“Ms. Inkwell,” Sunset said uneasily as the door shut behind them. “A-Am I in trouble?”
“Good heavens, no,” Ms. Inkwell exclaimed with a laugh and a dismissive wave of her hand. “As I said, I just want to talk.”
Sunset heaved a sigh of relief. “Okay, then. What do you want to talk about?”
"Well, first of all, I'd like to thank you for saving us all from the Dazzlings. If it weren't for you, we'd all be stuck worshiping them for the rest of our lives!"
If it wasn't for you bringing the magic here with you, this wouldn't have even been a problem!
Sunset barely avoided wincing. She could practically see the Demonself's smug grin, and she was just so sick and tired of all this bullshit!
Sunset glanced at Ms. Inkwell, worried she might have seen her nearly twitch. If she did, she was given no indication.
“Oh! You’re welcome.” Sunset smiled.
“Now then… What was it like? Saving the world?”
Sunset raised an eyebrow. She wasn’t expecting that sort of question from someone who seemed to be so serious about everything. Then again, she hardly knew anything about Ms. Inkwell! Maybe she should take this time to get to know her just a little better…
“Why do you want to know,” Sunset asked.
“Well, if I’m going to be completely honest,” Ms. Inkwell said as she adjusted her glasses. “I…” she paused, and Sunset saw that she was blushing! “I-I’ve always been fascinated with stories about heroes, and I just wanted to know how it felt.”
Sunset barely stifled a giggle. This was actually kind of endearing, seeing someone so professional show a shy side!
“Why are you asking me? What about the rest of the girls?”
“Oh, I already spoke to them. The day after the…” Ms. Inkwell trailed off as she looked away from Sunset. She cleared her throat. “The day after the… Fall Formal.”
Sunset’s smile disappeared, and she winced. For Celestia’s sake, she was never going to live that down, was she?!
Ms. Inkwell cleared her throat, then turned back around. “But, that’s in the past,” she said reassuringly as she put a hand on Sunset’s shoulder. “That isn’t who you are now.”
“I know,” Sunset said softly. “It’s just that I’ve got some kind of deep-seated guilt complex that won’t let me forgive myself.”
“Because of what happened in the rainbow?”
Sunset’s stride broke for a moment. Did the girls tell everyone about that?! “Y-Yes.”
Ms. Inkwell hummed as Sunset caught back up to her. “I could give you a recommendation to a counselor if you wanted.”
“Yes,” Sunset said with a nod. “I’d like that.”
“Excellent! I’ll get right on that after the bell. Now, about my question…”
Sunset reflected on Ms. Inkwell’s question. Saved the world? Had she and the girls actually done that? All they did was save the students and staff of Canterlot High! And yet…
Sunset imagined what could have been had they lost. Knowing fully well that they wouldn’t have just stopped at one school. They would have spread their magic far and wide-
The full force of reality struck Sunset, and her walking gradually slowed to a stop. Her jaw dropped in shock, and she took a deep breath and exhaled.
“Wow…” Sunset was awestruck. She really did save the world… “Right now, it feels surreal.”
Ms. Inkwell laughed softly. “I imagine it does.”
Sunset remained standing as she processed her new realization. She then shook her head rapidly and returned to Ms. Inkwell’s side. Once she did, curiosity struck.
“Ms. Inkwell, what was it like for you?”
Ms. Inkwell paused, then turned to face Sunset. “What was what like for me?”
“When the Dazzlings hypnotized you and the rest of Canterlot High. What was that like?”
Ms. Inkwell frowned, then shuddered. “It was a very unpleasant experience,” she said in a distant voice as she stopped walking. “I was hyperfixated. I wanted to cater to their every whim, my own personal health be damned. I wanted to just stare at them. To gaze at their unparalleled beauty.” She heaved a long sigh. “I… I don’t really want to think about it anymore.”
“I understand.” As badly as she wanted to, Sunset couldn’t hide her guilt.
“Don’t be ashamed, Sunset,” Ms. Inkwell said before Sunset could look away. “You didn’t know how I’d react.”
Sunset smiled sadly. “Yeah. I know. Like I said, ‘deep-seated guilt complex.’”
“I see,” Ms. Inkwell said as she adjusted her glasses.
“It’s been a long road for me, Ms. Inkwell.”
“I can imagine.”
Ms. Inkwell and Sunset turned a corner, and the latter suddenly realized the former had a destination in mind. A destination she had come to visit many, many times over the course of her time at Canterlot High.
Sunset couldn’t help but swallow nervously. She had to remind herself that she wasn’t in trouble.
“Sunset?” Ms. Inkwell snapped Sunset back to reality.
Sunset blushed and laughed sheepishly. “Sorry, just a little anxious… even though I know I have no reason to worry about where we’re going.”
Ms. Inkwell nodded. “I understand. After all, you’ve likely been on edge all day.”
Sunset scoffed as she rolled her eyes. “That’s putting it mildly.”
You’re a monster!
Sunset stopped, then closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. She resisted the urge to scream not out of anguish, but out of frustration.
“Are you o-”
Sunset cut off Ms. Inkwell as she thrust her hand forward, then held up her index finger. She exhaled slowly through her nose as she lowered her arm, then opened her eyes.
“Please don’t finish that question, Ms. Inkwell,” Sunset said wearily. “I’m getting tired of hearing it, especially since I don’t know the answer myself.”
“Understood.”
“Can we not talk the rest of the way?”
“If you feel that’s best, of course.”
“Thank you.”
As the two continued their walking, Sunset couldn’t help but eagerly await the end of the day. It had been rough. Very rough. Celestia knows how much harder today could have been if it wasn’t for the kindness and support of the students and staff!
“Well,” Ms. Inkwell said. “We’re here.”
“Thanks, Ms. Inkwell.”
“You’re quite welcome, Sunset.” Ms. Inkwell walked off.
Sunset waved as she watched her go down the hall, then faced the door.
“There’s no reason for you to worry, Sunset,” She told herself. “Just get in there.” She grabbed the door handle, then opened it to see Principal Celestia and Vice-Principal Luna waiting for her.
The door closed behind her.