Chapters A Close Encounter of a Dangerous Kind
There she was. Standing there, adding bricks onto the gaping hole in front of the school. By her lonesome. Almost everyone has gone home, save me and a few others, but, she's still here. I was standing a few yards away, staring at her. I couldn't see her face, but, I could hear sobbing, and water dripping off her fingertips. She was clearly crying, which was definitely a strange sight. I've never, in my entire life, seen Sunset Shimmer cry.
I wasn't exactly fond of her, in fact I pretty much hated her guts. She'd been awful to me, and made fun of me every chance she'd gotten.
So, why was she standing there crying? As I pondered this question, I saw vice-principal Luna approach Sunset, and say something to her. Sunset simply nodded, and turned away, proceeding to walk outside, well, as much as she could, considering the gaping hole in the school. She walked to the sidewalk, turned left, and walked away from the tattered school. So, logically, I followed her, while staying a good distance away, so she didn't notice me.
A few minutes later, a few more students began following her, at a closer distance than I was. They were all wearing black hoodies, and were getting closer to her. Sunset seemed to notice them, as she stopped, and turned around. Now, the Sunset I knew would typically be smirking, or would be angry, but, she had a look of sadness and worry on her face.
"H-hi, Fire." She stuttered, looking at her shoes.
"Don't you dare 'hi Fire' me, Sunset Shimmer," the guy to the right said, pulling down his hood. "You're going to pay for what you did." I knew him. His name was Fire Burner. Let's just say if there was no Sunset Shimmer, he'd be top bully.
"P-pay?" Sunset stuttered again. "W-with wh-what?"
"Everything." Fire replied, causing Sunset to look up. "You will pay with everything." He then struck her face with the back of his hand, causing her to topple to the ground. Fire then pulled a pocket knife out of his pocket, and flicked it open.
Now, I don't like Sunset Shimmer, but, murder? No, too far. As he raised his arm to strike, I ran over, and grabbed his arm as he lowered it. "Fire Burner, may I kindly ask what the hell you're doing?" I asked, looking him directly in the eye.
"What should have been done long ago." Fire replied, staring right back into my eyes. He had bright orange eyes, which match his name to a T.
"What, murder her?" I asked.
"Yes." Fire replied, his tone dead serious.
"Now, Fire, are you capable of that?" I asked him, cocking my head to the side, "Can you actually murder another human being?"
"Normally, no." Fire admitted, "But, with her, yes." He stared at me in the eye, fire burning in them.
"So, you sink down to her level. No, below her level." I said, my voice now stern. "Yes, Sunset Shimmer has done some terrible things, especially recently, trust me, I know, more than anyone, but, is that deserving of execution? No, that's going to far. Put the knife down."
"No! It must be done!" Fire shouted.
"No, Fire, it does not!" I shouted back, now a tone of anger in my voice. "You have a choice! Right here, right now! You can murder her, and try and hide the evidence, and be forced to live with the fact that you murdered someone in cold blood! And, if you kill her, you will have to kill me as well! Why? I am a suspect! I have no doubt you're prepared to kill her, but, I don't think you're prepared to kill me! Not tonight, nor any other night! And, trust me when I say, that if you kill her, I will go straight to the police, and have your ass dragged to jail, and punished accordingly!
"Or, you can be the better man! Don't kill her, and let her go! Don't sink down to below her level! So, I will ask you one last time: Put the knife down!"
Fire stared at me in shock, and, I'd be in shock too. I didn't know I could say something like that. Fire stayed in that position for several seconds, before easing his grip in the knife, and dropping it to the sidewalk below.
I let go of his arm, and said, my voice still stern, "Now, you and your gang go home, and think about what you tried to do here! I hope you'll learn never to do it again! And, I swear, if I learn that Sunset Shimmer has been hurt in anyway at all, you'll be the first one I find!"
Fire and his gang back away, before turning back around, and running off. My anger subsided, and I knelt down to pick up the knife, before throwing at behind me, and looked at Sunset Shimmer. She was curled up in a ball, with growing puddle of clear liquid and red beneath her face. I adjusted my angle, and discover that not only was Sunset crying, but she also had an enormous gash on her right cheek, bleeding onto her face, before falling to the ground.
"Are you alright?" I asked, my tone soft.
Sunset barely looked up, "W-why?" She asked, between sobs.
"Sunset, are you alright?" I asked again, my tone more calm.
She still looked at the ground. "N-no."
Not sure how to respond, I simply said, "Listen, my house is just a few blocks away. I'll take you there and get you cleaned up, okay?" She slightly nodded.
I helped her stand up, and wrapped an arm around her, helping her to walk. We began walking toward my home.
I could feel blood and tears dripping down onto my shoulder, and hear the occasional sob and sniffle. I didn't mind for some reason. I glanced at Sunset's teal eyes. They were filled with tears, and were bloodshot. I'd never seen Sunset like this before in my life.
When we arrived at my home, I sat her down on the couch, and walked into the kitchen. I pulled off my suit jacket, and wrapped it around a chair. I grabbed a washcloth, and soaked it in warm water.
I walked back into the living room, washcloth in hand. I brought it up to Sunset's face to clean the wound on her cheek. When it touched, Sunset winched a bit. "You alright?" I asked quietly. Sunset looked into my eyes with a look of sorrow and confusion.
I brought the washcloth back up to her face, and cleaned the wound. She seemed to wince a bit, but didn't interject. I stood up, and walked back into the kitchen, dropping the blood-soaked in the sink. I grabbed a bandage, and returned to the living room.
I carefully placed it on Sunset's face, concealed the wound from view. Sunset looked at me with her bloodshot eyes. "W-why are you h-helping me?" She stuttered.
"They were about to kill you." I said, "I couldn't stand there and do nothing."
"B-but," Sunset said between sobs, "A-after all the terrible things-"
"Sunset." I interrupted, "No one deserves to be killed. Yes, you've done a lot of terrible things, but, do you deserve to die because of it? No. Nor does anyone else."
She stared at me, wiping the tears from her eyes. "But...you...of all people..."
"It doesn't matter." I replied. "You needed help, I responded. Unfortunately, you didn't make out of it unscathed." I gestured to her cheek. "Listen, I don't mean to pry, but, where do you live? I mean, how far away?"
"A-a few miles." Sunset replied.
"Okay then," I began, "listen, I think you should stay here for the night. Considering what has gone on recently, you're very venerable for an attack. And, I know of a few people who would love to get revenge on you. A few mile walk will take a while, and, I have a feeling students are waiting to see you and ambush you. So, you can stay here for the night. You can sleep on the couch. I don't have a girls set of pajamas, so you'll have to sleep in what you're wearing."
"H-how do I know you won't me while I'm sleeping?" Sunset asked, looking up at me.
I faintly smiled. "You don't." I said honestly. "You'll just have to trust me. And, right now, I'm the only one you can trust. Okay? I'll get you a few blankets." I did just as I said I would, and then gave them to her. "Now, try not to sleep on that wound. It might spread further open, so try to stay off it, okay?"
Sunset nodded, and said, "Thank you," before sitting down on the couch.
I walked off, but stopped in the doorway. "You know," I began, "people change throughout their lives. When you think about it, we're all different people throughout our lives. Why? Well, we change. Our personalities differ every moment, every second. We're never exactly the same person from one moment to the next.
"You asked why I helped you against Fire Burner. Well, I'm curious. Crying, being wounded, and saying 'thank you.' I never, in my life though I'd see that happen. I guess the point is, do I think you deserved to be helped? Frankly, no, I don't. But, you needed it. And, I want to see if you've changed. I'm not sure if you have, but, if you truly have changed, then, well...I want to find it out for myself. That's why I helped you. And, from what I've seen tonight, you're not the same as you were, even earlier today. So, I want to see how you've changed. Good night Sunset. Sleep well." I walked up to my bedroom, and shut the door, before collapsing on my bed, and falling into a deep slumber.
You know, a doorbell immediately followed by several knocks is pretty annoying. "I'm coming, sheesh!" I exclaimed, walking toward the door.
I opened it, and Rainbow Dash stood there, wearing her usual attire. She seemed to be blushing. "Yes, Rainbow, what can I do for-" Rainbow then shoved me, and pinned me against the wall. She stood up on her toes, and engaged me in a furious, wet kiss.
I can honestly say it took me by surprise, and then she broke off, staring at me with lust in her eyes. I stood there, panting, my brain not really comprehending what was happening, a feeling I rarely experienced.
Rainbow pulled off her jacket, and kissed me again, and this time I kissed her back. I could feel her tongue in my mouth, moving about. She began to unbutton my shirt, and moved me into my bedroom, closing the door behind her.
She pushed me down on her bed, and reached to the bottom of her white shirt, and pulled upward, taking it off, revealing a navy blue bra. She leaned down over me, and kissed me again, pulling my shirt clean off.
She broke off, and stared at me with her rose colored eyes, and grinned at me. I had absolutely no idea what my facial expression was, but it must've been amusing, as she laughed aloud.
Then, she pressed her body against mine, and pulled in close, her face just mere inches from mine. She was about to engage in another kiss-
Just when I woke up.
I sat up in a panting mess, sweat dripping into my eyes. I stood up, and stumbled into the bathroom. I turned on the sink, and filled my hands with water, and splashed it into my face, and rubbed it through my hair.
I looked into the mirror, and stared at my own reflection. I looked confused, exhausted, and tired. I stood in that position for about five minutes, pondering the dream I just had.
And then, it hit me.
I fancied Rainbow Dash.
I, the most bullied kid in school, fancied the biggest athlete in all of CHS.
I stumbled into the living room, started pacing and talking to myself. "No! I cannot fancy her! But...why do I? I need to get help! Or, at least tell someone about this dream. Rainbow? Hell no. Fluttershy? Too perverted. Pinkie Pie? Blabber mouth. Rarity? She gossips more than anyone else I know, except maybe Trixie. Applejack? Far too honest. Lightning Dust? She'll do what happened in the dream. That's leaves Sunset Shimmer. Well, she is the most trusting person I know..."
I walked over, and grabbed my phone, and dialed Sunet. She picked up, and said with a tired groan, "What is it Steam?"
"Hello Sunset, I was wondering, could you come over? I need to talk to you." I asked, almost pleading.
"Steam, it's three o' clock in the morning..." Sunset groaned.
"It is?" I asked, and walked over to the stove, checking the clock. "So it is. Sorry, I wasn't aware."
"How did you not know what time it was?" Sunset asked, "Doesn't you phone show the time when you turn it on?"
I blinked. "Probably. I don't know, I'm a bit tired, and my mind is just wibly at the moment."
"Why? What's on your mind?" Sunset asked.
"I'd rather not say on the phone, if you don't mind." I said, "Do you think you could come over tomorrow? Around ten or eleven in the morning?"
"Sure." Sunset said. "Why?"
"Didn't I just tell you I didn't want to tell you over the phone?" I asked.
"Yes, you did." Sunset acknowledged, "But, if I'm going to come over to talk to you, I need to know about what it is."
"Fine, damn you." I said. "I just discovered I fancy a girl, and I need to tell someone, and, I feel like you're the only person I can tell."
"Wait really? Why me?"
"Fluttershy is too perverted, Pinkie Pie is a blabber mouth, Rarity is a gossip machine, and Applejack is far too honest."
"You forgot Rainbow." Sunset said. "I thought you two were really close. Unless...oh! You like her!"
I only groaned.
"I knew it!" Sunset shouted, causing me to turn the volume button down on my phone. "It only makes sense. After all, she was the first one you turned to when you wanted to help me. Now I see why."
"Okay, these feelings only developed recently," I explained, "And, I turned to her because she was the most loyal, and would help you."
"Which is why you went to all of the sports games with her in them, even though you aren't the biggest sports fan?"
"Sunset..." I groaned.
"Now, now, don't get pushy." Sunset said. "Do you still want to meet up tomorrow?"
"Yes, I do." I said.
"What do you have to tell me, since I already know?" Sunset asked.
A stay silent for a few seconds. "A dream."
"Oh, I see." Sunset said. "Well then, I'll see you tomorrow." Sunset released one last chuckle, and hung up the phone.
Then, I sat down on my couch, and leaned back. I continued to think about Rainbow Dash, and drooped to sleep, unaware of the following events.
Rainbow Dash still sat across from me in shock. Her mouth was slightly different, and I couldn't tell whether she was confused, shock, or feeling sorry.
Rainbow Dash had a similar look on her face earlier, when she discovered I had feelings for her. Obviously, it was surprising. And, why wouldn't it be? After all, nerdy, rude, snobbish kid, who wears a dress shirt and a trench coat, fancying the most athletic girl in school, who was also a tomboy? It was rarely heard of. In fact, in my boredom fits, I'd taken quizzes about what type of girl I was interested in. Most of the time, I'd gotten the bookworm, or the nerd. Only twice did I get a tomboy.
Except, Rainbow Dash was special. She was the perfect blend of both. She was highly athletic, and strong. She is very tomboyish, and doesn't care about what others think about her. But, she is also a bookworm. She loves reading, and writing. If you get her started on Daring Do, she'll talk your ear off, giving you every detail of every book, and complain about how the movie barely did it justice.
Also, she was very loyal. No matter what you go through, no matter what happens, if you're her friend, she will always have your back.
She was perfect to me. I guess I've liked her for more than I realized. Maybe that's why I'd been going to all the sports events she was in, and why I'd been looking forward to PE everyday, and was more lenient on joining the football team.
I looked at her, right into her rose colored eyes. She looked beautiful. One of the things about Rainbow Dash, is she wasn't commandingly beautiful. Unlike some girls at CHS, you had to have a certain mindset to see Rainbow's beauty.
Most guys didn't want a girlfriend who would rival them, or be better than them, when it came to strength and athleticism. Not me. I preferred woman that way. Who could understand guy issues, and help with them.
Rainbow was thin, and fairly muscular. Not quite as muscular and Applejack, mind you, but fit as a fiddle. Her skin fit tightly around her figure, and she was very flexible. Fast runner, decent intelligence, and all around good person, Rainbow Dash was the girl I liked.
"Do you share my feelings?" I asked, catching Rainbow by surprise.
"About your past, or..." Rainbow fell silent for a few seconds. "About me?"
I smiled slightly. "About you." I said quietly.
In my living room, the only light came form the lamp next to me. The incandescent light bulb lit up the room like a candle would, minus the flickering of a flame. Rainbow stared at me. I could see the gears turning in her head as she figured out what to say.
After about three minutes, Rainbow Dash stood up, and headed toward the door. My heart sank. I felt a pain in my chest, as my blood grew cold, freezing in my veins. I stared at the ground, and Rainbow unlocked the door, and opened it.
"I'm sorry." I said, causing Rainbow to look back at me.
"About what?" Rainbow asked.
"The way I feel."
Rainbow turned back toward me, and walked to me, before bending down till her face was mere inches from mine. "Did I ever tell you?" She said, quietly, her voice vibrating my freezing brain. "I'm a huge troll."
Then, she knelt in, and kissed me full on the mouth. I was in shock for a couple of seconds, as my mind comprehended what was happened in front of me. It was several seconds before I realized Rainbow Dash was kissing me.
Hold on, Rainbow Dash was kissing me!
Rainbow broke off, and stared at me, pursing her lips.
"Any better?" Dash asked.
Tears swelled up in my eyes. This was something I'd looked forward to all day. Rainbow sat on my lap, and smiled at me.
"Can I ask you a question?" I asked.
"Sure." Rainbow Dash replied.
"Why do people consider their first kiss to be wonderful?" I asked. "Your first kiss is rubbish. You've never kissed anyone before, ever in your life, so, by rights, the first kiss will suck." Rainbow laughed, and I smiled. "Now, the second kiss..."
Rainbow successfully caught my hint, and leaned in for another kiss, and this time, I was prepared for it. I could feel her soft, gentle lips touching mine. I'd never really felt this feeling before. My heart thawed, and my blood flowed again.
I broke off, and said, "See what I mean about the second kiss?" Dash laughed.
I stared into her eyes. Her wonderful, rose-colored eyes. Her cyan skin looked wonderful in the dim, orange light. Her rainbow hair draped down her shoulders, and onto her back. She was truly beautiful.
I reached up, and caressed her face. She smiled, her teeth sticking out above her bottom lip. I reached in, and kissed Dash again. This time, I went the French way. I could feel her tongue entangled around mine, and mine around hers. I pushed off her jacket, and wrapped my arms around her.
Remember the dream I had? Yeah, it didn't do Rainbow Dash justice.
Suddenly, our of the blue, Rainbow broke off. I opened my eyes. She was wide-eyed, and was staring at her watch. "Dammit!" she shouted, and stood up quickly.
"What?" I asked. "What is it?" I stood up too.
Rainbow picked up her jacket. "It's ten-thirty! I need to get home, or my brother will kill me!" She pulled on her jacket, and whipped her hair out, letting it fly free.
"Okay, um..." I stuttered. "Do you want me to drop by tomorrow, or anything...?"
Rainbow turned to me, and kissed me one last time. She grinned, and turned back, exiting my home, and running off into the night.
My heart pounded in my chest, and my pulsed raced. I considered that last act as a 'yes.'
I switch into my pajamas, and went to bed, pulling the covers over me. My mind was swarming with thoughts about Rainbow Dash, and they slowly lulled me to sleep.
I go to the most boring school EVER. Seriously, I hate it here. Nothing ever happens. Plus, I'm bullied by the meanest girl in the school. and the teachers are too lazy to do anything about it. Needless to say, over the past few years, I've gone through seven different trench coats, I've had to deal with swirlys several times, and I've been utterly humiliated in front of everyone in the entire school.
So, needless to say, when something exciting actually happens, I get excited. Even if it is six girls trying to convince me to vote by singing a musical number in the school cafeteria. When that musical number was happening, there were two things going through my head.
1: What the hell is going on?
B: I should make a poster saying 'Vote for Twilight, hot girls will notice you.'
I did neither, and just voted for Twilight, and went to the Fall Formal to see what would happen. Bad dancing, girl gets crown, kidnapped dog, yadda yadda. Highlight of the night? Sunset Shimmer turns into a demon.
Again, one thing going through my head. When you feel the heat, look into my eyes, it's where my demons hide, it's where my demons hide.
And, then the rest of the students get turned into zombies. Why I wasn't I don't know, and I frankly don't care, I just know it happened. Then, six girls turn half horse, shoot a rainbow of death at Sunset, and everyone returns to normal. Except Shimmer.
She's sitting in a crater, crying, and being looked at by everyone and their dog. No really, there's a talking dog.
So, situation is immediately followed by more crown giving, more bad dancing, and even more confusion as Twilight disappears and 90% of the students go home, and give Sunset Shimmer death glares as they leave. The other 10% either want to kill Shimmer, them being 8%. The next 1.9% want to have sex with her, and the last 0.1% want to see if she's actually changed, judging by her earlier puddle of tears.
I fall in the ladder category.
And, thus, my story begins.
Oh, by the way, my name is Steam Novel, and this, is my story.
Interlude: Rainbow Recieves a Phone Call
Rainbow Dash awoke at around nine o' clock, and sat up, yawning. She stretched, and reached over to check her phone. There was one message from Sunset Shimmer.
Call me when you get up.
-Sunset
Dash would call, but she was still tired. So, she got ready for the day. She took a shower, applied her make-up (or lack there of. Rainbow believed make-up obscured a girl's face), and got dressed in jeans, a light blue tank top, with her hair tied back in a ponytail. She also went braless, as she didn't have to go anywhere today.
Then, she called Sunset. "Sunset? What do you want?"
"Yeah, Rainbow, hi." Sunset said, with more energy than usual. "You would not believe what I learned from Steam earlier."
"Really?" Rainbow asked, grabbing a soda from her fridge.
"Yeah." Sunset said. "I'm on my way to his place now. He wants to talk to me about a dream he had."
"A dream?" Rainbow asked, walking over to her living room, and sitting in her armchair.
"Yep." Sunset confirmed. "He called me at three in the morning."
"Three in the morning?!" Rainbow exclaimed. "I do not want to know what he was doing before then!"
"Yeah, he also told me something else." Sunset said. "I'd tell you, but, we swore me to secrecy. So, I'll have him tell you. I'll let you know the plan later, once I've talked with him. I doubt he'll want to tell you what it was, but, I have a feeling that we can trick him into telling you."
"And, how do you suspect we do that?" Rainbow asked.
"Like I said, I'll let you know later, okay?" Sunset replied. "Talk to ya later! Bye!"
And with that, Sunset hung up, leaving Rainbow Dash to ponder what it is Steam wanted to talk about.
