OTHER PAIN
“WORTHLESS PIECE OF JUNK!”
Sunset slammed her hoof against her desk with strength, the frustration inside her so big that it smothered any physical pain. What was a little hoof ache, after all, when she had to deal with disappointment over and over again?
Her nostrils blowing smoke and teeth grinding tight, Sunset glared at the source of her anger. It wasn’t something groundbreaking or new, it was actually a common exercise, but it was going to be her next achievement. On her desk, she had prepared her last project of research: a simple – yet elegant – structure with the only purpose of supporting a self-sustained light gem.
But, because the universe hated her, the gem didn’t want to accept her genius and light up for more than a few seconds straight. Therefore, Sunset Shimmer had spent the last eighteen hours in her study doing the spell over and over again without any further progression.
Tired, hungry, and very frustrated, Sunset grabbed the gem with the magic of her horn and brought it closer to her muzzle. “Congratulations, topaz,” she said, her tone quiet but slowly getting louder with every word. “You just proved to the world that, indeed, you are nothing but a useless, unworthy, unwanted, insignificant left-over!” She tossed the gem on the table – the sound was oh so satisfying – and glared down at it closely. “Why aren’t you doing your part, huh? Do you want to go back into the dirt? Is that what you want? I mined you out of the dirt because I thought you could shine, and I can bury you underground where I found you anytime if you prove me wrong!”
“You’re really showing that rock, Sunset.”
“Shut up, you!” yelled Sunset, without looking back at the source of those words. In her anger, she hadn’t stopped to actually consider who could have entered her room without even knocking first, or who might be interested in interrupting her in the first place. Only shortly after her retort she recognized the voice, realizing that she had just yelled back to Princess Celestia.
Not only her body froze in a jiff, but even her burning anger was chilled so fast that she could hardly believe it.
She quickly considered to apologize, to explain that it was a bad moment, but she knew better than to show herself weak and malleable. No, she was strong and independent. That she had to show, and she wasn’t going to chicken out just because Princess Celestia was coming by her side. Sunset stood up straight, with her head raised up and her chest filled with pride…
…and her eyes pointed down, looking very away from Princess Celestia.
Even without looking at her, Sunset could feel that she had all of her mentor’s attention. She could feel her eyes, the warmth of her muzzle pointed towards her. That inquisitive check on her made Sunset feel the urge to tremble.
Had the tiles always been like that? It was incredible that she had never been interested in the floor before.
“Rough day?”
Sunset looked up to her mentor and, surprisingly, she didn’t find any trace of anger on her muzzle. She only found the old and undying smile that Celestia so often wore, matching that soothing, calm, and gentle voice. That alone was enough to fill her with relief.
All things considered, Sunset thought that maybe a proper explanation was due.
“I was pursuing the next step of my exercises,” she mumbled.
There was an audible – and cheering – chuckle. “Struggling that much?”
“What? Pfft, no.” Sunset darted her eyes between the objects on her desk, somehow having difficulties to explain why she was having troubles. “It’s just… it’s all this dumb rock's fault.”
“Oh?” Celestia’s smile didn’t waver. “A topaz is guilty of being dumb?”
“Why do you think ‘dumb as a rock’ is an expression?”
Both Sunset and Celestia looked at each other straight in the eyes. They didn’t speak, they didn’t move, they didn’t even blink for a long second. Then, they burst out laughing.
Sunset laughed loudly, supporting herself on the desk, and went on for as long as she felt like with all her pent-up frustration. Princess Celestia, on the other hoof, was much more composed. She soon stopped her giggling but waited with a patient smile for Sunset to finish as well.
“Sorry for not getting here sooner… I’m coming straight from the throne room,” said Princess Celestia.
That immediately killed the newly good mood. “Let me guess… another noble demanding to have the face of his grangransomething printed on the town coin?”
“No… but somepony noble did ask politely to have the pegasi cloud-houses moved because it ruined the view from his veranda, among other reasons I wish not to repeat.”
Sunset snorted, rolled her eyes, and faced Princess Celestia. “The nerve of those commons. Those meetings are a daily waste of time for ponies that don’t even deserve your attention, if you ask me.”
“Oh?” queried Celestia. “Pray tell, what do you think of them?”
“That they’re just self-centered, stuck up, and narcissist ponies who only come to you so that they can blame you for their problems,” answered Sunset as she spun her head and focused her look elsewhere.
“Really, now?”
“Yes, really,” growled she, going on with her speech. “They shout like idiots, they blame you for their faults instead of thinking about what they’re doing wrong because all they can ever think about is how great and important they think they are!” Sunset grunted, thinking about the blindness of those foolish ponies was enough to make her feel sick. They were only good at stealing time that she would be otherwise able to spend with her mentor. If only it wasn’t for them… if only they weren’t clothed with more power than her…
And yet, Princess Celestia spoke in their defense. “They can be quite hard to withstand,” she said, “but they’re good ponies deep down. Most of them act the way they do simply to hide bigger problems they can’t… or don’t want to face.
“Sometimes they feel angry, or frustrated, or even hurt.” She put her hoof under Sunset’s chin and gently lifted it upwards, until they were seeing eye to eye again, before resuming. “So I listen to them, I let them vent… I try to understand them. I can learn much about them this way because, even when misguided, words that carry emotion always come from the heart.
”And the heart–” gently, almost as if afraid to hurt her, Princess Celestia tapped her hoof against Sunset’s chest “–is where a little pony is its truest.”
Her words, and her expecting smile as well, left Sunset dazed. There was something within her big, purple, limpid eyes. Sunset could feel it, like a warm tickling in her chest. She could feel how Princess Celestia was trying to tell her something, to teach her a new perspective of the world. It was in her tone, in her words, in her eyes.
It was unsettling.
“Yeah, well…” Sunset pulled back and turned away, chuckling sheepishly all the way to her desk. Not that she wanted to run away… it was just one of those times when the princess acted really weird. “That’s very deep, I guess.”
Sunset heard something that resembled a groan from behind her. She instantly spun her head over and found again her mentor standing in the same spot, still smiling. Only this time, Sunset wasn’t sure if the smile was genuine or forced…
“So… your project,” said Princess Celestia, pointing at her work. “Why don’t we try this together?”
It was like that question punched Sunset in her chest. She darted her wide open eyes between her mentor and her work, then she focused on the former with a stern look. She knew she didn’t need help. “I can–”
Princess Celestia didn’t let her finish. “I’m sure you can. But why don’t we try this together?”
At a loss of words, Sunset fought the little part of her that shouted no, that she didn’t want any help. That she was fine by herself, and she didn’t want Princess Celestia to be here in case of another fai–
Sunset squeezed her eyes shut, that little voice in her head silenced. All things considered, she had no reason to keep her away. In fact, she wanted more time with her. Especially so, ifWHEN she was going to get her genius shine along with her work. “Fine.”
Sunset used her magic to set every component of her project in place, confident that everything would work. It was going to be different from the previous twenty times, for sure. She built the Support Structure, she aligned the matrix’s spell, and lastly, she put the yellow gem on top of her work.
All that was left to do was to enchant it. With the right spell, she had to go inside the very sub-molecular structure of the crystal to ignite a chain reaction that would have bounced between the gem and the SS. It was supposed to be easy, except this was where she had failed every time.
Sunset had just the tiniest of doubts.
She closed her eyes, took a big breath, and suppressed those doubts. Doubts were for dumb fillies, and dumb fillies didn’t deserve the Princess’ mentorship.
Which was ok, because she wasn’t dumb and she didn’t have doubts. In fact, she had this. No pressure, she could cast the spell and call it a day and wasn’t anxious and wasn’t trembling or sweating and she wasn’t about to crumble it wasn’t working why wasn’titworkingsheneededhelp–
“Relax.”
A tender touch rifted Sunset back into reality. She jolted up, opening her eyes wide when she felt a feathery wing pressing lightly on her back.
It was like standing under a lamp surrounded by darkness. That feeling on her back… to Sunset, that alone was enough to give her strength and determination. With that warmth, that strong softness, that gentle support… she could overcome any adversity.
“Close your eyes.”
She did so after a deep breath.
“Use your magic and link to the topaz.”
Easy, and simple. She knew the procedure all too well, of course…
“Now, look into it. What do you see?”
… what kind of question was that? What was she even supposed to see? That wasn’t how it had to be done, she had to light it up not to look into it.
“You’re doing good, Sunset. What do you see?”
Then again, Princess Celestia was the mentor. It was ok to follow her instructions.
“Nothing,” she said, searching for… anything. “It’s all black.”
“Search deeper. Search for the light.”
“I can’t find it,” grunted Sunset. “There’s no light.”
“Trust me, there is not such a thing as total darkness.”
Sunset had to bite her lip, or she would have cried in frustration. She focused on something good instead, like the Princess’ embrace.
Princess Celestia was very good at embracing.
Right then, out of the blue, she found a light inside the gem.
“I see it!”
“Good. Now, let it flow and lit it up. Gentle, without pushing it…
“Open your eyes.”
Sunset opened her eyelids… to close them again immediately, blinded by the light. Wait…
“I DID IT!” Finally, her self-sufficient light gem was working! She almost felt like jumping giddily in place for… wait, Princess here. “A-hem, I mean, of course, I did it.” Better, but not quite enough. “I’m capable of anything.” Perfect.
“Yes, except being modest.” Ah, the usual, snarky comment to remind her not to gloat and to do even better next. Inevitably followed by the praise. “Nevertheless, congratulations on completing this project this soon in your life. The effort you’re putting in studying at your age is–”
Now, praises are good and well, but she had already piled plenty of those. No, Sunset felt like she ought to aim for a higher prize. “Oh well,” she confidently interrupted. “I could take even more advanced subjects if I had the chance. Speaking of which, that mirror…”
“No.”
Sunset’s confidence disappeared In the blink of an eye when Princess Celestia’s muzzle fell from a veil of pride in a wall of sternness. Of course, she wouldn’t let that stop her. “But I’m ready!”
“No, Sunset. As your mentor, I think I have the ground to put my hoof down.”
From experience, Sunset knew she had only two options: to give in or to melt that marble face with a heated glare.
After exactly one minute, she concluded that the heat glare wasn’t working.
“Fine.” She turned to leave, making clear that she was the one ending this conversation. “If you need me, I’ll be studying in the library.”
“Sunset, when was the last time you went outside?”
Why couldn’t the Princess just catch a hint and let her go? Soo frustrating.
Luckily for Sunset, the clock ringed before she had to give a reply. Looking at it, it was easy to see that it was time for the moon to rise… already? Maybe she had been in her study for too long.
Almost by accident, Sunset’s sight fell on Celestia and their eyes met. It took actual effort for Sunset to not scoff. Just like any other time when her sacred duty called, the Princess would just turn towards her with those conflicted eyes. Because Sunset wasn’t good enough to keep them together, because she had to go and do Princess stuff.
She just had to give her pity eyes. She just had to make her feel… Just go and raise the horizon, instead.
“Since you’re so forward with your studies,” said the Princess, after she put on a new smile, “why don’t you spend one night out? Maybe make friends? For me, at least.”
And with that, the princess finally trotted off.
After she had had the last word. Again.
Dammit.
Sunset waited, alone and frustrated. She waited until she could hear no more cracking steps. Then, she headed to the library. She didn’t need friends. “I just need to be better.”
“Can we get on with it already?”
Rainbow Dash knew everything about her friends. Or everything important, at least. That was like the basic of being friends, to know about them. She knew, for example, that her friend Pinkie went very loud whenever she wanted to. She also knew that Pinkie’s voice could get veeery high pitched when she was upset.
For these two reasons Dash – bringing her fingers around her poor ears – reminded herself that it was better if she didn’t stand next to Pinkie Pie. Like, never again.
“It feels like we’ve been stuck here FOR YEARS!”
“Darling, really, now simply isn’t the time for exaggerations.”
Pinkie groaned, exaggeratedly, as her head slumped backward. “Fine, it’s actually been ten minutes but it feels like it’s been two years! Can we help Sunset now?”
Owie, her poor eardrums.
“Alright, Pinkie,” said Rarity, rubbing her own ears as well, “I suppose time is crucial after all… but first, Dash, please care to repeat?”
Dash barely suppressed a groan. She wondered if Rarity was asking her because she was testing her attention, or because she didn’t trust her. With how things had been in the last days, she bet on the latter. “You three go in first,” she grumbled, “Applejack and I wait here for five minutes or so while you go and try to make her soft.”
Even Applejack, from her side, clicked her tongue in disapproval. Unfortunately, Rarity noticed.
“Applejack, I know how you feel about it–”
“You’re treating her as one of your gossips businesses.” retorted Applejack, avoiding her gaze.
“Um, girls…”
“I’m merely using common sense.” Rarity’s voice went all flat… no, stern. “We can’t all go inside at once, otherwise she’ll just feel intimidated–”
“And Ah guess –” to add tension, Applejack was getting really annoyed, narrowing her eyes and all “– us two staying behind is a random choice.”
“Applejack, I’m sure…”
“Truth be told, dear, it’s not.”
Dash felt a chill on her spine, staring in disbelief as Rarity and Applejack stood face-to-face. She had to do something before things got out of hand.
But then, Fluttershy got between them.
“Enough, both of you!” she shouted, tired of being ignored. “We don’t have time for this. I don’t know why you two are bickering, but we already have one friend that is having its way, way worse than you two.”
Gee, that girl sure had the fire in her when she needed it. Would be great if she was like that when she cheered for her…
Buuut, more important, her yelling did the job. Rare and Aj were looking both apologetic, ashamed, and… well, still annoyed at each other. But not ready to start a fight anymore.
“Truce?”
“Shucks Rare, ya know you can count on me.”
Rarity nodded once. “Good,” she said.
And with that, Rarity picked up a bag she showed up with (she didn’t tell what was in it) and grouped with Fluttershy and Pinkie. Then, just before they left, Rarity shot her the eyes. “Don’t screw this up,” she muttered.
Come on! Why was she looking at her like that? Ugh…
Rainbow Dash hesitated with her fist raised in front of the door, turned toward Applejack and said, “Ya ready for this?”Applejack gave her a sympathetic look and shook her head. “Nope. Are ya?”Rainbow Dash grinned and straightened herself up. “Of course... not,” she admitted.After all the tension she had caused, Dash had lost almost all of her usual confidence. She felt like even a little mishap could turn into a hurricane but it was ok, she just had to be more careful.
Yeah, because she was just sooo good at that.
Dash breathed in and knocked three times.
She waited. With patience.
A lot of patience.
“Stop kicking the doormat, will ya?” hissed Aj.
Before she could retort, there finally were sounds from the other side of the door. Dash readied herself, clenching her fist and swelling her chest. Show the opponent no mercy and… she was thinking about a football match. ‘BAD DASH,’ she scolded herself. ‘Try to think less Dash and more… literally anybody else.’ Within a few seconds, the door was opened.Behind it, a winded and smiling Rarity appeared. But not smiling-smiling, more like panic-smiling? Dash knew she wasn’t the best at deductions, but she had a strong impression that her friend looked relieved to see them.
That idea made her gulp in dread. Were things going that bad?She and Applejack stepped inside and walked to the right, where they found their friends. Sunset was sitting at the table—reading a book—while Fluttershy snuggled with her from her side and Pinkie was baking something on her own behind the kitchen counter.
But something was wrong. Pinkie was being so… normal. But not like a Pinkie Pie-normal, like a normal-normal.
And Fluttershy… she looked happy, attached to Sunset like that. Had they already reconciled? But then, why were Pinkie and Rarity looking so sober?“So, we’re finally all here,” Sunset commented with a snark, as Rarity sat at the table. A steaming cup of tea waiting for her.
Pinkie bolted in front of Sunset, her torso bent over the table, with a bowl full of mixture. “How’s this?” she excitedly asked.
Sunset dipped her finger in it and savored a sample. She clicked her tongue, twice.
“Not bad but… definitely too sweet.”
“Aw, it’s okay.” Pinkie Pie bolted back into the kitchen. “I’ll just make it all over again.”Rainbow Dash exchanged a quick look with Applejack and hemmed.
“Um, hi, Sunset.”“How are ya, girl?” asked Applejack.“Oh, very good actually.” Sunset looked up from her book, her face beaming with a smile. “Today I woke up without feeling my eye itching in pain.”Rainbow Dash felt something invisible punching her in the guts.
“Sunset!”
Sunset flinched and quickly turned her attention to Fluttershy. Being scorned at from her girl had some effect. Her expression turned to one of shame—nervously biting her inner cheek—or so Dash thought.
In the end, Sunset relaxed and turned back to her friends.
“Girls... I’m… sorry about that.” A ghost silence accompanied her pauses. “Really. About everything. I’ve been snappier recently, and I know that’s not okay. But–” Sunset spun her head, running her fierce eyes all around the place “–you know what I’m going through.”
“Oh, darling,” said Rarity with a sympathetic voice. She even went closer to Sunset, with her big pity eyes. “You can’t bottle things up like this. Talk with us. We can help–”
“Thank you, Rarity,” said Sunset, with a little too much vehemence, “but there is no reason to. I didn’t react well, yesterday. That’s on me. But I’ve come to terms with it.
“After all, it was just my past. And I already promised you that I’m going to build my life living today and looking for tomorrow.” Sunset smiled. “Besides, what does this even mean for me. Nothing, that’s what. I’m about to go to college a build myself a future here.”
Rainbow Dash didn’t believe it in the slightest. It wasn’t possible that Sunset had already eased her mind about it.
“Are ya sure about that, Sun’?” asked Applejack. “Ah don’t recall this was your plan, with your home being–”
“I never had one,” bluntly replied Sunset. “Plan, I mean. But that’s what growing up is about, right? I’m going to settle here, use loans to pay for my college, and then I’ll find my place in the world.”
From the kitchen, the noises of rustling up stopped and Pinkie Pie leaned in through the door. “You mean… this world?” she asked.
“Yup. Where else?” Sunset got her arm all around Fluttershy’s shoulder and tightened her grasp. “Home is where the heart is, after all. And I would never shut out my family.”
Out of blue, Rarity bolted up from her seat. “I need to use the bathroom,” she hastily added.
Before anyone could say anything, she was already in the other room.
That was a good opportunity, thought Dash. She just had to follow Rarity and ask her what she missed.
“Uh, yeah. Mee too.”
Hurrying behind Rarity, every one of her friends disappeared from her sight as she went to the other room. She let out a sigh of relief, she just had to stop Rarity and she finally would tell her what happened.
Not knowing was killing her. She was feeling so out of place, so useless. She needed to do something.
Rarity let the bathroom door open.
That wasn’t a good sign.
Walking inside, she saw Rarity standing with clenched fists in front of the bathtub. She was toying with a lipstick in her right hand, tapping and untapping the lid of her lipstick.
“Rarity?”
Ta-tap
Rarity did nothing different. She didn’t turn, she didn't answer. She just tapped and untapped, mumbling to herself.
“That little–” ta-tap “–devious–” ta-tap “–CONNIVING–” ta-tap “–DECEIVING–”
Dash jumped forward and reached her shoulder. “Rarity, calm down,” she said.
That worked, Rarity stopped doing whatever she was doing, but Dash almost flinched for the scare when she saw Rarity’s face.
She had her teeth clenched, her eyes sharp, her skin was red. Rarity looked angry. Like, super angry.
Only for a moment, though. She switched back to usual in a jiffy.
“I’m truly sorry,” Rarity said. “I just had to… collect myself. I couldn’t stand one more second of it.”
“One second of what? What’s going on?” she said. She had to know, obviously there was something fishy going on.
She didn’t lose her grip on Rarity, she wasn’t going to let her go before she got an answer. Rarity had to tell her something.
“Nothing.”
Huh?
“Huh?”
“Nothing. That is what is going on.” Rarity scoffed and then crossed her arms. “She’s been a sweetheart from the very moment we walked in. She was open, apologetic, a perfect host… the first thing she did? She asked Pinkie if she wanted to enjoy some snacks, she asked me if I wanted some tea, and she asked Fluttershy if they could sort things out.”
“Wait, Sunset offered snacks?”
“O, she was actually out, hence Pinkie offered to bake some.”
“Really…”
“Yes, anyway… Even before I could take a sip of tea, Sunset turned to Fluttershy and–” she paused, clenching her hands “–She asked her how she was holding up after yesterday.”
“What?”
“I know! The way she was asking, you’d say Fluttershy was the one having her life turned upside down. And it worked. Fluttershy let herself to be flattered so easily… Not even two minutes after we got inside, and she was already swooning in Sunset’s arms.”
Dash hoped that blinking hard enough would clear her thoughts. Nope, still confused.
“So you’re telling me… Sunset’s doing fine?”
“She sure was flaunting a perfect behavior,” answered Rarity.
“Wait,” Dash said.
That didn’t make any sense. Sunset wasn’t like that, and she knew. She had seen her earlier that day and her mind wasn’t cool. She even went and said… those things to her.
“Wait,” she repeated.
She was still feeling… bad about that. She didn’t want Sunset, or anybody, to think of her as a bully. She wasn’t. She would never betray or hurt her friends.
Dangit, what was that pain in her chest? Ugh, there wasn’t time for that.
“Wait… Didn’t we come here because she was being a… ya know, her old self again?”
“Mh-hm,” Rarity approved.
“Then why is she acting like…?” Aaand the keyword was acting. “Wait, you think she’s playing us?”
“I… don’t know. I don’t think so.” Rarity mulled over it. “I hope not.”
“That’s… just peachy.” She held her head between her hands. “How do we call her out?”
“Rainbow Dash.” Rarity’s tone was cold, her eyes piercing right through her. “I’m not going to pressure a friend when she might be on the verge of exploding.”
“…You want to do nothing?”
“I’m going to be a friend she can count on,” she lectured. “To my book, friends are supportive, they offer all they have, and they’re always ready to help you no matter what. They don’t call on each other misery.”
“Are you serious? You know something isn’t right! Heck, you were just hiding in a bathroom. A bathroom!”
“I was… a little angry at her.”
“Because she’s lying. She’s manipulating us. She’s lying to Fluttershy!”
“Um…” she bit her lip.
“What? Why would you deny that? You know it’s true!”
“I have a feeling, Rainbow Dash. I can’t doubt a dear friend because of a feeling…especially, not one that has gone through so much. Not at a time like this.
“I’m doing my best. We are all doing our best, but we’re also Sunsets friends and, unlike you, we use some consideration instead of bluntly jumping at the problem. I know you mean well but so help me Dash if you attack her in any way… !”
Rarity stomped her foot, trailing off her sentence without saying what she was gonna do to her. Not that she needed to, she was very clear. Not that Dash was scared, obviously.
Why would she even be scared in the first place? Because she was risking losing her friends?
Please.
She was never scared.
“Ain’t that a load of dung.”
Sunset immediately shot Aj a piercing glare. “Oh, because you always know better. Don’t you?”
“No. I just have this good old nose of mine for smellin’ bullsh–”
“Now now, what is this atmosphere?” interjected Rarity, coming straight from the bath. Rainbow followed her close, asking herself why she felt like she kept missing on things. “Let’s not lower our standards of civilization.”
“I’m calm, Rarity. And you don’t have to worry, I am quite civilized. Unlike someone, here.”
“Hey!” Shouted Aj.
“Is there anything you'd like to say?” asked Sunset.
“There’s plenty Ah’d like to say,” rebuked Aj.
“I don't doubt that.” Sunset narrowed her eyes. “Pray tell, what did I ever do to you to get this treatment?”
“That’s nonsense.”
“Is it? But you didn’t hesitate to intimidate me by force as of lately.”
Fluttershy tugged Sunset by her sleeve. “Sunset, that was only once. To protect me.”
“I know. But even if it was for you, she lost her nerve and almost… well, you were there.”
“W-what?” Aj stammered. “That’s nonsense. I’d never–”
“I understand protecting your friend” –said Sunset, all while holding herself defensely– “but you've been overwhelmingly protective. Or is it just me that you despise so much?”
Uh oh. That was bad. Seriously, could she leave five minutes without something go awry?
“Hey, now I think you're looking way too much into this.”
“Not at all. If my alleged friend has a problem with me, I want to know. So, Applejack, I’m asking again: is there anything you want to say?”
Applejack breathed through her nostrils like a bull, clenching her hands into solid fists.
“Hey, hey, GIRLS! Come on, what’s this?” Pinkie Pie stormed in between, a pink bowl of dough in her hands. “We’re friends, and friends don’t argue. Please, I’m sure these naughties will lighten the mood,” she said, showing proudly her soon-to-be treats.
Sunset looked at it skeptically. “Did you mix raisin in the dough?”
“Of course… I know you like raisin.”
“Yeeeah…” – Sunset clicked her tongue – “but I don’t really feel like eating raisin right now…”
Pinkie froze abruptly, nothing but a little tic under her left eye moving. Rainbow Dash was so used to having her bobbing all around the place that seeing her completely still actually gave her creeps.
“No problem. I’ll bake them all over… AGAIN!” Pinkie shouted.
“Thank you,” chirped Sunset, hugging Fluttershy close by her side.
And Fluttershy? Fluttershy didn’t complain, but she had that look in her eyes that Dash knew well. It was that sort of ok but not-really-ok in a concerned-about-you way.
Yeah, she (sometimes) knew how to read her friend’s eyes pretty eloquently. Basics of friendship.
Also, it gave her stomach a knot.
There was something about the way Sunset talked, the things she said, the way she smiled… she was just too nice. For what Dash was seeing, Sunset either sweet-talked about nonsense, she acted defensively, or she changed the topic. Heck, every time somebody tried to take the initiative, she insulted in such a soft way they didn’t even notice the offense or play the part.
Chills were traveling through her spine as she watched her friend. Dash knew what was going on. That was the old Sunset.
No, something told her she was even worse the way it was back then.
Spinning her head around, Rainbow Dash checked all her friends fast. By the look of it, they were all this close to giving up: they just didn’t know how to bring Sunset to open herself, even by a little. And Sunset was doing a darn good job at shutting them off completely.
Fluttershy was already treating her ‘poor girl’ with all her affection, blinded by the pity act. Pinkie Pie was sure she could make her happy with cookies, Rarity was gifting her with the courtesy of doubt. And Aj… she couldn’t even tell the truth.
And the Rainbow Dash? She was afraid of hurting her friends even more.
There, she admitted it. She did what she felt was right before, and she screwed up. She screwed up, she hurt her friend, and everyone hated her for it.
She deserved it for letting down a friend. Now, though? She was walking on thin ice under the watch of her friends, and just one step away to lose them.
That was the situation she was in: at the final play of the game as the only attacker left and with a yellow card. She either stayed low and waited for it to end in disaster, or she risked it all and might end it in disaster anyway, plus getting kicked out of the team.
Looking at the chances, they weren’t pretty. Less than thin. It wasn’t even a real plan, nor anything a smart person would do.
But she was Rainbow Dash. And she had a feeling.
Nothing all the others tried worked. If she actually wanted to help, it was pointless to be more anybody else.
She was Dash.
Dash shook her head and groaned. If she wanted to lead anywhere, she had to do something. Even if it sounded like a bad idea.
And her bad idea required enough free space, and possibly something soft to land on.
With circumspection, she examined her surroundings and casually moved a step to her right. Now, right behind her were just eight feet of soft carpet. Perfect.
It was time for her idea.
She just hoped they’d forgive her.
Rainbow Dash licked her lips. “Aw maaaan,” she stretched out in her most annoying voice. “This super sucks.”
Everybody turned towards her. AJ, Rare, Shy, even Pinkie still clutching her bowl. Dash showed her widest, smuggest grin.
“Dash–” Sunset paused, blinked, and gestured her hand “–excuse me?”
“I mean you, Sunset. You suck.”
Pinkie Pie dropped the bowl on the floor. Rarity stopped breathing.
Sunset just scratched her neck awkwardly. “Well, if that’s what you think you can–”
“Seriously, did you even consider what this means for us?”
“For… us?” asked Sunset.
“No. Us. The Rainbooms.” Dash started to count on the fingers of her hand. “Me, Fluttershy, Aj, Rare, and Pinkie… plus Twilight, when she’s around.”
“Oh, ok. I don’t… see how my… how do I affect you?”
“It does. It affects us a lot. It makes us look so uncool.”
“In that case, you can… wait, how?”
“You’re asking me how? I thought you were smart, think about it.”
“I really don’t–”
“Six girls, all glitters at the prom rise up against a she-demon that mind-controls everyone around and throws fireballs, using the power of friendship and laser-rainbows to slap her down into the concrete. Can you think of a cooler start for my band? We slayed a she-demon!”
Sunset was so focused on her that she couldn’t see Pinkie gesturing madly. Nor Fluttershy shaking her head in her direction. Nor Rarity standing up with her mouth open. Nor Applejack as she put her hand on Rarity’s shoulder, forcing her down, while giving Dash a single nod.
“But no, you ruined it. Now the she-demon was actually a pathetic angry girl that mommy kicked out of her home. And that brings us from, I dunno, saving two worlds to punching a petty bully with issues. Total waste of mysterious backstory. So thank you, Sunset.
“You make us look bad with your pathetic life.”
And with that, every single mouth in the room was agape.
Sunset, however, was stoically still. Sitting on her chair.
She blinked once. Twice. Then she chuckled, she shook her head and she left out a giggle.
Then she dove on Dash.
A very good leap. Fast and aggressive. Dash was without air in her lungs, but she stayed focus on Sunset.
“YOU THINK I’M PATHETIC! YOU’RE PATHETIC!”
She heard chairs moving and yells from everybody. She felt Sunset climbing over her body, pinning her down. She saw Sunset’s face, unrecognizable, altered by rage. She saw her charging up a fist.
“YOU’RE A USELESS, UNWORTHY, UNWANTED, INSIGNIFICANT LEFT-OVER!”
Dash was faster. By little, but she was. She grabbed both Sunset’s wrists before she could hurt somebody. But Sunset’s words still struck her.
“No one likes you, no one loves you! NOT EVEN YOUR PARENTS WANT YOU! OF COURSE THEY GOT RID OF YOU!”
…
What did I just say?
I didn’t… I wasn’t…
I was just yelling. I… wanted to punch Rainbow Dash. I was… frustrated… angry… hurt?
I was just…
Who was I talking to?
…
Why am I on top on Rainbow Dash? Why is she holding my wrists? Why does my throat hurt?
…Why is she looking me like that?
I hate those eyes.
I hate them. No one can make those eyes at me. I’m the best, no one can look down to me like that.
Where are the others? They were right here, they should be… here…
They’re here. They…
You girls, you…
…No…
You can’t! Why… No! STOP!
Why are you all looking me like that?
D-do you know who I am? I’m SUNSET SHIMMER! I’m better than all of you combined! So stop looking at me with those eyes or… or…
…
Why is Rainbow Dash hugging me?
This makes no sense. We were fighting, why is she hugging me? My throat hurts! Stop huggin–
–are these… yellow arms? From where?
Why? Why is she… Fluttershy is…
It hurts! My throat hurts. My eyes hurt!
Don’t, Fluttershy. I’m hideous. I…
…AJ…
No… not you too…
It’s… it’s too much.
Rare… please… I’m not worthy.
Pinkie… you’re hurting me! You always hurt me when you do that!
YOU’RE ALL HURTING ME!
IT HURTS!
Girls… please…
I can’t… hold it together… I’m not good enough…
I’m not good… at all…
Stop this…
Please…
…stop…
…
…
…
I’m sorry…