To an outside observer, the tin can falling over would be considered anticlimactic. To Rarity, it was a sight to behold.
Sunset Shimmer lowered her rifle, disbelief plain across her features. She turned to Rarity in bewilderment. “Did I just hit it?”
Hands on hips, pride swelling her chest, Rarity grinned at her companion. “That you did.”
“I hit it.” Confusion switched like lightning to elation. “I hit it!” She stared at the fallen can a few yards away, as if to seal the image of it in her memory. “I can do this. I can’t believe I’m saying it, but I can.”
Her reaction was entirely justifiable. After two days of practice after Sunset’s classes, the mare had proven quite impotent at smaller firearms. Then a local, one of those forced to ‘support’ the Bad Apples, offered her a rifle to try. Four shots later, and here they were. Rarity was ecstatic; at last, she could be confident in Sunset’s ability to learn and, more importantly, teach.
Little Longhorn’s prospects were looking brighter by the day. Meetings had been held, decisions made, plans changed. While much of the town – most of the thestrals, in truth – were wary of the recent act of defiance and the dangers of Bad Apple retaliation, a clear majority of the town’s citizens were tired of submission and wanted to give resistance a try. Some, like Share Crop, were startlingly vocal about it. A consensus had been reached, and the town had pulled together enough money to buy the supplies they needed to at least get armed and set up basic defenses. Talks were ongoing in regards to the long term, yet Rarity already could detect a growing interest in the movement.
Sunset, to Rarity’s pride, was at the forefront. With Charming dead and Crater under house arrest, his ultimate fate yet to be decided, the frightened and timid mare had all but disappeared. She spoke out, she argued, she stood firm against critics. And Celestia save anypony who dared try to resort to any sort of bullying tactics on her; if she didn’t slap them down, it would only be because others rushed to her defense before she could.
The change in the mare named Sunset Shimmer was nothing short of miraculous, and Rarity would always look back on it as one of the best things the Bulletproof Heart ever reached for.
Her pleasure faded as Sunset’s smile did. The joy in the mare’s expression became uncertainty, then sadness. “I hit it.”
Sometimes, in the dark of night when nopony but Rarity was around, Sunset would suffer a lapse. Her worries would arise and she’d cling to Rarity for reassurance, for a reminder that she really could change her life’s direction if she wanted to. There were times when she had to decide yet again if she really wanted it. Rarity feared that this might be another relapse and braced herself to play the role of support.
Sunset faced her, eyes watering as they met gazes. “You’re going to go away.”
Oh. Right. Yes, this was a topic they needed to discuss, wasn’t it? Rarity wasn’t sure how to react, so she tried for a sheepish smile. “That time does seem to be coming, yes.”
“Does it have to?” Like a sand lizard building up to a sprint, Sunset’s words gained energy as she spoke. “You could stay here and help us. Nopony would dare come after Little Longhorn with the Bulletproof Heart around. I know the place doesn’t have much going for it right now but… but it can be your new home! Maybe if we asked the others we could even have a house built for—”
“Sunset Shimmer.”
The mare cringed, eyes going to the ground between them. She fiddled with the rifle’s receiver mechanism ineffectually. “I don’t want you to leave,” she mumbled.
“I’m a wanted mare.” Rarity kept her tone calm and reassuring, even as she ignored her own disappointment. “If there’s anything I’ve learned, it’s that ponies will come for me. My survival is dependent on movement. My staying here only increases the chance of danger coming to Little Longhorn.” She’d already stayed longer than she did in most places. Being aware of that made it hard for her to sleep.
“You can change your name,” Sunset feebly suggested. “We could hide you.”
That brought a fire to Rarity’s lips. Her hand gripped Silver Lining tight. “I refuse to hide.” Although she could acknowledge her ego pushing her into it, Rarity didn’t want to live in a world where she couldn’t shine brightly. Even if the manner of that brilliance wasn’t what she’d have preferred.
Sunset raised her face once more. The poor thing appeared on the edge of tears. “Rarity, I… Can I do this without you?”
The fire was gone as quickly as it had been lit. Rarity flashed her most reassuring smile, her answer filled with the utmost confidence. “Of course you can. As long as you want to do it. As long as you believe in yourself.”
Several times did Sunset try to speak, but each time she closed her mouth and looked back at the ground. Finally, with the exaggerated care of one who had only just learned about guns, she placed her rifle on the ground. Then she rushed forward and engulfed Rarity in a hug so fierce it nearly knocked her over.
“Thank you,” Sunset whispered in her ear. “Thank you for believing in me.”
She returned the hug, rubbing Sunset’s back when the mare began to sniffle. “Give yourself more credit, Darling,” she soothingly replied. “Thank you for proving you can be believed.”
As they held on tight, Rarity looked to the clear blue sky. She thought of her long journey, of all the challenges she’d faced. More than anything, she thought of her father and his last words to her. She wasn’t sure she’d ever felt quite so satisfied. Certainly not since she’d left Spurhoof and started down this crazy life.
It’s a good start, Papa. It’s a very good start.