"Has anyone seen Sunset?" Rainbow Dash asks. The entire group was hanging out in the music room like normal. However there was two exceptions.
"Now that I think about it, where's Rage?" Rarity adds on.
"Sunset was in class." Twilight says "However I didn't see Rage."
"That's unusual." Sonic says "Rage wouldn't miss school."
"Not without a reason at least." Applejack says. "I think I remember at lunch Sunset sayin' somethin' about having to stay late."
Almost as if on cue Sunset walked in. "Sorry about that…I had to make up a test." She says "How's everyone?"
"We're good." Rainbow Dash replied.
"Have you seen Rage darling?" Rarity asks.
"Not since yesterday." She says nonchalantly as she takes a seat in the windowsill.
"You're not bothered by it?" Sonic asks.
"Should I be?" She asks "I am sure he's fine."
"It's not like him to just not come to school." Twilight says
"He's probably off doing some fighting again." Sunset shrugs.
"Are you alright Sunset?" Rarity asks "You're acting pretty calm. It's not like him to just be absent and not tell anyone."
"I'm fine." Sunset replies. "I am not his mom."
"It's only one day." Sonic shrugs "I am sure he'll be here tomorrow."
"If you say so." Applejack sighs looking at the clock "Well I gotta head home and tend the fields…night ya'll."
The others say their goodbyes for the day and go their separate ways for the night.
The next day Sonic arrived bright and early with Rainbow Dash. "I enjoyed last night." Rainbow smiles as they walked down the hall to their lockers.
"Oh yeah it was awesome." Sonic chuckles. They turn to hall to their lockers were in and there was Rage closing his own locker.
"Rage!" Sonic exclaims as he and Rainbow Dash walk up to greet the red haired boy.
"Hey guys…" Rage says in a soft, quiet tone.
"You okay?" Rainbow Dash asks, looking concerned at him. Sonic cocked an eye. Something was definitely wrong. Rage's hair was unkempt and messy. While normally a bit spiky it was always spiky but neat in the sense that it was styled. Today it was just messy.
"I'm fine…" he responded in the same low tone. He didn't even look at the two. "Look I'm going to be late…I'll see you later." He says quickly walking away. The two watched him walk away slumped over and looking very closed off.
"Okay something is up." Sonic says "You saw how he looked."
"Yeah, Rage never lets himself look that messy." Rainbow Dash comments as she opens her locker. "Not to mention how quick he was to leave…he almost seems…"
"Depressed?" Sonic finishes her sentence.
"Yeah." Rainbow Dash agreed as they grabbed their stuff. They then turn to the entrance of the music room and Rarity turns the corner catching them right before they go in.
"Is it just me…?" Rarity begins asking as she enters the room. "Or is Rage…not himself?"
"We noticed it too." Rainbow Dash agrees. "He barely spoke to Sonic and I."
"I know! Not to mention his atrocious appearance today!" Rarity scoffs "If I didn't know any better I'd say he's depressed."
"We're thinking the same." Sonic agrees.
"He's not the type to get moody though…" Rainbow Dash says "If he's down like this something really bad must have happened."
"Sunset seemed pretty peppy yesterday. You think she knows about anything?" Rarity asks.
"She might." Sonic says "He definitely would tell her if something was wrong before any of us."
"Morning." Twilight's voice comes from the door as the nerdy girl walks in. The others greet her before Rarity asks her a question.
"Did you see Rage this morning?" The vivid purple haired girl asks Twilight.
Twilight tilted her head and adjusted her glasses. She had a thoughtful look on her face. "No…I didn't." She finally says. "Why? Have you?"
"We have." Rainbow Dash answers.
"So we're good!" Twilight smiles.
"If only." Sonic says "He's acting weird."
"Weird how?" Twilight asked in a concerned tone.
"He seemed almost depressed when we talked to him." Twilight answers.
"That's not to mention how he looks like a mess." Rarity comments using her hands around her head to mimic his messy hair.
"Rage always has spiky hair." Twilight says in a sassy tone.
"Not like today." Rarity says "It wasn't just spiky but messy. Normally it's like controlled spiky chaos. Today it was an unkempt mess."
"He also didn't have his shirt tucked in. He ALWAYS tucks it in." Sonic points out.
"Okay that's definitely weird." Twilight agrees "Tell you what, we have Chemistry today, I will try and talk to him."
"Thank you." Sonic says "See you after school?"
"You know it." Twilight nods.
The four then left the music room to head to class. On Wednesdays at the start of the year it was normally just the four of them…plus Rage in the room before school. With Applejack working the fields early in the morning she would make it in just before first period. Fluttershy was at the shelter in the mornings and Pinkie Pie always had to help her parents with getting the bakery ready. Shadow would be hit and miss. Sunset normally would be with Rage or helping with some activity so she was also a maybe.
Twilight went to her classes which were as uneventful as ever. Early year classes are mostly teachers setting expectations and outlining the class's content so not much to it. Lunch block wasn't special either. She sat with Applejack and Fluttershy who both shared concerns when she mentioned Sonic and Rainbow Dash's interaction with Rage that morning.
"That doesn't sound like him…" Applejack says "He's normally pretty firm and headstrong. I can't imagine him actin' like that."
"Yeah…" Fluttershy agrees "Rage is always outgoing and super friendly…not like me…"
"Aww don't feel bad Flutters." Applejack smiles, wrapping an arm around the pink haired girl. "I love ya just the way ya are!" Fluttershy smiles and looks at Twilight.
"See and that's more than enough for concern. Has Sunset said anything to you, Applejack? I know you two share a second period class." Twilight asks.
The cowgirl shook her head "Sunset didn't say a thing. Mattera fact, she was in a good mood." Applejack responds.
"Something just doesn't add up." Twilight sighs "Sunset would have been the first to know or even say anything! She's his girlfriend! Instead Sonic and Rainbow Dash are the ones catching on!"
"Well, Twilight you're smart. I am sure if anyone can figure it out you can." Fluttershy says with a smile.
Twilight smiles. The confidence from her friends was not only reassuring but a welcome comfort. "Thank you Fluttershy." She says as the bell rang "I'll let you know how it goes after class."
"We look forward to it." Applejack smiles. "Besta luck to ya Twi."
The girls got up and put their trays back before heading to class. Twilight walked into the chemistry room. As per usual she was among the first there. Sunset was sitting in the middle table by the window where she, Rage and Twilight normally sat.
Twilight walked over and set her bag down. "Hey Twi." Sunset says with a smile. "How are you?"
"Good." Twilight says "Have you seen Rage today?"
"Nope." Sunset says "Haven't seen him since Monday." Twilight nods in response, keeping her concerns to herself.
It was shortly after that Rage walked in. Twilight noticed as he just quietly made his way to the table in the back. The class was by no means full so open spots were everywhere. Rainbow Dash had been right. Rage looked like a mess. He sat down and pulled out his notebook.
Twilight tried waving to get his attention. He looked over with a sad look but immediately looked back down. "Okay that's weird." Twilight says aloud.
"What?" Sunset asks.
"Rage." Twilight says motioning to Sunset he was in the back of the room. Sunset looks back and then to Twilight.
"Is this some kind of joke?" She asks.
"What are you talking about?!" Twilight exclaims looking back. Sure enough Rage was there. Still looking down in his notebook scribbling something. "He's right back there! Can you not see that there is something clearly wrong with him!"
"You might want to clean your glasses." Sunset scoffs "He's not here…"
"I think you're the one that needs them…" Twilight retorts.
"You're seeing things." Sunset spits as she stands up. She then walks over to the very desk Rage was at. As she walked over he looked at her "It's empty…see?" She says waving her hand over the desk. Eventually hitting Rage straight in the face. Her hand seemed to show no resistance though as she hit the wall from waving her hand. Rage's own head struck the wall as she had essentially pushed it though he had let her.
She shook her hand from the impact and then went over and sat down. "See?"
Twilight could only sit in confusion. She definitely saw him. She knew what she saw. She saw the large bruise he had now. He didn't even look up. How could Sunset not have felt her hitting him?!
Secretly, out of Sunset's view Twilight pulls her phone out and opens her messaging app. She added Sonic and Rainbow Dash and messages them.
'TSpark: meet after class? Alone?
SSpeed: Why?
TSpark: It's about Rage
TSpark: …and Sunset
RBoom: K. Soccer shed?
TSpark: sure.
RBoom: g2g class start'
Twilight sighs feeling a bit reassured knowing she could talk with them about it. The teacher began roll call. Everyone's name was called. Everyone was here. Twilight looked at Sunset out of the corner of her eye when Rage's name was called and there was no comment on him being absent. He did in fact raise his hand. Sunset was zoned out though so Twilight figured she should count that as pure luck.
Class progressed normally and soon the bell came. Twilight gathered her stuff and took one last look at Rage who was slowly cleaning up his own stuff. He looked over and there was a large knot on his head now. This made Twilight worry even more. She knew Rage could take more than that. If that was from Sunset then something really was wrong one way or another.
"Twi." Sunset says nudging her to get her attention. "See you in the music room?"
"Oh…uh no I have to go meet with a teacher about some extra credit." Twilight answers.
"Already?" Sunset asks "Well good luck." She shrugs walking out of the room. When Twilight looked to the table Rage had been at she noticed he had left.
Twilight made it to the soccer shed where Rainbow Dash and Sonic were waiting. "What happened?" Rainbow Dash asked almost immediately.
"It was weird…Sunset couldn't see Rage like at all." Twilight says "She even ended up hitting him while waving her arms by where he was sitting to prove he wasn't there…"
"And?" Sonic asks.
"I think she was the only one. I saw him. The teacher saw him during the roll call too." Twilight explains "I don't know what's with him. He sat in the back, alone!"
"Whatever it is…it's between him and Sunset…" Rainbow Dash theorizes.
"Trouble in paradise you think?" Sonic asks.
"I dunno." Rainbow Dash shakes her head.
"Why don't we try finding out?" Sonic asks "I am sure we could get both of them to speak."
"How? Sunset seems dead set on saying things are fine and Rage is being very reclusive I doubt he'll say anything."
"I bet if we cornered them they'd talk." Sonic suggested.
"Sunset maybe but Rage? He'd probably just find a way to get out with his magic." Rainbow Dash responds.
"I am sure we can convince him." Sonic says. "Twilight you want to try and get something out of Sunset?"
"Sure." Twilight agrees, "Good luck with Rage." She says walking away from the two.
"So…what do you suggest?" Rainbow Dash asks Sonic.
"I dunno…Rage is hard to get a read on at times…maybe we should try and catch him on the way home?" Sonic guesses.
"I guess." Rainbow Dash shrugs.
As for Twilight, her role was easier. Sunset was easy to stop. Unlike Rage she can't just teleport away. With Sunset staying for the volleyball informational meeting Twilight knew what to do.
She waited for the end of the meeting and for Sunset to leave. As kids filed out Twilight finally caught Sunset. "Sunset!" She calls getting the fiery haired girl's attention.
Sunset walks over to Twilight away from the crowd. "Hey Twi, what's wrong?"
"I…wanted to ask you about Rage…" Twilight sighs. Hearing his name Sunset went to a…less than pleased look.
"What about him?" She huffs angrily.
"Well…" Twilight says a bit surprised by her aggressive response. "He hasn't been himself and we didn't know if you knew anything about it…given your relationship with him."
"I haven't seen him since I had an argument with him a few days ago…" Sunset says, reflecting on the sour words she had with him. "…I may have mentioned I needed some space."
"Have you talked to him since…?" Twilight asks.
"No…he hasn't been to school…" Sunset answers
"He was here today!" Twilight says "I am telling you he was here today…everyone else noticed him but you…"
"You're positive…?" Sunset asks.
"Yes!" Twilight exclaims "Why won't you believe me?!"
Meanwhile Rage was slowly making his way down the sidewalk. He was walking slowly as the warm summer sun beat down on his skin.
He was slumped over in his walk and some kids turned their heads watching him wall. He was no stranger around the school. Even others had noticed he wasn't carrying himself like he normally did.
As he crossed the street to the neighborhoods across from the school Sonic and Rainbow Dash finally caught up with him. "Hey Rage!" Sonic says with a smile.
"What do you want Sonic…?" He replies not even looking at Sonic.
"Rage, we're worried about you." Rainbow Dash speaks up. "You're not acting like yourself!"
"Please I am acting no differently than normal." Rage scoffs.
"As if!" Sonic scoffs "Rage you're walking with a slum, you look like you've been crying for the last hour and you sound terrible!"
Rage looks at Sonic and Rainbow Dash. Both had concerned looks on their faces. The red haired boy sighs a deep sigh before he answers; "Sunset doesn't want to see me." He says.
"What do you mean?" Sonic asks in a mixture of shock and confusion.
"Exactly what I said." The raid haired boy scoffs "She doesn't want to see me anymore…"
"As in broke up?" Rainbow Dash asks tilting her head confused herself.
"I guess that's a word you could use, sure." Rage says as he tries to push his way through her and Sonic. Sonic puts a hand on Rage's shoulder to stop him.
"Why would she do that?" Sonic asks him. "You two are always so happy together…"
"Probably because of who I am…" Rage says "I drive people away…no matter what I do…the path a Chaos Guardian walks always was one to walk alone…that's what drove the wedge in…and my over sensitivity to the Light and Dark is what pushed her past her limit…it's probably for the best too…"
"Don't be so hard on yourself Rage." Sonic says "Sure you're overbearing at times but deep down you care about us. You care about Sunset too. Otherwise you'd never have agreed to be more than friends with her!"
"I made a mistake." Rage scoffs.
"Rage!" Rainbow Dash shouts angrily "Stop being so damn bullheaded! Did she actually say she wanted to break up with you?!"
"She said she needed space." Rage answers breaking away from Sonic. "Now if you're done pandering me with questions I'd like to be alone." He states in an angered voice.
"Rage…" Sonic says watching the red haired boy walk off. He then ran up and grabbed Rage's arm.
"I said leave me alone!" Rage barks.
"Dammit Rage why won't you open your eyes!" Sonic shouts pulling Rage around who glared at him. "Maybe it's because you're always so focused on your whole Chaos Guardian shit! That's why you push people away! You're always worried and trying to be what they expect or want you to be! This Path of a Chaos Guardian nonsense is bullshit and you know it! It's an excuse!"
"Sonic…" Rainbow Dash runs up and grabs his arm.
"No…no…" Rage says in a dark tone "Let him finish…"
Sonic bares his teeth before he shouts again; "Why don't you focus on yourself for once in your goddamn life Rage?! What makes you happy?! Because this?! This ain't it! You can act stoic and have that 'I'm fine' attitude all you want but the only person you're fooling is yourself! Ask yourself this; are you really going to put some fate shit over your own happiness?! All you ever talk about is it! You never thought about how that makes others feel…"
"Are you done?" Rage asks, looking at Sonic. Sonic lets go and looks at Rage who turns and walked off without another word
"We did what we could Sonic." Rainbow Dash sighs. "Come on. Let's head home…"
Sonic turns and goes with Sunset as Rage goes home himself. "Now what?" Sonic sighs.
"If he wants to be stubborn, let him." Rainbow Dash scoffs "Best we can do now is touch base and see if Twilight had any better luck. Let's head back for CHS and see if we can't catch her before she leaves" she decides as they reach the corner
"That won't be necessary." Twilight's voice comes from around the corner as she and Sunset Shimmer nearly bumped into the two.
"Twilight, Sunset…how are you?" Sonic asks.
"What brings you guys over this way?" Sunset asks, ignoring Sonic's question.
"We tried talking to Rage." Sonic says, crossing his arms. "It didn't go so well…"
"How so?" Twilight asks, adjusting her glasses.
"Well, he sorta shut us out." Rainbow Dash sighs "He's beating himself up over you, Sunset."
"Why?" Sunset asks. Her tone gave a confused but worried feeling to it and her soft worrisome gaze was telling she didn't know.
"In his eyes you guys broke up." Sonic sighs.
"I just wanted some space…" Sunset sighs "I love him but…sometimes it's all about Chaos Guardian this and duty that…it makes me wonder if he even…if he cares about me or if I am just an object…"
"Considering he hasn't put out I don't think he sees you as an object." Sonic chuckles. "I mean Dash and-"
"Sonic!" Rainbow Dash shouts slapping him "That's not fair!"
"They've been dating for three years, Rainbow Dash! Come on!" Sonic scoffs rubbing his cheek.
"Rage is a bit weird." Twilight comments "He's not the most…adept in picking up social cues. Besides I am sure that isn't what has been bothering her about the relationship."
"I mean…" Sunset blushed as she spoke "I have sorta been seriously considering it…but that isn't it. It's his constant worrying about Darkness and his duty…"
"I think it comes from his own love for you." Rainbow Dash guessed putting a hand on Sunset's shoulder "I mean think of it this way…maybe he's just trying to protect you? We've all seen how fierce he gets when those he cares about are in danger…remember Starlight? Chrysalis? Jaden? Rage put his own life in danger not for his duty but for you…and for us. Heck he was nearly ready to go scorched earth when you got taken by Starlight."
Sunset smiled remembering some of those moments. "Yeah…when Starlight called to taunt him…He was so angry. I don't think I have ever seen him as angry as he was then…"
"See? I think you should go try and talk it out…" Twilight says.
"If he doesn't just shut me out…" Sunset scoffs.
"We have confidence in you Sunset." Rainbow Dash smiles "Go on!"
Sunset nods and walked down the street to Rage's house and looked back before knocking. "Soooo are we going to hang out to see how it goes?" Sonic asks.
"Nope." Twilight says "I am not getting screamed at if he find out we went digging like we did."
"I agree." Rainbow Dash says "Let's bounce." The three quickly walk off while Sunset looks at the door to Rage's house. There had been no response. So she knocked again.
This time Rage came to the door and opens it. "I don't-" he started to speak before he looked at Sunset. "S-Sunset!" He exclaims "what…are you doing here…?"
"Can I come in?" She asks.
"S-sure…" The red haired boy nods and opens the door up so she could come in. After that he closed it. The two walked to the living room where they both sat on the couch.
"Rage…" she sighs "I wanted to talk about the other day…"
"What about?" He asks in a depressed tone "You were right…"
"No, I was too harsh." She sighs "I was being selfish and I was frustrated…I know deep down you care and just have weird ways of showing it at times…"
"But-" Rage tries to object
"Rage let me finish…" she silenced him "I know you have your whole Chaos whatever and I will be honest you talk about it a bit too much at times. It's all so much and I just…I don't know…I feel like you value it more than me…"
"Sunset…I love you more than anything!" Rage states "I don't mean to sound overbearing and all…it's just…before we came here it was all I knew…I act so protective because I love you! I'm sorry…" he sighed looking away from her feeling ashamed.
"Rage…" she says softly, taking his head in her hand and making him look back at her. She then locked her lips with his in a loving kiss. Rage was a bit shocked and he ended up falling back with her. She landed on top of him and sat up. He looked up at her with a goofy and apologetic smile.
"Sorry…" he said "I wasn't quite expecting that…" she only smiled before leaning back and kissing him again. This one was more passionate and he returned it this time. They were happy once again…
