Chapter 1: "Once Bitten..."
"Flash... You're breaking up with me?"
"I'm really sorry, Sunset..."
A few weeks into the reign of Anon-A-Miss, Flash and Sunset's faith in each other was beginning to waver, not helped by the new posting of secrets that supposedly detailed their respective opinions on the matter. The latter felt that her rekindled relationship with her ex-boyfriend was going absolutely nowhere, the former still hung up on a missing Twilight. What made it worse was the fact that the both of them were willing to give one another a second chance in spite of the awkward nature of doing so; alas, their own personal demons took their toll and lead them down a gut-wrenching path that lead to this.
"I know you don't want this as much as me, but..."
Sensing his hesitation, Sunset didn't want to jump toward conclusions, but... "It's because of Anon-A-Miss, isn't it?"
"What? No! No, of course not! It's just that..." Flash's expression was one of horror, aghast, and remorse as he desperately struggled to find an explanation. All he could muster up, however, was... "We need a break. The both of us."
"So it is the reason. Flash... You promised... You promised that we would stick together through thick and thin, no matter what."
"You're right, and I'm sorry. I had to break a promise, but it was for a good reason."
Sunset couldn't believe it: the ensuing break-up and the words her brain was processing. After all this time, the so-called "rekindled" relationship was nothing more than an exercise in maintaining a lie. Her eyes then shot up in alarm when she came to a horrifying realization.
"Flash... Do you think I'm Anon-A-Miss...?"
Again, Flash hesitated to answer. She could already tell by the look in his eyes; they were full to the brim with guilt and remorse. He felt despondent over potentially hurting her feelings while at the same time falsely reassuring her with a body of lies. Ultimately, he had to come clean.
"Yes."
The world slowed to a crawl and then a standstill. Sunset's eyes filled with tears but she wiped them away and nodded in understanding. Flash clearly didn't like the state of devastation she was currently stuck in and wished he had lied if it meant she would remain hopeful. All of a sudden, she abruptly hugged Flash, catching him off guard and sending him into a state of momentary shock. She pulled away only after he hugged her back, delivering a last kiss on the check and whispering, "Goodbye, Flash..."
She then turned tail and walked away, ignoring the devastated calls and pleas from him for her to come back. When it became clear that he wasn't going up that easily, she picked up her pace and boarded the nearest bus to the train station. He couldn't see her saddened expression as she left what was once considered her home, but she could clearly see his. Her backpack, her journal, and the clothes on her back were all she had now.
It was her last Christmas in Canterlot...
Sunset did come around and return two years later (in 2016), but only to pay her foster parents and sister a visit...and, of course, burn down the abandoned warehouse she made herself home at. It was a symbol of her past that lingered on for far too long and needed to destroyed in order to signify that she was a new person. For the most part, anyway. As for her foster family, she spent the holidays with them, but left again after faking a new job application and promising to call once in a while. It sometimes amazed her that Spoiled Rich, the one and only pompous rich bitch who would emotionally abuse her blood daughter, would make her honest efforts to repent and repair the relationships she fractured...unlike herself. Diamond Tiara herself garnered a lot more respect for Sunset, and Sunset likewise developed a big sister protective side towards Diamond Tiara.
As for the warehouse, its destruction made the morning news and many a citizen's cup of coffee bittersweet. Specifically, her former friends and bandmates felt their hearts stop upon receiving the news. They were equal parts worried and horrified at the prospect at their friend apparently committing suicide as her last resort to release herself from the pain she suffered two years ago. She never did learn the truth about Anon-A-Miss's actual identity, after all.
When they learn that no body had been recovered from the ashes, however, the five girls (and the school as a whole) breathed out a collective sigh of relief before realizing that their opportunity to make amends was a sorely missed one. They spent another Christmas with their families, their friends (if they had gained any new ones), and themselves. So while the term "alone" was most certainly far-fetched, the feeling that word elicited was mutual.
The recent turn of events, however, didn't mean she had lost her compassionate side.
"Breaking news in Canterlot City: one of the main perpetrators of the notorious anonymous webuser Anon-A-Miss has cheated death this Christmas. Blossom Mayfield, colloquially known as Apple Bloom by her family and friends, attempted to commit suicide out of guilt for her involvement in this city's most infamous scandal since the wedding of famed Police Detective Shining Armor and lawyer Mi Amore Cadenza, who was a victim of identity theft long before the ceremony. Her family and friends haven't been reached for comment, but her classmates have wished her well and a healthy recovery..."
Sunset couldn't look at the TV, for she was too focused on two things: her breakfast and her phone, which flashed the breaking news report in question. The ones who were watching the TV often looked at her and back to the telly, worry and concern adorning their facial expressions. Her attention span emitting to only what was front in her, Sunset knew that she couldn't avoid the issue any longer and turned to her family.
"Mom, Dad... Can I ask you two a favor?"
Meanwhile, at Ponyville Hospital, the comatose Apple Bloom laid there in her bed with two tubes attached to an IV bag, a neutral expression matching her state. Her family and friends were sitting in the waiting room, devastated and forlorn as they should be. Prominent among them was her parents Bright Mac & Pear Butter, her grandparents Granny Smith & Grand Pear, her cousins Babs Seed & Braeburn, her older brother Big McIntosh and his girlfriend Sugar Belle, and of course, her older sister Applejack. She in particular felt as if she failed her younger sister, who often looked to her as a role model in the place of their parents, who in turn were often away on business trips to support the family livelihood. Speaking of which, Rarity and the other Rainbooms (and, by extension, their families) were sitting in the waiting room as well out of pure sympathy despite everything that's happened.
"This is all my fault..." Applejack mumbled into her hands.
"Don't blame yourself, Applejack," Bright Mac placed a comforting hand on his daughter's right shoulder.
"We are just as guilty," Pear Butter concurred, "We weren't there for you and...well, look what's happened."
Suddenly, the elevator doors opened and a man with a light azure mustache, a black suit jacket with a blue vest and purple bowtie, and a left-eye monocle walked out alongside a woman with light magenta grey hair with helitropeish white streaks, a dark purple long coat, and a light purple skirt with white stockings and pink heels.
"Mr. Fancy Pants. Miss Fleur de Lis," Rarity recognized the couple quite quickly, "What are you two doing here?
"We have come to inform you that the bill covering Miss Blossom's medical bills have paid for," Fancy Pants nodded his head, watching the Apple Family and Friends don faces of surprise and relief upon receiving the news and even cry tears of joy.
"By whom?"
"An anonymous donor, it would appear to be," Fleur de Lis's face was one of disbelief as well, although it was mild. It was as if she knew who the anonymous donor was...and Applejack clearly got the memo. Her eyebrows arching in realization, she exchanged knowing looks with the rest of the Rainbooms before joining her family in a group hug, her mouth forming a gentle if all-too happy grin as she acknowledged her sister's savior.
Thank you, Sunset. Thank you...
Sunset herself was standing outside Ponyville Hospital, watching and hearing the Apple Family rejoice even through the blistering cold. A smile if somewhat smaller than Applejack's beginning to grow, she nodded in satisfaction before turning to leave with her family.
She never did forget that day. It didn't mean she had to like it, though. She just...did.
Sunset gazed at her reflection in the mirror: an unfamiliar girl wearing a polyester dress with the main color palette of red and green; it consisted of a pointy red Santa hat with a green trim and a golden bell, a red long-sleeve dress top with a green pointy collar, a belt and apron attached to her green skirt (which held a red zigzag pattern at its hem and housed a red petticoat underneath), and a pair of green-and-red-striped tights that went along with her matching elf shoes. With that little outfit of hers, she was now the living embodiment of an holly, jolly elf.
All that was missing was the...well, holly and jolly that a little helper of Santa Claus usually wears to work beside the uniform.
BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!
Her head shifting away from the mirror and to her alarm clock, Sunset's eyes widened at the time - 6:30 AM. She had woken up 30 minutes earlier to get ready, but the ride to her job took a little longer depending on the traffic. Thus, she elicited the appropriate response.
"Aw, shit! I'm gonna be late!"
Sunset smoothed out her dress and properly positioned her hat before heading out the door...and immediately backtracking to retrieve her jacket, her phone, her wallet, and her Glock 17 for open carry self-defense. Sparing a long glance at the journal, she debated taking it with her to work should Twilight message her again. Of course, the Princess herself would not call her under the condition that she give Sunset breathing room, and the last time they both messaged each other was three years ago during the Apple Family incident.
Oh, what the heck. I'm already pressed for time...
Knowing that every second in the apartment was a second wasted for the traffic beating, Sunset took the journal and stuffed it into her satchel before locking the door behind her. Descending down the stairs and nearly tumbling down in the process, she burst out the front entrance and sprinted to the bus stop, huffing and puffing while praying she wasn't late all the way. Fortunately, she wasn't, but it was a close call for her. Boarding the almost empty bus, Sunset slumped into a nearby seat and buried her head into her hands, trying to regain her breath.
When she arrived, Sunset saw her boss placing the decorations up. She was a tall and slim woman with short red hair, thin eyebrows, and pink lipstick; she wore a orange tie-knot long-sleeve shirt, a blue overcoat above a suit jacket and a matching long body skirt and orange stockings, gold circular earrings, large black len glasses, and white high heels. A large stereo was playing the Christmas station like there was no tomorrow, its selection being a wide variety of classic and modern tunes.
And she hated it.
"Miss Carmichael...?"
"I know. I know, sweetie," Miss Carmichael nodded in agreement and waved her off, continuing her job as if nothing happened while acknowledging her odd decision. "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas, isn't it, darling?"
"Well, it certainly feels like it," Sunset snarked as she hugged herself, "It seems that upper 30's weather in early November do wonders for your skin complexion."
"The idea is see the situation through the positive outcome it can brings," Miss Carmichael offered her opinion, "even if the situation is a blistering blizzard hell bent on freezing everything it touches."
"That's exactly what I'm saying," Sunset shouted through gritted teeth. "I do like the song, though."
"That's the spirit! Now come inside; hot chocolate, cookies, and fried chicken are awaiting the patrons and customers!"
"Why do you have fried chicken?"
"Who doesn't?"
Sunset shrugged in response and followed her inside. To her surprise, many a citizen were lined up in the hopes of acquiring concessions for free while shopping for holiday merchandise. The store itself was full to the brim with various Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Eve commodities, all of which costed $20 or less. While seemingly asinine at first, the approach proved to massively profitable in the long run. One can only hope that the commerce inspector didn't come a-knockin' in place of the intended customers. Luckily, Miss Carmichael was more than capable to risky but plausible methods to keep the holiday business ship afloat.
I just hope it will be worth it in the end...
Although it was well into the afternoon, the crowd of customers did not dissipate. In fact, it only seemed to grow larger and larger, so much that Miss Carmichael had to sell off some of her merchandise to competitors in order to give them a chance to make money. She always lived by a moral code that involved honor and compassion towards others even if they never returned it.
"I have to admit, Miss Carmichael, this year's holiday shopping spree was a surefire success than most," Sunset set away some boxes on the shelves.
"And it's not even Thanksgiving yet!" Miss Carmichael chortled, "Oh, just wait until Black Friday, Sunset."
"I can only imagine," Sunset chuckled back before checking her watch, "Well, I'm clocking out for the day. Are you sure you have the shop handled for tonight?"
"Sure, don't worry," Miss Carmichael waved her concerns off, "I'll have Fiona and Miguel for most of the nights; they'll give you a call whenever you're needed."
"All right then. See you, Miss Carmichael."
"See you, Sunset."
Sunset smiled back and exited the Christmas section of Miss Carmichael's store. The moment she stepped outside, her cheery smile dropped into a melancholy one and she rubbed her sore cheeks, disgruntled over the fact that she had to wear a stupid grin for five to seven hours. She couldn't blame her kindhearted if somewhat money-hungry boss for the maneuver, for it was a requirement for every holiday establishment to don the holly and jolly that embodied the season. In all honesty, though, did the process have to be so criminally face-numbing?
All of a sudden, Sunset noticed from the corner of her right eye a young man staring up at the sky looking at...something. He wore a brown leather jacket, a blue zip-up sweater above a cream-colored long-sleeve shirt, blue jeans that held in place with a a black leather belt with a gold buckle, and brown combat boots. Judging by his appearance, he seemed to be of Hispanic descent and around her age. He looks cute enough... Wait, enough? What are you saying, Sunset? It's been five years since you-know-who broke your heart and left you for dead, causing you to swear off dating. Then again...it's been five years. You just need to be careful.
Sunset carefully approached the teenage boy and took his left side, waiting for her moment to strike...
"What?"
The teen jumped out of fright and backed up a few inches from Sunset, who had to bite her tongue to prevent herself from laughing. Once he recovered, the boy came to his senses and deflated into a scowl, albeit one that hid such amusement.
"Jesus," the boy chuckled, "where did you come from?"
"From the side," Sunset shrugged before turning her sights to the sky once again, "So what are we looking at?"
"The sky."
"Just the sky?"
"Yeah. It's grey with a faint hint of blue. It gives off a melancholic feel. You know what I mean?"
"I'm all too familiar with the feeling. Hey, is that a laughing gull?"
"Yep. Famous for its laugh-like call."
PLOP!
Sunset groaned in irritation and disgust, the laughing gull living up to its name as it flew away. "Damn it...!"
The boy bit "I... I think the bird just pooped on your head. Specifically, the hat."
"Yeah, I think so. Karma reared its ugly head," Sunset slipped off her cap and examined the stain, "It's gonna take me a miracle to clean this up."
"Well, fortunately for you, it's the season of miracles. Besides, it's good luck."
"What is?"
"Getting pooped on by a bird."
"Seriously?"
"Seriously."
Giving his words a thought, Sunset shook her head and chuckled in bemusement, "I'm busy, you're weird. Goodbye."
"Bye," the boy waved goodbye to her, seemingly ignorant of her witty sarcasm. Sunset waved back as she headed to the bus stop. Hmm. He seemed like a nice guy, if somewhat strange. Wait... What was his name again? When she turned back, the teen was already walking away. Aw, crud. Maybe if I run into him again, I can ask him...
Author's Note
For those who think the first meeting between Sunset and the mystery boy felt rushed, that's the idea. They literally just met on the spot while Sunset had places to be. I promise their next meetings will be fleshed out.
