//------------------------------// // Chapter One: Five Days Later // Story: The Music of Betrayal // by Echo Breeze //------------------------------// That Saturday, Five days after all the girls found out that I was cutting myself, I found myself outside of the Animal Shelter where Fluttershy worked. She sent me a text saying that I need to meet her outside at 2 pm, though I was ten minutes early, so I was content to just sit on one of the benches just outside the door. I had just sat down when my phone rang. "Hey Rarity, what's up?" I said to the person on the other side. "Sunset, darling. I'm just calling to find out how you're doing. You gave us all quite a scare on Monday." Rarity replied. This was another in a long list of calls over the last few days. "I'm alright Rares. Just taking it day by day. You know how I do." I said, putting all my effort into sounding cheerful. "Mmhmm." she grunted, the sarcastic tone of it told me she didn't quite believe me. "So what are you up to now? "Just sitting outside the animal shelter, waiting for Fluttershy. She sent me a text asking to meet me here. No idea why." I replied. "Oh, I see. What are you doing later today then, I was hoping to go to the mall later today, but I don't want to go alone, you see. Would you like to come, the others are all too busy. I even have a gift for you." she asked, barely hiding the hopeful tone in her voice. "Sure, I'll meet you there at four." I replied. "Great, see you then, Sunset. I have to get back to work now, my break is over. Ta-ta darling." she said, barely contained excitement dripping from her voice. "Bye Rares. Have fun at work." I said before ending the call. Just as I put my phone back in the inside pocket, Fluttershy came walking out of the animal shelter. My hand was still in my pocket, the pocket feeling bare without the knife I had in there since my third day on Earth. Fluttershy had confiscated it on Monday in the hopes that it would get me to stop cutting. It had worked so far, but it was only a matter of time until I was pushed to it again. "Hey Fluttershy, you wanted to see me?" I said after getting up to greet her. She still had a worried look on her face every time she saw me. "Hey Sunset, yeah. I just wanted to check on you. How has your day been?" she asked "It's been good so far, Rarity invited me to the mall at four." I replied, doing a better job to hide the depression that I'd had since the Fall Formal. I had told them all about the depression on Monday, but I had not told them about the recent events that had added onto it. I may have friends now to help me out when I need it, but I still had difficulty opening up about everything, especially after being alone for most of my life. "Well, that's good. She did initially invite me, but my grandparents are coming over later today, and I have to make sure my brother behaves himself." Fluttershy said, a downcast look in her eyes. I knew all about Zephyr Breeze, Fluttershy's younger brother. He was too much even for me to handle. I mostly just left him alone when I was a bully. Thinking about the time when I was a bully always took me to a dark place, and it usually showed on my face. Fluttershy noticed it. "Are you okay, Sunset?" she asked. "Yeah, I'm fine." I replied, putting on the best fake smile I could muster. "Just thinking." I miss my knife sometimes, it was a welcome distraction from my past, the pain it caused nothing compared to the pain I caused most of my life. "Do you want to come over for tea?" She asked. "I'm sure my parents won't mind." I thought about it for a while, and then gave my reply. "Sure Fluttershy, I'd love to. That is, if your parents won't mind. I don't want to impose." "I'm sure they won't." Fluttershy replied. "And you are not an imposition." "Thank you Fluttershy." I said, smiling genuinely for the first time in a long time. "You are most welcome, Sunset." she replied. I then reached into my left outer jacket pocket and fished out my keys, thanking the stars that I had thought to take my truck instead of my bike for today. I don't know what fluttershy's parents would think about her having a friend that rides a bike, other than Dash, of course. "I'll follow you." I said as Fluttershy unlocked her compact hybrid, a Toyota Prius. "Sure Sunset." she replied as she closed the driver door. I hit unlock on my key fob and opened the door. I sat there for a few moments before turning the key. The turbodiesel V8 roared to life with a throaty growl. I had done a lot of work on her since I got her. I replaced the turbocharger for a bigger one, replaced the exhaust system, did a major tune up and even got rid of all the rust. She had just gotten a fresh coat of paint last weekend. I got her painted in a two tone of my hair colours, Red with a gold strip on the bottom. I often get teased by the girls about how I look so small behind the wheel of the Ford F-150. I didn't mind though. I put her in drive and followed Fluttershy. __________________________________________ A few minutes later, I stopped on the curb outside of Fluttershy's house. Fluttershy had stopped in the driveway. I hopped out of my truck and looked to the driveway, the compact SUV and old wreck of a sedan parked there telling me that her parents and brother were home. 'Great, I get to spend an afternoon with Zephyr Breeze' I thought to myself as we walked together to the front door of the modest, two-story house. She unlocked the door and walked in, motioning for me to follow suit. Just as we took off our jacket, Zephyr poked his head around the corner. 'Speak of the devil and he shall appear.' I thought to myself. "Hey sis, is Rainbow with you?" he asked, barely letting his sister breathe with the hug he gave her. "No Zeph. Only Sunset." she replied. No sooner had she said my name than he got a sour look on his face. "You! Why'd you bring her here? Didn't she cause you nothing but heartache and pain. I don't understand." he said, pure venom dripping from his voice. "You better clear out before I call the cops." I nodded and turned to grab my jacket when Fluttershy did something I didn't expect. She turned to her brother. "Now Zephyr Breeze, you listen to me. Sunset is my friend, and I won't stand you attacking her like this. She has changed, and is doing better now. You had better apologize." she said. He turned to me, hatred shining in his eyes. I stood there, wide eyed in shock at the display. She stood up for the person who had caused her so much pain in the past. "NOW!" He looked at his feet. "Sorry Sunset." he said in a voice I could barely hear, and left before I could even reply. "Sorry about Zephyr. I don't know what has gotten into him." Fluttershy said. "Don't worry about it. Now, about that tea." I said, smiling despite the hurt I felt. The next hour was passed in joy. __________________________________________ I left Fluttershy's house fifteen minutes before I was due to meet Rarity at the mall. I got a text from Rarity telling me to meet her at Blue Wendell's. I shot her a quick reply before starting up my truck and heading in the direction of the mall. I got to the mall with five minutes to spare. I found a parking space close to the entrance and slipped into it. Climbing out, I heard my phone ring with a notification. Taking it out, I saw that it was a text from Rarity. 'Running a bit late, darling. Will see you in fifteen minutes.' So I shot her a quick affirmative reply and headed into the mall, hitting the lock button on my key fob. Five minutes later, I found a table outside Blue Wendell's and sat down. I took out my phone and started playing a game while waiting for Rarity. Before my game loaded, I got up and went to order a smoothie to drink. I took the proffered drink and handed the clerk a few bills to pay for it, then turned and walked back to the table I was sitting at earlier, only to find that it was occupied by none other than Gilda. "Well, if it isn't the she-demon herself. What you up to Shimmer, plotting something?" she said, looking at her phone. I didn't reply. Instead I started backing away. "I asked you a question, bitch." Gilda stood up and made to grab me. I threw my smoothie at her and ran. I vaguely heard her shouting in the distance. "You're gonna pay for that!" I ran to the nearest restroom, checking that she hadn't been following me too closely to see where I had gone. I locked myself in the stall farthest from the door and took out my phone. I dialed Rarity's number. "Rarity, I need help. Gilda's after me. Please hurry. I'm in the bathroom closest to Blue Wendell's." I said after she answered the call. "Sunset, I'm on my way. Stay on the line for…" I didn't listen to the rest. I couldn't afford to be found by the sound of my voice. __________________________________________ "Sunset, I'm on my way. Stay on the line for… Sunset, hello. Are you there." there was no answer. I dialled a group call in. They all answered at about the same time, Fluttershy being the last. "Girls, Sunset is in trouble at the mall. Gilda found her. Meet me at the bathroom closest to Blue Wendall's." They all replied in assent at the same time.