//------------------------------//
// It's in the Cards 
// Story: Fast Times at Stinky Sugar 
// by PresentPerfect 
//------------------------------//

It's in the Cards
by Present Perfect

"Just what exactly was that supposed to be?"

Sunset stood on the auditorium stage, arms akimbo, waving at the pile of cards laying between herself and Rainbow Dash.  The cards had been scrambled after the assembly, but when pieced together, would display an image of the CHS logo, the Sirens...

Or a certain raging she-demon.

"Cool idea, huh?" Rainbow Dash gave her best obnoxiously self-satisfied grin.  "I whipped these babies up with Photo Finish's help, and they came out super-awesome!"

"No, Dash!" Sunset clenched her fists.  "Why did you feel the need to remind the whole school of the absolute worst moment of my life?  In front of me, no less!"

Dash seemed to have a ready response, but it died on her lips, her upraised finger wilting.  "Uh, well, it would kind of be bad if we did it behind your back?"

"Why do it at all?"

"Because we've forgiven you!" Dash held out her arms.  "We're totally over this and we can joke about it now!"

"Uh, no!" Sunset pinched the bridge of her nose between two fingers, struggling to breathe calmly.  "You girls don't get to decide that.  Seeing that image of my... the demon, in the middle of a pep rally?  That brought up a whole host of emotions that I haven't quite worked through, thank you."

"Oh." Dash hid her hands behind her back.

"Plus, I would really appreciate if you girls stopped reminding me of it every day of my life.  I can't deny it did happen, but I still haven't come to terms with everything.  I just need time before I'm able to make jokes and..." Sunset sighed.  A hand rested on her shoulder and squeezed.

"Gee, Sunset, I had no idea this still bothered you so much."

"It's not your fault." Sunset sighed again and gave her a light hug.  "I should probably be more open with my feelings, especially with my friends.  And I should definitely talk to Applejack." She grunted and glared at nothing in particular.  "She's the worst offender."

"Should probably talk to Rarity, too," Dash said hesitantly.

Sunset looked at her for a long moment before asking, "Why?"

"Cuuuz she's kind of started a whole line of items."

Sunset's right eye twitched.  "What do you mean 'items'?"

Dash kicked at the ground, avoiding eye contact.  "Like, y'know... mugs, hats, t-shirts, keychains, socks... The usual?" She shrugged.

The vein in Sunset's forehead pulsed.  "All with the demon picture on them?"

"Oh, not all of them!" Dash shook her head, smiling.  "Some of them are your naked baby pictures!"

Sunset's face turned as red as her hair.  "What?"

"Yeah!  Your mom came through the portal like, two, three months ago?  She brought all kinds of great stuff with her!"

Sunset sat down hard.  "Wha... How... Mommy?"

Dash pressed on, oblivious.  "I mean, it's not as embarrassing for you, I guess, cuz ponies are always naked.  But you were such a cute little foal, how could we not?"

The temperature in the room rose considerably as Sunset's hair caught fire.  Her eyes blazed like twin suns.  Pointed ears poked out from the top of her head, her teeth sharpened into fangs, and batlike wings emerged from her shoulders.  A forked tongue lashed out of her mouth as she bellowed loud enough to shake the windows.

"RARITYYYYYY!"

Sunset exited stage right in a blaze of hellfire.  Rainbow Dash crossed her arms, clucked her tongue and shook her head.

"See, this is exactly why we keep bringing it up."