Undoctrinated (Sunset Shimmer)

>Your mom called you to the kitchen.
>When you come you see her with unknown bacon-haired girl.
>"Nonny, when I was in the church I've met a really nice girl so I invited her to tea."
>"You're Anon, right? Your mom told me so much about you. I'm Sunset, nice to meet you."

"It's nice to meet you too Sunset."
>You extend a friendly hand, despite the butterflies in your stomach
>Girls are by no means your forte, something your mother has always needled you about
>Sunset takes your hand and shakes it politely
>Her fingers are soft, a sharp contrast to the rough sausages you have
>God, you're a slob
>If only you had woken up in anything other than sweatpants and a wifebeater...
>"So Anon, do you think you could set the table while I get the food ready?"
"Sure mom."
>She and Sunset return to their chat, and you retreat to the tea room
>Usually, your parents only used it for when they had some uppity guests over
>When this sort of thing happened, you'd just wait it out in your bedroom
>Now, your mother was trying to fix you up with some spoiled orange girl from church, so you were obligated to stay
>Rolling your eyes, you busy yourself putting the proper utensils in their respective spots
>There would be hell to pay if a fucking spoon was misplaced
>Such is life for an upper class shitlord like yourself
>"Really Anon, are you going to have tea dressed like that?"
>Your mother is stood behind you now, giving you a disapproving look
"What difference does it make?"
>She leans in, her voice dropping to a hiss
>"Anon, you are going to make a nice impression on this girl, so help me god."
>You stare at her incredulously
>"She is polite, indoctrinated, and well bred. Now get upstairs and put some respectable clothes on."

"Jesus Christ fine."
>You turn and stomp off quickly, hoping that Sunset didn't see the argument
>"Don't take the lord's name in vain Anon!"
>Why do have to deal with this shit?
>As you ascend the stairs, you think back to your childhood
>Going to church, attending bible study, picnics in the park with church groups
>All of it went right over your head
>Your parents threatened to throw your ass out almost daily, but were too big of pussies to actually get around to it
>You enter your room, mind racing with things you wish you had said
>Too bad it's literally impossible to flip religious people
>Only an act of God can convince somebody that they've been wrong their whole life
>You shake your head to stop the tirade of rage you're feeling
>The present needs to be dealt with, it isn't time to listen to the voices in your head
>There's a wide selection of clothes you have, from filthy casual all the way up to mega shitlord
>You decide on a pair of jeans and a green button down shirt
>Not too casual, but casual enough to push your mother's buttons
>You check your hair in the mirror and go back downstairs
>Your mother is sat at the tea table across from Sunset
>The only other chair available is next to Sunset, so you take it
>Sunset: "You look nice Anon."
>Her politeness almost makes you cringe
>"So do you."
>Your own response actually makes you cringe a little
>Still, you can't help but notice that Sunset actually is a very pretty girl
>From her teal colored eyes, all the way to her rather accentuated chest

>"So Anon, did you go to church today?"
>There it is, the question you always avoid in every conversation ever
>And of course, it comes from Sunset
"I don't go to church anymore."
>Across the table, your mother's eyes narrow dangerously
>Probably due to your casual appearance on top of your response
>Sunset looks uncertainly at you
>"Why don't you go to Church Anon?"
>This time, you look your mother directly in the eyes before you speak
"I'm allergic to bullshit."
>The room goes deadly quiet
>If you were in the company of extended family, you'd have kept your mouth shut
>Presently, you could care less if Sunset didn't like you
>It's not like she would have been interested anyway...
>"Anon please watch your language at the tea table." your mother says venomously
"Whatever."
>Looking to your left, you see that Sunset looks a little uncomfortable, even disappointed
>Suddenly, you feel like a jerk
>She didn't ask to be here, your mother probably coerced her into it
"So Sunset, you go to Canterlot High also?"
>She perks up slightly at your change of topic
>"Yeah, ever since I moved here a few years ago, I've been going there."
"I don't see you around very often."
>I tend to keep to myself mostly, some people still have a problem with me..."
>You suddenly remember
>This girl was the one ho blew up the front of the school...or something like that
>And now she's a well mannered religious drone?
"I guess people can really change huh?"

>"Yeah I guess so. I was a completely different person back then."
"How so?"
>"I was manipulative, cruel, and power hungry."
>You do your best to listen, despite your attention ebbing away slowly
>"Then I realized how wrong I was, how wonderful it was to have friends, and how the church could save me from myself."
>Don't roll your eyes Anon
>Don't be a dickhead
>Across from you, your mother appears to be fighting to retain her approval
>The sheer force of these cliches is causing you to become sick to your stomach, so you occupy yourself by drinking some of the swill your mother calls tea
>Sunset copies you, taking a drink herself
>She beams widely at your mother
>"This tea is wonderful Mrs. Ymous
>"Oh, it's no trouble at all dear."
>Sunset stands up hesitantly
>"Unfortunately, I need to go to work."
>Your mother's face registers complete shock
>"On a Sunday?"
>Sunset: "Yeah, my manager is kind of mean about it, but I support myself, so I can't say no."
>The concept of working for a living has stunned your mother into silence
"I'll walk you to the door."
>You lead her outside, where you look around for her car
>There isn't one
>"I'll see you later Anonymous."
>She smiles at you and starts walking away
"You're walking to work?"
>"It's only a few miles"
"Hold on, I'll drive you."
>You go back inside and get your keys
>As much as you'd like to go back to your plan of lurking and jerking, you can't in good conscience allow her to walk to work
>Outside, she is waiting by the door of your Taurus
>You're parents wanted you to have a decent car, but you'd said no
>With your savings from work, you'd saved up to by the old 99' shitmobile from a friend at school
"Let's go."
>You and her climb into the car, and you peel out of the driveway

"So where am I taking you?"
>"Do you know where Canterlot Steel is?"
>You look at her, confused
"You work at Canterlot Steel?"
>"Yeah, I have to work in the front office taking phone calls."
"I work at Canterlot Steel too"
>Suddenly, you remember some of the guys talking about the red-yellow haired secretary with the 'great rack'
>It must have been Sunset
>"Really? Why don't I ever see you?"
"I guess the warehouse guys never go to the front office much, unless they're getting fired."
>Sunset seems very suprised by this news
>"What do you do there?"
"I run one of the 10 foot press breaks."
>"Aren't those things dangerous?"
"Very, especially considering that mine has a broken emergency stop button."
>"Why don't you tell somebody?"
>You laugh as you turn a corner into the industrial part of Canterlot
"My luck isn't that good."
>This confuses her
>"You want to be hurt?"
"I'll put it this way: if I get hurt, I don't have to work anymore, but I hate working, so I'll always be healthy enough to work."
>"That's a silly way of thinking."
"It's worked this far."
>You stop at a traffic light and wait.
>Sunset seems lost in thought, so you turn on the radio
>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2LdI7rzowk [Embed]
>As you bob your head to the beat, Sunset seems appalled at the lyrics
>"Is this what you listen to?"
"Yep."
>She stays silent though, and out of the corner of your eye you see one of her fingers tapping slowly on the armrest
>You smirk slightly as you enter the front office parking lot of Canterlot Steel
"Well, this is you."
>She pauses
>"Do you maybe want to come in with me? We don't really get a lot of calls on a Sunday and I could use somebody to talk to."

>Hanging out at work sounds like the shittiest thing to do on a weekend
>Hanging out with a great looking chick sounds like a great thing to do on a weekend
>What do Anon?
>You take too long to decide, and Sunset opens the door sadly
>"Don't worry about it Anon, I'll just put some music on or something."
"Wait wait!"
>You throw yourself from the car and lock the door behind you
"I'll stay for a while, it's not like I have anything else to do today
>Sunset smiles at you and walks to the front door
>You brush past her, tip your metaphorical fedora, and hold the door for her
>"Thanks Anon"
>She walks to the timeclock and puts her hand down
>Her score is 44
>chekd
>Then she turns back to the front office, where she goes into the conference room
>"I prefer to use this over the secretaries desk, since this room has AC."
>No AC, this is a problem that you can relate to heavily
>She pulls the phone close to her and sits down
>You take a chair on the other side of the conference table and put your boots up on it
>Then you realize that you have a golden opportunity
>You go back to the time clock and punch in
>Corporate fuckers can pay you for overtime if you're going to be in this shithole on a weekend
>Returning to Sunset, you find that she's waiting patently with her hands folded in her lap
>Like Sunset said, the phone doesn't ring once over the course of two hours
>Instead, you and her shoot the shit
>School, work, politics
>She tells you about her hobbies: knitting, church, singing, church, charity work, and finally, church
>You think about telling her your hobbies, but decide against it
>She doesn't need to know what you do at night
>Instead, you tell her you enjoy biking and reading
>Girls eat that shit up right?

>Around lunch time, Sunset gets up
>"Um, Anon, do you maybe want to get some food?"
>Shit, this was suddenly a lot more than you had anticipated
>However, you doubt this girl has any lewd intentions, so you nod
>"Great, I know a taco place nearby that we can stop by quickly."
"Yeah, tacos sound good."
>You and Sunset exit the building and get back into your car
>With no AC, it's absolutely sweltering
>"Man, it's hot."
"Sorry, this thing never had working air conditioning."
>"That's alright."
>Out of the corner of your eye, you see Sunset slide her jacket off
>Her blouse is rather...revealing...at least for a nice religious girl, and you find yourself torn between looking at her cleavage or the road
>Choosing life, you decide to drive safely and let your dick sit this one out
>"This is it here."
>Sunset points to a taco truck, parked in a vacant lot next to an apartment complex
"Looks sketchy."
>"We can go somewhere else if you want to..."
"I like sketchy."
>Sunset seems relieved, and you stop the car in front of the taco truck.
>Sunset goes up to the counter, where you recognize Sonata, one of the girls you go to school with
>"Hi Sunset Shimmer, Hi Anon!"
"Hey Sonata."
>"I didn't know you guys are dating!"
>Sunset stops dead while reading the menu.
"We aren't dating, we're just on lunch break."
>"Oh...okay!"
>Sunset: "Can I get a vegetarian burrito please?"
"I'll have the same, except with extra beef."
>Sunset giggles
>Usually your dry ass humor doesn't work on anybody, but usually you only associate with white collar, stuck up shitheads
>Feels pretty good
>Sonata finishes making your food, and you take Sunset back to work

>You sit in the conference room with Sunset, eating
>The company is admittedly nice, and you find your usual social autism ebbing away
>The phone still doesn't ring, and the clock keeps running
>"So Anon, do you really hate it here that much?"
"Some days I think about quitting, yeah."
>"You're parents have money though, so why don't you?"
>She has a point
>You're fucking loaded
>But not happy
"I want to be my own man I guess, I don't want people to think that I'm some snob from the suburbs who lives off of daddy's credit card."
>"That's really awesome Anon."
>Sunset is giving you a warm smile, and you return it reluctantly
>What is this feeling you have?
>You no longer have apathy towards Sunset
>Granted, you don't really enjoy how freaking religious she is...
>But she's pretty cool and easy to get along with
>The front door opens outside, and you freeze
>"SUNSET, YA HERE?!"
>It's your boss, Allen
>"Yeah, I'm in the conference room."
>You quickly remember that you never asked for overtime
>This could get you in deep shit
>In the corner of the room is a metal cabinet used for storing part files, and you slide yourself into it
>Allen enters the room
>"Any calls?"
>"No, no calls yet, Mr. Wrench."
>Through the crack in the door, you see him look at the phone
>Then at her food
>And then at your food
>Fuck
>He looks around the room and walks to the cabinet you're in
>With a grunt, he opens the steel door and you blink as light floods your metal tomb
"I can explain sir."
>He looks at you, then at Sunset
>"You don't have to explain anything Anonymous."
>He gives you a wink
>"It's about time you got some damn pussy."

>When you first started working at Canterlot Steel, they told you to report comments like that to human resources
>Over time, you just got used to it
>Everyone gave you shit for being the young guy
>Also, for not having a girlfriend
>On most days you just laughed along
>Why bother making waves in a factory of junkies and sex offenders?
"You're a funny guy Allen."
>Allen starts to emit his signature guffaw and closes the door on you
>Through the this steel frame, you hear him laugh his way out the room
>"Take good care of him Sunset."
>There isn't enough room to curl up in a ball of shame
>Eventually, the door opens again
>"Anon?"
"Hey Sunset."
>"Are you coming out?"
"I'm still trying to decide actually."
>Sunset gives a small laugh and takes your arm, pulling you out of your hiding place
"Sunset, I'm really sorry about that."
>"Don't be, I hear comments like that everyday from the other secretaries."
"I didn't know that we were in the same boat."
>"Most of them just laugh at how I'm saving myself for marriage."
>There she goes again with the religious stuff
>"Some of them even laugh at me for going to church."
>Not wanting her to feel singled out, you decide to vent as well
"I get laughed at for my slow trek to being a wizard."
>"A wizard?"
>Oh right, Sunset doesn't into internet like you do
"The other guys give me shit for being a virgin."
>Sunset nods in understanding and sits down again by the phone
>"Well, at least we only have a couple more hours to go."
>You sit on the same side of the table as her, content to wait until she's done
>Maybe she'll let you drive her home

>"Hey Anon, wake up."
>Your eyes open, and you realize that you'd fallen asleep
>You're slumped over the table and Sunset is stood next to you
"Shit, I'm sorry Sunset, why didn't you wake me?"
>"You looked really peaceful."
>The clock says 4:30
>That's when the front office closes
"Do you need a ride home?"
>"If it isn't any trouble..."
"None at all, let me just use the bathroom."
>"Ok, I'll wait by the car."
>You head to the office bathroom
>It's not nearly as dirty at the one in the warehouse
>However, you aren't here to use the toilet
>It's time to think
>Is Sunset into you?
>How can she be?
>She's a polite, religious girl
>You're an edgy atheist
>She'll never like you Anon
>Just drive her home and let that be the end of it
>You nod to yourself in the mirror and leave the building
>Sunset is again waiting by your car
"All set?"
>She nods with a smile
>"Leaving here is the best part of my day usually."
"That we can agree on."
>Each of you get in and you force the engine to sputter to life
>"Actually, Anon, I had a very nice day...for a change."
"Why's that?"
>"I got to spend it with you."
>Oh damn

>Be chill Anon
>Don't drop your spaghetti
>Try responding maybe?
"Well Sunset, I had a very pleasant day as well."
>She smiles warmly at you
>That smile is really starting to grow on you
>You offer her a smile back
>It's actually been a while since you smiled at something that wasn't niche internet crap
>You need to get out more
>Sunset returns her eyes to the road and points off to the left
>"That's my apartment over there."
"Alright."
>You pull in to the parking lot
>The closer you get to the building, the more you realize just how shitty it is
>The state of this slum makes you a little self conscious of the mansion you live in
>Why did your mother have to drag poor Sunset into Canterlot Estates?
>"Um... Anon?"
>The cars sits idle outside the front door
"What's up Sunset?"
>"You said that you go to Canterlot High right?"
"Yeah."
>"Do you maybe want to have lunch again tomorrow?"
>Not having to take the initiative is really making this easy for you
"That's sounds good Sunset."
>"Great, I'll see you then."
>She leaves the car
>In a spur of the moment decision, you roll down the passenger window
"Sunset!"
>She turn to you with her hand on the door
"For what it's worth, I really did have a nice day today."
>Her face lights up, and she waves to you as she goes into the building

>Eager to get out of the ghetto, you swing back out onto the street
>Since you're sitting in silence, you turn on the radio
>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-ZDBddRXFA [Embed]
>You didn't think this was how the day would play out when your mother woke you up
>Work on a Sunday and a lunch date with Sunset Shimmer
>Thanks mom
>A few blocks from Sunsets apartment you get stuck in traffic
>Fucking Sunday drivers pissing you off
>Would this escalate into a serious relationship?
>You'd never been in one before
>Truth be told, you weren't really interested in listening to Sunset's religious ideals all the time
>But she was a great looking girl...
"Fucking decisions!"
>You hit the edges of the steering wheel in frustration
>Remember Anon, you aren't a jerk
>No matter what, you wouldn't treat Sunset poorly
>The state of her life returns to you
>The lack of car
>Her shitty job
>That hole she lives in
>She was too nice and too vulnerable
>As you finally turn back into the entrance to Canterlot Estates, you decide to just hang out with Sunset and see if she wants to take it further
>With luck, you wouldn't have to leave your comfort zone
>You pull into your driveway and shut off the engine
>Tomorrow, you'd be back into the swing of things with work and school
>Since there was no point to worry about it just yet, you go to your room to spend the rest of the day on the internet
>But in the back of your mind, you still think of Sunset
>Man, you're turning into a real sap

>The next morning, your phone alarm rouses you from your slumber
>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EL_pBJN_O3M
>You listen to it for a while, letting yourself have a moment of feels
>Finally, you swipe your finger across the service, silencing it
>Your crusty eyes take a moment to clear and you look around your room
>Nice and organized, the exact opposite of your life
>You drag your feet to the closet to find a suitable outfit for the day
>Since you have work later, you put on some cargo pants and a t-shirt
>You had left your work boots by the door of your room, and slide them on as you make your way into the hallway
>The bathroom is being used, so you head to the stairs
>Once in the kitchen, you grab a bagel from the fridge and stuff it in your mouth while you tie your bootlaces
>Your mother enters the kitchen, adjusting her hair
>"How did your day go yesterday Anon?"
"It was pleasant."
>"I don't suppose that Sunset managed to talk some sense into you?"
"By sense, do you mean religion? Because no."
>Your mother gives a shake of her head without even glancing in your direction
>"Sometimes I don't know what to do with you Anon."
>You walk back to the stairs past her
"If it makes you feel any better, I'm meeting her for lunch today."
>As you turn on the landing, you see that she looks satisfied
>Maybe her plan hasn't been shattered yet
>But you have other plans
>In the bathroom, you use the toilet and clean your face
>You'd shave, but you still can't grow a damn beard
>Checking your phone again, you see that you need to leave
>Your boots echo loudly throughout the house as you make your way downstairs again
"I'm leaving."
>Your mother is watching the news
>"Goodbye."
>With your formal goodbye out of the way you exit your house to make your way to school

>Inspiration hits you about halfway through your commute
>Sunset has to walk everywhere, so maybe she'd like a ride
>You make a detour towards her part of town
>As you drive up her street you keep your eyes peeled for a sight of her brightly colored hair
>Lo and behold, you see her walking along the side of the road towards CHS
>It irks you slightly to see that she's walking with traffic, but it makes it easier to pull up next to her
"Need a lift stranger?"
>She jumps at your sudden appearance, but brightens when she sees that it's you
>"Hey Anonymous! Sure, I'd love a ride!"
>You open the door for her and she settles in
>Now, you wish you'd thought to at least clean out the garbage from the backseat
>At least the air freshener is new
>"Thank you so much Anonymous."
"Don't worry about it."
>Sunset is wearing her usual clothes, minus the jacket
>You notice the gold cross she has around her neck, resting above her well-endowed chest
>Eyes up Anon
>You look back to the road
>"Anon, is it alright if I turn on the radio?"
"Go for it."
>She skips through your preset stations and finds the one she's looking for
>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyRZTAmcW7c&list=PL9xnZ2XZl3GjUaK_ezNMw3E-MQgNvF3l3
>Ugh
>Why the hell did you say yes
>Sunset happily sings along to the lyrics as you drive on, doing your best to keep a straight face
>She has a beautiful singing voice at least
>You should get her to sing something that you don't find cringeworthy
>When the song ends, you turn the volume down and engage her in conversation
"So Sunset, you said that you like doing charity work?"
>"Yeah, sometimes on weekends I go to the shelter for a few hours."
"That's nice."
>"What about you? Do you ever do any charity work?"
"Not recently, I used to do plenty when I was in scouts though."
>"You were a boy scout?"
"I made it to Eagle."
>Rather than call you a faggot like you're used to, Sunset simply looks at you with admiration

>"You're an Eagle Scout? That's really cool Anon."
"I don't suppose you could tell everybody that."
>"What do you mean?"
"Most people just laugh at the concept of scouts. I kind of comes with the territory."
>"That's awful."
"You get used to it."
>Sunset looks confused for a moment
>"Anon, if you don't mind me asking, I thought that scouts are supposed to be religious?"
>She's right
>The scout law does include reverent
>You choose your words carefully as you respond
"You're right Sunset, but some people, myself included, choose not to involve themselves in that area."
>"Wouldn't they throw you out?"
"Maybe, but I'm done now, so they'll never now."
>She gazes thoughtfully at the dashboard as she comes up with a response
>"It's just that...I thought scouts are supposed to be kind and courteous and all that."
>Where is she going with this?
"They are."
>The school looms ahead
>"But you said you aren't religious?"
"I'm not."
>Damn, she looks like she's trying to solve a calculus problem
>You take your usual parking spot at the back of the lot
>You look at Sunset
"Just because somebody doesn't go to church doesn't mean they're a bad person."
>"Oh Anon, I'm not saying you're a bad person, I'm just saying..."
>You cut her off
"I know you aren't insulting me Sunset, and for the record, I never said that I'm a good person. My point is that kindness is just a matter of perspective."
>Sunset seems confused again
"Some of the shittiest people you'll ever meet are the most religious of us all."
>You unlock the doors and step out
>Over the roof of your car, you finish your thought
"And some of the best people on earth have never even heard of the Bible."
>Sunset doesn't respond immediately, and you and her walk towards the school together

>Your boots make satisfying thuds on the pavement
>The little things like that remind you that you're better than how you were raised
>You damn well could have been a snobby prick like the other people in your neighborhood
>Having a job and punching a time-clock really helped you learn some life lessons
>Getting out of the house to work did to you what you imagine being a born-again christian did to Sunset
>You're a completely different person
>Vaguely you remember what Sunset was like before that whole incident with the front of the school
>She was a bitch
>Now, as you approach the front of the school she somehow destroyed, you vow to not lecture her on religion
>She was happy, and you didn't want to make her unhappy
>You aren't a jerk
"Sunset, I'm sorry if I seem kind of pushy about my opinions."
>"It's ok Anon, everybody's different."
>She isn't put off, good
>"Besides, I think you made a good point."
>What
>No religious person in the history of all existence has ever said those words to an atheist
>What have you done?
>Inside the front foyer, you each stop and turn to each other
>"Well Anon, I guess I'll see you at lunch then."
"I guess so."
>She gives you an awkward grin and walks away
>You stand there, hands in your pockets, and watch her as she heads to class
>She really is beautiful
>From her flowing hair...down to her gorgeous rump
>unf
>The bell rings overhead, and you turn quickly so as to get to class on time
>Getting detention would spell doom for you, seeing as how you work second shift
>As you walk past the trophy cases, you look at your reflection
>Greasy clothes, shit haircut, dirty workboots
>You are not going to be a great influence on Sunset Shimmer

>After your morning classes end, you're at your locker
>You'd failed yet another math test
>A frustrated sigh escapes you
>"Hi Anonymous!"
>You look around and feel your day brighten significantly
>Sunset is there, ready for your planned lunch meeting
"Hey Sunset."
>"Ready for lunch?"
>You grab your food from your locker and shut the door
"Let's go."
>Side by side, you and Sunset walk into the cafeteria

>Across the room, you spot an empty table
"Wanna sit there Sunset?"
>"We can sit over here Anon."
>She gestures to a different table
>At it, you see Applejack the local farmer sitting with Rarity the town bicycle
>Sitting with girls, this is definitely outside your comfort zone
>"Come on Anon."
>Sunset leads the way, and you follow reluctantly
>Once you get to the table, Sunset takes a moment to introduce you
>"Girls, this is Anonymous."
>Applejack and Rarity raise a hand in greeting
>You mumble hello as Sunset and yourself take a seat
>Rarity: "Sunset I'm surprised at you, I didn't expect you to start dating."
>Sunset: "We aren't dating, Anon just works at Canterlot Steel with me."
>Rarity: "Really? What do you do there Anonymous?"
"I run a press brake."
>Rarity: "What in the world is that?"
"It's like a big machine that bends metal."
>Rarity: "Hmm."
>Silence ensues
>Awkward, heavy silence
>To spare the suffering, you eat some of the food you brought
>Meanwhile, the girls busy themselves with the latest gossip
>So interested in your sandwich, you barely hear your name get called
>Rarity: "What do you think Anonymous?"
"What do I think of what?"
>Rarity: "We were talking about you taking Sunset Shimmer out to dinner sometime."
>Your eyebrows fly upwards in surprise
"I...uh..."
>Sunset: "He doesn't have to if he doesn't want to."
>You mentally grow a pair of balls
"No, that sounds nice actually."

>"Really Anon?"
"Sure, why not? It'll make my mother happy at least."
>Sunset positively glows with happiness
>Rarity, on the other hand, gets right down to business
>Rarity: "Right, I'll put in a reservation at my father's restaurant for this Friday."
"Ok..."
>Rarity: "Also, I'm going to have to help you get a suitable outfit."
>Her eyes travel down your scummy appearance
"That's fair."
>"Sunset, do you have a dress to wear?"
>This statement causes Sunset to look sheepish
>From the state of her existence, you doubt she has a fancy dress at home
>Sunset: "I might have something to wear."
>Rarity: "If you don't, I'll be happy to help you find something."
>This enthusiasm from Rarity leads you to believe that Sunset had something to do with this arranged date
>Did Sunset have feelings for you too?
>Christ, what have you gotten yourself into?
>Sunset: "Um, Anon?"
"Yeah?"
>"I hate to impose, but do you think I could get a ride to work today?"
"Absolutely."
>The bells rings, signalling the end of lunch
>Rarity and Sunset stand up
>Rarity: "Anonymous, it was a pleasure meeting you."
"Likewise."
>Sunset: "See you after school Anon."
"Bye Sunset."

>You put in your headphones as you walk to class
>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-IWRmpefzE
>Your head casually bobs to the beat as you enjoy your walk
>Sunset really is a great girl
>You, on the other hand, are a miserable, scummy, piece of shit
>How can you possibly expect this to work?
>She's a horribly religious basketcase
>You're a faithless twat who wears wifebeaters to bed
>Admit it Anon, unless she changes, there isn't any hope
>Religious people don't change
>Especially one who's as dedicated as Sunset Shimmer
>The hallway is hopelessly packed full of other students
>You don't hear them over the music
>Anonymous, you aren't a welsher
>You agreed to go to dinner with Sunset, what's the worst that could happen?
>Rarity would see to it that the night would be pleasant
>Getting out and doing things would be good for you
>Suddenly, you find yourself outside your classroom
>Apparently your subconscious walked you here during your internal debate
>You open the door and resume your day of mind numbing boredom

>Finally, mercifully, the bell rings at the end of the day
>After stopping at your locker briefly, you head to your car to drive to work for the night
>Sunset Shimmer isn't in sight
>You make a mental note to get her phone number and wait for her
>Eventually she comes out the door to the building and walks to you quickly
>"I'm sorry Anon, I got held up in my last class."
"Don't worry Sunset, you ready to go?"
>"Yeah."
>You and her get in the car and you get in line to leave the parking lot
>"How did your day go?"
"Not bad, how about yours?"
>"It was ok."
>The pair of you continue to make small talk until you arrive at Canterlot Steel
>Like yesterday, you drop her off at the front entrance
"See you later I guess."
>"Bye Anon, thanks again for the ride."
>You shift into drive and follow a semi truck around to the back of the building
>Some of your fellow workers are hanging out by the back doors
>You see Tig Weld talking to Sand Hammer, and when they see you they grin like evil bastards
>Tig: "Hey Anon, we heard that you're finally getting it in."
>SH: "Yeah, and with that hot secretary."
"Fuck you guys."
>They laugh loudly
>You know they're just trying to rib you, so you walk past them onto the shop floor
>Allen must have told them about you and Sunset
>Too bad you never set the record straight
>Although, this might be a good chance for you to finally get the respect of the other guys
>You stroll past the heaps of steel littered around the various machines in the factory until you find your boss
>He gives you your list of jobs for the day
>Allen Wrench: "Here ya go Anon, try to get this shit done soon, management's really on our ass today."
"I'll try."

>You punch in at the timeclock
>13
>No dubs today
>After filling up your water bottle, you go to the storage racks and look for the pallet that holds your parts
>Once you find it, you load it onto a forklift and drive over to your brake
>Tig Weld is nearby, smoking his e-cig indoors
>"So Anon, what was it like the first time?"
>Ignore him Anon
>"Didja cry?"
>Just ignore him
>"I bet ya went fuckin cross eyed."
"Fuck off Tig, you ass."
>He snickers and goes back to his welding station
>After you put all the proper tooling into the break, you load the program you need into the computer
>At the break next to you, you see the other brake operator, Rivets, doing the same
>Finally, you're ready to run
>You put the first piece into the jaws of the brake and press down on the foot pedal
>It bends the part smoothly, and you pull it back out to measure the angle
"Two degrees over-bent."
>You make the necessary adjustment to your program, and then see that some of the tooling is loose in the brake
>As you stick your left arm into the machine, you hear Tig Weld behind you again
>"Did ya at least get to see her tits?"
>In your awkward position, you rotate your head to see Tig leaning against your table, grin plastered on his face
"Don't you have any work to do Tig?"
>"Pfft, they don't pay me enough to work around here."
>Before you have a chance to agree, you hear the sound of hydraulics moving from your brake
>The dies are closing
>Your arm is in between the die, holding onto one of the stops
>As your eyes go wide from fear, you slam your right hand onto the emergency stop button

>The same emergency stop button that never worked in the first place
>At the last moment, you can only be grateful that you're right handed
>The die closes on your arm
>You hear and feel the bones snap like twigs as solid steel tries to bend your arm at a fucking 90 degree angle
>As fast as it started, it ends, and the machine opens again as if all it did was bend a part
>In fact, your counter even goes up by one
>You try to remember the names of the arm bones
>The Ulna and Radius?
>Well, you can see your Ulna and Radius cleanly sticking out of your skin
>You turn to Tig
"Check it out."
>For once the smug prick seems to be at a loss for words
>Rivets, on the other hand, sees what happened and grabs a nearby phone
>The PA crackles to life and he screams into it
>"ALLEN! GET THE FUCK DOWN TO THE BRAKES NOW!"
>You slump over against your brake, holding your arm as blood sprays from the gash your bones made
"ha ha ha ha ha."
>In the distance you hear yourself laughing like a deranged lunatic
>Tig throws up violently into a corner
>Squeamish asshole
>Your legs give out and you find yourself sitting with your back against the brake
>God this hurts, why are you laughing?
>Shock, probably
>Yeah, probably shock
>As you sit, laughing like a maniac, you see the door to the front office open as Allen sprints into the warehouse
>Behind him you see Sunset
>She looks at you, sees the pool of blood you're laughing your ass off in, and puts her hands to her mouth
>As your vision goes dark, you manage to wave at her with a smile
>Black

>You find consciousness again
>Groggily, you realize that you still have eyes
>With a herculean effort, you manage to open them about halfway
>The ceiling above you reminds you of the ones in school
>Plain, white paneling
>Somewhere, a window is open, and you feel a cool breeze across your face
>The only sound is a strained, uneven beeping
>Where are you?
>By no means are you a weak fuck, but the act of looking around takes more effort than you can muster
>Blackness ensues again as your eyes roll backwards

>The next time you wake up, there is only pain
>Pain radiating in waves throughout your body from underneath the cast on your arm
>In a confused panic, you look around the room for someone, anyone, to help you
>There is nobody
>You are alone
>Alone, in pain, hopeless
>Why are you so damn tired?
>As you lay your head back, the door opens slowly
>"Anon? Are you awake?"
>From your horizontal position on the bed, you see the beginnings of a beautiful red haircut enter the room
>Followed by Sunset Shimmer

>Her eyes are red as all hell
>Apparently she's been crying
>You don't even remember the last time you cried
>She crosses the room and sits down on the edge of your bed
>Despite the pain, you get your mouth open
"Sunset, where the hell am I?"
>"You're at Canterlot General, they brought you here after..."
>Her eyes get watery again, and you remember the accident
"My arm..."
>"The doctors say you'll be able to keep it, but it'll be scarred for life."
>Scarred for life
>From the look you remember on Sunset's face when she saw you in a pool of your own blood, you doubt your arm is the only thing that'll be scarred for life
>A flash of pain makes you clench your teeth
"Sunset, can you get a nurse or something? I'm in a lot of pain here."
>"Yeah, hold on."
>Reluctantly, she stands up and leaves the room
>Moments pass and she returns, followed by a doctor
>"Hello Anonymous."
"Hello."
>"I understand you're in some pain?"
"You bet."
>"I'll have a nurse bring some painkillers in. You really are lucky, you lost so much blood we nearly lost you."
>The pain you're in nearly makes you wish that they had...
>"Luckily this young lady here allowed us to use some of her blood as a transplant."
>He indicates to Sunset Shimmer, who you see has multiple bandages wrapped around each of her arms
>Then he points to the IV stand next to you where the blood bags are held
>Ironically, you recognize the steel parts its made from
"How long am I going to be here?"
>"A few days, at least, but you'll have the cast on for a few months."
>A few months
>"Well then, if you'll excuse me, I have other patients to attend to."
>He leaves the room, and you and Sunset are alone again

>If only there was something to distract you from the pain
>Unless...
"Hey Sunset?"
>"What is it Anon?"
>You hesitate, unsure where you want this to go
"Nevermind..."
>She moves closer to you and sits on the edge of the bed again
>"Anon what is it?"
>Fuck it, you almost died apparently
"Will you sing for me?"
>"You want me to sing?"
"If you don't mind..."
>She smiles her warm smile and you feel your heart soar
>And then, she begins
>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3G72NucLEGM
>Her voice fills the room like sunlight, and you bask in its radiance
>As she finishes the song, you sing along with the last several verses
>When she stops, you and her simply sit in silence for a while
>"I didn't know that you could sing Anon."
"Don't give me that much credit, I'm awful at singing."
>"No you aren't, I just didn't think you'd know that song."
"I didn't always stay at home on Sunday you know."
>Her eyes are still watery, and you reach up to brush a tear from her cheek
>Time slows down as she leans down to you
>You close your eyes
>Her lips meet yours, and she holds you there for what feels like an eternity
>Until the door opens and the nurse walks in
>"Oops, sorry."
>She leaves the tray of painkillers on the counter
>You won't be needing them