Chapters Saturday, 8:00 PM. Equestria Academy Library, Spare Room.
He came like he asked. I felt honored like nothing I've felt before. For once, someone was doing something for me, not because I was their Prized Student to be taken advantage of, but because he cared for me.
"Hey Sunset, I'm glad you didn't uh, *cough* forget, I guess, hehe. I brought us some good old fashioned pizza, if you're still hungry that is!" he threw the box onto my bed like a ragdoll, barely missing my legs. "Careful you, you might get Pizza on my books! Haha," I felt exhilarated. Finally I had someone special in my life I could interact with. Not a snarky Princess who doesn't truly care,
An hour had passed. We sat their, eating, making witty remarks, gossiping and overall having a really great time. He was just an amazing person. We didn't have much in common but we shared one fact, we had each other as friends now. No, not even that. I...
"Sunset, Today has been great. I... I like you, a lot in fact. I must sound silly right now though,"
Those words pierced my ears like blades. I had just heard a miracle. It felt like a wave of happiness had just swept over me. "I... don't know what to say Flash. I think I, well, I've not felt like this. Ever. I've not had anyone in my life to look up to. I had someone once, but they tried to force me into friendship, I couldn't live with that. But now, I think I've learnt it myself. I had always told myself that friendship was folly. A waste of time, a passing trend to just forget about. But being with you has changed something inside me,"
"We're both outcasts, I know that. We're always alone, cast aside by the cool kids because they see us as nothing but trash, perfectly fine to throw away to the vermin. But you Sunset? After being with you today, talking with you and learning more about you, I feel like I myself have finally found the one person who I can come to when I have troubles, the one person who would listen. Who cares,"
He was right. Both of us, connected by the dark fate that is being alone. But now that is gone, because we may be alone from people, but together, we are connected by more than just friendship.
"You're right Flash. All I've ever done is read books, study and just... never make an effort to make friends. I though friendship wasn't magic. I thought it was futile because someone close to me tried to force me into it, when I said clearly that isn't how it works. She tried sending me away to watch over a celebration and acting like it was imperative I make friends for it all to go well."
Suddenly I had a feeling of hatred inside my heart. Celestia. The person I once looked up to more than a princess, but a true friend, had betrayed me. I didn't need friendship if all it meant was being lectured and used by a mentor.
"You see Sunset? We are a lot more in common than you think. We've both suffered the tragedy of being cast aside, we've both come through unscathed because we've met each other. We're meant to be, you and I. Today, I think that has been set into stone by the divines themselves!"
I had just released my feelings in an instant to someone I had known less than a day, yet it felt like he was the one person I had been seeking my whole existence. He veered towards me, I performed the exact same action. We were connected by more than friendship. more than magic. It was Love. Magic that stems far to the ancient Crystal Empire itself, the greatest, most powerful magic ever to be seen in Equestria.
I felt Flash's lips upon mine. A Key upon a lock just begging to be unlocked, to be freed. I felt like at that one moment, everything had changed. I was no longer Sunset Shimmer, pony with no friends to speak of. No longer that one pony you'd see running away from a party offering. I felt like I had found my meaning.
"I.. I'm sorry Sunset. That must have been a bit um, sudden. Forgive me for being so rash. I-"
"Flash, you don't need to apologize. I would have said the same thing, but not now since I realize this wasn't a mistake. You and me are meant to be. You've helped me find who I really am. For that, I humbly thank you. How about you come here again, every Saturday at this time, we'll make it our little hide-away!" I felt like I was proposing to a man I'd met in the street, how strange it felt, yet I knew that he was... the one for me.
"I'd like that. Okay I've gotta get going. Stupid Exams. But hey, we came here to learn and that's what we have to do I suppose. See ya Sunset,"
He left not long after, no doubt to be ready for an exam he has in a few days. But already I feel lost without him being with me. I can endure though. I had met him and fell in love with him in the span of 2 days, but it felt like the right decision, the best decision I had ever made. And now he would come back by will! No one had to be forced into this. It was purely of will and heart. I feel like that is what has made me believe that maybe friendship, love, they really are special.
"Flash! You're here again! I knew you'd come back."
He was like the knight in shining armor you'd see at the movies, but in the flesh. He was my valiant hero arriving to rescue me from some evil witches tower, ha ha.
"Hey Sunset. Yeah, I'm back again and again I've brought us Dinner. We'll call this our little routine because I can't have you doing all the good things for me now can I?"
Those words had hit me. He really was dedicated to seeing me again and again. To buy me Dinner, without asking this time, felt like he truly was committed to me.
"So Flash, how have you been this last week? I haven't really been able to see you, being pushed aside by others and all,"
"It's no worry Sunset. I haven't seen you much either and I feel sad about that, but I won't ever leave, you can count on that much,"
He would never leave. He himself confirmed everything I had collected my thoughts on over the past few days. I'd found someone to care for and receive care in return. It felt amazing.
"Anyway, I've been busy with tests and all, like you already know Sunset. I have a big one that could make or break my life in a few months. And since we know each other so well now, I don't think it would be hard for us to... work together. I-if you don't mind that is. I wouldn't want to invade your privacy,"
"Invade? More like preserve, Flash. I've had to tell you this from the start. It wasn't love at immediate sight, that wouldn't have any meaning. But talking with you, just being with you has opened my heart once again, I'm happy that it was to someone as amazing as you. I would be more than happy to have you here to study with me. If your test means this much to you, it means that much to me as well"
"That's... the first time I've ever heard anyone say anything like that to me Sunset. I... thank you. You've given me everything. Someone to care for, somewhere to be with you and even somewhere to help each other succeed. You've got amazing generosity Sunset. And it even feels like your Kindness and Honesty and shining through. It's hard for a person to be able to express themselves in a manner like this, I'd know. Being an outcast for as long as we have doesn't just leave us feeling alone. It scars the mind, because for all that time we've been with no one. A little longer and you as well as I could have become worse. I never want to see a girl as bright, beautiful and great as you fall for madness. You've shown your true strength to me Sunset Shimmer, and someday I will return the debt!"
It was done that day. We'd sealed our love in stone. Both of us had admitted our true feelings, we'd let ourselves talk to each other so much that we've found so much that we have together. I will never let that break. For as long as I live, I will love Flash Sentry with all my heart. I will help him succeed with all he does and most important of all, I will return his favor someday. The favor of helping me see what my life is about now. I am devoted to him, he is all I have now. If I lost him I... No. I won't let my- our love be snapped like a twig by anything.
This day... It's the worst day I've had in my life. I thought I had succeeded in showing what friendship meant with those girls ruining what it means with their squabbling and lack of much care. And Flash had found out.
"Sunset. I know what you did. You broke the bond between that group of girls didn't you? I thought you cared about friendship, about love. You've said so much in favor of the magic of friendship. Where has all that gone? Why have you done this!?"
I was speechless. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. The largest fear I had became reality.
"Flash. Listen to me. They mocked what friendship meant. Their petty squabbling, lack of care for each other. How is that friendship!? HOW IS THAT LOVE!? Because Flash, it isn't. You must see it like I do, please... You know as well as I do that arguing isn't what friends-" He shoved me aside. I can't believe this is happening.
"Friends argue Sunset. It's part of friendship's growth. Friends will argue. That doesn't mean they aren't friends anymore. You can't be as shallow as that.You described it as the best thing that had ever happened to you. It's the best thing to happen to anyone. What the hell makes you think YOU should control other people's friendships. Who do you think you are to force people apart. You're no different than that mentor of yours. Forcing people out of friendship instead of into it, but that is still a similarity. You talk like you despise whoever she is, yet you've become her. Look at yourself."
"But Flash I... I'm not like her! No! I wouldn't control friendship. I couldn't because there wasn't any. Why would friends have to argue to become better friends? That's completely against the whole point of what friendship stands for! I thought you understood that... I thought that-"
"I don't want to hear it Sunset. I thought I saw someone special in you. I saw a bright, beautiful girl who I could relate to in no way I could relate to any other living person I've met. I loved that girl. She was the one person in my life that gave me something to live for. And now... she's gone. Because she can't accept that other people won't be as close as we are. Sunset, you've done a terrible thing. Friendship, Love, these aren't things that can just be glued together just like that. It takes time, dedication. It takes strength to forge the bonds of friendship. And... you, in one night, slashed the bond that had held us close for so long. The bond of love, care, dedication and morality. You've lost all of them. You aren't the Sunset Shimmer I remember anymore. And Because of this happening, I failed my big exam. And Why? Because I was shattered, angered and depressed all at the same time because someone would commit an act as cruel as this. You've ruined my life by doing this. How does that make you feel Sunset? Knowing that you've crushed my life as well as the girls who didn't deserve it. You ruined 6 lives, and inevitably you'll ruin more... I thought you had redeemed yourself from how you described your past self. But no. I'm sorry, but you aren't Sunset Shimmer anymore. Goodbye, you... monster,"
Just like that. I was alone again. For trying to prove that those girls didn't have true friendship, nothing but a string holding them together. I wanted to prove that our bond was the strongest of all, that could never be broken. Ironic that the one thing that it took to break was one of the people who had forged the very same tie.
I had fell into depression after Flash had left me. He never spoke to me again, but didn't tell anybody about what I had did, not even those girls. I guess there was at least some care left in him. Some... morality. I don't care anymore. This was just... an ordeal. It took a loss as huge as this one to make me realize once again, that this friendship really is just useless. And now it has helped me realize even more. It brings nothing but discord, hatred and resent. It went against all it meant.
I'm so sorry Flash. But thank you. You've helped me see all this. All this for breaking your heart... Was it really a price worth paying? A thought that would haunt me, always making me ponder my decisions for the times to come.
You've helped me realize that all this was useless. This love we've had would always break. It was just a matter of when.
Now I can see that. No one should have to suffer as much as this, now should they. Is it really bad for me to have saved those 5 girls from heartbreak? Think of it what you will, but I will always know this, friendship really is magic. Evil, dark, twisted magic that only maims and destroys.
Ugh. Today has just been awful. The test in mathematics was too easy... I need something to actually challenge my intellect. I learned from Princess Celestia, most knowledgeable pony in the land. But this is the land of Humanity now, so no one will know my real past. I need a break and something to eat....
I headed to the Sundae bar to get something to eat, then I dropped my money while paying, people laughing at me inside...
"Hey you dropped this," he said.
"Thank you... I'm um. Sunset Shimmer,"
"You're welcome, and I'm Flash Sentry,"
Flash Sentry. I've heard that name before. He's that guy who's always on his... own.
"Sunset huh? So you're that girl who's always hanging around the library, am I right?"
He knows me?
"Y-Yes, I'm Sunset Shimmer. How did you uh, know me?"
"You stick out a lot. Well, no offense. It's just you seem to live in the library with how long you stay there,"
Little does he know I do live there. The librarian was nice enough to give me a spare room, since no one wants me in their dorms...
But I wonder... why does he act like he cares? Flash Sentry, another outcast like me, I thought he would also be like me in the regard that we don't need anybody. That Friendship was just folly.
"Well I... do live there. I was lent a room since no one else will accept me, but I don't care,"
"So um, Sunset was it? I wasn't sure but uh... I wondered if maybe, you wanted to hang out more some time... have someone to talk to. We both know what it's like being, well, alone, right?"
He's right. I do know loneliness. But the only difference is likely that I chose loneliness. Because I didn't want to be forced into Friendship. Something I don't want or need. But he could be an... exception. I... well.
"I guess so. Sure Flash. We can meet in my room at the library tomorrow night. I'll bring sundaes-" he suddenly interrupted me "Don't worry about that, I'll buy us some dinner!"
I felt almost flattered. It was becoming clear to me. This was more than just friendship that was being created. More than just a bond holding friends together. It was something... stronger than all this. But what? This was something I had to discover. I could finally prove that friendship isn't the strongest magic to ever be found. But how? Somehow I felt that Flash was part of this puzzle, the missing link to fix it.
We've been together for a few months now. I had felt complete with Flash, the one person I had found who understands me. It didn't faze me that he was a Human and I, from Equestria, was not. He wouldn't ever have to know this, the one thing I could never tell him.
As the months passed I saw less of him as he has a lot more work to do than me, but I'm glad it didn't separate us. But... I have noticed this group of friends who flaunt it like it's taken for granted. Those 5 girls who treat each other like the best friends they've always sought. But it doesn't look that way. They may be friends but the best? No. I can tell that one minor incident would snap their bond like a frail little twig. Flash wouldn't want me doing things like this but... being with him showed me the true meaning of love and friendship, those girls almost make a mockery of it, I won't stand for it.
Trouble. Flash was coming over today. I had to make up some kind of.. excuse... lie to him. I've already lied this whole time without telling him my true origin and... I don't know. Would one more lie really hurt? It could break everything but I had to do this. Those Girls continue to make friendship look like true folly, not what I had thought in the past. I want to uphold what it really means.
"Flash, I don't think we can be together this Saturday, I've got something I... need to take care of, sorry but I need to take care of it I'f I'm to be able to live with myself."
"Is it really that important? It sounds like it's something serious Sunset. Is... Is something going on? You can tell me, you know that. Please, I don't like seeing you stressed like this,"
Again he had shown care and love for me. It's been months since we became one, but it feels like only yesterday now. Because I was about to take the ultimate risk. Show the true meaning of what friendship and love means, or lose Flash forever. I had to do this.
"It's fine Flash. We can talk next week, don't worry. I just need to do something today,"
I was taking the do or die decision here. But it had to be done. Now was the time...
Through attachments each of those girls have, I've been able to forge messages to each of them. Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy and Rarity, those ponies will feel sorry that they made such a mockery of what friendship truly means.
Just as I had suspected, they aren't talking to each other at all. Rainbow and Applejack constantly break out into fights, Pinkie and Fluttershy never speak anymore and Rarity is the most secluded of the five. I knew it. All it took was minor inconveniences to break them apart. They weren't true friends. They didn't have the meaning that I had with Flash Sentry. And now they have nothing to show for friendship either, just like they deserve.