The Other Journal

by Ganondorf8

Chapter 44: Shine

Day: Tuesday
Weather: Mild
Time: 12:15pm

My hard work in fixing the mistakes I made had paid off. Things were starting to look up, until my friends informed me that ticket sales for the fashion show were abysmal. On top of that, someone had been spreading false rumours about me. Why couldn't I catch a break? Due to poor ticket sales, the show had to be delayed. I then decided to speak to every student at CHS in an effort to get to know them better and to show them who I really was. It was a very interesting experience, and I realized how much in common I had with them. I also learned that Trixie spread those rumours. She did so because of what I almost did to her. Rather than seek revenge, I offered her friendship. The cycle of hatred couldn't continue. A week after the fashion show, my friends began talking about their plans for the upcoming winter break. I wasn't as optimistic as they were about it, far from it. I knew what was going to happen to me. After all, I had been experiencing the pain of loneliness at this time for years.

The Other Journal
By Ganondorf8
January 19, 2016
Chapter 44: Shine.

" I'm being very serious about this, Twilight. My life was destroyed before the end of last year." I said. Twilight, in response, shook her head. She continued to refuse to believe that my words were truthful. I could understand the need for wanting to remain optimistic, but she was wrong here. I know what happened to me before the winter break. My heart started beating rapidly, and I knew I needed to calm down before I ended up doing something stupid. I took another swig of cider before breathing heavily several times to reduce my stress. My actions hadn't gone unnoticed by Twilight, who had been staring at me, wondering if things were okay. I sighed, knowing that I just couldn't stay mad at her. " Twilight, I know you want me to remain positive, but you have to realize that my words are true. Everything I had done in order to prove I had changed was shattered." I said.

" But, how could you have thrown everything away?" Twilight asked.

" What do you mean?"

" I thought what happened to you was the result of your own actions." Twilight answered. Now I was beginning to understand her perspective. She assumed that my life was destroyed because I had done something that turned all of CHS against me. Well, she was partially correct. Everyone had turned against me, but not by my own hand. I'm not sure if Twilight had ever been a victim of online bullying, yet I've never asked, because it never crossed my mind--and I've only known her for several weeks.

" My life at that point was perfect, or as close to being perfect as I could hope for. Why would I want to throw that away?" I asked.

" I don't know!" Twilight answered.

" The answer is that I wouldn't!"

" Okay, then what caused it?"

" Online bullying."

" You... were a victim of that?" Twilight asked. Judging from the tone in her voice, it sounded like she had been affected by online bullying at one point in her life. I wasn't going to inquire about it. I'm certain she would rather keep that to herself. However, I wasn't a victim in the normal sense. I was blamed for being the cause of so many secrets being passed around online, and no one believed in my innocence. Not even our friends believed in me. That revelation alone haunts me even now. " Sunset... I'm sorry that I thought you had destroyed your own life." Twilight said.

" It took two or three months for me to get my life back on track." I said.

" Why would anyone want to bully you online?"

" No, I wasn't that kind of victim."

" I don't understand."

" Everyone at CHS was a victim of what happened before winter break, yet I was different from them, because I was blamed for spreading secrets." I said. It was strange. A lot of the problems that have occurred around school that didn't involve magic instead involved the secrets of students. Why do humans always feel a need to expose secrets? Don't they understand the notion of privacy? Ha. I shouldn't be criticizing them on having such a flaw. After all, I used to do the very thing I'm preaching against. Students who were considering transferring to CHS would have had second thoughts had they learned that going there would mean your secrets weren't safe. I then turned the page of the journal using my non-injured hand, but before I could continue, Twilight placed her hand on top of mine. I looked at her. Tears were streaming down her face. " Twilight, why don't we focus on what happened during the fashion show? I think we both could use some cheering up right now. It'll help us prepare for the inevitable sadness that's to come." I said.

" Alright, but I think it's unfair how you always get blamed for problems." Twilight said. Using my injured hand, I wiped the tears from her face, wincing as I did so.

" When I was a bully, I caused those problems, and everyone at CHS knew it. After I reformed, they continued to pin the blame on me for a while. I guess it's because they had trouble believing my reformation was legitimate. They used me as a scapegoat to vent their frustration whenever something went wrong. I accepted it at first; I allowed them to bully me after all I've done. After the Battle of the Bands, they had no excuse for what they did." I said. Twilight then looked down towards the page and saw yet another photo glued there, one taken by Photo Finish. I was standing on stage with the rest of the Rainbooms, and all of us had ponied up. The audience were cheering for us while we performed, and fireworks of all kinds were shooting about. It looked very magical.

" You all look so happy here." Twilight said.

" Notice what I'm wearing?"

" Yes. When did you get that?"

" About ten minutes before we went on stage."

" Was it the dress that Rarity needed time to work on?"

" Yep."

" Surely it wasn't all sunshine and rainbows."

" Not in the least. I was actually a nervous wreck before we went on stage to perform. I may have stopped the rumours from spreading by befriending Trixie, but I didn't know if my efforts were enough to ensure the fashion show would be a success." I said.

---

I had succeeded in stopping the slanderous rumours about me. Trixie, who still bore a grudge for what I almost did to her during the competition, wanted the fundraiser to fail, and to do so, she branded me as a bully who pretended to have changed. I could have gotten my revenge against her, but that would have accomplished nothing. The best course of action I could take was to offer my hand in friendship. Despite everything Trixie had done to me, I couldn't allow the cycle of hatred to continue. I always knew she had the potential to become something truly special. I also made a promise that I would never let anyone know that she had been spreading the rumours. My aim was to protect her because she had lost her direction, and I could help her find her way back on the right path.

By choosing to become her friend, I had reached out to someone in the name of friendship. Usually, people would have offered me their friendship instead. Now I was starting to understand why Princess Twilight chose "Princess of Friendshp" as her title in Equestria. At first, I thought she was trying to prove a point. She could have left me to wander about this world, alone, for the rest of my life. Yet, she gave me a second chance. I realize now she was destined to spread friendship to all corners of Equestria and beyond. I had taken what she showed me and applied it by giving someone else the very opportunity given to me. Trixie still had some issues that needed to be worked out, but I knew things were going to get better for her from here. I also insisted on Rainbow Dash ending their rivalry and restart with a clean slate. Again, the cycle of hated couldn't be allowed to continue. All hatred ever does is create more hatred.

The fashion show had been delayed until the following Monday, yet my friends saw this as a blessing. Apart from Applejack and Rainbow Dash, the rest of them needed that extra time in order to finish their contributions. It's kind of funny how everything worked out just like that despite how chaotic things got. I wasn't going to make a habit of it, however. We were lucky that the problem was resolved. Had things gotten any worse... I'd rather not think about it.

Over the course of the weekend, my friends finished their projects under my supervision. I made sure to only be an observer and to allow them to do their work without having to worry about me making things worse. In my free time in-between helping out, I continued doing research on the magic problem. I discovered that the magic was surprisingly stable. I feared that it would be nothing more than an uncontrollable force. Unfortunately, there was much more that continued to elude me. No one ever said being a magic investigator would be easy. For now, I figured on doing a lot of research on my own, only asking for my friends' help if I feel there is no other alternate. The same could be said about contacting Princess Twilight and asking her opinion.

That Monday night, the gym was packed with so many people who purchased tickets to see the fashion show. We had initially produced several hundred, but we ended up needing a lot more. It was thanks to Trixie that the tickets were sold in the first place. Her little magic show was enough to get people interested. While she insisted on not being given any kind of reward for helping us out, I insisted that she perform on stage as the opening act before Rarity's outfits are showcased. I'll never forget Trixie's expression when she learned she would be performing. Yet, I do wish she hadn't given me a photo that was nothing but a selfie. Her desire to show off was deeply rooted, apparently, but at least it was a start. My friends had been looking forward to the fashion show for quite some time. Me? I was anything but excited.

" What's wrong, Sunset?" Applejack asked.

" I'm sorry. It's just that I'm really nervous about this whole thing." I answered.

" You should ask the butterflies in your stomach to beat it." Pinkie Pie suggested.

" That would be wonderful Pinkie, but I don't think that's going to work." I said.

" Are you still upset over how someone spread those rumours about you?" Rainbow Dash asked.

" Not at all. The one who did that put a stop to that once I confronted them and showed them the error of their ways." I answered.

" I wish you'd tell us who was making you look bad. I mean, you've been through an awful lot this past month, so no one had the right to make you feel even worse! People like that are the worst." Rainbow Dash said. Despite the strong temptation of revealing her name, I promised Trixie that I wouldn't tell anyone she was responsible. If I did, everyone would be trying to get back at her. As far as everyone is concerned, the one who spread the rumours was a random student who I choose to keep anonymous.

" Sorry, but I'm not going to say who it was." I said.

" No need to force her into saying anythin', Rainbow Dash. If Sunset wants to keep the culprit secret, then she has every right to do so. I, for one, believe that Sunset did the right thing by resolving the issue with understandin', not just tryin' to get revenge." Applejack said.

" I agree with Applejack. This school has seen more than enough bullying to last us an entire lifetime. Um, Sunset, I know it must have been difficult to deal with so many emotions when you confronted the person who made you upset, but I consider you an inspiration. After all, you ended the problem without things getting worse. I, um, believe you truly have changed from who you used to be." Fluttershy said.

Truth be told, it was difficult for me to keep my temper under control. Had I snapped and lashed out at Trixie, things would be different than they are right now. I know that I still have some anger issues, but I think I can rein it in whenever it tries to consume me.

" There's one thing that still bothers me a little." Rainbow Dash said.

" What's that?" Fluttershy asked.

" How come Trixie got to headline the fashion show?" Rainbow Dash asked, looking out onto the stage, prompting us to do so as well. Trixie had been performing for about thirty minutes now, and the audience were simply fascinated by her magical skills. While her human magic paled in comparison with Equestrian magic, it was still very good. Her bandmates acted as her assistants, aiding Trixie with her more complicated tricks.

" If it weren't fer Trixie helping out Sunset, we wouldn't have sold enough tickets." Applejack answered.

" Um, you could say that Trixie saved the fundraiser." Fluttershy added.

" Remember what I said, Rainbow Dash? You needed to end your rivalry with Trixie once and for all. I know you two enjoyed trying to outdo one another, but your various conflicts are just another form of bad blood being spilled." I said. It wasn't easy, but I managed to get both Rainbow and Trixie to sit down together at the same table earlier during lunch period and have them talk things out. At first, it looked like neither one of them would budge on ending their pointless rivalry, but then, Trixie surprised everyone when she offered her hand in friendship. Rainbow Dash responded in kind, and just like that, they forged a friendship, which will make them both better people.

" By the way, Sunset..." Pinkie Pie began.

" What is it?" I asked.

" Did you ever figure out what to contribute to the fundraiser?" Pinkie Pie asked.

" Nothing came to mind."

" Why not?"

" I don't know. I was considering putting on a magic show, but that wouldn't have been a good idea. The magic I have would have been met with not just shock and awe but quite possibly also a visit from the police. When I found that I couldn't think of anything, I decided to help each of you instead with your contributions. It was my way of getting to know each of you better and strengthen our bonds of friendship, though in truth, I was just hiding from the truth about my lack of abilities." I answered.

" Think of it like being on a team." Rainbow Dash said.

" Why?"

" It's just hard sometimes to find your place on the team. To know how best to play your position. If you know what I mean." Rainbow Dash answered. I had no idea what she was even talking about. Unlike her, I had little experience with playing sports. The truth was that I lacked any abilities compared to my friends, and it made me feel inadequate when compared to them. While I accepted being put in charge of the fundraiser, I wasn't really happy about it.

" But, I don't have any special talents like the rest of you..." I said.

" Being on a team is not about being a star--it's about working together." Rainbow Dash said. Those were some serious words coming from Rainbow. I was actually amazed at how much she had changed since the competition. When I tried doing so much on my own, it caused nothing but trouble. When I reached out to my friends, we managed to pull all of this off. Could it be that my talent was being helpful? While it didn't sound quite so glamourous as what the others were capable of, it was something I could be proud of. I hugged Rainbow Dash for her inspiration, and the others joined in on the hug. " See Sunset? I knew I was right!" Rainbow Dash said.

" Don't let it go to yer head." Applejack said.

" I'm not gonna do anything like that." Rainbow Dash said, winking.

" Gee! I wonder where Rarity is? I don't know how much longer Trixie can keep on entertaining the audience. She's been looking this way for the last couple of minutes. If I didn't know any better, I think she wants us to get on with the fashion show." Pinkie Pie said.

" What!?" The rest of us exclaimed. We looked out at the stage, and sure enough, Trixie was quickly tapping on her watch. I knew that we could go on with the show any time we wanted and allow Trixie to rest, but none of us had any idea on how to present outfits. Only Rarity knew how to do that. She should have been here thirty minutes ago, but she was running late. I knew Rarity to fall behind schedule at times, but this wasn't like her at all. What if something happened to her? No! I can't think of that. She's fine, I know it.

" So sorry I'm late!" Rarity said as she rushed inside.

" Where in the hay have you been?" Applejack asked.

" I had to spend a little more time on this particular ensemble." Rarity answered. She then presented a small suitcase, opened it, and took out the most beautiful dress any of us had ever seen. This was definitely the best work I've ever seen from Rarity, but why bring something so beautiful to a place like this? I would have expected her to use it for a more formal occasion than a simple fashion show. " You can tell Trixie that she can finish her magic act. The fashion show is about to begin!"

" Will this outfit be in the show?" Applejack asked.

" No. I've got plenty of outfits to showcase for that." Rarity answered.

" Then why bring it here?" I asked.

" For you, darling." Rarity answered.

" Me!?" I exclaimed. I couldn't believe it! This beautiful dress was for me! I was speechless over such a wondrous gift! I could tell that Rarity had poured her heart and soul into making it, and there was no way I could refuse something like this.

" Why don't you change into it now, darling? It will be some time before we have to go out and perform, so you can spend that time getting used to wearing my magnificent creation. Now come along, Rainbow Dash! You and the other athletes must change into the outfits for the fashion show, and yes, you will be the lead. We simply must get the show started within the next five minutes. Oh, and I'll be sure to apologize to Trixie for making her perform longer than she needed to." Rarity said. Rainbow Dash mumbled something under her breath before following, her head hung low in embarrassment. Despite participating in the show for charity purposes, Rainbow just didn't feel comfortable about wearing anything fancy.

" How about that? Y'all got yourself a fancy new outfit!" Applejack said.

" You must be over the moon with joy." Fluttershy added.

" We should hold a party to celebrate." Pinkie Pie added.

" That's gonna happen after the fashion show." Applejack said.

" By the way, Fluttershy. How did things go with the pet parade?" I asked.

" Fantastic. The animals received so much attention, and the children instantly fell in love with them. I think there are going to be more visitors to the animal shelter in the future." Fluttershy answered.

" I think I'll take you up on that offer."

" Um, what offer?"

" Being a volunteer at the shelter. In fact, I think I'm going to volunteer in other places as well. I want to expand on my own repertoire of skills and help others with whatever problems they may have." I answered.

" Aren't ya gonna change into your new outfit?" Applejack asked.

" Of course I am! I... just wanted to gaze at it for a bit. It truly is a beautiful dress, and Rarity made it especially for me." I answered. The other girls laughed heartily, and I couldn't help but laugh along with them. I then began thinking about what might have been had I chosen to remain alone instead of embracing friendship. I've had these thoughts several times before, but I couldn't help but wonder about it.

" What are you thinking about?" Fluttershy asked.

" I'm thinking that I'm lucky to have such good friends." I answered. Taking the dress, I walked out of the side entrance and made my way over to the changing rooms. I could hear Rarity's voice through a microphone, indicating that the fashion show was now finally getting underway. I could also hear the cheers from the audience followed by a series of ahhs. As I entered the changing room, I imagined what was happening inside the gym right now. Rarity must have made some spectacular outfits for the athletes to showcase, as the audience continued getting louder. It didn't take long for me to change into my new dress, and upon looking at myself in the mirror, I felt like a princess. The dress had been made to cater to not only my body shape, but also my favourite colours. The best part was seeing my cutie mark in the centre of my chest, a reminder that the sun would continue to blaze as I move forward.

When the fashion show ended roughly two hours later, there was a fifteen minute intermission to let the audience get some snacks, go to the bathroom, or take a closer look at Rarity's designs. Even Trixie managed to get in on the act by entertaining some of the children with her magic. I made sure to tell her that she only needed to perform for about five minutes. I didn't want her to overexert herself.

Once everyone had returned to their seats, my friends and I spent a couple of minutes setting up our equipment on the stage. We were about to give them a music performance the likes of which they had never seen before. This also proved that the dream I had where I was performing with my friends was indeed a premonition. Once the curtain rose up, we all began to sing a song which Fluttershy had written, with Rainbow Dash providing extra lyrics. Rainbow and I were the main vocals, and the others provided backup during choruses. During our performance, we all ponied up, which at first took everyone by surprise, but they all began cheering soon enough. Now this was exactly what I had hoped would happen: everyone having a good time and not having to worry about any of our problems bringing us down.

The fundraiser was a success; we had earned enough money to buy new uniforms for the Friendship Games next year. That was something I needed to ask someone about one of these days. What were the Friendship Games? For now, though, I had to resume my research on the magic problem. I wonder what Princess Twilight thinks of me now? I had sent her a message explaining how everything turned out after the concert ended. Not only had I become a volunteer at the animal shelter, I had also joined several clubs, so I was spending a lot of time with the other students. I was also approached by students who were having trouble with math, and I decided to become a part-time math tutor. After all, I was one of the smartest students at school, so it made sense to help those who couldn't figure it out on their own.

Here's hoping that things continue to improve for me.

---

" Rarity made you a dress!? Do you still have it?" Twilight asked.

" Of course I do! It's just that I only want to wear it for special occasions. I don't want to get it dirty. It's far too special for that." I answered. Realizing I was sounding just like Rarity, I quickly shut up, blushing. Twilight laughed at my display, and I would soon join in on the laughter. We really needed this moment to have ourselves a good time. It would soon be crushed once I start explaining what happened days before the winter break.

" Glad to see that Trixie patched things up with Rainbow Dash and got to put on a show." Twilight said.

" Like I said. Once you get past the bravado, she can be a very nice person."

" So you're now a math tutor?"

" Part-time."

" We should get together and study sometime, since we both seem to really like mathematics. We could have a lot of fun challenging ourselves." Twilight suggested. I knew exactly what she was referring to when she said that. During the first round of the Friendship Games, she and I had to solve one of the longest math problems I've ever confronted. Despite losing to her, I actually enjoyed the experience, even though I said otherwise at the time. It seemed my friendship with Twilight was even stronger than what I had with Princess Twilight. It made sense, considering I don't see Her Highness that often. " I almost forgot! You said that you were wondering what Princess Twilight thought about what you had accomplished for the fundraiser. Did you ever get a response from her?" Twilight asked.

" Not really." I answered.

" That's too bad."

" I would be told a few months later when she had a free moment."

" What did she say?"

" She said, 'I'll just have to hope those girls keep you busy. Very busy.' It took me some time to understand what she was talking about. Her Highness wanted to make sure I wouldn't be tempted by power and wanted our friends to help me out should I find myself succumbing." I answered.

Twilight then looked at me angrily, but I suspect her scorn was directed towards Her Highness rather than me. The princess was only looking out for my best interests and knew what she was doing. I learned through her answers to my Friendship Reports that she had witnessed many ponies become enchanted with power. Their personalities changed slowly over time as their power grew, and they barely managed to come back from the brink. If anyone should understand that feeling, it would be Twilight herself. She became a demon by succumbing in the same manner I experienced, yet the one difference she had was that she didn't want power. Our magic chose her because she had been within its proximity, and it somehow sensed her inner desires.

" It sounds like Princess Twilight wants to ensure you behave." Twilight said.

" Power is a temptation most aren't able to resist. It takes someone with a lot of willpower to break free." I said. Suddenly, I felt an uncomfortable sensation coming from my stomach. I drank too much cider. Placing a bookmark onto the current page of the journal and putting it on the floor, I got up onto my feet before spending a few moments stretching my legs; sitting down all that time had cramped up my legs. " Twilight, I need to head over to the washroom. I'll only be gone for a few minutes, but I'll be sure to leave you a flashlight just in case you start getting worried."

" Do you even have access to one?" Twilight asked.

" Remember that I live in the library, so Principal Celestia gave me a key that opens the library's doors as well as the main doors." I answered. Twilight then looked at me with those puppy dog eyes again, but she needed to relax. I've been living in the library for over six months now, so I knew my way around the school. Besides, the washroom was located just outside the library entrance, so I wasn't going all that far anyway. " I'll be fine, Twilight, but because I don't want you to worry, I'll take the other flashlight I brought along. I'll be back in ten minutes." Reaching into my backpack, I took out two flashlights, and handed one of them over to Twilight. They were a wise investment, as I've had to wake up in the middle of the night to go to the washroom countless times, and the school was pitch-black when the lights were off. I also learned that it paid to be prepared, so I made sure to always have two flashlights in case one of them suddenly stopped working.

I then took my leave of Twilight and made my way towards the library entrance. CHS was a completely different place at night, and in some ways, I actually preferred it this way compared with the hustle and bustle that comes during the day. While I do appreciate being around other students, I also liked having time to myself to think about everything that has happened to me since I first left Equestria. Now was one of those times. The same thought would always surface in my mind: What would my life be like right now had I chosen to stay in Equestria and attempted to talk things out with Princess Celestia? I didn't have an answer to that question until I met Princess Twilight. She was essentially the embodiment of what I could have been. Do I resent her for it? Not at all. While I do regret leaving Equestria, my life wouldn't be what it is now had I stayed.

Leaving the library, I stepped outside into the infinite darkness. Luckily, my flashlight helped me see where I needed to go, as it was much darker than usual. Just being surrounded by so much darkness made my heart beat quickly, and a deep rooted fear began to climb up to the surface of my subconscious. I would soon reveal to Twilight how my life was destroyed. Was I being overdramatic like Rarity? Maybe, but it did happen that way. I couldn't avoid it forever, as much as I wanted to, so sighing heavily, I walked towards the washroom.

---

" You were longer than ten minutes." Twilight said when I got back.

" Sorry. I had a lot on my mind." I said.

" Does it have to do with what happened before the winter break?"

" Yeah."

" If you want, we don't have to talk about it.

" We have to; it's a part of my past that you need to know about. Before I get into what happened, I want to start with a discussion I had with our friends about a week after the fundraiser was deemed a success. We were just hanging out like we usually did, but Pinkie Pie got the ball rolling when she announced her plans for the break. The others soon announced their plans, yet I was the only one who remained silent." I said.

---

It had been about a week since the fundraiser, and only two more weeks to go before CHS broke up for winter break. There was so much excitement throughout the school as students were eagerly awaiting for those two weeks of relaxation with loved ones. Me? I wasn't as enthusiastic. It had to do with the fact that during the winter break, Christmas would be celebrated by much of the world, followed a week later with New Year's Day. In Equestria, the equivalent of Christmas was Hearth's Warming Day, yet it didn't mean all that much to me, just like Christmas. You could say that I was nothing but grumpy this time of the year. I would never mention this to anyone. How could I? If I did, I'd get nothing but scornful looks from my peers, and I'd feel like a complete outcast. So, I had to keep my thoughts bottled up until everyone had left.

My friends and I were hanging out at our usual spot in the library. Normally, we'd come here to either do some studying, talk about all kinds of things, or just relax after having written a difficult exam. Today was different. We were just sitting there, quiet and still, like statues. I hoped this would've lasted until the final bell rang, but the silence was quickly broken when Pinkie Pie decided to make an announcement.

" I know what I'll be doing!"

" For what?" Applejack asked.

" For the upcoming winter break, silly! I've been thinking about oh so much now for the last ten minutes." Pinkie Pie answered. The rest of us groaned in response. While some of her statements were hilarious, this just wasn't one of them. " Anyway, I was thinking that I'd throw a slumber party every single night of the break."

" Are you sure your parents would approve, darling?" Rarity asked.

" Your family is a lot more conservative compared to you." Rainbow Dash added.

" They'll be going to the family rock quarry for the holidays this year. I got permission to stay behind and throw my slumber parties, provided that the police don't show up or anything. My sister Maud will be coming home from college, although she insisted on not going to the rock quarry. She'll be too exhausted to want to make the trip, so I don't blame her. As much as I want to go to the quarry, my parents also wanted me to stay home and spend some time with Maud. I don't see her that often, so I'm also throwing my slumber parties for her." Pinkie Pie said. I still thought it was weird that Pinkie's family had their own rock quarry outside of Canterlot. Most families would want to spend the holidays at either a fancy hotel or a cabin out in the woods. But, a rock quarry? Whatever. I did wish Pinkie hadn't brought up the holidays, as now some of the other girls felt compelled to reveal what their plans were. Me? I chose to simply hear them out while remaining absolutely quiet.

" My plans will be the same as every year! Eating junk food, catching up on winter sports, and hanging out with my friends." Rainbow Dash said.

" That sounds lovely." Fluttershy said.

" I'll be spending the holidays over at Sweet Apple Acres with my family." Applejack said.

" What about you, Sunset?" Rainbow Dash asked.

" Huh? Who, me?" I asked.

" Do y'all have any plans for the holidays?" Applejack asked.

" I'm... probably going to spend my time focusing on my studies and trying to figure out more of the magic problem." I answered. That was a lie. I couldn't tell them what I was really going to be doing. How could I? If they knew, it would prevent them from enjoying the holidays, so I decided not to say anything else and just to allow them to continue talking about their respective plans.

" Studying? Seriously?" Rainbow Dash asked.

" Nothin' wrong with that." Applejack answered.

" Exactly. Sunset is focused on doing well in school, unlike you, Rainbow Dash. If her grades remain as consistent as they have, she could easily get into the most prestigious university in Canterlot or anywhere else across the country. It would be a dream come true." Rarity said.

" I've got good grades, too!" Rainbow Dash shouted.

" Nothing compared with what Sunset has." Rarity said. Just looking at how happy my friends were with the upcoming winter break was enough for me to keep my silence on how this time of the year affected me emotionally. Unlike my friends, I was going to be spending the holidays alone, and not for the first time, either. It had become an unfortunate tradition, that goes as far back as my days living in Equestria. When I left home and began attending Princess Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns, the other fillies always went home to celebrate Hearth's Warming with their families. I never did that. My parents had neglected me in favour of my siblings, so I could never go back there again. I had no idea if my parents were even aware that I now live in this world. Because Princess Celestia was always too busy, I ended up spending the holidays on my own. It wasn't necessarily a bad thing. I had gotten used to isolating myself from my fellow ponies. After all, I viewed everypony around me as weak.

Part of me had hoped that one of my friends would have invited me to spend the holidays with them. I had hoped to have broken free of my tradition, but it appeared that wouldn't be the case at all. I guess I was destined to be alone until the new year started, and things would go back to normal until the next winter holidays came along. Could one of the other CHS students invited me? Maybe, but there were still some trust issues. Despite how everyone had accepted my friendship, I wasn't at the point where I had earned the right to be given such a chance. Perhaps deep down, my fellow students still feared that I could be pretending to have changed. I wasn't going to blame them for that way of thinking. If I were in their shoes, I'd have done the same thing.

" Sunset? Sunset?"

" Huh?"

" You were daydreaming just now." Pinkie Pie answered.

" Really? Guess I just went off into my own train of thought." I said.

" Are you sure y'all are really alright?" Applejack asked.

" I'm fine. No need to worry about me." I answered. I was anything but fine, but again, I couldn't let my friends know the truth. Even Principal Celestia had shown signs of concern regarding what I was going to do for the winter break. She asked me if I was going to remain at school for the two-week holiday, and I said yes, because the library was my place of residence. The look she had in her eyes told me everything. I knew she felt concerned about my choosing to stay here instead of going somewhere else. However, I assured her that I would be fine.

" Anyway, what are your plans, Fluttershy?" Rainbow Dash asked.

" I haven't really decided what I'm going to do." Fluttershy answered.

" I'm in the same boat as you, darling. I've been so preoccupied lately that I haven't had any time to think about it. There are still two weeks to go before everyone leaves until the new year, so I am certain that I will come up with something ideal." Rarity added.

" You girls could always join me at my slumber parties." Pinkie Pie said.

" I reckon you'd want to spend those with your sister." Applejack said.

" Yes, but it wouldn't bother Maud at all. In fact, she would love to have more company around. If you girls end up changing your mind, you all know where to find me until we break for the holidays." Pinkie Pie said.

" Um, excuse me..." I began.

" What's wrong, darling?" Rarity asked.

" I need to get going. I promised myself that I would spend the rest of the lunch period trying to solve the magic problem. So far, things have progressed slowly, but I'm hoping to make a breakthrough. I'll... I'll see you all later." I answered. As I grabbed my backpack and walked away from my friends, I noticed that Applejack was staring at me with her eyes narrowed. I had a feeling she knew that I was hiding something from everyone, but I had no time to see if that were the case. My mind was telling me to get as far away from all that talk about the winter break as possible.

The holidays were just regular days to me. While everyone else in Canterlot and beyond would be celebrating, I would be continuing my research. It was quite the mundane existence, but one that I've gotten used to for a long time now. I slowly walked through the hallways of CHS, making sure to avoid eye contact with everyone until I stepped outside and took out my notepad and a pencil from my pocket. The excuse of leaving my friends was actually a legitimate one. It had occurred to me that the storage room under the stage where my friends' magic was unleashed could still have some magical residue lying about. If I could acquire some of that residue, I should get some vital clues out of it. It would also give me a chance to get the thought of the winter break out of my mind.

---

" You've been spending Christmas alone?" Twilight asked.

" Had done so for the first few years I've been living here and throughout my life in Equestria." I answered. I then felt a strong grip around my stomach. When I looked down to see what Twilight was doing, she was hugging me as hard as she could, tears trickling down her face. My mind was telling me to ask her to let me go, but I just couldn't refuse such a kind gesture as this. I then place my non-injured hand on top of her head and began running my fingers through her hair. I could feel my heart wanting me to go so much further than what I was currently doing, but I quickly shook away those ideas. Twilight is my friend and perhaps even a sister, but she would never be anything more than that. For a few minutes, I just sat there combing through Twilight's hair while she continued to hug me. Her grip around my stomach was surprisingly strong. If I didn't know any better, I could swear that she possessed tremendous strength that she probably isn't even aware of.

" All those Christmases you missed out on." Twilight said.

" Before I understood what friendship meant, both Christmas and Hearth's Warming Day held no meaning. Whenever I walked around both versions of Canterlot during those times of the year, everyone looked so happy with their families, yet I had nothing but scorn for them. I secretly was jealous that they all had a loving family while I never had the same thing. I secretly cursed those families under my breath, and hoped they would suffer miserably in the coming year. Whenever anyone came up to me to wish me a happy holiday, I merely shrugged my shoulders--tilted my head slightly in Equestria--before continuing on." I said. Things had changed since my friends entered my life. Now the winter break actually held a purpose. It will probably take me another year or two to fully comprehend what it means to celebrate with loved ones. I removed my hand from Twilight's head and turned the page. We were greeted by another photo that depicted the outside of CHS.

" It's snowing in this photo." Twilight said.

" I took it when Applejack and I entered school on the day where everything began to go wrong."

" Was your life destroyed that day?"

" No."

" Then when?"

" About two days after the picture was taken."

" You said that you were a different kind of victim of online bullying and were blamed for spreading secrets around school. What happened?" Twilight asked.

" I blame MyStable." I answered.

" Come again?"

Comments

[icecreammac]

She said, 'I'll just have to hope those girls keep you busy. Very busy.'

Dang, Twilight. That's pretty cold. A good chapter, but I'm glad we're moving on.

[Ganondorf8]

6867129

That is what Twilight says to herself in the actual book, but you do have to question her tactfulness. The Holiday 2014 chapters are already a lot of fun to write, and I like how I know what is going to happen instead of having to make it up as I go along.

[icecreammac]

6869092 Oh, she said that to herself? That makes a little more sense. I thought she said it to Sunset herself, which is just mean. Also, I meant to give another comment, as well. After quite a while, we saw a bit more intimacy between the human Twilight and Sunset. I really like how you handled it. It had just the right bit of emotion, and it was probably the most tender moment we saw between the two, and I loved it. Good on you.

[Ganondorf8]

6870460

That's why the quote originally said Sunset's name, as Twilight was saying it to herself. I do have some understanding of writing romance moments in stories (did this years ago over on FanFiction), but I'll admit that I'm not an expert. If anything, the most this romantic angle is likely going to go is a minor crush, and yet, that was my original intention in the first place.

[Jakomi of the Rose]

Ah, online bullying... I wasn't subjected to it. I recieved the words upfront and hammered in with someones fist.