Sunsets next classes had been largely uneventful, other than learning more about her new group. Applejack was oddly good with both Science and History classes. Apparently, to her, you understood farming better if you knew the science behind it, so she’d gotten interested a while back, and her grandmother was full of stories about the local history, since she grew up when the place was founded.
Rarity seemed to be decent at science, but much better at English. Fluttershy was good at any part of English that didn’t involve reading out loud. Rainbow, on the other hand, seemed to be just as bad in English as she was in Math.
Remembering her talk with Brawly this morning, Sunset snuck in her phone to ask Rainbow a few questions. When Sunset brought up the actual word ‘Dyslexia’, the girl just bit her lip and stared ahead. She wondered if this was too soon in their friendship to ask.
Lunch was just like the morning walk in. They kept her in the middle of the group, away from stares and whispers. She did smile when Brawly waved, though both Flash and Thunder were a little too occupied when she waved back.
Their table was unfortunately in the middle of the room, but the group placed her between Applejack and Rainbow. It was a clear message. ‘Mess with her, and get hit’. Even so, they relaxed.
The strangest thing was that people still talked to them. Sunset had wondered if the fact that they were with her would isolate them, but they seemed to be doing fine on their own. A few came up to talk to them, and it was just so normal. Very few brought up Sunset, but those that did got four stares while the girl they were talking to changed the subject.
There were three classes after lunch. Chorus with Fluttershy, and then Theatre and Art with Pinkie. The first had gone fine, fantastic even. The teacher had let the two sit together, brushing it off as ‘you sound better near one another’. Sunset was sure it was a lie, since her own voice was a good bit deeper than Fluttershy’s and they normally would be far apart, but they were moved to the edge where their sections met.
Fluttershy was a wonderful singer, though she blushed furiously when told so. She confessed that she’d love to do a solo part, but the stage fright was barely manageable in a group setting. Sunset assured her that she’d be great anyway.
It was after that class that they ran into a problem. The Chorus and Theatre classes were right next to one another, along with the band class. They were all in the auditorium building, which was separate from everything else. Fluttershy’s next class was across campus, as was Pinkie’s last class. Both girls barely made it on time most days, even when hurrying across.
The moment they realized this, Fluttershy stared at her in that same deer-in-the-headlights look she was known for. She couldn’t stay, and Pinkie wouldn’t be here yet. Even if she decided to be late for class, what about tomorrow?
“I-I’ll be fine,” Sunset swallowed. “It’s five minutes, and not much can happen in a classroom.”
“Are you sure?” Fluttershy asked. “I can stay, if you want me to.”
“I’m not sure,” she admitted. “But you can’t stay here all the time. You’d be in detention in three days, and as much as I’d love the company, you shouldn’t.”
“Maybe we can talk to Vice Principal Luna?” she suggested. “Maybe she can make an exception?”
“She’s bent enough rules,” she said. “It-it’ll be fine. You should go before you’re late anyway.”
“I-okay,” she nodded. “It’ll be okay. No one should try anything in a classroom, and if they say anything ignore them. We-we’ll think of something for tomorrow. It’ll be okay.”
With plenty of hesitation, Fluttershy left. Sunset took a step through the next door, with just as much hesitation.
The students that were trickling in glared at her. As she went to one of the seats, she could feel it, even if she wasn’t looking. The aura of the room shifted when they realized she was alone.
She couldn't help the feeling as they watched. It was cold, like pinpricks on her skin. She tried to ignore it, to rifle through her backpack and pretend she was looking for something.
“Hey,” one of them kicked the back of her chair. “What are you still doing here?”
“Shouldn’t they have expelled you?” another asked.
“More like ‘shouldn’t they have arrested you?’. Or maybe banished back to that dimension you came from.”
“You mean Hell?”
“No, the one with the horses.”
“Aw, she’s not talking. What’s wrong? Horse too dumb to talk?”
Words started to meld together. Her hands shook. She tried harder to drown them out, but it was getting more difficult.
“Bitch.”
“Demon.”
“Who know what else she’s done.”
“Maybe that’s why those five are with her. They’re her guard.”
“Look at the little prisoner.”
“What, don’t want to fight back? I think you did plenty already.”
“Oh, maybe being blasted into a fucking crater hurt. Well, you know what happens when a horse breaks its leg. Maybe you should do us all a favor and-“
“Stop that right now!”
That wasn’t a student voice, that was a teacher voice. The students backed up while Sunset was met with a face. Gray, with red and yellow eyes, white hair falling over an oddly concerned expression.
“Are you okay?” Discord asked, his voice way to soft and kind. It was almost out of character.
Sunset nodded.
“Is she okay?!” one of the students screeched. “You know what she’s done!”
“See, there’s a difference here,” Discord mused, his usual mirth having disappeared. “What I see is two kids saying despicable things to their fellow student. Now, both of you to the Principal’s office.”
“What?” another student gasped. “She’s the one who made this school hell for the last few months!”
“True or not, you don’t get to decide her punishment,” he glared. “And you most certainly do not get to tell anyone, regardless of their past, that they should kill themselves.”
“But she-“ one of them started.
“You do not, ever, get to say that,” he said, his voice nearly a growl of barely-contained rage. “Nothing you can say can justify saying that to someone. You want to tell her that, just remember that even the Demon treated you with more respect. To Principal Celestia’s Office. Now.”
They tried to protest more, but Discord stared them down, standing tall with his arms crossed in front of his chest. It was strange to see their usually chipper and joking teacher actually be a teacher. It was even stranger to see him be intimidating. It was the first time she'd noticed how tall he was, towering over everyone else.
Yet it was the expression on his face that scared her. The stare, not quite cold, but blazing instead. Sunset had the distinct feeling that the only thing holding him back was legal ramifications.
The duo reluctantly made their way out, attempting to glare at her. Thankfully Discord stood between them, blocking her from view. The moment the door closed behind them, he whipped out his phone.
“Students incoming,” Discord spoke into the phone. “Yes, it had to do with Sunset. Celestia, I’m not going to give you the full rundown when I have a class to teach in two minutes, but Codeword Mirror. Yes it was that bad. Fine. I’ll tell you later.”
He hung up, and turned back to Sunset. His expression and demeanor much more calm and soft than she’d ever expected from him. Picking at the wrist brace on his left arm, he sighed and tried to smile.
“Are you alright?” Discord asked.
“Yeah,” she nodded. “I kinda of expected that. After everything I did-“
“Your next words better not be ‘I deserved it’,” he warned. “I’m banning you from using that phrase.”
“But-“ she began.
“Nope,” he said. “Banned. No matter what, you don’t deserve that. And even with the stuff I’ve heard from Celestia and Luna, though I know it’s not everything, you don’t deserve any of that. Now, they said you’d have your friends as a guard, so what happened?”
“Class happened,” she said. “Fluttershy’s next class is across campus, just like Pinkie’s last class.”
Discord sighed again and looked like he was literally biting back a swear.
“Okay,” Discord nodded. “From now on, between classes you’re sticking right by me. Only until this all calms down and you can have five minutes to yourself.”
“I… you don’t have to do that,” Sunset said.
“I don’t ‘have to’ do anything,” he said. “Technically, I don’t even have to be here. But I am, so I will. What’s worse, having me in arm’s reach for five minutes, or dealing with them every day? Well, Tia might say the first.”
“Okay, you’re right,” she sighed. “But I’ll have to face them on my own eventually.”
“Only when you’re actually ready,” he nodded. “As a teacher I’m not supposed to say this, but take it from the guy who screwed up a lot as a teen. And in my twenties. And last week. And this morning. Sincere apologies and working to fix things will go a long way. Not everyone will forgive you, but they won’t hate you.”
“Thanks,” she sighed. “That helps a bit.”
Before either could say more, Sunset was nearly tackled by something pink and talkative. From what she could gather, still being new to translating Pinkie’s hyperactive rambling, she’d only realized that Sunset would be alone when she walked by the pair of girls on their way to the Principal’s office and she’d happened to overhear their complaints.
As Discord left to make yet another call about the situation, Pinkie checked over Sunset.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Pinkie asked. “I’m sorry I didn’t get here sooner, but it’s all the way across campus and I tried running before but the teachers yell at me and make me stop for a lecture on it and it’d take even longer so I couldn’t even do that! I don’t want to leave you alone, but I can’t get here faster but Flutters can’t stay but we-“
“It’s fine Pinkie,” Sunset said. “I’m okay. And I think we have a situation figured out.”
“You do?” she asked.
“Pretty much,” she nodded. “Apparently Discord’s on our side too. So since I can come here right after Chorus, he’s going to keep me nearby until you get here. I’m… happy he’s helping too.”
“Everyone’s happy for help,” she nodded. “But I call dibs.”
“What?” she stared at her.
“Come on,” she rolled her eyes. “You can’t tell me you don’t think he’s pretty.”
“That’s not the problem?” she raised an eyebrow. “Please tell me you’re not actually considering-“
“Oh, well, in ‘reality’ no,” she shrugged. “I might not be the sharpest tool in the chandelier, but I know that trying to get with a teacher while I’m still an underage student is a bad idea for many a reason. But, like, say a while after graduation when I am a one hundred percent adult and not his student… who knows?”
“That’s… better I guess,” she relented. “I’m learning a lot about you people today. Not sure I wanted to know that last bit though.”