//------------------------------//
// 8. The Sunny Girl and the Raven 
// Story: EqG Tales: Ever After High Edition 
// by Brian Sheil 
//------------------------------//

It was a quiet Saturday at Canterlot City. At a movie theater, a big muscular boy named Hoops barges out grabbing Sunset Shimmer from the back.
"Nobody wants a she-demon in a place like this, Sunset!" Hoops shouts. "I don't care if your friends brought you here. They're going to purchase SIX tickets instead of seven! Now, GET OUT AND STAY OUT!!"
Hoops pushes Sunset to the ground hard. Quivering with fear and sadness, Sunset runs away. Inside the theater, her friends watched in fear.
"Oh my." Fluttershy gasped . "And, I thought Hoops is always mean to you, Rainbow."
"Yeah, I know." Rainbow Dash replied. "At least he didn't bring his cohorts, Score and Dumbbell, with him."
Hoops walks to the group with a cocky smile on his face. "No need to worry, ladies. That bully won't bother anybody now."
As he walks past the group, he turns to Rainbow Dash with a nasty comment. "You should stay away from that bacon haired dame , Rainbow CRASH!"
He walks away laughing, knowing Rainbow Dash never liked that nickname. Meanwhile, Wallflower Blush, who watched all of the action decided to make a phone call. "Hi. This is Wallflower Blush. I wonder if you can do me a favor."
Outside the movie theater, sitting on a bench, Sunset feels very upset as tears drip down her cheeks.
My days of being a brutal bad girl are gone. Sunset thought sadly. I wish that brute would know that.
As Sunset started to cry, a hand was placed on Sunset's shoulder. She looks up and saw a girl with black hair and wearing a fairy tale style black dress. Sunset knows who it is. "R-R-Ra-Raven Queen. This is a surprise."
"Hello, Sunset Shimmer." Raven greeted. “May I sit with you?"
"Sure. I can use some company right now."
Raven sits next to Sunset in hopes of calming her down.
"Wallflower Blush called me and told me what happened." Raven said. "No doubt, she was in the movie theater when she saw Hoops grab you and throw you out."
"I still can't believe that some people still remember that Fall Formal nightmare." Sunset said, tearing up again. "It's as if someone want to separate me from my friends."
As Sunset started to sob, Raven got a hold of the former bad girl. "Calm down, Sunset. True, that was one of your most hideous moments." Sunset calmed down a little as Raven continued. "But, some time after that, you learned what true friendship was all about. And, you made peace with everyone."
"You're right, Raven." Sunset replied, wiping the tears from her eyes. "Even Vice Principal Luna said that I should put that part of my past behind me. Besides, I made a promise to a good friend of mine."
"That would be Princess Twilight Sparkle of Equestria. Right?"
Sunset blushed a little. "That's right."
As the two girls enjoy the peace and quiet of the day, a thought came to Sunset's mind. "You know, Raven, I'm very surprised you don't want to follow in the footsteps of your mother, the Evil Queen."
"As you know," Raven explained, "we rebels of Ever After High don't follow a designated storyline. Many people expect me to be evil."
"Like Headmaster Grimm, for instance."
"Right. But, I would like to find my own destiny that doesn't require me to be evil. Besides, I know what kind of vicious beast my mom is. I guess you heard about what happened during the Dragon Games."
"Oh yeah. Apple White and Maddie Hatter told me and my friends about that event. You totally stood up to that wicked witch."
Raven chuckled and gave Sunset a pleasant smile. "Wicked witch. That's putting it mildly."
The girls shared a laugh as Flash Sentry walked by.
"Hey, Sunset." Flash greeted. "Twilight called and told me about what happened. Are you all right?"
"I'll be fine." Sunset answered. "It's going to take me a while to get over it. I hope somebody makes Hoops pay for what he did to me!"
"Don't worry. Hoops will regret that. At least you have someone like Raven Queen here to help support you."
As Flash walks away, Sunset and Raven looked at each other and embraced in a hug, knowing one thing. Flash does have a point. The next day, at a pizza place, Twilight and her friends were enjoying each other's company.
"So, Sunset," Twilight wondered, "how are you doing?"
"I'm doing okay." Sunset replied. "I just needed time to get my thoughts together."
"We'll all be here to help you, my dear." Rarity assured.
"I still can't believe Hoops had the nerve to throw you out of that movie theater!" Rainbow Dash said angrily. "I hope you didn't have a bad day because of him."
"Don't worry, Rainbow." Applejack said as Sunset thought about her talk with Raven Queen. "I have a feeling someone out there helped comfort her in her time of need."
"You're right." Sunset replied. "Raven helped me out well. She was there to support me."
"Raven?" Rarity gasped. "Raven Queen? That's one person that knows darkness well. And, does not use it often."
"You're right." Said a female voice.
The group turned and saw Raven with a pleasant smile on her face.
"Raven!" Twilight gasped. "We were just talking about you."
"Hi, guys." Raven greeted. "How's Sunset doing?"
"She doin' fine, Raven." Applejack replied. "Thanks to you, from what we heard."
This gave Raven a happy feeling as she joins the group.
"I guess Sunset is lucky you showed up." Pinkie Pie said. "It makes me sad when one of our own is pushed around."
"I'm sure it does, Pinkie." Raven replied. "Especially if those bullies are old headaches from Rainbow's past."
Rainbow Dash nodded. "I'll agree to that."
Just then, Hoops came into the pizza place and saw Sunset. He soon got mad and marched towards her.
"I told you that you have no friends!" Hoops growled. "I'll have to teach you another lesson."
Raven then stepped up as a dark aura surrounds her. "You want to hurt Sunset? I don't think so."
Seeing this dark energy, Hoops ran off in a panic. Raven turned down her energy as she turns to the girls. "Sorry you had to see that."
"Don't be sorry." Sunset said. "At least you're here to defend the likes of me."
Raven Queen smiled knowing that Sunset is grateful that she showed up to defend her.