Crystal Prep was, without question, one of the most prestigious schools in the district, and perhaps even the entire state. While it’s record of endless victories had been rather definitively ended with the recent Friendship Games, that seemed to have little impact on the morale of the students. Every single one of them was just as diligent and hard-working as they always were, striving to improve themselves to the best of their abilities. Sports teams practising out on the tracks, study groups sitting down on the grounds together, even the odd pairing of students just spending time discussing their next classes. One looked at this place and it just screamed of high class and studiousness. However, there was one among the students out at the front of the school who did not seem to fit this mould, at least at first. Sunny Flare, who was currently sitting alone on a bench out at the front.

This young girl, who had been part of the school’s representatives at the Games, was currently looking down at one of the devices she wore on her forearms. Looking at the screens, which scrolled page after page of text before her, her general attitude right now was one of focus, much like many of her classmates. However, as she continued to read, her attention was drawn to a now-stopping bus on the nearby road. Getting off the thing was, to Sunny’s surprise, a Canterlot High student. Specifically, Rarity, who had competed against Sunny and her classmates some time ago. As the young fashionista drew closer to the school, she regarded it carefully, all while Sunny observed her. After a while. The Crystal Prep girl let out a sigh and turned off her wrist devices, before finally speaking up to the visitor.

“Well…I didn’t expect to see you here.”

Immediately, Rarity turned in her direction, and while she was, at first, rather taken aback, she quickly composed herself, putting on a smile.

“Ah! Sunny Flare, is it? How nice to meet you again.”

Sunny chuckled a little at that.

“Yeah…likewise, I guess.”

Giving Rarity her full attention, Sunny raised an eyebrow.

“Should you really be here? I mean, no offense or anything, but shouldn’t CHS still be in session or something?”

Rarity nodded for a moment before looking to the nearby school.

“Normally, it would be. But there was a surprise inspection from Superintendent Sombra. Unpleasant man from what I’ve heard, but, it did end up giving us a half day, so I thought I’d come over.”

Sunny let out a dry laugh at that.

“Oh yeah? What for?”

To that, Rarity raised a hand, gesturing to the school.

“Why this of course! Our schools may have been at odds for some years now, but that’s no excuse to ignore that fact that it is a superb building! Such refinement! Such class! I just had to get a first-hand look at it.”

Turning, Sunny looked at her school, her expression somewhat less enthusiastic than Rarity’s.

“Guess I’ve kinda gotten used to it myself. Still, you came all this way just to look at it?”

Rarity brushed aside some of her hair before replying to that.

“Perish the thought, darling! I came for inspiration! You may have heard that I spend my time making outfits. I thought I could come up with something based on the elegance of this school and its students.”

Looking to her, Sunny raised an eyebrow.

“Well…don’t let me keep you.”

Once that was said, Sunny got back to her device, reading page after page as it appeared on her screen. Though initially annoyed by the girl’s attitude, Rarity found her interest caught by her wrist attachment. Walking over to look over Sunny’s shoulder, Rarity found that the girl was reading pages of what appeared to be an online science textbook, to which she put on a sly smile in response.

“Ah, I should have guessed you’d be studying. So dedicated you all are here.”

Sunny, not looking up from her screen, nodded in response.

“We’ve got to be. A place like this…well…a lot is expected of us.”

For a brief moment, Rarity could have sworn that Sunny had actually sounded sad at that, but, rather than probe too deeply, she instead cleared her throat before speaking up in a more perky manner.

“Well…I’m sure Twilight will be sure to bring some of that studiousness with her when her transfer is complete.”

But, unbeknownst to Rarity, Sunny frowned at the mention of that name, only to let out a sigh as she allowed her expression to soften a bit, as if she were, for some reason, forcing herself to calm down. When Rarity finally did turn to look at Sunny again, she clasped her hands together with a smile on her face.

“I say! If you have some free time, perhaps you would consent to showing me around the school? I’m sure a student of this place could give me all sorts of important tips for what to look for.”

Sunny let out a grunt at that.

“Look, Rarity, I appreciate the visit, but if you don’t mind, I’ve got a lot of work to be getting on with.”

Rarity looked to her, a little taken aback at the gruffness with which she’d spoken. But, as she opened her mouth to speak, she stopped, for she had seen something across the school grounds. Now looking somewhat nervous, the fashionista stopped entirely, her attention now fully on the figure who was approaching. Sunny, seeing her, turned around out of curiosity, and when she did, her own expression became one of discomfort. For there, looking just as stern and authoritative as ever, was Principal Cinch. This woman had not left Canterlot High on the best of terms, and while her outwards demeanour spoke of calm and reservation, Rarity could tell from looking that there was anger beneath the surface. When the older woman finally arrived by the two, she kept her hands clasped behind her back, and turned to Rarity with a raised eyebrow.

“Miss Rarity, I presume?”

Although hesitant, Rarity nodded in response, prompting Cinch to continue.

“While I am not the type to outright ban other schools’ students from visiting our distinguished Crystal Prep, I do prefer that they let it be known that they are arriving before they arrive.”

The icy way she spoke got to the girl quite easily, as evidenced by the gulp she made soon afterwards.

“Yes…well…I do apologise, Principal Cinch. No offense was meant.”

Raising a hand, Cinch adjusted her glasses slightly.

“Indeed. I’m sure it wasn’t.”

Soon afterwards, she turned her attention to Sunny, the latter of which was actually trying to avoid looking her in the eye.

“And as for you, Miss Flare, I trust this little get-together of yours isn’t interfering in your studies?”

Sunny shook her head, speaking in a voice that sounded like it was right on the cusp of being aggressive.

“…No, Principal Cinch. I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing.”

Cinch nodded at that.

“Very good. After all, we’ve lost our best student recently, and I expect all of you to keep up the standards I expect of you. We don’t want to be lagging behind other school now, do we?”

Again, Sunny avoided her gaze as she replied.

“No, Principal Cinch.”

The woman regarded the girl carefully, all while Rarity looked from one to the other and then aback again, sensing the tension in the air is if it were electricity. In the end, Cinch turned from them both, and without even saying a word, began to walk away, with many of the nearby students instinctively getting out of her way as she made her way back to the school. Now free of her gaze, Rarity frowned.

“I say! What a ghastly woman!”

Sunny didn’t look at her, but instead frowned slightly as she got back to her device.

“Er…yeah, sure.”

Putting her hands on her hips, Rarity continued speaking as she kept her eyes on where the older woman had been standing.

“I mean, I’m all for maintaining order in one’s school, but there’s no need to be so hostile about it!”

Sunny nodded, letting out a grunt as she did so. Looking to her, Rarity raised an eyebrow.

“I say…I hope she hasn’t given you and the other girls too much grief over what happened…at the Games I mean?”

Sunny shook her head.

“No, it’s fine. Like we all said at the time, she can’t really prove what happened, given…well…all the magic and stuff. Mostly it’s just been her acting like she usually does…”

Briefly, Sunny looked down at the ground.

“…not that that’s ever been the best thing of course.”

Rarity looked to the girl with some concern, her expression softening somewhat.

“I just don’t understand how you and all the rest here can tolerate such…such overbearing behaviour from a woman like that.”

But, rather than agree with her, as Rarity had expected, Sunny turned to her with anger in her eyes.

“Hey! Being a principal isn’t an easy job you know! Sometimes you have to be that kind of person if you want to make your school the best it can be!”

Rarity took a step backwards, shocked at this angry turn Sunny had taken. As for the latter, her eyes widened, the realisation of how she’d just acted becoming all the more evident to her.

“I’m…I’m sorry. I just…get a little upset when people keep saying everything they do about her.”

To that Rarity gained a well-earned look of confusion.

“But, Sunny, whatever for? You and all the others here…surely you know that your principal isn’t…well…”

But, rather than let her finish, Sunny merely nodded her head.

“I know. She’s not the nicest person around. And yeah, I know she did some…I know she overstepped her bounds sometimes. With Twilight, with others…with all of us. But still…”

Looking to Rarity, Sunny’s expression was one of softness, almost to the point of silently pleading with the girl.

“…just…don’t go talking about her like she evil…okay?”

Seeing the sincere way in which she’d spoken, Rarity was rendered speechless for a time. But, in the end, she nodded, silently agreeing to not make such comments again. Sunny, seeing this, gave a small smile in thanks before nodding once and turning away. After a long and uncomfortable silence passed between the two girls, Rarity asked the question that would have been on anyone's mind in a time like this.

“Sunny…why are you so concerned about all this? About her?”

Sunny looked to her, and her expression was one of hesitancy. It was clear that, whatever it was she needed to say, she wasn’t going to be comfortable saying it. But, in the end, she let out a sigh, looking down at the ground before giving her answer.

“Because…she’s my Mom.”

Author's Notes:

Before anybody asks, I am not the first person to think of this kind of backstory for Sunny Flare. It's an idea I've seen a few people kicking about here and there, and I thought it'd be an interesting road to take her character down.