//------------------------------//
// Deceit 
// Story: Sunset's Bizarre Adventure: Friendship is Unbreakable 
// by StardustSprinkle 
//------------------------------//

"So, it's finally over, huh?" Rainbow pulls over at the side of Sunset's apartment.
"Yeah, seems like it," Sunset unbuckles herself: "Thank you for everything!"
"Sure!" Rainbow jumps out of the car: "But you are free to stay if you want to!"
"I've been taken advantage of your hospitality for long enough," Sunset chuckles, getting her traveling bag from the back of the car: "And since the dazzlings are no longer a threat, it's time for me to be on my own."
"Haven't you been on your own for a long time?" Rainbow asks, locking her car.
"Yeah, but you've been sleeping on the floor while I rested on your bed!" Sunset unlocks the door to her apartment.
"But I like to sleep on the floor!" Rainbow follows Sunset into the apartment: "Especially on an airbed."
"That's terribly kind of you," Sunset put the bag on the ground: "Besides, I can't just stay and..."
"Take advantage of my hospitality?" Rainbow asks.
"That's now exactly what I was going to say," Sunset unzipped her bag: "But let's just go with your words."
"Come on, no need to be like that," Rainbow puts a hand on Sunset's shoulder: "Plus, don't you need someone to keep an eye on you?"
"Oh, you mean the possibility of spontaneous pneumothorax?" Sunset asks.
"Spontaneous what?" Rainbow frowns: "I thought your lung could collapse again."
"That's what spontaneous pneumothorax means," Sunset smiles: "Don't worry about me; I can take care of myself!" 
"Right," Rainbow laughs nervously: "But hey, do swing by any time you feel like it!"
"Thank you, Rainbow," Sunset hugs her friend: "That means a lot!"
"Sure," Rainbow returns the favor: "Hey, is that an opened pack of cigarettes I'm looking at now?"
"Oh, that," Sunset turns around, picks up the opened box, and tosses it into the trash can: "I no longer need that."
"I figured," Rainbow examines the box with a few cigarettes left in it: "How long would a pack like last you?"
"I haven't touched it for a long time," Sunset sigh: "But if I were to smoke, then a pack of 20 would last me a month."
"Well, can't exactly smoke after that lung surgery, eh?" Rainbow asks: "Glad you decided to quit."
"Honestly, I haven't smoked since this whole stand thingy," Sunset stretches: "I used to smoke when I'm stressed, but not now for some reason."
" I guess it's because you are hanging out with us," Rainbow shrugs: "We are pretty amazing!" 
"Actually, it might be the reason," Sunset says, while memories start to play like a movie in her mind: "Before That, I was too focused on...well, you know. Ever since Princess Twilight showed up and I started to hang out with you girls, I feel...I don't know. I feel like...I have a purpose again."
"Purpose, eh?" Rainbow giggles: "Oh, stop it."
"Glad I quitted early," Sunset says: "Now I can't even do it even if I want to."
"I'm sorry for what happened," Rainbow inhales: "Among the three of, you are the only one to suffer long-term consequences! AJ and I..." Suddenly realized what she is saying, Rainbow freezes in place.
"AJ and you what?" Sunset's eyes open wide, her voice quavering. The thought of her friends suffering because of her plagues Sunset's mind.
"Ehh...It's getting late! I'd better go home!"
"NO!" Sunset raised her voice uncontrollably, hand firmly gripping Rainbow's arm: "You are not leaving!"
"Fine, fine!" Rainbow shales Sunset's handoff: "Look, we didn't mean to hurt you. We knew that you feel guilty about the sirens, so we didn't want that to hinder your recovery!" 
"I understand," Sunset groans, her chest feeling tight already: "I'm sorry for..."
"Don't you even dare to finish that sentence!" Rainbow covers Sunset's month: "The sirens down;t come for you! Sure, they did eventually target you, but it's not your fault! They would have run into someone else and target that other person if you didn't beat them first!"
"I see," Sunset gently guides Rainbow's hand away from her mouth: "But still..."
"Hi, are you feeling alright?" Rainbow as Sunset slowly sits down on the sofa: "You look...a bit pale."
"I'm alright," Sunset messages her temple while trying to stabilize her breath: "It's...something to process. Guess I can't really blame since I just recovered."
"Look," Rainbow struggles to come up with something to say: "It's not your fault. If anything, you saved us."
"Rainbow..." Sunset's phone buzzed, cutting her sentence short: "Oh my..."
"What happened?"
"Vice-Principle Luna is in trouble! We need to help her!"
"Are the sirens free?"
"No, it's Principal Celestia!"