//------------------------------// // Steadfast Friendship // Story: Anon-A-Miss: Chaos // by CapNTilfy //------------------------------// Rainbow Dash opened her eyes and rose from her bed. This was it. Today was the day she and the girls were going to take down Anon-A-Miss! With the cracking of her knuckles and neck, the athlete swiftly got dressed and bolted out the door. She wasted no time interacting with her parents this morning. Rainbow loved them to death, but for now... she was a woman on a mission! As fast as she could, she reached the bus stop and boarded. ---------------------------------------------- Rainbow's bus stopped, and she hurried out to go inside Canterlot High. As she made her way in, she noticed Fluttershy looking a little ill at ease. "You okay?" Fluttershy turned around, then sighed. "I want all this fighting to end, Dashie." Rainbow Dash smiled warmly as she put a hand on her friend's shoulder. "We all do, Fluttershy. We all do." Fluttershy returned the smile, which slowly faded. "I'm worried about Sunset..." Rainbow tightened her grip on Fluttershy's shoulder. "You don't have to worry. With friends as awesome as we are, she'll be just fine." Fluttershy's smile returned, feeling reassured by Rainbow's words. "You know what? You're right!" Rainbow grinned, putting her hands on her hips. "Of course I am!" The warning bell for first period rang, and she let go of Fluttershy's shoulder. "Trust me," she said. "Everything's going to be just fine." The two went their separate ways. ---------------------------------------------- First period ended and Rainbow left her class, gritting her teeth. She wanted to help Sunset, but her only idea was shot down... But her friends had valid points. Making a sputtering noise, she put her hands in her pockets and began to walk the halls. Nothing says I can't at least glance at their phones... With each student she passed, the athlete took a quick look at students' phones. She continued to do so until the warning bell for second period rang. ---------------------------------------------- After second period, Rainbow left her class and sighed. Why did she think trying to monitor everyone's phones was a good idea? The athlete kicked at the hallway floor. "Everything's going to be fine," I said... She rolled her eyes and shook her head. Did she really say that to Fluttershy or was she just trying to fool herself? "No," Rainbow muttered under her breath. This wasn't the time for a pity party. Sunset Shimmer needed help, and she'd do anything in her power to help Rainbow if she was in the same position! The athlete narrowed her eyes in determination, feeling a new rush of adrenaline. The day had hardly begun, what was she getting all depressed for?! The warning bell for third period rang, and Rainbow ran to her next class. ---------------------------------------------- Third period ended with Rainbow bolting out of the classroom. Maybe she just needed to clear her mind or something. Or better yet... She closed her eyes imagined herself in the center of a large circle. Gradually, Fluttershy, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Sunset Shimmer, Applejack, and even her parents appeared. A chant began. "Rainbow Dash is awesome!" "Rainbow Dash is awesome!" Feeling motivated, Rainbow opened her eyes with a huge grin. She cracked her neck and her knuckles. "Time to be awesome!" The warning bell for fourth period rang, and Rainbow sagged in frustration. "Goddammit," she muttered under her breath. Well, she was always awesome anyway. ---------------------------------------------- Rainbow Dash left her fourth period class and began wandering the halls until she heard her name being called. "R... Rainbow..." She turned around to see Sunset Shimmer, on the verge of tears. Gasping, the athlete hurried over to her friend. "What's wrong?" Sunset sniffled. "Make it stop... Please..." She broke, hugging Rainbow as she sobbed. The athlete returned the hug, worried for her friend. For a moment, Rainbow stood there, her mind racing with way to console Sunset. She ended up stroking her hair gently. "It's going to be okay," the athlete said over and over. And yet, she couldn't help but wonder if she meant it or she was trying to calm herself down. Would everything really be okay, though? This whole Anon-A-Miss bullshit had been tearing the school apart, just like- Rainbow's eyes widened as realization dawned on her. Just like Sunset before she accepted friendship... The athlete tightened the hug, then whispered into Sunset's ear. "You, me and the girls are going to get through this, okay? All five of us have your back, and don't forget the staff do too!" Sunset shuddered, having cried the last of her tears. She stared at Rainbow with bloodshot eyes. "Why do I have to constantly be reminded of my past?" Heaving a sigh, she put a hand to her forehead and shook her head, breaking the hug. "You'd think that after everything I've done and everything that I've been through..." "I get it," Rainbow said softly. "It sucks big time." She smiled. "But like I said, a lot of people have your back. You don't have to suffer alone." Sunset folded her arms and looked away. "Maybe I'm supposed to..." "Sunset!" Rainbow grabbed her friend's hands, gaining her attention. "That's a load of bullshit. You're only letting yourself suffer." Sunset sighed heavily and looked away again. Rainbow grit her teeth in frustration. There had to be a way to get her out of this funk! "I appreciate what you're doing, Rainbow," Sunset said with a faint smile, "But I've got a lot going through my head right now... I think I just need some time alone..." "Sunset..." Rainbow said. "I... I don't say the 'L' word a whole lot, but..." She took a deep breath, then exhaled. "I love you like a sister. And I'm worried about you." Sunset's eyes widened in surprise, then she smiled warmly. "I love you like a sister, too," she said, then hugged Rainbow Dash again, holding her tightly until the warning bell for fifth period rang. Rainbow broke the hug. "See you in the cafeteria?" Sunset nodded. "Yeah. See you there." ---------------------------------------------- Fifth period was over, and Rainbow Dash hurried out of her classroom. She was happy that Sunset cheered up, but knowing her, she began to wonder how long that would last... Hopefully she'd still be feeling better by the time they all met up in the cafeteria. Upon reaching the lunchroom, Rainbow Dash kept her guard up. She had a feeling that anything could happen... ...And she would come to regret how right she was.