//------------------------------// // March 31: But You Could Put Your Arms Around Her // Story: 7DSJ: Protection // by Shinzakura //------------------------------// “So how are you holding up, Derpy?” Sunset Shimmer asked her friend. It was the first day back from Spring Break, and as per Derpy’s request, the two were meeting at the coffee shop near Canterlot General’s West Side Clinic Annex after school. Sunset had wondered why they were meeting there, but it only took a brief look at the doctors who plied their trade in the building – mostly mental health professionals – and Derpy’s later explanation to make things all too clear. “I feel like shit. When I told Carrot’s mother what happened, I feel like I betrayed my best friend. Now, she’s here, seeing a psychiatrist for what happened to her. They said she might have to take some extra medicine to counteract some of the effects from the Vibe. Some girls are reporting to have delayed effects, and I think it’s affecting her.” Derpy pointed a thumb behind her and said, “But all things considered I’d rather she be in there than four blocks away.” Sunset didn’t need clarification; during her bus ride here she passed by the main gates of Eternal Wrest Memorial Park, the regional cemetery. Sunset gave Derpy a sunny smile and said, “All things considered? From what you told me, you saved her life, Derpy. That’s nothing to sneeze at.” “So then why do I feel like a hypocrite? I told her that what happened to her shouldn’t impact her life, but I’ve let what happened to me impact mine. That’s Grade-A hypocritical assholery right there.” “What, because you had a birth defect? Derpy, you—” She was cut off by Derpy’s shaking of her head. “I…I don’t have a birth defect,” Derpy admitted, looking down at her coffee cup. “Yeah, I tell everyone that’s what happened and that the other problem was that my twin was stillborn in the womb, but…there was no twin, and I came out normally as a singleton. There are pictures of me as a baby with normal eyes, though I try to hide them.” “Then can I ask…?” “Promise not to tell anyone?” Derpy asked in a small voice. “You know I won’t, Derpy. We are friends, you know.” “I know.” The blonde sighed, and adjusted her glasses. “The truth is, my mother was an alcoholic obsessed with her looks, and when she gave birth to me, she started to resent me for that. Well, years later, when Dinky was born, Mom got fat again and she lost it. Punched me – an eight-year-old at the time – in the face, and I shudder to think of what she would have done to Dinky if I hadn’t been her target. As it was, she cracked my skull around the nose, and ruined some of the ocular nerves. Wearing glasses adds just enough pressure to straighten my eyes out, but the area’s too delicate to ever operate on. “Anyway, it was my maternal aunt, Hazey Jane, who found out and shielded me and Dinky while my dad was on deployment at the time. Aunt Hazey told Dad and he forced my mother to accept an uncontested divorce, with him getting sole custody of us. Personally, I think she was happy with the conditions, because she rarely bothers with us now. I try to keep Dinky from finding out, but I think she knows. And so Aunt Hazey helped me develop the story that I tell everyone, because it’s better than ‘my mom abused me when I was a kid and got away with it.’” “Sounds like your aunt really looks out for you,” Sunset stated. “Whenever she’s in town, she’s like the mom we were supposed to have,” Derpy said with a tone of fondness. “Plus, I think she and Dad are secretly dating, but waiting until Dinky’s old enough to make it official. As it is, Aunt Hazey hates her older sister, so that’s a plus in my book. I hate the bitch, too, but that’s neither here nor there.” “So, getting back to the earlier part….” Sunset looked at Derpy. “You should tell Carrot the truth. She needs to know, not only because hiding secrets is a bad thing that will catch up to you in the long run – believe me, no one knows that better than me – but because she needs to know she’s not alone. Yes, she might resent you from not telling her the truth sooner, but she’ll respect you for being upfront with her. Because that’s how best friends are.” “Sounds like you know a thing or two about that.” “Maybe – I’m still learning as I go along,” the flame-haired girl confessed. “But what’s going to happen to Carrot?” “Well, for now she’s going to stay at CHS – it’s too late in the year to move her,” Derpy said. “But her parents told me that next year they’re seriously considering sending her either to Holy Cross or Zacherle. I know they want to talk to my dad about it, because I think if they do have her change schools, they’d want me to go with her.” “And what’s your take on it?” Derpy answered without hesitation. “She’s family to me, Sunny. If she needs me, I’ll be there, because that’s what I promised to do, no matter what.” Sunset’s smile was wide and approving. “Spoken like someone I know who would do just that.” Minuette sat in the farthest corner of Sugarcube Corner that she could find. Right now, she wanted to be left alone to do her homework and stew in her misery. Right now the only company she appreciated was her iced coffee – it was the only thing she felt she could be sure of at the moment. “Hey, Minnie,” Pinkie said as she walked over to the forlorn girl. “How goes?” “My life is shit, of course,” Minuette said, not looking up from her homework. She hoped that Pinkie would take the hint and go away. Pinkie, of course, wasn’t one to take hints. “Awww, don’t say that! You’re alive, the world is bright and we’re enjoying a beautiful spring day, right?” “Are you shitting me?” the azure-haired girl gasped, looking up from her paperwork. “My best friends turned out to have ordered a virtual mafia hit on a guy that I don’t like but don’t hate, and now he’s hospitalized – because of my friends, who were supposedly trying to protect me! Now Autumn and Primmie got suspended the first day back in school and Principal Celestia’s thinking about expelling Wai at the end of the year! As it is, all three of them have detention for the remainder of the school year, and their parents are probably going to be sued by Noteworthy’s.” Tears rolled down her cheeks. “People are starting to wonder if I had anything to do with it, and if it wasn’t for you all sticking up for me, I don’t think I could show my face at school.” She turned her face away. “I didn’t want this – I never wanted any of this to have happened.” Pinkie sat down across from her. “Sorry to hear that. What about your friends now?” “I don’t know if I can trust them anymore,” Minuette admitted. “Wai…we grew up together, but I never would have expected her, in a million years, to do this. But not only did she tape all the evidence that Sunstone found and turned over to the school faculty, but she was trying to frame Noteworthy for attempted rape – she’s lucky she wasn’t arrested! And she did this supposedly to protect me, but moreso for a guy she liked! And for doing what he thought was right, he got his face caved in by Sunstone – I’m guessing that Wai lost any chance she had with him after that. So right now, I really don’t know what to think about her.” Pinkie gestured for her to continue, and after wiping her eyes with a napkin, she did so. “As for Autumn and Primmie…while Wai did all the groundwork, they helped her do it. And that’s what they say; how do I know they didn’t have ulterior motives as well?” “Do you think you’ll still hang with them after this?” “I really don’t know. I want to believe them – I grew up with them – but I don’t know anymore. I’m tired of all this, Pinkie! I’m so damn tired of everything!” She buried her head in her arms and started to cry, only to suddenly feel Pinkie’s arms wrap around her. “Please don’t,” she begged. “I don’t know if I’m worth it.” “You are so worth it, Minnie,” Pinkie said in comforting tones as she held Minuette close. “You’ve been hurt a lot lately and it doesn’t seem like the pain will ever go away, right? Trust me, I know how it feels – you probably don’t believe me, but I do know what it’s like. So don’t feel that you’re alone. You will never be alone, okay?” “You can’t promise that!” “I can, and I will,” Pinkie insisted. “Trust the Pink. The Pink is wise. The Pink knows all.” Hearing that, Minuette started to giggle, which soon broke out into outright laughing. Seeing the joyful look on her face, Pinkie smiled along, continuing to hug the other girl and let her know that the world would still go on, and that sooner or later, a better day would come. For the first time in a long time, Minuette actually believed that. Chantenay looked at her daughter with eyes on the verge of tears. “Golden, are you sure you’ll be okay tonight? If you’d like to have Derpy stay over, I don’t think she’ll mind.” Carrot shook her head. “It’s okay, Mom. Besides, Derpy’s gotta watch Dinky since Mr. Lance is still going to be gone for the week.” Carrot was still suffering the results of what Derpy had told her parents: while they weren’t angry with her for what happened, they made it clear as to how disappointed they were that she felt suicide was the only way out; likewise, they were saddened that she couldn’t turn to them for help. As for Derpy, she’d changed the gun safe lock the next day and it was likely that Carrot would never have the code to it ever again, which was fine by her – she never wanted to touch another gun so long as she lived. But Carrot’s parents had always thought of Derpy as a surrogate child, and after this weekend, that had only increased. Not that Carrot blamed her; she owed her life to her best friend in a quite literal way, not that Derpy would ever think that way. It made Carrot realized just how blessed she was, and how privileged a life she led. Sure, she would have the scar for the rest of her life, but it didn’t have to be the end of her life. Especially when Derpy had revealed earlier today, that Carrot’s favorite model, Runway Star, had been in a car crash about five years ago and actually had a prosthetic leg, something Carrot had never noticed. It gave her much to think about. Chantenay hugged her daughter. “Golden, sweetheart, if you ever feel that you need help, please, ask someone. It doesn’t have to be us. It can be Derpy, or someone at school, or someone.” Chantenay wept into Carrot’s hair as she held her. “You’re too precious to me to lose.” Carrot couldn’t help but cry herself. “I promise, Mom. I promise.” After dinner, Carrot walked up to her bedroom. It was funny how much her parents had removed from her room in the wake of her suicide attempt, though admittedly if she had been in their shoes, she would have done the same. Her father had put a few inspirational posters on the wall, which was odd, given that they were from his office downstairs and were more business related than personal fulfilment. The only thing that remained, surprisingly, was the full-body mirror that had been a replacement for the one that she’d broken earlier in the week. She looked at herself, posing in slightly different ways, and for the first time in weeks, she actually felt good about herself. A second later, her phone rang. “Hey, is this Carrot Top?” “Speaking.” “Hi, this is Spot Kick. I know you don’t know me, but I’m on the JV Boys’ Soccer Team at CHS.” While Carrot didn’t know him, she knew who he was. Ruggedly handsome with medium-length two-tone red hair, friendly sienna-hued, almond-shaped eyes. He wasn’t as dreamy as Forward Pass or Chapeaux, but he was definitely no slouch in the looks department. He and Carrot traveled in different circles, though she didn’t exactly mind if he was stretching his orbit in her direction. The question was, why? “Hi, Spot. What can I do for you?” “Actually…it’s more about what I could do for you. Rainbow Dash asked me to check if you were interested in help with leg strength training, mainly because of your injury.” She gasped, shocked that Rainbow had been involved. For her to be involved meant that Sunset was involved, and she would have only been involved if Derpy had gone to her. Why? “Uh, Spot, I….” “It’s okay, I know how you feel. It was only a couple of years ago that I finally got out of leg braces.” That had not been an answer she’d been expecting and as if he expected that, Spot continued. “I was born in Malaysia with extremely weak legs, and spent a good deal of my childhood in braces. But after we moved here to the US, the doctors said that it was possible to remove the braces, if I spent a good deal on strength training. Fortunately, our next-door neighbor happened to be a fitness coach at the local gym, so he made a plan with my parents to help me work on my legs. Took a long time, and yeah, wasn’t easy at all, but right around seventh grade or so, my braces finally came off for good. So trust me, I know how it feels.” “I….” He chuckled. “Tell you what: meet me after school at the Burger Shack, and I’ll go over the regimen with you. If you’re good with it, we’ll do it, if you’re not, we don’t. That work?” “I….” She finally found her voice. “Why? Why me?” “Well….” He hemmed and hawed for a second. “I…I guess I’m doing it because I think you’re cute, and I know that after what happened to you, it’s probably the last thing you want to hear. But I want to help. Maybe it sounds strange, but I want to show you that not every guy is bad, or ever condoned what The Club did. And every time I’ve seen you, well, you have this smile that just seems to brighten the day. But regardless, I want to help, no matter what.” Carrot blushed. Someone knows what happened to me – and they still find me attractive? It completely surprised her. She was starting to accept herself for who she was, but to hear someone else – someone who wasn’t a friend – tell her that…. She felt warm inside, more than she had in a while. “Carrot, you there?” “Sure, I’d love to go,” she found herself saying, reaching towards the metaphorical offer like a parched woman reaching for a glass of water. “Okay, meet by the statue after school gets out, okay? I don’t have practice tomorrow, so I’m free the moment school lets out.” “Works for me. See you then,” she gushed, to her own surprise. As she set her cellphone down, she couldn’t help but giggle. Someone likes me – for me! She couldn’t help but prance around the room an— “You stupid cunt.” Carrot paused to see Other Carrot standing there. Her eyes seemed to burn with an unnatural fury, almost as if she was filled with the purest essence of rage. She wore a see-through, diaphanous gown that gave clear attention to the fact that she wore nothing underneath. Her body, as expected, was flawless and pure, just as Carrot had once been. “You stupid fucking cunt,” Other Carrot continued. “You could have had perfection. I would have fucked you until you reached paradise. You and me could have had every and any guy or girl we wan—” “Shut. Up.” The look in Carrot’s eyes, to Other Carrot’s surprise, was filled with one of anger. “You didn’t promise me perfection, you bitch. You only promised me a sad end. It took my family to remind me of that, and that’s a mistake I’ll never make again.” She smiled softly, though it held no warmth for Other Carrot. “And I can always count on Derpy to be there for me.” “Yeah, well, if you’d done it my way, you could have had her between your thighs, just like you know you wan—” SLAP Other Carrot reacted as if she’d been hit, which was unsurprising, given that she was. “You hit me!” “You’ll get much worse next time.” Carrot gave a nasty smile, flexing her hand despite the fact that it stung. “Unfortunately, for you, though, there won’t be a next time, because I finally realize who – what – you are.” The smile disappeared from Carrot’s face as she accused, “You’re nothing but my fears – the fear that just because Peppercorn and his fellow assholes used me, that I’ll never love or be worthy of anyone ever again.” “You won’t, you scarred—” Carrot suddenly got right in her doppelganger’s face, and look on Carrot’s face could best be described as somewhere between “unfriendly” and “rage against the dying light”. “You have no control over me anymore,” the amber-haired girl said, crossing her arms. “I’m not afraid anymore. And I don’t have to worry about you. You’re nothing more than a fever dream that my prescription will banish.” “NO!” Other Carrot screamed. “I refuse to go away! You can’t get rid of me!” Carrot then did something that, later that night, thought she’d never have the strength to do: moving forward, she reached over and pushed Other Carrot towards the mirror. The moment her oversexed double connected with the mirror, it started to suck her in as if she’d been trapped in quicksand. Trying to free herself, Other Carrot reached out to Carrot. “You can’t do this! You need me!” “No. I’m free now. I’m proud of who I am, and I refuse to run anymore.” “You can’t get rid of me! I’m a part of you!” Other Carrot screeched as she was nearly absorbed by the mirror. Carrot turned away as the looking glass fully assimilated her. “I know,” Carrot said, more to herself than anyone else. “But I’ll learn to get over that.” With a final scream, Other Carrot vanished. Chantenay opened her daughter’s door. “Golden? Honey, I thought I heard voices—” Carrot looked up from her desk. “Oh, sorry. Was watching YouTube on my computer and thought I had it on headphones only,” she admitted as she removed her headphones. “Okay, then. Dinner’ll be ready in a little while, sweetheart.” Chantenay closed the door. Carrot got up from her chair, and walked over to the mirror, looking at it intently. For the first time in what felt like forever, she saw her reflection, and only that; no nymphomaniacal doubles, disturbing images of people she knew or anything of the sort. Just her reflection and the background behind it, a copy of her own. “This is who you are, Golden Harvest,” she told herself. “And for better or worse, I’m the only me I have.” Since the whole Vibe incident, Minuette had become uncomfortable walking alone – there was always a risk, real or imagined, that she’d be attacked and made to suffer through hell once more. Today, she had – but she never had expected to see who her attackers would be. “Minnie, we need to talk.” Standing in her pathway in the park down the street from Canterlot High School, was Waterfire, flanked by Evening Primrose and Autumn. Today was April 1st, and though Spring was well on its way, the mornings were still chilly enough to need a jacket, and breath crystallized in the air of the early day. Minuette looked at her friends, and for the first time, she saw something in their eyes that she didn’t want to see, something she didn’t like. Both Sunday and yesterday had been hard enough on her, and Minuette had to deal with her unintentional role in all this. But with the looks on their faces, she began to wonder if their words of protecting her rang true or not. “I…I’m supposed to stay away from you three right now,” Minuette explained. “Look, it’s not personal – you three are my friends, but my parents are not happy right now and….” Minuette started to walk, hoping to walk past them. “I…I just…. I’m sorry, girls.” Her plan ended, however, as Waterfire reached out and grabbed the other girl’s arm. “Look, if you’re expecting me to apologize for what we did, that’s not going to happen,” she said in a frank tone. “None of us are sorry what happened to that asshole, and if I had to do it all over again, I would. You see, I thought I was protecting a friend, Minnie.” “Yeah, and now that so-called friend is sticking up for a scumbag,” Primrose agreed. “The very scumbag who fucked us over and then betrayed his own buddies – that’s the worst kind of traitor,” Autumn accused. “One that got what he deserved, but probably not enough,” Waterfire finished. “He deserves to suffer for touching us.” Minuette’s eyes went wide in surprise. “What? No! He never touched me, you, or anyone else! He was blackmailed into remaining in the group, and he apologized to us! Wai, you were right there when he did – you punched him in the nuts, for crying out loud!” “And if I had known what I know now, I wouldn’t have let him get off so easy,” she seethed. “Wai, please let it go,” Minuette asked. “I never wanted anyone hurt, not for my sake, and I don’t think I can live with what happened because an innocent boy was hurt because of m—” “Innocent?” Primrose laughed. “Innocent? You call that asshole innocent?” The look in Primrose’s eyes became very unfriendly. “Noteworthy is far from innocent, you stupid skank!” Autumn threw her hands up. “You know what? I’m done here, ladies. Looks like some people aren’t appreciative of what we do. C’mon, I’m done with this cunt.” “No, we’re not,” Waterfire said, turning her eyes back to what was clearly becoming her former best friend. “We grew up together, Minnie. And for you to betray me like this? I thought I knew you,” the orange-haired girl snarled, jabbing a finger at Minuette’s chest. “I risked everything for you – my reputation, the guy I liked, everything! And this is how you treat me – treat us, your friends? We had a chance to get rid of the last member of The Club, and you fucking blew it!” Minuette was wondering if her friend was losing all sense of sanity; this was not the girl she grew up with. She wanted to run away right now, as fast as she could. But Minuette had to try. “Please, girls, think about what you’re saying! I was a victim, too, but I learned to let go—” “A victim? You weren’t a victim, Minuette.” There was a sense of finality in Waterfire’s mocking words, as if each syllable she spoke spelled the end of a life together as friends. Behind her, Primrose and Autumn looked at each other briefly, then at Minuette with disgusted looks. “Do you know what The Club did to Primmie and Autumn? Do you really know what they did to me? All you got was fucked by my ex-boyfriend and got laid by another girl! Do you want to know what they did to us?” Waterfire’s eyes shrunk to pinpricks of pure hatred as her anger got the better of her, her grip on Minuette’s arm tightening. “I’ve been ruined! Primmie and Autumn were just as wrecked, and you’re sitting there, talking about your morality, when we were turned into playthings!” “But Noteworthy didn’t do any of those things!” Minuette said, wincing. Waterfire’s grip was increasing, and it was hurting like hell. “It doesn’t matter!” Waterfire roared, catching the attention of several students walking past; a part of Minuette’s mind realized that she wouldn’t get any help due to the Bystander Effect. “The guy I like is in jail because of your bullshit ‘I don’t want my rapist hurt!’ excuse!” “Wai, you’re hurting me!” she yelped. “And you should be hurt!” Autumn replied, spitting in Minuette’s face. “I’m ashamed that I ever thought you were my friend.” Meanwhile, Primrose got behind Minuette and held her arms in place. “Looks like someone needs to be taught a lesson,” she said, looking at Waterfire. “You know, I’ve never hit anyone before,” Waterfire said, her eyes wild and any sense of propriety gone, Minuette noticed. “Fortunately, I’ve watched my brother and Poundy enough to know where punching someone is going to hurt,” she said, as she cocked back a fist. “You want to know what hurting feels like, Minnie? Now you’re going to find out.” To Waterfire’s surprise, a strong hand clamped down on her own. “Nobody gets hurt, not while I’m around.” A second voice spoke up. “What’s going on, girls? Thought you four were friends, unless there’s some weird ‘sucker punch your pal’ initiation that I’m completely unaware of.” Waterfire yanked her hand back as Autumn and Primrose turned their attention away from Minuette and to the new speakers. Minuette did as well, glad to see that someone was willing to risk their necks. Waterfire’s scowl didn’t go away. “Bon-Bon and Trixie Lulamoon.” “Guilty as charged,” Bon-Bon said with a wolfish smile. Trixie nodded. “Looks like it’s a good thing we didn’t get a chance to stop at the café, Bonnie. Besides, I think it’s more civic-minded of you to deal with the issue.” “Oh, look – it’s the butch part of the girlfuck duo and the autistic wonder,” Autumn snarked. “What, you need more than one girl’s tongue in your groove, Ms. Ben-Wa Balls?” The Vietnamese girl rolled her eyes. “So classy,” she muttered. “If you really need to know – not that it’s any of your business – the three of us usually get breakfast at the Sugarcube Corner Café before we head to school. It’s just that Lyra’s sick today and we fell a little behind schedule. Apparently a good thing, too.” “Look, no clue what’s going on, but my best guess is that you four had a falling out, and now you’re trying to make Minuette take the fall. Not cool at all, you three. Not cool at all.” Trixie went over and grabbed Minuette by the hand. “Let’s get you out of here before anything gets worse, okay?” “If I were you, Trixie, I would see your way out of this one before someone gets hurt,” Waterfire threatened. Despite it, Trixie stood her ground. Minuette was somewhat surprised; she’d heard a few rumors that when not doing her third-person-self-referencing shtick, Trixie was about as brave as Fluttershy – that is, absolutely not brave in the slightest. “Yeah,” Bon-Bon said, stepping in-between Waterfire and her friends and Trixie and Minuette. “Of course, it’s a matter of who’ll be the one doing the hurting. And, since you threatened my friend, that probably means that if you try something, I guess I’ll have to hurt you. So back off now, because if you take the first swing, I’ll end this.” “Oh, I don’t think that will be necessary, Ms. Bon-Bon,” a new voice said. Everyone turned to see Vice Principal Luna standing there. “Fortunately, there were a few students civic-minded enough to report a potential problem in the park here. It seems I arrived just in time to prevent any issue.” “Ms. Luna,” Bon-Bon began. “It’s okay, Ms. Bon-Bon. You and Ms. Lulamoon did what’s expected of you: stepping in when someone’s in trouble, and as an educator, I’m proud. You may go; let your teachers know that if they have any issues with your tardiness, they can contact me.” She then turned to Waterfire, Primrose and Autumn. “And you three are already in trouble; I expect to see you in my office in ten minutes.” Nothing more to say, Luna pointed in the direction of the school and six girls started walking towards their respective fates. The gentle beeping in the room annoyed him. Of course, focusing on that was better than focusing on the pain throughout his body. He’d been lucky, the doctors told him: going up against a professional boxer was suicide, and he was fortunate that he only had the pains he did. Yeah, fortunate my ass. He still felt the pain of his broken rib at his side, still could feel the itching of his numerous welts and bruises all over his body. At least he’d be released tomorrow, and if all went well, he could be back at school by next week. There was a knock on the door, and a nurse poked her head in. “You have visitors. Should I let them in?” Noteworthy nodded, unsure of what he could say, and both Pencil Code and Wildfire poked their heads in. Noteworthy looked somewhat surprised; Code had apparently updated his look, ditching the Birth Control Glasses for fashionable frames, and the poindexter long sleeve shirt and slacks for a polo and jeans. He had a sneaking suspicion that the ladies in his social circle decided to use Code as their latest Cinderella project; they had a bad habit of doing that. “Hey, Notes,” Wildfire said, a smile on her face. “You decent?” “Probably not,” Code replied. “Actually, bud, you look like shit.” “Yeah, thanks,” Noteworthy grunted, though it sounded slightly muffled due to the bruises affecting his speech. “Hey, we heard what happened. Well, not about this part; we already got that word from Stony,” Wildfire said, leaning against the edge of the bed while Code took the adjacent chair. “That guy who punched you is going up on battery charges or something, if I recall what Stony said. Plus, it’s looking like Waterfire and her buddies are going to be paying hard for this. Like ‘probably not coming back to the school after the year’s over’ hard.” When he looked at her oddly, she shrugged and added, “You know me, I have my sources.” “Shit.” He groaned. “I didn’t want Minnie to be impacted.” “Well, she wasn’t,” Code explained. “Apparently her friends turned on her and Bon-Bon and Trixie saved her ass. I think there’s going to be a change in the social structure after today.” He shrugged as well. “Personally, if you ask me, I think Holy Cross is probably going to end up with three new students come September – they sure as hell ain’t good enough to get into Zacherle.” Noteworthy coughed a sigh of relief. “That’s good. Good thing Minnie wasn’t hurt.” In a sort of response to his comment, both Code and Wildfire looked at each other. “I’m thinking now’s as good a time as ever to tell him,” Code suggested. “Yeah, let me do it – delicate touch of a lady and all,” Wildfire said offhandedly. “Good, I need to get going anyway. Got a date tonight – don’t want to be late for it.” “You set up a date on April Fools?” Wildfire asked, surprised. “Uh…forgot that was today,” Code sheepishly admitted. Wildfire gently slugged him in the shoulder and sent him off on his way. “Wow, Code’s headed out with Derpy, I guess. Good for him – he’s been wanting her for a while now,” Noteworthy said with a smile. “Yeah. It’s amazing what happens when the dense finally realize that there’s someone out there that likes them,” Wildfire said without a trace of irony. She then looked at Noteworthy and said, “Okay, Notes, going to lay it out for you: you need to let your obsession with Minuette go for once and for all. You have two reasons, and the first one is simply this: she doesn’t like you. She was probably impressed that you liked her, but given everything that’s just going on, not to mention the fact that you have been borderline stalking her, had probably shot down whatever chance you had. What, did you think this was one of those Northbrook films from the 80s? Did you think this was Ferris Wheel’s Day Off and that you were going to get the girl in the end if you lifted up a boombox?” “I think that was a different film,” Noteworthy commented. “You know what I mean, Notes!” “Yeah, I do.” He looked away briefly, then back at her. “I’ve had a couple of days to think about it. And before I passed out, I recall looking at her, and I think the last thing I saw on her face was her looking at me with pity. You don’t date guys who you pity – well, maybe some girls do, but Minnie…Minuette…she’s not one of them. And even if she would, I don’t think I could ever get that look out of my head again. So yeah, I think this is it for me.” He sighed. “Not going to be easy, but yeah. I think I need to move on.” Wildfire smiled. “You know, Notes, that’s very mature of you. I thought I was going to come in here and read you the riot act, but looks like it won’t be necessary.” He smiled, or tried to as much as he could at the moment. “Hey, even I learn sooner or later.” “Good to hear that.” She looked at the door and said, “Well, I need to get going. There’s still someone else who needs to see you, but the nurse is only letting in two people at a time. Hospital rules, she says.” “Thanks for coming,” Noteworthy told her, before a thought came to him. “Just out of curiosity, what was the second reason?” She gave him a sunny smile. “Because it’s considered in bad taste to chase after a potential romantic interest when you’ve been ignoring one. And she’s right behind the door. Best of luck to you both, and see you tomorrow.” Noteworthy briefly wondered what Wildfire was talking about as she departed, but the curiosity soon disappeared as Sunstone walked through the door. She had her hair in a ponytail that went over her shoulder, and she wore a blouse and skirt today, a far cry from her normal tomboyish looks. She had light makeup on, something surprising since she usually never wore any. And she was looking at him right now with a very unguarded, nervous look. He’d never seen her that fragile before, and it made him wonder. She sat down in the seat next to him. “Yes,” she said softly. “It’s me.” “You?” he asked, finally putting some sort of two and two together and it not adding up to potato. “But you’ve been joking all these years—” “Because what did you want me to say, Notes? That I’ve been in love with you for all this time? Your parents didn’t mind it, your grandfather’s pretty sure we’re going to get married someday…but it was always me – me. I’ve never had the courage to be honest about it, because I didn’t want to be turned down. I didn’t have the strength to hear the word no.” Noteworthy looked at her as if she’d lost her mind. “Didn’t have the courage? The strength? Stony, you’re one of the strongest people I know!” She shook her head. “There’s different kinds of strength. Yeah, sure, put me up against an opponent, and I can tear him apart – it was me that stopped that boxer dead in his tracks. But I didn’t have the strength to tell you the truth that night. I should have…but I wasn’t strong enough.” Her eyes started to fill with tears. “I’m sorry, Notes. It’s my fault you got hurt.” “No,” he told her. “It was mine. I should have listened. I should have stopped being so obsessed with a girl I can’t have, and chances are I won’t ever. So it wasn’t your fault at all, Stony. It was something I needed to learn.” The two sat there quietly for a few minutes before Sunstone spoke. “So what now?” He sighed. “Stony, I don’t feel about you the same way you do me, and I don’t know if I ever will.” A sob seemed to catch in Sunstone’s throat, and she was about to say something when he added, “but I’m willing to try.” “No, you’re willing to go on a pity date,” she said bitterly. “No, not a pity date,” Noteworthy said. “A pity date is going out with someone you don’t respect and probably never will. And believe me, if there’s one thing that I’ve always had, it’s respect for you.” She hopped out of her chair and losing control, kissed him. They were there in that position for at least a minute before she pulled back, realizing what she’d done. “Oh, Notes, I’m sorry. I couldn’t help myself.” For the first time that she could ever count, Noteworthy gave her a smile that absolutely made her heart go flutter. “Maybe there will be more where that came from, if you’re that good of a kisser.” Carrot sat in her bedroom, looking over the plan that Spot Kick had given her. He definitely knew what he was talking about, and he was no slouch in the looks department. He was flustered about talking to her at first, but she got him to loosen up, and they agreed that they would work on her strength training this week – and then during the weekend, go on a date. Yeah, that’s just what I need right now, she said, smiling to herself. She continued to pore over the notes Spot had provided for her right when her phone rang. “Derpy? How’d it go?” “Is it possible for a girl to fall in love at first go?” Derpy asked her. “Normally, yeah, but I think you’re a bit more levelheaded than that,” Carrot teased. “No shit. Still…we’re going out again once my Dad gets back. As it is, I’ve got to thank Fluttershy for babysitting my kid sister. I know Dinky’s going to be annoyed, but hey, that’s how little sisters are.” She yawned. “Sorry about that, think I burned myself out on all the excitement.” “Well, you owe me details tomorrow, got that?” “Yeah, I know. You got it. Anyway, talk to you tomorrow.” “Yeah.” Carrot paused for a second, and then said, “Hey, Derpy?” “Still here.” “I…I really haven’t told you how much I owe you for saving my ass that night. I—” “Don’t, okay? You don’t have to thank me. We’re family, got that? You shouldn’t have to feel like you owe me or anything like that. You would have done the same.” “No, I don’t think so. I was afraid, Derpy. I was afraid of my own self, and I was willing to blow myself away.” Suddenly she could hear Derpy laughing, and she was confused. “What’s so funny?” “Carrot, you can be so dense sometimes. You should know by now, if something’s ever going to hurt you? I’ll stand in front of you, and take the force of the blow.” “Wow, that sounds poetic,” Carrot said, feeling tears coming to her eyes. She should have known Derpy would have said that. They were family, after all. “Probably from a song I heard once, really don’t remember. Anyway, talk to you tomorrow, Carrot. Night.” “Night.”