Chapter 2: Hugs Are Always Good. Always.
The first thing Sour Sweet noticed when she woke up was that her door was open. Scanning across the room, her eyes immediately noted that the corner which she usually placed her arrow quiver was empty. A dark chuckle escaped her lips as she quickly realized why it was taken.
She then glanced at the archery posters which decorated the walls of her room. They were all old, going back to her younger years when she dreamed of being a world-famous archeress. Sour shook her head at the memory of those dreams. They seemed so silly now. They were just a naïve hope of the future. Hell, after what she nearly did last night, she didn’t know if there even was going to be a future for her.
She sat up, took her pills, and checked her clock. 3:22 PM. She had slept all day. It figured since she spent all night thinking about her place in life. It didn’t even help. She still had no idea why she existed. “What did a medication-needing, mood-swinging, reality-questioning mental case have to look forward to?” was the question that she kept asking herself and not able to come up with an answer for.
She got out of bed and stepped out to see her father who was sitting in a chair in the hallway. Mr. Sweet instantly shot up when he saw her and tried to put on the best smile that he could.
“Baby girl, you’re up!” he said, cheerfully.
“Have you been waiting out here all day for me to get up? Should have just gone to work, dad,” Sour growled, shaking her head in annoyance as she passed him on her way to the bathroom.
“Well, I thought we could have had a lot of fun today,” Mr. Sweet uttered softly.
If Sour didn’t know better, she could’ve sworn that she was detecting disappointment in his voice. She sighed. He was trying. He really was. Still, she wasn’t about to make this too easy for him. Two years of neglect shouldn’t be glossed over so easily, Sour had decided.
Suddenly, she paused and titled her head as she reached the bathroom. Something was missing. “Wait, where’s the door?”
Mr. Sweet cleared his throat. “Well, uh, we just thought that perhaps it would be best to remove it considering, um, you know… with the bathtub being in there and all…”
Sour rubbed her temples in frustration. “I am not going to try to drown myself in the tub, dad.”
“I wasn’t saying you were, but…”
“Just go away and let me do my business!” Sour shouted.
Mr. Sweet nodded. “Please come downstairs right away when you’re done. Let’s eat something, okay?”
Sour snarled as her answer as she went into the bathroom.
She did indeed go straight down to the kitchen afterwards. Her father was pouring milk into two bowls of cereal. Getting a sudden suspicion, she began to walk toward the drawer which the silverware was kept.
“I already got spoons for us,” she heard her father say.
Ignoring him, she opened the drawer. Certain utensils were missing. Her suspicion was confirmed.
“I see you hid the knives somewhere,” Sour commented, turning to face him with a mocking grin. “Noticed you took the arrows out of my room as well.”
Mr. Sweet sighed and nodded somberly. “I just don’t want anything to happen to you, Sour.”
Sour sat down at the table. “If you’re attempting ‘suicide watch’ precautions, you’re certainly not using your full imagination.” She scooped and took a bite of cereal before sharply declaring, “A girl can use pretty much ANYTHING she can get her hands on if she REALLY wanted to off herself.”
“Sour, please don’t say that kind of stuff!” Mr. Sweet pleaded, a look of horror overcoming his face.
Sour couldn’t help but to crack a smile and let out a soft giggle.
Mr. Sweet lifted an eyebrow with realization and eased up. “Oh. I get it. Talking like that is your way of trying to punish me, right?”
Sour winked and tapped her nose as a “You got it” gesture.
“Alright, I certainly deserve it,” Mr. Sweet sighed. “Let’s just think positively. Hey, I know! How about we have dinner at Il Cavallo Ragazza later tonight? Yeah, we used to have a lot of fun at that restaurant, right? It’ll be just like old times!”
Sour shook her head. “I can’t eat there anymore. I was banned after my mood swings made me try to beat up a waiter.”
Mr. Sweet stared at her. Once again, it hit him how his daughter’s life was really being affected by her condition. Before this and the attempted drowning, he had simply used his imagination of what she was going through, influenced by a lot of online “worst case scenario” information concerning schizophrenia.
“Oh. I see.” He took a bite out of his cereal. “Maybe there’s somewhere else we can go, then.”
“I’d rather dine somewhere with someone else, if you don’t mind,” Sour said, growling the last part out with extra venom.
“Your boyfriend, I suppose?” Mr. Sweet asked, subconsciously lifting his hand to the side of his face where the boy in question had given him a mean right hook the night before.
Sour narrowed her eyes. “Do you even know what my boyfriend’s name is?”
Mr. Sweet suddenly looked like a deer caught in the headlights. “Um…”
Sour sighed dejectedly. “You really don’t know anything about my life, do you?”
Mr. Sweet stared at the pain on his daughter’s face. How many times had he caused this look? Too many, he realized.
He nodded in the affirmative. “I have been a horrible father. I admit it. I do not know much about your life, I assumed the worst of you and your condition, and I am also responsible for what you tried to do last night.” Mr. Sweet shook his head while wincing. “That… that weighs down on my mind like you can’t even believe. I want to make it up to you. I truly do.”
Sour glared at him and then turned her attention to the cereal.
“I’m willing to learn about your life,” Mr. Sweet persisted. “Please tell me that I’m not too late. Tell me anything. Tell me about your boyfriend. He’s good to you, right?”
Sour ate in silence for a moment, until, “Yes, he is. He’s considerate, devoted, acknowledges who the boss in our relationship is…” She paused as if an idea was forming. “… and he gives your daughter a mighty fine dicking when she needs it.”
Mr. Sweet nearly choked on his Fruit Loops. “He does WHAT?!”
Sour studied his reaction intently. His brows furrowed with fury. His nose was flaring. His whole expression clearly had a healthy “I’m going to kill him” message all over it. It was as if some fatherly instinct suddenly burst forth from its long suppression.
She smirked with much satisfaction. “Maybe you do give a shit about me after all…”
Mr. Sweet instantly lightened up upon recognizing that that was her idea of a test. “Oh, well, yeah I do.” He then shifted uncomfortably and uttered, “He’s using protection, isn’t he?”
“I’m taking birth control pills,” Sour informed, nonchalantly taking a bite of her cereal.
“Okay, that’s good,” Mr. Sweet stated, awkwardly taking a bite out of his while mentally begging for the subject to change to anything else.
He certainly got his wish. At that moment, marching band music suddenly began to be heard. Loud marching band music. As in, really close by marching band music.
“Is that coming from our front lawn?” Mr. Sweet asked, getting up to investigate.
Sour got up as well and followed.
The front door was opened. Father and daughter gawked at the unexpected sight.
A crowd of kids suddenly erupted in cheers for Sour Sweet as the Crystal Prep Academy Marching Band performed the school fight song. Many in the multitude were holding up various signs with messages such as “I 
SOUR” and “DON’T GIVE UP”. Eclipsing them all was one large banner being held up with two poles steadied by Indigo Zap and Lemon Zest. The banner was just the right size for everybody to have signed their names across. It read in huge, multi-colored letters: “WE ARE ALL HERE FOR YOU, SOUR SWEET”.
“I had no idea you were so popular,” Mr. Sweet stated, astonished.
“I… had no idea I was, either,” Sour admitted.
Her boyfriend ran up to give her a loving embrace. He then took her by the hand and led her to the crowd, informing that there were more who wanted to give her a hug as well. A lot more.
One by one, an awestruck Sour Sweet was treated by the embrace of a well-wisher. There was Trenderhoof, Frosty Orange, Fleur de Lis, Neon Lights, Gilda, and so many others, not even counting her own best friends. She had passed them all in the halls every school day. Some she knew well, most she surely needed to get to know better after this.
“I’m proud to be your friend, Sour Sweet,” Sugarcoat made sure to include with her embrace.
“I’m proud to be yours, Sugarcoat,” Sour assured back.
Sour suddenly felt something on top of her head.
Starlight Glimmer proudly patted the purple beret which she had just placed. “Sour Sweet, by the power invested in me by myself, I declare you an honorary member of Our Klub, the Marxist Student Society of Crystal Prep Academy!”
“Thank you, Starlight,” Sour expressed while embracing her.
“Make sure to get things straightened out soon,” Starlight abruptly whispered into her ear. “The coming revolution will need every fighter it can get.”
Sour instantly backed away and gave the crazy communist girl a polite, but awkward smile and nod.
The Crusaders then nearly toppled her over when all three attempted to give their hugs all at once.
“Sour, we hope you don’t mind, but we just put up a new tribute video online about you and explained what you’re going through,” Scootaloo said.
“Yeah, there’s been so much support fer ya already from yer fans!” Apple Bloom added.
“Not a troll comment in the bunch, either!” Sweetie Belle guaranteed with a wink.
Sour smiled. “I appreciate that so much, girls.”
She then noticed the presence of her favorite horse girls. Fluttershy came up to embrace her. The rest of them wanted in just as bad, despite the fact she wasn’t really close with them. She proudly received each and every one, none the less. She remembered how much she wanted to beat them all in the Friendship Games. It seemed so long ago now. Yesterday’s enemies become today’s friends.
Of course, she hesitated when she faced the former CPA student. “Oh… h-hey, Twilight.”
Twilight put on an awkward smile. “Hey, Sour Sweet.”
“Listen, I’m sor – ”
Twilight cut her off with her hug. “Let bygones be bygones. I’m just glad that you are alive, Sour Sweet. We all are.”
Pinkie Pie then suddenly appeared right beside her and presented a large cake. “For you! Hope you have a Sour Sweet tooth!” She then began giggling profusely at her own joke.
“Thanks, Pinkie,” Sour said before shooting her boyfriend an irritated look. “You told her to say that, didn’t you?”
The boy shrugged with a guilty, yet proud smile. All of a sudden, that smile was replaced with a surprised gape as Mr. Sweet threw his arm around his shoulder.
“Thank you for taking such good care of my daughter,” Mr. Sweet expressed sincerely. “I’m grateful that there has been at least one good man in her life. Perhaps you possibly could give me some guidance in that area?”
The boyfriend beamed at him, nodding in agreement.
Seeing her boyfriend and her father begin to bond finally caused Sour’s emotions to go over the edge. Tears began to swell up in her eyes. Sour scanned across the faces of the crowd. She couldn’t help but to imagine those faces if she actually succeeded in drowning herself. This same crowd could have very well been a funeral procession right then.
Their supportive, smiling faces made her feel confident that she did have a future. She suddenly felt she could go on, secure her education, build a career, marry, and have children. Maybe some old, “silly” archery dreams could even be revived. All in all, just do what made her happy.
Even if she didn’t have all of these supporters, there was still one person who she would always have behind her. Barring she did anything stupid, she would have her own self. There was indeed a shot at a good life, Sour Sweet began to realize. It was a shot that she was determined to never try to blow again. From then on, she was going to remain on target.
THE END
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Wow...
Nico-Stone-Rupan, you've done it again...
I guess that is it then, everything seems to wrap up perfectly for Sour Sweet which she rightfully deserves but is this really the end?
Like I said earlier, these stories are beautiful and have been a really good read (and reread several times) so I guess I'm sad to see them go. Even so I just want to say thanks, thanks for giving me something really wonderful and very relatable at the same time.
Good luck with whatever you decide to do in the future, just know that you have 1 hardcore fan eager to read your stuff!
GOD DAMN NINJAS CUTTING ONIONS
you better make more stories
Powerful stuff man.
Looking forward to seeing whatever you write next 
An excellent counterpoint to the previous story, reflecting how much not just Sour and the narrator character but all of Crystal Prep has grown since Twilight almost tore the universe apart. Thank you for it.
You're only ever as alone as you allow yourself to be. What Sour has just learned is that she never has to be alone at all. There are many people who love her and are willing to forgive her and be friends with her. I bet she never even really knew how important that she was to everyone.
One message on one card was something she never quite understood nor the signature one she could identify:
Good show!
I do hope this is not the end to this series yet! Simply marvelous work!
Next book awaits us
Ooown! Love that ending! I'm crying here!
Can't wait to the next story!
pinkie.mylittlefacewhen.com/media/f/rsz/mlfw7625_medium.png
It's a little sad, but part of me actually hopes this really is 'the end', because it wrapped up so beautifully,
I'm looking at this, and honestly, if you wanted to, this would be a great way to end this little series. Sure, you could easily keep going, but this is now like what, the 9th story? And such a good note to end on. Maybe that's just my opinion.
Yay another on i loves these
Aww... Very sweet, this has to be one of my favorite stories in this series of yours Nico.
You do know that you have to keep Sour Sweet and "You" together for the long haul now, right? Because having them break up or something after this would just be too cruel, even for an author.
Daww...
I was listening to the song from AnimatedJames' "Creative Types". It fit this chapter perfectly!!!
7309227 Yeah, I can totally imagine pony Luna somehow sending a message like that to reassure Sour that everything's going to be alright. You know, I bet pony Celestia sent a similar message. Dunno why, but I'd like to imagine she did just as a gesture of kindness if she somehow heard about Sour's situation.
Well, thanks for the treat of a story bro
I like it. Not one of the best, but still fun to read.
After reading the first chapter I expected the gathering, however I didn't think Sour Sweet's reaction would be so... accepting. A real life equivalent would illicit a poor reaction from Sour Sweet, upset that so many people found out about what happened, and so much attention would overwhelm her senses and embarrass her.
*sniff*
So what if I'm crying?! Is touching moment!
Can't wait for the next one and every one after
Woah. That's some heavy stuff right there.
Mental illness is a ::bleep:: to deal with. In addition to the stigma there's the fact that mental disabilities don't have the visibility of physical ones, and people still don't seem to understand that a mental disability is just as bad, if not worse, than any physical disability.
I don't have multiple personality disorder or schizophrenia (two different things often conflated with each other), thank G-d, but I apparently have Asperger's syndrome, and grew up with it before the condition was ever diagnosed and described. I don't have psychotic episodes but I've never been able to do anything and seem to serve absolutely no purpose whatsoever, with the result that I have often questioned why I'm even here at all. I still would, were it not for my distractions.
I'm confident that eventually the existence of every one of us who suffers will be vindicated.
7309130
The ninjas have infested this place,
You can try to run but there is no escaping them.
7309771 Yeah. Too sweet. Too happy. Too fairy taily. Especially since everyone is so nice all of a sudden. But in reality, most would not give a damn. And no troll comments on YouTube? Come oooooon....
come on lets see sour go for the gold!
7309931
There's someone asking explicitly about Sour's body if im not mistaken, I guess thats as far as thing would go in EqG world.
But, while there are nothing wrong with an unrealistic fiction, I have to agree that I somehow also felt that the recent stories have been.. I dunno, mellower than expected? Maybe not in themes, as Nico here had written how Sour Sweet attempted to kill herself, but more like how theres rarely any consequences for the character's actions (dicking comment, punching your girl's dad, etc) but, I guess thats bound to happen as each chapter are only 2000-3000 words long usually, so most the times the story had to make a jump (or several skips) into the happy ending, which, IMO, is seen here. Reminds me to a comment by some guys in a certain imageboard that said each story in this series could have worked as chapters in a single, multichaptered fic.
But hey, to each on their own, and Im glad you had finished this series of yours! On to thr next stories! Goodbye, Sour Sweet and boyfriend! See ya
7309931
Sorry you don't like to read nice things
I've been eluding to the fact things have gotten better at CPA ever since story #1.
That's certainly a cynical way to think. While I was writing this, I couldn't help but have tragedies such as Orlando on my mind and how much humanity shines through in support of the victims ( notice the "We're with you" banner's letters are multi-colored... like a rainbow flag ). Some people just want to focus on the darkness, though.
Because Sweetie deleted them
7309662 I just saw it. It's a fantastic video!
7309475
13th story, but, hey, who's counting?
7310149
I suspected that Orlando may have had some effect on this story. But the reality is that most people's "solidarity" only goes as far as posting a comment. And in a few days, the world will forget and move on.
"Sorry you don't like to read nice things" -- I wouldn't be following you if I didn't. Come on now.
7310139
I don't understand why people keep singling me out for having so many sequels when there are plenty of other authors on this site who do the exact same thing as I do and likely have even MORE stories in their collection than I could ever come up with.
It's not finished.
7310191
Well, the series keep getting featured and featured somehow, (which is a good thing!) expect people to flock and throw their thoughts into it more often than normal.
Well, since it was still getting continued, dont mind me if I say that I can only see for more good things to happen to Sour in the future!
You did it again. You wrote another masterpiece.
7310168 *Phoenix Wright Mode Activated*
A contradiction! Clearly!
What's kind of sad is, given the way this particular chapter in Sour's story has come to a close, this might just be the end of this series. I have loved reading the progression of things and how things have panned out for our lovable schizo. Whether or not this is the end, it has been a fantastic ride.
Thank you for that
7310962 Agreed. Thank you so much dude! This story, and it's many predecessors, have helped me deal with my own depression, even though it's kind of weird to be in the guy side of a relationship. Either way, thank you. Thank you, for everything.
I wanna know who else's heart grew 5 times it's size after reading this?
Mine sure did.
If somehow this is truly the end for our precious Sour Sweet then sir I salute you. These stories have been nothing short of awesome (they also gave me the idea to have a small plush commissioned. So yeah I really enjoyed them.) So thank you for the wild and fun ride. See you space cowboy...
Damn it. This was truly special. You almost had me crying by the end there. If this one is the end of this series, then it has been a good ride, and I liked getting a glimpse as to what it might be like for somebody with Sour Sweet's condition. Thanks for providing an excellent read, and if you happen to have another one planned to come after this story, then I look forward to reading it!
~ Super-Brony12
I have no idea where this story will go next but I'm sure it will be great. Maybe college life? I think you closed this part of her story perfectly. Good writing as always my friend.
I can't contain it anymore.
I mean, please let Bitter Honey have good screen time.
*hugs*
Thank you so much, so much, for creating this series. It's amazing, simply amazing. It's hard to find perfection on a fanfiction site, but I do believe that you, sir, have made a series that achieves it.
It seems like every time I turn around, you've drawn out another amazing story. And I do mean drawn out. Normally, I say 'cranked out' or 'threw together', but no. These stories are art. They're amazing, I'm... I'm so into this series... I don't want it to end, I don't... *sniffs* But, alas... it's gotta get closer to an end if we're to ever meet Bitter Honey...
*grabs your collar* And be warned: if we only see a snippet or two of Bitter Honey, there will be Tartarus to pay...
*releases you* Sorry...
Eheh... Please forget I just assaulted you
Anyway. All in all, you are amazing, your stories are amazing, just... everything is amazing. Amazingness for everyone! Amazingness on you, amazingness on your cow...
Yours,
~Spirit
7317770 My cow appreciates the amazingness
Welp, nice to know my heart is still working, because this fired a salvo into it, and im tearing up. I relly do like this set of stories, and this one didn't dissapoint either. from Sours prodding of her dad to the utterly hartwarming (igniting for me) turn out of folks... so good.
just so... beautiful.
7309227
.... okay, between the story itself and this post, my words have now failed me. i will just sit here, nod, clap, and hold back my tears. thank you.
Beautiful. Such as is.
Although here I was hoping a wedding would be featured in this... saga? Series? Not sure what to call it haha. But not complaining. You created a piece of art
Now we wait.
7310191
Does this mean we'll get to see Bitter Honey?
7325229 I would be a damn dirty tease if you didn't
I pretty much read through this entire series today and I found it terribly enjoyable. I can't wait for the next one~~!!!
I'm just not sure what I would look forward to in the future installments: Honey Bitter... or duct tape...
7368306 I'm going through a terrible depression right now, with some death anxiety thrown in. It happens.
I've never seriously contemplated suicide, however, for three reasons: 1)my religious beliefs, 2)my cowardice, and 3)a perverse part of me wants to see how it all turns out.
PS: I'm very obsessive-compulsive as well, though probably not to the extent you are. But believe me, Asperger's (when it's not the good kind that makes you some kind of genius who makes guitars and tours with KISS) is the pits.
Epilogue is needed.
Epilogue is BADLY needed.