Flash drove home in silence: no radio, no CD playing as usual. They would only distract him from thinking about what he needed to do about Sunset Shimmer. By the time he arrived at his house, he still had no idea what he should do. He didn't remember locking his car, but he must have, because he heard it honk behind him as he walked up his driveway.
"How was school, Flash?" asked his father when Flash opened the door, breaking him from his reverie.
"Good, until the end."
"Uh oh. What happened?"
"I caught Sunset bullying Fluttershy again."
"After she agreed not to this past spring?" Flash nodded. "That's rough, buddy. Go to the living room, and I'll be right there so you can tell me about it."
Flash Sentry sat on the steps at the front of the school and plugged an old pair of headphones into the auxiliary port, tuning his guitar as he waited for his ride home. He'd been able to drive his motorcycle for some time now, but didn't trust himself yet to carry his books and guitar on the bike. The sun's rays glinted off the shiny chrome and plastic.
Most of his classmates had already gone home for the day, so even when he heard the doors opening over and over again, he paid no mind to the footsteps that followed until he thought heard his name. He looked up to see a gorgeous purple-haired girl looking down at him, and removed his headphones. This was Rarity, one of the most popular girls at school.
"Hey, Rarity," he said. "What's up?"
"I'm not going to mince words, Flash." Flash frowned at her words. When those words started a conversation, nothing good was about to follow. "I think Sunset is going to try something nasty at the Spring Fling to win."
Flash sighed. He'd been afraid something like this might come up. He'd been dating Sunset Shimmer for some time now, but during the past school year he'd started noticing a shift in her behavior. Not long before Christmas break he'd caught her harassing a very shy girl with pink hair, but he stepped in and told her to stop. She had agreed, but that was the moment he'd taken off his rose-colored glasses and started seeing the red flags for what they were. Since then, he noticed she behaved around him but suspected she continue to bully others when he wasn't there to stop her by how everyone reacted to her when she and he had walked by.
"What have you heard?"
"I can't be too sure," she admitted, "but I've noticed small things. The way Sunset looks at me before I notice and she smiles and turns away. Her little crones Snips and Snails seem to have been popping up more and more, just like when she sabotaged my chances at winning this year's Fall Formal."
"There's still no proof she was messing with your fabrics."
"No, there isn't. But don't you think it's unusual that I'm noticing the same things so soon before the Spring Fling as I noticed this autumn?"
"Once is chance, twice is coincidence, third is a pattern."
"Normally I enjoy a simple pattern, but this pattern is especially troublesome should it prove to be one. I'd better leave before she discovers I've been talking to you."
"Because as her boyfriend she'll listen to me? I've been wondering if that's still the case."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The next day Flash closed his locker door to see his girlfriend with her back and one of her boots leaning against the adjacent lockers, looking downward with her arms crossed.
"Hey, Sunset."
"Hey, Flash," she replied and looked up at him, a saddened expression on her face. That face used to persuade him to trust her, but he had since learned that that face was just another form of manipulation she would use. "I heard Rarity was talking to you after school yesterday."
"She was concerned you were going to try something underhanded at the Spring Fling," he replied plainly. "You might like to know that she didn't once call me 'dahling'," he continued, making his best impression of the popular girl's accent and mannerism. He noticed a twinge of something in her eyebrow, but whether it was disappointment that he'd figured out her jealousy manipulation tactic or something else, he couldn't be sure.
"You don't believe I could be capable of such subterfuge, do you, hun?"
"Honestly, Sunset, I'm not sure what to believe anymore. You used to be such a nice girl, treating others well and being honest. But lately I've been noticing that you've been doing mean things to other students that I didn't think you would want to do. Especially to that shy girl. So you'll have to forgive me if I don't give Rarity's suspicions a chance to be properly looked into."
"All right, Flash. I won't sabotage Rarity."
This caught Flash a bit off guard. If last fall she had agreed as quickly, he'd have been content, but there was a nagging feeling in his mind that suspected she was still up to something. "Promise?"
"I promise. I've never lied to you."
He had to give her that. Although he still knew nothing about where she was from or what her family was like, or even where she as living, she had always preferred to not talk about those topics. Still, he had a feeling Sunset would break her promise in spirit if not in word.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The doorbell at the Sentry house rang, and Flash looked at the clock on the wall. 7:14, around the time he and Sunset had agreed she would arrive. He still wanted to pick her up at her house, but she had insisted she meet him at his house, so he didn't press the matter. He hurried toward the door and opened it, revealing his girlfriend on the other side, dressed in the same gorgeous white and purple dress she'd worn at this year's Fall Formal when she was crowned Princess the third year in a row, winning by a landslide.
"You look amazing!" he exclaimed, welcoming her in.
"Thanks, Flash. You're pretty dapper yourself. Do you have the corsage?"
"Yeah, just a moment," he said, turning to call out to his dad elsewhere in the house. "Dad, do you have the corsage?"
"I have it here in the living room," Flash's dad replied. Flash held out his arm, and Sunset put her arm through his as they made their way through the house to see Flash's dad wearing a cartoonishly large bowtie and clown shoes, holding a camera and the corsage. Flash groaned and put his hand to his face while Sunset laughed beside him.
"Flash, your dad's a dork!"
"Seriously, dad?"
"Sorry, kiddo. Couldn't resist." He handed the small bouquet to his son and beckoned them over to the brick fireplace. Flash put the corsage on Sunset's wrist and they posed while their pictures were taken.
Flash's dad gave him the keys to his car, and after Flash held the passenger door open for his girlfriend, soon Flash and Sunset were driving toward CHS. The sun was just beginning to set as Flash pulled his dad's car into the parking lot. Flash got out, opened her door for her, and led her through the doors by the arm as they walked toward the gym where the Spring Fling was held each year.
The gym was decorated with all kinds of pastel spring colors, and the disco ball hanging from the ceiling reflected all sorts of colors that shone on it. Their classmate Vinyl Scratch DJ'ed on the stage, bobbing her head to the beat of the electronic dance music and techno remixes she played.
"This looks great!" yelled Flash over the music, and Sunset nodded. They passed by the punch bowl and each took a cup to drink.
Flash was happy. As the night went on, he watched for any sign that Sunset was going to go back on her word not to sabotage Rarity, her only competitor for Princess of the Spring Fling, and found that she seemed to be having a genuinely good time. Although he noticed Rarity's absence all throughout the night, he chalked it up to Rarity being the fashion perfectionist, wanting everything to be perfect for the crowning ceremony. By the time Principal Celestia got up on the stage and cut the music, he'd pretty much decided that there was nothing to worry about.
"Attention, students. It's time to name the Princess of the Spring Fling." The students applauded. "First up, we have Sunset Shimmer." Sunset walked toward the stage, the crowd parting before her without her having to say anything. No one cheered for Sunset louder than Flash Sentry, and many students clapped, some likely in fear of what Sunset would do to them if they didn't. "Next up, we have Rarity." Many students applauded and cheered, but after a few seconds without the purple-haired girl making her way to the stage, the applause started to die down. "Will Rarity please come to the stage?" Rarity's little sister Sweetie Bell appeared on the side of the stage and gave Principal Celestia a note. Flash frowned. Principal Celestia read the note and raised the microphone back up to her mouth. "It seems Rarity has conceded the election to Sunset Shimmer. Please welcome your new Princess of the Fall Formal, Sunset Shimmer!"
Flash's heart wasn't in his applause, and he made his way out of the crowd, trying to find Sweetie Bell. He found her outside, jogging to her parents' car.
"Sweetie Bell, wait up!" She turned around.
"What is it?"
"I hate to ask because I'm pretty sure I won't like the answer, but... what happened to Rarity tonight?"
"Long story short, Rarity found her dress completely destroyed. Ripped to shreds."
Flash sighed and thanked her before heading back inside. It wasn't long before he found his girlfriend.
"I didn't see you in the crowd after I won," she said.
"I went to ask Sweetie Bell what happened with Rarity's dress. Apparently it was torn to shreds and she couldn't make it." He looked her in the eyes. "Rarity was concerned something would happen. You didn't happen to have anything to do with it, would you?"
Sunset put her hands to her face as if she was shocked. "I did suggest to Snips and Snails some ways to sabotage Rarity this year, but never actually told them to do anything before I made my promise to you."
Flash put one hand on his hip and rubbed his eyes with his fingers. "Sunset..."
"Flash, I'm sorry. I didn't have a chance to update those two before tonight."
Flash sighed. "I know you wouldn't lie to me, Sunset, but you really should make it up to her sometime."
"I know." There was a moment of silence between them. "Want to go back in there and dance? We can still try and salvage this night for ourselves."
"All right," Flash said after a moment, "but promise me one thing first."
"Anything."
"Promise me that you'll stop bullying our classmates to get what you want. If I find you doing it again, I'll have no choice but to break up with you."
Sunset nodded. "I promise I'll stop bullying our classmates. The year's almost over, anyway."
Flash decided it was as good as he was going to get tonight, and led her back into the gym.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As the summer passed and drew to a close, he found himself noticing that Sunset seemed to get more and more distracted, focusing on something she was planning. Whenever he asked about it, she said it was nothing to worry about, but minutes later she'd be distracted again. He wasn't sure what to think about it, but by the time summer was over and school was about to begin, Flash had come to the conclusion that she was probably reverting to her old habits, scheming about how to be queen bee in the school for her final year. He didn't want to believe it though, however likely it seemed.
Flash pulled his new convertible into the parking lot behind Canterlot High and put the top up before leaving the vehicle, locking the doors with his fob. First day of senior year, and he had a feeling it would be a great year. Then again, he'd thought that about the previous school year, which seemed to get worse and worse as the year went on. Everything was going well throughout the day, and as he sat in his last class of the day his hopes for the new year couldn't have been higher.
The final bell rang, and Flash and his classmates started packing their bags. Mr. Doodle quickly reminded them of their homework for the next day as they all exited the classroom into the busy hallway. Flash started to make his way to his locker, but as he got closer he heard what sounded like his girlfriend's voice. Instead of turning down the hallway where his locker was, he kept going, following Sunset's voice.
He turned the corner. Sure enough, Sunset Shimmer was back to her old tricks, bullying the defenseless Fluttershy. He crossed his arms and leaned against the locker next to him with a frown on his face, waiting for her to notice him.
Sunset looked over the cowering girl's head into his eyes. She didn't seem embarrassed or guilty that he'd caught her going against her promise. She glanced down at Fluttershy.
"Go on. I've got someone else I need to talk to."
Fluttershy hurried around Sunset and after she passed Sunset started walking toward Flash, a big smile on her face, her arms opening for a hug.
"Flash! How was your day?"
Flash help up his hand. Sunset stopped few feet away from him, dropped her arms, and stopped smiling.
"I asked you last spring to promise you weren't going to keep doing this. Have you been lying to me all summer?"
Sunset sighed. "No. During the summer we almost never saw anyone from school, so I didn't see a point in continuing for a few months."
Flash raised an eyebrow. "What about your birthday on the beach with Snips and Snails?"
"Old habits," she said, placing her hand on her forehead. "Those two, for as loyal to me as they are, always seem to get on my nerves even when I'm in a good mood."
"Last year I told you what would happen if you didn't change. I need some advice, and then we'll talk tomorrow." Flash turned to leave.
"No goodbye kiss?" asked Sunset from behind him, her voice soft. He hesitated, then turned back toward her, giving her a quick kiss on the cheek even though his heart wasn't in it.
"And that's when I came home."
Flash and his father sat in silence for a minute.
"I don't know what to do," said Flash. "I told her I'd break up with her if she continued bullying others, but I still like her."
His dad nodded, then leaned forward in his seat toward his son. "Do you like her, or do you like who she used to be?"
"What do you mean?"
"People change, Flash," he explained. "Sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse. If what Sunset is doing is hurting you -- physically, mentally," he points to Flash's forehead, then to his heart, "or emotionally -- and she's not willing to change, then there's no shame in ending your relationship with her. If you don't, then you'll only get hurt more as she keeps taking advantage of your feelings for her."
Flash thought about the good, fun times he had with her. Teaching her how to play the guitar. Teaching her how to ride a motorcycle. Comforting her after she came to him two and a half years earlier, distraught for a reason she still hadn't explained. He wiped his eyes, where tears had started to well up.
"I miss who she used to be."
Flash's dad wrapped his arms around his son, and Flash returned the gesture. "I know, son. Maybe one day she'll come around, but it sounds like you've done all you can for now. I know it's going to be hard, but never lose your faith in other people. Most genuinely try to be good people, and who knows? Maybe you'll meet someone this year who's like how Sunset used to be."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The next morning Flash pulled his car into the student lot at CHS. As he got out he saw Sunset standing at her usual spot by the door, waiting for him as she did nearly every day. He approached her, apprehensive but confident about what needed to be done.
"Good morning, Flash," she said with a smile. Flash didn't return her smile, and her smile fell. "You've made your decision, I assume?"
"Yes," he said, adjusting his backpack. Suddenly his heart felt like it was beating harder, but he took a deep breath and continued. "Sunset, you and I have had a lot of fun times together, but over the last year or so things haven't been going well. You've been bullying other students, even when I asked you not to, manipulating them into doing what you want them to. You're not acting like the same girl I fell in love with, and despite everything I've tried I can't seem to help you get back to that kinder, gentler Sunset. So I'm staying true to the promise I made last spring, and breaking up with you. I can't keep letting you take advantage of my feelings for you any longer."
A moment passed between them. Sunset looked up at him, her expression slightly sad but, as far as he could tell, genuine. "I guess this is it, isn't it?" Flash nodded. "Well, thank you for the memories, Flash. I'm not lying when I say that they were some of the best I've ever had. And for what it's worth..." she hesitated a moment but continued, "I'm sorry for putting you through this. You're a really sweet guy."
Sunset made her way into the school, leaving Flash behind. He waited until she was inside before turning back toward his car. He'd barely gotten back in his seat before his vision started to blur from tears, and punched his dad's number into his cell phone.
"Hey, son. How'd it go?" Flash let out a sob, unable to respond at this time. "That's okay. Take as long as you need. I'm here for you."