//------------------------------//
// Epilogue: The Long Road of Redemption Pt. 3 (Apple Bloom) 
// Story: Through the Eyes of Anon-a-Miss 
// by sonicfan05 
//------------------------------//

Apple Bloom sighed heavily as she grabbed her things from her locker before going home for her Winter Break. Her day had not been so easy ever since she and her friends confession to the students about their actions for the past two weeks. Out of all of her friends, she received the most hostile from the students due to her being the ringleader of Anon-a-Miss. Even with the supervison from the teachers, the students held nothing back. They've been throwing insults at her whenever they see her, throwing paper balls and erasers at the back of her head during classes, purposly tripping or bumping into her, there was even someone from her class poured a small carton of milk over her head (then was sent to detention by a teacher as a result) during lunch. Despite all the abuse she was getting from the students, she took every single one of them as retribution for ther actions. She silently mulled if this is what Sunset had to go through after the events of the Fall Formal and throughout two weeks during Anon-a-Miss fiasco.

After putting on her winter coat, Apple Bloom grabbed her backpack, closed her locker and walked down the hallway, while ignoring many hateful glares from other students. As she was walking by, she spotted two familar people; Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon. She watched as the two of them were having a conversation, although Diamond appeared to be emotional while Silver's expression was skepical and full of doubt. Apple Bloom felt guilt filling her heart for being the one to split Diamond's and Silver's friendship apart. She doesn't want this to happen because of her, so she was determined to fix this. Even if they never wanted to forgive her, she can at least bring the two of them back together.

With a sigh, Apple Bloom walked up to the two of them. As she got closer, the pair noticed the farmer girl. Diamond had a neutral but calming expression, while Silver Spoon had an hostile and anger look on her face and crossed her arms as soon as she saw Apple Bloom. By the time Apple Bloom reached them, Silver Spoon spoke before Apple Bloom could utter a single word.

"What do you want?" Silver Spoon spat. "Haven't you done enough damage already, Anon-a-Miss?"

"Silver!" Diamond exclaimed.

"No it's okay... Ah deserved that," said Apple Bloom with a tired sigh. "Ah want to apologize... to the both of ya. We, especially me, let our jealousies got the best of us when our sisters spent more time with her than us. We posted everyone's secrets and made it look like it was Sunset in hopes to get our sisters back... which turned out to be a terrible mistake!"

"That's putting it mildly!" Silver scoffed with her piercing glare, causing Apple Bloom to flinch somewhat.

"Okay... it was beyond terrible," Apple Bloom corrected meekly. "Still, we all regretted for what we did to our sisters, to Sunset Shimmer... and to you guys. We really did not mean to let things escalate like this... especially for causin' yer friendships between the two of you to split apart." Apple Bloom sighed sadly. "If y'all lookin' fer someone to blame... than blame me. Even if you both hate me forever after this, I hope y'all find it in your hearts to forgive me someday."

No one said a word. Diamond appeared to be in deep thought while Silver's glared angrily at Apple Bloom in rage, making the young farmer fidget in he place. Finally, after a moment of painful silence, Diamond spoke.

"Well... to be honest Apple Bloom... I have... mixed emotions from you," Diamond said calmly. "On the one hand... I'm angry– no... furious with you three for what you done to me and Silver! You nearly single-handedly destroyed my friendship with Silver with that photo you posted online for everybody to see!"

"Well technically... that was Scootaloo's fault for posting that," Apple Bloom responded, only to wince when she saw Silver scowled at her. "B-but that's no excuse!" Apple Bloom added quickly. "We all felt terrible for that and we didn't want you guys to stop being friends again because of us!"

"Yeah well, you should feel bad for it you secret exposing hick!" Silver shouted,

"Silver! That's enough!" Diamond scolded. "If you don't have anything nice to say, then don't say it!"

"Fine! You know what? I'm getting my things from my locker!" Silver snapped as she stopped away from them, but not before she shoved Apple Bloom out of her way. "Go talk to me when your done talking with that... jerk face!"

Apple Bloom was hurt from Silver's comment, but she knew she deserved it. Quite frankly, she knew that Silver will react that way even after she apologized. What hurts her the most was that they just decided to be friends after helping Diamond, only for Silver to despite her again after her stunt. It is going to take more than a simple apology until Silver decided to forgive her.

If she forgives her that is.

"I'm sorry about that Apple Bloom," Diamond sighed. "Silv is still upset after finding out that you and your friends... well... you know."

Apple Bloom nodded. "Ah understand. Like Ah said... Ah deserved it. Ah expected that she won't forgive me right away... or ever."

"Just... give her time," Diamond advised. "She'll eventually come around. I mean, she dealt with me after all," she joked, attempting to lighten up the mood. Her expression changed to much more serious. "Anyway, Silver's... unnecessarily outbursts aside, what you three really did hurt me... and it's hard for me to forgive you."

Her expression than soften a little. "But on the other hand... I can't really held it out against you either for doing that to us. After all... I was a horrible bully to you three for years until recently. I'm not surprised that you still have some resentment towards me and Silvs."

Apple Bloom wanted to assure Diamond that it wasn't true, but she couldn't bring herself to do it especially after everything that happened. Instead, she sighed and looked at her friend in the eye with a guilt expression.

"Well... to tell ya the truth, part of me had some doubts that you've changed for the past few months," she answered truthfully. "Sometimes... Ah figured you were secretly waiting to get back at us when our defenses are down. But after Ah get to know ya, especially at the mall a few days back... Ah was wrong. You are actually a lot of fun to hang out and Ah can see that you are a good person now." She sighed sadly. "Still... even before our hang out, Ah didn't gave ya a fair chance just like how Ah didn't give Sunset a chance. Fer that... Ah'm sorry for not only hurting you... but for doubting you too."

"Apology accepted," she responded softly, but her eyes looked sad. "Again... I don't blame you, but it still hurts though. I really wanted to be your friend, but... I'm not sure I'm ready to forgive you... at least not right now."

Apple Bloom frowned sadly, but she nodded. "Ah understand. Ah knew it may take some time, but Ah wanted to make up to both you and Silver and hopefully... we can start over, wiping our slates clean." Apple Bloom took her backpack off of her back and started to dig through it, looking for something. "While this may not be enough to make up for everythin' we... Ah done... but Ah hope that this'll be enough to start."

She eventually found the thing she was looking for and she slowly took the item out of her bag. Once the item took out was in view, Diamond let out a huge gasp.

"My necklace!" she cried at the site of the necklace. "Silver's necklace!" she corrected. 

Apple Bloom handed the necklace over to Diamond for her to examine the item for any damages from her fight with Silver, only to find none. In fact, it looked like it was brand new like it came from a store.

"But... how!?" she exclaimed as she looked at her friend with wide eyes. "It was destroyed after Silv and I pulled it apart!"

Apple Bloom chuckled. "Well first off, Ah was forced to picked up every single piece of that necklace by that mall security after your fight with Silver."

Diamond blushed both from guilt and embarrassment. "O-oh! I'm sorry about that!"

"It's fine. Ah was planning to pick them up mahself anyway," Apple Bloom reassured. "Anyway, I kept these fer a while until the night we confessed to our sisters about... you know," she explained. "Ah asked Pinkie Pie if one of her sisters could fix the necklace. You see, her sister is a real expert when it comes to rocks, including jewelry! She sometimes likes to create many rock themed necklaces as a hobby. To mah amazement, she managed to fix this necklace as exactly how it was and good as new almost overnight!" Her expression than became nervous. "So... does it look okay?"

Diamond gave Apple Bloom her astonished look. "Okay!? This is amazing!" she cried happily. "Apple Bloom I... I don't know what to say!"

"You don't have to say anythin'," Apple Bloom responded softly. "Just know that your friendship really means a lot to me... and Ah hope you know that someday."

Apple Bloom threw her backpack over her shoulder and then she turned and headed down the hallway towards the school's entrance. She only took a few steps until Diamond called her.

"Apple Bloom!"

As Apple Bloom turned around, she was suddenly engulfed into a hug by Diamond.

"...thank you," Diamond whispered. She then immediately broke her hug and ran down the hallway towards Silver's locker.

Apple Bloom watched as Diamond caught up to Silver, who still had a skeptic expression, and started talking to her again. Apple Bloom then witnessed Silver's shocked expression as Diamond showed her the repaired necklace and placed it on Silver's hands. After a few more words were exchanged, the two hugged each other tightly with tears in their eyes and huge smiles on their faces. Apple Bloom smiled at the sight, happy to see them mending their friendship, before she continued on her way towards the front entrance.

She was then outside into the snow, as tiny snowflakes slowly descending from the sky. Apple Bloom went down the stairs and walked down the sidewalk until she was at the parking lot, where Applejack was waiting for her near her pickup truck.

"Hey," Applejack greeted, but lack of any warmth from her voice.

"...hey," Apple Bloom responded meekly.

Even after her sister forgives her, Applejack is still angry at her for not only humiliating her with the nickname she posted online, but also nearly cost her best friend due to her stunt. The rest of her family wasn't so happy with what she had done either, so as a result, she was grounded for six months. Additional punishments includes her laptop was confiscated until further notice, her phone was replaced with an old flip phone (so she can use it to call instead of going online) for the time being and have to do extra work around the farm. While Apple Bloom was glad that Applejack is somewhat back to her normal self, but Applejack was still distant, but only from Apple Bloom instead of her friends. It hurt Apple Bloom a lot that her sister is a lot more distant to her than ever, but she have no one to blame but herself.

"So... bad day?" Applejack asked, eyeing Apple Bloom's sticky hair from the milk earlier today.

"...you could say that," Apple Bloom replied with a dejected sigh. "Everyone tortured me nonstop ever since we confessed this mornin'! Even apologizin' to them personally doesn't stop them fer hating me!"

"Yeah... Ah noticed," Applejack stated. "This was somethin' that Sunset had to go through after the Fall Formal... but much worse."

Apple Bloom winced. She remembered a few days after the Fall Formal, Sunset tried to apologized to everyone and even tried to be friendly, only to get turned away and treated badly from all the students... including herself. Back then, Apple Bloom thought that it was justified and satisfaction that Sunset gets everything she deserved and doesn't deserved forgiveness. But now, after going through what possibly be the worse day of her life, she realized how Sunset must have felt about trying to make things right, but no one gives you a chance. This only added more guilt to her never ending pile of shame.

"And yer not the only one who's trying to make up sis," Applejack added. "After everything that happened... Ah learned fer the past two weeks is dat Ah shouldn't let mah doubts and fears held me back... and that Ah should listen to my friends... instead of jumping to conclusions and not giving them a chance like a stubborn mule." She sighed sadly. "Even after Sunset forgave us... Ah sensed that Sunset is weary of us and acted much more cautiously as if we're ready to accuse her... not that Ah could blame her." She then gave Apple Bloom a very harsh glare. "Our whole point for our planned slumber parties was to make her feel comfortable and make her feel like she belonged with us! But thanks to yer stunt, she felt more isolated than before!"

Apple Bloom felt like she just got punched in the stomach from the way her sister was talking to her. "Ah really didn't think Applejack!" She exclaimed. "I just wanted to be part of the fun too, but yer never around much anymore!"

Applejack crossed her arms. "You know you could've wait until Christmas Eve when everyone's at our place, including your friends! You three were invited you know!"

Apple Bloom flinched. Due to her anger and stubbornness of trying to separate Sunset from her sister, she had completely forgotten that they're having a group get together on Christmas Eve with her being included with them. Meaning, she would've been able to spend a lot of time with her sister and her friend's actives regardless. Heck, she would have spend time with her sister on Christmas day. With that revelation, she now realized just how stupid her plan really was, if not already. 

"Okay in hindsight... Ah didn't think things through," Apple Bloom mumbled, feeling embarrassed with herself.

"Did ya ever think at all when you were posting secrets to humiliate everyone... including me!?" Applejack yelled.

Stung by her sisters words, she looked down with her eyes clenched shut, and her tears of sadness were leaking out despite her efforts.

Seeing her younger sister looking so miserable, Applejack expression soften and tilted her stetson hat slightly downward. "Ah already reported all those incidents with those kids harassin' ya to Principal Celestia. They'll take care of 'em!"

What Applejack just said caught Apple Bloom off-guard to the point that she nearly stopped crying. 

"You... are?" she asked quietly with a sniff. "But... Ah thought you hated me right now."

Applejack sighed heavily. "Apple Bloom... look at me!"

When Apple Bloom looked up to her sister with watery eyes, Applejack spoke to her in a way as a caring parent to her child.

"Ah could never hate you Apple Bloom," Applejack said with a smile. "You're mah sister and Ah'll always love you!" She then frowned. "But what you did really hurt me, mah friends, the students of this school and most of all, Sunset Shimmer! Ah'm hesitant to trust you or share anything with you now. It will take a lot of time, but you need to work hard and do a lot of making up in order to earn mah trust back."

Apple Bloom sighed sadly but she looked down and nodded. "Ah understand Applejack."

To Apple Bloom's surprise, she felt she was engolfed into a hug. She looked up to see her sister who was beaming down at her.

"Hey, chin up!" she said softly. "It won't be forever! As long as you put into a lot of effort to make up to people, things will get better in time! You'll see!" Applejack then broke her hug and gave her sister a wink. "Now, y'all really to head on home?"

With a hopefull and happy smile, Apple Bloom nodded. 

Just as she was following her sister to the pickup truck, she spotted something from the corner of her eye. She saw Sunset Shimmer walking down the sidewalk away from the school while trying to be discretely. From what Apple Bloom have heard, Sunset received nothing but apologizes from almost every student since the CMC's confession. Apple Bloom wasn't sure if Sunset have forgiven any of them (although knowing Sunset, she probably did), but what she does know that Sunset received a lot of attention again as a result, but at least it was more positive this time around. 

Sunset haven't spoken to them since last night. She wondered if Sunset truly have forgiven them or is she resentful now that she knew who was the identity of Anon-a-Miss. Not to mention, Apple Bloom remembered what she learned from Principal Celestia earlier that Sunset was the one who pulled some strings to give her and her friends another chance. While she could just wait until the party later to ask Sunset about it, but Apple Bloom decided not to wait any longer.

Plus, there was something else she needed to do to clear the air with Sunset.

"Um... Applejack, Ah'm actually gonna walk home today," Apple Bloom announced to her sister as she subtly pointed her head towards Sunset's direction.

Applejack finally noticed who was her sister pointing to and gave her sister her warning glare. "Apple Bloom!"

"Ah'm just gonna talk her!" Apple Bloom explained while holding her hands up in defense. "Ah won't do anythin' bad to her! Ah promise!"

Applejack continued to stared at her sister, making sure that her sister was not lying to her again. Shortly after that, she relented.

"Alright then," said Applejack before looking at her sister sternly. "Be sure to be back at the house with Sunset! Ya hear?"

Apple Bloom nodded. "Thanks AJ! Ah'll see ya later!"

As Apple Bloom ran off after Sunset, Applejack watched her sister with a smile.

"Good luck Sugarcube," she whispered before getting into her truck.

Apple Bloom tried to catch up to the fiery haired girl as quick as she can, despite that she had to slow down a few times due to some ice on the sidewalk. When she eventually got closer to Sunset, Apple Bloom called out to get her attention.

"SUNSET!"

Thankfully, Sunset stopped walking and turned around towards her. When she laid eyes on Apple Bloom, Sunset frowned deeply.

"Oh... what is it Apple Bloom?" Sunset said dully.

Apple Bloom nearly flinched from Sunset's tone, but she expected that Sunset was not going to be happy to see her. Not wanting to ware Sunset's patience, Apple Bloom immediately started a conversation.

"Sunset, are ya... mad at me?" Apple Bloom asked nervously, nearly winced at herself at her lame opening.

Sunset frowned deeper. "Yes... I am."

Apple Bloom swallowed, while fidgeting in place. "Listen, Sunset Ah'm--"

"No! Let me get this out of my system!" Sunset nearly shouted, scaring Apple Bloom in the process. "I'm very upset with you Apple Bloom! I let my guard down for one moment to you, only for you to stab me in the back! I never felt so betrayed in my entire life!"

Apple Bloom sighed sadly, ashamed of herself for her actions that harmed Sunset. "Yer right Sunset... what we-- Ah did was horrible... and you deserved to be angry at me. But... Ah wanted to make up to ya for hurting ya so much... even if you don't forgive me!"

"Well it's too late for that Apple Bloom," Sunset retorted.

Apple Bloom felt her eyes watering up. "Sunset, Ah--"

"You broke our Pinkie Promise!" Sunset accused.

"Listen Ah understand if ya--"

Apple Bloom paused, processing what Sunset had said to her. "Wait... wat?"

"You promised- no, you pinkie promised that you won't tell my friends that I'm homeless!" Sunset said with a huff. "I thought we were cool!"

Apple Bloom blinked as she stared at Sunset with a mixture of confusion and disbelief.

"Wait... dat's what you were mad at me about?"

"Well, yeah!" Sunset responded with a confused look of her own. "What else was I referring to?"

"Um... about me and mah friends are actually Anon-a-Miss and that we framed ya?" Apple Bloom clarified.

"You're still on that?" Sunset asked in her surprised tone. "I mean yeah, I'm disappointed with you three for doing this... and I may be uncomfortable being around you for a while, but I have already forgiven you girls."

Apple Bloom stared at Sunset in shock. She couldn't believe that despite everything that happened. Sure, she admitted that she was now hesitant to be near her right now, but Sunset was still willing to forgive her and her friends, even if her heart tells her that she doesn't deserved Sunset's forgiveness. Before she could ask, she saw Sunset frowned again.

"While I've forgiven you for your stunt for the past two weeks, that still doesn't change the fact that you broke our promise! Pinkie promise no less!"

To Sunset's shock, Apple Bloom smirked. "Ah made no such promise!" Before Sunset could call her out, Apple Bloom lifted up her index finger. "For one thing, if I really break that promise, Pinkie Pie would've come after me!"

"She's right you know!"

Apple Bloom screamed in fright while Sunset startled from the sudden voice. They turned around behind them, only to see Pinkie Pie, who was poking out from the snowy bush while were her winter outfit.

"Pinkie!? Where did you come from!?" Sunset exclaimed.

Pinkie giggled. "From this bush silly!"

Sunset groaned in exasperation. "I meant how you got here?"

Pinkie's eyes lit up. "Oh! The author of this story wanted me here as a cameo appearance, just to make the ending of this story a little more lighter!" She then turned towards your direction with an irritated look. "I mean seriously, we have way too many downer stories like this based off from our official holiday comic! I mean jeez, what were the comic writers were thinking!?" She then turned back towards her confused friends with her usual bubbly self again. "Anywho, I gotta go and prepare for our biggest sleepover party at Applejack's! See you two there!"

Before either of them could blink, Pinkie dived into the bush, disappearing from view. Apple Bloom quickly checked into the bush to find the energetic cotton candy haired girl, but she couldn't find a single trace of her. Apple Bloom faced Sunset with a very perplexed look.

"How--"

"It's best not to question it!" Sunset advised. "Trust me! Even during my bully days, I still can't quite figure her out!"

"...she scares me sometimes!" Apple Bloom muttered nervously before quickly changing the subject. "Anyway... back on topic. Ah said that Ah won't tell anyone while Anon-a-Miss is still around! But because she, or should Ah say, "we", as in me and mah friends, officially stopped Anon-a-Miss, Ah'm allowed to tell Applejack and your friends." Apple Bloom smiled slyly. "So technically... Ah did exactly as promised!"

Sunset said nothing as she stared intensely at Apple Bloom, making the young Apple nervous. Then she dropped her stern look and let out a small chuckle.

"I'm not sure if I should be impressed or annoyed that you cleverly came up with a loop hole of our promise," Sunset commented, shaking her head in disbelief.

Apple Bloom rubbed the back of her neck in a nervous manner. "So... are ya still mad?"

Sunset sighed, as a small puff of fog escaped from her mouth due to the cold. "I'm still upset that they know now. But to tell you the truth... I'm sorta glad that I don't have to hide it from them anymore. Ever since they found out, they are being more supportive and caring than usual. I guess it was because... they really felt guilty for how they've treated me and... for being bad friends for not knowing everything about me. They even went as far to offer me to take turns sleeping over at their houses so that I don't have to sleep in the library or on the streets." She then frowned and closed her eyes. "While I'm touched that they showed that they cared and wanted to help me... but I knew deep down that they couldn't keep up forever. And I didn't want to impose on their family."

"You never imposed them Sunset!" said Apple Bloom. "As much as Ah hate to say this, but you meant so much to mah sis and your friends to the point that they went above and beyond to make up to ya during our winter break."

Now it was Sunset's turn who had a perplexed look on her face. "Wha-- what do ya mean?"

Apple Bloom grinned. "Let's just say... that you sleeping over at their houses for a week was only part one of their gift!"

Sunset's eyes widened. "Part one? What's the other part?"

"Ah'm not telling ya!" Apple Bloom teased.

Apple Bloom remembered last night after Sunset parted ways from them, she told her sister and the Rainbooms about Sunset being homeless and where she slept the entire time. Not only the Rainbooms were horrified, but they also felt extremely guilty for not knowing about their friend's condition, especially with how they treated her throughout two weeks of nightmare.

It was why they all agreed to help out Sunset by taking turns to offer Sunset to sleep over at their houses as their first gift to Sunset. But the second part of their gift is the most special one. After talking over with their own families and Principal Celestia, they all combined their funds together so they could purchased an apartment complex for Sunset, which happened to be a few blocks away from Canterlot High. The payment for the apartment will officially be finalized after seven days, hense why they want Sunset sleeping over at their houses for a while.

Boy would Sunset be in it for a surprise!

"Anyway, Ah need to ask ya somethin' Sunset," said Apple Bloom with her determined, yet confused look. "Principal Celestia told me that you were the one who gave me and mah friends a lighter sentence. Not that Ah'm not grateful, but... Ah still don't think that we... that Ah deserved it. So... why? Why did you stick yer neck out fer us?"

Sunset was silent for a moment as she furrowed her brows. Then, she crossed her arms and had a stern expression.

"Before I answer that, I would like to know why you really go after me?"

"W-what are ya talking about?" Apple Bloom asked nervously, not liking that their conversation was suddenly turned against her.

"When you confessed to us last night, I sensed that you were still holding back as you explained your reason of becoming... you-know-who!" Sunset deducted. 

Apple Bloom opened her mouth to argue. 

"I'm not saying that you're lying," Sunset quickly clarified. "But I felt that you were mostly telling the truth, but held the rest back." Sunset then frowned. "Were you really upset with me just because your sister spent more time with me than you... or was there more to this?"

Apple Bloom couldn't help but sensed a déjà-vu after hearing that question. Her dark demon self asked that question in a mocking way while she was still in denial. Hearing that question now was almost surreal, except Sunset asked that in a curious and caring way and Apple Bloom's mind was now more clearer. Realizing that she can't held back anymore, for the second time today, she decided to spill the beans.

"Well... that's only part of the reason," Apple Bloom revealed with a sigh. "Truth is... Ah'm not just upset that you took mah sister from me... you also took mah mom too!"

"W... what?" Sunset exclaimed with a stunned expression. Of all the possible answers Apple Bloom have given her, this was the most unexpected.

Seeing that Sunset was taken aback from her bombshell, Apple Bloom decided to explain herself further.

"Now Ah don't mean she's really mah mom," she clarified. "Is just that she always raised me like my mother... if dat makes any sense. Ah know Granny Smith and Big Mac was there fer me too, but Applejack... she was the one who took care of me the most... even around Christmas." She sighed sadly as she looked down. "Ah... hardly remembered mah ma and pa. All Ah know about them from mah sis was that they were great folks! They were stong, friendly and the kind of people who stands up to the people they've cared about, including our family! But on the year when they... you know..." Apple Bloom swallowed, trying to keep her emotions at bay. "Ah was barely one year old when that happened."

Sunset gave the youngest Apple member her look of sympathy. She knew how sensitive the topic was when it comes to Applejack's, Big Mac's and Apple Bloom's parents. She was going to tell Apple Bloom that she didn't have to go further, but Apple Bloom continued on anyway.

"Everyone in the Apple Family, including Big Mac, Applejack and Granny Smith, was stricken with grief when dat happens," Apple Bloom said quietly. "And our farm was in a tough pitch shortly after they're gone, and worse of all... it happened around weeks before Christmas... mah first Christmas."

Apple Bloom sighed. "But... despite how sad my sister was... Applejack was determined to make mah first Christmas the best Christmas Ah ever have. She did all those things she done with me that our ma had done with her. Decorate the house, the tree, bake gingerbread cookies, watching Christmas specials and movies, and she even went as far as to put together a whole Christmas feast on Christmas day... in honor of our parents!"

Apple Bloom smiled with admiration. "Applejack... was able to turn our most depressing time... into our most happiest time of our lives. My sis told me... that it was because of me... is what motivated her to make everythin' happen!" She then sighed through her nose. "After dat, things went better for us and we got used to how we run the farm. By next Christmas, my sis did the exact same thing with me like mah first Christmas. And it became our family holiday tradition since." Her expression then became somber. "...until now."

Sunset stared at Apple Bloom with an awe expression, feeling a new sense of admiration to Applejack after hearing that story. "Wow... that's amazing! No wonder you were looking forward to those traditions AJ was talking about!"

Apple Bloom widened her eyes from Sunset's revelation. "She... told you about our traditions?"

Sunset nodded. "Yeah, she told me during our first sleep over at Pinkie Pie's. In fact, she told me that after her argument with you on that night, she was planning on making up with you for making you upset by doing those traditions on... Christmas... Eve."

As Sunset realized that she unintentionally brought up the night of when that whole mess started, Apple Bloom looked down in guilt.

So mah sis didn't forgot about me! Apple Bloom thought. She was gonna do all our family traditions with me on Christmas Eve. But that's all ruined now because of my stupidity...

Seeing Apple Bloom looked upset, Sunset awkwardly cleared her throat. "I... I'm sorry I brought it up. I didn't mean to–"

"No it's alright," Apple Bloom said quietly. "Ah'll be fine."

She then brought her head up again and quickly went back to topic.

"Anyway... ever since that Christmas, AJ pretty much decided to take responsibility to take care of our farm and our family... including takin' care of me. She helped me with homework, took care of me when Ah'm sick or hurt, she even tucked me to bed almost every night. 

"She did everythin' she could to give me the best childhood Ah have as she took care of me, as if she was trying to fill in the void that was left from our ma. She may be overprotective at times, but AJ is always there for me and took care of me that... Ah come to view her more as my mom than my own sister. 

Apple Bloom sighed. "And on top of that, mah memories of mah original parents were fading away every year to the point that when Ah tried to close mah eyes and think of mah ma..." She sadly closed her eyes. "The only face Ah could see... was Applejack's... that's why means so much to me!"

Sunset stared at Apple Bloom with her stunned expression. All those times she received huge amount of anger and dislike from Apple Bloom's suddenly made a whole lot of sense.

"I... I had no idea," Sunset said quietly. "Did anyone else know about this?"

Apple Bloom shook her head. "No... just Principal Celestia, Vice Principal Luna, my two best friends, and now... you."

"...why are you telling me all of this?" Sunset questioned.

"For everything Ah have done to you... you deserved to know," Apple Bloom sniffed, tears welled up in her eyes. "Ah know now that is was selfish... a-and it was p-petty and stupid... b-b-but every time Ah tried to at least talk to mah sister, it was always 'Sunset this' and 'Sunset that'! Sunset, Sunset, Sunset! She was so busy spending time with you, she had forgotten about ME! Heck, Ah hardly see her anymore! Ah just... just... Ah just wanted to spend time with mah sister fer like we used to... even on Christmas! That's all Ah wanted!"

Apple Bloom silently wept, as tears flowed down past her cheeks. No matter how many times she wiped her face, her tears never seemed to end. She then suddenly noticed a handkerchief right in front of her, which was held by Sunset.

"Here, blow your nose," she said kindly.

The pre-teen obeyed as she took it from Sunset and blowed into it. After awhile of blowing her nose and wiping her eyes clean from her tears, she looked up to Sunset.

"Ah'm sorry... Ah probably sounded like a major brat right now!" Apple Bloom said quietly, feeling ashamed with herself at the way she behaved.

"It's okay Apple Bloom," Sunset responded with an empathetic expression. "In fact, I understand where you're coming from... more than you know."

Apple Bloom blinked with a sniff. "Y-you do?"

"Yeah," Sunset answered. "You remember, back at the library, when I told you that my mentor is like a mother to me?"

Apple Bloom nodded.

"I meant that both figuratively... and literally!" Sunset revealed, much to Apple Bloom's shock.

Sunset let out a huge sigh. "Up until our... biggest fight, I was really attached to her and looked up to her. Because of who she is... I wanted to do everything to make her proud of me... which was why I wanted so much power. But because of my ambition, I grew cold, cruel... and I lost my true sight along the way. At some point, when I had access to go back to my world, a part of me wanted to see how things have been without me, and maybe... to check to see if my mentor really missed me. 

"When I finally decided to vist... I've seen a lot has changed since my departure. Her sister returned, the Crystal Empire returned along with the crystal ponies, the Elements of Harmony appeared and most of all..." Her frown deepened. "My mentor found a new personal student."

"Princess Twilight?" Apple Bloom asked with widened eyes, realizing where this was going.

"...yes," Sunset said softly, reliving the hurt she felt from that memory. "Twilight Sparkle accomplished a lot more than I could ever done! She and her friends saved the world many times, discovering new magic, became a princess, many other things that I wished to be... if I wasn't so foolish! And worse of all... I've seen how my mentor treated her as her own daughter... as much if not more... than me!"

Sunset then smiled sadly, despite the pained look from her eyes. "I guess other than wanting to become the most powerful princess in Equestria... I was also jealous of Twilight for taking my mother away from me as well."

"...Ah see," said Apple Bloom as she looked down with a thoughtful frown. "Ah guess we both have something in common than Ah thought!"

"We are. Which was why I asked Principal Celestia to give you guys a lighter sentence," Sunset revealed, surprising the young Apple farmer. "What you three did was awful, but you're also so young and still have so much life ahead of you! Leaving this school with a record of your actions and then got expelled for it will ruin your life!"

Apple Bloom felt her stomach tied itself into a knot. She never really thought of it. If she and her friends really did get kicked out from CHS, they would have a much harder time to get in another school again, or live their lives for that matter with a serious mark on their records. Apple Bloom felt extremely guilty for nearly ruined her friends lives because of her. But even after Sunset managed to softened the blow, Apple Bloom and her friends are far from forgiven and forget from the eyes of the people they've hurt.

"I was in that same position months back when I thought my life is over, both this world and my own," Sunset continued. "But both Twilight and Principal Celestia were mercy enough to gave me the one chance to turn it around and become a better person! It was hard for me since then, going through day after day of walking through the halls while everyone either gave me bad looks, yelling at me, ridiculing me, or... did various ways to get back at me as revenge."

Apple Bloom winced. She remembered all the times she have seen other students harassing and openly insulted her days after the formal, making her life miserable. Looking back, she herself was ashamed to be part of the Sunset hate bandwagon by openly calling her a "Demon" at every opportunity, both during school and at home whenever Sunset came over to visit to hang out with her sister. Apple Bloom's guilt intensified as she recalled many hurt experiences from Sunset because of her. She wished she could just go back in time so that she could knock herself in the head for the way she was behaving.

"There were a few times that I wanted to give up, considered moving to another school like Crystal Prep or hide somewhere until the portal starting working again so that I can flee back to my home," Sunset admitted. "But there is one thing that keeps me from giving up completely."

"And wat's dat?" Apple Bloom asked curiously.

"...my friends!"

Apple Bloom's eyes widened in shock. "Really? You still considered mah sis and the others yer friends? Even after they... ditched ya?"

Sunset closed her eyes and sighed heavily out of bitterness. "I'll admit... It hurts that they accused me and not giving me a chance. Even after everything we been through and I helped stopped the Dazzlings from taking over our school... a part of me felt that all my efforts to prove to everyone that I changed... hardly even matters."

Apple Bloom gave Sunset her guilt expression and was about to say something.

"I know they were sorry!" Sunset interjected. "You wouldn't believe how many times they've apologized to me today... and the day before for that matter, since your confession! But it takes more than just an apology after weeks of being alone throughout this torment!"

Sunset stuffed her hands to her coat pockets and looked down with a gloomy expression. "But granted... I can't bring myself to be angry at them either. I was so horrible to them... and everyone else here too back when I was a queen bee. I can't really blame them for thinking I went back to my evil ways. Which was why I forgive them as well. But even so..." 

She sniffed, wiping a few tears away from her eyes. "I felt like I was back to square one with them. They've told me they've considered me their best friend! They've told me that I'm family to them! So how should I know that they won't turn me away again when something else goes wrong when it involves me? I just... I just can't handle being alone again."

If Apple Bloom wasn't feeling bad right now, she felt horrible. While Sunset have forgiven Applejack and the others for leaving her, she was still having doubts and traumatized from the events no thanks to Apple Bloom and her friends. The old Sunset would never felt upset about being alone. But Apple Bloom wasn't talking to the old Sunset, she was talking to a new and much nicer Sunset who doesn't deserved all that emotional abuse. She wasn't sure how she could ever fix this, but she wasn't going to let Sunset suffer any longer.

"Sunset... listen to me," Apple Bloom requested, getting Sunset's attention. "Ah'm probably the last person who you should be listening advice from, but please hear me out!" 

She stepped closer to Sunset and sighed through her nose. "During our time when mah friends and Ah were running... 'you-know-who', Ah did something to mah friends that was so bad, that it was unforgivable! By the time Ah finally come to mah senses... ah thought Ah was too late... especially after I meet them in the hallway right before we confessed to you guys. Ah was scared to bring it up to them, but Ah also knew that it could lead things worse if Ah don't. So... Ah finally talked to them about it. There was a lot of accusing, screaming and even crying throughout our conversation... but at the end, it was worth it. Sure, Ah still have a lot to make up to mah friends, but Ah felt we've became a lot closer since then!"

Sunset frowned, brushing the last of her tears away. "What's your point, Apple Bloom?"

"My point is, you should definitely go talk to your friends and tell them how you feel!" Apple Bloom advised. "You guys might end up reopening some wounds in the process, but once you guys understand each other, not only you'll restore each other trust, but you and your friends will be closer than ever! But you just have to take the first step!"

Sunset simply stared at Apple Bloom for like a minute, taking in Apple Bloom's words. She then smirked and shook her head.

"Since when you're being so wiseful?" she chuckled before smiling slightly. "But... I'll think about it."

Apple Bloom frowned. "So... are ya truly forgiving us? ...forgiving me? Even with all the punishments Ah've received from home and school, Ah still felt that her giving me a slap on da wrist! Ah still wanted to make up for the wrongs Ah done to ya! Ah'll..." She sighed remorsefully. "Ah'll even let ya punch me! Even in the face! Dat way... Ah'll know that we're even! Ah'm not even going to dodge... ah promise.

Sunset had a blank look on her face as if she was gathering her thoughts. The suspension of silence was almost killing the the young farmer. Then, Sunset slowly lifted up her right hand.

Expecting that Sunset was taking up her offer, Apple Bloom clenched her eyes shut, waiting for the oncoming impact. 

But nothing happened.

Confused, Apple Bloom slowly opened her eyes, only to see Sunset holding up three fingers with a stern expression.

"If you truly wanted to make up to me, I'll forgive you completely under three conditions." said Sunset as she lowered all but one finger. "One, you will swear to me that if you ever have a problem, then try to talk to us, especially your sister! And if there is something that I've done to upset you, then come to me!"

Apple Bloom nodded. After scolded endlessly by others, she definitely learned her lesson to be communicate with only the people who cared about her whenever she had a problem, instead of taking things with her own hands. She already swore to them and herself to never resorted into doing that out of jealousy or revenge ever again.

"Two," Sunset continued. "I want you to use this chance I give you and work hard to redeem yourself! It may take you days, months or even years! But with time, you'll earn the trust back to everyone you have hurt and then maybe... they'll forgive you. Not only from me, your sister or the students... but from yourself as well! Just like I have to go through!"

Apple Bloom nodded again. She and her friends already have work cut out for them when it comes to apologies and making up to everyone. But if they could ever be truely forgiven in the eyes of others, then they're willing to everything they can to earn them.

Even if it takes a long time.

"And finally," said Sunset. "I want you to tell Applejack that secret. The same one you just told me!"

Apple Bloom's eyes widened in horror. "WAT!? But... but Ah can't tell her dis! Things were awkward enough between me and mah sister already since mah confession! Ah don't want to make things worse between us, especially when it comes to our mother!"

"Didn't you just tell me earlier that by talking about it? That you'll be a lot closer and understanding to the people that you care?" Sunset pointed out.

"...touché," Apple Bloom muttered, slightly annoyed that Sunset used her own words against her.

Sunset smiled assuringly. "And who knows, maybe by telling her one of your secrets could be your first stepping stone of gaining her trust back."

Apple Bloom was still hesitant on the idea of telling her sister her most guarded secret. Not only this could upset her sister further, but also a little embarrassing when Applejack learned how she viewed her. On the other hand, by telling her, her sister may be more understanding and she and her sister will possibly get closer than ever as Sunset said. She was already in deep trouble, so what do she got to lose?

"Alright," Apple Bloom conceded. "Ah'm still not sure about this, but Ah'll go talk to Applejack about mah issues." Her eyes than narrowed at Sunset. "But only if you tell yer friends about yers! Deal?"

Sunset grinned and stretched her hand out towards Apple Bloom. "Deal!"

The two smiled and shook hands on it, making their deal official.

"So where ya headin' to Sunset!" Apple Bloom asked.

Sunset grinned. "Well... I was planning to take a walk around the neighborhood, but... I think I'll take your sister's offer and head over to Sweet Apple Acres so we can have a sleepover until the day after Christmas!" She frowned, worried for offending Apple Bloom of staying over for the holidays. "That is... if you don't mind that is."

Apple Bloom blinked before giving Sunset her welcoming smile. "Ah don't mind at all Sunset! After all..." She then gently grasped Sunset's hand. "You the member of mah family now!"

Sunset teared up, touched from Apple Bloom's words before the two hugged. They eventually broke their hug, but still hand in hand, the two headed down towards the sidewalk leading towards Sweet Apple Acres, as the sun sets over the horizon.

As Applejack once said, Apple Bloom thought, grasping Sunset's hand a little more tightly. 'No matter how big yer family is... 

'There's always room fer more!'


THE END