//------------------------------// // 5 - Adult Concerns // Story: From the Ashes // by RC2101_Copey //------------------------------// The halls were quiet, a far cry from their normally loud and bustling hub of activity. The most important thing though was the warmth that instantly greeted them, Rarity almost cooing as the pleasant sensation flooded her being. “Now that’s more like it. Come on Darling,” she tugged on Sunset’s elbow, “We’ve not got much time before other students start showing up, and Principal Celestia might not have much free time.” Following reluctantly, Sunset did as she was bid. By the time they had reached the corridor of staff offices, the only other soul they had met had been the janitor. The feeling in Sunset’s gut had not abated; if anything, it had gotten worse. Before she knew it, Rarity had already knocked on the door. “Come in.” And there it was, the voice that brought back so many memories, both good and bad, and she felt overcome with a range of emotions. Until she felt a hand on hers. Looking over at her friend, she was met by a concerned smile. “I can see on your face that you’re worried, but you have no reason to be. She’s a very kind and understanding women, you should know that by now.” Rarity explained, completely misreading Sunset’s actual issue. With a squeeze of Sunsets hand, Rarity turned the handle and pushed open the door. This revealed to them an unexpectedly messy office. The desk was piled high with papers, intermingled with foam coffee cups, the contents at varying levels of finished. But the woman behind the desk was the complete opposite. Where the room was chaos, she was order. Smart yet casual clothes, proper posture, and well groomed. Sunset found it hard to believe that she could have been here five minutes, let alone the hour she knew she had been. "I'm sorry for the mess. The review board is due next week, so I'm triple checking all of the school’s current records." The girls nodded in understanding. "Now what can I help you two with?" A warm motherly smile settled on her face, looking between the two. "Principal Celestia, I brought Sunset to see you because she suffered an unfortunate accid..." "My home burnt down last night." The amber girl blurted out, interrupting her friend. "Sorry." Sunset looked down sheepishly. “Oh my dear, please sit, both you you.” Principal Celestia pointed at the chairs opposite hers, and the two girls willingly obliged. “Please, tell me what happened.” Letting out a breath, Sunset composed herself. “You recall that huge thunderstorm yesterday?” Celestia nodded. “Well, lightning struck the building I had been staying in.” The teacher’s eyes flew open, and Sunset quickly raised her hands, “No I wasn’t in it at the time; I was at Sugarcube Corner all afternoon, and I found out when I went home.” “I’m so sorry to hear that Sunset. I can’t begin to imagine what you must have lost.” “That’s actually why we’re here,” Rarity interjected, “We were hoping you could lend Sunset a temporary set of textbooks.” She looked over at Sunset, who didn’t even have a bag with her, “Amongst other school things.” The smile returned to the older woman’s face. “Of course.” Rifling through her pocket, she produced a set of keys, and handed them to Rarity. “Here,” she held out a specific key, “Go to the staff room, and fetch Sunset and yourself a drink from the vending machine in there, please.” Taking the keys, Rarity smiled her thanks. “Would you like anything while I’m there?” “No, thank you.” Celestia replied, smiling to Rarity as she slipped out of the office. Turning back to the amber girl still with her, she noticed the look of unease that rippled off of her. “Sunset, please, you have no need to worry; you did nothing wrong, and I’m glad you came to me. Still, I am somewhat surprised that an apartment building burning down wasn’t covered in the morning paper.” Searching around her desk, she released an ‘ah ha’ and pulled something from one of the piles. Unfolding it revealed its nature to Sunset - The Canterlot Daily morning edition. Sunset gulped loudly. “The only mention of a fire in here is abandoned texture… mill on the ...edge of town...” The paper was folded, and dropped onto the desk. It landed with a little ‘thwap’, but to the teenager sinking into the chair, it sounded like a judge’s gavel. Celestia pinched the bridge of her nose, and spoken in an exhausted tone, “The mill. That was your home, wasn’t it?” The room remained silent, no answer telling her everything she needed to know. “I’m not mad Sunset, just … disappointed.” Across from her, Sunset was holding back tears. Her principal had no idea of knowing how badly those last few words haunted her, especially in that voice. “Ignoring the fact that as an educator I am legally required to look after the wellbeing of my chargers… I actually care about my students, all of them, and I want to see everyone happy and successful.” She got up from here seat, looped around the desk, and took the seat Rarity had vacated. “I can guess, but I want to hear it, just incase. Why did you never tell anyone?” Sunset stayed silent at first, her head down, and her eyes locked upon the floor. Celestia was about to let it go when she finally started. “Back then, when I was the old me that is, it never really mattered. It was just a place to keep my things, and wait for my next chance to corrupt the students here.” She sniffed loudly. “It wasn’t anyone’s business, and I liked it that way.” The principal took a moment to think about the response; it had actually surprised her. “At first I thought it was because you might have been embarrassed. But, I guess I can actually see the twisted logic behind the old you’s thinking.” Sunset looked up to her suddenly. “Yes, I definitely don’t think you are the same person anymore, you don’t have to worry about that.” A smile tried to break out on the younger woman’s face, the corners of her mouth revealing how relieving that comment was to hear. “But what about since; did you tell your friends? I can’t see them letting it continue if they had known.” Sunset looked at the floor again. “You’re right, they couldn’t. That’s why I never told them. I didn’t want to be a burden. And yes, I was too ashamed to tell them.” “So they know now?” “Yeah. I rang them when I found out. I didn’t really have a choice at that point.” She smiled wistfully. “And of course, they immediately rallied around me, and started working out where I was going to stay.” Celestia tilted her head quizzically, her ears darting to the office door. “Yeah, I’m staying with Rarity; she was the only one with a spare room already at hand.” An earnest grin split Celestia’s face. “That girl always has been extremely generous.” But her face soured slightly, “But I also know that she lives a delicate balancing act of a life, juggling school, work and finances. I don’t want her to suffer for her kindness.” Sunset was caught off guard, not entirely sure what Celestia was implying, but she didn’t like how it sounded. “I don’t intend to mooch off of her,” she replied, slightly indignant. “I often get Saturday work, so I intend to pay my own way.” “I sorry, that was not how I intended that to sound,” the older woman raised her hands defensively, “but it is good to hear that you are going to help out.” The door handle clicked, sounding as if someone on the other side was struggling to open it. “More on this later.” Celestia stood, and walked to the door, turning the handle revealing not one, but two people. Rarity had return with the hot drinks, but she was also carrying a stack of books. Behind her was Vice Principal Luna, also with a stack of books. “Sister,” Luna nodded, “I found miss Rarity in the staff room. When she explained the situation, I took it upon myself to collect what I could. I hope you don’t mind.” “Not at all. If anything, this makes it quicker.” “Good.” Luna turned to appraise Sunset. “And to you miss Shimmer, you have my sympathies.” “Thank you.” Two ‘thuds’ reverberated around the room as Rarity and Luna deposited the books in the corner of the room. “Obviously, you can not carry these around all day, so they can wait till you go finish later. As for now, I found this backpack in the lost and found. It should serve you for today, and the books you need.” “Thank you, really.” Sunset sat, looking up at Luna, gratitude plain as day. “This was way more, and way faster than I could have hoped for.” Celestia placed a hand on her sister’s shoulder, a silent thanks crossing between them. All four jumped, as the first bell of the day rang out through the school. Recovering quickly, Rarity picked up the drinks. “I guess these are ‘to go’, then.”