SUPPO GO: Super Ultimate Pretty Pony Overdrive, Go!

“Sunset! Sunset Shimmer!” Twilight Sparkle called out, running up the paved hill. She held her books firmly in her arms as her bangs bobbed up and down with the sound of her foot steps. High above the hill was a small area of grass and a few trees, overlooking a calm golden sea. A figure sat atop the railing of the ledge, swinging her legs to and fro as she stared out at the horizon. Again the voice called.

Sunset Shimmer turned her head away from the orange and purples of the sky and peered down the hill, smiling as she made eye contact with Twilight. “Oh, Twilight. You left your work-study early?”

Twilight slowed her pace to a walk, dragging her feet closer towards Sunset Shimmer. “No, I got someone else to take my shift,” she wheezed, dropping her books in front of her and plopping down in front of a tree.

“Huh, really? You of all people decided to skip out on a study session?” Sunset chuckled.

“It’s a work-study, meaning I also do a job while I study,” Twilight corrected. “Besides, I’m already caught up on all of my assignments, and am fully prepared for Mr. Laungbouh’s test. Not to mention, I achieved sufficient overtime hours to compensate for my lack of attendance this evening at my work-study.”

“Pfft, whatever. There you go again, acting all studious and snooty,” Sunset sighed, crossing her arms. She peered over at Twilight who was now looking at the ground, her glasses sliding down the bridge of her nose. Sunset walked over and bent down, pushing Twilight’s frames up.

“S-sunset—”

“Shh,” Sunset Shimmer replied, fixing the glasses, then pushing in with her finger. She let out a laugh as Twilight shrieked.

“Ouch! Idiot!” she shouted, slapping Sunset’s hand away. “You know I hate it when you do that, you’ll break my glasses one day, I swear.”

“So, you been thinking of what high school you want to attend?” Sunset said then, taking a seat as well. Twilight adjusted her glasses correctly and looked over the cliff, sighing. “What, that’s not an answer.”

“Where are you going?” she asked back.The question nearly swept Sunset off of her feet.

“Look, Twi, I told you that you shouldn’t worry about me. I don’t want you to be deprived of a proper education just because of me,” she replied, moving a strand of hair out of her face. She turned towards Twilight and scrunched her face up, letting out a small huff.

Twilight closed her mouth and straightened up then.

“Look, whether you like it or not, I’m going to Canterlot High because they’re the only school in this region that accepted me. I know it’s not the grandest of locations, but they’re not too terrible,” Sunset began. She stretched out the polo in her hands. “This… this is what defines us from kindergarten through middle school, and I’ll be damned if I let you receive such a poor secondary education!”

“Language,” Twilight pouted, crossing her arms. “And anyway, who do you think you are, telling me where I can and can’t go to school? Canterlot High is close by, and like you said, it’s not as bad as everybody makes it out to be!”

“You don’t get it,” Sunset growled. “You and I know you’re capable of so much more, and you hold yourself back because of me.”

“That’s not true—”

“Twilight,” Sunset said, cupping her hand over Twi’s mouth, “Crystal Private Academy is where you belong. It’s where you can finally better yourself and not have to worry about holding yourself back.”

“CPA?!” Twilight shouted in a muffled cry. She removed Sunset’s hand. “But… CPA is a prestigious school. There’s no way—”

“Hey, I’m just going to keep interrupting you until I’ve changed your mind,” Sunset interjected. “Look, I’ve been wanting to talk to you about this since we took the Practice Exit Exam a week ago.”

“What do you mean?” Twilight asked.

“I mean, I know how you intentionally scored low so you could stay in the same division as me,” Sunset replied.

“Th-that’s… No, I…” Twilight adjusted her glasses and stepped back. Sunset smiled and grabbed her shoulder.

“Damn, you’re awful at lying.”

“Language,” Twilight said. “That was a difficult test, it’s understandable the grade I received wasn’t above proficient. Aside from that, it was a practice one, and thus I intentionally scored lower because I knew it wouldn’t count.”

“Yeah, sure,” Sunset scoffed. She placed her shirt back on and sighed. “We’re best friends, Twilight.”

Twilight looked at her and blinked. “Of course,” she replied.

“I’m not turning you away,” Sunset said, grabbing Twi’s hand. “I’m asking you to at least consider it. You’ll do much more good at Crystal Private than with me. I’ll only slow you down.”

“Sunset... “

Both girls looked each other in the eye, Sunset Shimmer staring intently through Twilight’s glasses, and Twilight peering hesitantly into Sunset’s eyes. They tightened their grip on each other’s hands and smiled, bringing their bodies close together..

“Hey, look, it’s the Lesbozos!”

They immediately broke their bond and turned to face three young boys, each wearing the same middle school uniforms. The child in the center held a laptop bag around his shoulder and sported short, brown, tufted hair. To his left was a slightly larger boy, pale in complexion and wearing a backwards baseball cap. The other on his right had long black spikey hair and wore pointed sunglasses. His polo was completely unbuttoned and his shorts tattered at the frills.

Sunset growled, cracking her knuckles as Twilight shifted behind her. “Unless you want your faces pounded in, I suggest you leave!” Sunset held her hands open in front of her and spread her legs apart.

The boy in the center laughed and pointed at her. “What are you going to do? You know who my father is, Shimmer. If you hurt me, you’re done for!” The other boys gave a small chuckle and crossed their arms along with their boss.

“Sunset, just let them leave. They can say what they want,” Twilight said.

“No, they can’t,” Sunset replied, baring her teeth at the boys. “This is exactly why you need to go to Crystal Private Academy. You won’t have to deal with these losers.”

“Crystal Private? Heh, like either of you has a chance to get in!”

“Shut up, Abacus,” Sunset shouted. “It’s none of your business what we say or do, so get out of here, you and your goons!”

“Goons?” the pale boy cried.

“Relax, Hulker, it’s not that far off a description, actually,” the spiky haired boy chuckled.

“Aw, Greaser, why you gotta be mean?!” Hulker shouted back.

“Shut up, both of you,” Abacus shouted. “Hmph, we weren’t going to stay, I just wanted to catch them kissing or something. It’d be a nice blackmailing photo, or even a personal memoir of our middle school years!”

“You’re a sick pervert, Abacus!” Sunset Shimmer spat.

“It’s not like that!” Twilight cried. “I’ve seen you guys get friendly with each other too!”

“That’s called wrastling, nerd, and it’s what guys do. We don’t hug each other or grab each other’s hands, unless we’re meaning to get rough,” Abacus snorted with his head held high.

“Hmm, I don’t think I’d mind seeing a picture of that,” Sunset teased, forcing Abacus to blush. He held his hand out now and Sunset resumed her earlier position.

“I’m not like you two freaks,” he said. “I’m smarter, stronger, and more popular. When I grab a boy or a girl, they’re going to end up on their back, with both legs twisted!”

Twilight yelped and grabbed Sunset’s arm. “Okay, we get it, we don’t want to start anything! If the principal found out we were all involved in a fight, it could affect our graduation status!”

“Yeah, that’s right… Listen to your little lover, Sunset,” Abacus said. “You don’t want to fight me anyway… I know Twilight can’t defend herself, and you can’t take on all three of us.”

“All three of you? A pervert, a dunce, and a slime ball. If you ask me, I have the upper hand here,” Sunset replied. Twilight tugged on her arm again. Sunset Shimmer looked at her, and then back at the boys. “Just go,” she said, lowering her hands.

“Fine, it’s not like I want to spend all night with you two,” Abacus scoffed. He swished his hand in the air and turned around, walking back down the hill. Hulker and Greaser followed, chuckling and giving each other a high five. “What would you do without your dear Twilight Sparkle, Sunset,” Abacus suddenly called out. “She can’t talk you out of your problems from Crystal Private Academy!”

“That’s it, you little shit!” Sunset shouted, bringing her right arm up.

“Language!” Twilight cried, but was drowned out by the powerful roar of the swirling ball of fire within Sunset’s palm.

Sunset Shimmer threw a punch, and the fire ball rocketed from her fist, soaring through the air towards the trio halfway down the hill. Abacus turned around and brought his left arm up, swiping at the air as a light blue aura filled his palms. An ethereal barrier materialized from the aura, absorbing the fireball, but shattering the shield.

“I knew she couldn’t resist,” he said, a smile over his face.

“I’ll get her,” Hulker snorted, making his way back up the hill. He charged up the slope, roaring at the girls as he stomped upwards. Sunset Shimmer made two more fireballs, one in each palm and shot them at the boy. He dodged the first one, but was struck by the second, tripping and rolling back down the hill.

“Useless,” Greaser chuckled, leaping high into the air. He cleared the entire slope in a single bound and threw a punch at Sunset.

Sunset Shimmer shoved Twilight out of the way and dodged, making a fiery fist and ramming it at Greaser’s chest. He leapt away just in time, and landed safely several feet away from her. She growled at him and tossed several fireballs in his direction, but he managed to duck under and dodge over each one, quickly closing the distance between himself and her. “Stupid Fleet-Foot!” Sunset shouted, spewing fire from all over her body.

Greaser leapt into the air and landed a good distance away again. He chuckled and brushed some dust from his clothes. “Stupid Majik,” he replied, pointing behind her.

Sunset turned around, but was already within Hulker Bicep’s bear hug. She yelled as he tightened his grip, but even more so after he lifted her off of the ground and head-first into the floor.

“Sunset Shimmer!” Twilight shouted, taking cover behind a tree. She rushed out to meet her, but one glance from Abacus sent her back to the trunk. Abacus smirked, and walked over to Sunset who had managed to get on her hands and knees.

“I told you what happens when a boy grabs something, didn’t I?” he said. She lifted her hand up towards him, still holding her head down. He laughed and motioned for it. “Admitting defeat like the girl that you a—”

“Let me show you what happens when a pissed off girl grabs a cocky boy!” Sunset shouted, locking her grip over his wrist.

“Let me go!”

“Gladly, you little shit!” Sunset’s free hand burned a bright red, and she pulled Abacus close, striking him. A loud shockwave resounded throughout the area, and the hillside erupted in a cloud of smoke.

“Abacus!” Hulker and Greaser shouted.

“Sunset!” Twilight called out.

“I’m fine!” came both voices from the murky cloud. As the smoke cleared, Sunset still had her grip on Abacus’s left wrist, but where she had struck with her palm, he had met her, wielding a similar spell with a blue aura. Sparks ignited from their clasped hands, and steam poured out from in between their fingers.

“Such a temper… It’s a wonder why my father hasn’t expelled you yet!” Abacus said through gritted teeth.

“Maybe because he’s afraid of me, like you are!” Sunset replied, straining just as hard as he was.

“We gotta help him!” Hulker shouted, charging at them. Greaser grabbed him by the collar however, and pulled him back.

“You dumbass, you don’t want to get in between two fighting Majiks. You’re better off on the sidelines you useless Mule,” he said.

“Sunset, Abacus, stop!” Twilight shouted, stepping out again.

“What does this bitch want?” Abacus growled.

“Hey!” Sunset Shimmer growled, pushing harder. In the face of Sunset’s sudden burst, Abacus lost his grip. Her palm smacked his out of the way. “Watch your language around Twilight, you limp-dick fuckwad!” she shouted, smashing her fist into the boy’s cheek. She let go of his wrist and he flew back, crashing into one of the trees in the small area.

“A-Abacus?!” Hulker gasped, rushing over to him.

“Don’t you dare use that word to describe her, got it?!” Sunset yelled, rubbing the hand she had used to hit him.

Abacus shoved Hulker to the side and got up, tears hanging in the corner of his eyes, but also a fiery glare within his pupils. His face was darkened where she had hit him, and blood trickled down his puffed chin. “Shunshwet Shwimer!” he yelled, but grabbed his mouth and howled shortly afterwards.

“You broke his jaw!” Twilight shrieked.

“Don’t worry, the idiot will be fine, he can heal himself. He’s just being a baby right now,” Sunset said, spitting on the ground.

Abacus growled, holding his cheek with one hand. A faint green light emanated from his palm and within seconds the blood down his chin disappeared and the swelling in his face had gone down. His skin returned to its normal pigment and he opened and closed his mouth repeatedly afterwards.

“Great, that’s all the magic I had today!” he shouted. “When my dad finds out, he’ll kill me! Then he’ll expel you!”

“I doubt that,” Sunset scoffed. “He would’ve done so by now. Now then, doesn’t this make the score five-oh?”

“Seven-zero,” Hulker corrected, to which Abacus promptly smacked him.

“Come on, Twilight,” Sunset said, grabbing her arm.

“What? Where are we going?!”

“Away from here, I need to eat something sweet,” she explained. They walked by the three boys without even a parting glance, ignoring the shouts and cries they delivered from afar.

“You know, we should’ve done this in the first place,” Twilight said.

“Shut up,” Sunset said, letting go of her arm. “I hate it when you’re right…”

“Oh wait! My books!”

***

“Y-you ordered the whole left side of the menu!” Twilight gasped, setting her burger down.

“And? I have the money to pay for it,” Sunset replied.

“That’s not it,” Twilight said, “It’s that there’s nothing on your plate that doesn’t have sugar or milk in it!”

“Hey, back off, I don’t obsess over your bad eating habits.” Sunset Shimmer picked up a few unwrapped chocolate truffles and tossed them all into her mouth. As she chewed, she scooped a spoonful of rocky road ice-cream and shoved it in as well.

“Bad eating habits?” Twilight licked her lips and wiped her face with her arm.

“You know my thing is sweets anyway,” Sunset said, slurping a large milkshake and taking a bite out of a candy bar. “Oh, so good…”

“That’s only to replenish your magic,” Twilight said. “You still need to eat like a normal person. I swear, I don’t know how your dad puts up with you…”

Sunset swallowed whatever was in her mouth and blew a raspberry. “Are you kidding, my dad is the one who passed this damn thing onto me,” Sunset replied.

“Ah, language, especially around people!” Twilight reminded her, tapping her hand with a french fry.

“Yes, mom,” Sunset said with a half smirk. She took a spoonful of a parfait and hummed lightly to herself.

“Sunset,” Twilight said, wiping her mouth, and grabbing her friend’s attention.

“Yeah, what is it?” Sunset Shimmer replied, taking a forkful of vanilla cake into her mouth.

“I’ve decided where I want to go for high school.”

Sunset Shimmer blinked several times before swallowing. “Okay, let’s hear it then,” she said, twirling the utensil like a baton.

Twilight cleared her throat and shifted in her seat a little, but looked straight ahead at Sunset Shimmer. “I’ve decided, I’m going to Canterlot High.”

“Twi,” Sunset began, but was quieted with a sudden chocolate coated banana. Twilight retreated to her seat and held her finger up, pursing her lips against it.

“Hear me out, Sunshine,” Twilight said, adjusting her glasses. Sunset inhaled quickly, taking in a large chunk of the chocolate banana in her throat. She gagged a little and coughed it back up, chewing it up this time before swallowing. She took a sip of her soda and coughed, beating on her chest.

“I told you not to call me that, ever,” she said, coughing still.

“Then you know how serious my answer is, and my explanation,” Twilight replied. Sunset nodded, sliding some food away so they could see each other more clearly.

“I’m going to Canterlot High because I want to help you.”

“Hey, I’m not that bad at my studies!”

“You’re not understanding!” Twilight said a little louder. The diner suddenly grew quiet, and everybody peered in their direction for a moment. “I’m sorry, but it’s not to help you like that,” she said.

“How else would you help me then?”

Twilight exhaled and brought her hands above the table, resting them calmly over each other. “Your attitude and your behavior towards me. I’ll help you curb that,” she said. She fixed her glasses as they slipped off of her face once more.

Sunset looked at her with a raised brow. She placed her elbows on the table and rested her head down on her hands. “I’m not getting it,” she finally said.

“Look,” Twilight said, bringing her hand up and then down, softly but firmly on the table, “the way you see me and try to look out for me, I’m grateful for that, and I do love it, but at the same time, I have to learn how to do things on my own and make my own decisions.”

“You can make your own decisions, but you should make the right ones, not the wrong ones, and this is a wrong one,” Sunset berated.

“You’re still not listening!” Twilight sighed.

“I am, I just have to keep my common sense machine fully functional to do that, but you’re messing it up!”

“D-darn it, Sunset Shimmer, I’m going to Canterlot High so I can learn how to fend for myself!” Twilight shouted, rising from her chair. Sunset looked back at her, her mouth slightly ajar. Twi quickly seated herself and brushed her hair back, once again fixing the glasses on her face. Sunset Shimmer blew a sigh and beat on the table a bit before looking at the girl directly across from her.

“Fend fer yerself, eh?” Sunset asked again. Twilight nodded.

“If I’m going to take over my family business someday, I have to be prepared to take charge and be in command, not to mention make my own decisions, good or bad,” Twi explained. Sunset Shimmer sat there, silent, but nodded at everything Twilight was explaining to her.

“I know why you want me to go to Crystal Academy, but to be honest, it wouldn’t matter. I think separating ourselves is the wrong decision here, because it’s through our friendship that we’ve been able to get through so much together.

You worry about me, and I worry about you, but in reality, that’s how it’s supposed to be between friends.I get that you’re saying I could potentially find my calling as some renowned scholar, and you wouldn’t have to worry about dragging me into your string of problems if we separated, but don’t you think it’s those little quirks about us that make us unique?”

Sunset rolled her eyes at that last statement. “You’re babbling now, did the waiter spike your drink or something?” She sighed.

“I’m trying to be deep and emotional!” Twilight crossed her arms and huffed. “To shorten my explanation then, I’m going to Canterlot High because of my own reasons, not because of you.”

Sunset Shimmer’s eyes widened. She looked at Twilight and blinked. “What…”

“Yes, you’re my reason, but at the same time, my reason is my own, and if you think it’s the wrong choice, then it’s not me you doubt, it’s yourself,” Twilight said. “You trust me to make the right choice, so if I’m making the wrong one, you’re to blame, not me.”

“Y-you… Twi,” Sunset started, getting out of her chair. Twilight flinched as Sunset raised her arms. She closed her eyes, but felt something light grab her shoulder. Opening them again, she saw her friend, smiling at her. “You really know how to get under my skin, Egghead.”

“Of course, I’ve known you darn near all my life,” Twilight replied.

“You have to promise me one thing though,” Sunset said. “You won’t hold back this time. I want you to shine like the brightest star in the night sky, and graduate at the top of the class; leave me in the dust!”

“Ha, okay, only if you promise to behave yourself and make more friends. Not to mention, don’t worry about me or protect me like some kind of momma bear,” Twilight replied.

“Alright, I can accept those terms, though, no promises on the behaving part,” Sunset chuckled, shoving a whole brownie into her mouth. She swallowed and then laughed. “Well, the hard part wasn’t convincing me, it’ll be telling your parents you want to go to some public institution in a middle-class urban area.”

“Don’t worry, they’ll get over it. Especially if I participate in every academic club, join the Honors program, and keep my GPA above 3.957,” Twilight said with a wink.

“Goodbye middle school slow life then,” Sunset Shimmer said, grabbing her half-full soda glass and raising it up. “They were some fun times.”

“Let’s have more fun times in our high school years then,” Twilight Sparkle said, raising her glass as well.