//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 // Story: Crimson and Gold: An Unlikely Friendship // by TwilightAppleDash //------------------------------// With the plan securely in place, we all headed to our classes, each of us eagerly anticipating the end of this school day. Fortunately, school sped by without a hitch and before long, we had all met up in my barn and with books open before us, we began studying. “If X is equal to P, and G is half of Y times 5B, then what is A7G over XYB?” Rainbow asked, eyebrows furrowed as she death-stared her algebra quiz sheet. “Why darling, I do believe the answer is PQZY, or the same as E equals MC squared.” Rarity replied as she squinted through her glasses over her history revision paper. “However, I can’t for the life of me remember who the chancellor of Germany was, during World War Two.” “Uh, Rarity.” I said to her, rolling my eyes. “The chancellor of Germany was that crazy Adolf Hitler or somethin’, y’know the guy what cause WWII in the first place.” Suddenly Rainbow angrily crushed her algebra into a small paper ball and threw it at the wall. “Alright, damn this, I am officialy done with study!” “Oh Rainbow, I’m sure it’s not that bad.” Replied Fluttershy, anxiously looking up from her essay. “What’s the problem? Maybe I could help?” Rainbow merely shook her head and laughed. “Ha! Fluttershy, I seriously doubt that even you could help me here, unless you can somehow find a way to miraculously make studying less mind-numbingly and soul-destroyingly boring!” “Y’know what, Ah have to admit, ah agree with you there, Rainbow.” I tell her and she initially looks surprised, but almost immediately her face becomes pleased that someone agrees with her. She looks like she’s about to say something, but I quickly cut her off, smirking as I steal her catchphrase. “Eeyup, studying could definitely be about 20% cooler!” Amidst the chuckles from the others, R.D merely rolls her eyes at me and blows a raspberry. “Hey, A.J, shouldn’t you be outside, helping your big bro out with ‘dem apples’?” She fires back, in a drawl so exaggerated that it makes my slight accent seem neat and tidy. After a round of giggling, Pinkie sighs and grabs a cupcake from her bag. “All that said and done, I agree with Dashy! Much study study and little party party makes Pinkie very saddy saddy!” We all agree, Rainbow and Pinkie enthusiastically, that we had done enough study for one night and after we packed up our stationary, Rainbow broke out the games, Pinkie the snacks and I, the drinks. Surprisingly, Sunset proved to be a skilled gamer, after destroying Pinkie, Rarity and I, she fought Rainbow to a well-deserved tie, much to the consternation of Rainbow. “Sunset dear. How is it that you are so talented at this?” Rarity exclaimed, throwing down the controller after her 19th consecutive loss. “It’s a wonder that you don’t spend all of your free time locked away in your house and wearing out your poor thumbs on this infernal contraption!” Sunset shrugs and smiles innocently. “Actually, I don’t own a gaming console at home. In fact, this is the first time I’ve ever played a videogame before.” Her smile fades, as she looks around the room at us and sees the open mouths and staring eyes at her. “What?” She asks, a little defensively. After a few seconds of silence, Rainbow finally manages to close her gaping mouth and form a coherent sentence. “Uh, t-there’s no way that this…. that this is your f-first time playing! Your j-just...too good for that t-to be true!” “Well I truly don’t have a console at my house.” Sunset replied, looking down at the ground. “I can’t really...afford one. Finances are a little...tight. Blushing faintly, she stares past us, out of the barn window and continues. “And I never had any friends before you guys, so I couldn’t exactly compete against anybody.” Here her tone becomes harsh and sneering, contemptuous. “Besides, at that point in my life, I guess I was more focused on other things, like turning the entire school population into mindless, will-less zombies and world domination!” When she had finished speaking, there was still a silence in the air, only of a different kind. “Oh Sunset, dear none of that matters now!” Rarity exclaimed, dropping her glasses into her pocket carelessly. “What matters now is that you’re a changed person and have begun putting your best foot forward.” “Rarity’s right.” Rainbow replied, casually flipping a marshmallow into the air and catching it between her teeth. “Besides, we’ve all done stuff in our pasts that we’re not quite proud of.” “Sunset, when I look at you now, I don’t think of the negative person you were before, I think about our friend who is both loyal and honest, kind and generous and always ready to share a laugh among her close friends.” Fluttershy chimed in from where she was sitting, head against my knees. Pinkie Pie said nothing, just jumped up from the snack table and wrapped her arms around Sunset, enveloping her in a warm hug. The rest of us lost no time in joining her and pretty soon, Sunset was being fiercely embraced by her five best friends. Sunset sighed happily. “Sometimes I don’t know what I’d do without you guys, it’s nice being able to rely upon people other than myself and it makes me feel good, knowing that no matter what, you guys will always stick by my side.” “As we would do for each other, and as we know you would do for us.” I replied, patting her shoulder. “Friendship is mutual, each person brings something to the table.” Once the happy, feel-good vibes had been restored, I walked outside and sat by the barn door, gazing out at the bright stars in the sky. Breathing in the crisp, clean farm air, I sighed and twisted my stetson between my hands and gazed up at the bright night. “Heya Mom, hey Dad, ah know it’s been awhile since I last talked to you guys, but you wouldn’t believe how busy ah’ve been, runnin’ the farm and whatnot.” I say, imagining that somewhere up there, shining brightly amongst all the other stars, stood my parents, looking down at the farm proudly. “Yea, don’t worry, ah’ve been taking care of little Applebloom and ah make sure to encourage Big Mac to take it easy and not over-strain himself with the loads he takes on, but y’all know it ain’t never easy.” I paused and took a deep breath, steadying myself and fighting back the sudden wave of emotion, threatening to overwhelm me. “Ah have to confess, ah’m not doing as well as ah tell mah friends.” I ran a hand through my hair and take a sip from the cider I brought out with me. “Even though it’s been what five, six years, ah still miss you guys.” A stray tear rolls down my face as I continue. “Sometimes, it feels like life jest gets too hard all of a sudden, and that I’d really rather jest stay in bed the whole day. Like when the bills pile up, or Applebloom gets picked on at school, or when Big Mac pulls a muscle and has to skip a day of apple-buckin’, meaning ah have to take up the strain.” My stetson falls to the ground as tears blurred my vision. “ I jest can’t help it, sometimes, ah get so tired of life and yearn to fall into an eternal sleep, forever resting in your embraces, but ah know that I have to stay here and take up your roles and help out Applebloom and pick up Big Mac’s slack and make sure the bills are paid, because if ah didn’t, who would?” I nurse my cider in the silence that follows, trying to stop the tears building up. I feel a gentle hand upon my shoulder, followed by the cool, sweet voice of the only person I would trust with this part of me. “It’s alright Jackie, only me.” Fluttershy’s voice sounded as she sat down beside me. We sit in silence again for a few moments, before the silence is broken. “H-how much….?” I trail off hoarsely. I feel her hand clasping mine as she replied. “How much did I hear? All of it.” I look back up at the skies. “Well now yeh know, ah guess.” I reply soberly, raising my bottle.