//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 - The Memories We Forgot // Story: Visions of Memoria // by Lunaria //------------------------------// Chapter 2 The Memories We Forgot Sunset crashed down in one of the chairs that were placed on the outskirts of the gym, right up against the wall. She was completely out of breath, really, she should have quit while she was ahead. An even more beat girl flopped into the seat beside hers, her companion for the evening: Wallflower Blush. Oh and blush she sure did, the way they had tried sneaking glances at her was adorable. Not that she was the only one, she could see several guys and girls ogling at her from over yonder; she payed them no mind. "Well," she huffed. "Maybe we should have quit a song or two earlier," she flashed Wallflower a smirk. Wallflower got something out between the gasps of air that allegedly could be said to sound like a 'yes'. She couldn't help herself snickering. She needed this, she really did. Her life had taken unexpected after unexpected turn lately, so it was nice to just unwind and do something just for the sake of it. Well, she was doing Rarity a favour, though only because the fashionista insisted. She figured Sunset would make a better splash with one of her new dresses than she herself would. Something which would spread her name among the student body and perhaps get her a commission or two for the next school dance. She didn't really get how she could afford to just make and give away a full sized dress like this, but at least the notion of serving as advertisement helped quell some of her guilt for accepting the dress. "Oh," she just remembered. "Rarity's friend is throwing an after party slash sleepover after this, I'm going, but I got permission to bring my plus one, if you're interested," she smirked as she nudged Wallflower. Her namesake spread across Wallflower's cheeks, that girl had it hard for her. "S-sure," she stammered out. Sunset shook her head, where would she be without her? "Someone's sweeping the dance floor." Twisting her head she could see Rarity approaching, two plastic mugs in her hands. "Someone's gotta do it," she smirked. She accepted the offered mug and Wallflower did likewise. The punch wasn't the worst she'd ever had, but any liquid at this point was heavenly. "Well, you certainly got the eye catching part down dear. Frankly at this rate you will be voted Princess of the Spring Fling." She knew it was immature, yet she couldn't stop glaring at the offending object that was resting at the table in front of her. It was a crown, with gems inlaid along its rim. It was likely fake though, it's not like a school could afford to buy expensive jewelry and hand it out willy-nilly. "Sunset..." She took a deep breath before sighing. Once she felt like she'd gotten a better grip of her emotions she looked up. Across from her sat Wallflower, she'd dutifully followed her as she stormed her way out of the dance. The two were sitting at a café a decent bit away from CHS, one that was open surprisingly late. "I don't think he meant-" "I know." Of course he didn't, Flash Sentry was a complete idiot. Despite the fact that Sunset had brought what anyone in their right mind would have seen as a date to the dance, he was too blind to make the connection. She smacked her hands on the table. "I can't believe he kissed me, the nerve!" Wallflower flinched back at her outburst, something which made her immediately regret her actions. The shy girl didn't take well to anger, regardless of who it was aimed at. She put her hand to her forehead and continue at a calmer level, despite seething inside. "Not only did I have to dance with him because he was voted Prince of the Spring Fling, he also had forced the issue by insisting on leading the dance." Every single time she'd danced with Wallflower she'd been the one leading, it was the set-up the two of them had decided upon. "But he also thought that the charming thing to do was to kiss me at the end." She wanted to yell, she really wanted to yell, but she wouldn't; Wallflower didn't deserve to be subjected to that. The tiniest outcry could cause her friend to wilt. Said girl was shuffling about in her seat, eventually pulling something out of her bag and placing it on the table; her hands still covering it. "There is... something," Wallflower started. Sunset glance between Wallflower's face and her hands. Wallflower let out an audible gulp. "Something that can perhaps fix things..." Her hands moved away to reveal an ornate stone. It's design wasn't really anything Sunset was familiar with. "What is it?" "It..." Wallflower shifted in her seat before sighing. "It's a stone that can remove people's memories. She raised an eyebrow, surely she wasn't serious? She knew Wallflower was somewhat of an recluse and a social outcast, but she wasn't delusional. "If you want, I can make everyone that saw it happen tonight forget about it... including you." "Seriously?" She wasn't about to buy into some engraved stone being able to mess with people's heads, even if others might be so daft. Last she checked the world was strikingly devoid of any magic. Wallflower let out a sigh. "You don't believe me, do you?" Sunset shook her head. "Not a chance, sorry Wally, but I can't really believe something like that." Wallflower close her eyes for a moment, when she opened them again she had the most determined expression that Sunset had ever seen on her face. "What if I could prove it?" She blinked a few times before frowning. "Fine." She didn't have anything better to do till the party at Pinkie Pie's place anyway; she might as well indulge Wallflower. "But... before that, there's something I must say." "Oh?" "I... I'm in love with you Sunset, I have been for months." Sunset rolled her eyes, that fact had been blatantly obvious to her. She'd prepared for it though, she knew she had to shoot her down if she ever brought it up. "As nice as that is Wallflower, and don't get the wrong idea, I-" "-Don't have time for a 'high school romance', I know." Sunset froze, it wasn't just what Wallflower said, but also how she said it: completely devoid of emotion, as if she was resigned to the truth of the words. "How did you...?" Wallflower shrugged. "When you keep getting rejected the same way over and over again, it tend to stick," she chuckled awkwardly. Again? This was the first time Wallflower had brought it up... that's when it clicked for her. "You used that thing... on me?" Wallflower let out a sigh and nodded, their eyes refusing to meet hers. She wasn't sure what to think. The notion that a random stone could suck up memories was absurd, except, that was somehow the belivable part? Wallflower was one of the worst liars she'd ever met, she wasn't lying. That coupled with the fact that she knew exactly how Sunset was going to turn her down... To say she was at loss for words would be putting it lightly. "There you are!" A distressed voice calling from the entrance of the café got her attention. Storming over was her second best friend, the one who'd got her into signing up for the dance in the first place: Rarity. "You've no idea how worried I was when I heard you just stormed off," Rarity exclaimed as she got up to their table. Glancing down revealed that Wallflower had pocketed both her stone and confidence. She grunted. "I tried to make it graceful as I left." Rarity nodded. "I know, and I appreciate it, but you can hardly hide your feelings to me dear," she glanced between Wallflower and Sunset. "I think it was quite obvious to most of us that you were quite taken," she huffed. "If he'd done something like that to me I'd have been quite cross as well." She was going to reply, but somehow Wallflower had worked up her courage again and beat her to the punch. "I wouldn't know if I qualify," she said as she got up. "After all, I'm just some immature high school student that isn't worth getting involved with." Rarity just blinked at the display, and honestly she wasn't the only one. She'd never heard Wallflower raise her voice before, let alone talking with such animosity. "If you knew already then what's the problem?" Frankly, she'd had enough already tonight, she wasn't going to just fold over. Wallflower grit her teeth before eventually slamming her hands onto the table. "Because someone thought it was perfectly fine to lead me on, despite knowing full well how I felt!" Rarity took a step back. "Girls?" Wallflower's attention snapped to Rarity. "Oh don't get me started on you miss perfect. You could have any boy or girl at school, yet you insist on having my Sunset!" Now that, was something Sunset couldn't stand for. "Hey! I'm not some thing for you to own Wallflower, nor does Rarity deserve getting yelled at!" She got up onto her feet. Wallflower was about to fling some more words at her when Rarity stepped in between them both, a heavy frown on her face. "I don't know what has been going on between the two of you tonight, but I won't have it," she spoke calmly yet quick, and underlying annoyance could be heard in every word. "Now, I want both of you to calm down, I don't want this evening to cause even more regret in the morning than it might already do." They were quite past that point already, in Sunset's opinion, and she was about to voice as such. Rarity's eyes snapped to hers. "No, I won't hear it. I want you to head outside Sunset, take a few minutes to calm down and we'll do the same in here. Then after that all three of us can make our way over to Pinkie's party;" her tone made it clear that she'd leave no room for debate. She stared into Rarity's eyes for a good ten second before eventually cursing under her breath. She made her way outside of the café, it was a good thing they were the only customer, otherwise they likely would have been thrown out. She leaned back against the building, a sigh escaping her lips. She could hear the muffled voices of Rarity and Wallflower talking inside, but she couldn't make out the words, and frankly she didn't care at this point. The streets outside were devoid of traffic and everything was dead. The dance ended at least half an hour ago at this point, she'd been sitting and fuming in that café for quite some time. Maybe Rarity was right and she just needed some cold fresh air. She could consider Wallflower, her feelings, and whether or not there was any validity to her magical stone some other day. At this point she just wanted to get tp Pinkie's place and crash. Would that be rude? Yes, but she highly doubted she'd have the energy to fake being happy. She wasn't sure how long time had passed, but eventually the other two girls exited the building. With a nod the three of them set off towards Pinkie's house. Rarity joined up and walked by Sunset's side while Wallflower took up the rear. Occasionally she could hear a whimper from behind her. Was it any other day then she'd not hesitate in the slightest to drop everything to try and comfort the girl. A quick glance back revealed that she was crying, all Sunset could do was sigh. They completed the trip in otherwise silence, occasionally a car would speed by on the empty streets of Canterlot. Pinkie Pie's house was not remarkable in the slightest, it fitting right in with the houses on either side of it. Rarity took the opportunity to knock on the door. "I-I can't do this..:" Sunset turned to offer a few comforting words to Wallflower, yet she froze as she took in the sight. Her eyes were red and her cheeks tear stained, yet the most striking thing was what she was clutching in her hands. "Good bye Sunset." Her eyes dilated. "No wait don't-"