Twilight, Sunset, and Rainbow Dash walked down the long hallway of green lockers to find Rarity, along with Vice Principal Luna standing by the door of Principal Celestia’s office.
Rarity immediately walked towards the trio, “Thank goodness you found her!” Rarity looked towards Rainbow Dash, “Darling! What ever happened to your—“
Rainbow shook her head, giving Rarity a ‘stop talking’ look.
“Twilight Sparkle,” Vice Principal Luna stepped up.
Sunset quickly ducked behind Twilight as the older woman approached.
Luna, noting the small girl’s reaction, paused, then decided it was best to stay in place, “Is she alright?”
Twilight frowned at the vice principal’s question “Yeah, I think so...”
Just then, the door to Principal Celestia’s office opened up. Celestia walked out the door, looking exasperated, “Twilight,” she started, “I’m glad you found her,” she then glanced at the inside of the room and turned back to face the group.
Before the principal could open her mouth, Rainbow Dash stepped forward. Celestia’s eyes winded when she noticed the bruise on the teenager’s jaw, “Rainbow Dash,” she signaled the athlete inside.
Rainbow nodded and quickly obeyed, leaving Luna, Rarity, and the two Equestrians behind.
“Please, sit Rainbow Dash,” Principal Celestia told the sporty girl, pointed to a third chair closest to the door in front of her desk.
Rainbow took a deep breath before sitting down. She took a glance at who was at her left.
Gilda—who now sported a bruise on her left eye—and Lighting Dust, both looked positively annoyed at being in the principal’s office, glared at the rainbow haired girl, desperate to take their anger out on someone.
Rainbow glared back. Wait, why is Dust here? Principal C must’ve caught Gilda running but Lightning? Oh. The blue teenager finally caught on, recalling when Lightning Dust confronted them outside the office. Rainbow fired more heat into her glare. Lightning Dust was their diversion.
Principal Celestia cleared her throat, “I assume you three know why you are here?”
Gilda huffed, rolling her eyes, “I didn’t do anything.”
“Oh really?” Rainbow snarled, nostrils flaring, “You call what you did nothing!”
“Shut up Dash!” Gilda roared.
“Enough! Both of you!” Principal Celestia declared, putting her hands up in frustration. She faced the blue teen, “Now Rainbow Dash, tell me exactly what happened.”
Rainbow sighed, trying to calm her rising anger, “Well, Lighting Dust came up to us and we started arguing. Then when she left I turned around and Sunset was gone,” she narrowed her eyes at Gilda, “I found her toy tied to a rope in the hallway and I found Sunset outside with Gilda.”
Rainbow paused as she felt steam come out of her ears again, remembering how scared Sunset looked, and the broken gaze she gave to the sporty girl, “She said if I remember correctly, ‘this little brat is finally gonna get some payback,’” she glared at Gilda, “She made fun of her too,” Rainbow finished by angrily crossing her arms over her chest, “She didn’t let her go until I knocked her down. And then she ran... after a few punches...”
Principal Celestina sighed, “Yes, I assume that Lighting Dust was the diversion and Gilda used Sunset’s toy to lure her away. Lighting Dust also warned you, Ms. Griffin, of when my sister or I was getting close to where you where? And I ended up finding you sneaking out the back alleyway of the school. Is that correct?”
Both teens had their arms crossed over their chest, saying nothing. Gilda had her eyes narrowed at the opposite wall of the room while Lightning kept her gaze stubbornly on the ground.
“Tell me, Ms, Griffin, what exactly did you intend to with Sunset Shimmer?” After no reaction from the teens, Celestia continued, “Because I can assure you that if you would’ve made it that far, I would have called the authorities, on the account of a teenager helping someone abduct a child from her guardians, while the other would be charged on the account of the prior statement as well as child harassment. Not to mention possible death treats to a six-year-old child?”
This time, Lightning wilted a little at the statement while Gilda remained strong.
Gilda rolled her eyes, “It’s not even school hours! You can’t do anything to us!”
Celestia tilted her chin upwards a little, showing the teenagers she means business, “I assure you I can. You two are still students on school grounds, meaning that I expect to obey school rules,” the principal raised an eyebrow when the teens stiffened.
“So, Ms. Griffin, Ms. Dust, what will it be? A week suspension after the break with in-house detention the following week, or a phone call to the police?”
Twilight sat with Sunset on the bench right outside the principal’s office. She was honestly still shaken up at Sunset disappearance. She didn’t exactly know what happened, and was puzzled at the fact that Rainbow had a bruise on her jaw and went inside Principal Celestia’s office.
Twilight glanced at Sunset, who was clutching her Phoenix and had her body leaned on the purple teen. Twilight sighed, slowly stroking Sunset’s hair. Though it had only been a few days since they’ve been together, the pony princess has grown attached to the little girl, and she couldn’t bear the thought of Sunset being lost, taken, never to be seen again.
Another thought popped in Twilight’s mind: the black veins. What was that about? Where did they come from? She made a mental note to herself that she needed to write to Princess Celestia. She would know for sure. As for now, all she can do is research on the couple of books she brought from Equestria.
The squeaky door to the office opened. To Twilight’s surprise, the human counterparts of Gilda and Lightning Dust emerged from the room, both looking annoyed and angry.
Twilight frowned, wondering what in Equestria were they doing in there. That’s when Sunset, who was still holding on to her, began to whimper. Twilight turned to face the girl, “Hey, hey it’s okay Sunset—“
Twilight stopped mid sentence when she noticed that the girl was once again trembling in fear. She kept her cyan eyes locked on Gilda, tears beginning to spill from the corners of her eyes.
Twilight glanced back at Gilda, who seemed like she was trying not to smirk. She turned back to Sunset. Is she scared of her? But why? She’s never even meet them before...
Rainbow Dash defensively stepped in front of Twilight and Sunset. Rarity glared at the two, crossing her arms over her chest in disgust.
“You two! Keep moving!” Principal Celestia ordered the two teenagers. They both nodded, giving one final glare at the skittish child.
Both principals of the school lead the teenagers out of the hallway.
When Gilda and Lightning turned to leave the scene, all eyes fell on Sunset, who was now being carried by Twilight.
“Shh... it’s okay sweetie. Sunset what’s the matter?” Twilight asked, putting a gentle hand to the girl’s face.
Sunset sniffled and shifted her eyes in the direction of the two teens, who were now turning the corner to leave. Sunset shook her head and buried it into Twilight’s shirt.
Twilight held the girl in her arms as she rocked her back and forth. She moved her eyes from the snuffling girl to look at her friends.
Rainbow sighed and knelt down in front of Twilight and Sunset, “Hey, its okay. They’re gone Sunset. Don’t worry, you’ll never see them again.”
Sunset turned her head in Rainbow’s direction, “B-but what if they find m-me? That girl is just going to trick me and g-get me again!” Sunset whimpered out.
All three teens kept their eyes sadly on the crying girl. Rarity and Rainbow particularly felt guilty about what happened. While the incident in the library might not have been their fault, this second incident was.
If only they were watching her more closely and not taking the bait from Lighting Dust, Sunset wouldn’t have been lured away.
Rarity knelt down, “Darling, I assure you they won’t. We’ll all make sure of that my dear.”
Sunset sniffled, buried her face in Twilight’s shirt once again and nodded.
Twilight meanwhile, was still confused. What happened while she was in the office? Why did Sunset seem so afraid of Gilda? She must’ve done something to her... She wanted to ask, but she didn’t want Sunset to have another panic attack. She figured that it would be best if she opened up on her own. Twilight sighed, “Sunset... we won’t let anyone hurt you again. I’m sorry we weren’t watching you more closely—“
Sunset chocked back a sob at the last statement. Twilight was blaming herself for what happened, and that made the girl feel even guiltier. Everyone was apologizing to her. If anything, she should be the one apologizing to them, not the other way around. She’s the one who disobeyed them. “No! I’m sorry! It’s-It’s all m-my fault!”
Twilight frowned, “Sunset how is it your fault?”
Sunset sniffled, “I was looking for Fiyero and-and I saw him at the end of the hall and then he moved. I k-kept following him and then that girl got me. I s-should’ve known better... I-I am a stupid filly...”
Twilight’s eyes widened at what the girl said, and she tightened her hug. That’s why she was so scared of Gilda... Twilight looked up at Rainbow, who seemed to be supporting a facade of anger, and guilt. She turned to Rarity, who looked equally guilty. Twilight then turned back to the crying child, “Sunset, don’t say that. It’s not your fault. Shhh... it’s okay. You’re here now,” she stroked the girl’s hair, “You’re safe. Shhh...”
Twilight looked up to see Principal Celestia and Vice Principal Luna returning. Both principals gave her an apologetic look then turned their attention back to the sniffling girl.
“Come on Sunset,” Twilight said after Sunset had calmed down, “Let’s—“ Twilight stopped when she noticed something pink peaking out of Sunset’s backpack.
Frowning she opened the backpack and pulled out a pink book, titled Matilda. When did this get here? She turned to Rarity and Rainbow, “Uh... who put this here?”
Rarity cringed, “I didn’t notice she put it in her bag,” she turned to her principals, “My apologizes.”
“Sunset,” Twilight turned to Sunset while handing over the book to Vice Principal Luna, “You should’ve have taken this—“
A cry escaped from the small girl, “I’m... I’m sorry! I w-wanted to know how it ended. And I... I was going to give it back after I was finished!” Sunset cried out, her guilt-filled eyes locked on Twilight, “I’m sorry!” She panted out, on the verge of another panic attack.
Twilight stroked the girl’s red hair, “Shh... it’s okay. You’re not in trouble Sunset. Shh... breathe... breathe...”
Principal Celestia stiffened and took a deep breath, “No need to apologize Sunset Shimmer. I understand your curiosity and love for books,” she nodded at the purple teen, “She can keep the book Twilight.”
Vice Principal Luna shrugged, “It’s not like our students read those children’s books anyway.”
Twilight nodded at the older women and handed the book to Sunset, who sniffled and hugged the book to her chest.
Sunset kept her head down, surprised that the older women spoke to her in a friendly tone. She was even more surprised that the principals didn’t punish her for taking the book.
She took several deep breaths before she sheepishly looked up at the women, reminding the sisters of someone like Fluttershy instead of the Sunset Shimmer that they once knew. “T-thank you...” she said in a soft whisper.
“Alright,” Twilight stood up and gently took Sunset’s hand, “Let’s get going.”