Sunset Has a (Fourth Wall?) Problem

Sunset showed up at Twilight’s about ten minutes later. Since the driveway looked clear, she guessed Twilight’s parents were currently at work. She went up to the front door and rang the doorbell.

The door opened as Twilight peered outside. “Oh Sunset, you got here sooner than I expected.”

“You do realize I have a bike right?”

“Yes, and I still remember that one time you tried to take me out for a ‘joyride’ or whatever you call it.” Twilight smiled as she let Sunset in. “So…what’s going on? It’s nothing major I hope.”

“Well…no…at least I don’t think it is,” Sunset said as they went into the living room. “It’s kind of hard to explain.”

“Don’t worry, I am a great listener after all,” Twilight said as they both sat on the couch. “Just try to explain it as best you can.”

“Okay…so you’re aware of me being able to read minds and thoughts right?”

“That’s right…I’ve been getting better about clearing my thoughts when I’m around you.”

“…Why exactly?”

“Oh no reason!” Twilight said a little too quickly. “It’s just…you know…”

“Hey it’s not like I want to intrude on people’s personal thoughts,” Sunset said. “Anyway, that’s kind of the problem. I thought after time I would get used to it more but instead it’s getting worse. I’m hearing more thoughts than I used to and…well I kind of feel like I’m experiencing things that I normally don’t.”

“Go on…” Sunset glanced over and noticed Twilight was writing down notes in a tablet. Rolling her eyes slightly she continued.

“I’ve been having these dreams recently…but they’re totally bizarre. I mean, like Pinkie Pie level bizarre. And most of the time they’re different but there’s always one that happens and it’s kind of being burned into my skull now.”

“Hmm…well you did go into Pinkie’s head once,” Twilight noted.

“Yeah and it was…interesting.”

“Hmm…well I may not be a certified doctor or psychiatrist but I may be able to narrow this down slightly. You mind if I ask some personal questions?”

“Uh…”

“I just need to make sure if it’s really something that’s going on with your abilities or if its something else entirely.”

“Fine…fire away.”

“Okay…have you been having any mood swings lately?”

“Well I got kind of mad earlier and apparently made a new word of ‘Celestiafuckingdamnit’. I’m sure she’d get a kick out of that one…”

“Any feelings of pain or cramping?”

“I’m not on my damn period Twilight!”

“I-I know that, I was just checking!” Twilight cleared her throat and continued. “Any increase in sexual activity?”

“…Seriously?”

“I’m keeping this professional Sunset. Besides, usually when girls are feeling stressed out or anxious it has been said relieving oneself of sexual tension-”

“Are you seriously suggesting I have a need to get laid?”

Twilight was silent for a moment as she started blushing. “Well I wasn’t going to say sexual intercourse necessarily but considering you’re a growing adult and you’re trying to get back with Flash…”

“Dear Celestia.” Sunset facepalmed. “I should’ve known this was coming…”

“I’m sorry, I’m not trying to embarrass you, it’s just-”

“I know, I know, it’s alright. Look, we’re not even official yet so if I just jump into ‘I wanna get fucked’-”

“I see your point,” Twilight quickly interrupted her.

“I mean I guess I could try masturbating but-”

“Okay next question!” Twilight was almost beet red now. “Um…this dream you were talking about…could you describe it?”

“Let me see…” Sunset closed her eyes in concentration. “I’m on a highway in an almost barren wasteland. I can feel the wind running through my hair as I’m gunning the engine on my bike. Then I look in the mirror and two more bikes show up and…that’s about all I can remember.” She opened her eyes. “It’s so bizarre that it doesn’t seem real. Then again, that’s how most of them are. There was one where I was fighting demons at Canterlot High, and another where people were playing this game on their phones and I had to threaten everyone with a gun to scare them all off the apartment property. I’m not sure what to make of them.”

“Hmm…well from the sound of things maybe it’s just random thoughts placed into some weird landscape,” Twilight said. “That’s kind of how dreams are. One other thing: if you take your necklace off does it dampen the effects?”

“I already tried that and no it doesn’t,” Sunset sighed. “Which makes me wonder if it’s just all in my head. You think I’m going schizophrenic?”

“Don’t be ridiculous!” Twilight suddenly sat up. “There’s no doubt this has to be magic related. I think I might have an idea but…”

“But?”

“Er…do you have a fear of electric shocks?”

“Well considering I’ve been electrocuted a couple of times and buried into a crater, I think I can handle it. Why?”

Twilight motioned for Sunset to follow her and they went downstairs into the basement. “In situations like these, doctors use what they call electroshock therapy as a way to…reset the brain I guess you could say. It’s possible that something in your brain is shooting off signals which are causing you to hear things but you’re really not.”

“Wait a minute, I thought you said it was magic-related?” Sunset asked as she looked around the large room. She couldn’t believe how much equipment was down here.

“I did but you have to remember this is a world not used to magic and as such, your body might be reacting different to it than someone like me or Rainbow Dash or any of the other girls.” Twilight went to her desktop and booted it up along with some of the other machines before putting on a lab coat.

“But I’m a unicorn from Equestria, I’ve always been used to magic,” Sunset argued.

“I think it was my other self that said magic behaves different in different environments. Maybe this is what she meant.”

If that was true, then the same could be said for the other girls. And if that was the case, then what would happen if they came to Equestria? “Alright, so what do you need me to do?”

“Take a seat here,” Twilight said, pointing to a large chair. After doing that, Twilight went over and stuck two electrodes to Sunset’s head, near her temples. “Alright, this is going to measure your brain activity and it’ll show any fluctuations in wavelengths going on inside your head. I’m going to run a quick test. I’ll…think of something and if you hear it, it should pick up on the monitor.”

It was quiet for a few moments and Sunset wasn’t sure if Twilight had zoned out but soon she heard something. “Well Sunset…I hope you can hear this…this is kinda weird since I tend to think out loud a lot and-”

“I hear you loud and clear.”

“Ah!” Twilight suddenly fell out of her seat. She got up quickly and brushed off her coat. “I’m sorry, but I really hate when you do that…”

“Sorry…”

“Well that definitely got a response. And this happens usually when you’re near people?”

“Yeah, but I was over at CHS earlier where the portal is and I heard voices…although it was like listening to the radio but you can’t quite get a signal.”

“That…that’s amazing! Somehow you can hear others on the other side!” Sunset hadn’t thought about that but it was a possibility.

“I suppose that may be the case…but I don’t want to hear them.”

“Alright…well you’re about to feel a little bit of a shock, but it’s like feeling a zap when your socks rub against the carpet, that kind of thing. I should also let you know this may or may not work and it’s just part of the-”

“Will you just do it already!?”

“Fine…I’ll start with thirty volts, that shouldn’t be too bad…just brace yourself okay?” Sunset took a deep breath and braced herself. Despite this, however, the electric shock still managed to catch her off guard and yelped in surprise. “Hmm…well there was a small change…are you alright?”

“I feel like you just shocked me,” Sunset said dryly.

“Hmm…maybe we need a bigger charge. Don’t worry, this is well below the safety line.” She turned a knob as the machine hummed a little higher. “Let’s try sixty volts.”

“Look I don’t know about-AH!” The shock caused her to splay her legs slightly.

“There we go, you had a better response that time. Maybe we should go-”

“You know, I think I’m good.” Sunset ripped off the electrodes attached to her and got up. “I appreciate the help Twilight but maybe science isn’t going to help me on this one.”

“Look Sunset, I know you’re upset but you just have to-”

“I have to get going.” Sunset then stormed upstairs. Twilight quickly followed her.

“Sunset, this isn’t going to fix itself right away, you need to give your brain some time to reset everything. Just get some sleep tonight and-”

“I’ll see you later.” Sunset then went out the door.

Twilight sighed as she sat on the couch. She could hear the sound of small feet tapping against the floor. “I’m guessing that it didn’t go so well?” Spike asked.

“Nope…” Twilight said glumly.

“I’m sure she’ll figure things out,” Spike said. “Just a word for the wise though, I wouldn’t introduce Timber to the lab until at least the third date.” Twilight just rolled her eyes in response.