//------------------------------// // We're adults now // Story: Sunset Shimmer Hunts the Undead // by Rune Soldier Dan //------------------------------// Sour Sweet did not live in the Dali Hall. Hers was a tall, idyllic dorm that held a spot on every campus tour. One was even in progress now – a smiling vice-dean walked past Sunset with a horde of parents and bored teens in tow. “Next I’ll show you the cafeteria. Open seven days a week, with fresh produce and free bakery cookies available...” She tagged along, blending in with the crowd long enough to sneak a dozen cookies into her backpack before resuming the trip. The elevator didn’t screech like the Dali Hall’s, and the hallway didn’t smell like cigarettes. Sunset released a quiet sigh as she approached the hardwood door of Sour Sweet’s room and knocked twice. An ‘Eep!’ came from the other side, followed by dead silence. “Sour Sweet, it’s me,” Sunset called. “Let’s talk.” Something pushed against the door. Probably the one-time preppie looking through a peephole. “Why?” “Do you really have a werewolf after you?” “No. Go away.” Too blunt, even for Sour. Sunset tried the door to find it locked. “Why’d the newspaper say otherwise?” “Why do you think?” Sour asked cheerfully, paving the way for a bitter follow-up. “I’m either an attention whore or a crybaby who watches too many horror movies. Ask anyone.” “I’m not asking anyone, I’m asking you.” Sunset tapped again gently on the door. “I can help.” A bare wobble marked the response. “Somehow I don’t believe you.” “What have you got to lose?” More silence. Then the smooth click of a turning lock. Age had been good to Sour Sweet, though sleep hadn’t. The attractive frame of her Cyrstal Prep years had only been built upon, turning her to a beautiful young woman with black bags under the eyes. Other signs were there, too – frayed hairs outside her ponytail, and a distinct jumpiness as they traveled to the Dali Hall. Sour blanched as their elevator opened on the sixth floor, bringing all its homely odors to bear. Sunset lead the way, chatting amicably for both their sake. “I’m not going to say don’t worry, but I have done this before. You’ll be fine.” “I’m not worried at all! It’s not like my life is in danger or anything.” “We’ll call in back-up if we need to,” Sunset promised. “I told the girls we’re coming. It’s a good group, you’ll see.” She put in the key, wrestled with it for a second, and– A voice shot out as the door swung. “OH, COME ON!” The three dorm-mates – who Sunset had definitely told she was bringing company – lounged on the mismatched chairs in front of the television. Cartoon characters leaped and dodged on the screen, save one who had been launched from the stage. “I was at eighty-percent! Rockhoof is broken.” Adagio sulked after her scream. She wore a bathrobe with a towel wrapped around her hair. Wallflower leered, giving the room a full view of a purple stain on her mouth from an open juice gallon-jug. “Waah, waah, waah. You’re just sore because everyone plays Somnambula, so everyone knows how to counter her.” “It’s just a game, kids.” Applejack said – in a baggy T-shirt, and oddly lacking pants. “Super Smash Pillars is a life,” Wallflower countered. “Not for me it ain’t.” A bearded wizard flew off the screen, and Applejack rested her controller on an armrest. “That’s a wrap.” Adagio gripped hers and leaned forward. “Rematch.” “Guys,” Sunset cut in. “Sour Sweet’s here. Applejack, where are your pants?” “Laundry day.” “Wallflower, that juice is for all of us.” The girl shrugged, taking another sip from the jug. “It’s fine. I’ll wipe the rim after.” Sunset groaned and shook her head. A bad idea – the move brought Sour’s cruel smile into sight. It had only been refined and improved over the years, and Sunset contemplated that the situation could not get more embarrassing. Then Pinkie Pie bounded through the open door in a bunny costume, handed Sunset (and Sour, because she was there) invitations to a Halloween party hosted by the campus Furry Appreciation Society, and bounded away. Adagio started to paint her toenails, but by then Sunset had rallied. She marshaled the gang, sans Twilight – still absent after her time with Discord – and offered Sour a drink. “We have milk, apple whiskey, apple brandy, apple cider, apple wine, and jui… never mind.” Sour Sweet chose the apple wine in two words, and downed it the moment Sunset passed off the glass. “I’m doomed.” “No you’re not.” Calm and encouraging, Sunset guided her to at seat at the table. “Everyone, this is Sour Sweet. She’s the one I showed you in the paper. Sour Sweet, can you tell us what happened?” “Will you believe me?” Sour asked suspiciously. Sunset nodded, feeling the time right for a sterner tone. “We’ve been through weird magic stuff together. The Friendship Games, then the brain worms. So yes, I believe you. Now I need you to believe me when I say I’m going to help.” “Fine.” Sour said it quickly. She shook her head, turning her glare to the side. “Nothing to lose. Not much to say, either. I took my dog Garble for a walk in the woods behind our dorm last week. Late evening, but it’s all on campus so I thought I was fine.” She folded her arms around each other, hugging herself while looking away. “I heard something clink as it approached. I thought it was a dog at first, but it was big. And fast. It had clawed arms and a wolf face… this is stupid, what else can I tell you? I dropped the leash and ran. Garble ran in the other direction and I guess it chose him.” “Prankster in a costume,” Adagio said. Sour slammed upright, glaring daggers at the siren. Sunset laid a gentle hand on her shoulder. “There is such a thing as false positives.” The freckled preppie shrugged out of the gesture. “Well this isn’t. I looked back as I ran and saw it bite Garble’s head off. So now I have that burned into my memory, thank you very much, and I made it back to the dorm but I swear, I swear it waits outside for me at night. It must have seen me in the window, because it watches me. Not every night, but it’s like it has my scent and is waiting for me to screw up. You know, like how I did coming here in the evening thinking you losers could help.” “You can spend the night here,” Sunset said, quickly enough to head off a fight. “I’ll sleep in one of the chairs. Or we can walk you back, because there’s still plenty of daylight. Don’t panic.” “Fuck you,” Sour snapped, far coarser than her witty norm. Moisture gathered at the edge of her glare. “I’m going nuts. I haven’t been to my classes since then. I told Sunny Flare, but that bitch blabbed to the campus rag and now I’m famous as the idiot who believes in werewolves.” “That’s how people who don’t know react to these things,” Sunset said calmly. “But I know werewolves are real. And you keep seeing it, so this isn’t a shaky-camera thing. We’ll be in touch. Give me your number, and I’ll get back to you with a plan.” Sour Sweet refused the offer to walk her home – a vote of no-confidence if there ever was one. Sunset came anyway. Leaves crunched as they trod the autumn-blazed wooded path back to the wealthy dorm, all with daylight to spare. Sour did give a muttered “Thanks,” as she entered. Probably the best Sunset was going to get. She waved as the girl vanished inside, then turned to make her own way home. “I need to call Miss Harshwhinny.” Saying it out loud was meant to steel her, but the words ended with a groan. No help for it. Mom always said werewolves were a big deal, and Sunset would be a fool to let Harshwhinny’s stiff personality ward her away. Her steps crunched briskly through the orange foliage, one hand dialing and the other straight at her side. She paused as the phone rang, stiffening her posture as though the recipient could see. The answer came on the first ring. “Hello, Miss Shimmer.” “Hi, Miss Harshwhinny.” Sunset swallowed down the crack in her voice. “So, uh… one of my classmates says she got attacked by a werewolf. It didn’t bite her, but it got her dog and she thinks it’s stalking her. Mom’s on vacation, you know, and… well, I’m calling you.” “Good choice, for whoever instructed you to do so.” Sunset winced, and Miss Harshwhinny continued. “Send me all information you’ve gathered and avoid contact with the person. You don’t know if they’re really unbitten.” Not what Sunset expected. “O...kay? What do I do then?” “Nothing.” Miss Harshwhinny announced primly. “The adults will handle things. I don’t object to Miss Celestia babysitting you when she’s around, but I have no interest in following suit.” Sunset paused, blinking. A few seconds passed as she warred between anger and avoidance, then she snatched up a handful of leaves and began crushing them into the receiver. “W… you’re… breaking… up… sor...” “Are you crumbling leaves?” Harshwhinny snapped. “Miss Shimmer, this is hardly a mature response to disap–” Sunset flicked the red button on her phone, ending the call. Then she dialed a different name. “Hello?” “Hi, Miss Redheart,” Sunset said a bit more cheerfully. “Uh… werewolf on campus. Think you can help?” The white woman’s voice took a serious tone. “Werewolves are bad news, kid. An adult who makes good choices would stop you right there.” Another loss. “Really?” “Yeah, but no worries, I’m a nurse.” Redheart went on, suddenly jovial. “I wasn’t joking about the werewolves, though.” “You guys realize I’m an adult, too.” “You’re nineteen. We both know how it… oh, snap.” A crumpled ‘BAMF’ sounded over the line, followed by the low hiss of automatic sprinklers and patter of water on linoleum. Sunset waited as footsteps brought the noise to a distance and a door closed between them. “If your mom asks, I’m not at school,” Redheart said. “Anyway, fighting werewolves isn’t the usual ‘grab guns and wing it’ deal. Like, zombies will only kill you if you do everything wrong. Werewolves will kill you unless you do everything right. We usually call the Pies in for it, and I suggest you do the same. They’re kind of the werewolf experts.” “So why didn’t she just tell me that?” Sunset grumbled. “Huh?” “Nothing! Thanks, Miss Redheart.” The Pie household was closer to the city center than the Apples’, but not by much. That and hefty evening traffic gave Sunset plenty of time to watch her driver sigh, squint, and fidget in place in a near-unbroken stream ever since she learned their destination. Applejack finally caught Sunset’s eyes and gave a nervous chuckle. “Sorry girl. Just… been a while since me and Limestone talked.” Sunset had been through breakups. “I’m not asking.” “Whatever, I’m telling.” Applejack leaned back in her chair, one hand on the wheel while the other gestured. “We were a bad fit, that’s all. You know me by now, Sunny, I let little things get to me. Not the dirt under the nails, but what folks say about the dirt under the nails. Sometimes I still lie awake thinking of Anon-A-Miss, or freshman year when you… ah, never mind. So you take a girl like that and you take a girl like Limestone. You know how she’s, let’s be real, mean as a hornet? Well that’s her in public. That’s her with the filter on.” “I can’t even imagine,” Sunset said honestly. Applejack gave a grim laugh. “And I don’t have to. We fought bad, and things ended messy. Her saying she shouldn’t have to censor herself for her beau, me saying she should treat me with gul-darn respect. Reckon she hates me now.” “You’re right, she’s wrong.” Sunset gave Applejack’s shoulder a companionable slap. “You deserve someone who makes you feel good about yourself.” Applejack patted the hand on her shoulder. “Sunny, if you were gay...” The chat drifted from there, though a few more sighs and fidgets emerged as the Pie’s drab brown house came to sight. Applejack declined an offer to remain in the car, instead walking forwards alongside Sunset to knock on the white-painted door. From the upstairs, someone could be heard losing their lunch, followed by their breakfast, with a mosaic of swears ringing out between spews. Noisy and visceral enough to drive a shiver down both newcomers’ backs. Fortunately, another was home. The door opened within the moment, revealing a shrimpy, purple-haired girl on the other side. Sunset raised one hand, palm out. “Hi, Maud.” A few seconds passed as Maud appraised them with her half-lidded gaze. “Hello.” She blinked slowly. More vomiting sounded from upstairs, now without the outside wall to muffle it. “Pinkie’s not home.” “We’re actually not here for Pinkie,” Sunset replied. “It’s, uh, ‘business’ related, if you know what I mean.” Maud stared, neither budging an inch nor offering a word. Applejack coughed gently. Sunset scratched the back of her head. The vomiting upstairs took a particularly moist turn. “Monster hunting,” Sunset clarified. “I understood you the first time.” Sunset had dealt with Maud enough times to put on the smile and plow through. “Is your dad home?” “No.” “Your mom?” “No.” Sunset cast an apologetic glance to Applejack. “Limestone?” Maud gave a dull blink. “Yes.” A voice wailed from upstairs before trailing into a fresh round of bodily noises. “I AM BORED OF PUKING! HOW CAN SOMEONE GET BORED OF PUKING? WELL LET ME–urp….” “That was her.” Messy as things had been, Applejack could only cringe in simultaneous disgust and sympathy. “I am so sorry. Hope she gets well soon.” Maud nodded, as a glacier might. “She’ll appreciate you said that.” Then, giving the first proof this wasn’t a Maud-shaped robot: “Applejack, Limestone knows she has problems with her temper and that she should have been better. She’ll never come out and say this, but she is sorry for how she acted. And for what it’s worth, you seem to have been a wake-up call for her. I have noticed her getting better at dealing with people and handling adversity more maturely.” “HOW AM I STILL PUKING? FUCK THIS, FUCK ME, FUCK EVERYTHING! IT IS MY FUCKING BIRTHDAY RIGHT NOW!” “This is an exception,” Maud calmly added. “I believe you,” Applejack said with a small yet growing smile. “Her and Adagio… reckon we all grow up eventually. Load off my mind to hear you say that, Maud.” Maud gave a brief tightening of the lips which may have counted as a smile, then turned her eyes back to Sunset. “Mom, Dad, and Granny Pie are in the hospital. Nothing major, just dad’s COPD needing work again.” “Best wishes,” Sunset said, then gave a light chuckle. “Life doesn’t stop for hunting.” “They should be out in a week,” Maud said. “I can work with you, though I would understand if you wanted to wait for them.” Sunset shook her head. “A week might be too long. Maud, tell me what it means when a werewolf tracks one person. Do we have that kind of time, or do we need to act fast?” “Acting fast will kill you,” Maud droned. “I have to make sure Limestone’s safe, but I can be with you tomorrow afternoon to start work.” Applejack looked at her sharply. “Tomorrow? What if it goes after Sour tonight?” Another dull blink came as Maud rested her hand on the doorknob. “Then she will die. So will you or me if we try to stop it before we are ready.” Words tried to form on Sunset’s lips, but Maud closed the door before she could bring them out.