//------------------------------// // Chapter XXVI // Story: Family Trip // by TheKing2001 //------------------------------// Sunset I slammed my head down repeatedly on my desk quietly as a few of my classmates looked back in confusion. I hated math with a fiery burning passion. Math is the root of all evil, as some would say. I idly wonder what would happen if I went back in time and prevented the birth of whoever created math. Would I be considered a hero or a villain then? To my classmates, most likely a hero. Sounds like some terminator shit. It didn’t help that Derpy, Lyra, Rainbow and my siblings watched it last night. Unsurprisingly, Sunburst is quite impressed with human movies. I jumped slightly as Vinyl started thumping her desk with her finger and I raised an eyebrow. “What the fuck are you doing?” I muttered as Indigo snickered. “She’s vibing to some music is all,” Indigo whispered back. “Where’s your brother?” “In the office with VP Luna and Principal Celestia.” “I can’t believe he bowed to them,” Sunny Flare giggled as she put her pencil down. I remember my classmates giving him weird looks when he bowed to them. The look on Celestia and Lunas face is almost enough to make me burst out laughing again. “Yeah that was pretty funny,” Fluttershy giggled as I looked at the girl sitting next to me. “He’s nice.” I raised an eyebrow at her blushing face as I saw Blueberry Cake and Rainbow having a quiet conversation across the room. Rainbow pulled out a rainbow rubber band and put the note Blueberry handed her in it, aiming at me. “Oh fuck no,” I grumbled and ducked as Rainbow let go. I remember the last time she shot a note at me and hit me at high speeds with it. The note went whistling over my head as Twilight and Indigo jumped. “Gah!” Twilight shouted and jumped. Everyone stared at her and she slumped over with red cheeks. “Give me that damn note please Trixie,” I grumbled as Trixie tossed me it. It handed landed on her desk so props to Rainbow to landing it somewhere at least. Wanna hang out with Velvet Sky? She was asking, BC. Blueberry Cake has unsurprisingly good cursive. I flashed her a thumbs up and gestured at my phone. Yeah sure. Tell her to meet us in the gym after school, I texted her subtly under the desk before Moondancer could notice and take my phone. She gave a thumbs up and I shifted my focus back to my math work. I sat on the stage with my band mates, swinging my legs as Sunburst sat with Fuchsia. “Fuchsia, come here,” I called out as she shrugged, jogging over. “Hey Sunny. What’s up?” Fuchsia sat next to me with her guitar and smiled. “Hey. What do you think of my brother?” I asked idly and she gave a shrug. “He’s cool. Why?” “Well you obviously noticed he likes you so,” I trailed off as Fuchsia nodded. “I did yeah. I kinda can’t date him though I wouldn’t mind it I guess. First rule of girl code is don’t date friends siblings,” Fuchsia recited and pressed her hand to her chest. “I would let you as long as you’re fine with him being in Equestria fairly often,” I commented casually as Rainbow glanced over. “Though you got some competition.” “Who?” “Fluttershy and Sweet Leaves.” Fuchsia gave a snort of laughter and looked at Fluttershy. “Oh please,” Fuchsia scoffed and rolled her eyes. “Fluttershy isn’t competition at all. All she has going for her is her chest and her fake sweet personality. As for Sweet Leaves, I can see that but once again, not really worried. Have him shave and we will see.” I gave a chuckle as the doors opened. We had invited Blueberry Cake and her friends to hang out with us. I was slightly worried about Lavender and Aqua being in the same room. The two locked eyes as we all watched nervously. “Lavender,” Octavia said warningly as Lavender jumped off the stage and slowly approached Aqua Blossom. Lavender stayed silent as she stared into Aquas eyes, inhaling. “Trixie thinks this should be good,” Trixie whispered to Watermelody. Lavender swung and punched Aqua in the face. The girl stumbled and Starlight caught her. “Alright, that’s enough yall,” Applejack said as she jumped down and got between the two. “I’m good now,” Lavender said and shoved Applejack aside. She jumped back on stage and picked up her guitar, fist bumping Lightning. “I deserved that,” Aqua muttered and rubbed her jaw. “You hit hard.” “Alright so uh we invited you guys here so we can get you opinions on a song. We don’t want you to record this or anything. We prefer to keep these things private,” I explained as Velvet Sky nodded. “Okay,” Velvet said and sat down on the floor with her skirt tucked under her legs. I nodded at Rainbow who gave me a thumbs up. I always did like her guitar playing skills. “No, not me, don’t count me out yet. I sweat, I bleed, still have my last breath. I might be down on my knees but I am not afraid. From the jaws of defeat, I will not suffocate,” Rainbow sang and Blueberry gave an approving nod. “Knocked down, thrown into the fire. Rise up, more than just a fighter. Come back, ah am standing taller. Knocked down, rise up, come back stronger,” Applejack and Lightning sang. “Come back stronger.” “Say “so long” to who I was before,” Trixie and I sang as we stood with our backs to each other and folded our arms with faint smirks. “I’ll win the battle and I’ll win the war. I just love as I see you underestimate all the strength I gained from my mistakes.” “Knocked down, thrown into the fire. Rise up, more than just a fighter. Come back, I am standing taller. Knocked down, rise up, come back stronger,” Fuchsia and Lavender sang. “Come back stronger.” A bright orange glow surrounded me as Sunburst gawked as I felt my ears get pointy and my hair get longer. “Stronger, I will come back stronger. I will come back stronger,” Lyra and Fluttershy sang. “I will come back stronger,” Derpy added quietly. “Come back stronger.” “Knocked down, thrown into the fire. Rise up, more than just a fighter. Come back, I am standing taller,” Octavia added. She had a surprisingly loud voice when she wanted to use it. “Knocked down, rise up, come back stronger. Come back stronger.” I watched Rainbow take her guitar off and set it on the stand as she grinned. “Well, thoughts?” Rainbow demanded as Sweet Leaves nodded enthusiastically. “That was really good,” Sweet Leaves commented as I stretched a bit. “I like Trixie’s part,” Starlight admitted casually as Trixie gave a smug grin. “I think the guitar was my favorite part,” Blueberry Cake said sheepishly and rubbed the back off her head. Tennis Match simply nodded and gave a thumbs up. “What was that?” Sunburst demanded as he stared at me. “The glowing thing?” “Oh we call it ponying up. All of us can do it. So can Mom, Scootaloo, Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon,” I answered and looked back at him. “My aunts and Ruby have as well a few times recently. Haven’t seen anyone else other than my bandmates do so.” “But why?” “The elements we represent we assume. Here, play a guitar or something,” I said and held out Lyra’s to him. “Don’t know how.” “Here!” Pinkie shouted as she rummaged through her hair and threw a harmonica at him. “I’m not even gonna ask where you got that,” Rainbow commented as she raised an eyebrow at Sunburst. “This wouldn’t be the weirdest thing I’ve had in my mouth,” Sunburst shrugged and blew the harmonica. “I really don’t want to think about all the possibilities you might have meant,” I grumbled as everyone laughed. Starlight, Sweet Leaves, Fluttershy and Sunburst turned bright red. “I didn’t mean anything like that! I meant foods from the Crystal Empire!” Sunburst exclaimed as he handed the harmonica to Pinkie who promptly put it in her hair. “Dang, I didn’t pony up or whatever.” “Huh okay. Your special talent is magic related,” I mused and rubbed my chin. “Maybe if we get you to read more books, it’ll happen?” “Here, let me help you,” Sweet Leaves said and dropped to her knees in front of Sunburst. “What are you doing?” Lyra asked with a blush as Sweet Leaves held Sunburst’s shoelaces in her hands. If I had noticed his shoes were untied, I’d have helped myself but she beat me to it. “Tying his shoes before he falls? What did you think I was doing?” Sweet Leaves asked as we all turned red or looked away. “Oh my God, ew! No! Never!” We all looked at each other and burst out laughing. That could have been way wors