//------------------------------// // Ten: Glass // Story: Her Broken Childhood // by girasol //------------------------------// Rarity was in the kitchen along with her four other friends, waiting for Twilight to come down with Sunset to eat breakfast. The group was silent the entire time, all thinking about the scene that had played out in the bathroom. Rarity sighed. She had overheard a bit of Sunset’s conversation with Twilight, and it made her uneasy. It was strange for her to know that the Sunset Shimmer she has known is the same one she sees now. But, she also wasn’t. That child grew up to be Sunset Shimmer, the biggest bully in all of CHS. Knowing about her past, she felt sympathetic towards the girl. All of that pain and suffering through out her childhood must have been suppressed, making her turn into the angry teenager that ruled the school. “Rarity?” Fluttershy called, “Do you think she’s okay? I know we all heard a bit of their conversation,” Fluttershy lowered her head a little, ashamed to admit that she was also eavesdropping. Rarity turned to face her friend, “I’m sure she’s alright now darling.” The group was silent once more. Then they heard a loud noise coming from where Rainbow was sitting on the counter. Rainbow growled as she put her hands to her face, “That witch! How can someone so evil be allowed to have a kid? Did you catch what she said?” Her friends nodded. Applejack shook her head, “That woman—uh pony— is pure evil. She don’ deserve ta be called mother.” Rainbow sighed in defeat, “Ya know, I was thinking, it’s no wonder she turned out the way she did.” “Rainbow!” Rarity rebuked, crossing her arms over her chest. Rainbow shook her head, “Yeah I know, but it’s the truth! She behaved the only way she knew how. She wasn’t physical but I mean she must’ve know her manipulative tactics from somewhere!” Fluttershy lowered her head, “Sometimes it did sound like she was coming from experience. Like she’s heard all those things she used to say to me before. She was good at hiding it, but sometimes I could see it in her eyes. I should have tried to actually talk to her... I could see now how lonely she was.” Pinkie Pie lifted her head from the countertop, her flat hair falling over her face, “Sometimes I could tell that she was covering something up with makeup, I just thought it was something else. I also should’ve said something.” Applejack nodded, “She did hide ‘erself well. But it ain’t our fault! Her past is no excuse for ‘er behavior.” Rarity was about to continue the conversation when she spotted Twilight and Sunset coming into the kitchen. “Oh! Hello darlings. Is everything alright?” Twilight nodded, “Yeah I think we’re okay now, right Sunset?” Sunset nodded as she nervously played with a strand of her wet hair. Pinkie Pie’s hair re-inflated, “Time for breakfast!” Pinkie zipped to a cabinet and grabbed ingredients for the pancakes. Sooner than anyone was expecting, she went on over to the stove where she started flipping the pancakes. “Okay! Breakfast is served!” The cotton candy girl placed seven plates of pancakes onto the dining table. “Aw yeah!” Rainbow dashed on over to the dining table, already beginning to pour maple syrup on her pancakes. The rest of the group soon followed along, all putting their desired toppings on their pancakes. Rarity watched as Sunset climbed into the chair next to Twilight. Though the girl was a little less nervous around them, she still seemed not to trust them at all. Sunset was about to grab the syrup in front of her when she felt Rarity’s stare. She blinked a couple of times and retracted her hands under the table. Rarity quickly turned her eyes away from the small girl. Why must I always have to pry in other’s business? Urgh. She been here all of ten minutes and I’m already making her uncomfortable. Rarity went back to eating her pancakes, not wanting to look up at the girl in front of her. Sunset recovered quickly, reaching out to grab the syrup. She gasped as the syrup tumbled over her pancakes and the table, “I’m sorry.” Twilight turned her head towards the girl quickly picking up the syrup bottle, “It’s fine Sunset,” Twilight grabbed some napkins and cleaned up the sticky mess, “See? Everything’s fine now.” Sunset sniffled but nodded. She quickly took a bite of her pancakes, which were now soaked in maple syrup. Pinkie Pie handed her another plate of pancakes, “You don’t have to eat those. Have these fresh ones that aren’t soaked with syrup!” Sunset watched as the pink girl took her old plate of pancakes away. She really didn’t mind eating those pancakes. She’s eaten worse things than that before. She turned back to look at the new plate of pancakes, feeling guilty about the older ones being wasted. Twilight put a hand on Sunset’s shoulder. Sunset turned her head to meet Twilight’s gaze. The purple teen smiled at the girl and put a strand of hair behind her ear. The small gesture made the girl feel a little better, and she went back to eating the pancakes. Rarity took a napkin and dabbed it around her mouth, “So Twilight darling,” she cleared her throat, “What time is your meeting with Principal Celestia?” Twilight opened her bag to check her calendar, “Ten.” “Oh Twilight,” Fluttershy began, “I know we said that we would all you accompany, but a certain situation came up at the shelter.” Pinkie cringed, “Aw and the Cakes gave me an extra shift today at the cafe” “An’ I needa fix up the farm if we’re gonna make it to the Fall Harvest Feast on time. Sorry Twi.” Twilight smiled in understanding, “That’s alright, I understand.” Rarity glanced the clock that was on the left wall. “Well then,” she dabbed her napkin to her lips and stood up from her seat, “We best get going if we’re going to make it on time.” The rest of the group stood up as well and placed their dish in the sink. Sunset, wanting to follow along, quickly grabbed her plate. Unfortunately, she snatched it from the table too quickly that she accidentally knocked down her glass of juice, which landed on the floor with a shattering crack. Everyone turned their heads in Sunset’s direction when they heard the sound of glass shattering on the floor. Twilight, who was worried Sunset had accidentally cut herself with the broken glass, ran on over to the girl, “Sunset! Are you okay? Are you hurt?... Sunset?” Twilight stopped her blabbering worry when she noticed Sunset trembling. Twilight immediately recognized the now familiar fear in her cyan eyes. Oh no... please not another panic attack... not another one... she’s suffered too much already with the bathtub incident this morning. “Sunset. Can you hear me? Honey, breathe Sunset... take deep breaths for me.” Sunset bagan to hyperventilate. Her were eyes locked to the shattered glass on the floor. CRACK ”Stupid child! Look at what you did! You are going to pay for this!” ”No m-mother no! I’m sorry! I d-didn’t mean to!...” The memory of her pain filled scream filled the girl’s mind, reminding her of what happened after, and how much she screamed after what her mother did. Sunset screamed, collapsing to the ground. Twilight caught her, trying her best to reassure her everything’s alright, “It’s okay, everything’s okay. You’re okay. You’re safe.” Sunset screamed louder this time, sweat beginning to form on her forehead. She gripped on to Twilight’s hand as she tried to form her mouth in what she was trying to tell the purple teen. Twilight’s eyes widened in worry, fearing the worst, “Sunset? What’s wrong? Is it your back? Does it hurt again?” When Sunset did not answer her, Twilight gripped onto her amber hands tighter, “Sunset, breathe. You’re safe. You’re here with me. You’re safe. It’s Twilight, remember me? Sunset...” Sunset gave a shuttering cry as she cupped her left eye with her hand. She tucked inwards and began to tremble. Twilight started at Sunset, trying to figure out what startled the girl. She freaked out with the glass... she broke the glass... she’s hiding her left eye— there’s a scar on her left eye. One of her “parents” must’ve... “Oh Sunset... shhh everything’s okay. You’re safe... shhh...” Twilight stroked her hand through Sunset’s hair, bringing her closer to where she was. “She hurt me... with the glass. She said it was my fault... it’s my f-fault,” Sunset whimpered out. Twilight took a deep breath, “Sunset, how could it be your fault? It—“ Sunset shakily took a breath, “I broke h-her glass c-ups. I didn’t mean to! But she said I did it on purpose and-and she punished me for it. It’s my-it’s my f-fault...” “No,” Twilight shook her head, cupping the girl’s tear streaked face in her hands, “What she did was wrong. No matter what you did, she’s the one who did wrong, not you. Don’t blame yourself for things that pony did.” Rarity watched the two Equestrians on the floor, wondering how could such a cruel woman—er pony—break such a sweet child. Rarity took a deep breath before stepping closer to the embraced pair on the ground. “Sunset darling,” Rarity knelt in front of the girl as Sunset turned to look up at her, “Why don’t we let them clean up the kitchen while I fix your hair? Is that alright dear?” Sunset buried herself deeper in Twilight’s embrace, hesitant to answer the pale girl. “I think that’s a good idea Rarity. Sunset, would you like to go with Rarity?” Twilight asked the girl, hoping she’s willing to. Sunset stared at the floor, her eyes downcast as she bit her lip. The girl took a deep breath before nodding up at Twilight. Rarity smiled, “Wonderful! Come on darling,” the fashionista stood up from the ground and extended her pale hand towards the fiery haired girl, “Why don’t we go into the living room so you can tell me what hairstyle you’d like, hmm?” Sunset turned her head towards Twilight, who gave her an encouraging nod. Taking a deep breath, Sunset accepted Rarity’s hand. Rarity smiled again, “Alright then, here we go.” Rarity sat on the couch and patted the seat next to her, indicating for Sunset to sit on that spot of the couch. Sunset hesitantly walked towards the couch and sat on the indicated spot. Rarity turned her body to the left so that she can face the girl, “Alright darling, do you mind facing that way so I can see your hair?” Sunset did as she was told, now sitting cross legged on the couch. “Do you have ideas on what you might like?” Rarity asked her. After Sunset shook her head no, Rarity pulled out her phone, “Here, I have some pictures of hairstyles that I think would compliment that beautiful red hair of yours.” Sunset turned her head back and gave Rarity a small smile. She then looked down at the pale girl’s hands where the weird device she called a phone was. “I can do French braids, Dutch braids, or simple ponytails...” Rarity shut her mouth at the last one, wondering if that was any offense to her. Blinking and shaking her head a couple of times, Rarity continued, “Really anything that you can think of,” Rarity watched the girl in front of her. Sunset’s brows were furrowed and she had her head tilted to one side, “Here, you can hold the phone.” Sunset simply stared at the phone, not knowing how to work the strange device. She tilted her head up at Rarity, who scrolled through the photos. “You just scroll through the photos then you tap the image you want darling. Like this,” Rarity tapped on a photo, “Which picture catches your eye?” Sunset looked up at Rarity and back down at the phone. She “scrolled”, as Rarity called it, through the photos before stopping when one caught her eye. Sunset tapped on the image and handed the phone back to Rarity. “Wonderful daring,” Rarity said smiling, gathering a hair brush, spray, and comb closer to her, “Alright, I do apologize if I pull your hair, I haven’t done hair on a younger child since Sweetie Belle was your age.” Rarity began by spraying Sunset’s red hair with the water and gently brushed it out to work out all the tangles. She then took a strand of hair on the left corner of the girl’s head and began to braid until she reached the right side of Sunset’s head. Rarity finally finished off by pulling out a white ribbon from her bag to tie the braid together. “Done!” Rarity pulled out a small hand mirror and showed it to Sunset. I was correct, a waterfall braid really does flatter her red hair. “What do you think darling, do you like it?” Sunset blinked at her reflection in awe. She’s never had her hair done before, and she was absolutely satisfied with what Rarity has done to her hair. Sunset smiled at Rarity, “Thank you.” Rarity smiled, “You’re very welcome my dear,” Rarity’s smile turned into a frown as she noticed Sunset’s downcast expression, “Darling are you alright?” Sunset said nothing as she closed the mirror and handed it back to Rarity. Rarity took the mirror back as she contemplated what might have upset the girl. Rarity analyzed how the girl gingerly touched the scars on her face and tucked inwards. When the girl sniffled, trying to hold back her tears, Rarity knelt down in front of her, “Darling, what’s the matter?” Sunset slowly lifted her head to meet Rarity’s blue eyes, “I don’t deserve this. It’s too pretty to match me.” Rarity blinked at the young girl’s response, worried about what Sunset was about to say, “Darling what ever do you mean?” Sunset sniffled, wiping her tears away with her hand, “I have scars on my face. I-I—“ Sunset was cut off when Rarity embraced her, taking her by surprise. Rarity let go of the embrace to look at Sunset right in the eye, “Don’t you dare finish that sentence Sunset Shimmer. You are beautiful. You a such a strong, intelligent, and beautiful girl, don’t ever let anyone tell you otherwise. Alright?” Sunset’s eyes widened, seeming to not believe what she had just heard, “You... you think I’m beautiful?” Rarity gave Sunset a determined nod, “Yes Sunset, I think you’re beautiful, inside and out.” The small girl before her gave Rarity the biggest smile she’s ever seen before wrapping her arms around the pale girl. Rarity returned the embrace, but she did not wear a smile on her face. It seems as though Sunset had never been called beautiful or even pretty before. Rarity’s heart shattered a little, remembering the girl’s reaction when she caught sight of the scars on her face. In retrospect, the Sunset Shimmer that once ruled the school made sense. Her behavior and belittling others was a part of the first couple years of her life. All of that fear, and loneliness must have turned into anger, causing others to have a little taste of what she endured as a child. Right then and there, Rarity was determined to help Sunset see the beauty that she is. She was determined to help erase all of that emotional abuse Sunset had so obviously endured.