"So today," Principal Celestia said from the podium. "with a bittersweet taste, we are letting one of our most remarkable classes go and face the world beyond the walls of our beloved school. In these halls, all of you have left a mark, as you have left it on our hearts."

All eyes were fixed on the woman upstage... or almost all the eyes. From her seat in the front row, Sunset felt uneasy, like being watched. As Principal Celestia made a pause, she subtly looked all around her.

No one was looking her way.

Sunset returned her attention to Celestia as she began to speak again. "Together, you have proven to all the world that united we are stronger, that our differences don't make us less, but special," she shoot a look at the first row of seats, were the Rainbooms proudly (more proudly in some cases than others) sat with navy blue caps and gowns. Principal Celestia smiled. "and that friendship truly is magic."

There was a general laugh coming from the students. Behind her sister, Vice-Principal Luna chuckled.

Sunset smiled. Indeed, so much happened in those unforgettable years. Herself, her friends, and the whole school with them had grown so much that now she realized that all along, all she had really needed, was a friend. Even back then in Equestria, when she was a boasting little filly thinking the world revolved around her, had she accepted someone into her heart and took her nose out of her ego for a minute... maybe she would have never made the mistakes thanks to which she hurt so many.

Sometimes, she ended up beating herself down for those times. What would have been of her hadn't her friends forgiven her? She was hopeless without them...

A tissue appeared in her field of vision. She looked to her right, where Twilight held it out for her.

"You wouldn't want to ruin your make up, right?" she whispered. Behind her, the rest of her friends sent her meaningful looks.

Sunset gladly took it and dried off the tears forming in her eyes before they could fall off. She shook her head. No. She had to stop feeling self-pity. Her friends forgave her long ago, why dwelling on it any longer?

She gave her friends a bright smile before turning her attention back to Celestia.

"... that's why I'd like you to get your hands together for our newest graduates, Class 50 of CHS!" Celestia finished her speech, and the whole field erupted in applause and cheers. Celestia and Luna stood together on the stage, proud smiles on their faces. Congratulations, guys. You deserve it.

As Sunset stood up to fetch her diploma, once again, she felt observed. And once again, when she eyed the crowd once on top of the stage, there was no one she didn't know looking at her.

Maybe it was her imagination. The mind was a powerful thing, and she could play nasty tricks sometimes.

Night had fallen in the beautiful city of Canterlot, but the party was still on. From her spot in the hills behind the building, a young woman admired the school as the beat of music reached her, heavily contrasting with the quietness of the rest of the city.

"Seems like party is always on in here."

The young woman looked behind her. A woman stood behind her, right under the shadow of a tree. She could only make out her silhouette framed by the moonlight, and some hues of her dress.

"With someone like Pinkie Pie in charge of organizing the parties, I'm not surprised there's always laughter and music."

The eldest woman smiled. The youngest looked at the school once again.

"What are you going to do now? About them, I mean. Will you recruit them immediately?"

Although she couldn't see her, she could almost feel her shaking her head behind her and leaving the shadows of the tree, only to join her on admiring the school.

"No." she answered. "Not now. We'll leave them alone for a few years, so they can face the world, study a career. I wouldn't want to take their dreams from them. Then we'll take them with us."

"What if they refuse?"

"They won't."

"But, what if they do?"

"They won't." the woman repeated, firm, but keeping the softness and kindness of her voice. "Maybe they'll doubt it in the beginning, but they all will accept in the end. I know them."

The young woman stood still as the woman turned around and went back to her shadow.

"Do you think they'll be safe and sound until then?"

The soft footsteps stopped.

"That's why we'll keep an eye on them. We'll make sure they have their good deal of risk, but nothing too extreme."

"Who will watch them?"

"You will." the young woman flinched. "Then, you'll bring them to me. I need them one piece, and no one will suspect of you. They haven't until now. Also, you are very discreet."

The young woman arranged her hair. "I'm anxious for them to join us."

It was complete silence for a minute and, then, with a tone that left behind hints of a smile, the woman replied:

"Me too."

Her footsteps went on.

When the young woman turned around, the woman had already disappeared.

Author's Note

So yeah! This is where my first multichapter story in this site begins... I'm so excited and nervous, I hope you all like this story. I've been working for almost a year now on it, so I hope you enjoy it as much as I've enjoyed writing it