> Truth or Dare > by PirateCattheShipper > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > 7 Elements, one confused Cutie Mark > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Where's your Twilight?" Asked Princess Twilight Sparkle as she settled down on Pinkie's rug, where all of the girls were gathered. "Don't you usually hang out with her?" "Yeah," Began Rainbow Dash, a frown set upon her face, "but she bailed this time." "Perhaps that's because of your crude behavior, Miss Dash!" Rarity shot at the blue teenager. Sunset Shimmer blushed and resisted a scoff. "Oh, shut up, Sunset Shimmer!" "Sorry! But, I have to agree with Rarity. That was. . ." She looked down, fumbling for words. "What happened?" Twilight asked, bemused. Rainbow Dash snorted and crossed her arms, grunting angrily as Applejack laughed and said; "Rainbow Dash made us kiss the person next to us. She never directed which side, so she was the only person who kissed someone. Quite ferociously, if I do say so myself." Sunset's face inflamed a rich crimson as the girls all laughed, even Twilight. Just not Rainbow Dash. "And Ah'm pretty sure we all can guess who." Six pairs of eyes, five bright with laughter, looked at Sunset Shimmer. "Looks like Bacon-Hair has just gotten cooked!" Pinkie Pie practically snarfed on her laughter. Even Rainbow Dash couldn't resist a squeak of delight. "Pinkie, you are SO random!" "I know!" Pinkie Pie fell backwards with her hands splayed out over her head. Her upturned lips were starting to reveal flashy white teeth, which glowed as a volley of insistent laughter seized her. She clutched her stomach, her legs churning in the air in pleasure of almost nothing at all. "Okay, okay." Sunset Shimmer put her hands up. "Let's just get in the now." She dropped her hands, offering a curt glance at Rainbow Dash, who nodded resentfully in consent, her lip curled slightly to reveal a little bit of her clenched teeth. "Yeah! So, what were y'all thinkin'? I was thinkin' maybe we could play truth or dare. It's daring, but not like 'Never Have I Ever'." Applejack suggested, offering a smile. "Yeah, whatever." Groused Rainbow Dash, her face less angry but her arms still crossed. "Sounds fun to me!" Twilight exclaimed, tilting her head to the side warmly for a few breif moments. Sunset looked at Twilight sheepishly before adding in, "not too much harm could happen!" The rest of the girls joined in with an enthusiastic "Yeah!". Rainbow Dash flipped her hair. "AJ can go first, but I'm goin' second!" She scanned the room and smiled, jabbing her chest with a thumb. She let it down and looked at Applejack expectantly with a smile still on her face. "Rarity!" Applejack called, and the white girl snapped her attention to the cowgirl. Rarity rolled her eyes, a bitter look on her face. "Truth." She spat, as though trying to keep Applejack from choosing for her. "Okay!" Applejack said, putting her hand on her chin. What to ask, what to ask? Her striking green eyes flitted across the room, and as an idea struck her she smiled cunningly. "Rarity, have y'all ever pleased a guy?" Applejack raised and lowered her eyebrows continuously. She'd chosen her words too carefully, but anyways, Rarity must've gotten her point because a muffled squeal leaked from her tightened lips. Her face was blood red against her white, sparkly skin, and she squeaked something. "C'mon! Y'all sound like Fluttershy!" Rarity made another inaudible mumble. "What was that?" Fluttershy urged. Applejack felt a flicker of surprise that the pink-haired, timid teenager would get so involved. "YES!!" Rarity bellowed, standing up imperiously. "Are you happy?!?!?" "Nooot quite." Applejack said, looking back deftly before adding; "how many times?" "Too many to count!" Snorted Rainbow Dash. Pinkie Pie stifled a strong chuckle. "A million!" Snickered Pinkie Pie. "No, no, no, more than that!" "L-Let's just say, too many to count. Not too little, definitely not too much"-Rarity glared at Rainbow-"but just enough to have good advice." She finished simply. "Alright, alright," Sunset Shimmer soothed. "It's Rainbow Dash's turn." Their was a tiny hint of scorn in her voice, but it was masked by calmness, even though some anxiety was creeping up her chest. "Okay. Sunset," Rainbow Dash's expression was more than insidious. "Truth or dare?" "Dare." Sunset answered somewhat nonchalantly, folding her arms and blinking like a know-it-all. "Fine." Rainbow Dash replied. "I dare you to kiss the person you like the most in this room." The room exploded with tired sighs. "And if you can't decide? Well, you must either kiss them both or admit your feelings to one and then kiss the other." "And who said that Sunset has a crush on anyone in here?!" Rarity hissed indignantly. "Yeah!!" Sunset and Pinkie added, in sync. But Sunset's voice was less strong and she was examining her feet, clutched in her arms, a little too much. Her cheeks had a barely noticeable red tint. "Have something to do, Sunset?" Rainbow Dash pressed. "Y-yes." Sunset Shimmer stood up, holding her right arm in her left, biting her lip. All eyes in the room stared up at her, confused. "I-I. . ." She looked down at Twilight, and the purple girl's cheeks lit up, red. But yet her violet eyes were shining. "I might have a crush on Twilight. . ." Low whispers broke the silence, but broke off as Sunset took a reluctant step toward Rainbow Dash. She closed her eyes tight, tears leaking out, before opening them and lifting Rainbow Dash's chin to give her a small kiss on the lips. They broke apart slowly, and Rainbow Dash was more than shocked, her face white but red at the same time; the ferocious red overpowered the white. A strand of spit was still connecting their mouths, so Sunset wiped the end from Rainbow Dash's mouth and the blue teen let her gaze get lost in Sunset Shimmer's sweet, caring one. The silence in the room pressed down harder on Sunset Shimmer than anyone else. As she sat down she covered her red face with her palms, sliding into a small ball of embarrassment. Twilight Sparkle looked a little bit disappointed. "Okay, y'all. It's just as well we continue." This time it was Applejack who soothed her six friends. "Y-yeah." Fluttershy whispered softly in agreement. "Somebody ask me, somebody ask me!!!" Pinkie begged. "I will." Sunset Shimmer raised her hand. "Truth or dare?" "Hmmmmmmmmm. . ." Pinkie Pie scratched her chin. "TR-D-DARE!!!" She shouted in conclusion. "Okay. I dare you tooo. . ." Sunset pondered her mind for a harmless yet fun dare. "I dare you to force Rainbow Dash to do something horrible." Pinkie Pie gasped. "REALLY?!?!?!?" She inhaled, standing up and shaking her clenched fists. "RAINBOW DASH!!!" She hollered, shaking the blue girl vigorously. Rainbow Dash struggled to get her pink friend away. "Get. Off!" She hissed, and Pinkie staggered back; "Okay, okay, grumpy grump!" "I dare you to lick my shoe!" Pinkie sing-songed. "Ew!" Rainbow Dash flicked her tongue out, a disgusted look on her bunched-up face. "That's so immature!" All of the girls chuckled as Pinkie Pie handed the horrified Rainbow Dash her pink sneaker. It was caked in grit and dirt, and when Rainbow Dash licked it she could have sworn she tasted whipped cream. "Never, ever do that again! I will get my revenge, Sunset Shimmer!" Cried Rainbow Dash, fury bleeding through her face a dark scarlet. Her fists were clenched and drool was oozing from her mouth as she refused to swallow. She stamped to Sunset and threw her fist in the girl's face. Sunset didn't flinch. She just smiled. "Okay, Okay." She put down Rainbow's fists with her hands. "'Okay' will not be what you think of my act!" And with that, Rainbow Dash fled to Pinkie's downstairs bathroom. Sunset felt a wave of guilt crash into her and her smile curved downcast. "Did I go too far?" She asked, her voice having a squeak that sounded exactly like a dog's whine, like in the Battle of the Bands when she'd tried explaining why she tackled Rainbow Dash. Rarity was the one to speak. "Oh, no, darling! She deserves it!" Their were murmurs of agreement, but then Fluttershy protested sternly; "Girls! Would we turn evil against Sunset Shimmer just because of what she did?" "No. . ." "Then why would Rainbow Dash be any different? She was just having a bit of fun! We should have talked it out! And now look at her; she's seeking even more revenge! No offense for using you as an example, Sunset." Sunset smiled lovingly. "None taken." She purred. Then she turned seriously to Twilight. "It's about time we ask her what the stones mean." Everyone except Twilight, who blinked in bewilderment, nodded and mumbled their agreement. "What stones?" Twilight asked, confused. "When we went to Camp Everfree," Pinkie began, "we all got cool new magical abilities!" She threw her hands in the air. "But then we found out that it was because of these stones. . .gems, rather." Finished Applejack. "Rainbow Dash got crazy speed, I got incredible strength, Rarity could make shields, Pinkie could explode things, and Sunset could see into their memories." The girls nodded. "The elements of harmony!!! Could you guys maybe show me them? Which one did I get????" Twilight gushed. "Whoa there, Nellie!!" Applejack laughed. "Yer more excited than a pig bein' fed!" "Well, Twilight's was purple, and she could move things with her magic." Sunset Shimmer offered. "And you say that Sunset Shimmer got one?" Twilight could barely contain her excitement. "Yes!" Pinkie Pie squealed. "Then it is concluded!! I have no idea what Sunset Shimmer's element means, but I do know that there are actually seven elements of harmony!" Twilight leaped to her feet and jumped up and down, her hair getting a tad frazzled. Sunset Shimmer whimpered. "What even is my destiny?" She asked dejectedly, her elbows on her bent knees and her fingers through her hair. "Well, what have you done that feels really, really right?" Queried Twilight. "Well. . .I really felt a purpose when I took Twilight's hand. . .Also before we defeated "Gaia Everfree" when I told her that she was not Midnight Sparkle." Sunset Shimmer answered. "Are you guys wearing your elements now?" Asked Twilight. "Yeah." Pinkie said, pulling a string around her neck. A pink gem appeared from under her shirt and she said; "we never take them off." "Those elements! They represent Laughter, Honesty, Kindness, Magic, Loyalty, Generosity, and. . ." Twilight paused. "Forgiveness." Sunset Shimmer's eyes flashed and even glowed for a minute. "I know, Sunset Shimmer, your Cutie Mark stands for your forgiveness. You bring the darkness into light. Just like you did with Midnight Sparkle." Twilight explained briefly. "Can somepony get Rainbow Dash?" "I will!" Sunset Shimmer offered, racing downstairs purposefully. "So you say Sunset Shimmer's Cutie Mark means forgiveness, so that must mean her element means the same thing?" Rainbow Dash asked skeptically. "Y-yes, basically. That's my conclusion so far." Said Twilight, her eyes shining. "And what were you doing in the bathroom for so long?" Rainbow Dash and Sunset Shimmer exchanged unreadable glances, and Twilight suggested that the subject was a secret. "Okay, never mind then." She added nervously. "But how does Sunset's Cutie Mark mean 'Forgiveness'?" Pinkie asked, mystified. "Well," Began Twilight matter-of-factly, "Sunset Shimmer's Cutie Mark is a sun, just like Princes--er, Principle--Celestia's. Celestia's Cutie Mark represents how she brings light to the world by raising the sun. Sunset Shimmer's Cutie Mark is also a sun, of which means she brings light. But, she brings mental light; her forgiveness. I haven't completely sought it out, but that's the best solution I could come up with."