//------------------------------//
// Chapter 1: History 
// Story: Editor Required 
// by stupidhand14 
//------------------------------//

        “Remember to study for Monday’s test,” the history teacher told his seventh period class as they rushed towards freedom. “It’ll cover the Gilded Age, so be sure to study Rockefeller.”
        Only after he had finished speaking did Twilight Sparkle begin to pack her notebook into her backpack. Sunset Shimmer, who had fallen asleep halfway through the lecture, was groggily stuffing her notes away. They were disappointingly short, with no real information behind them. Shaking off her sleep, she walked outside with Twilight. 
        “Got any plans for the weekend?” Sunset asked as the two walked down the hall. 
        “Not really.” Twilight looked down for a few moments. “Though I am planning on going to the library to get a few books and to start on the term paper.”
        “What?” Sunset raised her eyebrow. “You do know the term paper isn’t due for another couple of months, right?”
        “Yes, but I want to get it done and out of the way.” 
        Before the two could get any further, the rest of their friends joined in.
        “Another week done,” Rainbow announced as she fell into step with her two friends. “Just a few more until Halloween.”
        “Are we still gonna have a party at yer place for Halloween, Sunset?” Applejack asked as she came up from behind Rainbow.
        “Of course we are!” Smiles spread throughout the group. The four teenagers stepped outside the front doors and into the free open air.
        “Oh, there you are, darlings.” Rarity came rushing over to the group, Pinkie Pie in tow. “You would not believe what they’re forcing us to do in computers!”
        No one in the group asked the obvious question as each of them mentally rolled their eyes at their friend’s melodramatics.
        “Alright, I’ll ask. What’re ya’ doin’ in computers?”
        “We have to design a web site for another person. An entire website!” Rarity continued her complaints for several seconds, her friends quietly allowing her to vent. As soon as she was calmed, the topic quickly changed to the dreaded History test.
        “He always give me a bad score, no matter how much I study.” Rainbow Dash threw her hands into the air. “No matter how much info I put in my essay, he always gives it a D!”
        “Yeah, he’s a real hard teacher ta’ please.” Applejack turned to Sunset, a small smile on her lips. “By the way, Sunset, mind if I borrow your notes for today’s video? I ran out of paper.” 
        Sunset couldn’t help but feel guilty, and her poker face was not what it used to be. Instantly, her friends saw through her.
        “Sunset, did you fall asleep during History again?” Twilight finally asked after Rarity had been pacified. “I can let you borrow my notes again if you’d like.”
        Sunset looked over, guilt and anger rising in her brain. How could she have fallen asleep again? She couldn’t rely on Twilight forever, but she also couldn’t get a bad grade. Twilight needed her notes to study off of too, so she couldn’t just take it.
        “No, I’ll be fine,” Sunset lied. “I have been meaning to do a new system of notes, so I’ll be fine.”
        After all her friends had broken off to go home for the day, Sunset ran over to her locker. Opening it, she found the item of her salvation: the Instantaneous Message Journal™. Pulling it out, she wrote to Princess Twilight.

        Hey, Twilight, want to perform a test of the magic between the worlds?
        Your friend, Sunset.

        Crossing her fingers, Sunset put the journal into her bag and began to walk towards the entrance of the school. Before she could even exit the building, she felt the journal vibrate. Pulling it out, she stepped off to the side to read the message.

        I would be more than happy to help you test the magic in that world. When do you need me over there?

        Sunset couldn’t help but smile at the inefficient use of a quill. It left the words bigger and much more smudged. She pulled out her pen again and wrote her reply.

        I need a book that’s been enchanted with the Continuous History charm.

        Sunset watched as the words appeared, showing Twilight’s response.

        What do you need that for?

        Sunset had to pause. She couldn’t let Twilight know she fell asleep during class. She would never hear the end of it. A half truth would work best here, but what reason would prevent suspicion best?

        As you know, my journal works but your element doesn’t. I want to see if it is just a fluke or if other objects are changed through the portals.

        Do you mind if I try something new I’ve been making to get it to you?

        What do you want to do?

        I have been designing a spell based on one of Starswirl’s theories of Portal Dynamics. It should allow for me to send you an object, which I will try with a book after I give you the regular copy through the portal.

        Alright, that sounds fine. Can you get them to me sometime this weekend?

        I can have everything ready by tomorrow. Is that fast enough?

        That should be fine. Thanks Twilight.

        Of course. You know you can ask me anything.

        Anyways, how are things in Equestria?

        The two spent several minutes communicating through the book about the happenings between the worlds. Before long, however, Sunset bid Twilight a good night before closing the book and locking it to stop any vibrations. She continued along her trek down Canterlot High’s grey hallways. On her way heading home, she decided to go see how conditioning practice for Soccer was going.
        Rainbow Dash and the rest of the Wondercolts were doing soccer drills in the field, trying to keep in shape. Rainbow, as the team captain, was leading the team and keeping them all on track. As such, Sunset didn’t walk over to talk and instead watched the team practice for a bit. 
They were all working very hard. Lightning Dust, another member of the team was almost beating Rainbow Dash in some of the contests, though they didn’t appear to be mad at each other. Yet, Sunset couldn’t stop seeing a certain glint in her eyes, and the air of competition between the two. 
Shaking her head, Sunset continued on her way home before it got dark. Sunset got home just as the last beams of light were on the horizon. Opening the door, she entered and promptly threw her backpack off to the side. After getting some water and taking care of other necessities, Sunset returned to her backpack and withdrew her single sheet of notes. Seeing again at how pitifully short they were, she felt tempted to just crush the paper. Instead of giving into that urge, she withdrew her history book. Rereading through the first few pages of the chapter, she took more notes on that sheet of paper. However, at around 8:32, her phone buzzed with a text. Sunset got no more work done that night.





        Saturday morning, Sunset found herself walking to school once more. When she was ten minutes away, she felt her backpack shake slightly. Pausing, she opened it and withdrew the Instantaneous Message Journal™. As she opened the journal, Sunset hand went for her lucky pen, usually in her pocket. However, for once, it was absent. Frantically searching for the pen now, she dug through both her pockets and her backpack’s innards looking for it. 
After several seconds of searching, the Instantaneous Message Journal™ began to buzz again. Deciding to look for it later, Sunset opened one of the side pockets and withdrew a different pen. Turning back to the journal, she read the new message.

Alright, the spell is ready to send you the book. You ready?

Sunset smiled and put pen to paper.

Alright, go ahead and send it. I’m a few minutes away from the school. By the way, where will it end up at?

It should show up right in front of the portal.

Sunset picked up her pace, practically jogging towards the school. It shaved a minute off her arrival, though she was slightly out of breath when she arrived. Smiling, she looked in front of the statue, only to find it vacant of any and all books. Sunset opened the journal again.

Did you send it?

Yes. Did it not appear?

Unfortunately, no. Did you send one or two?

I only sent one. Want me to bring you the backup book?

Yes please.

Yes, please.*

Sunset could only sigh as she closed the journal, then let a smile break out across her face. Twilight was coming to visit, if only briefly. Sunset returned journal to her backpack and turned to the portal just in time to see Twilight step out.
“Twilight!” Sunset all but shouted as she hugged her friend. “Welcome back.”
“Hey.” Twilight held out a wrapped square. “I brought you a gift.”
Sunset wasted no seconds in tearing open the gift, showing what should have been a Book of Continuous History. It was supposed to be a sleek looking book, with a modern binder and roughly the size of a compendium. 
Instead, the book looked rather large, with a leather binding, as well as being the size of a compendium, it was as thick as two, though surprisingly light. It was entitled Book of History: Editor’s Edition.
“Well,” Sunset said while still slightly stunned. “The words changed.”
“It would appear so, but what else changed?”
The two girls sat down as Sunset opened the seemingly aged book and flipped to the glossary. Just as she had hoped, the glossary contained chapters about Earth’s history. Everything from the Ancient Greeks, and older, up to the Modern Era.
Flipping to the furthest page in the glossary, the two girls found words still being written as the events came to pass. Even the minutest of details were in the book, including what the diplomats were drinking.
“This is amazing!” Sunset pulled Twilight into a quick hug. “Thank you for bringing this to me.”
“It was no trouble.” Twilight returned the hug, though her face was a touch redder. “I assume you want to study it more?”
“Definitely.” Sunset looked down at the book again and flipped to the American Gilded Age. All the information she would ever need, and some she wouldn’t, was right there in front of her. “If I show this to anyone, it could revolutionize everything about human history.”
“I don’t think you should show anyone.” Twilight looked aside in thought. “I don’t think introducing magic to a species without it would aid them… and could very well prove detrimental. Or even disastrous.”
“Huh…” Sunset looked up in thought. “I suppose that argument could be made. But wouldn’t intervention to aid them be better than letting them suffer in ignorance?”
“Letting a species grow on its own has always been Celestia’s, and by extension Equestria’s, policy.” Twilight leaned her head back on the statue. “I’m not entirely sure if I’d be allowed to even give you that book if you are going to give it out to people here.”
“Don’t worry, I know as well as you do on how Celestia would respond to that. I won’t give it out to anyone.” Sunset checked her phone, seeing that already five minutes had passed. “How long can you stay this time?”
Twilight grimaced. “I can’t stay long. An hour at most.”
“Oh… okay.” Sunset thought about what was within walking distance that they could do for an hour. Unfortunately, nothing came to mind. “What do you wanna do?”
“How about you show me some of the technology from this world. I’ve yet to use a cellphone, and I can’t help but wonder if it can be replicated in Equestria.”
“Sure,” Sunset said as her smile grew. 
For the next hour, Sunset allowed Twilight to use some of the technology that was in the world while showing her others. Laptops, phones, digital cameras, among other things. Before long, the hour was up.
“I need to get back now,” Twilight announced as she stood up. “I’m afraid I have a meeting with some delegates from Zebrica.”
“Oh, alright.” Sunset rose as well, her smile turning into a grimace. “Well, see ya.”
“Next time I’ll make time to stay longer.” Twilight hugged her friend goodbye. “I promise.”
Without waiting for a response, Twilight turned and entered through the portal. Sunset waited several seconds before feeling the surface, which had once again become solid. Taking her enchanted book, Sunset turned and began her walk home. Her mind already whirling with ideas of how to use her newly enchanted object, she didn’t even notice she almost left school grounds. 
“Sunset!” the voice shouted before she could escape. Sunset turned to see that it was Flash Sentry trying to catch up to her. He was wearing his backpack, which looked to contain something big and heavy.
“Oh, Flash.” Sunset’s mind was reeling. It was true that they used to date, but she was unsure whether or not he held a grudge. “You need something?”
“Yeah.” He held out a pen to her, the same pen she had failed to find earlier. “You forgot this yesterday, and I just thought I’d come to give it back.”
“Oh.” Sunset reached out and took the pen. A small sigh escaped her lips as she felt its familiar weight in her hand. Giving it a slight squeeze, Sunset placed it into her pocket.“Thanks.”
Awkward silence reigned for several seconds. Sunset scrambled for something to say, but nothing came to mind.
“Well, I gotta get going.” Flash turned a waved a hasty goodbye before running off. 
Sunset stood in silence for a few seconds before returning to her walk home. After arriving home and throwing her backpack onto the couch, she moved to make herself lunch. Once she’d eaten a totally healthy meal of ramen, she pulled her new book out again.
“Well… time to study,” Sunset told herself dryly, feeling all the enthusiasm of studying Laissez-faire economics. She went to the Gilded Age section of the Book of History and began to read up, taking notes on a separate sheet of paper. It took hours to complete, but she was thorough. Her notes spread across five pages, her hand feeling like it would fall off. Now all she needed to do was study for the weekend, and she was golden.
“Ha, I’m going to ace you, test!”





        “I have here yesterday’s test results,” the teacher informed the class as he passed back the essays and tests on Tuesday. “Some of you did quite well, and I couldn’t be prouder. Others of you really need to start studying, or you may fail this class. And I know you don’t want to see me again next year.”
        Sunset sat in her chair, her body language screaming confidence. She had studied for the test all weekend and was all but dancing as she walked out of class the day prior. However, when she received her test, right on the top of the paper was a big red, circled C. All of her confidence fading, Sunset could only sit in shock until the all the tests were passed back.
        “If any of you would like to see a good essay, I would suggest reading Twilight’s,” the teacher continued. “Her essay’s on a level I would expect from a senior. Compare your essay to her’s, and you’ll see where you went wrong.”
        As Twilight blushed under the praise, the bell rang and most of the students did their best in getting out of the class as fast as possible. Sunset was just as fast as them, but instead of leaving, she went straight to the teacher’s desk.
        “What do you mean I get a C?” Sunset all but shouted to the teacher. She could still hear some of the other students most of them complaining about their grade. “I answered every question completely, thoroughly, and provided evidence. Why did I get a C?”
        “Sunset, your evidence was exactly the problem.” The teacher lifted up her paper and read through the first paragraph until finding what he was looking for. “Right here, you speak about JP Morgan buying Carnegie Steel, but you have all the facts wrong. It was quick, with JP Morgan buying it immediately after Carnegie named his price. You put that it was a long, drawn out process, full of backdoor dealings. And don’t even get me started on what you fabricated about Rockefeller.”
        “It wasn’t fabricated,” Sunset insisted. “I found evidence that that’s how it really happened!”
        “Oh?” He sat back in his chair. “Where did you find this evidence?”
        “Uh…” Sunset’s mind racked to find some form of excuse, some way to make it not sound like she was an idiot. “Internet?”
        “I thought so.” He rubbed his eyes briefly before looking sorry for Sunset. “You are a victim of a pseudo-Historian. Someone who creates facts without evidence. Be sure to check your sources, Sunset. Do you need anything else?”
        “No… I guess not.” Sunset sulked out of the classroom, her test barely held by her weak grip. Outside the door waiting for her were all her friends, minus Rainbow Dash.
        “Didn’t go well, darling?” Rarity moved over to comfort her, her hand resting on Sunset’s shoulder.
        “I don’t want to talk about it.” The six girls began to make their way to the front of the school. “That reminds me, have you seen Rainbow Dash today?”
        “Rainbow Dash?” Appplejack tilted her head, confusion clouding her eyes. “Who’s that?”
        Sunset couldn’t help but smile at her friend’s attempt to pick her up. “She’s gone one day and you already forget her. Seriously though, is she sick today?”
        “No, Rainbow Dash is here today,” Pinkie said with a smile. “We share a seventh period, and she was here.”
        “Huh…” Why hadn’t she sat with them at lunch today? “I got something I need to take care of. I’ll talk to you all later.”
        “Okay, bye!” Pinkie all but shouted as Sunset peeled away from the rest of the group. 
        Sunset decided to go to the one place she knew Rainbow would be: conditioning. Before she could make it to the field, she found Rainbow. But something was definitely different about her. Her normally cyan skin was far paler than normal, and her clothes, usually a vibrant mixture of colors, were replaced by a pair of pants and dark blue sweatshirt.
        “There you are, Rainbow,” Sunset said happily as she approached. “Where were you today? You feeling okay?”
        “Huh?” Rainbow turned to Sunset with the same confusion that filled Applejack’s eyes. “Uh… hi?”
        “Mind if I walk with you to practice?” Sunset’s smile grew as she nudged Rainbow in the side. “I promise I won’t slow you down.”
        “Practice? I’m walking home,” Rainbow retorted, rubbing her side where Sunset’s elbow had connected. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to get going.”
        Sunset stopped, stunned. None of it made any sense, Rainbow usually responded to an elbow with an equally rough one, and she would never miss a single practice. Something was wrong, definitely wrong. Rushing over to the soccer team’s condition, she found Lightning Dust there, leading the team through exercises. After a few sets, she called for a break and moved to get a water, where Sunset intercepted her.
        “Hey, do you know what’s wrong with Rainbow?” Sunset asked her.
        “What do you mean? And who’s Rainbow?” Lightning replied before drinking down some of her water.
        “You know, Rainbow Dash, the team captain?” Sunset gave Lightning a hard stare, though her only response was laughing.
        “I don’t know who you’re talking about, but I’m the captain of this soccer team.” She turned around and picked a person at random. “Hey, Fleet, get over here.” The member in question rushed over, still heaving and catching her breathe. “Who is the captain of this team?”
        “Y *gasp* You are, Lightning,” the girl answered. “Was that all you needed?”
        “Yeah, go back to rest. But you better be ready in five minutes. I won’t allow anyone to pull the rest of us down!” Lightning turned back to Sunset. “Now, was there anything you wanted to ask?”
        “No, no. That’s all.” Sunset watched as Lightning whipped everyone back up and began another set of suicide drills. Turning away, she rushed home, her mind still reeling. So many things just didn’t make sense.
        She arrived home, throwing her backpack on her couch as she thought. Her mind was racing with strange ideas, but none of them made sense. She spent hours sitting on her couch, contemplating why her world was so different suddenly. 
Slowly, her mind drifted to the book that Twilight had given her. Getting up, she walked to her bedroom and, on her desk, was the book already open. There seemed to be a red glow coming from one of the pages. It also appeared to have a bookmark set to the page, and it wasn’t the one she had left the book open on. She walked over and read the red text.

        Mistake found in this section of History. Evidence of tampering found. Editor required to fix mistakes.

        Sunset could practically feel the magical energies emanating from the book. Already she knew the book had been changed by the world, but how and in what ways she didn’t know. Sitting down next to the book, she examined it fully. There was an entire section highlighted in red. 
After a brief scan, she deduced it was about a soccer game, one Rainbow Dash had been in. There was, however, something odd. It looked as if someone had used white out and wrote their own story in place of the book. The font was different, as was the size of the letters.
Sunset reached over and pulled out white-out from her drawer and tried to apply it to the page, only to find that it didn’t work. It wasn’t that the white-out wasn’t sticking, it was simply that the words persisted and went through it.
Sunset looked at the words in red again. An editor was needed, but what did that mean? How did someone manage to alter the book? How could anyone else in this world know how to control an Equestrian construct?
Setting aside those thoughts for later, she turned back to the problem at hand. She knew the book was most likely the problem and solution to Rainbow Dash’s problem, but she didn’t know how to fix it. Twilight wouldn’t know, nor would anypony in Equestria. Only she knew enough about both worlds to fix it.
Sunset sighed, her mind thinking up new ideas. However, before long, her mind began to drift again. Snapping herself out, she decided to look at the one object that had helped her through her hardest time on this planet: a photograph.

        It was a picture of her and all her friends. It had helped her get through all the bullying that occurred after she turned into a she-demon, showing her that there were people that honestly believed in her. It was her most treasured item. The fact that Rainbow Dash was now missing from it pushed her to make sure she restored whatever had gone wrong.
        Putting her mind back to the task at hand, she once again drew up a blank. Finally settling for simply searching, Sunset closed her eyes and focused on the book. The magic of this world was rarely used and had a feel that was much like calm water, but also unusable. However, Sunset could feel a channel through the book, the magic being used to do something other than writing words.
        Suddenly, she felt something pulling her towards the book. Her body felt as if it were fading away, her limbs no longer under her command. She felt as if her conscious was being sucked into it.
Panicking, Sunset pulled herself back into her body, fighting against the urge to fall into the pages that tried to draw her in.
        Her eyes popping open, Sunset looked around the room. Her skin was sweaty, as if she had just sprinted a mile. She felt tired enough for that to be true, too.
Taking a deep breathe, Sunset got up and closed the book. She couldn’t be dragged in without a backup plan. Walking to bed, a plan began to form in Sunset’s head. It was stupid, dangerous, and probably hazardous to her health, but it would probably work. Hopefully.