"Sunset, how would you like to help some freshmen with their studies?" Celestia asked Sunset when they arrived at school.
"Um… freshmen?" Sunset asked.
"Yes. There's a freshman student with some difficulties in his studies. So, we've arranged an extra class for him with one of our top students. Since you are a model student and top of your class, I thought maybe you'd like to help him. Also, this will be a good chance for you to get on the good side of the students."
"Hmm... I don't know, maybe…" Sunset said. She thought on it some more before saying, "Okay, I'll do it."
"Good. I'll give you the details later."
Sunset made her way to her locker, placing all her after-lunch-class material away, and made it to her first class. Along the way, she met up with Applejack as she entered the classroom door. As the day slowly went by, Sunset found herself bobbing her head sideways to a song. It was one of the girls' songs in their newly formed band that Rainbow named The Rainbooms. A band she hoped she'd be apart of, at least one day.
"Ohh yeaaaah!" Rainbow shouted as they finished their song. "That was awesome. If we keep this up, we'll be the best band ever!"
They had just finished one of their songs in the music room. It was during one of the free periods that all the girls shared. Sunset didn't even realize she had the same free period as the other girls and couldn't decide if it was a coincidence or planned out by someone. Her bet was Pinkie if the latter turned out to be true. Another thing she couldn't decide was whether this was a blessing or a curse. Sure she got to hang out with Fluttershy, but she wasn't too sure how the other girls felt about her. Applejack was in the maybe a friend group, while Rarity seemed indifferent towards her, Pinkie was... well, Pinkie, and she was fairly certain Rainbow Dash hated her guts.
"Hee, I'm not lying. It was a great song and the most fun we've had in a long time. We'll just have to come up with some new songs," Applejack said, lying down her bass.
"Agreed. Not to mention Sunset's great at sound balancing. Darling, I didn't think you'd have time to learn how to use a mixer, what with your previous mmhm... commitments. You're quite good at it," Rarity said with a slight pause as she thought of what to call Sunset's bullying stage.
"Um... thanks," Sunset said before muttering under her breath, "I think."
"Huh- oh, anyone can do that," Rainbow said dismissively.
"Oh yeah? Like how you could do well on Mr. Discords pop quiz today without reading last night's chapters?" Applejack asked, smirking.
"Oh, come on, that was Chemistry. I hate it, and you know about Discord's stupid questions. I can't even understand a single thing he says." Rainbow said.
"Maybe you would if you read the chapters," Pinkie laughed before she grew serious, "But you gotta write well on that make-up paper he said he'd give you tomorrow, but if you don't, he's going to fail you and then you won't be able to graduate and then you won't be able to join the air force and then-"
"Whoa whoa hold yer horses Pinkie," Applejack said, putting a hand on Pinkie's mouth.
"You want to join the air force?" Sunset asked.
"Yeah. What's it to you?" Rainbow said, glaring at Sunset.
"N-nothing," Sunset said nervously before looking at the clock, and her eyes widened. "Oh no!" She shouted before pulling out her phone.
"What is it?" Fluttershy asked.
"Horseapples! I'm going to be late. I gotta go, bye." She shouted before running off. The girls looked at each other and shrugged.
Sunset ran into the library while panting from all the running. She heard Miss Cheerilee shushing her, and Sunset quickly apologized before walking into the library looking for the kid she's supposed to help. She found him sitting at a table waiting for her. The boy had peach skin and short yellow hair that almost covered his right eye. He wore a blue shirt with trousers, and he had freckles on his face.
"Um… are you… Sweet Peach?" Sunset asked. The boy looked at Sunset, and his eyes widened.
"Uh-um… y-yes… I-I am," Sweet nervously said.
"Good, I'm here to help you," Sunset chirped happily before taking a seat. She saw that the boy was looking at her nervously. "I'm guessing you know about me?" Sunset asked as her cheerful tone became a somber whisper.
"My brother told me about y-you," He said.
"Oh, he did. I'm sure anything he said about me is true. B-but, I'm not like that anymore." Sunset said. "I... I've changed."
"But he said, you are a bully, and the mess at the Fall Formal is your fault. He said you're a monster."
"It... was my fault, and I guess I am," Sunset said, looking away. "But I'm paying for everything I did. I want to help people. I don't want to be a monster anymore. Think you could give me a chance and let me help you. Please?" The boy didn't say anything for a while. He looked at her and her at him for a while. One side searching for a change, the other pleading for a chance.
"Okay, so… you are going to help me with my lessons?"
"Yes, I am," Sunset said, smiling. "And thanks." Sweet Peach smiled and pulled out his books.
For the remainder of the period, Sunset helped Peach in any way she could. The boy seemed to open up more the more time they spent together, which brighten up Sunset. While waiting for Peach to finish a question, she saw Rainbow picking up a book from a shelf when their eyes met. They watched each other for a few seconds with neutral expressions forming a mini staring contest. Sunset first looking away to look at Peach's work. When she looked up again, Rainbow was gone. She glanced around quickly but didn't see her. With a shrug of her shoulders, she went back to helping Peach, not much caring at the moment. If Rainbow hated her, she'd be the bigger pony and not start anything.
"Done," Peach said after he finished the question.
"Good, let's see-"
"Get away from him, you she-demon!" Sunset was interrupted by a sudden voice, which was more annoying than hurtful, though she did wince slightly at the 'she-demon' part. "Don't worry, child, for I the Grrrreat and Powerful Trrrixie will save you from that monster," Trixie shouted, which earned a shush from nearby students and Miss Cheerilee. "What are you doing to this poor child?"
"Uh, I'm tutoring him," Sunset deadpanned. If anyone else did this, Sunset might have felt hurt, but the way Trixie acted always made her annoying.
"Teaching him what? Demonology? How to summon a devil, or maybe how to turn into one? Come on, kid, I'll save you from this demon…" Trixie said, pulling Peach from his arm.
"Um, actually, I'm good." Peach said without getting up from the seat.
"What? Do you not know who this is?"
"Everyone knows who she is… and she's not that bad," Peach said.
"Also, Trixie, mo- Principal Celestia asked me to help him. So please leave us, or I'll have to inform Principal about this," Sunset said, correcting herself.
"What? She did? Ugh… I know you're up to something, but I'll leave you be. I have more important things to do than deal with you. But I'll be back, and you won't be able to hide next time!" Trixie shouted before throwing a smoke-bomb, making everyone cough as she seemingly disappeared. But when the smoke cleared, they saw her run into fall over a book cubby. There was a faint, "I'm okay," from behind the cubby as a passing Scootaloo glanced over the cubby.
"Who's that?" Peach asked.
"Trixie Lulamoon. The "Greatest and most Powerfulest" magician that Canterlot High School as to offer," Sunset said with air quotes when the bell rang. "Well, that's it for today. You caught up pretty well. Will I be seeing you tomorrow?"
"Yeah, and thanks." Peach said.
"No, thank you for giving me a chance I probably don't deserve."
"It's okay. Maybe my brother is wrong about you. So… friends?" Peach asked, holding his hand.
"Friends," Sunset said, shaking Peach's hand.
Sunset picked up some resource books. She went to put them on the shelves when she saw Rainbow reading a chemistry book. From the look of it, she wasn't making any progress. Sunset placed the books on the shelves and went over to Rainbow.
"Um, R-Rainbow…"
"Ugh, what do you want?" Rainbow asked, annoyed.
"Um… do you need any help? I don't mind-"
"No, I don't." Rainbow angrily said.
"Okay, sorry for bothering you," Sunset said before she began to leave Rainbow alone.
"Wait," Sunset turned around and saw Rainbow biting her lips while looking away. "You can help me if you want, I guess, not that I actually need-"
"Okay," Sunset said, taking a seat. "Um… what is the lesson?"
"This," Rainbow said, holding up the book.
Celestia was finishing the last of her work when she heard knocking on her office door. She looked up and said, "Come in," already having an idea who it was. Sure enough, Sunset opened the door and came inside.
"How was the day?" She asked.
"It's okay. Sweet Peach is fine with me. He actually asked to be friends," Sunset said.
"Really?"
"Yeah," Sunset said when she noticed a flier on Celestia's desk. "What's this?" She asked, picking up the flier.
"Hmmm? Oh, it's a new music showcase. We have a lot of talented students in CHS. So me and Luna thought to throw a musical showcase. You and your friends have a band too, right?" Celestia asked.
"Yeah… but I'm not actually a part of it. I just help them with sound balancing." Sunset said.
"But don't you play guitar, as well? I've heard you play, and it's pretty good."
"Yeah, I can play. It's just. They don't know that."
"Why don't you tell them?"
"It's... I don't know… I thought that they might not want me to. I mean, Rainbow's still not good with me, so…yeah."
"Sunset, they are your friends. They won't mind."
"I don't know. I'll ask them later," Sunset said.
The rest of the time passed in silence as Celestia finished her work and Sunset got a jump on her homework. Sunset went over the day in her mind and concluded it wasn't the worst and could have gone so much worse. She was glad that it went alright with Peach and was excited that Rainbow might be showing signs of accepting her. Overall, looked forward to tutoring Peach and forming a bond with Rainbow, maybe she could play soccer with her, and Sunset remembered Fluttershy mentioning Rainbow was a Daring Doo fan. She'd have to make plans to try and get the Rainbow themed girl to like her. Before long, Celestia spoke up after completing a good portion of her work done.
"So… you ready for today?" Celestia asked, stretching as she stood up.
"Well, I was thinking. I should stay home instead," Sunset said.
"What do you mean?" Celestia asked, puzzled.
"I was thinking… rather than go with you… I could stay home and set everything up with Fluttershy. That way… I can surprise her. I told Fluttershy about it, and she said she wanted to help. Just don't tell her about me," Sunset said.
"Hm… okay. I'll go with Luna then," Celestia said.