//------------------------------// // Don't Ever Forget // Story: Its Over Now // by HazelGems //------------------------------// This time, Rainbow reacted immediately, grabbing and pushing Sonata against the wall, pinning her shoulders to prevent any wriggling out. “What the hell are you doing here?” Dash started the interrogation with. “Oh gods, please have mercy! I don’t want to get hit by your rainbow lasers again!” The Siren shouted in genuine fear. Rainbow felt a pang of guilt, but still needed answers. “How did you get in?” “I jumped the fence! It was really super easy to not get noticed!” “But why? What is it that you’re even doing?” “I just got hungry!” “What?” “Nobody ever notices when one person sneaks in and just takes food, and I haven’t eaten all day, but I promise I’ll leave right now! You won’t ever see me again! I’ll… I’ll…” Rainbow realized what was about to happen, and hopped to the side. Sonata slumped back down to the toilet, tossing more cookies. Dash couldn’t do much more other than awkwardly wait until the nasty deed was done. She made the horrible mistake of taking a peek at the inside of the toilet. She wished it was easy to forget what she saw. It was very pink. Sonata eventually finished, slowly propping herself against the glass pane of the shower stall, sitting. She was looking visibly pale. Dash was starting to regret being so rough with her earlier. She sat down beside her. “So, you didn’t come her to do anything bad? No brainwashing or world domination type of shit?” “No, why would I even want to do that?” That was actually a good question. “I, uh, don’t know. I just kinda assumed. Sorry.” “It’s okay, nobody really assumes the best of me either.” There was silence between them. Rainbow was beginning to feel like an ass for thinking the worse of this poor girl. She took the time to actually notice how disheveled Sonata looked. Her hair was kinda frizzy, faint smudges on her clothes. She had the same shoes as she always did, and they looked incredibly worn out. This girl was not in good condition, and her body was starting to quiver. “Hey, uh, Sonata, are you going to be okay? What did you even eat?” “Well, it started with some hot dogs they had outside, then I ate the some okay-ish cake, then you found me, I got really scared and ran, but I was still hungry so I got some cookies, cupcakes and chips, but then I got thirsty, so I found some juice but it tasted kind of weird, but then my tummy started feeling awful, I came up here to vom, and then you found me.” Sonata ended with a smile at Rainbow Dash, happy to recollect the whole story. This girl was definitely something.  “You clearly need to find a place to rest. Are your friends here too? I can call them if you want.” “No, they’re not here. They, um, haven’t been here in a long time…” “You’re alone?” “Just for now! I kinda lost them while we were running away back when you shot those magic missiles at us, but my sisters will remember to come back for me eventually! I’m the youngest sister! It’s only just been a couple years. And if I stay in the same place, then they’ll have an easier time finding me, right?” Rainbow stared at her in disbelief. She’s delusional. She’s expecting things to go back the way they were, even though they clearly never will. Why does that sound familiar? “Hey, I have a friend that’s coming to pick me up right now. Need a lift?” Dash asked. Sonata nodded her head. Rainbow got up and helped the siren back on her feet. She took off her own jean vest jacket and draped it over the sick girl as they walked out of the rooms. As soon as they neared the stairs, Rainbow ducked Sonata’s head under her arm as they went down. She didn’t want Pinkie or any of the others to notice and make a scene. Thankfully, no one she knew was in sight. Was it because they are all finally together in the same room? Was Applejack or Fluttershy looking for her at this moment to invite her to the reunion she imagined would happen? She didn’t care at this point. The duo made it clean through the front door and out into the crowd in the lawn. when she stood on her tip toes, lifting her head above the rabble, she noticed Gilda already parked on the curb. As soon as the rowdy girl saw Dash, she started honking the horn. “Get your ass over here! I’m half empty!” Rainbow pushed through the crowd carefully, making sure not to upset the sick girl. When they broke through, Gilda noticed who was in tow. “Who’s the drunk? You better not be having any funny ideas.” “Gods Gilda, it’s not something gross like that! She just needs a ride to her place. Do you mind?” “Nah, it’s cool, just toss her in the back.” Rainbow gently laid Sonata on the back seats making sure not to slam the door again. The moment she turned around, Twilight was standing behind her, arms behind her back. “Oh, Twilight, I was kinda on my way out.” Dash told her with guilt. “It’s okay, I sort of wish I could leave early too.” She said, rubbing the back of her neck. “So, you found her?” “Sonata? How’d you know about it.” “Sunset told me about the fight you two had, but I convinced her to calm down and believe in you. We were both looking for you to apologize about it.” “Tell Sunset not to worry, okay. Everything worked out in the end.” “There’s something else…” Twilight sighed and wringed her wrist. She was having a hard time forming the words. “I… I know exactly what you’re going through.” “What does that—? “ “Rainbow, I’ve been afraid too. I’m having a hard time accept the facts, and it’s that we’re barely going to see each other again after today. We’re not going to be friends in the same way again. We have to live our lives without the others. I’ve had anxiety attacks just thinking about it. Knowing that, in a way, things were ending.” Rainbow stood there, hanging her head. But Twilight wasn’t finished. “But we’re still friends. We’re still connected. It’s never truly over for us. Even if we all aren’t in the same space until we’re in our eighties, we’re still going to be friends. We’ve been through too much for that to not be true! I love Sunset, and I love every one of my friends in another sense, and that includes you Rainbow. We all love you, and I don’t want you to leave without knowing that.” Tears were already falling down both of their faces. Rainbow threw herself at Twilight in a hug, holding tightly. This was what she needed badly all night. To know that she mattered. “Rainbow?” “Yeah, Twilight?” “This girl is sort of giving me a look.” “Oh shit! Sorry! I almost forgot I gotta get going!” “Then go! I’ll tell the others that it was a personal emergency.” “Thanks Twilight, you honestly are the best.” “Don’t mention it. And hey, me and Sunset will be in town two weeks from now, so I’ll see you then.” Rainbow just smiled and nodded. She did however jump when another honk came out of nowhere. “Let’s go you damn slowpoke!” Gilda shouted. Dash went in for one more quick hug before waving goodbye to the science whiz. The three of them drove off while Twilight watched them go. “So, Rainbow Crash, where am I heading?” “Oh yeah, I forgot to ask. Hey Sonata, where do you live?” “mmm Primrose Avenue…” The sick girl mumbled. “That isn’t too far from here.” They rode in silence for the rest of the way, with the only thing to listen being some soft pop songs. Rainbow figured that Gilda was being forced to listen to these tunes as part of her therapy. When they arrived on the street, Rainbow gently stirred Sonata awake. “Hey, we’re here. Can you point us to which one is your house?” The siren groggily sat up, looking from side to side in the dark. Gilda made sure to drive slowly to give her enough time to look. “It’s that one right there.” They pulled up, but the two friends were confused. It seemed like an empty lot, with weeds and cinder blocks strewn about. They needed to squint to notice the tiny makeshift shack that was at the corner. “Fuck, that’s where she lives?” Gilda said in utter disbelief. “Yup. I had to build it myself. I sometimes hear the neighbors shout at me about ‘lowering property values’ or something dumb like that. I don’t really get it.” “I’m not gonna leave you in a place like that.” Rainbow stated. “Come on Gilda, let’s get going.” “W-wait! Then where am I going to sleep!?” Sonata yelled in her weak voice, slightly panicking. “Relax dude, you’re gonna stay in my dorm until we get you back on your feet. Nobody really gives a crap about dorm rules, so there’s nothing to worry about.” Rainbow answered. “You could’ve stayed at my place, but somebody placed the flour in the wrong cabinet and my old man flipped out. By the way, you owe me lunch for the next week, Dash.” Gilda said. “Hehe, yeah, a promise is a promise, even to a no-good jackass like you.” Rainbow said, giving a light punch of the shoulder to her friend. They all smiled and laughed, including Sonata. She realized how much happier she was right then and there. It was closure that she was feeling. Reaffirmation that, no matter how difficult things will get, she will never truly be alone. One thing was for certain. She’s wasn’t afraid anymore.