//------------------------------//
// Chapter 3: The search 
// Story: The Setting of Two Suns 
// by LZjian79 
//------------------------------//

As the girls continued their discussion about the missing geodes, Sunset felt an ever-growing sense of unease and mounting stress that eventually compelled her to excuse herself from the room. Her abrupt departure didn't escape Rarity's keen eye.

"Are you alright, darling?" Rarity inquired with genuine concern, her graceful demeanor masking her worry.

Sunset paused, her back to the room, attempting to wear a brave face. "Y-yeah... I'm alright. I just needed some fresh air to clear my mind," she replied, her voice betraying her true feelings of uncertainty. She turned to Rainbow Dash, who was the closest to her. "Do you have any water, Rainbow?"

Rainbow Dash nodded. "Yeah, there's a water dispenser in the living room. Just go straight down the hallway and turn right."

"Thanks, Dash," Sunset acknowledged with a nod.

Following Rainbow's guidance, Sunset found herself in the living room. She picked up a pristine cup from the table, filled it with water, and leaned against the hallway wall. She took a deep breath and sighed heavily, her mind in turmoil.

The water did little to quell her anxiety, with thoughts of the missing geodes and the sudden appearance of her human counterpart weighing heavily on her mind. Sunset needed clarity and focus, yet her thoughts remained chaotic.

Meanwhile, Twilight emerged from Rainbow Dash's room and, like Sunset, headed for the water dispenser. Her gaze fell upon Sunset, who stood alone with her troubled expression.

"Are you alright, Sunset?" Twilight asked, concern evident in her voice.

Sunset looked at her half-full glass of water and let out a sigh. She hesitated, feeling a twinge of embarrassment about revealing her anxiety and stress regarding the day's unexpected events. She typically maintained a confident, level-headed demeanor to prevent her friends from worrying.

"I'm fine, Twilight," Sunset replied, her voice steadier. "Just thinking about the missing geodes..." She hesitated, her thoughts drifting to her human counterpart. "And my human counterpart as well."

Curiosity mixed with anxiety in Sunset's eyes as she met Twilight's gaze. "S-So why does my human counterpart want to see me?" She continued, her thoughts racing. "Does she know about me? If she does, is she... Is she going to want to meet me so she can punch me in the face because I stole her identity in the human world? No, I mean, I shouldn't be worried. I—wait—what was she like? Does she look like me? Does she also act like me? What did she say?"

Twilight stood by Sunset's side, her eyes focused on the floor as she wrestled with her own concerns. "About that..." she began slowly, her voice tinged with hesitation. "I wanted to talk to you first about what happened back there before I told the girls."





With a gravity in her tone, Twilight recounted their encounter with Sunset's human counterpart, sharing her doubts and unease about the situation. "It might just be my imagination, but Sunset, my alimentary canal, is telling me that there's something off about her demeanor."

Sunset's anxiety deepened as she listened to Twilight's account. She had hoped for a connection with her human counterpart, but it appeared that her other self was enigmatic and potentially untrustworthy. Twilight looked up at Sunset with a serious and worried expression, her concern reflecting in her eyes.

"It does sound like she's trying to hide something," Sunset agreed, her mind racing with questions. "But maybe we shouldn't jump to conclusions yet. I want to meet her in person, and maybe I'll use my geode to read what's really on her mind. Maybe we should discuss this with our friends first."

Sunset and Twilight returned to Rainbow Dash's room, where the other girls were deep in their conversation regarding the missing geodes. Despite the underlying unease and worry, their primary focus remained the geodes. Sunset mulled over the situation, her thoughts repeatedly circling back to her human counterpart's cryptic invitation.

Pinkie Pie's excitement was palpable as she spotted Sunset and Twilight entering the room.

"Sunshim, Twilight! You're back!"

The rest of the girls turned their attention to Sunset and Twilight.

"We gotta figure out who's been swipin' them geodes, find out why, and make sure they face the long arm of the law," Applejack declared, her unshakable determination ringing clear in her voice.

Rainbow Dash nodded vigorously in agreement. "Absolutely! We can't just sit idly by and let them get away with it!"

"But we're also meeting human Sunset tomorrow, right?" Pinkie Pie interjected.

A momentary hush settled over the group as they contemplated this. Rainbow Dash eventually conceded, "Oh, right. I nearly forgot about that."

Sunset's curious gaze fixed on Rarity, who was engrossed in her task, fingers dancing across the keyboard of Rainbow Dash's computer.

Sunset's inquiry cut through the silence. "What are you searching for, Rarity?"

With unwavering determination, Rarity replied, "I'm currently endeavoring to locate your human counterpart, my dear. I've made extensive efforts, employing your name on Hoovle and various social media platforms, such as YouSaddle, SnapGab, and MyStable. Yet, regrettably, all I've managed to discover is information about you. There seems to be no trace of your human counterpart, much to my chagrin."

Leaning in closer, Sunset and the girls peered over Rarity's shoulder at the computer screen. "Yeah, I tried searching for her a few times in the past but gave up because I couldn't find anything, which is rather perplexing."

Twilight pondered for a moment before unveiling her plan. "I have an idea. I think I know how to find her."

"With your nerdy hacking skills?" Rainbow Dash teased.

Pinkie chimed in with her typical enthusiasm, "Magic?"

Twilight shook her head, her eyes filled with determination. "No, well, I could use my hacking skills, but there's a simpler way."

"And what might that be?" Applejack inquired with a curious tilt of her hat.

Twilight settled beside Rarity, her fingers deftly working the keyboard as the other girls gathered around, anticipation in their eyes.

"The Everton University website?" Rarity recognized the site from their prior discussions. "Isn't that the university you aspire to attend, Twilight?""

Twilight nodded. "Yes, that's the university I intend to enroll in someday. When Pinkie and I met Sunset's human counterpart earlier, she was wearing the Everton University uniform. The website for Everton University includes a method to safeguard the confidentiality of its students' personal information. It's a highly prestigious school, and its student body primarily comprises the extremely wealthy or exceptionally intelligent. This explains their stringent privacy measures. Sunset's human counterpart's information, which we can't easily find elsewhere, must be here."





With a few swift keystrokes, Twilight gained access to the university website and logged in, revealing a wealth of information about its students.

"And bingo!" Twilight exclaimed, a smug smile on her face, her self-satisfied expression evident to all. Her fingers danced across the keyboard, unveiling the sought-after information.

Sunset was genuinely impressed, her eyes wide with wonder. "Wow, Twi! That's amazing. How did you do that?"

Blushing slightly, Twilight rubbed the back of her neck and chuckled nervously. "Well... I had been researching Everton University since my junior high days at Crystal Prep. I've had some experience hacking their system in the past." Adjusting her glasses, she continued, "But I had never searched for individual student information before, only the school's details and course offerings."

Rainbow Dash couldn't resist a teasing remark. "You mentioned an 'easier way,' but why does it still involve your nerdy hacking skills?"

Twilight gave Rainbow Dash a wry look before proceeding to search for Sunset Shimmer's name in the Everton search bar. Multiple names and pictures popped up on the screen, and the girls leaned in eagerly.

Excitement bubbled in Pinkie's voice as she pointed out, "There she is, and oh! There she is as well! Is this her junior high school photo? Her hair was longer back then. Oh, and there's a photo of her in primary school too!"

Fluttershy's gentle voice cooed, "Awww, she looks so adorable, just like Sunset."

"Seems like she's been plantin' her roots in that school since she was knee-high to a grasshopper, don't it?" Applejack noted.

Rarity exclaimed in astonishment, "Darling! She really does resemble you!" She glanced at Sunset, who was gazing at her human counterpart's childhood photos, a mix of emotions crossing her face.

Sunset couldn't tear her eyes away from the childhood photos of her human counterpart. A strange blend of emotions filled her as she muttered, "So, this is what I looked like as a human child. I only saw myself as a filly when I looked in the mirror at my parents' house when I was a kid."

Fluttershy, with a hint of concern, studied the photos and remarked, "She looks so adorable and so much like Sunset, but why does she appear so empty and sad in her photos?"

As the girls observed Sunset's human counterpart's photos, a heavy silence settled in the room, the somber expressions on her face not escaping their notice.





Pinkie couldn't help but express heartfelt concern. "What if she had a difficult childhood? Oh no, poor Sunny."

"It does appear that the sparkle is missing from her eyes, doesn't it?" Rarity delicately noted. "Perhaps we should also search for photographs of her in her current state. One can only hope that she's doing better now."

With a click, Twilight displayed the most recent photos, her shock palpable as she read the accompanying information. "S-She's the school president at Everton University?! I-wait-what? And it also says here that she is one of the smartest students in-in…" She was too taken aback to finish her sentence.

"Someone's a little jealous," Rainbow Dash smirked, unable to resist teasing.

Twilight, her cheeks faintly tinged with embarrassment, retorted, "I am not jealous at all," though her eyes told a different story as she read the information.

Fluttershy, still studying the photos, observed, "She looks all right now, but... her eyes still hold the same sadness and emptiness; only now it appears..."

"That she wears a colder expression," Applejack chimed in, her brows furrowed in concern. "From all them photos, I can't spot a single smile."

Pinkie couldn't reconcile the photos with her own experiences. "That's strange. When Twilight and I met her in person, she had the warmest smile I've ever seen, and she didn't seem cold at all."

Twilight voiced her unease. "You may see it that way, Pinkie, but for me, the energy she gives off feels unsettling."

"Hmm, she did act oddly when I bumped into her, but she became so gentle and kind afterward," Pinkie pondered for a moment.

Rarity gracefully added her insight. "Tomorrow, when we have the pleasure of meeting her in person, all these mysteries will unfold." With a contemplative air, she continued, "I must say, she does give the impression of being quite charming, exquisitely attired, and ever so stylish, if I may be so bold."

"Well, sugarcube," Applejack added, “I reckon she's just like Sunset herself, but y'all can sure 'nuff tell 'em apart by the length of their hair and their choice of duds. It's as simple as tellin' a sheep from a goat, no doubt 'bout it."

Rainbow Dash couldn't help but make an observation as well. "Although I have to admit, she looks cooler than our Sunset." Her statement was met with a sharp, almost jealous glance from Sunset.

"No offense, Sunset." Rainbow Dash quickly backtracked, realizing her misstep. "I mean, she may be the cool one, but you're the hotter one! Like ice and fire!" She chuckled nervously, trying to diffuse the tension.

Sunset chuckled slightly at Rainbow's attempt to smooth things over. "How am I 'hot,' though?" she asked, a hint of a bittersweet smile on her face.

Rainbow panicked, her face blushing slightly, and in a nearly high-pitched tone, she nervously stammered, "I mean, I'm the hottest, but you are too!" In her desperation, she nudged Twilight, hoping she would come to her rescue. "Twilight agrees that you're hot too, right, Twilight?"

Twilight, caught off guard, stammered, her face flushed with embarrassment. "W-what? Why are you bringing me into this conversation?"

Sunset, momentarily feeling a hint of jealousy when compared to her human counterpart, managed to set it aside. She refocused on the matter at hand, asking, "Are there more details about her, Twilight?"

Twilight, absorbed in her search for information on the computer screen, responded, "Hmm, there's more information about her, but it mostly relates to her accomplishments and how they portray her as the ideal student at Everton University. It also mentions that she's one of the youngest billionaires in Manehattan City. Aside from that, there's not much available."

Rainbow Dash was astounded. "Whoa! She's a billionaire?" Rarity couldn't conceal her shock either, exclaiming, "A BILLIONAIRE?? MY GOODNESS, SUNSET! DARLING! I never fathomed that your human counterpart would be this affluent!"

Sunset, making an effort to hide any feelings of envy, offered a polite response. "Uh... well, good for her, I guess."

Pinkie Pie, with enthusiasm, chimed in with wide-eyed wonder. "Wow! I thought so too! I only thought that she was just a regular rich person, but wow, a billionaire? Wait—what's a billionaire again?"

Rainbow Dash provided an explanation. "It means she's incredibly rich, Pinkie, with enough money to last a lifetime."

Pinkie's eyes sparkled with delight. "Wow! Does that mean she can buy all the cupcakes in the world?"

"If she wants to, then yeah, it's possible." Rainbow grinned.

Pinkie's excitement knew no bounds. "Wowzie! That's so amazing!"

However, Rainbow Dash couldn't help but notice Sunset's human counterpart's disinterested expression on the computer screen. She leaned in, whispering, "Although, by the looks of that face, she seems completely uninterested in cupcakes."

Pinkie Pie, bewildered, shook her head in disbelief. "A person who doesn't like cupcakes?! Oh no! But why? Everyone likes cupcakes!" The concept of someone not sharing her boundless enthusiasm for cupcakes was truly perplexing to her.

As the group continued their search for information about Sunset's enigmatic human counterpart, Twilight's fingers danced across the keyboard. Her brow furrowed in concentration as she reported, "There isn't much personal information available. Although I did find her birthdate and place of birth, that's about it. Her birthdate matches Sunset's, and she was born in Manehattan."

Applejack couldn't help but express her unease. "Well, now, it's mighty peculiar, ain't it? It's got me scratchin' my noggin, seein' how there's so darn little info 'bout her out there on the internet. If she's supposed to be the bee's knees in Manehattan, why's it feel like we're diggin' for apples in a haystack just to find her info on the school's website?"

"That is indeed peculiar..." Fluttershy voiced her concern.

Applejack, however, couldn't help but voice her suspicions. "Now, I don't wanna go a-hootin' and hollerin' 'bout it just yet, but it's got me thinkin'. Ain't it the darnedest coincidence that our geodes were done up and disappeared 'round the same time that Sunset's human counterpart showed up?"

The room fell into a contemplative silence, with all eyes turning to Applejack. She continued, "Well, you know, reckon it's worth a good ol' ponder. Pinkie and Twilight crossed paths with Sunset's lookalike here in Canterlot City, and she seemed eager to make friends and get herself acquainted with us, especially takin' a shine to our gal, Sunset Shimmer."

Rainbow Dash, her intuition honed, stated, "It does seem rather suspicious now that you mention it."

Twilight interjected, her analytical nature urging caution. "That's also why I have reservations about her aura."

Fluttershy offered a note of caution, saying, "Girls, let's not rush to conclusions just yet because we haven't met her in person. We should give her a fair chance."

Sunset Shimmer, having considered their options, proposed a plan of action. "I agree with Fluttershy. Let's meet her in person first and find out why she wants to meet us, especially me. I plan to use my geode to read her thoughts tomorrow."

Twilight praised her strategic thinking. "Good idea, Sunset."

Sunset proceeded to outline their next course of action. "Now, all we need is a plan. Let’s meet tomorrow, before 3 p.m., in front of the Canterlot Palomino Hotel. Twilight, Fluttershy, Pinkie, and I should bring our geodes tomorrow and keep them close. Leaving them at home is too risky."

Fluttershy, however, couldn't help but voice her concern. "But what about tonight? What if the thief breaks into our houses and steals our geodes?"

Sunset pondered for a moment when Pinkie Pie sprang into action. "Then let’s have a sleepover at my place tonight! That way, we can all look out for each other!"

"Oh, right! Great idea, Pinkie!" Rainbow Dash enthusiastically supported the plan.

Just as it seemed the plan was coming together, Twilight stood up from her chair and delivered a surprising declaration. "NO!"

The sudden outburst left everyone in the room astonished. Rarity, concerned, inquired, "What's the matter, darling?"

Twilight took a deep breath but continued to pant and sweat, her words stumbling out in an almost incomprehensible jumble. "I-I... I can’t... I’m sorry, but, uh, m-me and Spike have, uh, plans for the evening!"

Rainbow Dash leaned back and gave Twilight a skeptical look. "You're obviously lying, Twilight, and you're not very good at it."

Twilight nervously glanced at Rainbow, causing her to sweat even more anxiously. "I... I-"

Rainbow wasn't finished. "You're probably just too shy to spend the night with us because you're on the phone with your boyfriend, Timber, all night."

Rarity, with her knack for reading between the lines, couldn't hide her amusement. "My, my, I was nearly on the verge of forgetting about that little detail! Oh, Twilight! How positively enchanting! We certainly wouldn't dream of encroaching upon your cherished moments with Timber, dear. We completely comprehend if that's the reason you're inclined to decline our invitation for an overnight stay..."

Applejack spoke with a heartfelt, down-to-earth charm. "Well, Twilight, ain't no need for fibbin' 'round here. We're as open as a barn door on a sunny day, so don't you worry, none, Sugar Cube."

Twilight's cheeks turned a deep shade of crimson as she stammered, "N-no, we aren't at all!"

Sunset Shimmer patted Twilight's shoulder gently. "It's alright, Twi. There's no need to hide it. We support you in this."

"I reckon I'm in the same boat. The farm's callin' me, and I can't leave Granny Smith to tackle those heavy chores all on her own. Don'tcha fret, though; I'd love to join y'all, but not tonight. Maybe next time, when the apples ain't demandin' quite so much attention."

"Aww, that's a bummer," Pinkie Pie's head drooped. Sunset patted her head and smiled at her. "Don't worry, Pinkie. We'll have a sleepover soon if everyone is free."

Pinkie's eyes shone with excitement. "Really?! Yippee!!" She jumped up and down with joy.

Sunset's tone then turned serious as she outlined a new plan. "Let's adjust the plan for tonight. Putting all of our geodes in one place is risky; they'll be too exposed. Let's each do our best to guard our geodes for the rest of the night. Lock all doors and windows tightly, and maybe put something in front of them for added security. Hide your geodes well, but keep them within reach at all times. Be vigilant, and don't let your guard down. It won't be easy, but let's do our best."

The girls all nodded in agreement. Twilight gazed out the window and noticed that the sun was setting below the horizon.

"Well, it's getting late," she observed. "We should head home before it gets dark. There's a good chance the thief might target us if we're out at night."

Sunset added, "Twilight is right and remember that we should also prepare our homes for the night, sealing any possible entrances."

As the sun dipped below the horizon, the girls bid their farewells and embarked on their separate journeys home. Sunset made her way to her motorcycle, parked in front of Rainbow Dash's house, preparing for her ride. However, just as she was about to set off, Twilight's voice called out to her from behind.

"Hey, Twi. I thought you had already left. What’s up?" Sunset inquired, turning around to face her friend, a sense of curiosity in her tone.

Twilight hesitated, her gaze locked on the ground, and her head gently shook as if trying to dispel an invisible burden. "Sunset... I-"

There was a palpable weight in Twilight's silence, a feeling that she had something of great significance to share, yet her hesitation hung in the air. Sunset, with her unwavering gaze, waited for Twilight's response, her concern apparent.

Twilight finally looked up, her nerves betraying her as she spoke. "A-Ah... N-Never mind. I’m fine!" She offered an awkward smile. "I... I’ll see you tomorrow then."

Sunset, undeterred, studied Twilight's troubled expression with genuine care. "Twilight? If there’s something bothering you, I am always here to listen."

Twilight's eyes darted as if she yearned to reveal a hidden truth but couldn't muster the words.

"I... I’m alright," Twilight stammered, her smile widening. "Just a little worried about the t-thief! Yeah, the thief! But I don’t feel scared anymore! I think I can handle it!" She practically beamed. "Gotta go now! See you again tomorrow, Sunset!"

Before Sunset could respond, Twilight dashed off to catch the departing public bus. Sunset watched the bus recede into the distance, perplexed and somewhat uneasy. "Um, okay? Uh, bye?" she murmured, her confusion evident.

As Sunset revved up her engine and sped away in the direction of her home, she couldn't help but ponder Twilight's behavior. Something seemed amiss. She remembered Twilight's tears from a few weeks ago, following their battle with Sombra. She had been there for Twilight, offering solace and support in those trying days. Though Twilight had seemed to recover recently, Sunset still hoped that Twilight wasn't having trouble with Midnight Sparkle again.

With these thoughts, Sunset continued her journey, her mind filled with unease and questions about her friend's well-being.