//------------------------------// // Back At It Again // Story: One Stubborn Mare // by TheKing2001 //------------------------------// Silverspeed and Derpy trotted back and forth across the stage at town hall impatiently as Roseluck, Daisy and Carrot Top finishing setting up flowers matching Sunset’s eyes and mane. “Where in Equestria is Shoeshine?” Carrot Top finally asked as Trixie and Raindrops trotted up. “She was placing the gold finish to the trophy is what she told me,” Derpy said as she glanced at the sky. “She will be in soon. I trust Shoeshine and she always tells the truth.” “I hope so,” Silverspeed said quietly as she watched more and more town ponies along with her sister started appearing. “Here! I’m here!” Shoeshine called out as she galloped up with a large golden trophy on her back as she grunted. “Hey there,” Trixie said as she and Sparkler levitated it off of her back and placed it on the stage. “Cutting it a bit close, eh Shoeshine?” “Sorry about that. Got caught up with Screw Loose chasing a squirrel,” Shoeshine said apologetically as she looked around. “Wow, that’s a lot of ponies. Are they all seriously here for Sunset?” “A lot of ponies know her,” Daisy said as Sparkler nodded. “Especially since the princess’ daughter lives here. It really brought a lot of light and attention to Ponyville.” “True that,” Raindrops said as she stretched her wings. “You really wrote down a whole speech?” “Well duh. She’s my friend too,” Sparkler shot back with a shrug. “Welcome, everypony! Today we are here to honor a pony we can always count on to help in matters great and small. A pony whose contributions to—” “You all should see Sunset’s fighting moves,” Silverspeed cut in with a large grin as Sparkler glared at her. “I mean, that mare is fast as lightning! She’s skilled with a sword, her hooves, all forms of magic it’s incredible. She’d be a dang good royal guard.” “Yes, yes Sunset is amazing. As I was saying-” “She also is coming with me to visit my sister at the hospital,” Shoeshine pushed Silverspeed aside gently. “She’s like, the best. Sunset had definitely made me a better friend. We both teach each other something new.” “Oh-kay, that’s great. Now if I could just make a point without being inter—” Sparkler started again as she narrowed her eyes more. “Sparkler?” Derpy asked as Sparkler sighed. “Rupted.” “It’s just that Sunset saved my daughters too and I owe her everything,” Derpy said with a faint smile. “Trixie too!” Trixie called out from the sidelines with Roseluck grinning as they all watched Sunset stumbling up as they all gave her worried looks. “Anypony else? Anypony? No? Well then, as I was trying to say... Urgh! Never mind!” Sparkler shouted as she threw up her flash cards and stepped back next to a chuckling Dinky. “Has she been staying up all night again?” Roseluck asked and facehoofed as Silverspeed nodded. “Oh my Celestia.” “Oh thanks girls,” Sunset said as she stared with wide eyes at. “For this uh shiny metal thingy. Very shiny. Woo, woo, woo.” “She must have some crazy hangover,” Berry Punch whispered to Minuette as Pinkie joined Sunset. “Woo, woo, woo,” the two continued as Sunset’s friends gave her concerned looks. “I gotta get on home and file taxes for everypony in town, I’ll be around if anypony needs anything,” Sunset said as she gently bit the trophy and started dragging it off the stage. “Uh Sunset?” Derpy said after a moment. “You have magic.” “Oh right. Funny how I forgot that right?” Sunset laughed as she received more confused looks as she dragged it off. “You think we should check up on her?” Dinky asked as Sparkler sighed. “I have a feeling yes.” “Why are you coming with?” Roseluck asked Lily as her older sister rolled her eyes. “Oh right because I’m not allowed to be around your friends,” Lily snarked as the other rolled their eyes and Daisy inhaled. “Enough you two,” Derpy sighed as she gave them unimpressed looks. “Can it girls before-” “Before Trixie shoves her hoof up your both of your asses if you don’t work your shit out,” Trixie snapped as Derpy glared at her. “What?” “There are children,” Derpy hissed quietly and pointed a hoof at Dinky and Sparkler. “My hoof will be going up there if it happens again, capiche?” “Yes mother.” “Sunset?” Derpy called out as the group walked inside and looked around. “Is it just me or is this place worse than I saw it last?” “Sweet Celestia,” Trixie whistled as she stepped over a bottle of whiskey. “That’s a dang good brand too.” “Don’t even think about it,” Sparkler warned with a glance. “Sunset is serious about her whiskey. She’ll know it’s missing.” “Sunset!” Shoeshine called out as she sighed. “Alright, spread out everypony. Dinky, Sparkler and I will search upstairs. Roseluck and Lily, search out back. Derpy, Trixie, Daisy, search down here. Silverspeed, fly around town and look.” “You got it,” Silverspeed tossed a lazy salute before she took off. Shoeshine sighed as she and other two trotted upstairs where it was messier. “You think something to her?” Sparkler asked as she levitated some glass bottles into a trash can. “Or somepony happened to her,” Shoeshine said under her breath. “Then I’ll have to break some legs.” “Dinky, watch out for glass and go check for balcony. Sunset sometimes likes to sit out there and watch the sun set over the lake.” “Got it.” Shoeshine sighed as she kicked open a bedroom door, stepping inside and blinking before her eyes adjusted to the darkness, focusing on the form on the bed next to a candle. “Sunset?” “Go away.” Shoeshine rolled her eyes as she sat down on the bed and rolled Sunset over. Shoeshine scrunched her muzzle up in disgust at the smell of alcohol on Sunset’s coat and breath, taking the empty bottle. “You look awful,” Shoeshine noted as she examined her matted mane. “What’s going on?” “I don’t wanna talk about it,” Sunset grumbled as she rubbed an eye with her hoof. “Tough. Now spill.” “You’re not gonna let this go, are you?” Sunset asked as Shoeshine shook her head. “Nah, I’m not. That’s not really my style ya know. Now what’s wrong?” “You know me being abandoned on the castle door steps and all that fun stuff?” Sunset asked as Shoeshine grimaced. “Not my definition of fun stuff but sure go on.” “Today’s the day Princess Celestia found me. It’s always been a pretty rough week in general. Usually spend it drunk or always doing stuff alone. It’s always been me working alone because I always figured asking for help makes me weak. Being seen as weak in Celestia’s school as her prized student let alone her daughter would make me a target. I can’t ask for help.” “That was then,” Shoeshine said finally as she sighed and hugged Sunset. “This is now. This ain’t Celestia’s school, this is Ponyville. Now keep going while you have my attention.” “This is gonna sound stupid,” Sunset said as Shoeshine snorted. “But like, why wasn’t I good enough? Why just dump me on the doorsteps? Were my parents that selfish and rude to just throw a newborn aside?” “Let’s entertain the idea that they were just being jerks-” “They were damn it!” Sunset snapped as Shoeshine held up her hooves defensively. “I agree one hundred percent. You could have died, they were jerks. But let’s entertain the faint possibility that I don’t believe happened. What if they knew they couldn’t care for you and took you to the one place they knew you would be looked after?” Shoeshine asked as Sunset scowled. “Why the castle? Why not the royal guard station in Canterlot or the fire department? Why specifically the damn castle?” “I’m not gonna pretend to know everything or all the answers Sunset but I do know you can ask us for anything and we’d be there in a heartbeat like you do for us. Even Lily was worried about you and she came to look for you. And we definitely won’t view you as weak. You’re one of the strongest ponies I know,” Shoeshine said with a faint smirk. “So what now?” “I suppose now I ask my friends for help. I do got a lot of work but first,” Sunset said as shrugged as she hugged Shoeshine. “And Shoeshine?” “Yeah?” Shoeshine asked as she hugged her friend back and the pair fell on the sides. “Thanks for uh being my friend. And listening.” “Anytime.” Sunset kissed Shoeshine’s forehead as the earth pony kicked the door shut.