“Take your seat Sunset Shimmer.” Cheerilee said as she glanced at Sunset and back at her desk. It took a few more seconds before Sunset started to move again. She then grabbed a front row seat, her face pale and full of fear. As she sat down, she could only think, 'Okay...stay calm Sunset...just...just pull out your homework that you have in your bag...this will pass...eventually...'
“Hey Sunset...” Gilda said with sly smile. The next few words would send a chill down Sunset's spine. “Nice of you to finally join the party.”
“Yeah. So nice of you to join us.” Lightning continued. “Especially since you're the reason we're in here.”
“Ha!” laughed Screwball as she watched the scene unfold.
“Quiet brat!” yelled Gilda as she turned and showed a scowl at Screwball. “I don't have time to listen to your stupid giggling!”
“Be quiet Gilda!” demanded Cheerilee as her head raised up from her desk, her eyes filled with fire. “I've already told all of you in here to be quiet and if you don't, I'll make sure you'll be spending the rest of your life in here!”
“You can't do that!” replied Gilda. “I just got here!”
“That's because you didn't show up for detention yesterday.” hissed Cheerilee with a scowl.
“Of course I didn't show up! Detention is for losers!”
“Then you're a loser today.” said Cheerilee in a deadpan tone.
“HAHAHA!” laughed Screwball as she leaned out of her seat, her head only an inch from the floor. Somehow her hat didn't fall off her head despite it looking like it was barely attached to her head. “Gilda's a loser!”
“Why you little-”
“If you get out of that seat Gilda...” Cheerilee glared at Gilda, causing Gilda to start sweating. Gilda sat back down, her arms crossed in anger. “Grrr...fine.”
Sunset merely sat there, watching the scene unfold. She glanced at each student and started to think, 'I can't believe this is happening...its like the universe is out to get me...' Sunset's eyes turned to Trixie, who was just sitting there, reading a book. Sunset squinted her eyes, trying to see the title. 'Hmm...I think the book she's reading is...Stage Magic and Illusions for Incompetent Ego-Maniacs?! What kind of title is that?!'
Trixie lowered the book and glared at Sunset for a second, as if to say 'What are you staring at?!' Sunset turned around and stared at her homework. 'Okay Sunset...just concentrate on this...before you know it, this will all be over...' she thought as she picked up her pencil. However, it didn't take long for Sunset to complete her homework. She realized very quickly that just about every subject, even ones that she wasn't familiar with were easy for her. As she quickly wrote down every answer, she glanced at the classroom clock, noticing that not even twenty minutes had passed. 'You have got to be kidding me...' she thought, 'I'm gonna be stuck in here forever!'
Then a small paper ball tapped the back of Sunset's head. Sunset quickly turned her head only for another paper ball suddenly hit her face. It was Screwball, who was giggling in delight. Screwball turned and ripped out another piece of paper, ready to throw it at Lightning Dust. 'Whoa...' thought Sunset, 'Does she like causing trouble that much?! Or is she just fearless?!'
Two paper balls later, Lightning Dust's face turned from calm to almost pure rage. Sunset was sure if Lightning could shoot fire out of her eyes, she would do it right now. “You better stop that right now brat or I'll...”
“Don't Lightning Dust.” Cheerilee said as Sunset watched what could possibly be the most grim look she had ever seen a person wear as their face. Cheerilee's eyes then stared at Screwball, “Stop annoying everyone Screwball...or else.”
“Yes Ma’am!” Screwball said with a small salute in an obvious mocking tone. “I'll be good!”
'Yeah...I doubt that...' thought Sunset as she stared at Cheerilee again, 'I bet Miss Cheerilee's thinking that too...'
Cheerilee was thinking a bunch of different thoughts actually, 'Why am I here? I almost never have to do detention, this is a job for Harshwhinny...or that moron Iron Will...if only I could get out of this and go see him...Aaah...if only I could go see my boyfriend...'
Sunset looked back at her desk. 'Why do I get the feeling this is gonna end really badly...maybe I should keep staring at my desk and just do nothing...absolutely nothing...' Sunset then saw something in the corner of her eye. It was Screwball as she made a whole bunch of paper balls and pulled out a straw from her bag. Screwball showed a huge mischievous smile as she put one of the paper balls in the straw. 'What is she doing now?!'
What followed were several spitballs from Screwball. It didn't take long for the chaos to begin. Sunset watched as both Gilda and Lightning Dust both rise from their desks, their hands transforming into fists. “You are dead little brat...” hissed Gilda. Lightning Dust continued with, “I hope you had a nice life because I'm gonna tear you apart!”
Cheerilee rose from her desk as the two were about to punch Screwball. Screwball kept smiling regardless of what was about to happen to her. Sunset closed her eyes and clapped her hands over her ears as the next few minutes displayed themselves. What followed was several screams and yells, or at least that's what Sunset thought she barely heard. She slowly opened her eyes only to see Gilda and Lightning back in their seats, both wearing disgruntled faces. Screwball just sat there with a slightly smaller smile and her bag had teleported to Cheerilee's desk. Sunset decided to not look at Cheerilee in fear that she would chose her as her next victim.
A few minutes later, Sunset breathed a sigh of relief as Celestia entered the room. Sunset showed a small smile as she watched Cheerilee and Celestia talk for a few minutes. Sunset shuffled out of the classroom as she watched the other students leave. Gilda then bumped her in the hallway and said, “I'll get you later...”
Lightning just glared at Sunset while Screwball walked up and showed her hand to Sunset, wanting another handshake. Sunset merely shook her head as she rejected the handshake. Screwball giggled and said, “You're learning...I'll see ya around!”
“Yeah...let's not.”
“That's what they all say.”
Trixie then approached Sunset, only to let out a snort. Sunset wasn't sure how to respond as she watched Trixie turn around and slowly stomp out of the school. 'Guess I'll have to talk to her later...or maybe never...I hope...'
A hand patted Sunset's shoulder as Sunset turned around, only to see a smiling Celestia. “Ready to go?”
“Yes.” Sunset said with a smile. The two quickly left the school and found themselves inside Celestia's car. As Celestia began to drive back to the house, she then asked. “So...how was your day? I heard from Luna that you had a little incident with Trixie and Screwball.”
“Yeah...” Sunset said with a sigh. “I have no idea what happened...”
“What do you mean?”
“Well...when I first got to school, Trixie suddenly approached me and dragged me around school. Then, after lunch I meet her again only for a bucket to come out of nowhere and land on Trixie's head.”
“Ahh...that must be the Screwball part...well, don't worry about it. Let's change the subject, did you make any friends yet?”
'That's a casual way to look at things...' thought Sunset. 'Are Celestia and Luna really that used to Screwball's behavior?!' Sunset then let out a sigh and said, “I guess I did...” Sunset slumped down in her chair, still wondering why she needed friends or why Celestia insisted on it. “I'm still not sure...”
“Why are you not sure?”
“I don't know...” Sunset's mind began to shift gears, slowly grinding while trying to figure out what to say next. Then she remembered something. “Oh yeah...can I go somewhere after school tomorrow?”
“Well, that depends...where are you going?”
“Um...Fluttershy's friend Rarity wants to make me a dress and I have to meet her to get it.”
“Oh, well if that's the case, go ahead.”
“You sure?”
“Yes. I'm one of Rarity's customers every now and then.”
“You are?!” Sunset said as she pulled up out of the chair.
“Oh yes. Rarity is quite talented in the art of fashion and dresses.” Celestia said with her usual smile. “That and she's one of our best students. If you can become her friend, I would definitely recommend it.”
“Oh...okay.” Sunset said as she saw Celestia's house come into view. “I'll think about it...”
The two entered the house and found Luna already there, drinking yet another cup of coffee. Sunset had already decided not to question how or why she drank it so much. The three had supper where they all discussed their day, how each had different annoyances and other crazy things happening. A few hygienic things later, Sunset found herself in her room. She had made sure she already told Celestia and Luna good night and closed her door. As she sat down to her desk, she opened the magic book again. There, her eyes saw several new words:
Hello Sunset Shimmer. This is Twilight Sparkle, are you there?
Sunset picked up a pen and wrote:
I am. Hello Twilight Sparkle.