Storm Clouds in the Sunlight

The others watched in concerned silence as Twilight fiddled with her food. She moved it from one end of the plate to the other, but never taking it up.

“Uh, Twilight?” said Rainbow, pointing to an unopened cup on Twilight's tray. “You gonna eat that?”

Twilight silently shook her head and a gasp let out through the table. Twilight, who would normally have fought tooth and nail, was passively relinquishing her precious pudding cup.

“Okay, I can't take it any longer!” yelled Pinkie, “Twilight, you seriously need to EAT THAT PUDDING!”

Twilight remained quiet.

“At least eat something, sugar cube” offered Applejack, pushing Pinkie back into her seat.

Silence.

“Twilight, darling,” Rarity pleaded, breaking her silence towards Twilight, “we're all very worried. Please...”

“Why do you still care about me?” Twilight dropped her face into her hands, “You said it yourself: I...” she shuddered, “I raped Sunset...”

The other girls shifted uncomfortably in their seats.

'Why are they here?'

That was her greatest mystery. Even her attempt to sit at a different table in the opposite corner of the cafeteria did not deter them.

“But, you're our friend, too?” countered Pinkie Pie. She glanced around the table for support.

“No mistake," added Rarity, "we are all appalled by what you did. But, we can also see you are truly sorry for it.”

“Yeah,” Rainbow punched her palm, “things would have been totally different if you showed no remorse.” Applejack joined her in the stare-down.

Twilight looked down at her plate; her stomach disgusted by the sight of it. Even though she had grabbed some of her favorite foods, she couldn't find the will.

“I wish you had just gone ahead and beaten me senseless.”

“What!” Rainbow's face paled “No! We'd never hit you, even though you do deserve it. I only hit people I think can take it. Besides, Sunset would never allow that. Frankly, even though we're friends, that girl still scares me.”

“Yeah,” agreed Applejack, “I'm glad to be counted among those she protects.”

“I know,” Twilight signed, “I've been on the receiving end.”

An awkward silence covered the table.

“Look,” Rainbow said, “what we meant to say was, even if you two aren't together anymore, Sunset still cares for you and won't let us do anything to you to harm you.”

“How would you know?”

“You remember those comments Snips and Snails made at the Fall Formal?” asked Rarity.

Twilight nodded. She didn't realize it at the time, but, despite her usual stoic exterior, Sunset had become especially sensitive around her one year reformation anniversary. Without thinking, the boys had made a joke about the then-upcoming Fall Formal, noting that it would not being quite as exciting without “the threat of demons overthrowing the world.”

Though, they had meant no ill. Unlike Sunset, they actually enjoyed their time as demons and looked back on it fondly. Still, it had struck a nerve with the former bully and nearly ruined the night.

“Well, if you also remember,” continued Rarity, “Fluttershy and Pinkie were about to lay a new one on them, but Sunset would have nothing of it.”

“She specifically forbade us from giving them anything beyond a firm, friendly scolding” said Fluttershy.

Twilight was relieved to hear Fluttershy's voice directed at her again.

“If she's willing to let those two muttonheads get off unscathed” continued Rainbow, “How much more is she going to protect you?”

“Rainbow Dash,” scolded Pinkie, “Calling Snips and Snails 'muttonheads' is an insult to muttons everywhere!”

Just then, a loud crash sounded from across the cafeteria. Everyone looked up just enough to see that it was Snips and Snails once again engaged in their shenanigans.

Pinkie's shoulders fell, “But, you're right...”

Twilight let out a long breath. "There's a big difference between those two and me."

“Well,” Applejack sighed, “I guess this all speeds up Sunset's plans.”

Twilight's ears perked. “What plans?”

Applejack noticed Twilight's confusion and proceeded with caution. “I'm sorry, I thought you knew. Sunset was goin' to go back to Equestria after we graduated.”

The bespectacled girl shot up. “What?”

The girls looked at each other before continuing.

“We talked once about what we were going to do after graduation” explained Pinkie, “and Sunset brought up her plans to move back to Equestria.”

Twilight fell back into her seat, slumping over the table. “She never mentioned it to me...”

“Well, this was quite a while before you two started dating” said Rarity, placing a consoling hand on the girl's shoulder. “She may have changed her mind since then.”

“Twilight?”

Twilight looked up to see Starlight Glimmer, offering her a piece of folded paper. A gentle look was on her face. When Twilight realized what the paper was, her heart made a flutter. Without thinking, she snatched the paper and broke the wax seal stamped with Sunset's cutie mark. With excitement and dread, her eyes darted about the paper. Though, as she progressed, her face fell. “So, this is it...” her eyes began to mist. She startled everyone when she jumped up from the table and ran from the cafeteria in tears.

Fluttershy and Pinkie quickly darted after her, calling out her name.

The others remained at the table, stupefied.

“What just happened?” asked Starlight.

Rarity reached down and picked up the letter Twilight had dropped. “Oh dear,” she whispered, reading the contents. She left the note on the table and ran after the other girls.

Applejack quickly grabbed the note and started reading. She backhanded Rainbow on the shoulder and they ran out, leaving Starlight alone and confused. When her mind finally caught up, she took off after the duo.

Luckily for Starlight, she didn't have to run far. Just outside the cafeteria, she almost collided into Twilight and the other girls. She looked upon the crying bookworm. In her hands, Twilight grasped a tear-stained envelope. Weakly, she held it to the unicorn. “Please,” she said through her tears.

Starlight took the letter and nodded. Wanting to avoid the awkward situation, she made a mad dash out the main doors and back through the portal. She landed on the crystalline floor with a thud.

“Good, you're back!” smiled Princess Twilight, peering into the library, “I'm almost ready to try out this new potion and I need you to assist me. It's a little volatile little thing, if not done correctly, so,” she let out a slightly nerdy giggle, “safety first and all, you know. Better if I'm not alone and Spike is nowhere to be found.” She paused in confusion, “Wonder why...”

“Huh?” Starlight's head was spinning. It had been a rough transformation. Throw in Twilight's penchant for rambles, and Starlight had the makings of a great headache. She shook herself and tried to recall all what Twilight had said. “Um, yeah, sure. Let me just deliver this letter and make sure Sunset's okay. I'll be right back.”

"Oh..."

Starlight froze. She didn't like that sound. She turned to face her mentor. "Are you okay?" Ever since she told Twilight about Sunset's situation, she'd sensed a change in the princess.

Twilight had done her best to hide it, but every once in a while, her spirits would drop considerably. This was looking like one of those times.

"Hey," She placed a comforting hoof on Twilight's shoulder. "I know this is hard for you."

"It's a horrible feeling, Starlight," Twilight croaked, "To know that your friend is in so much pain, but that you can't comfort them. In fact, the very thought of you would only make the matter worse."

"I don't think the thought of you, per se, just the sight of you." She quickly rephrased her statement, "Sunset knows you and the other Twilight are not the same ponies... people... people/ponies.

"Point is, Sunset needs to work this out. Eventually, she'll be able to be around you again. In the meantime, you just have to stay strong for her."

Twilight gave a weak smile. "I know. I can see why you held off telling me."

Starlight winced, "Frankly, I didn't know what or how to tell you. Not everyday you have to tell somepony that their otherworld counterpart did something really heinous."

"Thank goodness for that." Her smile broadened as Starlight pulled her into a hug.

"Look, why don't you get the lab ready. I'll drop this off with Sunset and be down in a bit."

Twilight tearfully nodded. "Give her a hug for me."

"I always do."

“Sunset?” Starlight knocked on the bedroom door. “Sunset, I have a letter from Twilight.”

No response.

Starlight tried again. Again, no response. Assuming Sunset to be asleep, Starlight slipped the envelope under the door and trotted away.