“I hate paperwork.”
Silverspeed and Roseluck shot Sunset a glance as the unicorn continued reading the thick folder of papers sitting on her desk.
“Like look at this!” Sunset shouted and flung her forelegs out towards the mares on her couch in her office. “Why in Equestria is the mayor of Dodge Junction writing to me about clouds from Ponyville? Dodge Junction is hours away! Not my bucking problem!”
“That stallion is always complaining about Ponyville and it’s weather teams,” Roseluck commented as she stared into her coffee mug. “Sassaflash and Dizzy Twister are always complaining about him. If I remember correctly, they both placed thunderclouds over his home once and flooded it in revenge one year.”
“I remember that,” Silverspeed said and she leaned back on her cushion. “He was mad mad but he was a annoying to begin with.”
Sunset opened her mouth as the three mares paused at a loud snicker coming from inside the room and Sunset looked around as they heard the noise again and Sunset looked under her desk before the three looked up at the ceiling as Trixie waved.
“Can I help you?” Sunset asked flatly as she raised an eyebrow.
“Oh you know, just hanging around,” Trixie smirked as Roseluck and Silverspeed laughed and Sunset snorted before rolling her eyes.
“I see. And how the hell did you get yourself stuck to my ceiling?” Sunset continued as Trixie shrugged.
“Spell gone wrong. Trixie tried to teleport and got herself stuck up here. Hey, is that your paycheck?”
Sunset hastily covered up the paper with her hooves and glared up at Trixie.
“Yes it is now don’t look at how much I make.”
“Trixie makes more than that,” Trixie commented as she shifted her weight. “Your office looks cool from up here. Have you ever seen it from this angle?”
“No because I’ve never been inclined to get myself stuck magically to the ceiling before,” Sunset shot back with a grin. “Where’s Shoeshine and Derpy?”
“Shoeshine is helping Derpy look at dresses for the Gala at Rarity’s. We offered to go but Derpy said she would get overwhelmed with all the attention so we came to hang out here. I walked in and Trixie well, did what Trixie did,” Roseluck explained and gestured up at the ceiling. “How’s it going up there?”
“Oh just grand.”
“I still don’t know why you girls want to go to the Gala. It’s the most boring party ever,” Sunset said as she reclined in her chair. “The only upside is the alcohol and even then, it’s very shitty alcohol to not get the elites too drunk.”
“Why not?” Silverspeed offered with a warm smile. “I can guarantee you right now I’ll get drunk no matter what. I’ll sneak in some alcohol for us. Why are you so worried?”
“I just hope Twilight isn’t there,” Sunset confessed as they gave her confused looks. “My enemy. We hate each other with a burning passion.”
“Uh why?” Roseluck asked as she set down her coffee. “What did she do?”
“Breath damnit!” Sunset shouted as she inhaled. “She’s my rival. She’s always been out for my spot as Celestia’s student. We’ve always been at each other’s throats for as long as I can remember. Therefore, she is my enemy and I hate her guts.”
“I think I know of her. Her brother is a Royal Guard, right?” Silverspeed asked curiously and Sunset nodded.
“Yeah Shining Armor.”
“Rumor in the academy is he’s dating Princess Cadence,” Silverspeed said casually as Sunset snorted and the other mares laughed.
“That’s not a rumor, that’s a fact to everypony except Twilight who’s somehow oblivious to it,” Sunset rolled her eyes with an exasperated sigh. “I trotted in on them sucking face once. It was disgusting as hell. Immediately went and tried to drown the memory with alcohol.”
“You really like your alcohol,” Roseluck noted
“Not often.”
Silverspeed made a face and scoffed as Sunset shot her look that screamed don’t say a word.
“She has a secret safe full of bourbon, whiskey and vodka in her room.”
“Silverspeed!” Sunset hissed as Roseluck and Trixie both raised eyebrows. “I do not!”
“Yes you do, you asked me to bring some more and gave me the bits after a really long day of meetings with the mayor and the weather team.”
“Trixie is very interested in finding this safe. It is now her life goal,” Trixie commented from the ceiling. “Trixie thinks she might sleep up here, very comfy.”
“No you’re not,” Sunset grumbled and glared up at the unicorn. “You get down right now.”
“Help Trixie then.”
“You got yourself up there!”
Sunset rolled her eyes and pulled Trixie from the ceiling and the mare fell into her lap and the two turned red, shoving each other off.
“Please never speak of that again,” Trixie begged as the others made zipping motions over their mouths. “Thanks.”
“You honestly wouldn’t let Trixie sleep here?” Roseluck gave Sunset a stunned look. “Why not? What about the rest of us?”
“I technically already live here,” Silverspeed interjected with a raised hoof.
“I never said she couldn’t. Just not on the ceiling of my office! The couch is a pull out bed and I have a spare room as well as the two bedrooms that Silverspeed and I claimed.”
“Trixie prefers her wagon. It’s her home,” Trixie said as she cracked her back. “While it’s been real, she should get home. It’s late.”
“Yeah same here,” Roseluck glanced at the clock and stood up. “See you girls later?”
Sunset gave a nod as the two trotted out of the office and out of the main door as Sunset listened to it thud shut quietly.
“What about you?” Sunset asked and glanced over at Silverspeed as the pegasus paused the preening of her wings. “Won’t Silver Spoon need you at home and who in Equestria are you preening your wings for?”
“Nah Silver has the staff at the mansion so I can stay at my post and why for you of course dear Sunset,” Silverspeed commented and batted her eyelashes as the mares snickered. “All part of my elaborate plot to confess my love for and then take you to bed.”
“I see,” Sunset laughed and smiled slightly. “It’s working.”
“Good,” Silverspeed grinned as she went back to preening her wings. “In all actuality, I just like my wings to be in perfect shape. It’s not for anypony at all other than me. I fly constantly unless I’m with you or the others and even then I’m always hovering.”
“I see. I always wondered what it was like to fly,” Sunset said as she levitated some papers into a filing cabinet and shut it. “Must be nice.”
“It has it’s perk and downsides. Feather flu is pretty painful,” Silverspeed grimaced and focused on her left wing. “I had it once. Stuck in the hospital crying because it got so bad. Had to walk everywhere until my wings healed.”
Sunset winced at that and started cleaning up her desk. That was probably another upside to not having wings, unicorns didn’t have anything like that to worry about.
“Where’s your parents?” Sunset asked curiously as Silverspeed tilted her head slightly before spitting a broken feather into a trash can.
“Wherever there’s bits to be made or a business to start,” Silverspeed answered and frowned. “I don’t see them often which is fine by me. They’re not entirely enthused I chose to go for military service and not follow in the family business like Silver Spoon clearly will. Mom’s name is Crystal Rose and Dad is Silver Shine.”
“Silver runs in the family, huh?” Sunset smirked at Silverspeed as the pegasus returned the gesture.
“You know it. Mom’s an pegasus like me and Dad’s an earth pony like Silver Spoon. What about you?”
“What about me?” Sunset asked as Silverspeed placed a hoof on her back.
“You know damn well what I mean. Ever wonder where your folks are?”
“No. They clearly didn’t want me so I don’t care about them. They could go die for all I care. They’re probably dead for all I know. The princess is the closest thing I’ve ever known to a family. I don’t care what happens to my biological parents,” Sunset said and Silverspeed gave her a doubtful look.
“Uh huh.”
“I’m serious Silvy. Need I remind you they abandoned on the castle door steps as a foal?” Sunset reminded the pegasus as Silverspeed gave her a quick hug. “Thanks Silvy.”
“Anytime. At least they wrapped you up in a blanket first?” Silverspeed offered weakly as Sunset shrugged in response. “Also, your aunt has been in my dreams for the past few nights. Sounds weird to say aloud.”
“I can imagine. Don’t worry, she visits my dreams too. It felt awkward at first like nothing was sacred anymore but I got used to it. Princess Luna visits the others too apparently according to Derpy and Trixie.”
“I bet. I’m gonna hit the hay unless there’s something else you need?” Silverspeed asked as she stood up and stretched out her hindlegs.
“No, thanks anyway. Go sleep and I’ll see you tomorrow. Sleep well Silvy.”
“You too Sunset,” Silverspeed waved a wing as she trotted to her room and shut the door behind her.
Sunset finished cleaning up before she left her office and shut the door behind her as she trotted to her room next to Silverspeed’s as the unicorn opened the door with her magic and locked it behind her as she fell backwards onto her bed and closed her eyes.
“Hello.”
Sunset’s eyes opened instantly and her horn glowed bright before she sighed and it quit glowing as Luna watched curiously from across the room.
“You should be careful. I almost killed you,” Sunset said as Luna gave a dry laugh.
“You can’t kill us though your concern is appreciated. We are here for our night lessons as we agreed unless thou are busy,” Luna said and Sunset shook her head.
“You’re fine, let’s get to work. Equestria has changed a lot in your absence and well, I did agree to help you learn about.”
“We thank you,” Luna bowed her head respectfully as Sunset shrugged.
“I will admit, I may not have offered months ago but my friends have had a bigger influence on me than I thought. Especially Shoeshine and Silverspeed. Now let’s get to work, we got a lot to cover.”
Nodding, Luna joined Sunset at her desk as the two started reading.