"At the end of the day..."
“At the end of the day...”
By
Darkstone57
The halls of Canterlot High were steady and silent as sun had began to set on the school for another day. All the students and teachers had taken their leave and began to prepare themselves for the joys of having another weekend to relax their heads or to prepare their minds to dive into the paperwork they have to deal with. All but one...
It has been a few days since ‘The Battle of the Bands’ finale took place and the monumental victory Sunset Shimmer had over the Dazzlings. Since then, she was fully accepted as part of the group of friends she had made and things have become brighter in her world. The students who formerly held resentment against had seen past that for the shining girl she had become and becoming a part of the band has truly given her a chance to cut loose on her guitar skills.
Despite this, Sunset wandered aimlessly around the halls of the school, stopping at random spots to look around the school that she had spent a long time at. Each time she folded her arms and stared out to the open space in front, stuck in a looping thought process, each time she became frustrated with the block that she would come too, she would stand up, shake off her stress and wander off again.
Eventually, she decided to head toward that place. After few minutes of forcing herself forward, she stopped outside her locker, held and then released a deep breath before she opened it to look upon the source of thoughts that plagued her for the last couple of days; the journal that she received from Princess Celestia.
As she gazed upon it, she thought about how things might be back in Equestria. ‘Equestria...’ that word slowly hung in her head as the multitude of questions began to spread through her mind. How are her parents? How’s the Princess? How is Twilight? Do they miss her? Do they hate her? Should she go back? What about her friends here? What about her life here?
The more they came, the more she felt her hands shake. Eventually, her right hand unconsciously reached for the locker door and then, with an aggravated groan, she forcefully slammed the door slut with a loud crash that echoed through the empty halls.
After a few ragged breaths she placed her slamming hand on the door and slowly rested her head against and let out a heavy sigh as the one question that stood out in her mind that became to the forefront of her stress; ‘What do I do?’
She didn’t realise how long she had head pressed against her locker door but as the moments went on she slowly began to pull herself away from it. When she brought herself upright and finally pulled her hand away, Sunset turned her head away and began to follow her path to the exit with eyes to the ground.
“I was wondering who on earth could be here.” A gruff masculine voice called out to Sunset ahead of her. When she registered it, she methodically brought herself to a stop and looked up to the owner. It was a young man, which slightly loomed over her, that wore black and grey trainers, black cargo jeans with a studded belt, a green hooded jacket, that was zipped up two thirds of the way that revealed the top of grey shirt, whose arms that reached into his jeans pockets. He had short brown hair and a short beard that covered his dusty pink skin on a third of his face. A pair of concerned brown eyes looked down at stressed Sunset as she met his gaze.
“I’m...” Sunset stumbled as tried to regain her composure, “I didn’t know anyone else was here.” Sunset spoke, trying to sound calm and strong.
“Well, I’m just as surprised as you are, Sunset.” The young man said, casually.
Sunset let out a nervous chuckle and asked, “And, who might you be?”
“Nick Steel.” Nick politely said as he extended his hand to her with a nervous chuckle of his own, “Please, ignore the silly name.”
Sunset raised an eyebrow at that before giggling and accepting Nick’s hand humbly, before replying, “It’s not that bad.”
“Oh, come on, it makes me sound like some generic protagonist out of a silly story.” Nick nonchalantly countered.
“There are worse names.” Sunset replied.
“True,” Nick agreed neutrally, “So, what brings the ‘Saviour of the School’ here at this time on a Friday?”
Sunset glanced sideways for a second before casually responding, “Just having a bit of ‘me’ time, you?”
Nick shrugged his shoulders, “Meh, sometimes I like to be on my own and just felt like hanging about before heading home.” He paused for a moment and pulled his phone to check the time, “Speaking of, do you want to walk out together?”
“Mr. Steel, are you asking out on a date?” Sunset feigned shock as she asked, to which Nick smirked.
“Why yes,” Nick replied, dramatically extending his arm to the direction they were heading, exaggerating his words with a deliberately posh voice, “I thought a lovely stroll through the school as we converse would be a delightful way to spend time together on our ‘first date’.”
Sunset giggled at Nick’s antic’s and replied, “Ok, ok.”
With that, they both began to walk together as they headed along the path. After a few moments, Sunset couldn’t help but ask.
“’Saviour of the School’?”
“It’s something a couple of the younger students came up with when word spread that it was you helped the ‘Rainbooms’ beat those ‘Dazzlings’. You and those girls practically saved all of us from them.” Nick explained, with a positive vibe before saying, “Cheesy isn’t it?”
“Just a little,” Sunset replied with a humble smile.
A few moments passed as they continued on in a shared silence before Nick spoke up, “Okay, go on, what’s bothering you?”
Sunset stopped in her tracks and looked worriedly at Nick before he stopped a couple of steps ahead and turned to her, hands in his pockets.
Before she spoke Nick continued, “I was round about here when I heard that crash. So, either you like slamming doors really hard or something’s eating at you.”
Sunset looked down as the thoughts began to eat her again. When she didn’t say anything for a few seconds, Nick placed a firm but gentle right hand on her left shoulder to get her attention. When she met his gaze, she saw those same concerned eyes looking right at her like she was a wounded puppy.
Nick pulled his hand away and placed back in his pocket, but not before warmly saying with a smile, “I’m all ears if you want.”
Sunset looked away, again for a moment, gripping her right arm with her left hand and nervously rubbing it trying to shake off her apprehension. She looked at Nick again to see a warm smile on his face. Defeated, she let out a heavy hearted sigh and spoke her mind, “I don’t know what to do...”
“Pardon?” Nick asked, confused.
“I don’t know whether to go or stay.” Sunset stated the source of her issues.
With an acknowledging ‘hmm’, Nick stepped to one side and motioned with his head towards to the exit, whilst looking at her, encouraging her to go on. As they began to walk again, Sunset began to explain, “Before I came here, I had a different life back at home...” Sunset paused as she thought of Equestria once more.
“Ok...” Nick acknowledged, moving the conversation along.
“At first, I was glad to leave, to chase a new life with new prospects, but recently, I don’t know whether to go back or not.” Sunset went on, her tone became wobbly, “I mean, I have a really good thing going right now and I love being part of the band that the girls and I are getting more out of...” Sunset stopped again as she began to get more down.
“But...?” Nick mentioned, encouraging her to continue.
“But, I feel like maybe there’s more for me back home... And I don’t know what the best decision is...” Sunset finished explaining with an aggravated groan.
“I see.” Nick said, calmly.
The air between them went silent as the both kept walking. Sunset felt a bit better having told someone her worries but she was now curious as to what his answer would be. Before she could ask, Nick spoke again.
“It sounds like a tough call for you to make.” Nick said, stating the obvious.
“Yeah...” Sunset agreed, “What do you think I should do?”
It was Nick this time who stopped and Sunset who took a few steps ahead before turning to him. She saw a straight face looking right at her; he seemed quite serious all of a sudden.
“Listen, Sunset,” Nick spoke seriously but silvery, “At the end of the day...” He stopped for a moment to think about his next words carefully, “You shouldn’t let other people make a big decision like this for you. I mean, you’re friends here might want you to stay and you’re family back where you’re from might want you to go to them.” He looked up, thinking again, “What I’m trying to say is; it’s down to you.”
“Me?” Sunset asked, pointing to herself.
“Something I’ve learned is, whatever you want to do with your life is ultimately down to what you, yourself, want to do with it. Regardless of what anyone else thinks. But, that decision is one you should be fully invested in and you only. Everyone else, they’ll just have to accept it.” Nick explained with a shrug. “By all means though, tell your friends and your family back on what you’re feeling, but, again, it will be you who has to make that choice. Not your parents, not your friends, not Principal Celestia, you. And, if they truly care for you, they’ll wish you all the love and happiness in the world.”
As Nick finished explaining, Sunset took the time to acknowledge his words and she acknowledged there was a lot of truth behind them. Her mind was taken off of his words when she heard the sound of door opening behind her. Sunset turned to see Nick holding the door open to the school grounds.
“Doesn’t have to be today, or tomorrow, but when you have your answer, you’ll know.” Nick stated with a confident smile.
Sunset took his offer and left the building first, thanking Nick on the way out. The sun was setting over the horizon and night was drawing near. The door closed behind Nick as they both lightly stepped off the grounds, past the statue and stopped on the sidewalk.
“So,” Nick began happily, “I’ll guess I will see you next week, Miss Shimmer.”
Sunset smiled at the thought of a weekend with her friends before turning to Nick, “I will, indeed, Mr. Steel.” They both shared a hearty chuckle before Sunset warmly smiled at him and said, “Thanks, Nick.”
“Don’t mention it,” Nick replied in kind, “Enjoy your weekend.” He began to turn right.
“Hang on,” Sunset halted him, grabbing his attention and she reached into her pocket and pulled out her phone.
Taking the hint, Nick pulled out his phone as they both exchanged their numbers as she offered her a chance to hang out sometime with her friends. When it was done, Nick offered another handshake which Sunset happily obliged.
They went their separate ways with a smile on their faces. Sunset had a lighter spring in her step as she mulled over his words and thought to herself, ‘Guess sometimes it is down to myself for something like this...’ However, the questions didn’t bother her this time, for she felt confident now that whatever choice she will make, she knows it will be the right one.