Scars

by pabrony


Vacations

Each of us woke up one by one as the morning sun filtered through the mini-blinds. Being the light sleeper that I am, and the fact I was worried about Sunset Shimmer, I ended up being the first one awake.

Apparently, Sunset and I weren't as quiet as we thought on our way back to the living room as Applejack confronted us after Sunset woke up.

"What happened to y'all this mornin'?" she asked us.

"They were probably getting busy back there," Rainbow Dash said laughing.

"No, we weren't," I said, slightly annoyed. "I was helping Sunset out with a personal problem that she was having."

Rainbow Dash, obviously having sex on the brain, burst out laughing like a hyena at my comment.

"I meant we were having a heart to heart talk, you pervert," I said angrily.

"How come, darling? If you don't mind me asking," Rarity said.

"Sunset, would you care to roll up your sleeves?" I asked her.

"Awww, Sunny. You didn't do that again, did you?" Pinkie Pie wailed.

Sunset didn't say anything. She just hung her head in embarrassment as she realized that the rest of our friends had figured out what happened.

"We talked 'bout this months ago, sugarcube. If y'all need ta talk ta somebody, we're available anytime. Just pick up th' phone or pull one of us aside. We'll talk ta ya. 'Kay?" Applejack told Sunset.

We all ganged up on Sunset to give her a group hug as tears began to roll down her cheeks.


"Twilight Sparkle!" Mom hollered from downstairs.

"Coming!" I called from my bedroom.

I made my way to the laundry room where Mom was holding the top to the pajamas I wore at the slumber party at Sunset's place.

"Where in the world did all this blood come from?" Mom asked angrily.

"I'm sorry, Mom," I apologized. "It was the middle of the night. I wasn't thinking."

"That doesn't answer my question," she deadpanned.

I took a deep breath before continuing, "I found one of my new friends in the bathroom with fresh cuts on her arms and I was consoling her."

"One of your friends is a cutter? Your father and I didn't make a mistake letting you go to that party, did we?" she asked.

"No, Mom," I responded. "She's working through depression and is trying to make amends for some of her actions from the last three years."

Mom's expression softened as I continued to explain Sunset Shimmer's first years in Canterlot High. She set the top on the washing machine and approached me with tears beginning to fill her eyes.

"I'm proud of you, Twilight," she said as she gave me a hug.

"For what?"

"For being there for your friend when she needed someone," Mom told me as she continued to gently hug me. "Can you do me a favor next time though?"

"What's that?" I asked, slightly confused.

"Get your friend's cuts to stop bleeding before you let her hold onto you," Mom requested.

"Sure, mom."


A couple of weeks later, all of the rising seniors finished the fundraising so that we could be able to go to Camp Everfree. Pinkie Pie was so excited that she began making plans for a party the week after school let out. The day after the last day of school we got a group text:

Who: The Rainbooms

What: End-of-School Party

When: 3:00 pm Friday until "whenever" Sunday

Where: Rarity's parents’ beach house, meet at Pinkie Pie's

Bring instruments, PJ's, sleeping bag, swimsuit, towel, and sunscreen.
Fun, music and pony-ups guaranteed! :)

-PP

I was so excited. Mom, Dad, Shiny and I had gone to the beach a few times when I was younger, but not in recent years and even when we went, it was only for the day. The seven of us (and Spike) all met at Rarity's house the Wednesday before the party to get fitted for swimsuits.

My swimsuit was a navy blue one-piece with purple trim and pink stars that matched the hair beret I always wear.

"Rarity this swimsuit is fantastic! I love it!" I told her as I threw my arms around her. "I can't believe how close this matches my favorite hair beret."

"I'm glad you like it, darling," Rarity replied. "I spent most of last night designing it specifically for you."

"How much do I owe you for this?" I asked her.

"Not a thing. This hug you gave me is payment enough," she responded with a light chuckle.

"Are you serious? This has got to be worth at least $35," I said in astonishment.

"Darling, I don't charge a thing for clothing and accessories I create for my friends. Never have and never will," she explained.

The only response I could come up with was to squeeze Rarity into another bear hug. I'm so glad to have friends like these.


"Are you going to join us, Twilight?" Rainbow Dash asked me after they got done playing "Shine Like Rainbows".

"Me? But I don't have any instrument to play, nor do I know how to play one," I stalled.

"Y'all ain't gotta play an instrument thar, Twilight," Applejack assured me.

After about fifteen minutes of me giving excuses as to why I couldn't be part of the band, I finally agreed to try backup vocals on the next song. About halfway through the song, I started feeling funny and began levitating about a foot off the ground. And then something caught my attention in the corner of my eye: wings. Not demonic wings like Midnight Sparkle, but plush wings like Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash gained.

"Twilight! You earned your wings!" Rainbow shouted as she pulled me into a tight squeeze. "This so freakin' awesome!"

The others quickly joined in embracing me in celebration of my newest accomplishment. I was at a loss for words as my new wings accidentally smacked Rarity and Fluttershy in the face, surprisingly eliciting giggles from the two of them. It was a surreal experience that I knew mom and dad wouldn't believe.

Unfortunately, we had to hang up the instruments for the night a little while later, due to noise ordinance laws but we ordered pizzas and held a tournament on Rainbow's Ponystation 4 instead. I'm proud to say I got my butt whipped in the second round by Rainbow Dash.

The next day was beautiful and after breakfast, we went out partied on the beach. Sunset, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Spike and I built a huge sandcastle, Rainbow Dash and Applejack competed on surfboards and Rarity laid out on her beach towel to get some sun. Everything was going great until I laid on my towel after lunch.

"You will never learn to control me! Hahahahaha!"

I recognized the voice instantly, Midnight Sparkle.


I heard a pounding on my bedroom door followed by Rainbow Dash yelling, "Twilight! The bus for Camp Everfree leaves in ten minutes!"

"Oh no, no, no, no. I can't believe I overslept!" I panicked while Spike let the girls in.

"Me neither," Sunset said. "That's not like you."

"I know," I said.

"Don't you have a super annoying alarm clock that goes EHH EHH EHH!" Pinkie Pie asked before lifting my pillow to reveal my alarm clock going off.

"It's going to be fine. We'll help you pack," Sunset assured me.

"We're gonna be out in th' woods. When's she gonna need that?" Applejack asked Rarity as she put a dress in my suitcase.

"If we were going to the moon, I'd insist she pack an evening gown. One never knows, darling," Rarity retorted.

"Let me just get changed," I said as Rainbow grabbed my bags.

I stood in front of the mirror holding my Camp Everfree t-shirt when a pair of demonic wings appeared behind me.

I spun around as we all shouted in unison, "Midnight Sparkle!"

"How is this possible?" I asked in fear. "Sunset Shimmer helped me defeat you at the Friendship Games!"

"You and your friends can never truly defeat me," Midnight Sparkle laughed maniacally as she somehow caused everyone to disappear. "Midnight Sparkle is a part of you. I'll always be there, waiting in the darkest shadows of your mind. I'll be back Twilight! And this time I won't stop until I have ALL the magic!"

"NOOOOO! STOOOP!" I shouted.


"Twilight, wake up," Spike said as he shook me. I looked around and realized I had fallen asleep on the bus to camp.

"We can't stop, silly. We're not there yet," Pinkie Pie giggled.

"Hey, are you okay?" Sunset asked me.

"I'm fine," I lied but judging by the look on Sunset's face, she didn't believe me. Before she could respond, Pinkie spoke up again.

"We are gonna have so much fun. We're gonna roast marshmallows and eat marshmallows and sleep on marshmallow pillows," she said.

"Yeah. Probably not going to do that," Rainbow replied with a smirk.

"Maybe you're not..." Pinkie said as she held up a pillow-sized bag filled with marshmallows. I don't think I'll ever get used to Pinkie's randomness.


After getting hit on by Timber, the male camp counselor, Sunset and I took our bags to our tent so we could get settled in.

I was in my own world, thinking about the emotions that Timber had managed to draw out. He was cute but I really wasn't attracted to him that much for some reason. Sunset asked me something that broke my concentration and all I answered with was, "Huh? Uh, I guess so."

"I just have this feeling that Gloriosa's hiding something," Sunset said quietly. "Her brother's pretty cute though, huh?"

After turning a slight shade of red I answered nonchalantly, "He's okay."

"Oooooh, now look who's trying to hide something," Sunset teased.

"No, I'm not!" I blurted out.

Sunset changes subjects almost as randomly as Pinkie Pie. She went from teasing to serious in an instant.

"Hey, you okay? You seemed a little freaked out on the bus earlier," Sunset asked me.

Big Mouth had to put his two cents in the conversation, "Probably had another one of her nightmares."

"I'm fine," I shot back before calming down. "I mean, what do I have to complain about? Ever since I transferred here, everyone at CHS has been really nice and accepting. Especially considering what happened at the Friendship Games."

Sunset gave me a short pep talk reminding me that the Friendship Games incident wasn't my fault. That cheered me up for about thirty seconds until I found Sunset's sunscreen. I pointed to it and it magically levitated to chest level and when I looked around the tent, everything was floating in the air. I had no idea what caused it but I was freaked out. Sunset on the hand was loving it.


After breakfast the next day, I went back to the tent with Sunset where she showed off a cute, new bikini for me.

"Can you give me a hand tying the strings?" she asked as she pulled her shirt off.

I was in shock at not only the sight before me but the feelings stirring within me. Was I really in love with my best friend?