//------------------------------// // Sunset Society: The Witch from Hell 02 // Story: The Many Destinies of Sunset Shimmer // by ratedoni //------------------------------// It was both exhilarating and uncomfortable at the same time to have the girl wearing the leather jacket on her family’s kitchen. Not only because she had her legs up on the dining table without a care in the world, even though that was an incredible example of bad manners, but because before last night, Applejack would have had a corpse instead of her old friend sitting down on her dining room instead of Sunset Shimmer breathing and smoking… well, she hoped they were still friends. After the outcome of the Anon-A-Miss nightmare, Sunset probably felt a little more than angry against them and the whole school and considering her new powers, Applejack knew that if the redhead had been angry, everything and everyone would have been turned into ashes. Applejack was still a little lost in how to react, but what she knew was that she felt the happiest she had been in more than a month just by seeing her friend once more, but it was spoiled by the memories and the way they parted ways before her death. The least she could do now was try to repair any relationship they still had, but considering the fact that the girl had chosen her home as a safe haven after being returned to the mortal realm, at least by her words, then she held a modicum of love for the farm house turned business. Long ago, the apple fields of the Apple family encompassed hills and valleys. That was then, now the city had grown so much that the trees had to be replanted far enough from the city to prevent any other situation like that. Now the house stood alone with its memories and country touch, although Applejack didn’t mind it, she enjoyed having a normal life while helping distribute the Apple family cider. She tried to imagine how it would be to be in charge of a farm instead of being a semi normal school girl. The image wasn’t that bad, but she had grown accustomed to her life in the city and had no plans to move into the new ranch. Thinking about cider, she took two cold bottles from the refrigerator and put them on the table much to the obvious pleasure of the redhead. “Well, you can say this is one thing that they don’t have on the other side, so I suppose you can feel proud of that love,” the voice was the same, but there was a sense of playfulness that was so jarring from this… version of Sunset. Was that the right way to refer to her revived friend? “Hold on sugarcube, you say the other side and last night you were talking about the damn hell or something, what do you mean? Were you really… you know, down there?” “I swear, you humans always hold such respect and fear when you speak about the soul’s resting place or you go to the extreme of making fun of it. Mind you, back in Equestria it was too damn easy to blow apart the gates of Tartarus and escape for it to be scary. In here… well, it is a little bit trickier,” Sunset pulls back her head and drains the entire bottle of cider with way more glee than Rainbow on a hot day, although, probably Sunset had hotter days considering where she was some time ago “but, yes, I was in hell and it is not a place I recommend for a road trip. Mind you, I heard it is safer than Detroit.” “I wouldn’t believe you if it weren’t for the fact that I was one of the pallbearers at your funeral and I saw your dead body,” Applejack was sure that this conversation went beyond awkward and bizarre, even with the knowledge of magic and universes that they had. “Don’t I know it? Although you probably will have to tell me about it, not many can say they outlived their funeral, that’s something to brag about.” “So, how did this all start? Why were you in hell?” “That’s easy to answer, although it gets a little tricky on the way. No one knows what to do with my soul on the other side. Is quite amazing how much value a soul holding an enormous magical capacity and the knowledge of another highly magical dimension can have,” Sunset said with a huge grin remembering the chaos that had ensued after her arrival at the other side of existence. She also enjoyed the look of complete bewilderment from Applejack. “Wow, wait a minute, are you telling me both heaven and hell were fighting for your soul?” “Oh hell no love, it was every single baron and leader in hell alongside the archangels and the higher ups. In the end they decided to bring me back since if I stayed any longer in the afterlife, well... you know.” “Apocalypse here we go… oh sweet baby Jesus, that’s not something a gal wants to hear first thing in the morning,” Applejack said losing all color in her face while Sunset simply shrugged, knowing that this was a big deal for most humans “so now what? I mean, beside you going all demon-like, no offense by the way, how did you summoned flames?” “None taken by the way, after meeting real demons your life can be put into perspective, like, really hard. And about the flame, well, learned a few new tricks, although I’m not sure if I was allowed to learn them, well, what can they do? Kill me again? Because it worked so well for them,” Sunset said still showing that big smile, she then put her index finger over her mouth in the universal sign of silence. Applejack was about to ask why she did that, until her little sister walked into the kitchen. The girl was still rubbing her eyes with the back of her head and didn’t even have her usual bow on her hair. Before Applejack could say anything to her Sunset jumped into action and stood in front of Apple Bloom, who by this time had not only had her eyes open but were about double its normal size at the surprise of seeing the redhead in front of her. “Apple Bloom, I am the spirit of vengeance and I am here for your soul,” Sunset said trying to use the darkest voice she could without the need of magic, but in the end it was worth it. She was sure she will get in trouble for it, but just the terrified face of Apple Bloom and the scream that followed it will be worth any reprimand  Sunset could receive from her friends.