//------------------------------// // Chapter 35 // Story: Alternative Origins // by TalkingToMyself //------------------------------// Crystal Note arrived at Canterlot High School in an almost empty bus, no surprise as it was a Sunday. She took a moment to take in the field of destruction Friday night’s events had left behind. The front of the school was cracked open crudely and some tarps had been put in place to fend off the elements. The large crater just in front of the building was blocked off by construction barriers as well, and Crystal Note felt her heart sink down to her knees when she just as much as imagined Sunset Shimmer at the bottom of it, crying her eyes out, beaten down and injured. She pulled her eyes off the destruction and headed for the side-entrance instead, just like the message had asked her to do. As soon as she approached, the door opened and Principal Celestia let her in. For once, she didn’t carry that sunny attitude and her posture seemed tired, hinting at a sleepless night. “Thank you for coming on such short notice, Crystal Note.” All Crystal Note gave her was a nod. On their last meeting, she had been the one who dictated the time and pace of their conversation, but today she didn’t have the right to do so. She quietly followed the principal through the school and to her office, and took the offered seat. This time, Principal Celestia didn’t offer her tea, and she also skipped all the other pleasantries “I suppose you know why I asked you here.” Again, Crystal Note would only nod. This little control she still had, at least. Principal Celestia didn’t seem in the mood for games today, or maybe she was simply too tired for them, but she had time for one question before she would pass verdict. “How is Sunset Shimmer? She seemed badly hurt last night, but she refused any attempt to take her to the school nurse.” “She’ll survive. But the night left its marks on her.” Crystal Note didn’t feel like going into details, and Principal Celestia didn’t ask for any. Instead, she got on case with the mother of all questions “I only got a brief explanation from Princess Twilight, but from what I’ve understood, Sunset Shimmer is from another world. Is that true?” Crystal Note nodded and anticipated the next question “We arrived in this world almost three years ago, through the same portal Princess Twilight used.” “So that means, both of you are…?” “Ponies from Equestria.” Principal Celestia stared at her for a whole minute, before she shook her head as if to chase away a thought “I’m sorry, it’s just… Until last night, the world made sense to me. But now there is a portal to another dimension at my school, ponies who live among humans in disguise, and magic.” “I understand. It took us days to adept, back then.” Crystal Note didn’t put in a lot of effort to appear sympathetic, but the principal didn’t need any, as she cut right to the case “I assume you can imagine that all of this throws me into a very problematic situation. On one hand, it’s clear what I should do. I should expel Miss Shimmer from my school, put charges against her, which would lead to her getting arrested. But now that I know of your real origins, I don’t think that’s an adequate solution anymore.” Crystal Note didn’t say anything for now, so Principal Celestia continued “If anyone finds out you two are beings from another dimension, there is no telling what might happen. You might end up in some undercover laboratory or a dissection table, and the government would try to figure out magic and the portal. It would put all my students at risk, but most importantly, it would put Sunset Shimmer and you in danger. As much damage as Sunset has done over the last couple of years, I won’t be responsible for leaving anybody to such a fate.” “That’s a nice story you’ve spun for yourself. And I’m sure your staff will eat it up, but we both know it’s not the truth.” Principal Celestia’s eyes opened wide when Crystal Note spoke up, and fixed her with a hard glare “There’s another reason why you don’t want anyone to find out about Sunset Shimmer, and it’s a selfish reason. If anyone would find out the truth, they would also reveal that you let yourself be fooled from the first day. So of course you can’t let anyone know about us, or anything that would show that you’re not as perfect as you pretend to be.” Principal Celestia remained quiet, speechless for a couple more moments, carefully phrasing her eventual response “I admit that keeping the true circumstances hidden would also be beneficial for me, since it means I only have to explain the damage to the school front, and not some interdimensional magic fight taking place under my watch. But I assure you, I’m not doing this for myself. As Princess Twilight has shown all of us, including me… Sunset is not who we thought she was. But Princess Twilight also promised her a second chance, and since she saved my school and my students, I wish to do my part to honour that promise.” Crystal Note rolled her eyes “Whatever lets you sleep at night. As for the property damage, we will cover it, of course. I’ll leave it to you to come up with a cover story.” The principal nodded thoughtfully “My sister has come up with something in that regard. Might I ask, how do you intend to pay? You’ve not been in this world long enough to accumulate some form of wealth, I would think.” “Our resources were good enough to fool you and your office. That’s all I’m going to say.” Their eyes met for a moment, with a challenge glinting between them, but the woman resigned just as quickly “I guess I can’t really argue with that. Not without opening another can of worms. Very well. That leads us to Sunset’s disciplinary actions.” Crystal Note leaned back in her chair. She’d gained a small victory despite everything today, it would be unwise to challenge the woman even more, so she just listened “Sunset will spend the next two weeks with in-school-suspension. Vice-Principal Luna will find tasks for her, to make up for her former misdeeds. In the afternoons, she will help the construction crews fixing the school front. It seems fitting that she sees the damage she caused, but also is allowed to contribute to fixing it. Her apologies seemed sincere, but she needs to act on them now as well.” Crystal Note nodded, indifferent on what the reasoning of Principal Celestia might be “Is that all?” “Sunset will also be banned from any future school festivals, especially the school balls.” As if Sunset Shimmer would even bother with running for high-school-princess again. “Furthermore, we will rearrange her schedule so that she shares her classes with one of her friends for the rest of the schoolyear.” This, finally, had Crystal Note sit up again “Why?” “You might not be aware of it, but the student body as a whole has suffered a lot under Sunset. By putting a friend at her side all the time, I ensure that no student will be tempted to enact revenge on her. It’s for Sunset’s own safety, of course, but I admit I also don’t want to deal with fights between my students. As I’m sure you were about to point out.” Crystal Note was about to point that out, but since the principal had understood that, she just nodded. “Have you talked with Sunset about this?” “Not yet. I will explain everything to her first thing Monday morning. However, I wanted to talk with you first, since you are Sunset’s legal guardian, according to her file.” “I’ll let her know, then.” Since Crystal Note didn’t say anything else, Principal Celestia just looked at her for a while, more and more concerned “I’m sorry, but usually, at this point, any parent or legal guardian would be upset, angry, ashamed, something along the line, but you seem so… far away from all this.” “Because I am. I was not involved in Sunset Shimmer’s plans, and I will not be involved in her punishment. It is her decision what will happen next, not mine.” Celestia stared at her, before she shook her head “I don’t understand you. Shouldn’t you be more interested since this concerns your little sister?” Normally Crystal Note would be grinning from the fact how utterly fooled Principal Celestia had been by her charade, but after the last night, she just didn’t feel anything. “I’m not her sister. I followed Sunset Shimmer to this world, and now I am bound to her until the way back opens once again, but that is as far as our relationship goes.” The principal shook her head “I don’t believe that. You were involved last time we spoke. There is a connection between Sunset and you. Nobody is that good of an actor.” “Or maybe you just find it difficult to believe that you have been fooled by Sunset’s plans.” The principal didn’t say anything, but the way she was looking at Crystal Note was unsettling “So you are not her sister. Obviously, you’re not her mother either. Who are you, to Sunset?” Tired from a sleepless night, her confrontation with Sunset, and all this pointless quipping, Crystal Note just sighed and told Celestia the thing that would shock her the most: The truth. “Back in Equestria, I was the subject of Sunset Shimmer’s studies. In this world, I take care of all the mundane tasks so Sunset Shimmer can focus on her studies and her plans.” “So you are what, a maid? A useful adult when she needs one?” “Yes.” Principal Celestia finally lost her composure and now just stared at her, mouth slightly agape “I… you can’t be serious?” “I am. And I am also tired, as are you. So if there’s nothing else, I would like to go home now.” Celestia nodded, still dumbfounded, but led her back to the door. Just before Crystal Note was out of sight, she called after her “Will you be alright, with everything? With Sunset?” Crystal Note didn’t even bother turning around to answer. When she arrived back at their home, Sunset Shimmer was nowhere to be seen. Which was just fine as well. Exhausted by too many days with too little sleep, Crystal Note just collapsed on her bed and let sleep overtake her.