//------------------------------// // Pit Stop // Story: Before the Friendship Games: Sunny Flare // by CapNTilfy //------------------------------// The atmosphere in the car had changed drastically after the phone call from Rutherford's parents. Before, it was light-hearted and tranquil. Now the mood in the car was silent and somber. After a few minutes, Sunny Flare broke the silence. "Father?" Stellar looked his daughter in the rear view mirror. "Yes, sweetie?" "Can we pull over when we reach a sparsely populated area?" "We'll be near a gas station soon, honey." said her father. Sunny began shaking. "No, father... I don't think you understand." she said, her voice trembling. Stellar glanced at his daughter and saw the look in her eyes. His eyes widened, then he nodded in understanding. He accelerated the car and found a bunch of cornfields, driving off the road then parking the car. Sunny Flare quickly took off her seatbelt and ran away from the car. She stopped, breathing heavily. She took a deep breath, threw her head back...then let out a shriek of pure, unbridled rage. It lasted for several seconds, then slowly died down and ebbed into a moan. Taking another deep breath, she let out a wail that caused both of her parents to come rushing towards her. As they reached her, they saw that she had collapsed from her emotions and was sitting on the ground. "Why can't I go four fucking hours without being constantly reminded of him?!" Sunny said as her whole body shook. "Can't I just stay happy for a moment? Is that too much to ask?!" she said before descending into another fit of sobbing. Her parents hugged her tightly, shedding tears of their own. They could hardly bear to see their daughter in such deep sorrow. After a few minutes, Sunny calmed down. "I don't know how much more of this I can take..." she said, her voice nearly hoarse from her screaming. "I just want it all to stop. I just want my pain to just go away..." She shuddered. Shimmering Glaze and Stellar Tycoon walked Sunny to the family car. Sunny sat still for a few moments, then slowly got out of the car. "Sunny?" asked her father, who was sitting in the driver's seat. "Are you okay?" Sunny sighed deeply...then made a break for the highway as a car sped forward. "Sunny Flare!" her mother shrieked. "No!" "Shit!" Stellar panicked as he fumbled with his seatbelt. Sunny came within a few feet of the road, then felt a wave of pain hit her in the stomach. No! she thought. Not when I'm so close! Sunny tried to push past the pain, but eventually she slowed down to a walk as the pain intensified. Just a little bit further...then she would finally be free from all of the pain and suffering! Before she could take another step, an even more intense wave of pain shot through her stomach, causing Sunny to scream in agony...then pass out. ---------------------------------------- Sunny Flare opened her eyes to the park where she and Rutherford first met. Did I do it? she thought. Is this Heaven? Slowly, before her very eyes, Rutherford materialized out of thin air. "Rutherford...is it really you?" Sunny said, tears falling from her face. Rutherford slowly walked over to her, smiled...then slapped her in the face as hard as he could. Sunny backed up a few steps, stunned. Her tears of joy now became tears of pain. Betrayal. Anger. Before she could say anything, Rutherford stared at Sunny angrily. "Sunny Flare, what the fuck were you thinking?!" He said, furious. Sunny burst into tears. "I can't live without you! The pain is becoming too much to bear, and I just want to end it all and be with you forever!" Rutherford was still giving her the angriest look she had ever seen...then shot towards her and hugged her, crying. "Don't ever do that again...you scared the shit out of me." Sunny stood still, shocked by Rutherford's display of emotion. "Sunflare." he said, his voice cracking. "I didn't sacrifice my life for you to just throw it away because you miss me. I wanted you to live on. I know you would have done the same for me." "Oh, god, Rutherford...I miss you so much!" Sunny said, sobbing. Rutherford smiled. "I know you do...but you shouldn't throw your life away like that. It's bad enough that your parents lost a grandchild, then someone they consider part of the family...but imagine how heartbroken they would be if they lost their only child?" He said. "You've already died once, Sunflare...even if for only a minute. I don't think I'd be able to face you if you did something so selfish." "But I don't want to get over you!" Shouted Sunny. "You were the only man I ever loved!" "Goddammit, Sunny Flare!" Rutherford yelled. "It hurt me enough slapping you once, I don't want to have to do it again!" "Then don't!" Sunny shouted. "Don't give me a reason to, then!" Rutherford said. "I'm trying to talk some sense into you!" "By slapping me?!" said Sunny. "No!" said Rutherford. "I'm trying to get it through your head that while I may be gone, both of your parents still love you!" he shouted. "And now they're scared out of their wits because the only child they'll ever have just tried to get herself killed by a car! Which, by the way, is how I fucking died! Or did you forget that in your grief?" he shouted, sobbing. Sunny put her hand to her mouth in shock. "Oh...oh god." Her knees buckled and she collapsed into a sitting position. "What's wrong with me?!" she covered her face with her hands. Rutherford hugged her tightly. "You're going through a lot. I get that." He said softly. "But please...for all of our sakes. Mine, your parents, and your own...endure the suffering. I know it hurts, but I'll be here...in your heart and in your head. After all...I did say I'd be with you...always." He leaned towards her and kissed her deeply. -------------------------------- Sunny regained conciousness just inches away from the road, where an ambulance and a police car were parked. She slowly got up, only to be hugged tightly from behind. "Sunny Flare, don't you ever...ever scare your mother and I like that again. Do you hear me?!" her father said from behind her, his voice cracking. Sunny teared up as she heard footsteps rapidly approaching until they stopped. She heard her mother burst into tears, which sent Sunny over the edge. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" she repeated until she descended into a bawling fit.