//------------------------------// // A talk between a farm girl and a rainbow // Story: My past does not define me // by General Alduin //------------------------------// Fluttershy stayed with Sunset as the redhead applied mortar to the bricks, talking with her to keep her mind off everything that had happened earlier. She could tell Sunset was in a lot of pain by the way she moved and the somewhat slurred and distracted responses Sunset gave her. She also could tell that Sunset was doing a terrible job applying mortar, whether that was because of her pain or that she had no idea what she was doing, Fluttershy couldn’t tell. After a few hours, Vice Principal Luna arrived. She frowned at Sunset's sloppy work, causing the girl to look down in shame. “Well, I suppose I couldn’t have expected any better from you.” Fluttershy frowned in disapproval at Luna’s hostility. “This is enough for tonight, you can go home. Unfortunately me and my sister will have to stay a little longer because of what happened. Thanks for that.” Before Fluttershy could say anything, Luna turned around and walked back inside. “Well, that was a little unprofessional of her.” “It’s fine, I deserve it.” Sunset stood up and dusted herself off, wincing lightly. “I’m not even going to be a student here anymore anyway.” Fluttershy swiveled her head towards Sunset. “Sunset! Don’t say that.” She stood up and grabbed Sunset's hands. “I know what you did was… wrong, but you don’t know for certain you’re going to be expelled.” “Oh yeah?” Sunset pulled her hands away. “Even If we ignore the demon thing, what do you think happens to delinquents who blow up the school?” “Most of the school’s fine and technically you only ripped apart the front entrance. We were the ones that caused an explosion with that rainbow.” “Fine, but causing a fight? Stealing the crown? Years of terrorizing the school?” Sunsets body deflated. “Trying to kill you?” “Well, I mean, you only really tried to kill Twilight. Me and the girls jumped in the way to protect her.” There was an awkward silence between the two girls. “Did you want to kill anyone?” “No!” Sunset hastily declared. “I-I don’t know what that was! I don’t know what any of that was! That… thing… it wasn’t me!” Fluttershy squeaked as Sunset grabbed her shoulders. “I didn’t want to kill you! I didn’t want to kill anyone! I-I just wanted to be a princess! You have to believe me!” “Sunset! Settle down, it's alright.” Fluttershy gently placed her hands on top of Sunset's own, pulling them off her shoulders. “I believe you. I don’t know anything about magic, and you never seemed to be that violent before, so I believe you.” Sunset visibly calmed down. “Look, even if you are expelled, me and the girls will still take care of you, ok? And if they don’t, I will.” “Why? I was awful to you.” That was a good point. Why was Fluttershy doing this? She should be terrified of Sunset, no one would blame her for wanting to take things slow with the girl. “I’m not sure actually… I’m just afraid I guess.” “Afraid?” Sunset's face fell. “Oh, I see.” “No! That’s not what I… ” Fluttershy sighed. “I’m afraid I won’t see you again if you’re alone tonight.” Sunset seemed confused. “Won’t see me again if I’m alone ton-” Sunsets face lit up as she understood. “Oh! You think I’m going to kill myself.” Fluttershy nodded nervously. “Oh, no no no, Fluttershy, I’m not going to do that. I have a family back home I need to get back to.” “A family? I Didn’t think you had any kids.” Fluttershy squinted her eyes at Sunset. “Or a husband for that matter.” “What? No!” Sunset blushed. “I have my brother and parents back home. I’m seventeen, I haven’t done… that.” “Really?” Fluttershy said with genuine surprise, tilting her head. Sunset seemed somewhat offended. “Don’t know why you are so surprised. You’re in the same boat.” Another awkward silence fell between them, each girl staring blankly at the other. “No.” Fluttershy looked away, awkwardly rubbing her upper arm. “You’re like the shyest girl in the world, who did you-” Sunset realized Fluttershy was extremely uncomfortable and stopped talking. “You know what, that’s private. How about we put a pin in it?” Fluttershy nodded profusely. “W-we should probably go home, my parents are probably wondering where I am at-“ Fluttershy pulled out her phone. “-12:50? How have they not called yet? They’re like super paranoid.” “Sorry…” Sunset apologized awkwardly. Fluttershy didn’t need to stay this late with her. “It’s not your fault. I chose to stay with you, remember?” Fluttershy grabbed Sunsets arm and pulled her towards the parking lot.  “What are we going to tell your parents exactly? I’m sure you’ve told them about me and we can’t just tell them why you brought me home.” “I’m… not sure.” Fluttershy admitted. “We can buy time by telling them you’ve been through a lot tonight and don’t want to talk about it.” “And if they don’t want me in the house?” “They won’t have a choice, you’re my friend now and I don’t want you alone. Plus, it’s pretty late out and you’re in really bad shape, it isn’t safe for a young woman to be walking alone this late.” Sunset's chest tightened when Fluttershy called her a friend. “I can handle myself you know… and how can you already say we’re friends?” “I’m sure you can, but you’re hurt, probably exhausted, and most likely will be distracted walking home. Better safe than sorry.” Fluttershy unlocked her car and helped Sunset in. “And I’m not saying we’re best friends or anything, but the girl who used to bully me never would’ve apologized or hug me like you did.” Fluttershy got into the driver’s seat and turned her car on. “Everyone deserves a second chance, right?” Sunset meekly nodded. “I’d… like to be best friends.” “Me too.” Fluttershy flashed her a smile. “But one thing at a time. Let’s get you cleaned up and put you to bed. You look like you need it.” Sunset looked a little annoyed but nodded, staring out the window as Fluttershy drove out of the parking lot and made her way home. Applejack stared up at the ceiling of Pinkie's room. The rest of her friends had fallen asleep a long time ago, having worn themselves out with the events of the Fall Formal and their subsequent partying. Applejack meanwhile, was deep in thought. She had spent the last hour thinking over Twilight, magic, her and her friends turning into scary pony people, and… Sunset. Applejack frowned. What were they going to do with her? Applejack knew they promised Twilight to take care of her, but this was the same girl that tormented the school for years and broke their friendship apart. Applejack never broke a promise, but what was she and her friends supposed to do? Sure, Sunset seemed remorseful crawling out of that crater, but that was probably just an act. She just wanted to save face, nobody changes that quickly. Fluttershy didn’t seem to think so though. She seems to jump at the opportunity to help Sunset, and considering there was no calls for help from her, everything must’ve turned out well. “Hey AJ, you awake?” “Yeah, Ah’m up.” Applejack turned her head to Rainbow Dash who stared at her in kind. “Yah thinking about Sunset too?” “Of course I am.” Rainbow Dash sighed. “She’s with Flutters, how am I not going to worry about that? Especially since she went full Satan on us earlier.” “Yeah, church says Ah should confront my demons, but Ah don’t think they meant it so literally.” She smiled to try and brighten the mood.  “She tried to kill us.” Rainbow Dash continued like she hadn’t heard Applejack. “Am I just supposed to forget that?” “She tried to kill Twilight and ‘Shy, didn’t seem to matter to them.” “Yeah I guess.” Rainbow Dash groaned. “It would’ve been so much easier if Twilight didn’t make us promise anything, I was so looking forward to shoving her into lockers.” “Dash, that’d make yah the bully.” Applejack gave Rainbow Dash a disapproving look. “That’d be extremely Immature. God says to turn the other cheek, just cause Sunset was a bully doesn’t give yah the right to bully her back.” “But everyone’s gonna be doing it.” Dash whined. “And don’t give me that ‘if your friends jumped off a bridge’ thing, I get that enough from my parents.” “Your parents discipline you?” Applejack said mockingly. “Ah’m shocked, Ah though they let yah run wild.” “They’re overly affectionate, that doesn’t mean they don’t still punish me for shit.” Rainbow Dash said, rolling her eyes. “Back on topic though, I’m not sure I buy this whole ‘oh, I don’t know the first thing about friendship, woe is me’ bullshit. This seems like a ruse.” “Ah kinda feel the same.” Applejack nodded. “Still, we promised Twi and should at the very least make the effort with Sunset. At the first sign of her being an untrustworthy snake, we drop her. Twilight will understand.” “Some people just don’t want to be helped.” Rainbow Dash added. “Guess it doesn’t matter, we probably won’t see her much anyway after she’s expelled.” “If anyone deserves to be expelled, it’s her. “ Applejack laughed. “Who do yah think will actually be Valedictorian when she’s gone?” “Me, duh.” “God also says yer not supposed to lie.” Applejack smirked. “God also probably doesn’t approve of getting drunk off your ass from your family’s cider when your grannies away.” Rainbow Dash countered. “Find the law where it says that.” “I would, but we only have the Old Testament.” “That’s like ninety percent of the Bible, Dash.” “Then it’s in your ten percent.” “Whatever.” Applejack rolled her eyes and turned around, pulling the covers up to herself. “G’night Dash.” “Night cowgirl.” Rainbow Dash replied as she turned away. “... I can still call you a hick though, right?” Applejack kicked Rainbow Dash in the back to make her displeasure known. “Ok ok! Geez.”