A Past Returned

by TacoTues4Eva

Saturday Dec 17 b

Apparently the most important thing was to set up the shelter animals in their own display as it didn’t actually take too long to do it with both Fluttershy and Sunset working together to get it done. Even with how dead tired Sunset was, she still managed to handle her share of the work before they had some pizza and helped set up a few Christmas displays and post sale prices on many of the animals. Apparently Mr. Olsen was also a vet though he didn’t have a full veterinary office. Instead he had a small examination room off to the side that he did simple things for as well as take care of all animals that came through his shop, both before being sold and after. Sunset thought it was actually pretty nice though while Fluttershy idolized the old man for it.

Sunset was thankful that beyond the initial teasing Fluttershy didn’t bring the boy up anymore though she couldn’t understand her own reaction to him. She also didn’t really understand how familiar the pet shop seemed and how every time she let her body go on auto she would seem to know where everything was and how Mr. Olsen liked them done. She couldn’t really say which part was freaking her out more, and despite how her phone’s advice to start with one problem at a time sounded good at the time she was now wondering if perhaps she needed a new one. Or better yet, go without one.

The actual good thing about being there was as they kept busy the two actually had a little fun as the pushed the past week or so to the back of their minds. Sunset had no problems admitting that this was something she dearly missed. She had missed the lack of actual good social interaction with someone she cared about. The question she was having trouble answering to herself when she let herself think on it was just how much she cared for the girls or Fluttershy.

“Thank you for all of your help today girls. You both helped get everything done so much faster that I would have alone.” Mr. Olsen said as he came up to where Fluttershy and Sunset had finished arranging the display near the register with Christmas toys and treats for pets.

“It wasn’t any problem, Mr. Olsen. I’m always eager to help.” Fluttershy said with a beaming smile while Sunset nodded in agreement while fighting off a yawn.

“Well this old body appreciates it.” Mr. Olsen said as he handed both of them a red envelope with green foil wreathes printed on it.

“Mr. Olsen, I appreciate it but you know I was just doing this to help out.” Fluttershy gasped at seeing a hundred dollar bill stuffed in it. Opening her own Sunset discovered the same.

“Nonsense, you girls deserve this. And I don’t want to hear any protest.” Mr. Olsen said as he crossed his arms interrupting Sunset before she could manage to voice her own. “Sine we are done and I know it will be a few hours before your mother picks you up, why don’t you girls do some shopping at the mall.”

“Thank you.” Sunset said, not arguing back as she had a strong feeling that the old man was extremely stubborn.

As they left the pet shop and walked down the street following Mr. Olsen’s directions though a part of Sunset already seemed to instinctually knew how to get there before the man finished explaining. Fluttershy said she knew the basic location of it and it was only about a fifteen minute walk if they took their time.

“I’m happy you came.” Fluttershy said as they walked side by side doing a little window shopping at the stores lining the street. It seemed so different from Canterlot with how much more busy the place seemed yet so much alike at the same time.

“To tell the truth, despite how tired I am, I’m glad I came to.” Sunset said as she stretched. Her mouth dropped open when she caught the sight of two girls, one a blonde and the other brunette, fly overhead at amazing speeds that nobody else seemed to notice. The woman made of fire and man made of ice following them at high speeds which shook Sunset a little. The two girls were dressed similar to what Sunset was dressed in the night before when she transformed making her feel a bit of an urge to follow them.

“What do you want to do first?” Fluttershy asked looking around.

“Fluttershy, I need to spend a little time alone.” Sunset said feeling guilty at seeing the disappointed look on Fluttershy’s face. “It isn’t that I don’t want to hang out, I just need to sort through some things. I’ll meet with you at the Silver Dragon if I don’t catch up with you at the mall.”

“Okay I guess, just be careful.” Fluttershy said before Sunset turned and literally ran off in the direction she seen the girls, fire woman and ice man flew in. It took a few minutes but she came to a large bridge where the two girls were collapsed on the ground trying to get back up while the other two stood on either side preparing an attack.

“Looks like we aren’t getting out of this one, Corny.” The brunette said as she was clearly on the verge of giving up. With the amount of damage it looked like she took in the short time for Sunset to catch up it was understandable. Her clothes were filthy with a lot of rips with blood looking to leak out and a wing seemed to be broken.

“Don’t call me Corny, Irmy.” The blonde choked out as she coughed up a little blood, her condition no better then the brunette.

Sunset stared in horror as she hid behind one of the bridge supports unsure what to do. She couldn’t just let the two girls get killed by these creatures, yes she wasn’t sure if she had a right to step in. Who’s to say the two elemental people were the bad guys, they may have been police or something.

“Prepare to die guardians.” The fire woman laughed as the fireball in her hand grew more and more making Sunset pretty sure those two weren’t the good guys.

Lifting the gem to her lips she whispered to it, “Guardians unite!”

The results were near instantaneous despite time seeming to slow down as Sunset was encased in the cocoon of energy as two balls of light shot out of the gem and engulfed the blonde and brunette on the ground creating a cocoon around them as well. When Sunset burst from her cocoon she noticed the energy cocoons around the two girls also burst with the shockwave knocking their attackers back as the two floated there with their outfits fixed and all their wounds healed.

“Irma, what happened?” the blonde gasped as she looked herself over.

“I don’t know Cornelia, but I feel so much stronger.” Irma said making a fist and shaking at the two elementals.

“Even if you somehow healed yourself guardian, you still aren’t a match for us.” The ice man laughed. Sunset’s body seemed to move on it’s own as she flew out from the pillar and threw a bolt of energy that arced like lightning at the ice man as the two girls cried out in shock.

“Will?” Irma cried out, tears almost falling as she covered her mouth in shock.

“Is that really you?” Cornelia asked so softly Sunset barely heard her. Instead of a reply, the fire woman grinned and threw a fireball at the now red haired girl.

“Three guardians or two, it doesn’t matter since you all will be dying.” The fire woman laughed only for the fireball to be swatted away by the muscular, winged form of Shagon as he shot a beam of green energy from his golden mask knocking the fire woman back.

“She is off limits and under my protection.” Shagon growled shocking all of the others present. The elementals was wondering if he betrayed them while the two winged girls was tensing for a fight worried for Will yet wondering why he was protecting her. As for Sunset, she had no idea what was going on though she was thankful to the man in front of her as she felt the same feeling she felt for the boy from the pet store.

“Let’s just go Ember, we can finish the guardians at any time.” The ice man growled.

“Right behind you, Tridart.” Ember growled as the two flew off.

“Get away from her, Shagon!” Cornelia spat as she started to summon vines from under where Shagon was hovering before both Irma and her was hit by a low energy attack from Sunset stunning them without injuring them. Before she could react Shagon put his hand on Sunset’s shoulder and they disappeared and reappeared on a roof in the city with high walls around them thanks to the signs where people wouldn’t be able to see them easily from below.

“What are you?” Sunset asked as she jerked back in shock.

“My name is Shagon and my mistress tasked me with your safety. Be honored guardian, my mistress has no love of your kind and her want to protect you is the only reason I didn’t leave you to those fools.” Shagon growled before disappearing again.

“Great, I really am being dragged into some kind of magic crap again.” Sunset groaned, the excitement to have magic back at her fingertips, even if it wasn’t her normal type, didn’t help the annoyance that things just kept getting more and more out of control in her life. Deciding she may as well as get back on the ground she flew off the back of the building to land in the alley where she changed back with a relief that she changed back to normal.

---

“Are you okay?” Hay Lin gasped as she heard her two friends tell her about how Ember and Tridart jumped them earlier and they were saved by Will who Cornelia and Irma was arguing over. They were on a three way call as they couldn’t get a hold of Taranee while Hay Lin finished wrapping the last gift she had gotten for her friends.

“She’s been gone for three years and she shows up out of the blue with Shagon. It’s just too suspicious.” Cornelia’s voice said a little subdued.

“Give it a rest Corny, your attitude is the reason Will felt like she was unwanted in the first place.” Irma snarked back making Hay Lin pray they weren’t about to get into another fight.

“Don’t you think I know that! I have to live with that everyday! It’s my fault she’s dead!” Cornelia half sobbed and half screamed over the phone.

“But you two said you saw her.” Hay Lin said.

“We did.” Irma said, “And Cornelia, it wasn’t your fault. I’m sorry I suggested that. We all said things we didn’t mean that night. The important thing is Will is alive and okay.”

“Irma, that wasn’t her. I want it to be her as much as you, but it’s just another of Nerissa’s tricks.” Cornelia said before ending her call.

“Do you think she’s right?” Hal Lin asked as she wasn’t there and was unsure what to think.

“I think it was, Hay. I just have this feeling it was her. I wish Taranee was there, she could have read her mind and found out for sure.” Irma said.

“If it was her though, where has she been?” Hay Lin asked, a little hope bubbling up in her chest. They have all been let down before by false leads and the council wasn’t much help. Vathek’s report of what happened the night Will faced down Prince Phobos and Cedric didn’t make the Oracle too happy though since he couldn’t find any trace of the Heart of Kandrakar in any of the infinite dimensions meaning it had to have went to one of the extremely few worlds that was closed to them leaving them nearly defenseless. If it wasn’t for Luba’s idea of creating gems that acted like batteries they wouldn’t be able to transform. The drawbacks was that their powers were extremely weakened and after every couple transformations they would have to return to Kandrakar to have them recharged by Luba.

“Hay Lin dear, it’s almost time.” Hay Lin’s mother called getting hr attention. She had to help with the restaurant tonight since their part time help called off tonight. With a heavy sigh and thoughts on what was going on Hay Lin got up to get ready for work.

Author's Note:

Another one down, but I do have a question for everyone who is reading. I'm kind of at a crossroads of which direction to go next chapter as I like both choices kind of yet both choices will have repercussions to the rest of the story. Not a lot, but some as it will change the way some things go moving forward. Do you think Sunset should regain her past memories in the next chapter or do you think she should never regain them fully even if she does regain a few here and there? I was originally not going to have her regain them fully, but I keep thinking it might be good if she does regain them. What are your thoughts on it?

Comments

[AxelFones]

No opinion either way on the memory thing. I can see arguments either way.

[Sunny Scriber]

Hrm... For the memory thing, that's a hard one. There are ups and down to either choice...

[Velvet-Fresh]

probably partials, but just enough she got the feeling these other 'friends' betrayed her as well but in a more deeper way the rainbooms did.

[red-sun]

She is still Sunset Shimmer even though she has other memories.

[HarmonicPriest]

Personally I'm for flashbacks of feelings. Mostly because Sunset doesn't need to regain memories at all to get access to information on past life. With a combination of quintessence object animation and her psychometry from the "Legend of Everfree" movie (which I assume if she can unlock it, it will be later) she is for lack of a better word low key omniscient with but touch and talks with electronics and people or personal objects (actually that makes her perfect infiltrator in urban areas just like Fluttershy in wild areas) so it would be better for her psyche to build opinions as an observer than having an existential crisis in this situation.

By the way, I have a question: Does Equestrian magic and Guardian powers have the same "pool" of energy or these are separate "pools"? I'm asking because I'm trying to decide on my scale if Sunset!Will is in the "Army Slayer" bracket or still in "Building Demolisher" only. I mean base!Will as far as I remember was a decent fighter but: 1. It came from experience not formal education; 2. Guardians were self-taught in basically only elemental manipulation.3.Besides Astral Drops and opening/closing portals and aforementioned elemental manipulation nothing too magical was displayed by guardians (most complicated things were used by enemies and more in ritualistic than casted way (Nerissa is a good example with her creations).
Sunset on the other hand/hoof(what is applicable): 1. Has been educated by Goddess(depends on definition) of the Sun in using magic in probably quite a lot of disciplines. 2. Even if Guardian and Equestrian magics are not quite compatible, knowledge and experience still are and Sunset has both in spades making her basically slightly jaded one-mare/woman(what applicable)-guardian team.

As for the situation with prolonging Anon-aftermath from chapter 2a ... Nah that kind of issue can last a lifetime, you don't get over it in a week so in my opinion: nope it's not too long.

[TacoTues4Eva]

11481460 There most likely will be, hope everyone likes how it goes.

11481475 A lot of ups and downs, the main one was going to be her interactions with Susan. I kind of thought the memories would give her an easier time accepting who she is, but I can probably do the same either way I guess.

11481483 Thanks, and the i.t.c.h. girls did cause Sunset a lot of grief in her life as a pony though it is hard to say who actually hurt Sunset more in the end and the motives behind each group.

11481542 Yep, no matter how many memories she may or may not get back Sunset is Sunset now and there will be no changing that.

11481881 Earlier this morning the votes seemed to be more in favor of regaining her memories which I was planning on making interactions with the girls and Susan much easier in some ways. Especially Susan, with all her memories back it would have made things a little easier with them, though at the same time it may have hurt their relationship more with memories of Mr. Collins. I had planned a lot of her getting her memories back today in my head until I noticed more votes in messages and of course yours which has now has now pushed the vote in the other direction. Since then I have made new plans and I am starting to like some of them more and more the more I plan out in this direction and hope everyone else likes the direction.

I'm not sure if I am thinking of the pools in the same way, but I will try to explain my thoughts on their magic. W.i.t.c.h.'s magic comes from the aurameres in Kandrakar to start with which is why they start out with just straight out elemental abilities. As time goes on the magic kind of jump starts their systems and creates their own magical pathways and fills them with magic from the aurameres so it doesn't use up their own energy. It's like they are an unlimited pool of magic for them in some ways though they physically can't handle it for long term which is why they get tired after prolonged use. When they retire and are severed from the aurameres they lose that unlimited source though they still have access to their magic other than their guardian forms as the magic comes from their own life force which if used sparingly they would be fine. In Nerissa's case, it ages them very fast when that is abused or at least that is what I got from Cassidy's comment in the cartoon.

Now unicorns already have their own well of magic that instead of their life force or energy filling up as they rest, they typically absorb the access mana in the air through their horns and direct in through their horns creating spells with it. Sunset's was pretty large to begin with thanks to her introduction to pony world via the Heart which brute forced it's way there with Sunset to protect her. When she came to the human world she lost her horn and ability to absorb the magic though the crown tore open her pathways giving her back magic while transformed into the demon with the crown more or less fueling her drained reserves. When Twilight went home with the crown Sunset lost her conduit for magic and lost her powers until the Battle of the Bands when the SPirits of Harmony accepted her into their fold and gave her a gift.

Now when Twilight gave Sunset the Heart back it reconnected her with her auramere which filled her reserves up pretty quick and between both Kandrakar and Harmony her powers were more or less supercharged to where Quintessence isn't just the only power she actually has. Unlike the girls who has to come up with ways to use their elemental abilities such as Hay Lin using the air to listen to conversations or use, Sunset doesn't need the training wheels and can bend the magic to her will when she figures it out as she has had a lot of training like you said being the student of the Sun. And on top of that, she can use the magic in ways the Council of Kandrakar never really intended (notice I didn't say the spirits of Kandrakar didn't intend it one way or another) much like Nerissa can though Sunset doesn't have to use her life force in the way Nerissa does thanks to the gift Harmony gave her.

And to top that off, the magic of Kanrakar and Harmony is compatible even if they don't actually have the same origin so even if Sunset is cut off from her auramere she won't be defenseless. It doesn't mean that the Canterlot girls are going to become guardians though and the i.t.c.h. girls will not be ponying up. It just means Sunset isn't someone to mess with once she realizes the extent of power that was granted to her. I really hope that makes sense, if it doesn't I'll try to explain it better though I don't want to make Sunset an all powerful Mary Sue, but one of her encounters will make her seem like it though when that happens it isn't just her there.

That is true, and since the scale tipped back to not regaining all of her memories I have come up with a few ideas for it. And thank you.