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Rising for Sunset [Part 4 - Thursday]

By Starswirl
Created: 2021-07-16 21:31:33
Updated: 2021-02-04 04:24:23
Expiry: Never
sunset shimmerlolwutbrony

  1. 1.
    >You wake up to an alarm.
  2. 2.
    >Your arm sweeps over and knocks the clock off of your nightstand, causing it to conveniently turn off when it impacts the floor.
  3. 3.
    >Getting up a little bit earlier than normal today was important.
  4. 4.
    >You get ready for your day in an orderly fashion.
  5. 5.
    >Clothes on.
  6. 6.
    >Breakfast eaten.
  7. 7.
    >Bitchin' new kicks laced up.
  8. 8.
    >Out the door.
  9. 9.
    >When you arrive at Canterlot High, the amount of people hanging around this early is a lot smaller than you're used to.
  10. 10.
    >You walk up the steps to the front door, take a deep breath, and go inside.
  11. 11.
    >It's like a ghost town.
  12. 12.
    >It looks like the teachers are in their rooms, but there aren't any students in the halls.
  13. 13.
    >No chatter, no clanking of lockers
  14. 14.
    >You walk, nothing to keep you company but your thoughts.
  15. 15.
     
  16. 16.
    >This week has been a lot of things.
  17. 17.
    >Stressful.
  18. 18.
    >Unreal.
  19. 19.
    >Amazing.
  20. 20.
    >Satisfying.
  21. 21.
    >And it all happened because when an opportunity presented itself to you, you said nothing.
  22. 22.
    >You said nothing and it threw your whole world for a loop.
  23. 23.
    >All over a girl.
  24. 24.
    >A beautiful girl with crimson and golden hair.
  25. 25.
    >A girl who is intelligent and kind.
  26. 26.
    >This all happened because that girl chose to open her heart up to you and you didn't know how to respond.
  27. 27.
    >You can't help but chuckle to yourself.
  28. 28.
    >If you'd said something, anything at all, none of it would have happened.
  29. 29.
    >But then where would you be?
  30. 30.
    >If you could go back and change it, would you have?
  31. 31.
    >Maybe on Monday, you would have.
  32. 32.
    >But now...
  33. 33.
    >You're not so sure.
  34. 34.
     
  35. 35.
    >And now you're here.
  36. 36.
    >It's the corner of the school where you met Sunset when all of this began.
  37. 37.
    >It doesn't take long for you to find her.
  38. 38.
    >She's leaning against the lockers, those cyan eyes lost in thought.
  39. 39.
    >Those eyes look up as she notices your approach.
  40. 40.
    >A small smile grows on her face.
  41. 41.
    >"Hey there, Anon."
  42. 42.
    "Good morning, Sunset."
  43. 43.
    >"Thanks for agreeing to meet me."
  44. 44.
    "I wanted to. I've been wanting to talk to you since Monday."
  45. 45.
    >"Please, let me go first. I have a lot that I need to get off my chest."
  46. 46.
    >You nod and listen as Sunset Shimmer tells you how this all of this started.
  47. 47.
     
  48. 48.
    >"I guess I don't need to ask you if you remember the Fall Formal."
  49. 49.
    >You do remember it. As does anyone who has been at the school since last year.
  50. 50.
    >Sunset used to be "popular," but disliked by quite a few people.
  51. 51.
    >You don't fully understand all of what happened at the Fall Formal, but apparantly it was magic.
  52. 52.
    >Literally magic.
  53. 53.
    >She turned into some kind of demon.
  54. 54.
    >Even more, she started turning the other students into zombies.
  55. 55.
    >Well, they were LIKE zombies, anyway.
  56. 56.
    >Something happened where the other girls that make up the Main Six teamed up with that bookish girl that transfered in from nowhere.
  57. 57.
    >They put a stop to it, leaving Sunset just a vulnerable girl with a lot of people understandably angry with her.
  58. 58.
    ">You can imagine that I didn't have a lot of friends after that. I was lucky to have anyone forgive me at all."
  59. 59.
    >It was true. Applejack, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie all became her friends afterwards.
  60. 60.
    >They gave her a new chance.
  61. 61.
    >"But even with new friends, it wasn't easy for me after that."
  62. 62.
    >She looks down.
  63. 63.
    >"Everyone else wasn't so forgiving. Wherever I went, whatever I did, no one trusted me. They said a lot of hurtful things to my face and behind my back... Except for one person."
  64. 64.
    >She looks up and her eyes meet yours.
  65. 65.
     
  66. 66.
    >"You, Anonymous. We had class together, and though we really didn't talk that much, you were never rude to me."
  67. 67.
    >Hearing this surprises you.
  68. 68.
    >You hardly talked to her at all, but it was true that you never gave her trouble for what she did.
  69. 69.
    >You weren't the kind of person who would hang on to the bad things in life, and you certainly weren't going to kick someone else when they were down.
  70. 70.
    >"To a lot of people, you don't really stand out. You tend to be pretty quiet for the most part, but I saw that you're also hard-working and kind."
  71. 71.
    >There's a moment of silence as she thinks about where to go from here.
  72. 72.
    >"Eventually, more people became willing to trust me. I made a few more friends, but it wasn't until the Battle of the Bands that most of the school was willing to forgive what I'd done."
  73. 73.
    >That was a weird week.
  74. 74.
    >What's the deal with trouble always starting up after students transfer in, anyway?
  75. 75.
    >After all of that happened, Sunset became popular again, but this time because she was well-liked.
  76. 76.
    >"But I didn't forget, Anon. I... I grew feelings for you that I didn't know how to express."
  77. 77.
    >She sighs.
  78. 78.
    >"Maybe I was just afraid that you would reject me. I wasn't in a good place in my life for a while there."
  79. 79.
    >She allows herself just the slightest hint of a smile, her emotional baggage starting to lighten up.
  80. 80.
    >"But recently things have been good. I started having thoughts about you again, and I felt confident enough to tell you how I really felt."
  81. 81.
    >Her eyes gaze deeply into yours.
  82. 82.
    >"So I did. But when you didn't say anything, I was afraid that you would reject me for what I did after all. I just couldn't handle that fear that my past might actually get in the way of my life again."
  83. 83.
    >"And I ran."
  84. 84.
     
  85. 85.
    >You can hear the sadness and regret in her voice.
  86. 86.
    >"I'd been so excited before meeting with you that I told my friends about it. When they saw me come back in tears, they must have assumed that you hurt me.
  87. 87.
    >There it was.
  88. 88.
    >The catalyst that had brought you so much strife this week.
  89. 89.
    >Your staredown from Fluttershy.
  90. 90.
    >The arm wrestling match with Applejack.
  91. 91.
    >Destruction at the hands of Rainbow Dash's soccer skills.
  92. 92.
    >"I never meant to cause you so much trouble, Anon. I hope that you can forgive me."
  93. 93.
    >Her eyes turn to the floor again.
  94. 94.
    >"And I'd understand if you never want to talk to me again."
  95. 95.
     
  96. 96.
    >There it all is.
  97. 97.
    >Now, you have a choice to make.
  98. 98.
    >You weren't ready for it last time, you had a lot dropped on you to think about.
  99. 99.
    >But this time, you've already done all of the thinking that you need.
  100. 100.
    >You walk up to Sunset.
  101. 101.
    >You use your hand to lift up her chin and look her right in the eyes.
  102. 102.
    "Sunset, I've had a lot of time to think since Monday."
  103. 103.
    >She's staring back at you, her expression unsure.
  104. 104.
    "I like you Sunset. I really do."
  105. 105.
    >Her eyes widen in disbelief.
  106. 106.
    "If you'll have me, I'd love to go out with you."
  107. 107.
    >The corners of her eyes are starting to water up.
  108. 108.
    >She throws her arms around you.
  109. 109.
    >"Of course, Anon!"
  110. 110.
    >You wrap your arms around her and share an intimate moment.
  111. 111.
    >You've never hugged a girl before.
  112. 112.
    >It's warm, and you get a face full of her beautiful hair.
  113. 113.
    >After what feels like several minutes, you let go of each other.
  114. 114.
    "So... uh..."
  115. 115.
    >"Yes, Anon?"
  116. 116.
    >Her smile is so heartwarming.
  117. 117.
    >You almost have a heart attack from cuteness overload.
  118. 118.
    "Do you want to maybe do something after school?"
  119. 119.
    >She shuffles her feet a bit, you can hear her boots sliding on the tiled floor.
  120. 120.
    >"I'm sorry, Anon. I'm busy after school today... Will you be at Pinkie's party tomorrow?"
  121. 121.
    "Of course, Sunset. I'll meet you there?"
  122. 122.
    >"Sure. Don't be a stranger until tomorrow though, okay? You have my number now, after all."
  123. 123.
    >You give her a big smile.
  124. 124.
    "Of course."
  125. 125.
    >She gives you a wink and takes her leave.
  126. 126.
    >You can hear the school coming alive.
  127. 127.
     
  128. 128.
    >Go to history.
  129. 129.
    >Harshwhinny may be a sourpuss, but nothing's knocking your spirits down today.
  130. 130.
    >Class passes by without incident.
  131. 131.
    >Step out into the hall after class.
  132. 132.
    >Turn the corner.
  133. 133.
    >Your vision goes pink.
  134. 134.
    >You stumble, but you don't fall over.
  135. 135.
    >Fuck that.
  136. 136.
    >After a moment of feeling good for yourself about not being on the floor again, you realize at Pinkie Pie is RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU.
  137. 137.
    >But... you're pretty sure you left the classroom ahead of her.
  138. 138.
    "Pinkie Pie?"
  139. 139.
    >"Hi, Nonny! Did you and Sunset talk things out?"
  140. 140.
    "Yes, actually."
  141. 141.
    >You put on a big smile.
  142. 142.
    "Things turned out great."
  143. 143.
    >She gets excited.
  144. 144.
    >"Oh, that's so good to hear! You're still coming to the party on Friday right? It's gonna be amazing!"
  145. 145.
    >You chuckle.
  146. 146.
    "Yeah, Pinkie. I'll be there."
  147. 147.
    >"Great! I'll see you later, Nonny!"
  148. 148.
    >She skips off into the hallway traffic.
  149. 149.
    >You can see that big, poofy hair of hers bob up over everyone else's heads as she gets further and further away from you.
  150. 150.
     
  151. 151.
    >The next class passes by in a flash.
  152. 152.
    >Speaking of which, you can't wait to tell that guy about your morning.
  153. 153.
    https://youtu.be/WB-aNl2-YoE?t=4s
  154. 154.
    >Wait, did your ring tone actually get MORE BLAND when you weren't looking?
  155. 155.
    >You have a text from... Rarity.
  156. 156.
    >[Greetings, Anonymous. Our instructor stumbled through the staging area yesterday and knocked over a few things. Nothing seems to be damaged, but would you be a dear and check it for yourself if you have a minute to spare?]
  157. 157.
    >You roll your eyes.
  158. 158.
    >Well, something was bound to happen today, even if none of Sunset's friends are out to get you anymore.
  159. 159.
    >Who needs the whole lunch period anyway?
  160. 160.
    >Did you even have lunch half of the days this week?
  161. 161.
    >You head to the stage.
  162. 162.
    >Of course there's no one here.
  163. 163.
    >Rarity just dropped a job on you on your own time and she isn't even here.
  164. 164.
    >You climb up onto the stage and find a few things out of their normal place, with a little note in Rarity's overly-curly cursive handwriting telling you that these are the things.
  165. 165.
    >Taking a look, everything does seem to be fine...
  166. 166.
    >Except for one piece that seems to be missing a nail.
  167. 167.
    >You quickly grab a hammer and scan the floor for the loose nail so no one will step on it by mistake.
  168. 168.
    >After a few minutes, your work is done.
  169. 169.
    >As you return to the toolbox, you notice that there are some papers scattered all over the floor.
  170. 170.
    >Picking them up, they appear to be a bunch of Rarity's design notes.
  171. 171.
    >You straighten them out into a neat pile and set them down by her work station.
  172. 172.
    >Before you leave, you stop and think for a moment.
  173. 173.
    >You have an idea.
  174. 174.
     
  175. 175.
    >The rest of your day before Drama class sweeps by without incident.
  176. 176.
    >Here it comes.
  177. 177.
    >You have to "act" today to fill in for a missing player.
  178. 178.
    >Ugh.
  179. 179.
    >You take a seat with everyone else while Rarity stands up on stage and acts a coordinator.
  180. 180.
    >She calls out a scene and those players come up to the stage to do a reading.
  181. 181.
    >She also then calls out the next scene so that everyone reading that one can get ready.
  182. 182.
    >The first group of players come up to the stage and begin.
  183. 183.
    >Given that most of the people here double as crew, there's actually some pretty good acting.
  184. 184.
    >It's too bad that it's just a second-rate play.
  185. 185.
    >Why on earth would anyone think it would be a good idea to put on a fantasy story about a bunch of high school teenagers, anyway?
  186. 186.
    >After the first group finishes up, the second group comes up to the stage.
  187. 187.
    >Rarity steps up to the edge of the stage to call the next one.
  188. 188.
    >"I'll need Anonymous up here to understudy for Act 1, Scene 8."
  189. 189.
    >You throw up your hands in outrage.
  190. 190.
    >That's the scene where Rarity's character and another one try to seduce one another.
  191. 191.
     
  192. 192.
    >The next scene goes by as you gloss over the part of the script that you're about to do with Rarity.
  193. 193.
    >"Come up here, Anonymous. This will be the last one for today, everyone can return to their projects afterward."
  194. 194.
    >You climb up onto the stage and take a position off to one side.
  195. 195.
    >Rarity looks to you to make sure that you're ready.
  196. 196.
    >You let out a deep sigh and then nod to her.
  197. 197.
    >She walks offstage, then back on.
  198. 198.
    >This is how the scene starts, she comes into the room.
  199. 199.
    >"THERE you are, darling. You didn't think that you could hide from me, did you?
  200. 200.
    >She's got her flirty face on.
  201. 201.
    >Wait, is she not holding a script?
  202. 202.
    >After a moment, you realize that you're just standing there not saying your lines.
  203. 203.
    "Darling? Coming on a bit strongly, aren't you?"
  204. 204.
    >She's sauntering over to you, nice and slow.
  205. 205.
    >You sometimes forget this because you're usually trying to avoid her as much as possible, but it's true:
  206. 206.
    >She's gorgeous.
  207. 207.
    >"But of course. Why shouldn't I when I'm talking to such a big, strong man?"
  208. 208.
    >She slowly strokes your face with the side of her hand before turning away from you.
  209. 209.
    >"And besides... are you sure that you don't like it?"
  210. 210.
    >She's laying it on so thick.
  211. 211.
    >Is she testing you?
  212. 212.
     
  213. 213.
    >"After all, a lot of guys would *kill* for a girl like me."
  214. 214.
    >She gives you a look that screams "come hither."
  215. 215.
    >But you don't lock up.
  216. 216.
    >You don't show your anger.
  217. 217.
    >You are Anonymous, King of the Poker Face.
  218. 218.
    >And you're going to show her what real acting is.
  219. 219.
    >You throw down your script.
  220. 220.
    "Really? Because you seem to be pretty eager to have my attention yourself."
  221. 221.
    >Rarity blinks in surprise as you step towards her.
  222. 222.
    "Perhaps it's not just me that you're interested in, but the pull that I have around here?"
  223. 223.
    >She regains her composure.
  224. 224.
    >"I don't know whatever it is that you mean by that, darling."
  225. 225.
    "Oh, I think you do."
  226. 226.
    >You both step closer to each other
  227. 227.
    >"And if I were, you understand how well I can also sway things my way."
  228. 228.
    >She places an arm around your shoulder and gets up close to your face.
  229. 229.
    "I see, then..."
  230. 230.
    >You clasp her hand in yours and step away from her.
  231. 231.
    >You're now standing apart from one another, but connected by your linked arms.
  232. 232.
    "In that case, "darling..."
  233. 233.
    >You pull her in, holding her close and dipping her backwards, supporting her with your other arm.
  234. 234.
    >She looks up at you in surprise as your face contorts into a devilish grin.
  235. 235.
    "Perhaps we can have something a little bit more... mutual."
  236. 236.
    >Your face approaches hers and her eyes go wide.
  237. 237.
    >You can feel her becoming uneasy in your grasp. She almost tries to push you off of her.
  238. 238.
    >You lean in...
  239. 239.
     
  240. 240.
    >Her eyes close.
  241. 241.
    >You lean in and whisper in her ear.
  242. 242.
    "Scene."
  243. 243.
    >You prop her up again and she nearly falls over.
  244. 244.
    >She's extremely flustered.
  245. 245.
    >You hear a some people talking from the audience.
  246. 246.
    >"The school will never let us use that scene as is."
  247. 247.
    >There are a couple of people with pens scratching out lines and re-writing some changes on their copies of the script.
  248. 248.
    >Rarity finally regains her composure and clears her throat.
  249. 249.
    >"That's a wrap everyone... Please return to your work."
  250. 250.
    >The script kids stay where they are and work on editing.
  251. 251.
    >You go back to building and maintenance.
  252. 252.
    >Rarity goes to work on her costumes.
  253. 253.
    >"My word... who did this?"
  254. 254.
    >Her work table has all of her tools set out neatly, with the materials that she needs for her planned costumes immediately on hand.
  255. 255.
    >You pause from driving screws into a plank to give her a hand signal.
  256. 256.
    "You're welcome, "Miss" Rarity."
  257. 257.
     
  258. 258.
    >Rarity says nothing and returns to her work.
  259. 259.
    >In fact, she doesn't say anything for the rest of the class period.
  260. 260.
    >When the bell finally rings, you two are the last ones remaining.
  261. 261.
    >She walks over to you.
  262. 262.
    >"Anonymous. Could I have a word with you?"
  263. 263.
    >She's not using any of her usual flare.
  264. 264.
    >You don't think you've ever seen her so casual before.
  265. 265.
    "Sure. What can I do for you, Rarity?"
  266. 266.
    >"I just wanted to say that I'm was very surprised by your performance earlier. I never knew you could act like that."
  267. 267.
    >You don't say anything in reply, instead finishing putting away your tools.
  268. 268.
    >"It's just that... I don't see how anyone as talented as you could possibly lose an audition.
  269. 269.
    >You look at Rarity.
  270. 270.
    "It's really a lot more simple than you think."
  271. 271.
    >"She looks as you, confused.
  272. 272.
    "I don't like being in the spotlight. I'd really prefer to be backstage helping everything else move along."
  273. 273.
    >It's like she expects there to be more than that.
  274. 274.
    >But after she realizes that there isn't, she decides to speak up again.
  275. 275.
    >"I see. Well, then. I just have one thing that I want to say."
  276. 276.
    >You look at her.
  277. 277.
    "Yes?
  278. 278.
    >"Thank you, Anonymous. For everything that you do around here."
  279. 279.
    >That's a genuine smile.
  280. 280.
    >"You're a real gentleman after all, you know If it weren't for Sunset, I think I'd have to snatch you right up."
  281. 281.
    >She picks up her purse and puts on a scarf that you know she's only wearing because it matches the rest of her ensemble.
  282. 282.
    >"Have a good rest of your day, Anonymous."
  283. 283.
     
  284. 284.
    >On your way out of the school, you run into Flash Sentry.
  285. 285.
    >"Hey, Anon! You didn't show up to lunch again today. So, how'd it go this morning?"
  286. 286.
    "Let me tell you..."
  287. 287.
    >You fill in Flash on how your talk with Sunset went this morning.
  288. 288.
    >When you tell him that you'll be hanging out with her at Pinkie's party tomorrow, he bumps fists with you.
  289. 289.
    >When you get home, you go straight to your room as usual.
  290. 290.
    >After you put a dent in your homework, you take out your phone and send Sunset a text.
  291. 291.
     
  292. 292.
    END OF THURSDAY.

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