Sunset looked upon CHS with a sense of dread and trepidation, a feeling she hadn’t had since after the Fall Formal, when she was stripped of her status of ruler and waylaid by Princess Twilight and the girls. But back then it was because she was trying to be a better person, and everyone was having a hard time accepting that she was sincere in her actions until the Battle of the Bands, now though, it was the opposite. She was feared and hated, and that was worse.
With a heavy sigh, and determination, Sunset began her walk down the hallway, trying to find her friends. As per usual, they were all hanging out around the lockers, Sunset walked towards them and her presence was immediately noted by Fluttershy’s quick retreat behind Rarity. Upon seeing this reaction, the girls instinctively got on edge, with Rainbow and Applejack taking up their guard positions as they stood at the front of the group. Sunset had to admit, that look of suspicion, fear, and spite was not getting any easier to endure, especially from Twilight.
“Look I come in peace.” Sunset punctuated this remark by keeping her hands up as if she had a loaded gun pointed at her. “I’m not here to hurt you or trick you, I just need you guys to listen to me.”
Rainbow Dash scoffed at that. “Please, as if we would believe that! Just because you say you’re not, doesn’t mean you’re not secretly planning it, I trust you about as far I can throw you, Shimmer.”
“Please, just give me five minutes. You can tie me up for all I care!” Sunset pleaded.
That made most the girls look disturbed by how far she was willing to go to just talk to them. Whether it was because of how desperate she sounded, or how far she was willing to go to just speak with them, Twilight couldn’t shake this nagging feeling in her heart that told her to listen to Sunset Shimmer.
“Okay, whatever weird BDSM crap you’re into, we don’t want any part of,” said Rainbow. “Second you can just –!”
“Let’s hear her out,” said Twilight, shocking the entire group, and even herself. Twilight quickly followed up with, “B-But you better not try and trick us!”
The girls all glanced to each other; Twilight was the girl who was on the receiving end of one of Sunset’s recent tirades. On top of that, while “Sci-Twi” wasn’t Princess Twilight, they were similar in looks, personality, and mannerisms, and Sunset had not hidden her disdain of the young genius. So, if Twilight was willing to be in a room with Sunset Shimmer for five minutes, then the girls supposed they could do the same.
“Alright, but like Twi said, if ya try anythin’ funny…” Applejack punctuated her point by slamming her right fist into her left palm.
Sunset nodded and let the group lead the way to a place they felt safe. And as luck would have it, it was the music room where they practiced. It also meant that the walls were soundproof and if any kind of fight went on, then no would be able to hear it. Sunset’s heart sank when she entered the room, her axe that had been resting on a stand next to Rainbow’s was gone. Had they removed it? Did they even know it was hers?
The girls created a semi-circle, with Fluttershy still hiding behind the other girls. With a sigh, Sunset began her explanation. “Okay, look, I know this is going to sound crazy, but magic exists, and monsters and superheroes exist, so I kind of have some leeway here, agreed?”
Each of the six girls glanced to each other and reluctantly nodded, denying such things that happened on an almost daily basis, would be like denying that they transform into anthropomorphic pony girls whenever they play music.
“I don’t know what’s going on, but I’ve narrowed it down to a couple of possibilities. One: I’m trapped in an alternate dimension where everyone still thinks I’m a bad person, or two: someone has altered not just reality, but also your memories to make you all forget what we’ve been through together, that we’re friends!”
“Very well, say the second option is true, why and how would someone be able to manipulate everyone’s memories and only leave you unaffected?” Rarity asked.
Sunset ran her hand through her hair as she said, “I don’t know, and that’s what I need help with! Someone is doing this to get back at me, and I need to find them before this gets worse!” Sunset took out the piece of paper that had an illustration of the Memory Stone. “This is what erased your memories of me, it’s called the Memory Stone. It’s an Equestrian artifact that was hidden here on Earth, possibly in Canterlot City, if we can find out who has it, then we can reverse what they’ve done!”
The girls looked upon the picture, while they had to admit, it wasn’t a crazy theory, as the Sirens were thousand-plus-year-old beings that were once denizens of Equestria and were thrown into their world as a form of interdimensional exile.
“I don’t know, I mean it could be true, b-but then how do we know that you aren’t the one who has that stone, and are the one erasing our memories?” Fluttershy asked.
Sunset narrowed her eyes at the shy girl and said, “What reason would I have to put myself through a hell where everyone hates and fears me after spending so much time and effort to put that part of myself in the past and be a better person?! Oh yeah, that makes tons of sense, because I’m such a masochist!”
“EEP!” Fluttershy hid behind Rainbow Dash, scared at Sunset’s angry look and raised tone.
Sunset realized what she had done, and her face quickly morphed to one of deep apology. “I-I’m sorry, Fluttershy! I-I didn’t mean to go off on you! I’m just…just stressed right now…”
“Eh, I don’t know, Sunset Shimmer kinda has a point,” said Pinkie. “But we still haven’t ruled that this could be a trick, or the trick of a trick!”
Sunset’s eye twitched. “What?”
“I think what Pinkie’s saying, is that you’re known for elaborate schemes. While yes, such actions would be masochistic in nature, according to my friends, you have been known to endure some pain if it meant you got what you wanted in the long run, hence the first trick, you deceiving us to believe your story, and then the trick later when your plan finally comes to fruition,” said Twilight.
Sunset wanted to open her mouth to argue that, but when she looked back on her past actions, she couldn’t really deny her shrewdness. As much as Sunset wanted to admit it, they were right, if need be, she could play the long game in order to get what she wanted, and suffering a little pain was not out of the question if the payoff was worth it.
“Look, if ya wanna convince us, then ya best have better evidence then a picture of a relic, until then, Ah think we’re done here,” said Applejack.
The others nodded and began leaving the room, Twilight took up the rear and as she passed by Sunset, the fiery haired girl swiftly grabbed ahold of Twilight’s wrist. It was a strong, and yet gentle grip, not commanding that she stay where she was, but more like asking for her to stay.
“Sunset…please let go of my wrist,” Twilight requested in a shaky voice.
“Twi…please tell me you have some doubts about all this?” Sunset asked.
“I don’t know what to believe right now, while magic, heroes, and monsters exist, I have personally been on the receiving end of your scorn just because I look like someone who dethroned you and took some of your power over the student body away……! So, doubts, I have plenty of concerning you and any of your motives, Sunset Shimmer.”
Sunset let her hair hide her face as she released Twilight’s wrist and let her go. The girls watched in the doorway, waiting to jump in should Sunset try something while she had ahold of Twilight, but their fears were for naught, this time around. As they began to leave, Rainbow Dash added, “AND DON’T MESS WITH OUR INSTRUMENTS!” before leaving. Twilight stayed in the doorway a few more seconds, looking upon Sunset Shimmer as her back was turned to the bespectacled girl, and feeling a strange hurt in heart. Twilight dismissed the feeling and followed after her friends.
Sunset was alone, literally and figuratively. No allies, no friends, no way to call for help from the other Riders, and even then, who knew if the same thing that happened to this world would affect them too? All their memories of fighting side by side with Decade, Double, OOOs, Fourze, Wizard, Gaim, and Ex-Aid, all of that just gone. And, an even worst-case scenario, what if they saw Sunset as an evil Kamen Rider? As powerful as Sunset was now, she wasn’t about to risk having to fight seven different veteran Riders, each with their own powerful Final Form.
The former unicorn mare wanted to punch something, kick anything, but doing so now would just wreck her friends’ instruments and that’d just be one more thing to add to the list of reasons not to trust Sunset. With a frustrated growl, Sunset left the music room, her thoughts went back to last Friday, remembering that a certain amateur magician did threaten revenge on Sunset because of a Superlative. It was a long shot, but it was as good as any, with the Memory Stone, Trixie Lulamoon could erase away the memory of any bad performance she ever did, getting a do-over any time she wished. But, to take it to this extent?
She better hope it’s not her, and if it is, she better be possessed by dark magic!
***_____________<U>_____________***
Sunset stomped through the halls, on the warpath. She had a target in mind, a suspect, and she was going to confront her. As she did so, the rest of the students parted like the Red Sea, they could tell that Sunset Shimmer was coming for someone, and anyone foolish enough to get in her way was going to be incinerated on the spot. Sunset then accidentally ran into Microchips, knocking the young man to the ground, Sunset shook her head and looked down apologetically to Microchips as she held out her hand to help him up. Unfortunately, the frightened Microchips quickly dug into his pockets and took out some money, placing it in Sunset’s hands.
The flame haired girl’s brow furrowed as she growled in anger, she then grabbed Micro’s hand and hoisted him up as she put his lunch money back in his hand. “I don’t want your lunch money! I’m not mean anymore! Got it?! I’m not MEAN!” Upon declaring this, Microchips ran away, along with several onlookers. Sunset growled in frustration, and then snorted – a habit from her pony days that she hadn’t shaken off, nor intended to – as she continued along her route to a certain girl’s locker.
Sunset stopped when she spotted her suspect, Trixie Lulamoon. The locker door was facing towards Sunset, obscuring Trixie’s view of her position, which meant she wouldn’t see her coming. The former unicorn mare marched straight for Trixie, and as soon as the silver haired girl backed away from her locker, Sunset slammed the door shut, startling Trixie for a quick second before she composed herself.
“So…here we are,” said Sunset as she crossed her arms.
“Here we do are!” Trixie replied, mimicking Sunset’s stance, and after a second realizing how ridiculous her comeback sounded.
Both girls stared each other down, an invisible battle waged in the air as their auras flared. The students who were nearby cautiously backed away, part of them told them to stay and help Trixie, but then they remembered it was Sunset Shimmer and that the girl could literally kick their collective asses and not break a sweat. She even made the football team sweat bullets. So, with that in mind, the rest of the students vacated the area.
“You really want to do this here, in the hallway, in front of everyone?” Trixie dared.
“Up to you,” goaded Sunset.
Trixie opened her locker back up, and Sunset readied to summon her Uni-Driver to end this nightmare. “Behold! Canterlot High School’s Greatest and Most Powerfullest Student!” The magician pulled out a rolled-up paper and then unveiled it with a flourish. The paper was in fact a poster, displaying Trixie in a dramatic stance with cards floating about her, with sparkles, and smoke. “If a seven-scale mockup doesn’t convince you, I don’t know what will.”
Sunset’s left eye twitched. “I – I don’t – what? UGH! Where’s the Memory Stone?!”
Trixie looked at Sunset with confusion. “Memory what now?”
Sunset slowly advanced on Trixie as she said, “You used the Memory Stone to erase me and all the good things I have done, all the hard work I did to earn the trust and respect of everybody I hurt and wronged, and in just one day, you undid months of progress! Just because I wouldn’t put you in the yearbook as the ‘Greatest and Powerfullest’?! ‘Powerfullest’ isn’t even a word!”
“What in the world are you talking about?” Trixie asked.
“It’s not a word!”
Trixie shook her head. “No, not that, what ‘Memory Stone’?”
“‘What Memory Stone’?! The one you used to erase everyone’s memories you manipulative…bi…bi…BLOWHARD!” Sunset accused.
Trixie was at first confused, but then became very intrigued. “A stone that can make everyone forget all the bad tricks I’ve done…?!” Trixie then looked at Sunset and chuckled. “Which is no tricks! Your puny rock pales in comparison to the Great and Powerful Trixie!”
Sunset then came to a horrifying realization. “I…I don’t believe it…You have no idea what I’m talking about, do you?”
Trixie’s expression fell as she said, “I…don’t. Sorry.”
Sunset felt like crap, not just because she accused an innocent person, but because now she really didn’t know who the real culprit was. Her body slouched as she realized she was back to square one, Sunset walked until she was on the opposite wall of lockers and slumped down until she sat upon the linoleum floor, her face pressed against her hands as she tried to grasp this situation she was in.
Trixie looked upon Sunset Shimmer, she had never seen the mostly tyrannical, mean, and confident girl look so defeated. It should be a happy occasion, but, for some reason, Trixie couldn’t take any joy in this situation. It looked as if Sunset’s whole world had crumbled around her. “Did…Did somebody really erase everyone’s good memories of you?”
Sunset removed her hands from her face and nodded in the affirmative.
Trixie sat down, cautiously, next to Sunset and said, “And even though we all know that you’re the Queen of Mean, you’re saying that that’s not you anymore?” Trixie asked and waited for Sunset to punch her.
“Yes…it’s kind of complicated.”
The hall slowly began to fill back up with students now that whatever potential altercation had been avoided, Trixie looked at the downtrodden Sunset, seeing a similar disappointment not unlike her own. “So, you have this idea of who you’re supposed to be, but no one at school sees you that way, is that it?” Sunset looked up and watched as some of the passing by students looked upon Trixie’s poster and chuckled at the image. “Trust me, I get it.
Sunset watched as the other students got a chuckle at Trixie’s expense upon seeing her poster, and Sunset understood what she meant. “So…you believe me?”
“Well, to a degree, yes. Because I know that you would’ve knocked my teeth in for calling you…well…what I called you earlier. And…” Trixie rubbed her chin as she thought. “I don’t know how to put it, you seem…less off putting? More approachable? Something like that.”
The flame haired girl chuckled as she ran her hand through her hair. “I can’t believe the only person who believes me is the same person I just called a blowhard.”
Trixie raised an eyebrow at that. “Uh-huh, just a ‘blowhard’, I’m pretty sure I know another word you were going to use that started with a ‘B’.” Sunset looked away for a moment, Trixie smiled and then stood up. “I took it as a compliment though. Perhaps you need some Great and Powerful assistance, since this is clearly ruining your life.”
Sunset raised a suspicious eyebrow. “And what’s your price?” Trixie nodded towards the poster she had made of herself, and Sunset furrowed her brow. “No way! Absolutely not!”
Trixie shrugged. “That’s fine, if you’d rather go around being known as the Queen of Mean on campus – and I’m using a very mild term, then that’s fine with me.”
Sunset rolled her eyes feeling as if she was about to sell her soul to the devil, but the way she saw it, it was making a deal with a lesser devil in order to take down a greater one. “We’ll see how this goes, I’m keeping my options open, and consider it.”
“I’ll take it then,” said Trixie as she extended her hand to help Sunset up.
The former unicorn mare gratefully accepted her hand and let Trixie help her back to her feet, figuratively and literally. It was a strange partnership, Trixie often got on her nerves, and everyone else’s, but maybe she hadn’t given the amateur magician as much credit as she should have. Beneath her bravado, she did have a caring heart, even if it meant she needed to be rewarded in this case.
“So, where should we start, partner,” said Sunset.
“How about with what I call you? I’m thinking the Great and Powerful Trixie’s…Pretty Decent Assistant-Detective-Helper Person.”
“Geez, that’s not a mouthful,” said Sunset.
“It’s a working title!”
***_____________<U>_____________***
Lunch time had arrived, and still, no closer to solving the mystery of who had stolen the city’s memories and altered reality. Sunset sat in the empty table, alone, and from her vantage point, she could see her friends smiling and talking about something, what it was she had no idea. For all she cared it could be the most stupid thing in the world, and even if it was, she wanted to be there and join in. What hurt the most was seeing how they looked so…complete. As if she was just an extra person that was never meant to fit into that picture.
However, her silent rumination didn’t last long as Trixie came to fill in the silence, earning some strange glances as she did so, the other students no doubt believed she was going to toss Trixie like a rag doll for even attempting to sit next to her without permission. “A cafeteria full of suspects, two detectives, and only one Memory Stone. Seems, impossible, but so is pulling a rabbit out of a hat, and I do that all the time.” Trixie pulled out a pin and pad from her hoodie. “Let’s talk motive. Who here hates you enough to erase everyone’s good memories of you?”
Sunset groaned at the question, because the answer was obvious. “If you go back far enough…everyone…”
Trixie nodded and wrote as she said aloud, “Known suspects: all. Have you come into contact with anyone shady lately? Rubbed you the wrong way?”
Sunset took a moment to think about that, and as she scoured her own memories, nothing and no one came to mind. Well, there were two, Clear Skies and Sunflower, they were the only two villains left who knew who she really was. So, far they hadn’t made any direct attacks against Sunset, but she knew that that would only be a matter of time. They were hard at work remaking Gaia Memories, and had caused a few incidents in the past couple of months, but not with the frequency that Starlight did, most likely due to the fact that Starlight had legions of scientists and workers to mass produce the T1 Gaia Memories, and those two were probably using underground workshops and help to make them.
Thank Faust for small miracles, thought Sunset. “Before all this happened…no. No one. The only thing I did was spend time with…the girls…on Saturday, and Sunday, Twi and I went out on a date and I came back home.”
Trixie wrote all this down but stopped when the last part of Sunset’s sentence registered. “Wait, you went on a date, with Twilight Sparkle?!”
“Yes.”
“B-But you hate her! Well, to be fair, you hate the Princess version, but you still ragged on her whenever you got the chance, and you’re saying you’re dating her?!” Trixie asked in shock.
Sunset slammed her hand against the table, drawing a few eyes their way and making Trixie jump a little. “I would never do that to her! I…I love her! I’d do anything to protect her! So, the last thing I would do – in this world – is hurt her! Physically or emotionally!”
Trixie was a little skeptical about helping or even believing Sunset’s story. That is until she saw that fire in her eyes, that wasn’t fake, that wasn’t an act, Sunset genuinely cared about Twilight Sparkle, no, care wasn’t the right word, she was in love with her. “Wow…you’re really serious, not just the good memories…but even the ones of you and Sparkle as a couple?”
Sunset sighed heavily as she turned to look down at her food tray. “That’s the hardest part of this whole thing…to be so close to the person I love most, to have these feelings and know that she only looks at me now with fear, suspicion, and hate…The very things I promised to never make her feel around me.”
Trixie put down her pen and pad and gently wrapped her arm around Sunset in a comforting fashion. “I’m sorry this is happening to you; magic should not be used to tear friendships or love apart! Magic is meant to bring people together, to create wonder and spark imagination, and sometimes even bring two lovers together. Whoever is doing this is marring the very nature of magic, and the Great and Powerful Trixie will NOT stand for this! We will find this memory thief and set everything right! You have my word as a woman and as a magician, Sunset Shimmer!”
Sunset’s sorrow was lifted a little upon hearing Trixie’s declaration of war against the unknown perpetrator of everything that has happened. “Thanks, Trixie. And, just so you know, as heroic as that was, it’ll take a lot more than that if you’re looking to score with me.”
Trixie’s face reddened, her mouth stammered as she tried to form a cohesive sentence. “I-I-I’m not trying – I was merely comforting you and offering my support! I have no intention of forming a relationship with you!”
Sunset chuckled at how flustered Trixie was. “Just kidding, I needed the laugh. And, thank you. Partner.” Sunset meant that word, “partner”, a word she had reserved for her friend, Rainbow Dash, the two were a dynamic duo as Kamen Riders, but now, they were enemies. At least, that’s how this version of Rainbow Dash saw her. “Let’s move out after lunch. Where do you think we should start?”
***_____________<U>_____________***
The door slammed open, and Trixie Lulamoon entered the room. It smelled sterilized, like that of a hospital ward, or like someone was trying to cover their tracks.
“No, it’s because this is the Nurse’s Office,” said Sunset in a deadpan voice.
Sitting upon the examination bed was Bulk Biceps, and the school’s nurse, Redheart. The older woman looked to the two girls and asked in a confused yet sweet manner, “G-Good afternoon, ladies. A-Are you feeling alright?”
Trixie strode up to Nurse Redheart, her gaze narrowed in suspicion as she looked the taller woman in the eyes. “That all depends on how you answer my questions. Has anyone come in complaining of memory problems in the last few days or even weeks, hmm?”
“Well…” Nurse Redheart took a moment to think before answering, “not that I can recall, dear.”
Trixie stepped back next to Sunset as she took out her pen and pad, “You can’t recall, huh?” Trixie wrote on her pad and whispered to Sunset, “We’re too late!”
Sunset smacked her forehead, and then bonked Trixie on the head and made her go “Ow!”. “Sorry, about the intrusion, Nurse Redheart. We’ll be leaving. Hi, Bulk.”
Bulk Biceps let out a yelp before passing out onto the cot. Sunset’s warm smile turned to a frown as she then proceeded to drag Trixie out of the office by her hood.
***_____________<U>_____________***
The library, an oasis of peace and knowledge, but also a den for the scheming and conniving. A maze of bookshelves obscured the view of different onlookers, perfect for making sure your shady business would be conducted in privacy or plan dastardly plans.
“Or just spend some time studying or reading or getting some work done,” said Sunset, keeping the deadpan tone.
The two girls happened upon Microchips, nose deep in his computer as his fingers clacked against the keyboard. Trixie came up to the table and slammed her hand against it, causing the young nerd to yelp. Microchips looked up at the two girls before him, one of which was Sunset Shimmer, the poor boy believed that Trixie may have been ringed into Sunset’s gang, and the two were shaking him down.
“W-Will you accept a half-chewed carrot stick?” Micro offered the aforementioned veggie, hoping it would placate Sunset.
Sunset’s left eye twitched for the second time today. “What?! Eww! No, I told you I don’t want your lunch money, and I definitely don’t want your lunch!”
“Speak for yourself.” Trixie swiped the carrot stick from Micro and began munching on it, much to Sunset’s disgust. “Mmm, thanks. Now, word around school is you know a lot about erasing memory.”
“Oh, well, yes, I just erased a ton of memory just this morning.”
Sunset’s eyes widened upon hearing this. “You did?!”
“Yep, four terabytes of quantel-accelerflex memory to be precise!” Microchips proudly stated. It became quiet, and before Micro knew it, both girls had disappeared. “How come no one’s ever impressed by that?”
Trixie and Sunset had left the young man, and Sunset was not pleased by the initial reaction she garnered. Trixie noticed this and asked, “What’s wrong?”
Sunset sighed heavily. “I hate that the first reaction everybody has to me is fear. Like they’re expecting me to beat them up.”
“Wow…you really have changed, the old you would’ve relished in that kind of thing,” said Trixie.
“I hate to admit it, but yes, there was a time when I would have. But that’s not me anymore!” Sunset stated angrily.
Trixie smiled as she hooked an arm around Sunset’s neck and proclaimed, “Well then, let’s go and get back all those good memories of you!”
***_____________<U>_____________***
The girls were getting desperate, if they couldn’t find the person themselves, then maybe someone had seen the Stone itself somewhere, so they took to asking random students. One such student, which was a long shot even by Sunset’s standards, was Pinkie’s older sister, Maud Pie.
Sunset held up a picture of the Memory Stone and asked, “Is there anything you can tell us about it? Anything at all?”
Maud looked at the picture and said in her trademark deadpan tone, “I can’t tell much from a drawing.”
Sunset frowned. “Oh…”
“Only that it’s felsic-intrusive igneous, granular in texture, most likely arranged in an equigranularity matrix, with scattered biotite mica and amphibole, at least sixty-five percent alkali feldspar by volume, with a melting point of twelve-fifty centigrade, plus or minus ten degrees. Sorry I couldn’t be more helpful.”
Sunset and Trixie blinked.
“Uh, sure, it’s okay, thank you, anyway,” said Trixie.
Maud nodded towards Trixie; her gaze then lingered on Sunset Shimmer. “Kindly don’t mess with my little sister, Sunset Shimmer.”
Sunset’s heart felt like it was punched, but she nodded. Maud then walked away.
Both young women walked out of the building to get some fresh air, Sunset sat on the steps to CHS while Trixie paced back and forth in front of her, trying to figure something out. “Sure, it seems like we’ve only come up with dead ends, so far. But I mean, it could be worse?”
Sunset glanced over to her right and said, “It’s worse…”
Trixie followed her gaze and watched as the “Mane 6” were gathered outside. Twilight was working on a drone and was just finishing up.
“Okay everyone, my new selfie-bot is up and running, time for the Yearbook Group Photo!”
Twilight released the drone, the machine began to hover and floated towards the girls as they all gathered into a group, each smiling and posing as they said in unison, “BEST FRIENDS!” before the drone took their picture. A picture that Sunset was meant to be a part of.
Trixie witnessed this and quickly blocked Sunset’s view. “Oh, stop looking at that! You’re just going to end up winding yourself up! You can’t think if you’re wound up!” Trixie rubbed her head as she attempted make her brain work to figure out this mystery. “Think, Trixie!”
“Ugh, we must’ve interrogated everyone in the school, at least those who I can remember may have a big enough grudge to erase everyone’s memories, and we still came up empty handed!” Sunset stated in frustration.
Trixie glanced over to the group of girls, humming in contemplation as she did. “Well…not everyone, per se.”
“What are you getting at?” Sunset asked.
“Look…I’m not saying it is, but…usually in those detective shows and what not, sometimes it’s the person you least suspect, and you have about six people who you’d least suspect,” said Trixie.
Sunset shot up to her feet and looked Trixie straight in the eyes. “Are you accusing my friends of doing this to me?!”
“Not all of them, but maybe one of them.” Trixie could see that Sunset was still glaring daggers at her. “Look, I’m helping you, and sometimes you need an outside perspective. Maybe, just maybe, one of them wasn’t as forgiving as they led you to believe. I mean, you did kind of manipulate them all and mess up their little friendship group thing. And you did rag on Fluttershy a lot, Dash and her have been best friends for a long time, maybe she finally had enough and decided to teach you a lesson?”
Sunset balled up her fists and stomped her right foot against the stone steps. “Rainbow Dash would never do that! I trust her with my life! We’ve fought together, defended each other, that’s not something you fake! She’s my partner!”
Trixie was following all of that, right up until the last half. “Wait, what do you mean ‘fought together’, do you mean like online games or sports or something?”
“It’s…” Sunset had to bite her tongue; she knew for a fact it couldn’t be Rainbow Dash. Not after all they went through as Kamen Riders, there was no way she was faking all that. Unfortunately, Unicorn was seen as a bad guy right now, revealing her identity now would make Sunset lose the only ally she had right now. “It’s…complicated…just trust me when I say that Rainbow Dash would rather die then put me through this kind of hell.”
Trixie didn’t understand why, but there was something about the way Sunset said all that that made it really convincing, however, she wasn’t completely sold. “I get that, but maybe your trust is what’s maybe blinding you to what’s really happening? What if the Memory Stone is right under your nose and you can’t see it because you’re blinded by your own friendship with them? Any one of them has good reason to do it!”
Sunset grabbed Trixie by the collar of her hoodie, her hand shaking in anger and sadness. “If that’s true, then by your own logic, you’re just as suspect as everyone! You could be helping me just to throw me off the trail and make sure I never find out who it really is!”
Trixie grabbed ahold of Sunset’s wrist, she was surprised at how strong she was, since Trixie felt her feet hover an inch or two off the ground. “Sunset, it isn’t me!”
“Really?! Who can I really trust anymore?!” Sunset accused. “I’m public enemy number one no matter where I go! The only thing I can trust are my own memories of my friends! I know them, and they know me! I would die for them!”
Trixie eyes widened as she saw Sunset begin to cry, all the frustration and anger of this situation was finally getting to her. The strength in her grip loosened as she let Trixie go, she fell back onto her rear, hugging her legs to her body as she cried. Trixie sat down next to her; this was a little awkward for her. Trixie was never the consoling type of person, but, seeing Sunset so defeated and helpless, it felt wrong not to show her some kindness. Gingerly, Trixie wrapped her arm around Sunset’s shoulders and brought her closer, letting the flame haired girl rest her head against the crook of her shoulder.
The girls finished their pose and pictures, and when they did, Pinkie Pie tugged on Applejack’s shirt.
“What’s up, Sugarcube?” Applejack asked.
“Is it me, or is Sunset Shimmer…crying?” Pinkie asked.
The girls looked in the same direction as Pinkie, and indeed, it looked like Sunset was crying, and Trixie seemed to be comforting her. For some reason, this caused an ache in their hearts, why though they were not sure.
“Is…and I hate to ask…is anyone else feeling sad right now, too?” Rarity asked.
“Uh-huh,” said Fluttershy.
“Jeez, it’s Sunset Shimmer who cares!” Rainbow Dash looked back at the bully of their school and her conviction waivered a little. “You don’t think it’s something bad, like seriously bad, right? Not that I care!”
“Um…m-maybe we should ask her? She may be a meanie, but…that doesn’t mean we have to be, right?” Fluttershy asked.
It was a dilemma, on the one hand, Sunset Shimmer had tormented their school and them specifically since the end of the Fall Formal. Then again, what if it was something genuinely bad? Like a death in her family, or something?
Twilight’s first reaction was to say that she would do it, but she stopped herself. Why was that my first instinct? Why do I want to go and comfort her? Sunset Shimmer’s always hated me since I first arrived here…I almost didn’t want to come here because of her. “She’ll…She’ll be fine, it looks like Trixie’s helping her…” Why does that make me angry?
Rarity couldn’t help but hear a twinge of anger in Twilight’s voice, almost as if she was jealous of the amateur magician. The girls moved on, but they still couldn’t shake the feeling that something was up.
Trixie continued to console Sunset; the girl had finally stopped crying. “You okay?”
“Not completely, but I guess I just needed to cry it out a little…sorry you had to see that,” said Sunset.
Trixie rubbed the back of her head. “Well, even the Great and Powerful Trixie feels like bawling once in a while…especially if …if Trixie has a bad show. But so long as you’re feeling better, the Comforting and Compassionate Trixie will be here to lend you a shoulder to cry on.”
Sunset smiled as she placed her hand on Trixie’s shoulder. “You’re a really good friend, Trixie and I’m sorry if I haven’t been that appreciative of your help.”
“It’s fine, you’re in a bit of a crisis, so a little tunnel vision is expected. But I’m still not totally convinced that it isn’t one of them, not yet at least.” Trixie noticed the dirty look that Sunset was giving her. “I’m not saying it is them, all I’m saying is that we should keep all options open right now.”
Sunset didn’t want to admit it, but Trixie did have a point. What if one of them held some deep seeded hatred for her that never really went away, and was just looking for the right opportunity to enact their revenge? Sunset really, really didn’t want to think that, not after all they went through, not after each of them went out of their way to make her feel like she was a part of their families
“Sunset Shimmer, Trixie Lulamoon.” Both girls turned around and saw Principal Celestia standing behind them. “Classes have already started; you should be inside.” It was then that Celestia noticed Sunset’s face and how it had tear marks. “Sunset, are you alright.”
“Uh…kind of, a little, Trixie’s been helping me get through something right now,” said Sunset.
“Oh…” Celestia looked to Trixie and then back to Sunset. “Well, if you feel you need to talk, my door’s always open.” With that said, Celestia returned inside the school and left both of them behind, at the same time, she was left with a strange feeling, an almost familial instinct to see if she was alright.
Sunset sighed as she took off her backpack and handed it to Trixie. The amateur magician looked at Sunset with confusion as she asked, “What are you doing?”
“I need to clear my head and…I can’t really do it here.”
“You’re playing hooky? Not that it would go against your bad girl motif, but…”
“I know,” Sunset looked down at the ground, “I just can’t be here right now. Sorry, Trixie, just hang onto my stuff, I’ll pick it up from you later.”
Trixie didn’t like how Sunset said that, she then held out her hand and Sunset looked at her quizzically. “Give me your cellphone.” Sunset shrugged and handed over her cellular device, Trixie quickly took out her own and swiftly went to work. After a minute she handed Sunset’s phone back to her. “Call me when you’re coming to pick up your stuff, I’ll text you my home address. Don’t keep me waiting too long.”
Sunset looked through her contacts list and smirked as she saw that Trixie entered her cellphone number along with the contact name “The Great and Powerful Trixie”. “I’ll be fine, Trixie, I promise.”
With that, Trixie watched as Sunset walked away towards the student parking lot and flew off down the road on her bike. Trixie looked at Sunset’s backpack, all those health class videos about helping other students when they were depressed were starting to create unpleasant thoughts about what Sunset might do. She then slapped herself across the face and said, “C’mon Trixie, Sunset’s too strong to do anything like that! The sooner we find out what happened the sooner I can stop worrying about her! A-And get my Superlative in the yearbook, obviously.”
Trixie walked back into the school building, unaware that there was another who was watching them closely. A figure dressed in black, riding a black motorcycle with a tinted helmet.