//------------------------------// // Protector // Story: Goodnight Sunset, Good Morning Sunrise // by Twilight Nightmare //------------------------------// It was…strange but good waking up in such a comfy bed still with two other women in the house which were her family. Something that filled Sunrise with happiness and the strength she needed to face the day. And if that wasn’t enough to help her deal with the oncoming storm of negativity that her classmates heaped upon her, meeting up with Fluttershy to walk to school strengthen her resolve to face it even more. Not even when Scootaloo sent her a glare when she passed with Rainbow Dash could get her down as Fluttershy and Sunrise walked not far behind hand in hand. “Remember, no messing around today, Scoots. Come straight home after school.” Rainbow Dash said, her voice easily heard over the short distance between the groups. It wasn’t that Rainbow Dash was avoiding Sunrise since they were now at the least on civil terms with each other. She wanted to give Fluttershy and Sunrise some time together, and from what Sunrise understood of the situation, Rainbow Dash was a little confused about the whole girl likes girl thing thanks to her father. “Sis, Gilda doesn’t even know it was us who reported the gun in her locker.” Scootaloo sighed, not really shocking Sunrise in the least. It was part of what the three talked about last night, Rainbow being proud of Scootaloo over it yet fearing for her safety if Gild finds out she was behind it. “Still, I’d feel a lot better if you and your friends stayed close to home. Posey already said they can come over.” Rainbow explained, making Sunrise wonder if the woman was crazy. Sure the three known as the CMC throughout the school was really good kids, but they were trouble all the same without meaning to be. “As long as she isn’t going to be there.” Scootaloo hissed quietly, though Sunrise still heard and Fluttershy squeezed her hand in support as the smaller girl sent a quick glare back. “Scoots, we talked about this last night. We’re giving Sunrise the benefit of the doubt, so until she messes up…we need to be civil to her.” Rainbow said, making Sunrise smile a little as it sounded like the girl was defending her…somewhat. “I may have to be civil, I don’t have to like her.” Scootaloo said before crying out to get her friends’ attention who was waiting up ahead with Applejack and Rarity who was giving the oncoming group nervous glances…especially to Sunrise. “Hey there sugarcube, hope you are ready for today. There’s all kinds of messages about how you three probably saved the school.” Applejack said, grinning at the girl. “I tell you, that Gilda should be locked up tight.” “As much as I agree with you darling, I don’t like the idea of my sister being involved in this. I don’t want to see them getting hurt.” Rarity said, looking at Sweetie Belle with a lot of worry. “I…I think they did the right thing.” Fluttershy squeaked out, starting to shrink back though an encouraging smile from Sunrise got her to show a little more confidence than usual. “Of course they did, but I didn’t know about the messages.” Rainbow Dash said, worry filling her voice now. “Relax, after school we can have a big party celebrating how awesome you three are!” Pinkie Pie said from behind the entire group scaring them nearly to death. “PINKIE!” Rainbow Dash shouted, clutching her chest as she panted for breath. “How many times have I asked you not to do that?” “Three thousand, seven hundred nineteen.” Pinkie Pie chirped out, hands behind her back as she swayed back and forth giddily. Sunrise couldn’t help wondering if maybe…just maybe the girl was on something. Of course she knew otherwise, but she couldn’t help wondering at times. “I can’t believe you know how many and still do it.” Rainbow said face palming. “Because it’s fun silly!” Pinkie Pie giggled as the group continued on to school. It was just before homeroom when everyone went their own way and Sunrise was heading to the office to see her mom before having to report to class. She was just about to turn around the corner when she froze, hearing the crusader’s voices. “We’re going to get in trouble.” Sweetie Belle hissed softly. “No we won’t, but I can’t stay here with everyone looking at us like that today.” Scootaloo said, “And I hate feeling like everyone is watching us. I mean they are treating us like children that need protecting!” “I kind of agree with you.” Applebloom said, “Come on, hurry up before they realize we’re gone!” Sunrise couldn’t help feel very worried about this as she heard the door close and was about to go tell her mom, but she couldn’t help feeling something bad was going to happen. She rushed around the corner to chase after the three before they got out of her sight. She knew that if Gilda had a gun and was released to her parents’ custody like Rainbow Dash said last night, then the three girls could be in real danger. “And where are you going?” Mrs. Appleby asked as she was halfway out the front door. “Tell my mom that the crusaders are skipping and I’m going after them. I have a feeling that something bad is going to happen!” Sunrise called out before dashing out of the door ignoring the woman’s surprised cry echoing behind her. She saw the girls far ahead of her, having a large head start and gave chase after them. They were running trying to put as much distance between them and the school as possible, which showed Sunrise just how out of shape she was because of her time on the street. It had taken a larger toll on her body than she had thought possible, not even able to call out when she was getting close as she was too winded. Stopping for just a minute to catch her breath, Sunrise cursed at noticing the three had given her the slip. Stumbling forward she heard some startled cries coming from an alleyway she was coming up to and hurried into it to find Gilda and two other large girls blocking the crusaders into a dead-end alley. “What do you think you are doing?” Sunrise demanded stepping into the alley making Gilda pale at seeing her. “What do you want? I’m just trying to show these brats what happens to those who cause me as much trouble as they had! I have a right for some payback!” Gilda snarled, the three crusaders huddling together and shaking in fright. A shocked look on their faces as they realized Sunrise might actually be helping them. “You brought a gun to school, what did you think was going to happen?” Sunrise asked, rolling her eyes as the two girls started surrounding her some. “I thought I was going to do the school a favor and get rid of its demon problem.” Gilda snarled as Sunrise locked eyes with Scootaloo and motioned with her head while mouthing, ‘run’ to them. It didn’t take Scootaloo long to grab her two friends’ hands and drag them behind her while running from the alley. “Get back here brats!” One of the two girls screamed, only to be stopped by Gilda. “Let them go, I can always get them later. I just want to know why the she-demon would help the brats.” Gilda asked, more confidence filling her voice despite her body shaking a little. Sunrise wasn't sure why Gilda was starting to grin menacingly at her, but she found out the hard way when she felt one of the other two girls strike her in the back of the head. It wasn't until she collapsed that she noticed that a fleshly blooded brick now lay next to her head. “Not so powerful now, are you?” Gilda growled as she yanked Sunset to her feet by the hair before shoving her into the arms of the other two girls to hold her. Gild slowly traced her fingers down Sunrise’s cheek making her wince from the bruise that was once again concealed with make-up. “Looks like somebody was already teaching you some manners.” “Let…me go…or I’ll…” Sunrise said weakly, her head swimming as pain shot through her. Everything seemed to be spinning and her ears ringing at the same time. “Or what, change into a demon? You know, before now I thought you would. Now though, I see just how pathetic you are.” Gilda said as she pulled back and punched Sunrise as hard as she could in the face, again in her stomach and a third time back in the face. “What’s wrong demon? Why aren’t you changing? Come on, change demon!” “She isn’t going to change, she’s just a pathetic loser.” One of the girls laughed, though by then Sunrise had no idea which one it was. Sunrise was in too much pain to care who said it really, her head throbbing in pain as well as the new bruises forming. She refused to show weakness to this psycho though as she was held up despite wanting to just lay down and make the world stop spinning. “Now look at you, you made me bruise that pretty face of yours. Is that really what you want? You want me to ruin that pretty face before I’ve had my fun?” Gild asked, cupping Sunset’s chin and forcing her to look up. The larger girl was too strong to probably resist her normally, so in her currently weakened state there was no way she could fight back. “You know, you really are pretty hot...too bad that you've gone soft." "Too bad...too bad...you...are an idiot..." Sunrise gasped out, shuddering as she tried to pull away, but it only made her head spin more. "My poor dear, you are in no position to be talking back." Gilda said, laughing as she moved her head closer, smashing her lips into Sunrise's own in a rough kiss. Sunrise tried struggling more, but her body didn't seem to want to cooperate with her mind. Instead she tried another tactic and bit Gilda's lip before tasting copper as the bigger girl screamed in rage as she pulled back. "You are going to pay for that you freak!" Sunrise didn't have time to answer before she felt a rain of punches landing everywhere as Gilda snapped, taking her anger out on Sunrise punching without aim until she backed away, heaving for air. Snarling as she stared at the now very bruised and bloody girl as she wiped the blood away from her lip, Gilda pulled out a knife, light reflecting off the silver surface of the blade. All Sunrise could make out was a glint of silver before she felt a sharp pain in her stomach before a loud shout of “FREEZE!” filled the air. “We can’t leave her Scoots, she saved us!” Sweetie Belle sobbed out as she ran with her friend out of the alley, Applebloom running with them. “We can’t do anything!” Applebloom cried out. “Yes we can.” Scootaloo said running in front of a police car making it skid to a stop. “Shouldn’t you kids be in school?” Shining Armor asked, stepping out of his cruiser feeling a little shocked to see a kid just run out in front of his car like that. “You have to help her! They’re going to hurt her!” one of the girls cried out making his blood run cold. Someone was in danger and it sounded it may be a kid like these three that he just realized were the ones who reported a student with a gun yesterday. “Where?” Shining Armor asked, pulling his gun as they pointed to an alley not far away. “Wait here.” Shining Armor quickly called in backup on his radio as he hurried to the alley, anger filling him just as he saw the girl the idiot judge thought should be released to her parents bury a knife in another girl’s stomach. “Freeze!” Shining Armor barked out, pointing his gun at the three as the injured girl was dropped to the ground.