Sunset Shimmer
SWEET APPLE ACRES VILLAGE - 9:47 AM, EARLIER THAT SAME DAY
Thick overcast clouds had drifted through the sunny sky, as five minutes had passed since we left Granny's home, riding on one of Braeburn's friend's horse-wagon to the destination of our bus stop. It was rather slow movement of transportation, but Pinkie appreciated the slowness when I'm present. I sat in the middle of the passenger seat. Pinkie on my right, and Lyra on my left.
Pinkie, with a presumable expression, "This silence is getting us nowhere."
I replied in frustration, "Look, Pinkie... I had my good days and bad days just like anybody else, okay?"
"... We just wanted to know what was on your mind." Pinkie replied gently, "I'm not mad at you.. All I'm asking is the truth... Perhaps, I am the one at fault here."
Lyra and I seemingly looked at each other with brooding expression as remembering the night at Sweet Apple Pond.
"Sunset was losing confidence last night." Lyra answered.
"Huh? From what?" Pinkie in a puzzled expression as her eyes gazed at Lyra, then me.
Lyra continued, "While you were passed out on Granny's sofa, I went to find her at Sweet Apple Pond. Trenderhoof got the best of her about us not being able to handle the life of our own, but in reality, we can."
"That's it?.. C'mon Sunset... You're better than that, and you know it well.."
"I'm really sorry... There are going to be times that I may need you girls again to knock a sense out of me."
Pinkie Pie replied jokingly, "All the time? We have jobs ya' know.." Lyra, with palm on her mouth, she held on a snort of laughter.
I smiled as shaking my head, "Oh, really now? I thought y'all didn't have a job."
"Y'all?..." Pinkie questioned at my word of usage.
"Hey.. We're still at Sweet Apple Acres, I can enjoy an accent or two. After all, we were just at Granny's..."
"Yeah, for like.. One night..."
As faintly shaking my head to Pinkie, I turned to Lyra and uttered a question, "Lyra... If you don't feel comfortable telling us what happened a couple of nights ago, you don't have to."
"It's alright, you deserve to know... Technically, nothing happened, I did take extreme measures right before he got into full contact.."
"What did he do?"
"Well...."
"Lyra was assaulted by Wind Rider but knocked him out right before he tried..." Pinkie answered for her.
My eyes widened to Pinkie's answer, "Well Lyra, didn't know you had it in you."
"I know, right?!" Pinkie added, with a grin.
"Ok, but lets not get carried away, just because Lyra was able to get out of it, doesn't mean it's the end of him."
Lyra turned and gazed through the approaching cornfields on her side of the wagon, and let out a sigh, "You don't think I know that?... I've been dreading it. Blocking his number was the least I can do, and if he does try to do anything, I'll call the cops.."
"Right.. That's all you gotta do... Also you have us..." Me and Pinkie nodded.
"...But like what Pinkie said... We have jobs.."
Pinkie refuted, "Please don't worry too much about it, we'll get to the bottom of this whole mess, I mean c'mon... It's us. We held on together like Apple Pie!"
"Apple Pie? Really?" I jokingly smirked back at Pinkie, "So, spending the night with Granny just didn't cut it, huh?"
Pinkie gently nudged her side against mine with a light chuckle, "You're so full of it.."
Lyra, on her side of the wagon, still gazing through the approaching cornfields. I held her chin and turned her head to face me, "Hey... It's going to be ok. I promise you..."
Lyra had a frown that gradually changed to a faint grin. She felt the gain of confidence within me. I know I needed to reassure her that living life is not about dodging bullets, but rather, it's all about taking it all in, learning from it, and moving on. Lyra is a strong woman, she just doesn't realize it yet. Pinkie on the other hand, is on a league of her own. After all attempts of being self-reliant, she ends up coming to me for assistance, which is fine with me.
As we arrived to our bus stop, we once again stumbled upon Braeburn, who had his hands full at the moment.
"G'morning Braeburn!" I said with a bright smile.
Braeburn was in the middle of helping a couple of passengers inside the horse-wagon, he turned to my voice, "Oh! G'morning ladies! how ya'll doin'?" Braeburn brightly replied in a loud voice.
"Actually doing alright this morning, how about yourself? I can see you're in the middle of something."
"Yeah, wish ah can stay for a short talk, con' madres.. But as y'all can see, ah got some werk to do." As closing the horse-wagon door.
I let out a giggle, "You're such a sweet guy... I just wanted to say thank you again for giving my girls a lift last night."
"Oh hey, no problem at all." He tipped his stetson with a smile, "You girls stay outta trouble now."
He hopped on to his driver seat horse-wagon, pulled the halt-ropes, and slowly galloped their way through the path within the village. We waved our goodbyes as his wagon began to get smaller in sight.
We all sat on a bench, waiting patiently for the bus. Pinkie scrolled through her news feed on facebook from her cell phone, and Lyra admiring the scenery of distant trees.
"Pinkie, why do you even have a facebook account... The only friends you have are us and Vinyl Scratch." I initiated to Pinkie.
Pinkie, engrossed with her cell phone, continued scrolling through her page, "Why, you jealous?"
"No.. It's just unsafe.. Especially with the stuff that's been happening, at least deactivate it temporarily."
"Yes mom.... I will when I get home..." Pinkie rolled her eyes as turning her cell phone screen off, and sliding it back in her coat pocket.
Lyra lightly chuckled, "You girls... Behave."
I was a little startled when Pinkie had given me an informal title 'Mom', which I ironically thought of a brilliant idea, "Girls... What if I say you both should move in with me?..."
Pinkie and Lyra both glared at me with bewilderment. Lyra retorted, "Are you serious??"
"Mmhmm." I nodded with a grin.
Lyra, her bewildered expression vastly changed to a bulk of happiness, and delivered an astounding hug to me, "Yes!!! I'll be happy too!"
Pinkie halted, "Wait, wait, wait... What about our apartment least... We can't just break it."
"I'll have a talk with Filthy Rich when we get home." I concluded, while Lyra was still clung on to me with a hug.
Pinkie, too, had an expression that developed a big smile. It was the kind of smile that I had always remembered back in the days of high school. She huddled in to join a hug along with Lyra. Hugs are nice. It's a long road to our pursuit of happiness, but this was a leap step forward.
The bus had finally arrived to a stop by the curb right before us. The passenger door folded to an open, as the sound of hydraulics caused the bus to descend on a certain level for us to walk up.
"Good morning girls, Enjoy your ride!" The bus driver greeted brightly.
I entered the bus, then Pinkie and Lyra respectively, and swiped my transportation card through the card reader box next to the driver to pay the fair. The bus was somewhat full, but a vacant seat was visible to allow only two people in a seat. However for us, we made it work to fit three people.
"Next stop, Crystal Palace Boulevard."
After hearing the electronic voice, I looked up at an LCD screen displayed above the headliner that showed our current stop, and the list of our upcoming stops. We have three stops ahead of us before HuManehattan. Therefore, it would be a good hour and a half, depending on traffic, until we arrive to our destination. The hydraulics had sounded, causing the bus to align in completeness, then the engine had increased in sound to depart from our stationed stop. As the bus is in motion, Lyra, by the window, was on her cell phone music score app, which allowed her to generate musical theory. Pinkie was playing a game from her cell phone: Power Ponies. I didn't feel like striking a conversation. I didn't get much sleep last night, so I thought it was a good idea to take this time of opportune for a nap.
Song ended as their magical pony ears disappeared in magic
"Apple Jack! your bass was barely heard! lets try that again, from the top, girls!" Rainbow Dash in a loud voice.
"Oh wait, wait, wait... Miss Pitch Perfect, your chords were off too! And Ah was list'nin'!" Apple Jack retorted.
"Yes.... what she said...." Flutter Shy in a low voice.
"Ok fine, you caught me, but lets hit it from the top girls!"
"Okay!!" Pinkie Pie in a very high pitched voice, she tapped both her drumsticks together to create a metronome of beats, " One, two, three, four!"
Right before the song started, they all gasped to see me standing in the same music room with them at Canterlot High School. All together in unison, "Sunset!!!!" The teenage girls placed their instruments down, and approached me for a group hug.
Rarity, with her fashion magnifying glass, she carefully observed my outfit, "My, my, where have you been that you've grasp such an exotic fashion outfit, dear!?"
Pinkie Pie rapidly approached me from nowhere, she was the young Pinkie Pie who I always used to remember; always in high spirits, and had very puffy hair, "Sunset! I can't believe you're here!!! You know what this calls for? PARTY!!!!" She held out a toy gun, aimed vertically up the ceiling, and magically shot out confettis and random colored balloons. She brought out a table of cupcakes that lined up like a pyramid from parts unknown, "Here you go, cupcakes with extra extra extra extra extra extra pink frosting, just how I LIKE IT, YUM!!!" Her mouth magically gaped extremely wide open, then devoured the pile of cakes, including the table. She let out a loud wind of burp.
"Anyway...." Apple Jack altered the randomness from Pinkie Pie, "Ah reckon you had lots of work to do? The Rainbooms have been practicing without you, sugar cube, ah hope you didn't mind."
Flutter Shy, with her usual timid personality, she approached to me slowly as moving a couple of strands of her hair from her face, "Sunset, we were all worried about you, we thought you left us."
"Yeah! My band was lacking a rhythm guitarist, I had to pick up your slack!" Rainbow Dash added.
"OUR band!" Apple Jack corrected.
"Yeah, whatever."
I muffled in words, but nothing came out.
"What are we waiting for? Sunset is here, lets get to playing!" Rainbow asserted to everyone in the room.
"Ok but wait! Right before we start, Sunset must try this new dress that I tailored for the ensemble!" Rarity remarked.
Rarity hastily pulled out a trolley of clothing rack, which hung a set of costumes and frilly dresses. She pulled out a black frilly lace dress and magically slipped the dress on me. She then pulled a mirror. I looked at my reflection, and relinquished a smile.
"Sunset, you're such a darling, I knew I have the right fashionable sense."
Since I couldn't make out in words, I nodded at her with a grin.
"Ok! can we start?!" Rainbow reasserted.
"Lets get to it, Yihawww!" Apple Jack added.
"Yiippeeeee!!!!" As Pinkie Pie skipped towards her drum set.
As they all headed back to their instruments, I followed after. My guitar was set in place on a guitar stand, which brought a lot of memories. At this point in time, I wasn't sure what was happening, but I was in a happy moment. I finally reunited with my best friends, rehearsing for a show, what more can I ask for? As I acquired my guitar from the stand, a rush of feelings came to me when I used to practice with them everyday. I put on the guitar strap around my neck and shoulder, then shred a single power chord just for sound test.
"Allllrrriigghhtt!!! Lets play Awesome as I wanna Be!" Rainbow Dash said.
"Ummmmm, Can we play my song next?" Flutter Shy asked Rainbow in a low voice.
"Next time."
"Why do I even bother..."
Pinkie, tapping both of her drum sticks for metronome of beats, "One, two, three, four!"
We all started performing Awesome as I wanna Be.
It's just amazing how time flew, it felt like it was just yesterday when we performed this composition. I still remembered the chords, the leads, and in which parts I was supposed to come in. For once in a long time, I felt the elements of harmony flowing within me. It was a wonderful feeling. But there was one weird thing missing. Everyone had their magical pony-ups, but me. In a state of confusion, I thought maybe I was playing the wrong chords the whole time? When they all noticed, the performance stopped right in the middle of the song. Their expression had vastly changed to a look of disdain.
"You're not Sunset!" Rainbow pointed at me in a loud voice, "You're an impostor!" She snatched my guitar from me, and tossed it on the ground.
"Who do you think you are?" Apple Jack added.
"If I should've known better, I wouldn't have made you wore the dress I made!" Rarity hastily approached me with a shove that made me go off balance, then faltered to the ground.
I tried to muffle in words, but I was still unable to speak. Crying, nodding, and shaking my head are my only way of communication, but none worked.
"Get outta here! You don't belong here!" Rainbow Dash in a louder voice.
The words of Rainbow Dash echoed over and over in an endless hollow. A noticeable crack began to form on the ground from where I fell. Strings of green light shun through the cracks, then crept in to entrap me in a circle. As the cracks came in to full contact, the ground collapsed, which caused me to grab on a shattered edge from falling into an unknown abyss. As barely holding on, my body swayed in every direction. I struggled to pull myself up, then Pinkie appeared, crouching right above me, "Hey there, Sunset, having the time of your life? heheheee!!" She let out a big grin that gave me greater feeling of misery, "Oopsy daisy!" She stomped on my hand, which caused me to lose my grip, and began falling down into the unknown abyss. The girls' faces, from where I fell, became smaller in sight. When I couldn't see them anymore, I dropped on a ground in prone position.
I was in a cold, dark hollowed space with no ambient of noise for me to distinguish. I felt very alone. I stood up, and searched for a way out. But it was impossible. Suddenly, a blue ray of light randomly beamed from a high point, towards the ground next to where I stood. A thick book with my cutie mark design on the front cover appeared. It's the book that I used to communicate with Twilight in Equestria. The book unfolded itself. The pages were slowly turning, while a group of whispers, that I was unable to decipher, were being heard from every direction of this black, hollowed space. The pages were aggressively turning faster. Then the whispers became much louder and distinct: Sunset is weak; Sunset is powerless; Sunset is useless; Sunset will forever be alone. The whispers rambled endlessly, which led me to pull on my hair and screamed, "SSSTTTOOOPPPP!!!!" As the pages finally reached the back end of the book, the whispers paused, then one final whisper had sounded, "You will be alone..."
"Sunset..."
As I woke up to Pinkie's voice calling my name. I sighed in relief to know that it was just a bad dream. Back to reality, home sweet home.
"You ok? You looked like you've seen a ghost." Pinkie with concern expression.
"...I'm ok.." I replied in a low voice as I laid my head back on the head rest.
Pinkie wiped the semi-dried tears from my face, "You sure?"
"Yeah.."
Lyra was also taking a nap. She held on to my arm while her head was laying on the headrest, with her mouth open. I began to wonder if my dream was trying to tell me something. The girls would think I'm crazy if I told them, not right now at least. But I know it has something to do with my book.
I may need to call in from work today. Perhaps I'll call Derpy to take over for today, I am sure Dr. Whooves wouldn't mind.
"Current stop, 20th Avenue, HuManehattan"
I nudged Lyra from her nap. She opened her eyes then stretched her arms out followed by a yawn, then we ascended from our seat and made our advance to our exit of the bus.
We stood on the corner of twentieth avenue and third street, we moved towards a closed shutter to be clear of way from hasty city walkers. I initiated, "So girls, can you guys come by tonight? I'll be cooking spaghetti and meatballs for dinner."
Pinkie blurt out in excitement, "I am all in!"
"I'll bring garlic bread." Lyra, in a standard tone.
"Well.. I'll bring The Adventures of Daring Doo DVD for tonight." Pinkie added.
"Awesome, well... I'll see you girls later, I think I am going to call in from work today, I feel drained..."
"Why, you ok? You did look a little pale back in the bus.." Pinkie had said with a brooding expression.
Lyra suddenly tensed up, "Wait, what?! Then we must come with you."
"I'll be fine, I am not sick or anything, I just need to take this day off, I'll see you girls at eight, okay?" Both Lyra and Pinkie, still glaring at me with concern, "Girls... I'll be fine, I promise, I'd be lying if I haven't told ya'."
Lyra, in a low voice, "Ok.."
"Call if you need us.." Pinkie concluded.
We gave each other a hug, then parted ways. Lyra and Pinkie headed at the same direction, as I took the opposite. I wasn't up to speed for a walk on the way home, I still have some funds left on my transportation card, it was enough for a fair to take a train. I may as well use it up for today and reload tomorrow. I strolled amongst the streets of HuManehattan, and waved at some common folks. I was distracted to see what was behind the company glass of my favorite clothing store, Phillyever Twenty-one, which displayed a mannequin with the new fashion piece of lace-paneled crepe blouse. It looked so cute. Part of me wanted to stop in for a quick leisure browse, but only I didn't. As I continued walking, I pulled out my phone, and placed a call to Derpy.
Derpy, on the other side of the phone, "Hello?"
"Hey hun, can you do me a huge favor, I know you're off today, but I promise I will owe you."
"..What's up?"
"Can you work for me just for tonight? Something came up, and it's rather urgent."
"Ooook?... What's the urgency that you can't show up for work?"
"It's personal, please Derpy, for ol' time sake. I'll owe you..."
A sigh was heard on the other end, "Whatever... You better owe me... I was in the middle of watching Power Ponies for goodness sake.."
"Ok, I'll rent that episode on Haymazon Prime for you, I promise."
"Fine... But if I ever need for you to work for me..."
"I will take one of your shifts..." I concluded Derpy's sentence.
As our conversation had ended, I hid my phone back in my purse, then continued heading towards the underground train station. I took a couple of stairs down, passed the subway booth, then stood right before the turnstile, or also known as the baffle gate. I swiped my transportation card through the reader, which allowed me to pass through the gate. Approaching a nearby subway bench, I looked around for anyone in sight, there was no one. It was the same kind of feeling I had in my dream, when I was trapped in the unknown, dark hollowed abyss. Only difference is, this was real. The subway lights began to flicker. Apprehensively in thought, I scanned my surroundings to be wary of anything from parts unknown. I believe my dream really did try to tell me something. Maybe it was my premonition of dark magic, but whatever it is, I don't like the feeling, it dreaded me to my very soul.
"Hey Sunset..."
I swung around to the deep, raspy voice, and saw a broad man right beside the stairs from where I came. I couldn't familiarize his face, just until he took a couple of steps closer into the glaring light, it's Wind Rider.
With a gasp, I slowly walked backwards to lean up against the subway wall. I shivered in words, "Wind Rider, what are you doing here?"
"No... The question is... What are you doing here..." As Wind Rider relinquished a rather, dark grin.
"What?"
"C'mon Sunset, don't be stupid." Feeling of uneasiness flowed through my veins with every imminence of step he took, Wind Rider continued in a raspy, low voice, "I know you're from another world. A world of magic.... You have it.. I need it."
"What's your beef with Pinkie and Lyra?! You could've just gone straight to me!"
"You think I am stupid? Eliminating them first was the smart thing to do."
"But you failed." I replied impertinently.
Wind Rider dashed with incredible speed, then shoved his own body to me causing my purse to drop, and forcefully pinning me up the wall.
"Let me go, you demon.." I said in a hateful voice.
"Ooohhh, Sunset, I love it when you talk dirty."
He forcefully closed in a kiss to my lips with aggression, then raised one of my legs while roughly running his disgusting fingers through my outer thigh from within my skirt, and clutching onto my back side. If this is what he did to Lyra, it was certainly immoral and unforgivable. If I should've known sooner, I would've done something. Men like him should burn in hell.
He discontinued the kiss for a short time, and let out a haunting grin, "Sunset, you have no where to run.... Ya know... After I ride you like the wind..." He moved a couple of strands of my hair to the back of my ear, and continued with words, "..I will kill you...." He let out an evil wheezing chuckle.
He attempted to kiss me again. I shouted, "GET OFF ME!"
I gained a bit of leverage, directing a kick to his private area, that caused him in a dazing state. He fell to the ground in prone position. I launched another staggering kick, but to his face, continuously as blood and chunks of his teeth began to flow out of his lips and gums. It was a gore moment. If this guy doesn't burn in hell, he deserved a kick to the face numerous times. The thought of his attempt of killing Pinkie Pie and defiling Lyra, my launch of kicks inflicted an even greater damage, which turned him completely unconscious. I hastily grabbed my purse that fell to the ground, and ran the flight of stairs for my chance of escape. I once again stepped into the busy streets of HuManehattan, haphazardly bumping into strangers as I made my pass. I stood by a sidewalk curb, then hitchhiked a cab. A random cab came to a full stop right before me, quickly opening the passenger door, and entered.
"Grande Court Apartment please." I hustled to the cab driver.
"On it..." As the cab driver looked at me in quizzical expression.
As our cab finally left the curb, with a triumph relief, I took a deep breath and laid my head on the head rest. In this moment of time, I couldn't think straight. But Wind Rider mentioned one thing that made me think, "I know you're from another world. A world of magic.... You have it.. I need it." Just what did he mean by that? I haven't used magic in thirteen years, ever since the friendship games. Am I missing the point? Nevertheless, it's not something to think about right now, I'm just relief to be safe and sound, for now...
GRAND COURT APARTMENTS, SUNSET'S APARTMENT - 11:32 AM, SAME DAY
I unlocked the door to my apartment room, closing the door as I made my entrance. I turned the lights on, flung my keys on the center top table of my living room, and gently tossed my purse on my nearby sofa. I plopped myself by the counter table on a stool, with my head down, deep in thoughts. My mind still couldn't make out anything, I was still in a state of disturbance. "What's his deal?" I muttered to myself. There must be a reason for Wind Rider's actions. What goal is he trying to achieve? What good can become of him for his wrong-doings? I know Wind Rider can be a jerk, even worse than Trenderhoof, but he wasn't this bad at all before. I know I'll be risking my life, but I need to find out what he's up to because for all I know, he can be planning on something much worst. The problem is, I don't know where to begin. I casually got up from my stool seat, and headed to my bedroom.
Gazing through my little bookshelf, I got a hold of my book. The book was rather old and dusty, and had a musky scent. I sat by my vanity table, while hugging the book to my chest. For some odd reason, I felt a sense of uneasiness. Ever since I saw the book in my dream, I didn't feel right. I feel that if I opened it, it would open the gates of my impending doom of loneliness. But at the same time, I feel that this is an only way of an answer for everything that had happened for the last couple of weeks. I opened the book, and I turned to the last page written. I was the last person who wrote to Twilight thirteen years ago, but never got a response since then. With an inquiring mind, I turned back a couple of pages, which had me even more indignant when I realized that I was the one having this one-sided conversation. Twilight never wrote back, why would I even bother writing to her now? Nevertheless, I am in a real sense of desperate need. I grabbed a pen that was placed on my vanity table and began writing:
Dear Twilight Sparkle:
It's been thirteen years and thirty written messages that I have yet to get a response from. I'm not trying to be mean, but I need your help...
Your friend,
Sunset Shimmer
I waited for ten minutes, then opened my book, still no answer. With my irritable expression that followed a heavy sigh, I wrote another message:
Dear Twilight Sparkle:
I hate these one-sided conversations, did Princess Celestia catch your tongue? Is it because you're a princess, you think you can just abandon your friend like so? It's not very noble of you...
I closed the book once again and waited.
Yet another ten minutes had passed, I checked to see if there were any response, still nothing. With built up of rage and frustration, I recklessly ascended from my vanity chair, then fiercely threw my book at my bed headboard, and let out a vigorous scream, "Damn you Twilight! You promised to help me when I needed you, was that all a lie?!" Tears dripped down my face. I huddled to my bedroom floor and sobbed like a little filly. I hated crying, crying is a sign of weakness, but I couldn't help it.
"....It's been a while Sunset...."
My sobbing stopped immediately as I heard the familiar voice. I turned my head, and saw a beautiful woman, who appeared of my age, with long purple hair and purple dress of a sparkling starred design who stood right by my bedroom door. There stood Twilight right above me. Mixture of feelings came rushing. But when she relinquished a smile, she puts me in relaxation. I know she's aware of my hundreds of questions, but for now, I stood up in an instant, delivering a tight hug to her, and sobbed again, "Twilight, I missed you so much..." I knew someday she would reply to my messages, but why show up thirteen years later? I sensed she didn't come here just to say hello through these years of absence, obviously there's something wrong.