//------------------------------// // Chapter 7 Thursday Part 2 // Story: A Whole New World // by Knight Light //------------------------------// The trip to Crystal Prep took an hour’s bus ride that involved changing buses twice which was more than okay with Sunset. It gave her plenty of time to brace herself for the upcoming encounter with a woman she cared for a little more than she should in a family sort of way. It was odd, she looked up to the one woman who could get on her nerves, scare her and impress her all at once. And in truth, in some other dimensionally way, she suspected that she was related to this woman seeing who Sunset’s own mother was. As she walked the halls she noticed how clean and beautiful the school was while the students were in class at the moment. Of course Canterlot High was a nice school, but they didn’t have the money to spend on the little things that schools like this had. Thankfully the security guards that was included in those little things knew just who she was and not to stop her. Benefits of being on the inside she supposed. Walking into the office she was surprised to see Cadence herself sitting at the secretary’s desk in a flurry of paperwork. Something that Sunset herself couldn’t help admiring the slightly older woman for. She could be in the midst of hell and yet not a single hair would be out of place and her makeup and clothes would be perfect as always. And the weird part was, she didn’t even inherit her mother’s abilities. “Hey Sunset, I’m glad you’re here. I was going to try and call you later. I wanted to invite you to the wedding.” Cadence said with a smile as she put her pen down and hurried around the desk to give Sunset a tight hug. It was something that Sunset couldn’t accept when first meeting the woman, but Cadence had quickly got her used to it. It made Sunset feel guilty though for not giving her own Cadence more of a chance before crossing the mirror portal. “So Shiny and you are finally tying the knot?” Sunset teased as Cadence stepped back. “Yep, about time too. Though it won’t be happening for a few months. There’s a darkness coming that we don’t want to deal with during the wedding.” Cadence said, the first signs of worry Sunset had ever truly seen on the woman entering her eyes. This must have been something really big. “What kind of darkness?” Sunset asked, worry for her family setting in if it was bad enough to put the normally unflappable woman on edge. “My grandfather.” Was Cadence’s short reply which threatened to make Sunset laugh before realizing it could be bad seeing just what the woman’s mother actually was. “Cadence, is that Sunset out there?” A voice over the intercom sitting on the desk asked. “It is Miss Cinch.” Cadence confirmed over the intercom with a roll of her eyes. “Please send her in, we have much to discuss.” Cinch replied before Cadence looked apologetically. “Sunny, please be careful, my mother is in a mood and don’t want her to upset you. You know how she is.” Cadence sighed, motioning for Sunset to go on in. Taking a deep breath Sunset gave a nod before walking into the office with the name plate reading; Principal Abacus Cinch. Looking around the office after shutting and locking the door behind her Sunset could already see the curtains closed though there was no sign of the woman to be seen. Not that it meant Sunset was alone in the room. “Such beauty.” A voice whispered in Sunset’s ear making her shiver as a pair of vice like, yet gentle arms encircled her from behind pulling her against the soft body standing there. “I really wish you would reconsider my offer, I’m telling you if you have the right lover I promise you would not only enjoy it, you would be begging for more.” “You know how wrong that sounds on so many levels?” Sunset asked with a cocked eyebrow as she willed her body to keep from shaking and pushed the fear of being touched like this deep down. She knew the woman wouldn’t do anything to hurt her and she wouldn’t be the so called lover mentioned. No, the woman was a worse matchmaker than her daughter. “I’m so sorry!” The voice hissed out as the arms and body pulled back as if burned. “I forgot what time of year it is, are you okay child?” “I’ll be better once you change, hearing Cinch’s voice and seeing you flirt like that in her body gives me the creeps.” Sunset laughed, though it held some truth. Cinch would have made a good demon as manipulative and cruel as she was. While this woman maintained a strict discipline at the school, she promoted working together and having friends unlike the real Cinch who was somewhere in the tropics enjoying early retirement. “Fine.” The woman said as she rolled her eyes as a green flame traveled from her feel upwards burning away the old visage which was a masquerade to the real dark skinned form of Chrysalis, Queen of the Changelings which was an offshoot of a succubus though not seen as true demons by most in the know. “Better?” “Much, though I have to ask, what’s up with this upcoming darkness that is, I’m guessing, your father?” Sunset asked. “You don’t have to worry about that old bastard, he won’t cause trouble while here. He has a hate for humans that is legendary though he won’t risk getting in trouble with the Dark Council, even if he is the third oldest vampire alive.” Chrysalis said, “And before you ask, I can’t tell you anything else other than he is only here to talk to my sisters. As far as he is concerned, I’m dead to him after being turned into this.” “I’m sorry.” Sunset said, knowing how it can hurt being rejected by family though the woman waved it off. “Don’t be, as far as I’m concerned my father is trash that I wouldn’t mind seeing dead. Enough talk about that though, I’m sure there was something else you came here for. And from the look in your eyes, this isn’t a social call.” Chrysalis asked as she sat at her desk motioning for Sunset to take a seat. “Well, you know how I’m from another dimension. Well, someone I kind of know decided to pop over here from that dimension and they are stuck now. I know I said I didn’t care about going back over, but have you discovered any way to open a new portal or anything?” Sunset asked hoping that maybe she could hurry and send Twilight home while also hoping that maybe she could get the girl to stay for awhile. She’d really like to get to know the girl and it would be for the best to get her to understand just how Celestia works and how little she really cares for anything other than looking good for her little ponies. Of course deep down Sunset knew that was a little harsh, but so was what happened to her. “I’ve looked and even consulted other dimensional travelers I know of such as Jason Blood and his demon, but it appears your dimension is tightly sealed except for the portal that can not be manipulated from this side. If anything is to be done, it will have to come from the other side.” Chrysalis admitted sadly, obviously feeling bad about not being able to help. “Its fine, I kind of think it may be for the best. She probably would benefit from the time away so she can rest and heal her heart if possible.” Sunset sighed. “If there is anything that either Cadence or I can do, you know all you have to do is ask. I know you have a hard time accepting this at times, but we see you as family and do love you. We would do anything we can to help you.” Chrysalis said giving Sunset a toothy smile showing off her fangs. Sunset knew she was fighting the urge to hug Sunset again, but was trying to avoid upsetting Sunset knowing how stressful that kind of attention really gets this time of year. “Thanks, I actually do see you as the aunt I never had.” Sunset smiled, leaving off that she probably does have across the portal though she wasn’t too sure just what happened to her despite knowing some about changelings. The rest of the afternoon was thankfully quiet since Moonie was playing with her friends and watching movies under Granny Peach’s loving care while Sunset was doing some paperwork Sharp had sent her though now Fluttershy’s mother was demanding to meet with her secret benefactor being fearful that everything wasn’t on the up and up. Something she wasn’t looking forward to, but was setup for Saturday which worried Sunset. Still, if she was lucky the woman wouldn’t come into the office. “Hey Sunset.” Twilight asked, holding something behind her back as she was dressed in her new pajamas Granny Peach had bought for her that morning while Sunset was out. “Yeah Sparky, what’s up?” Sunset asked, thankful from a break from the headache that was trying to form from the aggravation and stress paperwork caused her usually. “Well, I wanted to show you this.” Twilight sighed, rolling her eyes at the nickname but by now realizing Sunset wasn’t going to change it. She hesitantly showed off the pad of paper she was holding and Sunset had to give a proud smile seeing the chicken scratch level of writing evolve into readable writing that was Twilight’s name. “You are doing great Sparky, much faster than me when I first started.” Sunset beamed with pride at the girl. “I know you said you wanted to wait until everyone was in bed, but I was hoping that maybe you could tell me what you found out today.” Twilight whispered making Sunset sigh, thankful the girl was able to hold it in for this long at least. “I’m sorry Sparky, but I didn’t learn anything helpful today but I still have sources I can check. And besides, just look at it this way, you get a nice vacation here with me until we figure this out.” Sunset said with a half smile trying to cheer the girl up. “It’s okay, I sort of expected something like that. This world doesn’t have a lot of magic really, does it?” Twilight asked. “More than you know, Sparky, it just isn’t at our fingertips like the magic in Equestria was at our horn tips. Just give it time for now, everything will be okay. I’ll do everything in my power to help you.” Sunset said hugging the girl who quickly hugged back. “I know you will, thank you Sunset.” Twilight sniffled. Cadence watched out the tower window to the ponies below hanging out in the gardens. It was hard to believe that yesterday she was ready to tear them apart but after a night of Luna invading her dream to inspect what happened with the Changelings turning into an impromptu trip visiting each of those mares dreams, though the mares knew nothing about it, Cadence couldn’t deny that they did care for Twilight greatly. It still wasn’t enough to get them off the hook with her, family and friends were the two most important things to Cadence and seeing how much those mares had hurt their close friend, Cadence’s little sister in all but blood, had the alicorn seeing red. She would give them a chance to redeem themselves, but would leave the final decision up to Twilight when found. Still, they managed to show Twilight that there was more to books and Spike, so for that they did deserve some praise. Those ponies weren’t the only thing on her mind though. There was something else bothering her greatly, the same thing bothering Luna. Except for the little stunt pitting Twilight and Cadence against each other momentarily, the changelings never harmed anyone beyond drugging or knocking them out. Even while held prisoner by them they treated Cadence with the upmost amount of respect and care. Always referring to her as Princess in a loving way while when referring to Luna or Celestia it was always mocking. And they really tried to feed her, though she was the one who refused to eat which was what made her weaker and weaker making it her fault for that. The only question though was why?