Phoenix

The sound of staggered footsteps echoed through the empty alleyway, only to be replaced by them descending down a small, hidden flight of stairs, faint lights flickering around the underground landing. A quick series of knocks echoed through the air, the metal door vibrating with each connection of knuckles. The figure remained still, hiding beneath the blanket they draped over themselves, watching as a small vision slit slid open, screeching harshly as the figure on the other side peered through.

“We are programed to receive.” came the soft, mature tones of the woman on the other side of the door, her eyes not even blinking as she watched the figure, only to widen in shock when the figure replied.

“Heh… I know I can check out anytime I like, but I can never leave.” the figure responded, chuckling as the vision slit slammed shut the sound of chains being unfastened and locks unlocked radiating through the door, before it opened, revealing an older, well maintained woman on the other side, smiling as walked across the doorway.

“Welcome home…” she started, obviously shocked at who had just come knocking. “Sunset Shimmer.”

The amber skin teen smiled warmly, her right eye shut as she removed the blanket from over top of her, leaving it wrapped around her right arm. The woman held her arms open wide, Sunset moving forward unsteadily as she wrapped her left arm around the woman.

“It’s nice to see you again, Mother. I apologized for my, er… vanishing, and never calling, and I would love to explain but I need in before they find me.”

“But of course dear!” the woman stood aside, ushering the girl in and watching as the teen slowly staggered in, before pausing to look around the alleyway. Once she felt secure she shut the door, the rattling sound of chains being fastened and locks locking vibrating through the air.

“How badly injured are you?” she asked as she turned around to study the girl, noticing the rags that she was wearing. “And surely you didn’t live on the street! You had a room here for goodness sake!”

“I’ve healed pretty well, all things considered.” Sunset gave a sad smile as she sat down at the table, looking around the back room fondly. “And these aren’t my clothes- well, not mine mine, but, well… Where do I begin…?”

“Why don’t you start by taking that blanket away from your arm so I can look at it?” the woman was digging around in the cupboards before she retrieved a first aid kit and walked over to Sunset’s side. “Well? You gonna let me look at it?”

“Well… Promise not to scream?” the teen wore an extremely uneasy smile as she looked up at the woman, the elderly figure giving a hearty chuckle.

“After what I deal with? What’s the worst that… could…” her warm smile slowly faded as she watched Sunset remove the blanket from around her arm, tossing it to the side before depositing the red, clawed mass on the table, her right eye opening to reveal the aquamarine orb floating in a sea of darkness, a smirk spreading across her face.

“Why don’t you sit down? This is gonna take awhile.”