My Life Sucks

Sunset rested her head on her cold desk, idly listening to the teacher talking. Something about decimals or fractions or something else boring. She despised math with a burning passion. All of it just made her have a migraine any time she attempted her homework.

At least history class made sense to her. History and science were easily her favorite classes. They were easy and fun at least. Reading about history was always something Sunset liked doing in her off time. And science, well who didn’t like science? Creating potions and doing other experiments was always entertaining.

Well, unless somepony got injured, then Sunset supposed it wasn’t so interesting.

“Wake up,” Twilight nudged her seat worriedly. “We gotta start our test soon.”

Oh joy, Sunset thought bitterly and she forced her head up. Sunset had been up all night studying, but she wasn’t entirely sure she would pass. Especially since she didn’t know what the heck she was doing. It got to the point she idly considered paying somepony smart, like Moondancer or Twilight to either do it for her or at least help her with it.

“You all have the rest of class to work on this test starting now. Please no talking, no sharing answers or passing notes to other students. If you do, you’ll be asked to leave and head to the principals office to finish your test alone. Please start now,” Peppermint Crunch announced as he finished trotting up each row of desks before returning to his own. “And good luck everypony.”

Good freaking luck indeed, Sunset thought bitterly as she stared down at the sheet she had received along with the rest of the class.

Twilight’s horn briefly glowed and Sunset flinched as she heard the mare speak in her head.

Sunset briefly spared a quick glance back at Twilight and the mare shot her a faint smile.

Here’s the answers. Good luck.

Wow, this is freaky, Sunset thought and she mentally stared at the little Twilight Sparkle in her mind. I mean, you’re in my mind. How the heck are you even doing this?

I’ll tell you later. Imagine how this is for me.

Celestia’s hooves echoed down the hall of her school as she trotted past various classrooms, a few students glancing out their classes to look at her with bored expressions on their faces.

In Celestia’s magic was a copy of a deed for a house and a copy of a check as Celestia forced herself to keep a calm expression on her muzzle.

Celestia stood in front of a door with the words Assistant Principal, Emerald Leaf on the door. She knocked a few times on the door and waited patiently outside.

“Come on in,” Emerald Leaf called out and Celestia opened the door. Emerald Leafs eyes widened and she pushed her chair out, kneeling in front of the Princess. “P-Princess Celestia. I didn’t know you were dropping by.”

That was the plan, Celestia thought as she sat down on a chair in front of Emerald Leafs desk.

“Sit down, Emerald. And shut the door,” Celestia told her and Emerald hastily complied as she shut the door with her magic and she sat down on her chair. “So, did you hear about our new student, Silver Spanner? Started earlier this month? Very nice family, lovely mother and father. Lovely young mare, Silver Spanner is. She’s grown to be a very good friend with my little girl.”

The two had practically been inseparable after Silver Spanner and Twinkleshine had spent the night at the castle. Sunset had stayed the night yesterday at Silver Spanners house with Twinkleshine and Celestia couldn’t be happier.

She and Silver Spanners parents had been getting closer themselves. Celestia wouldn’t just trust anypony with her daughter without any royal guards. And Oil Canvas was quite capable, Celestia had learned.

“Yes Princess. Silver Spanner has done quite well. B’s and A’s all across the board. Quite impressive, actually. I have her file here if you want to look at-”

“I don’t, actually,” Celestia cut her off and raised a hoof. “Did you know I learned you were high school friends with Sweetie Charm?”

“Well, no I didn’t.”

“You also met with her a month before a house was mysteriously purchased, fully paid off. And they get paid for their daughter to attend my school. Do you wish to know who’s been signing those checks and the one who paid for house?” Celestia asked with a raised eyebrow and rested her hooves on the desk.

A bead of sweat worked it’s way down Emerald Leafs chin and Celestia levitated the check and deed onto the desk.

“Yours.”

Celestia levitated a piece of paper out of Emerald Leafs desk, laying it next to the other two papers.

“The horn signatures are the exact same. Do you care to explain to me what is going on here?” Celestia leaned back and tapped a hoof against the desk. “Preferably the truth.”

“Fine, I’ve been paying them because they’re going through a hard time. What’s the problem with that?” Emerald shot back and sat up straighter. “No offense, Princess, but there is nothing wrong with supporting my friends in a rough time. Who wouldn’t do that for their friends?”

“I admire you for that, except there’s one problem. You kept this from me. We don’t pay ponies to attend my school. And you know this,” Celestia frowned at her. “And we’re not even to the worst of this yet.”

This isn’t the worst part? Emerald idly thought as she nervously licked her lips.

“You lied directly to my face about this. I asked you the other day if you knew anything. I can’t allow somepony who lies to me to work for me. I can’t trust you anymore. What else have you lied to me about? Emerald, you’re fired,” Celestia frowned and Emerald gasped.

“I understand, Princess. I’ll pack and be gone by the end of the day,” Emerald hung her head and Celestia shook her head.

“Actually, you won’t have that opportunity, Emerald. I also found out recently that you have been funneling funds for certain school clubs that few of the school ponies liked into your own pockets. Guards!” Celestia called out and the door opened to reveal three stern looking royal guards in gold armor. “You’re under arrest. Sergeant Comet, Corporal Thunder and Specialist Cobalt, kindly place Emerald Leaf in cuffs.”

“Ma’am, step forward,” Comet ordered and Emerald sighed as she complied as Thunder and Cobalt locked hoof cuffs on her legs along with a horn inhibitor on her horn to block her magic. “You’re under arrest for money laundering.”

The three guards escorted her into the hall of students and everypony froze, staring with wide eyes as Thunder and Cobalt stood on either side of Emerald.

“-Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have a right to an attorney. If you cannot afford one, one will be provided for you by the Crown free of charge. Do you understand these rights I’ve just read to you?” Comet asked as she finished reading Emerald her rights and held open the front door of the school.

"Yes."

Sunset stood next to Silver Spanner, Twilight and her friends with shocked expressions as Celestia trotted past.

“What the hell just opened?” Lyra wondered aloud as ponies started whispering to each other.

Sunset watched Cobalt shove her assistant principal or well, former assistant principal now into the back of a royal guard prisoner carriage.

“Do you know anything about this?” Lyra turned to Sunset and she shook her head slowly.

“No, not at all. Silver Spanner, wanna spend the night tonight? I got a new video Mom and I wanna try out with somepony. Twinkleshine, you in?” Sunset turned to the two.

“Hell yeah.”

“Yeah, sure.”

Celestia trotted down the hall of the Royal Guard station with a royal guard holding open the door to the jail cells.

“Thank you, Captain,” Celestia bowed her head slightly and he saluted her.

“As you order, Princess. I’ll be out here if you need me.” Celestia listened to the door shut, trotting past some cells. She was glad most of them were empty as she stood in front of Emeralds cell.

The mare was sitting on the floor next to a toilet and bed chained to the wall with a miserable expression. The last seven hours had been god awful. Processing took forever. Emerald had to sit next to a drunk stallion who was pretty aggressive with the stallion in front of her and attacked him.

Emerald had no idea the royal guards could move that fast or were allowed to tackle ponies like that. Or put them in a scary looking restraint chair. Or put a scary looking spit mask on their head. Lots of vomiting and yelling. Probably the worst situation she had ever seen herself in.

“You know, I’m the forgiving type. If you give me a good apology, I’ll let you out with a fine of five hundred bits and have you return all the money you stole back to the school.”

Emerald turned around and stood up. Orange really wasn’t her color, Celestia noted but she opted to not say anything.

“I have no excuse. Actions have consequences. You here to rub it in my face or something? This you happy seeing me in this nasty looking, loose fitting orange jumpsuit?” Emerald tugged at the collar. “It doesn’t even go with my eyes.”

Celestia gave a tired sigh and the alicorn shifted her weight as Emerald sat down on the bed and hugged herself.

“Nothing about this makes me happy. I had a pony I trusted lie and steal from me. Any good reputation you may have had here you destroyed today. You can do whatever you want, but how could you look at me after all you done?”

Emerald stared at her hooves and she sniffed quietly as Celestia sighed after a few moments of silence.

“I hope you sort your life out one day. Goodbye. We’re done here,” Celestia commented and turned away from her. “Now if you excuse me, I have dinner with my daughter to get to. Guard!”

The guard opened the door for Celestia and she trotted past him as he shut it and Celestia glanced at the clock.

“Make sure she’s treated well. She was a friend.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Sunset laid on her bed in between Silver Spanner and Twinkleshine, the latter breathing softly as she nuzzled Sunset’s cheek. Silver Spanner stared at the ceiling as Sunset continued writing on a piece of paper.

“What are you writing?” Silver Spanner asked finally and Sunset covered it with a hoof.

“Nothing. Just a note, so to speak. I’ll be mailing it sometime tomorrow morning if I get up in time. I can’t believe we’re getting a new assistant principal. I’m just glad Mom is covering up Emerald Leaf paying off your parents to attend the school.”

“I’m just glad your mom is letting us keep the house. Mom doesn’t know I listened in, but she was really worried we’d go back to Ponyville. Your mom is amazing,” Silver Spanner rolled to look at Sunset. “I owe her big time. And hey, at least my life doesn't suck anymore. It's nice to have a friend."

“Nah, it’s just mom being mom. She’s always the forgiving type. And you three didn’t do anything wrong, really. You’re an innocent party. She wouldn’t punish you three for somepony else’s actions. It’s who she is,” Sunset answered and covered a yawn with her hoof. “And same here. I Goodnight, Silver Spanner.”

“Night, Sunset.”

Sunset turned the light off with her magic and stared at the ceiling for what seemed like hours to her until Silver Spanner finally fell asleep and Sunset signed her name on the piece of paper she had been, writing, teleporting it with a faint pop.

Oil Canvas sat on a chair with a book in front of him and Sweetie Charm was idly reading the book with him when a envelope popped into existence in front of them.

“What the heck?” Sweetie Charm jumped and they both stared at it before she opened it. “Who in Equestria would randomly send us a check for nine thousand bits?”

“Really?”

“When have I ever lied to you?” Sweetie scowled and rolled her eyes. “We got another one earlier I didn’t open. But they both have the royal seal on them. Very strange.”

“Weird.”

Celestia landed outside in front of the Canterlot statue garden, preening her wings briefly before glancing around for her guards. She didn’t normally sneak out of the castle unless it was important or she didn’t want to be seen. Having a dozen royal guards around tended to get a lot of attention for the obvious reasons.

Celestia walked inside, occasionally stopping at certain statues to examine them or clean off a few dirty ones. She passed a statue of Star Swirl and Stygian next to each other, pausing to pay her respects briefly.

Celestia started again till she reached the statue she was looking for and she stared up at it, brushing some vines aside with her hoof.

“Your daughter asked about you again this week for the first time in about ten years. I didn’t necessarily know what to tell her. It was easier when she was little and I could just say you were on the other side of Equestria. She’s a smart mare and will probably figure this out on her own. But I’m really hoping she doesn’t yet until you break free. I already had to swear Raven and Cadence to silence about who her dad really is. Sunset already reacted how I figured she would when I told her about her sister,” Celestia sat down on the dirt. “Mainly just confused. Not even I know where Screwball is. Probably floating around in some crazy world, waiting until you get back.”

Celestia jumped and glanced back, exhaling softly. She swore she thought she heard a pony flying over head, but it was fairly windy out. Most likely her mind playing tricks on her. It’s not like anypony really goes into the gardens at this time of night. Most ponies are asleep unless they really like the night time.

“I have to get back and check on Sunset, then go to sleep myself. She’s having yet another sleepover with her friends in the castle. I don’t think one of them knows about me and Sunset sending her parents checks for substantial amount of bits yet, but that will probably change tomorrow evening.”

Celestia stretched out her forelegs and wings as she stood up, shaking off the dirt and grass as she trotted to the gated entrance, leaving the statue of Discord behind.