My Past Is Complicated

“So kid how do you feel?” Berry Punch asked with a grin as she wrapped an around Sunset. “This all over in a short few days.”

“Thank god,” Cherry muttered. “I went to bring Cheerilee lunch one day and thay school was a warzone. I overheard someone insult Sunset and I wanted to raise heck.”

“Now it’s just super tense,” I added with a smile. “At least since Celestia’s announcement, it’s gotten quieter. Just one more day till we win.” Derpy smiled and nodded as Berry pulled the car over on a dirt road.

“Uhm what are we doing?” Sunset asked in confusion as Berry put the car in back and opened her door.

“Cheerilee is gonna teach you how to drive,” Berry announced as she walked to Sunset’s door and opened it. “Out. You get the driver seat, she gets the passenger seat.”

“Oh uh okay,” Sunset mumbled as she and got out of the car. I stepped out of the car and sat in the passenger as Berry sat down in the back seat. “Feels like we just did a Chinese fire drill.” I gave a chuckle as I put my seatbelt on.

“Alright so that is the shifter. Right now the car is in park. You have four gears in this car. Drive, reverse, park and neutral. Some cars have a manual option which means you shift gears on your own but this suv doesn’t,” I explained. “That pedal right there is the gas pedal. The other one is the brakes.”

“Okay,” Sunset said as she reached for the radio and I gently swatted her hand away.

“No radio. This way you can focus better on the road,” I chided. “What’s the first thing you do?”

“Uh swap places with you because I’m nervous about driving?” Sunset nervously laughed.

“Wrong. You got this. Put the seatbelt on firstly,” I instructed and Sunset did so. “Put a foot on the brakes and shift the car into drive. Keep the foot pressed down on the brakes until I tell you to stop.”

“Okay,” Sunset said and complied as Ruby shoved her head between us.

“You can do this mage cousin!” She shouted and we all chuckled. Berry pulled her back and whispered in her ear and she solemnly nodded.

“Alright now gently rest a foot on the gas. When you do so, slowly turn out onto the road after you remove your foot off the brake pedal,” I instructed. Sunset cautiously pulled onto the road and I clapped. “Great job! Now apply more pressure on the gas pedal.” Sunset nodded and the car lurched forward and started speeding down the dirt road.

“Sunset!”

“I don’t think I’ve been so terrified in all my life,” I admitted and Berry chuckled. “Well other then when I was scared to find Sunset dead or close to death at home.” Berry’s smile disappeared and her face darkened.

“That didn’t happen. Sunset is alive, she’s a strong person. Sure she may have thought about it a few times but she never acted on it. When you go through something to this magnitude, bad thoughts are to be expected,” Berry pointed out as she laid on my bed. “What you do with them is the important part.”

“True. I didn’t know Sunset had told you she was suicidal over this,” I gave her a flat look. “You should have told me.” Berry gave me a sheepish look and rubbed the back of her head.

“I know but she begged me not to. I really wanted to but I couldn’t betray her trust like that. She told me because she knew I could relate given what happened to me and all,” Berry explained.

“I didn’t know you told her about that.”

“Well yeah. It was when you guys came to visit for Christmas. We stayed up late, talking and getting to know each other. I figured it would help her knowing I got out of a stressful situation. Looks like I was right,” she smirked. “I love being right.”

“I love you,” I chuckled. “You may be the youngest but you are definitely grown up.” Berry rolled over and grinned at me.

“You’re damn right. In fact, I think I should be the one in charge of the family instead of Cherry. I’m awesome and all,” she announced smugly and winked. “We can overthrow her, me and you.” I stared at her till we burst out laughing.

“Oh man that was good. Yeah no we aren’t overthrowing Cherry,” I snickered.

“I heard that!” She shouted up the stairs and we started laughing again.

“Oh man that was golden! You’re right we can’t. I may make jokes about her but I love her. And you of course,” Berry admitted.

“That was pretty good,” I agreed. “I love you too by the way.” We fell into silence as I started reading my book. I couldn’t wait for this anon a miss thing to be over. Felt like a long time coming in all honesty.

“Can I ask a weird question?” Berry suddenly asked and I put my book down.

“Yeah go for it. You don’t even got to ask.”

“If Sunset forgave them, would you forgive the Rainbooms?” Berry asked and I tensed up. Berry quickly held a hand up to stop me from talking. “Before you freak out, let me explain. Sunset has a past of forgiving people. She forgave the sirens. Sure, what they did isn’t even close to this or as bad as this in my opinion but forgiveness is her personality. She does represent empathy she said. So who is to say she won’t forgive the Rainbooms? It might not be right now but things change. People change their opinion.” I took a deep breath and thought about my words. Berry started rubbing Ruby’s hair as she slept and stared at me.

“I hate them right now. I’ve never hated anyone except our parents and the guy who you know. But if Sunset asked me to forgive them for her, I would. You know I cussed those girls out.”

“Woah,” Berry raised an eyebrow. “You never cuss. What did they do?”

“They showed up on my doorstep.” Berry chuckled and rolled her eyes.

“Yeah that would do it.”