"Come on" Sunset spoke softly, motioning me to follow her. Her speech was calm, but her eyes were filled with concern. "We need to get that looked at."

I did not argue. The pain in my palm remained severe as we made our way into the hallway. Sunset walked a little ahead of me, periodically checking over her shoulder to ensure I was keeping up.

“Are you okay?” she asked quietly.

“I’m fine,” I mumbled, though my voice didn’t sound convincing, even to me.

We arrived at the nurse's office, and Sunset lightly knocked before pushing the door open. The nurse, a pleasant-looking woman with graying hair and a calm manner, looked up from her desk.

“What happened here?” she asked, her eyes immediately falling on my hand, which was still dripping blood. “Come, sit down.”

I obeyed, sitting on the side of the examination bed as Sunset stood nearby, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. The nurse grabbed a set of gloves and some disinfectant.

"Let me see," she said, gesturing for my hand. I hesitated for a moment before reluctantly holding it out. The sight of the deep, straight cut made her frown.

“This looks like someone took a razor to you,” she said, her tone sharp with concern. Her eyes darted to Sunset. “Did she do this to you? Should I call the police?”

Sunset’s face fell, her eyes widening in shock and hurt. “What? No! I would never—”

“She didn’t do anything!” I interrupted quickly, my voice louder than I intended. Sunset flinched slightly, and I immediately regretted my tone. “This isn’t her fault. She didn’t touch me.”

The nurse’s skeptical gaze lingered on Sunset for a moment longer before returning to me. “Then how did this happen?”

What could I say? That this was some divine punishment for breaking the rules of a second chance in an alternate universe? Yeah, right. That would go over well.

“I… uh…” I stammered, looking down at the floor. “I was messing around with… a piece of glass. It was stupid. I wasn’t paying attention, and I just… cut myself.”

The nurse raised an eyebrow, clearly not convinced. “A piece of glass? Where? In school?”

“Yeah,” I lied, my voice shaky. “It was just… lying around, I guess. I wasn’t thinking.”

Sunset opened her mouth to say something, but I shot her a look, silently pleading with her to stay quiet. She pressed her lips together, her expression torn.

The nurse sighed and shook her head, muttering something under her breath as she grabbed the disinfectant. “You need to be more careful” she said, dabbing at the wound with a cotton ball. The sting was immediate and intense, but I didn’t flinch.

She cleaned the cut thoroughly before wrapping my hand in a bandage, her movements precise. “You’re lucky it wasn’t deeper,” she said. “Do you want me to call your parents? They should know about this.”

“No!” I said quickly, my heart racing. “No, it’s fine. I’ll… I’ll tell them myself.”

The nurse frowned but didn’t press the issue. “Alright, but you need to be more responsible. And if this happens again, I will call someone, understood?”

“Understood"

We left the office. Sunset walked beside me, her hands stuffed into the pockets of her jacket.

“What was that?” she asked after a moment, her voice low but filled with concern.

“What was what?” I replied, avoiding her gaze.

“You know what I mean,” she said, stopping in her tracks. “That whole story about the glass. It didn’t make any sense.”

“It doesn’t matter”

“It does matter,” she insisted, stepping closer. “That wound… it didn’t look like an accident. And the way you reacted…” She trailed off, her tone softening. “Please, just tell me the truth.”

“I can’t”

“Why not?”

“Because you wouldn’t believe me!” I turned to face her, my eyes stinging with unshed tears. “You’d think I’m crazy, and you’d be right.”

Her expression softened, her concern outweighing her confusion. “Try me,” she said gently.

I looked away, swallowing hard. I couldn’t tell her. Not about the voice, not about the punishment, not about the fact that I wasn’t even supposed to be here.

“It’s just… complicated,” I said finally. “I’m sorry, Sunset. I can’t explain it. Not now.”

“Why did you lie?” she asked, her voice trembling slightly. “You told me earlier you hadn’t heard the rumors about me. Was that just a joke to you? Did you say that so you could laugh at me behind my back, waiting until I wouldn’t see it coming?”

Her words hurt not because they were true, but because I had messed up everything. I silently cursed myself, feeling the weight of my previous decisions slamming down on me. My reluctance, half-truths, and poorly thought-out responses had all contributed to this moment.

“Sunset, no,” I said quickly, shaking my head. “That’s not what this is.”

“Then what is it?” she pressed, her voice cracking. “Because it feels like you’re just another person judging me for something I can’t change. Something I’ve been trying so hard to move past.”

“Sunset. I did hear something… but not until after you gave me the tour. And even then, I didn’t care.”

“You… didn’t care?”

“No, I didn’t. Why should I? That’s in the past, right? It doesn’t matter to me what you did before. What matters is who you are now.”

She blinked, visibly taken aback. “But I… I tried to take over the school. I tried to make everyone’s life miserable. Don’t you get that?”

“I do,” I said, stepping closer. “I get that you made mistakes. Big ones. But who hasn’t? You’re trying to make up for it. You’re giving everything you have to be better, to show people that you’ve changed. I see that.”

Her lips parted slightly, but she didn’t say anything. Her expression was a mix of surprise and disbelief, as if she couldn’t quite comprehend what I was saying.

“And honestly,” I continued, “why should I judge you for your past when I can see how hard you’re working to move forward? Sunset. Your past doesn’t define you. What defines you is what you’re doing now, how you’re living now.”

The words came tumbling out of me, and I realized I meant every single one of them.

Her eyes widened slightly, and I could see the wheels turning in her mind. “Your past is not today,” I added quietly, my voice soft but firm.

For a moment, there was silence. Sunset’s lips trembled, and she looked away, blinking rapidly as if to fight back tears. “You… you really mean that?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

“I do” I said without hesitation.

She looked back at me, her expression softening. “But why? Why do you care?”

“Because I see you” I said simply. “Not the person you used to be, not the mistakes you made. I see you. And you’re worth caring about, Sunset. You’re worth it.”

Her breath hitched, and for a moment, I thought she might cry. But instead, she gave me a small, shaky smile. “You’re… different,”

“Maybe,” I said, shrugging slightly. “But I think you’re pretty different, too. In the best way.”

Sunset smiled faintly as she turned to leave. “Just… check on your sister, okay? And maybe… it’s better if I don’t talk to her right now. She needs you more than me.”

I nodded, watching her walk away.I found sis standing just outside the bathroom, arms crossed, her face streaked with dried tears. Her expression softened when she saw me, but then her eyes flicked to my bandaged arm. Her concern was immediate.

“Hey, I’m sor— Oh my god, what happened to you?!” she blurted out, rushing toward me. “What happened? Oh my god, your arm…”

“It’s good, don’t worry,” I said, raising my hands to calm her down. The sting in my arm was still fresh, but I forced a small smile. “It’s fine, really. Just an accident.”

She narrowed her eyes at me, pointing to the bandage. “What could you accidentally do to get something like that?” Her voice wavered between worry and frustration, and I could see her mind racing to fill in the blanks.

I looked away, my thoughts a jumble. I couldn’t tell her the truth. “It’s nothing, Snowy. Just… bad timing, that’s all.”

She didn’t look convinced, but she didn’t press further. “You’re impossible,” she said, shaking her head. “But you’re also bleeding through the bandage.”

I glanced at my arm, noticing the faint red stain seeping through the white. Damn. I hadn’t even realized.

“C’mon, Snowy,” I said, attempting to steer the conversation away. “You’ve got to say sorry to Sunset.”

Her eyes widened, and she took a step back. “What? No way. She’s the reason people are talking about me! Why should I—”

“Don’t even start” I interrupted, taking her hand gently but firmly. “This isn’t about blame. Just trust me on this, okay?”

She hesitated, her lips trembling, but eventually nodded. “Fine. But only because you’re making me.”

We walked back to the cafeteria. I could already imagine the looks we’d get when we entered, and the thought made my stomach churn. The girls were still seated at the same table, but their faces were different now harder, colder. Sunset was sitting with her hands clasped in her lap, her gaze fixed on the floor.

Applejack was the first to notice us. She stood up, her hands on her hips, her usual kind expression replaced with something stern. “Well, if it ain’t the liar,” she said, her voice sharp and cutting.

My heart dropped. “Oh, fuck,” I thought. “She told them.”

Snowdrop glanced up at me, her confusion evident. I squeezed her hand reassuringly, though my own confidence was quickly unraveling.

“Hold on, let me explain,” I said, stepping forward.

“Explain what?” Rainbow Dash shot back, leaning forward on the table. “That you’ve been lying to Sunset this whole time? That you’ve been messing with her just like—”

“That’s not what happened!” I said, cutting her off. My voice cracked slightly, but I pushed through. “It’s not like that at all.”

Rarity raised a delicate brow, her arms crossed. “Then what is it like, darling? Because from where we’re standing, it looks an awful lot like you’ve been playing games with her.”

“I care about her,” I said, my voice quieter now. “More than you think.”

That seemed to catch their attention. Even Pinkie Pie, who’d been unusually quiet, tilted her head curiously.

“Then why lie?” Applejack asked, her tone softer but still firm. “If you care so much, why couldn’t you just be honest?”

Because I’m not supposed to be here. Because I’m from another world. Because I know things about all of you that I shouldn’t.

But I couldn’t say any of that. Not without risking more consequences.

“I didn’t mean to lie,” I said finally, my gaze falling to the floor. “I just… I got caught up. I didn’t know how to say what I wanted to say without making things worse.”

There was a long silence, broken only by Snowdrop’s small, trembling voice. “It’s true. He’s not lying now. He’s just… bad at talking about his feelings.”

The girls exchanged glances, their expressions softening slightly.

Finally, Sunset spoke. Her voice was quiet but steady. “I told them because I wanted to be honest. But… I believe you. I just… I need to know that you’re being honest with me, too.”

I nodded, my throat tight with emotion. “I am, Sunset. I swear.”

Her lips curved into a small, hesitant smile. “Okay. Then let’s start over.”

“I’m sorry, Sunset,” I said, my voice trembling slightly. “And to all of you, really. I’ve been… acting weird. It’s just… all of this is so new to me.” I gestured vaguely, hoping they’d understand. “A new school, meeting all of you… I’ve never really had friends before"

Real ones, anyway. "And Sunset…” I paused, my eyes meeting hers. “You were the first person who was nice enough to actually talk to me.”

I saw Sunset’s expression soften slightly, her lips parting as if to say something, but she stayed quiet. The others exchanged glances.

Of course, the reality was more complicated than that. I wasn't just a new kid trying to fit in I was an outsider in their universe. But at least some of what I stated was accurate. Back in my own world, I didn't have many pals. I had it at school, but it was short and shallow, and it was more about who I could rely on to help me get away with stealing or fighting. This was different.

Snowdrop took a step forward, her voice small but steady. “I’m sorry too, Sunset. I was… I was too harsh. I didn’t mean to make things worse. It’s just… people were talking about me because of you, and I didn’t know how to handle it.” She looked down, fidgeting with the hem of her sleeve. “But I shouldn’t have blamed you for that. It wasn’t fair. So… can you forgive me?”

Sunset blinked, visibly taken aback. Then, a gentle smile crept across her face. “Of course,” she said softly, her voice warm. “I know what it’s like to feel like everyone’s watching you, judging you.”

Snowdrop looked up at her, her eyes glistening. “Thank you”

The tension in the air eased, and the once-intense expressions on the rest of the group softened. Applejack let out a small chuckle, her hands resting on her hips. “Well, that wasn’t so hard, was it?”

I forced a small smile, but inside, I felt like I’d just run a marathon. “It was” I thought to myself.

With the apologies out of the way, the girls finally noticed my bandaged arm. Rarity was the first to speak up, her sharp eye for detail immediately picking up on it. “Darling, what happened to your arm?” she asked, her voice filled with concern. “That looks dreadful!”

“I…” I hesitated, my mind scrambling for an answer.

Sunset stepped in, her voice calm and reassuring. “It was an accident,” she said, cutting in before I could speak. “He cut himself on some glass earlier. Isn’t that right?”

I nodded quickly, grateful for her intervention. “Yeah. It was stupid. Just… wasn’t paying attention, I guess.”

Rarity winced. “Oh, dear. That sounds awful. You really should be more careful!”

“Yeah,” Rainbow added, leaning back in her seat. “Don’t need you getting all banged up on your first week here.”

Sunset shot me a quick glance, and I could tell she knew the lie was flimsy. But she didn’t push me, and for that, I was thankful.

The conversation shifted to lighter topics after that, and the tension continued to fade. Snowdrop seemed to relax as well.

Applejack leaned back in her seat, gesturing toward a table a little further away. “See over there? That’s where my sister and her friends usually sit. They’re good kids don’t care much about what other folks think or any of that reputation nonsense. I bet they’d love to get to know you, Snowdrop.”

Snowdrop hesitated, her eyes flickering with uncertainty. “You really think so?”

“Course I do,” Applejack said with a warm smile. “Go on now. They ain’t gonna bite.”

Snowdrop followed her gaze to the table where three familiar faces sat Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo. Seeing them in person was cool. They were talking animatedly, their hands gesturing wildly, their laughter spilling over like sunlight.

Snowdrop glanced back at me and the others, her uncertainty plain to see. “I don’t know… what if they don’t like me?”

“They will,” I said, my voice more confident than I felt. “Trust me on this. They’ve got good hearts.”

Snowdrop bit her lip but nodded. Slowly, she made her way to their table. The Crusaders stopped talking as she approached, their curiosity clear on their faces. Snowdrop hesitated for a moment before saying something I couldn’t quite hear.Then, to my relief, Apple Bloom grinned and motioned for her to sit down.

They talked for a moment, and then Scootaloo said something that made Snowdrop laugh. Watching them, I felt a wave of relief. The Crusaders were exactly as I’d imagined them kind, welcoming, and full of energy.

“See?” Applejack said, nudging me with her elbow. “Told ya they’d take care of her.”

I nodded, smiling to myself. “Yeah, I know.”

Sunset, sitting next to me, tapped the chair on her right. “You should sit, too. You’re still our friend, right? We’re starting from the beginning.”

This wasn’t how I thought things would go when I first got here. Right now, they were giving me the chance to be part of something I’d only dreamed about.

Slowly, I nodded and i've sat next to her. “Thanks”

The girls started chatting again, their voices warm and familiar. Sunset leaned toward me slightly, her voice low. “Are you okay now?”

"Yeah,” I said. “I’m okay. Just… a lot to take in, you know?”

She smiled, her expression soft. “Yeah, I get that. But it gets better, i was there i know.”

Her words lingered with me as the conversation moved on. I caught glimpses of Snowdrop at her new table. She was smiling, laughing with the Crusaders as if they’d been friends forever.

She’s gonna be okay, I thought to myself.The Crusaders will make sure of that

Sunset nudged me gently. “Hey, you with us?”

I blinked, realizing I’d zoned out. “Yeah. Sorry.”

Rainbow snorted. “He’s probably just overwhelmed by how awesome we all are.”

That even made me laugh. It was difficult not to laugh with them; they had a way of making things seem lighter and easier. But what do I do now? Sirens are approaching, and I don't have any magic, no plan, nothing. Can I just sit back and let them win? But how can I help Sunset...

Author's Note

Okey this is boring chapter i know that, just needed to straighten this situation, filler chapter i think? the next ones will be better i swear. Have fun anyway.