//------------------------------//
// Stand 
// Story: The Forsaken 
// by AmberSun 
//------------------------------//

When Sunset emerged into the hallway, to her relief it was still empty. By her count, she had about another fifteen minutes until homeroom was released. Plenty of time, she thought. So she began an almost leisurely walk to the front doors. That talk with Celestia had helped her mood a bit.

She had known for the longest about the older woman’s interest in her adoption, but decided to let her come on her own rather than confront her about it.  Besides, there were and still are a lot of things going on right now. Still, Sunset had meant it when telling Celestia that her response would have been yes. It  could have been left over partial idolization and want for a family that began with Princess Celestia. But a larger part was because of how she had always been there for Sunset before, and even after the Formal when she had been deemed a lost cause by many. Sure, Sunset had been difficult. She had been angry at her situation. At herself. And there was fear of uncertainty that she would need to essentially trust others with her process to change to become a better person. But when the whispers got to be too much, when Sunset felt that even her assigned friends couldn’t help her, Celestia had been there. As a counselor, and as someone that Sunset soul still after all this consider a friend. She wouldn’t have minded if a mom was added to that list….

Sunset shook her head and sighed. It was a little too late for that now and she needed to focus on other things.... Like the hard surface she just smashed into. Sunset groaned and held her head, it having taken a large brunt of the impact. Whatever it was made a thump as it hit the ground, followed by a startled ‘eep’ like sound. She opened her eyes and froze when she noticed the long pink hair and light yellow skin. Of everyone, why did it have to be her?!

Fluttershy remained on the ground with her eyes closed and trembling. “Oh I’m so very sorry. I wasn’t looking where I… was….going.” She trailed off when she finally noticed the figure before her. Her eyes grew wide. “Sunset…”

The amber skinned girl didn’t respond. Didn’t move. Her gaze simply remained on Fluttershy. She noticed the red head’s expression shift from confusion, to realisation, to fear, and something else before finally hardening. Her teal eyes seemed to shine like ice.The yellow girl let out another startled ‘eep’ when Sunset suddenly moved to tower over her. Up close, Fluttershy noticed several things. Her normally luscious hair was flat but still had flyaways. Makeup was also applied, but seemed rushed and couldn’t hide the signs of exhaustion that were still prominently displayed under Sunset’s eyes. And most obviously, her clothes were rumpled as if slept in. Fluttershy attempted to speak and question the other girl, but Sunset beat her to it. She leaned her face in even closer to Fluthershay’s and she flinched away.

“Dont. Tell anyone you saw me. Understand?” she hissed.

“Y-Yes.” Fluttershy stammered.

Sunset made a small ‘hmm’ of acknowledgment, piercing eyes still  glaring down into Fluttershy’s before walking around her and continuing on. The pinkette watched as Sunset stomped through the hallway until she exited the school’s main doors with a resounding click. The yellow girl was stuck. If possible, Sunset seemed even more hostile than in the years before the Fall Formal. Tears began to gather in the corner of her eyes before she looked down in remorse.

Sunset….I’m so sorry.




Sunset rushed from the front doors of the school in a near panic. She knew that in between classes she would have run in to another student. It was inevitable. But seeing Fluttershy was a possibility that she hadn’t considered. Seeing her was like another kick to the chest. When Sunset had been beaten at the Fall Formal and was subsequently given another chance, besides Principal Celestia, Fluttershy was one of the only other people who was willing to help her change. It was crazy; the girl that Sunset had tormented for years and made a verbal punching bag was the first in Princess Twilight’s human friend group to help her. Everyone else was still wary - and they had every right to be - but Fluttershy went the extra mile to include Sunset in their group activities, sit with her at lunch for the time before she really hung out with the others, and was generally someone that Sunset had considered to be closer than the others. Maybe too close.

And that’s why it hurts so much.

As The red head continued her brisk walk back to her apartment, that ache in her chest barely faded. If anything, it increased at the thought of what had been. Having to be aggressive with the other girl like when she used to be a bully was a painful thing to do, but necessary. It had come back so naturally to be that person she used to, but it was the only way she could ensure that the other girl wouldn’t go blabbing to the rest about Sunset’s whereabouts. Even reformed, Sunset’s anger was legendary and her control on it recently had been slipping with all of this cyber bullying drama. Sadness was a big piece too, but now was slowly giving way.

Sunset shook her head clear. That was the past. Nothing anyone could do about it now, and honestly, she didn’t want to. She was moving forward and if others at CHS wouldn’t let her then she would find another place to do so.

My past is not today.