//------------------------------// // Entry 2: Work Together // Story: MLDC: Firestorm Crisis // by Michael_Ravencroft //------------------------------// Twilight looked out the window of her brother’s car, she had been silent for most of the car ride home and that was a little unusual for her. Shining Armor could tell when something was up with his little sister, and right now there was definitely something eating at her. “Twily what’s up, you’re usually not this quiet?” Shining Armor asked. Twilight let out a sigh. “There was a fight today at school.” “Seriously?!” Twilight nodded. “It was between Sunset Shimmer and a couple of other girls I haven’t seen around school.” Shining Armor narrowed his gaze at hearing that name. Twilight had spoken of Sunset Shimmer before, the majority of his information about the girl having come from her friends during the times they came over. From what he gathered Sunset Shimmer was a bully and quite possibly dangerous, Shining Armor more than once offered to have a “talk” with the girl in question, but Twilight insisted that she could handle it on her own. “Well I’m sorry you saw that, was she hurt badly?” “I don’t know, Principal Celestia took her back inside the school to see the nurse…I just can’t believe that that happened to her, in broad daylight! Why would they do that?!” “Who knows, maybe she got mixed up with some bad people and this was their payback?” “But it was unfair! One of them was holding her while the other one was hitting her like a punching bag! And worst of all, no one came to help her! Half the student body was outside and not a one came to help!” Shining Armor stopped the car at a red light and glanced over to his little sister. “Not to seem cruel or anything Twi, but from what your friends – and you personally – have told me, I’m not surprised. Maybe they thought she was getting what she deserved, having bullied most of them, they just believed she was getting her comeuppance.” Twilight blanched at what her brother said. “That’s still no excuse! No one deserves to be publically beaten! This isn’t the middle ages! And for your information, I was going to go and help her!” Shining’s eyes went wide, almost hitting the accelerator from the response. “WHAT?! Twilight that’s insane!” “I didn’t get to…the others held me back because they didn’t want me to get hurt…In fact, Sunset Shimmer was doing alright, and she pulled off this amazing comeback that surprised me! I mean, admittedly she is hostile, but even so, she’s still pretty good at her academics! She’s smart, I know that, in the few classes that I’ve had with her she does the bare minimum of the homework assignments, but come test day she aces it! She’s smart and strong, Sunset was about to fight those two, I think Rainbow Dash and Applejack would’ve stepped in if it gone on any longer, but like I told you, the teachers broke it up.” The light turned green and Shining Armor resumed his driving. There was something in the way Twilight was talking about Sunset Shimmer that made him worry a little, she wasn’t always talkative, but she did talk more about her friends when the subject came up, but other than that, talking about Sunset Shimmer in the way that she was… No, I’m overthinking it…or am I? Nah, Twily’s…she’s different, but I don’t think she’s different like that too. Soon the two of them arrived at their house, it was slightly bigger than most of the residences, but only because of who occupied it. Their mother, Twilight Velvet, was an accomplished writer and editor, and their father, Night Light, was the head of the astronomy department at Canterlot Planetarium. Despite their accumulated income, the couple decided to live in a modest house in the suburbs rather than in some high class area, believing it better for their children to grow up around good people. Twilight disembarked from her brother’s car first, waiting for him to exit from the driver’s side before heading back in with him. “Oh…please don’t tell Mom and Dad about what I told you, I don’t want them to worry,” said Twilight. “No problem, what else are BBBFFs for?” Shining asked as he ruffled Twilight’s hair. The two siblings entered their home, luckily both parents were still working and it would be another hour or two before they even got back home. Shining Armor did his usual thing whenever he got home, he plopped in front of the TV and turned it onto the news or whatever was on, and Twilight did what she usually did, she waited for Spike to come bounding towards her, picked him up and petted him, and set him back down on the floor. She then took a seat on the opposite couch, picked up a book and read something that interested her for a bit before doing her homework. Although, Twilight was finding her concentration on the subject, “Advanced Quantum Mechanics”, to be divided right now. She just couldn’t get the image of what she saw today out of her head. Watching Sunset Shimmer fight those two girls, and then there was the locker room. Twilight felt her cheeks heat up at the embarrassing thought, normally she was skittish about showering with another person in the locker rooms, but Sunset felt different. And then there was that moment, the moment when Sunset slammed her against the locker – which her back was still sore from and purposefully neglected to tell her brother about – and stared her down with such…such a strange mixture of anger and sadness. Nothing…is that what she really sees herself as? Granted, I was the same way…but then I met Applejack, Rainbow, Pinkie, Rarity, and Fluttershy. But Sunset hasn’t had anyone…in fact, I don’t think the girls ever said anything about her even having one friend.  Twilight couldn’t help but feel a kindred spirit with Sunset when she said she was “nothing”. For a while Twilight had had her doubts about what drove Sunset Shimmer, all the bullying, all the violence, her sense of superiority, just where did it stem from? Twilight seriously doubted they had similar origins, there wasn’t anybody who went through what she did, but somehow their sadness and way of thinking about themselves was similar. Why was that? What happened to Sunset Shimmer? And was she willing to be different? Twilight tried different things to try and open up Sunset. A glance here and there, a sincere smile and a wave of acknowledgment, but every gesture was met with the same result. Sunset would look her way, scowling, they gazes would meet for a moment, she’d then get this contemplative look in her eyes for a brief moment before it turned into indignation and she stormed off. That moment in the locker rooms was quite possibly the only time Sunset had talked to her at length, or even revealed that much to her. Of course Sunset probably didn’t plan on saying all that, but she did seem surprised when Twilight was able to relate to her. She looked so unsure about herself in that moment, so confused. Twilight wasn’t going to lie, for a brief moment, when Sunset had her pinned to the locker, she thought she was going to do something very inappropriate to her. “Twi you alright?” Shining Armor asked. “Huh…? Oh, yeah, why do ask?” “‘Cause your cheeks are flushed.” Twilight put one had to her cheek and felt how warm it was, she quickly brought the book up to cover her blushing face, shrinking into the couch to try and hide her embarrassment. And Shining Armor, the ever loving and caring big brother that he was, couldn’t resist the opportunity to further that embarrassment. “Twily, are you thinking about someone?” Shining Armor asked. “N-NO!” she stuttered. “C’mon sis, don’t lie. Who’s my precious little sister crushing on?” “I-I-I’m not ‘c-crushing’ on anyone!” Twilight insisted. “Twilight, you can tell me, it’s not like I’m going to tell anyone. Well…maybe except for Cadance, and you know how she’ll get. So who is it? Is that Flash Sentry guy?” “No! He’s a nice guy, and really friendly, but I don’t like him like that!” Good, ‘cause I wasn’t sure about you dating some rock ‘n roll wannabe. “So is it another guy? Maybe one of your teachers?” “NO! Not only is that morally wrong, it’s against the law!” Well that’s another fear off the list. “Is it another girl?” Twilight dropped the book she was holding, her face frozen in what could be considered a mix of shock, horror, and embarrassment. She made sounds that could be considered english and intelligible communication – from another dimension where gibberish was the national language – as she tried to work together a cohesive sentence. Oh boy, I may’ve hit the nail on the head with this one. “I – You – That’s not – I can’t possibly – Two girls – Shining Armor that’s…that’s…!” That was what? “Absurd”, “disgusting”, “outrageous”, “too personal”? I don’t know, thought Twilight. Shining Armor noticed the deep in thought look on her face, and by the knitting of her brow he could tell she was seriously thinking on it. He meant the last one as joke, but he wasn’t so sure it was. Twilight hadn’t ever shown anything close to romantic interest in others, sisterly love towards himself, familial love to their parents, and platonic love for her best friends. But romantic? That was a different story. He couldn’t deny his sister was cute from an objective standpoint, but that’s what worried him, she was different from most kids, and he didn’t want someone manipulating her with her feelings. Shining Armor knew better than anyone – even more than his own parents – that Twilight deserved to be happy.   “Hey, Twily, don’t sweat it. I was joking sis.” Shining Armor assured. Twilight didn’t seem so convinced, but she simply nodded and picked up the book she was staring at rather than reading. “Do you want me to call Cadance? She’s probably a better person to talk to about…certain things.” Twilight shook her head, keeping her gaze on the book. Shining Armor started to feel like an idiot for even bringing that up. “Thank you anyway…but I might call her myself, if that’s okay?” Shining Armor looked over to Twilight as she glanced at him while smiling. He nodded his answer, making his little sister’s smile broaden slightly. Suddenly, Shining Armor’s cellphone went off, he pulled it out of his pocket and saw the number read “Restricted”. Shining sat up straight in the couch, his face getting a serious expression on it that was almost scary. “Shining Armor?” “I need to take this.” Twilight watched as her big brother left and went upstairs to his room at a very brisk pace. The violet haired girl looked up towards the stairs, sitting hunched over, twiddling her thumbs, having abandoned the book completely. Spike seemed to sense his master’s anxiety and walked over to Twilight, giving a soft bark to convey his presence before nuzzling the side of her leg. Twilight smiled as she picked up the purple and green eared dog, holding him close as she continued to stare in the same direction. After about five or ten minutes Shining Armor walked back downstairs, stopping about halfway and sitting on the steps. Twilight got up, carrying Spike as she made her way to where he was. “Shining Armor…was it them?” He nodded. Twilight felt a pit in her stomach. “Are you…leaving?” Shining Armor didn’t answer audibly, but he gave a sigh and a slow nod of his head as affirmation. Spike whimpered and Twilight lowered her gaze in sadness. “Do you really have to go?” “You know the answer to that Twilight,” said Shining Armor. “But you barely made it out rescuing me! The first time they were caught off guard and by surprise, but they’ll be ready for you! Please Shining Armor just…just tell them you can’t, please?!” Twilight pleaded. Shining Armor sighed heavily, he then got up and walked down the stairs to meet his sister at the bottom. The older boy wrapped his arms around Twilight, minding Spike who managed to work his way up between them and rest his head Shining’s shoulder. “I’ll be alright Twilight, just wait for me. I promise I’ll come back. That’s a promise Twi, and since whenever has your BBBFF ever broken a promise?” Twilight sniffled, her eyes watery with tears. But she relented, she knew she couldn’t stop him, as much as she wanted to. “You better come back, I won’t forgive you if you don’t!” “I will.” THE NEXT DAY… Sunset Shimmer, despite her fight yesterday, went back to school. She didn’t want to give the other students the satisfaction of thinking her so weak and beaten that she was afraid to show her face at school, of course, riding her motorcycle proved to be painful. The rumbling of the bike made her bruised midsection ache, and the rattling didn’t help her jaw either. When she arrived in the parking lot and removed her helmet, many of the students began to whisper amongst themselves. Sunset had a bruise on her left cheek, and a partially blacked eye, but her midsection was more bruised than her face. Gilda could punch hard, she knew that from the get-go, but she was surprised to find out that she had bruised a rib. Guess I’ll walk for a couple of days, probably not a good idea to ride while I’m like this, she thought. Sunset walked, although with a little labored breathing, towards the school, ignoring the looks she was getting from the other students as she entered the school. She felt like some kind of sideshow freak, but with a menacing glare she managed to reduce the amount of gawking, despite her beaten state, it was clear from the fight that Sunset could indeed fight well, and wasn’t afraid of throwing a punch or taking one. Out of everything from that day, the one thing that she couldn’t stop asking herself was “why”. Why did she get so angry about Gilda and Lightning Dust proposing to kidnap Twilight and hurt her? Was she not just contemplating doing things to her in the locker room just a few hours prior? Granted that she wanted to take out her frustration and anger on them for that night before the Fall Formal, but she never intended to get into a fist fight with them. Even now Gilda’s words still rang in her head, there was no way she could forget them. “Don’t tell me you actually care about her…!” I don’t care about Sparkle! She can go jump off a cliff and die for all I care……………So then why did you punch Gilda because of what she said they were going to do then Shimmer? “If I knew that I wouldn’t be asking myself…” “Sunset Shimmer?!” Sunset looked ahead and saw Twilight walking towards her, surprisingly not flanked by her personal guards. The violet eyed girls stopped and looked upon her with worry, again something she didn’t understand. “Are you okay?” Twilight asked. “Yes, I normally have a black eye and labored breathing, I thought you knew,” said Sunset sarcastically. “Sorry…I was just worried about you.” Sunset averted her gaze from Twilight, not understanding why she did so. Her kindness was annoying, especially after what Twilight said to her yesterday. “I thought I told you to leave me alone or was I not clear on that?” Sunset asked. Twilight began to rub her left arm nervously. “I know you did, but that was that, and this is something else! You were beat up, why shouldn’t I be worried about how you’re doing?” “Because…Because…Ugh! You know damn well why you shouldn’t so don’t – OUCH!” Sunset dropped her helmet and hugged her chest and stomach, leaning against the wall and shutting her eyes tight from the sharp stab of pain. Got myself worked up, damn that hurt! “Sunset!” Twilight placed her hands on Sunset’s shoulders to steady, dropping her books in the process. “Are you alright?! Do you need to go see the nurse?!” The fiery haired girl looked to Twilight, genuine concern reflected in her eyes. But Sunset took a moment to glance around, seeing the looks that she was getting from the other students. Sunset was suddenly more aware of Twilight’s touch upon her shoulders, even through her leather jacket, it was almost as if the warmth of her hands was radiating through the layer of leather and to her bare skin, sending a pleasant tickling sensation through her body. Sunset almost let herself give in to Twilight’s kindness…almost. Sunset righted herself and shrugged away from Twilight. “I don’t need your help! I’m fine! Just do yourself a favor Sparkle, and stay the hell away from me!” Sunset stormed off without another word, leaving Twilight where she stood. Twilight herself noticed that her helmet was still on the ground, but before she could get the chance to tell her Sunset was already out of sight. Neither one of the two girls noticed a certain principal watching the entire thing, nor at the same time, neither were they aware of what exactly she was thinking about doing. LATER THAT DAY… “I’m glad you could come and see me Ms. Shimmer,” said Principal Celestia. Sunset was currently sitting the principal’s office, having Vice Principal Luna track her down and escort her to the taller woman’s office. Once inside, Vice Principal Luna left the two to talk in private. Now Sunset was stuck sitting in a, rather comfortable, chair and having to be in the presence of the human counterpart of her old mentor. “Well with you siccing Vice Principal Luna to come find me, I hardly had a choice, plus I’m injured so my usual stealthy ways of moving around are inhibited for the time being.” Celestia shrugged and grinned. “Regardless, still nice to have you here.” Sunset let out a long sigh. “So what is it this time? You already chewed me out about what happened yesterday.” “That I did, and I have yet to get a clear answer as to why those two girls saw fit to hurt you. But that can wait, because this may or may not be related to the subject.” “And that is?” Sunset asked expectantly. Celestia sat on the edge of her desk in front of Sunset Shimmer, her usual tactic when trying to seem informal when talking to the students of her school, a way of helping them to feel more comfortable and less intimidated. “I want to discuss you, Sunset.” “Oh boy, here we go,” groaned Sunset. “I’m serious, I’m worried about you Sunset Shimmer. You’ve been acting strangely ever since the Fall Formal, and it’s beginning to worry me honestly,” said Celestia. Sunset averted her gaze from Celestia, these magenta eyes, although they did not carry the wisdom that came from living numerous lifetimes, she did however have that same look whenever she was genuinely worried about another’s wellbeing. An almost motherly look that made you want to run to her and confess all that you have done so that you may be forgiven, eyes that held strength, not magical mind you, but a strength was at least somewhat similar to that of her old mentor’s. “You don’t have to, I’m fine.” “You’re clearly not, Sunset.” “Why do you even care about me, huh?!” Sunset turned her gaze back to Celestia, her eyes narrowed as she stared the older woman down. “Because Sunset Shimmer, you refuse to tell me anything about yourself! Where you’re from, who your parents were, how else do you think I should act when a girl mysteriously pops up in my school with no records and is practically homeless! If my getting you that apartment doesn’t show you the lengths I’m willing to go to see to your wellbeing –” “I never asked you to set me up in that apartment, nor did I ever ask you for help in getting into this school!” Sunset barked. Celestia crossed her arms and gave Sunset a stern look. “Alright, what would you do if I suddenly just cut you off? Stopped paying for your apartment just like that, what would you do then?” “Not like there aren’t other ways for me to get money, part time jobs and all that junk. And worst case scenario, I’ll end up having to work a street corner,” said Sunset offhandedly. Celestia slammed the palm of her hand against her desk, making Sunset jump slightly from the sudden noise. “Don’t you ever say something like that Sunset, not even as a joke! You’re far too brilliant and talented to think of yourself that way!” Sunset sat there in silence, for that brief moment of anger, Principal Celestia sounded very much like Princess Celestia. She was wondering if the two weren’t somehow channeling each other without the other knowing. “S-Sorry…” Silence filled the room, Celestia was taken aback by her own outburst, knowing it wasn’t proper to yell at a student like that. And it seemed her outburst surprised Sunset into silence as well. Celestia sighed heavily as she returned her gaze to the young girl before her. “I mean it though. You are brilliant, if you wanted to you could very well be top in your class, I’ve seen the test scores.” “Whoopdee-freakin’-doo, I’m smart, I knew that from the beginning, so what?” Sunset asked in annoyance. “I want you to do something challenging, something other than instilling fear in your fellow classmates, something that will maybe change your outlook and give you new purpose.” As much as Sunset Shimmer didn’t want to admit it, the prospect did sound intriguing. That, and she really wasn’t doing anything else of great importance, her great plan for domination of two worlds ended, so she had nothing but free time to think of “other things”, things that were better not thought of lest she find they meant something she wasn’t wholeheartedly prepared to embrace. “Fine, what did you have in mind?” Sunset asked, sounding almost cordial. Celestia smiled, at least Sunset was willing to hear her out. “There’s an upcoming science fair –” Sunset Shimmer face palmed herself. “Seriously, a high school science fair?!” “A science fair,” Celestia continued, “hosted by Canterlot University, sponsored by the city itself.” “Okay…” “They’ve put out a challenge to each school district, wanting the youngest of this generation to show what scientific breakthroughs or ideas they can present to the scientific community. Basically it’s a forum to show off how smart you are.” Celestia saw the corners of Sunset’s mouth quirk up a bit, knowing that the girl before her wasn’t one to back down from a challenge nor was she able to resist the chance to show off her superiority.   “So what’re the rules, is there a prize?” “The contest isn’t until the middle of next month, which means you have from now until then to enter. As far as rules go: you can present almost any idea or any invention, so long as said invention isn’t potentially dangerous like say explosive or something that can cause irreversible damage to someone. The top three winners will get to present their ideas at summit meeting of some of the world’s most renowned geniuses, as well as get to hobnob with them.” Sunset was starting to like this idea, already her head was coming up with numerous different theorems and inventions to blow away the competition, figuratively and possibly literally as well. “However…the competition requires that each school have two entries, and that both are to work together in the competition.” Sunset quirked an eyebrow at that. “So what, the other one gets to be my helper monkey or something?” Celestia rolled her eyes. “No, not your ‘helper monkey’, your partner. Someone of similar intellect so that together you two can achieve something great.” Sunset didn’t get it, if Celestia was putting her into the competition because she believed she was genius, which she was, then who else could possibly match her in brains. And then it hit her, like a train wreck. “Oh no…no, nononononononononononononono! You are not saying what I think you’re about to say?!” Sunset shouted. “I am. I want you and Twilight Sparkle to enter as a team and represent Canterlot High.” Sunset rose quickly from the chair, which turned out to be a dumb idea since the quick action caused her bruised body to ache, causing her to catch herself on Celestia. Sunset quickly pushed away and stood back up to her full height. “No way in hell I’m working with her!” Sunset protested. “This isn’t up for debate or discussion Sunset Shimmer, you and Twilight Sparkle are going to work together on a project together.” Celestia said sternly. “WHY?!” Celestia rubbed the bridge of her nose in annoyance. “Because I think together, the two brightest and most intelligent girls I’ve ever seen attend this school would make a formidable team. Because I believe you can push each to heights you both alone didn’t think you could reach, and because I want to end this pointless hostility you have towards Twilight!” As pointless as it is, you can’t expect me to get over it that easily…! “I understand you’re upset about losing the title as Princess of the Fall Formal, but it was only one title out of the three you already hold! On top of that, I’ve seen how Twilight has tried to be nothing if not cordial and friendly towards you, but you seem determined to push her away.” Celetia got off her desk and stood before Sunset, she placed a hand on her shoulder, feeling the young girl flinch from her touch. “In the time since you’ve been here you haven’t made even one friend, Sunset. I don’t like seeing you alone and lonely.” “Maybe I like it that way,” she muttered. “Just give this a chance is all I’m asking, maybe you can even find some common ground with Twilight.” “I know…I know how you feel, Sunset…because I’m nothing too…” Those words again, they resounded in her mind once again. What did Twilight mean when she spoke those words? Was it some ploy to confuse Sunset and make her rethink possibly beating her up? Was she mocking her? Or did Twilight really know what she felt? Too many questions and not enough answers. Twilight Sparkle was still an enigma to her, same could be said of Sunset since not many knew anything about her, and not that she’d tell them if they asked. Still, Sunset did contemplate getting to know the girl better, and she also wanted to know why her heart would thump in her chest when thinking about her. “Fine…I’ll do it.” Celestia smiled, a little one since she didn’t want to show Sunset just how glad she was. “Well, I’ll let Ms. Sparkle know and you two can meet up and start brainstorming an idea.” “Don’t you need to fill out paperwork or something to register us?” Sunset watched as Celestia rolled her eyes up and to the side. “You already registered us, didn’t you?” Celestia nodded. Right into her hands…god how does she keep doing that?! “Guess I’ll go then,” said Sunset as she picked up her backpack and headed to the door. “Oh yes, and if you’re planning on driving on that deathtrap back home, I think you’ll need this.” Sunset turned around and watched as Celestia reached below her desk and pulled out her black helmet, placing it on the desk. “What the – I’ve been looking for that thing for half the day!” “Twilight brought it in, asked me to give it to you before you left school.” Sunset grabbed the helmet and looked at it as if it were foreign to her. “Sparkle said that?” “Mmm-hmm.” With that confirmed Sunset cradled the helmet in the crook of her arm and left the room. Celestia sighed heavily and sat behind her desk, taking out a pen in preparation for paperwork. One of these days Sunset, I’m going to climb over that anger wall of yours and it will be glorious. THAT AFTERNOON, LUNCHTIME… “Has Principal Celestia lost her cotton pickin’ mind?!” Applejack asked incredulously. “Twi, you can’t be serious about this, has she met Sunset?!” Rainbow Dash asked with the same tone as her friend. Twilight and her friends were sitting at their usual spot for lunch, with the studious girl relaying the message given to her by Principal Celestia that she and Sunset Shimmer were to work together in a scientific competition. Needless to say, when Twilight told the others, they reacted pretty much as she expected them to. “Well, um, I think maybe it could be a good thing…” Fluttershy shrunk into her seat when Applejack and Rainbow gave her a glance. “Or-or not!” “Darling, what Applejack and Rainbow are trying to get across is that they’re worried about you, and frankly dear so am I. Sunset has been nothing but a bully to every person in this school, and she nearly destroyed the friendships of myself, Fluttershy, Pinkie, Rainbow, and Applejack. That’s not exactly something one forgives so easily.” Rarity explained. Twilight took a sip of her milk carton and sighed. “I know you’re all worried about me, and I get where you’re coming from Rarity, but I still think that Sunset Shimmer isn’t as bad as we may all think. I mean, granted I haven’t been here long enough for her to do anything as bad as what she did to you all, but I think it’s because of that that I think I can reach her. I’m basically a blank slate, and I’m not held down by the memories of her past transgressions.” “Not to sound totally loco –” “That started at day one,” muttered Rainbow. “But I think Twilight has a point, see, we all can’t forget what she did, unless some guys in black suits come in and use some kind of flashy thing to erase our memories. Anywho, it’s hard for us to see Sunset as anything but the meanie, mean, super, mega bitch she’s been to all of us since as far back as we can remember! But since Twilight transferred here, she’s only gotten a small dose of that meanness, which also means that Sunset Shimmer may open up to her more since she isn’t from this school and doesn’t have her brain muddled with everything bad she’s done.” The other girls just gawked at Pinkie Pie, sometimes they forgot that despite her hyperactive ways, she was very observant and could spout out the occasional nugget of wisdom once in a while. “That’s…That’s exactly what I mean, Pinkie Pie,” said Twilight astonished. “Don’t get me wrong though, I’m still miffed at her, but everyone deserves a second chance.” “And besides, I know for a fact that you, Rainbow and Applejack, were about to enter that fight Sunset had with those two girls the other day.” Twilight pointed out. Rainbow Dash and Applejack shared a glance and sat back in their chairs. Admittedly they hated Sunset’s guts, and did derive a little fun from seeing her get punched. But what happened the other day was overboard for them. Did they want to punch out Sunset Shimmer? Sure, but one from both of them, not a beat down like she was getting. Even though Sunset was able to fight back and get them off her, she was still going at them two on one. “Sunset deserves a good punch, but that was too far,” said Applejack. “Weren’t even a fair fight.” “Gilda and Dust aren’t exactly known for fighting fair to begin with,” said Rainbow Dash under her breath. “I just hope she’s not in too much pain,” said Fluttershy. “I’m actually in between annoying and slightly painful at the moment, but thank you for your concern.” “EEP!” Fluttershy and others turned their gazes towards the end of their table, seeing Sunset Shimmer standing there, her usual scowl still prominent. Applejack and Rainbow Dash scooted out of their chairs as if in preparation to fight. “Really, you guys are going to attack me while I’m injured with bruised ribs?” Sunset asked with a raised eyebrow. “Ain’t no need to fight, don’t start nothin’ won’t be nothin’.” Applejack answered. “But it’s good to know where to hit you if we need to.” Rainbow commented. “I’m glad you’re glad you know where to kick an injured person.” Sunset then turned her gaze to Twilight. “Sparkle, I need to talk to you, in private.” “Sunset Shimmer, whatever’s so dreadfully important you can discuss it with us present.” Rarity shot back. “This is about the competition, science stuff, if I need a consultation in fashion I know who to call.” “Now see here–!” “Guys it’s fine!” Twilight shouted to quickly intervene. “Let’s talk Sunset.” Sunset’s expression didn’t change, she simply started walking to a vacant table three down from where Twilight’s friends were. All five gave her looks of worry, but she managed to reassure them that she’d be fine. Besides, they were in the cafeteria, surrounded by numerous students, and added to the fact that Sunset Shimmer was hurt, Twilight doubted she’d do anything to physically harm her. Twilight sat across from Sunset, the other girl leaning on her forearms on the table, tapping her manicured nails on the table as her narrowed eyes gazed upon her. Twilight was getting a strange nostalgic feeling, and not the good kind either. “So, we’re supposed to work together.” “Y-Yeah, I guess we are.” “Alright, so obviously you now know I’m smart, apparently your level of smart. Now I have two questions: What are we going to do and how are we going to do it?” Twilight gulped. “Well, I-I actually came up with something. It’s something I’ve been tinkering with in my spare time but I wouldn’t mind putting some more time and effort to it.” “And that is?” “Fusion reactions, more specifically, creating a…fusion reactor…” Sunset mulled over the idea, she had studied up on the subject of nuclear fusion, mostly because it was the closest thing to reaching the same nearly goddess like power that Princess Celestia had. Since it was the equivalent power of a sun. “Potentially dangerous and yields a lot of power, and a bit unstable……sounds like fun!” Sunset said with a grin. Twilight’s eyes, well, sparkled when she heard Sunset approve of their topic. “That’s great!” “But how are we going to build a reactor, I mean we could work up a diagram and hypothesis for how we could achieve it, but to build something would take longer than five weeks.” Twilight chuckled nervously. “I actually have enough components in my la – uh – room to possibly build a miniature reactor, it may not be on a large scale, but it’ll serve to show that it is possible. Of course it’ll take us about five weeks, we might be able to shave two or three days depending on our schedules, but that’s completely up to you!” Sunset was starting to see a side of Twilight that was dorkishly cute, she seemed like a different person when talking about science, almost near Pinkie Pie level, almost. She noticed Twilight’s friends eyeing them from across the room, more specifically, they were eyeing her, watching for even the slightest hint that Sunset was going to try something with Twilight. She rolled her eyes in annoyance, but ignored them. “Fine, so what time should I come over your place?” Twilight’s happy face went to surprise. “W-What?” “Well you have all the stuff at your place, so it makes more sense for me to come over and work there. I promise not to steal anything and be on my best behavior if that’s why you’re giving me that look.” “What look?” “That ‘oh my god, Sunset Shimmer is going to terrorize me in my own home’ look.” Twilight shook her head. “No that’s not why I – It’s just, I didn’t think you’d want to!” “Well it’s Friday and it’s the weekend, if you want we can get a head start on everything I could just crash at your place.” Twilight’s cheeks were getting red for some reason. “O-Oh, so like a slumber –” “Don’t say ‘slumber party’ or I’m out.” Twilight closed her mouth quickly. “Good, so how ‘bout it? I stay over the weekend and we work on this thing?” Sunset asked. Twilight nodded approvingly. “Yes that sounds very good! But, what about your parents? I mean, mine won’t mind, but what about yours?” Sunset reached into her pocket and pulled out a pen and paper, pushing it over to Twilight. “Write your address down,” said Sunset, avoiding the question. Twilight didn’t press the issue of her parents’ approval, but now as she wrote, Twilight was wondering in if Sunset Shimmer even had parents. When she was done, Twilight handed the paper and pen back and Sunset slipped it back into her jacket pocket, getting up from her seat she glanced over her shoulder. “Guess I’ll see you later.” With those last words Sunset walked away, heading out of the cafeteria and to who knows where. It was then that the gravity of the situation finally dawned on her. Sunset Shimmer was going to come over and stay through the weekend, in her home. There was so much to do, clean up her room, get the necessary equipment and materials for the project, check the fridge to see if they had food, and make sure that Spike doesn’t bite her when she comes in. But before all that, Twilight had to go and inform her friends. When she got up from the table and sat back down with her friends, she began explaining what they talked about and by the end the five girls let out a collective. “WHAT THE F–?!”