Sunset stomped down the streets of Ponyville, in a notably worse mood than she had left the castle with. It hadn't been too bad at first, she pondered. And it truly hadn't. Her jaunty pace had leas her face first into Pinkie Pie, providing her a glimpse of sunshine she had been sorely missing. And yet, the walk had gone downhill so quickly. She clenched her jaw a bit as the flames in her veins reignited at the thought. Of all the ponies she would have bumped into, it had to be Rainbow Dash. Just her voice alone had dragged in unwanted memories of what they all had done to her.
No.
Unsure of where that voice had come from, Sunset paused in her journey, Fluttershy's cottage just poking out from over the incline. No, the voice had said clearly, denying her previous thoughts. And now with claws in her mind, the thoughts dragged her down.
The other's weren't to blame. At least, not wholly. No matter what vitriol they had spewed at her, she alone had made the decision. She alone had consumed those pills. And she alone lived with the consequences now. Her friends were gone, and she was alone. Her hooves began to shake a bit, an invisible chill clinging to her despite the warm sunny day. No matter how well Princess Twilight treated her, it was just out of obligation. The harsh truth forced itself down her throat and she choked on it. She was just as much a burden here as she was there. Nothing ever got easier. It was all poi-
"Hello? Who's there?" A sweet, clear voice cut through the swirling red surrounding her. Before Sunset could respond, a tall shadow fell over her. Mint eyes were cast up... and up... and up... Until they stalled, fear catching in her throat. A grizzly bear stood before her, easily surpassing her own height on its hind legs. The bear swung forward a bit, unleashing an ear-quaking roar into the unicorns face. Unable to force her body into fight or flight, Sunset Shimmer froze. Gentle tremors wracked her form as she stared at the behemoth before her, and knew there was no escape. The shadows cast over her shifted and she didn't want to die, she didn't want to die, she...
"Archibald!" The familiar, clear voice swept over her again as she shook, panic clogging her thoughts. The voice was scolding, but not cruel. It was the voice of her friend. "Oh my goodness, I am so sorry about that!" Fluttershy exclaimed as she floated down the hill behind the bear she now knew as Archibald. The pegasus turned towards the bear in question, disapproval once again limning her features. "You know better than to just yell at ponies like that. You should be glad she didn't have a heart attack!" Archibald lowered himself back to all fours, head hung low and offering what could only be described as puppy dog eyes at the hovering yellow mare. His lips moved and a few grunts came from him; seemingly an apology if Fluttershy's reaction was anything to go off. Her expression softened a bit as she carried on, seemingly oblivious to Sunset still staring at the two of them in absolute terror.
"Thank you for trying to protect me, but you had no real reason to think they were a threat." The bear grunted a few more times, and Fluttershy placed a hoof to her chin, pondering. "Yes, you can still accompany me to the market..." Archibald perked up at that, his tiny tufted tail giving a tiny shake. "but no ice cream on the way home." She nodded to herself resolutely. The grizzly's head drooped a bit more at that, and he stomped off to splash in the nearby river while he waited. Fluttershy observed the scene, giggling to herself quietly, before seeming to remember her situation and twirl in midair to face Sunset, a look of panic now on her own face as well. "Are you okay!? I hope Archie didn't scare you too much, I promise you're in no danger and I really am so sorry foranyinconveniencewemayhavecausedyou, itwascompletelymyfaultand-oh!" Fluttershy seemed to break herself out of her apology ramble as she noticed exactly who's face she held in her hooves. Sunset's eyes were still wide, but held less terror. instead her cheeks were dusted in pink, her cheeks being gently smooshed together as she stared at the pegasus floating before her.
"H-hi Fluttershy..." Sunset started as Fluttershy gently touched down, landing on the dirt road and folding her wings. She smiled a bit nervously, wings still fidgeting in place under Sunset's gaze. As the unicorn's panic lessened, the pegasus's just seemed to grow, until the mare herself let out a loud gasp.
"Lunch!" she cried, sounding almost mortified. A few ponies walking the road behind them paused to look, hearing the noise of distress. Sunset just quirked her head to the side.
"Yeah,, that was the plan, but like if you're bu-"
"I forgot!" the mares looked at each other for another heartbeat, the awkwardness growing.
"Oh, well I mean, we don't have to go..." Sunset trailed off.
Fluttershy jerked forward a bit, hoof skidding on the ground anxiously. "I-I'd love to! It's just... It's that... Well, I need to go to the m-market, and Archibald has been cooped up inside all week and he was SO excited to go and I guess I double booked and I'm so very sorry to was-" Fluttershstopped abruptly, finding a golden hoof held gently before her mouth in a motion to quiet. Realizing this, she flushed deeply as she noticed her own rambling. She already had an apology forming on her tongue as Sunset just smiled at her, gently. Her apology died in the face of that quiet understanding.
"You're completely fine, things happen! It's really no big deal. But, if you wouldn't mind... I'd love to accompany you to the market!" Sunset needed to pause in the middle of her statement to gather the courage for her request. She had to look away as she lowered her hoof, unable to hold eye contact as she waited for a hasty rejection, a kind refusal. And yet Fluttershy just remained silent, and when Sunset dared a glance up, the mare was as flushed as she herself was.
"I.... I'd really like that." Fluttershy smiled gently, and Sunset swore the ground fell away around her. "Let me just check with Archiba-" She turned, cutting herself off as she found the bear in question standing at attention just behind her, tail up and ears pricked forward. She giggled and reached up a hoof to pat the bear on his cheek as he huffed, the breath ruffling her mane a bit. "He says he's happy so long as he can still go," she turned back to face Sunset before craning her neck back again to give the bear a stern look. "Now remember what we talked about. No growling unless something is VERY wrong, and absolutely no rearing and roaring." Archibald just lowered his big fluffy head and gruffed at the dirt. Fluttershy seemed pleased with the answer as she at last turned her attention to the flushed mare before her. Giving her a bright smile, Fluttershy reached out and took Sunset's hoof in her own, leading her down the street and towards the market.
And for the first time in a long time, Sunset felt a flicker of pure, golden joy.