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                         The Favor                         
                       -by SunTwi06-                       
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                        Odd Request                        
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Odd Request
RING!!!!
The bell’s ringing echoed through the halls; school had just come to an end. By this hour, most of the students and faculty had just left for home. Others chose to stay, whether to attend an afterschool club or one of their own. But today, however, on one seemingly normal day things were going to be different.
It started off with Sunset Shimmer of all people, the first student to enter the band room. After school, the band room would be used by none other than the school’s top band: The Rainbooms, consisting of Sunset Shimmer and her best friends (Though Rainbow Dash insists she remains the band leader, much to the chagrin of the others). Sunset Shimmer was just answering a text from her friends, which she wanted to inform them she had the room reserved for them, when suddenly…
WHAM!!!!
The loud slam of an open door caused Sunset Shimmer to turn and there she was… Babs Seed, a young girl from the big city, Manehatten, and from what she understood a relation to Applejack’s family (That being Apple Bloom’s cousin, specifically). Though why Babs Seed would just storm into the band room, that was the big question.
“Quick Question – Where’s Applejack?” Babs asked, panting.
Sunset Shimmer did not answer right away, she stared blankly at the little girl with light, brilliant amaranth hair slicked toward one end. It was clear just by examining her, she had run all the way if the hands planted along her legs didn’t give it away or that she was panting heavily trying to catch her breath. While the look of surprise remained on Sunset’s face, she silently watched as Babs looked around realizing that Applejack wasn’t here nor anyone else for that matter. Finally, Sunset got up from a chair and approached her.
“What’s going on?” Sunset asked, breaking the silence. “Something wrong?”
“You wouldn’t believe me even if I told you,” Babs answered.
“Well, I’m the only other person in this room. I’m all ears.”
It took a quick moment before Babs Seed figured it was okay to talk, taking a deep breath before addressing Sunset Shimmer.
“So, it’s like this,” Babs began. “I saw some kids trying to break into a car outside school; I started to chase them off. But they didn’t run off because of me. I saw the crowbar on the ground, I yelled for them to come back and face the music… Only I failed to notice the policeman just around the corner. And wouldn’t you know? He blamed the incident on me… ME!”
“Noo…” Sunset gasped.
“YES! I’m the one trying to be the good citizen, trying to do the right thing for community or something… And I get blamed for their actions! Now he wants to talk to my parents since I’m just a kid, but I’ll tell you this: If they found out I got involved in this mess, I’m never going to hear the end of it. This is not me over-emphasizing or exaggerating either, I know my parents… It’s going to be rough!”
“Well… I’m more impressed you know what that means,” Sunset replied, baffled.
“Not helping!” Babs whined, taking a deep breath. “I can’t have my parents thinking I did something when I didn’t! I need someone to pretend to be my mother; where are the others?”
“Well… That’s kind of complicated,” Sunset replied, scratching the back of her neck. “Fluttershy went home early to take care of some errands; Rarity has her fashion club today; Applejack has work on the farm; Pinkie Pie is… Well, I honestly don’t know where she is; Twilight Sparkle is doing a tutoring session for a classmate; and the only one who said she’s coming is Rainbow Dash, but I’ve yet to see her. I only just got here five minutes ago.”
“Urgh, I was counting on her too!” Babs groaned. “She’s arguably the most adult out of all of you.”
“Now, now, now, hold on!” Sunset argued, appalled. “Technically, I’m an adult too—”
“No! No, you’re not!”
“Oh you’d be surprised.”
Babs Seed was clearly not in the mood to hear that story, time was running out and she was desperately trying to think of something else. But since she knew nobody else was available to assist her with this dilemma, her choices were remotely low.
“Okay, looks like you’ll have to do,” Babs sighed, grabbing Sunset’s arm. “Come on, hurry! He’s most likely waiting for me!”
At first, Sunset Shimmer intended to go along with Babs’ crazy plan. However, she drew the line at being ordered around like a lackey.
“Okay, first off, this plan is stupid,” Sunset argued, with a hint of anger. “Unless the officer is blind, there’s zero chance this will ever work. Second, I don’t appreciate your tone with me.”
Babs Seed immediately regretted what she said earlier, addressing the disappointment in Sunset’s eyes.
“You’re right, you’re absolutely right,” Babs nodded. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to snap. But I’m desperate! I don’t want to get in trouble and I really need your help. Please… I have no one else.”
Deep down, Sunset Shimmer knew this idea was bad from the start. So much, in fact, it could easily make the situation worse instead of better. But she couldn’t ignore the pitiful look on Bab’s face, the deep concern in her eyes. It was not Sunset’s nature, even against her better judgment, to ignore a cry for help.
“Okay… I’ll do it,” Sunset gave in.
“Thank you,” Babs sighed, with relief. “You won’t regret it, mommy dearest.”
“Call me that again and I’m abandoning you, young man!” Sunset yelled, sarcastically.
“I’m not a boy!”
The two shared a good laugh at each other’s remarks as they made their way out of the band room.
<>
Meanwhile, a police officer was patrolling the corridors, his watchful eyes kept hidden by a pair of sunglasses.
“Now where did that little girl run off to…?” The policeman asked.
“Nowhere, Mr. Officer!”
The police officer turned around, turning to see the little girl, Babs Seed, standing in the middle of the corridor with another girl, barely older than the child, beside her.
“I was just fetching my mom like you asked,” Babs continued, hesitantly.
“I’m sorry?” The officer asked.
“I called her here,” Babs clarified. “She wanted to see my classroom first.”
Babs tugged on Sunset’s shirt, her eyes trying to tell the older girl to play along. Sunset shrugged, but figured she’d play along.
“That’s right officer,” Sunset replied. “Just finished a meeting with clients, came as soon as she called. I was curious about her classroom…”
“Hold on there,” The officer interrupts, suspicious. “Why are you already dressed up for school?”
“O-Oh, that! Well, actually…”
“That’s one of her many outfits she made for herself,” Babs butted in. “Mommy’s a big fan of cosplay and all.”
Sunset turned toward Babs Seed with a raised eyebrow, unnoticed by the officer, who’s attention was on the little one. Sunset Shimmer was immediately regretting the decision to help her, but if she cut the act now, they would both be in trouble.
“Daddy likes to dress up too,” Babs continued. “They’d go into their bedroom to do… ‘Adult stuff’ together, you know… Parents. I really don’t know what Daddy means by that, but he’s always sending me outside. I come back and dad’s always so tired and exhausted, telling me mommy is ‘thirsty’. But what do I know, Mr. Policeman? I’m just a kid; do you know what those words mean?”
Sunset Shimmer wanted to groan, if this scenario wasn’t uncomfortable before it was just reaching it’s peak. Sunset Shimmer wasn’t the only one, the Officer himself didn’t know what to say. Their cheeks were both as red as a tomato, although suffice to say Sunset was far more embarrassed. The Officer, on the other hand, had a hard time trying to grasp what he just head.
“… I think it’s better that your parents talk to you about that,” The Officer spoke, regaining composure. “Still… Something about this doesn’t add up. Your ‘mother’ doesn’t look old enough to have a child of your age.”
“Oh, well uh…” Babs turned away, pondering. “That’s because… She had me super early! Yeah, I hear daddy complain to his friends when mommy’s not around. Says she ‘skipped on protection’ when they were in school. Course, mommy knew daddy was from a rich family. Did it on purpose, you know?”
“What?!” Sunset muttered, through her teeth.
The Officer didn’t hear Sunset, she truly wanted to say something else but deep down she couldn’t. As much as she wanted to pull Babs aside, give her the rant of a lifetime, she’d be held accountable for blowing her cover. She had no choice but to put up with it and hope the whole ordeal would be over soon.
“So anyways, you could say daddy was forced to be with mommy,” Babs continued. “By the way, mommy isn’t that young – You should see all the wrinkles on her face!”
“… No, I don’t think I want to,” The Officer replied, awkwardly.
“No really, she wears tons of make-up and had plastic surgery… Multiple times!”
“Oh God…” Sunset thought, putting a hand over her mouth.
“All bought and paid for courtesy of daddy,” Babs kept on. “By the way, Mr. Officer, where exactly do babies come from? If I didn’t know any better, I bet daddy had something to do with that, wouldn’t you say?”
The poor policeman was more flustered than before, even Sunset Shimmer felt sorry for him. It was clear he did not want to continue this discussion, but then he didn’t seem like the type with better cases to do.
“… As I was saying, that’s another discussion you should have with your mom, young lady,” The Officer said, turning to Sunset. “And just so we’re clear, you are this young girl’s mother?”
The whole time Sunset Shimmer struggled to maintain a straight face. She wasn’t just experiencing embarrassment, which filled up inside her like helium in a balloon. She felt pure ‘anger’ building up inside. Had it not for the fact she’d be busted more so than Babs Seed, she wanted to strangle the little rascal right now. It was such an internal struggle, trying to maintain her cool while every other emotion was saying otherwise.
“Yes, officer…” Sunset spoke, holding her rage. “I am her mother.”
“Madam, are you aware of what your daughter did?” The Officer asked.
“Yes, and I am ‘very’ ashamed.”
Sunset then grabbed Babs by her left ear, clutching it with the tightest grip she could, while turning toward her.
“I thought I raised you better than this, Babs!” Sunset stated. “I find out you’re causing trouble and giving this nice officer a hard time!”
“Ow!” Babs yelled. “Mommy – Stop pulling my ear! It hurts!”
“Yeah? Well, how do you think I feel? If something were to happen to you, there’d be worse than that! Now you apologize to the officer right now or we can take this straight to your father!”
“I’m sorry…” Babs mumbled.
But that wasn’t good enough for Sunset, whether this was an act or not. She pinched Babs’ ear harder, while the little girl winced in pain.
“I… Can’t… Hear you!” Sunset demanded.
“Ow! I’m sorry, I’m sorry! I won’t do it again!”
“Alright, alright, that’s enough,” The Officer stepped in. “You proved your point. No one got hurt, I just needed a better understanding of what we’re dealing with. The kid’s scared enough as she is; she’s learned her lesson.”
All the same, The Policeman leans toward Babs Seed, removing his sunglasses so he can look her straight in the eye.
“Now you listen to me: I’m going to let you off a warning,” The Policeman warns. “But if I catch you doing this again, you won’t get the Good Cop next time. I got better things to do than dealing with kids like you causing property damage and disturbing the peace. But that’s not going to happen again, right?”
“Yes sir…” Babs nodded, slowly.
“Good!” The Officer nods, putting his sunglasses on. “Sorry to bother you madam. Thank you for your time.”
The two girls watch as the Policeman leaves without further incident. They waited until the officer completely disappeared from view before breathing a sigh of relief.
“Boy, what a relief!” Babs sighed. “Good thing you came. Thanks so much, Sunset. If there’s any way I can make it up to you—”
“Is that all you have to say for yourself?” Sunset interrupted. “After everything you’ve been saying about me, you think I’m letting you walk out that easily?”
Babs didn’t quite answer Sunset directly. But she did, however, started grinning a bit, considering what just happened. Though, if this were Babs attempt to be cute like her friends would do, Sunset wasn’t convinced.
“Come on, answer me! Don’t just stand there with that goofy smile!”
“Well, you know what they say,” Babs replied, innocently. “What use are words when a smile says it all?”
“Don’t try to coy your way out of this!” Sunset yelled, a blush appearing. “I’ve never felt so embarrassed in my life. Why don’t you just tell him I’m seeing a girl?!”
“… Are you? Because I can bring him back…”
“NOOO!”
“Alright, alright. I’m sorry, okay? I just wanted to make the policeman uncomfortable; I figured he’d suspect nothing if I said stuff like that.”
“Yeah well… You’re lucky he bought it.”
The two girls sigh as they lean against the lockers, reflecting on quite an experience they just went through. Babs Seed rubbed the ear Sunset pinched earlier, wincing as she could feel the sting.
“Did you have to tug my ear that hard?” Babs asked, rubbing her ear.
“You’re lucky that’s all I did,” Sunset teased, punching her shoulder. “Besides, I was just making it look as real as possible.”
“Okay, you got me. Can we just agree what happened today stays between us?”
“Yeah, I can agree to that.”
Sunset Shimmer held out her hand, Babs looks down on it for a moment then she takes her hand. The two girls shake on it, before Sunset pulls her closer so their eyes can meet.
“But you owe me big time!” Sunset warned.
“… How?” Babs asked, nervously.
“… I don’t know yet, but I’ll think of something. But when that time comes, you’re doing ‘me’ a favor. Maybe not tomorrow, maybe not next week. Not in a month or a year, but one of these days! One of these days… You’re going to owe me.”
“Fair enough,” Babs nodded.
Eventually the two girls eventually let go of each other’s hands, as all is quiet between them. They take a look down the corridor leading towards the main hall, where the exit to the school would be.
“Want to grab something to eat?” Babs asked.
Sunset Shimmer made a deep sigh, before turning to Babs with a small smirk.
“Sure,” Sunset nodded, grabbing her phone. “I just have to make a call.”
With that said, the two girls walk down the corridor as Sunset Shimmer takes out her cellphone, spending the next minute dialing a few numbers. Band practice was going to be cancelled. The reason? Because two very different girls, with a secret they vowed to never see the light of day, have decided to spend a time hanging out… And for a certain bacon-haired teenager to conduct her own secret:
Plotting her revenge…