//------------------------------// // Gifts // Story: Dawn of the New Day // by QueenOfTheSilence //------------------------------// Following her "apology" to Rainbow Dash, Celestia had taken Sunset home where she fell asleep for a few hours before she was awoken for her detention. Once Celestia drove her back to school, she was once more in the hands of Hard Hammer and he set her to work assisting Trevor and several of the other workers from removing broken rebar and brick. From the way the man explained it, a good section of the front wall needed to be stripped down to the plaster underneath. That was the first part of the plan; actually assessing whether or not the the pillars were load bearing or not and if the second floor area might collapse but they determined that most of the pillars were merely cosmetic. Sunset was in charge of removing the bricks as Trevor drilled the mortar between them, loosing them. It was a boring tedious job, but it was pretty easy. They had only been at for ten minutes when Celestia appeared, however what surprised Sunset is that Rainbow Dash was with her. Sunset frowned and stopped briefly to survey them. They were a bits away so she couldn't hear them but she did see them approach Hard Hammer. They spoke for a few minutes while Rainbow Dash stood next to them, bored with her arms crossed, shifting from foot to foot. Once they were done they approached Sunset. "Sunset. Given today's incident it would be best if you and Rainbow Dash worked through your problems. You and Rainbow are going to be serving detention together. And I mean together, as in working together." said Celestia as she reached her adoptive daughter. Sunset pouted and internally she was raging. She did not want to work with Rainbow! Rainbow Dash didn't seem anymore happier about the issue. Suddenly she realized something, perhaps she could discuss the topic of Scootaloo emulating her dirty habits? She highly doubted the girl would listen but it was worth a try. "What are you looking at?" asked Rainbow, managing to look even more annoyed then before. Sunset shook her head, she hadn't realized she had been staring. "Nothing." The girl with the rainbow colored hair opened her mouth to say something but then quickly snapped it shut, realizing that it wasn't the best time seeing as Celestia was still there. "Well, I need to get going, I have to pick up groceries and run errands. I'm sure you'll both behave and I'm sure Hard Hammer will make sure that you do. I'll be back in a few hours to pick you up Sunset." Out of nowhere, Celestia pulled Sunset into a hug and kissed her on the forehead before leaving with no further words but a curt nod towards Hard Hammer. Sunset blushed, embarrassed by the public display of affection. "Well, back to work eh? Rainbow Flash, you and Sunny will be prying the bricks as Trevor removes the mortar. Try not to break anything, Trevor watch them." said the man, slapping his nephew on the back as he left. Trevor scowled in response and went a head and quickly instructed Rainbow Dash on how to remove bricks. Wait for him to drill the mortar then use their hands or a crow bar to remove the bricks which was to be tossed in the large wheelbarrow nearby. He handed Rainbow some gloves and a pair of googles which she refused to wear until Trevor threatened to get Celestia. "Can I use the drill?" asked Rainbow, gleefully as she watched Trevor use the device. To Sunset it was clear she didn't want to use it in the traditional manner; wanting instead to play with it. Fortunately for everyone, while lazy Trevor was not stupid. "And then have you do something stupid with it? No thanks. Besides I'm pretty sure you don't know how to use this thing and no I'm going to show you." he said in response, pulling down his googles and going back to drilling the wall. Sunset and Rainbow glanced at each other before slowly starting to work. They worked silently for a while, not paying any attention to the other until Rainbow Dash spoke up. "So Sunset Shitter what was that all about." So that's where Scootaloo had stolen the entirely unoriginal joke. Sunset rolled her eyes and turned towards the ever so cocky Rainbow Dash who had stopped pulling bricks and was standing with one hand on her hip and her crowbar in her other. "Oh how original. And what was what about?" said Sunset as she pried a brick free and tossed it into the wheelbarrow. Rainbow leaned into her which made Sunset step back a bit. "Why'd Celestia say she'd pick you up. And why did she kiss you. What, did you brain wash Celestia into being your girlfriend or something? Cause really that is absolutely disgusting, even for you." A part of Sunset wanted to punch Rainbow again but the stern voice of Celestia was pounding in the back of her head, telling her to behave. "Ew, gross! What are you into thinking about that shit? You must be if you bothered suggesting it. And no, I am not in a relationship with Celestia. I'd rather shove dog crap down my throat before that happens!" stated Sunset angrily, ripping out bricks and tossing them into the half-full wheel barrow. "Then why else would she do that?" "Because she's my mom you fucking pervert!" Sunset found herself surprised at her words. Mom? Did she really think of Celestia as her mother. I mean sure she had taken of her since she arrived in the human world but she felt undeserving, like she wasn't worthy enough to consider her as her mother. Besides, she had a mother, once upon a time even if she could scarcely recall her, the way her orange hair swung in the sunlight and how her sandy brown face was always smiling at her. Still, wasn't that why she had been so adamant in getting Princess Celestia's attention in the first place? To get her to be her mother so that she could be her daughter? Still, this Celestia had done more things a mother would do then Princess Celestia had done while she studied under her. Payed for an apartment, groceries, cellphone, internet, clothes and spending money. More recently she had become a someone she could lean on, going out of her way to make Sunset welcomed even after all that she done. That's not to say Princess Celestia was a horrible surrogate mother, they had a meal together at least once a day and she provided everything Sunset needed but that was about it. Mostly their relationship consisted of school work and new spells to master. She would admit, she probably had some doing in why she was so isolated from that Celestia by the way she acted but still, the woman and mare who shared a name were vastly different. "Celestia is your mother? No way! Besides didn't you just say your parents are dead this morning? I knew you were a liar!" "A.D.O.P.T.I.V.E. Adoptive. Are you forgetting I'm not from here? My birth family is dead and if you insult them again with your stupid comments I will punch you again and I don't care how much Celestia grounds me or Vice Principal Luna makes my life a hell." A fight would have ensued had it not been for Trevor interjecting into their fight. "Seriously? I don't want to listen to you two bicker; get back to work." - The next two hours flew by, the girls working quietly. Well they both threw insults at each other when Trevor wasn't paying attention but other then that they left each other alone. Sunset knew that if she wanted to ask about the smoking that she should probably do so as their detention was ending. "So I hear you smoke?" Startled, Rainbow dropped her crowbar that she was using to pry out a stuck brick. She blinked at Sunset as she processed the information and attempted to formulate an answer. "Yeah, whats your point dipshit?" "My point is that your a shit role model because I see Scootaloo is attempting to emulate you." This made Rainbow suspicious, why did the former She-Demon care about Scootaloo. She picked up her crowbar and slowly looked Sunset up and down for a moment. "Yeah so? How does this concern you and why do you care?" "I care because I saw her puffing one up behind the school yesterday and everyone knows she is obsessed with you. It wasn't hard to figure out where she got the idea that smoking is cool. I think that your a horrible role model. Besides, if I'm turning over the leaf that means I should at least try helping people." "This is helping? Also it's not your problem, she's my sister not yours you cunt." "Yeah well I'm just saying, you're a shitty role model and you should stop doing shitty things before Scootaloo or someone else decides to start copying your more stupid ideas and actions. "Whatever, just mind your own fucking business." Sunset sighed and shook her head; this entire conversation had been pointless and was worse was she knew it but had went with it anyway. Sighing she turned back to her work and admired it. The construction crew had been working all day and most of the work had been done by them but she was still impressed by the amount of bricks they removed. The only thing she wished out of all their hard work was that it wasn't going to last much longer. At least with Rainbow Dash attached as she knew she would be serving detention for a while. It seemed that the beloved Faust was in a good mood because Celestia appeared, with her coat and car keys in one hand. "Your detention is done for today, I hope you both learned your lesson. Rainbow you can leave. Sunset we need to go, I forgot that I booked a doctors appointment for you and Scootaloo so we're going to need to stop by home and pick her up. Assuming she's there of cours...Is something the matter Ms. Dash? You might catch flies if you keep your mouth open like that." Rainbows mouth was open in surprise. Pick up Scootaloo for a doctor appointment? Did that mean.... "YOU'RE Scootaloo's mom?" Celestia merely stared at her student and cocked her head. "Yes, I am. I don't know why that's a surprise. Surely given how attached Scootaloo is too you I thought you'd know. Besides it's not exactly a secret Ms. Dash." "Are you kidding? Half the school thinks she lives in Applebloom's clubhouse or in an orphanage! I can't believe SHE is Scootaloo's sister!" "Ms. Dash, I don't have the time and this conversation is inappropriate. I can assure you, Scootaloo does not live in a clubhouse nor is she an orphan. Now, you are still on school grounds and I'm your Principal right now. Unless you want detention for tomorrow, I suggest you go home. Good day Rainbow Dash. Sunset, come along." - No one in the family really liked Dr. Screwball. No one knew why but there was just something about her that made them uneasy, the way she walked which was almost a hop or the way she smiled a lot. And I mean a lot. Even Celestia felt a little weirded out when in her presence. It didn't help that she had the habit of surprising her patients with vaccinations for diseases only needed if you had visited a third-world country. Still she her office was close to the house and her fees weren't too bad. Sunset and Scootaloo followed behind Celestia as they entered a modest sized waiting room nearly packed to the brim with patients. Ah, Celestia always forgot that Screwball liked to overbook. Sighing, she motioned for her daughters to sit while she signed them in. Unfortunately there weren't a lot of seats. There were enough for them to sit down but they were all next to someone else which made things awkward except....At the same time the girls spotted an empty, isolated chair next to a magazine rack. Other patients stared as they ran towards it and fought over it. Unfortunately Scootaloo was faster and she got the chair, leaving Sunset to sit next to a stranger. Sunset wouldn't have paid attention to her seat mate if it wasn't for the fact that she recognized her. She was from school. The she in question was a girl Sunset knew was a year older then her but in her grade due to being held back. She had grey skin and light blond hair and she was dressed in a white and green polka-dotted t-shirt with bright pink pants. Her hair fell at her shoulders but the most interesting thing about her was her eyes. One stared right at Sunset as she approached but the other was pointed upwards. She had a some sort of eye problem if Sunset recalled, the disease started with an S but she couldn't remember the name. Sunset plastered the biggest smile she could on her face "Can I sit here?" The girl named Derpy Hooves, looked her up and down with the eye that was actually focused on her and after a moment of consideration, she nodded. "Yeah I guess." Sunset sat down next to her and awkwardness began forming between the two. Should she talk to her? Would she want to talk to her? Sunset wasn't very good at initiating small talk. Maybe she should just sit and say nothing...but wouldn't it be rude? They knew each other well actually they didn't but they recognized each other from around school. Wait had she been one of her victims? Well everyone had been a victim really but some were regulars and others only faced her wrath a few times. Sunset thought it over, if she recalled she had little to no interactions with Derpy. There paths never really crossed, except in the hallway. Well there were a few times where she had deliberately tripped her in the hallway but that was the gist of it. You would think a girl with a disability would have been a huge target for Sunset but the fact was Derpy was never around Sunset and they didn't share classes. She should say something. "So you uh come here often?" Sunset cringed and nearly slapped herself in the face. What had been an attempt to start small talk sounded more like a cheesy pick-up line. Derpy looked at her school mate and frowned. "No, not really. Why, do you?" "Uh no....." They ;lapsed once more into silence, this time both were feeling even more awkward as before. Sunset tried focusing on her nails or even the old magazines on the coffee table but she found herself restless. Should she attempt to continue talking? "Want a muffin?" Sunset nearly jumped in her seat from the sudden voice. She turned towards Derpy who had opened her purse and pulled out two blueberry muffins, keeping one for her self and offering the other to Sunset. Derpy stared at her intensely as she awkwardly accepted the slightly mushed muffin. She really didn't want to eat the muffin but she had already accepted it. Derpy was still staring at her but with each passing second it was becoming more intense. Was this a trap? Was this thing laced with poison? "Go on, it's not posioned" said Derpy, who seemed to be able to read Sunset's mind. Hesitatingly she took a bite and to her surprise instead of poison she was greeted by pure bliss. Sunset moaned. This muffin was...PERFECT! The buttery cake, the fresh blueberries baked into it and the creamy blue frosting was all delicious. She practically shoved the muffin in her mouth. Derpy laughed as she watched the girl eat the muffin the way a starving person would eat a piece of bread. "I assume you like it?" "It's delicious, where do you get these muffins?" "I make them myself! You could say it's a special talent of mine." Sunset stared, home made? These things were like bakery muffins and not the type of bakery you'd find in a grocery store but a true bakery with expensive desserts and breads. "Thank you for the bread but can I ask, why me?" "Why you what? Why share my delicious, awesome magical muffins with you?" Sunset nodded, her eyes trained on Derpy's other muffin. She wanted another one but she wasn't sure if she should ask for another. "Well duh, why else? Sharing muffins is the secret to making friends! Besides, I've seen how sad you are at school and if it's one thing my mom always taught me is that you should always give people a second chance if they try to turn over a leaf! So that's what I'm doing!" exclaimed the girl. Sunset was surprised, someone actually wanted to give her a second chance? After all she had done?" "But, why would you want to give me a second chance?" "Like I said, second chances for those who wish to turn over a new leaf." "Delphine Hooves?" Nurse Redheart, a woman with snow white skin and pink hair pulled back in a bun, held a clipboard in her hands reading off the name of the next patient. Derpy stood up and grabbed her bag but not before shoving her uneaten muffin into Sunset's hands. "That's me! See you later!" "But what about your muffin? Don't you want it? "Sure but I got a million of them on me besides you seem to want it more. Later!" As she left, Sunset began to feel something, she wasn't sure what it was but it wasn't exactly unpleasant. The muffin sat in her hands for a few minutes as she stared at it, unable to eat it like it's counterpart which she had devoured with vigor. No, it was to precious to be eaten.