Trapped in further education (Sunset/Open)

[swiftwind]

Swift was feeling more and more underwhelmed by the second as she left the Principal's office. She was so far behind the students her age that she doubted she'd ever catch up to them and failing to pass certain grades was not an option. The agreement which meant that she didn't end up with more than a warning for living in the abandoned house she had been hiding out in was dependent on her maintaining a GPA she didn't think she'd ever be able to manage.

Swift stopped and leaned back against the wall while she pulled the hood of her jacket up while she worked out what her options were. She was back in high school, an experience she had hoped to never suffer again after running away from the cesspit in Manehattan. She was in a strange city with strange people and a literal sword of Damocles hanging over her to keep her in school. She didn't have a clue what to do. The fact that the Principal knew about her 'circumstances' meant that the other teachers would know so, naturally, the other students would know before too long. As soon as the other students found out that she had stolen in the past she would be lucky if she would be able to do anything without suspicious students watching her like hawks.

Her captors at the orphanage had given her barely enough money to get stationary, a backpack and something for dinner. Swift had worked out that she would need money to be able to get out of town and the meager allowance she would be given would be barely enough to cover replacement pens and paper and a lunch each day without saving money.

A job was near enough to impossible, as soon as a prospective employer looked into her background they would decide it was a bad idea. If she skipped lunch she could save that money and she would have something to eat when she got back to the orphanage. As long as she kept a low profile she might be able to make it for long enough to be able to get out of town.

She frowned as she waited for the student who had been volunteered to give her a tour of the school.

[Sunset Shimmer]

Part of Sunset’s “rehabilitation”, so to speak, was to provide services to the school. Part of that process involved helping new students transition to the school. Not only did it serve as an exercise in how to be polite and mentoring towards other people, it also helped her get to know new people who didn’t exactly know her reputation. That was about the main thing Sunset liked about the job, which was why she wasn’t exactly in a bad mood when she saw the younger student exiting Celestia’s office. Of course, apparently the feeling wasn’t exactly mutual from the looks of the girl’s frown.

”Hey, relax; I know she can be kind of intimidating, but Principal Celestia isn’t really that bad,” she said, still surprised at how she could say nice things about Celestia compared to how she used to be.

”Anyway, I take it your Swiftwind, right?” Sunset said. She put her hand out in hopes of getting the girl to at least open up with handshake.

”I’m Sunset Shimmer, and I’m supposed to be the one to give you the tour of the school.”

[swiftwind]

Swift looked at Sunset as she nodded and returned the handshake. "Yeah, that's me". She pulled her hood off and managed a smile. The thought occurred to her that Sunset probably had a choice about being at the school but she forced herself not to go immediately on the attack. She glanced back at the Principal's office door. I guess I better see what the prison's facilities are like".

Swift winced as she realized that making allies would be difficult enough as it was without putting off the first student she had spoken to. "I'm sorry, I'm having a bad day, that's no reason to take it out on you". She stuffed a sheet of paper into her backpack with a list of books that Principal Celestia had suggested she borrow from the school library to help her catch up on her lost education. The list had only made her more depressed about her chances.

She smiled as she glanced at Sunset. "That's a list of books that the Principal suggested I take out of the library. I'm a little behind on my education but she's giving me a chance to not be held back two grades". The thought had occurred to Swift that she would never be able to get enough extra knowledge to not get held back but at least she was getting a vague chance.

Swift looked at Sunset and grinned as a thought occurred to her. "Does this school have a running track. Running is about the only thing I'm any good at".

[Sunset Shimmer]

”Don’t worry about it kid. Besides, your fellow inmates are pretty good, the guards are nice, but the cafeteria food is…edible is the best way to put it,” Sunset responded, figuring she should at least humor Swiftwind’s prison statement. From what Celestia had told her about the kid she probably needed someone to just let things slid a little.

Sunset started thinking a little bit when it came to grades though. How was one to make up for two grades while doing a third? Sure, she could personally do it; human or pony, she was still once the top student of the princess herself. There was probably someone who would be willing to tutor, or some teachers who might do some after school help for her.

”You might try asking around for someone who might tutor you, and the teachers are usually pretty good about trying to help someone out.”

The interesting thing about all this is that not too long ago Sunset would probably feel sickened by someone like this and said something to the effect of “help is a form of weakness” or something. Yet here she was already trying to figure out how to help this girl with her schoolwork. Sometimes she did wonder if that giant rainbow blast did a little more than knock out the dark magic. Could the Elements of Harmony do a little bit of personality change?

Beh, not like she could get the answer to that question in this world anyway.

”Yeah, there’s a running track. I’m pretty sure there’s a track and field team. I can probably hook you up with a meeting with Rainbow Dash later if you’re interested in doing track; she’s practically the head of every sports team in this school.”

[swiftwind]

Swift nodded and smiled as she pondered the possibility that there might be a subject which she might not fail miserably. "That's good to hear. PE was just about the only subject I was any good at in school". She looked down as the thought that what she had just said wasn't just her playing her capabilities a disservice. She was never the most intelligent girl and she guessed the years she'd spent on the run probably hadn't helped that very much.

She looked at Sunset and smiled. "I'm just sorry you're stuck giving me the five bit tour. This seems like a nice school. It's less crummy than the last school I was at".

[Sunset Shimmer]

Sunset was trying to be supportive, but she was a little nervous in how to deal with this situation. Being supportive was still something she was getting used to, and it seemed like this girl was going to need a lot of support. Placing a hand on the girl’s shoulder, she gave her a smile.

”Don’t worry about it, it’s what I’m here for. Canterlot High is a really good school, and I’m sure you’ll find friends in no time who can help you out. And if you need it, I’m sure I can get my friends to help you out when they can,” she said.

Sure, she probably shouldn’t have went and made commitments for them without their knowledge, but she figured this girl needed to know there were people willing to support her. She was sure that the girls would be okay with it.

[swiftwind]

Swift nodded, her fears slightly abated by Sunset offer of help. "I'm not used to having to rely on others. I got used to only having myself to rely on that it's a little odd to think that there are other people who give a flying fig about me".

She smiled as a thought occurred to her. "I can't believe that I was thinking that what I've done for the last two years is in any way better than how I am now". She glanced at Sunset and blushed. "Sorry, just talking to myself".

[Sunset Shimmer]

”Relax, I’m not going to fault you for that,” Sunset replied, giving a comforting smile to Swift.

”Believe it or not, I sort of had the same mindset myself until pretty recently. I thought I was the absolute best and that I didn’t need anyone’s help at all. In fact, I used people to get what I want and didn’t even think twice about it,” she replied, glancing away a little bit as she nervously rubbed her arm.

”I’m still learning a lot about what it’s like to have friends and all, but I’ve come to really appreciate having others care about me. At the very least, it’s a lot less lonely that way,” she finished, looking back over at Swift. Hopefully having the knowledge someone shared some of her past problems would help the girl adjust, even if there were a lot of differences between them. Beyond the whole pony thing of course.

[swiftwind]

Swift smiled as she pondered what Sunset had said. It all made sense, the thought occurring to her that Principal Celestia may have assigned Sunset to show her around because of what sounded like a less than perfect background. "I know what you mean. I'm not used to even considering relying on other people. It's nearly gotten me into trouble in the past".

She looked around, making sure that no-one else was around, before speaking. "I've made a lot of mistakes in the past. I've had to do things which didn't really sit well with me to keep going. I could have been in a lot worse state then having to go back to school".

Swift smiled. "I was pretty surprised when the Principal told me that she had been told why I had been sent here. I would have expected her to turn me down on the spot".

[Sunset Shimmer]

”Yeah, I’ve been there too Swift,” Sunset replied as the kid informed her that she had made a lot of mistakes in her past. While she was sure none of them had involved becoming a she-demon, Sunset figured they were probably still not something the girl would want to talk about. For now, Sunset just hoped the sense of empathy would have to do.

”Eh, it’s not that surprising really. As tough as she may look at times, Principal Celestia is pretty forgiving and understanding. Unless you messed up really bad she’s pretty much always willing to give you another chance,” she replied.

For a moment Sunset pondered about that, wondering if Princess Celestia was the same way. Eh, there was no need to wonder; Sunset knew that she was like that. But she couldn’t stay on that thought for too long; she was supposed to be guiding this new student around after all.

”Anyway, got any more questions at the school before we start the tour?”

[swiftwind]

Swift nodded as the fact that she was probably in the best place she could be, with a roof over her head and the slightest chance of turning her life around, really started to hit her. As long as the local police were willing to not start a proper investigation into just what she had done to survive for the last two years she was in a position where potentially she might be able to not be another runaway.

She smiled, a little surprised at how often she seemed to be doing so recently, then shook her head as she realized it may have looked like she had zone out while Sunset was speaking. "I can't thonk of any questions. I'm sorry if I looked like I was zoning out there. Ever since I moved into town". She decided mentioning the orphanage was something for later, if she decided to make it public. "I've been planning for getting out of town. I'm just realizing how stupid that idea is. Even if I'm back in education again, I've got it better here than I have for a long time".

Swift smiled as she motioned for Sunset to take the lead. "Lead on MacDuff".

[Sunset Shimmer]

[[ Alright,I know this has been a short thread but I honestly am not sure if there is much else since the actual tour would probably be rather boring XD.Want to call it done for now?]]

[swiftwind]

That would work for me since the whole thing seems to be moving onto the Nightmare Night plot.