Every Dark Night Turns Into Day

Rarity

I watched Sunset and Lightning sneak back inside the school from my spot in the lunchroom as Vinyl quickly and quietly opened the lunch door for them to come in. They sped walked over to our table and joined us.

"You two were gone for a bit," Rainbow commented casually as she glanced over at them.

"Maybe," Sunset sighed as she stole my water.

"Where were you two at loves?" Octavia asked with her hands folded on the table.

"Nowhere," Lightning said simply as she pulled a granola bar out of her jackets pocket. Octavia and Applejack both narrowed their eyes slightly.

"Y'all are hiding something," Applejack said as she examined the two. Lightnings face became unreadable as Sunset shrugged.

"We went to the lake to talk. Mainly about the future and such," Sunset said as Lightning nodded. Octavia cast a critical gaze over the two before her expression relaxed.

"They're telling the truth," she announced.

"Your mom is looking for you. She didn't like the fact that you never came back from class. Especially since she sent Derpy to go find you," Rainbow said as Indigo and the others approached us, sitting down. "Oh hey guys."

"Did you guys hear about Cinch?" Lemon asked eagerly. "She's dead!" Sunset and Lightning exchanged a look and tensed slightly.

"Thank god," Indigo muttered as Sunny glared at her.

"How can you say that? Sure, she was evil but she was still a person! A living breathing being not a doll or something," Sunny scoffed angrily. I gave a faint nod of approval at that.

"She took the easy way out," Sour grumbled with her arms folded on the table. "Suicide just saved her from jail time."

"I don't like this conversation," Fluttershy whispered nervously. Sunset patted her on the back reassuringly as Fuchsia scoffed and looked away.

"Me too," Pinkie muttered as Derpy gave her a glare and sat between her and Sunset, pointedly sitting closer to Sunset. I rolled my eyes subtly. Apparently Derpy picked up on Pinkies less than subtle feelings for Sunset and was less than happy.

"I have to go feed the birds. Wanna come with Twilight?" Fluttershy asked as she brushed some of hair out of her eyes. Twilight choked slightly on her salad as she nodded.

"I'm coming with too," Sugarcoat said dryly as she slid her tray to Sunset and Lightning. They had missed the window to get lunch unfortunately. Just as I was gonna offer them my lunch. Twilight looked slightly uncomfortable as the three left.

"So what now? Cinch is dead. Are you staying or leaving?" Octavia asked worriedly as we all stared at Sunset nervously.

"I'm staying here," Sunset answered finally. "She can't talk from the grave so our secret is safe."

"Thank god," Rainbow muttered as she punched her fist into an open hand. "I would have punched her myself. Would have enjoyed it too."

"Easy now," Applejack warned her in a low voice. "Don't let the other preppers hear ya. There's some of them still who are loyal to Cinch even though she's gonna be six feet under soon."

"She's right," Indigo grumbled as she focused on her classmates. "She did a lot for people at cpa even if she threatened their future to get what she wanted. She did always keep up her end of the bargain."

"Huh," Applejack mused as we let that sink in. "Ah thought she wouldn't have."

"The most important part of blackmailing someone is to keep your end up," Sunset explained with a guilty look. "Trust me, I know that well." All of us except our guests flinched a bit at that as we looked away.

"That was the old you," I reassured her quickly. "Not you now. You're a better person."

"Way better," Vinyl chimed in. "And to be fair, you left some people alone. Me for example. And Derpy."

"And me," Lightning added in.

"You have a point," Sunset admitted as she gazed behind me. I turned around at Twilight’s brother approaching. "Shit hide me."

"Why?" Pinkie asked as Lightning gazed at us. "Did you do something naughty?"

"No! Shining Armor and I have history. Let's just say he and I ran into each other a lot when I was uh working at my first job," Sunset explained nervously as she slumped over. "It's complicated."

"Hello ladies," Shining Armor said coolly as he looked down at us. He was surprisingly tall. "Have you guys seen Twilly around? I was supposed to pick her up early for a doctor's appointment."

"You just missed her," Rainbow said. "She went with Sugarcoat and Fluttershy to feed the birds. Check the main court yard. It's Fluttershys go to spot for the birds."

"Alright thanks," Shining smiled at us before focusing on Sunset. "Hello Sunset. It's nice to see you again under less illegal circumstances. Hopefully you've turned your life around."

"I have," she mumbled nervously as Derpy squeezed her hand under the table. "Thank you for the concern Sergeant."

"Shining is fine," he chuckled as he dusted off his pants. "You haven't heard anything about Cinchs death or anything related to it have you girls?" I opened my mouth to say no when I realized he was gazing at the Shadowbolts.

"No sir we haven't," Sunny Flare told him with a smile.

"Okay just checking. Your school would have the most reasons to have her offed," he commented casually.

"Do you have any reason to suspect she was murdered?" Sunset asked cautiously as he looked back at her.

"Not really but it's good to cover all the basis. So far it's looking like a typical suicide," Shining told her as Octavia tilted her head to the side. "She did have cuts on her wrists as well so that just backs up the narrative it was suicide."

We all looked at each other with disgusted looks. I personally don't think I ever want a job where it's practically casual conversation to discuss suicide like it was nothing. Sounds depressing.

"I must be off now. Nice seeing you all," Shining nodded as he walked off.

"That was interesting," Coco mused as we watched.

"Indeed," I agreed. "Indeed it was."

The rest of lunch was surprisingly quiet after that.