Why Does Bad Things Happen To Us

Lightning Dust

I gave a yawn as I flopped down on my couch, flipping through TV shows on Netflix as Rainbow Dash continued to hit the punching bag in the corner.

“What’s with you?” I asked finally and she shrugged, only stopping to wipe some sweat off her face.

“Bad mood. Spitfire got in my face earlier. If my chemistry grades don’t go up, I’m off the team. Mom and dad got on my ass about it later. Gotta blow off some steam,” Rainbow answered and slammed her fist into my punching bag again harder than before.

I winced at that as she shook her fist and groaned. Spitfire was pretty damn intimidating, even to me. And I don’t get scared often. I’m not a little kid anymore after all. I’d never admit this out, but I got scared so easily as a child.

“Have you asked Twilight or Sugarcoat for help?” I asked idly and paused on a thriller investigative show, tapping my pointer figure against my chin in thought.

“No. Twilight would laugh at me and Sugarcoat is a really difficult person to be around. She has an attitude problem,” Rainbow commented and hit the punching bag again as I hung an arm over the back of the couch and stared at her in disbelief. “What? Why are you looking at me that way?”

“Are you of all people judging someone based on them having an attitude problem?” I asked and raised an eyebrow as I made air quotes around the word “attitude problem”. “I gotta say, that’s a bit hypocritical.”

“Meh I guess you make a fair point,” Rainbow conceded after a second and started taking the gloves off. “Sugarcoat isn’t that bad surprisingly. I still think Indigo and Lemon Zest are my favorite former Shadowbolts.”

I shrugged and gave a brief nod. She and I loved those two. Platonically, of course. I’m straight. Vinyl, Lyra and Pinkie were cool with Lemon too. Bon Bon, Rarity and Octavia got along best with Sunny Flare.

Sugarcoat and Applejack oddly got along the best even if the two argued a lot about their different forms of honesty. Sugarcoat was more blunt and rude about her honesty compared to Applejacks kinder honesty.

Sunset, Derpy, Fluttershy, Trixie, Lavender and Fuchsia surprisingly spent more time with Sour Sweet. I didn’t expect them to really hang out with her on their own free will.

Gonna be honest, I never thought I’d be friends with Shadowbolts, former or not. Then again, I never thought I’d consider Sunset a friend either.

“Try Lavender. She’s actually pretty intelligent. She does make all of Trixie’s fireworks, after all,” I commented as I slung an arm over the couch. “She’s really good with chemistry. Scarily good.”

I wasn’t exaggerating either. There’s a reason the girl was chosen alongside Applejack and Fluttershy for the chemistry section of the Friendship Games. You know, the section we absolutely murdered Crystal Prep.

I will admit, even I was impressed. The girl had moved so fast and with such skill. I was mindblown. Lavender had spent all week leading up to the Games bragging about her skills in the lab and well, she sure as shit backed them up.

“Maybe. But Lavender kinda hates me so,” Rainbow sighed and jumpped over the couch to sit down. “Like, wishes I was dead or something, I think. She’s Fuchsia friend, remember? Fuchsia doesn’t like Fluttershy anymore. Trixie and Lavender are super tight with Fuchsia so they aren’t gonna help me or the other Rainbooms excluding Sunset, of course. Those three would follow Sunset to hell and back if they had to.”

She had a point there. Practically all of us would, especially Derpy and Lyra.

“Here, I’ll call Lav and we can ask,” I picked up my phone and I ignored Rainbows protest as I started swiping through my extensive contacts. I really should clean up this shit. I haven’t talked to half these people in years. Literal years.

Lavender surprisingly picked up immediately. She normally let’s it ring twice. Makes her seem busy, or so she claims.

“Hi.”

“Hey Lavender,” I set my phone down I’m between me and Dash. “I’m here with Rainbow.”

“Oh, yay.” Lavender did not sound happy about that. “What are you two up to?”

“Hanging out, hitting the punching bag,” I answered and propped my feet up on my coffee table. “Listen, Dash needs some help with her chemistry homework. You’re the expert on that topic.”

A moment passed before I got a response.

“No.”

I winced slightly at her cold tone. I I expected that, honestly. Didn’t make it any easier to hear.

“Come on,” I pleaded and sat up straighter. “You know begging isn’t my style. Help her out and I’ll make it worth your while. Whatever you want is yours.”

I honestly expected her to say no again. What she actually said blew me away more. And Rainbow too, I think.

“Have Rainbow Dash ask me instead,” Lavender answered with a smirk audible in her voice as she sat down on either her bed or couch. “If she begs enough, I’ll consider it.”

“Absolutely not. I don’t beg,” Rainbow scoffed and folded her arms across her chest and she leaned back. “I’ll ask Sunset.”

“Then I guess you don’t want my help because Sunset comes to me for help with chemistry all the time so,” I could imagine Lavender shrugging. “Don’t get me wrong, I don’t like you still or your friends, but I’m still willing to help you.”

“Fine. Lavender, will you please help me with my homework?” Rainbow growled and I bit back a laugh.

“As much as I want you to ask again for my enjoyment, that was good enough. We start tomorrow afternoon after class. Don’t mess around or I’m done,” Lavender warned. “I’m serious. And no Fluttershy. Fuchsia will be there and she isn’t on speaking terms with Fluttershy still, deal?”

“Okay, that works. And uh, thanks.”

“You’re welcome?” Lavender sounded genuinely surprised. “And bring Lightning.”

That honestly went better than I had thought it would.