> Standing together > by Xenont > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Standing together - Not the only chapter > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Yes!!! I can walk again!" Sunset ran circles around the hospital room the moment the cast was removed. "I'm free!!" Sunset skipped around the room as she punched the air around her. "Yay! I can go to school, FINALLY!!!" Everyone giggled as the nurse rolled her eyes, walking out of the room. It was a really uncommon sight to see Sunset prancing around, shouting and celebrating. After calming down, Sunset finally sat down, panting. "Sorry...that was weird." She said, catching her breath. "Anyway, are there anymore bullies Dash?" Rainbow nervously chucked. "Yeah, yeah, no more, no more...." Sunset raised her eyebrows. Hm....should I believe her? Yeah, I will, until things start again, I mean. Rainbow swung her hand around. "Chillax, I wasn't even half as hyper as you when my sling was removed." Sunset crossed her arms, trying her best to look angry, but failed, ending up in a heap of laughter. Well, things were back to normal again, at least just for the six of them. Rainbow, however, was still struggling with Gilda everyday after school since the recovery of her left arm. "Rainbow Dash." Rainbow heard the same annoying voice that landed her in the hospital. With some newfound courage, Rainbow turned around and glared at Gilda, much to the bully's surprise. "Wow, you are really asking for a beating this time, huh?" Gilda asked, laughing loudly. She stepped forward. "Oh, and I see that you little scrawny elbow has healed." Gilda smiled as she looked around. "Oh no! Where's Dashie's little friend? I was hoping to beat her up too." She crossed her arms, narrowing her eyes. "Gilda, I don't want any more trouble, okay? Please just leave me alone." Rainbow said as she, too crossed her arms and glared down at the girl. "I'll go about my own business, and you'll go about yours, sounds good? No one would get hurt or injured...." Gilda walked towards Rainbow. "Oh, but I can't now can I? Your stupid little Sunset Shimmer got me grounded for a week! The cops were kind enough to let me off with a warning and a fine. I even had to pay for your dumb little medical fee!" Gilda said. "Did you really think I would drop the whole thing? You should know better Crash, I never give up. I was in my house plotting on how to get back at you!" Rainbow sucked in a sharp breath as Gilda's fist made contact with her stomach, sending her back down to the floor that was still stained with her blood from a week ago. How an I going to explain this to the girls tomorrow? Rainbow thought as she stared at her cut fingers. Rainbow heaved herself off the ground and faced Gilda, who looked at Rainbow smugly. "And here I was, thinking you wound have gotten smarter after a week, but it looks like someone's brain has went on a vacation today!" Gilda laughed as Rainbow closed her eyes, her head throbbing too much to think of a comeback. "Well, the only dumb one around here is you, Gilda!" Rainbow lifted her to the familiar voice, the same voice that had saved her a week ago. "I'm telling you again, leave it." Gilda turned around to see a group of six teenagers glaring hard at her. "Oh, look who came to save the poor old princess, the little orphan! Why, did your return letter get rejected, because, I don't blame them, they don't need someone like you in there." Gilda looked behind Sunset. "And who are these? You own little army of stray animals? Don't make me call the adoption center." Gilda smirked as Sunset walked up. "Oh, no. Not really. First, I'm not an orphan, I live in an apartment down the road. It's you who lives in an orphanage, why? You missing your roommate so much you'll even accept me as one? How sweet!" Sunset crossed her hands. "And these aren't stray animals, you better go get glasses, they are the girls who are about to kick your butt." Gilda stepped forward, and so did Sunset and her friends. "You wanna fight? I'll give you one." Gilda said, holding up her fists. "Come on. Why? Are ya scared?" sunset sighed and walked forward. "I'm not, you should be." She placed her hands on her waist. "Twilight?" She said. "You said you needed practice using your geode powers? Now's your chance!" Gilda's face instantly fell, changing from confident and smug to one of utter horror and shock. "Augh! Put me down now!!!" She screamed as Twilight twirled her around, sending Gilda flying across the air. "Twilight! I can't believe you are listening to her!" Gilda shouted. "I thought you were nice and gentle!?" Twilight set Gilda on the floor slowly, making sure she is on the floor before relaxing her hands. "Yes, well I can be really gentle need I be. But as gentle as I may seem, I can be crazy and rough too, especially when it comes down to the safety of my friends. I would never hurt anyone, like I didn't to you, but I think logically, scaring your opponent is enough." Twilight said calmly, pointing to Gilda's trembling legs. "Am I right?" "Oh, I'll be back for you!" Gilda said as she stormed off shakily. "Wow, okay." Sunset said as she helped Rainbow up. "Still think that telling your friends is a bad idea that may, I quote 'get them hurt'?" She brushed the dirt off Rainbow's clothes. "Good thing I decided to follow you after school to day huh? If not, you would have been given another trip to the hospital Rainbow nervously scratched her head. "Hehe..." She said. "Thanks guys, really....." "No prob!" Pinkie said as she hugged Rainbow tightly. "We are all cool! Right?" Pinkie asked, getting a collective nod from everyone. "See? I told you. We would always be there for you Dashie!" "Thanks guys." Rainbow smiled, before frowning straight after. "But Gilda said that she would be back tomorrow, and that is really rarely good news...." Rainbow looked at her feet. "What should I do?"She looked at helplessly at her friends, who each gave a confident smile in return. "We'll be ready Rainbow, don't you worry." Sunset replied. "Meet us tomorrow after school at the statue." > Is this even a fair fight? - The last chapter > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Are you guys sure this is a good idea?" Rainbow said as she walked out of the classroom with Sunset. "I mean, not that I don't trust you can totally pull it off, but....." Sunset covered Rainbow's mouth. "And you're rambling again." Sunset said, removing her hand. "Look Dash, everything will br just fine, okay? Trust me." Sunset lightly punched Rainbow on the shoulder. "We won't let her hurt you, would we girls?" She said as the others joined them. "Don't you worry Rainbow, we'll make sure that Gilda doesn't touch ya." Applejack said as she slung her hand around Rainbow. "Noe come on! Let's go face this 'Gilda'." "Not that this is helping, but I'm terrified..." Fluttershy muttered as they walked out of school. Rainbow came up next to her. "Heh, for the first time, you and me both..." "Where is she?" Sunset asked as the girls walked up into the alley. "Sure hope she didn't chicken out." Rainbow looked around as she walked up to Sunset. "Hey, erm since she is not here? Can we go??" Rainbow pleaded, kneeling on the floor as she begged Sunset. "I really think this is a bed idea..." Rainbow rubbed her hands together, her face lined with plead. "I really, really don't think it's a good idea to fight Gilda when she brings company...those big, burly boys...ugh..." Fluttershy yelped as she scrambled to hide behind Twilight. "No. No. No" She whispered. "I don't want to do this either...." Sunset gave one last look around befor she shrugged. "Eh, can't blame Gilda for being scared now can we? Let's go." Sunset waved her hands towards her friends and they all turned to walk away. "Hey!" The girls heard someone shout. "Did you guys really think I wad scared?" The group turned around and saw Gilda, along with two thugs that look all ready to beat them up. "Meet my boys, they work for me." Gilda said. "I warned you about their powers, did I?" Gilda said to them. "Ba careful." "Woah, these boys work for you?" Rainbow stuttered as she backed away. "Is changing our minds an option?" She asked as she cowered behind Sunset. "Can we go?" "Rainbow, Rainbow, my sweet sweet Rainbow. You should know by now that when I promise a fight, I will keep to it." Gilda smiled as she turned to her minions. "Get them." Twilight immediately raised her hands, holding them in position. "Argh. Their strong. I can't hold the much longer...." The boys struggled in place as they punched and kicked, attempting to tire Twilight out, and it worked. Her magic snapped shut as she panted. "Whew...I wasn't prepared for that...." The boys and Gilda charged towards them, evil glints in their eyes. "Ha. Guess your plan wasn't very though out after all!" Gilda shouted as she minions tackled the group, pushing Twilight down to the ground. "Oof!" Twilight fell towards the ground roughly, her arm scraping against the hard floor. One of the boys reached towards her and ripped the geode off her neck, throwing it as far as he could manage. "Owww..." Twilight groaned as the boys kicked her all over, falling limp to the floor, her neck red from the burn marks left by the geode. "Twilight!" Applejack gasped as she turned to face the boys. She ran towards them, aiming a fist at one of them, knocking him off his feet with her strength. "Ha! That'll teach ya!" Applejack shouted as she turned to face the other, who raised his own fists, ready to fight. Meanwhile, Sunset and Rarity fought Gilda, Sunset and Gilda both kicking and punching while Rarity helped to block off Gilda's moves on Sunset. Gilda, however, was strong and quick. With one swift kick, Sunset fell towards the floor. "Heh, even with these 'friends' on your side, team crash is still too weak!" Gilda tuned to Rarity, who instantly backed away, a shield forming around her and Sunset. "Fluttershy!" Applejack shouted. "Do somethin will ya?" She raised her hands to block off the boy's punches. "Ah can't do this much longer!" Her arms shook as she kneeled on the floor, the boy's weight pushing down on her tired body. "Please! Do somethin!" Fluttershy looked at the scene in front of her. Applejack single handily fighting off two huge, big boys. Sunset brushing herself off as Rarity struggled to keep her shield up. Rainbow was helping Twilight, who appeared to be waking up from passing out. Oh, I knew this was a bad idea.... She thought as she looked around. What should I do? She fiddled with her geode, an idea coming to mind. "Erm, can anyone hear me?" She asked, looking towards the sky. A few birds flew towards her, landing on her fingers. "Okay, this may sound crazy, but can you......" Fluttershy whispered to the birds, who tweeted happily back at her, willing to return the favor to the girl that had once helped them. As Applejack strained to keep the boy's fists away from hitting her, one of them lifted their leg, kicking her hard in her stomach, making the girl suck in a sharp breath as she stumbled back. "Not so strong now, are ya?" One of them taunted as they approached her menacingly. Applejack breathed in deeply as she clutched her stomach. Just as the boys lifted their hands to strike again, a dozen birds flew towards them, squawking loudly, their wings flapping wildly. "Ah!!" they shouted as they waved their hands about. "Get lost you horrid creatures!" The boys shouted as they backed away from Applejack, who looked gratefully at Fluttershy, who smiled back. The boys, knowing that the birds would not leave them alone, fled form the alley, leaving only Gilad to face the group of seven. "Cowards!" Gilda shouted, her voice loud with a tinge of terror. How am I gonna face them on my own? She turned back around to face Rarity and Sunset. But instead, she saw a group of girls, their arms crossed as they stared her down. Sunset walked up to her, grabbing hold of Gilda's hand, a light rushing through her as she read Gilda's memories. A small girl sat alone in the the corner of a party room, hugging her legs as tears streamed down her face. "Why don't I have friends?" She sat alone in the darkness, no one bothering to talk to her or even say hello. The memory faded as another appeared, a slightly older Gilda was thrown towards a corner. "What do you guys want?!" She shouted, her left eye all bruised up as she panted hardly. "Nothin, little snitch, just yer pocket money for the week!" Sunset heard someone shout. When Gilda denied, the girl was treated to a series of punches and kicks. "Ow!" Gilda screamed as she clutched her jaw, several teeth scattered the ground. The memory faded to another, where Gilda couldn't bear with the bullying she was facing and turned on others, her face flashed with pride when her victims cowered in fear. "Ha, this is so much better then getting picked on." Gilda said to herself. Then came another memory where Gilda bullied two boys and paid them to work of her, boosting her popularity as the strongest, who would not be picked on again. Sunset was brought back to reality as she gasped, backing away from Gilda. "I know you think that bullying others would help out your situation, but it won't!" She said. "You think picking on others would give you a scary image and others would not pick on you anymore. It does help, but it's not the right way. You are just distancing yourself from others, paying for people to talk to you, paying them to stand by your side." Gilda pushed Sunset away from her. "What do you know about my life?" She demanded, her voice shaking slightly as she spoke. "You have never been through what I have!" She crossed her arms as she glared at the girls. "You don't understand what I have..." Rainbow, for the first time, walked up to Gilda, an angry expression on her face. "Gilda." She said in a steady voice. "I hate that you always pick on me!" She raised her hand up to Gilda, her expression not changing. Gilda instantly flinched, knowing that she was in for it now, Rainbow was going to pay her back for what she did. But when Gilda felt nothing, she stayed there for a few moments. But when she felt nothing again, the bully opened her eyes slowly. When both her eyes fully opened, she was shocked at what she saw in front of her. Her once victim, Rainbow Dash, the girl who she had picked on everyday after school, was smiling down at her, her hand held up in a handshake position. "Here." Rainbow said as Gilda stood up straight. She held up her hand firmly. "What?" Gilda slowly straightened her body, her face twisted with confusion. "Aren't you gonna beat me?" She asked, looking at Rainbow. "No." Rainbow smiled at she held out her hand. "I want you to take my hand." She said. "I'll show you that friends are better than followers. Friends don't need to be paid for, it's free. All you need to know is where to look, how to act." Gilda stayed in her position, unable to speak. "Let us show you." Sunset said as she walked up, the rest of the group following closely behind. Gilda felt her eyes moisten. She slowly lifted her hand towards Rainbow. "Really?" She squeaked. "You really want to be my friend? After all I have done?" "Yes, of course." Rainbow said. "Everyone deserves a second chance." She waved her hands towards her friends. "And I think all of us are willing to give it a shot, wada you say?" The girls gathered around Gilda once more, this time in a friendly way, not like before. Gilda could sense a strong bond between them, one that would never break, no matter the odds. "You may have been a real bully last time." Rainbow added when Gilda didn't move. "Sure, you were mean, but I'm certain that we all have times that we regret." "Yeah." Sunset said. "I used to be mean and turn down any nice acts from anyone, I though that I could make it by myself. But I was wrong, and a certain group of people helped me to see how truly wrong I was." She rested her hand on Rainbow's shoulder. "Now let them show you as well." Gilda felt warm steaks flow down her face as she reached out to Rainbow, taking her hand, an instant warmth rushing through her veins. "Okay...." She said in a shaky voice. "I'll try..." Without warning, Rainbow pulled the former bully into a tight embrace. "I forgive you Gilda" Rainbow said as she looked at her friends. "And they do, too." Rainbow held Gilda's hand tightly. "And if anyone ever bullies you, you can tell any of us. We'll deal with them." Rainbow said with a smile. "Okay." Gilda said as she wiped away her tears, she looked around, spotting a light twinkle of light at the corner of her eye. "Wait." She said as she broke away from Rainbow, running towards the glow. Rainbow looked to her friends as they shard a look of confusion. "Here." Gilda said as she ran back, approaching Twilight. "I think this belongs to you." She held out a purple geode. "I'm sorry for what they did to you...." She said as she slung the chain around Twilight's neck. "From now, I want nothin to do with them anymore!" Rainbow smiled ah she looked at Pinkie. "Hey, shall we go to you place for a...party?" She looked towards Gilda. "In honor of our new friend. Gilda." Ten minutes later, a group of eight girls could be seen in sugar cube corner, snacking while they shared jokes and laughs.