//------------------------------// // Chapter 5: A Perfect Afternoon // Story: The Sunsets for Demons too // by The_Rusty_Author //------------------------------// A Perfect Afternoon “Mommy, when is daddy coming home,” the young filly asked her mother while trying to avoid eye contact. “I don’t know. You shouldn’t worry about those things. You should be worried about that test of yours and getting high marks,” a dark amber mare said, looking at the light amber-coated filly. “Yes, mommy,” the amber filly said, heading to her room. “Sunset… Sunset… earth to Sunset.” Sunset was jolted out of her thoughts and was face to face with a concerned Rainbow Dash. “Huh?” Sunset said, looking confused. “You ok? I asked you about your injuries, and you kinda zoned out,” Rainbow said, looking a little concerned.  “Yeah, I’m fine. I just was thinking about something. My back is a little sore, but it feels a lot better after changing the bandages,” Sunset said a little sheepishly.  “Well, that’s good. What were you thinking about anyway? You looked like you were out of it.” “N...Nothing, look, I appreciate what you guys are doing for me, but there are things about my life I’m not comfortable sharing.” “That’s ok, Sunset; we are here whenever you need to talk. If you are not ready to share anything, you don’t have to, right Rainbow?” Fluttershy said, entering the room after putting up the medical supplies. “Right!” Dash said, giving both of the girls a confident smile.       “Well, I think we better get going to SugarCube Corner to meet with the girls. I hate being late,” Fluttershy said, looking at her watch that had rabbits printed on its band. “Same here; I don’t like to be late too,” Sunset said. “You sure you're ready for this,” Rainbow asked. “No, and I’ll never be. This is something I need to do,” Sunset replied, feeling a little nervous but confident at the same time. ***** Looking out the window of Fluttershy’s van, Sunset watched the cars come and go as they passed, thinking about the words she’ll say to Princess Twilight Sparkle’s friends. She thought about all the things she said and did to all the students of CHS. She didn’t know how to make it up to them. Finally, she was pulled out of her thoughts when Fluttershy spoke.  “Sunset, we are here.”      All three girls step out of the van, slowly making their way to the entrance with Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy in the lead and Sunset trailing behind them. Sunset was looking at her feet, pondering what to say to the group of people who she treated the worst. She looked up to see the three girls sitting in the window booth; suddenly, she felt a hand on her shoulder and was jerked out of her thoughts. “Hey, we are here for you,” Fluttershy said, giving her an encouraging smile. “That’s right, Sunset, we are not going to leave your side; we are sticking beside you no matter  what,” Rainbow Dash said, giving a thumbs up. Walking into the building made Sunset feel more nervous than she already felt. The three girls made their way to the table where the other girls sat. Sunset looked at the group of girls, reading their faces; Applejack looked at Sunset with a critical stare, Rarity with a waiting expression, and Pinkie Pie vibrated while having a big smile planted on her face.  “First things first, I would like to apologize for my actions at the Fall Formal and all the things I did to you all ever since arriving in this world,” Sunset finally spoke, sounding sincere.    A full minute of silence passed over the group of girls. A minute that felt like an eternity for Sunset.  “Shit, Shit, Shit, what do I say? Did I come off too strong? Did it sound like I did not mean it?  I’m Sorry. I’m so sorry.”  Sunset was having a mini panic attack until Applejack broke her out of her trance. “What do ya mean ever since arriving’ in our world?” Applejack asked with a quizzical brow.  Sunset looked up and saw confusion written on the three girls’ faces. Looking between Rainbow and Fluttershy, both gave nods of encouragement. “Well, I’m from the same world as Princess Twilight. I came here two years before the princess,”  Sunset rubbed the back of her head nervously. “So you are from this pony world, the same as Twilight?” Rarity asked with a shocked look on her face. “Yup,” Sunset squeaked out, feeling pressured under the girls' stares. “WAIT!!! So you are a pony? That’s so awesome! Sowhatelseisdifferentfromourworlddowehavecounterpartsdoyousleeponbedswhatdoyoueatwhatdesitfeelliketobehumanafterhavingaponybodywhydidyoucomeheretobeginwithandcanwehavesleepovers!” Pinkie said at a speed that no normal human could comprehend. Sunset stared wide-eyed, trying to process what Pinkie had just said. “Umm… umm…” was all Sunset could manage.  Luckily for Sunset, Rarity calmed Pinkie down by placing her hands on the girl’s shoulders. “Pinkie darling, I think you just broke the poor girl,” Rarity said, putting her hands on Pinkie’s shoulders, trying to calm the girl. “You don’t have ta answer all that right now. How bout y’all take a seat,” Applejack said, noticing the panicked look on Sunset’s face.   Sunset cautiously took a seat next to Applejack, with Rainbow sitting to the side of her and Fluttershy sitting across from them next to Rarity and Pinkie. “A pony, huh,” Applejack said. “Well, unicorn, to be precise. Did the princess really not tell you any of this?” Sunset asked.  “Not really. We were all in a rush ta help her get her crown back before the portal closed. Now that Ah thinks about it, that’s how ya knew about the portal,” Applejack explained. “Darling, if you don’t mind me asking. How did you get to our world?”  Rarity asked. Sunset sat there getting her thoughts together before replying, “I don’t mind. It was one of the worst mistakes of my life.”  Sunset took a shaking breath to steady herself from reliving her worst mistake. Everyone waited patiently for Sunset to begin her story.  “I was a student of Princess Celestia. One day she showed me this mirror. I later found out the mirror was a portal, which showed me an image of myself as a princess. I wanted Princess Celestia to make me a princess because I thought I deserved it. She told me to make friends, but I never liked socializing, and I thought all the other ponies were beneath me. I snuck into the forbidden part of the library to find out more about the mirror. I found this book that explained how I could become what I wanted and how the mirror worked. She expelled me from being her student. I thought she was holding me back from my potential. I was filled with rage, so before I left, I knocked out the guards that were guarding the mirror and then leaped through. The next thing I knew, I was trapped in a strange world in a strange body. I enrolled at CHS to stay close to the portal. She treated me with kindness. She was like a mother to me, but I betrayed her by throwing a fit. I was selfish. I should have listened to her. I just wish I could tell her how sorry I am,” Sunset finished her story and wiped away the tears that were starting to form.   “Princess Celestia!? And you were a student of a princess?” Rarity asked.   “Duh, Twilight is a student of the princess, and the Princess is an alternate version of Principal Celestia,” Pinkie Pie said, grinning from ear to ear. “That’s right,” Sunset stared wide-eyed at Pinkie’s explanation. Everyone else was slack-jawed at Pinkie’s explanation until Applejack spoke up. “So, does everyone have a counterpart in your world?” Applejack asked, still getting over the fact that the principal’s counterpart is a princess. “Not everyone, however, I haven’t run into this world’s Sunset Shimmer,” Sunset explained. “Some don’t have pony counterparts; they might be different creatures such as dragons, griffins, and donkeys. I also have a theory that not everyone has a counterpart because Earth is much larger than Equestria.”  The girls took a moment to process the information that was given to them. Suddenly, Rainbow jumped from the excitement of hearing about all these magical creatures that were thought to be a myth. Sunset flinched from the sudden movement and silently hissed in pain from her back hitting the seat. “Wait, there are not just ponies. There are griffins and dragons!!! I thought spike was kidding about him being a ferocious fire-breathing dragon,” Rainbow exclaimed in amazement.    “Yeah, and there are also many other creatures that exist too,” Sunset said, gritting her teeth in pain. Applejack sitting to the side of Sunset noticed how the girl flinched from Rainbow jumping up, and when her back hit the seat, she could see the pain in Sunset’s eyes. What was more concerning to the farmer was the red tint on the back of her shirt growing.  “Uh, sugar cube, ah think yer bleeding and looks kinda serious.” Applejack interrupted the conversions about the mythical creatures. “Oh uh, it’s nothing to worry about,’ Sunset said, trying to sound as convincing as possible. “That’s bullshit, ya know it,” Applejack sounded concerned and angry at the same time. “Applejack language! It’s unladylike to curse in public.” Rarity turned her attention to Sunset, “darling, if you are injured, please tell us. We will be glad to help.” “Yeah, that’s what friends are for!” Pinkie said with her hair visibly deflating.  “I think Flutters and Sunset needs to use the restroom,” Rainbow said, looking between Sunset and Fluttershy. “Oh dear, I think Sunset needs to go the bathroom real quick,” Fluttershy said, pushing the girl to the bathroom. While Fluttershy and Sunset went into the bathroom, Rainbow dash stayed behind to make sure the rest of the girls did not follow. From her seat, Applejack was giving Rainbow a narrowing eye look. Rarity was looking at her nails, waiting for an explanation of what just happened, while Pinkie drummed her hands on the table, waiting in anticipation.     “What?” Rainbow said, shrinking down in her seat. “Oh, nothin’ just hopin’ for an explanation,” Applejack said, eyeing Rainbow up and down. “Lets just say sunset was through a lot last night, more than the rainbow wave crashing into her. I don’t want to get into details because it is not my story to tell,” Rainbow explained. “Alright, Dash, but can we trust her? She does seem to be repentant. However, a leopard never changes its spots,” Applejack said. “Yes, we can. At least, I think she has changed. Something is different about her,” Rainbow said with so much determination.  “Very well then. If she tells the whole story when she returns and tells only the truth, we’ll put it up to a vote if she can be given a chance,” Applejack said, with Rarity and Pinkie shaking their heads in agreement.