//------------------------------//
// Chapter 17 
// Story: The Princess Escapes 
// by adorablesmiles 
//------------------------------//

They had all surrounded me at this point. We were walking to the library, and all five of my friends were somehow walking in a perfect circle around me.
And I did feel trapped. I knew I had no way to get out of doing this.
Sunset, you're friends are doing this for your own good. So the least you could do is tell them how you feel.
But deep down, I knew I couldn't. For no reason might I add.
And now I felt trapped in a bubble. No, it was worse than that. It felt like they were punishing me for making them hate each other.
No doubt I deserve that much. I was a bitch to them. I deserve for them to punish me in whatever way they choose.
"Are we almost at the library?" I asked.
"We aren't going to the library, darling." Rarity said.
More like bitchling. "Why not?" I asked.
"Because, Rainbow reminded me that there's probably a lot of students there, so I thought it would be better if we went to the band room instead." Rarity said. "Is that okay with you?"
"Sure." I said.
"Pfft. Now she talks." Rainbow muttered.
"Rainbow, hush up!" Applejack said, as she jabbed Rainbow in the side.
"II'm not a dog AJ!" Rainbow said.
"Well, ya don't need to be talkin' bad about Sunset." Applejack said.
"Fine." Rainbow said.
And then there was silence until we got there.
That only made me more uncomfortable though. I had no idea where this was going to go. And honestly, I didn't want to know either. I wanted to curl up in a little ball and hide where no one would ever find me.
But I can't do that. They'd probably find me.
"We're here." Rarity said.
She didn't have to though. I wasn't dumb. I knew I was in familiar territory.
"Sit down." Applejack said, as she pointed to a spot on the floor.
"NOT ON THE FLOOR!" Rarity screeched. "Um... I mean. The floor is dirty."
"Alright then." Applejack said.
Then, without asking, I climbed up onto the piano. I figured sitting on that would be better then the floor. "Now you've got me right where you want me." I said.
"Yes, and...?" Rarity asked.
"And what?" I asked. "There is no and to this if you ask me."
"No?" Rarity asked.
"No, because I'm a mess up." I said.
"What in the world makes you think that?" Rarity asked.
"I don't think that. I know that." I said. "Everything bad that happens here has something to do with me, and this is no different."
"It is." Rarity insisted.
"How?" I asked.
"Because now is not then." Rarity said.
"You keep saying that to me." I said.
"Because it's true." Rarity said.
I sighed, as I crossed my arms. I couldn't understand why I had to go through this. And I also couldn't understand why my friends cared so much about me. I knew I wasn't that special. I've known that since the very day Princess Twilight defeated me. It definitely wasn't anything new.
"Sunset, we're only doing this because we care about ya." Applejack said. "We're not tryin' to make you mad. We just want you to talk to us."
"I know." I said.
"Then can you please open up?" Rarity asked.
I didn't want to resist the friendship that I was being given anymore. Sure, that might've been what I did at first, but now it seemed silly. It would be foolish to separate myself from them.
"I do want to talk to you." I said. "But I don't even know where to start."
"I do." Rarity said, as she placed a gentle hand on my shoulder. "You know we think you're not a mess up, right?"
I nodded. "Do you want to know why I feel this way?"
The others nodded this time.
"Well... I feel like Twilight running off was my fault. It started off so innocently, but that was before she started telling me how pressured she was." I said.
"Darling, that was Twilight. Not you." Rarity assured.
You really should listen to them.
"You're right. I should stop being upset about my past. Twilight doesn't need to see that." I said.
"We should all help her." Rarity said.
"Is it okay if I start... tonight?" I asked. "I don't mind spending the night with her."
"Sure," Rarity said.
And then I hopped off the piano and ran towards the door.
Somehow I have a much better outlook on things now.



"Sunset, are you still there?" Twilight asked.
"Yes." I said. "Are you having issues with the pajamas I gave you?"
"Not really. It's pretty obvious how I should do it." Twilight said.
"Yeah." I said. I had never really thought about something like that, how easy it was.
And then she slowly came out. She didn't change her shirt, mainly because I couldn't find one that she liked, but I did manage to find a pair of red shorts just laying around in my possessions. They didn't look all that good on her, but I guess it didn't matter. It's just us here.
"You really live here, huh?" Twilight asked.
I nodded.
"And you sleep on books?" Twilight asked.
I nodded again. I wasn't really sure what to say.
"It kinda looks familiar to me." Twilight said.
"Kinda?" I asked.
"Yeah." Twilight said. "I don't know why, but I feel like I've seen it before."
"You have." I whispered.
"What did you say?" Twilight asked.
I had to take some time to weigh my options. On one hand, I could explain to her that the feeling she had was true, but there was a part of me that knew what would happen if I did.
"You have seen this before." I said, slightly louder so she could hear me. "Not only that, you've slept on it before too."
"Really?" Twilight asked.
I nodded. "It was a while ago."
"But why would I sleep on books?" Twilight asked.
"It was because you didn't have a home, and you didn't have time to get one in three days." I said.
"...Three days." Twilight said.
"Yeah, you only had three days to come here, get you're crown back after I stole it, and then you went back to Equestria." I said. And almost immediately, I could see unwanted flashbacks of my old life. Making people cry, torturing them. Having to go through this was really taking it's toll on me.
"You mean where I'm a princess?" Twilight asked.
"Yeah, that's the one." I said.
"I still don't think that's had time to sink in." Twilight said.
"I'm sure it will, eventually." I said.
"Yeah, but... is the fact that I'm this magical horse princess from another world make stuck up and conceited?" Twilight asked.
"It didn't." I said. "In my honest opinion, you acted like you hated the idea of others looking up to you." I said.
"Did you know why?" Twilight asked.
"Well, not at first. But I do remember you writing me a letter about being a princess. Should I read it to you?" I asked.
"If it's purely for the means of getting my memory back, then yes!" Twilight said.
"Alright." I said, as I started to dig around in my bag.
"It's not in here." I said.
"What's not in here?" Twilight asked.
"My book! Princess Celestia gave it to me, it was the last thing I had from my life in Equestria, and some fucking idiot stole it!" I shouted.
And then that rage turned into sadness. I got down on my knees and cried.
Then Twilight, as if by instinct, walked up to me and wrapped her arms around my shoulders.
The lonely feeling left my body just as fast.