Every fibre of her being ached, Even her hair ached, and hair was dead keratin that hung from her head. Sunset blinked and gingerly rubbed at the scrape on her forehead, she'd need to stop at the gas station or the convenience store on her way home and pick up wipes or something. 'It isn't like there is anything back at my place to treat this.' Suppressing a groan, she deserved every minute of this punishment, Sunset Shimmer stood up and surveyed what little work she had accomplished.
Very little.
Well, she had made the crater, sort of, she had also destroyed the front of the school. Not too bad for about ten minutes of work. However she was very regretful of those actions and had been set to repairing the damage as recompense.
A low line of wall, all that was left of the original front to the building, had been scraped clear of mortar. Apparently there might be a chance to build off the old walls. It was hard work and after the magical beat-down and the moment of real and terrifying pain as the magic had first transformed her, Sunset was tired and achey.
She also had a bad feeling about the state of her back.
“I think you have done enough for now.” The voice that reached her was heart-wrenchingly familiar, but not the being Sunset wished for. Principal Celestia was approaching her.
“I think I have done enough for a lifetime.” Sunset said bitterly. The magic, the harmony, it had shown her the evils in her soul, confronted them. Now Sunset could see herself with the stark reality of her actions laid bare.
“There is a small matter of more fitting restrictions for you Sunset. We'll need to discuss that on Monday.” Celestia said. Restrictions were put in place and gradually lifted as a student improved in whatever area they needed to. There were plenty Sunset was owing on.
“I'll report to the office first thing.” Sunset bowed her head. “If it is okay, I'll leave now. It is getting late.” She kept her head low and hoped that she could leave soon. Principal Celestia was not cruel, but there were plenty of things Sunset should be punished for. Getting home late would be a small thing in comparison to her past deeds.
“Just a moment Sunset.” Celestia took the girl's arm and Sunset looked up in surprise, looking at the woman for the first time since she had joined her. “That graze needs treating.” There was a first aid kit in her other hand.
“Right.” Sunset blinked, a little surprised. She had just destroyed the school. Spent years terrorising the student body and even staff. Yet Celestia was going to help her. Even her lackeys had abandoned her, Snips and Snails running off as soon as they could.
“This might sting a little.” Celestia said as she raised a wipe to Sunset's forehead. The teen braced herself a little, the antiseptic did sting when it touched the cuts. The Principal's touch was gentle though. “I have a little ointment here too, it will help and hopefully protect the cuts from infection.”
“Okay.” Sunset said quietly. She wanted to cry, she'd wanted to cry since she had stopped crying, but now it was for a different reason. Here was the woman who had needed to clear up after her for three years. To pick up the pieces after Sunset had emotionally devastated a student, to handle the bickering and the fallouts. To preside over a school being socially torn apart, all the while with an upbeat and positive attitude. Now she was quite calmly treating a graze Sunset had gained actually destroying the school.
The ointment in place, Principal Celestia drew back. “All done.” She didn't really smile, but she didn't frown either. “I'll let you get going, but I would like you in early on Monday. I have to speak with you and you can consider the early start part of the restrictions.”
“I understand.” Sunset lowered her eyes. “I'll see you on Monday.” She left the school with a slow stride. The late bus was another ten minutes away and it was late enough that Sunset didn't want to walk home.
Away from the school she let her tears fall, she needed to cry really, even if it felt a little like self-pity. Mostly she was feeling guilty for three years of bullying in this world and even more time in Equestria spent with a poisonous attitude.
The elements had shown her everything, every misdeed and nasty action. All of it. However this time the consequences were given to her, the hurt she put others through. Everything she had ignored and disregarded, presented to her in full detail. It hurt, a deserved emotional pain.
A stinging on her back was still a bother too. There wasn't the sensation of her shirt clinging to wounds on her back, but whatever injuries were there had not fully healed. Sunset winced as she moved, the pain from wings and a tail tearing through her flesh was a memory burned into her mind. At least the magic of friendship and harmony had healed what had to be the worst of it. She'd have to see the damage once she got home.
With the graze treated, Sunset was able to take the bus home. It stopped a few blocks away from her place, but that helped her feel more secure. No one could follow her easily, she could slip away from the bus stop and into the dark.
There was a corner store on the way back to her place. It opened late. Sunset was able to pick up some antiseptic wipes and a few other helpful things to treat her back.
Making her way along the dark street, the building she had lived in for three years loomed above her. It wasn't scary to her, in fact a little hint of relief passed across her mind. She'd never really been attached to the place, it had provided a roof and somewhere out of the way from school. But now a feeling of safety and shelter from the world greeted her.
Sunset slipped through the fence and put everything back into place. It had taken effort, threats and brief violence to secure this area from others when she'd first arrived. The memories turned her stomach. “I'll have to get things better hidden.” She mumbled to herself, more against the silence than anything.
She really did not want to have to return to her old ways to defend her home. At the entrance she used she dislodged a panel of plywood and clambered in. A new door would be a first step to getting the place secure.
Walking across the rubble strewn floor, Sunset ignored the scuttling of rats and flap of birds that shared her home. She had as much right to be here as they did after all. Taking her stairs carefully, Sunset pushed the door open. A lock would be a good idea here too, she thought as she slowly walked past the table. She ignored the surface littered with her plans. The paper scrawled with equations to figure the portal opening, paragraphs of what amounted to ravings on what the forbidden books had taught her. There were charts that linked the mysterious elements of harmony to the Mare in the Moon, figurings on their power and the timeline between this world and Equestria.
It had been a gamble, slipping back through the portal to steal an element of harmony. She had been very lucky that Nightmare Moon had not won, though her old self would probably have eagerly struck a bargain with the Queen. She had been fortunate in her assumptions that the Elements of Harmony would be stored near the mirror, though a spell had given her what she needed to know.
'Learn it', as Sunset had dubbed the spell, read minds and sifted the information into pertinent fact. Easy to find the most powerful element and steal it. Though she should have worked more on the 'Substitute' spell. Twilight had seen through the fake crown easily.
Resolving to burn the papers in the morning, Sunset went through her 'living room' to her bedroom. Picking up a matchbox, she struck one of the long matches and lit some candles. They provided light in the dark space. Wincing as she took her jacket off, Sunset prepared for the worst.
The wounds on her back still hurt but there was no blood in the lining of her jacket, a good sign. Peeling her top off hurt more, the fabric had the sort of tackiness a bad graze oozed. Steeling herself, Sunset took an antiseptic wipe from the pack she'd bought and rubbed it over the area's that stung with an injury.
It intensified the stinging, and she felt tears gathering in her eyes, but Sunset just bit her lip and used another wipe with her other arm, to ensure she had covered it all. The hurt increased, but the treatment was over. Now she had to dress them.
The task was awkward and the dressing pads and tape were sloppily applied, but she had secured them over the open wounds on her back. Two lines, perfectly placed for wings. Wings she should never have had.
Easing her pyjama top on, Sunset changed from her skirt to her sleepwear and eased herself into the bundle of blankets she called a bed. There was a futon under them and a sleeping bag if she got too cold. She smothered the candles and the light died.
After a long time alone in the dark, with her thoughts and the pain, Sunset eventually fell into a restless sleep.
-*-
Monday morning was scarcely better than the first moments after she crawled from the crater. Sunset was riddled with guilt, anxious for what awaited her and still so very sad. Remorse for past actions, regret for ignored chances and despair over her future. She deserved nothing, less than even. A prison cell in a place of exile probably. Though would that be here or in Equestria? Her status was confusing even as her heart ached for a place to really and truly call home.
Taking the bus, Sunset dropped her coins into the fare box, these were not money stolen or extorted from others. She had a box in her room with what cash remained of her ill gotten gains. Those she could remember would be repaid, any leftover sum she would give to the school.
The teen sat in a spot she liked, the bus was empty this early and in this part of town. The ride into school was uneventful and she left the bus with more trepidation than she had left her home.
Principal Celestia stood in front of the school with a man in coveralls and a hard-hat. She noticed Sunset's approach. “Good morning Sunset. Thank you for coming in early.”
“I'm not going to blow off any punishments anymore.” Sunset said softly, her eyes low.
“In most cases I would insist that they are restrictions.” Celestia sighed, “But I suppose this is a little bigger than most issues students cause.” She looked at Sunset, making sure she had her whole attention. “Setting off an explosion that big as a prank for not winning the fall formal crown is a bit much. So yes, a punishment it is.” Sunset could have sworn the woman winked and the teen sputtered a little in surprise.
“That it is, but kids don't know too much about explosives even if they can get their hands on 'em.” The man with the principal said. “Why, my oldest clear launched the Griffon statue right across the football field at her high school.” He chuckled. “Some plan to spook the rival team apparently. I got her signed up with a proper college course though, now Cherry Bomb is heading up the demolitions half of the business.”
“You never know where a talent and an interest can take someone.” Celestia replied with her serene manner. “Ah introductions are required I believe.” She turned to the man. “This is Sunset Shimmer, a somewhat wayward student of mine. Sunset, this is Steeplejack, he owns a local construction business that will be repairing the building.”
“Hi.” Sunset kept her voice even, no point being in the doldrums and if she knew the principal half as well as she knew the princess, then this was some sort of test as well as a 'sanction'.
“I'm told that you're to be our runner for site, once we get working.” Steeplejack said, holding out a hand to shake. He grinned when Sunset shook firmly. “We're going to be working before and after school hours. I'll get you the right safety gear and the induction talk and then you, Miss Shimmer, will be the go-fer. Sites run on coffee, tea, soda and fried food. We need things swept up and litter collected to the garbage can, nails and brick-keys bought over. So that'll be your job 'til the building is fixed.”
“Right.” Sunset didn't back away from the task or even care that it would probably be hard and tiring work. She was going to make things right. “When do you want me to start?”
The determination didn't take Celestia aback, it made her proud. She could see that all the determination and drive that Sunset Shimmer held was now directed at improving who she was instead of holding the social power of a bully at the school. “Everything will be in place this evening.” She supplied. “Thank you for being willing to do this Sunset.”
“I just need to know a shoe-size for safety boots, waist and leg for the workwear.” Steeplejack supplied. “We've got site induction once the office is in place after the school day.”
Celestia left the pair discussing the necessary information. It was promising indeed. Sunset had fallen, but she was going to rise again as a better person.
-*-
It was well past the end of the school day when Sunset was waiting for the bus. In her arms were a bundle of work clothes, safety boots and a helmet. The site safety induction hadn't take too long, most of the rules were common sense and she wouldn't be operating heavy machinery. The site stores-man had given her the cover-alls, boots and helmet with a smile. Steeplejack had introduced her to the construction team, it seemed most had been shared the story Celestia had passed on and now all the workers had decided to call her Firework.
Despite herself, Sunset was smiling. The work crew was friendly, her boss was fair and it seemed that her task would not be onerous. In fact, spending her mornings and evenings running for the work crew seemed like it would be fulfilling. If anything, she would have a work reference from a respected local businessman once she had graduated.
The bus arrived and Sunset hopped on, taking a seat and placing the bundle of gear on the seat beside her. As it drove away from the school and down the road, Sunset was feeling positive. Good even, she had a short term direction and friends who had made an effort to include her today.
She'd had a fall, but she was getting back up.