Between everything that had happened the night before - fighting a crowd of bikers, stealing a motorcycle, and staying up even later trying to figure out the apparent power she had gained - Sunset woke up still exhausted. She groggily got out of bed and stumbled into the bathroom.
There, in front of the mirror, she glanced at herself and blinked, slowly frowning in confusion. Something had changed, though it wasn’t immediately clear what it was.
She wasn’t sure if her shoulders were actually straighter and stronger, or if she was imagining it. She didn’t want to admit her self-confidence was tied to power, or that she’d come by it externally.
Glancing down, she noticed that the cut on her palm from the previous night was nearly gone, only a thin red line remaining. That was definitely a significant boost to human healing ability.
During limited experimentation in her apartment the previous night, Sunset had discovered that she was definitely stronger and faster than before, though perhaps not as much as during the fight with the bikers. Maybe she only got the full effect when she really needed it. At any rate, there were only so many experiments she could run in her bedroom.
Sunset got ready for the morning but was nearly nodding off again when a timid knock at her door jolted her up. She grabbed her backpack and left the apartment.
Silver Spoon had learned from experience not to stand directly in front of the door. Sunset glanced at her, and she offered up a blueberry muffin.
Sunset took it, biting in. It was good. Not as good at beating up half a dozen bikers, but really, what could top that?
She turned away, asking, “What’s first?”
Silver hastily shuffled her scheduling papers as she followed Sunset. “Before school, if there was time, you were going to start a feud between the cheerleaders and the drama club and then mediate a resolution, thereby ingratiating yourself with both groups.”
“There’ll be time.” Sunset walked out to the curb, where the motorcycle was parked. She pointed at the sidecar.
Silver gulped. “Where did you get this?”
Sunset threw her a look and Silver hastened to get in.
Not that Sunset lived very far from school, but she recognized the status symbol of having wheels. Plus, a vehicle would let her go places and do things she hadn’t been able to before. She knew that there were things like registration and insurance to deal with, not to mention the issue of this bike being stolen, but mentally added it to Silver’s list of tasking.
Arriving at school, Sunset left the motorcycle in student parking. The engine had begun to sputter before she shut it off, which didn’t seem right, but it wasn’t as if it belonged to her.
The school day went well. Not only did Sunset enjoy the boost to her self-confidence, but it felt as if a load had been taken off her mind, allowing her to focus on other things. Like how to translate this new power into continued and further dominance.
She knew that just being physically stronger wasn’t what she needed back in Equestria. She didn’t even know the full extent of the power she’d been granted, and would have to do additional testing and research. But it was a step, both tangible and mental. This was what Sunset had needed to get her groove back.
Though, she was still cautious about what Lucifer might ask of her. The deal he'd offered her had been struck less than twenty four hours prior. But from Sunset’s perspective, she was already ahead, even as much as she hated to admit taking a favor.
Though, she was also in a position to grant favors today. Principal Celestia stopped her in the hallway. “Sunset, I hope I could have a moment of your time.”
Sunset fantasized about what would happen if she said no. She probably could, in fact: Sorry, I’m kind of busy with a class right now. But for the moment, she was still riding the power trip and oh-so graciously granted Celestia an audience, with a saccharine smile. “Sure, what is it?”
“We will have a few new students joining us next week,” Celestia explained. “You know everyone, so I hoped you would be able to show them around.”
A perfect opportunity for Sunset to influence them first, whoever they were. “No problem!”
Speaking of influence, that afternoon Sunset encountered Rainbow Dash, who was as colorful and easy to spot as her name. Today, though, it was Rainbow that had noticed Sunset and came over. “Hey, I heard you got a motorcycle.”
“Are you thinking about getting one?” Sunset asked.
“Totally,” Rainbow said, head bobbing.
“Would Applejack like it?” Sunset asked innocently.
There was no one else in earshot at the time, but Rainbow still cast a hurried glance over both shoulders. “We...we can’t be seen together.”
Sunset put a hand on her shoulder. “You don’t have to rush things. I know men didn’t work out for you, but that doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with you.”
“I just…” Rainbow closed her eyes and hung her head. “I just feel like I’m settling, like I failed.”
Good. Sunset had covertly broken Rainbow up with so many guys that she had turned to girls out of desperation. Applejack was embarrassed to admit she was a lesbian. Rainbow wasn’t - she was embarrassed to admit that she was apparently undesirable to boys. It had worked out great for Sunset; two idiots like Applejack and Rainbow practically deserved each other and the irony was delicious. Moreover, after Sunset had “accidentally” discovered their secret, she’d managed to get some leverage on both of them.
“You’re not a failure, you’re still good at sports,” said Sunset. “Even if someone keeps leaving those nasty notes in your locker.”
“I guess,” said Rainbow.
“Hey, speaking of sports, I heard a rumor about the football team the other day...”
Rainbow was Sunset’s in with the sporty kids, a useful contact and a witless pawn. They talked for a few more minutes before parting ways.
Sunset breezed through the rest of the school day, and afterwards went out to the parking lot to her commandeered motorcycle. She’d already told Silver to walk home. Sunset had plans.
She’d taken a box of hand tools from shop class and dropped it in the motorcycle sidecar. Glancing at the bike, it appeared to be leaking oil. As Sunset looked around, she caught sight of someone standing outside school grounds, looking at her. She thought it might have been one of the bikers from the night before. It was hard to tell in the different setting and in the daylight, though he had a bandage on his nose.
A confident smile came easily to her lips, and she walked over. The man was leaning on an old car, just as much of a beater as the bike Sunset had taken, and stiffened at her approach.
Sunset rested her arms on the low fence at the edge of the school grounds, leaning forward. “Didn’t think I’d see you again.” She set aside the thought of how he’d found her. Probably saw the bike. Maybe that also meant they knew where she lived.
“We can’t just let something like that go,” he said, mostly succeeding at matching her level of coolness. “In fact, our boss is involved now, and she won’t have any problem hitting a girl. Her name is Blair Beltdrive, and she’ll be seeing you soon.”
Sunset straightened up. “Well, tell her to hurry. I can’t believe I missed one of you.”
She walked to the bike and started it, leaving the parking lot. She did watch her back as she rode, though surreptitiously.
Sunset had previously explored an old train yard on the south side of town. Humans seemed to be moving post-train in favor of road vehicles, though Sunset only paid attention to technology to see how it could benefit her. The move seemed to be backwards to her, but humans were stupid. Either way, it left the railyard mostly abandoned.
On arrival, Sunset again made sure she was alone and then set to work unbolting the sidecar. It added weight and meant the bike couldn’t lean over. If she was going to really learn how to ride, it had to go.
That done, she practiced riding for the rest of the afternoon. The bike weighed a few hundred pounds, but she seemed to be able to handle it fairly well since gaining the so-called Spirit of Vengeance. That didn’t mean she was perfect, though, and dropped the bike on its side a few times, gaining scratches and dents. Maybe because the tires were weird. That was another reason she had come to a place where no one was around to see.
The handful of spills reminded Sunset that motorcyclists were supposed to wear protective gear. Well, that was only if she made a mistake, and Sunset Shimmer was not in the business of error, not where anyone could see.
The bike seemed to be running worse now, and Sunset saw the fuel was getting low. The sun was starting to set, so she left the trainyard and headed back for her apartment, feeling more confident on the bike now. Going from zero to expert wasn’t going to happen in one afternoon, but Sunset was nothing if not a fast learner.
It was a good thing she was such a quick study, because as she pulled up to the curb, a glint in the rearview mirror was the only warning she had before a car plowed straight through the parking spot.
Sunset’s reflexes were almost too fast for her to keep up, and she had leapt into the air, watching the crash happen below her as if in slow motion. She vaguely noted that it was the same car she’d seen the man leaning on earlier in the day.
She hit the pavement in a crouch, not even noticing the impact. Had she really just done a backflip off a motorcycle over a car while running on instinct alone? She stood up as the car ground to a halt down the block. The man had promised a fight, but not with him. Sunset turned.
A motorcycle, black with orange and silver accents, pulled up. It looked well-kept, and rumbled powerfully until the rider shut off the engine. She stepped off the bike, removing her helmet to release a cascade of long dark hair.
Her eyes stayed on Sunset as she peeled off her leather gloves and jacket. Underneath was yet more leather, slim trousers and also apparently an emblem vest of the local biker group. Blair was stitched to the chest.
“I thought you were going to fight me,” Sunset said, crossing her arms. “Not send one of your lackeys to kill me in traffic.”
“Honey,” Blair said, voice not angry but instead rather scolding, “I don’t think you realize the gravity of your situation.”
Sunset sneered. “It’s not like I go around beating your people up because it’s fun. Are you sure you’re getting the whole story here?”
“It’s not about truth,” Blair said, patiently uncoiling a whip from around her bike’s seat. “It’s about teaching you a lesson.”
The weapon changed things. Sunset figured that if they weren’t above a sneak attack, then she shouldn’t be either.
Though perhaps Blair’s deliberate movements had lulled Sunset into a false sense of superiority, even as she prepared to strike first. Without any further hesitation, Sunset put her full effort into her enhanced ability and shot across the distance between before the whip came to bear - yet Blair still managed to sidestep. And in return, as Sunset’s momentum carried her past, the whip came up, whizzing through the air even faster. Sunset started to turn after overshooting, but was already wrapped up before she even realized it.
Her reflexes might have quickened, but Sunset was still learning to think that fast. Her strength might have improved, but she wasn’t stronger than an inch-thick braided leather cord that was wrapped several times around her arms, pinning them to her sides.
Blair kicked Sunset in the gut, but held her fast with the whip in her hand. The heel of her boot knocked the wind from Sunset’s lungs, but then it didn’t let up, still pressing harder even as the whip tightened around Sunset because of her deflating diaphragm. Sunset gasped - both in pain and because the air had been involuntarily forced out. She struggled, but the whip held fast.
She had been in tough situations before, but nothing quite like this. What made it worse, though, was the expression on Blair’s face. Not angry, disappointed.
It reminded Sunset so much of Princess Celestia’s overpowering dominance that she saw red in a way quite unlike she ever had before.
“I want to know that you’re learning the lesson,” Blair said. “Kneel in front of me.”
Despite her pain, Sunset snarled with what breath she had left. But she did kneel, only to contort herself forward at the waist over Blair’s boot, ignoring the abrasion against her abdomen, and sank her teeth into Blair’s thigh just above the knee.
She didn’t quite get through the leather pants, but her bite was more than powerful enough to pull a cry of pain out of Blair, who brought her fist down on top Sunset’s head. Stars burst in front of Sunset’s eyes, but despite the pain she hung on as Blair stumbled back, her foot pulling back from Sunset’s gut. Blair fell backwards and Sunset shook loose of her stunning and let go with her teeth, kicking to gain position atop Blair as they fell to the pavement. Sunset headbutted Blair in the jaw, knocking her head back against the pavement, and then bit Blair on the unprotected upper arm, this time drawing blood.
In the melee, Blair had lost control of the whip and Sunset got her arms free. She hit Blair in the jaw again, with her fist this time, and used the movement to get up. She grabbed for the whip.
Blair was on her hands and knees trying to get up. Sunset got Blair’s throat in the crook of her elbow from behind and hauled her up, even as she used the whip to bind Blair’s hands behind her back.
Somewhere during the fight, the driver of the car had approached, along with a few other people who’d arrived on motorcycles. Sunset faced the half-circle of them and jerked Blair by the throat to make her point. “You want her in one piece, don’t you?”
She glanced at Blair, and said quietly, just for her to hear. “Well mostly. What was it you said? Kneel?” Sunset kicked the back of Blair’s legs to force her, and she hit the ground.
Sunset put one of her own knees in Blair’s back to tighten the chokehold. Blair struggled to speak. Not only was she short of breath, but her jaw may have been broken. Sunset cut her off. “I could just squeeze the life out of you right now. But I’m not going to. You’re going to be useful to me. Starting with, I need a replacement bike.”
Sunset glanced at the motorcycle Blair had arrived on, seeing that the keys were still in the ignition. As she looked around, one of the men had started to approach, but she menaced Blair again.
Sunset took another turn of the whip around Blair’s hands and stood once more, dragging Blair over to the motorcycle on her face. Blair had left her jacket on the seat. Sunset picked it up, nose wrinkling at the smell of sweat and grease. Shame, it looked cool, constructed of black leather and metal studs, and even seemed to have built-in armor.
She kicked Blair over, so she could watch Sunset pluck the cell phone off its mount on the handlebars. The phone was unlocked, the GPS still set to Sunset’s address.
She glanced at the contacts, memorized the phone number, and then tucked the phone in the pocket of the jacket, dropping it on top Blair’s face as Sunset loosened the whip.
“Wash that nasty thing,” Sunset said, coiling the whip in her hands as she leaned against the motorcycle. Blair was slow to rise, pulling the jacket from her face. Her annoyed disciplinarian expression from before was gone, shattered. She was trying for rage, but it was overridden by pain. If Sunset guessed correctly, the pain of losing at least as much as physical.
“You’re going to come when I call,” Sunset said. “And I had better not see you again if I don’t call. That applies to any of your friends. You tracked me down at home? Good, now you know where to stay away from.”
Sunset looked pointedly at the motorcycle. The logo read Buell Lightning. She would have to learn more, but it already looked like quite an upgrade. She touched the handlebar and glanced back at Blair. “Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of it.”
Blair managed to fit a look of spite through her pain, and then turned to limp away, back to her crew. Sunset leaned on the motorcycle and watched them all go.
She didn’t even try to keep the smile off her face, and decided that she could really get used to this.
When the street was empty, Sunset stood up from the motorcycle. A couple of neighbors were looking out at what had occurred of the commotion. Sunset waved. Since she had been living there, she’d made sure they knew her, and that they thought was a good neighbor.
She went back to her apartment, saving Blair’s number in her phone. Unlocking her door, she went inside.
Lucifer was sitting at the kitchen table and Sunset nearly jumped out of her skin in surprise.
Well damn Sunset.
Now she have a bunch of minions, this is quite useful.
nice work
Definitely got the ball moving with this chapter, loved the gang fight and surprised to see Lucifer showing up again this early, eager for more
10928302
What are your theories on the role Silver Spoon is going to have ? And the role of Sunset new group of minions ?
From what i know of the Ghost Rider, he didn't had a group of minions, so it is likely than there is going to be changes compared to the usual narrative.
Also, not only was the original ghost rider not given his powers by Lucifer but Mephisto Pheles, but since the author do not look at much of Marvel apparently, there isn't going to be much of other Marvel stuff, and there is more possibilities, which make it far more original than a lot of potential ideas (i was really happy to learn than there wouldn't be the avengers and co, if i had understood it well at least).
There is a lot of possibles butterflies, after all, now than she had her new Job as Lucifer attack dog/handywoman, there wouldn't be much times for her "destroying friendship" shenanigans.
Also, her role is a melange of "dealing with sinners" and dealing with those having make contracts with Lucifer, the former might disgust her from actively ruining their lives, both because she could feel it is beneath her, and then with how much she deal with evil persons, not having a actively hostile ambiance at school would be a positive.
Now, i don't expect her not to stay the Queen Bee of her school, in fact there is no way in Hell (heh) than she is gonna stop now, after all she had just made a group of bikers and their leader her own minions, so she certainly would make sure than a bunch of High school students would be beneath her in the social hierarchy of the school.
Also i really wonder what would happens with the Elements of Harmony, because if i had understood, Sunset soul had been replaced by the Hell-magic of Lucifer, something absolutely vile, so would that make Sunset just... You know, die ? Since if Sunset hellpowers are no longer there, she doesn't have anything filling the void of her soul.
10928856
Hmm, I feel like Silver Spoon might end up being somewhat like Roxanne in the sense that she remains Sunset's last connection to humanity (like deep down she does care about her little assistant and seeing her in danger later on is gonna make her realize that)
As for the gang I think the're going to reluctantly work for Sunset for a bit until perhaps later on Sunset goes against Lucifer at which point Lucifer might make a deal with Blair and turn her into Vengeance (a creature meant for the soul purpose of killing the rider if they turn against Mephisto) and or she might make a deal with this version of Black Heart (Mephisto's son who wants to kill and overtake his father, who I guess would be Lucifer in this sense... it's tough to say, though I will say the name Black Heart would very much fit in Equestria Girls)
As for the Elements it's kind of tough to say as yes Lucifer has Sunset's actual soul so purifying her evil would in theory kill her, but at the same the Elements seem to very dead set against killing (the actual elements not the people or ponies wielding them) and instead more often then not banish or petrify their target so perhaps that instead (though the only reason I could think of for Sunset to steal the crown is under Lucifer's orders or to actively betray him so that could come in to play with it as well)
Of course all this is pure speculation as like you said this is imagining Ghost Rider in a real world setting as opposed to the Marvel Universe, and so anything tied to Ghost Rider that is also tied to other Marvel Characters is kind of mute, or at least altered in some way. I'm excited to see where it goes because of that, but at the same time it does make theorizing difficult
10928919
I kinda hope than Blair and Silver spoon will serve as Sunset lieutenants in her operations.
I also think than a good idea for Blaire and silver spoon would be to learn to fight with holy weapons.
Not necessary holy weapons made in heaven, but them learning the scriptures and drawing special glyphs on their items to gain holy natures would be dope.
It would be interesting if holy water is a thing in this story, and is actually useful and can be use as a direct counter to hellfire.
Blaire learning a sort of portal dimension magic and using it to keep her weapons would be nice.
Magic being a thing within the human world is confusing, since a lot came from equestria, but i don't think than every magic came from equestria.
Also, Blaire learning to use holy artefacts and a sort of holy magic, initially to kill Sunset, but then she still stay as one of her sidekick would be cool.
Also, there is the possibility of Sunset being against demons, and calling for back up someone equipped to fight them is useful.
In fact, all of Sunset crew learning some form of holy magic and having some sort of holy weapons would be really interesting.
I could see the scenario as Blaire, after having see Sunset use her ghost rider powers, decide to search for holy weapons, holy water and holy magic because she is freaked out about her new boss being, well, a demonic creature, and all of the biker crew learn a bit of holy magic and is equipped with holy weapons simply because while Blaire is stronger than before and have the right weapons (including holy water to counter the hellfire) she is still human, and if she was beaten by Sunset still in human form, then winning on her own against Sunset in her Ghost Rider form would be hard at best.
What is good with the story not having too much of Marvel, and with it being a crossover with EQG, is than there is a much bigger room in term of creating the limits of Sunset powers and what kind of things can counter her.
Because the Ghost Rider was so powerful than essentially, this story would be a one sided stomp on all level (something like at least Tirek at his best when he fought Twilight when she had the magic of the three others Alicorns) , but the Ghost Rider in this story not being as powerful, and importantly, having more things who can counter Sunzet would be more interesting story wise (i might be wrong, but eh).
I hope than holy weapons will be more like those of Blue exorcist, rather than only a "weapon forged in heaven".
So for example, a person with enough knowledge and with the right items can forge weapons with this holy energy, as well as turn normal water into holy one and being able to create it, although this may be different one person to a other, like, while some might be able at best to create one glass of holy water a hour, others might be able to do something equal to shooting a great deal of it with fire hoses to counter waves of hellfires.
Also Totally (this is the only nickname i could imagine author) how old is Blaire ?
Also, are Principal Celestia and Vice-principal Luna normal persons in this story ? Or is there something more ?
10928919
What is your opinion on what i had said ?
10928972
Very interesting, I do like the idea of Holy powers coming into play, how ever I just don't personally think it will happen
10928976
I think this would be more interesting than having nothing except demons being able to fight other demons (wether it is Sunset who defeat others demons or if others demons fight her).
Having Blaire and her crew specialise themselves in holy weapons, holy water, and holy magic (and holy water actually being a useful thing unlike in the Marvel version) is, i think, far more interesting than having Blaire alone rely on demon magic, not only because it's meant than Lucifer wouldn't have a other pawn, but if they stay Sunset crew, they are really useful to deal with any demonic threats (including Sunset if she go on a rampage).
10928989
Fair point, we'll just have to wait and see what the author had in store
10928991
I think than Silver spoon will serve as "rich person" kind of back up (because money is always useful) alongside her current job as Sunset secretary, while Blaire and co will serve in terms of support for muscle (especially if they have magic/holy weapons).
Also, i am surprise than the girls are neutral with Sunset, was she more subtle than in canon ? Because i remember than in canon they really didn't appreciated her.
Is it a melange of her being far more subtle and due to the fact than she hadn't got to the breaking point for destroying their friendship ?
Also, what is the plan for with Rainbow Dash and Applejack ? Is she planning to make them want to be with each other to just after setting the thing up for causing them a mutual broken heart and hating each other due to the grief of it ? Because it's really confusing.
That's not how whips work.
A Whip wouldn't be able to carry the momentum needed to wrap around someone enough times to form any semblance of a "grip", that whip would have fallen to the ground before even wrapping around sunset once fully. and even if it did someone would have had to tie the tip of the whip to something to make sure it didn't just fall and immediately loosen. just because movies make the same stupid mistake doesn't make it less stupid.
Worst part is that there's a similar weapon that would have made several times more sense, a simple chain with a weight on the end, most likely a big lock. Why, because a chain with a heavy lock could come of as something she used to secure her bike and not an Actual fucking weapon. Giving some deniability incase she ever ran into cops.
Second with a wait on the end it would take a lot more to drain the momentum of the lock away meaning it would actually be able to wrap around Sunset several times. then if the last time around was above the length that Blair was holding it wouldn't be able to just drop and lessen the wait of the lock would keep it relatively secure around Sunset.
And finally a lengthy of chain is just more 'Biker-y' than a whip.