//------------------------------// // Chapter 6: the CPS meeting // Story: Sunset Shimmer and the Shadowbolts // by KittyrinnAiko //------------------------------// The presence of multiple cars out in front of the duplex where Lofty and Holiday lived wasn’t too concerning, after all, it was the holidays and there were likely people visiting relatives. If anything, it was annoying in that Dusty ended up having to drive around to park in a visitor parking space. He and Sunset got out, gathered up their suitcases, their guitar cases, and walked back towards the duplex. The remainder would have to wait for another go-round. Dusty set down his suitcase and knocked on the door. They waited maybe a minute or two for the door to open. “Dusty!” Lofty called moments after opening the door. She quickly stepped out and shut the door behind her. “They’re already here. Sunset!” Lofty threw her arms around her and gave her a light hug as though she was afraid she might break her. “Sunset, Lofty, and I are married. You might recall my mentioning something along those lines at the police station? Ms Holiday is Lofty’s roommate,” Dusty explained. “I thought Lofty and Holiday were married to each other?” Sunset asked as she gave him a confused look. “The state doesn’t allow it,” Dusty said softly. “Our marriage was one of convenience, and no one gets too suspicious of Lofty and Holiday. Holiday is just here to keep Lofty company on account of my being away so much. And as an added benefit I got to have some say in your future when you showed up out of the blue.” “This world is just so messed up in so many ways,” Sunset offered softly. “In that other world, their love would be celebrated. Hell, all three of you could be married to each other and everyone would be fine with it.” Sunset thought about it for a moment. “Don’t worry, I’ll be careful about what I say.” “So, my relationship with Holiday had nothing to do with your decision to move out?” Lofty asked. “What? No!” Sunset protest. She dropped her head. “Mostly me. Not like Scootaloo’s attitude towards me helped. And to think that she and I are technically half-sisters. Well, sisters. Can’t say anything about other worlds to the people inside. They’d have me seeing a head doctor.” “You know, Sunset, might not be a bad idea to see a therapist what with everything you’ve had to go through,” Dusty offered. “Were you good friends with the girls at Canterlot high?” “I thought I was. Well, there is Fluttershy, but…” “Too little and nearly too late,” Dusty finished. Sunset cringed. “Dusty?” Lofty protested. “She’s a strong girl, and she knows that pretending it didn’t happen isn’t going to help.” “Let’s just go inside,” Lofty admonished, turned, opened the door, and ushered the two inside. Inside waited a couple of very stern individuals dressed in casual suits. If a suit could be considered casual, and a young police officer who just looked like he’d rather be anywhere else but here. Nor was he welcome so far as Sunset was concerned, because the presence of a police officer simply could not be good. “Sunset, Dusty, come on in, and have a seat, hang on let me get some chairs from the kitchen.” “Why don’t you two just put your bags down,” Lofty suggested as Holiday drug out a couple of chairs. “Names Dusk Shimmer,” Dusty offered as he strides on into the room. He offered up his hand for a handshake. “Oh, this is Mrs Janine Meanewitz, Mr Sombra, and Officer Shining Armor,” “Shining Armor?” Sunset asked. Never mind that the two suits were causing a cold pit to form in her gut, Shining Armor was an opportunity to turn things around. “Shining Armor as in Twilight’s BBBFF?” Pay-dirt. “You know my sister?” “We’ve met,” Sunset had to think of something, oh right, “Last year’s friendship games. I do hope she didn’t have too much trouble with the visiting Canterlot students. Not sure if she even remembers me. - I’m transferring into Chrystal Prep.” Sunset twirled, remembered herself, and took off the jacket she had on which was taken by Lofty. Philomena had also been dumped in the process as she’d been snuggled up next to Sunset’s body on the ride over. Philomena let out a squawk, opened her wings to arrest her plummet, and with a sweep shot up, and circled to land on Sunset’s shoulder. Sunset stopped in her tracks and turned to look at Lofty while ignoring Philomena’s admonishments. “Mom?” Sure, Lofty and Holiday were her official foster parents so far as she had been aware. “Yes?” Lofty asked as she gave Sunset a puzzled look. “You're married to my dad,” Sunset stated. “And?” Lofty asked wondering what had gotten into Sunset. Come to think of it, that was quite possibly the first time Sunset had called her, Mom. “I just realized,” Sunset stated. “You’re married to my dad. That makes you my mom, not just a foster mom, but an actual mom.” Lofty smiled, and let out a delighted chuckle. “You know, for someone with a four-point oh grade point average you can be kind of slow on the uptake.” Lofty teased even though she knew full well there’d be no way for Sunset to have known. “Considering I can’t account for my own past from three and a half years ago…” She trailed off. Granted that was the time frame when she’d left Equestria. It also meant that if the people here in the room had any intentions of removing her, they’d be faced with doing irreparable harm. Sure, she might be reformed but she wasn’t above a little manipulation to make sure her life didn’t get uprooted now that things were looking up. “Well, this is an interesting development,” Mr Sombra offered. He stood up to shake Dusty’s hand, but Mrs Janine Meanewitz just sat where she was. “I’m the Head of the School board, and Mrs Janine Meanewitz is with CPS.” “I wish it was under better circumstances,” Dusty offered taking the man’s hand in his. “You’ve got a good grip.” “You’d be surprised how much paperwork works the hand muscles,” Sombra offered with a big smile. “Mr Shimmer, do you always knock before entering your own house?” Janine Meanewitz asked tersely. “Mam, you ask any cowboy who’s been on the road and he’ll tell you that it’s always a good idea to knock, and be prepared to duck on coming home after a long absence,” Dusty offered with what he hoped was a winning smile. But what’s a cowboy to do when the old nag’s got a burr under the saddle? “If it’ll make you feel any better, I’ll be sticking around for a spell. I’ve gotten a local assignment that just might last long enough to grow a little moss on the toes.” “Assignment?” Mrs Meanewitz scoffed. “I thought you were just a bar tramp pedaling your music wherever you go.” “Mam, don’t mistake my hobby for my vocation. I work for Palantiri Consultants Incorporated.” Dusty moved to sit in one of the provided chairs, and Sunset decided that she should as well. “I’ve heard of them,” Sombra offered. “I’m to understand they do a fair amount of government contracts.” “Is that how you can afford to give Sunset that exotic bird?” Mrs Meanewitz asked. “Philomena is an Akkadian phoenix," Shining Armor informed. “They can neither be bought nor sold. Possessing one is illegal with the exception of certain individuals. Sunset has dual citizenship, here and in Akkadia, and Sunset is counted as an Apostle of the Sun. She’s practically a princess. I was briefed before I came here. I was informed that any action taken concerning Sunset Shimmer might have to be run by the Akkadian Embassy. This means the department won’t support any actions regarding her without a very good reason. As it stands, Mr Shimmer has already taken several steps to improve matters concerning her welfare.” It was all Sunset could do to keep herself from jumping up and hugging Officer Shining Armor. “Then why are you even here?” Mrs Meanewitz asked. “There is still the matter of Miss Scootaloo Shutter, and regulations do require at least one police officer be present at these sort of meetings,” Mr Sombra reminded her. “As I informed you earlier, we removed Scootaloo from her home the moment we learned that her father, my brother, and his wife, had taken off on another one of his adventures,” Holiday offered. “Are you going to take her away?” Sunset asked. “I’m to understand that she was one of the girls who created that Anon-a-miss account,” Mr Sombra stated. “And taking her away would only make her even more resentful. While I was unaware that she was my sister, I did count her as family,” Sunset offered. “And made some difficult choices to keep her safe,” Mr Sombra replied thoughtfully. “Do keep in mind that we did investigate a number of accusations of, shall we say, pressuring fellow students. And I can say that to date the vast majority of the accusations have been unfounded or you were in fact doing the right thing and those individuals really should have kept their mouths shut concerning their own culpability. Granted that we the administrators would prefer that problems be brought to the faculty and not solved by our students. That said, some of the individuals that you pressured to behave quite possibly were better off for it and should be grateful you dealt with certain issues in-house without bringing things to the faculty.” “I’ll keep that in mind,” Sunset offered. “As it turns out, I’ve got some friends at Crystal Prep that didn’t get swept up into the Anon-a-miss mess.” Sunset paused a moment. “I may find that going to Chrystal Prep to be the best decision I’ve ever made. And I want to try to work things out with Scootaloo. If I don’t at least try, I’ll spend the rest of my life wondering if I could have patched things up with her.” “And how were you going to pay for a school like Chrystal prep?” Mrs Meanewitz asked. “She’s got a scholarship just for signing up,” Dusty informed them. “Scholarship?” Sombra asked. “Silverwood Foundation,” Dusty offered. “Someone wants her in that school. “But instead of talking about who’s paying for what, how about you explain why things at Canterlot High were allowed to get so bad that I had to pull my daughter off a bridge? Why did it take federal intervention to get that Anan-a-miss blog pulled down? The moment they started posting HIPA controlled information you could have gotten a court order to shut it down.” “Afraid we kind of dropped the ball on that one,” Sombra offered just a little sheepishly. “I don’t think anyone appreciated how damaging it could be. Or that there was even the remotest possibility anyone higher up might not want certain rumors getting spread all over the Internet. Anon-a-miss had been dismissed as kids just having a little fun. And in that, we failed not just your daughter, but Principle Celestia who was adamant that the blog be pulled. In the short time the blog was up, several students left the district to go elsewhere. Good students we really couldn't afford to lose.” “Not to mention the attempted homicide warrant that was issued this morning,” Dusty added. “Homicide?” Mrs Meanewitz asked while sounding skeptical. “Garble Torch and Gilda Griffonstone took their harassment of my daughter to the point of assaulting her, and they are the prime suspects behind the trashing of her apartment along with conspiring to get her locked out without shelter on one of the coldest nights of the year. Such was Sunset’s mental state that night, due to the harassment, beat down, and subsequent lockout of her own apartment, had I not found her when I did the cold alone would have done her in.” “I’m to understand the hospital report was added to the evidence,” Shining offered, his tone informative. “I, I didn’t know,” Mrs Meanewitz said. She definitely sounded shocked. “It really got that bad? And Sunset, you are still willing to try to make up with your sister?” “She’s not the sort to act out of malice. She just doesn't always think about the consequences of her actions.” Sunset offered. “I can’t help but feel the constant absence of my own brother has helped,” Holiday offered. “Scootaloo simply hasn’t had enough supervision. I regret to say.” “Which brings us back to Scootaloo’s best interests,” Mrs Meanewitz offered. “Yes, I think we can agree that Sunset is on the road to improvement,” Mr Sombra offered. “We also need to keep in mind that this is a dynamic situation.” “Indeed,” Mrs Meanewitz concurred. “I must confess I’d been unaware at how bad things had gotten, but tell me, Mr Shimmer how is it you just managed to arrive in the nick of time.” “I’m a cowboy, it’s what I do,” Dusty offered with a smile. “Seriously though, an old friend called up and told me to get home as fast as I could. My being on that bridge the other night is just a happy accident. A couple of minutes sooner or later…” He trailed off. “I came so close to missing her.” “Fortuity then,” Sombra offered. “Do the people at Canterlot High know Scootaloo was involved with Anon-a-miss?” Sunset asked. “Principle Celestia took steps to shield their identity and spread the blame around. No guarantees,” Sombra replied. “I think I can recommend that Scootaloo be allowed to stay here, but things are going to have to change concerning her parents,” Mrs Meanewitz offered. “Also, I’m recommending moving her to a new school.” “Mrs Cinch isn’t likely to allow her at Crystal Prep,” Dusty offered. “Yes, she’s taking a hard line on Canterlot students wanting to transfer in,” Mr Sombra added. “Surprised she let Sunset in.” “Canterlot High’s top student and a full scholarship just waiting for me,” Sunset pointed out. “I get the feeling that someone at the Silverwood foundation has been looking out for me, but for whatever reason couldn't actively intervene in my affairs.” “No doubt Cinch will rub it in Celestia’s face,” Sombra mused. “Peril Peak Vista High is one place Scootaloo could be moved to,” Mrs Meanewitz offered. “Not sure I’d be comfortable with her going there,” Sunset countered. “I’m to understand it can be a rough school. To make matters worse the only people I know who go to that school who could keep an eye on her are themselves in a gang. Maybe not the worst sort, but it’d be kind of hypocritical on my part after having damaged our relationship by doing what I did to keep her out of a gang.” “I see,” Mrs Meanewitz mused. “And that leaves Everfree,” Mr Sombra announced. “It’s a good school, Principle Zecora runs a good program over there.” “Fear that may be for the best,” Holiday said sounding resigned. “Miss Shimmer, if you could possibly fetch Miss Shutter,” Mrs Meanewitz requested. “I’d like to talk to her as well.” “She’ll be in her room,” Holiday informed her. “I’ll be right back,” Sunset replied, got up, and went into the back of the house, Philomena bobbing along on her shoulder as she went. Sunset knocked on Scootaloo’s door. Technically it was a guest room, but it was the one Scootaloo used. Sunset waited a bit. Nothing. “Scootaloo?” Sunset called quietly. No answer. Sunset tried the door to find it locked. “Scootaloo? Listen, we need to put this animosity between us aside. The lady from Child Protective Services wants to talk to you.” Still nothing. Sunset took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. Magic exists in this world. Focus, that’s all she needed. In order to cast magic, humans focused their magic on a device such as a wand or an amulet, which meant channeling through the hands. Sunset concentrated on her manna flow, directing the energy to her right hand which held the doorknob. All she needed was for the lock to spring. “Bingo,” Sunset said softly as the knob turned. She slowly opened the door. “Scootaloo, I’m coming in. Please don’t throw anything at me. The room was empty, and the window opened. “Idiot girl.” Sunset hissed under her breath. Philomina chirped at her. “Oh right,” Sunset replied as a big grin formed on her face. “Philomena, be a good dear and fetch my sister.” Philomina launched forward spread her wings and was gone with a flash and a bit of a pop. She returned a moment later with a pony Scootaloo. “Scootaloo? I’m so sorry. - Philomena, good job, but that’s not the Scootaloo I wanted, yes I know, that’s my sister. I need her counterpart from this world, so if you could put that one back and get this world’s Scootaloo?” “Sister?!” Scootaloo asked with wide eyes. “Hi, I’m Sunset Shimmer, we both have the same mom. Just ask about Pippin Apple.” And they were gone with another loud pop. “Sunset?” Holiday called as she came down the hallway. She looked into the room to see Sunset standing in an empty room with the window open – suddenly Scootaloo appears with Philomena lifting her up by her backpack. “Good girl,” Sunset praised. Philomena dropped Scootaloo and flew over to land on Sunset’s shoulder and received a cuddle and a pet. Scootaloo dropped to her knees. “Scootaloo,” Holiday said softly. “Why must you be so difficult?” “Because she’s my sister. Sort of. Like Dad says, the universe doesn’t care,” Sunset offered. “And we are both equally stubborn.” “What just happened?” Scootaloo asked in utter astonishment. “You were being stupid so I sent Philomena to fetch you,” Sunset offered. “Honestly, running away doesn’t solve anything. I know. I ran away.” “That was so cool!” “And I just realized that Princess Celestia could have had Philomena fetch me anytime she wanted.” Philomina chirped a sharp negative. “No?” Sunset asked while looking at the bird who bobbed up and down happily. “Oh, I think I get it, you would have done it only if that’s what I wanted. I will have to admit that I was a lot happier here than I was in Canterlot. At least I, that is, I was living a fairly normal life, I had friends, and then… was it all me? Did I get lost in my own desires never asking myself if what I was doing was something I should do?” “How do we explain that popping noise?” Holiday asked. Sunset looked around the room, picked up a rubber dart, and stuck it to her forehead. “This will do,” Sunset offered, helped Scootaloo take her backpack off, and pulled Schootaloo up onto her feet. “Come on little sis, we need to convince a testy old nag that you and I can get along, and not one word about trying to run off.” Sunset gave Scootaloo a moment. “If you really don’t want to live under the same roof as me I’ll get a dorm room at my new school.” “New school?” Scootaloo asked. “You don’t have to.” “Scootaloo, why are you…” Holiday began but let the question trail off. “No, we’ll talk about why you thought running off was a good idea later.” “After everything I did, I didn’t think Sunset would want to have anything to do with me,” Scootaloo admitted with her head down. “Scootaloo, if I can’t forgive you, how can I possibly forgive myself for the things I’ve done over the years? I’ve made too many mistakes and if anyone is to blame it’s me.” “That’s not true though,” Scootaloo offered meekly. “I’ve made my own share of screw-ups. I never even gave you a chance. If I hadn’t have been so selfish, not to mention my tagging after Dash all the time. But now, Dash might never talk to me again, and the only reason why I even went along with Apple Bloom and Sweetie is that they said they’d done it before and we’d never get caught.” “Between you and me, if all you and the others wanted to do was to drive a wedge between me and the others, those first two posts were enough.” “Do you really think that?” Scootaloo asked. “If Rarity, Dash, AJ, Pinkie, and Fluttershy had supported me the three of you would have been found out a lot faster with far less damage. But they didn’t. Maybe some of it is the fault of that girl who got taken away by the feds, but in the end, people who I thought were my friends just turned their backs and walked away from me.” “You think they were just doing Princess Twilight a favor then?” Scootaloo asked. “It kind of looks that way, doesn't it? Let’s face it if, for example, I’d been guilty, they kind of owed it to Princess twilight to stop me. But they didn’t. They didn’t even try. Now come on before that CPS woman gets it into her head you ran off or something.” “Probably don’t want to mention whatever it was I might have just seen,” Holiday cautioned as Sunset and Scootaloo made their way out of the room. “This is Philomena. She kind of followed me,” Sunset offered with a smile on her face. “She has some interesting abilities and doesn’t seem to care which world she’s in.” The three reentered the family room of the home to be greeted with some curious glances. “We were just working things out,” Sunset offered as she returned to her seat. “Indeed,” Mrs Meanewitz commented as she took note of the rubber dart. “Miss Scootaloo Shutter, do you have any idea how much trouble you are in? Not to mention the trouble your parents are in for abandoning you, and it would seem this happens on multiple occasions. I have one question for you, do you think you can somehow manage to live under the same roof as Sunset?” “I guess,” Scootaloo offered in a rather halfhearted way. “It’d just be till my parents are back.” “No, dear, your parents have shown themselves to be unfit,” Mrs Meanewitz informed her. “You are to be removed from their custody until such time as they can demonstrate that they can be competent parents. What I can offer you is to either stay here in your Aunt’s care or to be placed in a foster home.” Scootaloo froze. “Also, you will no longer go to Canterlot high,” Mr Sombra informed her. “But, but my friends are all at Canterlot,” Scootaloo pleaded. “So are all the people who want to get back at Anon-a-miss,” Sunset offered. “Surely you must have seen the way I was being treated? If they know...” “I, I’m sorry,” Scootaloo pleaded. “When Apple Bloom and Sweetie told me what they’d done and why all I thought about was that it sounded like it’d be a good way to get more time with Rainbow Dash.” “Dash?” Mrs Meanewitz asked. “Top athlete at Canterlot High,” Sunset offered with an air of resignation. “Scootaloo has been a big fan of hers.” “I wanted a sister so bad, and, and, here I had a sister all the time, and Sunset, I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m…” Scootaloo began crying. “I’ve made such a mess of things. I never should have gone along with that Anon-a-miss thing.” Sunset got up, went to Scootaloo, and gave her a hug. “Little at a time; we will fix this.” “Rainbow’s going to be mad at me, why aren’t you mad at me?” “The blame isn’t your own. There is a lot to spread around. I suppose I’m more disappointed in your actions. I am heartbroken by the actions of the girls I thought were my friends, and if I want to be mad at anyone it’s going to be Garble and Gilda. Except that I’m not.” “What’d they do?” Scootaloo asked. “Besides beating me up and trashing my phone? They trashed my apartment, killed my gecko, and stole my electric guitar,” Sunset informed Scootaloo. She got up from her chair, went to her jacket, and retrieved the tiny coffin from the pocket. “My landlady gave me a little casket for my little Ray,” Sunset announced and placed the casket on the table. “I’m sorry,” Scootaloo said softly. “Your landlady must be an interesting person,” Mrs Meanewitz mused. “Suddenly I feel like I’m at a Wake.” Mr Sombra announced. Sunset removed the dart from her forehead, placed it on the table, and then returned to her seat. “Miss Shutter,” Mr Sombra began anew in a serious tone. “You are to be enrolled at Everfree as that seems to be your best option right now.” “Do I get a choice?” Scootaloo asked. “Scootaloo, that’s kind of your best choice,” Sunset offered. “Only reason why Principle Cinch let me in Chrystal Prep is because there was a scholarship waiting for me.” “Oh, I’m sure there’s more to it than that,” Mr Sombra offered. “You see, Principle Cinch likes to do a bit of academic headhunting to bring in students with top grades. She has no qualms about poaching top students from other schools.” “Why?” Sunset asked genuinely confused. “I’d think that’d be obvious?” Mrs Meanewitz offered. “It inflates the school’s grade point average. A higher grade point average means she can attract well-off families.” A slight smile cracked on her face at the look Dusty gave her. “Do keep in mind that my interest is the welfare of the children. I’m not as heartless as some people might think, and I’m not blind to certain arrangements. And if I thought certain arrangements were an issue, we wouldn't be having this conversation. - As for Principle Cinch, I’ve no doubt she’ll have called Principle Celestia to gloat by now.” “Celestia?” Luna asked cautiously as she looked into the principal’s office. “Are you alright?” “Oh, I’m fine,” Celestia stated. The anger in her tone suggested otherwise. “Now I know things have been difficult…” “Cinch called. She’s poached Sunset. Any chance of talking her into coming back are now shot.” “But, how’d she even get into, I mean… Sunset has no background to check, no money, certainly not enough to get into a school like Chrystal Prep?” “Sunset has a four-point oh grade point average save for a recent understandable dip. I’ve no doubt Cinch has provided one of her special scholarships, and took advantage of her while she was down.