“Ok I’ll see you later, guys!” Sunset Shimmer called back to the Sushi restaurant she worked at.

“See ya,” yelled back her manager.

It was a wet, and dark evening for the second day of the first week of October. The weather wasn’t raining too hard, but there was meant to be a storm later. But it was just spitting. Sunset Shimmer, who had red and yellow flamed hair, turquoise eyes, light yellowish orange skin, a magenta t-shirt with a red and golden yellow split sun symbol in the centre, a black leather jacket, an orange skirt with golden yellow and magenta streaks, and black boots with magenta fleur patterns, was on her way back to her apartment to turn in for the night. She was eating some of her sushi as she was hungry.

‘What bad weather this is this evening,’ she thought to herself, as the wind started to pick up. She took out her phone to text her friends about meeting them tomorrow afternoon.

“Hope they’re not too busy tomorrow. I could use some socializing,” she said, until her phone bleeped 12 times with 12 text messages. “Well, that was fast. ‘Okay, about to head home now. Talk to you all tomorrow. BFFs.’” Sunset then sent her text when she heard a small faint noise in an alley.

“Hello?!” she asked. “Is someone there?!”

She then shrugged her shoulders and started to walk away, until the sound came back. Sunset started to listen clearly and went to find out what the noise was. While she could see nothing, she ended up lost in the middle of the alleyway residential section in the city. Sunset started to hear the sound again, then suddenly, it started to sound like someone was crying. It was a little high-pitched, so she went to find out who it is and where he or she is, but she found out it was behind her. She turned around and put her hands on her lips gasping in shock and worry.

“Oh, my goodness,” Sunset said. She walked over to the sad person, turning out to be a 6-year-old anthropomorphic fox boy, he had red pants, red and blue fur, an eyepatch covering his right eye, a hook on his right arm and orange eyes. He also had bandages on his arms, legs and tail. His fur was soaked from the rain. Sunset knelt towards him and placed her hand on his shoulder. “Are you alright, sweetheart?”

The poor fox boy looked towards her and in fear backed off.

"P-P-Please, do-don't h-hurt m-me!" the little fox kid stuttered, tripping over a brick and landing on his tail, his eyepatch fell off and Sunset saw a deep scar and a blind eye.

Sunset felt her heart melt over how the kid was feeling. “Come here, sweetie,” Sunset said smoothly, the fox boy looked upon her in less fear. “It’s okay. I’m not gonna hurt you.” She picked up the eyepatch and handed it to the child. “Here,” she cooed.

The fox boy heard and putting the eyepatch back one, got up, and walked slowly and nervously towards her and hugged her with his arms around her shoulders. His tears were dripping on Sunset’s jacket due to him crying. She put one arm on his back and the other underneath his bottom. Sunset started to rub his back gently. “Shhhhhh... It’s okay. I’ve got you. Shhhhhh....” she said as she tried to calm his crying.

“What’s your name, honey?” she asked the boy.

“I-I’m Sami. Sami Markson,” he said nervously.

“That’s such a nice name, Sami,” replied Sunset. “My name is Sunset Shimmer, but you can call me Sunset.”

Sami rubbed his eye and sniffed. “It’s nice to meet you, Sunset,” Sami said.

“Are you lost or did something happen?” Sunset asked. Sami then started to look down in sorrow, until he hugged her again. Sunset patted his back gently. “Shhhhhh... If you don’t want to tell me, that’s fine. I just want to help you.”

She then thought of something in her mind, ‘Where are his parents? Shouldn’t they be looking for him?’ Until he was resting his head on her chest for warmth, she grabbed his trunk. “Hey, Sami? You wanna go with me? A storm is due tonight,” Sunset asked. “You can sleep there, too if you want.” Sami nodded and firmly held on to the gentle teenage girl.

Sunset and Sami soon arrived at Sunset's apartment, once inside Sunset placed a sleepy Sami on her couch as she got their dinners ready.

Few minutes later...

“Sami, your dinner’s ready!” Sunset called to Sami.

Sami gave out a big yawn and rubbed his eye. Then, he got up and went to the kitchen and saw his plate full of sausage sandwiches. He went to the sink to wash his hand and hook and then came to the table to eat his dinner.

“Sunset, can I have some ketchup please?” Sami asked.

“Of course, honey. Just give me a second,” Sunset acknowledged, as she took the ketchup bottle from the fridge and put it on the table. Sami thanked her and squirted some ketchup onto his plate and screwed the lid back on. Then he ate his dinner, while Sunset made herself a chicken salad with Italian dressing.

After they finished their dinner, Sunset took his plate to the sink and then found out that Sami started to yawn. “Aww... Look at that.” Sunset cooed at him. “Looks like someone’s getting pretty sleepy, huh?” Sami nodded and started to rub his eye. Sunset lifted him up and from his armpits and carried him upstairs with his trunk.

“Okay, Sami. This will be your bedroom for now. It’s just until I find your parents or whatever happens later, okay?” Sunset said. “Go ahead and change into your pyjamas. I’ll be back to tuck you in.” Sami nodded as she left the room to let him change into his stained pyjama shirt and pants. ‘I wish my clothes were treated fairly,’ he thought to himself as he began to have tears fall out of his eyes.

After he finished changing into his pyjamas and brushed his teeth, Sunset came back to check on him and found out he was already ready for sleep. “Okay, I guess you’re ready to be tucked in,” Sunset said. She walked over to him and gently pulled the covers over his shoulders and stroked his fur. “How about if I give you a bath tomorrow morning, and we can have breakfast together?” she asked.

“I’d like that.” Sami said, then he thought for a quick moment. “Sunset?”

“Hmm?” Sunset responded.

“Thank you for saving me back there.” Sami said.

Sunset started to feel her heart melt in those kind words. “You’re welcome, Sami. You just needed some help,” Sunset said. “Besides, no one as cute as you should ever be out there in the middle of the night, even if a storm is happening.”

Sunset smiled warmly at him, Sami smiled back and gave her a hug, then she hugged him back. They broke off the hug as Sunset gently laid Sami back down on the bed and cover him under the warm blanket and gave him a small kiss on his forehead.

“Come on, get some sleep.” She started to walk out the door but stopped for a moment. “By the way, if you need me, I’m next door.” Sami nodded and finally got tired. “Goodnight, Sunset.” he replied. “Goodnight, sweetheart. I’ll see you in the morning.” Sunset said as she shut off the light and gently closed the door.

Sami began to realize how nice Sunset was to him. ‘She seems kind to me,’ he thought to himself. ‘I wish I has a mother like her.’ He then closed his eyes and fell asleep.

The rain hammered down upon the windows of Sunset's bedroom as the lightning flashed, lighting up the bedroom where the bacon-haired girl slept peacefully. She had donned her sleep wear, light purple top and sweatpants with her symbol in the centre of her top.

Everything was awfully quiet. The silence was broken when a faint scream was heard. Sunset shot awake to the sound and ran to Sami’s room. She flung the door open to see the kid panting, tears glistening as they streamed down his cheeks.

Sunset walked slowly towards the child, but Sami crawled away from her, clearly scared of something. "What's the matter, buddy?"

Sami merely whimpered in response, he wanted to get way, but a soft hand stop him from backing any further. Sami slowly looked up at Sunset, shivering with each breath he took. When the lightning flashed, it lit up Sunset’s face and for a split second, Sami saw a devilish smile with sharp teeth on her face.

"Come on, Sami, what's wrong?" Sunset urged, as she crouched down to the floor on her knees. Her turquoise eyes lit up by the Lightning, her shadowed face in worry.

Sami let out a hiccup, stumbling forward and wrapping his arms around her waist, dropping the pillow in the process. He buried his face against her neck as he began to sob freely.

Sunset said nothing, instead, she pulled the kid into a tender hug and gently rubbed his back. Sami cried, pausing every so often to wipe at his face, grasping the folds of Sunset's clothes with his hand. Sami wanted to cry. He needed to; this the girl knew. So, she sat in the darkness, murmuring words of comfort into a lullaby. The young boy sniffed heavily as Sunset held him close, and after many minutes of tears, he pulled himself up from Sami's neck.

She brushed Sami’s fur to soothe him, wiping away a tear that trailed down his cheek. "Sam, are you alright, now?" she whispered after the storm had passed.

Sam glanced into the darkest corner of the room, refusing to let go of his protector. His eyes dilated in fear, but he remained still on Sunset's lap. "Yes," he stuttered, uncertainty creeping across his tone.

Sunset managed a tight-lipped, yet relieved smile. "What happened?" she asked softly, rocking the child back and forth, like how her mother used to soothe her. "Did you have a bad dream?" she gently stroked his hair, closing her eyes.

"Y-Yes," he finally choked out, hardly above a whisper. "A really bad dream, Sunset," he hugged her tightly again, only relenting when Sunset pushed him back.

"What was it about?" she asked again, never ceasing her rocking.

Sami took a deep, shuddering breath. "I-It was dark. I don’t know where I was, but it was dark and stormy. I tried to get up, but my legs were shackled with chains. I was inside of a cage and my head was hurting really hard," he whispered.

Sunset hummed in reply, bringing him closer to her chest.

Sami rubbed roughly at his eyes. "And-and then I heard a scary laugh. I got scared and I-I tried to move, and I called for help, but nobody came. The laugh got louder than before. Then a big, scary monster appeared from the dark, glaring at me. Once the lightning flashed the monster’s face lit up and it looked like you. I started to cry and then the monster a blast of fire at me, and I died!"

Sunset drew in a sharp breath, pulling back to look at the kid. "You died?" she asked, her eyes wide.

Sami nodded solemnly. "Yes. I did! And I was really scared and couldn't move. Why would that happen to me?" he cried.

Sunset shook her head hard, shushing his sobs. "No, no. sweetie, no, it was a dream. Of course, That would never, ever happen to you," she reassured, her voice tight.

Sami sniffed. "But..."

"No," Sunset repeated firmly, rubbing his back. "Never, Sami. If someone wants to hurt you, I will always be here for you, got it?"

“Y-You will?” Sami stammered; his tone filled with hope, “so I-I can trust you?”

Sunset smiled warmly at him and nodded.

Sami was silent for a moment, the only sound being the racing of his heart. Finally, he gave her a soft grateful smile and hugged her.

Sunset let out a breath she didn't know she had been holding. "There. There, it's alright now, okay?" she murmured. Without hesitation, Sunset gently lifted him into the air, carried him to her bedroom sat him on the bed.

Sami looked up at her face, his eyes filled with hope. "C-Can I... s-s-sleep here... with you... p-please?"

Sunset let out a mix between a laugh and a sigh. "Of course, sweetie," she said, sliding across the warm bed sheets, and laying out a pillow for Sami. He gasped, scrambling over and under the blankets, hiding from his fears.

Sunset smiled at him comfortingly as she brought an arm over the small child, pulling him to her side. Sami trembled a bit, but his breathing slowed as soon as Sunset began to sing. Sami didn't know why, but he felt safe with her, like a bright light in the darkness. Even though they just meet, she had a comforting glow that made him feel safe.

Sunset continued her song, the smooth lilt of each word soothing over the child as he moved closer. His eyes slowly closed with every note the girl drew out. Sami ceased her song as her voice fell to a whisper.

"Don't worry, Sami. I’ll chase away your nightmares," she breathed in a motherly tone, kissing his forehead.

Sunset slowly closed her eyes and fell asleep as Sami snuggled close to her and rested his head on her shoulder.

Author's Note

Here's one of a few stories I be typing until I can think of a way to continue other my first few
Next up Sami meets Sunset's friends