//------------------------------// // Changes // Story: Before the Friendship Games: Sour Sweet // by CapNTilfy //------------------------------// Sour Sweet woke up early in the morning feeling a slight pang of anxiety. It's okay, Sweet. I'm here for you. We've got this! Thought Sour Side. Sour Sweet smiled. Thanks. I needed those words of encouragement. She got up, got dressed and found a notepad. She wrote down "This. Ends. Today. On a field of my choosing. - Sour" and tore the page off. She folded it, then put it in her pocket. "Here we go." she said as she took a deep breath and left her home. ---------------------------------------------- She arrived at Crystal Prep Academy shortly after the doors had been unlocked. She walked through the halls until she found Lemon Zest's locker and stuck her not to it. I know it sounds ominous and threatening, but at least it gets a message across. She thought. Next, she made her way to the counselor's offices. She found one of the more well-known guidance counselors, Radiant Hope. As Sour Sweet approached her, she took a deep breath and sighed. "Okay, if Lemon Zest has spoken to you, I'm sure you know about the...encounters we've been having with each other." She winced from a pang of guilt. "Yes." Said Radiant Hope, nodding. "And you would like to do something about that, I take it?" Sour Sweet nodded. "Yes, that's the reason I'm here. I want to bury the hatchet. I've been through one hell of a lot lately, and I think patching things up with her might be the first step to improving my life." Hope smiled. "That's quite insightful of you, Sour Sweet." Sour Sweet blushed and put a hand to the back of her head. "Not really. I just want my life situation to improve, and I'm willing to take any steps necessary to do so. You know, anything that won't get me in any trouble, that is." "So you want to have a session with her?" Asked Hope. "Yes, but I don't think she'd be comfortable sitting right next to me. Maybe I should come in during one of her sessions." Said Sour Sweet. "Hmm." Hope stroked her chin. "I suppose that would work. Tell you what. Why don't you come back a little later. Lemon has an appointment with me shortly before the first class starts. I'll make arrangements, and then you can come in." "Oh, thank you, Radiant Hope!" Sour Sweet said, then ran and hugged Hope. "I see why you're the most popular out of all the counselors." Hope giggled. "You don't have to go that far, Sour." Sour Sweet blushed, then backed away. "Sorry about that. I got a little carried away." Hope smiled. "Don't worry about it. Now why don't you find something else to do while I get prepared?" "Will do!" Said Sour Sweet, and she left the offices. Do you really think this will work? Thought Sour Side. Honestly, I don't know. But it's better than the alternative. Thought Sour Sweet. And that would be? Thought Sour Side. Continuing to be miserable, constantly getting into fights with Lemon Zest, remaining friendless, always alone. Thought Sour Sweet. Okay, okay. I see your point. Thought Sour Side. The doors to Crystal Prep Academy had opened as students came flowing through the hallways. Sour Sweet chose a hiding spot near Lemon Zest's locker and kept an eye out for her. She saw her walk up to her locker and read the note. She took the bait! Thought Sour Sweet. Now all I have to do is wait for the right opportunity. ---------------------------------------------- A few minutes had passed, and Sour Sweet slowly began to feel nervous. You're not getting cold feet now, are you? Thought Sour Side. No, but I am starting to get a little uneasy. Thought Sour Sweet. However, this needs to be done. She walked towards the counselor's offices and walked up to Radiant Hope's office. She could faintly hear Lemon Zest speaking in a panicked tone. "Did Dean Cadence put you up to this? Or did Principal Cinch?" Sour Sweet took a deep breath, then opened the door. "They didn't. I did." ---------------------------------------------- Sour Sweet stayed behind after Lemon Zest left. She wiped a tear from her eye. "Wow. I needed that way more than I thought I did." Hope smiled. "So it would seem." "Hey." Sour Sweet said. "Can I stick around for a little bit? My issues with Lemon were just the tip of the iceberg." "Of course." Said Hope. "My next appointment isn't for a while." "Thank you." Said Sour Sweet. She took a deep breath, then exhaled. "I know this is supposed to be a safe space, but I'm scared. The things I want to tell you are things I wouldn't dare tell other people." "If you don't feel comfortable saying something, then I don't mind if you don't say it." "Thanks. Hearing that makes me feel better." Sour Sweet said with a smile. "Over the past few years, I've been having dreams about me killing crowds of people. At the very least, I know who the crowds are supposed to represent." Radiant Hope simply nodded. "The crowds represent two people. Their names are Cinnamon Flash and Blueberry Dazzle, and unfortunately, they're my landlords." Said Sour Sweet. "They are the worst people to ever walk the planet, and the dream I have is my fantasy of paying them back for all the ways they've treated me." Her hands clenched into fists as she felt her anger boil at the mere mention of their names. "They've always believed that Sour Side was an imaginary friend, not a part of me like I keep insisting!" She banged a fist on the table, nearly startling Radiant Hope. Radiant Hope nodded again. "They charge me ludicrous amounts of rent. I can barely get by on my own! I'd have moved out long ago, but I have no friends or family to move in with!" Sour Sweet said, fresh tears falling. "How did you even meet these two?" Asked Radiant Hope. Sour Sweet laughed bitterly. "As if I had a choice in the matter." Hope gave Sour Sweet a look of confusion. "I don't understand." She said. Sour Sweet sighed deeply. "It's true that they own the house and everything...but the real reason I call them my landlords is because I refuse to acknowledge them as my parents."