Expectations of Reality

Sunset Shimmer nervously entered the cafeteria. The student body reacted as she expected them to. Throwing insults and glares in her direction. She took in a deep breath and quickly grabbed a tray of food from Granny Smith before turning around to see if there were any empty tables.

She finally saw one empty table. She quickly made her way over it, taking the most direct route she could. She smiled as she sat down at the empty table in the corner of the cafeteria, happy that something had finally gone right for once. She started to eat, watched the students, most of them wouldn't bother glaring at her the entire lunch so they resorted to whispering about her to their friends. She looked over to Bini, Arone, and Rocky who seemed to be scared of something. Especially Bini.

Bini was fiddling with her phone, occasionally looking up to look at the passing student before Arone and Chocolate spoke to her. She would shake her head and wave her hand as if she was trying to act like everything was fine. But it clearly wasn't as Bini tried to discreetly wipe a tear from her eye.

"Um...H-Hey Sunset." A raspy female voice said in front of her.

Sunset looked up in alarm at the five girls standing in front of her with nervous smiles. Their posture told her they didn't want to be there. Their eyes told her they were scared of her. She couldn't blame them. She was scared of herself these days.

"Is it alright if we...sit, darling?" Rarity nervously asked. The group looked at each other with uncertainty, then back to Sunset for an answer. Sunset, in all honestly, wanted to be alone. But she couldn't refuse them. They were trying to be nice for reasons Sunset may never understand. She mutely nodded.

There was an awkward moment when the girls sat down around her, the students around them stopped with obvious confusion on their faces but quickly recovered and moved on with puzzled and worried expressions.

"Do you think the demon brainwashed them?" She heard one student ask another. Rainbow Dash heard this and gritted her teeth towards the student who quickly ran off with their friend. She settled back down and started to munch on her apple.

"So...How are ya doin' Sugarcube?" Applejack asked as an awkward silence fell among the group.

"I-I am fine, thanks." Sunset mumbled as she picked at her food. Suddenly she yelped as Pinkie Pie narrowed her eyes at her, getting much closer to Sunset than she would have liked. Her eyes narrowed. She looked almost angry for a moment when she suddenly gave her a bright smile.

"We should have a "Good thing you aren't a demon anymore" Party!" She chirped. Rarity gave herself a facepalm with a groan.

"Oh dear..." Fluttershy whimpered as her eyes darted between Pinkie and Sunset with fear. Sunset cleared her throat and frantically shook her head.

"P-Please don't do that. I don't really like parties." Sunset admitted.

Pinkie looked like she was about to have a heart attack. She clutched her chest and swayed dramatically until she leaned against the table and looked at Sunset with wide disbelieving eyes.

"How do you not like parties?" She screeched, opening her mouth to say more but was silenced as Applejack covered her mouth with a tired and embarrassed grin.

"Anyway..." Rainbow Dash said, throwing Pinkie Pie a warning glance. "We would like to be your..." Rainbow Dash paused again as if unsure if she was making the right choice. "Friend."

Sunset's brain stopped working momentarily. She seriously asked herself if they lost their minds.

"You are too stuck up, Tia." Discord, the drama teacher said as he lit a cigar in his office and leaned against Celestia's desk in his mismatched suit. Celestia angrily typed on her computer as she looked up to her friend with annoyance.

"Dizzy. For the last goddamn time, no smoking in my school." She snapped before returning to look at her screen that showed their budget. Their non-existent budget. The school was flat broke. Discord mumbled something under his breath as he extinguished the cigar and tossed it in Celestia's garbage.

"Again, you really should loosen up like Lulu. When was the last time you took a vacation?" He asked with a grin. Celestia gave him a tired stare.

"If this is another one of your creative ways to ask me out, I am flatly denying like the last four times." Celestia mumbled.

"Oh come now, our prom night was fun."

"I only accepted because you made a big show of asking me out in front of the entire school after that stupid school play!" Celestia complained as she ran her hand through her hair. "Besides it's not like my evenings are free anymore."

Discord raised an eyebrow and leaned over to Celestia. He narrowed his red eyes as he carefully watched her reaction.

"You got a boyfriend or something? Is that why you are rejecting me?"

"WHAT, NO!" Celestia almost yelled. A soft knocking came at the door and Luna poked her head in with a big smile.

"Are you guys dating? I heard something about a boyfriend." She said. Celestia and Discord blushed.

"No, Lulu." Celestia insisted. "Discord tried asking me out again and I rejected him because I don't want to go on another date with him, and second our evenings are not free anymore."

"Not free? What are y-" Luna paused then nodded. "Right. You have a point."

Discord looked between the two sisters with confusion.

"Alright, is someone going to tell me what is going on with you two?" He snapped. "If you don't I may start creating more chaos than you like..."

"You already do," Luna said with a flat tone. "Yesterday afternoon we took Sunset Shimmer into our home. She needs guardians and Tia here had maternal instincts kicking in for the girl."

"I am just worried about her is all!" Celestia insisted. "In all honesty, she tried to kill herself last night! If it wasn't for Luna and me, she would be dead right now."

"I think you are giving yourself too much credit-"

"You weren't there! It was...worse than awful. I don't even want to think about it." Celestia said with tears in her eyes. "Hopefully Luna and I can help get her better now."

Discord and Luna silently nodded. Unsure of how to comfort Celestia.

---End of Chapter Fifteen---