” Sunset said and then looked at her hand. “Good thing I burn through the mist and see the truth,” she said with a smile. “Now I just have to narrow down my suspect pool.” Sunset then got up, “I have to head back. Thank you both for your help.” She then hugged both Twilight and then Celestia.
“This is quite a contrast from the last time we parted ways. But you are not that way anymore. With every choice you make, you prove yourself to possess a kind heart.” Celestia complimented her daughter. “I am proud of you, Sunset.”
Sunset blushed slightly, “Well, I guess I had a good teacher.” she said.
“Well, you were a good student,” Twilight added before the two hugged and shared a laugh.
“Are you saying I wasn't a good teacher?” Celestia asked with a great deal of anger in her voice. The two younger women looked at each other and ended up speaking over each other in an attempt to calm Celestia. After about a second of their attempts, Celestia started to laugh. “Gotcha,” she said with a playful wink before she had another laugh, with Sunset and Twilight joining her.