Sunset was a good kid. Genuinely shocked by Twilight Sparkle’s forgiveness, she had taken the Equestria-sent lesson to heart and become decent, honest, and loyal.
However, she was also a teenaged girl, who possessed both a secret and a very garrulous band of friends.
The rest followed inevitably.
“Vampire hunters?” Sandwich crumbs flaked out as Rainbow talked and chewed at the same time. One shot over the lunchroom table, landing squarely on Rarity’s hair. The fashionista brushed it off with a nauseated look, then stared distastefully at her hand.
She sighed and produced hand sanitizer from her pocket. “That’s hard to believe, dear. Are you sure?”
“Uh…” Sunset gave a cheesy grin, realizing too late where their gossip had led. “Maybe?”
Applejack and Rainbow shared a frowning glance, while Fluttershy swallowed nervously. Only Rarity and Pinkie seemed untouched by the revelation – the former engrossed in her hand washing, and the latter giggling at something across the cafeteria.
“Pfft.” Rainbow blew through her lips, one hand sneaking over to Applejack’s cookie. A sly smile crept to her face, drawing a confused look from Sunset. “Nice try, Sunny. You had me going.”
“Jeez, don’t you make a habit of prankin’.” Applejack rested her chin in her palm, planting its elbow on Rainbow’s errant hand. “It’s hard enough keepin’ up with Pinkie Pie. Ah swear, that girl’s a whirlwind in a pigsty some days.”
Fate had given Sunset an out, and she rolled with it. She laughed unconvincingly and shrugged, but her friends’ attention had already wandered. Applejack and Rainbow’s roughhousing was slowly escalating, with both parties ignoring Rarity’s call for a truce.
Sunset’s sigh of relief was premature – no sooner did it leave her body than she felt a tug on her sleeve. A turn of the head showed Fluttershy, unleashing her puppy-dog eyes to their fullest effect.
“Was it true?” the girl squeaked. She hunched her shoulders and looked away, fidgeting with a lock of hair. “I, I only ask because vampires are scary, and, um, I’d be really scared if they were real.”
Sunset froze, the relieved smile locked in place. She wanted to maintain the bluff – the school faculty fought a shadow war, and she could appreciate that. Deception and intrigue were surely as important to them as any weapons, and breaking open the secret could cause them no end of trouble.
But those eyes… those blue, adorable eyes that could only belong to Fluttershy… only a monster would lie to them. Sunset was no monster. Resigned to the inevitable, she opened her mouth only for a brusque voice to interrupt.
“Hey.”
Both girls startled, and looked up to see Vice Principal Luna looming between them. She turned to Sunset, presenting Fluttershy with her back.
“Do you have a gun?” Luna asked. Fluttershy gave a “Meep!” and shirked away.
Sunset’s jaw worked for a second before she gave the only answer she could. “Uh… no.”
“Here.” A solid noise sounded as Luna slapped a heavy object to the lunchroom table. It was holstered and small, but unmistakably a black semi-automatic pistol.
“Remember – our office, after school.” With that, she turned and departed.
A new, even less convincing grin tore across Sunset’s face as she glanced to her friends. Fluttershy’s eyes were wide, and she leaned away from the gun as though it would bite her. Applejack’s battle with Rainbow had swung clearly in her favor, with two fingers jammed up the other’s nose like a wayward hog’s. The country girl gave a low whistle, ignoring Rainbow’s flailing and Rarity’s disgusted glare.
“That there’s a nice piece, Sunset.” Applejack said, grabbing her cookie with the free hand. “You ‘n the V.P. goin’ to the shootin’ range today?”
“Yes!” Sunset pounced on the excuse. She quickly swept the pistol into her backpack, mind racing with theories on just what the hell Luna was thinking.
“Shucks, next time y’all just come on over to the farm. We got plenty of spare targets, and you can try out my shotgun if you’re curious what a right proper long-arm can do. We got a .22 as well, but even Applebloom’s outgrown that little–”
“Applejack, will you kindly get your hand back where it belongs?”
Shrugging at Rarity’s request, Applejack pulled the offending fingers from her gasping rival. She then proceeded to companionably slap Rainbow’s shoulder with the same hand, causing Rarity to swoon at the created stain. Fluttershy and Pinkie knelt over her, Rainbow leapt on Applejack with a scream… and the gun was forgotten.
Sunset quietly sipped her juice and wondered, not for the first time, if she was the only sane person this planet had to offer.
And you're not even from this planet.
Why are you still wondering at this point?
I'm pretty sure Luna could've waited before handing Sunset after school.
Sanity is relative and dependent on the majority. Sure, Sunset is sane by her own standards, but who isn't? Silly horse alien.
That being said, Luna seems to have forgotten the whole "shadow" part of the shadow war. Kind of ironic, that. Also, Sunset may not like that phase of her life, but she may want to dust off her skills with presenting a facade. On the other hand, it's not like her friends are much less qualified to fight the forces of darkness...
I guess even in the EqG universe, subtlety is a concept Luna has yet to perfect.
Also, I quite like the extremely blunt chapter title.
I would think Luna would be a bit more subtle than that... then again, she knows Sunset is a teenage girl with extremely close friends, so she may have predicted Sunset breaking and gave her a gun anyway if for no other reason than it would amuse her. Only time will till, I suppose.
Now, this next bit comes as absolutely no insult to this chapter (which was fine but rather short), but I have to say the author's note is just hilarious and honestly about the high-light of the chapter, if for no other reason than I can completely and utterly empathize with it.
Anyway, still looking forward to more. Kind of wondering if this will get a kind of Buffy the Vampire Slay feel to it as it grows. Can't quite decide if that would be a good or bad thing if it does-who knows?
O SHIT, Luna, what are you DOING?
A true master of subtlety.
uh no just NO on the gun thing happening durring school just NO!
also a gun would be useless for hunting vampires any ways oh and also just NO!!!
school shootings happen almost weekly and you wrote handign a gun out at school just NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!
there is just why i mean how is this even remotely a good idea to put in your story im not saying im against sunset having a gun what i am against IS A GUN BEING ON SCHOOL GROUNDS AT A HIGH SCHOOL just NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Luna!! That is NOT how a Shadow War works! Or secrets for that matter! Though I can't tell if she was oblivious, didn't care, or was trolling.
At least AJ had the save.
Wanted to wait until I was caught up to comment but.
Sarge: Woman after my own heart private Applejack. Too few of these kids nowadays appreciate the beauty of the shotgun. Nor do they realize the multitude of situations that be solved with "shotgun to the face".
Applejack: Couldn't agree with ya more.
Sarge: OF COURSE YOU DO! Now give me back my shotgun and get back in the kitchen where you belong woman!
Having just watched Red VS Blue all the way through, I couldn't resist. Know that I do not share Sarge's belief that women belong in the kitchen. Those are solely the opinions of Sarge and not mine or (I would hope) those of the makers of Red VS Blue.
Luna, I have no words for you.
6982219 far be it from me to shit on the whole school shooting thing but... Do you really think shootings ever happen in EqG land?
7170493 Luna ≠ Subtle
Luna, short of those bullets being explosive of holy, I doubt they'll do much to a vampire.
7299931 Depends on the regenerative capabilities of a vampire, several bullets through the head, while maybe not lethal to the more powerful vampires out there, will definitely be pretty damaging.
7002276
*AJ shoves the Shotgun in Sarge's face* "Care 'ta repeat that?"
Also... Luna why!
7299931
Maybe not but do enough damage and even a pistol will kill a vampire.
6982219
Watch Hellsing and say guns are useless for vampires.
Did Luna just gave a gun to Sunset in the middle of the school, I guess strange things happens so frequently that someone carrying a gun is not big concern.
This continues to amuse me, as do the author notes at the end. Sunset can't keep her mouth shut!
That she could make the most amazing entrance I have seen in years?
That is in my top three scenes I've ever read. It lost by a hair to someone exploding into a shower of gore to prank someone.
Coolest. School. Ever.
And you are only now asking yourself that, Sunset?
8297937
I agree! Guns are certainly useful for vampires! Some vampires are really good shots!
9133515
Bitches love cannons
I'll agree that thw concept of Luna arming Sunset in broad daylight has some...sticky complications, but the scene was executed well enough that it's obvious this is NOT normal. That said the scene likely would work just as well had Luna plopped a high end crossbow down on the table. Far more thematically appropriate for hunting vampires and just as eyebrow raiaing
That said not bad at all so far, it will be nice to have something new to read for a bit
I just discovered this "series" and I'm already laughing my ass off at the comedic timing!
Well...I like this universe. Sounds like a lot of fun.
But the gun! so casually!
um ma'am you ain't from this planet
That you needed a gun
You intend to willingly go out and hunt monsters... you're not sane
I'm sure everyone Wonder there's that sooner or later especially with a guy who usually makes friends with people who are completely insane or just plain weird
.22 is not bad I prefer the AK-47 myself I know it's a little old-fashioned but hey you got to love the classics
Luna you should know not to do this in the middle of the cafeteria, especially since it's one thing to ask a student if they have a gun it's another thing to give them a gun you should know why that's not something that's okay to do you're not only an educated you're a vice principal you should know this
11129019
it's American's dream. right to armed even in school ground.
11129019
As much as I agree with you, considering all the girls I’ve been through, a gun is the least of their worries atm.
Methinks the whole "shadow" part of this shadow war is less on the ones involved being particularly stealthy and discrete, and more on the rest of the population just being completely oblivious and not wanting to ask question they might not like the answers to.
I have a theory that the only entirely sane people in the entire MLP universe are people who have been forcibly made sane through gratuitous application of the friendship laser. nothin' like 1.21 GiggleHugs of raw equestrian magic straight to the heart to sober up, y'know?
Even Discord started having regularly scheduled afternoon tea with Fluttershy after getting hit by the elements. Suddenly he's got this unflappable, calm demeanor at all times! After magically induced Friendship(tm) Discord is objectively more sane than Twilight Sparkle!
Every major character in the series is completely and utterly nuts with no exceptions - but reformed villains all become freakishly normal and down to earth. I mean. Just go down the list and ask yourself "why is this character crazy"
Fluttershy - internalized rage issues. somehow thinks angel bunny is cute
Twilight Sparkle - dude. it's Twilight. Nopony is crazier than Twilight, not even Lyra! just touch her card catalogue and find out
Rarity - this is the WORST. POSSIBLE. THING!!!
Rainbow Dash - Rainbow Dash is the type of pony to play a game of chicken at mach 5... with a mountain. 'nuf said
Pinkie Pie - she can see something on a plane of existence beyond everyone else's understanding. And it talks back.
Applejack - of course there's absolutely nothing at all off about AJ, AJ is best pony, she's down to earth and grounded and genuine and just perfect.
Zecora - is a hermit who lives alone in the middle of the most dangerous woods in Equestria, and speaks entirely in rhyme. The only reason she's not a cryptid is that the entire world is even weirder than her
Lyra - has an unhealthy obsession with hands
Bon Bon - split personality, can't decide if she's Bon Bon the candy mare or Sweetie Drops, secret spy extraordinaire
Vinyl Scratch - wubs are her god
Octavia - somehow puts up with Vinyl Scratch, even through 2 am offerings to the bass lords, and 'wub a dub dub' bath times.
Sweetie Bell, Applebloom, and Scootaloo - "Cutie mark crusader necromancers, YAAY!"
Maud - rocks speak to her.
Cheese Sandwich - He likes *polka*
Granny Smith - dementia is a hell of a drug
Trixie - chunnibyo. But reformed! Now just flamboyant but that's showbiz
Sunset Shimmer - Delusions of grandeur and Machiavellian tendencies, a mile wide superiority complex. Reformed! now gets nervous about finals.
Sombra - CRYSSSTALS. Reformed! he dead. super dead. a very normal corpse
Luna - had a mental breakdown and changed her name to 'Nightmare Moon' because it sounded edgy. after her megalomaniacal rampage, she got put in timeout for a thousand years. Invented the word 'lunatic'. Reformed! Now she's a neet
Celestia - don't get in the way of cake time.
Shining Armor - overprotective, crazy in looove
Cadence - Somehow thinks *Shining Armor,* the dorkiest brother to ever live, is a total hunk. It's a lost cause, there's no helping her
The evidence is undeniable - ponies are mentally unstable by design! I bet Discord invented ponies. It would explain a lot.
don't trust gummy