//------------------------------// // Halftime // Story: Sunset Shimmer vs Schadenfreude // by Daemon McRae //------------------------------// It was still Saturday, although the sun was beginning to set. The parking lot had emptied out, save for the girls who stayed behind to help clean up and put things away. Most of them were still in swimwear, although a few of the more modest girls had already changed into proper clothes they’d thought to bring with them. Schaden and Applejack were counting and pooling the money from both the carwash and the photo ops, taking notes about which money came from where, and managing all kinds of electronic transfers to get all of the money they’d received by card into the Committee’s budget account. There was a bit of confusion between them, neither being completely comfortable with electronic banking, until Sunset had joined them to take over both their phones. Derpy, surprisingly, had done little to no damage. Besides a bucket of hot, soapy water getting dumped on Rainbow’s head, she’d done quite well and just standing there holding the sign. Sunset even liked to think they’re numbers had gone up slightly after she took over. “So what’s the score?” Lyra asked, leaning on a broom-sized squeegee handle and staring at the trio of money counters expectantly. Sunset smiled despite herself, and her proximity to Schaden, who had somehow actually convinced the group to wash the damn monster truck. The hundred dollars his dad had sent over might have had something to do with it, but her shoulders still ached from scrubbing the treads. The fact that they could, and had to be, washed by hand irked her immensely. “It’s good. We’ve actually got a surplus now. We even got a good deal on a caterer.” Bon-bon, who had actually been using her squeegee to push all the soapy water into the drain pipes, raised an eyebrow. “How did you do that? You’ve been here the whole time!” Applejack kicked her feet up to rest them on the table and leaned back in her chair. “Well, it just so happens the Apple Family Orchard offers caterin’ services themselves!” “Do you do fish?” Bon-Bon asked carefully. “Does a bear crap in the woods?” Applejack retorted. Bon-Bon looked ready to say something scathing, so Sunset jumped in. “She means yes. There’s a rather sizable creek, or river, running through their property. I’ve gone fishing there myself. And don’t worry, they’re really good cooks.” “I’m not worried about the quality,” Bon-Bon scoffed. “Everyone knows Apple food is good food. I’m worried they won’t be able to stick to the menu.” Rarity, having overheard part of the discussion, saw fit to jump in, dragging Pinkie with her. “Oh, don’t worry about that, darling. If anyone here knows a fine dining menu, it’s moi! And I do believe our dear Pinkie Pie can handle the desert end of things?” “Probably!” Pinkie said happily. “I mean, I’d need to talk to Mr. and Mrs. Cake, but they could do a dessert bar for a school dance, easy! Just as long as you give them enough warning.” Sunset raised an eyebrow. “I’ll feel more confident when we have everything on paper and I’ve got receipts in my hand.” It was just then that Schaden tapped on her shoulder. “Ugh, what?” He handed her a small stack of papers. “Schaden… oh my god,” she groaned, seeing the stack was little more than the receipts from the car wash and a small scrap with the word ‘everything’ written on it. “I hate you so much sometimes.” “I’m so helpful,” he said with a wide grin. Rarity scowled at him. “I’m still not happy with that… monstrosity you made us clean.” “Excuse me? Us?” Applejack asked in an annoyed tone. “I seem to remember you waltzing right past that behemoth and all but throwing yourself on a Mazarati with a sponge in your hand.” “Well, you can’t expect a lady to work on a beast of that magnitude, can you?” Rarity argued. “Sunset and Fluttershy did,” Schaden pointed out. “Oh! Yes… well. Still! I’d rather not have ruined my manicure trying to dig that thoing out from the mountain of dirt you seem to have excavated it from, right Sunset?” Rarity added, looking to her friend. Sunset was more taken aback by Schaden’s comment. “Did… you just compliment me?” she asked suspiciously. Schaden rolled his shoulders casually. “Please. If anyone besides Rarity qualifies as a lady it’s you and Flutters. I mean, I’m pretty sure Applejack and Rainbow Dash consider it an insult, for one.” “Yer darn tootin’.” Rarity nodded. “For once I agree, dear. You do seem to have a certain ‘je ne sais quoi’ about you.” “Hmm. Ok. Still mad at you.” Schaden grinned, standing up. “Aren’t you always? Now if you’ll excuse me I gotta get D home.” “How the hell did you get that girl to go out with you in the first place?” Lyra asked. “Mystery of life,” Schaden said casually, waving to Derpy, who was sitting on a propane tank drinking from a juice box. “D! We’re out of here!” “Ok!” she called back, hopping down. She also hadn’t changed out of her swimsuit, and skipped over to the truck. “By Sunny!” “Bye Derpy!” “Bye Rarity!” “Goodbye, darling!” “Bye Applejack!” “See ya Monday, D!” “Bye Ly-” “GOODBYE, DERPY!” called the group at large. Derpy waved happily one last time, and hopped in the truck. Whether because she got the message or because everyone had said goodbye to her, nobody was sure. Schaden hopped in the driver’s seat, giving his girlfriend a peck on the cheek as she giggled cutely, and they pulled into traffic probably a little faster than they should. Certainly the cars behind them thought so, if the horns were any indication. There was a moment of peace as people puttered about cleaning and counting and in general breaking camp to go home. Then a thought came to Rainbow Dash, as she walked past the table that used to be their ‘register’. “Who the hell gave that guy a driver’s license?” “THANK YOU!” Sunset shouted.