It was the average Friday for Sunset shimmer. She was excited for the upcoming weekend so she could just hang out with friends and unwind she had stayed a little later to help out a teacher with some extra papers from the kids that were turning their work in to just scrape by with a passing grade before school let out for the summer. The hallways were abandoned by the time she was done it was strange not having people staring at her and whispering about her. It had been months since she had tried to take over the school and she had done all she could to fix that she even helped Twilight stop the sirens but people were still sceptical about her.
She felt awkward every time she walk down the hallways without her friends to give her confidence. Somewhere outside the school she heard the distant boom of Thunder which caused her to flinch at the sound she never knew why but thunder scared her but ever since she young "I'd better get home fast." she said anxiously to herself all she wanted at that point was to go home and hide under her blankets put in headphones and hope it passes soon. She had to do that in the past just to get by but she would still hear the thunder and get even more scared which left her tossing and turning all night and the fact she had to face it alone didn't help. She was too embarrassed to tell her friends about it because she thought they would think she was just acting childish so she always hid it.
Whenever it started to look cloudy she would make an excuse to leave and go home, another boom sounded causing her to flinch again, she shuddered as it echoed around the school she reached her locker and put the belongings she didn't need in it then she realized she had forgotten her jacket at home, as it was warm enough without it."Oh no you have to be kidding not now. uh!" she said annoyed as she shut the locker then started for the front of the school. As she got into the main hall she noticed someone else walking into the room as well they wore a leather jacket like hers but there's had a hood which was pulled up covering there face but they had the stacker and physic she could tell they were male. "Hello." she said trying to be nice.
"Oh um hello." He said as he looked over at her it was definitely a male by the voice he reached up to pull back his hood "I didn't know anyone else was still at school well besides the faculty I mean." he said nervously.When he pulled back his hood she recognized him not from around school but from back in Equestria.
She remembered the dark blue pony like the night sky and mane as white as snow and his eyes she remembered them the most sliver and so beautiful sometimes she could have sworn they reflected the light like mirrors his name was Midnight Shade. He was assigned to her when she had been Celestia's student. Celestia had been paranoid about for her safety she though that she might be targeted and used to get to the princess.
So a guard had been assigned to watch her and keep her safe at first she didn't like him always watching her but after she had gotten to know him she had started growing feeling for him because of the way he was he was nice smart and being a unicorn he was also practicing magic when he wasn't watching her. He was always impressed by the power she had and she felt faltered to have someone admire her, she almost didn't recognize him but it was the eyes that gave it away she wondered why she hadn't see him before. "Um, yea I was helping a teacher with some papers and stayed late." She said.
"That's nice of you." He said she nodded her head slightly
"Wait. What are you doing here so late?" She asked
"Oh I was helping a new student and I had to take them on a tour the didn't arrive until school was almost out so it took longer than expected." He answered "I remember doing something like that before." Said Sunset remembering when she had shown the sirens around the school "I just realized we haven't been introduced I'm Sunset Shimmer." She said putting a hand to her chest."But I'm shore you already you know that huh?" She said dropping her hand back down to the side.
"Yea." He said nodding "I have seen you around and I was one of the few people not turned into a zombie at the dance when you um." He said obviously trying to choose his next words carefully "Turned into a raging she demon you can say it it's ok." Said Sunset before he got a chance to, she sighed. "I'll just stick with Sunset it's prettier I'm Midnight Shade but just call me Shade. So which way you heading?" He asked pointing towards the doors "Just that way a bit my apartment is a few blocks away." She said pointing down the road to the left "Cool I'm that way to want to walk together? I mean it is late and I'd enjoy the company if you want to that is." He asked looking around nervously he remained her of Fluttershy when he did that.
"Sounds nice I'd like the company as well." She said relieved a little by having someone even if it was only for a little wile. Shade opened the door for Sunset to step through, as she did she looked up at the sky to see it grey and it getting darker as the sun started to set. Off in the distance she heard more thunder "Oh I guess it's gonna rain soon." Said shade as he walked up to Sunset she turned to look at him. "How can you tell?" She asked "I feel it in me bones." He said Sunset raised an eyebrow, he chuckled in response."I can smell it, rain just has that sent like wet earth." She chuckled as she realized what he was talking about.
She had forgotten about the smell of rain. She looked over at Shade he was a foot taller than her. "Well." he said "We'd better start walking." "Yea." Said Sunset as they walked she barely heard Shade's footfalls next to her he walks so gently which was surprising to her he didn't seem the gentle type by the way he dressed.
"So." he said "Heard you sing at the battle of the bands I must say you have a great singing voice I bet you're very popular with all the guys now." Sunset blushed slightly. "Not really as you can imagine people aren't to fond of the person that turned them into zombies they tend to avoid me I don't even know why you are talking with me, you must think I'm some sorta horrible person." She said "What?" Shade said with a surprised tone."Of course not I don't thank you're a horrible person I think you have tried everything you can to redeem yourself and I actually think you're cu- um quite a good person." He said blushing slightly Sunset smiled "Thank you that's nice of you to say it means a lot." Shade smiled "You're welcome."
As they rounded a corner they heard the soft tapping of rain on the ground. "Oh no." Said Sunset as she put her hands over her head as she did she felt something get put over her she looked to see Shades jacket on her back she looked at him in surprise without his jacket she could see he was wearing a plain black shirt and something was around his neck. "But don't you need this?" She asked "No it's ok I don't mind the rain." He said shaking his head. "Besides don't want you getting sick I insist I'll be fine." He said pulling the hood over Sums head "Ok if your shore." She put her arms into the sleeves it was big on her but it was warm and smelled of a nice cologne but not overpowering she found she liked it they walked for a bit longer and chated about school and friends what they liked to do all the while.
She saw that Shade was getting soaked but never complained about being cold soon they were standing outside Sunset's apartment "Hey um would you like to come it and dry off and hang out for a bit?" She asked blushing a little and Shade did the same "Um shore if you're ok with that I guess." He said nervously Sunset removed her key from her pocket and open her front door to let them in she turned on the light her apartment was simple she didn't have raritys taste for extravagance in everything she had a few pictures of friends but beyond that it was simple "The bathroom is back there if you want to dry off towels are under the sink." She said pointing down the hallway "Okay thank you." Shade said as he went down the hallway Sunset took off the jacket and hung it on a hook by the door then walked into the kitchen "Hmmm what could I get to warm up a bit?" She said to herself opening a cupboard spotting a box of hot chocolate that pinkie had given her she chuckled to herself "Thanks pinkie." She said she used her stove to heat up some water wile she waited for shade.
After some time the water was done and made the hot chocolate as she walked back into the living room Shade walked out of the bathroom holding a towel "Where should I put this?" He asked "The laundry room is right behind you." She said putting the cups down on the table Shade walked up to Sunset "Whats this?" He asked "Just something to warm you up you must be cold and we don't want you getting sick." She said, Shade chuckled "I wouldn't want to overstay my welcome I mean I um." He said stumbling over his words while Rubbing the back of his neck "Shade are you ok?" She asked "Um...I..I need to go." He said walking towards the door grabbing his jacket "Wait." Sunset said as he opened the door at that moment a bolt of lightning struck close to the apartment causing a boom of thunder so loud the room shook Sunset crouched down and covered her head in response and tears started to come from her eyes "Please don't leave me alone." She said as she shook in terror, she felt arms wrap around her.
"Hey it's okay calm down I'm here tell me what's wrong." She heard Shade say calmly to her quietly she looked up at him with teary eyes she leaned her head into his chest more thunder boomed and she shook even more "Is it the thunder?" He asked Sunset nodded her head not saying anything "It's ok. Do You need me to grab something for you?" "No please don't leave." She said "Okay okay I'll stay here I'll uh." He said trying to find the right words again. "Will you protect me?" She asked her voice shaky."I'll protect you I promise." He said hugging her a little tighter she had a flashback to Equestria when the other Shade had said that "Thank you." She said putting a hand on his chest and starting to shake less.
"Come on let's get on the couch it will be more comfortable." He said standing up Sunset she moved with him to the couch and sat down. "Thank you Shade I know you don't have to stay but you still you don't know how much this means." She said as she leaned on his chest "It's okay I'm fine with it but are you okay now?" He asked "Yes I'm okay now I'm just a little afraid of thunder that's all." She responded "I'll be ok."
"Alright then and besides." He said "You're too pretty to cry." He pailed slightly after he said that Sunset blushed "Really you think I'm pretty." Shade cleared his throat "Um yea I do, you are probably a little uncomfortable now I'm sorry I didn't mean to make things weird." "You didn't." She said "I'm flattered to have someone think that of me like that." She said smiling at him and he grinned back still blushing.
"Do you mind if I put something on the T.V. add some more noise?" Shade shook his head "No go ahead what ever helps." Sunset reached for the remote and turned on the T.V. she flipped through the channels until she found a show she liked "You like this show to?" Shade asked "Yea it's the best." Shade chuckled.
They laid back on the couch watching the show but they spent more time chatting, as the night went on Sunset found they had a lot in common much like back in Equestria. As her head rested on Shades chest she listened to his breathing and she found she was less scared when she heard thunder and slowly drifted off to sleep and for once in the longest time she was able to sleep through a thunderstorm without being woken up and tossing and turning all night. She woke up the next day to the sun peeking through the cracks in the blinds she looked up to see she was cuddling with Shade who was fast asleep she ran her hand along his chest feeling he was actually muscular like Rainbow dash and then felt something around his chin she examined it to see it was a pendant of his cutie mark from his other self she always liked it it was of the moon but it had a shield outline most guards had a shield cute mark she twisted the pendant between her fingers for awhile then decided to get changed into some fresh clothes.
She slid out of his arms and when into her bedroom to get changed so she looked nice when he woke up as well as she was getting changed her friends decided to visit her as she didn't answer her phone the whole night before. Pinkie opened the door. "Maybe it got wet in the rain and that's why she didn't answer." She said "Well it won't hurt to check if she alright." Said Applejack as they walked in "Um guys." Said Fluttershy "Who is that?" She said pointing to the couch where Shade was still sleeping. "I don't know but I think I've seen him around school." Said rarity "That's the guy that's not on any team but yet will show up and beat anyone in any sport he's like a machine." Rainbow chimed in "Anyone? Are you on that list darling?" Rarity asked "I don't want to talk about it." Said Rainbow crossing her arms they all chuckled at the comment.
Shade sat up and stretched rubbing his face when he pulled his hand away he saw the group standing in the entryway "Ah!" He exclaimed as he fell off the couch and landed on the ground with a thud Sunset walking to see what happen "Are you okay? I- oh." She said "Soooo." Said Applejack "Want to introduce us to your new friend here sugar cube?" "Oh um this is Midnight Shade he goes to our school." Said Sunset "Nice to meet you." Said Shade as he stood up rubbing his head "Sooo why was he asleep on your couch huh?" Asked Pinkie "Well that's kinda hard to explain." Said Sunset she quickly tried to think of something to say "I hurt my ankle." Said Shade "And because I live across town she offered for me to stay on her couch she was just being nice she is a good friend."
"Well your right about that." Applejack said "Hey Sun we were planning to head down to the cakes store and get some sweets pinkies treat." "And she means literal treat I made this new type of brownie that is Sooo yummy you wanna try?" Asked pinkie energetically "Yea definitely." She looked at Shade "Hey Shade you want to join us?" Asked Sunset "Oh wouldn't want to impose oh your group." He said "Of course you're not imposing it would be nice to have you join us." Said Rarity the rest nodded in agreement "Okay it sounds like fun." He said with a smile " Alright we'll meet you two there then." Said Rarity as they turned to exit the apartment leaving the two alone again.
Sunset walk up to Shade "Thank you." She said "For keeping my fear a secret." "No problem." He said "I know this is strange but if you ever need anyone to help you in another storm or if you just want to talk I'll be there for you just give me a call and I'll come running." She smiled "I'd like that but, you live across town?" She asked raising an eyebrow "Yeah um I kinda made up where I lived to spend sometime with you I hope you're not creeped out." She grabbed his hand "Not at all I'm glad you did." She said with a smile. "Now come on Let's not keep them waiting." She said pulling him towards the door. "Okay." He said putting on his shoes and jacket and Sunset did the same She keep ahold of his hand as they walked out of her apartment and towards the bakery.
