//------------------------------// // Amends with a magician // Story: Another Chance // by Small Muffin //------------------------------// The three crusaders sat outside on a bench, enjoying some of the sweets from Scootaloos bag that were given to her yesterday. "Wait, have you been given even more?" Sweetie asked, looking down at the large pile on the table in front of them. Scoots laughed softly, "Yep, got these earlier." "You know it ain't right to take advantage of people like this, right?" Bloom asked rather dimly. "It's not like I asked them to give me these, they just did." Scoots replied, rather defensively. "Right, and that's really all that different." She said, rolling her eyes. "What's wrong Applebloom? You've been like this all morning." Sweetie asked. "It's just, something AJ told me yesterday is all." "Oh, what did she say?" Scoots asked, putting down the sweet in her hand. "Well, do yall really think we can trust her? Sunset I mean." she asked, not getting an answer. "I mean she ain't the most trustworthy person here." "Well yeah, but, she helped us out and, well you saw her yesterday, she was a wreck." Sweetie replied, not completely convinced herself. "AJ's convinced we can't, and she's almost never wrong when it comes to trust issues." "Almost?" Scootaloo asked, "She's been wrong before?" "Yeah, with Rainbow Dash It was the only time she was wrong to trust someone, she never did tell me what happened though." "Well, actually Rarity wasn't convinced either when I told her yesterday." Sweetie said. "Maybe she's right." she looked over to Scootaloo, "What does Dash think about this?" "I um, I actually haven't talked to her about it yet." she replied nervously. "I was gonna bring it up yesterday when I was helping her move some stuff, but I kinda chickened out." "Why? Isn't she like a sister to you?" Sweetie asked. "Well yeah, we're super close, but," she sighed "yesterday she seemed... off. I just put it down to her having a bad morning, but..." "You think it's cus of Sunset?" Scoots nodded. "Maybe you just need to talk to her about it, I'm sure she'll listen to you." Sweetie said, trying to lift both her friends spirits. "I hope so." Sweetie didn't know what she could say, but she had to try something. "I know she will." she said inconvincibly as she forced a smile and picked up one of the sweets, "Now how about we have some of this before class?" Scoots got up, sweeping most of the pile back into her bag. "Go ahead, I'm not hungry." she said gloomily. "Wait, where'er ya going?" Applebloom asked. "Toilet, see you two in class." she replied as she made her way into the school building. Sunset walked through the school, posters and wall-stapler in hand, looking for a place to set them up. Pinkie had done a more than good enough job of putting them around, as the corridors were full of them. Why did I say that? I'll tell you later. What am I gonna say? she looked around the corridor, looking for any free space for a poster, wanting an excuse to change the subject, if only for a moment. Okay, the truth is I'm from the future, and I tried to take over a different world using some evil demonic powers? Yeah like that'll work. "There's gotta be somewhere here I can put these up." she said, still looking for an empty space, "Glad there's no one else here, explaining this to everyone wouldn't- Oh who am I kidding, they probably wouldn't even question it." "Won't question what?" Sunset was startled as she turned around to see Pinkie. "Oh, sorry, were you thinking out loud? I do that a lot." she continued with a smile. Wait, is she really talking to me? Sunset scanned her body language quickly, She doesn't seem nervous at all, why? "I, yeah, sorry, what do you want?" she finally responded with a light smile. "Well since we're both helping Trixie out, I was wondering if you wanted help with those." Pinkie said, her own smile still standing strong. "No thanks, I'm o-" "Oh, how about I just do em all for you?" she interrupted, "I mean I can imagine that you don't wanna waste your time with boring posters." You just don't want my help, do you? "Sure, here you go." Sunset handed the posters and stapler to Pinkie, "Let me know if-" she sighed as she turned away, "You know what, never mind." As Sunset walked off Pinkie let out a relieving sigh. There's definitely something off with her, but what? she shrugged, "Oh well, I'll ask her tomorrow." she told herself as she turned around and hopped her way down the corridor. Lunch had come around, and Scootaloo looked around the cafeteria for Rainbow, knowing she had to speak to her about the last few days. She noticed her and the members of the schools top team, the Wonderbolts, sitting together. Slowly, she approached them. Just be honest with her, and everything will be fine. as she approached, some on the table took notice of her, the reaction seemed to be a bitless than positive. "Hey Dash," Rainbow looked up, but didn't turn to face her, "can we talk?" she asked nervously. "Sure squirt, take a seat." she replied, moving the seat next to her out. "Well, could we talk outside, it's important." Dash finally turned to her, and noticed Scoots was rather worried, and immediately changed her tone. "Oh, um, you guys cool with that?" the others at the table nodded, and Dash got up and headed out the cafeteria with Scootaloo. "So what is it, you ok?" "Yeah, It's about Sunset." she said, still nervous. "She's not worth it kid." Dash's tone immediately turned much more assertive, "Don't get involved with her, it's the last thing you wanna do." "I know but..." Scootaloo began. "I get that she helped you, but she'll just use you up and throw you away." "Well, I spoke to her yesterday." She began again. "You did WHAT!" she yelled. "She said she would help me out if I ever-" "And you BELIEVED her?" Scoots nooded, "Why would you even speak to her?" "Applebloom said she-" she mumbled. "Oh of course it was the apple!" Dash interrupted. "Listen, you wanna be careful around her. You got me?" "Applebloom? Why?" "Well if she's getting involved with Shimmer, you already know." Dash replied, walking up to the cafeteria doors. "But she's my best friend, we don't need to be careful around each other." Scoots told her, as Dash swung around. "I thought the same thing kid. AJ and I were awesome together," her hand slowly clenhed itself into a fist, "and then she decides she doesn't need me anymore and throws me away." "What even happened between you two?" Scoots asked. "Doesn't matter." Dash opened the cafeteria doors, "Just don't forget what I said. Stay. Away. From Shimmer." she walked back into the cafeteria, leaving Scootaloo alone. Sunset walked into room C3 for the third time that day, as Trixie sat waiting for her. Here we go. Sunset took a deep breath. "Waiting long?" she asked, gaining Trixies attention. Trixie quickly shook her bored expression away. "No, you're fine. So what is it?" Trixie asked as Sunset took a seat next to her. Sunset had to choose her words carefully, she knew what she wanted to say, but wasn't sure how to say it. "Have you, thought of any ideas yet?" Trixie shook her head, "No, guess Trixie just isn't in a thinking mood right now." she glanced at Sunset, who didn't even look like she was listening. "Have you?" At least she doesn't seem nervous anymore. "No, just curious." she said weakly. "So what is it you wanted to talk to Trixie about?" she turned around, placing her back towards Sunset. "And it better be important, Trixie's hungry." Sunset rolled her eyes, "It's about putting on a magic show to help get some votes." Trixie didn't answer, "Or, more specifically, your show two years ago." she continued. "What about it?" Trixie replied, in an annoyed tone. "You said everything went wrong, right?" Trixie nodded, "What if I told you I did all that?" Trixie turned herself around, "You, wait, what?" she asked puzzled. "You practised for weeks, and when the day came, nothing went right. It's cus I set you up." Sunset answered, slouching down on the table. "You, you set Trixie up!?" she asked, as a sudden anger grew in her voice. Sunset just nodded, "I was backstage, watching the whole thing, I'm sorry Trixie." Trixie slammed her fist down on the table, "YOU TURNED TRIXIE INTO A LAUGHING STOCK!" "I know, I'm sorry," was all Sunset mumbled. "SORRY? IS ALL YOU'RE GONNA SAY!?" she yelled, Sunset didn't move, let alone answer. "HOW ABOUT TELLING TRIXIE WHY YOU DID IT, HUH!" "I needed to get you out the way." "WHAT IS THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN!?" "You know the Fall Formal that year, a few months earlier?" Trixie took a breath, attempting to calm herself down, "When you locked Trixie in a supply closet all night? Yes." "Do you know why I did that?" Trixie shook her head, "It was because I realized you were a threat to me." "How was I a threat to you?" she asked as she sat herself back down. "You were always braging about how you were gonna beat me, I found the whole thing laughable." Sunset began, "I mean that's all you ever do. You brag, but you can't back it up." Sunset finally raised her head off of the table, and saw Trixie was getting angry again. "What's your point?" "I was wrong," Trixies face suddenly turned to one of surprise, "I realized it too late, and I had to do something about you." "What are you trying to tell Trixie?" "On the night of the Formal, I locked you in that closet because I knew you were gonna win, and I was right." Trixie was hit with the realization of what Sunset was saying, "Wait, you're saying..." "You had more votes than me, but since you didn't turn up, I won by default." Sunset told her calmly, as Trixie slowly pieced everything together, "You beat me Trixie, fair and square." "I, I beat you?" Trixie asked in amazement. "Yep, so when you were putting on that show, I had to... take care of you." she stood up, "I'm sorry Trixie, you're a great magician, and you didn't deserve what I put you through." she said as she walked to the door. Trixie got up as well, "Wait! You told Trixie you would tell her why you aren't running, is this why?" she asked. "I'm leaving Trixie, I won't be here for the Formal, but I'll help you win anyway I can while I'm here." she said calmly. "Wait a minute!" Sunset had already walked out, leaving Trixie alone with her thoughts. When Sunset got back home she looked over at the wall covered in paper, with the dart she threw still there. "Guess I'm gonna be sticking around a bit longer." she sighed, "Well, who's next?" she asked herself as she walked over to her desk. She did the same thing she did yesterday, compile all the names of those she would see tomorrow, pulled down the old pieces on the wall, as well as the dart, and pinned the new ones up. Finally, she threw the dart at the wall, and looked at the name it landed on. Applejack.