//------------------------------// // The First Step // Story: Sour Sweet on the Inside // by DarkMaster0224 //------------------------------// Bright and early in the morning, Dark, Lilac, and Twilight were on their way to Crystal Prep. Velvet was bring them to the school. Dark was looking out the window staying silent, thinking about last night, ‘I hurt Twilight. What is going on with me? I’m lashing out at the ones I love.’ “Uhg, I think I ate too much pizza.” Lilac groaned clutching her stomach. Twilight giggled at the girl, “Told you not to eat so much.” “You try living with a high metabolism. My hunger never ends.” Lilac replied, “People wonder why I’m not fatter than anyone in my family. I eat more than anyone!” “Its cause you’re too beautiful and pretty, Lili dear.” Velvet said smiling. “Yeah ha ha ha. You’re very funny Aunt Velvet.” Lilac said. “She’s not lying.” Twilight said looking back at the girl. “Hey, stop ogling at me. You’re making me uncomfortable.” Lilac teased. Twilight’s cheeks instantly lit up, “I-I’m not…” “I’m kidding Twi.” Lilac laughed, “I know i’m not your type.” Velvet and Lilac laughed, while Twilight’s cheeks continued to glow red. She noticed Dark was being silent the whole ride, “Dark? Are you ok?” Twilight asked her friend. Dark remained silent and continued looking out the window. Lilac snapped her fingers in his face, snapping him back into reality, “W-What?” “Snap out of dream world and pay attention.” Lilac said to her brother, “Twilight was talking to you.” “What is it Sparky?” Dark asked looking at the purple girl. “Are you ok? You’ve been quiet the whole ride.” She asked. Dark sighed, “I’m fine. Just been thinking.” “Mind sharing on what?” Twilight asked. “Not really.” Dark said. “He’s probably thinking about his girlfriend, Sour Sweet.” Lilac smirked. Dark’s eyes grew with anger upon the name, “SHE IS NOT MY GIRLFRIEND! NEVER WILL BE EITHER!” Lilac only smiled, “We’ll see. By the end of the year, you two will either have killed one another, or gotten together hand in hand.” “Most likely kill each other.” Dark growled. “Alright you three, that’s quite enough.” Velvet said sternly. The car pulled into the school parking lot and the three teens got out. “Have a nice day.” Velvet said, “Lilac, keep your brother out of trouble.” “Yes ma’am.” Lilac said smiling and walking towards the school. “Hey! I don’t need anyone keeping me out of trouble.” Dark said following his sister. “Bye mom. Love you.” Twilight said waving to her mother. “Love you too.” Velvet said as she pulled out of the parking lot. Twilight turned and saw Dark and Lilac both arguing with each other yet again, “Sigh, those two.” Time Skip Dark waved to the two girls as they left for their classes, he had a free period. A free period of nothing to do, “And now I wait for an hour.” Just then, his phone started vibrating in his pocket. He pulled it out and unlocked it. Lilac had sent him a message, “Aren’t you forgetting about something?” “Huh? What are you talking about?” Dark sent back. “REALLY?! Cadance! Apology! NOW!” Lilac sent back angrily. Dark flinched at what he read and he sighed. “Alright, I’ll go.” He sent back before walking to Cadance’s office. Once he reached the office, he was about to knock, but he hesitated. “Ugh, she probably doesn’t want to see me.” He said before turning away from the door. He then felt his phone vibrate again in his pocket. “Don’t chicken out, just talk to her.” Twilight texted. “But-” “And don’t send me a ‘but’. Talk to her Dark, and don’t mess it up. That last part was Lilac.” Twilight texted before he could send something back. Dark sighed again and turned back to the door, but as he did, he bumped into someone. “Agh, Watch it!.” Dark said rubbing his head. “Hey it was an acci- Oh why does the world hate me?!” Dark looked up to see Sour Sweet also rubbing her head. “Oh great, I was already having a bad enough day and you’re the last thing I need to deal with right now.” Dark said glaring at Sour. “Aww poor Dark, You’re not the only one having a bad day!” Sour said glaring back at Dark. “I’m guessing you’ve heard about the news?” Dark growled. “You mean me being partnered with the WORST GUY IN THE ENTIRE SCHOOL!?” Sour shouted, “Then yes.” “Oh puhlease. Think you’ve got it bad? Cinch is threatening my family once again!” Dark yelled, “What’s your excuse!?” Before Sour could answer, “What is going on out here?” Dean Cadance walked out of her office and looked at the two. “He started it Dean Cadance!” Sour said quickly pointing at Dark, “I was minding my own business, when he came up and shoved me.” “W-What? I did not you lying bi-” Dark began yelling back. “Enough you two!” Cadance said stepping between the two of them. “But-” “NO BUTS! Now I know you two are angry about being partnered together, but you’re going to have to deal with it!” Cadance said in a serious tone. Dark and Sour both looked at Cadance with wide eyes, neither had ever seen her like that before. “Now get to class!” Cadance said before going back into her office. Dark and Sour were still wide eyed. “I...I-” “Yea I know.” Dark said cutting Sour off. “Did we-” “Yeah we did.” Dark said looking down. Sour also looked down in shame. “AGH, WHAT’S WRONG WITH ME!?” Dark and Sour yelled at the same time and once they did they looked at each other. “Why are you so mad?” Sour said with a confused look on her face. “Why are you?” Dark asked back. “I asked first.” She answered. Dark didn’t really have a comeback for that and he sighed. “Not that it’s any of your business, but i’ve known Cady for a long time now and seeing her act like that because of me just makes me feel….horrible.” Dark said crossing his arms with a disappointed look on his face. Sour was shocked by what he said, she didn’t think Dark was even capable of caring about other people. “You actually care about Dean Cadance?” Sour asked. “Yes, I do. That lady took care of me and my sister back when we were little and she’s done so much for us.” Dark said. Sour was shocked once again. “Well….it’s nice I’m not the only one who cares about her.” She said. Dark turned to Sour and glared at her. “Yea right, you don’t care about-” “Yes I do!” Sour said cutting Dark off. “That woman has done many things for me in my life. And I am unable to repay her for those things!” Sour said, “You know why?” “Should I care?” Dark asked. “I was working on controlling my outbursts, and I was doing a good job.” Sour said, “Until you showed up!” She jabbed Dark with her finger. “Until I showed up? What did I even do to you!?” Dark asked, “Last time I checked, we first met, by bumping into each other on accident.” He pushed Sour’s hand aside and glared down upon her, “So tell me; What did I do to you?” “You...you...you-” “That’s right, I didn’t do anything! You started all of this, you're just looking for someone to blame.” Dark said cutting her off. “No I’m not!” Sour said angrily. “Then tell me, What did I do to you!” Dark asked crossing his arms. Sour looked down and gritted her teeth. “Y….you...you’re right.” Sour said with a sigh. Dark’s eyes widened in shock. “Excuse me, what did you say?” Dark asked. Sour looked up to him with a small smile. “You’re right, I started all of this and I’m sorry.” Sour said still smiling. Dark just stared at Sour and saw the smile on her face trying to waver. He composed himself and spoke up. “You’re not serious are you? You’re apologising… to me?” “Well, you’re right. I did start this. I wrongly accused you of being a jerk to me.” Sour said, “When I was the one being a jerk.” Dark officially couldn’t stop staring at her, he was in too much shock to do so. “Who are you and where is the ‘Bi-Polar Queen’?” Dark asked unconsciously. Sour’s eye twitched and her smile turned into a frown. “Don’t call me that!” She said angrily. “Ah there you are, I knew that had to be an-” BOP! Dark was cut off by a punch to the nose, “AHG!” he cried out holding his nose. “That’s what you get!” Sour said before turning to leave. Dark kept holding his nose and watched as the girl left. “You’re going to regret doing that!” He shouted to her. She didn’t respond. “Ahg. That actually hurt.” Dark said seeing a bit of blood on his hands, “Great, now I’m bleeding.” Dark was going to head to the nurse’s office, when Cadance’s door opened, “What did I tell you two? Go to…” Then she saw Dark clutching in bloody nose, “Oh my god, Dark what happened to you!?” “Sour Bill happened.” Dark growled. Cadance pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. “Just come in.” She said walking Dark into her office. She sat Dark down in front of her desk and went to look for the first aid kit, “So, what did you do this time?” “Nothing to deserve this.” Dark said pointing at his face. Cadance rolled her eyes, “What did you do?” She asked pulling out the kit. “I called her the Bi-Polar Queen.” Dark said. SLAM Dark jumped at the sound of the cabinet slamming shut. “Why would you do that!? What did I tell you about calling her that!?” Cadance said sternly. “Because she was acting… strange.” Dark said with a short pause. “What do you mean ‘strange’?” Cadance asked. “She was being nice to me.” Dark said, “Agreeing with me. Like she was being friendly.” Cadance froze in place, “Sour Sweet was being nice to you?” “Yes. But it was making me uncomfortable.” Dark said. Cadance only stared at the boy. “What?” Dark asked. “She was being nice to you, and you called her Bipolar Queen!?” Cadance asked. She sighed walked over to the boy and began cleaning the blood off his face, “The whole point of you two being partnered is so you can bond and become friendlier to each other!” “And how do you expect me to get along with her?” Dark asked. “One word: TRY!” Cadance yelled as she glared at Dark. Dark couldn’t reply to that answer because Cadance was right, he never really tried to be nice. “Once again, I’m an ass.” Dark said putting a hand on his head. “I wouldn’t be so crude about it, but yes.” Cadance said in a serious tone, “And the worst part, you’re acting like a child.” “I know and that’s not fair to Sour…..or you.” Dark said in a sad tone. Cadance’s face softened after what she heard. She began to realize she wasn’t setting the best example. She sighed, “I’m sorry, Dark. It's just that-” “No It’s not your fault, it’s mine and don’t pretend it isn’t.” Dark said cutting her off. Cadance couldn’t help but frown at Dark’s word, she then walked over to him and put a hand on his head. “Look, I know you don’t like being forced into things like this, and I also know how short your temper is.” Cadance said with a smirk. “Are you trying to make me feel better or insult me.” Dark said with a small smile. Cadance giggled. “All I’m trying to say is make the most out of a bad situation. I saw you and Lilac talking with a few of the kids during lunch, it’s nice to see you both making friends.” She said. “I wouldn’t call them friends….well maybe that Loner guy, he seems… ok… I guess.” Dark said shrugging his shoulders. “That’s progress.” Cadance said with a smile. Dark smiled back before speaking up again. “I guess it is….look I'm sorry about yesterday, I had no reason to yell at you.” He said looking down. Cadance looked at him for a few seconds before shaking her head. “Yes you did, I panicked when Cinch showed up and I knew you would react like that. I should have been more careful of what I said when Cinch showed up.” Cadance said in guilt. “Cinch is always causing trouble. But no one can do anything about it.” Dark said clenching his fists. His nose began to bleed again from the pressure. “Hey hey hey, easy on the pressure.” Cadance said grabbing tissues and covering Dark’s nose. Dark sighed and loosened up, “Sorry, but just even mentioning her name pisses me off.” “I know, but like I said you have to endure it just until the games are over.” Cadance said. Dark sighed, “Yea alright, but that doesn’t mean I have to enjoy it.” He said. “You don’t have to enjoy it, but I expect you to apologize and make nice with Ms.Sweet.” Cadance said. Dark sighed again, but this time he emphasized how much he didn’t want to do it, “Fine, I’ll find her later and apologize.” He said with a small growl. Cadance smiled, “Good, now don’t you have a class to get to? Your free period is almost over.” She asked going over to her personal fridge. Dark raised an eyebrow and took out his phone to check the time, “It’s been an hour already?” He asked in shock. “Time really does fly when you’re having fun.” Cadance said still smiling. “What fun, all I did was get punched in the face and yelled at by you.” Dark said rubbing his nose. Cadance laughed a little, “All for good reason, now hurry up before you’re late.” She said. Dark nodded and got up from his seat. Before he could reach for the door though, he felt a warm hand on his head. “Listen Dark, you know the reason I’m asking you to do this is because I care about you. I know the last few years haven’t been the best for you and your family, but that doesn’t mean you have to shut us all out. You have to learn to open up again and you have to at least smile every now and then. We don’t want to lose you.” Cadance said in a sad tone. Dark let Cadance’s words sink in before turning around and hugging her. “How’s this for a start?” Cadance smiled and hugged him back, “See? Underneath the ‘tough guy’, you’re still the same lovable boy I babysat when he was younger.” Dark rolled his eyes and gave Cadance a small smile. “I guess maybe there's hope for me yet.”