Book three of "Who We Become."
Sunset's life is far from glamorous, but when she learns that Fluttershy has it even worse, Sunset can't help but take it upon herself to solve her friend's problems and give her a safe place to live.
For Fluttershy, t...
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It had taken some convincing, and an entire week of deliberation. Sometimes Sunset was so sure that it was the right thing to do that she was tempted to just jump on her motorcycle and go. Other times she thought the idea was so stupid that she was wasting her time by even considering it.
But the day came, and Sunset found herself looking up at New Horizons. She had dropped Fluttershy off at work, then she drove to the orphanage she had been sure she'd never see again.
The fatal mistake had been telling Twilight. She'd brought it up with Fluttershy first, who had expressed her belief that Sunset should reach out to Rose Petal, but Fluttershy wouldn't push the point.
Twilight, on the other hand? Twilight had been insistent. As soon as she heard there was someone in Sunset's past that she was avoiding making amends with, the journal had been vibrating constantly, each time with another reason for Sunset to finally meet with Rose.
It got to the point where Sunset eventually agreed, if only because she couldn't keep finding points to cancel out Twilight's. But as she stared at the pale yellow building, she wondered if she might be better off turning right back around.
And if she could think of what she might tell Twilight if she did, she probably would have. So if for no other reason than that she wanted to tell Twilight she'd actually done it, Sunset left the car.
The walk up to the building brought back memories. Mostly insignificant things that she'd never realize she had forgotten because they simply weren't worth remembering regularly. Times she'd lingered around the yard for lack of anything else to do, kids that she'd spend her time trying to get out of spending time with.
She hesitated again at the door. The desire to tell Twilight of her success was becoming a distant factor in the face of actually going through with it.
Sunset closed her eyes and took a deep breath, then forced herself to open the door. It wasn't that she was convinced this was a good idea, but she knew she'd never be satisfied with herself if she didn't do it.
The inside was just like she remembered it. The reception area had a business feel to it, with chairs for people to sit as they waited and a table with old magazines on it. They were all empty, as they usually were; it was rare for people to walk in without an appointment, so the staff was usually ready to see people right when they arrived.
As usual, Sunset was the exception. She hadn't called ahead since she had been unsure if she'd go through with it, and she doubted it would matter very much anyway. Rose Petal was an old woman, and she had long since stopped doing much actual work. She'd have time to see Sunset, there was no doubt there.
All there was left to do was to go ahead and do it. Sunset tucked away her worries and walked up to the counter, maintaining an appearance of absolute confidence regardless of whether she felt it or not.
"Hello, how can I help you?" The receptionist looked up and smiled as she approached. At first it was the generic smile of an employee that had to pretend to be happy to see everyone, then it became the confused sort of smile of someone trying to place where they knew someone else from.
