A little while before others arrived.
“So hows she lookin?” Applejack asked watching Red heart as she examined Sunset’s head who lay unconscious upon an examination bed, medly of bandaids upon her face.
It had only been a few minutes since they had been allowed back into the school by the bomb squad. Both of them were near dripping with sweat due to stress making them shiver from the dropping air temperature with the setting sun. though neither one truly carried to relieved that the officers who took their statements believed their stories. Nether one suspecting anything of magic with their story. For now at least
The officers wear even kind enough to help them get Sunset back inside to rest till her “guardian” picked her up. One of them even joked that she will sleep better sense she missed all the excitement. Though neither Applejack nor Red heart laughed at the joke as they nervously agreed with the officers as they left.
During the whole affair, Applejack felt like she was on death’s door. From the moment officers burst into the nurse’s office, to when they were let back inside. Unable to keep from worrying that the officers would find out about their deception.
So when the police finally left them Nether her or poor nurse Red heart could be live they succeeded.
Applejack knew there was always a chance that some law enforcement agency would come to the school in the wake of a magic incident. They had gotten lucky thus far but to actually face both the police and bomb squad and skirt by… at least for now was a miracle.
The nurse looked up from where she was examining Sunset’s face with a tired smile. “Outside a few scratches, which I already treated she looks just fine.” Red heart answered happily.
“In fact.” she began as she took off her gloves “She will probably wake up before long in my professional opinion” remarking as she tossed them into the trashcan nearby.
At this apple let out a tired sigh as stumbling back into the wall behind her before sliding to the floor unable to stop herself. Her legs simply unable to hold her up any longer giving out as stress of the last hour or so took its toll.
“Oh sally, that’s a load off my mind,” Applejack remarked whipping the sweat from her brow with a backhand letting.
“Heh heh,” Applejack laughed nervously with a shake of her head. “now I know how Grannysmith felt when I had that wreak on the tractor. Won’t be calling her a worrywart again.” She joked, though her voice sounded strained as she did so.
This caused Read heart who finished her examination to start giggling good-naturedly. “I should think not.” she agreed as she join Applejack on the floor.
“Though I do wonder?” she added with a humm
Applejack hearing this turned her head to look at the nurse’s brow raised her curiosity peaked as to what she was going on about. “Oh and what’s that?” she asked nervously. Almost afraid to ask after everything that had happened today.
“Well, I was just wondering since we keep having these magic problems after twilights first visit you think she can send over an assistant for me and that I could charge her? I mean she is a princess and all.” the woman remarked obvious sarcasm in her voice.
It was a terrible joke, they both knew it but within seconds both of them had burst out into laughter. Applejack knew it was rude to laugh like she was at Princess twilight’s expense but couldn’t help it. After dealing with as much stress and confusion from everything she felt like a balloon ready to pop, begging for release. And laughter was exactly the release she needed.
By the time the pair stopped, they were gasping for breath with tears in their eyes. Their sides ached painfully from the strain, but neither cared as it felt great after everything that happened.
Applejack especially felt great as she recovered. Her friend was safe, her memories were back as they should be, and was already planning the apology she would make to Sunset when she woke up. For the first time since this mess with the memory stone started things were looking up
She would not have to wait long however as a short while later a low groan. This immediately drew the attention of both Applejack and Red heart who got to their feet at Sunsets side in a Flash.
When they arrived they saw Sunset moving in her sleep, her face scrunched up as though she were having a nightmare. At the same time, her body moved in strange ways like a dog would in its sleep.
Had anyone else been in their place Applejack knew that they would be confused as to why Sunset was moving in her sleep as though she were a quadruped. However, she along with all her friends knew from Sunset’s own words that she occasionally had dreams of being a pony again resulting in this behavior.
Sunset also told her that it occasionally resulted in some embarrassing explanations on the rare occasions she got caught sleep-walking.
As such this sight was of little concern for Applecjak or Red hear who knew of Sunset’s “condition”. who patiently watched with bated breath as she slowly came around.
Eventually, Sunset’s eyes fluttered open, her cyan eyes lazily looking up at the two moving shadows above her. She winced at the ceiling light moaning in pain bringing a closed fisted arm up to cover her face as she rolled onto her side facing the curtain. Then after seemingly getting comfortable her eyes closed again nuzzling into the bed as though it were a five-star hotel bed as she did so. Then after a few moments of this let out a breath before her breathing evened out.
Applejack and Red heart leaned forwards at this examining Sunset in curiosity wondering if she went back to sleep.
“I guess she’s just tuckered out, magic can take it out of ya in all,” Applejack remarked casually.
Applejack heard Red heart open her mouth to speak but no words came out. As not a moment later Sunset’s eyes snapped upon in alarm the frightened gasp leaving her lips. In turn startling Applejack as well as red heart making them jump having not expected her to react that way.
“Slow down their sally. Relax your alright,” she said in as calm a way possible reaching out to place a hand upon Sunset’s shoulder.
This however was a mistake as Sunset flinched in a way to Applejack it looked like a viper bite her. Then watched in shock as Sunset reeled back oner her hands and knees nearly rolling over the side of the bed. Seeing this Applejack gasped in surprise moving to catch Sunset before she fell.
Though it turned out to be unnecessary as Sunset found her balance a moment later. She then watched in silent worry as Sunset looked about the room with a bewildered gaze.
Applejack licked her lips nervously unsure what she should or even could do right now. She wanted to say something to her friend but wasn’t sure what to say that would frighten her in this delirious state not wanting to make things worse.
‘Shoot… now what do I do?’ she wondered as she turned to look at the nurse.
She noticed how Red heart looked almost eerily calm, despite the freak out watching Sunset with calm calculating eyes. Making it clear to the farm girl the woman was trying to judge her approach from years of training, no doubt having done this before.
Then watched with trepidation as without warning Red heart slowly approached sunset raising her hands in front of her in a nonthreatening way as to not startle her again.
Applejack seeing this wanted to tell her to stop not wanting to scare Sunset again, but could not find the words. Instead, she forced herself to remain where she was, reminding herself that Red heart knew what she was doing being a trained nurse.
“Sunset?” Red heart said calmly. But the girl didn’t react, too out of sorts to notice the nurse’s efforts.
Seeing this the nurse cringed but didn’t let it deter her, instead, she repeated “Sunset?” a bit louder.
This time the girl reacted looking up in the nurse’s direction in alarm. It was heard that Applejack sensed something wasn’t right as she saw her friend’s eyes, saw the fear, saw the lack of recognition in her eyes.
Before any more could be said Sunset let out a pain hissed as she raised her left arm over her eyes to shield her eyes from the lights above clearly too bright to her tired eyes. It was what Sunset said next that would shake Applejack to her core.
“Ehh. what sorcery is this… why is it so bri-” Sunset began to say only to stop when she noticed her head
It was then she watched as the girl gave out a panicked scream that rang AppleJack’s head forcing her to cover her ears. While holding her hand in front of herself acting like it had been amputated in her sleep.
“W-Wha-what’s happened to me, what is this,” she asked in a frenzied panic. It was at this point Sunset turned her attention to the rest of her body looking herself over in dual bewilderment and fright. “what am I? Where are my hooves? Wh-what did I do wrong? Why am a I-”
Then Applejack saw her gaze fall upon the both of them her eyes wide looking at both her as well as Red heart like they were aliens. And given what she knew Applejack was beginning to realize to Sunset they were aliens. It was here that she saw a look that she never Sunset would ever give her.
Fear. Sunset was afraid of her.
She watched as Sunset screamed again in fright pointing her fist at both of them in fear. “Who? Who are you ponies? What have you done to me.” Sunset screamed in fright as tears began to fall down her face
(present time)
“And that’s more or less what happened…..” Applejack explained to the group as she set down a now-empty paper cup upon the nurse’s desk after she finished her story to the other.
“After that, we left decided to leave her alone in their seise we didn’t know what to do and didn’t want to scare her more,” she added a moment later. It was here that she regarded to group reaching up to her bare head in remembrance, “By the way has anyone seen my hat?” she asked suddenly looking about the room for her missing stetson.
Others meanwhile stood around in a wide circle minus Twilight who sat in the Nurses chair having her ankle looked at, by the nurse. While unnecessary the paramedics already clearing her twilight didn’t mind realizing Red heart just wanted something to distract herself.
Fluttershy and Rainbow dash were also absent as the meek girl excused herself halfway through the story unable to bear it anymore having. The poor girl became hysterical, blaming herself for the incident before running off with rainbow hot on her heels. The Rainbowette only stopping a second to let the others know she would deal with it.
Rarity silently wept leaving her makeup a travesty as the tears ruined it, a hand over her mouth in shock as she leaned against the wall for support. Her skin was even paler than normal, as well appearing a bit faint.
Pinkie pie on the other hand had practically lost all color looking almost gray. Her hair had deflated completely hanging low on her body going past her waist. A large frown upon her face while large tears fell from her face into almost cartoonishly large pools on the ground. It was possible the saddest they had ever seen PInkie pie in their lives.
Flash sentry however just looked bitter and angry as he looked away from Applejack having turned away at some point during the story. Why he was angry was hard to say but they all had a fairly good guess as to what, or who. But no one said anything to him knowing that he needed time which he was grateful for.
None of them could believe what they were hearing. None of them could believe that Sunset had lost all her memories when they themselves had all their’s restored not too long ago. Nore did anything understand why.
“It doesn’t make any sense.” twilight said the first to break the silence as she vocalized what they all were thinking. “How did all of our memories were returned despite being gone much longer while Sunsets memories didn’t.” her voice trembling nervously.
Applejack rubbed her forehead at this groaning in frustration. “None of this Equestrian magic stuff makes any lick of sense. This was always Sunset or Twilifghts thing,”.
It was here that Applejack realized what she had said before giving a nervous chuckle looking towards Twilight with an apologetic face. “Ah, the other Twilight…no offense Twilight.”
“None taken.” twilight returned with a weak chuckle clearly putting on a brave face.
The brave face did not last though as strain crept into her features once again, “you are right though. I still don’t understand this magic stuff. We should ask my counterpart should know what to do”
“The princess?” Flash echoed suddenly his voice becoming equal parts hopeful and longing.
In an instant, his angry face lit up like christmas, the sullen frown turning into a small smile. A fact that none missed clear to all that he still had a thing for the Princess even after all this time.
“Yes let’s ask twilight she will know what to do,” he exclaimed already moving towards the door without thinking.
At this Applejack stepped forward intercepting him as he pulled the door open placing her arm upon it before shutting on him. He pulled back in surprise quickly becoming angry glaring at her demanding to know why she stopped him.
“Ahh in case you forgot casanova we need Sunsets journal for that. And last I checked the only one who knows where it has amnesias.” Applejack reminded Flash with no small amount of smugness.
Hearing this Flash’s face went red, ether in embarrassment at Applejack’s words or shame for snapping at her, though it was hard to say which. Regardless he immediately began to babble both apologies as well as any romantic feelings he had for the Equestria princess. Much to Applejacks amusment
The display caused Twilight to slap her forehead in disbelief kicking the ground in frustration. Only to regret the actions she struck the ground with her injured leg causing her to grab it in pain while Red heart chided her carelessness.
As this went on from the sidelines Rarity who by this point had regained some composure scribbled down a brief overview of everything that was being said for Pinkie pies sake. All the while trying to suppress a groan of frustration at the lack of common sense on display.
But instead of bringing up her friend’s behavior, she cleared her throat getting everyone’s attention as she brought up another matter. The fashionista silently hoping that it would take their minds off the twilight situation, for now at least.
“If I may? She asked calmly doing her best to keep her voice even drawing all eyes to her. “I’d like to ask if anyone knows why Sunset was scared of the electric lights?” rarity pointed out astutely as she continued to scribble notes for Pinkie pie.
This drew confused looks all around as until now none of them had even put any thought into why she was scared of them. All of them were too distracted by Sunset’s amnesia to pay any mind to it. None of them offered any form of explanation or even tried to, too confused by her words to answer.
Seeing this reaction Rarity elaborated on her question, “I remember talking with twilight about such things last time she was here when asking about her world for ideas for a new line.” beginning simply for her friend’s sake not wishing to confuse them.
She paused for a few seconds to make sure she hadn’t lost them with her explanation. But a few seconds later saw a few nods of confirmation from her friends and continued.
“During one of these talks, she explained the difference between her world’s technology and our own. And the pony’s while primitive by comparison have all manner of electrical apparatuses. Both domestic, military, and medical. She explained.
“Seems rather odd to be scared of something you have access to back home.” she added before turning back to give Pinkie pie the pad.
“HUH that is strange.” Pinkie pie commented putting a hand under her chin looking up at the ceiling in thought when she read the note. “Maybe lightbulbs weren’t invented yet.” Pink proposed a moment later while handing back the pad.
The friends assembled in the room were all quiet, while most did want to want to protest that the idea sounded silly. At the same time, they couldn’t deny the possibility either. As well as the fact that none of them had any other decent explanation for it ether having never been to Equestria before. As far as any of them knew.
It was here that Red heart decided to step in entering the friend’s conversation. “It may not be so simple.” drawing all eyes from rarity to herself.
This caused the science expert to raise a brow at this statement, “What do you mean?” twilight asked as she adjusted her glasses curious what the school nurse was getting at.
At this Red heart finished with twilights leg of stood up turning slightly to face the group before she explained. “While I don’t know much about lands full of magical talking ungulates, but in Sunsets case they may not have been widely available where she was living before coming to earth.”
“True Twilight… the other twilight may have access to electricity now. It took till nearly the 1940s for electricity to be largely available country-wide in the U.S Equestria may be the same. So to Sunset it may seem like sorcery,” Red heart explained, stuttering only once at the mention of twilights name.
Red heart looked back to twilight for a moment with an apologetic expression at her mistake. Though twilight just gave a weak smile waving off the woman’s worries having long gotten used to people mixing her up for the other Twilight. After all, having another version of herself was confusing enough on its own. She could only imagine other people’s confusion when she first arrived at CHS.
Instead, her attention was put to a more pressing matter that pledged her mind. “Ok I can accept that Equestria may not have had electric power a few years ago, we won’t know unless we ask someone from Equestria,” rationalizing her thoughts on the matter which everyone quickly agreed with.
“BUT” Twilight began sharply raising her free hand pointer finger raised high. “What I want to know is how all this happened in the first place and why such a thing was on earth, to begin with.”
“That is what I would like to know” a new voice suddenly added as the nurse’s office door was opened.
Everyone Including the nurse jumped startled by the sudden intrusion. Turning their heads towards the sound they all saw standing the doorway was a very cross-looking, Celestia.
The normally bright-looking Principle looked at all those assembled her expression bitter clearly very upset. Her clothes wear creased somewhat dirty below the knees spattered with dirt or dust, likely from the explosion site. Her hair was a frazzled mess, eyes somewhat bloodshot from stress. While her left foot impatiently tapped the ground as she closed the door behind her.
In her free hand was a small stack of papers as well as a few contact cards that wear threatening to fall from her grip. While in the other Celestia had a large coffee cup that she tried to not drop as she closed the door behind her.
The room was taken aback by Celestia’s appearance both figuratively as well as literally. None of them had ever seen the woman this upset before in their lives. All of them even nurse Red heart found themselves subconsciously backing up towards the far wall. With Pinkie pie, in particular, sinking out of sight behind the nurse’s desk in fright not needing to hear to know the woman was angry.
“Anyone care to explain to me why I was wondering why I hadn’t expelled sunset after the fall formal? Only to remember how she became a model student before the parking lot was blown up. Not to mention why the bomb squad found Trixi locked in the yearbook room?” She demanded sternly practically spitting vinegar as she spoke.
The others looked at each other in surprise as well as fear at this statement unsure what to say. All of them were still too taken aback by her sudden appearance to speak.
Seeing this Celestia growled impatiently clearly very upset. “WELL?” she demanded raising her arms with the words causing some coffee to fall from her cup onto the floor.
Suddenly without warning the cabinets above the nurse’s desk burst open revealing pinkie pie inside. This action startled Celestia as well as the nurse making them step back in fright seeing Pinkie pies strange abilities.
“Would you like the short version or the long version?” pinkie pie asked looking at the principal nervously from inside the Cabinet ignoring the glare she got from the nurse.
“Also my hearing is coming back but my ears are ringing so you might want to speak up a tiny bit.” she added a moment later bringing her hand before her with her pointer and thumb close together as she said “a tiny bit.”
Celestia opened her mouth to speak pointing her cup towards Pinkie pie in bewilderment. But closed it a moment later likely thinking better of it. Instead, she brought a hand up to her face pinching the bridge of her nose letting out a groan, “short?” she started hesitantly clearly sounding unsure of herself.
For a few seconds Pinkie pie was quiet looking at the Principle in uncertainty. Prompting Celestia to repeat herself a little louder. Which seemed to do the trick as Pinkie pie’s face lit up in recognition as she took in an enormous breath before…
“OH! Well, the short version is that wallflower blush apparently was still mad at sunset for the whole bullying and the demon take over the school thing despite saving the school three times with our help. So then she used a magical stone that she found that can erase memories, only it doesn’t erase memories to make everyone think that we hated sunset still so we would be mean to her. Then Sunset figured out it was Wallflower somehow before confronting her in the parking lot. Wear Sunset then broke the stone causing it to explode like my sprinkles restoring all our memories. But now she doesn’t remember anything and now we are all standing here talking about it while the police are outside.”
Following this high-speed explanation Celestia watched wide eyed as the grayed-out pinkett caught her breath before once more shutting the cabinet with her still inside it.
Though it soon became clear that Celestia didn't understand what was being said when the poor woman muttered a mystified “What.”. Seeing this Twilight sighed as she turned her body on the nurses wheeled chair moving it with her good leg to sit in front of celestia.
“Wallflower found magic pony rock. Used said rock to erase all good memories of sunset. We hate sunset, wallflower gets revenge. Sunset finds out, breaks the stone, gets our memory back, and loses her own memory in the process...Better?”
Celestia stood there for several long moments in shock as she processed what she was told. Taking several long shaky breaths as she did so before uttering out a breathless “Oh.”
“That’s what I said.” pinkie pie suddenly called out appearing from thin air behind
Poor Twilight yelped in fright at this whirling around on the chair nearly colliding with Celestia, while the Principle and Nurse gasped in surprise. Both adults looking between the girl and the Cabinet the girl was in just moments ago in disbelief. Nether able to believe how the girl could seemingly apparate out of thin air as she did.
“Pinkie Pie! How many times do I have to tell you to stop doing that?” the girl asked in frightened anger. But as always the Pinkiette ether could hear or wasn’t listening as she giggled like a maniac at Twilight’s expression. The girl said she looked funny when angry
This caused Rarity and Applejack to try to defuse the situation as Flash stood about unsure what or if he should do something. Watching the girls almost envious of how close they were.
As this happened Celestia then moved to the nurse’s desk setting the papers down upon its surface. This caused the woman to grumble about trying to keep a clean desk. Once she was sure they wouldn't fall she brought her cup up taking a large gulp from it then turned to face those assembled once more.
When she looked at everyone they all went silent as the Principle gave them all a look that demanded their full attention. One that made it clear that she would not tolerate any interruption, argument or distraction with what was about to be discussed.
"Where is Sunset now? And is she alright," she demanded her professional tone returning giving no room for question.
"Currently in their scared out of mind about everything," applejack said pointing to the examination room behind her over her shoulder. “But otherwise alright, minus a few scratches.”
Celestia nodded in recognition at this satisfied with that answer, “Do we have a plan for getting her memory back?” she asked next
“We do,” flash said drawing the principles gaze to him. “we are going to get in touch with Princess twilight she always knows what to do. We just need to find Sunsets book to do it.” he remarked fondly at the mention of Twilights name.
Celestia raised her brow at the boy making Flash’s already red face turn even redder. She was tempted to comment on how a relationship with a princess from an alternate reality likely wouldn’t work. But thought better of it deciding to keep her comments to herself.
Instead, she chose to focus on the book not deal with her student’s personal lives. “Leave finding the book to me and the custodians,” she declared plainly. “If it is on school grounds it will be found soon enough. I will contact you as soon as I have it to message princess Twilight”
It was Rarity that spoke next raising her hand up as well as waiting for Celestia to grant her permission to speak out of habit. To which the Teacher did telling her to go ahead a moment later. “What will we do with Sunset in the meantime we can’t leave her in the nurse’s office till the princess arrives?” the fashionista asked.
Celestia thought about this for a moment as it was a good question, one she had no good answer for. But one she needed to take care of for her student’s sake.
“Leave Sunset to me I will take care of her for now till we sort things out with twilight or make other less last-minute arrangements,” she answers doing her best to sound confidant.
This got a number of protests the girls and even flash wanting to help care for their friend Celestia was having none of it.
While it warmmed her heart to see Sunsets friends so willing to care for her. Celestia knew that if the girl truly had amnesia she needed adult supervision until they knew what they were dealing with. Sending her off to one of her friend’s homes to stay right now would be unfair to their parents on such short notice.
Once all arguments were silenced Celestia asked if any of them had any more things that needed to be brought to her attention. When no one did aside from Fluttershy running off she Celesita concluded their impromptu meeting. With this Celestia had one more task ahead of her. Getting the teens to go home.
As expected this brought upon her many arguments the girls and Flash not wishing to leave Sunsets side. But Celestia was having none of it, it was past ten they needed to go home. So with some help from Red heart called for the teen’s parents. Though just as they wear about to leave Celestia had one more thing to say.
"Twilight before you go I need your help with something?" she asked making the girls pause in the doorway.
All of them the poor teen staring at their principal nervously as she saw the woman’s expression. Making it clear that whatever was going on she couldn’t say no, if not for her sake then for Sunsets
“Yes, principle Celestia?”
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3 chapters in I hope everyone is enjoying it. Ive never really done this before much less as a brony so I hope I am living up to everyone's expectations. it's a lot of fun to write a story about my favorite character and the comments and advice I have been receiving are very helpful and I will try my best to improve thanks to it. so I thank everyone for helping me in the right direction.