Rarity jogged through the halls and looked out for Sunset. She checked the bathrooms first, then the library before she remembered the one place in the entire school, she knew Sunset knew she could be alone: the roof.
Rarity headed up the stairs and saw the door propped open, so, she slowly opened the door and stepped on to the roof. It didn’t take long to spot Sunset curled up in front of the dome.
“Sunset?” Rarity said softly, but she received no response.
As she got closer, she realized that Sunset was gasping for breath as her eyes filled with Tears.
Rarity quickly made her way over and grabbed Sunset’s shoulders, “Sunset, you need to breath, darling.” Rarity tried to keep an even tone.
“T-trying.” Sunset gasped out.
“Rarity.” A voice from the door said.
She looked over and saw Principal Celestia and Vice Principal Luna standing on the roof by the door.
Rarity moved aside as Celestia slowly knelt down next to Sunset and place a hand on her back, “Ok, Sunset, you need to take deep breaths. Focus on me.”
Celestia exaggerated her breathing to get Sunset to focus and mimic her. It didn’t take long for Sunset to return to regular breathing.
“I really screwed up.” She choked, rubbing her eyes, “Twilight probably hates me. I wasn’t trying to avoid her but every time I see her…” She let out a sob, “Every time I see her I remember how angry I was in the field and how she just ran off. It’s my fault this happened to begin with.”
“Sunset, Twilight doesn’t blame you.” Rarity said, “She’s just confused.”
Sunset took a deep breath. “I know and I know telling her why will make me feel better about this but I don’t want to do that to her. I don’t know if she’ll start blaming herself for my feelings and I don’t know what’s going on in her head about it. It took me months to be OK with myself after the formal but a small part of me still hangs on to that guilt.”
“Then you should tell her that.” Luna said, “Exactly what you said.”
“Sunset, this wasn’t your fault.” Celestia said, “I know you know that but you have a big heart and tend to put all the blame on yourself. That’s not fair to you or the people who care about you.”
Sunset nodded, “Yeah, I know. It’s hard to help though, you know? Magic wouldn’t even be here if it wasn’t for me. Not to this level anyway.”
“Oh trust me Sunset.” Luna said, “My sister has a few people she would like to blame for magic here and you don’t even make it on the top five.”
Sunset snorted, “I don’t think I want to know.”
Celestia smiled gave her a quick hug before getting to her feet, followed by Sunset. Rarity walked over and the two teenagers hugged.
“Thanks for coming after me.” Sunset said.
“My pleasure.” Rarity said, “I think you should tell Twilight about everything though. She is going through something similar to what happened to you. Maybe sharing it with her will help both of you.”
Sunset nodded, “Thanks.”
They all went inside the school and Rarity waved goodbye to them.
“I’ll see you at home.” Sunset said.
“Uh, no.” Celestia said, “I walked on to the roof to you having a panic attack not five minutes ago, you are not driving home.”
“I’m fine, really.” Sunset said.
“No.” Celestia said, “You can get your bike tomorrow.”
“But-”
“Don’t go there, you will not win.” Luna warned.
Sunset huffed, but reluctantly agreed.
“Now let’s go home.” Celestia said, leading the way to the staff parking lot.
***
The dream started out normally, her and the girls were in the cafeteria, talking. Even Sunset but suddenly, a girl came in screaming. Light blue, shimmering smoke filled the cafeteria, spilling out from the door that the girl came in from. She felt raw fear fill her gut as, Slowly, Midnight Sparkle enters the room. Immediately, her eyes land on Twilight and her friends who stand, looking as if ready for a brawl.
“No!” Twilight called to deaf ears, “We need to run!”
“You know you can’t run from me Twilight.” Midnight Sparkle said, “You created me.”
Midnight blasted a hole in the floor and all of her friends fell through.
“No! You’re not real!” Twilight cried.
“Oh but I am.” She said in a smooth voice, “Everyone saw.”
“Stop!” Twilight called, “Just go away.”
Midnight Sparkle laughed loudly, “It’s not that easy! I am every genuine lust for power you have ever had. Like you, I will do anything to learn what I can about this glorious magic!”
“Stop” Twilight said, covering her ears.
“You can feel it though, can’t you?” She said, “That little bit of magic that now runs through your veins. You feel that lust for more don’t you?”
“I don’t want it!”
Just then, Midnight Sparkle laughed and flew horn first right into Twilight.
She screamed before sitting up straight in her bed. Another nightmare. This had been going on since the incident. Every night, Midnight sparkle came into her dreams and somehow got rid of her friends and every night Twilight was terrified she would break loose. She could NOT let that happen.
She looked at the clock and saw that it was still pretty early but not early enough to require her to go back to sleep. Not that she really wanted to anyway. So, she got dressed and headed down stairs where her father, Night Light, was drinking coffee, staring out the kitchen window.
When twilight walked over to the fridge, Night Light glanced over to her and smiled, “Good morning.” He said with a hint of a question.
“Good morning dad.” Twilight said, ignoring the implied question, “Is Mom still asleep.”
He chuckled, “Of course. She’s not much of a morning person.”
Twilight laughed before sitting down at the table with an orange.
“So, since you’re already awake, would you like me to drive you today?” He offered.
“Please!” Twilight said in relief, “I hate the bus.”
“That wouldn’t be an issue if you got your license.”
“Dad.” Twilight whined, “You know I’m not comfortable behind the wheel yet.”
He chuckled, “I know. Your brother has told you too many stories.”
Twilight sighed, “Maybe.”
“It’s OK, Honey. You can learn to drive when you’re ready.” He said and glanced at the clock. “Alright, hurry up and go brush your teeth. We have to leave soon.”
Twilight shoved the last of her orange slices in her mouth and went to do as she was told.
She thought about Midnight Sparkle but her mind also wandered to the events of the day before and the guilt that seemed to weigh on her conscience. Rarity had later come to Sugar Cube Corner to tell everyone Sunset was fine.
Twilight understood a lot of things but Sunset was not one of them. She knew there was this huge, piece of the puzzle that she couldn’t pinpoint. The only real clue she had was that people kept saying that Sunset was a lot like her in some ways, that she understands. Despite the red head’s actions, her friends tell her that Sunset actually enjoys her company.
She needed answers.
***
Sunset rode with Celestia to school. The teen was quiet since they got home the night before which worried Celestia. Her daughter seemed distracted and deep in her own head. She barely put down her sketchbook all night but wouldn’t let Celestia see what she was drawing. Sunset went through page after page, and different emotions playing in her eyes with each one.
“Sunset, please talk to me.” Celestia pleaded.
Sunset gave her an odd look, it was clear she hadn’t noticed she hadn’t been.
“You haven’t said a word since we got home yesterday.” Celestia said, “Do you want to talk about it?”
Sunset shrugged, “I don’t know. I feel really bad for what happened with Twilight yesterday. She was confused and just wanted to know why I’ve been acting so weird. I should have told her but instead I just walled myself off and ran. She thinks I’m ashamed of her!”
Celestia felt a pang in her chest at that, she herself knew Sunset was happy to have someone her own age who probably understood her better than most. Though, she also knew that Sunset wished no one would.
“I know my friends won’t tell her anything until I do.” Sunset said, “I’m scared of what she will think of me when she knows what happened. It wasn’t like what happened at the games, I did that to myself on purpose she…she didn’t know what was going on.”
Celestia thought for a moment before speaking, “I believe Twilight deserves to know the truth but I know that the crowd yesterday preyed on your nerves.”
“Then what should I do?” Sunset asked.
“Why don’t you find a place that you can talk just her and you?” Celestia suggested, “The library, an empty classroom at lunch or, you can invite her over.”
Sunset nodded, then cracked a small smile, “It still feels kind of weird.” She admitted, “Being adopted by your principal isn’t really something that happens.”
Celestia laughed, “Neither is a principal adopting a teenager from an alternate universe.”
Sunset laughed as they pulled into the almost barren parking lot.
“See you after school.” Sunset.
“Love you! Have fun!” Celestia called as Sunset disappeared into the school.