The Adventures of the Mysterious Mare-Do-Well!

CHS: NURSES OFFICE

“You’re such an idiot for taking the bandages off, you know that?” Red criticized. I rolled my eyes as she continued to clean up the wound that was around my right eye. She kept getting annoyed because she had to keep pushing my bangs back since they now naturally fell over my face, but I kept telling her that it is what it is. I was sitting on the medical bed in her office, slouching a bit as Red did her work. Standing in the corner with her arms crossed was a rather upset looking Applejack. What was her problem, I thought.

“Yeah well, having a big ass bandage wrapped around my God damn face isn’t the hallmark of what I would call, keeping it low-key,” I retorted. But Red just frowned at me.

“Don’t be a smart ass with me Shimmer. You said your vision is slowly coming back?”

“Yeah, I’m beginning to see through my right eye now. It’s blurry, but it’s not pitch darkness anymore.”

“Well, that’s a relief, the blood is dying down, it’s just keeping these stitches and burnt scars clean since you don’t want to have a bandage covering it. Otherwise, it looks like you’re good to go,” said Red, wiping some blood off my face and then packing her medical tools away. I looked over to AJ, who was still glaring at me.

“What’s up your ass?” AJ’s mouth hung wide open after I said that, as if I had just taken a shit in her lunch.

“Are you serious? What was that crap you pulled off in the music room?” Red stopped packing her tools for a minute, looking over to AJ, then to me with a confused look.

“Oh, don’t get on my ass for that. Seriously, Dash took that discussion way overboard,” I said. Which was true after all, I don’t know why Rainbow Dash had to get so anal when we were talking about the stupid Mare-Do-Well. It pisses me off when she tries to judge my life decisions, but the look on AJ’s face right now told me that she didn’t necessarily agree with my sentiments. She sighed while pinching the bridge of her nose in frustration.

“Yeah, I know Dash can be a hard head most of the time, which is why I’m so ticked at you right now. Because by now you should know how Dash reacts to things, you should have known that years ago. So why the hay did you feel the need to give your opinion about the Mare-Do-Well? You should of just kept your darn mouth shut and let the girls have their own discussion about it, but noooo, you just had to voice your opinion on the matter, knowing Dash would have said something.”

“Yeah, I have to denounce my support for it AJ, I have appearances to keep up,” I responded, but this only seemed to infuriate my country friend even more.

“Don’t give me that crap Sunset. You and I both know why you opened your mouth; it had nothing to do with you trying to keep up appearances. It bothered you hearing the girls support the actions of the Mare-Do-Well, for some reason, it angers you when people call you a hero,” said AJ. I was pinching my arm pretty tightly, avoiding eye contact with her and Red. I knew she was right... I just hated being called a hero, especially by them. It just... it doesn’t seem right. AJ probably could see my guilt and frustration, because she just took a deep breath and calmed herself down, walking over to me and plotting right down on the bed beside me. “Look sugar cube, I don’t mean to give you a hard time... I guess it’s just that this whole thing is still confusing to me.” Well, she was right about that, I guess. Red sighed and closed her medical box, walking over to a nearby cabinet and putting it inside of it.

“How’s your stomach doing?” asked Red, trying to move on from the topic at hand no doubt. I stood up from the bed, raising my shirt to reveal my bandaged stomach.

“Still hurts like a son of a bitch.”

“Yeah, well, you were grappling up buildings all night, so I don’t expect it to heal any time soon.... you want an excuse note to get out of class? You can rest here if you’d like,” said Red. I don’t know why, but something about that just made me happy... I really am lucky to have Red on my side with this, despite my negative thoughts on the matter.

“Nah, it’s okay. I have a calculus test next period, and I need to get Celestia off my ass about my grades. So I have to take it,” I said, lowering my t-shirt and slipping on my leather jacket.

“What grade do you have in the class?” asked AJ.

“A 54.” Yeah, I wasn’t doing so hot in school. I never did homework anymore, and most of the time I was sleeping in class, albeit for short periods until the nightmares jolted me awake. Test were the only things keeping me afloat in most classes. I knew the material well enough to get solid Cs and Bs, a few As on test, but I just had more important things to do then study or do homework. Still, both Red and AJ didn’t look too happy. Honestly, I didn’t really care, but Celestia and Luna just told me that they were going to crack down hard on me if I didn’t pick my grades up, so the least I could do right now is bump that F to a C.

“Why don’t you get your friends to help you study for classes?” asked Red, but me and AJ both looked at her with unamused expressions.

“I know the material Red; I just don’t do the work,” I said.

“Well, how about we go back to your injuries. If these are going to be a regular occurrence, and God forbid they get worst, you’re gonna need to start coming up with better alibis. Seriously Sunset, your injuries are what first made me suspicious, I’m surprise the girls haven’t caught on yet, and it’s not like you can cover all of them like you’re doing with your eye right now,” said AJ. Truth is, I never really cared for explaining them. I was so hell bent on a suicidal path and had already made my mind up on pushing everyone out of my life... but with recent events... well I don’t think I want to do that anymore.

“Yeah... I think you’re right. The excuse I was using is already really suspicious. There’s only so many times I can say I got mugged, and I can’t keep telling people to piss off when they ask me. Okay then, what do you have in mind?” AJ sighed, looking over to Red as if the two already had come up with an excuse.

“Me and AJ were actually talking about this over the phone... we think you should do MMA.” You have got to be shitting me, I thought.

“You have got to be shitting me. Are y’all serious? I’m not doing MMA,” I retorted.

“We’re being serious Sunset, we think it's a perfect alibi. Granted, it probably can’t explain the stab wounds, gunshot wounds or burnt marks... but it can help explain the bruises and cuts on your face, along with those bloodied knuckles of yours that are hiding underneath them gloves, which is what really matters. Besides, it can help you stay in shape and sharpen your fighting skills, which we both know you need,” explained AJ.

I hated to admit it, but maybe she’s right. Most of the more extreme injuries were in places I could cover up; it was just the black eyes and bruises that were hard to conceal... also I could sharpen my skills more. I could fight, sure. But I usually took way more hits than I’d like. Most of the time I used the element of surprise to knock as many guys down as possible, but when the people I’m fighting regain their nerves, it’s a bit harder to hit them by surprise, so I’m usually letting my more brutal, animalistic side unleash and just wailing on them like a psychopath. The day I fought the Diamond Dogs in their underground arena was probably the worst I’ve ever been at combat. I was really just going crazy... and I didn’t really like feeling like that. I need to be swift, brutal and tough sure... but I don’t need to become unhinged and beat people nearly to death... when that does happen too, I feel like... well I feel like the she-demon.

“.... alright, I’ll listen to both of y’all this time. Just because I need to train more. But where am I going to find an MMA gym?”

“Big Mac’s actually in one,” said AJ with a smile. Gotta be honest, that was a bit of a shocker.

“Your brother can fight?”

“Well, he isn’t Mike Tyson or anything, but he does it to keep in shape. The gyms kind of hard to get into, but he can get you into it for free.” I pondered for a moment, thinking really hard, before ultimately nodding my head in agreement. I would just have to find the time to attend. Getting that out of the way, I wanted to talk about something that was kind of bothering me for the past hour.

“Hey, do you know what’s up with Scootaloo?” I asked AJ. Her smile went to a frown and she tilted her head a bit.

“To be honest, I was gonna ask you about that. Dash said she’s dealing with stuff, but I don’t think she knows either.” I sighed, looking to the ground as I began to go into a deep thought.

“I remember back at the cafeteria when your sister yelled at me that she was looking really depressed. I didn’t think much about it at the time, but today reminded me of it. She clearly hasn’t been sleeping, and I doubt that new hairstyle of hers was by choice.” The other thing that unnerved me was the question she asked me. About nightmares.... I may have to talk to Rainbow Dash about it later. I would talk to her myself, but I feel like I’m crossing boundaries. “Anyways we’ll talk about this later, I got to head to class, see you at lunch AJ, see you at home Red.”

CHS: CAFETERIA

“I can’t believe she’s back at school.”

“Looks like the she-demons returned.”

“We would have been better off if she would have just stayed away.”

“Hopefully now she’ll realize how pathetic she is and leave us alone.”

Although they were just whispers from the students around me, they sounded really loud to me. I was sitting at our usual table in the cafeteria, alone as I always came in early. In front of me was a plate of salad, sitting there uneaten as I just poked at it with a fork. The entire time, the whispers and murmurs around me continued, but I just tried to shut them out. Which was easier said than done when the voices grew louder and louder. Eventually, I felt something hit the back of my head, and upon spinning around, I saw an orange rolling on the floor and a group of students sitting at a table glaring at me with hatred. I was glaring back, but stopped before I could let any anger build up in me.

“What are you looking at she-demon? You gonna expose our deepest secrets too?” said one of the boys. I sighed and picked up the orange, walking over to the table and handing the fruit back to the group. They all just stared at me with uncertain looks, but I just didn’t have it in me to fight with them. I never do with the students here.

“No... It was wrong of me to do that... It was wrong of me to hurt you guys... I’m sorry,” I said. I really did feel shitty, and I was hoping that the group in front of me would have just laughed their asses off and push me to the ground... but they didn’t. They just sat there with their mouths hung wide open. Eventually the boy who I assumed threw the orange at me snatched it out of my hand and returned it back to his plate.

“Whatever...sorry for throwing this at you,” he mumbled without looking at me. The rest of the group just went back to their lunches, ignoring me as if I didn’t exist. Honestly, I was a little surprised from this reaction. Sure, they didn’t forgive me... but they didn’t tell me to piss off and go to hell either. I guess it's a step in the right direction. I gave a light smile before turning around to go back to my seat... but I stopped when I saw who was sitting at my table staring at me... it was Fluttershy... shit. Trying not to look anymore awkward then I already looked, I returned to my seat, me and Fluttershys eyes were still locked. I really didn’t know what to say... I’ve been really avoiding Fluttershy to be honest. Pretty shitty of me, I know, but I was just damn terrified to talk to her. I really treated her the shittiest out of anyone, and I hate myself so much for it. Fluttershy is an amazing person, and I’m such a piece of shit for putting her down. I’ve been a pussy about this, but I just didn’t know how to approach her. I really didn’t, and I don’t think she knew how too either. But right now was the first time it’s just been me and her together. Thankfully, and surprisingly, she broke the awkward silence between us.

“I’m sorry the other students are giving you a hard time about what happened,” she said so quietly that if it wasn’t for the fact that the cafeteria was still kind of empty, I wouldn’t have heard a damn thing. Coming back to my senses like a dumbass, I waved a dismissive hand and spoke up.

“Oh, don’t worry about it, I can handle it.”

“Yeah... but you shouldn’t have to though.” The silence fell over us again, I didn’t like where she was going with this. I didn’t like the sympathetic tone in her voice, I detested the idea that this kind person could share some sort of compassion with a heartless bitch like me. So, like I always do, I ran away from the topic, changing it quickly before this shit fest could go any further.

“You’re here early, you get let out of class?” Fluttershy looked at me for a moment, before lowering her eyes down to the sandwich on her tray.

“Yeah... Mr. Cranky surprisingly let us out early. I don’t think he had a lesson planned today,” explained Fluttershy. That was a shocker, that man would come up with torture methods for students if he really wanted to.

“Oh... well that’s cool.... uhm.... how’s the shelter running?” At this point I was just pulling anything out of my ass for it to stick, trying to shit through this shit predicament.

“It’s uhm... It’s going well... I might actually have a part-time job there soon since I’m doing so well with volunteering. It’s great actually, I.... uhm.... well, never mind, I don’t want to bore you.” For a second there, she seemed to have raised her voice a bit, showing a little bit of excitement. I guess she remembered who she was talking to, no doubt some painful memories were in the back of her mind... I need to stop pussying around and try to move past that.

“Actually, I would love to hear more about it. But I thought you worked at the pet store?”

“Oh, I do, but that’s part time too, I'd be working two jobs,” Fluttershy said, that previous enthusiasm was slowly growing back in her voice. “I know it sounds like an awful lot, but I was already practically working at the shelter to begin with. But now I can do more hands-on things with the animals, which is all I really care about.”

“Well, that’s honestly wonderful to hear, Applejack told me that you discovered your talent with the tambourine at the shelter? You could really control hamsters like that?”

“Oh yes, they’re actually very attentive creatures if you know how to communicate with them, I just love them so much.” One thing that always fascinated me about Fluttershy was her ability to communicate with wildlife. Truly it was a skill, no, a gift that defied the laws of nature. Even back at my own magical shit world, that ability was unheard of. Fluttershy was a really special girl, even when I was a bitch to her, I found the talent of hers to be other worldly.

“I wouldn’t really know, I’ve never even seen a hamster in person,” I said, which made Fluttershys jaw drop a bit.

“Really? You've never even seen a hamster?” I simply just smiled at her and shook my head.

“Nope, I’ve never seen one.”

“You haven’t even seen one at a pet store?”

“Well, maybe if I’ve ever been to a pet store yeah, but I’ve never been to one, so I can’t say I have. I’ve always been terrible with animals, I don’t think they’ve ever liked me much,” I responded. Which was absolutely true, I didn’t have much, if any experience with animals, both wild or domesticated... I don’t have a very good history with them. The few times I’ve ever been around a dog or a cat, they either growl or hiss at me. No doubt animals really can smell the scumbag off of you, maybe Discord was right about me after all. Spike honestly was the most I’ve ever been around a dog, and that doesn't really count to be honest. The only times after I encountered any kind of animal was on the streets as the Mare-Do-Well... one of the worst nights I ever had looking back on it. I was fighting a group of gang members in an alley, and one had a damn Doberman with him. He let that big ass fucker go, and the son of a bitch mutt took a bite out of my leg. While I had this big ass stupid dog chomping down on me, I was trying to get him off while fighting some other bastard who was pounding away at me with a crowbar.... damn I really don’t have any positive life experiences. Anyways, I would never tell Fluttershy this, but I ended up socking the mutt in its snout and then swinging the dog by its chain at the brick wall.... when the fight was over, I didn’t realize that the impact severed the dog's spine, and he was completely paralyzed below his torso. The way he whimpered and his upper bottom spasmed.... well, I ended up snapping its neck to put it out of its misery.... I was so broken at that point that I didn’t even shed a tear.

“Oh my.... well, I can tell you that animals can grow on you, they don’t hold hatred in their hearts. They were probably just scared of you, but I’m sure if you try again, your experience can change with them!”

“.......Well, I don’t know about that Fluttershy, I’m pretty sure any animal would hate me,” I said. Fluttershy’s little smile disappeared, and she looked back down to her tray, and once again, the deathly silence fell over us. I glared daggers at my salad, cursing myself for ruining the small little talk we were having. What the hell was wrong with me? Why did I always have to put the negative in every little thing I did? Why could I not just try to grow for once in my shitty, miserable life? Was all I living for really just to hate myself in the day, and then dive into the cesspool of the deplorable wretched toilet of humanity's shit at night? Did I not learn a damn thing with Applejack? I’m trying to grow as the Mare-Do-Well, trying to stand for something, so why couldn’t I do the same as Sunset Shimmer? I’m at a point where I consider Applejack and Red.... well.... friends. So why couldn’t I do the same with the rest of the girls? I just tried to apologize for my past actions at the table of students behind me, so why was it so difficult to keep positive with Fluttershy, the one girl who I should be on my knees for, bowing my head down at her feet and begging her for forgiveness.

Clenching my fork tightly in my hand, I sighed and looked back up to Fluttershy, deciding to hell with these monkeyshines.

“If you’d be willing to... maybe you can help me learn how to be better with animals... I can help you at the shelter whenever if you’d like?” Fluttershys eyes raised from her lunch, and slowly, the frown on her face curled up into a smile as all the color returned to her face.

“.... really? I’d like that very much... you doing anything after school? I could use some help with the new dogs that just came in yesterday. I have to get their cages comfy for them.”

“Yeah... I’d love to come help you today.”

“Thank you, Sunset.... that means a lot.... I’ll drive us over there after school.”

“Sweet, that sounds like a plan!” We both smiled at each other before returning to our lunches. The silence fell back over us.... but for once it was comfortable. For once I didn’t feel like I had a black hole in the pit of my stomach, and for once Fluttershy was smiling around me. Genuinely smiling around me!

Honestly, I was excited about today, I didn’t even think about the Mare-Do-Well at all. We sat there in silence, smiling at each other until the rest of the girls came.