//------------------------------//
// chapter 4: Is that legal? 
// Story: lost Sunset 
// by horizon-redeemer 
//------------------------------//

“You want me to what!?” twilight exclaimed in shock, staring wide-eyed at Celestia as though she had grown a second head. 

The room was now mostly empty with only twilight, Nurse red heart, and Celestia herself remaining. in the room. While Sunset could still be heard weeping inside the examination room now and then. A sound that made all the room’s occupants’ hearts clench, Celestia’s most of all as only that morning she had been ready to expel the girl.

As she stood there before her student and colleague Celestia wanted a vacation. She felt like she was going to explode after what must have been the twentieth magic-related incident this quarter alone. 

This school year is going to kill me, and we still have two months left, she thought tiredly.

She had started the day working on paperwork to expel as well as preparing to make a criminal report against Sunset. The entire time wondering why she had even let her stay, to begin with.

Only to then remember all the good things sunset had done sense fall formal. At the same time as nearly being shaken from her seat by an explosion. Which was apparently caused by a magical artifact from a land of talking ponies. And to add insult to injury one of her students now had amnesia while the one responsible was nowhere to be found. 

Already her mind wandered to someplace with some sun and surf away from all the madness. A place to unwind and get away from the craziness that seemed to now occur on a near-weekly basis. 

I hear Hawaii is nice this time of year, her mind thought in longing wishing she and luna had paid vacation for a break away from it all.

She loved her students and was greatly amused and enthralled by the magic they made. However, some day’s she felt like strangling them as their magic-related accidents caused her so much trouble. Like blowing a hole the size of a sedan in the parking lot as a recent example. 

But alas it was not to be as she stood in the nurse’s office with a wide-eyed Twilight sparkle sitting before her upon the nurse’s stool. Her mouth was upon a slack hinge looking as though it would fall off. Eyes wide as saucers while her skin was turning rather pale. Even looking as though she were going to faint.

Not far away Nurse read heart stood near the doorway into the room where Sunset now dwelled. Watching over it in case sunset needed anything or tried to escape.

Yet like Twilight she too stared slack-jawed at her request of the teen unable to believe what she was hearing. Looking at her as though she had been set on fire, a fact she could not fault her for feeling given the illegal nature of the request. 

It made her grateful she had the foresight to insist the others leave before she Asked for the teen’s help. After all, if this was Twilights and Red Heart’s reaction she shuddered at how long it would take to justify herself to the whole group.

Sighing thirdly Celestia pinched the bridge of her nose from stress as she thought how to best explain her request. “I need you to edit the security footage of the school around the time of the incident,” she repeated regretfully trying her best to stay calm. 

I wish there was another way but this needs to be done, she bemoaned silently at the laws she was going to break.

Unlike her sister who frequently bent rules wear she felt necessary, believing more in the spirit rather than the letter of the rules. She followed the letter of the rules with little exception deeply disliking breaking them, or she did before the fall formal a few months ago. 

With magic now being a constant problem, she had to regularly make exceptions to the seven when accidents happened. Now regularly letting people off when they accidentally misused magic to cause harm to others. Or giving reduced punishments to prevent the police from getting involved and finding out that real magic existed. Not to mention regularly explaining to parents about the goings-on at the school

A fact that made her grateful that most of the school population, agreed to keep quiet about it. While the few that didn’t or didn’t want to were wise enough not to risk sounding crazy with so many against them. 

But this time was far different. 

“But tha-that’s illegal, I can’t tamper with the school security. What would the police say?” Twilight exclaimed in horror shaking her hands before her frantically in panic as if to protect herself. 

Celestia felt her headache swell at this, her temper involuntarily flaring slipping free. “The police will have far more to say when they see magic being used on the security recordings, or Sunset being carried away from the crime sense outside by Applejack when they look at them later if you don’t.” she countered raising her voice speaking more sharply than she intended. Even nearly spilled her coffee again as she brought her arms up unconsciously to exaggerate her point. 


Twilight launched back letting out a panicked gasp unable to believe her ears. Her skin quickly paled, her hands quickly going over her mouth. Her eyes went wide with a mixture of, fear, and betrayal at Celestia’s heated words. At the same time, her body shook in fright as though she had seen a ghost.
Then ask quickly as she reacted her eyes closed unshed tears in them, body slumping forwards, arms falling to her sides in defeat a whine on her lips before asking, “what do you want me to do?” she asked fearfully her eyes not making contact with the principal.

Seeing this reaction Celestia was instant. filled with regret horrified that she snapped at one of the precious students.  “Tw-Twighlight I-I’m sorry,” she said her voice ghastly as she stumbled back into the Nurses door. Her body felt weak and she had to force herself not to fall to the floor or drop her coffee cup.

Her words however had little effect on Twilight who only just looked up at her in frightful anticipation, as if expecting to be struck again. It was a sight that Made Celestia’s heart shatter in shame at what she had done. What, what have I done? I lost my temper at an innocent student. This mess isn’t her fault why did I do that? She questioned but had no answer, no good one at least. 

I can’t wait for this day to be over.

As Celestia stood there a moment longer looking over the girl, she wanted to rush to the girl’s side. To apologize, to embrace the girl, tell her that it was alright and she didn’t mean it. But she couldn’t, though not for lack of wanting but rather for she could not find the words to speak. 

Instead, all she could do was look away in shame while taking a long tiring breath before answering the girl’s question. “I need you to adjust the security footage so that when the police look at it they don’t see Sunset or applejack anywhere near the explosion, or any magic of any kind. If we can do that then that should be just enough to keep the police from finding out about everything,” her voice slow and lifeless as she spoke.

Twilight was quiet for a few moments at hearing this request. Her body still shook slightly in fright at the principles anger unable to believe that her new Principle would snap at her. But tried not to dwell on it, instead she fought through her fear for Sunset’s sake.

“How much time do I have?” Twilight asked drawing one of the Principles eyes to her, though the woman did not face her still too ashamed to. “ even if I started now it’s going to take a while to make the dummy footage you requested. And what’s keeping the police from just taking it?” asking bringing up a good point.

“Thankfully luck is on our side this time, we have at least until Tuesday morning to get this done,” she answers confidently.

This answer caused Twilight’s brow to raise her mouth opening slightly in silent asking. 

Realizing an explanation was in order Celestia took a quick sip from her cup before turning to face her student. Thought her face was still trapped in a frown still bitter at herself for losing her temper. “Fortunately I am not authorized to give away security footage without the district superintendent’s permission or a warrant.” 

“but the superintendent is on vacation and the courthouse is closed tomorrow, meaning unless the lead detective can find a judge willing to sign a warrant on essentially a day off he will need to wait till Tuesday.”

Twilight thought about this a moment bringing a finger under her chin, her brows furrowed in thought as well as worry. “That’s still not a lot of time though,” she muttered still sounding unconvinced.

“I know which is why you won’t be doing it alone,” Celestia added.

“What!? What do you mean someone is going to help me? Who could you possibly ask outside chips? And I know for a fact he would never agree to what amounts to hacking? More against rule-bending than I am!”

Celestia quickly raised her free hand up to Twilights mouth to silence her shouting student before someone overhead them. Sparing a glance to the door she watched in bated breath praying that an officer wouldn’t walkthrough. 

A moment later She watched a frantic Red heart dash to the door. The nurse opened it before stepping out to look into the hall checking for anyone who may have been listening. During this time Celestia didn’t speak as she waited for Red heart’s response afraid she would jinx it. The whole time waiting she felt her heart in her throat beating like a drum. When she spared a glance down to Twilight the girl looked worse than she felt.

Before Twilight looked like she had seen a ghost, now she looked like one so ghastly pale was she. Her body shook like a leaf in the wind. Her hands were holding onto the seat of the rolly stool in a white knuckle grip. While tears of fear fell from her eyes. 

Again Celestia wanted to comfort the girl, to tell her it was alright, but again she couldn’t. Though this time it was out of fear unable to look away from the door. 

Thankful after what felt like hours which in truth was only about a minute Red’s heart returned. The moment she stepped inside she shook her head as she gave an “all clear.” while closing the door behind her. Only to fall against the door a moment later with a sigh shaking her head. 

Immense relief washed over Celestia as she let go of twilights mouth to wipe some sweat from her brow. She let out the breath she hadn’t realized she was holding, her lungs burning from strain. 

Twilight on the other hand quickly muttered an apology before whipping the tears from her eyes at the close call. 

For a few minutes after this scare no one spoke, all of them too busy recovering. Celestia sat upon the nurse’s desk sipping from her cup ignoring the disapproving glances of Red heard who went back to check in on Sunset through the Curtin. The trained nurse was taking the stress the best, having previously worked in a hospital. While twilight sat hunched over on her chair a hand on her chest as she did the breathing exercises her sister-in-law taught her, while her glasses rest loosely in her nondominant hand her eyes closed.

Eventually, though Celestia sat her cup down taking a series of deep breaths to still her nerves before getting off the desk to look over her student.

She watched how the girl fidgeted nervously as she tried to calm herself. Twirling her glasses in hand, while also counting silently to herself to still her nerves. It reminded her very much of Princess twilight who behaved similarly when she visited. A fact that even now still unnerved her, her the idea of an alternate reality Canterlot was still something she struggled to wrap her head around.

Celestia didn’t let it distract her for long though, reminding herself that it was well past ten and twilight needed to go home if they were to have any chance at helping sunset.


Clearing her throat Twilights eyes snapped open with start. She recovered quickly though and turned to look at her with a weak smile, one which she tried to return while pretending not to notice her fright.

“Now then.” she began nervously her voice warbling slightly causing her to clear it again “I already contacted a… “friend” of mine from my school day’s when I finished the police.” I’ll be it reluctantly, she remarked silently at benign forced to ask the man for help.

Celestia saw the way Twilight noticed her slight stutter as well as the way she almost ground out the word friend, her brow raising in silent question but said nothing merely nodding

“He said he would be willing to help, but he would need some assistance which is why I asked you. He and luna said they could deal with applejack and the hallway but would like someone else to cover up the explosion given the amount of time we have. And you are the only one I can think of who would be even remotely available to help him.” she explained 
Twilight was silently taken aback by the mention of luna’s name as she took in the explanation, not expecting the vice principal to be a programmer much less to a degree she could help.

This state of surprise didn’t last though, as soon her gaze drifted down towards the floor her right pointer finger under her chin. Clearly thinking it over or debating if she was actually going to do what was asked of her. Though Celestia wasn’t sure which it was. 


“How do I get in touch with this person? she asked looking back up to her with a look that told Celestia she would do it.  “I need to make sure I see what he is doing so our work is seamless. It will look less staged that way,” she explained knowingly. 

Having a feeling that the girl would ask this she came prepared. Pulling a business card she had written on previously from her pocket hading it out for Twilight to take. 

Seeing this twilight put her glasses back on blinking a few times as her vision adjusted before getting a good look at the card. Seeing what it was Twilight took her business card looking at the front seeing the familiar contact information for the principal. It was just like the one Celestia gave her parents when she transferred after the friendship games debacle. However, it was when she flipped she saw a rather odd user handle written on the back. 

D12c@rd 

“That’s his harmony account user, you can get in touch with him there, though I recommend keeping it brief. He has a habit of getting carried away and playing with people,” Celestia explained, waving her free hand slightly as she spoke.

Twilight looked back to Celestia a look of uncertainty on her face as she heard this warning. “Can I trust him?

Celestia had to resist a chuckle at this question, as she and her sister had been asking that same question about the crazy man since high school. Even now neither one of them had a good answer, and she doubted she ever would.

“You can trust him not to tattle on you to the authorities or snoop. Beyond that you never can tell with him,” she answered honestly.

Twilight didn’t look entirely convinced by this she stared into Celestia’s eyes with uncertainty. Though eventually ether out of faith or simply not voice her thoughts she pocketed the card. “I’ll start working as soon as I get home … provided no one notices me pulling an all-nighter I should have the dummy footage by tomorrow evening. Promis!,” declaring her intent with confidence despite her appearance.

Celestia smiled weakly her eyes dampen in gratitude to her dedicated students and how much they cared. It truly was heartwarming to see the girls willing to go so far for one of their own. She almost wished that she could keep them for another four years … almost.

Yet she couldn’t help feel a large pang of regret as twilight made her intentions clear. She had no idea how difficult programming or editing was, but she did know it was time consuming as her sister regularly complained about it. 

I’ll just need to make sure she gets an extension on her homework as well as some rest if necessary to make sure she doesn’t fall behind, she thought reasonably reminding herself to speak with Twilights teachers the next chance she got.

“Um… principle?”

The sound of Twilight’s voice brought Celestia from her thoughts with a jolt. Looking down embarrassment flooded her cheeks when she realized she had left the girl hanging due to her distraction. 

“Yes?” she asked meekly to embarrassed to say much more. 

“I was just wondering if you needed anything else?  because  as if I am going to do this I would like to get  started soon.”

“Oh!” Celestia exclaimed glancing towards the clock, realizing her parents or sister-in-law were probably wondering where Twilight was as it had been nearly thirty minutes since the others left. 

Realizing how late it had gotten Celestia turned back to Twilight an apology on her lips, “I’m sorry for keeping you Twilight. Yes, if you don’t have any more questions for me you can go.” she answer 

Twilight shook her head at this denoting she had no further questions before trying to stand up. Only to sit back down a moment later with a yelp forgetting about her sprained ankle again. Making it clear to all that she still couldn’t walk on it, nor was it likely she would be able to without help for some time. It made Celestia wish she had simply called the girl from her home rather than keep her. 

What’s done is done, no point complaining now Celestia. She told herself with a sigh as she reached a hand to the girl’s shoulder. “Do you need any help getting outside?”

The question caught twilight by surprise who immediately tried to refuse out of politeness not wishing to impose on the principle. But Celestia was just as stubborn poking holes in any argument the teen had. 

Eventually, the girl relented allowing Celestia to help her to her feet draping one arm over her shoulder allowing her to hobble. Once sure of the girl’s footing she began to lead Twilight away towards the main entrance, where she explained Cadence waited outside with the rest of her family busy.

As they left Red heart told them she would stay behind to keep an eye on sunset till Celestia returned, for which the principal was grateful.

The walk through the halls was mostly quiet the only sounds to be heard aside from Celestia’s steps or Twilight’s hops alongside the occasional creepy sounds of the empty school or the odd officer who was doing who knows what. Nether wants to break the silence, the principal due to her guilt of asking so much of twilight after her behavior, while Twilight was unsure of how to approach an authority figure due to Cinch’s actions.

Because of this an awkward air formed between them. Both of them dreading the silence, but neither felt comfortable breaking it. 

This torturous silence was made even more so as the minutes slowly ticked by. The usually short walk from the nurses office to the front door took much longer due to the poor girl’s injuries.

Their silence was so torturous as well as long Celestia began to wonder what would become of her precious student. She wondered if princess twilight would truly be able to save sunset. She worried what would become of the girl who now remembered nothing of her time as a human. She questioned her own ability to help sunset for allowing Wallflowers darker thoughts to fester for so long unchecked. Even questioning if she was fit to lead the school after being so easily manipulated. 

She was scared, only just keeping her fear in check for the sake of the others. Silently stewing as she tried to think of a way to help her students through this disaster. 

So deep were her thoughts on the matter that she nearly missed it when Twilight asked her a question.

“We will get her back, right?”

Celestia turned to look at the girl who she carried through the halls in wonder, wondering where this sudden doubt came from. “I have every faith that princess twilight and her friends. Why do you ask?”:

She watched as the twilight chewed on her lip, her eyes downcast towards the floor, while her free hand played with her skirt. Obvious tells that she was nervous, that something was wrong. Though before she could even open her mouth twilight cut her off.

“It’s just before when Sunset. Before when she. After Wallflower. ” Twilight stammered weakly but didn’t finish the words dying in her throat.

If Celestia wasn’t worried before she was now panic rising within. Forcing them to stop she leaned twilight against the wall facing her. Though Twilight’s gaze remained fixed to the ground as though it was the most fascinating thing in the world. Seeing this Celestia brought a finger under the girl’s chin forcing the girl to look at her.

It was then that she saw all the unshed tears in her eyes making her bite back a gasp of worry. “Twilight what’s wr-

“The last thing I remember before flash carried me to safety.” she began her voice cracking as she spoke. “Before I blanked out Sunset asked us not to forget her.” she finally got out her unshed tears finally falling.

“I know the princess will think of something, everyone else says she always does. But, but-”  

Twilight couldn’t finish as she was overtaken by powerful sobs that shook her body. The poor girl falling into Celestia’s arms in grief, unable to hold herself up any longer as the stress of the day became too much for her to bear. 

Celestia herself was so surprised by this she nearly fell over, only just remaining standing due to being far heavier and a bit stronger than the shorter girl. 

She had dealt with distraught students before, it, unfortunately, happened all too often in high school. From bullies to nasty breakups there was almost always someone in need council. but  rarely was anyone so distraught that they embraced her of all people. 

Yet in all her time counseling distraught students rarely did they ever get physical leaving her unused to such contact. And yet … 

Eventually, she did the only thing she could think of wrapping her arms around Twilight in a tender embrace. It felt foreign to embrace one of her students this way. Regularly holding herself back to not breach the fine line between educator and student. Though just this once she felt that is was necessary. As they both needed it.

Though as she held twilight she began to wonder how much longer her students would have to deal with this madness. when would all these terrible events end?

Today has really outlived its welcome.

Once twilight had cried to her last she finally brought the girl to a worried sick cadence who had been waiting behind police tape for over half an hour. After telling the deen of Twilight crying spell that seemed to be enough to placate the woman for the time being. The woman prioritized her new sister-in-law over her own rabid curiosity. 

Working together the pair got Twilight into the car just as the poor girl fell asleep. Seeing the sleeping teen was enough to momentarily make the pair forget about the disaster around them. 

Though just as they were about to leave Cadence demanded to have a full explanation of what happened when things settled down. To which Celestia agreed without question, knowing the girl would need to know if Twilight was to continue to attend CHS.

Once the pair were gone Celestia made the trip back to the nurses, silently praying that Sunset regained her memories in the short while they wear gone, or that at least Red hart made some headway with the girl. 

Though when she entered the office she was not surprised to see Red hart exactly where she last saw her. The woman was standing by the sunsets room the curtain drawn looking in with a somewhat worried expression as she stared into the room. A sight that did not put her ill thoughts at ease as she approached

“How is she” she asked as she joined the Nurse next to the room. 

Red heart turned from her vigil to look back to her a weak smile upon her face before turning back, “Asleep.”

The answer surprised Celestia having not expected it as she gazed into the room. 

she spied a large mop of red and yellow hair on the floor. The girl’s hands were still on her head guarding it while the rest of her body was curled into a ball that was shivering slightly from the cold tiles. Her hands were still cuffed into fists while her legs were angled an odd clearly uncomfortable angle for a human. Though her face was hidden she half expected her to have a grimace on her face as though having a nightmare.

“She must not have fallen asleep very long ago if she is still laying like that.” she thought knowingly.

Though she couldn’t help but wonder if the girl was actually asleep or was merely pretending to get them to let their guard down. A stunt that a scared teen with no memory may pull as a way to defend herself.

 Though this thought was quickly discarded when she noticed the girl’s calm even breathing as well as the way her body twitch slightly ever so often. Making it easy to tell the girl was genuinely asleep, it was only a question of how deeply.

 “The poor girl cried herself to sleep not long after you left. She must be ghosted after today.” Red heart said somberly not looking away from the girl.

Celestia nodded at this but said nothing too deep in thought to answer, trying to decide what she should do.

“I had planned to move her to someplace more comfortable than the floor, but I decided to wait till I was sure she wouldn’t wake before I did so I didn’t scare her.” the woman added starting to ramble from stress as she was known to do from time to time.

Again she nodded as she pulled out her phone and began scrolling through her contacts looking for Luna’s name. Already her racing with worry as she hit text before typing out a message.

“Though she will need to be moved somewhere else, she can’t stay here forever. Especially not when the school is allowed to reopen.” the woman rambled on while Celestia silently agreed as she thought of her dilemma.

She hesitated for a moment when she was about to hit send, afraid of what her siter would say but pressed it a moment later before placing her phone back in her pocket.

She heard the ping of her phone but didn’t bother checking it she knew what the answer would be already. Instead, she turned her head to look at red Heart who had continued to ramble, not noticing the principal spacing out on her. 

“Do you think you could help me get her to my car?” she asked suddenly

Red heart’s head turned in surprise at the request her mouth opening in a silent gasp, eyes going wide. ‘C-Celestia? What … you? Do you know what you’re suggesting?” she stammered in shock.

Celestia didn’t answer right away as she turned to look back at the girl laying on the floor. A heavy sigh left her lips as all the good things Sunset had done sense the formal circulated in her mind. 

“Like we have a choice,” she answered curtly, though not meaning to be rude.

Without warning, she walked forward into the dark, crossing the room to only stopping once she was at the girl’s side. She stared down at the girl for a moment before bending down kneeling down to her side slipping her jacket off as she did so, laying over the sleeping girl. 

The results were near instantaneous as she immediately grabbed the garment holding it close to her body. While by no means a blanket Sunset didn’t seem to mind as she nuzzled her jacket letting out a satisfied sigh before going still once again. 

As Celestia watched, she had to resist giving an “AWW” or whipping out her camera to take a video. But she resisted as she brought a hand over the girls face brushing some hair out of her face bring it behind her ear

Though strangely Sunset flinched when her fingers traced the skin of her face surprising Celestia unable to remember a time the girl was truly scared outside the fall formal. 

It must be my imagination. Celestia thought brushing the flinch aside for now. 

Instead, she turned her attention once more to Red heart, “please will you help me.” she asked pleadingly. 

“I know you’re a trained nurse and she needs medical help but you can’t keep her in your apartment your neighbors will call the police if she starts screaming again. At least at our house, we can keep her till princess twilight can come to help us,” she explained.

Red heart looked conflicted something she could understand but what choice did they have? She couldn’t send her off to one of the girl’s homes without talking to their parents or guardians, and she couldn’t stay in the school, it was the only option they had. 

Eventually, Red heart relented with a grumble, “alright but I do this under protest.” she muttered before joining Celestia.

Celestia mustered the best smile she could grateful to have Red Heart’s help as they got a wheelchair for Sunset and prepared to move her. Setting her in the chair before moving her out into the hall towards the faculty parking lot.

Though the entire time, Celestia couldn’t help but wonder what became of Wallflower. The police never mentioned anything about her, nor do I suspect she would stick around after starting that disaster outside. So wear is she?

A shudder ran through her as a terrible thought ran through her mind remembering the size of the hole in the ground, and what it nearly did to the girls. “Oh please don’t be gone,” she muttered silently.

When they made it to her car they sat Sunset into the passenger side draping an emergency blanket over her from her trunk before buckling her up. Once they were sure she was secure Celestia and Red heart bid her farewells going their separate way’s though not before promising to message Red heart when the girl woke up for another health check.

Before starting her car she checked her phone, only to chuckle when she saw a message from luna.  

“Of course, you can bring her over where else are you going to put here, inside her locker?” It was a typical Luna response when she was stressed, though it made her smile all the same. 

She was tempted to ask how the editing was going but decided against it not wishing to bother her, knowing that her sister would likely get less sleep than she did tonight. If she slept at all. 

As she started her car Celestia let out silent thanks glad the day was nearly over for her. While there was much to do come morning she could finally rest. Her pillows, sheets, alongside a frozen meal calling her name already before she even left the parking lot. For now, she would let her work wait till morning, it could wait a few hours for her to rest. 

“I really need that vacation.”