She remembered the negativity that filled her thoughts as soon as the crown touched her as if it was reminding her of all the mistakes that she had made in her life. The memories replayed in her mind like a movie she couldn't turn off as an icy hot feeling engulfed her whole body.
She wished it was just a dream, but it wasn't and she had to live with the outcome, especially the biting pain she felt in her back and the dull ache in every muscle in her body. Not to mention facing the school itself but that could wait until Monday. At least, where the rest of the student body was concerned.
Right now she had a wall to at least help repair, which was what she had been doing just minutes prior but the pain in her back had become too much. She just hoped her break didn't tick off someone, Luna in particular.
"You know you wouldn't sweat so much if you took off your jacket."
Sunset nearly fell off the stack of bricks she was sitting on, although to her surprise the tall, dark-skinned woman handed her a bag from a local deli.
"I was wondering when you'd take a break. You have been working since nine o'clock this morning. You can afford to take a break, the construction crew will do the majority of the work on Monday." the woman stated, not giving the girl time to respond before she walked back toward the school and leaving Sunset sitting there with her thoughts.
She knew this was being written off as something completely normal like a gas line explosion but she also knew that most if not all of the students of Canterlot High knew the truth, knew about the raging demon that had threatened to not only use them as her personal army but nearly killed six others.
The thought alone made her stomach churn and she was glad that the outcome had left physical reminders behind because she deserved it. She deserved the sleepless nights, that if the previous night had indicated would be a common thing and she deserved the hatred and pain she felt as she stood alone, her once self-proclaimed friends glaring over at her with disgust written on their faces.
"What do you plan to do about the little brat?"
Luna asked, leaning against the wall inside her sister's office as she tried to get the image of the girl out of her mind's eye. She didn't want to forgive the girl, not after what had happened over the course of three years but seeing anyone look so lost tugged at her heart a little.
"What do you suggest? We can't possibly get the authorities involved." Celestia responded, arching a brow as she looked up from her computer. Luna glared back before letting out a breath and moved to the window, looking out to only see the girl in question still seated, face buried in her hands.
"Since we can't possibly explain how one kid caused that much damage and no one would believe the truth, I suggest we make her work off the expense the school board is going to be out of repairing that field and wall. Besides, I think we need to figure out the full story. Don't even pretend you didn't notice a girl walking through a statue last night."
Celestia sighed and nodded, pinching the bridge of her nose before speaking "I took a look at her paperwork. Her home address is in those rundown apartments owned by Filthy Rich so I decided to make a few phone calls and everyone says they never see anyone other than Sunset coming or going from her place."
Luna turned her attention back toward her sister then, eyes narrowing.
"So the contact information she put on her enrollment forms was fake?" she asked, earning a negative shake of the head in response.
"Not exactly. Take a look at this." Celestia responded, motioning to the laptop in front of her and moving to the side so Luna could see the screen easily.
"Sunspot and Solar Wind...as well as their daughter...was killed in a car crash five years ago." she pointed out, causing Luna's eyes to widen as she read the article.
"Okay, that is just creepy." the younger woman commented, earning a sigh from Celestia who clicked on another tab, pulling up a post on Crystal Prep's school website, one that showed a photo of a girl who looked almost exactly like the girl they had watched pull Sunset out of the crater the previous night.
"What the hell is going on?"
Luna felt as if she was going crazy, or seeing double. Both the girl who had vanished through the statue and Sunset Shimmer looked nearly identical to the girls in the pictures on the screen. One being supposedly deceased.
"You need to ask Sunset that. She barely can manage to meet my gaze it seems and you can forget about holding a conversation."
Celestia answered with a sigh, only to feel her sister's hand squeeze her shoulder gently.
"Celestia you focus on trying to figure out what we're going to do about this mess. I'll try to get Sunset to talk."
"You have to eat. No one wants you to pass out while working." Luna's voice said from right beside of her, causing the sixteen-year-old to nearly jump out of her skin.
How can someone move that quietly? She's like a freaking cat! Sunset thought as she saw the rather amused look on Luna's face at that reaction
"Sorry, I guess I'm just not very hungry." Sunset responded earning a light glare in response.
"Sunset Shimmer, no matter how badly you are feeling or how bad things seem you shouldn't just starve yourself." Luna stated, causing Sunset to flinch as if she had been struck.
"Yes, Ma'am."
Luna sighed, placing a hand on the girl's shoulder. She knew that most students feared her to some extent but seeing Sunset's reaction bothered her for some reason. She didn't know why she felt compelled to try to comfort the former troublemaker but seeing her like this almost made her want to give the girl a chance–almost.
"Miss. Shimmer, Things may seem horrible currently but things will eventually get better after all nothing lasts forever, not even hard times." she said, noticing how Sunset's expression changed from neutral to sour to broken in a matter of seconds.
"No one is just going to forget what I did! I...was a monster."
Putting her face into her hands again Sunset tried to hold back her tears, only feeling the hand leave her shoulder.
No one will ever forgive me. No one will ever believe I want to change.
Suddenly she felt someone moving her hands away from her face, causing her to look up. Luna, who seemed to always be neutral or even aloof was kneeling down in front of her, her expression stern although her eyes were soft.
"You're right, you did terrible things and people won't forget however forgiveness can be earned, even if people can't forget." the woman responded and Sunset found it impossible to keep her tears at bay then.
"But I almost….I could have killed someone! I never meant to...go that far!"
She sobbed, wrapping her arms around herself as if to keep herself from physically falling apart. Luna sat there numb for a few minutes, unsure of what to do. One part of her wanted to remain formal while the other remembered another person long ago who had felt the same way.
"Sunset Shimmer," she spoke with authority despite the fact that she put her hands on the fiery-haired teen's shoulders "you need to prove you never wanted that. Prove to everyone that you are more than that self-centered brat that ruled the school or the demon that ruined the dance."
Luna knew she was being harsh but she didn't pull any punches, despite how hard the truth was to swallow. She gave Sunset a few minutes to absorb what she had said before she added, her voice softening some
"Celestia and I both believe you have it in you. It won't be easy but you can do it."
Luna didn't expect the teen to suddenly hug her, crying on her shoulder. This probably broke some rule, written or otherwise and it definitely wasn't something Luna used to but she didn't push her away.
If Celestia is right then this girl has probably been alone for years.
She thought as she wrapped an arm around the girls lower back, feeling her stiffen before relaxing once again.
I guess trying things Celestia's way won't hurt anything once in a while.