By the time they made it back to pinkie’s house, their bags of Candy were heavy, well, most of them were. Pinkie had eaten at least a quarter of hers already.
They all took to the bubbly girl’s room and formed a circle on the floor, dumping out their bags of candy to begin exchanging. Sunset was more or less at a loss with candy, never really indulging herself in sweets. This didn’t go unnoticed by Pinkie.
“What’s wrong, Sunset?” Pinkie asked, “Don’t you like candy?”
Sunset shrugged, “That’s just it, I don’t think I’ve had candy since before I started to teach myself magic and in human years…” She counted on her fingers, “I was six, maybe seven?”
“Almost ten years!” Rainbow exclaimed, almost as surprised as Pinkie.
“Yep.” Sunset thought for a moment, “Now that I think about it, I never really had many sweets. Maybe an occasional pudding and cupcake but that’s it.”
Pinkie didn’t say anything, instead, she grabbed a few pieces from everyone’s pile and put it in Sunset’s lap, “Tonight, you will be educated in candy! You will try them all!”
Sunset looked at the pile in her lap then at the other girls, even they thought it was too much.
“I can’t eat all of this in one night, I’ll make myself sick.” Sunset said honestly.
“Yeah,” Rainbow said, “Not everyone has your tolerance for candy.”
Pinkie nodded, “Ok… two thirds!”
Sunset rolled her eyes but held a smile, “I think I can manage that.”
***
The red head regretted her words. As it turns out, over ten years of a fairly healthy diet did not condition her stomach for massive amounts of sugar because, a couple hours later, she felt a little queasy. Maud had passed by the room when Sunset was curled into a ball and grabbed her some Advil and water from the kitchen to which Sunset accepted graciously. That was one thing Sunset liked about the human world; fast acting medication.
“So,” Pinkie said scribbling into a notebook, “Sunset can’t handle a lot of sugar.”
“What’s that book, Pinkie?” Sunset asked.
“It’s my party book.” She bounced over and showed it to sunset as the others were otherwise distracted with either video games or doing their nails, “I have a page for everyone I know. What they like, what they don’t, allergies, anniversaries, birthdays, stuff like that.” She flipped to the newest entry, “This is your page! You are a vegetarian, don’t like mushrooms though, your favorite desert is chocolate pudding, you’re great at art and you are super nice to animals!”
“Wow, Pinkie.” Sunset smiled, “How do you know all this.”
“It’s a secret!” She giggled, much to Sunset’s confusion.
“Sunset,” Rainbow said from over by the TV and console, “You wanna give it a try?”
“Me?” she asked, “But I’ve never played a video game before.”
Rainbow sighed, “I’m not even surprised anymore.” She grabbed Sunset and yanked her over between her and Applejack, “It’s really easy, you’re playing a fighting game so, you really just need to button mash until you figure it out!”
“Look,” Applejack held her remote out for Sunset to see once she started up the game, “This one moves your character and these four either punch kick or grab. The rest of the buttons you’ll figure out on your own.”
Sunset nodded and took the controller Rainbow was holding out for her. At first, she was really slow on the uptake but after a few rounds, she was actually landing hits. A few hours later, she was actually putting up a challenge, much to Applejack and Rainbow Dash’s surprise.
“You learn quick.” Rainbow said frantically pressing buttons on her controller.
“You have to if you’re going to learn how to survive in a completely different dimension.” Sunset said, killing off Rainbow Dash’s character.
“Ha, Beginner’s luck.” Rainbow dash said, then she and Sunset yawned.
“Sounds like it’s time for bed.” Pinkie yawned, “We should probably get all this face paint and makeup off first.”
It took the girls over an hour to get all of the makeup off. Those who were done first ended up having to help the others because their hands were getting tired but finally they did it. Afterwards they laid out their sleeping bags and hunkered down for the night.
“So how was your first Halloween and sleep over?” Pinkie Pie asked.
Sunset smiled despite knowing no one could see her. “It’s actually been really fun. I’m glad you invited me.”
“Me too.” Fluttershy pipped in, “I would never have had the courage to knock on all those doors alone.”
“And I think I have an actually challenging opponent at that there fightin’ game.” Applejack said.
“I also loved seeing your face when you took out your jacket.” Rarity said, “Seeing my friends smile like that is what I live for.”
“Me too!” Pinkie said, “And you actually make friends really easily! You and Maud got along great!”
“Please, I do not make friends easily.” Sunset said, “I avoided you guys for weeks!”
“That’s totally different.” Rainbow said, “You were just afraid you didn’t deserve it but you came around.”
“Yes,” Rarity said, “Tonight you acted like…well, another teenager having a good time with friends, instead of being scared about what others might think. You and Maud just started up a conversation and she liked you for who you are.”
“But she doesn’t know how I was a month ago.” Sunset retorted.
“Yes, she does.” Pinkie said, “I usually told her about the things you did since freshman year and after the fall formal but I also told her about how super nice you are now!”
“Really?” Sunset said, a little shocked that anyone would even want to talk with someone who had treated their sister the way she did.
“Yeah,” Pinkie explained, “She was really upset when I told her I invited you over. She looked super happy after your chat though!”
Rainbow snickered, “I could see that.”
Rarity leaned in to Sunset to whisper; “Pinkie is the only one who can read Maud’s expressions.”
Applejack leaned over from the other side of Sunset, “You get used her…personality.”
Sunset was confused but she remained silent. So, this is what having friends feels like. I don’t want to lose this.
***
“Can you feel it?” a demonic voice spoke as Sunset floated in the blackness.
“Feel what?” Sunset asked fearfully, “Who are you?”
“You already know that answer, you just hope you’re wrong.” The voice spoke, “As for the other, magic of course.”
“No,” Sunset said, “Twilight took the crown back to Equestria. There isn’t magic here anymore.”
“Oh, that’s what you think?” Sunset knew the voice now, it was hers. No. It was her demon’s. “You put on the crown, you gave this world magic and now it’s closer to you than you would like.”
“You’re wrong.” Sunset said adamantly.
“Am I? Or do you not want me to be?” The demon questioned.
“I don’t want that temptation again.” Sunset said, “I like having friends. I don’t want to be the power crazed person I used to be. I don’t want to hurt people! I don’t’ want to get my friends hurt!” Tears stung at her eyes.
“Ah, Sunset.” It said, “You will see that you have no choice in whether or not there is magic. It’s already a part of you. As for your friends…”
The scene changed and Sunset was standing by the statue, right behind her demon as it stood against her new friends and Princess Twilight. The demon formed the ball of flame in her hands.
“NO!” Sunset shouted, “Stop! Don’t hurt them!”
“If you want to protect your friends so much;” She looked at Sunset and chucked the ball, “SAVE THEM!”
The ball made contact and exploded.
***
“Sunset!” Rainbow called, shaking her shoulder.
Sunset’s eyes snapped open and she sat up quickly, connecting Rainbow’s forehead with her own.
“Rainbow!” Sunset gasped as she and Rainbow rubbed their heads, the other girls sitting in their sleeping bags watching the two, “I am so sorry. What were you doing so close?”
“Ow.” She grumbled, “Trying to wake you up, obviously. You looked like you were having a nightmare.”
“Oh, yeah, sorry.” Sunset said quietly.
“Why are you apologizing, Sunset?” Rarity asked, “You were having a nightmare. You can’t control your dreams.”
Sunset sighed, “Yeah I know, but It’s not exactly an irregular occurrence, I’m just not used to people waking me up from one.”
“Irregular occurrence?” Fluttershy questioned, “How often does this happen?”
Sunset hugged her knees, “Every night since the formal. But I’m fine, really. I’m just working through some stuff.”
“Did ya tell Principal Celestia?” Applejack asked, “She’s supposed to be your councilor ain’t she?”
“No, I haven’t told her.” Sunset said, “I can handle it myself.”
“No offence, dear,” Rarity spoke, “But if you’ve had nothing but nightmares for an entire month, you need to talk to someone about it.”
“I’m talking to you about it.” Sunset pointed out.
“Are you going to tell us what they are about?” Rarity inquired.
Sunset stopped for a moment, “I see your point.”
“Look,” Rainbow stepped in, “I know us being your friends is really new to you and it will take a while for you to open up like we do. But you do trust Principal Celestia so I think you need to talk to her.”
Sunset raised a brow, not because she was confused, she thought it was a sound point but it was odd hearing such heartfelt, yet true, words from Rainbow Dash of all people. However, Rainbow did usually show her softer side when she cared so coming from her, it was a lot.
“You have a point.” Sunset resolved, “I will tell you guys when I’m ready, OK?”
Everyone nodded in agreement and initiated a group hug. But Sunset knew she couldn’t hold it in for much longer, that she really can’t figure it out on her own. Her friendships, however, were so new she didn’t want to upset them. So, she resolved to talking to Principal Celestia as soon as Monday rolled around in hopes that she will put things into perspective.