//------------------------------// // Amulets // Story: The Alternative // by MASTERMIND360 //------------------------------// It was like 2:30 PM when they woke up. Despite Sunset still looking tired, she still wanted to give the amulets to the Dazzlings. Twilight explained to her how they work, and hopefully, the Dazzlings should live but also not cause trouble as they did before. "Are you up for this?" Sunset asked her. Twilight was still skeptical about this but she reply, "Probably not, but I'm only doing this for you." "Then, let's go," Sunset told her. After they put on their warm jackets, Sunset and Twilight exited the bedroom and begin to leave, Snips and Snails had left 10 minutes ago. They didn't want to leave her but Sunset told them to. So they obliged and left. Just as they left the building, Applejack was in her pickup truck from the other side of the block, stopped at a red light. She was making her way back home after making some apple deliveries. She saw Sunset and Twilight walking the street, the sense that their on to something 'important' Twilight talked about a few hours ago. So she decided to see what's up. As the light turned green, she drive off to them. The two girls saw a truck pulled over next to them, and much to Sunset's dismay, she saw Applejack. Sunset turned away just as Applejack gazed sadly at them, she couldn't blame her, they treated her worse than what she did to them. "Hey, uh," Applejack begins, her voice sounding so hesitated. "Ah was on mah way home until I saw you both just now. Is there anywhere you want me to take yah both?" Just as before Twilight to reply, Sunset stopped her, she gazed back at the farmer but her expression doesn't say nor hint anything. Just emptiness. "Fine," she finally said. "Just take us to the park. Don't ask questions." Applejack, "Okay, hop on in. The ride ain't long." So the two went inside her truck and Applejack drive off to the park. She figured that this won't take long, she's already done with the deliveries anyway. During the drive, no one spoke anything. Applejack just keeps her eyes on the road, Twilight just turned her attention to Sunset, who was very busy with her book. The trip lasted for 10 minutes straight as they finally arrived at the park, Applejack pulled up in the parking lot. Sunset and Twilight got out of the truck and before they went in there, but Sunset wanted to say something to her. "Don't leave just yet," Sunset told Applejack sternly. "We will be back shortly. And again,don't ask questions. Capiche?" Applejack nodded again, "Ah got it, Sunset. Ah know you don't trust me, but ah won't leave yah both here." Sunset's face remained cold. "Good," she said. So then, Sunset and Twilight went into the park, the park was empty, with the exception of some parents looking after their kids in the playground. As much as Twilight hated this idea, she knew they have to go through with it. They sat down on the bench, waiting for any of the Dazzlings to show up. Sunset tapped her knee impatiently, she needed to get this done fast but she also learned not to rush things. Twilight stood up and try to buy some hot chocolate, after a little bit, she came back with two plastic cups of hot cocoa in her hands. "So, are you ready for this?" Sunset asked her, accepting the hot cocoa. Twilight sighs as she sits down, "I just hoped you're right about this one, Sunset." "I am," Sunset told her confidently. "And the sooner we get this done, the better." After about 5 minutes, they finished their hot cocoa and throw the cups into the nearby trash bin. And just then, a figure with a dark purple hood covering her head showed up. The figure put down her hood and was revealed to be none other than Aria Blaze. "I see you brought your princess friend, here Sunny," Aria said. Twilight wanted to talk some sense to her but Sunset stopped her and said, "Yes, I'm glad you showed up. How were the others?" "Ugh, they're getting worse off," Aria replied. "But they should be fine. But enough with the stalling, they don't have long. So, where are the amulets." "It's right in here," Twilight replied, digging her hand into her purse and pulling out three looking amulets, but before she give it to her, Twilight held it tightly in her palm. "But here's the catch," Twilight explained to her sternly. "You three can live a lot longer with these amulets, but if you try to gain negative energy with these, then you'll lose them forever. Consider this as a second chance I gave you." And she finally gave Aria the amulets, and hopefully, she gets the message. And this one has to be firm enough to make sure they don't cause trouble. "Fair enough," Aria agreed, placing them carefully in her pockets. "We don't even have the energy to cause more chaos. Ever since the Battle of The Bands, we made the ultimate decision to go straight, it's hard but we'll pull through. But that doesn't mean we will choose Friendship!" "Then I respect your decision," Sunset told her bluntly. "Just take the amulets and get out of here." "Whoa, I really liked that attitude of yours," Aria commented, thus earning a glare from Twilight, so she tries to change the subject. "Anyways, we watched the news, and if I'm being honest or anything but I kind of felt bad for you, and Sonata was crying her eyes out hearing your side of the story during the trial, and I could say Adagio felt bad just like me." "Thanks for the pity," Sunset muttered but Twilight and Aria heard her. "Well, since you got nothing else to say, I might as well get going," Aria said. "But remember the warning I just gave you," Twilight reminded her. "And if you three messed it up, don't expect me to give you a third chance." "Alright, alright, I get it, Princess, sheesh," Aria replied annoyed. "I already told you we tried to go straight, but we ain't taking Friendship our only way." "Then, get moving," Twilight said silently. So then, Aria left, now it's just the two girls. They sat back on the bench, figuring out what to do next, and tries not to make Applejack wait for longer. Before that, Twilight turns her head to Sunset, who just stared slightly at the sky. "Sunset?" The fiery head girl turned her eyes to the princess. "Do you still believe in Friendship?" But Sunset just stared at her, that was just it. "Sunset, I am asking," The princess repeated. "Do you still believe in Friendship?" But much to her disappointment, Sunset just shrugged, doesn't say a word. What does that mean?" "What do you mean by that?" Twilight frowned. "Nothing that you don't know," Sunset answered, but that's not the answer she's looking for. But Twilight decided not to pressure her with questions, Sunset stood up. "Let's go, we don't want to keep Applejack waiting." "Yes," Twilight agreed as she also stood up. "Let's go now."