//------------------------------// // Flaming Sunset // Story: Bulletproof Heart: Sunset at Little Longhorn // by PaulAsaran //------------------------------// It was close to noon when Rarity managed to sit Sunset down at her own table. The fiery-haired mare had gone quiet about halfway there, but she wasn’t sure the change was an improvement. With Sunset staring blankly at the table and unresponsive to her verbal prodding, Rarity decided to focus instead on making the two of them some lunch. She took advantage of some of Sunset’s own bread and a bit of stock from Ophelia’s panniers to make them some sandwiches. To her pleasure, Sunset ate. Quietly, and without any other interaction, but it was a start. After eating her own meal and ensuring Ophelia was properly cared for, she resigned herself to staying at the mare’s home and waiting for something to happen. Little Longhorn was about to change, and she needed to be here to ensure her new friend wasn’t destroyed in the process. An hour passed. Two hours. Sunset hadn’t said a word. She didn’t even move from her seat. Rarity made no attempt at communication, but as the day passed she thought she saw a shift in the mare’s demeanor. No longer were Sunset’s eyes vacant or afraid. Instead, she seemed to be in a state of deep, serious thought. Rarity wondered where those thoughts were taking her. It was late in the day when her attention was drawn from one of Sunset’s few magic training books to a trio of ponies approaching the house. From the window she could readily make them out. One was the big, muscled earth pony mare from the scene that morning. The other earth pony was the elder stallion, the one that had claimed to have had his arm broken in the past. The third she didn’t recognize at all; a female thestral, average in every way. She was even a dull, uninspiring brown, her mane only a little darker. Of the three, she appeared the most anxious. Rarity met them at the door before they could knock, making sure to block entry. They might have turned on Crater that morning, but that didn’t mean she trusted them. Though tempted to cross her arms, she instead kept her hands free at her sides. If a fight was imminent, she wanted to be able to reach her weapons quickly. “I’m afraid Miss Shimmer’s in no state to be receiving visitors.” The thestral’s eyes widened. “She’s not hurt, is she?” She turned to her companions. “You said she wasn’t hurt.” Ignoring the thestral’s panicky tones, the old stallion met Rarity’s gaze. “Bulletproof, I’m sorry I didn’t get the chance to introduce myself. I’m Stable Fiber and this is Share Crop.” The big mare nodded, her expression grim. “We’re the elected representatives of the, er, ‘daylight’ portion of Little Longhorn. And by that I mean the non-thestrals.” Rarity raised an eyebrow, not sure how to take his statement. She at least got the impression he was trying to be polite and inoffensive. “Is that position a recent development?” “Hardly,” Share Crop replied for him, her tone gruff. “I’ve been a community leader for nearly a decade. Him as long as there was a town.” “I’m not that old,” Stable grumbled before gesturing to the fidgeting thestral at his side. “This here’s Spinning Jenny. Mayor.” The mayor? Rarity examined the mare, who cringed under her scrutiny. “Shouldn’t you be the one leading this conversation?” Spinning Jenny flinched as if stung, hands twisting the bottom of her shirt between her fingers. “W-well, maybe. I suppose. I’m just not used to, y’know. I mean… You know? You know. Yes, y’know.” Stable Fiber sighed and patted her on the back. “You’ll have to forgive her. It wasn’t much of an election. Crater and Charming killed her predecessor, then made her run.” “Unopposed,” Share Crop added pointedly. “Allegedly,” Spinning Jenny added, eyes darting about as if she feared somepony might be listening in on the conversation. “They only allegedly killed Mayor Strap.” She ran a hand through her frazzled mane, which did nothing to help it. Rarity suspected she’d been dragged out of bed to have this little meeting. The poor mare was white as a bedsheet. Rarity couldn’t help feeling sorry for the pony. No doubt she’d been chosen strictly for her anxiety. With somepony like that as mayor, Crater and Charming probably had free run of the place. But all that was beyond Rarity’s focus for now. Turning her attention back to the other two, she asked, “And why are you all here?” Stable Fiber’s aged face turned sour. “Crater and Charming aren’t in charge anymore. We need to discuss what happens next.” Conversely, Share Crop’s grew softer. “We think Sunset should be part of that discussion.” “She’s the smartest, most capable pony in town,” Spinning Jenny threw in. “I know what it’s like to doubt yourself, we share a lot of that in common, but I know she’s the best we’ve got. E-even if she doesn’t.” “Besides,” Share Crop concluded, avoiding Rarity’s eyes and shuffling her hooves, “we owe her. A lot. This morning knocked a lot of sense into us, and what we’ve been doing to Sunset has been…” She cringed and, after a few seconds of thin-lipped staring at nothing, shook her head. Oh, so now they felt guilty, did they? Rarity pondered if she shouldn’t give them a piece of her mind, but decided that now wasn’t the time. For the moment, she— A hand landed on her shoulder. “Move.” Rarity was so shocked to hear that familiar voice sounding so firm that she immediately obeyed, stepping sideways to let Sunset into the doorway. The mare stood tall, her face contorted in an ominous, stoic expression as she stared down her past tormentors. When she spoke, her tongue was laced with fire. “You. I don’t know what you’re expecting. Planning to apologize? Think you can make my entire life better with a few kind words and a sympathetic glance?” She thrust a finger at Share Crop, the big mare flinching back at the sudden movement. “Twice those Bad Apple dicks cornered me on your farm, in open daylight, and you did nothing to help me. The third time, you broke my nose by slamming the door in my face when I bothered to ask for help, and then Charming did things to me with my back to your wall. Don’t pretend like you couldn’t hear exactly what they were doing!” The finger went to Stable Fiber, who took the stony glare with stoicness. “And you! Always going around pretending to be the wise old sage dispensing wisdom. None of that wisdom ever went against the brothers, did it? I remember you telling ponies how it was so good of us to let Crater and Charming get away with their crap. It’s all so easy to say when you’re not the one being the center of their attention, isn’t it?” Once again her focus turned, and Spinning Jenny’s wings snapped tight against her trembling sides. “Jenny. You sniveling little rat. Have you ever once in all your life said anything that wasn’t spoon fed to you by somepony else? You hid in that house of yours, safe and blissfully unaware, and whenever anyone dared to even suggest you do something you condoned what was happening. Whatever you had to say to not be the target, right? “And now you come here to apologize and try to make it right? You all sicken me.” She reached for the door, moving to slam it. Share Crop was faster, jumping forward and catching the door with one hand. Her bulk made it easy to resist Sunset’s push. “Sunset, we get it. We do. You have every right to—” Sunset’s hand, curled into an upraised claw, paused in front of her face and ignited into flaming orange sparks that sent the big mare backtracking. “Do not tempt me, you backstabbing whore!” Sunset stormed out of the house, sending all three ponies retreating as a second flame burst into existence in her other hand. “If you ever again suggest you have any idea what my life has been like I swear to Celestia, Luna, and Discord I will burn you and your farm to ashes!” A terrible memory surged to the forefront of Rarity’s mind. A pegasus oh-so similar in appearance, her rage turning into a scorching blaze that burned indiscriminately and without remorse. It was enough to guide her hand to Silver Lining as she stood in the doorway. “Sunset, you are not the Flaming Vermillion.” “Excuse me?” Sunset whirled to face her. It might have been a trick of the sunlight, but Rarity thought she saw genuine fire in the mare’s eyes. It made her wonder if she wasn’t about to have to defend herself. Despite that very real fear, Rarity refused to let anything show but composed calm. “You saw Stormy’s anger. You witnessed her gradual change into a monster over the years. That anger consumed her. Don’t let it do the same to you.” Sunset’s clawed hands clenched into fists that shook even as the flames covering them burned brighter. Her horn began to violently spark with opal energy. “I have every right to be furious!” “And I wholeheartedly condone that fury.” Out of the corner of her eye, Rarity noted the frightened looks the visitors shared at her statement. “But make it worth something. Channel it in a direction that is helpful. This isn’t it, Sunset.” Snarling, Sunset turned on the three ponies, mane whipping about and horn glowing ever brighter. “They’re responsible! They deserve it!” Rarity’s grip on the gun tightened. “Were you not terrified? Do you not know what it’s like to be bullied, to be pressured into things you didn’t want?” “It’s not the same!” “No, it’s not! They have a lot to make up for.” Rarity dared to approach, forcing her hand away from Silver Lining despite the little pony inside urgently warning against the motion. “They can’t do that if they’re dead.” Sunset grit her teeth, still glaring fiery vengeance at the trio of trembling ponies. “Why are you defending them?” Pausing a few feet away, Rarity took in the sight before her. Long gone was the cowering mare afraid of her own shadow, the pony who spoke quietly and avoided confrontation. In her place was a powerful figure ready to act, to attack, to live. The opal energies swirling around her, the flames dancing in her fists, the way her brilliant crimson and golden hair flowed to an unfelt wind… There was a certain primal beauty to it all. With a warm smile on her lips, Rarity realized she knew exactly what to say. “I feel so vindicated right now.” Sunset’s ears perked. Though her anger remained as strong as ever, it did little to mask the confusion in her gaze. Spreading her arms, Rarity met her eye for eye. “I knew there was a strong, powerful mare under that anxious, beaten facade. And look at you! You’ve shed the skin. You can be whatever you want now, because you will not be contained any longer. How does it feel, Sunset Shimmer? What is it like to be free?” The fire crackled as Sunset stared at her, uncomprehending. She looked at her fist, still blazing, then at the other. Her eyes crossed as she tilted her head back and studied her brilliantly shining horn. A gradual awareness took over her features, bringing with it a beaming smile. “You… Y-you’re right. They’re gone. They’re gone. I can do what I want, without… w-without…” She laughed, a bright and joyous sound. “I don’t even know how I’m doing this!” She didn’t? Alarm surged through Rarity, but she bit back her instinctual response. “Do you know how to stop it?” Sunset’s laughter came to a sharp end. She blinked dumbly at Rarity, then gained a few shades of white. “Oh.” She looked to one hand as if seeing it for the very first time. Holding it as far away from herself as she could, she cringed and clenched her eyes tightly closed. The fire snuffed out, a massive cloud of smoke erupting around her hand as she let out a pained cry. As the smoke cleared, her left hand became visible; it was covered in burns. Tears in her eyes, Sunset moved her still-blazing right hand to a similar distance and repeated the act. This time the fire died slowly, and only a tuft of smoke rose. She still flinched, but the hand appeared largely unscathed. With both fires put out and one hand cradled in the other, Sunset dimmed her horn at last. Rarity wasted no time hurrying to her, feeling a phantom sting in her own hands at the sight of the damage. “Are you alright? How bad is it?” Sunset held the trembling hand up, holding her wrist with the other as she did. It was covered in blisters. “I-it feels like Tartarus, but I think they’re only s-second degree burns. Should heal up in a few weeks.” Tears streamed down her cheeks as she moaned. “Oh, Goddess, what was I thinking? I could have lost them entirely.” “I don’t believe you were thinking at all.” Rarity looked to Share, Stable, and Jenny, the three watching the scene as if expecting to have to flee at any second. Not that she could blame them. It wasn’t everyday a pony literally lit on fire in rage. “Did you mean it?” Rarity turned back to see Sunset watching her with an almost pleading expression. “Mean what?” A biting hiss kept Sunset from answering right away. She tried flexing the fingers of her burnt hand, fresh tears forming in her eyes as she whimpered. “Th-that you think I’m strong. That it’s okay to be angry. That I could be… f-free.” “Of course I meant it.” Grasping Sunset’s cheeks and staring her in the eyes, Rarity couldn’t help but grin. “What I just saw was as beautiful as it was frightening. I’ve been waiting the last twenty-four hours to see you properly stand up for yourself, just knowing there was a powerful mare under there, and you did not disappoint. However…” She stepped back and looked pointedly at Sunset’s blistered, red hand. “You may want to be less, erm, ‘fiery’ about it in the future.” Sunset chuckled, though it twisted halfway through into a sob. Taking a moment to recover, she muttered, “I think I’d like to get this treated, now.” Rarity frowned. She didn’t have anything for burns in her supplies, at least not on this scale. “Do you have the things we need?” The mare shook her head. The two shared a long, uncertain expression. Rarity looked to Share, Stable, and Jenny, none of whom had moved or appeared any less likely to run away. Sunset let out a quiet growl. “I don’t want their help.” “Do you have an alternative option in mind?” When Sunset only scowled at her hand, Rarity considered the matter settled. “I don’t suppose any of you could help us with these burns?” The three exchanged long, uncertain looks. Finally, it was Spinning Jenny who stepped forward. ‘Shuffled’ would be a better term for her movement, but it amounted to the same thing. “I have some medical supplies at home.” “Why am I not surprised,” Sunset growled, though she kept it quiet so only Rarity heard. Share Crop set a hand to the thestral’s shoulder, making Jenny jump. “Go get what you need. It’s probably better if Sunset doesn’t move too much.” The thestral wasted no time, taking to the air with a mighty flap of her leather wings. “Sunset?” Sunset had already turned to go back to her home, but came to a stiff-backed stop at her name. She said nothing, letting an awkward quiet fill the square. Rarity looked between her and the giant of a mare and silently hoped Share Crop didn’t say anything stupid. Share Crop placed her hands behind her hunched back. It was a curiously demure pose for such a large pony. “You’re right. We deserve whatever you want to do to us, and then some. What we did to you and didn’t do for you can’t be forgiven.” Stable Fiber joined her, looking every bit as remorseful. “If you feel like punishing us, we won’t stop you. But before that, we need to consider what’s best for Little Longhorn.” Sunset moved as if to face them, but stopped herself. Bitterness danced on her words. “I thought torturing me was what’s best for Little Longhorn.” The two earth ponies jerked as if they’d been kicked in the gut. Licking his lips, Stable spoke again, keeping his tone soothing and carefully enunciating his words. “Like it or not, you’re the last survivor of Stormy’s family. The Bad Apples see you as an example to be made. That means that whatever we decide to do next, you factor into the discussion.” “We’re asking you,” Share Crop pressed, her tone pleading, “be part of the discussion, not just the subject. Nopony in this town deserves a say in this like you.” The quiet returned. With her back to them, it was impossible to tell what Sunset was thinking. Rarity wondered about the circumstances, remembering a similar decision she’d had to make over a year ago. Would Sunset come to the same conclusions she had, or would her path take her elsewhere? When nearly a minute had passed with no answer, Rarity approached. She stood by Sunset, leaning in close. “Remember my promise. I want to help you and this town. But my protection is useless if I’m a thousand miles away when the danger strikes.” She pulled her into a one-armed hug, both to show her support and to better emphasize what she said next. “This is your chance, Sunset. To be more than the scared filly you’ve been all your life.” When Sunset met her gaze, her eyes shone with interest, but also uncertainty. “But what if I’m not good enough?” “You can be if you want to be. You just have to have the will. Based upon what I’ve just witnessed…” She gently raised Sunset’s arm, putting her burnt hand on display, “I’d say you’ve got the will in spades.” Sunset studied her injury, anxious. Then she moved the fingers and grimaced at the pain. When the expression faded, in its place was a determination that brought a whole new smile to Rarity’s face. A flap of wings, and suddenly Spinning Jenny was nearby. She had a large case tucked under one arm, but held back when Sunset and Rarity turned in tandem to her. Whimpering, she offered the case in both hands, like a supplicant begging a favor. Somehow, the fidgety thing was able to meet Sunset’s eyes. Sunset gazed back at her, her expression judging and grim. Rarity stepped back, hopeful. Stable Fiber and Share Crop watched the scene with trepidation. For a long time, nopony spoke. With a heavy sigh, Sunset looked to Share and Stable. “Come on, we’ll talk inside.” She turned for the house, paused, then looked to Spinning Jenny. “Thanks, Jenny. Really.” Everypony went indoors to Sunset’s cramped little home. Rarity watched them go, feeling no small amount of pride and achievement.