Glancing at her watch Sunset saw it was twelve in the after noon walking down the hallway towards the cafeteria to get lunch she stopped in her tracks watching Corky escorting Trixie and Lavender Lace towards Principal Celestia’s office. Wanting to know what was going on she decided to follow them making sure to stay back a bit as she made her way to the office door. Sitting down on a set of chairs located outside of the office she waited for a few minutes before the door opened and Corky came out into the hallway.

“Sunset Shimmer” Corky said noticing she was there “shouldn’t you be in the cafeteria getting your lunch” offering her a warm smile he added “if you like I can walk with you while you head there it’ll be no trouble at all”?

“No Co-Corky that won’t be n-necessary I, um that is-well-er” she began, “I was actually wondering if you have seen Flash Sentry I really need to talk to him”

“Yes I have seen him” he replied, adding, “Flash Sentry is in Principal Celestia’s office as we speak so you’ll have to wait until they are done before you can speak to him”

“Wait why is Flash in Principal Celestia’s office Corky? That doesn’t make any sense at all I mean he is a good student” looking down she tried hard not to make eye contact with him “Unlike me who spent most of her time here wrecking everyone’s friendships and causing nothing but trouble”.

“As much as I would like to tell you Sunset why he, Lavender Lace and Trixie Lulamoon are in there right now. I am afraid that is a matter for her to discuss with you.” seeing a slightly confused hurt look etched on her face he added, “don’t worry Sunset if you are thinking that you are in trouble I can assure you that you are not the one in trouble at all.” glancing at his watch he finished, “hey it's almost twelve fifteen I need to get going unless there is something that you need from me”?

“Uh no-not that I can thi-think of Corky thanks for t-trying at least” she replied rubbing her left arm he noticed she kept looking away from him her voice seemed to shake with each word that formed, “I’ll eat when I...g-get home”. Feeling her hands being taken into his own she looked up locking eyes with his, quickly glancing back down to her hands she felt something being placed into her hands, “What’s this”?

“Its a power bar I eat them all the time it should tide you over until you get home” giving her a nod he smiled turning to leave he added, “but you really should try to get something other than that power bar to eat Sunset the bell will ring soon so you might want to hurry”.

Watching him leave she turned her attention towards Principal Celestia’s door wanting to learn what was being said behind the door she pressed her ear to the door. Hearing Celestia’s voice Sunset gulped hoping not to be discovered.

“So Trixie” she heard Celestia say, “can you tell me why you felt the need to spray paint Sunset Shimmers locker”?

“The great and powerful Trixie” she heard Trixie reply, “doesn’t know what a mere mortal like you are talking about”. Rolling her eyes in annoyance Sunset listened further as Trixie added, “besides if Trixie had actually done this she would be too proud to just out right admit any wrongdoing”.

“That sure sounds like Trixie” Sunset thought to herself “a fully self absorbed annoying girl”. Realizing what she was thinking she whispered out loud, “wow I acted just like her completely self absorbed and very annoying”. Her eyes widened in shock trembling she thought to herself “oh I hope Celestia didn’t hear that”.

“Alright Trixie if you want to play that game with me” Sunset heard Celestia start wanting to know what Celestia was talking about Sunset quietly began to open the door. Peering into Celestia’s office she watched her principal stand up placing a video into a player “I have you on tape vandalizing Sunset Shimmer’s locker” She heard Celestia bitterly say, “would you care to change your story Trixie or should I call your adoptive parents and let them deal with this”?

“Oh, please, as if the great and powerful Trixie actually fears idol threats from you” Sunset heard Trixie reply she continued to watch while Trixie twirled her hair “I am the great and power----”

“No” Sunset heard Celestia interrupt the upstart magician “you are not great and you most certainly are not powerful what you are is a thirteen year old girl that is in very much need of discipline and respect towards other people and the schools property”! She heard Celestia snap watching her turn her attention to Lavender Lace “And you young lady would you care to explain to me why you felt the need to take part in this”?

Opening the door a little further Sunset watched in confusion as Lavender Lace scoffed, “Like duh Principal Celestia everyone here at CHS knows that Sunset Shimmer is a bully only we were too afraid to speak up about her actions towards us.” folding her arms over her chest she waved her right hand around a bit adding, “I was just giving that upstart little brat a piece of my mind nothing more and nothing less”.

Sunset continued to listen in hearing Principal Celestia turn the conversation to Flash Sentry she watched Celestia stand up pick up a remote from her desk and press a button on it. Flash being the arrogant jock that he already was leaned back in his chair snickering to himself. Sunset looked towards the video her eyes widened in shock as she watched in horrified realization as the scene played out on the video monitor.

“As you can clearly see Mr. Sentry” she heard Celestia begin, “I have you on tape spray painting locker two thirty six which is currently used by Sunset Shimmer care to explain why you did this Flash”

Standing up still going completely unnoticed by anyone within Principal Celestia’s office Sunset’s eyes narrowed her breath quickened. Her left hand slowly clenched into a tight fist her jaw began to tremble feeling her whole body shake with anger she pressed her hand to the door freezing in her movements as she heard Flash reply, “oh come on Principal Celestia I didn’t do anything wrong, I mean it's like Lavender Lace said ‘I was just giving that upstart little brat a piece of my mind nothing more and nothing less’ besides who cares I mean you allowed her to stay here and no one wants her here right”?

“I care Flash Sentry” Sunset thought to herself pressing her hand further into the door she closed her eyes continuing to think to herself “I know that isn’t the truth there has to be another reason for his actions.''

“Nothing wrong?” Celestia bitterly snarled back “First you took part in vandalizing another students locker and second though I am angry with Sunset for what she did durning the Fall Formal that doesn’t---” Opening the door completely Sunset walked into the office stopping Celestia mid sentence “What the? Sunset Shimmer how long have you been standing there”?

“Long enough to hear every word” she replied keeping her eyes on Flash not noticing Trixie and Lavender Lace both had taken out their phones and began to record her reaction. “I want to know why you did this Flash Sentry”.

“Oh get over yourself Sunset Shimmer” he replied getting up “you and I both know you had this coming to you for a long time.” narrowing his eyes he locked eyes with hers seeing only pain in hers he smiled knowing she was on the verge of tears “you come off as this cool girl that everyone wants to hang out with yet treat them like trash when they don’t do what you want them to besides that you treated me like shit”

“Flash Sentry that is enough” Celestia yelled out “how dare you use such language in my office let alone at this school and how dare you do this to Sun---”

“Oh, grow up” he screamed back “stop defending her for crying out loud, why can’t you see that no one wants her around any more”. Seeing her sister entering the office Celestia narrowed her eyes letting out a noticeable sigh. Sunset for her part stood there fuming with anger taking a step towards Flash. “You can’t intimidate me any longer Sunset Shimmer so why don’t you do us all a favor and go back to where you belong”.

“Before I leave I want to know why you did this Flash” clenching her fist tighter she finished, “I want to know the tru---”

Thinking he was about to hit her Luna quickly stepped between Flash Sentry and Sunset Shimmer placing her hands on their chest. Feeling Luna’s hand resting on her chest Sunset stepped back giving Flash a bitter angry glare desperately fighting back her tears. Getting behind Flash Sentry and very worried for her sister Celestia prepared herself for a scuffle with the young teenager.

“You want to know the truth” he screamed out “you want to know why I did this Sunset Shimmer” clenching his own hands into fists he finished, “I did this because I don’t love you anymore I did this because I never loved you Sunset. I hate you”!

Realizing what he was saying she took another step back turning to leave Sunset looked over her shoulder as her tears broke the surface of her eyes. Watching her cry Trixie smiled catching Sunsets attention Lavender Lace grinned putting her phone away with a smirk etched on her face.

“Were I come from Flash Sentry we have a word for someone like you” Sunset started to sob “you are nothing more than a-a” her tears trickled down her cheeks as she screamed out “Lat ayhTye Ùqua” holding herself she finished, “dammit Flash if you wanted to break up with me why didn’t you just tell me instead of doing this”?

Not giving him a chance to answer Sunset ran from Celestia’s office with Celestia quickly running after her.

“Luna take over” Celestia yelled out “I have to go after her I have to help her” Not noticing Fluttershy entering the hallway Sunset ran past her clearly upset seeing how hurt Sunset was she tried to say something only to be cut off when she heard Celestia call out. “Sunset wait please”.

“Principal Celestia” she heard Fluttershy call out to her stopping Celestia in her tracks “what is going on? Why is Sunset running down the hallway and why did she look really upset?”

“I am sorry Fluttershy” she replied breathing heavily “I don’t have time to talk about this right---”

“Listen I clearly have walked into something that has caused Sunset to run off let me help please” Fluttershy called back catching up to her she added, “I am sure I can get Sunset to come back if you only let me help besides I think I know where she is going”.

Wheezing Celestia placed a hand to her chest her jaw tightened feeling an asthma attack coming on she breathed deeply trying to calm herself down. Seeing how hard it was for Celestia to breath Fluttershy reached out gently taking a hold of her helping her over to a nearby bench. Sitting down Celestia reached into her left inside coat pocket taking out her inhalant taking a few quick puffs from it she coughed looking into Fluttershy’s soft warm eyes.

“Very well Fluttershy” she began trying not to cough again “it would seem I will not be able to catch up to Sunset so if you know where she is going then please go there now and bring her back.” taking a few breaths she finished “just keep in mind she just had a really bad fight with Flash Sentry so she might not be in the mood to talk”

“I will thank you Principal Celestia” she replied running out the front of the school she quickly looked around noticing the construction crew was gone she thought to herself. “They must have gone to lunch good that’ll make this easier” unfurling her wings Fluttershy took the air whispering to herself “I hope I am right about Sunset going to that shack that I found her in a few days ago”. Flying high in the sky Fluttershy looked down watching all the people below carrying on about their daily lives without a care in the world. “I don’t have time to dawdle” she thought out loud she said to no one in particular “I have to help Sunset….even is she doesn’t want my help”.

Getting to the shack that Sunset called home Fluttershy landed letting out a gasp clearly getting a much better look at Sunset Shimmers living conditions. The timid girl stood in complete and total shock the place was a complete wreck clearly unsuitable for anything or anyone to be living in.

“This can’t be the right place,” she muttered to herself looking around she added, “I don’t recall seeing any of this stuff here when I followed her home two days ago”.

The shack itself was made of blue steel roofing with a hole in the left side of it for a window looking to right she saw two large red lockers next to it. One of the lockers had its door bent and twisted outwards a tipped over safety cone lay a few feet from the lockers.

“I wish had done something to get her out of this before now” looking down she whipped a hand over her eyes mustering up what little courage she could “Oh, Fluttershy you sugar head why didn’t you just pick her up and carry her to your home when you had the chance?” A severely damaged rusted car sat several feet from the shack looking around a bit further before heading towards the shack itself she saw a shopping cart full of trash a few feet from her position. “This won’t due this won’t due at all not by any means”.

A broken down wooden chair was placed next to the car with a pair of familiar looking black and purple leather boots sitting in front of it. Quickly heading to the shack itself and guessing Sunset was indeed inside of it she noticed two large cardboard boxes placed outside of the shack both filled with trash and other throw away items. Finally having enough of the horrible conditions Fluttershy knocked on a large piece of wood that was clearly made to be the door.

“Sunset” she called out not getting a reply “its me, its Fluttershy” still not getting a reply she added, “oh please be here” taking a step back she closed her eyes cupping her hands together interlocking her fingers her body began to glow a soft pink her hearing increased. Hearing sobbing coming from inside the shack she reached out taking a hold of the piece of wood she moved it to the left entering the shack she found Sunset crying lying on the floor of the shack. “Sunset” kneeling down next to her she saw Sunset was holding a very worn out plush toy of a purple pony with a horn and wings. “Oh Sunset it's going to be alright I’m here now” gently taking a hold of her Fluttershy held Sunset in her arms while Sunset cried, “shhh” Fluttershy softly soothingly whispered.

“Why did she leave me here” she heard Sunset sob “Why didn’t she take me back with her everyone hates me and their right to hate me I am just a-a” feeling soft warm wings wrap around pulling her in closer Sunset began to calm down but only slightly. “I’m so sorry, I’m so very sorry for all that I did I-I” she continued to sob "I want to change who I am but I can't I don't know how".

“It’s alright Sunset I know you are sorry” closing her eyes Fluttershy held Sunset for a long time gently running her fingers through Sunsets hair “and I am ready to help you now Sunset”.

Next Chapter: August 3rd, Wednesday, 1 pm part eight Estimated time remaining: 6 Hours, 33 Minutes