Expectations of Reality

Rainbow Dash sat down at her usual spot between Applejack and Pinkie Pie. Fluttershy was deep into a conversation with Rarity. Trying to convince her that she was not made to be a model. Of course, Rarity was having none of it and assured her that she would look fabulous.

Rainbow picked at the food with her fork. finding that she didn't feel hungry at all. Applejack noticed this of course as she stabbed her straw into her juice box.

"Somethin' wrong, RD?" Applejack asked. Rainbow Dash sighed.

"Yeah, Applejack. Everything is wrong." She snapped back before tapping her fingers against the table in thought. "Sunset is getting beat up. Don't get me wrong here, she had it coming to her. She blackmailed, hurt, lied, and did countless other things. No one, not even us, were able to stop her in fear of her letting our secrets out but...You would think after years of dealing with it...Now that everyone is starting to get their revenge that her punishment would feel justified but it doesn't. I feel awful for her."

"That's natural, darling." Rarity said as Fluttershy stared down at the table, nervously looking towards her friends. "It's what makes us human."

"Well, I hate it." Rainbow Dash complained. "Has anyone seen her? I assume she went to the Nurse but I was sure she would be back in class by the end."

Fluttershy slowly started drinking but her eyes reflected guilt. Deep guilt. Pinkie Pie took notice and tilted her head towards her friend.

"You, OK? You look like you could use a party." Pinkie chirped. Catching the attention of the rest of the group. Fluttershy took a big gulp and nodded with an unconvincing weak smile.

"I am fine." Fluttershy insisted with her soft voice, then started fiddling with her hair out of nervousness. Rainbow Dash leaned over to her with a narrowed eye. Not buying it one bit.

"Clearly something is wrong. So spill it." Rainbow Dash ordered only to have Applejack shove her back down to her seat. Fluttershy whimpered and covered her face. Pinkie leaned in with her ear as Fluttershy continued to whimper as if trying to explain something.

"Sorry, Flutters we can't hear ya!" Pinkie said. "Speak up."

Fluttershy took a big gulp of air, then looked over to her friends with tears in her eyes.

"W-When I brought Sunset to Nurse Redheart, she took off her jacket and...And...I saw blood on her upper back."

Rainbow Dash and Pinkie had juice spraying out of their noses. Applejack gasped and Rarity almost fainted. Fluttershy wanted to hug Angel Bunny more than she ever did at that moment in her life as the group managed to pull themselves together enough to talk.

"A-Are ya'll sure?" Applejack asked as she fixed her hat. Fluttershy mutely nodded as Rarity seemed to be hyperventilating. Pinkie rushed over, grabbing supplies from her hair like cupcakes in an attempt to calm Rarity down.

"We need to find her..." Rainbow Dash said and they all started scanning the room with their eyes. Trying to see any trace of Sunset Shimmer. But they had no luck. They all looked back at each other with defeated expressions. "This might be a problem. What if someone hurt her again?"

"If someone hurt her again, we would probably know bout it by now." Applejack pointed out by waving her phone. "News travels fast, yall."

"Good point." Rarity said as she drank some of her juice, trying not to pay attention to the girl wearing a purple bow and purple dress taking pictures of the group across the cafeteria. Rarity just prayed she looked good. They took another look around the cafeteria. Each getting more worried about where Sunset could be.

Sunset could really do without the judging looks the nurse was giving her as she tucked her into her own bed in a room in the Canterlot Royal Hospital. They wanted to keep her overnight for observation because of the two gashes on her back. Sunset didn't really have a choice in the matter of course as Celestia filled out the needed paperwork, pretending to be her guardian.

"You really didn't need to do this, Principal Celestia." Sunset insisted as Celestia reentered the room with a smile.

"I am happy to help, Sunset. You need this." Celestia said as she patted Sunset's shoulder. "You are to be released tomorrow morning. I will come to pick you up."

Sunset's eyes grew wide and she grabbed Celestia's wrist before she could pull away.

"Ah, don't do that! M-My mother could just pick me up!" Sunset stammered.

"Sunset. I looked at your records. The name you put down for your mother is...False. She died in a car crash with a child a few years ago." Celestia explained. "Tell me the truth. Do you have a family?"

"O-Of course I do." Sunset snapped back with more hostility than she intended. "They just don't live in Canterlot City. That's all."

Technically Sunset told the truth. She did have a family. But her family lived in Equestria as ponies. Ponies who couldn't care less about what happens to her. She shifted uncomfortably on her bed.

"I am feeling pretty tired." Sunset finally said after an awkward moment of silence between the pair. Celestia nodded and moved away from Sunset, trying to read her emotions that she let show. Which to Sunset's credit was next to none.

"Sure. I am still picking you up tomorrow morning though. I was supposed to discuss the other parts of your punishment today but that can wait until school tomorrow. Alright?"

Sunset nodded and they said their goodbyes.

(One hour after school)

"Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit!" Bini yelled as Rocky and Chocolate stumbled down an alleyway, holding Arone up by his arms, followed by Bini who kept frantically looking behind her with wide eyes. Bini looked into the street. They were in the bad part of town. The part of town where drug deals took place.

"Do you see him?" Chocolate asked as she took off her black jacket and pressed it against Arone's stomach that had a knife wound with blood. Rocky gently laid Arone down, who groaned from pain at the movements. Bini checked the streets, then triple-checked to make sure. She looked down at her phone, frantically trying to turn it on.

"I think he is gone but damn it, my phone is dead!" Bini yelled to her friends as she clicked the power button over and over. Chocolate yanked out her own phone and dialed 911.

"Hello? Operator? Yeah, hi. My friend got stabbed by a drug dealer. No. No, I am not on drugs! I am perfectly sane! My name? Um, Chocolate Shadow. Address...I um...Bini! HEY! WHERE ARE WE?" Chocolate asked. Bini looked at the nearest street sign, having to squint her eyes to see the words.

"Um...Tirek Lane?" Bini slowly replied uncertainly.

"W-We're on Tirek Lane. Yes. I am aware. Well, I was trying to save my friend from himself but that didn't quite work! Soon? OK. OK."

"What's the nearest hospital?" Rocky asked as he lightly slapped Arone on the cheek to keep him awake and Chocolate pressed her jacket harder against his wound.

"Um...Chanterlot Royal Hospital, I think." Bini replied.

---End of Chapter Seven---