Equestria Girls - The Tale of Two Sunsets

As advised by Adagio Dazzle, Sunset began going around Canterlot City's main square, hoping to find somebody to entrust with her apartment, while she was back in Equestria. A majority of the people had been discussing business details here and there, but ultimately, none of them were up to the task, and even with the ones who sounded potentially interested, Sunset felt her intuition telling her that they wouldn't be a good choice. It mostly came down to not really knowing these people that well to entrust them, but it was also wise to heed Adagio's concern, as the last thing Sunset wanted to do was return from her weeklong trip, only to come back and find her apartment completely ransacked.

After a while of running through potential candidates, but still hitting a dead end, Sunset sighed to herself and sat on a nearby bench, her eyes scanning the crowd. She absolutely needed a housekeeper to water her plants and feed her pet leopard gecko, and it was only a matter of picking somebody responsible enough. It was also in Sunset's best interest to find a housekeeper as soon as possible, as she knew it was going to become dark soon. In fact, upon turning around and glancing over at the horizon, the sun had already begun to go down, and the night was approaching quite soon.

Time was passing by even quicker than expected, and Sunset soon decided that it'd be wiser to head on home and text one of her friends, in case they were available for the job. After all, Sunset trusted any of them with her life, especially after the various adventures they've all had together, which entailed saving other people's lives from Equestrian magic. With how supportive and understanding they all were, regarding this decision to visit Equestria for a whole week, it'd be likely that any of the Rainbooms would be up to the task, assuming they weren't already busy with other plans.

Sunset kept this in mind as she finally began to exit the main square, before taking notice of a gazebo on her left, with yet another group of familiar girls. Despite the Shadowbolts essentially being rivals to CHS and the Rainbooms, Sunset mostly remained neutral with them. These girls acted incredibly rude, stuck-up, and arrogant during the Friendship Games, but like Sunset and her own friends considered earlier, this was likely an effect of going to a school like Crystal Prep Academy, or an influence from Principal Cinch. Outside of them having some semblance of morality, notably when they helped rescue the other students from Midnight Sparkle's wrath, Sunset knew that she couldn't really consider any of them her friends, especially after the dance choreography fiasco.

The five girls continued sitting around the gazebo, with Sugarcoat and Indigo Zap on one side, while Sunny Flare, Lemon Zest, and Sour Sweet sat on the other. For the most part, Sunset didn't pay them much mind at all, as she was now focused on heading back to her apartment, and potentially having one of her friends housesit for her. She certainly couldn't consider any of the Shadowbolts to fit that role, especially given how she didn't really know them that well. But as Sunset was walking right by the gazebo, the girls immediately took notice of her, and decided to greet their old rival.

"Well, look who it is!" Sour Sweet looked up from her phone, and motioned for Sunset to come over. "Certainly been a while since we've seen you, hasn't it?"

"The leader of those other girls at Canterlot High, I believe." Lemon Zest acknowledged. "Certainly a treat to stumble into you, out of everyone else who goes there."

"I'll say, especially considering she's the main reason that Principal Cinch got fired." Sunny Flare added. "Where do you suppose the old hag is working nowadays, Taco Tuesday or something?"

"I wouldn't even be surprised if she ends up living behind that dumpster behind Coinky Dink World." Indigo Zap remarked. "Then again, that smelly old hobo would probably mark his territory by pulling out his-"

"Can we not start with that again, we're trying to enjoy the evening here." Sugarcoat bluntly stopped Indigo from saying things she couldn't unhear, before walking over to Sunset, and giving her a small nod. "It's nice to see you out and about, Sunset. How's the life outside of CHS?"

"Hey girls, just passing through." Sunset figured it would've been polite to at least acknowledge them. "I'm actually headed home right now, but I guess if you want to chat real fast, I could hang around for a bit. I'm a little surprised to see you're all wearing casual clothes, instead of your Crystal Prep Academy uniforms. Did the policy get lifted or something?"

"More or less, Principal Cadance made a plethora of improvements, ever since Cinch left the school for good." Sunny Flare replied. "But it's not like our old uniforms are worthless, we just found out that at the right auction, they could go all the way up for $20,000. It's because they're considered vintage outfits, since the manufacturers for them went bankrupt."

"There's no need to share such information with a Crystal Prep outsider." Sugarcoat turned back to Sunny Flare. "We're only keeping this knowledge for ourselves, since you fully know well that if the whole school knew about this, every outfit would lose their monetary value. That'd be especially bad when some of us are heading off to college after graduation, since the cost is no joke."

"Are you sure the auction worth will really make that much of a difference, considering student loans are literally known to completely drain bank accounts?" Sour Sweet shrugged. "For all we know, that designer bag you're holding is worth at least a few thousand."

"What, this old thing?" Sugarcoat looked down at her magenta purse. "It's literally just an ordinary purse meant to carry basic necessities. It's probably also nothing compared to that bag Sunset has, even if it looks like it came from the thrift store."

Hearing this, it dawned on Sunset that she's had this bag her whole life, even tracing back to her days in Equestria, and as Princess Celestia's pupil. She hadn't ever recalled purchasing the bag at any thrift store, despite Sugarcoat's beliefs, but it certainly raised the question, regarding where exactly this bag came from. Much like Sugarcoat, Sunset had always treated this bag like any other bag, as far as its convenience in storing her belongings, since she never really used a backpack at school, unlike most of her classmates. Sunset looked down at her own satchel, realizing she couldn't immediately tell what brand it was.

"Now that I'm looking at it, I just realized that I've never really paid much mind regarding its brand." Sunset continued examining her bag.

"Maybe I could have a quick look at it?" Sunny Flare raised her hand. "I know purse brands like no one else at Crystal Prep."

"Sure thing, I guess." Sunset took off her bag and handed it to Sunny Flare for examination. "I've had this satchel since forever, and it's just... a bag to me."

Sunny Flare examined the satchel from all angles, as she felt the fabric to get an idea of the materials. Eventually, she flipped it over and thoroughly scanned the bottom, where she saw the engraving of what appeared to be a distinct word.

"Well, to tell you the truth, you've even managed to stump me, which is pretty surprising." Sunny Flare handed the bag back to Sunset. "This definitely isn't from any brand here in Canterlot City. It's got 'Solstice' written on the bottom, and the stitching... it's like nothing I've ever seen before. This isn't from a thrift store, it's more like something that's been passed down through generations! As far as I'm aware, there's no such brand name known as Solstice, so it could just be an original, discontinued business."

"Huh, I've had this bag for so long, and I've never noticed this word engraved on the bottom." Sunset said with surprise, before putting the satchel's straps back on her shoulder. "Well, it doesn't really matter, it's served me well over the years, and I couldn't have asked for a better bag. Either way, it's pretty refreshing to see you girls again, especially with graduation coming up. I mean, who knows, after we all graduate from high school, this could be the very last time we'll all see each other."

"Hm, so you're actually thinking of moving away, are you?" Lemon Zest inquired. "I suppose sooner or later, we'll all end up going down our own paths in that so-called real world. My parents are pushing for me to get a job soon, even if it means doing something as arbitrary as delivering fast food."

"What do you need a job for?" Indigo Zap scoffed. "As far as I'm aware, all of our parents are letting us use our trust funds however we wish, since they're under the impression that we'll be using all that money for college. In reality, we'll just use that cash to live life to the fullest, and just say that we ended up dropping out. Not like it matters, because only idiots would spend six digits on college tuition."

"Some of us actually care about our futures, Indigo." Sugarcoat rolled her eyes at this comment. "Plus, you can't really say I'm dumb for taking college seriously, considering my grades are higher than all of yours, combined. Heck, you girls even pay ME to take pictures of my homework answers to get your grade up, remember?"

"Well, she's got you there, I'm afraid." Sunny Flare snickered. "Besides, I've been thinking of starting my own business in fashion, and I need some cash for materials and costs to get everything set up. As much as it'd be a dream come true, you can't just rely on Daddy's wallet, forever."

"Yeah, I'm looking into internships, actually." Lemon Zest shrugged. "Maybe I can get into something big in music, but my parents are heavily disagreeing with me on that, saying things like, I'll just be wasting their savings on college for a useless degree. It's a real shame, considering I have no genuine interest in anything else my parents would want for me. They either want me to be a scientist, teacher, or boat captain. None of those jobs really sound like they fit me, if I'm being honest."

"Well I'm planning on becoming the next biggest soccer athlete, so no college for me either." Indigo Zap smirked. "But then again, I hear connections matter more in that so-called place of higher education than that expensive piece of paper, so maybe I'll look into getting into some arbitrary university, and perhaps that's where my career will begin. I certainly don't intend on FINISHING college, that's for sure."

"You always did have that inner fire, I'm sure you'll go far in whatever you choose to do." Sour Sweet looked at Indigo with a hint of admiration. "As for me, I've been thinking of becoming a cop, like my mother. I could imagine it now, interrogating criminals during investigations, where I could play both the good cop AND bad cop, on top of making a fortune. In just a few years from now, I can totally see myself living in a penthouse, sipping tea with my future husband, who's a millionaire."

"And here we have Sour Sweet, with her unrealistic fantasies of power and money." Sugarcoat groaned. "But honestly, even though we're all just trying to figure out our lives, none of you seem to have that work ethic that I do, which tells me that you four will be completely helpless when I go off to earn my PhD in astrophysics. In the next few years, I'd realistically see you all working jobs as retail cashiers, while I'll be researching in the planetarium, alongside Rosette Nebula."

"Oh please, like you're one to talk." Sour Sweet pointed. "We all know that you're only going to college to get away from your overbearing parents. Seriously, I can never understand why there exists parents who push you to work hard your entire life, only to have nothing to show for it. If you ask me, Sugarcoat, no matter how rich we'll be in the future, we'll all at least be happier than you, while you'll just be a grouchy know-it-all, who'll wish she at least lived a little."

"Maybe so, but happiness isn't always about living such delusions of grandeur." Sugarcoat replied with a sigh, her eyes scanning the ground as she kicked a small pebble. "Sometimes it's about knowing you've achieved something real, but I'm not judging you girls for your choices. Just remember, life's a marathon, not a sprint, and you can't always rely on your parents' money to get you through."

"That's actually kind of deep coming from you, Sugarcoat." Lemon Zest acknowledged. "I mean, we'll all pretty much remember you as the blunt and cynical smart girl, who let nothing stand in her way of being ranked #1 at Crystal Prep Academy."

"And yet she couldn't even do that fairly, could she?" Sour Sweet Snickered. "After all, Sugarcoat could never beat Twilight Sparkle at academics when she joined our school, and it was only after she transferred over to Canterlot High, that Sugarcoat 'won' the ranking by default."

Sugarcoat's eyes narrowed slightly, and she opened her mouth to retort, but Sunset decided to cut in before things could get too heated. She didn't need to be stuck in the middle of a Crystal Prep drama fest right now, especially considering she had a more pressing issue on her mind.

"Well, it's certainly interesting to hear how you've all got different plans with your lives after graduation, but if you ask me personally, I don't think going off to college is the best solution for everybody." Sunset spoke up. "With how much it costs, and the statistics of how many graduates actually end up using their degrees in the job market, it's definitely something to consider. Me personally, I've already imagined that going off to college is only going to end up with me getting a job I dislike. My best take is, if you feel like college isn't for you, or if you don't plan on becoming a doctor or engineer, there's no real reason to go."

"Yeah right, you're probably just saying that, purely because you didn't get accepted into the Oakley Leagues, like I did." Sugarcoat rolled her eyes. "Typical, because you know that you're going to be stuck at some community college with the rest of the commoners. When I'm going to become the head researcher at the planetarium, you can certainly bet I'll be pretty exclusive with who I'll pick as my assistants. Anybody who didn't study at the top 1% institution, I'll drop them off at the local fast food joint, instead."

Sunset couldn't help but laugh a little at Sugarcoat's remark, despite the hint of spite in her voice. She knew that the prideful Crystal Prep overachiever was just trying to get a rise out of her, but it didn't seem to matter, as Sunset believed that there was more to life than just academic success. This was a valuable lesson that her own friends at CHS taught her, especially given her own similarly flawed mentality, back when she was Princess Celestia's pupil.

"Well, that being said, I did send out some college applications to give myself more options, but I still have yet to hear back from them." Sunset explained. "Even if I don't end up getting into the most ideal university, I may already have other plans in mind, back in my hometown. If you're all planning to go with internships and the traditional college route, I wish you the best of luck."

"That's all appreciated, but who needs luck when I've already got it all figured out?" Indigo sat back with her arms behind her head. "I'll get into a good school, charm my professors, and get a degree that'll get me noticed. Then, I'll be signing autographs for my soccer games, while Sugarcoat here will be stuck in some lab coat, mixing chemicals and looking at stars. Sounds way more boring than having a job that lets you live life to the fullest."

"Some of us prefer to leave our mark on the world with actual science and discovery, rather than kicking a ball around." Sugarcoat said, bluntly. "Besides, once your popularity fades, what's left for you? Don't say I didn't warn you when the time comes, in which you'll look back on your past decisions and regret everything you've done."

"I guess that's one way of looking at it, especially when it comes to reflecting your whole life, up until this point." Lemon Zest nodded. "Sure, my parents are pushing me into something I'm not really into, but maybe there's more to life than just following the crowd. Sunset, I know we've had our... differences in the past, but I've always admired the way you've managed to find yourself, despite the challenges. What's your secret?"

"Well, it's all about finding what truly makes you happy, and not letting anyone else's expectations dictate your path." Sunset gave her own piece. "I've learned that the hard way, since I used to chase after power and prestige, and my friends at Canterlot High showed me that friendship and personal growth are much more fulfilling. They helped me rediscover my love for music and art, and I realized that's where my true talents lie. How exactly I ended up getting this far with my passions, I'd say it's about never giving up, even when it feels like the world's against you."

"But what if you don't even know what you're good at?" Sour Sweet questioned. "As far as I'm aware, life's too short to constantly dwell on a talent you're unsure of, but if it really takes that long to find your way, I'd almost say it's a sign you were never meant to follow this particular path to begin with. That's what I've realized, listening to my parents yap on and on about what's best for me in the near future."

"Well at least you have actual parents who care about-" Sunny Flare began, but realized that she was becoming a little too personal, to where she immediately changed the topic. "Forget I said anything, I just wish that society would be more welcoming to what you're truly good at, rather than judging the very clothes you wear during an interview. It's like we're all trapped in a system where nobody can win, and that the real crooks in society will never end up behind bars."

"Maybe you're right, Sunset, we should all just do what makes us happy." Lemon Zest agreed. "But then again, happiness is fleeting, and sometimes we have to make sacrifices to get ahead in life. It's only a matter of making sure you're lucky enough to make the right choices from the very beginning, or you'll heavily regret your decisions in the long run."

"Speaking of regrets, I suppose to pass the time and entertain ourselves for a bit, we could all share our biggest regrets in life, up until now." Sugarcoat turned to the rest of the girls. "Starting with myself, I would say that the thing I've regretted the absolute most, was letting Twilight Sparkle best me in my academics at Crystal Prep Academy. Even with her graduation merits from Canterlot High, I'd be worried that she could potentially even replace me at the planetarium, before I could even get my foot into the door."

"That's your biggest regret?" Sour Sweet raised an eyebrow. "Dang, you ARE sad, Sugarcoat. I've got to imagine whether that's truly you speaking, or your manipulative, overbearing parents. I wouldn't even be surprised if they planted a listening device somewhere on you, to make sure you're not saying anything out of line."

"Look, regardless of what you may think, I've worked hard to get where I am, and I'm not going to throw it all away because of some whimsical notion of happiness." Sugarcoat took a deep breath, before speaking again. "I know what I want, and I know what I'm good at. Maybe you're all content with just floating through life, but I have set goals in mind, and I'll reach them, with or without your sympathy. Now then, anybody else wish to share their biggest regret?"

"I've got a feeling that out of all of us, Indigo here has a number of things she could share." Sunny Flare snickered. "After all, if it wasn't for Principal Cinch discreetly handing her answer sheets to pass all those classes, she wouldn't have even lasted a semester with us."

"Well, if we're being honest?" Indigo's cheeks flushed a bit, but she didn't let the tease get to her. "My biggest regret would probably be... what happened after soccer practice, before we went over to participate in the Friendship Games. I was about to drive home in my dad's new car, and I accidentally hit Coach Rommel's truck, while I was backing up. Luckily, since the coach knew I was our only shot at winning the next big game at the major leagues, he decided to not say a word, nor report the incident to the police. Since I basically got away with vandalism, my only regret was that I ended up getting a small dent in my dad's nice car."

"Right then, well as for the rest of us, I'm sure it's fair to say that outside of any personal life decisions, one of our biggest regrets would've been not standing up to Principal Cinch sooner." Sunny Flare gave her input. "I knew she was manipulating everyone, but I was too busy fighting through my classes and endless homework to see the real picture."

"You can say that again, especially when we found out about how she was trying to blackmail Twilight behind the scenes." Lemon Zest added. "I was just too busy trying to impress her, to realize she didn't care about any of us. Maybe if we had done something sooner, the Friendship Games might've actually been... well, a game of friendship, rather than a never-ending fierce competition."

"Yeah, she really had us all fooled." Sour Sweet reflected. "But let's not get too down about it, we're all graduating soon, and we've got the whole world ahead of us. We'll show everyone at Crystal Prep that we're more than just their pawns. Besides, I've got a few tricks up my sleeve for the future, and I'm pretty sure that I'll be the one laughing when it's all said and done. When I'm a cop out there in the city, you can bet that I'll even go as far as to plant incriminating evidence on suspects, just to give myself a bonus."

"I know you're just joking, Sour Sweet, but that's not the kind of attitude we should be encouraging in our future careers." Sugarcoat's gaze grew stern. "The point of what we're discussing is to find what truly drives us and makes us successful, not to become the very kind of people we were trying to avoid. If Moondancer were here right now, she'd surely agree with me."

"You mean the currently ranked #2 student at Crystal Prep Academy?" Sunny Flare rolled her eyes. "Yeah right, her parents are probably just as bad as yours."

"Besides, who said that Sour Sweet was just joking?" Indigo Zap grinned. "Need I remind you Sugarcoat, that the main reason you were able to keep the #1 ranking during freshman year, was all thanks to me? I made sure to keep that nerdy girl in line, as even you were afraid that she'd potentially outsmart you in your own game, making you become a huge disappointment to your parents, if you couldn't be the top student."

"You don't know the first thing about her or my merits." Sugarcoat's face flushed with a mix of anger and embarrassment at the mention of this old rival. "Yes, I was competitive, but I never stooped to such... tactics. I've learned the importance of true personal growth, which is something none of you will ever truly understand."

"I don't know about that, Sugarcoat." Lemon Zest shook her head. "I remember that day we all sat in the cafeteria, where you and Indigo coldly threw her under the bus, purely because you thought she was trying to leech off of you, and take that #1 spot away. That doesn't sound like personal growth, as much as making a rival out of somebody, when it didn't have to come down to that."

"Speaking of which, if you're all referring to who I'm thinking of, I don't actually recall seeing her again for the rest of our time at Crystal Prep Academy." Sunny Flare reflected.

"Hmm, same, but then again, we could immediately tell she wasn't exactly the social-type, was she?" Sour Sweet added.

"You're not all talking about Twilight, are you?" Sunset spoke up from a distance. "I get that you may think she's betrayed your school by transferring over to CHS, but I can assure you that she's changed so much since the Friendship Games."

"Huh?" Sunny Flare looked over. "No, we're not even talking about her, we're more neutral with Twilight, now that Principal Cinch is no longer around. In fact, we wouldn't be surprised if you've never met this old rival of Sugarcoat's."

"Come to think of it, I almost find it unusual that Twilight transferred to Crystal Prep Academy, even after Dean Cadance posted multiple announcements that enrollment spots had been full for months." Sour Sweet remembered. "It's as if... somebody left the school on such short notice, to where a spot opened up for her."

Sunset's eyes widened slightly at the revelation, as it dawned on her that this dark past of Crystal Prep Academy was deeper than she had initially thought. The mention of Principal Cinch's tactics made her wonder if there was more to the story than just a simple academic rivalry, especially after being told a rather concerning rumor from Twilight herself. If Indigo Zap had truly bullied a student so badly, that they dropped out of school entirely, it would almost certainly line up with the oddity of Twilight having been eligible to enroll, despite enrollment spaces being consistently full.

"Indigo Zap?" Sunset addressed the goggle wearing girl. "You wouldn't happen to know anything about this girl in question, would you?"

"Oh, her? "Indigo leaned back, a smug smile playing on her lips, as she adjusted her goggles. "She was just some nerdy girl who thought she could hang with the big leagues. Didn't have what it takes to keep up with us, so she transferred out. What's it to you?"

"Well, that's not what I've been hearing." Sunset replied. "Earlier today, while I was making arrangements with the rest of my friends before graduation, Twilight told me the strangest thing. A rumor that went around Crystal Prep Academy, where supposedly, you bullied a student so badly, that they had no choice but to drop out. And considering how Twilight used to go to that school, she surely must've heard it from somewhere."

"Is that what she said?" Indigo responded with a sneer. "Well, I'll tell you the truth, Sunset. That girl was a showoff and snitch, always trying to one-up us, and she never knew when to back down. So, maybe I played a few pranks on her, but it was just to keep her in line, it's not like I was hurting her or anything, but hey, I guess you'd take the side of the school nerd over a star athlete, wouldn't you?"

"Don't lie, Indigo." Sugarcoat turned around. "It was definitely quite telling when I noticed a pair of broken glasses in the parking lot one day, which looked just like hers. And considering how you yourself claimed that you did everything to keep her in line, I'm guessing there's more to the story that you're not telling us."

"Well, if it's true, maybe it's time to let bygones be bygones." Indigo groaned. "We're all graduating soon, and it's not like we're going to be seeing much of each other after that. Besides, if she was that much of a problem, then maybe it's a good thing I took care of our little troublemaker."

"But... was it really true?" Sunset raised an eyebrow. "I'm not so sure how I feel about that, regardless of how much of a troublemaker she was. That's a new low, to literally force somebody into dropping out, just to escape the bullying."

"Look, it's not like we kicked her out or anything." Indigo's smug smile faded, and she leaned forward, her grip tightening around the handle of her sports drink. "She was just too sensitive, couldn't handle the heat, you know? We're all competitive at Crystal Prep, it's part of the school spirit. Besides, she probably just couldn't handle the pressure of being around actual winners. At the end of the day, we can't dictate somebody else's decisions, whatever life choices you make will only fall on your own shoulders."

Sunset's gaze remained steadfast on Indigo, a mix of disbelief and concern in her eyes. She knew that high school could be a challenge for most students, but to drive someone away from their education? That was a line that shouldn't have been crossed, let alone using such a dirty tactic as a bully.

"I understand that competition can be intense, but that's no excuse for bullying to such an extreme extent." Sunset took a deep breath, trying to keep her emotions in check. "Twilight is one of my closest friends, and she's done nothing but good for CHS. If you girls had a problem with this other student, you should've talked it out like adults, instead of resorting to... whatever it was you did. What do you know about this, Sugarcoat?"

"I don't know the full story, but I do know that Indigo can be... intense when it comes to competition." Sugarcoat said with a blank expression. "I didn't condone her actions, but I also didn't intervene. We all have our moments of weakness, and I was too focused on my own battles to notice someone else's."

Sunset felt a pang of guilt wash over her as she heard this. Her own past as the bully at CHS came back in a rush of memories, and she couldn't help but compare herself to Indigo. She knew firsthand the pain and isolation it could cause, but couldn't comprehend a bully's actions becoming this intense. As Sunset took a moment to gather her thoughts, her gaze lingered on the horizon, as the setting sun painted the sky with a warm, reflective glow. Had it not been for Princess Twilight, would Sunset's past actions have likely done the same thing to even Fluttershy?

"You can't just write someone off as 'not cut out for it'." Sunset folded her arms across her chest. "It sounds like to me, that all you girls never realized the impact your actions had on her. Maybe she had her own dreams and aspirations that you shattered, and what if she had nowhere to go, or no one to turn to, after dropping out? What kind of environment does that say about Crystal Prep Academy, if a student feels that trapped?"

"Hey, what are you bringing us into this for?" Sunny Flare huffed. "We barely even knew this girl, and hardly interacted with her at all."

"Yeah, we only just realized today that she mysteriously vanished from the school." Sour Sweet defended herself. "All we really knew back then, was that Sugarcoat and Indigo gave her a hard time, and that's about it, really."

"But if you knew she was being bullied, why didn't any of you do something?" Sunset said, disappointed. "That's not what friends do, especially when their actions are certainly out of line. You can't just let a bias in friendship allow you to take a blind eye towards something this serious."

Hearing Sunset's words, Sunny Flare, Sour Sweet, and Lemon Zest all exchanged glances of discomfort, each silently acknowledging that they had been passive observers in the events that unfolded back then. They had never truly understood the gravity of the situation, but as they saw the genuine concern in Sunset's eyes, they realized that their indifference had allowed for a fellow student's suffering. Indigo Zap on the other hand, remained unfazed, her smug expression unwavering as she took a casual sip of her drink. Sugarcoat's gaze was cold and calculating, her arms folded tightly across her chest as she listened intently.

"Well Sunset, it's easy for you to say that now, considering you yourself even made Twilight cry at the Friendship Games." Sugarcoat frowned. "But at the time, we were all just trying to survive in the harsh world of Crystal Prep, and especially Principal Cinch. You can't expect us to have been saints, especially when we were constantly fighting to maintain our status."

"And besides, you know how it is, every school has its drama." Indigo Zap continued maintaining a carefree attitude. "Sure, I might've played a few jokes here and there, but it's not like I made someone actually leave the school. Plus, who says we had any say in which students Principal Cinch allowed to transfer in or out? Maybe she had her reasons for keeping us in the dark about that whole situation."

Sunset's gaze sharpened as she listened on, as it was clear that she wasn't going to get a straight answer, but she couldn't shake the feeling of unease. She glanced at Sugarcoat, who remained silent, her expression unreadable, while the remaining three Shadowbolts continued to express guilt, after finally understanding what they've ignored for so long.

"If your justifications entailed surviving through Crystal Prep Academy's hardships, doesn't that also include looking out for each other?" Sunset began, her voice measured and calm. "We're talking about survival here, so isn't it our responsibility to think about others, not just yourself? To not just be bystanders to someone else's pain? I know we all have our own paths, and that we're not going to agree on everything, but we can at least agree to be more humble to one another, right?"

"Sunset, you're right, and I'm sorry for not speaking up back then." Lemon Zest looked down upon herself, fidgeting her fingers. "I... I guess I was just too scared of losing my place on the team, and disappointing my parents. But that's no excuse, especially if Indigo's pranks went too far, to the point that she made another student leave the school. We should've done something, even if it was just to tell someone who could help."

Sunny Flare and Sour Sweet were both having similar thoughts clouding their minds, and were about to speak up in addition to Lemon Zest's response, but were quickly cut off by Indigo.

"Hmph, excuse me!?" Indigo Zap huffed. "You mean to tell me that you would've been a dirty little rat? And here I thought we all made an oath during freshman year to help each other get through our classes, and survive Principal Cinch's tyrannical leadership. So our oath back then meant nothing, you'd rather be a snitch?"

"Look, I don't think any of us are saying we should've snitched." Sour Sweet crossed her arms, her expression a mix of skepticism and defensiveness. "We're just pointing out that maybe we could've been more... proactive in reaching out to that girl, even if we didn't know her that well. It's not like she was just some random student, she was a member of our school community, and she was being bullied by someone we all knew."

"Plus, even if we wanted to snitch, it's too little, too late now, don't you think?" Sunny Flare narrowed her eyes. "I can't believe that you've kept such a grim secret from us, all these years. Now we'll know for a fact that it won't be a coincidence, if we don't see her anywhere during graduation."

"If I may ask, who was this girl in question?" Sunset tried to get an idea on what had happened back then. "Do you remember her name?"

"Her name?" Indigo tapped a finger against her chin. "It's been so long, but she did have this... strange aura about her. Something that was eerily similar to you, Sunset. But I distinctly remember her having glasses, and a penchant for science and good grades, instead of fashion and music. Can't say I remember her name, though it's not like we were ever really friends."

Hearing this, Sunset felt that she knew this type of student they were describing all too well, someone who was likely just as misunderstood and lost as she once was. Her heart went out to this mysterious victim of their former school's toxic culture, but conceded in the fact that no matter what happened, the damage had already been done.

"Well, knowing what you know now, I'm sure you can all agree that we should strive to be better in the future." Sunset tried to keep a calm and respectful tone. "I understand that we can't change the past, but maybe we can learn from it. If we truly want to move on, we need to acknowledge the harm done and improve ourselves. If you can perhaps even find a way to reach out to her, I'd definitely advise for you to apologize, and make amends if she's willing. After all, a good friend once taught me that it costs nothing to show a little compassion and understanding."

Sunset watched as the Shadowbolts absorbed her words, their expressions ranging from guilt to defensiveness. It was clear that the mention of the bullied student had brought up a dark chapter in their lives, one that had been buried beneath the glittering facade of their school's prestigious reputation. Each of them processed the information differently, as Indigo's nonchalance was a stark contrast to Lemon Zest's visible regret. Sunny Flare and Sour Sweet's eyes held the weight of realization that they had been complicit in allowing the situation to escalate. Sugarcoat on the other hand, remained stoic, her thoughts unreadable behind her blank gaze.

The wind picked up, whispering secrets through the leaves of the nearby trees, as if echoing the unspoken truths that hung heavily in the air. Sunset took a step back, her own heart heavy with the burden of understanding the kind of environment Twilight had escaped from. She knew that she couldn't force these girls to change their ways, but hoped that by speaking out, she had at least planted a seed of consideration within them. With a small sigh, she decided it was time to shift the conversation back to the task at hand.

"Alright, it was good to see you girls one last time before graduation, but hopefully, some of you will heed my words well, and understand that the world doesn't always revolve around you and your needs, but everyone's." Sunset sighed, heavily. "With that being said, it's getting quite late, so I'll be heading home now, and hopefully... the next time I meet you girls, my ideas and philosophies will have made a difference in helping you all understand the same things I've taught Twilight over the years."

As the sun dipped further into the horizon, casting long shadows over Canterlot City, Sunset stepped away from the Shadowbolts. Her eyes had lingered on each of them, before she turned around and began exiting through the main square's gates, ready to head home. Once she went out of view, the tension from Sunset's words still remained within three of the girls, before Indigo Zap made a casual remark about her upcoming pool party before graduation, a stark contrast to the heavy conversation that had just transpired.

"Finally, now that she's gone, just another reminder that my dad will be hosting a big pool party later this week, it'll be the hottest bash before graduation, and I've got a feeling it's going to be the talk of the school." Indigo said with a smirk, tossing her hair over one shoulder. "He's already spent over $7,000 on all the food and entertainment, so be sure to come over this weekend and have the time of your lives!"

"Indigo, maybe you should learn to be a little more... humble." Lemon Zest spoke up. "Sunset's words have really opened my eyes up to what we've been blind to, for years now."

"What, I'm just excited, that's all." Indigo rolled her eyes. "Besides, it's not like we can't have fun because we're talking about some nerd that transferred out. It's not like she's going to be there anyways."

"You know what, Indigo, I think I'm gonna pass on that party." Sunny Flare crossed her arms. "What you did to that girl was just wrong, and if you can't even feel bad about it, then I don't think I want to be around you."

"Agreed, and to be honest, we've never really said anything up until now, but there's always been a reason we've purposefully excluded you from some of our past activities." Sour Sweet added. "It was mostly Sugarcoat's idea to steal Rarity's dance choreography for that contest, but at least Sugarcoat's got more hospitality than you. We've always considered her the leader of our group, instead of you."

"Whatever, you girls are just overthinking it." Indigo Zap scoffed. "Besides, we're the Shadowbolts, we're not supposed to be nice, we're meant to be fierce competitors! And if some people get stepped on along the way, that's just part of the game!"

"Indigo, maybe you don't see it, but we've all changed since then, especially since we're graduating and moving on." Sugarcoat gave her piece. "We're not the same people we were back then, so maybe it's time you start acting like it."

"Fine, have it your way, but don't expect me to start playing nice with everyone." Indigo rolled her eyes. "I've got my own future to worry about, and if being fierce is what it takes, then so be it. Don't come crying to me when you realize that the real world isn't all sunshine and rainbows, sometimes you have to play a little dirty to win."

"If that's truly how you feel, even after everything Sunset's said, then have it your way." Lemon Zest huffed. "I think that both Sunny Flare and Sour Sweet are in mutual agreement with me that we don't really want to be around you anymore. Until something changes, we're not speaking with you."

"Fine, be that way." Indigo replied. "But don't expect to be invited to any of the exclusive parties or events I'll be attending after this, I'll be living the high life."