*The next day*

Waking up early in the morning has got to be one of the most annoying things ever! Even if it's healthier than sleeping in.

There’s just something about the way the sun fights through the curtains, relentlessly bathing everything in a harsh, unforgiving light that makes me want to crawl under the covers and pretend the world doesn’t exist. But today was different, or at least it should’ve been, because here I was, being relentlessly shaken awake by my sister’s hand.

“CJ, wake up! You sleep like a log!” Margot’s voice broke through the haze of sleep, and I groaned, pulling the covers over my head, hoping it would somehow make the situation disappear. But no luck. It was as though the universe had conspired against me to make sure I wouldn’t get to sleep in for even a second more.

“I could have sworn I had a better argument for skipping school,” I muttered, my voice thick with sleep.

“Oh, no way. You’re not getting out of school today!” she shot back, her tone firm and unwavering. I could practically hear her crossing her arms with that look of disapproval.

I reluctantly peeled my eyes open, squinting at the morning sunlight that was streaming in through the window. Margot was standing there, arms crossed, wearing the expression of a mom who’s heard every excuse in the book but isn’t buying any of them.

“I’ll go in a minute,” I grumbled, rolling back onto my side, attempting to drift off again. But as if she had a sixth sense for the exact moment I started to relax, she tapped me again—this time harder, the rhythm of her fingers relentless against my back.

“CJ, you’re not missing school. Get up. Now,” she said sternly.

I sighed and sat up, my resistance crumbling as I realized I had no other choice. “Ugh, fine,” I muttered, shuffling to sit on the edge of my bed. The moment she left, I could hear the sounds of Cookie still snoozing in her bed across the room. The little brown dog was curled up in the tightest ball, her tail tucked in. A smile tugged at my lips, and I softly chuckled.

“Looks like someone’s still tired,” I whispered to myself, gently reaching over to stroke her fur. She responded with a low, sleepy groan but remained curled up like a miniature brown mountain.

With a quiet sigh, I made my way to the bathroom for a quick shower. The warm water relaxed me as I let my thoughts wander—mostly to how much I hated mornings but also to the weird feeling I had lingering from yesterday. I couldn’t quite shake the thought of CJ and what was going on with her. But for now, it was just about getting ready for the day.

After drying off, I raided my closet, pulling out my usual casual outfit—a baggy aquamarine blue shirt with a musical note on the side and a pair of blue jeans. I wasn’t one for complicated fashion statements. I liked comfort, and if it happened to look good, then that was a bonus. I slipped into a pair of white sneakers and moved over to my vanity, catching a glimpse of myself in the mirror.

My hair was a bit of a mess—nothing out of the ordinary, but I had been thinking about doing something different today. I remembered when Margot used to help me braid my hair in the mornings when we were younger. That seemed like a good idea. But asking her for help now? Would she even have time for it? After a moment of deliberation, I shrugged and decided to ask.

Downstairs, I found Margot busy at the dining table, placing bowls and glasses with meticulous care. She looked up and gave me a warm smile, her eyes twinkling. “Nice outfit, CJ,” she said with a wink.

“Thanks,” I said with a half-smile, tilting my head. “It only took me three tries and a mild existential crisis to settle on it. Totally worth it, though.”

Margot chuckled, shaking her head. “Well, it suits you. Don’t overthink it.”

“Overthink? Never,” I said with mock seriousness, before softening. “By the way, would you mind helping me braid my hair? You know, like you used to? School starts in like an hour and a half, so there’s still time.”

I looked away, half-expecting her to turn me down because of her own busy schedule. But to my surprise, Margot’s expression softened, and she beamed. “Of course, girl! What are sisters for?” She patted the seat next to her. “Sit down, I’ve got you covered.”

I raised an eyebrow, sitting down. “I don’t know, Margot. What are sisters for? Is this where you remind me I owe you for something later?”

Margot grinned slyly. “Oh, don’t tempt me. I might cash in this favour sooner than you think.”

I laughed softly, but the playful exchange didn’t entirely cover the knot forming in my throat. I had expected her to brush me off, as she always seemed so busy these days. But her kindness hit me harder than I’d anticipated. I blinked back a few stray tears, trying not to make it obvious. Margot noticed anyway.

“Hey, don’t you worry about anything. I’m always here for you,” she said, her voice genuine and comforting. She gently cupped my chin in her hands, a gesture that felt surprisingly tender.

“Ugh, you’re making me emotional this early in the morning,” I muttered, but the lump in my throat betrayed me. Before I could say anything else, I impulsively wrapped my arms around her in a hug.

When we pulled apart, she gave me a soft pat on the head, smirking. “I better not see you tearing up. You’ll ruin my braid.”

“Yeah, yeah, I’ll keep it together,” I said, rolling my eyes with a small smile.

Upstairs, I sat in front of my mirror while Margot worked her magic. As a professional hairstylist, she had this way of making everything look easy, even the more intricate braids. I watched her fingers move expertly through my hair, my sarcasm bubbling up again. “You know, with hands like that, you could’ve been a surgeon. Or a magician. Or maybe a pizza dough artist.”

Margot snorted. “I think I’ll stick to hair, thanks. Less pressure, fewer life-or-death stakes.”

When she finished, I stared at the mirror, amazed by how perfect it looked. “Okay, fine,” I said grudgingly. “You win this round. It looks amazing.”

“There we go,” she said, stepping back and admiring her work. “Perfect as usual.”

I gave her a side glance. “And modest, too.”

She laughed, brushing off the jab. “Go on, get out of here before I start charging you.”

Margot was already heading out, but she paused to call over her shoulder. “Can you take Cookie to the pet sitter before you leave? And lock the door after you?”

“Sure thing,” I replied, grabbing my bag from the counter. “Although, if Cookie ends up spoiled with treats, I’m blaming you for setting the standard too high.”

Margot laughed as she opened the door. “Hey, I can’t help it if I’ve raised her standards. You better hurry, or you’ll be late.” She waved and stepped out, the door closing behind her.

I turned to Cookie, who was already wagging her tail expectantly, as if she knew exactly what was happening. “Alright, Cookie, you heard the boss. Pet sitter’s waiting.” I bent down and scooped her up, placing her gently in her carrier. She let out a tiny yip.

“Relax,” I said, zipping it up. “It’s not prison, it’s doggy daycare. Besides, you’ll get to live the good life while I’m stuck at school pretending to enjoy it.”

Cookie gave me her best sad eyes, and I sighed. “You’re lucky you’re cute.”

As I stepped outside, locking the door behind me, I noticed a few of Margot’s freshly baked croissants sitting on the kitchen counter. I debated for a moment, then grabbed one on my way out. “Croissant to go. Thanks, Margot,” I muttered, biting into it.

The walk to the pet sitter’s place wasn’t long, and Cookie was unusually calm in her carrier, her little tail occasionally thumping against the sides. “You know,” I said as I walked, “you could at least pretend to miss me when I drop you off. Just once? No? Cool, thanks for the loyalty.”

Cookie gave a small bark in response, and I chuckled.

When I arrived at the pet sitter’s, Cookie practically jumped out of the carrier the moment I opened it. “Wow, no hesitation, huh?” I said, watching as she wagged her tail and ran straight to the sitter. “Nice to know where I stand.”

The sitter—Mrs. Honey Walker by name—laughed. “Don’t take it personally. She just loves it here.”

“Sure,” I said with mock offense. “I’ll just try not to cry about it on my way to school.”

---
Third Person POV

At Canterlot High, the morning bustle had already begun. Students chattered by their lockers, the sound of lockers slamming and shoes tapping against the floor mixing in with the low hum of music playing from someone’s earbuds.

Applejack raised an eyebrow at Pinkie Pie, who was gleefully shoving another handful of candy into her mouth. “Seriously, Pinkie, that’s a bit too much, sugarcube.”

But Pinkie Pie just giggled, her face lighting up with enthusiasm as she chewed. “Relax, Applejack! It’s CANDY! Who doesn’t love candy?!”

Applejack just shook her head with a smile. “Whatever you say, I guess.”

Just then, Rarity strutted down the hallway, her signature curls bouncing with every step. She was the epitome of elegance, as usual. “Morning, Rarity,” Applejack called out, tipping her hat.

Rarity greeted her with a warm smile, then turned to Pinkie, who was still munching on her candy. “My goodness, Pinkie, that’s an awful lot of sweets for one person.”

“Nope! Can’t have too much candy!” Pinkie replied happily, offering Rarity a handful. Rarity politely declined, but Pinkie just grabbed more.

"Absolutely not!" Rarity said firmly, slapping Pinkie’s hand away.

Pinkie giggled and stuffed one last gummy bear into her mouth. “Oh well! More for me!” she said, grinning as if she had just won a prize.

Applejack and Rarity exchanged amused glances, but before they could say anything else, Fluttershy walked up, her soft voice greeting the group.

“Hi, Pinkie,” she said quietly.

“Good to see you, darling,” Rarity said with a quick hug.

"Same here, sugarcube," Applejack added with a warm smile.

The group chatted idly, each of them enjoying the company of their friends. Not everyone was here yet, but they were all looking forward to the day ahead.

********
Sunset's POV

Scrolling through my phone, I stood at the entrance of CHS when someone called out to me.

"Sunset! Hey!"

I looked up to see Twilight jogging toward me, her bag swinging with each step. I tucked my phone away and gave her a wave. "Oh hey, Twilight."

She caught up to me, glancing down at the bag she was carrying. "What's that for?" I asked, nodding toward it.

Twilight followed my gaze, then back at me with an excited grin. "This is my apparatus for chemistry today! I also asked Principal Celestia if I could borrow the science lab for an experiment later, and she agreed!" She practically bounced on her heels. Twilight was always so enthusiastic about science—or, well, everything, really.

I folded my arms, shaking my head with a smirk. "Good for you, Twi. Now let’s go find the others. I’m sure they've been waiting for us."

Twilight smiled and nodded. Together, we walked inside, and after a few steps, I spotted our friends gathered by the lockers, chatting.

"Hey, guys! What’d we miss?" I called out, startling them a little, but their faces brightened when they saw us.

"Howdy, y’all," Applejack greeted, her tone warm. "Honestly, not much, except Pinkie Pie’s sweet tooth. She ate a whole bag of candy—ah could never," she said, pointing at Pinkie.

Pinkie beamed up at us, unbothered by the teasing. "I needed it for my energy!" she explained cheerfully.

"She’s right, you know?" Fluttershy added, her voice soft but earnest. "I don’t think it’s a good idea to take any more... that is, if you don’t want to," she said, her hands tugging nervously at her pastel hair.

"Meh, okie dokie lokie!" Pinkie shrugged, not a care in the world. She pulled Twilight and me into a tight hug, grinning widely.

"But you guys know this is just average Pinkie behavior, right?" Twilight said, her voice matter-of-fact as she squirmed a little in Pinkie’s embrace.

"Of course," Rarity giggled. "It's just quite amusing at times."

Everyone joined in the laughter, including Pinkie, who was beaming brighter than ever.

"Um, guys? Rainbow Dash isn’t here," Fluttershy spoke up, her voice laced with concern. We all looked around, noticing the absence of our loudest friend.

Applejack sighed, shaking her head. "She’s got detention."

"Wait, why?" I raised an eyebrow, curious.

"Well, she came late to class yesterday. Almost got away with it, but Mr. CrankyDoodle spotted her. We were both in math, and I saw the whole thing. Since she’s been late so often, especially last year and the beginning of this one, Mr. CrankyDoodle had to send her to detention. She’ll be out by lunch, though, but she has to stay until last period." Applejack finished with a dramatic facepalm.

"Detention on the first day?" Twilight chuckled, shaking her head. "Rainbow sure knows how to set a record."

"It’s alright," I said, hoping to reassure them. "She’ll be out later. At least we have band practice to look forward to."

"Oh yeah," Applejack added, tapping her foot thoughtfully, "she texted me. Said it's fine if we go ahead with band practice even if she’s not on time."

"Sounds good," I agreed, giving her a small smile. "As long as she’s okay with it, I’m good."

As the conversation continued, I felt a moment of calm settle over me. But then Pinkie Pie bounced up beside me, her expression wide-eyed and expectant.

"Sunset! So, how’d that tour go?" she asked, looking at me with bright curiosity.

Twilight, who had been standing nearby, tilted her head. "What tour?"

I took a breath, nodding toward Twilight before turning back to Pinkie. "Oh, there’s a new girl who started yesterday, and Principal Celestia asked me to give her a tour of the school."

"How’d it go?" Pinkie asked, still peering at me as though I had the secret to all of life’s mysteries.

I hesitated before answering, unsure if I should really share my thoughts. "Honestly, it went okay, I guess. But when I asked if she’d like to meet you guys, she said she’d rather be on her own and just left."

There was a brief, uncomfortable silence. Pinkie and Twilight exchanged a look, but I wasn’t sure if I was just imagining it.

"Was it something I said?" I asked, my gaze dropping to the floor. I slid slowly down against the lockers, the cold metal pressing against my back. Everything about this felt like a reflection of how distant I was from where I wanted to be—how nothing seemed to get any better.

I could feel my heart sink in a way I hadn’t expected. Maybe she didn’t like me. Maybe she didn’t like hearing about Equestria. It felt like I was being left behind, the way I used to make others feel.

"Come on, Sunset," Pinkie’s voice was bright, but there was a soft edge to it. "You're super amazing the way you are! That couldn’t be it, right?"

Twilight nodded, offering a warm smile. "I agree with Pinkie Pie. Just give her time to warm up to CHS, alright?"

I smiled back weakly, feeling some of the tension leave my shoulders. "Thanks, guys," I said, standing up slowly. I hugged both of them, hoping it would somehow make me feel better.

"Well," Applejack said, her tone returning to its usual straightforwardness, "we best get a move on. Wouldn't want to get detention too."

She waved as she headed off with Fluttershy and Rarity, and Twilight went off with Pinkie. I turned to leave as well, heading to my next class, the one I was supposed to have with Rainbow. But it seemed I’d be on my own for this one.

As I walked, the encounter with CJ weighed heavily on my mind. The way she’d reacted when I mentioned Equestria... Was that the reason she pulled away?

"Hmm... Come to think of it, she did seem weirdly understanding when I explained about my past," I muttered to myself, frowning.

But if she is avoiding me, why?

Or, maybe I'm just being dramatic... No wait, that's Rarity's thing. But at least it can't go downhill from here…

Right?