Sunset closed the door behind her, then let out a huge sigh of relief. “Fuck me, it feels good to be back!” She hurried over to her couch, then flopped onto it with an appreciative hum. “Oh, Mr. Couch… you’re the only one who understands me…”
Rarity cleared her throat, and Sunset turned to face her friends with a sheepish laugh. “Sorry. I was kinda in the moment.”
Rarity tittered. “There’s no need to feel bad, darling. That was quite amusing.”
“Yeah,” Pinkie chirped. “Who doesn’t like to fall on soft stuff after a tough day?”
The girls all murmured in agreement as they all set their belongings down.
“So,” Twilight said to Sunset once everyone got settled in. “How was your day?”
“No matter where you are or what you do, you’ll never be free from me!”
Sunset nearly flinched, then made a sputtering noise as cover. “It was a day, that’s for sure!” She put her hands behind her head as she scooted to the end of the couch. She propped her head up.
“Um… are you feeling any better,” Fluttershy asked as she sat on the stairs leading to Sunset’s loft.
Sunset was about to shrug, but she remembered her epiphany when she spoke to Marble Pie. The warmth she felt in that moment returned to her, along with the warmth she felt when she hugged Principal Celestia and Vice-Principal Luna.
It felt the same as the warmth from her vision within the rainbow vortex!
Sunset nodded. “Just a little bit. Everyone was just so nice to me today! Even Marble Pie gave me words of encouragement!”
“Yes,” Pinkie exclaimed with a fist pump.
Applejack grinned smugly at Rainbow Dash as she folded her arms. “Toldja.”
Rainbow scowled and rolled her eyes as she put her hand into her back pocket and fished out her wallet. “I was so sure she wasn’t gonna say anything!” She took out a five dollar bill, then handed it to Applejack.
“C’mon, Dashie! I know my sister!”
Rainbow grumbled as she took out another five dollar bill, then handed it to Pinkie, who stored it in her hair.
Sunset stared at the girls in confusion as Rainbow sullenly put her wallet back into her pocket. “What was that all about?”
“Well,” Twilight said. “When you were asleep last night, keeping you company wasn’t the only thing we all talked about.”
Sunset raised an eyebrow.
“You see,” Twilight continued as she walked towards Sunset. “We had to consider the possibility that you’d still want to go to school, despite everything that you went through.”
Sunset nodded in understanding.
“So we contacted as many Wondercolts as we could, and they in turn contacted other students. By the time we arrived, everyone in Canterlot High knew you were coming and were willing to lift your spirits!”
“All we had to do was mention your name, an’ everyone was all gung-ho about it!” Applejack sat on the floor with her legs crossed.
“We even came up with an awesome name,” Rainbow said. “Operation: Sunshine!”
Sunset smiled warmly as she put a hand on her chest. It was moments like this that she would treasure for the rest of her life. Her friends would always be there for her, just they’d all be there for each other.
“That’s so sweet of you guys,” Sunset said. “But what does any of that have to do with the betting?”
“Rainbow didn’t think everyone would be willing to talk to you, so I was like ‘Oh, really?’” Pinkie played with her hair until it resembled Rainbow’s. “Yeah, really,” she said in a scarily accurate impression. She then changed her hair back to her own. “Name one person who you think won’t say anything to her,” she said in her own voice. “Your sister Marble!”
“So then I bet Rainbow that Marble would talk to you,” Pinkie finished.
“An’ I couldn’t help myself, I joined in on the bet,” Applejack said with a grin. “Easiest five dollars I’ve ever earned!”
Sunset smiled and rolled her eyes. Those two with their constant competition! “So what do we do now?”
Pinkie grinned.
“Right,” Sunset said with a laugh. “As if I had to ask.”
“A party,” everyone exclaimed in unison.
“Now let’s get it started,” Pinkie chirped.
Scootaloo opened the door to her bedroom, then closed it. She set her backpack down and walked to her window, then simply stared forward.
Today had to have been one of the most unusual days she had experienced! Yesterday was complete and total chaos, but today? Nothing! It was like yesterday didn't even happen!
That didn't sit right with Scootaloo. Okay, sure, there were some students apologizing to each other for all things that were said and done… but still!
Scootaloo wondered how the rest of Canterlot High was doing. If she was so badly affected by Sunset's scream, how was everyone else handling it?
With a sigh and slow shake of her head, Scootaloo decided it was a better idea not to think about it too much. She turned away from her window, then went on with her day…
Ever since Apple Bloom got home from school, all she could do was lay on her bed, stare up at the ceiling and contemplate the day she had.
Was it strange for Apple Bloom to have wanted today to be out of the ordinary? Even after everything that happened yesterday? Oh, she didn't want anything chaotic, but she sure as shooting didn't want today to be normal. It just plain felt wrong to her!
Normal was what Apple Bloom got, and she didn't like it. She even said so several times throughout the day!
Well, Apple Bloom thought to herself. At least the rest of the day should be normal… right?
She got off of her bed, then left her room…
Sweetie Belle’s mind had been racing ever since she got on the bus back home. After surviving the Fall Formal and the Musical Showcase, why had the Anon-A-Miss incident shaken her the most? She was used to seeing conflict and forgiveness following almost immediately, but the secrets that came out were damaging to relationships and friendships!
Maybe that’s why it shook her up so much. The damage was lasting. She could see the mistrust in some of the student’s eyes as she passed them by. How long would it take for the whole of Canterlot High to fully recover from that? Could they recover?
This was too much for Sweetie Belle to think about. She had to do something else to keep her mind occupied.
Within minutes, she decided to spend the rest of the day watching mindless videos online.
And so she did, until evening fell…