Berry's Sunset

Berry sighed and stirred her cereal half heartedly. She lifted the spoon and put the cereal in her mouth and half heartedly ate the cereal.

"Are you okay, sis?" Cherry asked.

Berry's hair was disheveled, her eyes had dark circles under them and she looked tired.

"Yeah. Alcohol withdrawal is just a bitch." She admitted. "You're not supposed to just quit like this. You're supposed to slowly quit over time. Trouble sleeping is all."

Cherry nodded slowly. "Would medicine help?" She offered.

Berry shook her head to her sister's chagrin. She paused.

"Well, maybe some Ibuprofen or Tylenol. That's about the only that'll help." Berry mumbled around a spoonful of cereal.

Cherry stood up and headed to the medicine cupboard and put the code in to unlock it.

"Cherry, I can get it after. Just eat, please." Berry said. She glanced over to her daughter who was making a mess in the highchair and gave a sigh. "Sunset, can you bring me a wet washcloth please?" She requested. Sunset nodded and stood up from her oatmeal.

"Wait!" Berry exclaimed and Sunset froze. "I didn't realize you were still eating. It can wait, finish your food." She gestured to the seat. Sunset shook her head to Berry's frustration.

"Why are you two not listening and just doing all this?" She gestured around her.

Cherry slid some chocolate milk and some Tylenol to Berry. "Because we care about you, dummy. And we want to help you."

"Mhm." Sunset agreed as she returned with a washcloth and started wiping off Ruby's face and hands.

Berry sighed. "Sorry, the withdrawal is making me moody."

Sunset put a hand on her shoulder hesitantly and Berry tensed. "We understand, Berry. It's okay and not your fault."

"Yeah." Cherry piped in and sat down at her cereal and shoved a spoonful into her mouth. "This will pass. You're a strong young women. We'll help however you need."

Sunset nodded as she finished up cleaning Ruby. "We care about you, Berry." She stuck a finger out to Ruby and she grabbed it and started shaking it while Sunset giggled. Sunset gently pulled it free and sat down at her oatmeal and took a bite, smiling at Berry.

Berry sighed and smiled back. She picked up her bowl and carried it to the kitchen, sitting it in the sink. She strolled past the table and headed up the stairs to the bathroom. She pulled her shirt off and unclasped her bra, letting them fall to the floor. She undid her skirt and let it fall down and removed her underwear. She stepped into the shower and pulled the curtain closed. She turned the warm water on and closed her eyes sighing.

She opened her eyes and reached for the shampoo bottle and squirted some onto her hand and she rubbed it into her hair. Satisfied, she closed her eyes and put her hair into the water and rinsed out the shampoo out. She took the washcloth and washed under her arms and down her legs. She turned around a few times in the shower, rinsing all the shampoo off her body. She reached out and turned the handle and the water stopped.

She pulled the curtain aside and stepped out, water dripping off her. She reached for a towel and dried her hair. She opened the closet door and took her hairbrush and started brushing her hair till it was in her usual style.

Glancing down at her arm accidentally, she bit her lip and looked away from the old cut marks she had on her arms. She reached out for her bathrobe and tied it around her. She gathered her clothes and carried it out to her room and dumped them in her laundry basket.

She opened her closet and pulled out a purple blouse and a white skirt. She dropped the bathrobe on the bed and put on a new bra. She pulled her blouse on over her and slipped her skirt up. She looked in the mirror and realized a tiny part of her scars were noticeable. She pulled open the closet and took a pink jacket out and put it on smiling. She finally felt comfortable enough and becoming a lot like her self again after a warm shower and a good cleaning.

"So." Cherry started, taking a sip of her tea and looked to Sunset. "What do you plan on doing when Berry is in school and Ruby's at daycare?"

Sunset held her coffee in the hand and stopped mid sip.

"I don't know. What is that sixteen year olds normally do here?" Sunset questioned.

Cherry scratched her head. "Typically, they go to school, clubs such like that."

"Oh uh, right. Cool. I guess I could do that." Sunset said smiling. "I do like school and learning."

Cherry snorted. "Never heard anybody say. Berry only likes chemistry and history class."

Sunset smiled as the image of Berry wearing a white doctors coat and goggles, leaning over a beaker full of chemicals went through her mind.

Cherry giggled at Sunset's expression.

"She's a pretty cool girl, isn't she?" Cherry asked smirking.

"What, who?" Sunset asked, blushing slightly.

Cherry gave her a knowing look and winked, smirking still.

"It's our little secret, don't worry." She reassured her.

"I really don't know what you're talking about." Sunset mumbled, putting some oatmeal in her mouth.

Cherry only grinned.

"What do I need exactly to go to school here?" Sunset suddenly inquired.

Cherry tapped her chin. "Background from another school. Grades, stuff like that."

"Yeah I don't got none of that." Sunset shook her head.

Cherry frowned at that. "I'll be back." She pushed her chair out and stood up.

"Where are you going?" Sunset asked.

Cherry gave her a look. "The less you know, the better. Can you do the dishes please?"

Sunset nodded.

"Thanks." Cherry said as she grabbed her keys and headed out the door. She shut the door behind her and Sunset sighed at the sight of the stack of dishes.

Ruby made a noise and Sunset glanced at her.

"Oops sorry little one. We forgot all about you." Sunset smiled as she lifted Ruby out and placed her on the kitchen floor with some toys.

Cherry parked her car on a side street parking lot and stepped out. She double checked anything of value was hidden and the car was locked. She stepped on the sidewalk, warily looking around her. She paid careful attention to the run down buildings and the people standing on the street in matching colors. She glanced down and made a disgusted face at a used condom and a needle. She carefully stepped around the needle.

She paid careful attention to a guy with a rose tattoo visible on his arm under his shirt.

He approached her and she tightened her grip on the small pistol in her jacket she had gotten from her shadier years.

"Hey there Cherry. Haven't seen you in years. How's Berry?" The man asked.

"Hey, Side Ways." She greeted curtly. "My sister is fine."

"What brings you to this side of town? Haven't seen you since you decided you were too good for us lowlifes." Side Ways stated.

Cherry rolled her eyes. "That wasn't why I left and you know it. Listen, I need some documents forged. Documents needed to get into high school."

Side Ways gave her a curious look. "Why are you trying to get back into high school?"

She shook her head. "I'm not. It's for a friend. She doesn't have the proper paperwork. I'll also need documents to get her a job."

Side Ways rubbed his chin. "The work documentation is gonna be a bit harder. I'll do the school ones for free, you gotta do some for me to get the documents for a job." He eyed her up and down.

Cherry narrowed her eyes. "I'm not having sex with you, so forget it."

Side Ways let out a laugh and put a hand to his chest. "Why, Cherry I never meant that. I'm not that cruel."

"Yes you are." She instantly pointed out.

"Yeah, you're right I am." He agreed. "I just need you to sell something for me." He reached into his back pocket and pulled out a baggie of white powder.

Cherry's eyes widened.

"I need at least five thousand for this baggie." He explained and stepped to her. "Sell this, and you'll get the paperwork. Plus some monetary benefit."

She glared at him. "I don't want or need your money."

He sighed. "Just let me give you the money. Times are hard right now for everyone. I bet you could use it for groceries."

He had a point she admitted. She could use the spare money to get Sunset her own bed instead of her sleeping on the floor and they would be covered for groceries and rent for a few months.

"Fine." She conceded.

"Excellent." He stepped closer and put it in a glove and tied it shut.

"So your fingerprints aren't on the bag." He explained at her curious look. "I don't want you getting in trouble."

"Gee, thanks." She grumbled as she accepted the gloved baggie and hid it in her jacket.

"Once you've sold it, you can meet me at the park in Canterlot's Garden. I'll be next to the fountain on a bench. Bring it by Tuesday night, nine pm." He said coolly.

She nodded and turned to leave.

"Oh and Cherry?" He called out after her.

"What?" She replied icily.

"The next time you come over, do make it less obvious you're packing heat. I'd hate for anyone to get the wrong idea and gun you down." He replied back.

"How did you know I had a gun?" She demanded and he rolled his eyes.

"Cherry, you've kept your right hand in your pocket the entire time. I remember way back when that was your preferred spot to hold any weapon." He explained with a smirk.

"Oh." Cherry muttered with a blush. She removed her hand from her pocket.

"Stay safe Cherry." Side Ways called out as she strode away.

She waved her hand behind her and disappeared around the corner to her car.

She unlocked it and plopped down in the driver seat and double checked all her belongings were in it.

Satisfied, she shakily pulled her phone out.

"I can't believe I'm about to do this, but." She dialed a number and held the phone up to her ear.

"Hey Dad. Got something you might be interested in."

Berry groaned as her eyes opened. She heard sounds of crying and Sunset begging. She shot down the stairs.

She took in the scene of Sunset with a bottle and Ruby in her arms, begging her to stop crying with wide eyes.

"Please stop crying. I'm trying to feed you." Sunset begged. "Let Berry sleep, she needs it. Sunset is here."

Berry pinched her nose. "Sunset, what is happening down here?"

Sunset jumped a bit before looking behind her.

"Oh, hey Berry. Hope we didn't wake you." She glanced back down at Ruby who was turning red from crying.

Berry knelt down and took Ruby and the bottle and stuck it in her mouth and Ruby started to quiet down and drink.

Sunset stared in wide eyes. "How in Equestria did you manage that?" She asked in an awed voice.

Berry winked at her. "It's a mother's gift." She teased and looked around. "Where's Cherry at? I'm surprised she didn't come running."

"Cherry is out right now. Doing some errand or something." Sunset replied as she stared at Berry.

"Huh. Did she say where she was going?" Berry asked idly, watching her daughter.

"No. All she said was, the less I know the better and drove off." Sunset answered.

Berry glanced up at Sunset and narrowed her eyes. "Wait, did she seriously say that?"

"Uhm, yes. Why, does it mean anything to you?" Sunset nervously asked, slightly put off by the intense look Berry was giving her.

"No. Nothing at all." Berry muttered and broke her gaze, looking back down at Ruby who fell asleep. "Thanks for watching her for me. Sorry I fell asleep accidentally, I'm just so tired. Next time, just come get me. I'd rather me get woken up then you have a massive migraine."

Sunset nodded. "Okay."

Both girls sniffed the air and made faces.

"Well, smells like she needs a diaper changed." Berry mumbled. "Be right back." She disappeared upstairs.

Cherry pressed her forehead against the steering wheel.

"I can't believe I'm doing this." She muttered to herself before stepping out of the car and working her way to where a skinny short man sat. He had brown hair and a beard with sunken in eyes.

He stood up when Cherry approached and started to open his arms.

"Don't touch me." She warned.

He dropped his hands down to his side. "Straight to business, huh? That's so like you. Got the drugs?"

She rolled her eyes in disgust. "Yeah, I got them. This is a one time thing. Never again. Do you got the money?"

"Yeah. How much again?" He asked as he pulled off his backpack.

"Five thousand." She said coldly.

He froze. "What the fuck? Five thousand for a tiny bag, are you fucking serious?"

"It's quality. Straight from Side Ways. You know his reputation as a solid drug pusher." Cherry argued.

The man seemed to be internally fighting with himself before sighing.

"Fine. Here." He handed her the money and she counted it out. Satisfied it was all there and wasn't fake, she put it in her pocket. She pulled the glove out and carefully cut it open and dumped the baggie into his open bag.

She turned to leave.

"Wait." He called out.

She slowly turned around. "What do you want now, dad?" She asked with venom in her voice.

"Is Berry okay?" He asked quietly.

Fury flashed over Cherry's face. "You don't get to say her name. Especially not after how you raised her. So don't ask me that ever again. And don't even think about following me home." She spat out angrily.

He held a hand placatingly. "Fine, I'm sorry."

Cherry raised an eyebrow. "Just go. Get out of here."

He nodded and trudged off to his car.

Cherry sighed before doing the same. She opened the door and slid down into the seat, slamming her head on the steering wheel. A tap on the window made her jerk up.

She rolled her eyes and opened the door.

"I thought you said Tuesday, Side Ways?" She demanded. He smirked and slide in the passenger seat.

"Well I did. But then I got curious to see how important this was to you. So I followed the car." He shrugged and held up a folder. "Got all the documents you asked for. I put Micro Chips to work right after you left and laid into him hard till he did it in a day."

Cherry reached for the folder and he pulled it back.

"Money first." He said with an open hand. She sighed and handed him the five thousand.

He counted it and smiled, putting it in his bag and slid the yellow folder her way. "Good work." He praised.

"Good work? I didn't do fucking good work, I gave my dad drugs to get high off." Cherry snapped.

Her anger grew when he chuckled and waved a hand.

"I had a feeling you would go straight to your old man. That wasn't actually cocaine, it was flour." He explained.

The anger left Cherry. "But how didn't he notice it wasn't drugs?" She asked softly.

Side Ways rolled his eyes. "When you get so addicted to something, you don't really pay attention to what's in the baggie. As long as it vaguely looks similar, they'll take it." He replied. Cherry gave a sigh of relief.

"Won't this affect your reputation?"Cherry pointed out.

Side Ways waved his hand. "Your dad is a hard drug addict. No one will believe him, they'll just assume he used it all and forgot about it somehow."

Cherry nodded. "Okay."

"And for your payment, there's money in the folder." He opened the door and looked back at her. "I hope everything goes well for you and the baby."

Cherry sat in stunned silence before speaking. "Wait! How do you know about the baby?"

Side Ways grinned and pointed to the baby seat in the backseat and shut the door, walking away.

"Oh." Cherry mumbled blushing. "I should have taken that out."

Berry sat on the couch, flipping through the channels on the TV while Sunset stared in fascination. Ruby was asleep in the crib upstairs and Berry's door was cracked open for them to hear her if she started crying.

"How in Equestria are you doing this? Is this magic?" Sunset asked in wonder.

Berry giggled and rolled her eyes. "No silly. TV stations send signals up to satellites in the sky, satellites send them back to the ground to cable companies, the signals go back up to more satellites, then bounces down the TVs, which had components in it to make images on the screen." She explained smiling at Sunset's expression.

"That sounds complicated." Sunset finally said.

"It is a bit." Berry admitted as she idly flipped the stations before her eyes lit up and she stayed on one.

"What's this one?" Sunset asked as three jets flew down and changed shape, shooting from their shoulder mounted null rays.

"Transformers!" Berry exclaimed quietly. "This is the original cartoon from the nineteen eighties, I've seen these episodes hundreds of times."

Sunset smiled softly at the other girls growing excitement.

"The Transformers, robots in disguise, more than meets the eye" Berry sang with the shows intro, laughing.

Sunset snickered and turned slightly red as Berry laid her head on Sunset's lap. Both girls eyes focused on the TV as the show played.

"I will build the ultimate weapon to defeat the Autobots, to control the planet and conquer the universe!" The grey robot laughed as he threw the gems into the air.

"Who's that one?" Sunset asked.

"That's Megatron." Berry explained. "He's the leader of the Decepticons, super powerhungry and evil. Also the master of goofy ass laughs. And the dark blue one next to him is Soundwave. He's their communications officer and transforms into like a tapdeck. Really old thing that used to play tapes."

Sunset nodded and fell quiet again, watching the show. "How did you know all that about the TVs and satellites, by the way?" She asked.

Berry snickered. "I had a feeling you would ask about how it works once I showed it, so I googled how they work earlier this morning on my phone."

"What's a phone? Is it like a mobile TV?" Sunset questioned.

Berry giggled and pulled her phone out and handed it to Sunset. "Nah this is a phone." She put her pin in and opened it. "It has everything, I can call people text then, play games and watch YouTube." Her eyes lit up. "Wait here." She bolted up the stairs.

Sunset's eyes followed her up the stairs before falling back on the TV.

"This weapon will enable me to strike at the Autobots through Optimus Primes only weakness, his overdeveloped sense of honor." Megatron said laughing and Sunset rolled her eyes.

"All your plans fail, this one will too." She muttered under her breath.

She glanced over at Berry sliding down next to her. "Here." She handed Sunset a phone. "It's my old phone. It doesn't have service on it or anything, so we'll have to ask Cherry to get it activated again. You can play games, watch YouTube."

Sunset took it and turned it over, looking at it. "Thanks Berry." She smiled a gave Berry a quick hug.

"Wait." Berry interjected. "Let me put my phone number into it real quick." She quickly took it from Sunset, and opened her contacts and added herself. She put a smiley face emoji and a grape. After a moments hesitation, she added a red heart and saved it. She blushed slightly as she passed it to Sunset.

Sunset smiled as Berry laid her head back on Sunset's lap and Sunset's hand idly messed with her hair. The two sat there watching cartoons till the sound of the apartment door unlocking made them jump. Berry quickly grabbed the remote and shut the tv off.

"I thought we were watching that?" Susnet quietly questioned.

Berry pressed her finger gently to Sunsets lips. "I'm gonna ask Cherry where she was. Element of surprise." She waved a hand. "Plus, I own all the seasons on DVD. We can watch them whenever."

A light flicked on in the kitchen as Cherry worked her way through the apartment.

"Sunset did a pretty good job on dishes." She admired the plates before shutting the light off and headed through the living room.

"Hello, sister." Berry said calmly.

Cherry let out a loud yelp before glaring at her sister. She could barely make out her and Sunset's shape in the dark.

"Berry, why are you two sitting in the dark?" She demanded.

"Waiting for you." Berry answered simply. Her eyes narrowed. "Where have you been?"

Cherry rolled her eyes and flicked the light on. "Out doing work."

Berry yelped at the bright light and flung herself face first into a pillow. Sunset slammed her eyes shut and slowly opened them till they adjusted.

Cherry raised the yellow folder. "I've got the documents you need Sunset."

Sunset gave a big smile. "Thanks."

Berry gazed at the two in confusion.

"Documents for what?" She asked.

"So Sunset can attend highschool in the next two weeks with you." Cherry explained.

Berry grinned up at Sunset. "Wait, you're coming to school with me too?" She asked excitedly.

Sunset nodded, smiling.

Berry hugged her. "Thank you." Her muffled voice said.

Cherry smiled as she opened the folder and pulled out the money inside.

Her eyes slightly went wide at the amount. Thirty thousand was a lot to her, especially right now. She walked over to a safe on the ground and opened it after putting the code in and set the money inside along with the firearm.

Closing the folder, she crossed back over to Sunset and handed her it. "Has documentation for you to get a job too if you wanted."

Sunset lifted the heavy folder and nodded smiling. "Thank you." She whispered.

Cherry smiled. "Not a problem. Now go bed, both of you. Gotta get back into the schedule of going to bed on time for school."

"Yes mom." Berry grumbled as she stood up, pulling Sunset up with her. Cherry watched the two head into Berry's room before shaking her head.

"Adorable."

Berry breathed in softly as she felt Sunset wrap an arm around her under the blankets.

"Sunshim? Are you awake?" Berry nervously asked.

"Mhm." Sunset drowsily mumbled. "What's up?"

"What's Equestria like? You don't really talk about it much." Berry stated.

Sunset tightened her grip on Berry and gave a sigh.

"Well, we control the weather. No storms happen without the pegasi letting happen. The princess raises the sun and moon. Her sister used to raise the moon but she got banished to the moon." Sunset replied.

Berry raised an eyebrow. "Wish that could happen here. Controlling the weather sounds fun."

"Well, if you were a pegasi you could yes." Sunset added.

"Is there only pegasi in Equestria?" Berry asked.

Sunset snickered. "Nah there's earth ponies, unicorns, pegasi. Dragons and other creatures considered to be myths here."

Berry nodded. "Which are you?"

"If it wasn't for the portals magic, you'd be talking to an orange unicorn right now." Sunset answered.

Berry giggled. "Unicorns are cool. What's an earth pony do?"

"Earth ponies grow the food. They have better skills when it comes to growing and harvesting." Sunset explained.

Berry giggled at the idea of covering the entire house in foliage and grape vines.

"Being an earth pony sounds fun." Berry decided.

"If we were in Equestria, I could teleport using my magic and shoot lasers." Sunset offered.

Berry thought about that for a moment. "That sounds cool. I'd be down to be one of those."

Sunset smiled at her. "Pegasi can fly, when we first met you said it would be cool to be a bird and fly."

"I really hate you somedays, you know that? All three sound cool." Berry grumbled. "What's the princess' name?" She suddenly asked.

"You can't hate me, I'm too friendly and kind for that." Sunset put puppy dog eyes on while Berry rolled her eyes.

"You're right, fair point." She admitted.

Berry sniffed the air and turned her head to face Sunset. "You smell like lilacs. Have you been using my shampoo?"

Sunset looked slightly nervous and gave a laugh. "Uh, maybe? I can stop if you want." She offered.

Berry shook her head. "No. It's fine. " She replied smiling. She laid her head back down and gazed at Ruby's sleeping form and heard tiny snoring sounds coming from the crib.

"The princess is named Celestia. Her sister was named luna." Sunset replied.

Berry gave her a shocked look. "Wait, you mean the principal and vice principal are Princesses?"

Sunset froze. "I was Celestia's prized pupil. She's the leader at your school?"

Berry nodded. "Are you sure you want to go to school with me still?" Sher asked nervously.

To her relief, Sunset nodded. "Yes. As long as you're there, I'll be fine."

Berry smiled at her and rolled back over, pushing against Sunset.

Berry heard snoring from behind her after what felt like hours and she smiled softly. She closed her eyes and soon fell asleep.