Recovery

Bon Bon woke up and felt something pressing next to her. Opening her eyes, she was surprised to find Sunset sleeping next to her. She jumped up quickly, blushing.

Trixie heard the commotion and walked into the living room with two coffees and handed one to Bon Bon. Smirking, she sat next to her friend who accepted the coffee and took a sip.

“So did you sleep well?” Trixie asked.

“I really didn’t expect her to fall asleep right here. Honest,” Bon Bon coughed out.

“Did she try to leave like mom guessed?” Trixie stared at Bon Bon.

“Yeah it was around two am when she went to leave. I convinced her to stay obviously. I offered for her to come over to the store sometime and help with the candy. Figured being busy would help take her mind off of stuff, at least for a little bit.”

“Trixie feels bad for her,” the magician said sadly. Bon Bon could only nod her agreement.

“The most surprising thing is I guess for me at least, is that she was the queen of Canterlot High. Yet she lived there. Why?” Bon Bon wondered.

“I had no real money.” Both girls jumped at Sunset looking at them.

“When I came from Equestria, all I had was a handful of bits,” she explained.

“Bits?” Bon Bon questioned.

“Where I come from, we use gold coins as a common currency,” Sunset explained.

“Like the Greeks with drachmas?” Trixie asked.

Sunset gave a surprised nod. “I didn’t think you paid attention in history. You’re always asleep.”

Trixie huffed and looked away. “I study history in my spare time. No point in being awake if I know everything already. I also like astronomy among other things.”

“Like what?” Sunset asked. Trixie fidgeted nervously.

“You’ll think Trixie is a nerd and make fun of her.” Sunset shook her head while Bon Bon watched on.

“I won’t. I promise,” Sunset reassured her. Trixie huffed as she made her mind.

“Trixie likes science, chemistry and photography.” Bon Bon sighed and Sunset rolled her eyes.

“Those are hardly nerdy,”Sunset remarked. “Science is fun, I love it.” Trixie looked surprised.

“How long did those gold coins last you? You’ve been here since freshman year so I’d say two years right?” Bon Bon inquired.

Sunset shook her head. “I’ve been here for six years and the bits only lasted two out of the six.” Bon Bon almost dropped her coffee. So that’s why she was so aggressive probably her beginning, probably assumed she had no other way, Bon Bon thought to her self.

“Trixie, Bon Bon and Lyra has a friend who likes photography. Would you wanna meet her?” Trixie asked and Bon Bon instantly smiled, she knew who Trixie was referencing.

Sunset sat quietly for a moment. “Did I ever hurt her?”

“A little bit,” Bon Bon admitted. “You said her photography sucked. Rainy is pretty forgiving though. Cloudkicker is a different story.”

“Twilight did say to make friends. It might be productive to get outdoors,” Sunset sighed. “I’ll need a coffee first, can you take me to Marebucks.”

“Lyra’s getting her lyre tuned I believe. I’ll shoot her and Rainy a text,” Bon Bon said pulling her phone out and tapping away at it.

Trixie pulled Sunset up. “Trixie has coffee in the kitchen already made. Different creamers are in the fridge too.”

“Thanks. I prefer my coffee black,” Sunset said as she was handed a cup for her coffee.

“Lyra will be picking us up in an hour and a half and Rainy said we can meet her at her house,” Bon Bon said joining the other two in the kitchen. “First I gotta change. Pajamas aren’t the best for public.”

“Trixie disagrees. If you’re gonna do something, do it in comfort.” Bon Bon rolled her eyes. The three girls played bowling on Trixie’s WeeSport till Lyra came bounding in.

“Hey Trix, hey Sunny, hey Bonnie,” the mint girl said. Each girl gave a wave and stood up.

“Ready to go?” Lyra asked. Sunset gave a nervous smile and felt Bon Bon throw an arm around her shoulder.

“Everything will go fine,” Bon Bon said with a reassuring smile.
“I hope so.”

Lyra parked her car out on a street in front of a small two story brown house. A purple girl with golden hair was sitting out on the porch wearing a soccer shirt and shorts playing on her phone. She glanced up at the approaching girls and stood up quick, shooting a glare at Sunset.

“Is she here to cause drama or something?” The other girl demanded while Sunset shrank into herself, appearing smaller. Bon Bon put a hand up.

“Easy Cloudkicker. She’s cool, she’s friendly and won’t harm anyone. She’s with us,” Cloudkicker stared at Sunset for a moment before nodding and stepped aside.

“You, come with me,” she pointed to Sunset. “Kitchen.” Sunset shot a nervous look at Bon Bon before following the other girl into the kitchen. Cloudkicker leaned against the counter and folded her arms.

“Are you here to actually be kind and respectful or just start drama?”

Sunset sighed. “You’re straight to the point aren’t you? No, I’m not here to start drama.”

Cloudkicker nodded. “This is your only opportunity. Make things with Raindrops and I might follow her and do the same with you. It all depends on her.”

“I understand,” Sunset sighed. Cloudkicker nodded and turned to the fridge and rummaged through it.

“Here, give this to her,” She tossed a apple juice box and a cheese stick which Sunset barely caught.

“A cheesestick?”

Cloudkicker shrugged. “They’re her favorite. Fastest way to get to her heart”.

That’s a interesting way to get someone’s attention, Sunset mused to herself. Bon Bon walked into the kitchen.

“Good you’re still alive. Rainy is willing to meet you. Head up the stairs, first room on the left.” Sunset nodded and left the kitchen to work her way up the stairs.

“So,” Bon Bon began looking at Cloudkicker. “Did she pass your test?”

“Yep. She seems remorseful and honest about her intentions,” Cloudkicker sighed.

“Don’t get too used to her, otherwise you might to have a threesome with her and Rainy,” Bon Bon snickered.

Cloudkicker stuck a tongue out at her friend. “Maybe I will. You and Lyra can join too.” Bon Bon pushed her gently.

“Pervert.”

Sunset knocked on the door hesitantly.

“Come in,” a voice from inside called. Sunset opened the door and cautiously stepped in and looked around. All over the walls were pictures of rain clouds and tornadoes and a poster for a movie called Twister. On the dresser was a model airplane along with a box of crayons. At the desk sat a laptop with three blue raindrops on the top and a camera.

“Hi”.

A voice made Sunset look over at the bed where a yellow girl with blue hair was sitting. Lyra was sitting on the bed idly brushing the other girls hair which she didn’t look too pleased about.

“Uhm hi. Raindrops, right?” Sunset asked cautiously. Raindrops nodded and cracked a nervous
Warm smile.

“Did Cloudy bite your head off?” Raindrops asked.

“Nah, she just gave me a exam or something,” Sunset admitted. Lyra nodded and put the hair brush down.

“Alright I’m done,” she announced.

“Thank God,” Raindrops muttered. Lyra quickly stood up and rolled her eyes dramatically.

“I’ll be downstairs.” She quickly edged out the room.

“Do you like it?” Raindrops suddenly asked.

“Like what?”

She pointed at the ceiling. “That.”

Sunset gazed up at the ceiling. There was clouds painted into, some grey pouring out rain and a tornado in one corner and a hot air balloon floating peacefully along.

“It’s very nice. Did Watermelody paint that?” Raindrops cocked her head to the side.

“I have no idea who that is. But no, I painted it.”

“I’m impressed,” Sunset walked over to the pictures on the wall and examined them.

“I took those. Cloudkickers parents take us random places during summer and I always get to photograph new storms. It’s my goal to be a storm chaser”. She quickly pulled her knees close to her. “You probably hate them, I suck at it. After all, you said I suck at it so it must be true.”

Sunset spun around. “It’s not true. These are beautiful.” She sat down next to the quietly sniffling girl and hesitantly put an arm around her. Raindrops leaned into it somewhat surprised.

“I was mean to you and I’m sorry. I never should have said that, but I’m changing now. For the better.’

Raindrops nodded and wiped a tear away. “I forgive you. Are you okay though?”

“Yeah, why wouldn’t I be?”

Raindrops waved a head in the air. “With all that’s happened, trying to change living with Trixie. I love that girl but she can be a bit much.”

Sunset chuckled. “That she can. Uh how much did Lyra tell you?”

“She said enough, mentioned unideal living conditions and that’s why you were with Trixie.”

“I may or may not have been homeless,” Sunset chuckled nervously.

Raindrops stared at her. “Wow that is pretty unideal living conditions. So adjusting is difficult I bet.”

“You have no idea. I still don’t think I deserve this after all I’ve done,” Sunset sighed. Raindrops stared ahead at a photograph thinking.

“You see that picture right that?” She pointed. “The one with the giant tornado?”

Sunset nodded. “Yeah? What about it? It’s very pretty.”

“I love storms. Storms give life, they help plants grow and help us. But they can also be deadly. Tornados kill lots of people. But when they’re in a field in a countryside, they’re quite beautiful. Powerful. They’re like people, wild with emotions and ready to go off at a moments notice in the right conditions. When warm air mixes with cold air, it starts to form a tornado. They don’t last long but they are gorgeous while they are alive. You’re a lot like a tornado. You were deadly at first, but now you’re in a countryside, calm and misunderstood just a tornado. And with tornadoes comes rain. Lots of rain. It’s really quite fascinating really.” Sunset sat there listening while the words sank in.

Raindrops continued. “And after the tornado dissipates and the rain stops, the sun comes out again. Every rainy day comes to an end and brings out a sunny day. Your sunny day is coming, quicker than you think. And it’ll be beautiful.” She finally broke her gaze off the photo and smiled at Sunset. Sunset gave her a hug and Raindrops blinked in surprise before embracing Sunset back.

“Thank you.”