E.q.Gee Rule Sixty-three

“Sundown said to meet him at park around this time.  Though the great and powerful trickster has his doubts, especially since this.  What about you Teneberia?”  a fair-skinned human male said.  He donned a blue hoodie marked with a magic wand on the back.

“As long as isn’t trying to hit on me, I’ll do it” Stated Teneberia. She had pale skin, red eyes, and black hair. Teneberia was her nickname, in honor of an ancient and ruthless queen.

“Honestly Teneberia, what if it’s a prank? The great and powerful trickster thinks so and would not approve of such an act.” said Trickster.

“If it is, Tristan, then Sundown will pay for this. But he doesn't play pranks outside of the scho-" Teneberia then spun around and her eye twitched “I sense someone is following us…”

“Who?” Trickster wondered, looking in all directions. But nothing seemed out of place.

“We’ll know soon enough.” Teneberia and she and Trickster continued walking along the street.

Pretty soon, Faye rolled from her hiding place behind a car and continued to follow them.

“…So then this husky – Pongo I think his name was – starts making a speech about revolution and the next thing I know is that he opens his cage from the inside. Then all the other dogs follow and pretty soon we’re storming out of the Animal Shelter as the manager was talking on the phone. While I was making my way back to school I tried to eavesdrop on some human speech – it’s not much is different to equestrian speech, except for the names and the use of the word *Pony*.” Barbra stated, riding comfortably within Dusk's backpack.

“Well, thanks for coming back for me Barb, I would be nothing without you.” Dusk said.

The duo made their way into a school gym, complete with bleachers and a stage.  Colorful Steams and balloons were everywhere; a disco ball was at the center of a ceiling; tables serving drinks and snacks were step up.  It looked as if this place was ready to party, though not a soul was in sight.

“Hmm…looks okay to me.” judged Barbra “All I have to say is that there are waaaay too many balloons….”

Dusk had to agree seeing all the balloons high in the ceiling, huddled like clouds. “Yeah, just like Berry’s parties -”

“DID SOMEBODY SAY MY NAME?!”

Dusk jumped and spun around seeing a kid with widely uncombed raspberry-colored hair and baby blue eyes. His skin was pink, but not in berry’s bubble-gum pink but more of a warm-pajama white-pink.

“Uh…hi-”

“Hey there! I’m Robert Ruby, but I’d prefer it if you call me Bobby.” The hyperactive boy said, shaking Dusk’s hand at what appeared to be the speed of light.

“Yeah, Yeah, I get it!” Dusk said, pulling his worn out hand away. “Anyway I was wondering-”

“Hey….” Bobby eyed “You remind me of this girl that I met online.”

“I what?”

“Yeah! See!” Bobby pulled out his phone and showed it to Dusk.  Dusk could see a picture of girl with black hair dyed in pink and purple, smiling warmly back at him.

Bellow the picture was supposedly the girl’s name.

“Who is this User…T-w-one-l-one-g-h-t-Spark-one-three?” Dusk asked, his eyes sparkling briefly.

“Someone just right for you.” Barbra joked. Dusk blushed.

“Oh, you like to talk to your pet too?” Bobby said, pulling his phone away. “I talk to my pet alligator all the time!”

The gym door slammed open.  Dusk caught a face of angry human, dressed in a wet clothing storm her way over to Bobby. On her red shirt was green apple, reminding Dusk of the cutie mark of Appleuck’s sister, Big Macareena.

“Hey Macy! are you….” Bobby wondered.

“….All that months’ worth of cider. Gone, Darn-it. GONE!…” She cried and shoved Bobby out of the way. Macy muttered curses out at Sundown as she made her way to the girl’s locker room.

A boy came into the gym as well, though much taller and muscular than most boys. He too was drenched from the tip of his cowboy hat to his leather boots.  His hair was blonde as hay and his freckled skin was tanned.

“Sorry, Bobby….but Sundown’s thugs saw us carrying the cider to the gym.  They tripped us and then we made the biggest spill of cider the school has even seen.  Macy is taking it hard…”

“…yeah….I know…” Benny sighed. “Can you get more?”

“Not when Sundown’s dogs are patrolling the halls. And it’s not just those two girls…”

“What do you mean?” Bobby wondered.

“Sundown seems to taking this party very seriously – he’s made a list of invited and not-invited, he’s asked Elusive to do seven costumes for him, and I just saw him recruit more students as henchmen.  And they sure are mean…”

“Oh…wow…because…I was just about to sign up, Applebuck...” Dusk stated.

“Who?” the cowboy wondered “Oh yer the new guy. By the way, 'Mister Applebuck' is mah father’s name.  I’m Austin Bernard.”

“You know me?” Dusk wondered

“Yeah, you were the one that stood up against Sundown.  That mighty strong of you, though Ben Scotty ain’t the kind of person you wanna defend. He’s a real timid boy that holds himself back from defendin’ himself!”

“And from having parties!” Added Bobby.

Dusk wasn't sure what he should say. “Could…I…sign up for Fall Formal, now?”

Austin and Bobby gave him an *Are messing with me?* look. But Bobby reluctantly pulled a clipboard and a pen from his hair and handed it to Dusk.

“Yer signin’ for humiliation...or worse…” shrugged Austin. "Then again its better than trustin' than Richie..."

Dusk took the pen anyway and wrote his name down, ignoring Austin's comment.  Thanks to the survival guide Faye had given him, he managed to avoid grabbing the pen by his mouth, and used his hand.

Though his penmanship could use some work.

Faye gazed at Sundown, sweat dripping from her head. Before she could react, Sundown’s clawed fingers lashed at her face, creating another set of glowing red scars on her body.  Then Faye was tackled from behind by Teneberia, who then held Faye's hands behind her back.

“Where the shadows are, so will be me.” Teneberia hissed into Faye’s ear.

As Faye struggled to get up, she was kicked in side of head by a blue tennis shoe belonging to the stage performer Tristan “Trickster” Lulamoon.  Faye guessed that Tristan was recruited by Sundown due to the fact he was easy to bribe.

“I didn’t give you twelve nutty-nut bars to see you kick like a girl, Trickster. Now do it! NOW!” Sundown’s eyes flashed green as the carnelian key on his chest glowed.

Tristan was frightened of Sundown's magic, so he kept kicking Faye – in the Ribs, in the face, anywhere. Faye knew he was just trying to live.

But it was not enough to satisfy Sundown, for he shoved Tristan out of the way and his glare signaled Teneberia to do the same.

He grabbed Faye by the hair with his claws, expecting a moan or a whimper.  Instead all he got was a tired and exhausted face, scarred, bleeding, busied and covered in mud.

“Sneak up on me when I’m talking with pals, especially my new ones…” Sundown hissed “…And I won’t stop until I’ve beaten every breath from your body.  Got it?”

Faye just spat on Sundown.  The spit hit him right in the eye, causing him to yell “Horsefeathers!”

Faye expected Sundown to finish her once and for all for her foolish attack.  But then his claw transformed back into a normal human hand which he then gently placed his hand on Faye’s face.  The bruises and scars faded away but the dirt still a remained all over her skin and her clothes.

“Please. Don’t. Try. To take this chance away from me.” Sundown said, sounding like he was pleading.  Faye though it was another warning, though she wondered if Sundown was begging.

Once, Sundown took Teneberia and Trickster away from the park. Faye collapsed onto the grass, exhausting from the fighting. She hoped that Dusk was doing a better job as a human.