Sunrise: Chapter 6

“Tell me again how you came to deface school property THIS time, Miss Shimmer.”

“I saw a spider, Nurse Redheart.”

“A spider?”

“It was a big spider, ma’am.”

“I see…Well you’re not the only one with arachnophobia in this school. Just try not to take out your fear on anymore mirrors.”

“Y…yes, ma’am.”

Nurse Redheart finished bandaging my bruised hand and gave me a pat on the shoulder.

“You’re good to go, Miss Shimmer. It shouldn’t be too much of a problem in tomorrow’s game. But I would avoid riding your motorcycle to school for at least a week.”

No motorcycle for a week?! I’d rather she just lobbed off my hand. But then again, it could have been worse. I thank the nurse and gather up my jacket. Putting it on requires me to turn to the right. And that’s when I hear Miss Redheart gasp.

“Good heavens, I see why you punched the mirror now! That bite looks serious.”

Bite? What the hell is she….ohh buck. When me and Fluttershy were about to knock boots on the gym bleachers, I knew she was attacking the hell out of my neck with her teeth. But I had no idea she’d left a hickey on my neck.

“Oh Yeah…bite…” I chuckle nervously.”

“It looks pretty bad.” Nurse Redheart leans into examine it. “Maybe I should keep you here for the rest of the day, just for observation?” She reaches out to touch my neck but I recoil from her touch.

“It’s fine! Really! I don’t think it was poisonous...” I shuffle towards the door and hold my collar up against my neck.

“Are you sure? Your cheeks are pretty red. You might be coming down with a fever.”

They’re not red from what you think, Miss Redheart...I shake my head and hold my jacket tight.

“Well, if anything happens, don’t you hesitate to come back and see me.”

Thank goodness. I thank Miss Redheart for her help and scoop up my book bag before making a quick getaway out of the nurse’s office. Outside the door, I spot the girls hanging out in the hallway. Rarity’s sitting against the left hand wall, nose deep into some fashion mag. Applejack stands next to her in typical cowgirl style: Her hat’s pulled down over her eyes, left boot resting up against the wall, and her arms crossed against her chest.

On the opposite wall, Pinkie Pie shivers nervously while Rainbow Dash leans towards her with a hand on her shoulder. Pinkie must be into some sort of drama queen routine again over my injury. In the center of the room, I see Fluttershy pacing up and down the hallway. She had my gym bag slung over her shoulder, and was gripping the strap hard with her right hand.

Despite them all having classes around this time, they actually stayed to wait around for me. I can’t believe it. Maybe actually having friends will slowly change my outlook on life. I hike my bag over my shoulder and walk towards them.

“Waiting long?”

“Sunset!” Fluttershy glomps me almost as soon as I reach them. Her lunge catches me off guard and knocks me against the wall, right into my bad hand. I hiss in pain, making her jump back.

“I’m so sorry Sunset!” She whimpers and gently rubs my bandaged hand. I just chuckle and hold her in my left arm.

“It’s fine Shy, don’t worry.” I kiss her gently and she leans against me.

“What happened in the bathroom that made you so angry, Sunset?” Applejack asks after pushing herself from the wall.

“Umm...” Suddenly my head starts to hurt, and the images come flooding back: Fluttershy, dead by my hands. Our school transformed into a burned out wreck, the bodies of my other friends strewn around the courtyard lawn. And punctuating it all, the cruel laughter of that…thing. I feel a cold shiver run down my spine, and I hold Fluttershy tightly and whimper.

“Uhh…Sunset...What’s wrong sugar?”

“Nothing.” I look away from Applejack as the visions fade.

“Sunset, don’t lie to us. We’re your friends. Tell us what’s wrong and maybe we can help you.”

What am I supposed to tell her? That I saw fucking “Sunset Satan” in the bathroom mirror?
That she’s feeding off my emotions in preparation to slaughter everyone? How the fuck am I supposed to tell them this? I shake my head.

“Later.” I can’t meet anyone’s eyes.

“Sunset…” I hear Rarity of all people speak up. “Whatever it is, we can help you.”

“You can’t help me with this…. No one can.” I let go of Fluttershy and turn to walk away.

“Sunset?!” she calls after me. I just start running. I don’t know where. Just any place away from them. Away from their faces so I don’t I have to remember the sound of their screams from the vision. Tears begin streaming down my cheeks. I hit a door, and go right through it.

I feel the warmth of the afternoon sun. By the time I stop and fall to my knees, I find myself on the field where two days ago I thought my life was improving for the better. Now it feels like everything I’ve struggled to build is going to be burned away like kindling. I pound my hands into the dirt and wail like a newborn baby.

“Sunset Shimmer? Are you okay?”

That voice...

“Sunset? Sunset Shimmer”

That better not be who the fuck I think it is. I wipe my eyes and turn around. And wouldn’t you know it… the purple skin…the schoolgirl outfit…the pink and dark purple streak in her hair, that clueless fucking look on her face. It is her. The famous “Twilight Sparkle”.

There are no words exchanged. No joyful greetings or reverence of her fucking social status. In my mind I don’t see the girl that saved my life. I see the monster that locked me in a living hell.

Storming up to her, I pay my “respects” to the dear princess the way I’ve dreamed it since this hell began by balling up my good hand into a fist, cocking back, and unloading every ounce of pent up angst and rage in the form of my fist across her jaw.

She didn’t even see it coming. The look of shock on her face said it all as she dropped to the ground. She holds her quickly swelling cheek as she stares up at me.

“What type of hello is that?!” She shouts.

“All of this is your fault!” I shriek and grab her by the scruff of her collar and pull her to her feet. I’m about to sock her another one but she pushes me away.

“What are you talking about?! I just got here to check on you and you punched me in the face!”

“And what were you expecting ‘Princess’?! I was just going to kneel before your royal greatness?! Six fucking weeks ago you THOUGHT you could show up, use magic in a world you don’t understand, purge evil from someone you don’t even know, and think everything would be fine!”

“Well…isn’t…it?” She braces this time as she sees my fist ball up, but I relent this time.

“NO! Because guess what, Sparklebitch?! You need all six elements to properly destroy an evil element from someone’s body. You HAD one, and it wasn’t even fully charged because you were sharing said power with the goddamn demon that was wearing it!” I throw my book bag at her, which she dodges.

“So now I’m left with an evil demon whispering in my head, and oh by the way, it’s getting stronger every time I feel hate and rage!”

“Well then shouldn’t you calm down—“

“ALL BECAUSE OF YOU!!” I ignore her interruption. “Because you and your precious princess didn’t consider the fact that one little crown wouldn’t be enough, you left the job unfinished and now I’m STUCK with this thing in my head!”

“My job was just to retrieve the crown, not fight some supernatural demon made of YOUR dark side!”

“Well maybe if your precious Celestia had taught you real magic instead of how to preen her wings, maybe you’d know to plan for every possibility, Sparklebitch!” That got her riled up. She’s standing in my face now.

“Take. That. Back!”

“Awww, did I hurt the little suck up’s feelings?” I spit in her face and prepare for her reaction.

I’m hoping she hits me. I’m really hoping she loses it and steps into my territory. Six weeks ago we stood like this, only that time it was in the hallway. Too many witnesses; my chance to get the crown would have been in jeopardy. This time, there’s no such thing stopping me from beating this whelp into submission. But before I can exact my vengeance, a pair of blue hands pushes us apart, and then a lasso wraps around my waist and pulls me back. I look behind me, and there’s Applejack reeling me in. Once I hustle to my feet I see the rest of her girls standing around us.

“Sunset, what in the hell has gotten into you?!” Applejack steps in front of me as I try to rush forward, blocking my path with her body. “Why are you and Twilight about to have a throwdown on the soccer field?!”

I roar and throw her to the side. “Because that bitch ruined my life! She’s the reason my last six weeks have been a nightmare!”

“You did that yourself, Sunset when you stole my crown!” She screams and tries to jump over Rainbow Dash. Rainbow keeps her rooted to the ground, and even Rarity is trying to keep her calm.

I start to get leverage on Applejack, and begin to run towards Twilight. Suddenly I’m tripped off my feet and pinned to the ground, with my bad hand wrenched behind my back. Crying out in pain, I struggle to get free from my captor.

“Sunset…I’m warning you!” Applejack twists my arm and I grit my teeth. Damn, this farmgirl’s strong. “I don’t wanna do it, but I WILL break your arm if you keep at it!”

The last thing I need is a broken limb, so I relent. Applejack pulls me up and I dust myself off as Fluttershy hugs me tight, in tears. I hold her and whisper “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry” and stroke her soft pink hair. Seeing that I’ve calmed down, Rainbow Dash lets Twilight go. She brushes herself off and approaches me with her same dumbfounded look on her face.

“Sunset...I’m sorry…But even if I HAD known about the side effect, I wouldn’t have been able to help you! The portal was about to close, and at the time, we had no idea how to open the portal again once it closed. If I hadn’t gone back, I wouldn’t have been able to tell the Princess what happened here or come back to help you!”

“Help her with…what, exactly?” Rainbow Dash asks.

Twilight shakes her head, and then gazes over at me. Guess the bitch can’t take the fact she fucked up. I sigh and step in to explain.

“The demon that I transformed into didn’t die. It just gave my body back. The past six weeks, I’ve been fighting off the demon while it grows stronger off my anger and hate. AS YOU CAN SEE, I can’t control myself enough to keep it down.”

Everyone stops and just looks at me. Their jaws drop. Fluttershy can’t even look at me. To be honest, I can’t blame her. I wouldn’t blame any of them if they turned their back on me now. I’m a goddamn monster waiting to happen. And the longer I stay near them, the less time it takes before my “alter ego” rears its ugly head and exterminates them.

“I should have never tried to get back with you girls.” I mumble. Turning away, I start to walk towards the parking lot.

“Where are you going?!” The Sparklebitch screams.

“Somewhere…” I pick up my pace.

“You can’t just leave after all this, Sunset!” Rainbow Dash tries to reason. Despite me having a lead on her, she’s already walking step for step next to me.

“If I stay, I’m just going to end up killing all of you.” I get ready to run but then someone grabs my arm. When I spin around, I see Fluttershy with tears streaming down her face.

“You can’t leave now!” Fluttershy sobs. How could I be so stupid? I just started a relationship with her, now I’m about to run off and hide somewhere. I’d leave her behind, a sobbing and broken girl. With tears running down my own cheeks, I wrap my arms around her and hold her tight.

Applejack puts her arm on my right shoulder. “Come on sugar, you don’t want to upset Fluttershy now do ya? It’s obvious she thinks the world of you, and so do I.”

Rarity wraps her arms around me next and joins the embrace. “I know I’ve been cruel to you Sunset…and I’m sorry. I can’t let you just run away when you need us now, darling.”

Rainbow Dash grabs my left shoulder and grins. “Do you think we’d really let you give up after all the progress you’ve made?”

Pinkie Pie finishes the impromptu group hug and we almost fall to ground.. “Please stay Sunset, we’ll help you beat it!”

I can’t believe it. I just told them that the demon they barely defeated is going to come back and not only are they going to stay with me, they’re going to help me fight it. Is this a dream? It must be. There’s no way friends like this actually exist in this world. Friendship’s not supposed to exist here. But maybe this is what makes them different. This is what makes them true friends.

I break free from them and take a few steps forward, then turn around with the setting sun to my back. With a smile on my face I open my arms and they pounce on me at once. Unable to hold my balance, we all tumble to the ground with a thud. We share a laugh then look up as Twilight approaches us.

“Your friends want to help Sunset Shimmer, and so do I. Please, stay with us? I promise we’ll find a way to help you.”

I wipe my eyes clean and stare up at her. “Okay…I’ll stay.”

Author's Note

The feels on the bus go round and round!

Seriously though, this was probably the chapter I had the most fun writing. Me and Star got a big kick out of editing this one. So enjoy! And as always, Read and Review!...please? I'll give you cookies...and milk...