//------------------------------//
// XII~Advice 
// Story: Can It Be Us? 
// by King_Again 
//------------------------------//

Advice

"I'm surprised, darling, I didn't think you would ever want to talk with me or any of us again," Rarity chuckled nervously as she sat down across from Sunset in Sugarcube Corner. "Might I ask what this is about?"

"My relationship," Sunset replied. "I need advice on what to do."

Rarity held back a gasp. "Oh my, is everything alright?"

"We're on edge," Sunset mumbled. "She isn't speaking to me and I'm on the verge of yelling out at her for her to make up her mind and decide right now. But if I do that, she'll end it, I'm sure."

Rarity nodded, taking in Sunset's words before humming slightly. "I see."

"What should I do?"

"Well, I would say give her time, but I think you heard that from anyone you've asked. So, I'd say... keep trying to make an effort to keep the relationship going," Rarity explained, giving a slight smile. "It's clear you love her, so fight for it. Fight for the two of you, and make it known to her, you aren't going to back down from the relationship until you are defeated by her best efforts. You decide on what her best efforts are."

Sunset nodded slowly and bite her lip, thinking about how Sugarcoat acted. So distant, and barely talking. She could tell Sugar's heart was hurting much more than she thought possible, and she hoped to god Sugar would be able to see she only loved one person and it was her. 

"How are things at CHS?" Sunset asked, picking up her drink.

"Oh, well, things are fine," Rarity replied. "We're all doing okay, still recovering from you know what." Sunset nodded, glad she wasn't saying the name. "I can tell you all three of them are paying for their crime by a long list of punishments. We're slowly recovering, many of them ask us if we know where you are so they can apologize, but we don't say. We'd figured that was best so you could recover."

"Thank you," Sunset smiled. "Hey, look, you were the only one who actually started to believe me. So, I guess we can retry the friendship we once had. But, you don't tell anyone because I don't want to be bombed with private messages on Mystable about if I can try other friendships. Okay?"

Rarity nodded. "Of course, darling! I understand."

"Now, how... are they?"

Rarity froze up. She didn't think Sunset would even want to talk about the other Rainbooms. For all she knew, Sunset would've still wished death upon them, if she had wished for that, but she asked it so casually with a bit of unsure to her voice. But still, she was wanting to know. Why would she say no to telling her?

"Oh, well, they're okay," Rarity shrugged. "We've been writing new songs, Fluttershy mostly..."

"And Rainbow?"

"She's been... off," Rarity admitted. "She can't stop thinking about what happened. How she set that little thing up... turns out, she paid Gilda to do it and now, owes her a lot of money, which she doesn't have."

"You're kidding," Sunset mumbled. "Rainbow actually owes money?"

Rarity nodded. "She does."

Sunset smiled a little while speaking with her old friend. Yeah, so, she wasn't sure if it was the best choice, but she felt like out of everyone, Rarity deserved the second chance the most. She was the first person to believe she was innocent, and all, but she really thought Rarity might be able to help her as she was the one who had the most relationships out of them all.

Perhaps bringing Rarity back into her life would help her out, giving her an insight on what to do with Sugarcoat. But she felt like even that would backfire on her.

"Rarity, do you think I'm fated to be alone?" Sunset suddenly asked.

"What!?" Rarity gasped. "Why would you think that? Why would you even ask that?"

Sunset shrugged and held the cup tight. "Because it seems like no matter where I go, I'm always alone. Canterlot High left me alone in the end, Equestira left me all alone when despite me leaving on my own choice, but now... it seems like Crystal Prep is going to leave me alone."

"But you aren't alone, darling," Rarity replied. "You have your friends at Crystal Prep, who have been much better friends than we have been, and you have Sugarcoat!"

"But for how much longer?" Sunset closed her eyes. "I know what she'll do. Anyone with eyes can see."

Rarity shook her head. "How can you be sure? For atll you know, she's just clearing her mind up." 

"Somehow, I think I already know her answer."





Twilight didn't think Sunset would meet up with someone from her past that she hated. From what Sunset had told her before she met up with her was Rarity had been involved with something known as Anon-A-Miss but was the first one to believe Sunset was innocent and revealed the truth behind Anon-A-Miss. Firstly, Twilight had thought it was risky meeting up with someone from the past but Sunset seemed so sure of it.

So when the meeting was done, Sunset had texted her how it went and she was surprised to know Sunset was going to retry the friendship with Rarity. Of course, Twilight didn't know how to reply, so naturally she texted back saying she'd be there if something went wrong.

At least Sunset was aware of how it could go.

"Hey, Twily!" Shining grinned as he walked into the house. "How's it going, kiddo?"

"Alright, I guess," Twilight shrugged. "Me and Sunset are retrying our friendship."

"That's great!"

Twilight nodded before gazing down at her phone, and bite her lip. "She met up with someone from her past to get advice about what to do with Sugarcoat."

"Oh?" Shining said, sitting down on her bed. "Who's that?"

"Someone named Rarity," Twilight explained. "Sunset said something about her being in a few relationships, and wanted to see if something like this ever happened before. If it had, then, she could get advice on what to do. But, uh, I don't think what she says will make Sunset know what to do." 

Shining Armor nodded. "I know, kiddo. Not everyone understands what happens in relationships. It's really scary when your partner suddenly stops talking with you, and needs some time to think things through."

"Is it?"

"Oh yeah, truly," Shining replied. "I know you don't know, but what you went through after the confession, scared for the friendship is kinda what it's like but way worse. It's like, losing your best friend, someone who truly understood you, and who you depended on and could get through anything with. During the time they won't speak with you, you start to feel alone and... think no one sees you. You're, like, forgotten."

"Forgotten?" Twilight echoed.

"Forgotten, yes. Your mind starts pulling tricks, placing these awful scenarios with you until you're just stuck with them," Shining sighed heavily, rubbing his neck. "It almost seems like you've given up on the world of living. Remember when Cadance did something similar to me?"

"Yeah, you weren't yourself," Twilight nodded. "Is that what Sunset is going through?"

"Yup, she is," Shining gulped. "But I think it's much worse than we know. We have no idea about her past, and I bet only her close friends do." 

"I hope they can help her when I can," Twilight mumbled. "I don't want to see her losing any will."

Shining patted her head before standing up. "Neither do I, kiddo." 

When Shining left, it took about three or four minutes before her phone began to ring, and Twilight was quick to pick up once she saw Sunset's name spelled across the screen. 

"Sunset! What's wrong?" Twilight asked.

Sunset took a deep breath and sounded worried. "Sugarcoat texted me. She wants to meet up. Says she's ready to talk with me about everything."

Oh boy...