Sunny Flare found an available window seat, then sat down and hugged herself as she leaned her head on the window. It hadn't even been a week since Rutherford died, but it felt like both yesterday and an eternity since the crash. She had given her all in the Friendship Games and tried to move on, but the wounds both physical and emotional were still fresh.
Truth be told, Sunny didn't know when or even if she could move on. She was no longer suicidal, but just the thought of dating again felt so very wrong. Like she'd be cheating on Rutherford.
Today's events did not help Sunny in the slightest. As if she had enough on her plate already! Now there's magic in the world?! She shook her head slowly, longing for the simpler days when all she had to worry about was whose skin she could get under. And where did that get her? At the receiving end of an unexpected outburst!
How Lemon Zest found out about Rutherford and her miscarriage, Sunny may never know. Did she even want to know at this point? What would that knowledge gain her? What would she do with it?
Sunny shook her head again as a familiar emptiness returned to her. A dull yet vaguely stinging sensation in the pit of her stomach and heart made her long for a hug, or some other sort of physical contact. It didn't have to be romantic. Just some words of reassurance. That everything was going to be okay.
It was at that moment that Sunny had forced herself to swallow her pride and admit that she was lonely. Perhaps when she got back, she'd get to know Sunburst better. She'd find that Flash Sentry online and apologize for her behavior.
"I understand you, Twilight, and I want to show you the most important magic of all... the Magic of Friendship!"
The words that... what was that girl's name? Sunny shrugged. The words that girl had said sounded corny on the surface, but the more Sunny thought about it, the more it started to make sense. The way the Canterlot High students came together had inspired her, Lemon, Sugarcoat, Indigo and Sour to help save them!
Friendship. An alien thought to Sunny, as she had driven all of her old ones away through lashing out at them. She ran a hand through her hair as she made a sputtering noise. Someday she'd have to find and reconnect with them. That is, if they'd let her.
Sunny looked out the window and began to people watch. It was strange, seeing the rest of the world carry on as if nothing remarkable had happened. She wondered what they would think if they knew magic existed. Would they declare that the end was nigh? Would they panic and flee? Or would they start a cult and worship at random? No matter what they'd do, just like her, their outlook on life would most definitely change. More things felt possible. The unlikely seemed likely.
Sunny gasped. What would she tell her parents? The fact that there was a world with fucking sapient horses parallel to their own was nothing short of mindbending, and her parents would think her crazy with grief again. Like she had hallucinated the whole damn thing! But she didn't. Everyone saw it, and she could only imagine what was going through everyone else's head.
Those words that girl spoke before she transformed...
Honesty. Sunny snorted. Lately, she had been anything but honest with her parents. Hiding her bitchiness from them, and lying about stopping.
Kindness. Sunny stifled a laugh. She had barely shown any to anyone but Sunburst just before today, and she knew her pride would make it hard to be kind to Lemon.
Laughter. Laughter. Now that was something Sunny was in sore need of. Everything had been gloom and doom with her lately. She needed something or someone to keep her spirits up often.
Generosity. Sunny looked down into her lap. The only thing she had given people was a hard time. Being a pain in the ass just to make herself feel better.
Loyalty. Sunny's only loyalties had been to herself, her parents, Rutherford, his parents and Dean Cadance. Perhaps someday Sunburst and that Flash person would be added as well. Everyone else she couldn't care less about.
Sunny put her hand to her forehead and sighed. She had a long, long, road ahead of her, and it was filled with uncertainty. If she hadn't been so drained from everything, she might've felt a slight thrill over it. Something new was on the horizon, and perhaps a break from the routine would be beneficial.
"Holy fucking shit!!"
Sunny jumped, then looked up from her seat to see Lemon standing up, then slowly sit back down. She raised an eyebrow, then reminded herself that everyone here was dealing with this madness in their own different way. It wouldn't surprise her if there was another random outburst before they reached Crystal Prep.
Then again, could anything surprise Sunny after today? It was hard to say, that much was certain. At the moment, however, that was the only thing that seemed certain. Everything else went out the window back at Canterlot High.
Crystal Prep Academy could been seen off in the distance, and Sunny took a deep breath and exhaled. Her mind had been running nonstop since the portals appeared in midair, and she just wanted some time alone in her room. In absolute silence. With the blinds closed. Complete darkness would be preferable.
The bus neared Crystal Prep, and Sunny noted that each time she arrived, the school had towered over her. This time, however, it seemed really, really small. Much to her surprise, she had actually been fascinated by this.
The bus stopped, and Sunny Flare allowed herself a slight smile. She may be having a rough time now, but the future and its limitless possibilities had encouraged her to move forward as she exited.