For the first time since that first Summer Sun Celebration, Twilight was not looking forward to meeting her friends today. It wasn't that she didn't want to see them. Far from it. But she had a feeling that it would not be pretty.
As she flipped another page of her current read, she couldn't help but wonder what was going on in Principal Celestia's office, and why she'd been told that her being there would only make things more complicated.
But if the quick glance of the police officer she had seen coming into Canterlot High had been any indication, maybe it was for the better. Twilight giggled at the thought.
There was no way she could explain her being here to her BBBFF.
"... And that's when Miss Cheerilee found us," Sweetie Belle finished, looking as if she were about to cry.
Vice Principal Luna, however, had no sympathy for the trio. "Do you three realize how much trouble you are in? This has already been reported to the School Board. They are considering expelling all three of you."
"Expulsion?!" Applebloom said, almost falling out of her seat in shock. "They can't do that to us!"
Principal Celestia frowned. "As a matter of fact, they can." She looked at the only man in the room. "And there is more. Correct, officer?"
Lieutenant Shining Armor nodded, his own expression no happier. "If this had gone as far as you wanted it to, then the three of you would be facing possible jail time." He looked over at Sunset, who was livid. "And if anything had happened to Miss. Shimmer, then Cyberbullying would be the least of your crimes. As it is, that is the only mark on your records for now."
The CMC flinched at the mere idea that they now had criminal records. "So what happens to us now?" Scootaloo asked, trying to keep a brave face on, but it was a losing effort.
Luna's frown deepened. "The three of you are on out-of-school suspension until the School Board decides if you are allowed to come back to Canterlot High. Your families will decide what your punishments at home will be. The Canterlot Movie Club will not meet again until either my sister or I decide to let you."
Sunset's frown had morphed into a predatory grin. One that reminded most of her time before the Fall Formal. "And I have it on good authority from Applejack, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash, that you girls are forbidden from having any electronic devices for fun or entertainment until you're eighteen. That's if you don't do anything stupid like this again."
The CMC wilted at the idea. "Whatever happened to forgiving people?" Applebloom asked hopefully.
Sunset snorted, rolling her eyes. "That's funny coming from you, Applebloom. This whole piss-brained scheme was your idea. And all because you three were too lazy to talk to your sisters about how you really felt." She shook her head. "As much as I love hanging out with my friends, I would never take them away from their families."
Shining could feel there was something else to that statement, but he kept it to himself. "Your families will be by in a little while to pick you up. You can stay here until they do."
Celestia nodded. "I have given Applejack, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash, the rest of the school day off. So they will be joining you as well. From what I understand, they are not happy in the slightest."
The CMC looked horrified at the thought, but there wasn't much more they could do than sulk. Celestia's smile grew as she looked at Sunset. "Thank you for your time, Sunset. I believe there is someone in the Library that would be interested in hearing what has happened here."
Sunset nodded, as she stood and left for the door, giving the CMC one last heated glare before she left the room with a huff.
Outside, Sunset was ready to punch something or scream. Or both. She couldn't understand why AB, Sweetie, and Scootaloo had done what they had. Weren't they all over what she had done in the past?
"I mean really," she seethed. "What did they think was going to happen? Canterlot High turns on me? Everyone isn't that stupid."
So mad was she, that Sunset didn't know she wasn't alone until she felt a hand on her shoulder. Looking back, she found Shining Armor giving her a worried look. "Are you okay?" He asked.
Sunset cooled off slightly, but her anger was still there. "No. I'm not. I don't understand how anyone could be this stupid. Or even think they could get away with it."
Shining's face fell. "You won't do anything to them. Will you?"
Sunset could hear the warning in that response. She shook her head. Knowing that the room could still hear her, she raised her voice. "That's what those little brats want me to do. It'll only prove they were right. But I won't sink to their level. I will be a better person. Maybe one day, they'll figure that out."
"Will, you ever forgive them?" Shining asked.
Sunset hesitated for a moment, before sighing. "Not for a long time. One thing that I've learned about friendship is that forgiveness is the first step on the right road. But that's something they have to earn back. Not just given out freely."
Shining chuckled, as he let her go. "You sound like you know what you're talking about. I just wish Twily knew that."
Sunset's brows rose. "Twily?"
Shining rolled his eyes. "My little sister, Twilight Sparkle. She's just about the same age as you are, actually."
Sunset hid her shock at hearing that name well. "I don't know anyone with that name at Canterlot High."
Shining shook his head. "Twilight goes to Crystal Prep Academy. Mom and dad wanted her to go here. But Crystal Prep is closer to where we live, and it's also where I went to school. So it's kind of family tradition."
Sunset chuckled. "Well with the Friendship Games coming up, I might meet her. If she goes to Crystal Prep, she has to be pretty smart."
Shining chuckled as he turned away. "Maybe. She seems more interested in Canterlot High for some reason. She just won't say though. No matter how much we ask her. But as much as I'd love to stay and chat, I've got to get back to my beet."
Sunset chuckled as she turned and began to make her way to the School Library. Wait until the princess heard about this! And despite everything that had happened recently, Sunset knew one thing for sure.
She was looking forward to Christmas this year more than she had before.
Twilight winced as Sunset marched into the Library. She hadn't seen her friend this furious since the Fall Formal. And it wasn't even aimed at her. "I take it that it didn't go over very well?"
Sunset shook her head as she sat down in a huff. "Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo are on out-of-school suspension until the School Board decides what to do with them. They also now have permanent records with the Canterlot Police Department."
Twilight winced. She knew enough of how the police worked to know how bad that was.
Sunset's brows rose as she smirked. "Speaking of the police. Why didn't you ever tell us you had a brother, Twilight?"
Twilight smiled sheepishly. "You never asked? Honestly, Shining being here is partly why I'm here in the Library. There is no way I can properly explain me being here to him."
Sunset nodded. "Good thing too, then. I now know your native counterpart goes to Crystal Prep Academy. Which is Canterlot High's arch-enemy according to most. I don't see it myself. But I never really paid that much attention to the Friendship Games before now."
Twilight tapped her chin. "Just as well then. I'm still not sure what might happen if I met myself in this world."
Sunset rolled her eyes. "Well if she's as smart as you, she'll probably be on Crystal Prep's next team for the Friendship Games. I don't know how we'll keep that we already know her a secret. But we will. Somehow."
Twilight chuckled. It had been a thing on her mind since first coming to this world. She would be lying if she said she didn't want to meet her native self. To see herself from a different perspective, and to see what might be different between them. But until she could ascertain what might happen if they met? Then it would have to wait.
Sunset sighed. "AJ, Rarity, and Rainbow have the rest of the school day off. I have it on good authority that they are pissed. I don't want to think about how the rest of their families will take this."
"I can give ya a clue," Applejack growled as she and the others joined the duo. "Apple Bloom thinks her chores are bad now? She ain't seen anything yet. She won't be able to sit down for a month once Granny gets through with her."
Rarity nodded. "Indeed, darling. Mother and father haven't said much of what Sweetie's punishment will be. But I doubt it will be pleasant. If she wants to spend time with me so much... Then I have the perfect way to do that. I need a new model anyway."
Rainbow shook her head. "Not much I can do usually since I'm not actually part of Scoots' family. But her parents have let me dish out punishments before when they travel. And since her aunts are about to go on holiday, she's staying with me. I can think of a few things, and they can do the rest once they get back."
Twilight winced. She had never heard any of her friends sound so vindictive before. "Don't you girls think you're being too harsh on them? They're your family."
Applejack shook her head. "Family doesn't do this to each other, Twilight. If'n those three had only come to us, this whole lota hogwash could've been avoided."
Rarity nodded. "Indeed. That Sweetie took my phone without asking has ruined much of my trust in her. She knows to only take it when, and if, it's an emergency. I will need to redo my security so she can't do it again."
Twilight sighed. She could feel how peeved beyond belief her friends were. There was little she could do, however. This would give her something to think about, however, when she returned to Equestria.
Rainbow seemed to catch on. "Are you sure you can't stay? Feels kinda wrong to leave you out after the last few months."
Twilight smiled slightly. "I know, Rainbow, and I really do wish I could stay. But my family will be waiting for me. Mom can be scary when I'm not on time for something like this. I need to be back in Ponyville in a few hours anyway so I can catch the train to Canterlot to meet them and Spike on time."
She saw the look on Sunset's face, and her smile grew. "And I will be sure to tell your parents, Sunset, that you're fine. One of these days, though, you will need to come back to Equestria and make up with not just them, but Princess Celestia as well. You can't run away from it forever. Even if I have to drag you kicking and screaming back through the portal myself!"
The girls chuckled, while Sunset only rolled her eyes. "Maybe one day, Twilight. I'm not leaving Canterlot High either way. Not yet anyway. I intend to graduate. After that? I don't know."
Twilight rolled her eyes, even as the bell rang. "Well. You will always have a place in Ponyville, Sunset if you ever need a place to stay."
Sunset smiled as she grabbed her bag and joined the others at the door. "Thanks, Twilight. One day, I might take you up on that offer."
Twilight smiled as her friends returned to class and she returned to her current read. It might not have gone like she would have wanted. But even with all of this? This trip had been worth it in the end.