Sunset Shimmer was back at school the very next day. She had hoped someone would have told the student body to leave her be and to give her time to not think about what happened. Instead, she was pelted with questions from anyone and everyone with the most prominent question being "Did he do anything to you?"
Some questions struck a nerve with her, especially if it implicated she might have been the She-Demon. The descriptions of the She-Demon and "Sunset Satan" were almost identical. It was easy for Sunset to lie about it, claiming the magic came from the crown.
As for Fluttershy: she took a few days off to get her chi back in order (or whatever that was). Sunset and the girls would visit her and hand her the homework she had to do. Fluttershy was happy, she was smiling and somehow it didn't faze her. Her single mother was at that point where she never wanted to let her daughter out of her sight. Considering Fluttershy was all she had, no one could have blamed her. Fluttershy explained that this usually came and went, and she would be back in school starting the Monday after.
Sunset also came for a favor.
"Have any clothes or anything for young girls you might not be wearing anymore?"
It started when Sunset returned to school, and everyone stared as if they had seen a ghost. It continued until she was hurried away by a teacher to Principal Celestia's office.
"Sunset Shimmer, I know that something like you went through can be traumatizing, so if you want to take a few days off I won't hold it against you."
Sunset shook her head,"I'm all right, Principal Celestia. I think I can manage. But, I also wanted to do something for the girls and boys that were in Pedo Pete's brothels."
They had an impromptu assembly, and Sunset Shimmer asked every member of the student body for clothes, toys, and maybe even snacks. The drive was planned to last only a few days, but they raised enough that surplus items were donated to the local Goodwill.
Sunset could only smile as she and Hazel Cinnamon worked tirelessly into a Friday night to get the clothes ready for the morning after.
It's going all according to plan.
***
"I am proud of you, sweetie. Those kids can use any help they can get." Thunder Breeze said as they drove with Hazel Cinnamon to the police station. In the back was all the clothes raised, washed and folded in plastic trash bags, with a black tarp covering the over twenty trash bags.
"You should be proud of my school. It's their donations."
"I guess so. It's still a shame I couldn't get the city council to approve money for the girls. I would use department money, but they consider it embezzlement."
They pulled up to the employee parking lot and were greeted by a crowd from the school, including the principal. They did not even wait for Sunset and family to leave the car before they started to untether the tarp and began to carry the bags from the truck bed to four or so laundry carts. Sunset exited the vehicle in a wave of cheers, pats on the back, and "We were wrong about you." She even received a hug from Celestia, which, after what happen during the fall formal she thought it would never happen. Even with all that, there was one person she wanted to see.
He stood with a group of officers, a with a sling supporting his left arm.
She ran to him and gave him a big hug, but immediately backed off once he winced in pain.
"Sorry, Solar Sword!"
"It's fine, kiddo. Glad to see you're okay."
"Hows the arm?" Sunset asked.
"Ill be stuck doing desk duty for a couple of months, but since that's what I'm confined to anyway, I guess it's not too bad."
***
"I just want to thank Principal Celestia and the students of…"
For some reason, the mayor's speeches were boring, tedious, and he tended to ramble. He won last year because everyone hated the other guys' guts, especially Thunder Breeze. That allowed Sunset to complete the second phase of her plan, sneaking out of the press conference and into the station. She passed through the many hallways and found herself where she wanted to be. It was a large room that was usually used for emergencies or mass arrests. This time it was to hold over 50 children.
The all looked on in curiosity at the girl who walked in. Sunset knew who to look for, the daughter of the governor. She ran to her once she spotted the girl, and introduced herself
"I'm sorry, why are you here?"
All Sunset had to do was to pull out the rosary.
The children rushed her, thanking her. She was assaulted by hugs, and kisses. Sunset could only smile, but knew what she came for.
"Listen, I need a favor. Hold hands and make a circle, all of you."
* * *
Sunset left the room in tears. Her emotions were getting the best of her as if there were memories of pain and suffering racing through her head. She continued to the elevator and took it to the last floor: solitary confinement.
"Gladis, go." Sunset sniffled.
The tablet did its work, throwing commands through the WiFi and finished only a few seconds to spare.
Security cameras fixed. You're clear to go.
Sunset walked through the hallway not caring about the cameras because Gladis looped the feed so that there would be no evidence of her being on that floor. There was only three doors at the end of the hallway, and went through the right door, which was the only one that was unopened.
He was sitting on his bed, looking at the television. The look of defeat and exhaustion was written all over.
"What is her name?" Risky Line asked without taking his eyes off the television.
"Fluttershy."
"Does she want to be with me?"
"No."
"I was expecting that. its…its for the best I guess" He said as he felt the sting of rejection. "Why are you here?"
"Punishment."
He laughed. "Punishment? My freedom is gone, I can never see Fluttershy ever again, and I have to spend the rest of my life in the pen. With a reputation like mine, I will die by someone's shiv in less than five years. But no, I need to be punished more."
"What you did was inexcusable!" She yelled.
"Who died and made you the overlord of morality!? Just because you do heroic things does not make you a hero! You will know that soon enough if you try to play hero, She-Demon!"
"W-what?" Sunset Shimmer said in surprise.
"I might be a ‘monster’, but I'm not an idiot."
"Well aren't you an observant one."
"You had to be to live my life, Sunset Shimmer. If you didn't grow up with a mean fist and a keen mind in Favela Rocinha, you were a dead man. Especially if you were a foreigner that was abandoned by your parents while they were on vacation. I'm done running so if you're going to kill me, do it now."
Sunset smiled as her right hand, and Risky Lines' body was engulfed by a bright opal. With a flick of a finger, he was pinned against the ceramic tile wall with a loud thud. His arms and legs were stretched outward, and he became face to face with sunset.
"Why are you crying?"
"I'm not."
"You are still tearing."
"You're about to find out soon enough." She said as she walked up to him, her anger still showing.
"Well? Finish me!"
Sunset finally had him where she wanted, and finally did the deed. She walked up to him...
And gave him a deep kiss.
Risky's eyes were fluttering, his body was convulsing with what little wiggle room Sunset’s magic gave him. It was as if he was a demon possessed.
It only lasted a couple of seconds, and when it was over, Sunset let go of him. He collapsed and began to choke and cough on all fours.
"What, what did you do?!"
"I took the memories of the children you used, the children you exploited. I carried them from my brain to yours through that kiss. That's why I was crying because I had to hold the memories and the emotions they had because of you. They no longer have them. But, you do, and you will have them for the rest of your life. As you saw, I could barely hold it together for five minutes. You will have to carry that burden for the rest of your life, whoever long that might be. You have two minutes to enjoy whatever sanity you have left. Have a nice life, Risky Line."
* * *
"It's a beautiful day." Hazel Cinnamon said while she held the hand of her husband. The cameras were gone, everyone left, and the donated goods were already being distributed to the children. They were told that Sunset went inside to use the restroom, so they were waiting for her to come back out.
"I couldn't agree more," Thunder Breeze said, observing a few pigeons along a telephone wire.
The moment was interrupted by the ring of Thunder Breeze's cell phone.
"What's up, Solar Sword?"
"Just to let you know,Risky line has just fifty-one-fiftied and we are taking him to the state loony bin for observation."
"The hell?"
"Yeah, it was sudden. We checked the security cameras, and there was nothing going on before it started. It was as if it just happened spontaneously.”
"I understand. Keep me updated."
"Kay."
"You know, however, the craziness of adopting Sunset, I'm so glad we have her as a daughter," Hazel Cinnamon said as Thunder Breeze hung up the phone.
"Yes, I agree."
"You know, Thunder... She will be going to college in a few short years, what do you say.. I don't know… We try again?"
"You mean…"
"Yes, we can go for that son you always wanted."
"Can we do this… You know.. Naturally?"
Hazel looked at her husband with a playful, yet seductive smile.
"Mr. Breeze! Are you trying to seduce me?! The answer is of fucking course!"
They heard the sound of the opening double door behind them and looked back.
Their daughter was looking at them with a smile.
I'm so glad I have them. I would be lost in this world without them.
"So," Thunder Breeze said, ending the silent smiles. "Who's up for sushi?"
"No objections here," Both Sunset and Hazel said.
The couple let go of their hold and allowed their daughter to join in the middle as they walked to the truck. Sunset smiled, but her mind was racing.
Well, thats all over and done with. I really should count my blessings that it didn't end any worse than it could have been. Still, what if he is right? What if I am trying to play hero and I might end up biting more than I can chew? What then? I mean my mother's and my life are in jeopardy all the time because of my father, but we don't think about it. Would continuing this would lead to my downfall? What about my friends? I endangered one already, what about the rest?
And what of the connection of magic to my world and back home? If Star Swirl's way of dealing with monsters was to banish them, especially to this and other worlds, and then who is to say those monsters won't try to make their way back home via the school? Will I have to sacrifice everything to keep the world, or, even more importantly, my friends and family out of harm’s way?
You know what? Fuck it. This city could use some unconventional spring cleaning…Once I figure out how to get in this god damned truck. Seriously, it won't cost you an arm and a leg to install some steps, Dad.