Chapters Author's Note
Thinking back I probably should have kept this chapter since it showed the first night that Sunset stayed with Celestia, but before they found out that her back was in tatters.
First Night
What if I am making a mistake by letting her stay here? What if she is just acting like she is repentant only for people to let their guard down? Celestia wondered as she thought about the girl who was using the room just down the hall. She could say anything about Luna and I...Have us thrown in jail if she were to play her cards right. Celestia sighed as she got out of bed, heading down the hall to where her current housemate was staying however as she looked through the crack in the door Celestia saw something that she would never have imagined from the girl.
Sunset was sitting on the bed with her face buried in her hands, her body shaking almost violently as soft sobs shook her body. She must have really meant what she said earlier. She thought as she knocked at the door, causing the girl to almost fall off the bed.
“M-Miss Celestia! Um...Is there something wrong?” Sunset stammered, bloodshot eyes growing to the size of saucers as soon as she saw the woman standing there.
“No Sunset, there's nothing wrong. I just wanted to see how you were doing.” Celestia answered softly, brow furrowing as she moved toward the girl who instantly flinched back.
“I...I'm okay. I guess I just have too much on my mind right now so I can't sleep.” Sunset answered, averting her gaze as she added softly, her voice trembling as if she was afraid to even say what came next “Do you think I could go downstairs and make myself some tea? I promise not to make a mess.”
She is terrified to just ask me that? “You haven't been eating much lately, I mean you threw away half of the lunch Luna got for you today. Do you think that if I fixed something light that you'd be able to stomach it?”
“I-I guess so.” Sunset replied softly, glancing down as she added “but no meat okay? I can handle chicken and fish sometimes but...”
The girl felt fire run through her back as she jerked at the sudden touch on her shoulder, although when she looked up she saw an apologetic look on the principal's face.
“Don't worry Sunset, I remember you mentioning your dietary needs once or twice in the past.” Celestia assured, although her words caused an image of the same girl storming into her office to make demands about more food choices in the cafeteria.
However, this girl in front of her, this girl who was sitting there with unshed tears in her eyes was nothing like the girl who had stormed into her office on multiple occasions.
“I was thinking of making a vegetarian soup since it's so cold out...and we've both been working out in the cold today.” Celestia offered, wishing that she would get some kind of response that wasn't stammered or a mere nod.
“Want to come help?” she offered, smiling gently before adding “Even if it is just keeping me company so that I'm not stuck talking to myself?”
Sunset couldn't help but smile slightly at the light jab Celestia took at herself as she stiffly got to her feet.
“Okay...Just don't expect me to actually cook anything. I haven't made anything more than instant noodles, Mac and cheese, Rice, eggs and sometimes spaghetti when I felt like dealing with scrubbing a pot clean.” Sunset answered, glancing down although she heard Celestia chuckle.
“So most things you could pop into a microwave or just add hot water to? I'll keep that in mind.”
0
why is she being so nice? I literally brainwashed everyone at school just a few days ago! She should be furious at me...Not offering to make me food. Sunset thought as she sat by the kitchen counter, watching as Celestia worked. First Luna gives me lunch...Even when I'm supposed to be working on the wall. She made me take breaks, although I don't deserve them...and Celestia offered me a warm place to sleep. Why are these people so nice? I belong locked away in the darkest parts of the earth, not here.
“Are you sure you're okay Sunset Shimmer?” Celestia's voice broke her from her thoughts and caused heat to crawl into her face. Not really but I can't possibly bother her with that.
Sunset thought, so she did something that she had become good at over the years. She lied.
“Yes, Ma'am. I mean...I'm still a bit sore from everything that happened but I'm just....I have a lot to think about.” she answered, surprising herself that it was indeed at least half of the truth.
“there's some Advil in the cabinet by the sink if the pain is too bad..” Celestia said, “If you would like to see if it would help a bit of your pain I can get the bottle for you.”
“No thank you. I'll be alright.” Sunset answered with two things in mind:
First, she didn't know rather or not she would have an adverse reaction and second, she deserved the searing pain that radiated across her back.
“Alright but you know where it is if you change your mind.” Celestia answered before sitting a cup in front of Sunset, followed by a bowl of soup.
“Thank you, ma'am.”
Celestia watched as Sunset timidly began to eat, although the girl seemed to be distracted by something although she had no idea what it could be outside of what had already been cleared between them.
“Sunset, I want you to understand that you are completely safe here and if you need anything at all please tell me. I want to help you in any way that I can.” Celestia stated softly, reaching over to touch Sunset's hand, noticing how even with such a gesture that the teen flinched.
“I know miss Celestia and I promise I won't make you regret this chance you're giving me.” the teenager responded, glancing down at the hand that was on top of her “You know you don't have to do any of this but yet you do. Even after I was a royal bitch. Why?” she asked, feeling a light squeeze to her hand.
“First off, please watch your language. Second off...I don't want you facing anything alone after what happened the other day. No matter what you have done in the past, no one deserves having to relay on themselves for everything, especially a teenager.”
“I hate you!”
Luna really didn't want to know what she had just walked into as she saw the teen rush from the kitchen and up the stairs. As a matter of fact, Luna contemplated just slowly backing out of the door until Celestia walked in looking slightly irritated but surprisingly calm.
“Uh...I brought you that stuff you wanted for your greenhouse, it's in my car.” Luna began, trying to gauge the situation before she asked: “What's wrong with Sunset?”
“she's a teenager. That's what's wrong.” Celestia responded, rolling her eyes though Luna just laughed.
“She's starting to get used to you. That's why whatever that was happened.” Luna retorted before adding “What did you two start arguing about any?”
“Why don't you guess?”
Luna chuckled at how tired her sister sounded before taking a seat on the couch.
“Motorcycle?” Luna guessed, earning a dirty look from her sister.
“Don't you dare tell me that I'm being overprotective or something!”
Luna bit the inside of her cheek to keep from bursting out in laughter.
“You are. I mean, seriously Tia. She's not made her permit yet and I'm pretty sure she doesn't want her Mom or aunt driving her everywhere!” Luna retorted, earning a sigh.
“It's not that I don't trust her, but I know how it was for us at that age and how many times you and Chrysalis landed in the hospital because of one of those things! I know how crazy teenagers can get...I just don't want her to get hurt.” Celestia reminded her, earning a smirk.
“Tia, Relax...She's a smart girl and unlike me and Chrissy she isn't dead seat on proving she is invincible. Perhaps after you two are calmer you can sit down and set some kind of rules for her if you allow her to drive one.”
With that Luna headed back outside to unload everything from her car, leaving Celestia with her thoughts. Maybe I should go talk to her? No...She'd probably still be angry. Perhaps I'll wait and help Luna unload the car before I go talk to her.
0
“Need any help?”
It was thirty minutes later that Celestia's attention was shifted from her plants to the doorway. Taking note of Sunset's timid tone and how she seemed almost afraid to approach Celestia offered a slight smile.
“If you want.”
Silence hung in the air as they worked, which made Sunset beyond uneasy about this whole thing. Had she crossed a line? Did Celestia hate her now? She couldn't help but wonder however before she could summon up enough nerve to say anything Celestia spoke again.
“I'm sorry I lost my temper with you earlier. I'm supposed to be the rational one and yet...” she trailed off, giving Sunset enough time to speak.
“I'm sorry too. I shouldn't have ever said what I did...and I don't hate you....I....” her voice wavered as she thought about how it felt to hear someone say those words to you “I know that it doesn't make a difference but I'm sorry.”
she half expected to be lectured or something, however, something cold and wet suddenly hit her, causing her to yelp and jump up, even though the leather jacket kept most of it from soaking her.
“now I forgive you.” Celestia stated, chuckling slightly as the teen glared at her.
“I wish that it wasn't cold out or I would totally own you!” Sunset stated, her mood lifting as she realized that the woman wasn't angry.
“sure you would, Sunny.”
Sunset arched a brow at the sudden use of the nickname although she couldn't stop the warm feeling that was building in her chest.
“I don't understand why you're not mad...I mean besides soaking me with the water hose.” the teen said, only to have to dodge another stream of water.
“I know you sometimes lose your temper and do things you regret. Besides, I should have explained myself better besides losing it like I did.” Celestia responded, earning a blush from the amber-skinned girl.
“We both lost it...but I still feel terrible.” the former pony stated, only to get sprayed once again.
“Hey! You know what? Cold or not I am going to get you back for that!”
Luna didn't know what she expected when she walked into the greenhouse to check on Celestia after hearing what she thought was a scream, but getting hit in the face by water was not it.
“What the hell?” she grumbled, taking note of how Sunset had partially hidden behind the older woman.
“You two do realize that it's freezing out?” she added before shaking her head “I'm going to go inside and dry off...I'll bring you two some towels and dry clothes...I swear Tia, you're worse than a child yourself!”
At least they're both able to relax around each other...Sunset has so many walls built up and Celestia holds everything back anymore...I think their arrangement will be good for both of them in the long run. Kinda funny seeing little miss billy badass hiding behind Celestia like that.
Sunset sighed as she climbed back up the ladder, glancing down at the paint smeared plastic coating that covered everything else in the room. I am totally going to need a bath after this...I just hope that this paint looks as well dry as the sample did! She thought as she began to focus on one part of the ceiling, humming to herself.
She was so preoccupied that she didn't even notice how long that she had been working until she heard something behind her. Turning her head slightly she saw that Celestia had entered the room.
“You got quiet I thought I would check on you.”
Sunset smirked slightly as she turned back toward her task as she responded:
“I'm fine, it's just taking me a while. My back still hurts a bit when it's overworked. Muscles take longer to heal evidently.”
Sunset didn't want to think about the past, not right now, now that she had someplace that she knew was free of judgment....At least most of the time.
“Don't overdo it. I know you want to get it done and decorated how you want it but it won't be worth it if you can't move tomorrow.” Celestia warned though the teen only waved her off.
“I'll be careful, I promise.”
Is this what it is like having a mom? I mean she nags at me more than the Princess or my aunt did! Sunset wondered, the thought alone causing heat to rise into her face. Stop it Sunset Shimmer, just stop. You can't think things like that without getting a dumb idea....Which you've been doing a lot of lately. Even under the Magic's control, you were stupid...Teenage Army? How about a army of squirrels
next time? They'd be more dangerous! They might have rabies at least!
Sighing she turned her attention back to the paint, taking note of the rich, magenta color as she did so. At least the paint looks as bright as promised. I am so sick of pure white everything. Like seriously...Would it have killed someone to let me paint my own room?
Sighing she glanced around the half-completed room, wondering if she could convince Celestia to let her chance the carpeting as well. Maybe a yellow color would work with the walls and not clash? I mean...I always was a fan of brighter tones. Not that I really cared what I lived in when I came here.
“Sunset Take a break and come eat something!”
The sudden sound of her name being called in the distance caused her to jolt out of her thoughts, causing her arm to hit the bucket of paint, sending it toppling toward the floor. Sunset, by instinct, reached out to grab it, only for her foot to slip as some of the paint had splashed on the step.
Celestia heard the sound of a crash, causing her to instantly bolt up the stairs and into the girl's room, only to find Sunset laying on her back on the covered mattress, her clothing covered in paint and a dazed look on her face.
“Are you alright? What happened?”
Shaking her head to clear her thoughts Sunset sighed and sat up, blushing as it dawned on her what had happened.
“yeah, I'm fine...Although I think I'll accept your offer to help though.” said the former pony before sighing “Do you think I could go grab a shower before Lunch? I really don't want this crap drying in my hair.”
I am not telling Celestia what happened! I am not making her feel bad for startling me and making me fall. She has been so nice about all of this and she's been so caring when she didn't have to be. I need to find a way to make it up to her, not worry her to death!
“Ow! Luna! Careful!”
Luna rolled her eyes as she continued to spray disinfectant into the wound. “Sunset, careful is what you should have been when you decided to steal my motorcycle. Careful is what you should have been when going around a curve.” the woman scolded although she remembered being in a similar position when she was roughly the same age. “Careful is not going past the speed limit, you're lucky road rash is the only thing that happened!”
Luna usually would leave the parental stuff up to Celestia, after all, Sunset did live with her however when the girl had appeared on her porch, shaking and bleeding only to confess what she had done Luna had taken some pity upon her and decided to attempt to keep this a secret from Celestia. After all, the kid probably would be grounded till the end of the school year if she found out.
“You're lucky I don't decide to knock some sense into that thick skull of yours! Heaven knows after what you've done you deserve it!” Luna continued after the teen remained quiet, pausing only to lift the girl's chin up so that she had to make eye contact with her “This better never happen again or I won't only tell my sister but whatever she does to you, I'll make it ten times worse. You could have been killed.”
Luna let that sink in as she finished up bandaging the girl up before heading into the kitchen, returning with a mug of something sweet smelling.
“here, You've lost a bit of blood. You might want to keep your glucose levels up...and the warmth will give you something to focus on so you don't go into shock.” Luna stated before sitting down beside her, unsure of what to say as the adrenaline wore down.
Glancing over at the girl she took note of the teen's trembling form. Is she afraid of me or just scared because of what happened? She wondered as she reached over and brushed a strain of hair from the girl's face.
“How about you spend the night? We'll figure out something to tell Tia tomorrow. Besides, you're too shaken up to be alone right now and Celestia did say she wouldn't be back till eight tonight.” Luna suggested, earning a slightly watery, yet confused look.
Why is she wanting to help me? She should be furious at me!
“You're really not going to tell her?” she questioned, earning a chuckle.
“Only because I think that having to have someone clean out debris from the badly scraped skin is punishment enough. Next time this happens, I will tell her. This doesn't mean I'm not punishing you for stealing my bike but it won't be getting grounded for three months.” Luna responded, pulling the girl slightly closer before adding “although I doubt helping me clean out the basement and helping me repair my bike will be any harder than rebuilding a wall.”
Luna knew she was being easy on the girl, but she figured that the crash probably scared her enough given the state that she had shown up on her doorstep in.
“Thank you, I swear I won't do anything like this again.”
“I know Sunset, I was a teenager once too you know, I did a lot of stupid shit that I regretted too...half ending with me in the ER getting stitches. You're not the first or last person who's going to make stupid choices and have to face the consequences.” Luna responded before adding with a smirk "However after we get the bike fixed I will teach you to ride if you promise that you won't go gallivanting around without my knowledge again."
It was too damn early to get up.
This was the first thought that Sunset head as she headed downstairs on a Saturday morning, having been woken up a few minutes earlier in order to go to the school to do community service sentence. She thought about playing sick, but knowing Celestia she would just end up doing a ton of household chores during the day.
“Tia made fresh doughnuts this morning if you're hungry.” Luna said, motioning toward the glass bowl on the counter.
“Thanks. Um...Aunt Luna? Do you think that you can get me a cup of coffee? I'm still too groggy to attempt it.”
this earned a chuckle from the blue-haired woman.
“Alright, just make sure you don't sit on Tiberius, he was scurrying around there somewhere and he likes to climb.” Luna responded as Sunset took a seat, taking a doughnut from the container.
“That overgrown rat better leave me alone this morning or I will flush him.” the teen threatened emptily, still too half asleep to really figure out what she was saying at all.
“He'll just freeze up and you'll think you killed him again.” Luna quipped, only to be flipped off by her niece. Luna, however, could only smirk as she watched a fuzzy gray mass edge it's way toward the edge of the table, pausing behind the napkin holder and out of the line of sight from Sunset, who really wasn't paying attention.
Then as she put down the pastry in order to turn her attention to her coffee it was in front of her in a flash, grabbing the teen's breakfast and rushing back across the table as fast as it's tiny legs could carry it.
“What the hell you overgrown rat!” Sunset exclaimed, getting up to give chase only to be dumbfounded by the fact that the creature not only could move pretty fast on carpet but also had the food gripped by it's long, slender tail.
“What the hell? Luna put your rat on a leash or something! You know what? I'm done...I'm walking to school.” With that the fiery-haired teenager stormed from the kitchen, only pausing to slam the door behind her on her way out of the house.
“Tiberius, I know she is freaked out by you but did you have to take her breakfast?” Luna chuckled, earning a noise from the creature that sounded oddly like a laugh.
“Okay, I'll take that as a yes. But seriously, Pony-girl isn't used to a prank playing possum so tone it down a bit....although if you want to hang upside down by her bed frame sometime....I'd love to see her reaction to that.”