Cherry Berry wrapped her coat around her tighter as her boots crunched twigs and larger branches under them, biting back a curse word as she continued walking through the woods. She would have preferred to drive the entire way, but she had to park her car further down the road because of some stupid tree in her way.
“I swear, this stupid party better be worth it,” Cherry grumbled to herself as she sighed. “Berry, Pinkie and Vinyl. The unholy fucking trinity.”
She snorted to herself as she continued walking as a the wind whistled around her, sending a tree branch smacking into her face. Cherry gave a pained cry as she stumbled forward off a small incline, rolling down through brush and fallen limbs as she cursed loudly.
“Ow,” Cherry groaned as she picked herself up, her face brightening up as she saw a house with cars parked outside and faintly heard loud music and lights shining through the windows. “I really should have taken Sunset up on her offer to get a ride here.”
She started walking in the direction before glancing at a person in a black coat and matching hat standing with their back to her, raising a hand in greeting.
“Hey!” Cherry called out with a warm smile, frowning slightly when the person didn’t respond. “Berry?”
The person spun around and Cherry locked eyes with him, eyes widening as he ran at Cherry with a knife over his head and Cherry screamed, the loud music nearby covering it up.
Sunset sat with a bored expression as her eyes locked onto the doorway, impatiently tapping a foot as she waited for her girlfriend to arrive.
“Hey,” Sunset grabbed Berry’s arm as the teen walked by. “Have you seen Cherry? She said she would drive herself and she should have been here hours ago. This isn’t like her, she’s always on time.”
“Uhm, no I haven’t,” Berry Punch admitted and shook her head. “That’s pretty damn weird. Have you called her?” Sunset held up her phone, showing a dozen calls from her to Cherry, all unanswered. “What the hell? She always answers first ring. Maybe her phone is dead or something. If she doesn’t turn up in twenty minutes, me and you can head on out to Mom’s house and check to see if she is still there.”
Sunset nodded as she kept her gaze on the door worriedly, internally knowing something was wrong.
Cherry Berry was always on time, no matter what. And she never went anywhere without telling someone. She had dated her long enough to know that.
“Want a drink?” Pinkie asked as she held a red plastic cup out to Sunset.
“No thanks,” Sunset shook her head and sniffed the cup. “Too worried for alcohol. Cherry isn’t here. When she gets here, maybe.”
“Okie dokie lokie!”
Pinkie disappeared into the crowd as Sunset sighed, staring at her phone.
Sunset cursed as she stood up, kicking her chair back.
“I’m heading out,” Sunset announced as Berry grabbed her coat. Even though it wasn’t twenty minutes since she had last talked, she was a bit worried too like the fiery haired girl.
“Let’s go,” Berry said as she stepped to Sunset. “Who’s watching the kid?”
“Fluttershy. Parties aren’t here thing,” Sunset answered as she and Berry stepped outside. “Not really mine either, frankly but your Cherry’s sister and I know it’s important to her we get along. Surprised Cheerilee is okay with me dating her.”
“Mom is cool with it,” Berry shrugged as she opened her car door. “So Cherry walked here or drove here?”
“Said she was driving but I don’t see her Hyundai anywhere. Maybe she parked further down the path? I don’t know, but I don’t like this Berry. Something isn’t right here,” Sunset shook her head as Berry started the cat.
“I’m starting to think so too. One way or another, I’ll suppose we will find answers,” Berry commented as she turned her headlights on. “Seat belt for safety.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
It had been seven days since Sunset and Berry had left to look for Cherry, the girl had been found miles away unconscious with a Shadowbolts jacket wrapped around her.
The Wondercolts all came to the same conclusion, turning their backs on their former rivals.
In response, the Shadowbolts had done the same with the exclusion of Sour Sweet, Indigo Zap, Sunny Flare, Sugarcoat, Lemon Zest, Coco Pommel, Twinkleshine, Moondancer, Lemon Hearts and Minuette.
“I can’t believe they all hate us,” Lemon Zest sighed as she looked around the Cafe in the mall. “It’s like nothing changed. Even Sunset Shimmer is against us.”
“Well dearie, one of their own was attacked,” Sunny Flare reminded the group of eleven girls. “And was found with a Shadowbolts jacket. Can you really blame them for saying it’s us?”
“No I can’t,” Sour admitted as she looked down.
Minuette nodded her agreement as she stared sadly into her shake. She had never truly cared about the rivalry, alongside Lemon Hearts, Twinkleshine and Moondancer. Their best friend Lyra attended CHS and even she wasn’t talking to them anymore.
“And Cherry Berry is dating Sunset. I can’t imagine how she feels,” Indigo commented. “Before Rainbow blocked me, I saw on Mystable that Sunset hasn’t left the hospital for long periods of time except to visit her sister. This is so messed up.”
“Baton Switch won’t talk to me either,” Sour grumbled. “And she’s my own sister.”
“Are we going to sit around reminiscing or are we going to actually do something?” Moondancer asked flatly as she pushed her glasses up. “Some of them still talk to us. Rarity talks to Coco.”
“There’s nothing we really can do. In their eyes, we’re enemies again,” Coco sighed and rubbed her arm. “From what I’ve been hearing, some people are even wary of Twilight Sparkle over there. It’s not too long ago she was one of us after all.”
“How’s the girl?” Lemon Hearts asked as she took a small bite of her hamburger.
“In a coma. The longer she is in, the worse things get between our school. There’s pretty much a damn line in the sand drawn. No one will hear us out,” Sugarcoat scoffed and wiped under her glasses.
“Which is why we force someone to,” Moondancer explained and spun her laptop around. “I’ve been looking at all the student files at CHS. Our best bet are girls named Fluttershy, Derpy, Blueberry Cake and Pinkie Pie. They’re all considered the friendliest at the school.”
“How did you even get into their files?” Sugarcoat asked as she and the others clicked through the files.
“Hacked them. Duh.”
“Inpressive.”
“And now we’re going to jail because Moondancer just had to show off!” Lemon Hearts threw her hands up, glaring at her friend. “Look, I feel awful about what happened and I wasn’t even there. I don’t even know Sunbeam-”
“Sunset.”
“Sunset. But are we sure forcing a confrontation is the way to go? And what if we are wrong? What if we really go to school with a monster?”
The girls all froze and gave each other worried looks. None of them had actually considered the possibility that someone they went to school with actually was behind it. But it did make sense.
“Then we take them down,” Twinkleshine answered finally.
Sunset sighed as she cracked her neck, stretching as she sat up. Sleeping on a hospital couch wasn’t all that comfortable but she made do.
“Hey,” Berry said as she looked over at Sunset from her spot next to Cherry. “Can’t sleep?”
“No.”
“Well, you take next watch. I’m gonna sleep,” Berry said as she formed a pillow with her jacket. “Mom is coming back in the morning. She’s been talking to police all day.”
“Hope they kill the son of a bitch,” Sunset grumbled as she squeezed Cherry’s hand. “She hasn’t woke up yet.”
“I’m a bit shocked you want someone killed. You don’t seem like the type,” Berry commented and Sunset shot her a look.
“They stabbed my girlfriend and kidnapped her, dropping her miles away in the woods. She could have died if Flash hadn’t found her first. And then the damn hospital had to put her into a coma,” Sunset answered as she gritted. “They get what they deserve, God damn it and that’s final. And besides, I should have convinced her to ride with me there. Maybe she wouldn’t be here, attached to a bunch of machines with several stab wounds.”
“This is not your fault,” Berry swung her legs and sat up. “You didn’t stab her, you didn’t kidnap her. You didn’t put her here, those fucking Shadowbolts did. I never should trusted them.”
“Yeah me neither,” Sunset agreed readily. “How’s Shoeshine taking it?”
“She’s angry too. Beyond angry, actually. I’ve never seen her this way before,” Berry admitted as she covered a yawn with her hand. “If we wanna blame people, I get some too. She’s my little sister, I should have been there for her. And yet, I was three beers in at a party where my own family member could have died in the woods. I’m never going back. People say those woods are haunted.”
“I don’t believe in ghosts,” Sunset said firmly as she stared at Cherry. “Someone living did this. And it starts at Crystal Prep. Someone is going to be missing a jacket, most likely a member of the sports team.”
“Indigo Zap?” Berry offered instantly and Sunset shook her head.
“I broke into her house last night when she was out. She has hers still in her closet. And besides, she was the first Shadowbolt to know. She wouldn’t dare hurt Cherry.”
“I love you like family and you know that, but Indigo isn’t one of us. She’s one of them,” Berry said with disdain as she flung a hand towards downtown Canterlot. “Someone knows something there and what happens in the dark comes out in the day. Even if we have to throw hands, I will find out who hurt my baby sister.”
“I know,” Sunset sighed as she kissed Cherry’s head. “I’m in. Whatever you got planned, I’m in. Now go sleep, I’ll stay up with Cherry if anything happens.”
“Thanks Sunny,” Berry laid back down and yawned, closing her eyes.
Sunset sighed as she hugged Cherry.
“I’m so sorry,” Sunset muttered as she brushed some yellow hair aside.
Sunset yawned again as she watched the sun start to rise, climbing into the hospital bed.
“Hope you don’t mind some company,” Sunset joked as she wrapped an arm around the girl. “Ah who am I kidding? You can’t hear me.”
Sunset stretched her arms out before closing her eyes.
“Goodnight Cherry.”
Sunset fell asleep, later found by the nurses hugging Cherry.
Author's Note
Inspired by Wraith No More https://www.fimfiction.net/story/423072/wraith-no-more
I chose to keep Cherry Berry because she was in the original story, I've always had it as my head canon she was related to Berry Punch and Cheerilee. I've just added that she is dating Sunset, it's not actual horror like in the og, just people being targeted etc. I highly recommend you read the linked story. It hasn't been updated recently to my knowledge but it's still really fucking good.