Equestria Girls: Open Arms

Sunset Shimmer and… Aita Bagley-Handy, please report to the principal’s office.

In the front halls, I perk up to the sound of the intercom calling me and Sunset’s names. In fact, I haven’t heard my full name in a LONG time. Something isn’t right, though. Why Principal Celestia? She hasn’t met me.

“That’s us… is something wrong?”

“Yeah. No one over here ever said my full name. Why would Principal Celestia know? She hasn’t even seen my face.”

“Maybe a lookalike attends some far-off school; I don’t know. For now though, we go in and tell her. Alright?” Sunset asks.

I nod. Sunset and I head into the office and take the two student chairs in the room.

“Good afternoon. I believe you both had some news for me?”

“Yes, Principal Celestia,” Sunset Shimmer starts. “Me and my friends got a text announcing a surprise day off on Monday.”

“Surprise day off… who was it from?”

“Superintendent Spitfire. She even signed it at the end.”

“Ah, now that’s an interesting story, you two. Have a seat and let’s talk about it.”

Celestia invites us to pull our chairs up.

“You see, during your sophomore year, Sunset, Canterlot High was undergoing some quick changes, one of which was the hiring of Superintendent Spitfire. After the old superintendent was let go for her… outdated outlook, Spitfire came in and fixed the policies made by her predecessor. Considering her resume stated she was previously an instructor at WCHQ, she seemed very experienced in scheduling. While I admit that she can be a bit sacred about what she plans, I’m sure I can reason with her about this sudden change in planning. Here’s hoping she reconsiders.”

Sunset Shimmer smiles to me, then back to Principal Celestia. “Thanks for telling us as much as you could. I hope so too, considering Aita has school at the same time back in Equestria.”

Principal Celestia looks puzzled a first, but ultimately nods. “All the more reason to have that discussion with Superintendent Spitfire. Will there be anything else?”

“That should be it. Sunset?”

“Pretty sure.”

So, Principal Celestia leads the two of us out of the office.

“Remember you two, I will be right here if you need me; my door is always open.”

I expect to hear the door slam, but come up pleasantly surprised when it doesn’t.

“You okay, Aita?” Sunset asks me.

“Don’t worry about me. I was just expecting to hear that door shut behind us.”

“It’s nothing really. I’m sure she’s just working on following her own word. While we’re here and waiting to hear from the principal though, why don’t we head out to the field, maybe get some fresh air.”

***

I’ve always had a soft spot for the soccer field. I always felt at home looking at it, and now I’m here.

Sunset and I have a seat on the side of the field.

“So, you never went into detail; what happened at Hearth’s Warming?” Gee Sunset, way to break the ice.

“Should I though? Pinkie pretty much said all you need to know.”

“But that doesn’t explain what disaster you might’ve been through. Aita, I won’t tell anybody. I Pinkie promise.”

I sigh, then lightly chuckle. “You had me at the Pinkie promise. If you say so.” I begin to lay onto the grass. “Well, my mom and I lived in a world similar to this, just without the diverse tones you guys have. Last Hearth’s Warming, Mom and her best friend were trying to visit each other until it turned out I’d be getting a sibling. But because of how poorly the process was handled compared to with me, I ended up without a changeling family entirely.”

“So, you severed all ties with your homeworld?”

I nod. “Pretty much. Only ones I really miss are Mom, Sophie and Tim. Even with school, Twilight and the gang keeping me company back in Equestria, I don’t know if I’ll ever be the same changeling I was before.”

“Hm. You seem like you’ve been through a lot for just seven years. Took me over forty just to even come close.”

I sit back up. “Forty? I know Equestria’s ponies age much slower than humans and changelings, but forty years? How come you’re in CHS then?”

“That’s… not what I was getting at. Changeling or Pony, experiences like that can be damaging to someone your age, especially when you lose that many friends. You were pretty lucky since we have a lot of the same friends. I understand why you didn’t want to tell me about Hearth’s Warming, but sharing your experiences is what helps a friend get to know you. Like I said before, I won’t tell anybody else. This is just between you and me.”

After her little speech, Sunset wraps her arm around me, so I do the same. She seems to hold it for a lot longer than my other friends ever did. For about a minute, Sunset is frozen in that position until her hand pulls itself out.

“Wow; you and Carina did a lot together in Equestria.”

“Wait, what? How’d you know my mom’s name?”

“Are you forgetting, Aita?”

“Oh, right. Your arm collects mental information… I… I understand now. I understand why you guys didn’t like the sound of being recorded without your knowledge… I’m really sorry about watching you and your friends on TV.”

“You’re fine, Aita. It’s not like you can take that knowledge back.”

Suddenly, I hear Sunset’s phone vibrating. She pulls it out.

“It’s Principal Celestia!” Sunset exclaims, answering the call. “Hello? …yeah, he still is… You did? …Sure thing.”

Then, the phone hangs up. “Hey Sunset, what’s going on?” I ask.

“She’s asking us to report back. We’ll have to cut our time out here short.”

I nod. “Okay. Lead the way.”

With that, Sunset and I head back inside to Principal Celestia’s office. I really wonder: what did Spitfire say? I’m seriously hoping that Monday will be a regular school day for Sunset and her friends again.