> Murder, She Tried > by Dewdrops on the Grass > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Murder, She Tried > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Murder, She Tried By Dewdrops on the Grass A Hearth’s Warming Eve present for Sleepless Beholder. Crack-a-thoom! Rain poured down in sheets like the gods had turned on a celestial firehose. Every so often thunder rattled her brownstone windows, the lights flickering. More than once her UPC beeped insistently at her, reminding her she couldn’t rely upon it for much longer. “Shut up,” Sunset growled as the emergency power supply beeped for what felt like the ten thousandth time. Her eyes returned to her monitor as her hands danced across the keyboard, typing up a storm to rival the one outside. “Come on, come on. I just… need a few… more… there!” With a laugh of triumph Sunset tapped a few more keys, pressed the period button, then reached to hit ctrl-S to save her essay. Thoom! Right as her fingers landed on the buttons, all the power went out, leaving her abruptly in darkness. “Oh no, no, no, no, no!” Sunset said as she leapt from her chair. She futilely tapped at the power button of her UPC to try and restart her computer. “Turn on, turn on!” Bang bang bang! Sunset froze, her blood curdling at the harsh sound. Slowly, ever so slowly, she pivoted on her heels, looking out her massive bay window. The one that looked out on the street from the second floor. “H-hello?” she ventured. Lightning flashed, revealing a shadowy figure standing there, dressed in black, bearing a sharpened knife. Sunset yelped, taking a couple of steps back and falling onto her computer desk. “S-stay back!” she shouted. Flailing behind her she reached for something, anything to defend herself with, and ended up picking up a tube of lipstick. “I’ll use this if I have to!” Crash! With a single punch the cloaked figure smashed their way through the bay window, scattering massive shards of glass everywhere. As a fresh bolt of lightning lit up the scene, Sunset let out a spine-chilling scream as the figure forced through the remaining glass in the window, their clothes completely untouched by the razor-sharp pieces. Sunset tossed the lipstick at the figure and made for her bathroom, screaming all the way. The figure knocked the lipstick aside with a solitary swipe of their knife, then followed with slow, steady steps in Sunset’s wake. Slamming the door shut to the bathroom, Sunset whimpered like crazy as she struggled to find her phone in her pockets. “Please be here, please be here,” she blubbered. As she realized her pockets were completely empty and a memory of the phone being left on her bedside table flashed through her mind, Sunset collapsed onto her knees, her face full of tears. “What am I going to do?” she whispered. BANG! Sunset shrieked as splinters flew from her bathroom door. “Open up!” roared a voice distorted like someone speaking through a dozen fans and then running the end result through an old-style rotary phone. “No!” Sunset retorted as she crab walked back on the floor, scrambling for purchase on the bathtub before climbing herself inside. “Stay away!” “Open. Up!” the voice shouted again.  BANG BANG BANG! More splinters flew into the shower curtain in a hail of wood chips. Bolts of lightning flared out the bathroom window, enough to light up the scene as Sunset’s assailant carved a hole in the door with their knife big enough to reach a hand through. “Stop! Please!” Sunset wailed. “I didn’t do anything to you! I’m just a highschool student!” “I know who you are,” replied the voice of the figure as their hand dangled through the hole, searching for the doorknob. “And you won’t be around for much longer.” Sunset’s whole body shook like a baby rattle as she clutched her arms around herself, wishing with all her might that she’d never left Equestria, that she’d never taken on Twilight Sparkle and that her new friends would come and find her. “Please,” she whispered. “Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Fluttershy, Rarity, Pinkie Pie… help me!” But nobody came. The door flew open, crashing against the wall. Sunset let out another screech from the top of her lungs as her assailant marched over and tore the shower curtain right off the rod. In one last flash of lightning Sunset saw the knife raise, and threw her hands up in what she knew would be a vain attempt to block it. “Time to–” Beep! The shrill beep of Sunset’s UPC rang through the apartment as all the electronics came back on in a flash, complete with the bathroom light. Both Sunset and her assailant shrank back, Sunset blinking spots out of her eyes. After a moment she dared to look up at who’d been attacking her. “Wait a minute…” she muttered. “It’s… it’s you!” The assailant’s knife, still held up high, dropped next to their side. “Huh?” they murmured. Relieved laughter poured forth from Sunset like an uncorked champagne bottle as she climbed to her feet. “Oh it’s just you, hahaha!” She reached out and gave the masked figure a hug. “You really had me going.” “What?!” the figure blurted. “Oh you,” Sunset cooed, her eyes dropping to half-mast as her tone dropped in register, turning husky. “Stop hiding behind that mask already. Let me see your gorgeous face.” “Wha–no, stop!” But before the figure could stop her, Sunset ripped the mask off, revealing a young woman with greenish grey skin and a long crop of aquamarine hair that spilled out around her shoulders. “You’re just as beautiful as I remembered,” Sunset purred. One hand came up to stroke the young woman’s cheek. “My wonderful little Wallflower.” Wallflower Blush acted upon her namesake, her face burning with crimson as she spluttered, “Wha, huh, how, what, you remember, but, you, what, how?!” Sunset’s left arm shifted down to wrap around Wallflower’s hip as her other hand brushed under Wallflower’s chin and pushed it up ever so slightly. “Hush now, Wally. Sunset’s here.” Sunset leaned in to give Wallflower a kiss. Wallflower ripped herself out of Sunset’s grip. “What the hell are you doing?!” she screamed. “You… you idiot! Don’t you get it? I came here to kill you!” “Oh you kill me alright,” Sunset rejoined with a lusty chuckle. She tapped herself on the chest, right between her breasts. “Right here. Slay me, you monster you.” Too shocked for words, Wallflower babbled more pointless sounds before snatching up her knife and the fallen mask and speeding her way out of there. “This isn’t over!” she shouted as she leapt through the window frame and out onto the street below. Sunset watched her go and let out a huge sigh, a smile stretching from ear to ear. “Oh Wallflower, you’re so romantic…” Sunset strode down the alleyway, her heels clicking against the cold concrete. She shivered as a cold wind blew through the thin fabric of her dress. Her purse dangled by her side, light as a feather with the weight of her phone conspicuously absent. “Why did I think this was a good shortcut to the dance?” she muttered as she continuously scanned her surroundings, keeping an eye out for any ne’er do wells. “Damn it, Rarity, it’s your fault I left my phone at home…” Shaking her head, she pulled out her compact and checked her face. Her makeup had come partially undone, so she pulled out some lipstick and blush and swiftly fixed the issues. Clank! Sunset’s heart soared into her throat at the sudden sound, only to relax at the sight of a yowling cat speeding past her, a pair of others giving chase. They’d knocked over a trash can in their wake, spilling its contents all over. “Ugh, stupid cats.” Sunset wrapped her arms around her chest and stuck her hands under her armpits to try and keep them warm. “S-so cold.” “Cold, hmm? Not as cold as the chill of death!” Sunset’s eyes bugged out as she barely dodged a figure plummeting from the nearby rooftop, knife in hand. Said figure landed on one knee and fist with her knife held in her other outstretched arm. They looked up, murder visible in their eyes… and promptly collapsed onto their side, groaning. Their mask fell off their face, revealing that shock of aquamarine hair once more. “...owwww…” “Wallflower!” Sunset blurted as she rushed over. Kneeling down she began feeling along Wallflower’s arms. “Are you hurt? “Gggh…” Wallflower muttered, her eyes squeezed shut. “That was…you were supposed to be under my…” Sunset grinned. “I thought it was dashing and romantic. Soaring from the sky like a superhero, complete with superhero landing.” “What… no… not superhero…” Wallflower let out a pained moan as she flipped herself onto her back, staring up at the night sky with its smattering of stars. Her knife fell out of her hand. Then her view was blocked by Sunset’s face, her amaranth and goldenrod hair streaming around her like a halo, her brilliant teeth shining in her smile. “Well you’ll always be my superhero, Wallflower,” Sunset giggled as she brought up a hand to run through Wallflower’s hair. She began to lower herself, her lips extended, eyes fluttering shut. Wallflower’s face lit up bright red, burning like fire. “Wha… no no!” Wallflower rolled around till she’d shrugged out of Sunset’s grip. “What is wrong with you?” Sunset took a few steps back and clutched her purse to her side. “What do you mean?” To Sunset’s surprise Wallflower was able to move around very fast despite her injuries, as she demonstrated by diving down and scooping up the knife in a flash. “You see this? This is supposed to be inside you, you idiot!” Sunset cocked her head and giggled, relief flooding her veins. “Oh Wallflower…don’t you think that’s a little fast? I mean, I’m all for it, but really, this is only our fourth date. A dildo isn’t exactly fourth date material, you know?” Wallflower’s jaw dropped. “A wha… a dih… dih…dildo?!” Wallflower slapped both hands to her head, almost braining herself with her dildo-knife in the process. “What… how could you possibly… do you even know who I am?” “Of course I do, silly,” Sunset said as she approached Wallflower once more. “You’re my Wallflower.” She spread her arms wide. “Now c’mere so I can give you a kiss.” Wallflower stomped a foot on the ground. “No, no, what is this, this isn’t how this is supposed to go! You’re supposed to be afraid!” “Why would I be afraid of my darling–” “Stop saying that!” Wallflower protested, brandishing the knife-dildo like she thought she could actually hurt Sunset with it. Sunset thought this was adorable. “I’m trying to kill you! As in death! As in murder!” Sunset burst into laughter. “Oh Wally, Wally, if you’re really that into roleplay, I guess I could get into it. But maybe not here. I need to get home, somewhere warm. You could join me, you know,” she added with a sensual purr and a fluttering of eyelashes. “How?” Wallflower muttered as she stood there, shocked still. “How is such a bully so, so… so thick?” Sunset blinked and poked her belly. “I’m not that pudgy, am I?” Her eyes twitching hard enough to water, Wallflower Blush ran away, mumbling curses to herself. Sunset waved a hand gaily. “Bye Wally! See you next time!” “There,” Sunset said as she switched off the computer. “That’s the yearbook done.” She  bundled up her jacket, swiping the keys off the desk, knocking over her lipstick in the process. “Whoops, don’t want to lose that,” she murmured as she reached for her tube of lipstick and stuffed it back into her jacket. With a few quick strides she’d left the computer lab and locked the door behind her. The darkened hallways of the school around her loomed like a labyrinth, every footfall echoing in the quiet atmosphere. As she strode through the school late at night, with naught but silence for company, Sunset reflected on how lucky she was that Principal Celestia trusted her enough to let her work on the yearbook so late. But then after she’d proven herself with the Battle of the Bands and the Friendship Games, she supposed she’d earned her due. Crash. Sunset halted, her body tensing. Her eyes darted to and fro as she paused right at the four way intersection. The sound had come from the direction of the school cafeteria. Like a window broken in. Taking a deep breath, Sunset’s eyes fluttered closed as she focused within, seeking that power she’d used since the Sirens arrival, the Equestrian magic alive even on Earth. Nothing. Sunset’s eyes shot open as she ran her hands along her head. She still had human ears. Her hair hadn’t grown. Nothing happened. CRASH! Sunset glanced down the other hallways, towards the gymnasium, where the second sound had emerged from. She swallowed, her throat drying. “Okay, stay calm, Sunset. You’ve got this,” she murmured, running her hands down her sides as if to reassure herself. She pulled her jacket in tighter. “You can deal with this without ponying up.” She backed away from the hallway leading towards the gym and headed for the cafeteria instead.  SMASH. She barely suppressed a yelp as something destroyed a trophy case not far away, scattering glass everywhere on the floor. Sunset was never more glad she’d worn boots that day. As she glanced down at the shattered case, she spotted something. A single hair. Aquamarine. “Okay, that’s enough, Wallflower,” she called out, any sense of anxiety fleeing at once. “I know it’s you.” “YoU dON’t KnOW AnYThInG,” replied a badly distorted voice over the school’s intercom. “YoU’Re JuST a STuPId BuLly WhO’s tOO poPULaR For HER oWN Good.” Sunset shook her head and chuckled. “It was funny the first couple of times, but come on. We keep meeting like this. When are you going to ask me on a real date, huh?” “nO dATeS. nO DeCEptIOns. nO iDIocY. NoT THiS tiMe. YOu’Re gONnA dIe fOR wHAt yOu’Ve dONe. ANd tHEn nO oNE wiLl eVeR reMEmBeR yoU.” “Gonna keep me all to yourself, huh?” Sunset beamed. “I’m okay with that. I don’t mind being… exclusive.” There was no response. Sunset waited for a moment, shrugged, then headed for the cafeteria. It was one of only three places in the school where someone could access the intercom. She’d probably find Wallflower there. She really wanted to kiss that little minx already. She’d been teased too often. Pushing the cafeteria doors in, Sunset strode through. As she expected the place was dimly lit, with tables and chairs more suggestive shadows than physical objects. One of the windows up near the ceiling had been broken into, glass scattered on the floor. “Where are you, my sweetheart?” Sunset called. “I’m here for you!” FLIT Something whipped past Sunset’s face fast enough to sting just from the passage of air alone. Said object penetrated a nearby table with a twang and a crunch of wood. Sunset, curious, walked over and plucked it out of the table. “An arrow?” she said with a gasp of delight. “Oh Wallflower, you don’t have to shoot me with your arrow. I’m already in love–” SCHLUNK Sunset’s pupils shrank. Her whole body trembled as she slowly, ever so slowly looked down to see the cold piece of metal shoved into her stomach. Red oozed around the puncture like raspberry jam. She’d been stabbed. > Victory > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Oh my goodness," Sunset grunted as she gazed at the knife, stars in her eyes. "What did you do..." Sunset’s breath stuck in her throat as she saw a figure arise from beneath the table. No mask this time. It was Wallflower, her hand squarely on the hilt of the dagger embedded in her belly. A sick, twisted smile decorated Wallflower’s face. “I told you,” she said as she twisted the knife, making Sunset gasp. "I told you I'd kill you." “Oh… oh wow, Wally, I…” Sunset swallowed noisily, her breaths coming faster, her body slick with sweat as she grew weak in the knees. She flailed with her arms, pirouetting for a nearby chair and missing it entirely, falling to the floor with a thump. "This is... so... so extreme... you're making me feel so faint..." Wallflower paused. "What?" Sunset giggled like a loon, all grins as she stared up at Wallflower. Her vision swam before her. "I can't believe how good this feels." Wallflower froze, her eyes bulging. "What." Sunset's throat gurgled as she let out a belly-shaking laugh, sending her into a coughing fit. "It's all I've ever dreamed..." Wallflower's face turned greener than ever. "Excuse me?!" "Just... gotta... there!" Sunset let out a pained cry as she placed her hand on the hilt of the knife and thrust it in as far as it would embed. "Oooooh gooooosh..." Wallflower's jaw dropped as she fell onto her knees, her hair falling around her shoulders with the ends laying on Sunset's stomach. "What... what the hell are you..." Sunset's vision greyed out, leaving only the slightest view of Wallflower. That gorgeous emerald hair framing her perfect, slender face. She reached up and stroked Wallflower's cheek. “Guess you’re…finally inside me… huh?” With one last smile, the light faded from Sunset's eyes as she passed away. Wallflower slapped her hands to her face. "WHAT THE FU–" > Knife > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sunset screamed. "Oh my goodness, oh my Celestia, what the hell what the hell!" Wallflower poked her hood-covered head out from under the nearby table, smacking against the underside in her haste to get out. She winced, rubbing at the top of her head with one gloved hand. "What, what happened?" "What happened?!" Sunset shrieked, whirling on Wallflower. She gestured to her stomach. "You stabbed me, that's what happened! What the hell is wrong with you?" Wallflower snorted. "No I didn't." "Yes, you did!" Sunset gestured with both hands shaking like crazy. "Look at this! There's blood and everything! It feels cold, Wallflower. Cold!" Wallflower reached up to scratch the side of her head. "You're not really stabbed, Sunset. It's not real." Sunset froze, the only movement a blink of her eyes. "What?" "It's not real," Wallflower repeated. She pulled off her hood, letting her emerald hair cascade about her shoulders. "It's just a fake. Dildo, remember?" Sunset gazed back down at the knife. "But... it's cold." Wallflower rolled her eyes. "Oh come on. You're the one who wanted to roleplay all the murder. You're the one who wanted me to be all mysterious villain while you acted like a psychopath who thought I was wooing you. So I finally got you. I figured you'd be happy." Sunset's eyes flashed as she scowled at Wallflower. "I never expected you to actually stab me!" "Oh for fu–it's not real!" Sunset gripped her fists and leaned forward, her arms behind her hips. "Then why does it feel so cold?!" Wallflower slapped a hand to her face. "Good grief..." With her other hand she reached out and ripped the knife out of Sunset's stomach, splashing red all over them both. Sunset immediately lurched, her face turning a peculiar shade of green as her cheeks bulged. "Oh god I'm gonna bleed out, I'm going to die, I'm going to die why did you do that what the hell–" She let out a muffled gasp of shock as Wallflower surged up and kissed her square on the lips. Wallflower's arms wrapped around her in a hurry, pulling in her in deeper, more passionately, until Sunset's eyes fluttered closed and she lost herself in the sensation of lips and tongues intermingling. Only when Wallflower broke away did Sunset remember what had happened to her. But before she could begin to panic, Wallflower stuck a hand inside her jacket and pulled it open, revealing a shirt covered in red goo and not much else. "See?" Wallflower said as she rubbed a hand along Sunset's stomach, with its complete lack of entry wound. "You're fine." Sunset brought her hands up and touched her belly, then let out a massive sigh of relief. "Oh thank Celestia," she murmured. Her face paled as she searched for a chair and fell into it, her hair spilling around her arms as she laid her head down on the table. "I just... god, just the... the idea of actually, actually being... I..." She broke into tears, quiet sobs causing her to shake as water streamed down her face. "I don't want to die, Wally." Wallflower's stomach twisted in a nasty, gut-churning way as she settled herself into the chair next to Sunset. She wrapped an arm around Sunset, leaning her head against Sunset's shoulder. "Hey, hey... it's okay. You're safe, alright? You're okay. Nothing bad happened." "But..." Sunset looked up at Wallflower with tear-stained cheeks, her lips trembling. "I... I thought it was all fun until you, until you..." She broke into tears again and laid her head face down on the table. "I'm so stupid. Why did I think this was a good idea?" Wallflower ran a thumb along Sunset's cheek, wiping away a few tears. She leaned in and gave Sunset a brief, loving press of her lips against Sunset's cheek. "I'm sorry, Sunset. It's my fault. I took it too far this time." Sunset's arm snaked out and grabbed Wallflower roughly, pulling the lithe girl against her like they'd been lashed together with a rope. "It... no, no it's my fault, I was... we should've stopped after the first time. I was so scared, but... it was such a turn-on that, I... I..." As Sunset burst into tears anew, Wallflower traced her fingers down along Sunset's chin until she'd reached the underside, pressing Sunset up so the two could look each other in the eye. "How about we agree it's both our faults and leave it at that, okay?" Sunset sniffled. "Okay." Wallflower held Sunset for a while, looking into her eyes as Sunset gazed back. "You'll be okay, Sunny," Wallflower cooed. "You're my cute little pony, after all." Sunset let out a pained chuckle, her mouth forming a watery smile. "Aww, Wally..." "I mean it, you know. I love you." Wallflower pressed her lips against Sunset, more slowly this time, a quick kiss of reassurance. It tasted like salty tears mixed with fear. "I love you." Letting out a shuddering sigh, Sunset wrapped both arms around Wallflower and returned the kiss with one of her own. "I love you too, Wally." Wallflower stood from her chair, holding out a hand. "Want to get the hell out of here and back to your apartment? I can think of a few ways I can help cheer you up." Sunset's smile turned warm, the last of her tears fading as she stood along with Wallflower. "Great. Sounds great. Shall we?" Wallflower's right hand reached down to grasp Sunset's left as the two began walking out of the cafeteria. With her other hand she pulled out her phone and swapped over to a delivery app. "I'll order the pizza." "Awesome." Sunset grinned as she brought out her own phone. "I'll rent the movies." Chuckling, Wallflower gave Sunset a quick peck on the cheek. "Alright. Maybe no scary ones this time though." "Noooo, no way," Sunset laughed. "Just some nice easy comedy. Maybe a romance flick if I can find a decent gay one." "Now you're speaking my language," Wallflower laughed along with her. As they passed through the cafeteria doors, they paused to give each other another shared kiss. > Kiss > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sunset’s breath stuck in her throat as she saw a figure arise from beneath the table. No mask this time. It was Wallflower, her hand squarely on the hilt of the dagger embedded in her belly. A sick, twisted smile decorated Wallflower’s face. “I told you,” she said as she twisted the knife, making Sunset gasp. “Oh… oh wow, Wally, I…” Sunset swallowed noisily, her breaths coming faster, her body slick with sweat as she grew weak in the knees. As quickly as she could she raised her hands to wrap around Wallflower’s, and deliberately took a step forward, shoving the rest of the blade further inside. “You really... love me this... this much, huh?” Wallflower shook Sunset’s hands off, her face contorting with disgust. “Why are you still going on about that? You’re dying, Sunset. Soon you’ll be dead. And then I’ll erase everyone’s memory of you, with this.” She withdrew a carved piece of stone from her pocket and held it up. Sunset let out a liquidy chuckle. “What’s… what’s that, silly?” “Oh, this?” Wallflower tossed the stone up and casually caught it with her hand. “It’s the Memory Stone. I found it a little while ago, after the sixth time I… failed…to kill you. I was gonna use it to just erase everyone’s memories of you, but, well…” She sneered. “Seeing you die for what you’ve done to me had to happen first.” “The only thing I… I ever did to… to you… is… is love… you…” Sunset choked. She fell backwards onto a convenient chair. Her eyes fluttered, but she didn’t dare close them. “Please… Wallflower… I… can you… do me one… last… request?” Wallflower rolled her eyes. “What?” “Please… just… just one kiss… please…” Wallflower turned away, both hands gripped knuckle-white by her sides. “Grr… you know what… you know what, fine. I can be magnanimous. I got what I wanted. I got my revenge.” She turned back around and placed her hands on Sunset’s shoulders. “I can do that for you. No one will ever know anyway.” Sunset smiled even as her body quaked with a spasm. “...hurry… please…” Wallflower sighed and leaned in. Her face came perilously close to Sunset’s. Their lips were mere inches apart. The warm air of Sunset’s breath was hot on her face. This close, looking right into her eyes… Wallflower saw nothing sinister. None of the lies or slander or twisted evil she’d come to expect from the queen bitch of Canterlot High. All she saw was sincerity of heart… in a pair of dazzling aqua green eyes that shone so strong despite their fading light. “What have I done?” Wallflower whispered. Immediately she closed the last bit of distance and their lips met. Passion flooded her, guilt and shame and regret mixing like so much oil and water with the triumph and jubilation she’d felt upon her success, all swiftly overwhelmed by the insistent sensation that she, Wallflower Blush, had just made a terrible mistake. Numb. She felt numb. Wallflower fell back on her butt, her eyes wide and pupils dilated as her limbs seized up, refusing to move. “Wha… what…” she stammered, only just able to incline her neck to look up at Sunset’s smile. Sunset’s malicious, sadistic smile, accompanied by a burst of bone-chilling laughter. Sunset, who showed no sign of injury as she reached down for the dagger in her stomach and pulled it out, tossing it aside like a used up toy. “Finally,” she said, even as more red gushed forth from her torso. “I… what… what did you…” “Oh, Wally, Wally, Wally.” Sunset shook her head and laughed again. Reaching up with one hand she unzipped her jacket and opened it up, revealing her shirt and skin whole and unblemished underneath. She then reached into an interior lining pocket of the jacket and pulled out a thick metallic pouch with a picturesque label of fruits, punctured in the middle and leaking the same ‘blood’ Sunset had been. “You didn’t seriously think you’d actually kill me, right?” Wallflower grimaced as her limbs froze up further, now wracked with pain, burning, stinging, like hundreds of fire ants crawling all over her bones, biting at her from the inside out. “I don’t… I don’t understand…” “Oh it’s really quite simple, Wally,” Sunset said as she stood up from her chair and shucked her jacket. “You see, you forgot one little thing: I’m smarter than you.” Wallflower tried to swallow but her throat wouldn’t cooperate. Her vision began to grey at the edges. She tried to ask a question but it came out as more of an unformed “huh” sound. Sunset squatted down, placing her hands on her knees as she flashed Wallflower a simpering smile. “Oh come on. Didn’t you think it was a little strange that I, Sunset Shimmer, once the ruler of this school, would fall apart like a five year old from someone breaking into my home? Didn’t it seem just a little bit out of character, especially when I turned it around on you?” Wallflower blinked, her eyes watering up with tears to the point she could barely see anymore. “I knew you planned to kill me from the start. You’re not very subtle. It’s a bit of an overreaction though, don’t you think? You knew I had changed. The whole school knew. But you came for me anyway, for your little revenge. If you’d just asked, I would’ve apologized, you know. I would’ve tried to make amends. I wanted to.” Sunset stood back up and walked around the chair, leaning against the back of it. “At least, I would have, had you given me the chance. Instead you embarked on a stupid plan to murder me. I don’t know how you thought you were going to get away with it. So I came up with a way to defend myself.” She reached into her fallen jacket’s pocket and pulled out a tube of lipstick. “Remember this? I threw it at you, that first night. This contains a little concoction I whipped up back in Equestria. It’s a combination of cockatrice blood, timberwolf shavings, and the venom of several different magical species. It’s guaranteed to be fatal, and untraceable by human tech. Right now, you’re undergoing a soft form of petrification. Soon the venoms will flood your system, and you’ll be the one to die.” Wallflower gasped out a choked, “Why?” Sunset shrugged. “Self-defense, maybe a little bit of vindication of my own? At first it was a last resort. But then you kept trying. And worse, I began to hear rumors about people losing memories. I put two and two together and realized you were connected to all of it. And I couldn’t let you run around free.” The Memory Stone! Wallflower screamed at herself from her own head, begging her limbs to move, to reach for the stone in her pocket and use it, get herself out of there. But she couldn’t move a muscle as Sunset reached into her pocket and plucked the Stone away. “Sorry, but you won’t be breaking any more minds with this.” Sunset scowled down at the Stone before shoving it in her pocket. “I’ll take this back to Princess Twilight. She’ll help me destroy it. In the meantime, you, my dear, don’t have long.” “No…” Wallflower murmured as her whole vision turned black and white, all the color fading away. “I… don’t… wanna…” “What’s that?” Sunset said, holding a hand to her ear. “You don’t want to die? Well too bad. I didn’t want to die either, but it wasn’t like you asked my opinion on it. But don’t worry, Wallflower. I’m not like you. I don’t want to do this. So before I destroy the Stone, I’ll make sure to use it so I don’t remember. You’ll just be another Jane Doe in the morgue, who broke into the school to kill herself with a knife.” Sunset grabbed a glove out of her jacket pocket, slipped it on, and walked over to where the dagger had fallen and picked it up carefully in her gloved hand. “Of course to sell that I’m going to have to stab you, but I’m sure you don’t mind. You did the same to me.” Wallflower managed to budge her arm a little, just enough that if someone were to squint and cock their head they might interpret it as a defensive posture. “Please… no…” “Sorry,” Sunset said, and to Wallflower’s surprise her words sounded sincere. “I really am. This isn’t how I wanted this to go, not at first. But you were too dedicated. Too convinced killing was the right way. This was the only way to stop you for good.” Sunset swallowed as she stared at the Memory Stone in her hand. “I’ll have to make everyone else forget you too though. Otherwise I might still remember this somehow. I’ll wipe my memories last. ‘Cause you know what the worst part is?” Wallflower shook her head just enough to get her point across before her body seized up one last time, leaving her stuck. “The worst part is, I really did start to fall in love with you,” Sunset said with a wry laugh. “I couldn’t help it. You really are cute, and your determination is… admirable. Maybe if things had gone a different way, we’d be sitting together happily, eating pizza and cracking jokes over horror movies.” She shrugged and brought the knife up right above Wallflower’s belly. “Oh well. It didn’t go that way. Too bad. Goodbye, Wallflower.” The knife came down.