//------------------------------// // Thursday Dec 22 a // Story: A Past Returned // by TacoTues4Eva //------------------------------// Their morning started with a phone call reminding Sunset of the furniture delivery by that afternoon, and a quick stop at a Wendy’s drive-thru for breakfast, things were looking pretty good for the teen. She was looking forward to spending the day with Susan as after last night, Sunset was feeling more comforted after finding the older woman crying. Not that it made the teen happy to find her mother crying, it was the fact that Susan was having the same fears that Sunset herself was having. That at any moment one of them would turn away from the other. Something that Sunset may have thought about when Susan first showed up on her doorstep. Just spending the little time to pack together was enough to show Sunset there was something special about the woman and the leftover feeling from Will or not, the teen had come to care for Susan very much. “So, I guess the first place we should stop would be the music store to pick up your guitar?" Susan asked getting a nod from her daughter in confirmation. “Yeah, I don’t want Devin or Maxie to think I flaked on them after they were so nice to me.” Sunset said as they entered the mall. Sunset was wearing her new outfit from Rarity though she was wearing one of her mother’s warmer coats as the woman insisted with how cold it was outside. It seemed the temperatures dropped twenty degrees since the day before. “I understand honey, we can take your stuff out to the car and come back in and do our shopping for everything else after.” Susan said as they arrived at the music store. “Sweetie, you did bring all of your money today didn’t you?” “I did.” Sunset confirmed felling a little awkward carrying around so much money on her at one time. “Okay, let’s go see this guitar you fell in love with.” Susan said with a smile as the two entered the store to instantly be greeted by Maxie. “Hey girl, back for your guitar?” Maxie asked cheerily as she came out from behind the counter leaving Nate behind to sulk. “Sure am!” Sunset smiled though the smile dropped at the apologetic look that crossed the other girl’s face. “Well, there is a small problem.” Maxie sighed dramatically, “I can’t sell you the guitar.” “What? Why not?” Susan asked a little upset as Sunset had really seemed to like the guitar. “Well, my boss is a hopeless romantic that thinks the instrument picks its user. I can’t in good conscious let that go with you. You'll need to test it out again and make sure it feels right to you.” Maxie explained giving a sly grin to the firey haired teen. “In other words, you just want to hear me play again?” Sunset said with a small smile. “That obvious?” Maxie asked as she held her hands before her as if praying. “How can I refuse one of my fans?” Sunset said with her smile morphing into a smirk. “Awesome!” Maxie cheered before hugging Sunset then rushing to the back to retrieve the instrument calling over her shoulder, “Be right back!” “I thought she was serious for a second.” Susan said as she squeezed Sunset’s shoulder, giving the teen a smile as the girl looked up. “She seems nice though.” “She is, so is her boss. I plan to make this my go to place for music stuff.” Sunset replied. “That’s good to hear.” Devin said as he came out with Maxie carrying a gig bag with what Sunset assumed was her soon to be guitar inside before handing it to her. “Hello, I’m Devin, the owner of this quaint little musical paradise.” “I’m Susan, it’s nice to meet you. Thank you for making my daughter feel welcome.” Susan said while shaking the man’s hand. “She’s always welcome here, music should be enjoyed by all no matter who they are.” Devin said as they heard a guitar being played all of a sudden. They both went over to watch as a crowd once again began to gather. “Especially when she plays like that.” Sunset looked as if she partially zoned out as she strummed the guitar, humming a few moments before the tune changed and she started singing. “Power was all I desired…” Susan had heard the girl sing on the CD last night, and even the low quality video from the what she saw of the battle of the bands, but this was something else. Susan could feel so much emotion pouring out of Sunset, ranging from the sorrowful regret, all the way to the confidence and happiness she was letting out as she played. The way she was able to make the guitar sing made even Susan believe the girl could have a future in the music industry if she so choose and be a huge success. As the song wrapped up everyone was applauding and cheering including Susan herself along with Devin and Maxie. Susan was about to go to Sunset who was putting the guitar back in the bag while answering questions of everyone crowding around her. She had to smile when several of them even asked for autographs though something caught her eye over to the side. One of Will’s friends, Irma, was staring in shock as she studied Sunset. Deciding to give Sunset a few minutes to pack up and finish with her fans, Susan moved over to greet the water guardian. “Hello Irma, how are you doing?” Susan asked as she felt a little guilty about not telling the girls about Sunset yet. She didn’t want to pressure Sunset into something that would make the teen think she was being used as a replacement, because to the older woman the girl was far different than that. The teen was Susan’s daughter and she wanted to make sure Sunset not only knew that, but accepted it before pulling her more into Will’s old life. Truth be told, she would rather not put Sunset in that position at all if she didn’t agree with something Yan Lin said. It was better if the girls had each other’s backs instead of not knowing. “I’m doing okay, but we need to talk later. Hay Lin might have had a vision about Will.” Irma said sadly, “Plus, we know who Shagon is.” “I already know about Shagon dear, I really hope Matt is okay.” Susan said. “How did you know?” Irma asked, surprise evident in her eyes. “I’m the one who told Yan Lin about it.” Susan said as she grew a little nervous, wondering how comfortable Sunset would be in telling the girl what she knew. She really didn’t want to upset Sunset, yet she wasn’t sure what to say to Irma either over the matter. “I’m done here when you are.” Sunset said coming up next to Susan who put an arm around the teens shoulder and pulled her into a half hug making Irma’s jaw drop. Sunset knew exactly who she was yet didn’t want to let on just yet. “Oh, hey, you’re that girl from yesterday.” “Y-Yeah, I’m really sorry about my friend.” Irma said, stuttering at first from the shock of what she was seeing. She needed to call Hay Lin and tell her about this as soon as possible. “It’s okay, well not really, but it wasn’t your fault.” Sunset said with a slight frown. She would forgive Cornelia though she planned to make the girl work her butt off making it up to Sunset. It almost caused an evil grin, but Sunset managed to hide it. “Anyways, maybe we can hang out sometime? For now Susan and me are doing a little shopping and having a little bonding time together.” “Bonding?” Irma asked arching a brow in askance. “Mother daughter time.” Sunset confirmed earning a squeeze from Susan and a gasp of shock from Irma. “Come on, let’s get your guitar out to the car and we can come back in and get you an actual wardrobe this time.” Susan said kissing the top of Sunset’s head. “See you later Irma, Merry Christmas and tell the other girls the same for me.” “Did you adopt her?” Irma finally croaked out. She didn’t sound like she was being offensive or anything, just that she was thrown for a loop with the information. “What do you want to do sweetie? I know this is bonding time, but if you want to invite her that would be ok. Or, if you want to wait to tell her the truth, that’s okay too. I won’t deny wanting to be greedy and keeping you to myself until after Christmas, but you girls will have to talk things out if you plan to work together.” Susan whispered softly into Sunset’s hair as she leaned down and kissed the girl’s head. “I’ll tell you what, Irma.” Sunset sighed as she looked into Irma’s confused expression. “We will probably be going to a lot of stores.” “Yes we are.” Susan said sternly but lovingly. “And we will probably have a lot of stuff to carry. If you want to tag along and help carry the bags I will make it worth your while.” Sunset offered. “Mmmm, and what’s in it for me?” Irma asked trying to tease the girl a little, but the lost look in her eyes mostly ruined the effect. “I will buy you something and treat you to lunch." Sunset began. “I’ll buy lunch for us.” Susan interrupted giving a squeeze to the girl still trapped in a half hug by her side. “And I will tell you about something none of the other girls know yet.” Sunset finished, leaning into Susan for support as she wasn’t sure she was ready for this. Once she told Irma it would open a whole can of worms, either for better or worse. “What do you mean?” Irma asked as her body shifted as she looked more alert and maybe even a little on guard. “I will tell you one thing until we are done and have some privacy as there will be some hard to believe things that shouldn’t be talked about in public.” Sunset explained, not mentioning that she also wanted to spend some time with the girl and see if she was like Will described her in the journals. “It's about a certain redhead you have been seeing lately.” “Will?” Irma asked as tears filled her eyes. “Sweetie, maybe we should take your guitar out to the car. It might be a good idea to get the talk out of the way first.” Susan sighed seeing Irma about to have a breakdown. “Your right, but don’t you dare try to get out of helping after.” Sunset said as she gave Irma a stern look though couldn’t help feel bad for the girl. She also couldn’t help feeling like a heel seeing how much the other teen was hurting just from those words. She didn’t realize it until just now, but a part of her was avoiding wanting to even think of the girls as she really didn’t quite believe they actually cared. Seeing the girl having to fight off waterworks in the middle of the mall made Sunset realize that these girls deserved closure, one way or another. It also made Sunset think about a group of friends she left in Canterlot. She had been putting off contacting them even if she promised to do it by the end of the holidays. She realized she had been punishing them and stringing them along which while they did hurt Sunset, they didn’t deserve that. She promised herself she would call or text them before going to bed tonight as they always chatted about that time together after everyone’s day had ended.