The Truth About Girls (Vol. 1)

by TheMareWhoSaysNi

May We Go Round ? (Part 3)

The girl bumped into him, and as soon as she looked up to have a glimpse of him, displayed the most charming smile of her repertory. Sometimes, Soarin felt as if being a movie star, though he was no one but a university basketball player and above all, an ordinary student. Without any other ambition than doing his best in his favorite sport.

For many years, Spitfire had been the only one to get his attention. The young woman of his age, with a fiery character in line with her burning name, was of an almost obsessive jealousy. He had to look at her only, and to think about her only. Any other girls were potential threats, and beware those who dared being a little too close.

The irony of all this, was that she was the one he had discovered making out with someone else. Undoubtedly, some forewarning sings were here, but he acted as if he could see nothing at all. Until this night, in the female Wondercolts’ locker room of Canterlot University, where he met face to face with Spitfire, mouth to mouth with his own cousin, Fleetfoot – who still was her girlfriend today.

After remorse, persistent, which still were left a few foul-smelling traces, Soarin had finally forgiven her. Spitfire even was his best friend now, but the road to this had been long. The reason he chose to wipe the state clean was simple. He had simply realized he was thinking a lot about his former young neighbor he had never really been able to forget, with her rainbow hair and magenta eyes, her knees always covered with dressings, and who didn’t hesitate to oppose the toughest ones.

He couldn’t help it: he was fond of pretty daring girls with a strong personality.

A thousand time, he had thought it would be wonderful to meet her by accident, in the course of a walk in town. Fleetfoot and Spitfire kept on telling him to subscribe to a social network if he wanted to meet up with her so much, but new technologies were something he was wary about. Most of his phone apps had never been even brushed by his fingers.

If he’d accepted to replace Wave Chill at the climbing facility – relying on the fact they looked like each other – maybe he would never had found her. She was now a young woman, attractive and bold, the exact image he had imagined about her. The moment he saw her, something resounded inside of him. And once he had accepted the meaning of it, he had understood she was meant for him, and he was meant for her.

However, behind his goofy appearance, Soarin wasn’t blind. He could sense there was something she hid, like a crack in the concrete shell. For now, this part of herself was double-locked inside her heart, yet he was sure she would confess to him as soon as she would feel strong enough.

When she’d told him about this outing, Rainbow Dash had said she absolutely wanted to try to quadridimensional rollercoaster.

When he saw it, Soarin immediately recognized the beast. Seats of this ride were articulated and turned at the same time than the rails. Inside, all those here were screaming on top of their lungs, under the merry faces of the onlookers. Everything was going so fast he could in no way spot whether or not his girlfriend was here.

When the ride slowed down only did he find her among the others, and he congratulated himself for starting here. She was sitting next to Pinkie Pie, who seemed to be as happy as she was. Behind them, Big Macintosh was with timid Fluttershy, whose pallid complexion was easy to notice. Farther, sitting with some unknown girls, Soarin thought he recognized the young woman’s brother, the one who didn’t hold him dear to his heart, and kept on ignoring him, when he wasn’t throwing bolts at him each time he unfortunately appeared in his field of vision.

He could guess what was the young man’s motivation. Just by the way he looked at his girlfriend, Soarin had understood. His behavior reminded him of Spitfire’s, each time a girl was a little too close to him. Jealousy.

Was he worried? Not really. He had made a few researches about demisexuality, so he could understand how Rainbow Dash’s intimate life was working, and had seen demisexuals were rather exclusive in their relationships.

All it took to be convinced was the way she smiled at him and flew into his arms when she saw him in the middle of the crowd. She was the kind of person who disliked sappiness and too visible displays of affection.

“I’m so happy you came!”

“I promised, didn’t I? What’s wrong? Your eyes are red.”

Fluttershy took a step forward and he saw a bunch of flowers in a pitiful state between her hands, but which he could notice was made of some of the flowers with the highest level of pollen. No need to answer the question for him to understand.

Whoever had the idea of bringing these flowers around her wasn’t really smart.

And the person in question was seething from the inside. The whole day had been a real fiasco. The ghost train was what lost him forever. He was the one who kept on hanging on Rainbow Dash, screaming from fear, and after this ride by his side, the teenage girl had claimed she never wanted to have him sitting beside her.

Now that she, Pinkie Pie and the others had taken every of the most dangerous rides, and he would finally have the chance to make it up to her, here came the damn boyfriend, who had the nerves to roll his eyes in front of his (poisoned) gift, as if he was in front of a statement as obvious as one plus one equal two.

Zephyr looked at Soarin greeting the small group of friends one by one, and even Big Macintosh. He didn’t want to talk to him, nor even to display the least gesture of kindness, but if he behaved bad-mannered with him, he feared Rainbow Dash to be upset, or his little sister Fluttershy to make her Stare on him.

Backwards, he agreed to shake Soarin’s hand, and had to hid the fact the young man’s grip was a little too strong for him. Oh, he shouldn’t think he had won. Conversely, the war had just begun.

“Well, what if we go shoot with a rifle, now?” Rainbow Dash offered.

“Oh yes!” Pinkie Pie claimed. “I want a big smiling cupcake-shaped plushy!”

Cautious, Fluttershy came closer. Though normally she had a fresh peaches and cream complexion like the morning dew, now she displayed a pasty skin that would make a specter white with envy. It looked as if all colors had left her body.

Everyone could guess she’d done all these roundabouts just to be with Big Macintosh, or she would have chosen to stay with the other girls. Now she had reached the limit of the bearable. Even the prospect to do a calm activity with the one she wanted to impress wasn’t a strong enough motivation.

“I hope it wouldn’t bother you if I go home”, she declared with a thin reedy voice. “I’m not feeling well.”

“On your own?”

She shrugged, in all likelihood in a hurry to be over with this, no matter what it took.

Zephyr sighed. His plans were compromised for good with the boyfriend in the equation, so leaving to drive his sister home wouldn’t change anything now. Next time, he would invite Rainbow Dash at the movies, or something else, but that wasn’t so fun she decided to invite her other friends to come. Something told him that as long as the others were here, he would never achieve his ends.

Right when he opened his mouth, Big Macintosh took a step forward.

“Ah bring her home. She needs to walk.”

The first one surprised by the plot twist was Fluttershy herself. Until now, he had only been courteous with her, but carefully avoided too close a touch. She could feel it, the distance… Though it would have seemed to be more logical for him to spend the day with his sister Applejack rather than with this part of the gang, at no moment did she have false hopes.

At the same time, it was very difficult to read him. Most of the time he displayed this phlegmatic and calm face, as if everything was above him. If he happened to be upset, it never was by showing too much aggressiveness, not even by screaming. Out of this, no one could really tell what was on his mind, except maybe Applejack, and still it wasn’t an exact science even for her.

For all that, she wouldn’t refuse this gift from above, whatever was the reason. It only took Fluttershy a couple of minutes to greet everyone and to get ready to go, escorted by Big Macintosh and nobody else.

Her leave, although a little regrettable, was rather convenient for Rainbow Dash. Rid of the bunch of flowers – which fell into a trashcan anyway – she was feeling alive again. Finally, she would be able to enjoy every activity at a hundred percent, without being interrupted by sneezes, or bothered by stinging eyes.

If only she could also get rid of her friend’s big brother, her day would become perfect.

Unfortunately for her, the latter seemed more hooked on her than a junkie on speed. She didn’t know what he wanted, but she knew that if he wanted to keep on roaming with the team, he should have to learn how to be less annoying.

They hadn’t reached the stall yet that they met Rarity and Twilight, cheeks red and panting, who stopped them with eyes drowning in fears. Instinctively, both Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie guessed something was going on – again.

They hoped nothing had happened to a girl of the group. No one could foretell an accident, after all, and the two friends ware particularly aware of this.

Rarity and Twilight both needed a few seconds before catching their breath a little.

“Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom have intercepted a conversation”, the oldest one started. “It’s about Sunset Shimmer.”

“It’s her three former friends, you know, those who forced her to be a robber”, Twilight continued, even more in trouble than her friend.

“They met ‘by chance’ and have invited her for an ice-cream but, in reality, they want to do something really mean. We have to stop them.”

Rainbow Dash had always known this day would come. These three girls weren’t the type to give up. When able to make a humiliation last for so long, when able to go as far as ruining lives for personal pleasure, there was no way bad memories could be let go of, and placed somewhere they didn’t count anymore. They were fattened, fed with antagonism in the hope of being able to return the favor as soon as possible. And when a chance was here, it was taken unwaveringly.

Rarity was right. They had to stop them. Out of question to let them step on Sunset Shimmer’s hardly found back self-confidence. She had barely gotten back onto her feet. It wasn’t to let anyone bury another tomb for her poise.

“Where shall they meet?” she asked, her eyes now stinging from determination.

-----------------------------------------------------

Applejack’s turn hadn’t arrived yet. Sunset Shimmer would’ve never thought there could be so many competitors just to win a plastic trophy at the mechanical bull. It was a bad knowledge of Equestria’s inhabitants, for whom this kind of exploit was a question of honor.

Obliged to leave alone Rarity and Twilight, who she didn’t want to confess to truth to, she was walking her way to the ice-cream maker irresolutely, in order to meet up with her three former comrades.

There was something in the air, something indescribable, that made her stomach ache. She was feeling herself treading carefully, on a stretched out thread inches above the ground. Since the beginning it appeared clear that this reunion was quite a bad idea. A bit like going to the sea while a storm is on the forecast.

Now, however, there was no way for her to go back. To face was the only thing left to do. After this, she’d be able to let it all behind her. Unless she was imagining things and her bad feeling was of a complete irrationality.

She didn’t really know whether she had to turn to her brain or to her heart.

Sitting around one of the red plastic tables at the ice-cream maker’s, Aria, Sonata and Adagio were waiting for her. From where Sunset Shimmer was, they didn’t look threatening, and didn’t neither displayed a behavior like they were on the verge of planning an evil scheme.

Yet… Maybe it was just her imagination getting carried away, but it seemed to her the crowd was very thick for a food service place near the exit, and that a part of this crowd was staring at her as she was walking forward.

From the moment they saw her, they all three leaped on their feet, with a wide smile on their angel faces. Better than anyone else, Sunset Shimmer knew she had to beware these innocent faces. Behind the masks could hide the evilest creatures ever, able to go beyong imagination to crush against the ground all those who were a bother.

“We’re happy you made it”, Aria started.

“I’ve said I’d come, so I come. Got to keep promises, right?”

“Certainly”, Adagio affirmed. “What if we go and order?”

“Alright”, Sunset Shimmer replied, shrugging.

She turned around, thinking the three girls would follow, but she barely did a few steps that she met face to face with three other boys with suspicious-looking faces and a greyish complexion, who blocked the way.

Neither Adagio, Aria or even Sonata had moved from where they were, and when Sunset Shimmer took a look behind, she had a glimpse of them with a half-smile filled with insane delight.

She tried to avoid the boys by her right, then by her left, unsuccessfully. Each time, they were able to make sure she wouldn’t escape.

Everybody was looking, eagerly waiting. And none of them seemed ready to stop what was about to begin.

Fine. If that was this way, she was going to get into the game. She would see how far it would go.

Her heart was thumping, but she considered she had nothing to lose.

“I’d like to go to the other side, if that’s not too much to ask.”

“The other side is forbidden to snitches of your type.”

There was no doubt. If she reaped these kind of comments, it was because the trio was the root of this deception. Since the very beginning, Sunset Shimmer had guessed there was something strange hidden under the apparent good intentions of the girls. Making peace, making it up… it had nothing in common with the girls she used to know. And using Sonata’s not really mean sheep side had Adagio written all over it.

Maybe the person she used to be would have tried her best to please them, and bow down before the provocation, but she wasn’t this person anymore. Now she didn’t care whether she pleased these three or not. She had a real bunch of friends, who didn’t belittle her in order to feel superior… Thanks to them, she knew what friendship, true friendship, felt like.

If none had arrived to help her yet, that was because she hadn’t told them anything about it. In fact, she regretted it. With one of them by her side, any of them, they would never dare to start that little scheme of theirs, she was sure.

Frowning, more then decided not to pushed around without a fight, Sunset Shimmer rolled her shoulders and dashed into the walls of boys in front of her. Sure, she didn’t have Applejack’s force, but who knew…

Except luck didn’t seem to be on her side, since she bounced about against the chest of one of them, and he didn’t hesitate much before pushing her against the dirty ground. Losing her balance backwards, she fell directly on her back. She grazed her arms by the way, and she knew that standing back up would certainly be a bit complicated.

Someone reached out a hand for her, and she grabbed it unwarily. Only once on her feet did she realize it was no one else than Adagio.

“You’re still as stupid as you were, aren’t you? And I thought that picking up shit in the streets would’ve help you grow a brain.”

She was holding Sunset Shimmer’s hand so strong that she felt blood ceasing to circulate in her fingers. When she tried to get rid of it, the other girl pulled her, and made sure she was fall again, this time with her face against the earth and gravels.

The front of her dress was now as dirty as the back, and she felt one of her knee had just scratched like her arms.

“This is where you truly belong. With worms and insects. Did you really think you were worth someone else’s friendship? Pft! You f*cking b*tch!”

Don’t cry. Most importantly, don’t shed a single tear. Or else, they would be the winning ones. Everybody was still looking and not reacting. She could hear them whispering. She could hear them laugh and Aria’s and the three boys’ jibes, but she bit the inside of her cheek in order to resist, and not to give them the delight to get what they all wanted.

She was a new person. The old Sunset Shimmer, who used to belittle others or to belittle herself, hoping it would help her to get affection, she was dead and gone. She never really been this person, in reality.

No matter what they all said about her. She would never be trapped again. This time was over, and she would show them.

She leaned against her wrists, ready to stand back up, hostility in her body, that she put first into her eyes. So they would get the message correctly.

“I don’t agree with you”, a familiar hoarse voice said.

In the middle of the free path made by the curious ones surrounding them, was standing Rainbow Dash, her arms crossed. On her face just like all over her posture, no one could have guessed she’d ran across the whole funfair in order to find them.

Behind her, were standing Rarity and Twilight, along with Soarin, who was close to his girlfriend though not stuck against her, just in case she would need an additional backup.

Sunset Shimmer didn’t know who warned them, but whoever was this person, she had her gratitude forever.

Adagio let Rainbow Dash stepping a few inches closer, her arrogant smile unchanged. Maybe her target was different for now, but as soon as she would get rid of her, she’d go back to her favorite punching bag, so she would get the lesson she deserved.

“Take a look at what we got here… You’re not the resentful kind!”

“Why would I be resentful towards Sunset for something you asked her to do? Did you fall on your head lately or were you born stupid?”

“Don’t insult Adagio, moron!” Aria intervened. “You don’t know who’s in front of you.”

“Oh, but I do know. She’s a halfwit who’s unable to get things straight with the others in a loyal way. If I wanted to do something as dumb as a personal revenge, I would need no male foil.”

“Really? And what is this?” Sonata said, showing Soarin with her head. “Cinnamon-flavored pudding?”

“Soarin isn’t my foil, sorry. He’s my bae and he was there by coincidence at the same time as you. If anything happens, it won’t take any part in it…”

Though this piece of information was true, since she made him promise, the young man couldn’t help but thinking that, once again, the best would be for her not to fight. If it happened, he wasn’t sure he could watch without a reaction.

On the other hand, his girlfriend was still in her act involving an intimidation of the three girls. They were the tenacious kind, sure, yet they didn’t know her. Tenacity was an old friend and she had many tricks up in her sleeves.

“Even without him, my girls and I are beating you hands down!”

This time, Aria and Adagio, quickly followed by Sonata, burst into laugh. As if she had just said the most hilarious joke of the world. This Rainbow Dash had the reputation of a little pest, up from her five feet one, with ruthless tackles, fast fists, but the two other girls… Who was she trying to fool?

“These two? The number one poseur and the school’s egghead not even able to hit a shuttlecock? You can’t be serious!”

“Don’t you know the idiom saying that still waters run deep?” Rarity claimed behind them.

“I’d like to see it”, Aria said with a mocking chuckle.

“Who said we were only three? I got a precious plus with me… Pinkamena Diane Pie, former Second-in-Command of the Rebellious!”

All eyes conveyed to the ice-cream maker’s stall where Pinkie Pie was standing, busy eating a gigantic cotton candy which banana’s smell invaded every nostrils surrounding. She was so voracious she sprinkled bits of the fluffy candy all around her mouth, nose, eyebrows and even her hair.

Well, alright, in her regular state, she wasn’t that threatening. Yet, even years after, the Rebellious kept on being some kind of legend for Canterlot’s youth. That was what Rainbow Dash relied on, as well as on a little significant plus.

“Got to be kidding me”, Adagio answered with an arched eyebrow.

“Just wait for her to finish her cotton candy…”

This line, delivered with a hint of danger, subtly hit its mark. Aria came closer to her ‘leader’ and whispered in her ear.

“I’ve heard about her on Internet. She really was the Second-in-Command of the mad girl named… Wind Wisher! I heard she always wears a knife and she’s already sent guys to the hospital.”

No one could have told, but the Muzzlebook created by Lightning Dust about Pinkie Pie, which had been the root of so many vexations in the group, also could have a few happy consequences.

Adagio seemed to be thinking… To fight didn’t scare her, as long as it was them three against Rainbow Dash, or even against Sunset Shimmer along with that Rarity, but a former gang member with a knife… It was something else.

Where her and her friends had been to, the other girls weren’t that impressed by their little ploys. They were true bad girls, who, even small and frail for some of them, would fly off the handle, and made them go through more than one hard time.

Their revenge couldn’t be satisfied if it turned against themselves, and if they end up being the ones humiliated. Maybe the rumors about this Pinkamena Diane Pie – who looked harmless on the whole, but wasn’t it the case with them as well? – happened to be true, they would be CHS’ laughing stock even before their comeback.

It was a risk they couldn’t allow themselves to take. If they accepted to beat in retreat, that would be the only reason.

Sunset Shimmer had joined her friend, and was standing side by side with her, by no means impressed. It was easy to guess she didn’t want to keep things this way and that she was ready to fight as well if that was what it took.

That was how Adagio understood. She’d been wrong. Her former favorite toy wasn’t scared anymore, since she had already scrapped what they had represented for her. And so, she was now completely detached of their grip. It was no use to try to crush her. She would stand back up. And she wouldn’t be alone.

It seemed like a group finally thought she was worth of friendship. Without her to sow seeds of dread behind her.

This news was hard to swallow. Sore loser – she wasn’t the only one – the bitter taste this defeat left in her throat wouldn’t disappear immediately.

“We’ll see each other again. You have my word!” Adagio stated, slipping her finger along her throat, before she ran off without further ado.

Sonata only stayed where she was for a few more seconds, as if she hadn’t witnessed what just happened. Her two friends quickly called her to order, and she startled, then displayed a wide naïve smile, along with a wave that was a little puzzling.

“Well… See you, girls!”

And she got away, but not in a rush, while the other girls, farther, were turning impatient, hurried to disappear.

Frowning but arching the other eyebrow, Rainbow Dash turned to Sunset Shimmer, who shrugged.

“Sonata. She’s like this…”

“Oh, it’s already over. What did I miss?” Pinkie Pie asked as getting nearer, her cotton candy stick empty in her hands, and leftovers of fluff stuck a bit everywhere on her face.

The two teenage girls looked at each other, and burst into a communicative laugh, that quickly touched everyone involved.

---------------------------------------------

Alright, it was quite a view. From these heights, Canterlot was visible completely: The Main Place, the park, Sugarcube Corner, the Grand Rue, even CHS and Crystal Prep. It was worthy climbing in a basket to be the witness of such a captivating spectacle. Enough to shower tourists’ cameras and phones with imperishable memories.

But even so… It was a classical thing for classical couples who thought it was very romantic toe be inches away from the ground, looking into each other eyes. She was Rainbow Dash, way too cool for this kind of things. It had barely started that she already was wondering why on earth had she agreed to climb here, for a Ferris wheel ride with her boyfriend.

Plus, everyone would see her and think she was a dimwit.

By her side, Soarin could feel a tension coming from her. Her smile had disappeared, and she was spending time looking the other way, sulking, her hand against her cheek. He knew she’d said yes in order to make him happy, and happy he was, but if she didn’t like the ride, he couldn’t see the good about it.

She felt a hand slipping inside hers – the free one – and saw Soarin smiling at her when she looked at him. Usually, his smile was enough to temper her irascibilities, like a magical flash. Not this time.

It was widely-known that Rainbow Dash wasn’t feeling easy with anything a bit sentimental – or in reasonable doses, or exclusively in Hitchcock’s “Rebecca”. All the same, he really thought this short ride in the Ferris wheel to be nothing terrible. Only a tiny little thing. They wouldn’t even need to cuddle or anything. Really, his only aim was to be alone with her.

Obviously, even this tiny little thing was too much for her to handle.

“I’m sorry, Dashie.”

“Uh? What for?” she asked half-heartedly.

“For this. It was to be with you, alone. I never thought it would bother you so much.”

“Are you serious now?”

He nodded, obviously blind to the main problem.

In reality, the fact to be taken for a dimwit wasn’t the most bothering thing of it all. Not even the fact this was a little bit too sappy for her. With what had happened earlier, as she’d come to the rescue of her friend Sunset Shimmer, she had reloaded her awesomeness enough for it to last all summer long.

No, it was something else annoying her. And in all honesty, she couldn’t understand how could he pass it by.

“Do you call that being alone with me?” she answered, pointing angrily at the lower basket.

Piled up on the small couch, her whole bunch of friends, except for Fluttershy still with Big Macintosh, their eyes staring at the upper seats, was spying on them without any sort of discretion. Although the windows and sounds of the surroundings stopped them from hearing their conversation, it didn’t stop them from reveling in the show that probably was for them to witness Rainbow Dash being in love.

The situation didn’t have her being delighted already but it was worse than the rest now. She couldn’t relax and feel good by Soarin’s side if she knew all eyes were on her every moves. To be able to act naturally in such circumstances would be a true miracle.

As far as she was concerned, Sunset Shimmer could even have trade her place with Applejack’s cheap trophy. To spy on the lovers didn’t particularly delight her. All that mattered was the bracelet around her wrist.

Right after Aria, Adagio and Sonata were gone, once Applejack had met them, they revealed her their own plan from the very beginning, the main reason outside of fun why they all had wanted to go to the funfair together. Fluttershy wasn’t there, but Twilight had grabbed her agreement by message for everything to happen like previously decided.

Rarity then stepped to her and gave her the friendship bracelet, with an additional item, a sun, being the element to represent her. Sunset Shimmer still couldn’t believe it.

With this jewel, she was definitely leaving the past that had been so heavy on her shoulders. She was now a full-fledged member of the gang, not just the honorary member. More than ever, she knew that what Adagio had said while she trying to disorient her was wrong. She was worth something. More than she ever hoped.

A new school year would begin soon, and she would start it under the best of stars. Yesterday no longer existed. It was a new day, a new book to write, with beautiful blank pages ready to be filled with memories that would never fade.

Author's Note:

Yes, that's the end of the Volume 1

But don't worry, there's no break! Volume two's already available right here: Volume 2

Comments

[Midday Giggle]

I love happy endings!

[Dusk_Writer]

The main 7 is now complete! :3

I genuinely really enjoyed this book (this is the only reason to look forward to a Tuesday, haha)! I love your interpretation of the characters, the different stories, different backstories and combined with your descriptive style of writing, it's amazing! U

Looking forward to what Volume 2 brings, and again, AMAZING job! <3

[H3lios]

This definitely looks like it's been through a translation blender. If you want, I could go over the chapters and correct the grammar for you. I'm pretty much already doing so to be able to read it so I figure might as well put it to paper for other people.

[TheMareWhoSaysNi]

8312790
Yes, in fact, I'm writing this in French and I translate it myself in English (I'm an English student in College), so there might be odd turns of phrases. That would be very nice of you, but the fiction is rather long, that would be a lot of work, and I don't want to bother you ><

[RDDash]

You know what they say about roses? Wear protective gloves. I will read this story. Technically, should have been a long time ago.