//------------------------------// // "Interesting," Chat // Story: The Alternative // by MASTERMIND360 //------------------------------// Just as the trial was over, Sunset left the building first with Snips and Snails following her. But before they could get over across the street, Princess Twilight immediately catch up with them. "Sunset, wait," Twilight called to her, the trio stopped and gazed at her. Sunset's gaze is either of disappointment about what happened, or a bit annoyed that Twilight stopped her, or maybe it's both. Princess sighs and said, "Listen, I know you've been through a lot lately. And I don't blame you if you're being this way but," But she was interrupted when the Rainbooms also exited the building, and they all stared at them with sad expressions. Sunset turned away while Twilight glared at them but she soften her glare when she turned back to Sunset. Snips and Snails also gave them glares as well. "How about you wait for me at your apartment?" Twilight asked her softly. "I'm going to speak to them, and after that, I'll accompany you afterward. Is that okay?" After 10 seconds of silence, Sunset sighs but she doesn't turn back to her. "Fine, but remember that I'm very uncomfortable to be with them again," she told her coldly. Twilight flinched a little at that tone but she understand Sunset. "Snips, Snails, let's go." Twilight watched as Sunset and her two friends walked away from the Canterlot Supreme Court. Twilight turned her attention back to the Rainbooms and she gives them an icy glare, "Let's talk at Sugarcube Corner," she suggested coldly. 15 minutes later, the girls were now in Sugarcube Corner, they were sitting in their usual spot, there are no customers so to speak. Given the whole event made it to the news headline, now everyone at CHS doesn't have the energy to be here, especially the parents, and the school staff. It's even worse when Gilda and her gang were now in juvenile, spending quite a time in there. Twilight just glared at them, the Rainbooms can't bring themselves to meet her icy stare, especially Rainbow Dash. And she wished she would've ended up in jail alongside Gilda instead of meeting the fury of Princess Twilight Sparkle. Fluttershy just covered her eyes, Applejack and Rarity hugged each other, and while Pinkie Pie embraces Rainbow Dash and she slowly returned the favor. After a while, she finally said, "So tell me. I had heard about Rainbow Dash's side of her story, but I want to hear it from the rest of you," she narrowed her eyes hard at the other 4. "And be specific!" That last part was almost like a scream and they shuddered really hard, but eventually, they started talking. Starting from Applejack's nickname to Rarity's sleepover, and pretty much following after that. And how they ditched Sunset, and also how they pushed her away the last time she was here. And Needless to say, Twilight is not happy, no, she's furious. "I can't believe it...." she said silently, "Tell ME!!" She suddenly screamed at them. "Tell ME WHY!! Tell me why would she throw away all her hard work to redeem herself?! Why would she do that?! And if she's been faking and had been plotting revenge, why would she be so careless to make it so obvious of her involvement??!! She's smarter than that!! Just tell me at what point in time did the thought ever occur to you that maybe she was telling the truth?! Or was she worth so little to all of you that her side of the story wasn't even worth taking into consideration?!" The Rainbooms huddled together as Twilight continued to yell at them. "Answer me!" "We-we, th-tho-thought she was faking it but," Rarity stuttered. "But, me, Fluttershy, and Pinkie may have a doubt that she may have been set up..." she said weakly. "But you didn't do anything about it and just kept on blaming her!" Twilight pointed out angrily. "Yes, you are right," Rarity admitted and she lowered her head in shame. "None of us did anything about it. Sunset had every right to be angry with us, you were counting on us to look after her, and we let you down." Twilight turned her attention to Rainbow, "And you," she pointed at her. "I couldn't begin to tell you how furious I am and angry with only you, Rainbow Dash!" She yelled angrily, Rainbow just whimpered hugged Pinkie tighter. "You not only tore Sunset down, but you also made it even worse for her is by setting her up in an ambush! And don't say you don't know they went that far, that is not an excuse! You're very lucky that Sunset still had the heart to spare you and your sisters, even though she can't say the same for Gilda and the rest of her because the Law cannot allow it. But if she dies because of you, then I doubt there will be anyone else to get you of that situation, and so does your sisters." Rainbow Dash couldn't handle it anymore, she started to break down, crying. She now understands what Sunset had gone through, and she doubts that she can go through what Sunset went through the last few months. She hated herself, and as she knows it, she's never going to be the same again. The rest of her friends also cried as well, wondering what had come over them when they thought it was Sunset. "You not only betrayed my trust," Twilight continued, her voice softening but still retaining that cold and harsh tone. "But you also betrayed Sunset's trust, and you may no doubt shattered her mental state and her faith in friendship. Sunset thought the world of you, and when you called her 'family', she was over the moon, she felt loved and accepted. And this is how you repay her for her hard work and effort of her redemption. Betrayal, abandonment, abuse and broken." Hearing this makes the girls cry even harder than a moment ago. They now hated themselves even more, and the thought of themselves hurting Sunset that much makes them regretful and they wished if they can go back in time and beat the senses out of their past selves. Rainbow Dash would give her past self a decent beating than what Gilda and her gang did to Sunset, even if it means ceasing herself from existence. "But there's one thing that I learned that wallowing won't do you any good," Twilight told her, the others stopped crying and looked up to her. "Sunset also learned that and she picks herself up and moves on because she had all of you. But now the tables had turned, and all you needed is each other to pick yourselves up and move on, while Sunset had now is me and a few other people who believed she was innocent. Something that you should've done when it mattered the most." ......... "T-Twilight?" Pinkie hesitantly asked her, her voice is so quiet. "What?" She asked the party girl. "Are we bad people?" Twilight sighs and pinched the bridge of her nose, "No," she replied. "What all you did was a terrible mistake, but it's not enough for you to be seen as bad people. I don't know what to say about Rainbow Dash but I couldn't say she was a bad person for nearly getting Sunset killed," Rainbow Dash shuddered and lowers her head again. "But even if she didn't talk to Gilda, then chances are, if Gilda and her gang were capable to do such a horrible thing, then they would still do it even Rainbow never provided them with the information they need. And I agreed with Sunset, she's right, there are no redeeming qualities in them. Not even a big rainbow blast can change them. I don't know why Sunset at first tries to get them to protect your sisters but that was before it became crystal clear to her that she can't redeem them, and I'm kind of relieved the Law apprehended them." "And ah owe Sunset so much for giving mah sister a second chance," Applejack said. "But ah just don't know how." "Same for me," Rarity added. "Me as well," Rainbow replied. "Even if I can't stand to be with Scoots, I wouldn't want her to share a cell with Gilda. I'm willing to go down with them while Scoots remained safe." "But again, your very lucky that Sunset is mercy enough to spare you," Twilight told her, again her tone is a hint of anger. "And I am also mercy enough to not strip you all of your pony features so you'll no gain access to your magic, heck, if we're in some alternate universe where this whole thing happened in different ways, I would do that now!" the girls flinched at that statement, the thought of losing their magic forever is the last thing they'll ever lose. "But I wouldn't want to do that, and I couldn't bring myself to no matter how angry I am with all of you." The girls turned their gaze away from Twilight, they're supposed to be the Elements they represented. Loyalty, Laughter, Kindness, Honesty, Generosity. Even if Twilight made it clear she wouldn't bring herself to take away their magic, they felt like they didn't deserve this blessing for what they had done to a friend. "Let me tell you girls what you should do," Twilight said, her voice is not of anger but it's more of a stern tone. "Don't let this whole mess drive you away from each other when you needed each other to get through it. Put in a lot more effort to redeem yourselves, just like what Sunset had gone through, even if Sunset rejects your friendship and makes it extra clear to you all that, I don't blame her, don't force her to let go. At least try to stay strong, keep moving forward, for her. If another trouble with magic happens, and how you severed your friendship with Sunset, the Magic of Friendship won't be possible, but it's better and very noble of you if you solve it together with Sunset, stand by her side, watch her back and don't let her get hurt. And most importantly, don't. Abandon. Her. Again. Got it?!" The girls listened carefully to every word Twilight told them, and they nodded profusely. They failed Sunset once, and they abandoned her once. But after the whole mess was settled and everyone now knew the truth, they vow themselves to never make the same mistake with Sunset again. And if another magic arrives, they won't fail her again, they won't abandon her again. After half a minute of thinking of what she said, Rainbow Dash held her hands firmly and looked at her right in the eyes, Rainbow's guilty look was replaced with determination. Even just a little bit. "Twilight," she said to her softly. "I know it's not my place to say this for what I had done, but I swear to you, no, I frickin swear to you, you have my word and I will keep it true to my word." "And so do ah," Applejack added with determination her on the face. "Same for as well, darling," Rarity agreed. "And me," Fluttershy said with a hint of determination as well. "And me!" Pinkie suddenly popped up behind Twilight. Twilight just looked at her friends for a moment, while she was grateful that her friends were now willing to make up for what they did, she was still angry at them for letting the whole mess worsen than she thought. "While I'm still disappointed and angry with you all," Twilight told them softly. "I believe in second chances, even a third one. So I'm willing to acknowledge your efforts to better yourselves in the future. If you don't have any questions, it's best if I should get going, Sunset and I had important matters to attend to." She stood up from her seat and begin to leave, but not before she took one last look at the Rainbooms. "Don't fail me again." And that was it, Twilight into disappeared the door, and into the snowy streets of Canterlot.