Chapter 06: Spell Nexus
“We all have a calling, and everyday we strive to answer it, even as our flesh weakens and tires after a day's activity. My calling was to be a teacher, a poet of sorts. I do what I must for they have entrusted unto me the duty of guiding your hands into futures to which may change the lands we live. I would not be who I am otherwise.”
The blue-suited man took a deep, calm breath and sighed. He placed both hands on his desk and lifted himself off, revealing the full name on the plaque to the spying Nyx.
“But I believe I have taken up enough your time. By all means, go, enjoy your recess, please,” Nexus chuckled. “You’ve been sitting in my lesson for an hour now, don’t let me take up another minute. We will continue this tomorrow. Class dismissed.”
Some students stood and gathered their equipment, while others stayed to question the teacher out of interest. Nyx continued to watch the teacher, a sense of familiarity bubbling from within which seemed to distract her.
The students left through another door further up from Nyx, all the while Nexus answered questions asked by the remaining few students. Nyx went deaf to all that was around her and she looked to her feet in thought, oblivious to Scootaloo’s calls.
“Nyx? Hey Nyx? Yo? Nyx are you listening?”
Scootaloo waved a hand in front of Nyx’s face, and after a few blinks and the shake of her head, Nyx snapped out of her trance and blinked.
“Huh, Scootaloo? Did something happen?” Nyx asked innocently.
“You were staring out into space like you just saw an explosion of rainbow, come on, the others are way ahead of us.”
Nyx smiled. “Alright!”
Nyx and Scootaloo continued on their way, they passed by the Dazzlings once more who took no notice of them. However, Nyx found herself unable to look away from the sirens, especially Aria Blaze. Aria, arms forward and stoic, disinterest on her face looked at Nyx from the corner of her eye as she passed, only to look forward once more.
Nyx turned around and walked backwards, interested in the group but at the same time cautious; she was not keen on bumping into them again like she had earlier. She faced forward again and kept pace with Scootaloo. Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Twist stood at the end of the hall in wait. Sweetie Belle tapped on her folded arms as she leaned against the wall, while Apple Bloom stood, hands on hips.
“Where do ya suppose Scootaloo went? It ain’t like her to suddenly disappear like that,” Apple Bloom said with much confusion.
“I think she went back to grab Nyx, she disappeared before Scootaloo after all,” said Twist.
“We’re back!” Scootaloo called out to the three friends, who looked to them and smiled.
“There you two are, what happened?” asked Sweetie Belle.
“Sorry to break off like that, girls, Nyx was staring into Mr. Nexus’s classroom and she weirded out again.”
Nyx pouted and folded her arms childishly. “I’m not weird, I’m special.”
The C.H.C giggled at Nyx’s response, but Apple Bloom was curious; what had been so interesting about Nexus that would make Nyx break away from the group?
“So what was so interestin’ about Mr. Nexus?” she put the question forward.
Nyx looked at Apple Bloom, her face seeming to imply she had no idea at all on what to say. She looked at Scootaloo then back to Apple Bloom and lifted a finger, opening her mouth to speak, only to close it and lower her finger. She repeated this twice before finally saying with a shrug: “I don’t know.”
“Remember girls, she’s a lot younger then us,” Sweetie Belle reminded them.
“We know,” Apple Bloom and Scootaloo said in unison.
“So where are we going?” Nyx asked as she looked around the group.
The C.H.C and Twist looked at Nyx, then at each other.
“Weren’t we going to spend recess by the tree outside?” asked Sweetie Belle.
“I thought it’d be by the statue,” said Scootaloo.
“Definitely by the tree,” confirmed Apple Bloom.
Twist only nodded in reply to Sweetie Belle. Nyx, however, was thinking of something else, her mind was preoccupied as now she thought of that feeling she got when seeing Nexus, but again, the Canterlot High Crusaders broke her train of thought.
Scootaloo and Twist took Nyx’s hands and the group of five walked together down the hall toward the front of the school.
~~~
Sunset Shimmer sat at the usual table in the cafeteria; five of them were currently present, all except Pinkie Pie. Applejack watched Sunset closely, who had begun to feel nervous about the consistent staring that came from the former.
“So, when are we gonna meet Nyx?” Applejack asked, cocking an eyebrow.
“I’m sure she’s just busy, Applejack. We’ll see her soon, maybe…” said Fluttershy.
“You’ll be able to meet her soon, I asked Ms. Cheerilee to look after her while I get through the day. I’ll go get her, but I wanted to make sure everybody was present before I did.”
Rarity looked over to Pinkie Pie’s spot. “Well, I have no hope for Pinkie Pie, she’s already late as it is. I didn’t even see her come in this morning, or call in sick.”
“I’m not sick!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed as she burst out between Rarity and Applejack, starling them both and causing Fluttershy to squeal and fall out of her chair. Rainbow Dash laughed, as did Pinkie Pie whilst Rarity and Applejack found this less then amusing.
Rainbow Dash calmed herself, and helped Fluttershy back up; while Sunset Shimmer recovered from her own bit of shock.
“Where have you been, Pinkie Pie?” Sunset asked as she took deep calming breaths, her hand to her chest as if to still her thumping heart.
“Oh, I was just thinking up a way on how to surprise you girls, and it worked!”
“Like a slap to the butt,” added Rainbow Dash.
Sunset Shimmer sighed and shook her head with her fingers over her closed eyes, “Okay, so Pinkie Pie is here, where’s Twilight?”
“Oh…” Fluttershy stammered, “Y-You weren’t here when she told us, She’s been chosen to compete in the Griffonstone County High School maths contest. She won’t be back until later this afternoon.”
“Well, there’s always tomorrow,” Sunset Shimmer said with optimism. “I’m going to go get Nyx, can you girls wait here while I do?”
“Sure thing, Sunset. We’ll wait,” answered Applejack.
“Go get her already,” spurred Rainbow Dash.
Sunset Shimmer nodded to her friends and went for the cafeteria exit. She quickly flattened herself against the wall as the door swung open with Lyra and Bon Bon entering and waving.
“Hey, Sunset!” said Lyra.
“Good morning, Lyra, Bon Bon,” replied Sunset Shimmer as she squeezed through the door.
Once in the Library, Sunset Shimmer looked around for Nyx like she had lost a valuable piece of jewelry. Cheerilee meanwhile, stepped out for a moment before she came in which only made things difficult. She passed by the pile of books on the table, and the pile on the floor, approaching the rows of books with different genres on their shelf.
“Nyx, where are you? Nyx?” she asked in a hushed, quiet tone. She moved down the aisle and could see which books Nyx had taken out to read, though she had no idea that it was even her taking the books out.
Sunset looked under tables, around the computers and in the toilets nearby. She checked under the librarian's desk and by the advanced economics books. She inspected the book pile that laid nearby the librarian's desk and found nothing…
“This is just what I need… a missing child who is ultimately my responsibility is now missing and I have no idea where she could be…” Sunset held her head and paced back and forth in worried contemplation.
Students entering gave Sunset looks as she spoke out loud to herself and acted like Twilight in a stressful situation.
“Responsibility does that count for orphans off the street?” Sunset questioned herself.
Finally, tired of her own ramblings and stress, she took a seat by the librarian's desk, right as Cheerilee was rounding the corner and walking through the doors. Sunset looked over at Cheerilee and stood up once again almost instantly. Cheerilee looked up from some folders she held and smiled.
“Hello again, Sunset Shimmer. I’m sorry to say it, but Nyx isn’t here right now.”
“What?! Not here? Where is she, do you know?” Sunset’s voice was raised a few pitches in her alarm.
Cheerilee put her finger to her lips and shushed Sunset. “Not so loud. Nyx went with Apple Bloom and her friends, I’m sure Nyx is fine, I hope…”
Cheerilee sounded uncertain, which only made it all the more stressful for Sunset. She dragged her hand down her face, messing up her hair and giving her quite the grin with her eyes parted with crazed worry.
She quickly snapped out of her little change of face, and quickly left the library with a thanks shouted to Cheerilee. Sunset could think of a few places the Canterlot High Crusaders could be, and thus the few places they could be had been narrowed down.
First, Sunset checked the computer lab, aware of the crusaders’ habit of surfing YouShare for music videos and a variety of other stuff, including their own videos. Sunset looked around the busy room, seeing only the geeks and the diligent school-working teen.
Sunset rubbed her chin before calling out: “Hey, Doc!”
A brown coated teen suddenly stood up from a blue-colored computer, adjusting his long multicolored scarf and his hat. “Good day, Sunset Shimmer, how might I be of assistance?”
“I’m looking for the crusaders, have they been by?”
“Well, no. I’m afraid they haven’t been by in a while. I thought that perhaps Ms. Cheerilee’s scoldings had gotten to them.” Time Turner turned to his computer and picked up an odd-looking model.
“While you’re here perhaps you’d like to—”
SLAM!!!
Sunset Shimmer quickly closed the door as if in a hurry, startling the students and bringing Time Turner to disappointment. “Aww… I only wanted to discuss the relativity of the wind force projected onto the paddle of my gear warp wheel protractor.”
“Next time, dude,” Micro Chips said to Time whilst typing away at his computer.
“I’ll ask Derpy later, in the meantime!” Time Turner sat back down and started to type at his computer once more.
~~~
“I don’t have time for this, why of all times did those three have to get involved? This is irritating...” Sunset let out a sigh and started to power walk her way to the foyer. “Canterlot High Crusaders, where are you?!”
“Couldn’t you yell anywhere but in here?” asked Aria, leaning against the wall with arms folded against her chest, without a care or a regard for anything but Sunset’s unnecessary noise.
“You haven’t seen them by chance have you, Aria?” Sunset sighed and folded her arms with one hand against her forehead.
Aria blew some air out of her eyes and looked toward the front doors. “Yeah, I saw them as the girls and I walked past. That brat with the vest was with them too. If you want to know where they went, then you’re out of luck, I was going to see Councilor Discord with the girls.”
“Speaking of the girls, where’s the rest of you? Off singing, are they?”
“N-no! You killed our voices, remember?” Aria sighed and facepalmed; a bead of sweat trickled down her forehead at the mention of singing. “Sonata is eating in the cafeteria and Adagio’s doing research. As for me, I don’t care. I’m happy to waste my time anywhere I please.”
“That... sounds like a drag,” Sunset remarked hesitantly.
Aria sighed and hugged herself, looking to the floor, “Yeah… well… it is.”
“Is… are you feeling okay, Aria? You don’t sound like yourself, is there something going on with you and the girls, or what?”
“Go away…” Aria muttered.
“Aria, you can talk to me about anything, I want to help, I’ll listen.” Sunset approached Aria only a little and was met with a cold glare from the fuchsia siren.
“I said go away..! Leave me alone, Rainboom…” she lowered her head once more and looked away from Sunset Shimmer, gritting her teeth and shutting her eyes.
Sunset frowned and started to walk away. She noted Aria’s sad expression before facing forward and making her way to the ball courts just outside the gym. Though, out of concern, Sunset looked over her shoulder at Aria. The siren looked as though she was wiping her eyes before walking away, her arms still tightly draped around her chest in self assurance.
“Aria, what’s going on in that mind of yours..? What’s wrong?” Sunset faced forward again and continued on her way.
The ball courts were crowded with spectators watching some of the more athletic students play a game of basketball. Flash Sentry held the ball, his band mates behind him, and at the front was the imposing Bulk Biceps, Big Macintosh and Fido.
The atmosphere was tense, Flash Sentry stared at Bulk Biceps, he dribbled the ball in front of him, hunched over and ready to move. The only sound to be heard was the bouncing of the leather sphere, ceaselessly bouncing with every tap of Flash’s hand. Bulk closed his fist, knuckles cracking while he did. Big Macintosh was expressionless, he only chewed on a piece of wheat which hung out of his mouth, while Fido impatiently tapped his foot, hunching and hitting his fists together.
Flash narrowed his eyes as he stared, Brawly Beats waited patiently, a drop of sweat trickling down his face, Ringo adjusted his glasses and wiped the sweat out of mustache, shaking as the fifth minute had reached its start.
“Oh come on!! Just play the stupid game already!!” Rover shouted at the top of his lungs from the stands.
It was after Rover’s outburst that Flash bounced the ball back to Brawly Beats. The opposite team mobilized and started their attempts at getting the ball, meanwhile Flash and Ringo were waiting on the opposite side with only Big Mac catching wind of their plans.
As Brawly was cut off by Fido, he took a step to go one way, catching him off guard as he moved to compensate, only to have Brawly push the ball to the ground and bounce into Ringo’s mits. He dribbled, pursued by Bulk and Fido whose attempts at gaining the ball proved futile as he nimbly dribbled below and past them.
the cheers of the surprisingly large crowd spurred Ringo on, even as his opponents got ahead of him in vain attempts to block him. While this was happening, Sunset Shimmer arrived and paused to see the game. Flash on the court was waving and shouting to Ringo, the way to Flash was narrowed by the brutes who stood together as the obstacle in the plan.
“I’m clear, Ringo!” Flash called out.
Taking the risk, Ringo passed the ball to Flash, throwing it over the tops of the pair’s heads and towards Flash, who looked certain to take it. As the spectators watched on the edge of their seats, and Sunset sitting to watch, the ball was taken by Big Mac. He grabbed it, twirled around, and dribbled it up the opposite way.
Ringo and Brawly tried getting it back, only Big Mac would pass it to either of his teammates. Sunset looked at the scoreboard and saw that both teams were tied, only now they weren’t. Fido put the ball through Flash’s hoop and won the game. The crowed cheered, and Sunset smiled, though not for long as the brief distraction became less so.
“Good game, you six!” Iron Will praised the teams. “I hope to see more of that in Gym later.”
“Sure thing coach,” Flash said as he passed by the large man.
He picked up his guitar by the stands and put it over his shoulders after slinging his bag on. He didn’t look up as he started to walk, and Sunset Shimmer became the victim of his carelessness. She fell back from the bump, only to be grabbed by Flash.
“Whoa! Hey, sorry, Sunset. That doesn’t usually happen.”
“To me,” Sunset said with a blush.
Sunset brushed herself off and looked up to Flash.
“You saw that last game right? We were pretty cool up until that last run.” Flash clenched his fist in his excitement over the game.
“I came in at the last second, it was close, but there’s better luck next time.”
A brief moment of silence befell them until Sunset spoke again. “So, have you seen the crusaders by any chance? I’ve been looking for them all recess and they’ve managed to find a good hiding place.”
Flash cocked an eyebrow. “I saw them earlier heading out by the big tree at the front of the school.”
Sunset grit her teeth, her hair spiking up like flames. “Of course, that’s the least place I’d have looked!”
“Did AJ, Rare and Dashie ask you to find their sisters or something?” Flash asked with a shrug.
Sunset sighed. “No, you could say they’ve… borrowed somebody I know.”
~~~
“This is a really big tree, and really old,” remarked Twist, looking up at the tree which the C.H.C sat beneath.
“I could’ve told you that,” quipped Scootaloo.
Nyx squatted down nearby the circle of girls, all the while Twist rejoined her friends and looked over to the little girl. Apple Bloom looked over to Nyx as Twist did, the conversation between Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle seemingly far from their mind.
“What do you think she’s doing?” Twist whispered.
“Ah dunno,” replied Apple Bloom with a whisper.
Nyx looked at them from the corner of her eye and adjusted her glasses which had started to slide down the bridge of her nose. She blinked and looked back at the ground, a stick in hand. She drew a star-burst in the dirt, with small stars surrounding it. She added beside it a moon and the shape of a dragon. She sighed and put the stick down.
“So, whatcha doing?” Twist asked as she came and sat down beside Nyx.
Nyx glanced at Twist then back at the dirt drawing. “Drawing, with a stick.”
“Are we boring you, Nyx?” asked Apple Bloom who sat beside Nyx opposite of Twist.
“Well… not boring.. I guess I’m just not very interested… There’s not much to do.”
“Oh...” Apple Bloom looked to the ground and saw what Nyx had drawn. She tilted her head and shifted her eyes to look at Nyx. “So what did ya draw”
“Oh, just some stuff…”
“What kind of stuff?” asked Scootaloo, leaning over Nyx’s shoulder like a creep.
“Can you tell us, Nyx?” asked Sweetie Belle.
Nyx started and tense up and hunched her shoulders to make her head appear less prominent, like a turtle retreating into its shell.
“Could you girls explain to me why you are crowding that student?” a voice came from behind the older girls, all of whom stood and turned around to be faced with figure that was Spell Nexus.
“I-it’s okay, s-sir. I didn’t feel crowded at all,” Nyx said as she stood up and turned to look at Nexus.
Nexus looked at Nyx up and down and lifted an eyebrow. “I’m sorry, I don’t believe we’ve met before. You’re not any student I know of.”
“I-I’m Nyx,” she said shyly.
“Well then, it’s a pleasure to meet you, Nyx. I’m Spell Nexus, but the students here call me Mr. Nexus.”
Nexus thought to himself for a moment and looked unsure. “Tell me, how old are you exactly?”
“I-I’m seven,” she responded shyly.
“I… don’t think you should be here on school grounds.” He looked at the other crusaders and Twist. “You girls shouldn’t be out here at all.”
“I didn’t know there was a rule against it,” Sunset said whilst approaching the group.
Nexus looked at Sunset with the girls and smiled. “There isn’t, I’m only looking out for their wellbeing. There’s not another teacher nor student around to come to their aid should they be abducted or hurt.”
“I’m sure they’d be fine, as for you, crusaders…” Sunset eyed them with an intense glare.
Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo and Apple Bloom all tensed up. Twist backed away and stood beside Nexus along with Nyx and watched.
“Do you three realize how hard it is to find you! I’ve been looking all recess for for you, I checked all of your usual hanging spots, only to find you weren’t there!”
“We’re sorry, Sunset Shimmer,” apologized Apple Bloom.
“Please don’t be mad at them, Sunset…” Nyx said as she frowned and stepped forward.
Sunset smiled kindly and with a slight snicker. “I’m not mad, just a little tensed. I wanted to know if you’d like to meet Applejack, Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy.”
“You have more friends..?” Nyx asked and looked down to her feet shyly.
“It’s okay if you don’t want to, I can understand if you want to stay by the crusaders, they’re an interesting bunch,” she looked at the three main crusaders after squatting down to Nyx’s height.
“Could they come with us when I meet your friends?” The child tilted her head curiously.
She wanted to stay with her own new friends, at least until they returned to class for another two periods. As for Nexus, Nyx didn’t know why she felt strange in his presence, feeling familiar but being unable to remember was like having one's mind go numb and trapping any further thoughts.
“You know this child then, Sunset?” Nexus gestured to Nyx, cocking an eyebrow.
“She’s my cousin.”
“Another Equestrian, I take it. Hmm, well then you’d be the second Equestrian I’ve met in my time teaching here, Nyx.” Nexus hunched himself over and bent his knees as he looked at the young girl.
“E-ques-trian?” She looked at the teacher with great confusion, which he instantly noticed.
Nexus looked at Sunset and chuckled. “Well then, I hope you enjoy your stay in our world, Nyx.”
Nexus adjusted his collar and proceeded away from the group toward the school building. Sunset stood and watched with the crusaders as Nexus left. She thought highly of the teacher, a man of poetry and goodwill, traits which made Nexus a likable man. Nyx was especially interested in him and placed one hand to her head as if trying to remember something.
“Shall we go? We have like five minutes until the bell rings.”
Nyx looked up to Sunset and nodded, she then turned and looked at the girls, offering to bring them along, to which the C.H.C accepted.
~~~
“Wait, waait I know, oh! I know! You’re name is Black Snooty! I knew it! It’s Black Snooty!!” Pinkie Pie danced about on the cafeteria table in celebration of her guess.
Nyx hid behind Sunset and the girls, staring up at Pinkie Pie like she was a monster out of hell. She shook like a leaf, frightened by the enthusiastic teen who didn’t realize what she was doing. Other students around the cafeteria looked at the group of six, some smirking and others trying to contain their laughter.
Applejack grabbed onto Pinkie Pie’s leg and looked up at her. “Now that’s enough, Pinkie Pie, yer scarin’ her.” Applejack looked over to Nyx, “Don’t mind her, darlin’, she’s just over excited to be meetin’ somebody new”
“I’m not that scary!” Pinkie said with a giggle and a snort.
Fluttershy came around to greet Nyx, squatting down to the child's height. The crusaders moved aside to let her see Nyx. “H-hello there, Nyx. I’m Fluttershy.”
Nyx slowly came out from behind Sunset and approached Fluttershy. “H-hello, y-you sound nice. I like your name.”
“Thank you, I like your name too, it sounds very pretty.” Fluttershy smiled with joy at Nyx’s kind comment.
“Thank you, Fluttershy,” Nyx said with no hesitation.
“I thought you and Fluttershy would get along well,” Sunset said with a smile.
“Ah’m Applejack, nice to meet you, sugarcube.” Applejack tipped her hat in greetings to Nyx, to which the child returned the gesture with a curtsy.
“And you already know me, Pinkie Pie!” The pink teen back flipped off the table and landed perfectly on her tippy-toes with arms stretched straight like a T.
Nyx shrank back nervously from Pinkie Pie and backed up slowly behind Sunset again. Pinkie watched Nyx and let her arms rest at her side, after which she shrugged.
“I’m not that scary, am I?”
“Yer not scary, Pinkie Pie, yer just a little over-excited and energetic,” said Applejack, rubbing the back of her neck.
“And hyperactive,” added Fluttershy.
“I-If it’s all the same t-to everybody else, it’s actually n-n-nice to meet her…” Nyx peeked around from Sunset’s legs toward the group.
Pinkie Pie started to compress like a spring, shrinking down until she was low to the floor before launching herself up and through the roof. Nyx’s jaw hung agape as she saw this, Sunset put her hands on her hips while the rest of the girls looked on, unsurprised and dismissing this as normal.
“There she goes again,” remarked Rarity.
“Think she’ll pony-up?” asked Rainbow Dash.
Nyx looked at the two and cocked an eyebrow in her confusion. “Pony… up? You ride ponies?”
“Not exactly,” Applejack started to explain. “Ponying up is a term we use fer our transformations.”
Nyx stared at Applejack, her cheeks puffed up, her lip quivered and she started to laugh as if what Applejack was saying was a joke. The teens looked at one another as they quickly realized that telling wasn't going to do what showing would.
“Y-you do know there’s no such thing as m-magic!” the little girl giggled and held her hand to her mouth in an effort to quiet her chortle.
“There’s not? The how do you explain these?” Pinkie Pie asked out of nowhere from behind Nyx, pointing to the pink pony ears atop her head.
Nyx squeaked loudly and jumped forward, spinning around to look at Pinkie. Her turquoise eyes locked onto the pony ears, which sent her speechless. Nearby, Sonata listened and watched what went on, her mouth covered in the remnants of her burrito.
“Um, Pinkie Pie, ya might want to pony down now.” Rainbow Dash hinted at Sonata sitting nearby, to which Pinkie relented.
Her ears turned white and shrank back, replaced with human ears, while her hair shortened as well.
“H-how… I-I don’t understand…” Nyx looked so confused, and a little scared of what she was seeing.
Sunset came around and got down to Nyx’s height. “It’s just a trick, Nyx. Don’t worry.”
“A-a trick?” Nyx looked at Sunset, and then at Pinkie Pie.
“A trick, Sunset what are you talking—” A well-timed nudge to the shoulder stopped Pinkie Pie from talking further.
It soon dawned on the group that Sunset might not want Nyx to know about their powers just yet, not until she was willing to trust them. Nyx looked back to Sunset Shimmer, then down to the floor. She pulled away from her and went over to the Crusaders.
“I‘m going to play with the girls a little longer, is that okay?”
Sunset nodded. “It’s okay, Nyx. But when the bell rings, come and find me, okay?”
Nyx nodded and rolled her eyes. She and the crusaders left the cafeteria while Sunset Shimmer sat down with a groan.
“I’m sure everythin’s goin’ to be just fine, Sunset. It’s a big thing raising a child.”
“It’s not just Nyx, Applejack. While I was looking for her, I ran into Aria.” Sunset held her head in her hands and let out a deep, tired sigh.
“What was she up to?” inquired Rainbow Dash, an eyebrow lifted in suspicion.
“That’s just it…” Sunset lowered her hands and looked at Rainbow Dash, “she wasn't up to anything. She was alone, there was nobody with her and when I offered to lend her an ear, she yelled at me and…”
“‘And’ what, darling?” Rarity pressed.
Sunset glanced down at the table, then over to Rarity. “She started crying…”
The girls looked surprised at that, even Sonata, who sitting nearby eavesdropping was surprised enough to almost choke on her food.
“I think there might be something going on within the dazzlings. Maybe Adagio is giving them a hard time.”
“Maybe they’re up to something, and Aria is just trying to have her say,” wondered Fluttershy.
“Perhaps. I didn’t think I’d ever see one of them like that, though, Aria was worked up really bad.” Sunset interlocked her fingers in thought.
“She’ll get over it,” said Applejack, shrugging off the topic in favour of a new one.
“Yeah… she will.” Sunset sighed.
“So, here comes the part where you tell us what we want to know.” Applejack leaned toward Sunset from across the table. “Is Nyx really yer cousin?”
Sonata had gathered her bag and left the cafeteria, the timing was perfect now that a potential threat had just upped and left the room. Sunset twiddled her thumbs and avoided looking at the girls.
“No.. she’s not… I found her out in the street on my way back home after we went to the mall. She was anorexic, frail, scared. She wore rags, and she was hurt…”
“So you just took her in? Just like that?” Rainbow was next to speak and from her question, Sunset could see they thought it was a little odd.
“I know it was wrong of me, but how could I just notice her and brush her off? She’s only a little girl and she was living in a box. I couldn’t walk away from that, I doubt any of you could either.”
“But darling, this does raise some complications that could arise in her future. She might not be apart of any system of any kind. Medical, school, social media, she’d be totally invisible and off the grid. She would be treated as an anomaly.” Rarity spoke truth there.
“And she might’ve been diseased. If she was malnourished like you said then you should’ve taken her to a doctor.” Fluttershy didn’t lie either.
Sunset knew all this stuff already and it got to her. “I know already! Girls, you know what orphanages are like in the city, and you’ve heard the reports that come out of there. Paedophillia, abuse, starvation. I wasn't going to subject her to that, something clicked, girls… and it clicked when I saw her. Whatever it was, it’s driving me to try and know her... to understand her…”
The five friends all stared at Sunset, each one frowning, thinking or looking concerned. The bell rang and the students started to clear out. Sunset Shimmer bade her friends goodbye for the time being and they dispersed.
~~~
Nyx sat on a park bench, not too far away, Sunset Shimmer approached, holding two ice creams in her hands. Nyx looked up to her guardian, who sat down and offered one of the two ice creams, which Nyx took.
“Cheerilee said you were well behaved, so you get ice cream,” Sunset said with a wink.
“Thank you, Sunset.” Nyx licked the frozen treat resting neatly on the cone, the strawberry flavour brought a sweet and fruity taste to Nyx’s tastebuds. She sucked on her tongue, gaining some extra flavour, and looked at the treat in her hand in surprise.
Sunset nibbled on the rim of the cone, looking at Nyx from the corner of her eye, the ice cream barely touched at all. “You okay there, Nyx?”
Nyx looked up at Sunset, eyes wide. “It’s sweet, but it’s not so sweet like that yucky cereal you eat. It’s fruity too…”
“It’s strawberry flavour, it’s supposed to be.” Sunset smirked in a silly way, a suppressed chuckle escaping.
Nyx got right into her treat, she bit into the frosty dessert and started taking big gulps of it, savouring what she could before her ruin took hold. Her head started to ache from within, she shut her eyes tightly as tears escaped and she held onto her head.
“Owaahh…! S-Sunset…” Nyx whimpered, her noise bringing Sunset to kneel down in front of Nyx.
Immediately Sunset could tell what ailed her. Large bite marks in the ice cream and Nyx’s reactions all pointed to the infamous brainfreeze.
“Listen to me, Nyx. I want you to press the tip of your thumb to the roof of your mouth, okay?”
Nyx opened one misty eye to look at Sunset, who demonstrated with her own thumb. Unwilling to let the freeze run its course, Nyx opened her mouth wide and mimicked Sunset Shimmer. Nyx’s eyes tightened harder, and she pressed her thumb harder until finally, the freeze was gone. She wiped her eyes and sniffled.
“Thank you, Sunset…”
“You’re welcome, Nyx,” Sunset smiled and returned to eating her treat.
Nyx felt odd, like her animosity was lifting. Sunset didn’t seem so bad now. As much as she tried to dislike her, she was slowly coming round, all over a simple trick to dealing with brainfreeze. But it wasn't enough, Nyx didn’t know whether she wanted to like Sunset, or continue to distrust her as if she was still the bad girl she was a year ago, it drove Nyx to exasperation. She quickly gobbled up what remained of her treat and stood up.
“Are we going back to your place yet..?” Nyx asked, her tone rude and obnoxious.
Sunset recoiled at the harshness of Nyx’s voice, she cocked an eyebrow in surprise and stood whilst finishing her chocolate mint ice cream. “Erm… sure..?” she said, baffled at Nyx’s sudden change in behaviour.
Nyx waited for Sunset to lead the way, she followed behind her only a few steps back, much to Sunset’s dismay. Nyx draped her arm across her chest and gripped her other arm as they walked, she stared at the ground and thought long and hard, mostly about why she had this strange feeling that nagged at her.
Nyx tilted her head to the side and looked at Sunset not a moment later. “So… will I be enrolled into Canterlot High?”
Sunset looked back at Nyx, confused by her sudden change in attitude. “Are… are you feeling alright?”
Nyx nodded. “I feel fine, why, is something wrong?”
“Hmm...” Sunset pondered to herself and looked ahead, she wondered if Nyx’s noggin was alright, or if she was playing her. Sunset noticed a string of reactions like this from Nyx, perhaps they were a message from the child implying she didn’t want to be around her, yet at home she fit in perfectly fine and got along somewhat great.
But outside, sometimes at complete random Nyx would act anti-social and disinterested in what she had to offer at times; she knew these were just masks to cover up what was an insatiable curiosity that books alone could not sate, but perhaps she really knew little of Nyx’s masks and facades that left her mind to wonder.
~~~
Watching, spying from behind Spell’s desk, Nyx kept her turquoise eyes on the teacher who acted oblivious to her presence. He continued to draw on the chalkboard the names of many poets and writers, all of whom had works revered and remembered. Nyx recognized each of these from the books she read and could recall few of their works which spoke to her.
Nexus tried to keep his calm. He was, admittedly, on the verge of laughing and revealing to Nyx that he was aware. Once he had finished writing down the topic and the people his class will be studying, he picked up his notes off the desk, causing Nyx to hastily find a new hiding spot to avoid being caught, and he left through the second door as the Crusaders passed, looking for Nyx.
Nyx peeked around the corner and squinted, eyes flashing briefly before she slipped through the narrowing crack in the door and joined up with the crusaders. The three didn’t notice her at first, she shadowed them, walking between Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle before being noticed, but by then they had already arrived at the library.
“Hi girls!” Nyx blurted out suddenly and without warning, which startled the girls into noticing her.
Apple Bloom quickly spun around to face Nyx. “Gaah! N-Nyx?”
“Good morning!” Nyx smiled and waved.
“Whoa, you snuck up on us really good!” Scootaloo said in praise.
“Were you following us this whole time? If you were, then you’re really stealthy,” complemented Sweetie Belle.
“I guess I’m really good at keeping quiet, I could sneak around Sunset’s house without getting caught if I tried. Just now I was sneaking around that Nexus guy’s classroom.”
“And ya sure he didn’t pretend, right?” asked Apple Bloom.
“I think so…” replied Nyx, “Why?”
“He’s not very easy to trick, it’s like he has eyes at the back of his head, it’s creepy,” Scootaloo said with a shiver.
Nyx giggled. “People can’t have eyes at the back of their head.”
“It’s just an expression,” explained Apple Bloom, however, brief.
“I don’t get it,” Nyx frowned.
“When you get older you’ll understand more.” Scootaloo pat Nyx on the back, which made Nyx burp and Scootaloo to quickly pull her hand back in surprise.
Nyx blushed and buried her face in her hands in embarrassment, her glasses coming loose and falling off, only to be caught by Sweetie Belle.
“Excuse me…” Nyx said softly.
“It’s okay, just as long as nobody saw that, we should be fine.” Sweetie Belle gave the glasses back and looked around for Trixie or Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon.
“That would be bad…” Nyx cringed.
“I’d say, it was a wee bit babyish,” Diamond Tiara said snidely. She and Silver Spoon came out from around a corner and were immediately met with glares from the crusaders.
“What do you want, Diamond Tiara?’ Scootaloo spat, confronting her.
Diamond Tiara folded her arms and held her nose high. “I’m certainly not here to consort with you dweebs. I’m here to meet the new girl.”
“New girl is a subjective term, do you mean the school's new girl, or the visitor?” Apple Bloom asked confused.
“The visitor, of course,” Silver Spoon specified, pushing her glasses back in place much like Nyx would on occasion.
“Y-you want to meet me?” Nyx stepped forward slightly and with caution. She stayed close to her three friends even as Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon introduced themselves.
“My name is, Diamond Tiara.”
“And I’m, Silver Spoon,” both girls announced to Nyx pridefully.
“N-nice to meet you, I’m Nyx.”
The Crusaders watched while Nyx exchanged greetings with Diamond and Silver Spoon. Oddly enough, neither of the prissy girls were mean or hurtful toward Nyx, and Nyx found them likable but didn't take kindly to their mean comments toward Apple Bloom and the others.
Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon didn’t stay too long, they kept the meeting brief before taking off elsewhere into the school. The crusaders watched them go then looked at Nyx, who didn’t frown; she was smiling instead.
“Silver Spoon liked my glasses,” Nyx told them, much to the surprise of the the three.
Scootaloo’s jaw dropped and Sweetie Belle looked back at the now out of sight Diamond and Silver duo, while Apple Bloom cocked an eyebrow.
“Seriously?” said Apple Bloom, still reeling from the out of character behaviour of Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon.
“Yes, seriously. They were friendly to me. But... why aren’t they friendly to you?”
Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo were ready to answer that question, but before any of them could open their mouths, the bell had rung and a voice came over the loudspeakers.
“All students proceed to your home rooms for roll call.”
“Guess we better go then,” Sweetie Belle said with a sigh.
The girls said their farewells to Nyx and walked off to find their home rooms. Nyx, however, walked into the library and found a book to read in silence. Nearby, unaware to Nyx, Spell Nexus watched from behind a bookshelf, he chuckled to himself and left without attracting Nyx’s attention.
“I shall endeavour to find out more about you, Nyx. You intrigue me.”
~~~
“Attention students!” Luna’s voice boomed over the loudspeaker. “In a week's time we will be hosting a school athletics day, much like the Friendship Games, but on a smaller scale to show visiting students from other schools that Canterlot High is a co-operative and friendly place to receive an education. That is all.”
And with a click, the loudspeakers shut off and in each classroom the students started talking about the upcoming event. Nyx on the other hand, was bothered beyond belief by the sudden interruption and quickly searched for the sentence she was reading before losing it.
Sunset was worried, however. She wouldn’t be able to keep Nyx out of the way while the events were on and because Nyx couldn’t be a student, getting her to participate was nonsense, even her age was an issue. She breathed a heavy sigh and looked over to Adagio, half expecting the siren to look at her from the corner of her eye only to see to her surprise she was absent.
There was, however, another who was watching Sunset Shimmer. Trixie; she was suspicious of Nyx and was full of wonder if Nyx was even legally under her care, something that worried Sunset, if Trixie should talk then there would be trouble.
Lessons started and Sunset was on her way to gym class when Trixie pulled her aside and into a dead end corridor.
“Trixie!’ hissed Sunset.
“Trixie yourself, Sunset Shimmer,” Trixie replied, arms folded, a questioning look on her face.
“That little girl that’s always with you couldn’t possibly have any relation to you. I thought it was odd at first, but then I remembered you aren’t from this world. That little girl, what was her name? Nyx? She’s not your real family. Once Principal Celestia hears you’ve been bringing an urchin to school, for whatever reason, you might as well consider yourself expelled!”
Sunset was frozen and flabbergasted at Trixie’s sudden accusations and truths. Like she had figured it all out and now, Sunset was in deep trouble for it. In her eyes and her voice, Trixie had an unwavering determination to see that the principals were told.
“Trixie, please don’t…” Sunset begged.
“Why shouldn’t I?” Trixie shrugged and smirked snidely until the intervention of Nexus.
The teacher placed his hand on Trixie’s shoulder and looked down at her with a warming smile. “Now now, Trixie. Let’s not be rash here. I’m sure Sunset Shimmer has her reasons. And I’m certain they are just, and reasonable.”
“But sir—” Trixie started only to be interrupted.
“I’m sure you would think there was something in it for you to turn in a student breaking school rules, but would that benefit you at all?”
Trixie stammered, already struggling with what she wanted to do.
“I do hope you reconsider, Ms. Lulamoon. Now, off to class with you.” Nexus insisted and nudged Trixie along.
Trixie rejoined the river of students down the hall and out of sight, and once Sunset started to leave Nexus stopped her.
“Not you, Sunset Shimmer. I wanted to talk to you.”
“Now, sir?” she asked with confusion.
“Yes, now, before the first lesson starts. I’m currently on break for the period so I’ll try and keep this short. But first, your question.”
Sunset looked surprised at Nexus, having guessed she had questions. For a teacher, it would be easy to tell, but Sunset hadn’t given off the slightest hint of wanting to speak or talk. “How did you— Nevermind… Why did you help me just now?”
Nexus smiled and chuckled silently. “I won’t deny that I am intrigued by, Nyx. You pass her off as family, yet she is not from your world and she is not a student. One, a girl her age belongs in an elementary school, yet you’re bringing her here.”
“S-she—”
“And don’t tell me that she ‘was’ going to a school before all this, I made sure to check the school database, there are no traces of a little girl called Nyx on any file.”
Sunset gripped the strap of her bag tightly and felt cornered. She shrank back and bit her lip as now she knew she had no way out.
“This begs the question, who is Nyx, and why are you making her your responsibility?”
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