Sunset Shimmer hated thunderstorms.
They scared her. It had always been an irrational fear, yet she was still terrified. She moved her blanket slightly and began to relax as the thunderstorm began to fade away.
'Who would have thought that I, Sunset Shimmer, former Queen Bee of Canterlot High, would be sat cowering in a hostel, over a thunderstorm?'
Another clap of thunder made her jump back and pull the blanket closer to her.
She'd kept her fear of thunderstorms a secret. She was the Queen Bee of Canterlot High, she couldn't risk people knowing she had a fear over something so irrational. The only person who knew was Princess Celestia, and she wasn't here to comfort her. Celestia would never be there to comfort her again, and Sunset Shimmer knew it was all her fault.
The thunderstorm had finally faded away, with only the rain as reminder of what had just happened. Sunset finally let herself relax, letting out a sigh of content as she buried her face into the blanket. Finally, she could try to get some sleep.
A knock interrupted her attempt to sleep.
"Oi, Sunset!"
Her throat tightened as she heard that oh-so familiar voice. It belonged to Lightening Dust, another student who attended Canterlot High. She was on the basketball and football team along with Rainbow Dash, which meant Sunset was told every little thing that Lightening said about her. She was another student who hated Sunset Shimmer.
Sunset pulled the blankets over her, pretending to be asleep. She stayed quiet in an attempt to lure the girl away.
"Come on, Lightening," Another voice said. Sunset recognised the voice as Fleetfoot, another student who was also on the basketball team. "We'll get her later. Besides, Mrs Cake will be coming up to check on us soon."
Sunset heard Lightening sigh, and she thumped on the door once more. "Listen here Shimmer! You can't hide in there forever!"
Sunset heard the sound of footsteps walking away, and after minutes of being silent, she sighed in relief. She pulled the blanket towards her chest, trying to blink away tears.
Sunset Shimmer hated thunderstorms.
She hated the hostel.
She hated the thought of going back to Canterlot High on Monday.
She hated the stares she would get from the other students.
In short, Sunset Shimmer hated her life.
"I still don't know what we're going to do about Sunset."
Applejack propped herself up on her elbows, her eyes drifting away from the book she was reading. Sunset Shimmer had given it to her; she said it was a gift to try and make up to Applejack.
Applejack was currently at Rarity's for a sleepover, along with their other friends. They had invited Sunset Shimmer too, but she declined the offer, thanking them, but she said she wanted to help Mrs Cake with preparing for her children's birthdays.
"I don't k-know either." Fluttershy spoke up from where she was sat on the floor, currently stroking Rarity's cat. "I know s-she made a m-mistake, but at least she i-is trying to make a-amends."
Rainbow Dash nodded her head in agreement, taking another bite of the biscuit she was currently eating.
"Ah don't know what we can do." Applejack sighed, moving to sit up. "Fluttershy's right. Sunset sure is trying hard to fit in, but no one else seems ta' understand that."
Rarity nodded her head in understanding, glancing over at her newly-manicured nails. "I understand what you mean, darling. We have to help her somehow."
Pinkie Pie jumped up from the seat, a grin on her face. "Maybe we can throw her a party! You know, a 'We-forgive-you!' party!"
Applejack smiled slightly at Pinkie. "That sounds like a great idea, sugarcube, but we'd be the only ones there. No one else would want to come, and ah think that would just upset Sunset."
Pinkie Pie nodded, although she was slightly sad about not being able to throw a party for her friend. "But AJ, what else can we do?"
Applejack sighed and maneuvered herself so that she was sitting up with her leg crossed. "Ah think the best thing we can do right now is be there for her. She's going through a lot right now, we just need to let her know that we love her and forgive her."
Her friends nodded in agreement, before Rarity spoke up. "Perhaps we should go visit her tomorrow afternoon, offer to help Mrs Cake and Sunset out."
"That sounds like a great idea," Applejack said, letting herself lie back down. "Until then, all we can do is be there for Sunset when she needs us." Applejack saw their sad faces and tried to think of a way to cheer them up. "Hey now, don't be too sad. Ah mean, summer holidays are beginning soon."
That got the girls excited. They began to talk about parties, planning activities for them all to participate in. Applejack smiled too, before she remembered something.
"Awe, shoot." Everyone turned to look at the farmer, who gave a nervous grin. "I've just remembered that I have to go on a family road trip for the first three weeks of the summer vacation."
She was met with various groans and complaints.
"What?"
"Oh, dear..."
"Applejack...!"
"Sorry y'all," she smiled sheepishly, "There's a festival near Appleloosa, and Braeburn wants us all to go there. It'll get harder for us to see some members of the family soon. Apple Bloom and Babs are starting their exams, Braeburn will be getting a new job and moving shortly, and Big Mac is going to college soon."
"We understand Applejack," Fluttershy smiled, although it was a weak one.
Pinkie Pie looked up, "But Applejack...what about Fluttershy's birthday?"
Applejack's eyes widened and she turned to Fluttershy, "Shoot! Look, sugarcube, ah promise that I'll be back in time for your birthday! I'm so sorry Fluttershy."
Fluttershy shook her head and smiled, "Applejack, it isn't a problem. Really. You're coming back, and that's all I can ask for."
Applejack grinned at her, pulling her closer into a hug. Soon, all five girls were holding each other in a hug.
Rarity was the first to pull away. "Okay girls, let's not let this damper our evening!"
The rest of the evening was spent watching films and eating popcorn, each in their own sleeping bag. As the time went by, each girl fell asleep, leaving only Applejack awake.
'Ah can't believe I forgot about my family road trip and Fluttershy's birthday!' She thought as she rolled over in her sleeping bag, trying to get comfortable. 'Some friend I am...I'm surprised Sunset wants to be my friend!' Her mind drifted back to her friend, and Applejack began to wonder. 'Speaking of family...ah know she has Mrs Cake, but that isn't her real mother, right? Come to think of it, Sunset's family will probably be in the other world...'
Applejack was close to falling asleep when an idea struck her. She grinned, finally getting comfortable, and drifted off into a slumber with only one thought on her mind.
'I'll prove that we've forgiven you Sunset...'