The school bell rings... But none of the girls seems to care.
The Rainbooms had gone to school, but the truth was that none of them were interested in the classes. At the first opportunity, they locked themselves in their practice room.
They had been there all morning.
Rainbow crosses her arms, alternating between looking at the floor and looking around the room. Her friends scarcely changed positions all morning.
Fluttershy sits on the floor in a corner, hugging her knees and hiding her head in her arms. Pinkie sits hunched over a small table, her head resting on both arms, looking at nothing with red, glassy eyes. Rarity sits silently in one of the chairs, hiding her face in her jacket’s hood. Applejack sits balancing her chair on its hind legs, resting her own legs on the table, her lowered hat hiding her eyes.
The situation was horrible.
No, “horrible” was too soft.
They were devastated, desolate... broken...
Everything had happened too fast.
The memory of their friend, of Sunset, despising them all and walking away from them.
So alive was the image, so firmly engraved in their memory, it only made them suffer anew with every recollection.
Rainbow closes her eyes and clenches her teeth to keep from crying.
She had to stay strong for her friends, but inside, she was falling apart.
She gets up and begins to speak, but her voice breaks, so she clears her throat and begins more quietly, "Uh, hey. It's almost lunchtime. I... I'll go to the cafeteria. Um, does anyone want anything?"
There is no response.
"Well? Anyone?"
The silence continues, until the farmer lets out a sigh and raises her hat very slightly, allowing herself to look at the athlete. "Whatever’s fine, Rainbow."
Rarity raises her head, too, just a little. "Just a salad... I'm not hungry..."
Pinkie takes out a plastic container, the remains of the crushed cake and something dirty inside. "Thanks, Dashie, but I brought my lunch..."
Rainbow cannot help but feeling worse and worse when listening to them, but she tries not to show it. "Um... okay. Flutters you want those animal crackers you like so much?"
There is no answer, except for a soft and incomprehensible murmur.
"Alright." Rainbow tries to be animated. "I'll be back soon, then... with lunch."
Rainbow tries to give a smile, but it’s forced. She retires, while her friends stay in their places.
Rainbow sighs, leaning against the door, and lets herself release a couple of tears before making her way to the cafeteria.
*S*A*S*
The final bell rings, signaling two important things: the desired end of a school week and the most desired start of the weekend.
But with three young girls, the story is different.
Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo sit at a table in the library. Miss Cheerilee, teacher and librarian of the school, approaches them with a written notebook.
Cheerilee had been informed about the situation. At the request of Vice Principal Luna, she had agreed to keep the matter secret until Luna and her sister decided the appropriate actions.
Meanwhile, Cheerilee would be responsible for giving all three a small punishment until such a decision was reached.
Cheerilee leaves the notebook in front of the girls, a series of equations and various problems, which instantly give the three girls a headache.
"When you finish them, you can leave. You can use any book from the library to help you. I'll be at the front desk in case you need something."
Taking the cell phones that the three had left on the table beforehand, she leaves them and lets them work.
The Crussaders sigh in defeat.
"We did the right thing."
"We deserve this."
"At least, the guilt went away."
The three agree, look once again at the exercises in the notebook, and after another sigh, each one takes pulls out a notebook of her own.
*S*A*S*
A little more than an hour had passed since the last bell. By that time, there was almost no one left at school.
Luna, wearing a dark coat on her arm, walks to her sister's office. She knocks softly on the door, and without needing to wait for an answer, she opens it, finding her sister putting some papers in her bag.
"Ready to go?"
For a moment, there is no response, until Celestia lets out a sigh and decides to speak.
"Almost. I’m just packing the documents I need to fill at home."
"You look tired."
"I am." Celestia releases another sigh. "But, it's the weekend. I'll finish these papers, and then, I'll be able to rest. I should feel better on Monday." Luna does not say anything in response, so Celestia just grabs her purse and coat, saying as she passes Luna, "Come on, Luna."
Luna, somewhat worried, follows Celestia outside the school. Outside, the cold wind blows strongly, rapidly chilling the women. They quickly don they’re coats and hurry to their car. That is, until Celestia stops after a few steps, staring at the statue in front of the school.
The steed, symbol of the school. Its imposing posture reflects strength and decision. Its size makes Celestia feel insignificant... impotent. Before the disaster...
Luna, oblivious to her thoughts but partially guessing the subject, tries to speak. However, an odd sound from the statue’s base interrupts her.
Their eyes fixate on the base, and to the surprise of both, a series of waves seems to emanate from its center, and before being able to question what they are seeing, the incredible happens.
A girl crosses the wall, falling on her knees to the ground.
"Twilight Sparkle?!" both women exclaim, surprised.
Twilight Sparkle, the same girl who twice had saved the school, knelt on the grass in front of the statue.
Her expression is strange. She seems dizzy and very tired. As she feels the cold wind running over her body, she begins to tremble and crosses her arms, hugging herself for warmth.
Celestia manages to overcome her surprise and without a second thought runs to her.
Without delay, she takes off her coat and covers the girl with it.
"Twilight! Why did you—"
"S-Sunset!" Twilight interrupts.
"What?"
"Sunset... Sunset... I'm sorry... I... I'm sorry, Sunset…"
The lost gaze of the girl betrays her confusion, while the agitation of her body and her breathing are proof of her nerves. Celestia gently pats Twilight’s cheek and tries to calm her down.
"Twilight? Twilight, listen to me. Calm down."
The touch on her cheek and Celestia’s soft voice seem to take effect. Twilight closes her eyes, her breathing calms down and her body stops trembling, although she clings to the warm coat.
"Princess… Principal Celestia...?" Twilight says hesitantly.
"It’s alright, Twilight. You're fine now."
The woman hugs her gently, and Twilight relaxes.
It was such a strange feeling, and at the same time, so familiar... so nice...
All too soon, the woman breaks the hug. Although disappointed, Twilight nonetheless turns to the statue. "It worked..." she said in a mix of surprise and wonder.
Celestia sees Twilight’s gaze centered at the base of the statue. The princess’s further silence worries her.
"Twilight?"
After a few seconds, Twilight's eyes snap open. "Sunset!" She turns to the woman. "Where’s Sunset?" she asks frantically. "Please, tell me nothing happened to her!"
Luna finally decides to approach. "Twilight, calm down. Please, explain what happened."
Twilight takes a couple of breaths, although she regrets it a little as the air chills her throat. Still, she manages to calm down and talk again.
"Over the last month, Sunset wrote to me telling me what was going on with this ‘Anon-a-Miss’ affair."
At the mention of that name, a chill goes through both principals separate from the cold weather.
"She told me that the school blamed her and that everyone assaulted her and attacked her. Even... Even our friends... They..."
She could not finish the sentence, and her body began to tremble.
Cold? Fear? Anger? Certainly some mixture of the three.
"I should have come sooner... I should... help her..." Her gaze falls, and Celestia strokes her cheek in an attempt to comfort her. "I told her to try to talk to them, that they were her friends, that they would believe her if she spoke to them honestly..."
At this point, both women can guess where this story goes.
"I was sure everything would be fixed... but then, two weeks ago, when I spoke with her, she told me that nothing changed! She told me that they hated her, that they all turned their back on her... that she was going to finish everything..."
That phrase leaves both women cold.
A phrase like that can easily be misinterpreted and bring up the worst thoughts.
"I tried to come at that moment, but the portal didn't open. I don't know why, but I just couldn't open it. I've been trying everything I could, and I finally made it, but Sunset... Please, tell me she's fine. PLEASE TELL ME THAT SUNSET’S OKAY!"
The principal cups Twilight’s face in her hands and, with a calm expression and voice, speaks to her. "Sunset’s fine, Twilight. It's not what you're thinking; she did not hurt herself. She just moved to another school."
The revelation surprises the princess. Her eyes grow larger as small tears form in them. "She... She’s..."
"Yes, she's fine. Don't worry."
The young Equestrian can’t take it anymore and lets out a loud cry, releasing her grief, her feelings, and her relief.
Celestia embraces Twilight, stroking her hair.
Twilight let herself be pampered, taking refuge in the arms of the woman, reliving days of her happy childhood with her teacher and second mother.
Sunset was fine. All her fears were in vain. She was so worked up for nothing.
How happy she was!
She did not care about the work she had to do nor about the time she sacrificed to achieve it. The only important thing was that Sunset was fine.
...
No. That was not true.
Against her desire, Twilight breaks the hug and stands up, still clinging to her coat.
Maybe what she feared did not happen, but Sunset was not fine.
Her friends left her, and everyone in the school thought that she...
And now... she had changed schools?
Both women watch the girl, who has been silent for a few minutes.
The principal tries to speak, but the princess beats her to it.
"Principal Celestia, I need to see Sunset. Please..."
*S*A*S*
A car of the purest white, adorned with small, golden details, parks next to the sidewalk of an apartment complex. The back door of the car opens, and the Princess of Friendship takes a deep breath before getting out of the car. Instantly, she clings to her coat when she feels the cold wind.
Celestia looks worriedly at the girl. "Twilight, I know you have the best of intentions to help, but maybe unexpectedly coming to Sunset’s apartment is not the best idea. Let me talk to her first—"
Twilight interrupts her gently. "Thanks for worrying, but... this is something I want to do alone."
"Twilight—"
"I wasn’t there for Sunset. I failed as a friend. But, I want to fix it, and I want to do it alone, to show Sunset that she can trust me."
"Twilight..." The woman's concern is evident in her voice and her gaze.
"Thanks for bringing me,” Twilight continued. “Do you want your coat back?"
"Save it; it's too cold."
"Thank you, Princess—Principal. I’ll return it as soon as I can."
"Don’t worry about that. It’s not important." Celestia is silent for a moment. "Twilight, are you sure you want to do this?"
"I am." With a bow of gratitude, the girl walks towards the building, while Celestia watches her, extremely worried.
Luna says from the passenger seat, "I don’t like it any more than you to not be able to do anything, but this is something that they must fix alone. I do not think we have the right to interfere." Her words are serious but with a touch of regret.
The older woman closes her eyes and sighs. Soon, they drive off, leaving Twilight to her work.
*S*A*S*
"Finally!" exclaims Sunset as she drops onto the couch.
The eternal and heavy week was over. No more classes. No more homework. No more crazy students. And best of all, no more exams.
Sunset allows her body to relax, sinking deeper into the couch.
She had only been in school for half a month and had already earned the scorn of one student, had called attention to herself more than once, was called to the principal's office, spent time with her former mortal enemies, confronted her hypocritical former friends, and even survived a massive wave of exams.
"It's not what I expected, but at least, the week is over," Sunset thinks to herself
Now, she could rest. She had about sixty-five hours to relax and do whatever she wanted.
...
What was she supposed to do now?
She turns onto her side, resting her head on one arm.
She didn’t have to study this weekend, and that’s all she devoted herself to doing until just the previous day. Now what?
What did she do before when she had no friends? It had been so long, she could barely remember what it was like to be alone.
A knock at the door brings her out of her thoughts.
She gives a snort of annoyance and turns her back to the door. She does not have the courage to entertain visitors.
More knocks sound. She ignores them.
More knocks.
She growls in frustration and pushes a throw pillow against her head in an attempt to block out the sound.
More knocks.
Finally, she resigns herself; whoever this is does not plan to leave anytime soon. Another snarl escapes her, and she gets up. She stalks to the front door and prepares to give out to the intruder, but her voice dies when she opens it.
*S*A*S*
Princess Twilight is surprised at the abrupt opening of the door. She finds herself face-to-face with her dimensional companion.
Both Equestrian girls stare at each other, one more surprised than the other. Silence covers them as the surprise of one and the fear of the other prevent them from speaking.
Twilight tries to calm down and talk. "Sunset—"
Her voice cuts off when the door closes tightly in her face, surprising her. Twilight spends a few seconds looking at the door in surprise, before she resumes her pounding.
"Sunset! Please open up! I need to talk to you!"
"Go away!" is the only answer Twilight gets from the other side of the door.
"Please, Sunset. I know you're angry, and I don't blame you, but please, let me talk to you!"
"I have nothing to say!" Sunset shouts from the other side, her voice cold and irritated.
Twilight starts to despair. "But I do! I know I failed you, but I want to fix this!"
"… It's too late for that." This time, Sunset’s voice is much softer, but it still retains that coldness.
"Sunset... please. Let me talk to you."
"Leave me alone! Go back to Equestria and never talk to me again!"
Somehow, Twilight could feel Sunset walking away from her. She feels the cold wind pass over her, as if the wind itself wants to push her away from the place.
Undeterred, Twilight shrugs inside the borrowed coat and looks at the door.
"I was not there when you needed me. I will not make that mistake again." Her voice is a whisper, audible only to her. She turns and walks a few steps, sitting on the ground and leaning her back against the small wall of the corridor.
The cold blows harder, and the princess tries to wrap herself more in her coat as she looks at the door.
“Sunset was waiting for me for a long time. Now, it’s my turn to do the same.”
*S*A*S*
Twilight did not know how long she was there.
One hour? Two hours? One day? A few minutes? She did not know.
She only knew that she was cold. Very cold...
Clinging tightly to the borrowed coat, the princess squeezes as tightly as she can into a ball to keep the little heat she has.
Her whole body trembles, her skin feels cold, her fingers begin to get numb, the nerves of her legs have long since fallen asleep, and worst of all, she starts to feel ice creep into her throat.
Her head told her to leave, her instinct for natural survival warned her strongly that it was not safe to be there, and her common sense constantly told her that she should look for a warm place to take refuge.
But she did not care anything about that.
Against her own judgment, Twilight forces herself to stay there.
"I will not leave you again."
That thought passed again and again in her head. It was the only thing her conscience could focus on now in search of the strength to face that cold.
Her foggy mind, her closed eyes, and her numb body made it difficult to notice the moment when her whole body was lifted off the ground, or at what moment the cold atmosphere seemed to vanish into warmth.
She was still cold—her whole body was frozen—but the wind and ice were gone.
How...?
Soon, she feels herself being carefully placed on something soft. A strange smell comes to her nose. It smelled like ripe fruit.
Her whole body seems to be wrapped in a thick cloth. Still trembling, Twilight can feel her body heat slowly increase.
She manages to open her eyes, finding herself in a small room, in a bed, a thick blanket covering her entire body.
The princess's mind fills with questions, but she ignores them all. Instead, she closes her eyes, submerging as much as she can into the warmth of those blankets.
She hears a door open, forcing her to open her eyes. To her delight, she sees her friend Sunset enter the room with a steaming bowl in her hands.
Sunset puts the bowl on the nightstand, arranges the pillows under the head and shoulders of the princess, leaving her slightly raised, and sits on a chair next to the bed. Wordlessly, she takes the bowl and a spoon, scoops some of the contents out, blows on it a couple of times, and brings it to the mouth of the princess.
Twilight realizes finally that it is a freshly prepared soup. The warm and appetizing aroma tickles her nose.
"Sunset—"
"Shut up."
It is not an aggressive tone but authoritarian. Sunset gently presses the spoon into Twilight’s lips, and Twilight obediently opens her mouth and allows the hot liquid to enter her, heating her body.
*S*A*S*
After about ten minutes, the bowl is empty. Twilight falls asleep, huddled in the blankets.
Sunset lets out a heavy sigh. She takes the bowl to the kitchen to wash.
It was still early, but Sunset was very tired. The week had been exhausting, and everything indicated that it was not going to end yet.
Tomorrow would be a long day.
She releases another sigh, and then a grunt.
Sunset takes a little of the broth, just to have something in her stomach, locks her door, and turns off the lights. She is so tired. She just wants to go to sleep. But there is a problem.
A princess is in her bed.
Sunset watches Twilight for a moment. Although asleep, fatigue and sorrow still show on her face.
Sunset rubbed her face, thinking about whether she should sleep on the couch.
But with the cold, she did not really like that idea.
"Ugh, fuck it..."