//------------------------------// // Chapter 5: Flare-up // Story: The New Dawn of the Setting Sun // by The Crazed Werewolf //------------------------------// The following day after school, Fluttershy and Sunset left the Student Media Center after working on their project, Rainbow Dash had been absent from school that day with a fever. "Oh, I hope Rainbow is okay," Fluttershy said softly. "Me too, she didn't sound to good when I called her," Sunset agreed. As the two girls turned the corner, Sunset saw the part of the hallway where she had confronted Twilight in the days before the Fall Formal. The first thing Sunset noticed was how dark that part of the hallway was. Maybe I should mention it to Celestia, Sunset thought. The second thing she noticed was the sound of voices coming from around the corner. "She lives with the She-Demon!" one voice exclaimed, "how do we know she isn't one herself!" "Yeah, she doesn't deserve to be on the basketball team!" another agreed. Rounding the corner, Sunset and Fluttershy saw that two boys from the basketball team, Hoops and Shortstop, had backed Scootaloo into a corner and had her in tears. "I say we giver her message that she'll never forget!" Hoops said as he clenched his fist and reached out to grab Scootaloo with his other hand. "What in the name of Nightmare Moon are you doing!" Sunset exclaimed as she grabbed Hoops by the shoulder. Spinning around, Hoops came face to face with Sunset. "Oh look," Hoops said, "its the She-Demon and her little minion." "One." Sunset said. Both Fluttershy's and Scootaloo's eyes went wide. "One? What is this algebra?" Shortstop chortled. "Two." Sunset replied. "I've had enough of this bitch thinking she can run this school." Hoops said as he moved to punch Sunset in the face. "THREE!" Sunset cried as she caught Hoops fist in her hand and in one solid motion twisted his arm around and had his index finger securely in her grip. Hoops face went pale as a look of pain washed over him. Sunset released him after about thirty seconds. Hoops held onto his hand as he fled, Shortstop following close behind. "Sunset, what did you do?" Fluttershy asked, "break his finger?" "No, I could have," Sunset said, "I started to dislocate it." "That was awesome!" Scootaloo said as she stared at her foster sister. "Let's just keep this between us," Sunset said, "last thing we need is for Celestia or Luna to hear of this." "Ahem!" a familiar voice exclaimed. The three girls turned to see Luna and Sweetie Belle standing about six feet behind them. Sweetie looked like she had seen a ghost, or more accurately, a she-demon. "Ms. Shy, Ms. Belle," Luna said sternly, "you two are free to go, I would like a word with my nieces however. My office, NOW!" Both Fluttershy and Sweetie Belle winced as they backed away. Sunset and Scootaloo both looked at each other with dread. They followed Luna in silence, neither girl looked at the other or other students as they went. Trixie looked up from her smart phone as Sunset and Scootaloo followed Luna into her office. "Trixie, dear," Luna said to her daughter with a motherly tone, "could you wait outside for a moment while I talk to Sunset and Scootaloo." "Yes ma'am," Trixie answered, though she was looking at Sunset and Scootaloo. She could tell that Scootaloo had been crying and that Sunset was furious. Luna waited for Trixie to leave and for the door to close. "I witnessed to whole thing," Luna began, "Sweetie Belle came and got me when Hoops and Shortstop cornered you." Sunset tried to make herself smaller. "I'm suspended again, aren't I." Sunset said. "If you suspend Sunset, then you should suspend Hoops!" Scootaloo said. "Were you really trying to break his finger?" Luna asked. "I could have," Sunset answered, knowing that she was incriminating herself, "if I had wanted too." Luna looked at her for a moment. "Where did you learn that?" Luna asked. Sunset looked at Luna and Scootaloo be fore hanging her head on defeat and letting out a sigh. "When I first came to this world, before Celestia adopted me, I quickly learned that there were people who enjoy preying upon children," Sunset said as Scootaloo looked at Sunset with a look of shock, "I made it a priority to learn how to protect myself." "Oh Sunset," Luna said in near whisper. "I read books on martial arts from the library," Sunset continued, "and anatomy books also proved educational." "Did you ever have to use those skills?" Luna asked. "A few times," Sunset answered, "I'm truly thankful that Celestia and Discord took me in, I'd likely be dead otherwise-!" Sunset was shocked as Luna came around her desk and gave Sunset a hug, what was even more surprising was that Scootaloo joined in the hug as well. "Sunset do I need to notify Celestia and get you some counseling?" Luna asked as she released Sunset. Sunset could see that the older woman had been crying. "What," Sunset asked confused, then she realized what Luna was implying, "I was lucky, I wasn't raped. I don't need counseling." "If you're sure." Luna answered. There was a knock on the door. After a moment Celestia entered her sister's office with a look of concern on her face. "Trixie told me that Sunset and Scootaloo are in here," Celestia said looking at the two girls, "I have asked you girls repeatedly to stop fighting." "They weren't fighting," Luna answered, "in fact Sunset stopped some bullies from attacking Scootaloo." Celestia looked at Luna, the, at Sunset, and finally at Scootaloo who only nodded. "Who?" Celestia asked looking back at Luna. "I'm handling it," Luna said, "you have nothing to worry about." "Okay," Celestia sighed. "Now why don't you three go home, I'll close up the school," Luna said, "Sunset, I want you to tell Celestia and Discord what we talked about." Sunset looked at Luna nervously. "If you don't, I will," Luna warned, "they have every right to know." Celestia looked at Sunset expectedly. "And YOU," Luna said looking at Celestia with a face that scare a Marine Corps drill instructor, "listen to what she has to say and try not to over react."