The next morning when Sunset Shimmer woke up, she found that she had, in fact, fell asleep on the couch. At least now she knew why Bobby didn't fold it out at times, it was actually fairly comfortable as it was. Although she hadn't remembered getting a blanket to cover herself...
"Morning Sunset."
Hearing the familiar voice of her male roommate, Sunset sat up and looked over to the kitchen, easily spotting the man as he went about fixing something on the stove. The smell of coffee soon hit her and she rose up to get herself a cup, not minding that Bobby had his shirt off but thankful he kept his pants on.
"Morning Bobby. When did you get in?"
"Mm, not long ago. Sandy managed to give me a ride this morning, she even let me have some eggs! You want some?"
"I'm fine, Bobby, thank you."
Instead she added cream cream to her coffee and contentedly sipped at it while Bobby finished cooking up some scrambled eggs. There was a small sound on the counter, signaling the toast had popped up from the beat up old toaster they used and Bobby was quick to butter the two slices. When he offered one to her, Sunset Shimmer was tempted to refuse but she could feel hunger start to creep up on her and instead took the offered slice.
"So you slept outside the room... is Jackie okay?"
Why hadn't she seen that coming? At least she could delay some by taking a big bite of toast and chewing. What could she really say? Although if she were to talk to anyone other than Jackie, the college student seemed like the best choice. She glanced back just in time to see Bobby squint his eyes slightly, having just taken a bite of the scrambled eggs he made.
"Man, I thought I got all the egg shells this time..."
Well, maybe the most harmless at the very least. And the only one in the apartment that she could talk to. After washing down her bite of toast with more coffee, Sunset Shimmer quickly went over what she would say in her head before speaking.
"Hey Bobby... is it okay if I talk to you about something?"
"Uh, really?"
"Yeah?"
"Wait, really? Usually you just talk to Jackie like... ninety percent of the time. I kinda thought it was just a girl thing even though Jackie isn't into girl stuff for the most part... wait, do I need to have any like, any specific knowledge for what we're about to talk about?"
"Uh, no, it's fine... so Bobby, can we please focus?"
"Huh? Oh right! Well, is it okay if we sit on the couch then? It'd be more comfortable."
As they moved the conversation from the kitchen and to the living room, Bobby placed his food and coffee on the table before flopping down on the couch, Sunset Shimmer opting to sit down normally.
"So... has Jackie... told you anything about me?"
"Not really. She just said you wanted to come to Los Pegasus and needed a place to say. I kinda assumed you were a runaway or something at first, but you'd think there would be like, a news bulletin out by now, especially since it's around the holidays and that seems like the time when thee sort of stories happen. Unless you're on the run from the law, like a serial killer or something. In which case I appreciate you not killing either me or Jackie yet."
At the last part Sunset Shimmer had to stare at Bobby to make sure the guy was actually being serious. But no smile or laugh left the man to show he was joking, the red head slowly shook her head.
"Uh, no."
"To the runaway thing or the serial killer thing?"
"Uh, both. Look, I haven't done anything bad and I'm not a runaway, I'm here because I want to be here. Legally. It's just... after last night I feel like I have some explaining to do but I'm worried that if I tell then something bad might happen. I'm trying to trust people again but I'm still worried because what I have to say is pretty major and hard to believe, but if I don't then it's just going to hurt a friend and I don't want that. Argh, I feel like such a chicken!"
"Nothing wrong with that, chickens make delicious."
That caused her to groan softly and hide her face in her hands. Although just as she was starting to think that it was a bad idea to talk to him, Bobby reached out and patted her shoulder. She looked up to see he was facing her now, sitting cross legged and with a kind smile on his face.
"Hey, it's gonna be okay you know? I mean, whatever you have to explain can't be that bad, right? I mean, I don't know you that well but I bet you don't have anything major to hide."
"Bobby, I had to leave Canterlot City because I was being bullied and harassed, abandoned by all of my friends for something I didn't do because I used to be a very bad person that bullied and hurt other people."
"... huh. Okay, that's kind of major."
"And that's not even the major thing I have to explain."
"Really? I'm still trying to get it into my mind that you used to be a bully. I mean, maybe if you had a face or neck tattoo or wore a leather jacket I could see it..."
"Bobby..."
"Hm? Oh right! Anyways. Look, Sunset, we all have major baggage. Jackie, Tino, Poppy, Sandy, even me! I mean, there was this chick back in high school that used to pick on me all the time. Passing me notes, hitting me with spit balls, she really liked to focus a lot of energy on me. So I got her back by taping flowers to her locker."
"... your way of getting back a girl who was picking on you, was to give her flowers?"
"Well yeah, she had allergies! And she'd have to get close to them to get to her locker!"
Having no way to follow Bobby's logic or understand how he might possibly have missed the clues, Sunset Shimmer shut her eyes tight and pinched the bridge of her nose.
"Oh Bobby... I'm worried knowing one day you'll be handling other people's money."
"Pfft, Jackie says the same thing. But anyways, I guess it's up to you if you feel you can take the chance and share things with people. But I think you'll find that people can be trusted."
Despite the slightly... odd... direction the conversation took at times, Bobby did have a point. There was risk in trusting people and she would have to know if she could trust Jackie and the others. Yet as she glanced back to Bobby and saw the way he was looking at her with those happy, sincere eyes... well, maybe she didn't know them well but she knew Jackie. And if they were friends with Jackie, maybe they could be trusted? With a soft sigh, Jackie thanked Bobby for the talk and headed back to the bedroom. She'd have to arrange some things...
Meanwhile, despite it being the holiday break, Vice Principal Luna was waiting in Principal Cel-... ex-principal Celestia's office. After her sister had resigned and taken most of the heat for the Anon-A-Miss incident at the school, the school board had moved fast to find a replacement. While her sister had put forth a case for Luna to take over, superintendent Tirek had convinced the school board that he had a much better candidate in mind. Luna had been left out of the loop until now, where she had received a message that she would be meeting with the school's new principal and bring them up to speed.
At the moment Luna was standing in front of what used to be her sister's desk, gazing at the nameplate in her hand that said Principal Celestia. How could things have gone so wrong?
"Well, well, well... I never thought I would see the day that I would be taking over little Miss Perfect's office. But the taste of victory is just as delicious as I thought it would be."
And how could things have gotten worse?!
The blue haired woman set the nameplate down and turned to face the other, fists clenched tight, eyes filled with venom as she hissed out the accursed name.
"... Chrysalis."