Expectations of Reality

Wait for it.

The Bell rang across Canterlot High for classes to start. Bini Filters stood at the Wondercolts statue waiting for everyone to get inside before she sprinted into the school, running full speed towards the Library to avoid the looks and insults she was sure to get.

The last of the students entered the school, Bini started sprinting towards the door. She quickly opened it, ignoring how a fair amount of people stopped and heckled her. How they threw trash at her like she was the one who became the stupid demon.

She dodged a few pieces of trash, her years from playing dodge ball were kicking in but being blind in one eye does have its disadvantages. Bini was running, so focused on making it to her destination that she failed to notice Lighting Dust outstretch her foot in Bini's path purposely.

Bini tripped, slamming into the floor, then sliding on the cold floor from the impact. Her head was ringing, her body hurt, people surrounded her, shouting insults for her helping the She-demon.

This is exactly why she waited. So something like this didn't happen. She pushed herself off the floor. Grabbing her bag and head that was still in pain. She stumbled, pushing people out of her way as she saw the glass double doors of the Library. She could still hear the laughter in the hall as she felt her phone vibrate.

She yanked it out of her pocket, giving angry glares at anyone who would dare look in her direction. She answered the call without looking at the number as she held it up to her ear.

"WHAT?" She barked, making the Librarian Cheerlie shush her across the room. She waved her hand in apology and ran up to the second level where fewer people were.

"Sorry?" The weak voice of Arone said in her ear. "Did I call at a bad time?"

"Yeah, kinda. I was just considering transferring from Canterlot High because everyone here is a dick." She hissed into her phone, ducking into a corner of the Library that was rarely visited. Arone whistled into the phone.

"Damn. So I guess your day started out pretty bad?" Arone said.

"Yeah. I got tripped on purpose in the hall. It was...Embarrassing to say the least." Bini said with a blush. "Look. I get why everyone hates Sunset Shimmer. She bullied people, blackmailed them, some people almost committed suicide because of her. But...Geez, they are so angry that they are hurting anyone who shows even a little bit of kindness towards her."

"If yesterday proved anything, it's that the world is a really screwed up place. You can't change them. Only they can change themselves."

Bini chuckled.

"You are very cringy sometimes."

Arone chuckled back.

"Shut up, Bini! Besides I only need to stay in the hospital for three more days, soon I will be back and annoying you, Chocolate, and Rocky about what happened. Remember, we can't tell my mom anything."

"Yeah, yeah. You don't need to remind me. She would kill us."

"She would kill us, resurrect us, then kill us again over and over until she felt we had enough punishment-"

Suddenly there was a click, followed by a bright flash. Bini yelped and rubbed her eyes, looking over to the source to see Chocolate pointing her camera at her with a tired grin. Bini accidentally clicked the speakerphone button as she got up from her spot on the ground.

"What was that!?" She snapped. Chocolate shrugged and took another picture before she lowered her camera.

"Gabby Gums is doing a piece on you. I needed to get your picture." Chocolate explained as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

"I am your friend! Are you seriously selling me out to Gabby Gums of all people!" Bini exclaimed.

"That's cold." Arone said through the phone. Chocolate nervously tugged on a loss strand of hair before clearing her throat. "I haven't even been gone for a day and you guys are already turning on each other."

"I am not turning on Bini!" Chocolate said to Arone on the phone. "This is my job! I have a duty to the newspaper to take photos!"

There was a moment of silence.

"So you are being blackmailed?" Arone finally asked.

"W-What no, no, no. O-Of...No." Chocolate stammered as she fiddled with her camera. "There is no way that a kid from middle school could blackmail me with information about my brother that she obtained somehow that I am still trying to figure out."

"Diamond Tiara?" Bini asked as she crossed her arms over her chest. Chocolate let out a defeated sigh and nodded.

"The one and only."

"How is it that no one got any blackmail stuff on her? Her father is Filthy Rich. He has more money than anyone in town! No one gets that much money without doing some pretty awful things." Arone said.

"Maybe he killed someone?" Bini said with a smile that made Chocolate nervous. "Ohhh, think about the media circus if that got out!"

"The chances of that happening are low." Arone said. Chocolate gasped and ran over to the second-floor railing to look at the floor below. She started taking multiple pictures of the people below before heading back towards Bini and her phone with a triumphant smile.

"I got pictures of Sunset Shimmer. The boss will be pleased indeed." Chocolate said. Bini ran over to the railing and looked below to see Sunset sitting at one of the computers with headphones on at full blast, ignoring the whispers of students around her.

"Didn't she go missing yesterday?" Arone asked.

"Uh...Yeah, she did. She..." Bini squinted her eyes to get a better look at Sunset after adjusting her glasses. "She looks...Fine to me...At least from up here."

"Appearances can be deceiving," Arone said in a high tone like he was about to break out in song.

"We don't need your psychology analysis bullshit right now," Bini said into her phone. "Or whatever it is you are trying to pull."

"Someone is in a bad mood." Chocolate muttered behind Bini as Bini heard the sounds of Chocolate's camera flashing again. Bini tightened her grip on the railing and looked down at the other judgemental students below. She watched them judge Sunset. She knew if she stepped down there, they would judge her.

She didn't need that sort of pressure.

What happens if she got beat up?

Maybe she should transfer? No. That would be wrong. Her friends would still be at CHS if she left. She couldn't leave them. But damn, she really wanted to go to a school where no one knew her once again. A fresh start.

Bini shook her head. Quickly dismissing the silly thought. She couldn't transfer. She wouldn't. She cleared her throat and turned to Chocolate with her phone held to her chest.

"I...I need to get to work." Bini said, glancing behind her one last time to the cart of books that needed reshelving below.

"Are you sure you want to go back down there? It could be...Dare I say...Dangerous." Chocolate said. Bini nodded in acknowledgment.

"I know. But this whole thing should blow over in a couple of weeks. As long as no one pulls a knife on me, I should be fine. Right?" Bini asked with a shakiness to her voice that told Chocolate and Arone that she didn't quite believe herself.

"Yeah...Fine." Arone said softly. "I should get going. Thorax is coming in soon. Chat later."

The call ended before the two could say their goodbyes. Chocolate stepped towards her friend hesitantly.

"Are you sure you can handle this?" She asked. Bini nodded with a weak smile.

"Yeah. It's not like I am Sunset Shimmer."

Three girls sat in the empty cafeteria with guilty expressions as they looked at the photo evidence of Sunset Shimmer's cruel actions that they found over the years in front of them. Applebloom gulped and picked up a photo of Sunset destroying the Fall Formal design that she tried to pin on Twilight Sparkle.

"She turned in a demon," Sweetiebelle said with a shake of her head. "S-She brainwashed us. It's only right to get payback by publishing all her dirty deeds in the school newspaper right? She bullied our sisters."

"Yeah." Scootaloo said slowly as she picked up the photo of when Sunset Shimmer was first crowned Fall Formal Princess. "Besides if we don't...You know what Diamond Tiara will do."

"Ah know we feel bad but we have done this before, ya'll." Appleblood said. "We are Gabby Gums. We got to give them what they want."

Sweetiebelle and Scootalo nodded.

---End of Chapter Fourteen---