"I still think it's stupid that you didn't fight back," Rainbow said, as we made our through the hallways of the school. "I mean, no offense, but even someone as lanky as you should at least be able to throw one or two punches."
"First of all, I'm not lanky," I responded as I tried, and failed to hide my face further behind my collar, making me even more aware of my current appearance from her assessment. "And secondly, I didn't fight back because I didn't want to risk someone thinking I was the one who initiated the fight."
I'm not being entirely truthful with the second point, because even if I was just pretending to play nice, there is no way anyone would believe I'd be stupid enough to start a fight this soon after being knocked down several pegs, and I have Principal Celestia as a witness to the fact that I wasn't fighting back.
Then again, I never got a chance to speak to the principal myself, and for all I know she might have thought I was the one who provoked whoever it was in the first place. So I'm not entirely protected from whatever gossip may spread about what left me with the black eye.
But no, I just don't want to know what Rainbow would say or do if I told her I thought I deserved it.
"Okay, maybe not lanky, but you barely have any muscle," she noted, before lightly punching my shoulder, making me wince slightly. "You're going to need a lot more than that leather jacket to fool me into thinking you're tough stuff. Maybe I should just go ahead and teach them a lesson for you."
Oh how I want to argue with her, but I don't see getting particularly far arguing fitness with an athlete. Plus, I'm well aware that she's right. My diet and lack of funds both have made it difficult to be anything but skin and bone.
"Besides, you've never started an actual fight before, so why would you now? That would just be stupid," she continued. "...Well, except the fight you had with us, but then you were a she-demon with lots of magic and stuff."
"..."
"...I'm not helping, aren't I?" she said, having stopped in place.
"No," I replied, continuing my walk stone-faced. "No you are not."
"Look, Sunse-" I didn't get to hear what she had to say, as the school's PA system blared to life.
"Will Sunset Shimmer please make her way to my office," the voice of Principal Celestia rang through the school, drawing everyone's gaze to my person. "Immediately."
I'm really not comfortable enough to deal with her right now, but I'm aware I have no choice in the matter. After a pause I began to make my way to Celestia's office, Rainbow choosing to follow silently at a distance.
"You should not have come into school today, that much is certain," Celestia said, looking at my bruised face intently. "Are you feeling alright? Is anything hurting?"
"Fine enough," I responded curtly, not particularly caring for her sympathies. "Now what exactly did you call me here for?"
"Am I not allowed to show concern with how you are handling yourself?"
My only response was raising one eyebrow.
"...No, I guess we both know I wouldn't call you here just for a simple checkup." Okay, getting straight to the point. That's something I can approve of at least. "You know, I didn't actually expect you to finish repairing the front of the school."
"...That was my punishment wasn't it?" I replied in confusion. "I was the one who did the damage in the first place, so why wouldn't I have been expected to repair it?"
"Because you're a student, not a builder. Plus, there simply would not have been room in the budget for repairs until at least a few weeks could pass for us to redirect funds," she said. "And since it wasn't option to get you to fit the bill, we intended to work you hard, and then bring in some contractors who could finish up, or redo whatever repairs you made that weren't up to code.
"Imagine our surprise when not only did you finish the repairs before we had a chance to make any calls, but the inspector we brought in couldn't find anything wrong with your work." She put on a slight grin. "Who would have guessed you'd actually paid attention to the guide I made you read?"
"Why else would you give it to me to read?" I was a little bit annoyed to hear that the punishment I was put through wasn't even being taken seriously by the ones who gave it to me.
"Because you were being punished, and it paired nicely with the repair work we were having you do," she answered. "But that doesn't change the fact you saved us a lot of time and hassle, and for that we're thankful."
"And is that all?"
Celestia sighed. "Despite you going beyond what we might have expected of you, I think we can both agree that your punishment is far from over."
"I'd think you were insane if it wasn't."
"However, I want you to know that I'm proud of the effort you've been putting in to show that you're trying to change. And that I'm sorry for how difficult the school is making that change," she said. "And that if it makes you feel any better, me and my sister both agree that if you think you need some time off from school or your punishment, we will happily accommodate, within reason."
Wait. Someone just apologized to me, instead of expecting an apology from me. "..."
"I also feel that it's best you know that despite having witnessed your attack myself, due to the clothing they were wearing, I was unable to identify any of your attackers. And that I'm sorry I can't take any action with the authorities without surrendering control of your own punishment."
"No, no. It's fine... I understand..." I said, unnerved that my attackers were likely at the school right this moment, and still a little off balance from the sudden apology. "You're doing all that you can, and it'd be unreasonable to expect anything more, given the circumstances."
"It's good to see you acting with a level head, despite everything," she noted with a hint of pride. Sometimes I'm reminded just how similar this Celestia can be to the Princess with her mannerisms. "Now as much as I wish that was it, there is one other thing we must go over before I can let you go. And I want you to promise you'll be completely honest with me here."
"Well, it wouldn't exactly do me any good to be lying to the one punishing me, but sure. I promise."
"Sunset, where do you live?"
Quicker than I could think, I had stood up and started approaching the door. "I'm not answering that question."
"I have a sneaking suspicion that you will."
That wasn't the principals voice. I knew exactly whose voice that was. "And what makes you say think that I will, Mr Theory?" I said, turning to face Discord, whom I hadn't heard enter.
"Because it would be a shame if the incident report from a certain nurse, indicating that a student who had just been attacked was uncomfortable mentioning where they lived, was handed off to the police to investigate."
"I wasn't expecting to find myself being blackmailed as part of my punishment."
"This has nothing to do with your punishment," Celestia chimed in from behind, having now stood up from her desk. "This is to do with your own safety and well-being."
"That's my own business," I retort, "and I'd like to keep it that way."
"Sunset, are you homeless?"
"I'M NOT HOMELESS!" I yelled, turning to glare into the very soul of the woman in front of me who would dare to suggest I might be without a home. "I have running water, electricity and a roof, and everything I could need without you two trying to poke around in my life!"
"And how long are you going to continue to be able to afford that?"
"I have plenty of money, I'll be-"
"Frankly my dear, that's the most absurd lie I've ever heard!" Discord interrupted, as I turned to direct my anger at him. "I know for a fact that there's no way you could have landed a job anywhere in Canterlot, yet alone enough to survive on your own."
"What makes you so sure, huh?!"
And then Discord did something I haven't seen him do in any of our interactions so far. He put on a look of sincerity I didn't know his face was capable of. "I know better than anyone how cruel Canterlot can be to those it rejects."
Before I could even so much as think about the meaning behind those words, Celestia once again made herself known.
"Why are you so keen to not let us know where you've been staying? I only want to help you, Sunset."
"Because I don't need your help!"
"Whether you think you need my help or not, I can't in good conscience leave you to fend for yourself. Sunset, until further notice, I want you to stay with me and Lu-"
"I'm not staying anywhere with you! Was this your game all along? To butter me up to a point where I'll agree to let you take me in when I'm perfectly fine being by myself? Is this just so you can keep a closer eye on me?"
"I only want to do what's best for you-"
"I don't need you controlling my life too! You're just like her!"
Silence reigned for a few seconds, before I realized just what I had said out loud.
"No, no no no no. I thought I was over this. I know I was wrong, I've been proven wrong. Why do I still think that? Why would I think she's even like her anyway?" I mumbled, no longer caring for the two other people in the room.
"Sunset," Discord started, "if you're worried about anyone's motives with taking you in, then you can always just continue to stay with me."
"Out of the question," Celestia declared. "Last night only happened because there was no time to provide a better solution, but that cannot work permanently."
"Oh, because I'm sure that any solution you offer will be better," he replied. "Face it Celly, anything you come up with will undoubtedly reek of ulterior motive. Where as I can do this simply out of the goodness of my heart."
A part of me for some inexplicable reason could just imagine with that statement, him clicking his fingers, and a halo forming above his head. The image probably would have made me chuckle a bit, if I wasn't already trying to comprehend just how quickly things had went downhill.
Celestia simply sighed in resignation. "Fine. Sunset, if you wish to stay with Chaos Theory, then that's your decision. But know that if you don't take up his offer, I will be forced to take you in elsewhere, for your own good. Also, tomorrow I expect whoever you end up staying with to take you to where you've been staying, and you will be moved out. Do I make myself clear?"
At this point, I only had the energy left to nod, no longer invested in defending my independence. It seems that what little choice I thought I had the power to hold onto, has revealed itself to be nothing more than a lie. "Does that mean I can leave now?"
"Yes. Yes you may," she responded. "Hopefully next time I ask you to come in, we can stick only to the more positive topics."
I walked slowly with my shoulders sagged to the door, and with a long sigh to psych myself up for the rest of the day, I push the door open. I am greeted by five all too familiar faces.
"Oh, Sunset! Everyone came by while I waiting for you in there, so that we can all head to the cafeteria together," Rainbow said after noticing my exit. "I can't wait for some lunch, I'm starving!"
"Was everything alright in there with ya'll?" Applejack asked with a worried expression. "We could hear ya speaking up a storm in there at parts."
"I'm fine. Just tired," I answered, not caring to go into any of the details. "Let's just go get our lunch."
"That sounds good to me!" Rainbow responded, as well as started our walk. "Anyway, as I was saying. I still can't believe that guy was able to swoop in and save everything at the end of the movie!"
"Oh, I know Dash!" Pinkie added. "It was all like, 'boom boom boom' and 'swoosh'! And he picked up the girl and made off before the water could rush in!"
"Yes darling, we all saw the same movie, we know what happened."
Everyone just laughed.
Everyone but me.
"I don't understand. This isn't like you at all, Chaos. Why are you so keen on helping her?"
"I don't want her to not have the same chance you gave me."