Lunch, everyone’s favorite “class” in school. A time to relax from classes, to look at what had happened during the first half of the day. A time to eat and recharge, and most importantly, a time for friends to catch up. With school now half over for the day it was finally time to ask the big question.

“Sunset, where do you live?” Twilight asked, taking a sip of her juice as her friend looked at her shocked.

“What?” Sunset asked confused. “Why do you want to know where I live Twilight?” She questioned back. It was just something that felt a little strange to be asked out of nowhere.

“It’s just-” The friend started, pausing only to think of the best way to phrase her reasoning. “With how cold it is we got a little worried when you didn’t reply to any of our messages, or send any of your own. We thought something may have happened and wanted to know where we could check on you, but when I asked the others, none of them had your address saved in any way.”

Sunset looked around the table she was sat at, each of her friends looking away a little sheepishly, not quite sure about how to act about the question. Sunset chuckled. “You girls don’t need to worry about me like that. I can take care of myself just fine. Been doing so for a few years now, ever since I came here actually.” She hoped her reassurance would ease her friends, she was wrong.

“It’s not that we don’t think you capable darling,” Rarity chimed, “it’s just better to know then to be left in the dark is all.”

“Yeah.” Chimed Rainbow Dash, “We all know where each other lives, that way we can visit or give each other missing assignments when we’re sick, or even just have an awesome hangout session.”

“Plus how can I throw you the most amazing parties if I don’t even know where you live?” Pinkie questioned, gripping Sunset’s shoulders and shaking her in hysteria.

“We know you don’t want us to-” Fluttershy squeaked from behind her hair, “but we all worry about you Sunset. You’re our friend, and friends look out for each other.”

“Fluttershy’s right.” Applejack spoke, tilting her hat up. “Friends should care for each other, and they should know where to find each other ifin they need any help.” She locked eyes with Sunset, who seemed a little uneasy about the situation. “You do have a place to stay, right Sunset?”

Hearing her friend call her name had snapped her out of her stupor. “What- oh yeah, of course I have a place. It would be weird if I didn’t” She rubbed the back of her head laughing awkwardly. Applejack gave her a sly grin and asked “Then you wouldn’t mind telling us the address would you?”

Sunset stammered a little from the question. “I-i would love to give you the address, it’s just that umm-” She thought quickly, “I actually had to leave my old place for a new one, I still haven't quite learned the actual address myself.” She looked around the room hoping to had appeased the others watching her. Applejack raised her eyebrow in disbelief.

“You moved and haven’t learned the new address yet?” She questioned sternly. Sunset began to sweat a little as her friend seemed to be interrogating her.

“Wh-what, it happens all the time” Sunset protested. “Takes a little bit for the new information to really sink in.” She nervously grabbed her juice and began to drink from it, not wanting to be asked anything else about the subject. She stopped between sips to speak again. “Besides, you girls wouldn’t want to see it anyways. It’s not a very nice place. It’s small and kind of dirty right now. Haven’t really gotten around to cleaning it.” Her eyes darted away from her friends, feeling uncomfortable about the question.

Applejack continued to stare at Sunset for a good minute before speaking again. “Alright Sunset, so long as you have a roof over your head that’s good enough for me.” She gave her friend a kind smile. Sunset returned her eyes to her friend and gave her own smile. “Thanks Applejack. And sorry for making everyone worry.” Her words had seemed genuine. She returned to her lunch with the others and they continued about their regular eating conversations. What Dash had been up to at soccer, how Fluttershy’s animals were doing. Even about what their best pony friend, Princess Twilight Sparkle, had been up to.

As lunch came to a close, the girls had picked up their garbage and their trays, emptied them into the nearest receptacles and headed out the cafeteria doors. Sunset turned to her friends as they left the cafe. “We still having band practice after class “ She asked, looking to her rainbow haired friend.

“Not today, sorry. Kind of have other plans. Tomorrow for sure.” She responded, giving a big thumbs up to her friend. Sunset returned the gesture and took off to her next class. Happy everything had been resolved.

“You don’t have anything planned after school, do yah Dash?” Applejack questioned her, stern look on her face. “You plan tah follow Sunset home don’t you?”

Rainbow Dash squirmed a little before answering. “Okay yeah, but I can’t help it. Her story was so not convincing. And did you see how uncomfortable she was about just answering you? Girl is definitely hiding something.” She explained, hoping her friends would take her side.

“I can’t believe you Dash, wanting to follow one of your best friends home…” Applejack gave a disapproving stare, causing Rainbow Dash to sink a little. “Especially without asking us to help.” Rainbow jumped, a little confused. Her friends each giving her a sly smile.

“Wait, you mean you’re all okay with following her?” Rainbow was confused.

“Well we can’t just let it go with that, what if she is living in some dirty apartment or abandoned building. Just think of all the filth and vermin she would have to be putting up with. “Rarity replied, grimacing at the thought.

“Or what if she doesn’t have any way to stay warm.” Fluttershy interjected quietly, obviously worried for her friend.

“Or what if she doesn’t have like a super awesome game system to keep herself entertained!?” Pinkie screamed, as if terrified at the thought. The others looked at her with annoyance. “What, I don’t know what i would do without something to keep me entertained.” Her eyes began to drift apart, “I would probably go insane!”

“Pinkies ramblings aside-” Twilight spoke up, not the least bit satisfied with the story she had received. “We should still keep an eye on her, at least until we know for sure she is safe.” Her friends nodded in agreement with her. The plan was set, after school they would each follow her, keeping to the shadows so she wouldn’t spot them. This would settle the confusion once and for all.

The day had been long, so many classes, so little time. It was like they were trying to jam a whole library of information into each students head. Which for Sunset had never been an issue. She reveled in learning, they more she know, the happier she was. Quickly thought, the school day was at its end. At two thirty the bell had rang and all the students excited rushed to their lockers, finally ready to enjoy the rest of the day away from school. Sunset had no real plans for the rest of the day, with everything she would normal do canceled, she looked forward to just unwinding.

“Guess it’s time to head home” She thought aloud as she headed for her locker as well. Entering the proper combination and removing her winter jacket, which she now had slung onto herself, She headed for the front doors. There she saw her friends, all huddled together. “Hey Girls!” she shouted to them, waving as she did.

“Hey Sunset!” Applejack called back. Sunset quickly joined the huddle, feeling warm from her friends. “So whats going on?” She asked a little confused.

“Just making sure everything was set for tomorrow, don’t want anything to ruin our practice.” Rainbow explained. Sunset nodded, understanding how important it was for them to practice. Who knew, maybe they would have another battle of the bands on their hands in the future. They had to be ready for anything. Suddenly Sunset felt a warm embrace around her. Twilight had surprised her with a hug. “Uh Twilight” she chuckled.

Twilight backed away blushing. “Sorry, just wanted to let you know how much we care, also your very warm.” Her friends all chuckled at the notion and waved it off, Sunset included.

“Actually I should probably get going, I promised Sweetie belle I would help her with her homework after class today.” Rarity spoke up, waving to her friends as she took off.

“Yeah, I gotta get going myself” Rainbow Dash interjected. “Promised Scoots I would help fix her scooter, kid loves that thing, almost as much as she loves me.” She too waved and dashed off towards her home.

One by one, with their own reasons, they rest of the group had taken off for home. Save for Sunset and Applejack. “Promised Big Mac I would have him pick me up here when he dropped me off this morning.” Applejack explained, a little uneasy about the half lie. While she had told her brother to pick her up at that spot in the morning, she later texted him and told him not to worry.

“I can wait with you if you want Applejack.” Sunset offered not wanting to leave her friend in the cold. Applejack lifted her hand placed it on Sunset’s shoulder.

“Now don’t you worry sugar cube. I’ll be fine, besides Big Mac doesn’t usually take too long to get here. Now go on and git home yourself. Don’t want to get you sick because of me.” Applejack playfully shooed her friend away. Sunset laughed at the notion and waved to her friend.

“Suit yourself Applejack.” she waved as she took off. A smile on her face. “See you tomorrow!” She called back. Applejack waved back to her with her own smile, quickly turning to a face of determination. She looked around for anyone nearby before giving out a quick whistle. As if by magic, from the bushes, to behind some of the nearby buildings, to...wherever Pinkie came from, her friends had reconciled into their original huddle.

“She gone?” Rainbow Dash asked. Not wanting her friends to be seen.

“Eyup” Applejack replied, quickly turning her attention to Twilight. “You get that thing on her?”

Twilight adjusted her glasses giving a mischievous grin. “Sure did, planted it on her during the hug, right on the back of her shirt. She’ll never notice it.” She looked at her friends half hoping for some applause but instead was met with looks of concern.

“It’s not that we don’t believe you Twilight,” Rarity acknowledge, noticing the look of concern now her face as well. “It just feels wrong to have to, eck, bug our friend like that.” Rarity gave a look of disgust upon saying the word “bug”. She was quickly snapped out of her stupor when a swift slap to the back hit her.

“Don’t worry Rarity, it’s for a good cause, not Sci Twi over her can find her wherever she goes, right Twilight?” Rainbow interjected giving her friend the remark she needed. Twilight nodded and pulled out a strange device from her bag. The same device she had used before to locate the magic coming from the statue at the school.

“I reprogrammed my scanner to lock onto the chip I built and point us towards it, we should be able to follow it wherever it goes.” She fiddled with the dials and switches until a beeping could be heard. “Its working” She said excitedly, her expression quickly turning to concern. “She’s really moving fast.”

“She does take the bus everywhere” Pinkie spoke up, trying to be apart of the conversation in some way. “Maybe she lives far away?”

“Maybe, either way we should probably get moving, we don't want to stay out for too long, it might get even colder.” Twilight explained picking her bag up.

“C-c-colder?” Fluttershy squeaked, drawing the attention of her friends. “I really don’t like the cold.” She confided in them, causing them all to giggle a little. They each picked up their respective possessions and proceeded to follow Twilight’s lead, as she was the one who knew who to read the tracker.

After an hour and a half of waking, the girls spirits were starting to dwindle. They tried to keep going with witty banter. “I swear I saw her sleeping in the library, right before the whole Anon-a-miss fiasco.” Pinkie Spurted. “Just like Princess Twilight did right before she came back for the battle of the bands. Wonder if she got the idea from her?”

“I don't know, if she had a place why would she spend the night in the library, I mean, I know she likes to read and all but come on.” Rainbow dash interjected snidely. “I don’t sleep in the soccer field.”

“Nope, just in class” Rarity chuckled, causing Rainbow Dash to blush a little. The girls all chuckled at the notion until they were stopped by Twilight, who had stopped moving.

“Something wrong Twi?” Applejack asked confused. They were between two large buildings with a chain fence between them.

“The scanner says she should be down here.” She turned and pointed towards the fence. “But that doesn't make any sense,” she continued. “There shouldn’t be anything down there, that's just left over space that could fit anything.” They examined the fence looking for any hint, maybe the wind had blown the tracer off, maybe Susnet had found it and flicked it away. Suddenly Pinkie spook up.

“Girls I think I found something.” She waved for them to come to her. When assembled she showed that part of the fence had been broken, and that with a little bit of effort, she could bend it back. Large enough for them to all fit through.

“You don’t think she could be in there. Do you?” Twilight squeaked nervously. Applejack placed her hand on her back, to reassure her.

“Really only one way to find out.” She gave a reassuring smile. There was no way Sunset would be back there, she was too smart to be hanging out in a chained off alley like that, right? With little effort, Pinkie had peeled the chain back so her friends could all squeeze through. They struggled a little but soon they were each on the other side of the fence. After dusting herself off, Rarity perked her ear hearing a familiar tune.

“Girls, does anyone else hear that?” She asked with a look of distress on her face. The sound was in fact humming, of a very familiar song.

“That’s Awesome as I Wanna Be” Rainbow Dash spurted out confused. Their music had been kind of popular with the rest of the students and faculty at the school, but only someone who knew the inner workings of the song could be humming it that in tune. The group quietly followed the sound of the humming, tracing it around the corner of a building. Applejack popped her head out first, slowly followed by the others. No one could believe what they had seen in front of them.

“Oh mah stars” Applejack managed to sturmer. To their surprise they saw a familiar pair of black heeled boots, sticking out of what looked like a makeshift shack. Constructed mainly from found sticks, rope and a tarp to keep out rain. In front sat a small man, or in this case woman, made fireplace.

“So,” Twilight began, tears welling in her eyes. “She is homeless.”

Author's Note

So a quick bit of information here. I finished writing this chapter on Saturday, literally the day after I put the first one up. I then asked not one, not two, but three of my closest friends to read over it and give me some feedback and tell me what I need to fix or change. They never read it. They ignored my responses even though they originally said they would take a look but never followed through. Now I am not mad at them, I dont really do mad. I am a little upset though. I got no feedback on it and it didn't look like I would be getting any anytime soon. I said I would have this chapter ready in two to three days and now I am out of time. So I hope you guys do enjoy it and once again please tell me what you think in the comments. I love hearing from all of you.

Now that my rant is over let's talk a little about the chapter, is this where I promised things would get dark? Well not really, yes the idea of a homeless Sunset is kind of sad but its going to get much worse. I have some mean plans for her.

So now we get to a big question. When is the next chapter going to come out? I want to say it might take me about ten days to write it. I still need to think it over a few more times to get it exactly right, then HOPE one of my friends will actually read it. Anyways, that's all for now. Hope you all enjoyed it and thanks for all the support you guys show this story. It really means a lot to me.