//------------------------------// // Watching the Sunset // Story: I just wanted to go to Equestria! // by Ditz //------------------------------// “I finally decide to come over, and you take me to the one place in your home that stinks, Flash,” I complain, looking over the rather disorganized garage, noticing car parts laying around, possibly helping that awful odor. “Sorry. I figured that there isn't a better place to keep secrets than my garage. Dad doesn't bother me when I'm in here, after all," Flash apologizes, much to my ignoring. “I like it!” Pinkie says... Yeah, she just says, I'm sure she doesn't mean it. “So what do you do here? Wheee!” she asks, just as she takes seat on a spinning chair. Flash says nothing, simply pointing his hand at the remaining husk of a car before turning his attention back to me. “In any case, it's strange that you decided to come visit. What's the catch?” "Does there need to be a catch?" I ask, hurt. Very much so. "Of course not, but knowing my luck, it usually is," he shrugs. "Tell him, Lemon!!" Pinkie suggests while still spinning. Skills. Might as well get it over with. “To get to the point, we came to tell you about Shimmer's place, seeing how you wanted to know, and all. Also, you se- Flash?” I cut myself short, looking at Flash who just stares wide-eyed, looking at nothing in particular. “Hellooo? Earth to Flash!” I call again, but get no response from him. “Okay, then.” So, I simply wait for him to react, taking in the smells of the make-shift workshop. The addition of shelves with a random assortment of tools helps add to the atmosphere of 'smelly car jock', which I don't particularly care about, but I can only be so entertained by Pinkie Pie cutely giggling as she spins on her chair. But to be fair, it DOES do wonders to my heart. “What!?” Flash finally screams, in a very uncharacteristic show of raw emotion, breathing very heavily I might add. “What's wrong?” comes the voice from his father, who enters the room looking worried. That is until he notices Flash’s reaction, and slowly backs away. “I’ll just leave you kids to talk it over,” he says, slowly closing the door behind him. Well, he wasn’t any help. ”I repeat, what!?” he growls the moment he is gone. “That ‘what’ is going to have to be specific, Flash,” I fill him in. “You knowing about Sunset’s address! That!” he says through gritted teeth. “Oh, right, that! Must have slipped my mind,” I lie. I’ve never seen Flash this angry, and I am going to enjoy the ever-loving crap out of this moment while I can. "I mean, I did just learn of it a week ago." He closes his eyes, taking a deep breath. “Please, put your idiotic tormenting aside. You just said you knew of this for a week, why did you wait to tell me till now?” he asks, barely containing the anger in his controlled voice. Bah! He is no fun. “Calm down, we are here to take you there! Besides, Pinkie made me promise her to not tell you until she was out of the hospital, and better fit for it!" “A Pinkie promise, if you will,” she cuts in, wriggling her nose, just as visibly bothered by the smells as I am. Flash blinks in his surprise, shaking his head while attempting to say something, which ends up making his mouth clear entry for any insects. “It was you?” his eyes widen, and he scowls at Pinkie. “Just how long have you known?” Pinkie, of course, tilts her head, realizing what the implications to her answer might be. I certainly would fear them. “Well, actually, that’s the funny thing…” “She learned about it when we weren’t in speaking terms,” I cut in. The last thing we need is anger amongst… more anger. “Just lay off her, Flash.” He walks back and forth, intensely shaking his head and fuming, which is shown by his exaggerated breathing exercises and low muttering. “But I don’t get it, why did you have to wait a week? Why until today?” “Because we are going!” Pinkie answers with a drawn look of determination on her face. “I can’t let one of my friends go alone to meet her! It could be dangerous!” “It’s just Sunset’s home. I’m sure nothing bad will really happen, Pinkie,” Flash explains, actually rolling his eyes at her. Man, it really is a day of new happenings. “That’s what you guys thought when you went to meet that Heart person, and look what happened!” she gives us a good point, pointing at hers— “Pinkie, put your shirt down!” I order in a hurry, as I watch her lift it over her head and leave us with a ‘top’ show. Well, at least she has a bra on. “Pinkie!” Flash mutters flustered, keeping his eyes covered. At least he has the decency to cover them. “This is why I’m coming!” she states, lowering her shirt as if nothing had happened. “Alright, alright! Just don’t do that again, please,” he pleads, putting his hands down in relief. Moving on from that little moment of embarrassment, there is something that genuinely confuses me now that I think about it. “But Flash, why does it matter when I tell you about Shimmer? We were planning to tell you anyway,” I explain. “We just waited one week. What’s wrong with that?” He wastes no time and glares at me, his embarrassment replaced with what I can only guess is anger . “Because I've waited lo-” he stops abruptly, shaking his head. “Point is, Shimmer is still out there, and she is probably going to continue doing what she wants around school.” “To be fair, we’ve been doing well staying away from her, and normally, I’d keep it that way, but...” and just like that, I feel anger rising in me. Much like a volcano. Except volcanoes aren’t alive… anyway. “Let’s just say that I have business with her as well and leave it at that,” I mention, looking back at Pinkie who avoids my gaze by looking at the side dejectedly. "So trust me, I had patience as well." Because as it turns out, Shimmer — spoiler alert — was the one who made Pinkie cry last Nightmare Night. Pinkie didn’t tell me what she did, but that will lead to a stern talking to at the very least. “Whatever. But I’m going to be the one doing the talking,” he states with a commanding tone, opening the garage door. I nod to him. “Alright, sure. But I’m getting on this after you are done with her.” Ignoring the sexual euphemism that would have come from my sentence, we walk out, quickly spotting another car parked nearby, one that looks surprisingly familiar. “Trixie is coming too,” says the obvious girl who shares the same name and won‘t ever stop talking in third person. I mean, seriously, who else could it have been at this point? “Trix!” Pinkie calls out happily, skipping thrice to reach her and wrapping her in a tight hug. “Finally! where have you been?” Trixie looks at Pinkie silently, revealing the smallest of smiles while returning the affection. “Trixie has been around.”. “Hey, Trixie,” I greet her awkwardly. I’m just surprised to see her here, she hasn‘t really been seen much for the past week, and sadly, I can say I know why… That being said, I wonder how she has been avoiding me for a whole week like that. Maybe she learned to teleport? “Afternoon,” she replies coolly, releasing Pinkie and walking towards Flash and I. “Ready to go?” Flash and I look at each other, I can only imagine what he is thinking, but I get the feeling it’s similar to my train of thought. “How did you know we were doing this?” “How else?” Trixie shrugs, pointing behind her to my overexcited girlfriend. … Which just reminds me. “Trixie? I wanted to talk to you a— “Can it, Lime,” she shuts me up. “Trixie is not here to begin a petty argument over old news. What’s done is done. We simply move on.” I say nothing, briefly stunned by her response. “Wow, Trixie. That’s very mature of you to say.” “Are you still talking? Shut your trap and let’s go already!” she shouts, turning away from me and walking off. “Pinkie, you are riding with Trixie.” “Ooh! Ooh! Does that mean we are partners today? Do I get to talk in third person!” Pinkie asks excitedly. “Pinkie wants to drive!” “Um, h-how about Trixie lets you ride shotgun instead?” Trixie suggests, in a clear interest of her own life. “Pinkie is okay with this choice, yes!” Pinkie giggles, jumping into the passenger seat and looking out the window. “Come on, guys! Let’s go!” I sigh, looking at Flash who appears unfazed as he speaks. “Not over it, it seems.” Why aren't break ups ever easy for me? ~~~~~ So now, once again, we —well, the three of us who were here last— stand in front of this gate. The place which houses that rich community that once gave us candy is now going to give us… Shimmer? Well, I’m not particularly okay with that gift, but it’s not for me to worry about for one reason: this just happens to be Flash’s ordeal, not mine. We are here to help, but it feels good to not worry about something this time around. “Are we sure this is where she lives?” Trixie asks, doubtful. “If Pinkie says this is the place, then I’m not correcting her,” I say, confidently turning to Pinkie. “Speaking of doubting, do you have the code?” “Yep, yep, yep!” she responds, running to the padlock nearby and inputting the numbers. “Got it from Rarity earlier!” on cue, the door slowly bursts open, letting us into the neighborhood behind. It sure has been a while, but I have a vague recollection of it all. “Good,” Flash says, keeping his serious tone. “Lead the way, Pinkie.” We follow quietly, all except for Pinkie who seems to be humming something under her breath, all while Flash continues to stare ahead very, very hard. I'm sure he'll destroy Shimmer. Now THAT one was sexual euphemism. “Pinkie?” Trixie suddenly calls for Pinkie, catching up to her. “Could Trixie ask you a question?” Interested, I keep my ears open as Pinkie surely answers. “Sure! What is it?” “Well, Trixie has been wondering how you found us in that park a week ago, Trixie didn’t want to ask for details when you were still hospitalized," ah, of course. I'd forgotten she wasn't there when Pinkie explained it all. “Oh, yeah! I haven't told you yet, have I?” Pinkie hums to herself before answering. “I called my sister to take you guys to Mr. Heart. I actually hid with her, and we followed since! I’m just super surprised you guys were convinced so quickly.” Trixie snickers in amusement. “It’s a good thing that Lime took the bait, then.” “You can’t argue with results!” I harrumph, resentfully. Even if the aftermath of that wasn’t what I thought it would be, but results were a thing! Trixie nods, having taken in what she said, or something. “Understood. But if anything, Trixie is curious to know how you learned of Discord’s address. Wasn’t Fluttershy the only one who knew?” Pinkie nods rapidly. “She was, I was actually there when Lemon called, so I got it out of her by asking nicely,” she steals a glance inmy direction, I take it she is still mad towards my attitude to Fluttershy with that phone call. I regret nothing. Trixie nods, taking it all in. “That explains why Mud came up at such an opportune moment… If circumstances had been different, we might not have gotten out of there alive. Thank you, Pinkie.” “Oh, it’s nothing! I couldn’t let my buddies get hurt!” Pinkie says easily. Really, with this girl, nothing else needs explaining. “Is this why you aren’t afraid that we are going to meet Shimmer?” Flash asks, deciding to finally join us. “You weren’t too keen on even talking to her before.” Pinkie shakes her head before stopping and turning to us. “Well, I am afraid, but being with you guys, I feel like I can do anything!” Was that the corniest thing ever? Of course. But it brings a smile to our faces… But not Flash‘s, he is far too cool and collected to care about us CLEARLY having a moment. Seriously, is this guy Mud today, or what? But soon enough, we arrive at the address Pinkie gave us, and we stare at the front door, which possibly separates us from possible mental scars, if Shimmer's seeming track record is anything to go by. Pinkie approaches the house and gives it an intense stare. “Just look at this place, it just oozes with evil!” “Pinkie, it’s just a door,” Trixie sighs. “It’s an EVIL door!” she retorts, poking the door very slightly. “Pinkie Pie,” Flash comes up behind her, grabbing her shoulder and softly pulling her away. “I’ll handle it from here.” “Oh, okay,” Pinkie mumbles, looking at his face, noticing his clear lack of emotion and taking the hint. At this point, I have to bring this up. “Alright, is it just me, or is Flash acting weird today?” We are taken out of our Flash pondering as we hear someone messing with the locks on the other side, and I actually tense up. I feel my hand suddenly grabbed and I look over to notice Pinkie’s hand. I glance over to her, showing her a smile which I hope tells her that I believe everything will be just fine. Not that I’m that optimistic myself, given MY track record with this crap. “Huh?” a voice mumbles from the other side, and we notice the devil herself opening the door. “W-what?” Unlike the cape and evil queen crown I imagined her wearing, she is actually dressed in simple looking pajamas. I suppose she isn’t really a fairy tale villain, but boy, would that have been funny. “Sunset,” Flash says in his most dramatic play actor impression. “Hey…” one that would land him squarely in an elementary school play. “Flash?” Sunset mutters, arching a brow as she moves to look at the meddling bunch encompassing Trixie, Pinkie, and I, standing right behind him. “And you…” “Can we come in?” Flash quickly intervenes, very ‘inconspicuously’ putting a foot in to stop the door in case of possible closing. Shimmer’s look of confusion changes to one of annoyance, boosted by the classic arm crossed tactic. “I know it’s only been a few months, but you know I prefer visits that aren’t a surprise, Flash.” “Well, that’s a bit hard when you changed your address and phone number, Sunset,” Flash says with a frown. “Fair enough,” Shimmer shrugs. “Come on in, parents aren’t home anyway,” she says as she looks over Flash’s shoulder, specifically, to our general direction… oh god, please. “Pinkie Pie, glad to see you are feeling better.” Oh, thank god. “Oh, and you.” SHIT. “Trixie, been a while, hasn't it?” Oh my god, thank you. “Oh, and hey Lemon, long time no see.” FUCK. “I-I...” “These three are just accompanying me,” Flash very rudely points out. “I’ll be the only one doing the talking.” “Are you, now?” Sunset grins, keeping her eye on me for some reason. “Alright, I suppose we’ll be catching up on what you’ve been up to since you helped me win the Fall Formal, Lemon. Cool?” "Huh?" oh, no, she did not. “Wait, what?“ Pinkie asks in her confusion, switching her attention between Shimmer and I. That reaction tells that Shimmer totally did. “Come on, Flash, we’ll be able to talk privately over this way, you three can wait over the living room to the left” she says, waving me goodbye and leaving with him to another room. Meanwhile, I’m left here with Trixie, and more dangerously, Pinkie. … Maybe if I don’t move she’ll forget about me. “Pinkie Pie, take his left, Trixie will take his right,” Trixie orders. “Okay,” Pinkie accepts without adding a single joke to her sentence. Oh god. Before I know it, I’m forced to sit down on the next room while they stand over me. Trixie doesn’t appear particularly affected by it since she knows, but Pinkie doesn’t look fazed at all, which only makes me think that she must be hiding some sort of unbridled rage. Maybe I should try to appease to her. “Pinkie?” “Pat, what did Sunset mean by helping her with the Formal?” Pinkie asks, struggling to keep a straight face. “She was lying to us, right? Right?” she says, in the hopes that I’ll deny it. "Dammit all," talk about being caught between a rock and a hard place. “Pinkie, just sit down, and I’ll tell you everything.” For the next few minutes, I give her the short version of the events that transpired last year. I didn’t think it would be something I would be doing now, if at all. I actually expected this to go with me to the grave, but here I am! Retelling everything. So much for this trip not being about me. But go figure, I’m actually relieved to be telling this. “So, you guys knew?” Pinkie asks, looking to Trixie who has been just listening without uttering a single word. “Yes, Trixie knew,” she replies calmly. “Trixie is friends with Lyra, and she keeps in contact with her.” “And in Flash’s case, he helped her do it, but he says that he wasn’t himself… Which I figure is the reason why we are in Shimmer’s place right now, to find out,” I explain, looking over where Flash and Shimmer went in case they return. “Oh,” Pinkie hums, attempting to follow what we are saying. She sits down next to me, staring into my soul with her giant, blue eyes. “So, you did that for me?” “Yeah, although to be fair, I didn’t know what was the secret she would bring up,” of course, I’m fairly certain now that what she was keeping secret was going to be related to Pinkie’s family. I can just imagine how she would react to the whole school knowing her past like that. High-schoolers tend to be a bit lacking when it comes to someone else’s feelings. “Why would you do that for me, though? You got hurt!” she says, looking as if she actually did something bad by me doing something bad… I think? “I don’t know! Why did you get stabbed?” I blurt out without thinking. “I mean to say, you were a friend! I couldn’t let Shimmer hurt you, and I cared, well, I still care about you, oh… ah, I‘m sorry! I screwed up!” I sigh, looking away from her. “Trixie doesn’t think so,” Trixie says, nudging her head towards Pinkie. “Huh?” I turn back to Pinkie, just in time to see her on her knees. bawling like I’ve never seen her before, her eyes literally letting out tears by the second. “P-Pinkie?” “I-I-I didn’t know you cared so much about me!” I think she says, as to what I can translate from her mumbled sobbing. I do my best to hold back a laugh before I reply. “Pinkie Pie, we’ve been over this before, I DO care about you.” “B-but I didn’t know you cared THAT much for me!” she continues, keeping her head down as she wipes her eyes. “You took a beating from that boy! You even helped Sunset Shimmer! Why would you do that?” I shake my head, and gently pat her head. “Pinkie, we are currently dating. I’m sure that’s as much proof that tells you the 'why' of it all. Otherwise, I don’t know how to make it more clear,” at least without bringing my reaction to the stabbing up again. “I have an idea!“ Pinkie looks up again, a devious idea clearly in her mind. “Does it involve something that won’t make Trixie want to punch me in the face?” I say, looking over Trixie whose left eye seems to be actually twitching. “T-Trixie is fine,” Trixie is not fine. “Point taken!” Pinkie says acceptingly, going for a hug as a substitute. “And if Lyra forgave you, then so do I!” I let out a sigh in relief. “I’m glad. Just wish that Sunset hadn’t made me do that to begin with,” still, time to finally leave that incident behind. “Come now, Lemon, you did me a huge solid,” we all turn at the same time, noticing Shimmer standing right there, now wearing her usual outfit. I guess she isn’t making me forget quite as easily. “Did I, now?” I ask her, doing my best to hold my fist from connecting with her face. I've hit her before, I'm not afraid to do it again. “Of course! I became princess, you got to keep Pinkie’s pointless secret. I say we both won here, right?” she says as nothing more than a fact. We stare at each other, me with my glare, and her with her smug look, giving not even one sign of shame towards what she did. “No regrets, huh?” “Where is Flash?” Trixie asks, trying to look behind Shimmer, but seeing just as much as I can. “Don’t you worry, he is still here,” Shimmer shrugs. “Give him a bit, I think I might have laid it on him a little too hard.” Pinkie scratches her head confused. “Laid it on him? What does that mean?” On cue, Flash appears right behind her, looking more miserable than I have ever seen him. He doesn’t bother saying anything, just sitting down on one of the couches. What the heck happened back there? “Now, if you are done talking behind me in my own home, I believe it’s my turn to have a talk, don’t you think?” Shimmer begins, looking over us like a predator would its prey… if said predator was a leather clad girl. “W-what do you mean?” asks Trixie with a very timid tone, she must be feeling as threatened as we are. “So Lemon, care to catch up? I would be so happy if only us two caught up,” Shimmer says, making me want to lobotomize myself instead of having to deal with whatever it is she has to say. “Unless you want me to call the cops and tell them that you forced yourselves into my own home, is all.” “What!?” we all yell in disbelief. “But that didn’t happen!” “Didn’t it?” she asks smugly. “Well, tell that to my dad, who just happens to be the current chief of police. And I have him on speed dial, so I‘m sure that my lack of response will be more than a little suspicious if you were to act upon it, don‘t you think?” “I…” so, remember that part about being caught between rocks and hard places? Make that two hells in this case. “Alright, alright! I’ll talk, just don’t do that, please!” Shimmer chuckles satisfied. “Come on, we‘ll be taking this somewhere else.” I follow without a second thought, only looking back to nod to the others to keep them quiet, before I follow Shimmer up some stairs, and I'm led into a normal looking room, which for some reason, only has two chairs. I hear a strange sound, and turn around to notice Shimmer locking the door behind her. “Why did you lock the door?” I ask, feeling more than a little unnerved. “I‘m covering my bases, obviously,” she says, rolling her eyes at me. “Um…” you know? I want to say that I’ve watched enough indecent material to know where this is going, but that would imply that I’ve watched any… Okay, I’m clearly lying, but I’m far too nervous to come up with something better. “Don’t give me that look,” Shimmer scoffs with disgust. “You may have gotten those two to fall for you, but don’t you think I’m on that same boat.” Funny, I‘m getting flashbacks to when I talked to Rainbow Dash. “Then why? Why are we here? Why do you want to talk to me alone? And why do I feel like I'm about to take part in a weird snuff film?” I ask questions. All of them valid questions that I’m sure she will answer. “Cute. Turn the chair around, and sit down,” she says, pointing to one of the chairs. “Okay…” without questioning it, I do as she says, taking a seat. “Hands on the chair,” I resist the urge to roll my own eyes and continue to follow, despite my annoyance. “Thank you,” she says, before quickly pulling out a pair of handcuffs and cuffing me to the chair. “Wait, what!?” I ask, quickly moving my hand in an attempt to pull it off, without much success. “Shimmer, what are you doing!?” while I move, I look at the handcuffs, noticing a small pendant hanging from it… looks surprisingly familiar, and why is it cracked? “Making sure,” she says in a low voice, quickly flipping the other chair over and sitting down as well. I look at the cuffs curiously before talking again. “Um… Are you sure you sure this isn't part of a snuff film?” “Shut up.” At her order, my mouth closes shut, and having not been the one to force it, I turn to Shimmer for answers. “W-what’s going on?” “Now, what’s your name?” I blink once in my confusion. “Excuse me?” “I asked what your name was.” “You can‘t be se- My name is Patrick,” wait, what did I just say!? Why did I say that!? “Patrick, huh?” she notes with a smile. “Well, Lemon, which is it? Is it actually Patrick?” I-it is! It really is! “It is, but also it isn’t,” ah! Why is my mouth saying these things!? A-and why does it feel g-good… “Whatever it is, it seems you are willing to talk, aren’t you, Lemon?” she asks me with a grin. You know, I’m glad she is on a grinning mood, I don’t know why, but she seems really nice now… I can’t remember why I was mad to begin with. “Yes, of course, Shimmer.” “Oh, and call me ‘Miss’ Shimmer, please,” she orders me. Huh, I don't see why not. “Of course, Miss Shimmer.” She gets on her feet and begins pacing around me. Of course, all I can do is stare ahead at the blank walls and closet doors… They are nice, and empty. “Now, tell me. Why are you really here, Lime?” she asks me with a serious tone, and I can’t let Miss Shimmer get too serious, or she'll be unhappy! “We are here so Flash could talk to you, which he already did, actually,” I tell her, and she reciprocates by smiling amusedly. “So, that was really it?” she bursts out laughing. “Man, what a waste… For you at least. You being here was something I didn’t expect, but I suppose I can take advantage of this, can't I?” “Whatever do you mean, Miss Shimmer?” I ask curious. Wonder what she is talking about. “You are going to keep an eye on those three, I get the feeling they'll try to get in the way of me becoming Fall Formal princess this year, and you aren't letting that happen, are you?” she asks me, lifting my head up with her hand. “I wouldn't dream of it, Miss Shimmer,” I say honestly. I feel so important right now. “Heh, who would've thought you would come to me on a silver platter! Hearthswarming Eve came early, it seems,” she says before turning her back to me, and bursting into laughter. Yeah... Hearths- “Wait a minute,” I say, feeling a tad lost. “Don't you mean Christmas?” “Huh?” she turns around, looking lost for a moment before showing me a look of realization. “Oh, right! Of course! I-I don't know why I said that.” “It actually sounds... familiar,” I say, feeling as if I've heard that somewhere before... Ugh, my head is all fuzzy feeling. “Familiar?” she asks, giving me a worried glance. “Wait a minute...” her eyes widen which helps her shocked expression. “Stop!” she orders, reaching for my cuffs and trying to grab the gem. I look down, and notice a crack on it. “Don't look! And stop talking!” she orders, noticing my gaze. “But Miss,” ugh, why am I calling her that? “But Shimmer, that's not a real holiday, I mean, the only place where that would be is... What is it called again?” She looks up with a horrified expression. “You know...” she whispers, before reaching into her shirt and fumbling with a key, which she then drops in her rush. “Darn it!” “That's right,” I say, the word easily coming to mind — alongside other not so nice things — which give me some interesting thoughts about Shimmer. “Shut up! And stay put!" “You know about Equestria?” “No! My g-" … Ouch? Huh? What's going on? What just happened? More questions! Everything is dark for some reason... And what's that smell? “Aah!” I cry out, feeling my aching body. But why is it aching? “And why can't I see?” … “I have my eyes closed, don't I?” I sigh, slowly opening them, finding it difficult to focus on anything, only noticing an orange blob on the floor, must be Shimmer… But what are those other orange blobs around her? I quickly wipe my glasses clean (having realized my hands were somehow free) and finally noticing not only what I'm staring at, but where the smell comes from, which turns out to be coming from some smalls fires that seem to be starting in the room. “Wait, fire!” I yelp, quickly getting on my feet, and feeling the punishment from doing so by getting a terrible 'everything' pain and falling back on my ass. “Damn it!” I cry out, looking ahead of me and noticing Shimmer, unconscious, with one of the small fires reaching her hair. “Shimmer!” I yell, quickly reaching her and pulling her away from the quickly expanding fire and putting out what could have been more than just a bad hair day. I don't hate her THAT much. “You bitch, wake up! Are you okay? I ask with enough hate still contained in me, turning her around and noticing that she has a head injury... One which she is bleeding from. Not okay it is. “Why am joking right now? We need to get out of here!” I shout, attempting to carry her, but failing miserably as the aching just stops me outright. “God, dammit!” “Lemon!” I hear someone call from outside the room. “Flash, is that you?” I shout back, dragging Shimmer away from the fire as best as I can and near the door. “Yes, it's me. We smelled smoke and I came up here! What happened?” he asks, taking a loud whiff of the smoke. “Flash, there is a fire in here! We don't have time for this!” “A fire? How did that even happen!” “I don't know! Just move, I'm gonna unlock the door! Just get ready, Shimmer is unconscious, and I'm too hurt to carry her, so you'll have to do!” I tell him, while I reach for the handle, only to realize that it requires a key. Who the hell has a lock like this on the inside!? “What's wrong? Hurry!” Flash says from the other side. “The door has a keylock inside! I don't have the key!” “Who has a keylock on the inside!?” I stop to think for a second. “Shimmer, obviously,” I realize, looking at the unconscious girl, feeling like I'm about to commit a crime. “Well, sucks to be you,” I say, reaching into her pockets, searching as best as I can for a key, just as the fire begins creeping into the walls. What the heck is this fire made of!? “Hurry up!” Flash calls, doing his best attempt to open it from the other side. “There is nothing on her! I can't find it! Her pockets are empty!” I shout desperately, coughing as the smoke starts to affect me. There is a momentary silence, and Flash talks again. “Try to look inside her bra!” I actually feel my mind going blank as I take in what he just said, so I feel I can afford a singular “What!?” “In the few months before we broke up, she used to do that a lot to hide things!” he shouts again while still trying to break the door. “Girls actually do that?” as I say that, the recent memory of Shimmer reaching for a key in her bra comes to mind. "Can I just use her to bust the door open?" “Just do it!” he orders. “I'm gonna look around for something to break the door, just in case!” he tells me, before I hear his footsteps grow faint as he runs to look for whatever thing. “Okay, then,” I sigh, looking at the still unconscious Shimmer. “I could die while I'm looking in there… What do you know? This IS turning into a snuff film,” I joke before diving into it, doing my best to ignore the texture of her skin as I put my hand in. It's a good thing that there is a still spreading fire that is slowly killing me, or I would have been too embarrassed to do this. What feels like an eternity later, I come across what I'm looking for, and pulling it out, I shove it into the hole… I'm certain I'm still talking about the key. “Flash, it's open!” I shout before pushing the door open, taking a deep breath and dragging Shimmer out with me, noticing as the next room over is burning too. “How did the fire reach over there that fast?" “Lemon!” Flash arrives, easily picking Shimmer up in his arms. “Can you stand?” “Y-yeah, I think so!” I say timidly, doing my best to ignore the pain, and with some effort, running downstairs and out the door right behind him. “Guys!” the pair of Trixie and Pinkie shout the second they notice us, running to embrace us both in hugs. “Are you okay?” “I'm fine, but Shimmer here seems to have gotten a head injury,” Flash explains, softly putting her down, and right in the nick of time, as a fire truck and an ambulance just happen to show up. “I'm alright too, just… just feeling a bit loopy, is all,” I tell them, barely able to stand and laying down on the road. “I-I think I...” I can't seem to say anything else, as I lay my head down, coincidentally turning my head towards Shimmer before I feel myself fade into unconsciousness.