Sunset gripped her cup as she thought about what to say.
The truth should work.
“Well, truth be told…I wasn’t the greatest person in the world.” She began as the young boy looked on in attention.
“How come? I mean, you’re sitting with a random kid right now over a hot drink.” He said.
Sunset chuckled mirthlessly.
“Well, you should’ve seen me back in the bad old days. I actually was raised by someone who took me in.’ she sighed as sad memories filled her head. ‘I was just a lonely orphan trying to get by.”
“Oh.” Lincoln said awkwardly. He couldn’t relate to that.
“Well, one day I tried to pocket this person. She caught me but instead of reporting me to the cops, she felt sorry for me. She also was able to recognise my potential and took me in.” She said with a smile.
“Wow. So she was like a mother, huh?” Lincoln said taking a bite out of a muffin.
“Yeah.’ She then sighed as her expression turned somber. ‘But because she was so high up, I was convinced that I could do things alone.”
“Wow. Really?” Lincoln said.
Sunset sighed again, bitterly remembering those days.
“Yeah…it didn't help that she showed me what I thought was my future. That pretty much sealed it. I wanted to be her equal so I began pushing myself and kept my distance from everyone else. I was convinced I could do things alone and began showing off my superiority. Things pretty much boiled down between me and my teacher and well…I ran away.” Sunset said with a final whisper.
“Seriously? You ran away?” Lincoln said in shock.
“Yeah. Came here and enrolled in the school. Wasted three years of my life acting like the queen bee. Blackmailed, threatened and made everyone scared of me. Even broke up many friends as well so no one could oppose me.”
“Wow. Sounds like something out of a school drama.” Lincoln remarked
“Yeah…thought I was on top of the world. Then someone came by and knocked me off my pedestal. I sorta went on a rampage and wrecked the school as well.” She said in a vague tone.
Like hell she was gonna say she turned into a literal demon!
“Seriously?!” Lincoln exclaimed.
“Yeah. She then left me in the care of five other girls to help me learn about friendship. Things were kind of frosty between me and them. No one wanted me to forget what I did.”
Her mind wandered to the snarky comments and cold looks plus pranks. Everyone definitely refused to let her forget what she did.
She smiled as she remembered another event.
“Then we had the battle of the bands. I joined my friends and we won. My past was dead and buried. Everyone forgave for my past. Everything was hunky dory” She said.
“Then why are you here?” Lincoln asked.
Sunset frowned in a miserable manner.
“That is a story in itself.”
<Flashback>
It was snowing in Canterlot. The snow covered the land as everyone got ready for the holiday. Dressed in winter garments, Sunset looked at the sky, sighing from the cold air. It was nippy as hell.
“Hey Sunset!” a southern drawl spoke. TUrning around, she saw a tanned girl with freckles, a blonde ponytail and green eyes with a stetson on her head.
“Hey, AJ.” She said with a smile and the two made their way to the school.
“So excited for the Christmas holidays?” She said to the bacon haired girl but she didn’t answer.
“What’s wrong?” She asked in concern.
“Honestly Applejack? I’m not looking forward to it” She grumped out.
“Why? You’re not a scrooge, are ya?” She asked.
“Nah…Just. Thinking about the holidays just reminds me of back home in Equestria. I haven’t been home in a long time and well, the holidays are just a reminder that I am far away from my old home and family.”
Applejack seemed to be understanding.
“Ahh…Homesickness. Hey, don’t worry about it. You have a new family amongst us now. We are with us now, so don’t let that ruin your holiday spirit!” She said with a smile.
Sunset returned a small one and the two soon made their way to class.
<End Flashback>
Sunset took a sip as she remembered that little conversation.
“Wow. This Applejack sounds pretty cool.” he said.
“She was. Emphasis on the WAS.” She said in a slight bitter tone.
“That sounded bitter.” Lincoln said in concern.
“Trust me, kid. I have my reasons.”
The two stayed quiet for a bit before Lincoln spoke.
“So, what was next?” Lincoln asked.