//------------------------------// // S.O.S // Story: Bloody Ether // by Northguard //------------------------------// It's weird how everything can go so wrong, so fast. Just a week ago Sunset had a blast with her friends on a sleepover and now she had been trying to get through the days without being beaten within an inch of her life. There were many questions swirling through her head, but no matter what she did, she couldn't get any answers for any of them, and the cold air and snow didn't help her much either. She walked through a part of the town she hadn't been in before in an attempt to avoid the other CHS students on her way home, even though she could easily get lost there. Her head was pounding with questions, her body was aching because of the cold and her eyes were full of tears. Not of sadness, but by the feeling of betrayal. Not long after the whole Anon-A-Miss thing started and people began resenting Sunset for something she didn't do. Depression wasn't unfamiliar to her, but last time she had her soon-to-be friends there for her. Although, now it was different. Now she didn't have anyone to pull her out of it and she had considered just ending it, but just a few days prior to the present she found the solution. She decided to leave Canterlot high and enroll at Crystal Prep Academy. She had sent an application for enrollment a few days ago and yesterday she received a letter of approval. The only downside was that she had to stay at CHS until the holidays came, although it was kinda also only a minor downside as Christmas break was just a day away. Sunset was suddenly pulled out of her thoughts as she felt herself bump into something and fell onto the cold snow covered ground. When she looked up she saw a girl adjusting her glasses sitting in front of her, obviously the one she bumped into, who was looking at her with an exprecition almost mirroring her own. Sunset's cyan eyes locked with the girl's violet eyes for a brief moment before both of them began to get up on their feet again. "Sorry I didn't watch where I was going." the girl excused as she looked away slightly in shame. "No, it's not your fault. I was too lost in thought to notice you." Sunset replied as she pulled at the sleeve of her jacket to straighten it. The two girls apologized again, said their goodbyes and parted ways without further discussion. 'Why was her face covered in tears like that?' the girl thought as she looked back to see Sunset disappear around a corner. 'Why did she look so familiar?' Sunset thought to herself as she continued on her way down the road. Sunset skipped school the next day by reporting herself ill, while in reality it was just to get away from her tormentors. Looking at herself in the mirror she grabbed a box of depression pills standing on the sink. For a while she just stood there eyeing the box as she thought back, bringing only painful memories. The pain made her feel a deep sorrow and that sorrow soon turned to an intense stress, which in turn eventually erupted into rage. On impulse she threw the depression pills across the room, while she screamed in agony. She ran out of the bathroom and threw herself onto her bed before an ocean of tears ran from her eyes. Minutes passed slowly and Sunset didn't move until her tears ran dry. By that point she was almost too tired to even move. Moving her head she looked to her alarm clock to check the time. "9:45 PM? Goddammit..." she groaned as she rolled onto her back. "Why did it have to be me?" At CHS Principal Celestia and Vice-principal Luna were sitting in the former's office looking at Sunset's absence note and her application for student transfer. "Luna, something tells me Sunset isn't actually ill today." The principal's younger sister didn't verbally respond, instead only giving a slight nod. "How could we let it get this far?" the elder sister said to herself as she put the papers down on her desk. A knock on the office door pulled both sisters out of their thoughts as they sighed. "Come in." Celestia said in a monotone. An all too familiar girl stepped into the office with a look of both curiosity and regret. "Is it true that Sunset is transferring to Crystal Prep?" the girl asked with slight hesitation in her voice. "Yes, that is true. Why did you want to know?" Celestia asked with slightly narrowed eyes. "I... wanted to apologize to her." the girl answered with tears starting to form in her eyes. "I don't know who this Anon-A-Miss is, but it can't be Sunset. I know that now." Celestia's stern demeanor fell at the girl's show of genuine sadness. "Hmm, I doubt she'll listen by text or letter and it's not a small town either. Neither do I believe going to her home will work. I can't really see any way for you to apologize in the current situation. You'll either need a lot of luck or you need to transfer as well, but I don't think the latter is a good idea." she surmised. The girl's hands were almost trembling as tears fell one by one. She knew Celestia was right, but she had her own thoughts about it. "The way I see it, this school has almost gone to hell and I know that this won't just disappear over the holidays. I can't stand the thought of continuing like that. Surrounded by people blaming an innocent. I'll go ahead and transfer too." the girl said with no sign of second thoughts in her voice. Celestia only sighed as she looked at her sister, who nodded to her. "Fine, I'll get in touch with Crystal Prep's principal and help you get the transfer approved." Celestia said dismissively. The girl just nodded before exiting the office.