//------------------------------// // Sunset Finds Out // Story: Cory: The Fear of Water // by artman7391 //------------------------------// It was another ordinary week day at Canterlot High. The hallways were filled with students, the sports fields were filled with athletes, and the lunchroom was filled with food ready for...well...lunch. But, that's besides the point. Cory and his human friends Camden and Sunset Shimmer we're found in the school Drama room, ready to display their recent chosen scene from their personal favorite plays. Everyone in the room, both thespians, jocks, geeks and wierdos, gathered about at the makeshift steps and emptied the floor to make an artificial stage. "You ready for your scene, Cory?" Camden asked. "As I ever could be." Cory replied. "I'm excited to hear what you chose Cory." Sunset Shimmer commented. "As am I." Cory replied. "Good luck on your presentation Camden." "Roger that." Camden replied. Everyone settled down as the drama teacher came center stage. "Alright everyone." She started. "As you all know, today we will be showing a few scenes from different plays and novels you selected. I hope everyone is ready to perform and show off their skills. " The first few performed scenes were from Waiting For Godot, Frankenstein, Of Mice and Men and King Arthur. Though a little amateur from a far perspective, they were nonetheless entertaining. In fact, they had inspired Cory to jot down some sketches for future art projects. Next was Camden's turn. It was a scene from "Angels In America," A harrowing tale about aids, faith, love, and acceptance within the LGBT community, themes Camden could truly identify with. This really captured the class's attention with his powerful performance. As he sat down after a brief applause, Cory congratulated him on his project with a handshake and a hug. After a few more turns from other students who chose Shakespeare, Hemingway and Edgar Allan Poe, Cory was ready to take the stage. For his selection, it was scene from the play version of "James and the Giant Peach." To him, in recent months, Roald Dahl stories held a special connection to him, as they dealt with children who endured sad lives and nightmarish adults, a situation he could truly relate to. In reality, it was a couple of scenes he put together to make a single presentation that moved the entire class to tears, regardless of the age area for the story. When he finished, the class went into an uproarious applause, to which he humbly bowed and took his seat. A few students gave him a pat on the back and 'a job well done' as a sheepish smirk fell across Cory's face. Now it was Sunset's turn to shimmer. For her presentation, it was an excerpt from Melville's "Moby Dick." She could identify with this tale, as it reminded her of who she used to be and how power can lead to your downfall. This made Cory nervous as images of being submerged in water began to race back into his head again. But he did his best to keep his cool. As Sunset started and began to act out a scene with Ahab and the titular whale, Cory noticed how she mimicked the roaring waves of an ocean. He clung to the side of his seat as he tried to hold it together, while memories of an event he wished he forgot came flashing inside his brain. Then, as she was about to reach the end of her performance, Cory could not take it any longer. "STOP IT! STOP IT! STOP IT!!" He shouted hysterically. "Must you try to put me in the bathtub again!!!" The whole classroom was aghast as everyone murmured questionable things to each other. Cory looked around as his face turned from anger to worry. "I'm sorry." He said quietly. "I need to go." He grabbed his things, and rushed out the classroom door. As he walked down the hallways and towards the bathroom, everything started to spin around him. The lights above him were brighter than normal, and the sounds of lockers and people were louder than usual. With a drunk like stupor, Cory finally reached the men's bathroom. He looked at himself in the mirror and noticed how his skin got more pale and clammy. So, he took out his pill bottle from his backpack and tried desperately to unscrew the lid. It was at that moment Sunset Shimmer and Camden appeared. "Uh, hey." Said a confused Camden. "So, what was that all about?" "It's nothing." Cory murmured. "Absolutely nothing." "Are you sure you're all right?" Sunset Shimmer asked. "You've been acting very fidgety lately." "Everything's fine," Cory insisted as he tried again to unscrew his pill bottle. "Everything will be fine, as long as I take these." "I think you need to lay off those prescriptions Cory." Sunset insisted. "Yeah, didn't the doctor say to take them in limited amounts?" Camden added. "I've been taking them twice a day!" Cory said a little hysterically, "I've never felt better." "Cory." Said a strict Camden. "Please give us those pills. I think you've had enough." "No," Cory said shyly. "You can't make me." "Give us those pills Cory." A stern Starlight commanded. "You know," Cory said mockingly. "You're starting to sound like who you used to be." This angered Starlight as she leaped forward and grabbed the pills from Cory's hands. This resulted in a brawl as Cory tried to grab them back from her. As the two rustled on the floor, Camden just looked on in both shock and sadness. He couldn't believe one of his best friends had been reduced to someone so desperate and addictive. "Give me my pills!!" Cory shouted. "I Need Them!!" "You can have them back.... in a few... weeks..Cory." Sunset replied as she held onto his wrists and tried to restrain him. "Camden... help me." Camden reluctantly joined as as he helped pin Cory to the ground. "Please!!" Cory shouted. "Give them to me!!" "It's for your own... good ...Cory..." Camden pleaded in tears. "We can't let you..." But before Sunset could finish, her eyes turned bright white. In her mind, she saw what appeared to be a rundown house bathroom. Kneeling near at the tub was a very disgruntled woman bathing a younger looking Cory. Without warning, she dunked the helpless child into the water, pushing his head down, clearly trying to drown him. The young Cory tried to push himself back up, but it was useless. Finally, the bubbles stopped, and the poor boy just lied there, submerged beneath the water of the tub. His mother laughed without a care and shut the door behind him. However, she did not succeed in her terrible deed as Cory jumped like a wet cat out of the tub, gasping for air. He was so weak, he could barely even crawl. So with every muscle he had trudged with his arms and legs across the wet bathroom floor, reaching for the towel nearby. It was then the vision stopped and Sunset's eyes returned to normal. She let go of Cory's arms as a stunned look fell on both their faces. "How did you know that?" Cory asked in a whisper. "Cory..I.." Sunset tried to think of the right words. "I had no idea how much you..." Before she could finished, Cory snatched the pills away from her. In addition, he freed himself from Camden's grasp. "Do me a giant favor," Cory said in angrily. "And stay out of my head." And with that, he grabbed his backpack and headed outside. "What did you see?" Camden asked Sunset. "A...a bad memory." Starlight proclaimed. "I have to tell Twilight." She grabbed her journal from her backpack and started to write away, as the two headed to their next class.