Escaping the Darkness

    Sunset Shimmer pushed through the swarm of students, a cheesy grin on her face. She ran hysterically, barely noticing the students she passed by. They all growled and sneered at her, but she didn't care.

    "Oi, Sunset, what's the rush?" Applejack called as Sunset neared her. She, too, was smiling - she had received Sunset's text.

    "The most wonderful thing has happened!"

    A few students looked at Sunset, perhaps judging her, perhaps thinking that she was crazy.

    Sunset joined the queue, where Applejack and the rest of her friends waited.

    "Oh, darling, we all got the message! Congratulations!" Rarity cried.

    "I reckon you two will be totes ADORBS together!" Pinkie Pie added.

    That really broke the ice. As the line slowly progressed forward, the six friends chatted about everything under the sun. After all, they hadn't seen each other at all in the summer holidays.

    The six fell into an awkward silence. No words were spoken as they collected their lunch; no cheerful greeting was uttered to the cafeteria lady, whom they all knew well; no chatter started up as they sat at their normal table.

    Everyone else, however, was stirring the air with their continuous boasts, stories and greetings of old friends. Everyone else except one boy with spiky blue hair sitting on his own by the window.

    Applejack judged a Sunset, and directed her attention towards Flash. "Shouldn't y'all be sitting with him?"

    "No. It's the first day back, I have to sit with my friends. Besides, I saw him last week."

    "Did he somehow find his way into your bedroom?" Aaplejack teased.

    "What? No! I saw him at Eagle Girls. We picked up a pizza together and then watched movies at Mum's house all night."

    The table again fell into silence. This time, though, they were pondering over Twilight's absence, Sunset's text and why the fruit salad had tomato in it.

    "I sure hope Twi's okay."

    "Me too. But who I am also worried about right now is Princess Twilight. What if she founds out about me and Flash?"

    Fluttershy smiled, and put her hand on Sunset's shoulder reassuringly.

    "She knows he's bound to have given up on her by now - she's never around. And doesn't she have her own Flash in Equestria?"

    "I guess you're right." But Sunset's face was still etched with worry.

    Suddenly the whole cafeteria fell into silence.

    "What's happening?" Sunset asked.

    "Er... Ah think we have just found out where Twilight is."