//------------------------------// // Ch. 14-Honesty // Story: Equestria Girls-Manehattan University // by Burning_Heart //------------------------------// After being released from the local hospital, Sunset along with Burning both arrive at The Tempest Shadow house with Sunset afraid of going inside. "Whats wrong, Sunny? Don't you want to go inside," asked Burning. "I don't know, Burnie. I've been keeping the visions I've been having all week a secret. And I'm still scared to tell them what I've seen," said Sunset. Burning pats Sunset on the back, surprising Sunset. "Look, I know that I haven't known your friends for as long as you have. But they all seem like strong people and I'm sure they can handle what you tell them." Burning then flashes her a smile, telling her, "Plus I'm sure they would like it if you were honest with them." Sunset thinks about what Burning said before coming to the conclusion that he's right. So without further hesitation, Sunset opens the door into to the building. "Girls, I'm ba..." Suddenly, a pink blur runs to Sunset and Burning and it lands on top of Sunset and it turns out to be a crying Pinkie Pie. "Oh Sunset, I'm so glad you're okay. WAAAA" cried Pinkie. Pinkie is suddenly lifted off of Sunset, being picked up by Applejack. "Calm down there sugarcube, Sunset just got released from the hospital. Don't want to send her back now do ya," said Applejack. She places Pinkie Pie down and goes to help up the down Sunset. Sunset looks behind Applejack and sees the rest of her friend wanting to welcome her home. Twilight holding Spike, Rainbow Dash with Tank, Rarity holding Opel, Fluttershy with Angel, and Rosebud with Wally. "Hey girls," said Sunset. "Sunset, if you weren't feeling well, why not say anything," asked Twilight. Rainbow Dash jumps in and tells Sunset, "Ya, what if you had been by yourself and nobody had a called you a..." A crystal wall pops up in front of Rainbow Dash, created by Rarity. "Oh hush now Rainbow. Sunset was just released so we should let her rest," said Rarity. Rarity then dispells the crystal wall. Rosebud goes up to Sunset and places a hand on Sunset's shoulder, "Come on, Sunny. Let's get you to your room so you can rest," said Rosebud. "Thanks, Rosie. But there's something I need to tell you all something first," said Sunset. "What's the matter, Sunset," asked Fluttershy. "It's something pretty big." Sunset then takes everyone into the living room to tell them about the visions that she's been having all week. ____________________ After the next few minutes passed, Sunset finishes telling everyone about the visions she's been having all week. "I'm sorry, I know I should have told you all earlier," said Sunset. She looks at her friends and can see the look of despair on their faces. Spike looks up at Twilight and asks her, "Twilight, you're not going to die, right?" Not knowing how to respond, Twilight sits there in silence and holds Spike tighter. "Gosh, so not only do we all not make it, but the Shadow Man grows a whole darn army," said Applejack. "Goodness, you told us how grim it was before, Sunset," said Rarity. "But this is WAY worse than before," yelled Pinkie. "Wow, this is the first time I've heard one of your visions, Sunny. That's just scary," said Rosebud. "So nothing has changed, has it," said Fluttershy. Everyone sits there in silence when out of nowhere, Rainbow Dash slams her foot on the floor and surprises everyone and scares the pets. "Come on, why is everyone so down in the dumps." Everyone then focuses on Rainbow Dash. "We've gone through some much in the last couple of years now and we've come winning too." A smile comes to Sunset's face, "Rainbow's right. We've haven't lost yet, so we can change the future. Nothings set in stone and since we know he'll be raising an army, we just need to get stronger and try to increase our team." A hand is placed on Sunset's shoulder, she looks and sees Burning. "I've already said I'd help out and I'm sure the rest of the guys will help out too," said Burning. With the mood of the room going from despair and it turns into hope. Everyone begins to smile, feeling like they really can win. Sunset places her hand out, followed by Burning placing his hand on top of Sunsets. Shortly everyone places their hands on top of one another. "Remember. No matter how we will come out victorious," said Sunset. Everyone nods in agreement and they raise their hands into the air and they all yell, "We've got this." A door slams open from upstairs, "HEY, QUIET! SOME OF US ARE TRYING TO SLEEP," yelled Fizzlepop before slamming her bedroom door. "Sorry Ms. Fizzle," yelled Pinkie. ____________________ A couple of days passed by and everything seems to have gone back to normal. Over at the business management course, we see Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and Brownie Bite about to leave the classroom of Steven Magnet. "So, Y'all want to head on over to the cafe and grab some grub," asked Applejack. "AW YA! Brownie, didn't you say you were working on a new cake recipe he's been working on. I need to try it," said Pinkie Pie. "Sure thing, Pinkie. By the way, Ginger said that we got a new shipment of teas in," said Brownie. "That sounds nice," said Fluttershy. The five friends head for the door to the classroom, their teacher call out toward, "Pardon me, but Applejack, dear could stay behind for just a few minutes," said Steven Magnet. Everyone is shocked to hear that Applejack needed to stay behind. "Um, sure thing, Mr. Magnet. You girls go on ahead now," said Applejack. Everyone nods and leaves the room. "What seems to be the problem there, sir," said Applejack. "Oh, honey, class is over now. Please, just call me Steven." Feel awkward about doing so, since he is her teacher, Applejack asks him, "Am I in trouble or somethin." "Oh goodness no, I just wanted to ask if you're doing alright. You've seemed off lately," said Steven. Not knowing what it is he was talking about, Applejack tells him, "Yep, doing just fine, Mr. Magnet." "Sweetie, after being married to someone as long as I have, you can tell when someone is when someone isn't being honest. So tell me, is everything okay," asked Steven. Applejack hesitates to respond to him because, in the back of her mind, she knows she isn't being honest. Not to her friends and not to herself. "No, I'm not." "Please, tell me what's wrong dear," said Steven. Applejack goes to sit down at a nearby desk and she turns her phone to silent. She takes a deep breath and she asks, "Mr. Magnet, was there ever a point in your life where you felt like you weren't being honest with everyone around you, especially yourself." Steven leans back in his chair to think about the question. It didn't take long for him to come up with an answer. "No, I can't say that I have. Do you feel like that dear," said Steven? "Maybe, but I'm not sure about it myself," said Applejack. "Would you feel better if you told someone about what it is that you feel like you need to get off you're chest," said Steven. "I guess so." "Then go ahead, dear. I'm all ears." Applejack takes a deep breath. "I have a secret that I haven't told my friend and family and I feel like I need to tell them. But I'm too scared to tell them. To tell them that I'm-," but Applejack stop herself from talking and looks down. Steven looks at Applejack and can see that she's trying to hold back the tear. "Honey, let me tell you a story." Applejack looks at Steven and listens to what he has to say. He gets up out of his chair and walks to a nearby window. "Back when I was going to college, same as you, I had a friend who kept a secret from his friends and family for a long time too. One day he felt like if he didn't tell someone, it would keep eating away at him. So one day, he decided to gather his closest friends together and told them, 'Fellas, I'm gay.' After telling them, it felt like a huge weight was lifted off his shoulders. And you know what happened next?" "What was it," asked Applejack. "They accepted him. They told him that they were proud of him for telling them. So he felt that he should tell his family too," said Steven. "And what did they accepted him too," asked Applejack. "Sadly, no they didn't. They disowned him but he made peace with that. He knew that not everyone was going to accept him and he made peace with that," said Steven. Applejack sat there in silence, thinking about what Steven said. He walks back to his desk and sits back down. "What I'm saying is, sometimes it's better to tell the people you trust with a secret and you might just feel better about," said Steven. Applejack thought about what Mr. Magnet said. Maybe it was time to tell them. With the coming threat of the Shadow Man coming if she didn't tell them now, she never will. She gets up from the desk and tells Mr. Magnet, "Thank you, Mr. Magnet. I feel like I can tell them now," and she leaves the classroom to meet up with her friends at the cafe. ____________________ Later that night at the Tempest Shadow house, Applejack gather her best friends together. Everyone meets up in the living room of the house and sits down. "What's the matter Applejack, is something the matter," asked Fluttershy. "No, no. Everythings fine, it's just that there's somethin I need to tell you Y'all," said Applejack. "Well don't keep us in suspense, what is it," asked Rainbow Dash. This was it, the moment that Applejack knew that one day she was going to have to tell her friends herself. She looks over the row of seats that sat her friends. From Sunset, Twilight, Rainbow, Pinkie, Rarity, to Fluttershy. Applejack takes in a deep breath and exhales and she tells her friends, "Girls, I'm a lesbian. I've liked girls for as long as I can remember. It's something that I've kept closeted for a while now and I felt that it was time I told you all and I hope that you can accept me." The room grew silent that you could hear a pin drop. Applejack told her friend the truth and there was no going back. She hung her head down and waited to hear a response. But quicker then she thought, "Thank you for telling us, AJ," said Sunset. Applejack looks up to see her friends all giving her smile, "You mean, you all accept who I am," asked Applejack. "Of course we do, silly," said Pinkie. "Why wouldn't we accept you," asked Fluttershy. "You're still the same Applejack to us," said Twilight. "It was really brave of you to come out to us," said Rarity. "Seriously, we have been through so much together," said Rainbow. "This changes nothing with our relationship, AJ. We'll always be our friends and we'll always love you," said Sunset. Applejack couldn't believe it. After being afraid for a long time of telling her friends that she was a lesbian, they still consider her a friend and no matter what will always love her for who she is. And without realizing it, tears begin to roll down her face, cause a huge weight has been lifted off of her. She wipes away the tears and sees that the girls have their arms wide open and she goes in to hug her friends. Everyone group hugs Applejack and more tear roll down her face with everyone else starting to cry. "Thank you, girls. I love Y'all so much," said Applejack. ____________________ The next day, Applejack goes to pay a visit to Steven Magnet. She reaches his classroom and she knocks on the door, "Yes, come on in," said Steven on the other side. Applejack then opens the door, "Um, Mr. Magnet," said Applejack. "Aw, Applejack, sweetie, please come on in," said Steven. Applejack walks into the room and sits down at the nearest desk. "So, what can I do for you today," asked Steven. "Well, I just wanted to say thank you," said Applejack. "Oh, and what for," asked Steven. "For helping me out yesterday. After talking to you, I finally decided to talk to my friends about my secret and when I go home to see my family, I'm going to tell them too," said Applejack. "And, did you feel any better after telling them," asked Steven. Applejack smiles and nods, "I haven't felt better." Applejack pulls out her phone to look at the time. "Sorry Mr. Magnet, but there's someone I need to go see." "Not a problem, dear." Applejack starts a starts to leave the classroom but stops that the doorway, "Mr. Magnet, that story that you told me yesterday. That was you, wasn't it," asked Applejack. "Goodness, no. That was my husband in that story," said Steven. Applejack forms a soft smile on her face and she tells him, "Your husband is lucky to have someone like you." Applejack then leaves the room, leaving Steven alone. He looks over a photo that he has on his desk and he tells himself, "No dear, I'm the lucky one," as he looks at an old photo of himself with who would be his future husband along with his best friend, Cranky. Applejack runs off to one of the campus courtyards to meet up with someone. When she arrives, she spots the person she wanted to meet up with, Rosebud. She waves her arm and yells out, "Hey, Rosie!" Rosebud sees Applejack and runs up to her, "Hey Jackie," said Rosebud. "So what was up last night, I got home and I see you and the rest of the girls in a big group hug." "Don't worry bout that now, I'll tell you later. More importantly, there's something I wanted to ask you," said Applejack. "Sure what is it?" Applejack looks over at Rosebud and her heart starts to beat faster and faster. She swallows down her fears and Applejack asks, "Rosie, would you like to go out sometime. You know, like on a date." Shocked by what Applejack had just asked her, Rosebud gets red in the face. She then smiles and she tells Applejack, "Sure, I'd love too."