//------------------------------// // Arc 5.2: Chapter 37 // Story: Student 32: Sunset Shimmer // by Show Stopper //------------------------------// “So, this is your island.” “Yes.” “Your family’s private island.” “Yes.” “Your family’s private island that no-one can visit without your family’s permission.” “Supposedly.” “...so how did they-” “I DON’T KNOW!!!” Sunset chuckled and shook her head, smirking out at the beach before them. She, Ayaka, and Negi had touched down on this small, tropical island only a couple of minutes before. A quick direction from Ayaka had led them to a pristine, white-sanded beach, bordered by tropical forest on one side and crystal-blue ocean on the other. The very picture of an isolated tropical paradise. And breaking up this picturesque image was most of class 3-A, already diving carelessly into the ocean. “What on Earth is this?” Ayaka growled, clenching her fist and glaring out at the water as if she wished it would somehow catch fire. “My plan to get all alone with Negi-sensei in a tropical paradise is… is…” “Secrets don’t stay secret for long in this class,” Sunset replied. “Asakura probably knew before you even invited me. Yue and Honya were already packing suitcases when I got back.” She placed a hand on Ayaka’s shoulder. “Relax, Class Rep; they’re here anyway, so we might as well enjoy ourselves.” Ayaka looked sideways at Sunset, then followed her gaze out to the girls. Particularly, to Chizuru and Haruna and their exceptional physical gifts. Her eyes narrowed. “I’m afraid I wouldn’t ‘enjoy’ your particular brand of… people-watching.” Sunset shrugged, admiring the many bikini-clad forms splashing about in the water. “Your loss.” Ayaka sighed before stomping down the beach, apparently determined to give a certain student reporter a chewing-out. Sunset watched her go, admiring her body as well. Damn, what is it with the girls in this class? They’re just middle-schoolers, but they’re better built than most adults! Then again, I don’t look too bad myself. She looked down and admired once again the bikini she’d purchased while shopping with Ayaka early that morning. The teal two-piece matched her eyes and did a great job of showing off her curves. Not as voluptuous as Chizurz’s, perhaps, but certainly more enticing than most of the class. Now if only there were some guys here who could appreciate it. Her eyes scanned up and down the beach, searching each of the girls’ faces for some familiar sign: a straying eye, a flushed pair of cheeks, anything to indicate attraction or arousal. Unfortunately for her, there was none to be found. Every smile, every bit of contact, every look was completely platonic. She cast a glance over to Setsuna but was unsurprised to see that she had eyes only for Konoka. Figures. She sighed. An entire class of extremely attractive girls, and not an open filly-fooler in the bunch. Sometimes I hate this world. “Eh?! What?! Another breast-size competition?!” ...sometimes I love this world. Sunset raced down towards the ocean, ready to enjoy this vacation for all it was worth. ***** The hours passed lazily. Sunset spent as much time playing in the sand as she did swimming in the surf. After an impromptu - and slightly humiliating - race against Akira, Sunset found herself lazily wandering the beach, enjoying the sound of the crashing waves and the natural beauty of the island. It really is nice here, she thought. It’s been a long time since I visited the coast. Must have been the last time I visited Sunshine, three… four… Sunset stopped and stared out at the ocean. Specifically, at the sunlight that glinted and shimmered off of its surface. “I… I wonder if he even knows I left, yet?” A long moment passed as she tried to remember the last time she’d even seen her older brother. The last Hearthswarming she had spent abroad, and the one before that Sunshine had been hospitalized following a nasty apartment fire. Had they gotten together the year before? The year before that? She couldn’t remember, and, for the first time, she began to feel guilty about having left through the portal so abruptly. About leaving Sunshine. And… “If I say I’m not going to do it, then I’m not going to do it!” Sunset was snapped out of her reverie. She looked up the beach to see Asuna stomping in her direction across the sand, Konoka and Setsuna in pursuit. “Come on, Asuna,” Konoka pleaded. “Why don’t you just forgive Negi-sensei already?” “I’ll forgive that brat when he actually apologizes!” Asuna snapped. “Negi-sensei doesn’t even seem to realize what it is that he did wrong,” Setsuna pointed out. “WELL HE’LL JUST HAVE TO!” Sunset chuckled and shook her head. Good to know I’m not the only one having sibling issues, I guess. “That’s hardly fair, Asuna.” Asuna and Konoka started, not having noticed Sunset. “He’s just a kid, after all; you can hardly expect him to understand what has you upset if someone doesn’t explain it to him.” Asuna harrumphed and turned her nose up. “Why don’t you tell him then?” “Because watching the chaos is more fun.” Sunset chuckled at Konoka’s disapproving glare. “I’ll talk with him later. But really, Asuna, shouldn’t you be the bigger person here? He’s only ten, after all.” Asuna glared off to the side. “S-so what?! He acts so adult all the time about everything else. Let him figure this out like an adult too.” Sunset smirked. “I think you’ll find as you get older that no male, no matter how aged and experienced with the world and its inhabitants, can pierce the mystery that is the female mind.” She shrugged. “But hey, we’re on a tropical island to have fun, aren’t we? So let’s go have some fun.” Konoka sighed. “I guess you’re right. Let’s get back to the others and-” “Asuna-san! Asuna-saaaan!” Ayaka was sprinting towards them, panting as she stared desperately at Asuna. “B-big trouble!” she shouted as she got close. “Negi-sensei has his foot caught in the deep water! He’s going to drown!” Asuna paled. “Which way?!” she demanded, sprinting down the beach. “I’ll- ACK!” Sunset let go of Asuna’s pigtails and raised an eyebrow at Ayaka. “Really? You expected this to work?” Ayaka took a step back, her eyes wide. “Wh-what? What are you-” “Springfield isn’t nearly so helpless as to get caught by something as simple as a riptide,” Sunset said, waving her off. “Let me guess. Some sort of elaborate ‘Asuna saves Sensei and then they make up’ plan?” Asuna’s panic swiftly melted into anger as she turned on Ayaka. “Is this true?” Ayaka looked back and forth between Asuna and Sunset, raising her hands defensively. “W-well, I didn’t, that is-” “I can’t believe you! Ugh!” Asuna turned and continued stomping down the beach past Sunset. “Why is everyone so determined to make me forgive that idiot?!” Ayaka sighed as Asuna stalked off and glared at Sunset. “Well, I hope you’re happy.” “Trust me,” Sunset said. “It’s better this way. Whatever you have cooked up, Asuna would sniff it out once Springfield was ‘safe.’ And then she would have been even angrier at him. At least this way she’s just angry at you, and - unlike Springfield - you know why and can properly apologize for it later.” Ayaka groaned. “You seem remarkably determined to keep them from reconciling.” It was Sunset’s turn to glare. “It just so happens that I would prefer them reconciled. Fun as it is to watch Springfield flounder, an upset Asuna and a crybaby Springfield will get annoying quickly. And unlike most of the rest of you, I actually have experience with-” Her mouth snapped shut, her eyes going wide. “Experience with what?” Ayaka asked. Understanding slowly dawned, and with it, anger. “You-” “I didn’t mean it like that,” Sunset said quickly, raising her hands placatingly. “I didn’t mean you specifically. I’m sorry. That was tactless.” Ayaka glared at Sunset for a minute before sighing and looking away. “Yes. I suppose you’re right. No offence taken.” She turned and started walking back towards the rest of the class. “I suppose I’ll leave this to you, then.” Sunset sighed, half in relief and half in exasperation. Great. Now it’s my job. “What was that?” Sunset winced at Setsuna’s question. “I’ve never seen the class rep that mad before.” Sunset hesitated, and was surprised to see Konoka hesitating as well. Does she know about it too? From being friends with Asuna? “That’s not really my place to say,” Sunset answered, turning to follow Asuna. “You two head back to the rest; I’ll calm Asuna down.” They acquiesced without question, for which Sunset was grateful. Her mind turned to Negi and Asuna’s relationship as she jogged down the beach. Inevitably, those thoughts drifted again to thoughts of her brother. Summer was the worst time of the year for firefighters across Equestria. Was Sunshine doing alright? Had he come up to visit their parents for the holidays after she’d left? Had he come up to Canterlot Castle afterwards to seek her out? Had Celestia told him what she’d done? Did she want her to have? Sunset shook her head to dispel those thoughts. No! I was in the right to leave! She was holding me back, and this was the only way to actually advance towards my destiny! Once I’m an alicorn, I’ll have all the time in the world to spend with Sunshine. Unless you spend so long trying to ascend that he has no time left himself. Sunset shuddered at the unbidden thought. She shook her head again, more rapidly. That wouldn’t happen. It couldn’t. It… “Look! I don’t want to hear it!” Sunset snapped out of her reverie to see that she’d caught up to an irate Asuna. “I get it. She was just trying to help. But I just don’t want to deal with anything to do with Negi right now.” Sunset blinked a couple of times as she tried to get her mind back on track. “Huh? Oh!” She rolled her eyes. “Yeah, well, like I said, it was a dumb idea. And so is trying to talk you down when you’re like this.” She sped up a bit to get ahead of Asuna. “So let’s focus on something else! There’s something I’ve been meaning to try since Kyoto, and I need a spotter.” Asuna raised an irate eyebrow, curiosity barely cooling her anger. “A spotter?” Sunset shrugged. “What I have in mind is… potentially dangerous. I think I’ll be alright, but if I hit the water wrong, it could knock me out. And then it’s a one-way ticket to... “ She frowned. “I’ll have to borrow Honya’s diary to get that translation. Anyway, you get the point.” “I… guess?” Asuna still seemed confused, but at least the anger was dissipating. “What exactly did you want to try?” “You remember when that Fate kid blasted me out over the water and I lost my wand?” Asuna snickered. “Yeah, and then you rocketed yourself right into that demon’s giant abbs.” Sunset managed to keep her blush to a minimum. “Right. That. I want to make sure that next time that happens, I have enough control to not crash headfirst into a wall of rock-hard demonic muscle.” Asuna got control of her snickering, but she was still smirking as she looked at Sunset. “So, that’s what you want to try? Rocket boots?” Sunset shrugged. “Pretty much. I mean, Chachamaru has them, so it’s definitely possible. I just need to figure out how much force to use, how to stabilize myself-” “How to land without crashing.” Sunset cleared her throat. “Yes, well, there’s a reason I’m planning to practice out over the ocean. If it looks like I’m going to crash, I’ll cut off the fire and try to land safely in the water. But there’s always the chance I don’t cut off in time and hit the water wrong.” Asuna nodded. “So you need someone who can swim out and drag you out of the water in case you knock yourself out.” “Exactly. What do you say?” Asuna sighed. “Well, it gives me something to do besides trying to dodge everyone telling me to make up with Negi.” She smirked again. “Plus, seeing you faceplant in the water over and over should be fun.” “Ha!” Sunset returned the smirk. “You just watch! I bet I’ll get the basics down on the third try!” ***** It took three tries just to get Sunset flying long enough to crash into the water instead of the sand. Another half dozen before she was able to get far enough out to not hit the wet sand beneath the waves when she crashed. Another half-hour before she could maintain even basic control of her flightpath. And another hour after that before they realized that they had no idea how to cover up the circles of glass that Sunset’s repeated take-offs had produced in the sand. “I mean, everyone who knows about magic won’t really question it,” Asuna said, glaring down at one of the circles, “but everyone else will get really suspicious.” “I’d say to just leave them since we’re so far from everyone else,” Sunset muttered, “but that won’t work with Ayaka; her family will find them eventually, and I doubt it will take too long for her to remember that we spent a significant amount of time over here alone.” Asuna nodded. “So… how do we explain it?” “...aliens?” “Works for me.” Sunset chuckled. Ayaka wouldn’t buy it for a second, but it would suffice to tell her that, yes, they were responsible, and no, they weren’t going to tell her why or how it happened. “Anyway,” Asuna siad, looking back up at Sunset, “want to give it another go?” Sunset groaned and rubbed her shoulder. Her last attempt had been a rough landing. “Nah. I think I’m going to hold off until we get back and ask Chachamaru for help. I’ve got the basic ideas down, but adjusting it all so that it resembles actual flight instead of desperate aerial flailing will take some expert guidance.” She sighed. “Pegasi have it so much easier.” “I thought you used to be a unicorn,” Asuna asked as they started back towards the main resort. “I was,” Sunset confirmed. “But I’ve heard them talk about how they learn to fly.” She smirked. “Their parents take them to a high cloud and kick them off. The only pieces of advice they give as their child screams and flails are ‘Flap your wings!’ and ‘Flap harder!’ Apparently, it works.” Asuna stared at Sunset in horror. “They… have spotters below in case it doesn’t though, right?” “Of course.” “Thank goodness.” They shared a laugh before lapsing into silence, each lost in her own thoughts. Sunset’s turned back to Equestria again, wondering if there was anything she knew about pegasus magic that could help her here. Wondering if she could get the Butterfly Wing spell to work here. Wondering if Sunshine was doing okay… She sighed, half in melancholy and half in exasperation. If Asuna noticed, she had the grace not to mention it. What’s wrong with me today? Is seeing Asuna and Springfield at odds really getting me this worked up about me and Sunshine? I mean, I know that just up and vanishing like I did has got to have hurt him, and he’ll probably be right there when I come back, ready to berate me… I hope. Sunset’s expression turned from melancholy to nervous. Will he be there, though? What if… what if he’s just written me off by now? Just one more bad decision on top of the pile. He probably blames me for falling out of touch. He probably still blames me for- Sunset shook her head violently, glaring out across the sea at nothing. Get it together, Sunset! You know he doesn’t blame you for that! You worked through that years ago! But… still, falling out of contact was on me. I… I really need to make things up to him when I get back. But first… “You really need to make up with Springfield, you know.” Asuna sighed, though it was more weary than angry. “You too? Why does everyone-” “Don’t compare me to everyone else,” Sunset snapped. She took a deep breath. “Look, I get it. I know what it’s like for siblings to fight.” Asuna grunted at the word “siblings,” but Sunset ignored it. “And I also know that this is eating you up as much as it’s eating at him, no matter how much fire and indignation you use to cover it up.” She raised an eyebrow at Asuna. “Am I wrong?” Asuna looked away, but didn’t deny it. “Go talk with him,” Sunset said. “Explain exactly what it is he said that made you so angry. Tell him that he made you feel like an unwanted pest; you know that’s not what he meant by it, and you know he’ll feel terrible as soon as he realizes it.” Sunset placed a hand on Asuna’s shoulder and turned the other girl to face her. “Asuna, don’t let something like a petty misunderstanding linger and fester between you. You’re better than that, and he deserves better than that.” Asuna stared into Sunset’s eyes, surprised at the force in her voice. She nodded slowly. “O-okay.” Sunset nodded back and they continued back to the rest of the class. ***** “So, Negi-sensei and Asuna-san are making up?” Sunset nodded, taking a sip of her juice. “Unless one of them messes it up again, yeah.” She, Nodoka, and Yue sat at a table beneath an umbrella, shielded from the early afternoon heat. Most of their classmates were still playing on the beach, with a few having retired to their rooms to nap. A general lazy air hung over the villa. “But I don’t think that’ll happen,” Sunset continued, leaning back in her chair and staring up the beach where Asuna and Negi had wandered. “Asuna’s really calmed down, and Springfield’s had time to relax away from her. They’ll be fine.” She turned her attention back to her friends. “So, what did you two want to talk about?” Nodoka and Yue shared glances before Nodoka blushed nervously. “Um, well, we were kind of wondering if you’d figured out when you were going to start teaching us.” Sunset chuckled. “Eager, are we?” “Yes.” Sunset was taken aback for a moment by Yue’s unhesitant affirmation. “Oh. Um, good, I guess.” She cleared her throat. “Anyway, yes. We can start anytime. I was actually planning to start you two off as soon as Golden Week was over, but I suppose I can give you the basic rundown now.” Yue and Nodoka leaned forward eagerly, causing Sunset to chuckle again. “There are three basic parts to your magic training,” she said, holding up a single finger. “First, fundamental magical theory. You need to learn the basics of what magic is and how it works. Second,” she extended her thumb, “the practicum. The incantations of individual spells. These will follow an ascension of difficulty and cover a wide range of spellcraft rather than focus on any particular category of magic.” She held up a third finger. “Finally, language. Most of magecraft is based in Latin, from manuals to spellbooks to incantations. Ancient Greek is the second most common, with local languages together taking a distant third. Some mages content themselves with just learning enough Latin to get by, enough to read and pronounce the incantations of the spells they want to learn. Others, like myself, delve deep into fluency. This allows us to craft our own spells and delve deeper into the theory. The former is more suited to practical magic, while the latter is most useful in magical research. “I’ll be teaching you the fundamentals only,” Sunset continued, lowering her hand. “Grammar and enough vocabulary to understand the spells that you’re casting. The rest will depend on what sort of path your specialty takes you. Any questions so far?” Yue raised a hand. “Yes. Will we be needing any materials for this class, Hikaru-sensei?” Sunset rolled her eyes while Nodoka giggled. “Any and all materials required for this class will be provided by your professor, Ayase-chan.” She waved her hand vaguely. “Practice wands. Excerpts from magical texts. Etc. The only things I won’t be providing are supplementary Latin texts if you want to study the language further.” “But, where are you going to get those?” Nodoka asked. “The texts will be easy,” Sunset dismissed. “Springfield gave me a full set of instructional texts which I can make copies of. As for wands, I’ll just borrow them from Springfield or Evangeline.” “And by borrow,” Yue said, raising an eyebrow, “you mean…” “I mean ‘borrow.’” Sunset shook her head. “I’ve taken advantage of Springfield’s forgiving nature too much as it is. The pactio contract is based on trust and camaraderie; I can’t build those if I keep taking advantage of him. As for Evangeline…” A shiver ran down her spine. “I’m limping out of our training sessions every day as it is. That day Makie pissed her off, I barely survived.” She noted their looks of concern and waved them off. “I’m fine. It’s just that the sort of training I need is… intense under the best of circumstances and gentlest of teachers. But you can see why I don’t want to be putting Evangeline in a bad mood.” “But wait,” Nodoka’s brow furrowed, “I thought you said that her powers are sealed away at Mahora.” Sunset hesitated. “They are… usually. There’s a trick she uses. I’ll have to see about letting the two of you in on it; it would make fitting your teaching into our schedules a lot easier, too.” Yue shrugged. “Quis erit, erit.” Nodoka giggled while Sunset rolled her eyes. “Show off.”