"So, what are you looking for me for?"
Sunset Shimmer removed her mask and stepped off the field, looking at Trixie, who had come to find her, and asked.
Trixie had been waiting for a while, crouching at the edge of the field and boredly fiddling with the club equipment. She only perked up when she noticed Sunset Shimmer approaching.
"I couldn't find you at your usual spots, Sunset Shimmer. I never expected you to join the Fencing Club behind my back."
Trixie belonged to the Board Game Club, and she had assumed that Sunset Shimmer, that stubborn girl, would always be one of those students who went straight home after school.
Before The Great and All-Powerful Trixie could intervene to stop Sunset Shimmer from wasting her time and invite her to join her own club, she hadn't expected the girl to be less hopeless than she thought. She had actually found a club on her own and was participating in its activities quite seriously.
"Have you finally figured things out? Or have you just let it all go?"
Sunset Shimmer ignored Trixie's half-joking question and sat down on the other side. She unscrewed her water bottle, took a sip, and then gave a noncommittal shake of her head.
She hadn't managed to do either of the things Trixie mentioned.
However, she also felt that being constantly troubled by the past was harmful to her present and future. If she didn't untie the knot of distress in her heart, hiding away wouldn't help at all.
Therefore, Sunset Shimmer planned to return when the next Portal opened.
In any case, the flow of time in the Human World was much slower than in the Pony World, so she should have enough time to resolve everything in Equestria before settling down in the Human World to continue her life of exploration.
Trixie didn't get a clear answer, but seeing that Sunset Shimmer's mood was stable and she wasn't wearing an unhappy expression, she knew that Sunset Shimmer had already found a way to resolve things for herself.
There was no need for anyone else to worry about the rest; as long as smart people didn't get stuck in their own heads, they were usually very easy to deal with.
"By the way, what made you think of joining the Fencing Club? I thought you'd at least choose something that played to your strengths, like a craft or science project."
"I've already mastered those. I wanted to try something different."
"..."
Trixie felt that asking that had been rather humiliating. Is this the world of the strong? "I've already mastered those"—what a plain, unadorned reason. It immediately shut down any further questions Trixie might have had.
However, Sunset Shimmer's decision to join the Fencing Club wasn't just because she was interested in the sport; it also aligned with some of her current needs.
Fencing could help train her balance and coordination, sculpt her physique, and teach her how to use her arms and legs with agility.
Sunset Shimmer really didn't want to be laughed at by others for being clumsy on two legs again.
Furthermore, fencing helped her maintain focus and left her no time to let her mind wander, making it an effective form of mental relaxation for her.
"Have you noticed something?"
"Just spit it out. I don't want to play guessing games with you... Are you in trouble again?"
"Not me! Trixie... The Great and All-Powerful Trixie is merely concerned about your mental health and came to check on you, while also taking the opportunity to ask for help with some difficult schoolwork."
Under Sunset Shimmer's suspicious gaze, Trixie blushed, coughed a few times, and quickly denied it.
"Haven't you noticed the school renovating the stadium lately? They're preparing for the upcoming Friendship Games."
Trixie stopped playing coy and told Sunset Shimmer directly about the upcoming school competition, taking the opportunity to ask about her plans.
"As part of the school, you're definitely going to participate in a few events, right?"
Trixie looked at Sunset Shimmer with an expectant gaze, which left her feeling a bit bewildered.
She knew about the Friendship Games; the magic show she had helped Trixie put on previously was intended to boost the confidence of the Canterlot High School students, which had been crushed during the last Friendship Games.
As it turned out, that kind of public performance was merely a superficial fix. Only by actually defeating Crystal Prep Academy in the Friendship Games could Canterlot High School truly stand tall.
"But why are you just looking at me? The Friendship Games is a team competition, not an individual one. You don't expect me to turn the tide all by myself, do you?"
Sunset Shimmer spread her hands and said.
She was quite willing to contribute to the school, but asking her to carry the entire school on her own was surely asking too much of this rainbow pony.
"You can't say it like that. Sunset, I've always believed that you are the hope of our entire village."
Trixie patted Sunset Shimmer on the shoulder with great solemnity, displaying a mysterious kind of faith in her.
Although Crystal Prep Academy, being a private school, had students with greater overall strength than those at Canterlot High School, that didn't mean Canterlot High School had absolutely no hope of victory.
"Even Rainbow Dash was able to win against Crystal Prep Academy in last year's soccer game, which shows that our school is full of hidden talent. Not to mention that this year we have you—that should at least make it a fifty-fifty shot."
Hearing this, Sunset Shimmer paused mid-sip and gave Trixie a strange look.
"That 'fifty-fifty' might as well mean nothing."
"Don't get hung up on the details. I truly believe that you can help this school win, just like you helped me."
Trixie said sincerely. This made Sunset Shimmer realize where this trust came from; it turned out that after she had let Trixie latch onto her last time, she had been latched onto for good.
"So, do you have any plans for this time?"
"None at all. If I knew what to do, why would I be coming to you?"
Sunset Shimmer frowned at Trixie, who shifted the responsibility as naturally as breathing, but this time she didn't get angry. It seemed she had grown accustomed to the trouble this girl caused, and she truly didn't know whether that was a good thing or a bad thing.
"The school website doesn't seem to have posted the notice for the Friendship Games yet. Do you know exactly when they are?"
"Normally, it should be on the first Friday of next month, so that the weekend falls right after the competition. The principal will also organize a pep rally the day before the competition begins."
Sunset Shimmer checked the calendar on her phone to confirm the date of the Friendship Games. When she saw the date Trixie had mentioned, she froze for a moment.
Because that happened to be the day the Portal would open.
However, the Portal would remain open for three days, and since the next two days were the weekend, Sunset Shimmer could participate in the Friendship Games, go to Equestria, and then return before the Portal closed.
"...By the way, regarding the Friendship Games, will every student from Crystal Prep Academy be coming?"
"Not exactly. The buses from Crystal Prep Academy probably couldn't hold that many people. Usually, only the students who are competing come to Canterlot High School, and they always send their most capable students to compete. Of course, a small number of spectators will come along as well."
Trixie answered subconsciously, then belatedly realized something.
"Wait, is your crush actually a student from Crystal Prep Academy?"
"No, absolutely not."
Sunset Shimmer said immediately and firmly.
She just thought that if she could see a few familiar faces before returning to Equestria, it would be quite interesting.
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