//------------------------------//
// Hanging Out With The Others 
// Story: Punk Love 
// by MyLittleGeneration 
//------------------------------//

It was a quiet moment, just the two of us, until from out of nowhere- "What in tarnation?!" said a country voice, which could only mean...

"Oh..." I said, slowly turning my head to see Sunset and her friends. I noticed some look of... concern, or maybe fear in their eyes. But then I realized it looked like I had just been beaten up. 

"Hey, guys," I said, waving at them. I had no idea what they were thinking. Christ, I had almost forgotten about Sunset and the Rainbooms, and how I told them I was gonna change. Something like a fight must make it look like the opposite was happening.

"Sonata, are you alright?" Sunset asked the blue girl weeping in my shoulder. "Geez, what happened, Aria?"

"I got bullied." Sonata said, cutting straight to the point. "Those girls you saw weren't so nice to me." She softly smiled as she looked at me. "But then Aria came and made me feel better."

"They were assaulting her, basically,” I said. “They tried to attack me, so I got them back."

"Yeesh," Dash said. "Brutal stuff."

"Oh my..." Fluttershy said, covering her face with her hands to not see the damage.

"Not the best." Sonata said, sniffling. "It was horrible."

"You don't have to say that again." Sunset said, hugging Sonata gently. This was... kind of a shocker for Sonata. One: she didn't even notice that the group of teens were the Rainbooms through her teary eyes. Two: she didn't expect a source of... comfort.

"Darling, you alright?" Rarity asked, noticing my bruises and bloody nose.

"Yeah, I'm alright." I answered, wiping the blood from underneath my nostrils. "I don't need no medical assistance."

"But, darling, please. It's not like we're going to the hospital to tend wounds. Just a simple cover-up and bandaging, that's all."

"Again, no need to help." I said, then feeling a rush of pain through my head, making me flinch. "Ow..."

"I have some medical supplies at my home, which isn't very far." Rarity carefully walked around the specks of blood on the ground. "Come along."

I gave up at that point. They weren't gonna leave me be, were they? "Alright." I said, shrugging.



We made our way towards Rarity's boutique, which was big and, I suppose, cool. Fancy-looking clothing in the back, varying from blue, yellow, pink, and all other sorts of colors, and the walls were a nice dark-blue/light-blue stripe pattern. I just crossed my arms the whole time, wishing to have the stupid thing over with. 

I wanted to be with Anthem’s band, not the Rainboobs.

"Come on in." Rarity said, holding the door open for all of us. Sonata bounced in with joy and amusement, but what's so exciting about a fashion boutique? It's clothing, big whoop. 

"My supplies are in the bathroom, follow me," Rarity said.

I shrugged and followed her up the stairs and to the bathroom.

She pulled out a med kit containing bandages, an ice pack, and all sorts of other stuff. She placed the cold ice pack on the largest bruise on my face. I twitched a little, considering it was hella cold, but it was alright. "Just hold it there, dear." Rarity said.

"Don't worry, I'll manage." I grumbled.

She noticed my facial expression. "Aria, just because you're getting medical help from a friend doesn't make you any less… tough," she said.

I raised my brow at her. "What do you mean?"

"Darling, I can tell that you're annoyed, particularly because you think you are weak to receive help. That's why you didn’t want to come."

"Well, I don't need help." I said, though in a softer tone. "It's not like I got stabbed or shot."

She placed her hand on my shoulder. "Still, it is still important to treat bruises. You just-"

"Rarity!" shouted a squeaky voice of a child. "Your musical patient guy is here!"

Rarity turned her head. "Oh, I almost forgot." She smacked herself. "Focus, Rarity."

"What? It's just a guy."

Rarity turned her head towards me. "Just a guy? No, darling, this is no mere ‘guy.’ This is a musician! As a matter of fact, he's in a new band here in Canterlot."

I suddenly opened my eyes. "Wait! Who is this... guy?"

"Oh. His name is Anthem Flare. He’s the singer for some punk band. I don't mind punk, but-"

I interrupt her. "THE Anthem Flare?" I ask.

"Uh, yes. Why? Are you a fan of his band?"

"Well, yeah, I'm a fan."

"Indeed. To be quite honest, I had a feeling that you'd be a big fan theirs. I sort of think of them as a punk One Direction." 

I turned around to give Rarity a glare. "One Direction?" I questioned, then shook my head and started walking down the stairs. "But hey, thanks, Rare."

"No problem, darling."

As I descended the staircase, I spotted a small child with skin the color of Rarity’s and purple-light pink hair talking to Anthem. "So, you're really a singer?"

Anthem nodded. "Yeah. Lead singer of the band. It's nothing."

"That's awesome!" the girl squeaked. "Can you teach me how to sing?" She gave him starry eyes.

He chuckled. "Maybe some time. I mean, I got some heavy stuff." The girl looked down, but Anthem spoke again. "But I'll keep in mind about voice lessons. Don't worry." The girl looked up and smiled once more, then scampered away. 

"Hey, Anthem." I said. "You got orders here?"

"Oh." he said, noticing me. "Didn't expect to see you here. What are you doing?" Then he noticed the ice pack on my hand. "Woah. You alright?"

"Yeah, don't worry. Could've been worse."

"Well, what happened after you took off?"

I sighed. "Well, my sister was being bullied by a couple of skanks. They tried to hurt her, so I stepped in and we fought." I looked back at my bruise. "But don’t worry or anything."

"I wasn't really going to be, but still, damn." I looked at my bruise once more. It looked a little better. Maybe it was good that Rarity helped me. Still... I didn't necessarily need it.

"So..." I said, intending to ask if it was a good time to come back, but then little sugar-plum girl interrupted...

"Aw!" she said, holding her hands together like she was seeing something adorable.

"What?" I asked, confused. Sweetie Belle still had a look on her face like she was gonna squeal. I was getting a little scared, and I think Anthem had the same intentions.

"Are you two dating?" she asked, sitting on the counter. I darted my eyes to my left and saw Anthem blushing wildly. He wasn't the only one.

"W-Where did you get THAT?" Anthem asked.

"Oh, you know. I can see the love between you. I mean, you two are a couple... right?"

"NO!" we both said at the same time, then blushed more.

"But why?" she asked with a voice crack. "I ship you two like Rarity and Clyde!"

"CLYDE?!" Rarity's voice could be heard from above, and so could rapid footsteps. She trudged down and looked around. "Sweetie?"

"Yes, Rarity?" the girl asked.

"No, not you." She looked around once more, with a confused expression. "Uh... Where's Clyde?"

"Clyde's not here." the girl said again.

"Sweetie Belle, then why did you say his name? You know how I react when I hear that name." She then looked up to notice us and blushed pink in embarrassment. "A-And I must remain professional in front of customers," she whispered loudly.

"Sorry." Sweetie said. "But I was just saying how these two looked cute. You know, like you and your boyfriend." 

Rarity slowly turned her head once more to look at us. We were still blushing.

"Sweetie, how about you play with that ball of yarn I put in your room?"

"Ball of yarn? I don't play with that thi-"

"Go on!" Rarity said, pushing Sweetie Belle up the stairs. She cleared her voice once she made her way back to the desk. "Sorry for that, darlings. Now, do you want your dress?"

"I wouldn't really call it a dress, but yes." Anthem said, the blush gone from his cheeks.

Rarity walked to the back of the store to look for his order. Then she came back with a black outfit. It was a jacket with torn sleeves, a grey shirt that had his logo on it, and black pants with names of the members on the legs in white. "I did question this, cause I never done such a, outfit before, but I managed to do so." She handed him the order. "I do hope you like it!"

"Like it?" he asked, examining the outfit. "I love it! This is awesome!" He handed her some cash and smiled. "Maybe I should stick to getting gear from here."

"That'd be grand, darling." Rarity said. "Toodaloo!" 

Anthem turned around and left, waving at me. 

Then I realized what I was gonna ask. "Say, Rarity," I said. "Uh, you wouldn't mind if I headed out with Anthem, would you?"

"No problem, darling."

"And... thanks. For treating my bruises."

"It's nothing. Just an act of generosity, that's all. I'd never let a friend be hurt." 

I smiled and waved. "Oh! And, can you tell Sonata I'm gone and said goodbye? And also... take good care of her."

"Darling, there is no problem doing that. You are dear friends now."

"Thanks." I said, exiting the building. 

I ran down the street to catch up with Anthem. "Sup, Flare?"

"Aria?" he said, noticing me. "I suppose you're coming back?"

"Yup. You betcha." I rubbed my arm. "You wouldn't mind helping me with my voice some more?"

"Of course. Right after me and the gang practice a little more on our songs and stuff, I'll catch up with ya." He slowly blushed then. "And... who was that small girl?"

"Well, Rarity called her Sweetie Belle, so obviously it's Sweetie Belle." I started to blush, too, from remembering her choice of words...

"Yeah... she's a little... strange, eh?" We both nervously chuckled, rubbing the back of our heads. "I mean, who would 'ship' us? Heh... Right?"

"Y-Yeah..."