//------------------------------// // Heat // Story: A Glimpse of Shimmering Sky // by Long Long Way From Home //------------------------------// It was a beautiful sunny day in August, and the sun was shining brightly down on the world below, warming it gently with its golden kiss. The sky was clear, with nary a cloud in sight, and kids reveled in the sunny day that summer’s lingering domain had blessed them with. For one girl, however, it was pure torture. Sunset Shimmer was laying in her bed in nothing but a white t-shirt and some pajama bottoms, sweat plastering her hair to her face. She breathed heavily, feeling as though she were sitting in an oven, rather than in her apartment. Morosely turning to look to the window, she checked once again on the still lifeless body of her air conditioning unit. Since its breakdown two days ago she had been checking for signs of life every few minutes, as the summer heat built up to a swelter. She had called her landlord immediately, but there was still no word on when the repair person would be able to come in and fix it. The redhead was feeling at a particular loss, since she didn’t even have her friends to hang out with. With it being the last full week of summer before school picked back up again at CHS, all of her friends were away on vacation with their families. Normally she would jump at the chance to hang out with her friends, but as her phone reminded her yet again, each of her friends had texted her apologies for their unavailability for the next 4 days at least. Sighing, Sunset let her arm drop back down to her side. Things had gotten a lot better ever since last year’s intervention by Twilight Sparkle, and she certainly didn’t regret everything that had happened since. She had more real friends than she ever did before, and everyone in school actually liked her. It gave her a warm feeling every time she walked down the hallways and saw people greeting her with a smile, rather than a grimace. Nevertheless, she couldn’t help but remember how her loneliness didn’t hurt before she had friends. “Ugh!” Sunset groaned out, slapping her sweat soaked arms down on the bedspread around her. She knew she shouldn’t be thinking like that. She had a good thing going for her, and she would never wish to go back to the way she was. Being lonely was a totally normal thing, but she shouldn’t let it consume her! It was summer, and she had freedom! There were plenty of things to do, even without her friends! Gathering up her resolve, Sunset peeled herself off the bed, and moved to the shower to start making herself more presentable. Closing the bathroom door behind her, she let out a groan of relief as she was able to peel her sweaty layers away from herself. She turned the shower knob on to a cold setting, waiting just a few moments before stepping in. The cold water over her skin was like a salve applied to a burn, and she let out a groan of contentment as she felt it caress her overheating body comfortably. Mindful of the fact that she paid her own water bill, she shut off the taps after a few more minutes, before stepping out to dry herself off. Sunset toweled off lightly, but chose to let the water to continue cooling herself off as she air dried. It’s not like there was anyone around to see her anyways. She hung her damp towel back on the door before selecting an outfit. Choosing a pair of jeans and a light blue tanktop, she dressed quickly, slipping on some brown sandals as she made her way confidently out the door. Stepping out of her apartment and locking the door behind her, Sunset was almost immediately rewarded with a light breeze flowing over her exposed skin. She relaxed into it, smiling softly as it caressed her gently before swirling on. Her eyes lit up as she looked over her balcony, enjoying the view while trying to decide where she should go first. All the shops would be open for business on a Tuesday, so she could go anywhere she felt like. Running through a list of places in her head that she liked to visit, she quickly chose Sugarcube Corner, and started merrily along her way.