//------------------------------//
// Chapter 5 - Back So Soon 
// Story: No Offense 
// by NonDescript 
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"I don't mean to say this as an insult..." Discord quietly said as we both sat awkwardly at the table with our respective breakfasts. "...But in case there was any doubt, you definitely look like you were the helpless victim of a brutal attack."

Well, now I know for certain there's no way I'm going to sidestep the issue at school. "...I feel so much better now, knowing that information, Discord. My utmost of thanks go out to you."

"Pssh. No need to be so sarcastic this early in the morning," he replied, before taking a long sip of his black coffee. Thankfully he was keeping his voice somewhat quiet, because my head had been throbbing all morning.

"What, are you not much a morning person?"

He looked at me incredulously. "Are you saying that you are?"

"...Point taken." I took a sip of my own coffee, mine containing a more than generous helping of milk. I have no idea how people like Discord here can stand the strength of a black coffee, but whatever gets them up in the morning, I suppose.

"Besides, it's hard to keep being as amazing as I am at this hour."

"You keep telling yourself that."

"I will," he said before quickly chugging down the remainder of his coffee. "...Now, down to the business of today. I have exactly enough hot water in this place for one hot shower, and I'm not about to give mine up."

I am pretty sure Discord got more than a little enjoyment out of the look of horror I had dawned.





One freezing cold shower later, I found myself staring over my shoulder into the bathroom mirror, unable to pull my gaze away from my back.

Besides the obvious damage presenting itself for everyone to see — the black eye and the assortment of bruises for one thing — my body housed a much more personal scar I'd rather keep to just myself.

Where the wings were. Where my wings were.

The spread of purple and dull reds around the two thin slices was quick to draw attention to itself, sticking out from my pale skin with a smooth wet glow, despite having dried myself off. Only time could tell if the burns surrounding the cuts were permanent scars, but I was more than aware that the marks I bear on my back are likely to be with me for the foreseeable future. A constant reminder of what I had turned into.

The wetness I could feel below my eyes told me that I had been crying, but I couldn't believe it. I'm Sunset Shimmer. I managed to take mere high school students, and turn them into a subservient mind controlled army. I'm supposed to be powerful, I'm supposed to have control over my life.

Am I wrong to feel as though I had been branded? That on my back was a target I could not escape from? That only serves to prove I was once a monster? If these scars stay, then no matter how much I change I'll never be able to put everything behind me. Isn't part of becoming a better person, being able to leave things behind?

Maybe it's there to remind me that I'll always have the potential to be a monster. That the mold already exists, and it's only a matter of time before I am cast a new pair of demon wings for round two. That it will never truly leave me.

My gaze had locked so deeply into the lines that I had failed to notice the increasing moisture around my eyes. Slowly, I turned myself away, hoping that today would not be quick to remind me how powerless I really am now. I'd done enough of that just by staring into the mirror.





I had made my way out of Discord's house and to his car parked in the driveway. How Discord managed to get a full house to himself in the city on only a teacher's salary, I don't know. Even with the wretched state it's in, that's still a surprising enough feat considering the costs of living here.

...Actually, now that I think about it, I have no idea what a teacher's salary is. I mean, living in the city is expensive so I'm still doubting it's enough, but Discord's wages could be more than I'm expecting. I guess it all depends on what kind of funding the school receives, and how much he does for the school, which very well may be more than I'm aware of.

At the same time, while CHS isn't exactly a rich school, it's zoned in the same area as more prestigious schools like Crystal Prep. Overall, the region the school is a part of is fairly well-off, making the city quite a magnet for potential students who want the best educations available to them, while still offering cheaper, more diverse options like CHS. As such, I could imagine demand for houses could easily be through the roof.

...Through the roof. I didn't even mean that one.

Still, given I could find the accommodation I did, I can't exactly say there's an under-supply of... liveable places. 

"Are you coming or what?"

Oh, that's right, I still hadn't entered the car yet. I should probably be doing that. It's not like entering the car is surrendering myself to go to a school where everyone hates me, and will see me in an obviously beat up state, and I will have to face the five I failed to meet up with, even though I promised that I would do movies on me, and pay for everything.

Besides, chances are they still got to enjoy a night out with each other. They can't possibly hate me now if they didn't before, right? And movies cinemas are always a fun place, able to make people forget that their friend just ditched them. Surely no one can remain bitter once they've had a chance to enjoy some light, big screen entertainment.

Now that I'm thinking about it, movie cinemas are actually really interesting. Seeing as film itself is relatively primitive back in Equestria, films only serve as informational tools, or gimmicks. There are a few bars here and there that will have films of trains and the like projected onto the walls, just simply for the novelty.

But the actual process of producing the chemical film has yet to reach a point of mass market viability, both in terms of projecting film, or using it with cameras, which are themselves rather expensive, especially when motorized rather than hoof-cranked. However here, they managed an entire industry and media around the use of fil-

"Look, you can't stay here. If you didn't want to go to school today, then you shouldn't have decided to take me up on my offer," Discord said, surprisingly both serious and worried. Whether for my own sake, or for his job security's sake, I couldn't tell. "You can't be left on your own, and I can't just call to say I'm going to be late."

"...Yes. Sorry," I apologized, as I quickly took my place on the front passenger seat, shaking a little as I did. While the location of his house might suggest a little wealth, his car was a completely different story. It looked unbranded, none of the panels fit, and I'm sure all the seats are from completely different cars. It looks like it got thrown together out of parts in a scrapyard.

"Geez, if it wasn't still fall, I'd think you were cold with how much you're jittering," he said. "But seriously, what's the worst thing that could possibly happen at school? They beat you up again?"

I winced. "Please... Just drive..."

Discord just shook his head and placed his foot down on the gas, and we were on our way. I almost didn't notice he could get the car moving without keys. How I didn't notice that last night, I don't know. Then again, the fact the vehicle moves at all is a miracle in and of itself.

However, driving did not stop him from trying to make conversation. "To be serious for one moment, as much as it pains me to my very core to be so, you have no reason to worry. Like, at all."

"..."

"I mean, think about it logically for a second. One, the moment anyone at the school see's your face, what will their immediate reactions be? Probably more along the lines of 'serves her right', than the usual 'someone should teach her a lesson'." Wait, is this supposed to make me feel better? "And two, the moment those girls who were tasked with keeping you on a leash-"

"They're not keeping me on a leash," I quickly responded, although whether statement that is meant to convince him or me...

"Heh. It's funny how you think they actually care."

"...They care enough. That's all that matters."

"Either way, once they see how you look right now, they're gonna be hard-pressed to leave you on your own, that's for sure." He smirked at that thought. "After all, no one would want to risk doing anything to you if one of the Sparkle brigade is there. Imagine the student's horror if they told their parents!"

"You don't seem to particularly care for those five, do you?"

"A few weeks ago, none of the school did. Yet even back then, you seemed to take a liking to them, in your own evil, sadistic way."

"That doesn't answer my question."

"You're right. It doesn't. Either way, we're here."

Wait, already?

I looked out the windows of the vehicle, and took in the surrounding area. Sure enough, there I could see CHS on all sides from the parking lot we had pulled into. Which meant we were by one of the side entrances, thankfully. I can't imagine how I could have handled pulling up with Discord like this to the front of the school. At the same time, I would have to face the students at one point or another.

You can do this Sunset. You're here now, there's no point putting this off any further. You're only making things harder for yourself.

As one might expect, my attempts to psych myself up weren't particularly effective, but can anyone blame me? What if seeing me like this means that everyone thinks they can get away with it? That I won't be able to fight back? That I won't fight back? That I'm weak and vulnerable to whatever comes my way?

"Look, I understand you haven't exactly had a chance to recover. But for better or for worse, you're here now, so you might as well just suck it up... Plus, I would like you to get out of my car."

"...Fine." It's slightly annoying that the only thing that has been forcing me to take plunges all day has been Discord trying to get me to hurry up. I exited the car, admittedly slower than what is reasonable, even in my state. "Thank you for housing me for the night by the way. I genuinely appreciate it."

"Yeah yeah, no problem. Now go away, and be all buddy buddy with your friends."


                      


I had chosen to enter through one of the lesser known side doors of the school, in the hope that there would be no one there to stop me or try and jump me again. Plus, it would make entering without being seen all the more easy. And frankly, the moment anyone so much as recognizes me, all eyes will be drawn to my direction, hopefully offering me a little bit of safety with the sheer number of eyes.

However, right where I intended to enter was none other than five, mildly annoyed looking familiar faces. Exactly the people I didn't want to be seeing right now. Which meant I only had one real choice being offered to me.

Turning around, and pretending I didn't notice they were there.

As naturally as I could attempt, I turned around on the spot in what I had hoped didn't draw attention to itself. Yes, just start looking through my bag as I walk away. Make it look like I forgot something, draw less attention to myself.

However, as my luck would have it I was already too late, as indicated by the fuming Rainbow Dash rushing in my direction as I tried to not so subtly increase my pace.

"What the heck Sunset?!" If I ignore her, will they think I'm someone else? "What happened to a movie on you, huh?! Were you thinking you could just ditch us?!" I ignored her shouts, trying to seem like I didn't hear them as I increased my speed in the direction away from the group.

Although, I don't know who I was trying to fool, because it was at this point that Rainbow Dash had easily caught up, and had forcibly turned me around with a sharp pull. "Why did you completely bail on u-Oh my god! Your face!"

"Please... Not so loud..." I tried to get out as I put a hand to my head, which had flared at her loud voice.

Any opportunity to get away was now lost, as the rest of the group rushed forward after Rainbow's words.

"Oh my god, Sunset. What happened? Are you alright?" Rarity said, as she took a hold of my arms. "Who did this to you? Does it hurt? Did this happen after we parted ways? Oh, I shouldn't have let you go away on your own."

"It's alright Rarity, really... But can you all just keep your voices down?" I tried to put out there, despite their attentions all focused on the damage in front of them, making my words fall on deaf ears.

"Oh... Oh my... That doesn't look good..." Fluttershy said, voicing her concerns. "Do you need to go see the nurse?"

"Saw her when I regained consciousness yesterday..."

"Well no wonder you got hurt, why were you sleeping at the school?" Pinkie so helpfully added.

Everyone turned their heads to face Pinkie, as I resisted the urge to increase the number of black eyes in the group.

"...What?"