Sunset Shimmer waved goodbye at the retreating backs, before turning to close her locker. As her hand landed on the cool metal door, an image flashing through her mind. An image of her wearing a simple blue top, a pair of fiery wings and a matching tail spreading out from her as she floated up into the clear late afternoon sky...the school's roof inches below her. Gasping, she curled her fingers into a tight fist, struggling to settle her breathing. She closed her eyes, trying to calm herself down from the bewilderment that flooded her. She was an unicorn for crying out loud! She shouldn't have turned into a humanized phoenix of all things that day. Rubbing her forehead as she felt yet another headache coming on from thinking about all of this, she closed the cold metal door, her mind numb as she locked it.
Principal Celestia walked over to her just then, concern dancing in her eyes. "Sunset? Are you alright?"
"Oh...me?" Sunset glanced around as if to look for someone else named Sunset, though she knew she was the only one at this school. "I'm fine Principal Celestia." Sunset tucked a loose strand of her red hair behind her ear, forcing a smile on her already strained face.
"Perhaps I should call Cakes..." Celestia referred to the kind couple that Sunset was living with at the moment.
Sunset shook her head quickly, already moving to leave the building. "Have a great weekend! I've got to go... and really, contacting the Cakes will not be necessary." Sunset ran out of the building, her heart pounding loudly as if to protest her rather hurried escape from her principal.
Shoving her way outside to the brisk autumn afternoon. Pulling her red and yellow scarf closer to her face, she ducked her head down as she hurried down the steps...nearly running right past the statue of the Canterlot High Mascot, the Wondercolt. Slowing her steps down, she stared at the statue, the statue that was a portal back to her home realm. Shaking her head, she turned away from it, muttering to herself as she did so. "Come on Sunset... no point in going back there. I'll just write to Princess Twilight if I really want to know." Doubt nagged at her, reminding her that it's been months and she still hasn't figured out what exactly happened that one time.
Sunset blew a loose strand of hair away from her face, even as she pulled out her phone, already pulling up a group chat. Hi guys! What's the plan for this weekend?
Oh! Didn't I tell you? Shining Armor and Cadance just had a baby! I'm going to the baby shower this weekend, down in the city and I'm spending the entire weekend with them. A text popped up almost immediately, the name Twilight Sparkle next to it.
Sunset frowned, she knew about the new baby, but she didn't realize that Twilight was going to be gone the entire weekend because of her! Okay...have fun! What about the rest of you?
Sorry sugar cube. My cousin needs help bringing the harvest in this year around. Maybe you can help? Apple Jack texted her back, already making it very clear that she was a bit busy this time around.
Before Sunset could text back, another one popped up. Oh dear, I am afraid darling that my dear parents have bought tickets to a fashion show in the city and it's a three day event. I'm already on the road to go there.
Sunset sighed, before sending out a inquisitive text. Rainbow?
Can't. Been grounded for eternity. I need to get my grades back up... or else my folks are gonna pull me from the teams.
Sunset nibbled the bottom of her lip for a few seconds, before sending a nervous text out. What about you Fluttershy? Are you too busy to hang out with me this weekend?
I am so so so sorry, Sunset! But I just got an internship at the Zoo and I start tomorrow. I am really sorry!
Sunset frowned, suddenly suspicious that her friends were purposefully avoiding her. Did they somehow found out about the time that she didn't turn into a humanized pony? Of course not silly! Now that we're seniors, we need to get ready for college! Which means working on filling out those applications! Maude's finally graduating from college so I will be gone this weekend too. Don't worry! We're not abandoning you!
Okay... I'll just find something to keep me occupied while you're all gone. Sunset punched send, before pocketing her cell phone. "Great... how am I supposed to not think about it now?" Maybe her determination to her use her friends to keep her mind off of it was a bad idea....
"Hey Sunset! Want to hear our new song?" Apple Bloom, Apple Jack's little sister appeared seemingly out of nowhere, waving energetically at her.
Sunset hesitated, nibbling her bottom lip as she looked over at the three younger girls. "I guess so..." Maybe the CMC could help her keep her mind away from it.
Sunset dropped her bag on the floor in her bedroom, a groan escaping her as she flopped onto her desk chair. While Sweetie Bell was an amazing singer, and she did wonderful, Scootaloo and Apple Bloom had no music talent. Yet. Maybe instruments instead of singing..?
"Sunset?! That you!? How was your day at school?!" Mrs. Cake called out suddenly, reminding the young unicorn turned human that she wasn't alone.
"It was great Mrs. Cake! Thanks for asking!" Sunset hollered back, before pushing herself off of the chair. She was most likely needed to set the table for dinner.
As she moved away from the desk in her room, she glimpsed a closed envelope sitting on the edge of her desk. Confused, she picked up the envelope and headed to the kitchen. As she walked into the warm, brightly lit kitchen, she held the envelope up for her guardian to see. "Hey, Mrs. Cake do you know anything about an envelope that was sitting on my desk?"
Mrs. Cake looked up from where she was stirring a pot of stew, blinking sweat out of her eyes. "No... maybe Mr. Cake put it there."
"Is he home right now?" Sunset pulled a chair out, sitting down next to the double high chair that the Cakes' twins were sitting in.
Mrs. Cake shook her head, turning back to what she was during. "He's working in the bakery right now. He'll be back in a few hours."
Sunset frowned, staring at the innocent slip of paper. Where did it come from...?