To say that Sunset Shimmer was having a bad week would probably be the understatement of the year. It had been a couple of days since the Anon-A-Miss incident started and her friends had come to the conclusion that she must be behind it all without even allowing her to defend herself.
Since then everyone else in the school seems to have come to the same conclusion and had taken it upon themselves to verbally harass her, some even going so far as to 'accidentally' run into her in the hallways. Luckily no one had resorted to violence yet, but with tensions rising steadily it was only a matter of time. She had to figure things out before then.
Suddenly the sound of static blaring through the school speakers jolted her out of her thoughts.
"Would Sunset Shimmer please report to the principal's office. I repeat Sunset Shimmer please report to the principal's office, thank you."
Sunset allowed herself an annoyed sigh as she readjusted her backpack and started towards Principal Celestia's office, ignoring all the smug looks from the people who assumed she was about to get her 'just desserts'.
Ah well, not like this day could get any worse.
As she trudged through the hallways she could see several people gossiping in little groups, likely trying to figure out how she was going to be 'punished'. She didn't know what she was being called to the office for but she doubted that Celestia was going to punish her without proper evidence of any wrongdoings, at least if she was anything like her Celestia.
As she walked into the lobby the cream colored secretary glanced up before going back to her paperwork.
"Principal Celestia's waiting for you in her office."
"Thanks Raven."
Raven only grunted in response, still focused on her paperwork. Principal Celestia should really give that poor woman a raise if she worked even half as hard as her world's Raven. She wondered if her world's Raven was still Princess Celestia's assistant. It had certainly been a while since she'd been home, maybe one day she'd visit but for now she was getting off track.
Steeling her nerves she reached towards the doorknob and pushed inwards, the door opening without a creak. Sitting behind her desk was Principal Celestia, looking more frazzled than Sunset had seen her since arriving in this world.
"Ah, Sunset Shimmer, please have a seat."
Sunset sat down on one of the, admittedly, comfortable seats lined up in front of the desk, setting her backpack down next to her.
"I assume that you know what this is about?"
Ah, straight to the point then.
"I assume that this is probably about Anon-A-Miss right."
Principal Celestia visibly slumped upon hearing the name of the MyStable account that started this whole mess.
"Yes, it is. I'll skip straight to the point then. As much as it pains me to say this I must ask you to stay home for the next few days."
"What! You're suspending me?! Don't tell me you think I'm Anon-A-Miss too!"
Sunset couldn't believe what was happening. Out of all the people in this world she thought she could trust she never expected Principal Celestia to turn on her. Then again she thought the same about the other five so she shouldn't be so surprised.
"Please, Sunset, calm down. You're not being suspended."
Upon hearing those words Sunset visibly relaxed, but then perked back up in curiosity.
"If I'm not being suspended then why do I have to stay home?"
"Sunset, when you first arrived at this school I could tell that you were a young woman who was always meant to soar high, but you were weighing yourself down. I wanted to help you, I really did, but being the principal of this school means having hundreds of students to look after and I was never able to make time to help guide you to be the person I knew you could be, and for that I'm sorry."
Sunset felt tears welling up at the corners of her eyes.
"You don't need to apologize. It's my fault, I made a stupid decision so I have to deal with the consequences."
Principal Celestia let out a sad sigh before speaking again, "You did. But that, too, was not entirely your fault. It's supposed to be the job of us teachers to guide the young so that they don't make the same mistakes as their elders. Obviously I didn't do my job, though it wouldn't be the first time I failed somebody."
Sunset shimmer recognized that this was likely a sensitive subject for the principal if it were anything like the Nightmare Moon incident and so decided to steer the conversation away from such a dark subject.
"Could we please get back to why you called me here?"
"Of course," Celestia agreed, composing herself again, "But first let me just say that I'm truly proud of how far you have come since the Fall Formal. As for why I am asking you to stay home for a few days is due to the rising tensions. While I may not believe you to be the cause of this, many others do and it only gets worse by the day. I've even had parents demanding I punish you without there being sufficient proof that you're the one behind this."
"So you're hoping that if I stay home for a few days this'll all blow over?"
Celestia shook her head sadly.
"That's the best case scenario, however the teachers have been telling me that the students have been getting more aggressive by the day. I am afraid that if the culprit is not caught soon that they may try to do something rash. That's why I must ask you to stay out of school until this all blows over, I wouldn't be able to live with myself is something were to happen to one of my students."
"One of your favorite students?" Sunset questioned playfully.
Celestia let out a hearty laugh and winked at her before answering, "Yes, but don't tell anyone, teachers aren't supposed to play favorites after all."
Sunset smiled, glad she could lighten the mood, even if a little bit. But she knew this was only a brief respite from cruel reality.
"So I assume that my absence will be excused?"
"Of course, we can't have a student failing for something out of their control after all. However I do expect you to keep up with your schoolwork. I'll be having someone bring you anything you missed from your classes after school each day."
"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Sunset questioned.
Celestia gave her a reassuring smile, "While I may not have ears everywhere, as some people are want to believe, I'm not entirely deaf to the going ons either. Don't worry there are still several students who do not believe you are as guilty as some might. I'm sure one of them would be happy to help you out."
"Is that all you wanted to talk about?"
"Yes, there's just one more thing."
"What's that?"
"You may take the rest of today off, it will also be treated as an excused absence, someone will be by with the work from the classes that you missed."
Sunset nodded as she stood up, making sure to grab her backpack, it wouldn't do if she were excused from school only to have to come back because she forgot something.
"Thanks a lot Principal Celestia."
Celestia bobbed her head in acknowledgement, a smile adorning her face. Sunset had her hand on the doorknob before she looked back to address her.
"You know you should really give Raven a raise."
The principal chuckled lightly before replying, "I know, I know, but the budget simply doesn't allow it."
--
Sunset Shimmer let out her third annoyed groan in just as many minutes. She never realized how agonizingly boring it was waiting around at home with nothing to do. Usually at this point in the day she was getting ready to hang out with her 'friends'. For obvious reasons that was out, and she wasn't going to risk messing around on her phone while the whole Anon-A-Miss thing was still going on.
She just hoped that whoever it was that was supposed to bring her her schoolwork would be here soon. It had been about 10 minutes since school let out and she didn't live much further away than that, give or take a few minutes for traffic. As if on cue the doorbell sang its cheery tune.
Sunset metaphorically, and literally, leapt up at the prospect of having something to break the dull monotony of just sitting around for hours on end. She rushed over to the door and yanked it open replacing the sight of rich mahogany wood with bright mint green.
Upon inspection she realized that the one standing on her doorstep was none other than Lyra Heartstrings which surprised her. Sure Lyra had always been a rather nice person she'd also been a little bit of an airhead and wouldn't be the first person Sunset would figure entrusting a task like this to.
"Lyra?" she questioned, "You're who Celestia sent?"
"Nope!" she said cheerily popping the 'p' then sidestepped to reveal the beige colored teen standing behind her. It wasn't hard to figure out that it was Bon Bon who'd been tasked with the job of delivering her schoolwork. She had always been the more sensible friend? girlfriend? Sunset was never really able to figure out what their connection to each other was.
"Hey." Bon Bon spoke blandly, waving at her. Sunset waved awkwardly back before an uncomfortable silence settled.
"So," Sunset broke the silence, "Do you guys wanna come in?"
"Sorry," Bon Bon apologized, "I have to open up shop in a little bit, I just came here to give you these."
"Oh," Sunset's head drooped as she accepted the stack of paper that was offered to her.
Bon Bon and Lyra shared a look before Bon Bon sighed and addressed Sunset, "Hey, do you- do you want to come over to my place?"
Sunset's face lit up before it fell again.
"Are you sure it's okay? Am I going to cause you any trouble?"
Bon Bon half snorted, half chuckled in response.
"Not any more than Lyra does. I love the girl but I swear she knows just how to get on my nerves."
"Well... If you're sure."
"I am." she confirmed.
"Alright, just let me grab a couple of things."
Sunset quickly stuffed the packet she got into her backpack before tossing it over her shoulder and pulling her phone off the charger. She wasn't planning on using it, but it never hurt to have it on her in case she needed to get in contact with someone. Nothing else coming to mind she makes her way back to her front door and joins the two teens.
"Shotgun!" Lyra cried out as she raced towards the parking lot.
"I swear she does this every time." Bon Bon says, rolling her eyes.
"I don't mind. I'm just glad to be out of there, you have no idea how annoying it is being cooped up for so long."
"I think I do. More than you know."
"What was that?" Sunset inquired, not quite catching what it was that Bon Bon had just mumbled.
"Nothing."
Sunset didn't feel like it was nothing but shrugged anyways, who was she to pry after all? Upon reaching the car she could see Lyra already situated in the front right seat of the four-door. Sunset quickly slid into the back left seat while Bon Bon strapped herself into the driver's seat.
"Everybody have their seat belt on?" Bon Bon questioned rhetorically while cranking up the car. A cursory glance at her passengers confirmed that they were both wearing their seat belts and she backed out of her parking spot before getting on the road.
"So, how're things? Good?" Lyra queried only to receive a blank stare from Sunset. "Duh, of course not!" she exclaimed, smacking her forehead with her palm, "The whole Anon-A-Miss thing!"
Sunset continued to stare at Lyra who continued to stare at her. A few seconds was all she could take of staring at each other silently so she chose to change the subject.
"So what kinda store does Bon Bon work at?"
"Oh yeah! I forgot, not everyone knows." Lyra said sheepishly, "Bon Bon actually owns her own little candy shop! It's really cool, you should really try her caramel squares they're to die for!"
"Lyra." Bon Bon called to her.
"And don't even get me started on her handmade chocolates, you wouldn't believe how many people order from her on Valentines. Personally I'm a fan of her white chocolate."
"Lyra." Bon Bon called again, a little louder.
"Oh, and her bonbons, heh Bon Bon's bonbons I still can't get over that, anyways her bonbons are-"
"Lyra!"
"What?" Lyra shot a questioning stare at Bon Bon.
"You're doing it again."
"Oh, sorry," Lyra apologized, her face flush with embarrassment, "I have a habit of going on rants sometimes, it makes it hard for me to make friends because I usually end up overwhelming them."
"It's fine," Sunset reassured her, "I think if I can handle Pinkie Pie then I can probably handle anything."
"Thanks."
Sunset sent Lyra a questioning stare.
"For what?"
"Like I said it can be hard for me to make friends so thanks for giving me a chance."
"It's no problem. If anyone knows anything about chances it'd be me. Besides those other people don't know what they're missing out on."
"Thanks." Lyra said again, this time smiling gently, and in the rear view mirror she could see Bon Bon grinning.
"So tell me more about the shop."
--
It had been about 30 minutes since they had reached 'Bon Bon's Sweets Shop' which she had to admit, the alliteration was catchy. In that time she'd completed the pamphlets of worksheets that Bon Bon had brought her from her remaining classes. Sunset had spent that entire time trying to figure out how to breach the subject.
"Can I ask you a question?"
"Go ahead." Bon Bon told her, leaning on the counter. She'd had a few customers come in, but it was mostly quiet right now.
"H-How... How do you know I'm not Anon-A-Miss?"
Bon Bon let out a slow sigh. She'd been wondering when this topic would come up.
"To be entirely honest? I don't."
Upon hearing that Sunset lowered her head slightly, but Bon Bon made sure to maintain eye contact.
"That being said I'm a firm believer of innocent until proven guilty. Plus if I hadn't given Lyra a chance I would've never met my best friend, and you're giving her a chance too so the least I can do is return the favor."
"Thanks." Sunset thanked her, a genuine smile on her face for the first time since this whole Anon-A-Miss business had started. "I've been wondering actually. Best friend? So you guys aren't? Y'know?"
Bon Bon shook her head before answering, "No, I can understand why you'd think that though. We're a lot more touchy-feely than most people, but I don't really have time for romance and I'm not even sure Lyra thinks of me like that."
"Have you ever talked to her about it?"
Sunset didn't think she'd ever seen Bon Bon embarrassed before which made her completely unprepared for just how cute she looked when her face turned tomato red.
If Lyra doesn't snatch her up I just might.
"No, like I said I don't exactly have the time and I don't want to make our friendship awkward if I bring it up and she's not interested."
"I think you should. If there's one thing I've learned it's that if someone really is your friend then they'll stick by your side no matter what."
"Thanks," she said, looking more relaxed now, "I think I just might."
Before Sunset could continue the conversation the store's bell chimed, signaling that someone had entered. She turned her head to see who had entered, but the instant pink entered her vision it felt like her heart had stopped. It seemed like Pinkie Pie had yet to notice her and had bound over to the counter.
"Heya Bon Bon! I'm here to pick up my order!"
"Gotcha. Lyra Pinkie's here!"
"'Kay, I'll be out in a second."
Pinkie nodded before allowing her eyes to roam around the room in search of something interesting. When her eyes met Sunset's her signature smile dropped into a scowl.
"What are you doing here you- you secret stealer?!"
Sunset couldn't bring herself to meet Pinkie's eyes so she lowered her gaze.
"Well? Are you here to steal Bon Bon's secret's too? Well I won't let you you meanie pants!"
Sunset felt her throat run dry. What could she say? They wouldn't believe her, didn't want to believe her. Thankfully she didn't have to, someone else came to her defense for her.
"Shut. Up."
Both Pinkie and Sunset looked in surprise at Bon Bon who had a grimace on her face.
"W-What?" Pinkie stuttered.
"You heard me."
"You're defending her?!" Pinkie demanded.
"You might be my best customer, but I won't stand here and let you insult my friend like that. So either shut up and pay for your order or get out of my store."
Pinkie glowered at Sunset Shimmer, but stayed silent as she pulled a bill out of her wallet, slamming it on the counter. Bon Bon took it and exchanged it for a few more bills and some coins just as Lyra came out of the back room carrying four boxes that she set on the counter.
Pinkie hastily grabbed her change and the boxes before storming out of the store. Sunset felt her throat dry again, but this time for a different reason.
"Did... Did you really mean that? Am I your friend?"
"Well, I may not have really known you for long, but yeah I'd say we're friends."
This time Sunset was unable to stop the flow of tears from her eyes. She thought that she'd been strong enough to handle this, after all she'd been alone once before she could do it again. But she'd been wrong, just like she'd been wrong last time too. Nothing good came of trying to deal with things on her own.
She didn't know how long she sat there, but she was brought out of her reverie by the feeling of a warm body and arms wrapping around her.
"You looked like you needed a hug." Came the mint girl's voice from behind her.
Sunset felt a smile worm its way onto her face as she dried her tears on her sleeves.
"I did, thanks."
"Why don't we go ahead and change the topic to something else." Bon Bon spoke, "Actually I've gotta ask, your apartment looked pretty nice, but I know you're not exactly from around here and you don't exactly seem like the kinda person who's worked a lot, no offense, so where do you get your money from?"
"First of all, no offense taken, second of all you're right. Before coming to this world I was the personal student of Princess Celestia so I didn't exactly need to work to put food on the table. Then when I came here I ended up taking a few bits with me. Bits are our currency, they're coins made of gold so you can guess how I got started up in this world."
"I suppose that makes sense." Bon Bon voiced, "But unless you had a mountain of them that money's not going to last forever. What are you planning to do when it runs out?"
Sunset rubbed her neck sheepishly before answering, "Actually it already did. I actually had a job before the whole, y'know, incident, but I quit before the Fall Formal. After all what was the point of having a job in this world if I was just going to go back to my own?"
Bon Bon glanced past her to Lyra, holding a silent conversation with her.
"How much do you have left?" Bon Bon questioned.
"Thankfully I have enough to keep me going for a few more months, but I've been looking for a job. Unfortunately it seems like most stuff is already taken right now, and most part time jobs aren't exactly available during the winter months."
Bon Bon glanced at Lyra again before settling back on her and asking a single question, "Do you know how to work a cash register?"
It had been a few days since Sunset had started working the counter at Bon Bon's. Luckily Pinkie hadn't come back in in that time, and neither had any other students from school. Word must have gotten out that Bon Bon had taken her in and, though she never talked about it, Sunset knew it was likely making her days harder than they should be.
Sunset had tried apologizing to Bon Bon for the trouble that she had brought on her, but Bon Bon simply waved it off stating that if people were petty enough to judge someone by what company they kept and not by what kind of a person they are then they weren't really worth knowing anyways.
Sunset still felt bad, but she'd given up on trying to talk to Bon Bon about it. That girl was so stubborn that she could probably give Applejack a run for her money. At that thought a frown graced her features, she had yet to receive so much as a text from any of them, even though she knew that even that was hoping for too much. After all they had made it pretty clear to her that they didn't want anything to do with her any more.
As much as she'd love to turn her thoughts to a lighter subject there wasn't much to do while manning the counter. There weren't exactly many customers coming through, and the ones that did didn't exactly stick around for idle chatter. Thankfully most days she had Lyra and Bon Bon to talk to, but Lyra had gone shopping for presents and Bon Bon was busy in the back working on filling out a big order they had recently received.
Now that she thought about it she should probably follow Lyra's example, after all this world's version of Hearth's Warming was only a couple of days away. She had planned on getting the girls something, but then this whole mess happened and now it was likely that they wouldn't even think about accepting a gift from her.
Sunset groaned in exasperation. Why couldn't she stop thinking about those five? No matter what topic came up all she could think about was them, and how they fit into whatever it was she was thinking about. She should have figured that it wouldn't be so easy to get over what had happened, but she thought that it would at least be easier to deal with now that she knew she had a couple of people backing her up.
She really needed a distraction from these thoughts, otherwise she was going to drive herself crazy. As if answering her prayers the entrance bell rang, catching her attention.
"Welcome to Bon Bon's Sweets Shop, how may I help you?" She recited from memory. It took her a second to register who it was that had entered the store. It was hard not to recognize two of the most famous, or infamous depending on which of the two you're talking about, students at CHS.
Vinyl Scratch waved enthusiastically at her while Octavia gave her a more subdued nod.
"Hey," She greeted them properly, wearing a smile of her own, "So what are you guys here for?"
Vinyl made a quick set of hand gestures that were too fast for Sunset to follow. Octavia, however, simply nodded before turning back to face her.
"We're picking up an order from Bon Bon."
Sunset nodded in understanding. It was an obvious answer really.
"Bon Bon!" She called out to the back.
"I heard!"
Sunset inclined her head in acknowledgement, even though she knew Bon Bon couldn't see her before turning back to the two in front of her.
"So," she started, trying to fill in the silence, "How've things been at Canterlot High since I've been gone?"
At that the two visibly grimaced and Vinyl made more erratic hand gestures.
"While not quite how I would have put it, I must agree. Things have been simply dreadful, and Anon-A-Miss has only gotten worse since you left."
While Sunset really wanted to know more about what was happening to the place that she'd been calling home for the past few years she knew a sensitive subject when she saw one so instead she opted to change the subject.
"So, uh, what's with all the hand stuff?"
"Oh, apologies dear, I assumed you knew already."
"Knew what?"
"Let's start with introductions, this here is Vinyl Scratch, or perhaps better known by her stage name DJ-PON3. She's a DJ and a trouble maker. I am Octavia Scratch, Vinyl's official girlfriend, and unofficial translator. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Octavia stuck out her hand and Sunset grasped it, giving her a firm handshake.
"Sunset Shimmer, though you probably already knew that."
"Indeed I did. I doubt there's a student in Canterlot High that doesn't know your name."
Sunset flushed red at that, remembering her less than coherent plan of taking over Equestria with an army of brainwashed high school students. It was then that something clicked.
"Wait, you said translator. Does that mean?" Sunset questioned, leaving it open ended in case it was a sensitive subject.
"Yes dear, Vinyl is mute. Don't worry too much about offending her it's something she's dealt with her whole life. And frankly? I'm still not even sure that she gets embarrassed."
Vinyl gave her two thumbs up which helped to ease Sunset's tension.
"Thanks. I've never really been good with talking to people, especially the ones with more 'sensitive' issues."
Vinyl makes a couple of signs while grinning.
"Vinyl says don't worry about it. Just talk to her like you would anybody else darling."
Thanks again. Actually I've been wondering for a while, how exactly do you hear anything with those headphones on? I mean I've never actually seen you with them off before."
"Vinyl learnt how read lips. She said, and I quote, 'It makes it easier for me to listen to music in class if the teachers know I'm still paying attention dude.'"
"Heh, I guess we all have our own quirks. So why do you like music so much anyways?"
"Oh dear." Octavia groaned in exasperation, "You should not have done that."
"Why?" Sunset sent a questioning glance at the gray teen, "Is it a sensitive subject?"
"Quite the opposite actually." She denied, "It's simply that whenever someone ask her about her love of music she can't stop talking about it."
True to her word Vinyl was vehemently flailing her arms around and it looked as if even Octavia had a hard time keeping up with her.
"To give you the simple explanation Vinyl finds the musical arts to be something of a replacement for her inability to speak. She believes that by putting your 'heart' into your music, metaphorically speaking of course, that words are not needed to convey a certain message. And while I certainly agree with her she's a little more 'vocal', if you will, about it."
"I know what you mean. While I agree with Lyra that Bon Bon has some of the best sweets I've ever tasted, it's like she's in love with way she goes on about it."
"I concur. Vinyl please don't say something so crass. No, I don't care if only I can understand you. As I was saying, with the way those two act around each other I would think it pretty obvious that they harbor feeling for each other. Alas neither have said anything yet."
"I know!" Sunset agreed passionately, "I talked to Bon Bon a few days ago and she still hasn't done anything!"
"I am afraid, darling, that all of us have given her the same speech, alas she simply seems to refuse to take our advice to heart."
"I can hear you ya know!" Bon Bon's voice echoed out from the back room.
Sunset flushed in chagrin whilst Octavia's expression remained neutral.
"That's the point!" she called back cheekily.
Though Bon Bon didn't reply verbally Sunset could almost see her rolling her eyes.
"So, 'all of us'?" She questioned.
"Yes, me, Vinyl, albeit there was a little less talking in her 'speech', and Ditzy have all tried, to no avail, to convince that girl that Lyra likes her just as much as she likes Lyra. Who knows, mayhaps you'll be able to convince her where we could not."
"Hey! Maybe I'm just waiting for the opportune time!"
"Well you're about to get it." Octavia told her, "After all what better time to confess your love than Christmas? Aside from Valentines of course."
"Christmas? Is that what it's called over here?" Sunset queried.
"Ah, right, I forgot that you weren't exactly a natural denizen of this world. Tell me if you don't celebrate Christmas what do you celebrate?"
"Well," Sunset started, tapping a finger against her chin, "Around this time of year there are two holidays that we celebrate. The first would be Hearth's Warming Eve and it's to celebrate the founding of our country."
"Your country was founded in the winter months then?"
"Actually it's more symbolic than anything. It's to represent how the pony tribes came together in order to defeat the windigos. It's a time to celebrate harmony and give gifts to ponies to show that you care about them."
"I see. What about your other holiday? You mentioned that you had two."
"Yeah, the other one isn't as big as Hearth's Warming though. Actually it might be more appropriate to say that we celebrate a pair of holidays. The first one is during the summer months, it's the Summer Sun Solstice, celebrating the longest day of the year. Then we also celebrate the Winter Moon Solstice which is the longest night of the year."
"We also have the Winter Solstice, but we don't exactly celebrate it. However it is surprising to know that our holidays seem to sync up surprisingly well. I'm curious at to what other holidays we have that there are equivalents to."
"I've actually been wondering that myself."
"Well perhaps we can meet up one day to discuss the differences between our worlds."
"I'd like that." Sunset admitted.
"Ah, apologies Vinyl, I got so caught up that I forgot to include you."
Vinyl gave her a winning smile before making a few signs at her which Octavia quickly repeated with a couple of extra added signs. The two then embraced before promptly separating, turning back to face Sunset. A few more hand gestures from Vinyl and Octavia nodded.
"I hope you don't think of me insensitive for this, but you don't have anyone to spend the holidays with do you?"
Sunset shook her head dejectedly.
"No, not really. I was going to spend it with- well point is I don't really have anyone right now."
She could see Vinyl and Octavia give each other a stare, not even needing signs to communicate silently, before nodding simultaneously.
"Then what are your plans for Christmas?" She questioned.
"I dunno," Sunset told her, shrugging, "Lay around I guess. Maybe watch some TV or something."
"That is simply unacceptable!" Octavia exclaimed, "I hope it's not too presumptuous of me, but we all have a slumber party at my place of residence whenever Christmas comes around. I think I speak for all of us when I say that you are more than welcome to join us for the holidays."
"No thanks, I wouldn't want to intrude."
"I must insist. I know that I, for one, wouldn't be able to properly enjoy the holidays knowing that there was someone out there suffering alone when I could do something for them."
"I don't want to ruin your holidays." Was all Sunset replied.
"Honestly you're more likely to ruin our holiday by not coming than otherwise."
"You should listen to her!" Bon Bon called out from the back, "She's a lot more stubborn than she looks!"
Vinyl nodded sagely in agreement and Sunset found herself forced to concede that, maybe, she should at least consider it. As much as she said otherwise the sound of a slumber party was just as tempting as it was painful. She still wasn't over what had happened with her other 'friends' but the thought of being alone during a time that was supposed to be spent with friends and family hurt her more than she expected.
Finally her emotions, pushed by the stubbornness of others, won out in the end.
"Alright," she sighed in acceptance, "I'll come."
Octavia grinned in victory.
"Glad to hear it dear. Now while we're here why don't we exchange phone numbers."
"Yeah," Sunset agreed, "That'd be nice."
The three of them quickly exchanged phone numbers when Vinyl's eye caught something on her phone that made her quickly gesture at Octavia.
"Ah, apologies, it seems I lost track of the time." She confessed, "We'll have to cut this session short, Vinyl has a 'gig' as it were to get to."
"Oh!" Sunset exclaimed in realization, "Sorry, I didn't realize I was going to make you late."
"You're not," Octavia waved off her apology, "We always get there early to set up Vinyl's equipment. It's simply that it takes a while to set up so we must be going soon. I apologize for not being able to stay and talk longer."
"It's no problem," Sunset told her, "It was fun just talking to somebody else for a while."
"I concur. Especially since Vinyl herself isn't much of a conversationalist." Octavia admitted, getting a good natured elbow from Vinyl and a light chuckle from Sunset.
"Hey Bon Bon is their order done yet?" Sunset questioned, not wanting to keep them any longer than she already had.
"Yeah." She confirmed, "I'm getting the last batch out of the oven now. Just give me a couple of minutes to get them ready."
Octavia nodded in understanding, even if Bon Bon was the only one who couldn't see her at the moment. Another minute or two of silent waiting later Bon Bon made her way out, seemingly not even struggling with the stack of boxes that went past her head.
"Woah!" Sunset exclaimed in astonishment, "You're who that order was for?"
"Indeed it was." Octavia told her, "As I said before Vinyl has a 'gig' tonight and whenever she plays I like to cater with Bon Bon's sweets. If nothing else it helps to pad out the crowds a little bit, not that she needs any help with that."
Sunset dipped her head in acknowledgement as the two split up the stack between themselves. Sunset found her legs leading her around the counter and to the entrance as she held it open for the two.
"Thank you." Octavia thanked her as she made her way out.
"No problem." Sunset dismissed her thanks, "I hope your show goes well Vinyl."
Vinyl gave her a thumbs up after setting her stack of boxes down in a gray minivan. Sunset gave them a smile and a wave as Vinyl got into the passenger seat and they drove off. Sunset felt Bon Bon put a hand on her shoulder and smiled at the physical contact.
"Why don't you go ahead and take the rest of today off." She said, "That was the last order I had today and I can take over the register until it's time to close up."
"Are you sure?" Sunset inquired.
"Yeah, I'll be fine by myself."
"If you insist."
--
Sunset had immediately taken the free time she had been given and had driven herself to the mall, intent on getting each one of the five girls presents. After all if they were going to give her the gift of friendship then it was only right that she returned that gesture, even if it was only with physical objects.
Vinyl was the easiest to buy for, given her clear obsession with music, but she had to consult the others when buying gifts for the rest of the girls as she didn't know them well enough yet. Especially when concerning Ditzy Doo as she had yet to even meet the girl.
So far she had gotten Vinyl a high-tech pair of headphones to replace the worn out looking set she was always wearing and had gotten Lyra a silver necklace that resembled a unicorn from Equestria. Her next destination was the mall's bookstore to get a book on this world's famous classical music artists for Octavia.
As she entered the store the familiar scent of fresh books assaulted her senses. She inhaled deeply and felt herself relaxing in the familiar environment. Sunset wasn't quite sure whether she should start in the music section, or the history section, but she figured it'd be more likely that Octavia would already own whatever book she chose from the music section so she decided to try her luck with the history section.
it didn't take her long to comb through the many shelves and find several good books to gift Octavia, in case she already had one or two of them. Satisfied with her choices Sunset makes her way towards the fiction section to get a couple of books from a cheesy romance series that Vinyl had informed her were something of a guilty pleasure for Octavia.
What she saw there nearly made her drop her books in surprise. There, browsing the books, was the one person that she simultaneously had wanted to see the most, and yet was unable to bring herself to face. Sunset swallowed dryly, happy that the yellow teen still had her back to Sunset.
She knew that she could handle all the others, Rarity's indignation, Rainbow Dash's anger, Applejack's resentment, and Pinkie Pie's scorn. Fluttershy was different though. Sunset knew that if she were to meet Fluttershy's eyes with her own there would be no hate, no sorrow, no grief. No, what Sunset was most afraid of seeing in those eyes was disappointment. The feeling of guilt that it would place in her stomach even though Sunset knew that she had done no wrong.
That wasn't a chance Sunset was willing to take, the presents could wait another day, but she couldn't bring herself to face that single timid girl. Unfortunately for Sunset her legs seemed to disagree as she found that she could no longer move them on command.
What happened next only took a few seconds, but for Sunset it felt like hours. Unable to move, or even look away, Sunset was forced to watch as Fluttershy turned to move further down the isle only for her eye to catch a glimpse of a very familiar red and yellow.
Almost painfully slowly Fluttershy's bright cyan eyes roamed upwards before settling on Sunset's own. She watched as Fluttershy's eyes widened in recognition and terror as the books she had in her grasp plummeted to the ground. Sunset didn't know why but she felt compelled to reach out towards her, but by the time she had extended her arm Fluttershy had already turned around and sprinted out of the book store.
When Sunset could no longer make out hide nor hair of the demure teen she took in a shaky gasp, not realizing that she had been holding her breath the entire time. Now back in control of her bodily functions Sunset hastily made her way to the cashier to pay for the books before heading back home. The other's presents could wait.
