Funeral for a friend.

                                                                                                                   Chapter four:

                                                                                                       Picking up the crusaders.

Sunset headed out of the bathroom and back into her bedroom looked around and found some clean clothing to put on. She slipped into a orange mini skirt with a dark pink and yellow stripe running down the left side of it to the center of the skirt. While she went through her dresser looking for a shirt to put on the thought of who to call and hang out with played at her mind. She decided that her dear friend Rarity would be the first person to call and see if she wanted to hang out. Sunset found in her dresser a green T-shirt with a large Yin Yang symbol in the center of it that was in the form of a sun the same form that her cutie mark was in.

The left side of the symbol was bright yellow and right side was bright red. It had bright red flames sprouting from the left Yin symbol. And it had bright yellow flames from the right side of the Yang symbol. This she put on and proceeded to head into the living room. Seeing that her purple and black leather boots were not there she very quickly remembered that she had dumped them into her kitchen to try to wash the bird poop from the bottom of her left boot. Groaning to herself in disgust she walked into the kitchen found her right boot lying on the floor in front of her stove and the left one inside the sink. She flipped the left one over and grabbed a scrubby brush from left side of the sink to begin to wash off the offending slimy poop. Once the boot was cleaned to her satisfaction she slipped it on along with the other one and began to look for her cell phone.

As she went from counter top, to counter top thinking that’s where it might be she heard a soft yet rather annoying ringing coming the phone. This actually helped her to locate the phone which was sitting behind her black beat up leather chair that she had placed into her living room. She grabbed the phone flipped it open and saw that it was Rarity that was calling her. Sunset pressed the talk button and politely said

“hello.”

“AH darling I was wondering if you wouldn’t mind coming to the clothing store today. I am getting well a bit frustrated with my well little sister and her friends. I could use someone to talk too if that is okay with you that is.” Rarity said in a her normal warm voice to Sunset over the phone.

“Of course i would love to come over. I should be there in about twenty minutes or so. try not to strangle those little hooligans before I get there OK?” replied Sunset cheerfully.

“Great I will see in twenty…..” Rarity said.

But that was as far as rarity got before a loud crash was heard in the background and lots of laughing and giggling could be heard as well before the phone went dead. Sunset smiled to herself wondering what the kids have done THIS time to upset rarity to the point that she needed a friend to deal with them. Sunset grabbed her keys and her wallet then headed out the front door. Still thinking about the events of last night she was not sure if she should tell her friends about her dream. Or about her cutie mark that had burned some of it self to her chest in the process ruining a perfectly good shirt. She made her way down the hallway and walked up to the elevator pressing the down button and a few minutes latter was standing in the lobby downstairs.

Before heading out the front door she made sure she had her front door key and her slid card. Last time she forgot the slide card she had to spend the night on the cold hard cement floor next to the door. That was a night she would not soon forget it was spent mostly just trying to get some sleep. Hoping that someone; anyone would actually see her there recognize her, and let her in. But sadly this didn’t happen in fact she wasn’t able to get into her building until the landlord had shown up for work that afternoon. Too say Mr. Winter Fole was not happy to see her lying on the cement floor of the front door entryway was a understatement.

He let her in but gave her a good tongue thrashing for his trouble. She also checked her wallet to make sure she had enough for the bus to get uptown where rarity’s shop was. It was a brisk walk to the bus stop. Followed shortly by another ten minutes of waiting around for the bus to show up. After the bus showed up Sunset got on and it would about fifteen to twenty minutes of riding the bus to get to her destination. Once she saw that her street was coming up Sunset pulled the cord and got off. As she made her way up to the clothing store she could clearly hear both yelling and giggling at the same time coming from the inside of the shop.

“Sweetie bell what are you doing!?” yelled Rarity

“stop that at once….no put that down...er wait what are doing…. oh no! don’t you dare!”

Sunset smiled to herself as she opened the door only to quickly slam it shut to avoid a bolt of cloth from hitting her in the face as she tried to come into the store.

Sweetie Bell had taken a large bolt of red cloth and tossed it towards the door in a rather unconventional way of opening it.The bolt of red cloth thumped loudly against the front door. Another bolt of cloth came crashing to the floor as Sunset went to enter the shop hoping this time there wasn’t anything flying towards her general direction. The other two friends that made up the trio of crusaders Scootaloo and Apple bloom where no were to be seen. Figuring that Rarity was well to put it mildly rather upset with ALL three of them for the state her shop was in. Sunset looked around for Apple bloom and Scootaloo.

Upon seeing that Sunset had shown up Rarity quickly ran up to her saying only five simple words to her.

“Get. Them. Out. Of. Here!” Rarity said sheathing with pure anger.

Sunset smiled warmly at Rarity who was less than happy at the moment but did as she was asked. She walked up to Sweetie Belle who was about to toss another bolt of cloth towards the front door in yet another attempt to open it like she had with the last one. kneeling down and taped the little 7 year old on her shoulder. Seeing that Sunset her favorite baby sitter had come to hang out with her and maybe even partake in the tossing of bolts. She dropped the bolt that she was about to toss and grabbed Sunset by the waist. Giving her a big hug, jumping up and down with joy shouting at the top of her tiny lungs.

“SUNSET, SUNSET IS HERE! YAY! SUNSET IS HERE!” Shouted a very excited Sweetie Bell.

“Whoa there little one, calm down, take it easy now” replied Sunset with a big grin on her face.

“Have you come to toss bolts and try to open them to help my big sister out Sunset?” asked Sweetie Belle excitedly.

Sunset smiled warmly at Sweetie Belle laying a gentle hand on her right shoulder.

“Actually I thought we might all hang out at the park umm where are your’ other two friends Apple bloom and scootaloo?” I looked for them when I was actually able to get in here after a bolt of cloth came flying towards me and I had to slam the door shut to avoid getting hit with it.”

Sweetie Belle just blushed and half circled her right foot on the ground she looked at Sunset who was still grinning warmly at her then over at Rarity.

“Oh they are around here….somewhere” she replied. As she and Sunset began to make their way to the front of the shop all while Rarity was seething daggers at her little sister for the mess she had made of her shop.

Turning to Rarity Sunset asked. “So umm do you know where those too little angels are Rarity”

“ANGELES!, ANGELS! YOU CALL THOSE, THOSE LITTLE MONSTERS AND HER FRIENDS ANGELS! GET THEM OUT OF THIS SHOP RIGHT NOW!” screamed Rarity.

Sunset just quirked an eyebrow at her friend but said nothing to her knowing that she had every right to be upset about what had befallen her once very neat and beautiful shop. The shop itself looked like a hurricane came in the front door. Blew everything in all directions and then as if that wasn’t bad enough was kind enough to deposit these three little brats on her doorstep.

“Uh is it safe to come out now?” said a little squeaky voice from under a nearby table.

“Yeah is the monster done being a monster yet? I want to come out and play” said another voice just as squeaky as the last one.

Sunset grinning at Rarity and at Sweetie Belle walked over to the table and laying on it with both arms up against her chest and her chin in you hands. said

“Well I don’t know that monster might find your hiding place and….gobble you both up for her dinner.” Sunset said with a smirk on her face all the while looking at Sweetie Belle.

A loud shriek was heard from under the table as it began to rock back and forth. Sweetie Belle looked at Sunset then at the table and got a wickedly awful idea in her head. She laid down and began to make a gurgling noise as if she was in fact being eaten by a hideous monster.

“Sweetie Belle what in the wide world are you doing” exclaimed Rarity. Seeing her little sister tossing and turning as if she was a rag doll in someone's hands.

“The monster has gotten a hold me help Sunset, help it is going to eat me alive” she said as she tossed about on the floor.

“Did you you hear that Apple Bloom we need to save our friend?” The voice squeaked out in terror.

Before Apple Bloom could say anything Scootaloo raced out from underneath the table and was greeted with with two large hands cupping her mouth shut then placing her on top of the table. Lifting up her shirt exposing her belly and giving her the BIGGEST raspberry she has ever had. laughing and giggling like a mad cow she squealed

“I give….I….give… you win...I give.” Squealed the little girl being held by Sunset’s hands on the table.

Thinking her friend was being eaten alive Apple Bloom dashed out from under the table and tackled Sunset to the ground yelling while trying to keep her from tickling her

“Ah ha ha ha….. no you don’t monster” ack “That is…..my friend s...stop Ii… you win, you win I yield.” Scootaloo said laughing and giggling while Sunset tickled her.

Once all four of them were clearly out of breath Sunset sat up from where she had fallen due to Apple bloom tackling her to the ground. Laughing hard they all four hugged each other and climbing to their feet wiping away some tears that had formed from laughing so hard. Sunset said cheerily to Scootaloo and Applebloom.

“There you see no monster now why don’t you three help me clean up Rarity's shop. Then we can all four go to the park and play. We can even bring your castle making set Sweetie Belle.”

Hearing this Sweetie Belle's eyes lit up like a Christmas tree. As she turned around racing up stairs to retrieve her castle making set from her makeshift bed room that her sister was nice enough to provide for her. A moment later the little girl came bounding back down stairs with three brightly colored buckets three shovels and three rakes. These she gave to Sunset to hang onto while the four of them set about cleaning up their mess that they had made in Rarity's shop. Once the mess was cleaned up and all was as it should be Rarity took out some money and gave this to Sunset who was not sure what it was for.

“ Darling I need you to keep them out of here for the next four hours at least! I have a huge order that MUST be filled by 6pm today, or I could loose my shop. Now out with you four I have work to do.”

Before Sunset could offer any type of protest Rarity put both hands onto her shoulders turned her around and marched her to the door opened it and shoved her out followed closely by the three girls all of whom looked a bit perplexed and bewildered.

“Uh what just happened back there?” asked scootaloo

“I think this is my sister's way of giving us the boot guys.” Said Sweetie Belle as she looked down at her feet.

‘Boy you’re sister sure is a grouch! Huh Sweetie Belle” asked Apple Bloom inquisitively.

“Yeah, but she means well after all she gave Sunset some money so maybe it won’t be a total loss. Perhaps she will take us out to MCgolden crown when we get done at the park.” replied Sweetie Belle.

“That would be great.”  Exclaimed all three girls at the same time.

Sunset looked at each of the girls warmly and smiled. Before saying to them softly.

“Alright we can go to McGolden crown after the park, BUT you three have to be on your absolute best behavior. When I say it is time to go we leave without any whining or silliness do you all three fully understand?” Sunset said warmly as she knelt down to face the three girls.

The three girls said nothing they lined up in a straight row and nodded with big smiles on their little faces. Sunset took this as a sign of compliance and off to the park they went.