Niamh Braunwen is a new student at CHS. Then strange things start happening.
Niamh Braunwen is a new student at Canterlot High, having just transferred when her mom retired from the navy. On her first day, she meets the other new student, Sunset Shimmer. Niamh now must do her best to navigate a new school, deal with Sunset's darker actions and moods, and the weird cube her Aunt Sandy gave her that is starting to glow, and a seventy year old conspiracy theory turning out to be true.
"Ready for your first day at school hun?" My mom asked me as I sat down at the breakfast table.
"Yeah. It just sucks we had to leave Pearl. I know that you retired from the navy and living in Hawai'i was too expensive after that, but it still sucks having to say goodbye to everyone." I replied as I poured some cereal and milk.
"I know. But with your Aunt Inga needing help with her ranch, I couldn't just leave her in a lurch." My mom, Abitha Braunwen, said.
"True. I am looking forward to learning how to help out more aside from just feeding the animals." I replied as my Aunt Inga walked into the house.
"Don't you worry Niamh, yer mom and I will get you there eventually." She said cheerfully as she filled her mug up with the navy coffee that was the norm for us.
"She's right youngin. Now hurry up and finish eating so I can get you up to school." Mom said.
Soon enough, we had made the drive from the N-O Ranch to town and up to the school.
"You have a good day at school sweetheart. First day of the year should be easy." Mom said as I unbuckled and made ready to hop out of the pickup.
"Hopefully. Just don't wanna make a fool of myself, ya know?" I said as I fidgeted with my backpack.
"You'll do fine hun." Mom replied. "Now give yer mother a hug and git in there."
I laughed and did as requested.
Getting out of the truck, I turned to look at her and said "May the azure lane smile upon you."
Mom smiled brightly. "Same to you kiddo." She replied as I shut the door and she drove off.
I watched her drive out of sight before turning my attention to my new school. I had been lucky compared to most navy brats, in that my parents had only ever been assigned to Pearl Harbor. Of course, it was only Mom and me out there as my father passed away a couple of months before I was born, but I had over a hundred 'aunts' and 'cousins' in the form of their friends. I never knew what exactly my parents did in the navy, just that it was important work to keep the oceans safe. After Mom retired, we moved to the mainland to help my actual aunt with running the ranch she had bought when she had gotten out of the navy on medical grounds, having been injured to the point she couldn't do her job.
I reached into the pocket on my hoodie and fidgeted with the cube my cousin Sandy had given me at our going away party. It was a blue cube that was slightly warm to the touch and I had been assured it was perfectly safe, and I did feel calmer when I would hold it, so I didn't question it. Mom did say that it was important that I keep it with me, and she hadn't steered me wrong yet, so I made sure it was with me at all times. Though lately, I could swear that it was glowing from the inside, though it was probably just my imagination.
I looked at the front of the school, taking in its appearance. Brown roof, kind of a mulberry color exterior with white trim, three stories tall. Definitely bigger than the base school at Pearl. Newer too. Pretty sure the school at Pearl had been around since the 50s at least. The mustang statue out front was an interesting touch. Probably the mascot for the school.
I walked into the front doors and followed the signs to the office and entered.
"Hello dear. How can I help you?" The secretary asked.
"Yes Ma'am. Niamh Braunwen, I'm a new student this year." I replied, introducing myself to the dark haired woman.
"Ah, just a moment then Miss Braunwen. Let me get your schedule and locker assignment." She answered with a smile, quickly getting my schedule printed up and writing down my locker number and combination.
"Here you are. You're not the only new student starting this year. Maybe you two can help each other out with fitting in." She said as she handed me the papers.
"Couldn't hurt." I replied. "What's their name and where might I find them?" I inquired.
"I would try the library, she did ask where it was. Red and yellow hair, can't miss her." The secretary answered.
I nodded and followed the helpful signs and instructions on the paper and found my locker where I quickly stowed my bag, only taking a notebook and writing utensils, since I didn't want to carry it around all day when I didn't need to. I could just run back to it between classes since most of them were on the same floor as my locker, only P.E. being in a different building and my last period of the day, I could take my bag with me so I would have my work out clothes.
I then headed to the library to find the other new kid. Looking around and giving the librarian a kind smile, I spotted the hair, and the girl about my age it was attached to. The girl who was attempting to use a computer. I say attempting to, because it was very clear she had no idea what she was doing.
Walking over, I cleared my throat. "Hi, I'm Niamh Braunwen. I'm new here too, the secretary said we might be able to help each other get adjusted here."
The girl looked at me with a flat expression. "Sunset Shimmer. Maybe you can help me use this thing. I'm trying to fill in the gaps in my knowledge that my previous teachers left." She answered curtly.
"I can do that. I can even help tutor you if you run into issues in some subjects. I had some good teachers and tutors at my old school." I replied as I pulled up a chair to help her out.
"History is going to be where I could use the most assistance. My previous teachers, uh, definitely weren't following the accepted narrative of it." Sunset replied.
"What, did they teach conspiracy theories as truth or something?" I jokingly replied. There had been a few groups on the Big Island that had sworn up and down that the history of World War II was all a fabrication to cover up the real events of a war with aliens called Sirens and the only way to fight them was with ship girls. I mean, I know that a lot of my aunts and cousins at Pearl were named the same as some ships, but the whole idea was just crazy.
"You could say that." Sunset replied tentatively.
"Eh, history has always been my favorite subject. I can help you out with it. Won't write your papers or do any homework, but I can help you out with that." I replied.
"I can handle that." Sunset replied.
Just then, the bell rang and we went our separate ways. My first day at Canterlot High now under way, I headed to my first class.
That evening after dinner, I was helping Inga do dishes.
"So, how did the first day go?" She inquired.
"Not too much different from the base school at Pearl. Building is a heck of a lot nicer though." I replied as I handed her a pan to dry.
"That's good. Make any friends?" She asked.
"Maybe?" I said tentatively. "Another new girl, Sunset. We at least were cordial to each other and I said I could help her out with tutoring if she needed it. Girl didn't even know how to use a computer. From how she talked about her previous schooling, I think she might have escaped from a cult. One of those technophobe ones."
Inga gave a thoughtful hum. "It is possible. There have been so many of them over the years." She said finally.
"Y'all talkin' about those anti-technology idiots?" Mom asked as she came back into the house after doing her evening sweep of the herd and stables.
"Yeah Sis. Sounds like Niamh's new classmate might have come from one. She offered to tutor her if she needs it." Inga replied.
"Well, that makes me proud Niamh." Mom said, smiling at me before turning serious and adding, "Just don't let her take advantage of you."
"I won't. Already told her I wouldn't do the work for her." I replied as I drained the sink and took off the gloves.
"Good. She won't learn anything if she can't do the work herself." Mom said with a kind smile.
Soon enough we all headed to bed. When I feel asleep that night, I didn't have an inkling of just how weird my life was going to get during the next two years, and by John Paul Jones's ghost did it get weird.
Five months after I had started at Canterlot High, I was annoyed.
Not at the classes, those were great. Just challenging enough to keep my full attention, but not overly challenging so that I was overwhelmed.
No, it was my classmates. Or rather one classmate in particular who was causing issues with the other classmates.
Now, I'm not exactly what one would call a social butterfly, but I wasn't a wallflower either. Though there was a girl named Wallflower that I always gave a kind hello to that really seemed like she could use it. I had made a few friends, particularly a girl named Applejack, whose family owned the farm a few miles from my family's ranch. The two of us had bonded over their shared experiences, even though I didn't have as much experience when compared to Applejack, having only come out for a few summers and now helping out before and after school and on weekends when I didn't have homework.
The issue was with Sunset. I can't prove it, but the friend groups that had been well established when I had arrived at the school were starting to fracture and I get the distinct feeling that Sunset was somehow responsible, especially with the looks some of the students in our year group were sending the girl.
It was the weekend, and since there weren't too many chores, I asked if I could take my horse, a mare named Reno, and ride down to the Apple family farm to hang out with Applejack. Getting permission, I called ahead to make sure it was okay, and then bundled up and saddled Reno and began a gentle ride to the farm about an hour's gentle riding away.
"Howdy there Niamh! Now that is a pretty mare ya got there." Applejack greeted her at the gate, astride her own horse.
"Same to you AJ. What's her name?" I asked as we rode next to each other up the drive to the corrals.
"Leyte. Granny was the one who named her." Applejack said.
"As in Leyte Gulf?" I asked.
"Yup. Her great uncle was there during the war." Applejack said quietly.
"He didn't make it back did he?" I asked quietly.
Applejack shook her head. "No, he was a sailor on the Johnston." She replied.
I nodded. "I know how it goes, having family in the navy." I said quietly.
Applejack looked at her for a moment. "That what happened to yer Pa?" She asked carefully.
I nodded. "Happened when Mom was about seven months pregnant with me. There was an accident on a mission he went on. Commander Nathaniel Smith. Mom kept her maiden name when they got married." Answering the unasked question. "And there were a few times I saw Mom in the hospital after a mission, Auntie Vestal helping to patch her up. So I get it. Navy life isn't easy, for the sailors or their loved ones."
"No it ain't. But the navy is a damn fine branch as far as I am concerned. Lotta brave men and women." Applejack said with a smile, offering me a thermos of coffee as they rode.
"Damn straight!" I replied proudly before taking a drink of the beverage, my face falling flat at the taste. "AJ, what the hell is this swill?"
Applejack jerked back in offense. "Coffee, what else is it supposed to be?" She said indignantly.
"That is not coffee. That is what coffee would probably taste like if someone had only had the taste described to them." I replied. "Let me make you a real cup of coffee when we get inside."
"Okay, we can see what kinda concoction you come up with. Just don't break the coffee maker. Wouldn't end well for ya." Applejack said as they tied the horses up and unsaddled them.
Once inside and greetings were exchanged with the rest of the Apple family, the two of us made our way to the kitchen.
I eyed the almost empty pot and scowled, grabbing it and dumping it out in the sink.
"Filters? Coffee?" I asked and Applejack provided the requested items.
I replaced the filter and then started adding the ground coffee into the hopper.
"Uh, sugarcube, you think you put enough in there?" Applejack asked nervously.
"With this brand, it probably isn't enough, but we will see." I replied as i filled the reservoir and started it brewing.
Soon enough the house filled with the smell of fresh coffee brewing.
Macintosh, Big Mac to those he was friendly with, strode in at the moment and nodded at the two of us, going to get a mug.
He filled the mug from the now full pot and took a sip.
I, well experienced with introducing new sailors and civilians to proper Navy Coffee, smirked and mentally counted down.
It was subtle, as were all things with the older Apple sibling were. A widening of the eyes, a slight increase in respiration were the only outward indications of it taking effect.
"Huh, I was expecting there to be some shakes." I said sardonically.
"What just happened?" Applejack asked.
At that moment Granny Smith poked her head into the kitchen and sniffed.
"Oh, now that takes me back to when I was in Bremerton." The older woman said, nearly making me choke slightly. "Could always count on a good cup of Navy Coffee to get you through the day."
"Niamh, you alright?" Applejack asked quietly as I got my choking fit under control.
I nodded and leaned in. "One of my Navy Aunts is named Bremerton." I said simply.
Applejack looked at me with a confused look on her face before the slow light of dawning realization spread across her face, along with a blush.
I chuckled as I grabbed a mug and poured myself some.
"Now what's got you so red in the face, Applejack?" Granny Smith asked.
"When you said Bremerton, I thought of my Aunt Bremerton first, and not the navy yard." I explained, causing the old woman to laugh.
"I see, I see. How is old Bremmy doing these days?" She asked.
"Doing good last I heard. Made Lieutenant Commander a couple of months ago." I replied, slightly confused. "Though, how do you know her?"
"Oh, she came into the yard needing to get some work done when I was leaving. Nice girl that one. Tell her Granny Smith says hello next time you talk to her." The older woman said as she left the kitchen.
After she was out of earshot, I looked at AJ and asked quietly, "When did your grandmother work at the Bremerton Navy Yard?"
"Back in the Seventies, why?" AJ replied confused as well.
"Because my Aunt Bremerton is only in her mid thirties." I replied. "And why would she go to a navy yard to 'get some work done'?"
Applejack could only shrug, as confused as I was.
AJ and I hung out for a couple more hours after that, before I headed home.
"Niamh, are you alright hun?" Mom asked me at dinner.
"Hmm?" I replied looking up from my now empty plate.
"She asked if you were alright. Did something happen when you were at the Apple farm?" Inga asked.
"Kinda, but I'm not sure what to make of it." I said before telling my mom and aunt what had happened.
"Hmmm, sounds like an old woman that might have some faulty memories. Happens to the best of us." Inga said, Mom nodding sagely in agreement.
"It probably was. Just struck me as weird, is all." I said.
We did the dishes and I headed to bed, glancing at my little blue cube, and I swore it was starting to glow from the inside again. I closed my eyes and shook my head, and when I opened them again, the cube was the same dull blue it had always been. I lay back and fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow, just hearing the back door quietly close and footsteps crunching in the snow as I drifted off.
In the stable
"Sis, I think it is getting to the point we need to tell her." Inga said.
"I know, but this whole thing is based upon no one remembering what happened back then. If someone starts talking, it will undo everything and cause a panic." Abitha replied as she paced the floor between the stalls, running her fingers through her hair.
Inga sighed. She understood the necessity of having to hide the true events of the late Thirties and early Forties, but having to lie to her own niece, especially when apparently there was someone they knew that had almost forty year old memories of Bremerton.
"Okay, we'll keep quiet about it for now." Inga replied. "But, I think her wisdom cube is starting to wake up. So we are going to have to tell her at some point."
Abitha turned to face her sister. "What?" She asked simply.
"The cube Sandy gave her at your going away party, remember?" Inga asked.
"I do. It was an inert cube that was used in a fizzle summoning. What about it?" Abitha asked, starting to get annoyed with her sister.
"Sometimes, when I have poked my head in to check on her or get her for dinner, I have seen it trying to start glowing." Inga said seriously, her usual cheerfulness missing from her voice.
Another year, another Fall Formal. I was beginning to really hate this time of year and it was all thanks to one person, Sunset Bloody Shimmer.
The frustrating part of this whole thing, is I know she is better than this, but no matter how many times I try, I can't get through to her to find out what has got her so angry that she has to tear apart the school and do whatever it takes for some cheap plastic crown and fake adoration from out classmates.
Not to mention the near destruction of my friendship with Applejack, which was only saved during a spring storm when my mom and I went to help them cleanup their property and make repairs since we had gotten off lightly during the storm. I was able to show her that whatever she thought I did was a falsehood. Took her a few days to come around again, but at least outside of school, we were friends again.
But yeah, two years at CHS and once again the Fall Formal is upon us. I honestly think that Principal Celestia has way too much faith in the student body to think that this year will be any different.
Of course, much like Vice Principal Luna, I know that Sunset is behind the division in this school, but also like her, I can't bloody prove it. Sunset is just too damn good at covering her tracks. And for someone who has had to deal with the likes of my Aunt Sara, that is saying something. Girl is a prankster like no other, but she is damn good at covering her tracks so the navy brass don't come down on her.
How she does that while being an idol, I have no idea, and honestly, I gave up trying when the contents of my bedroom wound up on the ceiling and I know for a fact she was performing a show when it happened.
I will eventually have my revenge for that one.
So, when Pinkie Pie grabbed me and dragged me to the crafting club room, I was pleasantly surprised and bemused to see all of Applejack's old friends talking to another girl our age I had never seen before.
"So, who is this AJ?" I asked once I was able to get a word in edgewise.
"When did you get here Niamh?" Applejack asked.
I simply pointed at Pinkie and shrugged.
"Ah, say no more. Anyway this here is Twilight Sparkle and she is going up against Sunset for the Fall Formal Princess." Applejack replied.
I blinked and asked the first thing that came to my mind.
"Do you even go to this school? Because if you did, even if you were a recent transfer, you would know that this is a Bad Idea." I said. "Trust me, I know Bad Ideas when I see them. My Aunts Dakota and Caroline are prime examples of what happens when geniuses with massive budgets and only a semblance of sanity get 'creative'. So when I say this is a Bad Idea, you can take that to the bank."
"Well, no. I don't go here, but I have to enter this competition to get my crown back and stop Sunset's evil plan!" Twilight said.
"Uh huh. So, Sunset went to wherever you are from…" I started before Twilight interrupted me.
"Actually, from Equestria, where we are both from. She came through the portal and stole my crown for some reason."
"Right, she went to Equestria, wherever that is, through a portal, broke into your castle, and stole your crown." I said. "Did I get all that right?"
"Well, technically it was my sister in law's castle, but yeah." Twilight replied.
"She's telling the truth Niamh." Applejack said seriously.
I blinked. Applejack was probably the only person I had met that my 'if you can't dazzle them with your brilliance, baffle them with bullshit' doesn't work on. I have lied through my teeth to a four star admiral and butter wouldn't have melted in my mouth. But this girl can catch me out on my best day.
I sighed. "Okay then. So, where is your crown now?" I inquired.
"Vice Principal Luna's office. It got knocked through the portal when I tackled her." Twilight said.
"I found it outside and turned it in." Fluttershy said in her standard tone. "I didn't realize it was a real magic crown."
I looked at her and despite my inner snark wanted to ask her how she confused cheap plastic with what was probably real gold or mithril or whatever crazy magic metal it was supposed to be made from, but I just couldn't bring myself to actually say it. I sure as hell wasn't about to make her cry.
"Okay then. Has anyone thought of maybe explaining to the VP the situation? If you have the original crown that should have been locked in her office, it should be easy enough." I said.
Nervous laughter greeted me in response.
"Great. Okay, so this will take some planning so her Highness here doesn't get sabotaged. First, she needs an outfit." I said.
"I can handle that Darling. In fact, I can make something for all of us." Rarity said.
I raised an eyebrow. "You can make six outfits by tomorrow night?" I inquired.
"I may have a few designs that I made with them in mind." Rarity said, gesturing to the other CHS girls. "Putting together an outfit for Twilight won't take me too long if I start designing now."
I nodded. If she wanted to do a rush order, that was on Rarity.
"How do we get her on the ballot and how do we actually get people to vote for her?" I asked.
"Leave that to us." Pinkie said as she wrapped an arm around Rainbow Dash.
"Yeah we got this." Dash replied, cocky smile in place.
I reached into my hoodie and pulled out my fidget cube and started rolling it around in my hand.
"So, what else do we need?" I asked, not at all confident in this plan.
Thirty minutes later, I was standing in the cafeteria, absolutely dumbfounded.
Somehow, and I really am trying hard not to think about the particulars of it, these six girls did a song and dance number that wouldn't be out of place in a Walt Disney movie. We even had birds flying around singing along. What even was that?
But apparently this somehow ignited the school spirit and even a last ditch attempt by Sunset getting remarkably sloppy, at least in my eyes, things were moving along at a nice pace and the dance was set to go off tomorrow night.
Joy, I guess this means I need to go see my Aunt Louis. She said something about having made me a party dress.
The morning of the Fall Formal found me being dropped off at Louis's boutique in town.
"Make sure she makes the dress an appropriate style for your age group please." Mom said as I hopped out of the truck.
"I'm planning too, but you know how she gets." I replied before shutting the door and heading for the shop.
Upon entering, I saw my friends from school near the public fitting rooms.
"Hey girls, what are you doing here?" I inquired.
"Oh, Rarity works here." Fluttershy replied.
"Ah, I see." I responded. "Hey Rarity, is Louis in?" I called out.
Rarity poked her head out from the curtains where she was working with Twilight apparently. "I believe she is in the back. She is with a customer though, or a friend of hers, I am unsure." She said.
"What did the friend look like?" I inquired.
"I got a picture with her!" Pinkie Pie said excitedly, before bouncing over to show me the picture.
Next to Pinkie, with just as big a grin, was a familiar face.
"Ah, seems Ellie is here." I said before grinning. "Time to go make my displeasure known that she hasn't even called to say 'hello'."
"Ummm, Niamh, they went into the back room a while ago." Applejack said.
"Indeed, I believe they are in Louis's private workroom." Rarity said, probably in some small amount of fear for her job.
"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing. I was trained by the best after all." I replied as I moved towards the racks.
"Trained, trained in what?" Rarity asked, but received no answer. Huffing, she moved to the racks that she had seen Niamh disappear into and found absolutely no trace of her classmate. Nothing was out of place, but the young brunette woman had completely disappeared.
"Apparently being a ninja." Applejack said with a chuckle.
I smirked to myself as I heard their conversation from inside the back room.
Out of everyone that people should most definitely be paying attention to but don't, is The Help. And I just happened to have been trained by my Aunt Sheffield, one of the best intelligence operatives/maids I have ever had the pleasure of meeting.
She had been part of the Royal Navy Admiralty staff during a visit to Pearl when I was nine. Me, being the curious young girl I was, wanted to know what Mom did when she was at work.
It had taken weeks, but I had finally figured out how to get past the gates unnoticed by the sentries and cameras. Of course, there were sensors that I didn't have a clue about, which is what led to me getting caught by Sheffield.
Mom was not pleased when her old friend had carried me by the scruff of my neck into her office and plonked me down in the chair. After a serious ass chewing, which was well deserved given that I had just snuck into one of THE highest security places at Pearl, and was actually able to get fairly deep into before I was thwarted by the biometric door locks as well as having faked being sick, she had Sheffield keep an eye on me to make sure I didn't do it again.
That led to three weeks of me attempting to escape the ever watchful eye of Sheffield, and never being able to get more than a block away from home.
After that, Mom sat me down and explained that her work was in weapons development and was extremely classified, and my attempts to sneak in could put her job and, this was heavily implied at the time but not outright said, our freedom if I continued and actually saw something I shouldn't.
This stopped my attempts at breaking into her place of work, but I had actually stopped trying to do that after the first week. After that it became a game of trying to get past Sheffield undetected and go to the beach or to the shops near the naval base.
Sheffield, with begrudging consent of my Mom (she wasn't immune to my sad puppy impression at that point), then decided to actually train me in the art of The Help. Not the actual doing the things the help does, but the doing it unnoticed part. I picked it up surprisingly quickly. By the time the Royal Navy delegation headed back to the UK, I was moving unseen when I wanted to.
Which is part of the reason I was so annoyed with trying to get evidence to confront Sunset with. All of my training and practice failed. I was never targeted by her, but I could never quite pull off what I needed to to get the evidence on the occasion I had a chance to.
So, I used it for things like this. Sneaking into the back room of Louis's boutique to scare the pants off of her and Ellie Cleveland, another of my navy family.
I was able to find her private workroom easily, having been in it before several years ago on one of my summer visits, and carefully approached the door, looking for traps.
She had learned I was trained by Sheffield and took what she thought were appropriate countermeasures.
I smirked as I bypassed a couple of trip wires that had been set up before reaching the door. Standing close to it, I could hear voices inside.
"I gotta say Louis, this is a damn fine suit. Thanks for making it for me." Came Ellie's voice.
Louis gave a laugh. "It is no trouble Ellie, you know I always make sure you ladies look your best." She replied. "Now, go ahead and take it off so I can put the finishing touches and get the wrinkles out of it for you."
Ellie gave a noise of understanding, and I began to hear clothes rustling from the other side of the thin door. I waited until I heard a belt being undone and did a three count before entering the door.
"Hi Aunt Louis! Hey Ellie! Oooo, cute striped ones. Nice." I said making the two women freeze at my sudden entrance, Louis carrying a jacket and vest to her work table and Ellie bent at the waist lowering her trousers, eyes wide with shock.
I smirked and rolled my eyes. "Let's be honest, this is nowhere near the worst thing I have caught either of you doing." I drawled as I leaned against the door frame.
Which, this didn't even crack the top fifty of things I have walked in on someone doing. I shuddered when that memory of Akagi-sama popped into my head. Never going to look at calamari the same way ever again.
"Goddamnit Niamh! Haven't you heard of knocking!?!" Ellie finally said loudly. "What if we hadn't been doing this?"
"If I had heard what you are implying could have been an alternate activity, then I would have simply slipped a note under the door and returned to the front with my, classmates, acquaintances, friends?" I began before lapsing into silence.
I actually didn't know where those girls fell. Applejack obviously was in the friend category, but everyone else I was friendly with, but not in a 'we have each other's numbers and gave sleepovers' way. I shook my head to clear that bit of wool gathering away for the moment. Truthfully, I was really only doing this whole going to the dance thing to make sure that things don't get too out of hand. Cause either way, there was going to be a train wreck tonight, and I figured SOMEONE should do what they can to limit casualties.
"Ah, you're here for your dress aren't you?" Louis asked.
"I am. Things are going to be interesting at the Fall Formal this year, so I have decided to attend. I also understand that you have a dress ready for final fitting for me." I replied to Louis.
"I do indeed, and I do think you will like it." Louis said. "I also have shoes and accessories to go with it."
"I figured you would. You always make sure we have the full setup when we have to dress fancy." I replied as she moved off to locate the items.
"So, school dance huh?" Ellie said. "Gotta date or are you going stag?"
"Stag at the moment." I replied. "You met the girls up front, or at least Pinkie Pie. I will be going with them to try and limit the collateral damage of the train wreck that is going to happen tonight." I added before looking at Ellie. "Though, I am considering bringing a plus one."
"What do you mean?" Ellie asked, confused.
I gestured to my current attire. A loose t-shirt, and slightly baggy shorts.
"This or something similar is my normal day to day wear. I am taking after my mom when it comes to certain features." I said simply.
Ellie thought for a moment and I saw her recently turned eighteen year old lesbian brain hit upon that particular file in her memories.
"So yeah, having someone on my arm would, at least for tonight, hold off the horny teenagers and I would be able to actually enjoy the night." I said, crossing my arms across my chest, eyebrow raised in challenge.
"Eh, what the heck. I'm not doing anything tonight, so sure. Plus it gives me a chance to wear the suit that Louis made for me." Ellie replied finally.
"Thanks. Because while Louis might be keep the dress from being like that silver number from a few years ago." I paused as both Ellie and I recalled the results of that particular photoset involving a McLaren and a scandalously skimpy dress before I shook my head and continued. "She will definitely want to accentuate my 'assets' a bit." I finished after wiping a bit of drool from the corner of my mouth.
"Fair point, especially if you are developing like your mom." Ellie replied. "Think they are even going to recognize you once Louis is done with you?"
"Probably not, but most of my classmates aren't that dim." I replied as Louis returned.
"Alright, here we go Niamh." She said, handing me the dress, a shimmering dark blue material under the plastic. "Go ahead and get changed and then I will do the final fitting."
I took the dress and headed behind the screen to get changed. Off came the sneakers and socks, then shorts, then shirt, then the two sports bras I wore to keep my chest contained.
Now, before you assume that I am self conscious about my body, I am not in the slightest. But if I am going to be ogled, it is going to be on my terms, so I dress pretty conservatively a good ninety percent of the time, because the people ogling me are not the ones I want to be doing the ogling.
Namely, cute sapphic girls my age, not men twice or thrice my age. One of the many reasons I was thankful to have friends amongst the locals that could take me places to enjoy the beach when I was living on the Big Island, no bloody tourists.
Soon enough, the dress was finished and a full makeover had been done. Some silver heels and sapphire earrings completed the look.
"Want to show your friends?" Ellie asked. "They're still out there."
"Sure, I wanna see their reactions. I replied.
Out in the front part of the shop, Rarity was finishing the makeovers on her friends.
"There, all done Darling." She said as she finished the last touches of makeup on Rainbow Dash.
"Finally!" Dash said as she leapt up from the chair she had been sitting in while Rarity worked.
Before Rarity could chastise her, the door to the back room opened up, Louis and Ellie stepped out.
"Oh Miss Louis, Miss Cleveland. Niamh was here, but she disappeared on us. I believe she was looking for you." Rarity said nervously.
"We know. The little brat scared the heck out of us." Ellie replied.
"Speaking of, you all are getting to be the first of your classmates to see her outfit for tonight." Louis said as the doors to the back room opened up and Niamh stepped out, heels clicking solidly on the floor with each step.
"Oh wow." "Dang girl!" "Where the heck were you hiding all that?"
The last came from Rainbow Dash.
Standing before them, now no longer wearing the loose clothing and positively radiating poise and confidence, was Niamh.
Her brown hair cascaded down, framing her face, eyeliner, mascara, and eyeshadow done in just such a way to give her a very sultry look that went well with the shimmering blue halter style floor length gown that hugged her developing curves, the silver heeled sandals just visible under the hem of the dress.
It was definitely a refined and mature look, but not overly so for the sixteen year old.
Niamh rolled her eyes. "I have been known to clean up quite well when the occasion requires it. Having to attend official military functions on occasion with my mom that require this kind of outfit and having a bunch of adoptive aunts that absolutely exude refinement means I learned how to best deal with such events." She replied. "Also it helped that I did have a few Marines that were more than willing to be my escort for those events to keep the creeps at bay." She added with a smirk.
"You're friends with Marines?" Dash asked.
"Yup. Turns out I share a birthday with three of them that were assigned to my mom's unit at Pearl. So we wound up being the oddest "quadruplets" on the base. I basically got three VERY protective older brothers who had no issues rotating 'escort duty' for the events to make sure I had someone to keep me safe." She replied, pulling out her phone and showing off some pictures from the events in question.
"Oh, and before I forget, I wanna show y'all this one!" She said as she did a quick search and showed the picture to the group.
All of them looked at the picture and had a variety of reactions.
Fluttershy blushed heavily, as did Twilight.
Pinkie gave a low whistle of appreciation.
Applejack, Dash, and Rarity looked from the picture to the blue haired proprietor of the boutique and back at the picture several times.
"Niamh, what picture are you showing them?" Louis asked nervously.
"One of the tasteful ones from that McLaren shoot you did." Niamh replied.
"Wait, there are more?" Dash asked.
"Oh yeah. The really spicy ones are behind a paywall though, for obvious reasons. They definitely toe the line of being quite lewd." Niamh answered with a grin.
"Aww man!" Dash complained, making the group laugh.
Niamh sighed to herself with a smile.
'This definitely feels like I found some good friends in all these girls. Hopefully things don't go too poorly tonight.' She thought as the laughter turned to conversations about the dance while Ellie went back to get her suit finished.
Well, I absolutely hate when I am right about things like this.
The night of the dance had started out well, plenty of chatting and dancing (Ellie is an amazing dancer despite what her tomboy exterior might lead you to believe), Ellie generally doing her best to make me feel like an absolute princess, which I always appreciate, though there were moments that seemed like she was definitely differing to me a lot more than she would normally do, but she only responded with a smile when I asked about it before she got me a glass of punch.
Everything surprisingly went smoothly until the Fall Formal Princess was announced and Twilight won it by a landslide.
Then there was a dog napping by Sunset's two goons, Snips and Snails, which led to me discovering that yes, magic is a thing. And that Twilight's dog can apparently talk.
Honestly, that was the most normal part of the night.
Then Sunset turned into a demon, destroyed the front of the school, mind controlled most of our fellow students, Ellie and I had ducked around the corner and avoided getting our brains scrambled, then what I am dubbing the 'Orbital Friendship Cannon' hitting Sunset after she attempted to take out Twilight and our friends.
After things were somewhat sorted, I handed Vice Principal Luna the card of a construction company that I knew pretty well all the employees of, because of course they were part of my navy family, a bunch of former SeaBees to be specific. She thanked me and said she would call them the next day.
The dance then resumed, but I wasn't feeling it anymore. Telling Ellie I was going to get some air, I headed out to the atrium.
There, I saw the person I was looking for. Walking up, my heels clicking on the floor, I stopped beside her, arms crossed over my stomach as the cool night air blew through the gaping hole in the wall.
"Come to insult me?" Sunset asked in a tired voice.
I shook my head. "Nope. Not gonna lecture you on it. Pretty sure the face full of rainbow said all that needed to be said." I replied.
"So why are you here?" She inquired, her voice starting to gain some heat.
"Because, I knew that the last two years haven't been you. Not really at least." I said with a soft smile. "I could tell from the moment we met that there was something that was making you angry, some kind of pain that was making you lash out."
"You could?" Sunset asked, deflating slightly. "How could you?"
"Because I spent a LOT of my school holidays before moving here at my mom's office where I met a lot of naval officers and senior NCOs that, while making sure that the lessons were age appropriate, passed on the lessons of what a good leader should do and what they need to pay attention to with whoever their subordinates are, as well as their peers." I explained. "Nothing like a Master Chief talking about things he has seen and dealt with to help put someone on the right track."
"So why are you here then?" Sunset asked.
"Because right now, with what just happened, you need someone. Even if you don't realize it. I have unfortunately seen what happens when someone doesn't have someone there for them." I replied. "So, I am going to be that person for you. Not because I was asked, which I wasn't, but because I want to. You deserve a chance to turn things around. I will be there for you if you want to talk, or if you just need someone to be around."
"You don't want anything in return? No catch?" Sunset asked suspiciously.
I shook my head. "Only for you to be happy. It will probably take a while to get there, but seeing you on an even keel with your rudder straight will be all the reward I need." I said.
"I'm probably gonna be hearing a lot of naval puns aren't I?" She asked.
I laughed. "Yes you are. Happens when one is a navy brat. You pick up all kinds of bits of wisdom that have a nautical slant."
Sunset gave a small giggle.
I smiled and gave her a side hug.
"So, you got a place to stay?" I inquired, actually not sure on that now that Sunset's origin was revealed earlier tonight.
"I have kinda been squatting in an abandoned warehouse for the last year." Sunset admitted.
"Probably a pretty cozy pad. Chances of anyone knowing where it is? Some of our classmates might be a bit more than vocal about your past behavior unfortunately." I said.
Sunset tensed and her eyes widened.
"Horseapples. There may be a couple that do. Possibly Gilda and her cronies. I had to shake them a couple of times heading home." She responded finally.
"Right. Anything valuable that you keep there?" I queried.
"Just my guitar and amp. Nothing major." Sunset replied.
I bit my lip as I thought. Mom and Inga wouldn't be happy, but right now Sunset needed a place to stay until she could get some documentation to be a legal citizen.
I turned to look for Ellie and motioned her over.
"We need to head to why she has been staying and grab a couple of things. Then we head to the ranch." I whispered.
"Why?" Ellie asked.
"Because, despite the heel turn after the rainbow shower, there are going to be some pissed off people, and some of them aren't above a little B&E or arson." I replied.
Ellie's eyes opened wide.
"Right, girl might have done some bad things, but that isn't something she should have to worry about. Let's go." She said, motioning for us to follow.
I grabbed Sunset's hand and pulled her along.
"Where are we going?" She asked as we moved towards Ellie's hatchback.
"Your place. We grab whatever you want to save, and then we head to my family's ranch. We've got a couple of cabins that ranch hands use when we have them, I'll have to sweet talk my mom and aunt, but you can use one of them until you get on your feet." I said as we got into the car.
I had Sunset get into the front seat so she could give Ellie directions while I reached into the back and grabbed the go bag I had Ellie pick up for from the back.
"What are you doing?" Ellie asked.
"Getting changed." I replied. "Don't fancy navigating a warehouse in heels and a gown. Keep your eyes on the road."
I quickly changed into a pair of dark utility pants, a dark t-shirt and combat boots. I pulled out the K-bar one of my Marine 'brothers' had given me and secured it to my waist with a rigger's belt.
"Think that will be necessary?" Ellie inquired as I buckled up and began braiding my hair.
"Hopefully not, but I would rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it." I answered.
Soon enough, we were pulling up to the warehouse, Ellie turning off the lights as she parked.
"Keep it running, we may need to egress quickly." I said as Sunset and I got out of the car.
Sunset led me through a gap in the fence and to the door of the warehouse.
A door that was ajar.
"Crap, someone is here." Sunset whispered.
"Alright, do the hinges squeak?" I whispered back.
"Yeah. I didn't oil them so I could hear someone coming in." Sunset replied.
I looked around the building. Lots of windows about ten feet off the ground, but no easy way up to them.
"Emergency door in the back? Maybe upper lever?" I inquired.
"Yes. That one I kept oiled in case I needed to sneak out if someone got curious." Sunset whispered, motioning for me to follow her.
We crept to the fire escape on the rear of the building that led to what I figured was the old office when this place still in use. I moved forward and carefully crept up the stairs, staying close to the wall to keep the metal from creaking. Reaching the door, I tested the handle. Finding it unlocked, I eased it open, and edged into the room, which was thankfully empty.
I made my way to the window of the office overlooking the warehouse floor and carefully peeked out.
"I don't see anyone. Probably a false alarm." I whispered.
"Are you sure?" Sunset asked as she grabbed her guitar, amp, and a few other odds and ends in a bag.
"Not seeing any movement out there." I said. "You were kinda off your game the last couple of days. Probably just didn't latch it securely."
"Probably, I got everything. Let's get out of here." Sunset replied.
"Yeah, let's." I said as we slipped out of the building and back to Ellie's car. From there, we headed to the ranch.
Once there, I thanked Ellie for a wonderful evening, and we both thanked her for helping us out.
We quietly made our way into the house. The lights were out and we found my mom and aunt asleep on the couch and recliner.
I rolled my eyes and tugged the blankets up on both of them before motioning for Sunset to follow me.
I led her to my bedroom and motioned for her to use my en suite bathroom to get cleaned up. I threw an extra set of pajamas into the bathroom before getting changed myself. While was she was showering, I set up a cot and sleeping bag.
"You can take the bed." I said as I wiped off my makeup. "You could probably use it."
"Are you sure?" Sunset asked nervously.
"Yup." I chirped. "I've camped out on the side of a volcano before."
"WHAT?" Sunset whispered loudly.
"It was dormant at the time." I replied. "Or at least not ready to erupt. Was nice and toasty at night since the spot we camped in had a nice sea breeze coming in."
"You're crazy." Sunset said with a chuckle.
"You have no idea." I replied with a grin.
Whatever Sunset was going to say was drowned out by her yawning.
"Alright, bed time." I said, turning out the lights.
"Good night Niamh." Sunset replied. "And, thank you."
"You're welcome. You deserve it." I said as we both turned in for the night.
The next morning I woke up at my normal 0430 and went about my weekend chores and was back in time to help start breakfast.
"Chores all done?" Inga asked as I washed up.
"Yup. The early morning ones at least. Horses are fed and troughs are full." I replied. "Gonna take a ride and check the fences once the sun is up."
Inga nodded.
"So, had an interesting evening I take it?" She asked, attempting to sound innocent.
"You could say that." I replied.
"Wasn't aware that you had a date besides Ellie." She said, now smirking.
I sighed. I had expected to be confronted about it.
"She wasn't my date. Remember that girl in my year, Sunset?" I asked.
"Oh yeah, the 'Queen B' you called her." Inga replied after a thoughtful pause. "So what is she doing in your bed?"
"One, I slept on the cot I keep in there. Two, she had a really rough night, and she is homeless and orphaned, so I decided she needed someplace to crash so she could work through things." I replied, looking Inga in the eye.
Inga sighed. "I suppose that it will be okay for a little while. If she stays for too long she'll need to start earning her keep." She said finally.
I nodded. "I figured that would be an eventuality." I replied. "She, uh, well, I don't think she has a social." I added lamely.
Inga stared at me. "Why is that?" She asked flatly.
"Well, I think, and I am pretty sure I am right, but not one hundred percent, that she is the literal definition of an illegal 'alien'." I said, throwing up air quotes when I said 'alien'.
"And what makes you think that?" Mom asked as she walked around the corner.
"So, if I am understanding everything correctly, there is a magic portal in the statue in front of the school that leads to a world of sunshine and rainbows. Quite literally actually. Ask Ellie, they have an Orbital Friendship Cannon." I said.
Suddenly there was a crash from my room.
We all charged down the hallway, and I was able to get through the door first.
"Sunset? What's wrong?" I asked as I slowly approached the girl.
She was sitting up in the bed, back against the headboard, breathing fast and her eyes wild and darting, but she didn't respond.
I motioned for my Mom and Inga to wait as I slowly moved towards the foot of the bed and just as slowly sat down on the mattress.
"Sunset." I said gently. "It's okay, it's Niamh. You're safe. No one is going to hurt you."
I slowly inched my way closer to her and finally with exaggerated slowness, I rested my hand on hers.
Suddenly, Sunset took in a deep shuddering breath and blinked for the first time since we came into the room.
"You okay?" I asked gently.
"Nightmare." She responded in a whisper.
"I figured. I was hoping to be back from doing chores before you woke up in case this happened." I said softly. "Like I said, you're safe here. No one is going to hurt you."
Suddenly, I had a face full of red and gold hair as she latched onto me and began sobbing.
I turned to our audience and gave a half shrug and mouthed "I expected this."
Mom and Inga nodded and left me to comfort my new friend as she poured out her hurt.
I held onto Sunset as she sobbed her eyes out, letting out what was probably years of pent up anger, frustration, and sadness.
I was actually glad that she trusted me enough to be this damn vulnerable in front of me.
As I rubbed her back, giving her gentle encouragement to let it out, I noticed that I could feel her ribs and spine through her shirt.
'Poor girl probably hasn't been eating enough.' I thought. 'Welp, something to discuss with Mom and Inga. Might have to get Vestal to make a visit if she can come to town.'
Finally, Sunset started to calm.
"You feeling better hun?" I asked softly.
Sunset nodded into my shoulder. "Yeah, didn't realize how much I needed to just let it out." She said, her words hitching on occasion.
"Well, let's get you cleaned up and into some clean clothes." I said, helping her up and guiding her to my en suite bathroom. "After that, we can get you fed and then we can work on what to do next, okay?"
Sunset nodded shyly, which was kinda cute.
'Bad Niamh! Your friend just went through something that is way beyond what you could even imagine, but looked highly traumatic. Stop crushing on her!' I chided myself.
"I'll leave some stuff on the bed. Just come out to the kitchen once you're done." I said aloud, getting a quiet 'Thank you' as she shut the door.
After setting out some clothes for Sunset, I headed for the kitchen, ready to face the music.
"So, you gonna make a habit of bringing home cute strays?" Mom asked as I walked around the corner, making me splutter, causing her to laugh.
"It's okay Niamh. Would have liked a bit more warning, but we can make it work, at least temporarily." Inga said, smirking over her coffee cup, one that had an image of the old battleship BB-37, USS Oklahoma, on it.
"Well, biggest obstacle is getting her a legal identity without having her whisked away to some lab." I said as I moved to grab my own coffee cup, one with the words 'Majestically Lesbian' on a scroll around a unicorn on it.
What? I don't give a fuck who knows that I am queer as hell.
"I, I might know a girl." Mom said, hesitating slightly.
Inga looked at her. "You sure you wanna burn that favor for this?" She asked.
"Oh, no. Not her. Different girl. Eugen is my nuclear option. She could do it for sure, but who knows what else she would do. No, I'm talking about Helena." Mom said.
My eyes widened. My aunt Helena was a genius when it came to electronics and I always had a feeling she knew how to do some shady things, but I was a little surprised about the confirmation of those feelings.
"Well, at least she would get it done quietly." Inga said.
"True. I'll go make the call." Mom said, getting up to head to her office.
I sighed with relief. Though it hadn't been said during her breakdown, I knew that a lack of a legal identity was a worry Sunset had, especially now that her secret was out.
"So, think she could be a good ranch hand?" Inga asked me once we were alone.
"Probably, once she has been eating right. Girl is skin and bones." I replied, sitting down at the table. "Which is to be expected given how she has been living for the last few years. She has probably been running on the bare minimum of calories."
"Yeah, but I think we can get her to where she needs to be." Inga said.
I nodded. "I think we should give Vestal a call and see if she is going to be in the area anytime soon. Get her to give her a check up." I said.
Inga nodded. "Yeah,Vee would definitely get her set up right." She said. "But you get to make this call." She added with a smirk.
I rolled my eyes and went to my room to get my phone, Sunset coming out just as I approached.
"Feeling better?" I asked.
"Loads actually." Sunset replied with a small smile.
I smiled back. "Good. Now head to the kitchen, there is still some food in there. Eat what you can." I said gently. "I have a phone call to make."
She nodded and headed to the kitchen while I went into my room and grabbed my phone, and sent a quick text to Vestal to see if she could take a call. Getting a quick reply that she could, I called her.
"Niamh! How are you, hun?" Vestal asked after the call connected.
"Doing good Vee. Hey, are you going to be in our area anytime soon?" I inquired.
"Actually, yes. I will be in the area next week and planned to stop by and say hi.' She replied. "Why, what's up?"
I quickly explained what I could to her about Sunset.
"I see, well that is worrisome." She said after I finished. "I'll give her a check up and do what I can for her. In the meantime, encourage her to eat but not to over eat. That will be worse than the malnutrition she is probably suffering from."
"That was my thoughts." I replied. "She is staying here, probably in one of the cabins once we get it cleaned up and starting with light work around the ranch, so she has a roof over her head."
"Good, keep an eye on her, and if anything looks off, get her to an urgent care or emergency room if it is serious." Vestal said, her tone serious.
"Wilco Vestal. We'll do what we can." I replied. "Thank you."
"You're welcome Niamh. You've got a good heart and a good head. You will definitely make a good leader no matter what you do in life." Vestal said.
"That's what I hope." I said, thankful she couldn't see me blushing.
We said our goodbyes and I headed to the kitchen, grabbing my cube on the way.
"Vestal is going to be in town next week, she can give Sunset an exam then." I said when I entered the room.
"Vestal?" Sunset asked as she slowly ate some eggs and a single pancake.
"Friend of the family. She is a traveling doctor, licensed in all fifty states and a few countries as well. Mostly does work for the VA, but she does help out family when we need it and she is in the area." I replied as I headed to get a plate myself.
Mom walked back in as I sat down.
"Helena is going to get the process started, won't be able to get her an ID for us, but she will send all the paperwork required for her to get one." She said, before noticing Sunset.
"Hello hun, my name is Abitha. I'm Niamh's mom." She said with a smile.
Sunset went wide eyed, and her gaze went from her to me and back a few times.
"My dad had dark brown hair. Other than that and my eyes, I take after her." I said before devouring my pancakes and sausage.
Sunset emptied her mouth before replying. "It's nice to meet you Miss Abitha. Thank you for helping me out, even if it is temporary." She said quietly.
Mom laughed. "Temporary? Hell girl, I just had a friend make you a legal citizen, with all the proper paperwork." She said. "You're free to hang around as long as you want, but you gotta earn your keep. We'll cover room and board, but you gotta make it worth our time."
"We'll get you started on the easier stuff for now." I said. "The lighter jobs around here."
"We won't throw you in the deep end of wrangling cattle." Inga said, chuckling to herself.
Sunset got glassy eyed at that. "Thank you. I know you have probably heard some of what I did from Niamh…" she began.
"Oh, we know all about the 'Queen Bitch of Canterlot High', but like Niamh, we won't judge a person by their past if they honestly turn things around." Mom interrupted.
Sunset nodded. "I, I really do. Last night, when I got hit with that power, I realized just how badly I screwed up. I really want to turn things around and be a better po-person." She finished.
"Good." Inga replied. "That's all I need to hear."
With that, we finished breakfast and we all went to one of the closer cabins and began cleaning it up for Sunset to use.
Later that day
Abitha was in her office looking over the books for the ranch.
'Well, we're doing good this year.' She thought to herself as she ran over the numbers. 'Might even wind up with a healthy profit once we take a few of the girls to auction.'
Suddenly the phone rang.
She looked at her cellphone, confused for a moment before realizing it was her landline, which only a handful of people knew the number of.
Sighing, she made sure the door was closed and pushed a nondescript button that activated the room's SCIF mode.
"Hello?" She said, picking up the handset.
"Nevves, it's Sara." The caller said.
"What's up Sara?" Abitha asked, curious as to why she was calling on their secure line.
"We had an incursion." Sara replied, her tone deadly serious.
A chill went down Abitha's spine.
"Where and when?" She asked.
"Near the Marshalls, and early this morning." Sara replied. "Antietam and John Paul Jones were able to handle it. One destroyer and some ants."
Abitha sighed. 'Almost eighty years of silence and now they come back. Why?' She thought to herself.
"Good. You calling everyone?" She inquired.
"Yeah. Better safe than sorry, even if it was just a singular occurrence." Sara replied.
"Right. Thanks for the heads up Sara. I'll let Okie know." Abitha said, before hanging up the phone and deactivating the SCIF protections, sighing heavily as she did.
"You know, being friends with all of you girls is dangerous to one's health and sanity." I said as I stepped through the portal from Equestria after our latest adventure.
It had been an interesting year and a half since that fateful Fall Formal dance.
Sirens from Equestria that gained power from creating discord amongst the people around them, a science project and unchecked curiosity going awry, dimensional duplicates, an attempted smear campaign thanks to social media (burned a favor from my friend Lilly to nip that problem in the bud. The Movie Club was still grounded as far as I had heard), power ups at summer camp, a crazy aspiring movie director, and now a jaunt to Equestria (nice place, if a bit colorful) thanks to a portal that happened to be on that the yacht ran aground on after someone decided to mess around with something called the "Storm King's Staff".
I had been the last one through the portal after making sure that everyone who had come through the other portal (gonna have to figure out where the hell that was so that portal can be closed) made it home.
"Sorry again girls." Rainbow Dash apologized again.
I lightly bonked her on the head. "Next time you wanna play the hero, please don't unless there is a clear and present danger, and you have back up." I said. "Egos get people killed. Be a Fletcher, not a Halsey."
"Wait, isn't Halsey like some big Navy Legend or something?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"He had good PR." I replied sourly. I raised a finger. "Typhoon Cobra. Lost three destroyers with almost all hands and twenty seven other ships were damaged, some to the point of having to return to the mainland US to be repaired." I raised another finger. "Task Force 34. Aside from denying us the ability to know for sure who would win between a Yamato class and an Iowa class, it is entirely possible that the Japanese Center Force would have turned around with that much fire power from the assembled American battleships rather than risk the flagship for no gain."
"Oh, didn't realize that." Dash said after processing that.
"Yeah, most people will jump up to defend Halsey, but for all the good he did in making sound tactical decisions, he also made a lot of screw ups that wasted the lives of a LOT of sailors for no reason." I replied. "Probably the only reason that he wasn't relieved of command was that he was winning and they were able to downplay the failures to the media. No admiral is perfect, but the ones who never should have been put in command of a fleet usually got put out of their own misery, unfortunately they usually took a lot of their own men with them."
"Hadn't thought about it like that." Applejack said from where she had been helping Fluttershy check on everyone.
"Is everyone okay?" Twilight asked.
"Yeah, a bit shaken obviously, but they are okay." AJ replied.
I sighed with relief as I texted my mom to see when she could get Sunset and I.
Soon enough, everyone's parents, guardians, older siblings, and other friends with vehicles that weren't on that ill-fated cruise were arriving and we all departed for home.
"So, I could have sworn I dropped you two off at the docks." Mom said as she drove us home.
"Well, unfortunately some more magic shenanigans happened, the boat ran aground, everyone got off okay and then we wound up taking a shortcut through Equestria, coming out at the school." I explained.
"Where was the yacht?" Mom asked.
"Not sure, however far you can get when sailing at five knots for two days." I replied, yawning. "My brain can't math right now, too tired."
Soon, we arrived home and after taking a hot shower, I was getting ready to collapse into bed, when a knock came at my bedroom door.
I walked over and opened it to find Sunset in her pajamas.
"Can, can I sleep in here tonight?" She asked nervously. "I'm worried I might have more nightmares and I don't want to be alone."
I smiled tiredly, gesturing for her to come in. This was something that she would occasionally do, especially after a really trying event that had something to do with Equestria. Honestly, even with her working to patch things up with her former mentor, I think she was going to stay on this side of the portal. She had friends and people who cared about her here, while over there all she had were a mentor she was still on shaky ground with, a friend who had unknowingly replaced her as said mentor's star pupil, and not really anyone else.
So, we both climbed into my bed, thankfully large enough to fit the both of us comfortably, and she nestled her back against my chest and pulled my arm around her.
I had found out that Equestrians were a very friendly and touchy race. Basically, despite the tough girl persona Sunset put on, she was a cuddle bug.
I managed to stay awake long enough to hear her breathing even out as she fell asleep, drifting off myself soon afterwards.
I was on the bridge of a carrier, looking out through the windows of the flight ops on the port side of the island.
It was definitely a supercarrier, two bow catapults and two waist catapults on the angled flight deck, but for some reason the hull number on the deck was blurred.
I suddenly felt the power from the reactors far below spike as the ship began running up to full speed to conduct flight ops, the sudden increase in power making me gasp, as my heart started racing like my system had been flooded with adrenaline.
Suddenly, I felt a searing, burning pain in my left side. Before I could even turn to see what had caused it, an explosion rocked the ship.
I looked towards the stern and saw a column of thick black smoke rising, and I ran towards the windows in the aft part of the section I was in.
Down below I saw crew starting firefighting and damage control efforts, and I felt, more than saw, the damage that the fire was causing as the fuel tanks on the parked jets ruptured, burning flesh and metal alike.
It seemed like an eternity, but finally the fires were put out, but the stern section of the flight deck, MY flight deck I realized, as I felt the skin on my lower back turn raw and scarred, was littered with burnt planes, equipment, and bodies.
Oh goddess, the bodies.
My crew, my pilots, some had been killed in the initial explosion, but some had been trapped and were unable to escape. And the wounded. My escorts, Benjamin Stoddert and Rogers had to send over some of their corpsmen to assist my own, there were so many wounded.
The three of us made the turn back towards Pearl Harbor so I could be repaired and the sailors taken to a proper hospital or to the morgue to be sent home to their families.
I awoke with a jolt of adrenaline and a quiet hiss of pain, thankfully not waking up Sunset.
I carefully reached onto my back and felt where the sensation was coming from, expecting to find burns, but the skin was as unblemished as it had been when I went to bed.
I settled back down, getting comfortable as I snuggled Sunset tighter. This wasn't the first dream like this I had had, but it certainly was the most vivid. I glanced towards the cube on my desk, now most definitely glowing for the last few months, but now it was slowly pulsing.
After our experience at Camp Everfree, I had asked Twilight, the human one that is, if she could check for radiation coming from it. Strangely, there was none, no matter the sensitivity of the detector she used, which baffled her, Sunset, and myself.
But, after a call to my cousin Sandy, I was assured that it was perfectly safe. But now? Now I was starting to doubt that, but something told me I needed to keep that cube close.
I closed my eyes, and settled down, Sunset's rhythmic breathing calming my nerves and easing the tension I was feeling. We weren't dating or anything, but I was being drawn to her for some reason that was more than just my useless lesbian self having a crush. I don't know why, but I always felt calmer, more at ease when she was around.
Sunset and I were sitting at the kitchen table working on our homework when my mom came in.
"How would you girls like to go to Hawai'i for your spring break?" She asked.
Sunset and I looked up.
"It sounds like an interesting place to visit at least." Sunset said, having asked about my birthplace.
"I mean, it would be nice to go back and see everyone, but why?" I asked, slightly confused.
"Monica and Ariana have invited you and your friends out for an all expenses paid trip to the islands for your senior year spring break." Mom said, rolling her eyes. "Something about needing to experience it at least once and once you all go off to college, it would be hard for everyone to be able to afford to go out there and have a decent time."
I rolled my eyes. "They do remember that I was born there, right?" I inquired. "I know all of the safe places for non-indigenous people to go and have been to most of them dozens of times."
"Which is why Ari said you would be an excellent tour guide for your friends." Came the reply.
"I mean, we could see if anyone wants to go." Sunset said diplomatically. "And see whose parents will let eight teenage girls fly halfway across the Pacific to someplace with minimal adult supervision."
I looked at Mom and we both laughed.
"That won't be an issue." Mom replied. "Between the Marines that Niamh has wrapped around her little finger and my friends still stationed out there, there will be plenty of people to keep an eye on you all. But if it helps, she said they'll cover any parents that want to tag along."
"That's good." I said. "Not sure if they would be too keen on it after the last time we went on a trip."
So, it turns out that when you have 'aunts' that are a mil to mil* lesbian couple with no kids AND were both full naval captains when they retire with over twenty years of service and they say 'all expenses paid' they mean it.
First class seats for the girls and I as well as Twilight's mom ("Please just call me Velvet.") and her brother Shining Armor, as well as Pinkie's older sister Maude who was, according to Pinkie at least, excited as hell to see the volcanic islands. I took her word for it. The woman had the expression of a rock. If not for the occasional very small smile at Pinkie's antics, I would have sworn she had a condition that left her face paralyzed for all the expression she showed.
But, the Saturday that Spring Break started, we were touching down on the island of Oahu late in the evening.
As we exited the terminal area and headed for the baggage claim, I glanced around for a familiar face and quickly found one.
"Niamh!" A tall woman with dark blue hair called out.
"Monica!" I called back as I rushed up to give her a hug.
"How ya been kiddo?" She inquired once we separated.
"Been doing good. Made some new friends." I replied.
Monica looked over my shoulder. "I can see that. Colorful bunch." She observed with a smirk.
"Yeah, but they are good people." I said. "Mostly. Had a few issues, but what friends don't?" I added, memories of some of the more interesting events in the last couple of years coming to mind.
"Very true." Monica replied before meeting with our chaperones while the rest of us grabbed our bags.
"Niamh darling, I have a question, but I'm afraid it might be a bit insensitive or rude." Rarity said as she grabbed her bag.
I glanced at her and saw her looking at Monica.
Smirking, I replied. "Why do all of my 'aunts' and 'cousins' look like supermodels? No idea. But it does mess with my lesbian brain something fierce."
Rarity blushed, gaining some chuckles from our friends as we headed to get the rental vehicles for our trip with the adults.
Later that night I sat bolt upright, my dream jolting me awake.
'Same damn dream again. What the hell does it mean?' I thought as I rubbed my face.
Looking at my phone I saw it was nearly 4 AM.
'Welp, no use going back to sleep.' I groused to myself as I stood up and picked my way around my sleeping friends, as we had chosen to go with sleeping bags and pallets made of blankets so the adults could have the bedrooms.
I quietly went to the sliding door that led to the deck and went outside.
Reaching the railing of the deck, I took a deep breath, the sting of the salt air waking me up a bit more.
"Missed home?" A voice said quietly.
I spun around eyes wide and saw Ariana sitting on one of the lounge chairs on the deck, her cane and prosthesis resting on the ground next to her.
"Yeah, don't get the same smells on the mainland." I replied once my heart left my throat.
"Mmm." Ariana replied before going to put her leg back on. Once it was secured, she grabbed her cane and came over.
"How are you healing up?" I asked, knowing the loss of her leg was still a fresh thing, having lost it to an infection in an old injury that didn't want to heal right.
"It's been difficult, but Mo has been amazing in helping me adjust." She replied, joining me at the railing and leaning on it, looking out over the island and the ocean beyond it.
I smiled at that. "That girl is definitely madly in love with you." I replied, leaning against the railing as well.
"Yeah she is, and I am madly in love with her." Ariana said matter of factly before getting a wicked smile on her face. "Anyone you're madly in love with?"
I felt my entire face flush as I choked on air.
"N, no." I replied as I tried to breathe properly again.
"No one's caught your eye?" She asked, teasing me gently.
"I mean, yeah. But I haven't said anything to her. Not sure if she has feelings like that for me." I replied with a sigh.
"You should say something. At the very least you will know and you can stop worrying." Ari said with a knowing smile.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"Oh come on, I'm pretty sure the only ones who haven't noticed your crush on Sunset are her and probably the pink one." Ari said before whispering, "That one scares me."
I chuckled. "She scares me sometimes too. But she probably knows and is planning a party for whatever the result is if I do ask her." I replied.
"You should ask her. At least to know for sure." Ari said. "Mo was the same way you know, I knew something was up the way she was so nervous and uptight around me when we first met. Very protective though. Her sister finally convinced her to shoot her shot, and well, here we are." She said, smiling at the ring on her finger.
I smiled, remembering being a flower girl at her wedding.
"You're right." I said. "Better to ask and know than to worry about the unknown. I'll take her to my spot tonight."
"Atta girl. Now, come help me make breakfast for this motley crew." Ari said, giving me a light punch on the shoulder.
"So, where are we going?" Sunset asked as we hiked up a trail.
"Someplace special I wanted to show you. It's not too much farther." I replied, stopping to help her cross a gap in the trail.
"If you say so." She replied with a warm smile.
I smiled back before turning to lead the way again. 'That damn smile is going to be the end of me.'
Finally, we reached the outcropping I was looking for.
"Here we are." I said going to a boulder near it and sitting down, leaning against it.
"It's beautiful." Sunset said as she sat next to me.
"It is, best place to watch the sunset in my opinion." I said, carefully making sure I was looking out to sea as I said it.
"It definitely is." She replied. "So different from the mainland."
I gave a hum of agreement.
"So why did you bring me out to your special spot?" Sunset asked.
"How did you know it was my special spot?" I asked, looking at her out of the corner of my eye.
"Because you only brought me and you seemed to have marked the path yourself, even if it was years ago." She replied confidently.
I chuckled. "Yeah, I found this place about a year before we moved to the mainland. Had a pocket knife on me, so I made some markings that I would hopefully be able to see for a long time. Some of them are gone, probably from a storm, but enough remained that I could remember the way."
"Interesting. But you still haven't answered the question." She said turning to face me.
I chewed on my bottom lip as I wrestled with my nerves. 'Come on Braunwen, the worst she can do is say no. It might be a bit awkward, but we're friends right? That shouldn't change.'
"You're right, I did bring you for a reason." I said finally.
"And what reason is that?" Sunset asked, her eyebrow arched in challenge.
"I, I have feelings for you." I said, only stuttering slightly.
Sunset's expression changed to mild shock before settling on neutral.
"Oh, what kind of feelings?" She asked evenly.
"Romantic ones." I replied. "I just feel drawn to you. You're funny, brilliant, kind, beautiful, and above all a good friend." I explained as I looked out towards the ocean. "I'm kind of a useless sapphic when it comes to this, but I have fallen in love with you Sunset Shimmer."
"You've seen me at my worst, what about that?" She asked, tone still even.
"We all have our dark sides, our slips into the temptation to be cruel. But you turned yourself around." I said before she tried to interrupt, but I kept going. "And don't say it was the Elements that did it. All they did was give you a clear head. You made the choice to redeem yourself and earn forgiveness for what you had done. That takes a lot of strength to do. Facing down one's inner demons like that. Can't imagine it was easy."
She sighed before resting her head on my shoulder as we both watched the sun setting over the ocean.
"It wasn't. Swallowing my pride after so long was difficult. Same with asking for help. You played a big part in that." She said.
"Oh?" I asked, genuinely curious as I felt I had just done what should be the norm.
"You gave me space, but you were still there to listen. You and your family. All of you were so patient with me as I learned how to be my own person, not the one I thought I wanted to be." She said.
I shrugged gently. "I was just doing what I would have wanted someone to do if I was in the same situation." I replied softly.
"That was what I needed. Someone who could give me space to figure myself out and to be there if I stumbled." Sunset replied.
I smiled and gave her hand a squeeze.
"Rarity noticed how I look at you." She said, causing my heart to skip a beat.
"O, oh?" I squeaked.
"Mmhmm, told me I should just go for it, but I was scared to jeopardize what we had. But when you helped keep the nightmares away after the cruise, I realized I had fallen in love with you. I just didn't know how to tell you or if you felt the same way." She explained.
I smiled a bit. "That was about the same time I noticed you had gone from a really cute friend to a crush." I said with a chuckle. "But what about Flash?"
"Flash was just a means to popularity. I apologized and we are friends, but I wasn't attracted to him. Being gay here isn't as widely accepted as it is in Equestria yet, so I went with what was deemed socially acceptable." She explained.
"Ah, he was your beard then." I said, causing her to look at me curiously. "Basically a person you aren't actually attracted to, but can tolerate enough to be romantic with so as to not arouse suspicions that you're queer. Not such a big thing anymore, but it happens in some places. I get it though, it is hard to tell when people are going to be accepting."
"Ah, I see. I think." Sunset replied. "So, where do we go from here?" She asked.
"Wherever you want to go. We both have feelings and have confessed those feelings, so we can take things slow." I replied.
"I, I think I like that idea." She replied, smiling up at me.
I returned the smile. "I do too." I replied.
Sunset was about to say something when a voice rang out.
"Oh, isn't this just precious. Two love birds making confessions to each other." A voice that sounded electronically distorted said with a dark chuckle.
We both scrambled to our feet and looked around for the source.
"Up here humans." The voice called out.
We looked up to see a woman with light purple hair holding onto a massive wing-like construct hovering above us.
"Niamh." Sunset whispered. "Are those cannons?"
"Probably energy based instead of kinetic based upon the looks. Probably packs a punch." I whispered back.
"Who are you and what do you want?" I shouted up at her.
"I am Tester. And my sisters and I want to know why you two are so special!" She said.
Before we could reply, a glowing portal opened up beneath us, sucking us in.
"Niamh!" Sunset shouted as she fell.
"Sunset!" I shouted as I grabbed her hand before we were separated.
The portal closed and Tester looked at Observer as she came out of hiding.
"Do you think they are the ones sister?" She inquired.
"We will have to see. I do look forward to finding out." Observer said with a wicked smile on her face.
Sunset woke up first, laying on a rocky shore, the sound of waves crashing into the rocks.
Looking around, she saw that the sky was a deep purple hue, but she wasn't able to see the sun on any horizon she could see as she turned her head this way and that way.
She did however spot a familiar bit of dirty blonde hair a dozen or so feet away from her.
Stumbling to her feet, she scrambled over the rocks to her friend. Girlfriend? She wasn't sure yet as they had been interrupted, but she needed to make sure she was okay.
“Niamh! Please wake up!” Sunset said loud enough to be heard over the waves.
Niamh groaned as she came back to consciousness.
“Wh, what happened? Where are we?” She said, rubbing her head as if suffering from a migraine.
“I have no idea.” Sunset replied. “I just woke up myself.”
Niamh started to nod, but stopped. “Everything hurts.” She said with a groan.
Sunset chewed on her lip as she looked around the beach before noticing a massive structure further inland.
“How the hay did I not notice that?” She groused out loud.
Niamh slowly cracked an eye open before closing it with a hiss.
“What is it? I have a throbbing migraine right now. The wave action isn't helping matters any.” She said tersely.
“Looks like a big structure further inland. Might be good for shelter if not else.” Sunset said as she gently placed her hand on Niamh's back.
Niamh winced a bit, but nodded slightly.
“We should go there then. Probably be a decent place to wait for rescue. Help me there?” She asked.
“Of course.” Sunset replied before gently helping Niamh to her feet and guiding her over the beach to the building.
It took nearly an hour for the pair to slowly make their way to the building, Niamh periodically convulsing due to the migraine that was coursing through her skull.
Once they had found a doorway that looked stable and were able to get out of the wind, Sunset gently eased Niamh to a sitting position and sat next to the taller girl.
“What's wrong Niamh? This doesn't seem like a normal migraine.” Sunset said worriedly.
Niamh winced, closing her eyes tighter, before giving a quick shake of her head.
“It isn't. It feels like I am getting the memories of an entire ship's company downloaded into my head.” Niamh responded quietly. “The routines of thousands of sailors over the entire life of the ship. Decades of experience, all being shoved into my brain against my will.”
Before Sunset could respond, the sound of footsteps echoing down the corridors of the structure reached their ears.
Sunset's head swiveled in the direction the sound seemed to be coming from and she soon saw a woman with white hair and massive bunny ears wearing a black and white outfit.
“Who's there? Identify yourself!” Came a harsh accented command.
“Please, we need help. We woke up on the beach and we have no idea where we are.” Sunset replied, positioning herself between the woman and Niamh.
“Hmph. Is your friend alright?” The woman asked in an imperious tone.
“No, she is suffering from a migraine, and she said something about the memories of a ship's crew?” Sunset said. “I don't understand how that is possible.”
The woman sighed. “I do, I think you should come with me. My associates can help her. Can she walk or will she need to be carried?” She inquired.
“I'm right here you know.” Niamh said acerbically. “As long as someone can guide me, I'll make it. Whatever whammy this is won't stop me.”
The woman jerked back a bit in shock before smiling and shaking her head.
“You remind me of the Grey Ghost.” She said as she moved to lead the way as Sunset helped Niamh to her feet.
“The Grey Ghost? Who is that?” Sunset inquired.
The woman looked over her shoulder at Sunset with a strange look.
“You mean you don't know who she is? Truly?” The woman asked.
Sunset shook her head before providing more support to Niamh as another wave of apparent memories hit her.
The woman sighed. “Such a shame that the world has forgotten the name *Enterprise*.”
As soon as the name left the woman's lips, Niamh collapsed and began to convulse as if having a seizure.
The woman's eyes widened before she rushed forward to help Sunset restrain Niamh so she didn't hurt herself.
“Has anything like this happened before?” She asked Sunset.
Sunset shook her head. “Not in the years I have known her. And she never mentioned anything about it when we were tending to the livestock.” She replied.
The woman was about to reply when more footsteps came rushing from the corridor.
“Hiryuu! We got your message and brought a litter. What's going on?” One of the two new arrivals asked.
“Repulse! Renown! Help me get this girl onto the litter so we can get her to Vestal.” The now identified Hiryuu said quickly. “I think she may be a KANSEN, but not a type I have seen before.”
Renown and Repulse's eyes widened at this as they quickly got Niamh sorted on the litter and hurriedly took her deeper into the structure, Sunset and Hiryuu following close behind.
“What is a KANSEN?” Sunset asked as the group made their way deeper and deeper.
Hiryuu looked at the girl out of the corner of her eye. “We are KANSEN.” She explained, gesturing to herself and the two blondes carrying the litter. “Warships given human form to defend Humanity from the threat of the Sirens.”
