How Does That Make You Feel?
The clock above Sunset ticked irritatingly slow as the leather underneath her weight creaked and groaned every time she moved or honestly, even thought about moving. She didn’t want to be here. But her friends insisted that she at least try to find out why she had not been getting enough sleep. So now, here she was, in the school counselor's office, wanting nothing more than to be anywhere else but where she was.
The woman across from her shifted in her own leather chair, making Sunset wince at the now familiar sound of leather creaking. “Hello, Sunset. Is this your first time here?”
Sunset almost said something snarky, but held her tongue, nodding. “Yeah. I...was never one for talking out my feelings. I only passed here on occasion. And...saw that some kids came here....Because of me.” Sunset’s eyes downcasted, and she rubbed her arm.
“There are bags under your eyes,” The woman observed, pointing the ballpoint pen in her fingers at Sunset. “Haven’t been sleeping, I assume?”
Sunset shook her head. “No, not exactly,” she responded, sighing. “I’ve been stay up late.”
“Video games?” The counselor guessed with a smirk. “I hear from the other students that you run your own gaming channel on the weekends.”
So she’s heard of her. Sunset knew what was coming then. “I do, but, it isn’t because of that. There’s...been a lot on my mind?”
“Oh?” A raised eyebrow.
Sunset fought the urge to roll her eyes. “There’s been a lot that has happened to me in the past two years,” she played with the geode around her neck. “And I guess I haven’t been processing it as well as I thought I was.”
A head tilt. “Like what?”
Sunset laughed dryly. “You wouldn’t believe me.”
The counselor smirked. “Try me.”
Sunset sighed. “I’m sure you’ve heard the stories from the other students. Raging she-demon, former bully and bad girl. Giant rainbow and now I’m good. Sirens, dimensions bleeding together, wood mages, all that.” she said nonchalantly, rolling her wrist.
The woman in front of her laughed. “Yes, I’ve heard. No wonder you can’t sleep. Such a fantastic life you live.”
Sunset gave a small laugh. “I wouldn’t call it fantastic, but it certainly does keep me on my toes. But...that’s not why I haven’t been sleeping.” her tone suddenly changed, and she pulled her knees up to her chest. “You know who Wallflower is, right?”
The counselor blinked. “Who?”
Sunset also blinked. “Wallflower Blush? She comes to see you every Tuesday?”
The counselor tapped her chin, then gasped when realization washed over her. “Oh! Oh dear, that girl is quite...er...”
“Forgettable?” Sunset filled in for her.
“I was going to go with unimpressionable, but yes,” The counselor agreed. “What about her?”
“Well, a few weeks ago, she got a hold of some powerful magic from another world. And she used it to take the memories of me and my friends...We destroyed the rock...but honestly, I’m just afraid that we haven’t gotten all of our memories back.”
“How are you sure?” the counselor asked.
“I don’t, I don’t know...” Sunset confessed. “That’s what keeps me up at night. I’m not sure.”
“Well, let’s see if you do remember anything. Do you remember what your mother looks like?” the counselor asked, tapping the tip of her pen on her notepad.
“Well yeah. For one thing, she’s a horse.”
There was a moment of silence between them, and the creak and groan of leather as the counselor sat forward. “I’m sorry, what?”
“My mother is a horse.” Sunset repeated.
“That’s not a nice thing to say about your mother,” the counselor said sternly.
Sunset also sat forward. “No like, I don’t think you understand, she’s an actual horse.”
The counselor blinked. “You...were raised by a horse,”
Sunset nodded. “Yes, because I'm a horse too. Well, a pony. Unicorn. Technicalities.” she said waving her hand.
“You're a unicorn?” the counselor asked on disbelief.
“You may have heard stories about me, but I don't think you've heard everything. It's not exactly a secret either,” Sunset said, shrugging.
The older woman sat back. “Alright, so. Tell me about your upbringing.”
“Well, I grew up in a gated community called Sire’s Hollow, in a place called Equestria. With my mom, my dad, and my little brother Sunburst. When I was old enough, I was admitted to Celestia’s School For Gifted Unicorns.” Sunset explained. “After that Celestia saw how much of a prodigy I was, and took me under her wing. And....” she trailed...looking off somewhere else.
“And?” the other woman prompted.
“That’s where things started to go downhill.” Sunset’s voice was low, and ashamed. “I was so focused on being the best, and being better than everyone else, that I became too ambitious for my own good.” Sunset’s body started to tremble, and her voice became uneven.
“I said some horrible things to her, because she wouldn’t teach me something immediately when she felt like I wasn’t ready for it. I was bullheaded and naive, and in my anger I stormed off and ended up running away to this world. That was four years ago. This whole Wallflower thing? Was the first time I had seen Princess Celestia in years.”
“Celestia?” The older woman seemed confused. “She’s a princess in another world?”
Sunset nodded. “More like a god. But you know, again, technicalities.” she said, waving her hand. “I thought she’d still be furious with me, but, to my surprise she embraced me. I haven’t...I haven’t felt the warmth of her hooves around me since I was a filly.”
“Was she more of a mother figure to you than your own mother?” the counselor asked softly.
“You could say that,” Sunset responded cooly. “My mother always tried to push me into things, to have a plan for everything. I think she’s part of the reason why I ended up so...zealous about my position as Celestia’s student.”
“Do you remember what your mother looks like?”
The question hung in the air, and Sunset wasn’t quite sure how to answer it.
“I...yes and no.” Sunset said, sitting back, the leather groaning along with her movements. “When I think of my mom, I don’t see my actual mom. I see Princess Celestia. When I think about the memories I have, or the ones at least, I think I still have, I think about our tea parties, and the days where I’d watch her set the sun, and sing to me as her wing was draped over me, lulling me to sleep.”
“Do you miss it? Equestria, I mean.” the older woman asked, crossing her legs.
“Maybe? Sort of? Every time I go back though it’s so hard to get used to walking on four hooves again.” Sunset gave a small laugh and blushed a little. “But I feel like my home is here now.”
“Because you’ve made friends,” the older woman responded, placing a hand on her chin. “Tell me about these friends of yours. They seem to have a huge impact on your life. Especially since no student has come to me about you for months.”
Sunset smiled wryly. “I guess I should consider that a good thing. But my friends...they are my lifeline. Without them I wouldn’t have made it this far. It may sound cheesy but it’s the truth. They gave me their hands when no one else would. They saw the broken and angry person I was, and became the pieces that made me whole again.”
“That’s an excellent metaphor, Sunset,” the older woman said, smiling. “So in a way, they’ve saved you?”
Sunset nodded. “You could say that. And...the skills they gave me...I used them to save someone else. And she’s now one of my best friends. And...and I don’t know what I would do without her.”
“What’s your fondest memory of this friend?”
Memories came flooding back into Sunset’s mind, and of all the ones that flashed before her eyes, the fondest one was the moment she realized Twilight had been just as hurt as she was, just as broken and in need of someone to show her the way.
Take my hand, Twilight.
“The moment I realized that someone else needed the help I got. The moment I realized I was meant to bring her back from the same brink I was on,” Sunset said, smiling.
“For someone who’s worried that they’ve forgotten things, you seem to remember a lot,” the counselor teased, smiling back at her.
Sunset blushed. “Yeah, well, I mean, I’d never forget something like that. It was life changing.”
“I can only imagine,” the older woman agreed. “But it seems to me that you’re just letting your anxiety get the best of you. Sunset Shimmer, I may not know you as well as the students and other faculty, but it seems to me that you’ve developed into a fine young lady. Er. Horse. Technicalities.”
They shared a laugh.
“I honestly thought you were gonna think I was crazy,” Sunset admitted, scratching her cheek.
“Giving the amount of bizarre and crazy things that have happened at this school over the past couple of months, I’d give you a pass,” the older woman chuckled. “I know you didn’t want to come here today, but did it at least help you feel at ease?”
Sunset stood up and slung her bookbag over her shoulder and nodded. “Yeah, I did. Thanks for listening to me.” she said, smiling.
The woman smiled back. “Anytime, Sunset. My door is always open.”
Sunset stepped out into the hallway to see that she had a few missed calls and texts from her friends, mostly from Rainbow Dash wondering where she was.
She met them outside the school in front of the statue, their waiting faces making a warm feeling swell in her heart.
“Finally!” Rainbow shouted. “You know the movie starts in like fifteen minutes right? It’s gonna take forever to get across town!”
Twilight adjusted her glasses. “Well, given my calculations if we wait for the bus right now, we’ll have three point two minutes to buy tickets and two point five minutes to get snacks.”
Rainbow frowned. “In English!”
Twilight frowned back at her. “It means we’ll make it if we leave now.”
“Calm down Rainbow Dash,” Applejack said, rolling her eyes. “We’re the ones who said she should go in the first place.”
“How was it, darling?” Rarity asked. “Do you think you’ll be able to sleep tonight?”
Sunset yawned. “Most definitely.”
Fluttershy clapped her hands happily. “Oh thank goodness! We were so worried about you! Especially since I’m the one who found you curled up in the music room.”
Sunset laughed. “Haha, yeah uh, thanks for waking me up too. I don’t even remember falling asleep in there.”
“I’m just glad we didn’t catch you sleepwalking through the hallway! Can you imagine?! Zombie Sunset!” Pinkie bubbled, starting to groan and stagger like an undead monster, much to the amusement of the other girls.
“C’mon guys!” Rainbow groaned. “If we miss this showing, we’re going to have to wait a whole hour!” she took off down the street in a blur.
Rarity rolled her eyes. “Oh the tragedy.” she said sarcastically, but still following after her, the other girls close behind, giggling.
Sunset watched the retreating backs of her friends and smiled.
Everything was going to be just fine.
Author's Note
This is just an idea I had. Idk I always thought it'd be kinda funny if sunset went to a therapist or the school counselor for her problems. Anyway, I might be able to post the last story of the month but idk cause my phone is broken and thats how i write its gonna cost 150 to fix so please support me on patron or ko-fi so i can continue writing! and ill see you next time!
