//------------------------------// // Chapter 28 // Story: Hostile History // by Jest //------------------------------// Sunset strode down the halls of Canterlot high at a slow, sedentary pace, her hands stuffed into her leather jacket. Over one shoulder hung her very light backpack which contained little more than her lunch, some easy reading material and her phone. Class, at least for her anyway, was no longer important, nor was it something she had ever really struggled with in the first place. As Sunset pondered the possibility of simply dropping out and getting her G.E.D, she noticed the looks shot her way by many of the other students. Some were fearful, their faces half hidden behind books, backpacks or locker doors. Others were nervous, as if unsure of her, and weighing the woman in silent contemplation. Most either didn't care, or were so absorbed into their own worlds that they didn't notice her presence. We live in a weird town, but teenagers are still teenagers. Sunset thought to herself. A familiar head of bright pink hair caught Sunset’s attention, and the girl made a beeline towards the locker covered with butterfly stickers. As she neared the other girl, Sunset noticed that she was staring into the small mirror taped to the inside of her locker. Fluttershy’s gaze was empty, and her hand trembled as it gripped the off green metal. “Hey Fluttershy, are you okay?” Sunset whispered. Fluttershy blinked, and looked over to the new arrival. “Oh Sunset. I just… can't stop thinking about the other day,” Fluttershy quickly admitted, her gaze falling to the ground. “All that fighting and blood was…” “That certainly was… something,” Sunset murmured, placing a hand on Fluttershy’s shoulder. “Look I’m not going to tell you to forget about it, but just put it out of your mind okay? It's not healthy to think about such heavy stuff all the time.” “But the things we saw. That we did,” Fluttershy murmured, gazing down at her trembling hands. “Think about the lives, or unlives that you saved, and the smiling faces of those same people,” Sunset Shimmer whispered. Fluttershy nodded slowly. “Right. Sorry. I guess Lady Platinum’s rather stern teaching has left me a little off balance.” “She is rather abrasive,” Sunset admitted. “But also a skilled healer!” Fluttershy quickly declared, eyes going wide. “I never would have thought that someone like her would know so much about the human body, and how to fix so many different injuries. I’m so glad that she invited us back for more lectures, even if she's still pretty scary.” “Me too, and to answer your question; Who do you think made-er hired most of her staff?” Sunset asked. Fluttershy nodded. “I suppose I never thought of it like that. It's still crazy to think that someone like her is even real.” “Don't worry, she is as unique as she is rare,” Sunset declared, giving Fluttershy’s shoulder one final squeeze. Fluttershy blinked and looked around. “Oh my. We really should be getting to the cafeteria. I bet everyone else is already eating without us.” “I suppose,” Sunset remarked. Together the pair set off for the cafeteria, striding down the more or less empty halls in relative silence. Fluttershy seemed deep in thought still, though now she wore a small smile, and her brow was uncreased by the familiar lines of worry. Left with little else to do, Sunset stuck her hands back into her pockets, and walked along with her friend while staring off into space. Upon reaching the hallowed halls of the lunch room, the two looked around for any sign of their mutual friends. Their search didn't last long, as the other five girls were sitting alone at a table squirreled away to the far left. Relatively isolated by the position of the kitchen and the bathroom, there were few other tables nearby, all of which were empty. As she walked over to their usual spot, Sunset couldn't help but notice that the five girls seemed a bit more contemplative than what was usual for them. Rainbow Dash especially stuck out, as the girl twirled a fork idly in her spaghetti, gaze distant and unfocused. Twilight was slightly less distant, though not by much, her phone held in front of her face, though she didn't touch any of the buttons. Applejack and Rarity were a little more normal, though it was clear that they were older than they had been the last time they had sat at this table. Maturity and the weight of the world had taken a hammer to all of them, and they almost seemed a little out of place amidst all of these children. To Sunset they looked like a group of veterans who had returned from a war, all save for Pinkie Pie, who continued to wear the same wide smile she always did. “Hey Sunny! How was social studies?” asked the bouncy pink girl. “Not bad. I already did all the assignments so I just read most of the class,” Sunset Shimmer remarked as she plunked down to Twilight’s right and began fishing for her lunch in her backpack. “You’re such a keener,” Pinkie Pie teased, giggling at her own comment. “Who says keener? That word is old enough to count as an antique,” Rarity remarked. Pinkie Pie shrugged. “My parents are old. At least I haven't busted out any obscure country euphemisms, like someone we know.” “Everyone loves my euphemisms,” Applejack declared before taking a bite of her sandwich. “They are pretty funny,” Sunset Shimmer admitted. “I must say darling, your ensemble is rather daring today. I like it,” Rarity commented. Sunset Shimmer grinned, her hands running down her ripped black jeans before settling on her wide, dark leather belt. “Thanks. It's a real relief to dress how I’ve always wanted to,” Sunset exclaimed. Rarity winced and looked down. “I’m sorry about-” “Enough apologies,” Sunset interrupted. “That's all in the past. Now then, how has everyone’s day been?” “Good, if a tad dull. Class just doesn't seem that important in the grand scheme of things anymore,” Rarity admitted before sinking a fork into a rather dainty garden salad. “Yeah once you get in a real live firefight, dodgeball isn't nearly as intimidating,” Applejack remarked with a shrug. “Yes but you shouldn't forget the importance of school,” Twilight admonished. “I ain't sayin school is useless or nothing. Just that the events of last weekend have really changed my perspective of things is all,” Applejack retorted. “Well I for one love being back in school,” Pinkie Pie proclaimed, only to sigh. “Though I guess Home ec isn't quite as fun anymore.” “I know what you mean,” Fluttershy offered. “Biology used to be my favorite class, but now I can't help but feel like I know more than the teacher.” “Totally. The only class that ever proved difficult for me was history, but that's because so much of humanity’s past hasn't been censored. You guys have such a breadth of historical events to study that it's rather intimidating at first,” Sunet exclaimed. “Hey now. I remember someone had a rather difficult time with her science homework for a bit there,” Twilight pointed out. Sunset chuckled and rubbed the back of her neck. “True. Celestia wasn't a fan of any explanation for gravity or whatever that didn't attribute it at least partially to some magical entity or another. Though for all I know that might very well be true given how weird Equestria is.” “That's still gets my knickers in a twist,” Applejack began, pointing a finger at Sunset. “Not the magic thing, though but how your home have so many advances but stuff like where gravity comes from is-” “I’m cancelling my university application,” Rainbow Dash blurted out. “What-” “Why-” “When-” “You can't do that!” Twilight exclaimed, the girl rising from her seat. “Why not huh? It's my life,” Rainbow Dash retorted, arms crossed over her chest. “How are you going to get a job? How are you going to have a future?” Twilight angrily declared. “Tons of people don't have university educations and they survive just fine,” Rainbow Dash shot back. “Besides, I can always get Perfect to hire me for whatever it is he does.” Before Twilight’s bitter response could be uttered, Applejack interrupted her with a comment of her own. “But we were going to go to the same school,” murmured the farm girl in a low tone. “We were going to be roommates.” Rainbow Dash’s angry demeanor and tense expression faded. “And that would have been great, but I just don't think school is for me,” Rainbow Dash all but whispered. “That ain't who I am Applejack.” “It's who you were a month ago,” Twilight pointed out. Rainbow Dash shrugged. “People change.” “This isn't for the better though. You should think about this. Like, really think about it,” Twilight exclaimed. Sunset held out a hand, cutting off Rainbow Dash’s angry retort before it could be uttered. “She's obviously thought about it a lot,” Sunet stated confidently. “And if Rainbow Dash changed her mind then it's our duty as her friends to support her.” “I suppose it's good you changed your mind now and not when you took out your loan for school,” Fluttershy offered. “Exactly,” Rainbow Dash declared. “A loan is just a fancy way to tie people down to stuff, and you all know that ain't my style.” “Is being homeless your style then?” Twilight countered. “Woah there. Ain't nobody gonna be homeless around here. Not while I got extra rooms at the farm anyway,” Applejack interjected. “Yeah I mean both my parents don't have university educations or nothing,” Rainbow Dash continued. “And they are doing just fine.” “I mean your parents also both have jobs down at the local news station,” Fluttershy pointed out. “So I don't feel like that's super normal.” “Yeah and they got them without any kind of training with equipment or meteorological gobbledygook,” Rainbow Dash huffed. “But they could be doing so much more if they did,” Twilight exclaimed, sitting back down. “If your father had taken a journalism course he could be more than the weatherman for Canterlot’s third most watched news channel. And your mother could be more than a simple camera operator.” Rainbow Dash rose from her seat and jabbed a finger at Twilight. “Hey, who are you calling simple huh? Just because my folks don't have any fancy P.H.Ds like yours doesn't mean they are stupid.” “I’m not saying that,” Twilight defended, raising her hands. “I’m just saying they could be getting paid more, doing more. Their options would be open and they could go anywhere if they wanted.” “Not everyone wants to leave,” Fluttershy muttered. Twilight groaned. “Don't tell me your taking her side on this?” “Her side? Darling we are all on the same ‘side’ as it were. We merely wish what's best for Rainbow Dash,” Rarity offered. “I’m not against university,” Fluttershy added, glancing hesitantly at Rarity. “I’m just not sure if I could leave my friends.” “I suppose that’s worth reconsiderin, given our new circumstances,” Applejack murmured, hand on her chin. “Would our powers fade if we each went our own way?” “I don't think so, though I’m also not sure if we could pony up anymore,” Sunset posited. “Who cares about our powers?” Twilight exclaimed in an exasperated tone. “Skills, training, and experience in our chosen fields are more important than any parlor tricks we are currently capable of.” “Hey speak for yourself horn head, but I don't want to live another day without my super speed,” Rainbow Dash declared. “Healing people and talking to animals is pretty nice,” Fluttershy muttered. “I can't believe what I’m hearing,” Twilight began. “A month ago you all were ready to leave the very next day and now with less then a month before we leave, not only is Rainbow Dash dropping out before she even started but you all are taking her side.” “Like Rarity said, no one is on a side,” Sunset stressed. “We are just supporting our friend in her decision.” “Yeah, it ain't like we can just command her to go to school,” Applejack added. Rarity nodded, casting a quick smile in Sunset’s direction. “We are her friends darling. We aren't meant to make decisions for others.” “If that's what Dashy wants to do then I think we should be proud of her,” Pinkie Pie proclaimed. “It's not like she's hurting anymore,” Fluttershy whispered. “And it's not like she couldn't go later if she changes her mind again.” “It's my decision, and it's final,” Rainbow Dash declared. Twilight looked around the table in shock, her jaw hanging open as she stared at the faces of her friends. Each one of whom wore a confident expression, their opinions obviously unshaken by her facts and logic. Perhaps worst was Sunset who wore a disappointed look, and seemed ready to launch into a long winded speech as to why Twilight was as wrong as she was rude. The bespectacled girl wouldn't let that happen however. “I’m late for my date with Timber,” she muttered, quickly gathering up her half eaten lunch as well as her bags. “But Twilight it's the middle of the day,” Rarity pointed out. Twilight didn't answer, merely shouldering her backpack and taking off at a slight jog, never once looking back at her friends. “Well that sure was weird. Who plans a date for like one o'clock on a monday?” Pinkie Pie asked, scratching her head. “Not anyone that I know,” Applejack answered. “The poor dear seemed a little distraught. Perhaps we should go after her,” Rarity offered. “I think she needs some space,” Fluttershy replied. Sunset Shimmer nodded. “She's probably still grappling with everything that’s happened to us. You know Twilight needs a bit more time with these kinds of things then the rest of us.” “I dunno. She seemed kinda pissed,” Rainbow Dash pointed out. “She was rather mad,” Rarity agreed. “What do y'all say we put a hold on talkin about school and stuff around Twilight? At least until she’s processed everything,” Applejack asked. The table all nodded, or muttered their agreement. All save for Sunset Shimmer, who was busy staring at the double doors Twilight had just disappeared through. What is going on with you? Sunset thought to herself.