> Look In The Mirror To Find the Truth
>  by redandready45
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Early Morning Delivery (Edited 2/6/20)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Applejack arrived at her desk in Mr. Cranky's math class just moments before class started. All around her, students were sending texts to their classmates, having last minute talks with friends, and pulling out their textbooks, homework, and notebooks. 

Applejack noticed how bitter everyone was. While Mondays were almost never fun, there was a extra-sense of malaise surrounding them that had nothing to do with Monday Blues.

The cause of that malaise was made more prominent by her absence. Applejack glanced over to the empty desk immediately to her right.

"Shouldn't Sunset be here by now?", Applejack thought. Sunset was many, many things. But she was never a slacker. Unlike the stereotypical high school bad girl, Sunset took her studies seriously. She was always the first to arrive, was always raising her hand and answering the question correctly, and was always getting good grades. Whether that was part of the "nice girl" act she put on for the teachers, some genuine belief in hard work, or just another kind of vanity, Applejack didn't know. 

But ever since last Friday, not knowing where Sunset filled her and other students with more than a bit of dread, if their glances toward Sunset's desk were any indication.

"Hello class," Mr. Cranky said in his stern voice. "I'm sure we all had an...eventful Friday," he said, his voice becoming unusually light. 

"Eventful was an understatement," Applejack thought. Magic turned out to be real, Sunset turned into a demon, brainwashed some students, destroyed a chunk of the school, Canterlot got to host an actual magical princess, and Applejack and her friends briefly gained superpowers. The events seemed to put everyone so on edge, that even taking about it in a marginal way made everyone deathly quiet.

"However," Mr. Cranky said. "We cannot allow what happened to keep us from doing our work. The world stops for no one." He pulled out his attendance sheet. 

"Applejack," he asked.

"Present," the cowgirl said.  

"Berry Punch,"

"Present".

He read the names of 17 other students, but his voice veered off as he reached the name at the very bottom. 

"Sunset....Shimmer," Cranky said, his crabby voice becoming unusually quiet. Normally, Cranky would say Sunset's name with a small amount of pride. The math teacher had overlooked Sunset's bullying due to her excellent grades and being an active student. But no amount of A's could make the man overlook the damage done to the school entrance. Applejack heard the attendance sheet crinkle under Cranky's grasp, as if the man was squeezing it in anger.

"Absent," Cranky said, gritting his teeth. The whispers among Applejack's classmates indicated that their attitude toward Sunset was even worse.

"I heard that bitch got arrested."

"No, I heard they locked her up in a secret government lab."

"Good. I hope they rip her guts out."

"Maybe she'll finally be gone for good."

"Everyone here wants to tear her head off. She'd be an idiot not to scram."



"Silence," Cranky said. The venomous gossip died down. He pulled out a brown dry erase marker, and began drawing some fancy equation on the board.

That last comment filled Applejack with some dark satisfaction. The blond farmer had been wishing for the little witch to leave and never come back. She hated Sunset since her little sabotage of the school's Alumni Banquet freshman year.

 
"Needs more sugar," Pinkie Pie said, tasting some of the cake batter with her finger. Applejack and Pinkie Pie were in the school's kitchen, clad in chef's hats and aprons. They were surrounded by various ingredients, bowls, and kitchen utensils. They had volunteered to provide fresh-baked goods for tomorrow's Alumni Banquet.

To Applejack, it was just an attempt to kiss up to the rich alumni so they would make donations. But any penny that went to the school was good for them. And if people liked her cooking, she could get new customers for her family's farm. So she and Pinkie slaved away to get things ready.

"Don't worry about it," Applejack said kindly, "we've got plenty of-," her eyes widened when she saw Pinkie trying to pour an entire bag of sugar into one of the bowls.

"Pinkie," Applejack yelled, grabbing the pink girl by the arm to keep her from pouring the bag. "This has to be done right! You can't just pour sugar in willy-nilly!"

"Why not? They're called sweets, aren't they?" Pinkie Pie asked innocently. 

Applejack slapped her hand against her face and sighed. Pinkie Pie was a competent and loving friend for sure. But that didn't change the fact that she was very...off in a lot of ways.

"I don't want anyone getting sick," Applejack said with a sad voice. "How would you feel if someone got a...tummy ache at a party," Applejack said uneasily, not liking to sound juvenile. Pinkie Pie gasped with horror at the very idea.

"Oh, Applejack, I'm sorry," she said, almost in tears. "I wouldn't want to make anyone sick." 

"You won't, as long as you follow the recipe," Applejack assured. She went back to her stirring bowl when out of nowhere came a fire-haired girl. 

"Ahh," Applejack said startled. 

"I'm sorry, did I scare you?" the girl from the school newspaper said with a sheepish smile on her face. She was wearing a large handbag on her shoulder and was holding a pen and notebook.

"Sorry, I just didn't see you come in," Applejack drawled. "Nice to see you-uh," Applejack stammered, trying to remember the girl's name. 

"Hey Sunny-Wunny," Pinkie Pie said. "It has been so long since we've seen each other."

"Yes, two hours is a long time," Sunset said, with a smile that was slightly strained. Applejack looked at the amber-skinned girl with sympathy. Sunset was new in town, so she was still trying to get used to Pinkie being...Pinkie. "Listen, I need some stories for the school newspaper, and I wanted to ask you some questions about...baking".

"Really," Pinkie Pie said with some excitement. 

Soon Sunset began asking questions about how long it took to bake, what they were baking, baking tips, why they baked. Sprinkled in were questions of an undeniably personal nature, like their schedules, their plans after school, and their plans for the weekend. 

"Uh, Sunset," Applejack said uneasily when Sunset asked about her Sunday schedule, "we're kind of busy. We can talk...later." Sunset was an...odd girl to say the least. At times, she was as happy-go-lucky as Pinkie Pie and at other times, she seemed quite solitary. 

In class, she was a model student always raising her hand and answering the teacher's questions.  When working for the newspaper, she acted as giddy as a kid in a candy store, enthusiastically asking people very intrusive questions. At lunch however, she sat by herself, brushing off invitations by people who wanted to eat with her and boys wanting to go out with her.

"What are you talking about Applejack," Pinkie Pie said, not grasping subtle social cues. "We have-," Applejack gave her a light tap on the shoe with her boot. That was a hint she took. "Sorry, Sunny," Pinkie Pie said with a shrug. Sunset started to look a bit sad.

"Sunset," Applejack asked,"are you OK?"

"I understand," Sunset said with a sad voice. "You think I'm a freak," she said, her eyes watering. Applejack and Pinkie felt a pang of sympathy. 

"No," Applejack said uneasily. "We never said that. We're just..."

"I'm sorry for being so annoying," Sunset said sadly. "I'm just...new to this world-I mean, town! I didn't have any friends where I came from. And I'm trying to make new ones, and I thought joining the paper would help me do that." She let out a sad sigh. "But I just embarrass myself every time," she said, weeping. Pinkie Pie and Applejack shared a concerned look.

"Hey, Hey," Applejack said, in a soothing tone. "If you need friends, I'll be there to help you out, sugarcube."

"So will I," Pinkie Pie said happily. 

"Really," Sunset Shimmer asked. Her tears faded, and she let out a grateful smile. "You can't imagine how...pleased I am to hear this." 

"You can join us for lunch tomorrow, if you want to," Pinkie Pie said.

"That sound's great," Sunset said with joy. Sunset looked at her watch. "Oh sorry, got things to do," she said, putting the notebook in her handbag. "I'm sure everyone is gonna," she paused, her eyes darting left to right for some reason,"get a kick out of your pastries."

"See y'all later," Applejack said to the girl, who ran out of the kitchen.

"Bye," Pinkie said with a wave. 

After another hour of pouring and mixing, the baked goods were in the industrial oven. Applejack and Pinkie Pie, their skin covered in flour, smiled as they watched their pastries cook. 

"After all this time, we're finally done," Applejack said with a relieved sigh.

"Don't our little munchkins look precious," Pinkie Pie said, cooing at the baking pastries like they were babies in an incubator. 

"Anyways, lets go get cleaned up," Applejack said, brushing off the flour on her body. The two teenagers walked out of the kitchen, ignoring a red and yellow-haired girl who was watching them leave while hidden in one of the hallways. Once they left, the girl looked at the kitchen with cruel glee, holding a brown plastic bottle in her hand. 





Pinkie Pie and Applejack sat in Princess Luna's office the next day looking utterly miserable, while Luna was looking at them with a small amount of condemnation.

"How did this happen?" Luna asked with some discomfort. 

"We don't know," Pinkie Pie said with tears in her eyes. 

"Ms. Vice Principal," Applejack said pleadingly. "We followed the recipes exactly."

"Did you," the Vice Principal asked sternly. "Because there are 39 people who are sick with diarrhea. Many of them are alumni who make donations to the school." She leaned her head forward, making her stern eyes more visible. "Be honest. Was this your idea of a prank?"

"I would never ruin good cakes and pies just to make people sick at a party," Pinkie Pie said, outraged at the idea. "Parties are for fun." Luna looked at the two fiercely for a moment, before letting out a sigh.

"OK, fine. I'll accept that this was some accident," Luna said, her anger falling away. "However, the school board said that you two can't bake anything on campus, or bring your own goods, for the rest of the year. And Applejack, we," she paused uneasily, looking down for a moment. "won't be doing business with your family's farm."

"WHAT?!" Both girls asked with horror.

"Why," Pinkie Pie asked with dismay.

"Like I said, this was a very important event," Principal Luna said with some sadness. "The School Board is afraid that some alumni might not donate anything to the school because of this. So, to prevent further incidents, they want you absent from any more baking events."

"Please don't stop buying from the Apple farm," Applejack pleaded. "We need that income. And if you cut us off, we could lose even more business."

"Look, we promise to be more careful," Pinkie Pie said, tears falling down her eyes. "Pinky promise," she said, holding her pinky to Principal Luna.

"Pinkie," Luna said forcefully. The pink girl retracted her finger. "I know it was an accident. But the School Board doesn't want anymore incidents like this. I want to give you girls another chance, but they have the final say." She paused and let out a small sigh. "I'm sorry."

Pinkie Pie and Applejack walked out of the principal's office. The former was really upset, while the latter was fuming.

"I wonder what went wrong," Pinkie Pie said.

"Maybe if you'd follow the danggum recipe, I wouldn't have lost some business," Applejack bellowed.

"You're blaming me," Pinkie Pie asked with dismay.

"You love to dump sugar into everything," Applejack yelled. "You obnoxious little moron!" Pinkie Pie gasped in horror.

"Well, maybe if you weren't such a frowny pants," Pinkie Pie said with anger, "no one would've gotten sick."

"That doesn't make sense!"

"YOU DON'T MAKE SENSE!"

Applejack and Pinkie Pie's argument deteriorated into a screaming match. All the while, someone was watching the fight from a distance with joy.

"Candy from a baby," Sunset said with a smile.









The baking incident, combined with what turned out to be fake E-mails and messages from Sunset (which she didn't learn about until last week) destroyed Applejack's relationship with Pinkie.

After something similar happened at a baking contest that Sunset was a part of in January, four months later, Applejack pieced together that Sunset poured something into the batter that made everyone sick. She tried to tell off Sunset and rough her up, but the fire-haired girl had covered her tracks, much to her fury.







"Hey Applejack," Sunset asked the cowgirl in a casual tone. "What's going on?" The note placed in her locker said to come and meet with the farm girl in some darkened hallway with a dead end when nobody was around. Applejack leaned against the wall at the end of the hallway, her arms crossed, looking at Sunset with a stern expression. Applejack looked like a film noir character with her cowboy hat and her face hidden in the shadows. Sunset looked at the environment, with its poor lighting and darkness, and admired the deep mysterious tone. 

"This looks like an excellent place to have words", Sunset thought to herself. 

"You were in some kind of baking contest. One I or Pinkie could've joined if it wasn't for my ban." Applejack said with a stern look. "And everyone's food made everyone sick...except yours"

"Yeah, its quite a shame," Sunset said, pretending to look at her nails. 

"With everyone else ill, you took home the prize," Applejack said, raising an eyebrow. "Quite convenient."

"Is this going somewhere," Sunset asked with a forced yawn.  "I have better things to-,"

"Something similar happened four months ago," Applejack said. "Pinkie and I were baking for an alumni party, everyone got sick, my family farm's reputation took a hit, and now we're banned from baking for the rest of the school year."

"And?"

"And I remember you were asking all kinds of questions," Applejack drawled. "About our schedules and plans for the weekend." Applejack's eyes narrowed. "So I think you're a good suspect." To Applejack's shock, Sunset began clapping in a mocking way.

"Congratulations, Sherlock", Sunset said with a small sneer. "You figured it out in the amount of time is takes for you to count to ten. Well done." AJ's heckles were raised by that slight.

"So you dumped junk into our pastries," Applejack growled. "And you did that at the baking contest too?"

"Yep," Sunset said casually. It was as if she was ignorant of Applejack's burning rage, or just didn't care. "Sorry," she said in an insincere tone, "Getting you banned from the kitchen wasn't personal. It was just-,"

"You made people dozens of people sick?!" Applejack bellowed. Sunset looked confused, as if she expected Applejack to be angry at Sunset about her farm losing business, not the fact that dozens of people go ill. "How....could you?!

"Good job. You've managed to use words with at least one syllable," Sunset snarked.

"Is this your hobby? Making people ill for fun," Applejack growled. Sunset let out a mocking smile.

"Let me put it in small words so you'll understand," Sunset said with a mocking smile. "I have a goal." 

"What's your goal," Applejack said.  

"There is something I want," Sunset growled in a rage. "Something some stupid little busybody thought I didn't deserve despite all the work I did for her." Whatever Sunset wanted, the clenching of her fists made it clear getting it denied to her pissed her off beyond comprehension.

"So whatever it is you want, you're willing to hurt people to get it," Applejack asked disbelief. Sunset's scowl became a vicious grin.

"Yep,  Sunset said darkly. "Again, you wouldn't understand. But it means more to me than anything else. So what if your stupid family ended up in the poor house. So what if a bunch of idiots get sick." Sunset then let out an unnaturally happy smile that really enraged Applejack. "What matters is that I get what I want-" Sunset was so caught up in her megalomaniacal rant, she didn't hear the sound of boots running. Before she finished her sentence, she felt herself roughly shoved up against a locker. The impact hurt her back a little and took some breath out of her. When Sunset was less dazed, she saw a furious Applejack keeping her pinned against the locker, while holding her by her shirt.

"Tell me one good reason I shouldn't break every bone in your body, you psycho-bitch," Applejack snarled. To her shock, Sunset looked more amused then scared.

"Go ahead," Sunset said in a soft voice. "Take a swing at me. Let out your anger." Applejack's grip on Sunset became more limp. "What's wrong," she asked in a mocking voice. "Did you lose your nerve?" 

"You got some kind of camera filming this, don't you," Applejack asked, releasing Sunset and looking around.

"Maybe I do. Maybe I don't," Sunset said with a roll of her eyes. "But if I did I, could easily get you suspended for laying a finger on me."

"Well," Applejack said, trying to cover the chill that went down her spine,"I could...tell the Principal what you did."

"Where's your evidence?" Sunset asked with a grin. Applejack's eyes darted back and forth. "All you have is your word against mine. You're just some peasant," Sunset said with a highly aristocratic voice, "while I'm an honor role student. Do you really think you can convince them that I, the top student in class, would stoop so low?" Applejack began feeling sweaty. 

"I can't", Applejack admitted sadly. "But listen to me Shimmer," Applejack said regaining some of her nerve,"if you ever try anything like that ever-," Sunset slammed her arm loudly into the locker near Applejack. It made the farmer jump a little. 

"Listen to me, cowgirl," Sunset said with some disdain. "I was able to destroy your reputation here with a bottle of laxative. It took one day for me to ensure that no one would ever buy your apple junk again here. And no one found out about it until it was too late to make a difference." Her smile became undeniably sadistic. "If I wanted to, I could ruin your farm, drive you into the streets without a penny, and then go home and sleep like a baby." Applejack's face blanched. "And you would never see it coming," Sunset said, leaning so far into Applejack's face that the farmer felt Sunset's breath under her chin. Applejack finally looked down, unable face Sunset.

"Oh, so now you understand," Sunset said mockingly. "And everyone here thinks you're slow. Mess with me, and I'll ruin you. Stay out of my way, and we won't have trouble. Got it?" Applejack nodded, but still tried to get one last barb.

"You're an inhuman beast," Applejack barked, still unable to look Sunset. Sunset laughed, albeit more genuinely this time. It was like her own inside joke. 

"Empty insults won't help you," Sunset gloated, walking away from a downcast Applejack who just looked down in shame, hearing only the sound of Sunset's heels as they touched the floor. "Like I said, stay out of my way." Applejack looked like she was on the verge of tears. "And this conversation never happened."







Applejack was intimidated into not striking back, nor warning others. Applejack tried to go for a low blow, but couldn't find anything in Sunset's background to use against her. No employment history, no family, nothing. Sunset had gotten away with it. Not only that, she had succeeded in permanently destroying her relationships with the other Rainbooms.

Or so she thought.

She pulled out a locket from her purse, opened it, and looked kindly at the group picture she took with the girls and Princess Twilight. 

"Thank you so much," she said quietly to the girl...pony...thing who had helped rebuild her friendship with Pinkie and everyone else. She wondered how many other lives the Princess of Friendship had helped in that pony world of hers. But looking at the picture of the magic girl, she couldn't help but think back to what the Princess of Friendship asked of them: to give Sunset a chance. 

Her fists clenched in anger at the idea.

Sunset hurt the reputation of Sweet Apple Acres and her friendships.  Almost every week since the beginning of this year, Shimmer had called her every single slur about rural folk that there was in the book. Hick, redneck, hillbilly, trailer trash. She wanted to punch the person who said "they were just words" right in the face.  Sunset's insults hit her like bullets. 

She remembered Sunset even making snide remarks at poor Apple Bloom. Applejack wanted to use her muscled arms to make the bitch pay, but Sunset could easily just complain to the teacher, and get her suspended for assaulting her. 

Sunset had hurt her and so many others in ways. 

But still, despite Sunset trying to make her life miserable too, the pony princess still sought to forgive Sunset instead of dragging her to a dungeon like she deserved. She then begged everyone else to do the same. That Princess clearly didn't hold any grudges, and urged others not to.

Applejack's late mother, Pear Butter, had told her the same thing. 

"Revenge is a weapon that will hurt you if you try and fire it," she would tell Applejack. Pear Butter mentioned the family feud that nearly kept her from marrying her father Bright Mac as an example of why revenge and grudges hurt you worse. Applejack wondered if they would tell her to give Sunset a second chance. 

"Miss Applejack," Mr. Cranky bellowed, breaking Applejack out of her thoughts "Are you daydreaming?"

"No, sir," Applejack said timidly. She felt uncomfortable 

"Then perhaps you could explain how to break down polynomials," he said with a frown.

"Uh," Applejack said.

"That's what I thought," Mr. Cranky said with disgust. "Pay attention."

Applejack didn't know what she would do. The choice would be easier to make if Sunset was still here.





Applejack met with her friends at lunch. She saw how they were all on good terms, chatting amiably instead of being at each other's throats. It really warmed her heart.

"Hey guys," she said, putting her trey on the table. Her friends greeted her enthusiastically. 

"What's going on with y'all," Applejack asked. She heard varying degrees of "not much" from all her friends. Still, a lingering question hung in her mind. 

"Have you guys seen Sunset," Applejack asked. The good mood crashed, as everyone gave her a stern look.

"No," Rarity said in a controlled voice, "I have not seen...her."

"Neither have I," Fluttershy said in a fearful tone. 

"She must have vanished, because I haven't seen her anywhere," Pinkie Pie said.

"Good," Rainbow Dash said simply. "She better." Pinkie Pie gasped.

"Rainbow how could you be so mean," Pinkie Pie asked. Rainbow Dash gave her an incredulous look. 

"Do I have to explain it to you Pinkie Pie," Rainbow Dash replied, her voice brimming with anger. "She was horrible to everybody and everything in this school."

"But, we promised Princess Twilight to give Sunset a chance," Pinkie Pie protested. "Right?" Rarity and Fluttershy looked uneasy, while Applejack quietly hid her own internal conflict about it.

"Well darling," Rarity said nervously. "I know we promised her. But...look at the damage she did," she hissed. "To the school and to everyone's personal lives."

"She was always so mean to me," Fluttershy squealed. Rainbow Dash put a comforting hand on Fluttershy's shoulder, which the yellow girl greatly appreciated.

"Sunset was more then just a jerk," Rainbow uttered, clenching her fist. "She was a monster! Even before she put on that stupid crown. I really hope we don't see her ever again!"

"But-," Pinkie Pie protested, but was stopped by Applejack raising her hand.

"Look, maybe shouldn't talk about it until we're in better spirits," Applejack said. To her relief, everyone became less tense, and the subject moved into the more mundane.


The Next Day

The rooster-shaped alarm clock woke Applejack up in her bedroom. She groaned, seeing it was 5:30 AM. She hated getting up early, but it was her job to deliver the pies, cakes, and other pastries to the supermarket. With another yawn and stretch, she got out of her bed, changed out of her pajamas, and got into her work clothes. 

After some help from some hired hands, Applejack was able to load the Apple Family products into a truck, and drove to the market. Despite it being morning, the day was still as black as night. Applejack drove through the streets of Canterlot with tired eyes. When she drove by Canterlot High, she saw a few people working near the destroyed entrance.

Applejack was so stunned at seeing who it was, she barely noticed she swerved into the other side of the road.

"WHOOOAAAAA," Applejack uttered, trying to get back on the right-side of the road after nearly colliding with someone else. She drove into the CHS parking lot, got out of her truck, and quietly walked toward the entrance, confirming what she saw.

Sunset Shimmer, wearing an orange helmet and yellow construction vest, was picking up debris and putting it into some kind of dumspter. Standing over Sunset were two men were supervising her with stern expressions in their eyes. What made Applejack pause was the utterly forlorn look in Sunset's eyes. Sunset looked so broken, so depressed, so...not Sunset.

Applejack looked at her watch and decided her work was more important then her curiosity. She ran back into her van, and resumed driving to her destination. Still the way Sunset looked gave Applejack a pit in her stomach.
> A Pie and an Explanation (Edited 2/13/20)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

At lunch time the next day, the Rainbooms were enjoying their meals when Applejack suddenly charged toward their table

"Applejack," Rarity admonished,"you don't have to run in here. The food won't run out." 

"Ha, Ha, Ha," Applejack said with fake, forced laughter. "You guys aren't gonna believe what I saw while I was driving early this morning."

"The Loch Ness Monster," Rainbow Dash joked.

"Bigfoot," Fluttershy asked. She then let out an sad sigh. "I wish people would stop bothering him and let him live in peace." 

"Oh, oh, I know. Aliens," Pinkie Pie said, excitedly waving her pink arm around. "You were driving down a dusty road in the middle of nowhere when-,"

"No," Applejack said, interrupting her pink friend's overactive imagination. "I saw Sunset outside doing clean up." Everyone became deathly still. 

"What," Rainbow Dash barked, clenching her fists. "She's still here in school?!"

"I'm not sure," Applejack said. "If she was still here, then wouldn't we have seen her in class?"

"Then why is she here cleaning up?" Fluttershy asked timidly. 

"Oh, oh, aliens," Pinkie Pie said, waving her hand in the air as if she was answering a question in class.

"Pinkie Pie, stop blaming everything on the aliens," Rarity admonished.

"I'm not saying it was aliens," Pinkie Pie said. "But… it was aliens." Everyone rolled their eyes. "I mean Sunset is technically an alien, isn't she?" Pinkie Pie asked. A pause hung over the Rainbooms as they considered the question. 

"Hmm," Rarity said, tapping her chin with her finger. "I suppose she technically is."

"But isn't she, like, from another dimension," Rainbow said, her anger replaced with a more thoughtful look. "Does being from another dimension make you an alien?"

"Maybe," Fluttershy argued. "I mean, she is from another world. Which is what an alien is. Kind of."

"Perhaps we can create a proper term," Rarity said. "How about...'extra-dimensional being'."

"Boring," Rainbow said with a groan. "Why not call her, 'dimension-hopper'."

"That sounds like a really silly book," Pinkie Pie said. "I say we should call her-,"

"Getting back to the original topic," Applejack interrupted. "Why is she cleaning up, but not going to school?"

"Maybe she was expelled, and she's been sentenced to clean up the school to pay her debt to society," Rarity guessed.

"You mean like, a chain gang?" Applejack asked. "Can you be sentenced in a weekend?"

"I am a budding fashion designer, not a lawyer, Darling," Rarity said. "The law isn't my thing."

"Well as long as she isn't here, that's fine with me," Rainbow Dash said in a triumphant tone, and putting her feet on the table. "CHS needs less jerks," she grumbled, pushing her dirty shoes near Fluttershy's face, much to the yellow girl's consternation.

"Then why are you here," Applejack asked with the roll her eyes. 

"Hey," Rainbow Dash complained.

"Honestly Rainbow," Rarity complained with a wince. "No one needs to see your filthy footwear while we digest our food." Rainbow Dash let out an annoyed sigh.

"Fine," Rainbow said, putting her feet back down to the floor.

"She was expelled," Pinkie Pie complained. "Awwwwwww! Now I won't be able to throw her my 'welcome back to school, and we forgive you for becoming a demon' party." 

"I certainly wouldn't have gone," Rainbow Dash grumbled. "I bet she's just looking for revenge after we beat her butt."

"I don't know," Applejack muttered. "I don't think she would do anything like that."

"Why do you believe that, Darling," Rarity asked Applejack.

"When I saw her," Applejack said, her chin falling into her hand. "She was really, really sad." Rainbow Dash let out a snort.

"Oh, of course she's upset," Rainbow Dash said. "She's upset that her plan to conquer that pony world failed, and she's finally getting what she deserved." Rainbow Dash let out a nasty grin. "I bet she's upset because she has to do two whole minutes of hard work."

"I really think she's sorry," Applejack argued. Rainbow Dash rolled her arms.

"Yeah, she's really sorry," Rainbow Dash parroted. "She's sorry...she got caught and has to do time." Fluttershy looked a bit disappointed at Rainbow Dash.

"Uh, Rainbow," Fluttershy asked timidly. "Aren't you being too harsh?" Rainbow Dash glared daggers at her yellow friend.

"Oh, so you think acting sad for one day makes up for being the worst person in Canterlot High two years straight," Rainbow Dash threw back.

"Well, no", Fluttershy admitted reluctantly. 

"Applejack," Rarity asked, "You are familiar with the term crocodile tears, aren't you?"

"No," Applejack said.

"Well, when a person wishes to get sympathy," she began. Before she continued, her eyes began watering. With a whimper, tears and mascara running down her face. She slammed her face onto the table, sobbing.

"Rarity, what's wrong?" Applejack asked. Soon, all her friends began looking at the fashion lover with concern.

"Rarity," Fluttershy said empathetically, petting her friend's purple hair. "If there's something wrong, tell us-," she paused as Rarity's whimpering descended into laughter. The fashion girl lifted her head up, chuckling to herself.

"See Darlings," Rarity said with a wry grin, pulling her makeup from her purse. "I was able fool all of you into thinking I was in agony-" Rarity paused, reapplying her mascara, "-to gain your sympathy. That's crocodile tears." 

"Oh, you mean blubbering," Applejack said. Applejack and her siblings had used blubbering in a desperate attempt to get out of trouble. Their parents and Granny always saw right through it though. 

"But Rarity didn't become a crocodile," Pinkie Pie said. 

"Darling, it is obvious Sunset is trying to get pity," Rarity said, ignoring Pinkie's irrelevance. "Now that she is paying for being a ne'er-do-well, she believes acting sad will earn her some reprieve," Rarity said with disgust. Applejack rubbed her head, thinking back to all the times Sunset had done exactly that, and nodded in agreement.

However, Sunset hadn't done that when Applejack saw her last night. Sunset was visibly upset, but didn't shed tears or look uncomfortable. She looked resigned. Unrepentant souls would try and stoke pity from others, while remorseful people accepted their punishment with grace.

"Besides, a little hard labor would do her some good," Rarity said.  

"Definitely," Applejack replied with a nod. Applejack was taught that one had to pay what they owed. The farmer girl had no objection to Sunset working off the damages she did to the school.

"Hey Rainbow," some guys at a distant table said to her.

"Oh, that's the male track team," Rainbow said. She rose up from the table. "Sorry guys, I promised to hang out with them." She gave her friends a cheeky grin. "Everybody should have the chance to bask in my greatness." Everyone at the table rolled their eyes, albeit playfully, at their blue-friend's ego.

"Have fun Rainbow," Applejack said to her athletic friend. With a wave she ran over to the other table.





"Hey guys," Rainbow said to six guys who made up Canterlot's Male Track Team. 

"Hey Rainbow," the guys said in a chorus. 

"I can't hear you," Rainbow saidexcitedly. "Try again!"

"HEY RAINBOW," the track team said much more loudly, attracting the amused attention of everyone else in the cafeteria. 

"Much better," Rainbow said with a self-satisfied smile as she plopped her seat next to Sprint Speed, captain of the team. He was a tall senior with green skin, blue hair shaved into a buzz cut, purple eyes, and a lean build. He wore an orange tracksuit with the Wondercolts logo on it and a blue line running down on the right side.

"So how are things, Dash-o," Sprint said with a laugh.

"So-so until you idiots showed up," Rainbow said facetiously. The guys let out joking 'oooohs'. Rainbow Dash looked toward the group, but saw a seventh member she didn't recognize.

The new member had freckles, shaggy red hair, light beige skin, and was dressed in red shorts and a black T-shirt with a red lightning bolt on it. The guy was baby-faced, had a very skinny frame, and was a couple of inches shorter then Rainbow herself. He looked like he could be mistaken for an elementary school student.

"I'm sorry, I don't know your name," Rainbow said sheepishly.

"D-don't worry about it," the short stranger stammered with a kind smile. "Name's Quick Pace. Freshman year. Just joined a few weeks ago." 

"Yeah, he's the baby of the group," Twinkle Toes said, pinching Quick's' face. He was the co-captain of the track team. He was slightly shorter then Sprint Speed, but with a bit more muscle. He had red skin, orange hair, and green eyes. He also wore the Wondercolts track suit. "We're the ones changing his diapers."

"Oh p-please, yo M-m-mama does that for me," Quick said sheepishly. The rest of the team let out a chorus of laughs and 'ooohs.' Rainbow Dash smiled in amusement at the freshman's wit. 

"So how are things for the state competition next week?" Rainbow asked Sprint.

"Great," Sprint said. "We're running fifteen laps a day for practice."

"Pfff," Rainbow said. "I could do all that in my sleep."

"Maybe we should knock your ass out then and see," Twinkle Toes said.

"Oh please, you couldn't hit rain if you were in a storm," Rainbow said. The team again let out a chorus of "ooohs" and laughter. 

"What's going on with you Rainbow?" Sprint asked the blue-skinned athlete.

"Not much," Rainbow said. Her eyes became harder, and her grin became more malicious. "You guys aren't gonna believe this." The group leaned in. "Applejack saw Sunset Shimmer working in school early this morning." The group's frat boy energy died down, and they became visibly upset. Except for Quick who looked calm as he stared at Rainbow.

"Really," Sprint said, gritting her teeth, his previously friendly demeanor replaced by fury. "That bitch is still here after everything she did?"

"I don't know," Rainbow said. "She hasn't shown up for class. Applejack thinks that Sunset got expelled, and that she's doing community service." Quick Pace relaxed a bit.

"Good for her," Twinkle Toes said with a growl. "That little bitch certainly deserved it. I heard our field trips are going to be cut to cover the cost." The rest of the table grumbled.

"Anyways," Rainbow said, trying to steer the conversation towards something less upsetting. "I think next month will be our time to shine."





After a half hour of eating, frat guy behavior, and conversations about sports, Rainbow ended her lunch time by giving a wave to track team and sprinting to her next class.

The co-captains of the track team, plus their new member Quick, had a chat as they walked down the hall.

"So, Sunset's working her tail off early in the morning," Twinkle said with some joy. "Maybe we can use this to...pay Sunset a visit." Sprint himself gave Twinkle a happily opportunistic look.

"W-what are you guys planning," Quick said timidly.

"Your initiation little man," Twinkle said with a wide grin. "Plus a plan to get some payback on some stuck up bitch."

"You in for it, Quick," Sprint asked with enthusiasm. 

"I-I'm in," Quick said timidly. "As l-l-long as we don't get caught."

"Don't worry man," Sprint said in a kindly voice. "If we get caught...I'll be sure to throw you under a bus and have you sent to death row, while I make a deal with the prosecutors to get life in prison." The trio let out a laugh at Sprint's irrelevance. But Quick's face seemed more thoughtful than immature.





Applejack walked into her home, returning from the Young Farmer's Club. It was roughly 6 PM. She put her backpack on the table with a sigh. Despite her farmhouse looking very quaint on the outside, it had a lot of modern settings and appointments.  

She ran into her giant of a big brother. 

"Hey Mac," Applejack said with a smile. "I dropped off the food. Any problems from the supermarket?"

"Nope," the taciturn teenager said.

"Any mail from our other clients," Applejack asked.

"Yep," Big Macintosh said, holding up the mail. He then took the truck keys from Applejack, silently promising to take care of tomorrow's deliveries. Applejack normally would feel relieved not to have to get up early. However, something about seeing Sunset made her want to...see her, again.

"Actually, Big Mac," Applejack said uneasily. "Why don't I drive again, tomorrow?" Big Macintosh looked  a bit surprised. It was a chore neither of them liked to do. "You don't mind, do you?" Big Macintosh handed the keys back to Applejack.

"Nope," Big Macintosh said with a small smile, and walked away to do some homework. Applejack took the keys, but not with much joy. She wasn't eager to visit Sunset. She just wanted to see if Sunset was really just blubbering or not.





Applejack once again drove down the main street, the baked goods in the back of the truck. In the early hours, the road to school was virtually empty. To her confusion, as she approached the school, she saw some teenage males stepping out of a green van while parking on the side of the road. They were a group of seven dressed in black, and they seemed to be marching toward the destroyed entrance while carrying some black garbage bag.

"Must be a group of hoodlums," Applejack thought with suspicion.

Eager to see what they were doing, she quietly parked her van, hid behind the statue, and saw them walk toward the entrance. She saw that Sunset was hammering something while clad in the same yellow vest. The seven approached the amber skinned girl with nasty grins.

"Hey Sunset," one of them said. The former bully dropped her hammer and turned to face the six boys, her face utterly blank.

"Yes," Sunset said quietly.

Without warning, the septet open their bag, revealing dozens of water balloons. They then began throwing them at Sunset.

Applejack flinched when the first one hit Sunset. She saw that when it hit, it left behind some brown. 

"Paint balloons", Applejack thought. Each balloon stained Sunset's clothes, skin, and hair brown.

"You made everyone feel like shit," the tall one yelled. 

"So now we're gonna make you look like shit," the second tallest one said. All the other boys let out some cruel laughter as they covered Sunset with mud-colored paint.

Applejack should've felt amused by this. Sunset was getting her due. But instead Applejack felt a pit in her stomach. Sunset wasn't trying to hide, wasn't trying to defend herself, and wasn't even hollering threats at them. She just stood there and took it. Seeing someone so strong, fierce, and dangerous look so helpless was really depressing.

"What's a matter, gonna cry," another boy said in a taunting matter. Sunset didn't, but she didn't look happy either. 

Suddenly, a flash light came into the distance. The group of boys began running away, shouting "police." Some short redhead kept throwing the paint balloons, and had to be dragged off by one of the others.

One of the construction guys, a man with red skin and white hair, came running up to the paint covered Sunset. 

"What's going on here?!" the stern man hollered. He looked at Sunset with more than a bit of ity. The man put his hand on Sunset's shoulder and muttered something. Sunset shook her head. The man whispered something else. Sunset reluctantly walked away. It was when she got far enough away from the entrance, and felt alone, that Sunset put her face into her hands and began crying.

Applejack heard the pained sob from a distance, and the pit in her stomach became a full-blown feeling of pity. Yet a small part of her wanted to just leave her in her misery or to make her feel worse. 

"How can I feel bad for someone who threatened my farm," Applejack thought to herself.  Applejack saw that Sunset wasn't crying crocodile tears. People who were truly upset cried alone. With a sigh, Applejack got into her truck and drove away, gritting her teeth.





Sunset began hammering the stone column with as much passion as a depression patient had, with the big lamp as her only company. It wasn't her favorite part of her community service. Still, her supervisor, Mr. Mason, wanted it just done right. She was so invested in her work, she didn't notice footsteps on the grass.

"Hey," a voice uttered. Sunset turned, and saw Applejack, walking toward her with some red box. Applejack looked at her with some consternation.

"Hey," Sunset said, turning to face the girl completely. In the dim light, Sunset's face revealed she still hadn't managed to wash off the brown paint, with a lot of it coating her face. Applejack barely stopped herself from flinching.

"How...ya doin'?" Applejack asked in an awkward. Sunset just stared at her, stone-faced. 

"Uh, I brought some pie," Applejack said after a moment of awkward silence, trying to put on a friendly smile.

"Just throw it already," Sunset said in a unhappy voice.

"What?"

"Throw the pie in my face," Sunset said with a drained tone. "Isn't that what your here for?"

"No," Applejack said, the awkwardness in her voice growing. "That's not why I am here."

"Then...what," Sunset said in another quiet voice.

"Well," Applejack said. "I'm curious."

"About?"

"Well," Applejack said, rubbing the back of her shoulder. "Did you get arrested and expelled?" A brief paused ensued.

"No," Sunset said after a few moments. "Twilight and the Principal worked out a deal. I will be working from 8 PM to 6 AM Monday through Friday for the next six weeks to pay off the damages."

"And school?" Applejack asked. 

"Suspended for the next six weeks," Sunset said. 

"I see," Applejack said. Another uncomfortable pause ensued.

"Well, if that's what you wanted to know," Sunset said timidly, and then went back to work. 

"WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?!" Applejack bellowed. Sunset turned back toward Applejack, her sadden face looking a bit annoyed.

"That would....fill ten volumes," Sunset said. "Where...do you want me to start?" Applejack sighed and face-palmed.

"What I mean is, you always act mean, smug, and almighty," Applejack said. "Now you look like you lost your best friend."

"You know what happened," Sunset said sadly. "No need to bring up old news." 

"All ah know we turned into some pony girls," Applejack said ,"and blasted you with some magic rainbow or somethin'." She let out a sigh. "But that doesn't explain why you are acting like your dog died." Sunset stared at her with confusion.

"Wait, you don't know what happened?" Sunset asked, her sad voice showing some incredulity.

"I can only know what I know," Applejack said simply. "Twilight said to give you a chance." Sunset's eyes watered for a moment. After a few blinks, Sunset regained her composure.

"Really?" Sunset said.

"Yeah," Applejack said reluctantly. "I'm trying to see if y'all are sad, or just faking it and looking for revenge."

"What do you think?" Sunset asked, looking down at her shoes.

"I think you might be upset," Applejack said. "If that's true, I want to find out why." Sunset looked down at her shoes again, closing her eyes.

"Alright, I'll tell you," Sunset reluctantly. "But not here, I have to work." She took out a piece of paper and pen, and jotted some name and address down. She walked over, and handed it over to Applejack with a trembling arm and quivering lip. "Does this work for you?" The farmer girl reluctantly took the note and read it.

"Sure," Applejack said. Sunset walked away, without saying another word.

"If this another prank," Applejack warned, "I'll kick you into next week!" Sunset kept walking back toward her work place, not even responding to Applejack's threat. With a sigh, Applejack returned to her car, thinking with trepidation about her..."friendly chat" with Sunset this afternoon.

"Never thought I would use those words in the same sentence," Applejack thought.
> Facing The Music Means Facing Yourself
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Friday Afternoon

As Applejack drove, she looked at the clock on the GPS, and saw she had been driving for about a half hour. 

"Man Sunset really wanted us go out of the way," Applejack thought with some frustration. She had followed her GPS, and it had taken her past Canterlot city limits toward open grassland. Applejack, thinking Sunset led her on a goose chase, was almost was about to turn around until she saw the place where Sunset wanted her to meet: Cherry Jubilee's Country Diner.

It seemed like the quintessential roadside diner, with a metallic 1950s aesthetic on the outside. She saw that the parking lot was deserted. This made sense, since hardly anyone ate at this hour. After getting out of her truck, Applejack stood around waiting for Sunset to arrive, albeit without much enthusiasm. She looked at her watch, which read 4:00 PM. Sunset was almost going to be late, and Applejack really wasn't in the mood to feel generous. 

After a few minutes, Applejack was ready to throw her hands up in the air and leave when she heard the sound of a motorcycle. An orange and yellow motorcycle raced across the parking lot and parked right next to her. The person driving the motorcycle wore some orange helmet and a very familiar leather coat. Applejack felt some relief seeing the amber-skinned girl pull off her helmet.

"Hey Applejack," Sunset asked with a somewhat small smile. "Thanks for coming."

"You're late," Applejack said firmly, crossing her arms and narrowing her eyes. Sunset immediately looked down, her mood crashing to her sad state. While Applejack felt pity for Sunset, the cowgirl still needed to remind Sunset that she was still on thin ice.

"L-let's just go eat," Sunset said uneasily, gesturing to the diner with her hand. Applejack let out a sigh and walked toward the diner, with Sunset trailing after her.

The diner was almost entirely empty, save for a single waitress. The woman had red hair, pale yellow skin, and wore a green dress.

"Welcome to Cheery Jubilee's Country Diner," the waitress said in a cheerful country accent. "Mah name is Cherry Jubilee," the woman saw Sunset, and let out a happy thrill. "Hey Sunny," the waitress said to Sunset in a happy voice, "how are things?" Applejack looked confused at someone speaking to Sunset so kindly.

"Sunset must give her really good tips", Applejack thought.

"Hey Cherry," Sunset said, forcing her depressed face to wear a smile. "Things have been...so-so." She waved a hand to Applejack. "This is Applejack."

"Well, howdy Applejack," Cherry said with enthusiasm. "Are you a friend of Sunset?' 

"Associate," Applejack uttered while darting her eyes back and forth. Sunset frowned a bit at that. Applejack was far from even pretending she and Sunset were friends.

"Well," Cherry said, looking a bit confused, "can I get you to your table?"

"Sure," Sunset said, throwing a grateful smile at the waitress/owner. The two followed Cherry over to some booth in the corner.

"She really likes you," Applejack observed. "Do you pay her to put up with you?" Sunset flinched at the question and sighed.

"No," Sunset said while looking at the ground. "I made it a rule never to involve outsiders in my work."

"All your behavior was work," Applejack asked in a harsh whisper. But before Sunset could answer they reached their booth. It had silverware and menus ready.

"Alright," Cherry said. "Let me know if you two need anything." The two took their seats and looked at their menus.

"This place is really out of the way," Applejack observed.

"That's why we're here," Sunset said. "Right now, I'm trying to lay low. The truth is, I think Luna and Celestia suspended me because they were trying to protect me. Since everyone probably wants to kill me." Applejack silently nodded, confirming Sunset's suspicions.

"Let's just eat and talk," Applejack said with a grunt.

After a half hour of silence and dining, the two talked over their empty plates. The total emptiness of the diner meant they didn't have anyone listening in. 

"So, where do you want me to start," Sunset asked.

"Well," Applejack drawled. "First I want to know why you ended up here. Then I want to know why you look so down in the dumps. Twilight told me some things, but I want to hear it from you to see if you can be honest."

Sunset let out a sigh, preparing herself for a long talk.

"As you know, Twilight and I come from some magical world. Magic is pretty much the engine of everything there," I said. "The more magically powerful you are, the more success you'll likely have? I was one of the most magically powerful ponies in Equestria."

"Really," Applejack said. 

"Yes," Sunset said. "And...I ended up becoming the student of the princess of my kingdom. A pony so powerful, she could move both the sun and the moon." Applejack's eyes narrowed.

"How do I know that isn't just some myth, and this princess isn't a charlatan," Applejack said with a bit of skepticism. 

"Again, world where magic is a fact of life," Sunset said quietly. "Anyways, I was her student, and enjoyed all the perks that came with it: servants catering to my whim, vacations, living in a castle-,"

"Oh ah see," Applejack said with a hint of contempt. "You were just some spoiled little brat." Sunset looked down in shame, and then looked back at up.

"Yeah, yeah sure, that's it," Sunset said uneasily. "In my world, if you meet certain...criteria, you can also become a Princess. Now being a princess in this world means getting to wear a fancy crown and being some celebrity," Sunset said with contempt. "But in my world, being a Princess means gaining the powers of a deity."

"Really," Applejack said with wonder.

"Yeah," Sunset said uneasily. "Now as I said, I was a very good student. I aced every test, I was a master of every spell, and I was able to fight off some dangerous beasts." Sunset said. "Then one day, the Princess showed me some magic mirror. It showed me in Princess form. After seeing this, I believed that I was destined to become one."

"So you become a megalomaniac because...you saw a vision," Applejack said in an unamused tone.

"Sure...let's go with that," Sunset said, looking at her hand for a second. "After that, I believed that all my hard work meant I was entitled to rule."

"But this Princess didn't want you to," Applejack inferred.

"Yeah," Sunset said. "She said my knowledge and skill was fine, but my attitude wasn't fit for a ruler. At the time, I thought she was just being a jerk for no reason. I worked my hoof to the bones, I did every task she gave me. So..."

"You felt you deserved power," Applejack inferred, "and did something to...defy her."

"Yeah," Sunset said . "I decided if she wasn't going to give me the power I deserved, I was going to take it. So I went through some section of the castle with forbidden magic when I thought she wasn't looking." Sunset rolled her eyes in embarrassment. "Of course she has eyes and ears throughout her castle, so I was found out pretty quickly."

"And then, she sent you to the dungeon," Applejack inferred.

"No, she tried to get me to understand that I wasn't ready," Sunset said with a sigh. "Of course, I didn't listen. So she booted me out of the castle, even using her guards to get me to leave. Before that, however, I learned the magic mirror actually could take a pony to another world. I figured the answer to the power laid in the portal, so I-," Sunset paused, visible shame appeared on her face.

"What did you do," Applejack, picking up on Sunset's mood. "Sunset, tell me or I'll never speak to you again," Applejack warned.

"I...used magic to knock out the guards," Sunset said with a wince.

"YOU KNOCK OUT A BUNCH OF GUARDS," Applejack shouted in horror. Sunset's face fell into her hands. "You really are a piece of work!" The two stopped their talk after hearing the sound of heels running on the ground.

"Is everything OK," Cherry said with concern. "I heard shouting." She saw Sunset look downcast, and offered her sympathy. "Sweetie, are you all right?"

"Uh," Applejack said, "she ate the ice too quickly and has brain freeze. And...I banged my leg against the table."

"Sorry about that," Cherry said with sympathy. "Do you need a bandage," Cherry asked Applejack. The cowgirl shook her head. She looked toward Sunset. "I'll get you some hot water, Sweetie." She ran off to get it. Applejack's anger abated, but it didn't subside completely. 

"Again, do you pay her to put up with you," Applejack asked Sunset.

"As I said, I didn't involve people who were part of my plans," Sunset said. Cherry returned with a glass of warm water, which Sunset thanked her for. 

"So you attacked a bunch of guards," Applejack said with frustration,"and blew off a pony goddess?"

"Again, I was looking for literal power," Sunset said with tired expression. "Hey in this world, there is a history of people doing worse things for power." Applejack took in Sunset's excuse, and sighed.

"So in your quest for power, you abandoned an entire world you knew," Applejack said some disdain. "Your family, your life, your routine."

"Yeah," Sunset said uneasily. "Anyways, I arrived at your school about six months before freshman year started."

"So what were you doing before then," Applejack asked with interest.

"After learning that I arrived in the middle of the school year," Sunset began, "I decided I would learn about this place before the next school year started."

"Wait," Applejack narrowed her eyes. "How did you support yourself while being on your own?" Sunset put her hand behind her hand. "Did you do anything illegal?"

"No, I wasn't involved in any big crimes," Sunset said uneasily. "When I came over, I had a saddlebag full of bits and gems."

"Bits," Applejack asked.

"The currency. Gold coins," Applejack's eyes widened. "I had enough gems and coins in my world to buy a week's worth of groceries. Here I racked up a good amount," Sunset said. "About a quarter of a million dollars."

Applejack let out a whistle at that.

"You should've seen the guy who worked at one of those gold exchange places," Sunset said with an amused smirk.





Sunset Shimmer walked up to the counter of Gold Place. A mustached man working there gave her a warm smile.

"Hello young lady. What can I do for you," he asked politely.

"Well, sir," Sunset asked with some anxiety. "How much can I get for these?" She took out a burlap sack, and dozens of gold coins rolled onto the counter. 

The man stared at the gold on the table, and then fainted. Sunset let out a confused blink.

"Is that a lot," Sunset asked quietly.





"After that," Sunset said, "I learned about money market mutual funds and the stock market. So, as long as I don't buy 20000 bottles of champagne or 2000 dresses," Sunset said facetiously, "I have enough to live comfortably on."

"How did you get into school if there is no record of your existence," Applejack asked. 

"Well...I bought fake documents on the black market," Sunset said with a wince.

"A fake ID," Applejack asked with some anger. Sunset flinched again.

"I wasn't going to casinos or bars. I needed those to get through life," Sunset said quickly. A brief pause hung over.

"So what did you think of our world," Applejack asked.

"I thought you humans accomplished a lot without magic.," Sunset said, before looking down. "But...I missed having magic. To a unicorn, magic is a key part of one's identity. And even though I had money and looks, I still fumed over being denied what I felt I deserved." She rubbed the back of her head. "So for the next two and a half years, I bided my time, waiting til' I could go back. But I realized if I did go back, I wouldn't be able to face off a prepared Princess and her army." Sunset looked down again.

"So how would you defeat this mighty princess," Applejack asked.

"There are magic weapons that can be used to manipulate people. And it is especially easy if they are angry and hostile," Sunset said. "The reason why I bullied people and broke up their friendships is because I wanted to create a group of people weak and divided enough that I could mind control them into being my army." Applejack looked stunned.

"Mind control," Applejack said. "Was that how you turned all those kids into zombies?"

"Well no," Sunset said. "My plan didn't...go as I expected. When I returned, I found myself in another castle. I didn't know the layout, and thus I didn't know where to find the charms." Her eyes rolled. "And then I discovered that instead of two-and-a-half years passing, ten years passed in my world."

"Ten years," Applejack said with shock. 

"I think its because our worlds are imperfectly linked," Sunset said. "Which is why timed moved differently."

"Man you must have been shocked," Applejack said.

"Yeah," Sunset said with a grin. "I was shocked. Not having a plan, I snuck out of the palace.  I got another shock when I learned I was in a country that didn't even exist when I was there. Another shock came as I met a new kind of pony that could glow like gems." She let out a sigh. "Then came the biggest shock of all."





Sunset, wearing a cloak, wandered around the market place in a daze, blinded by all the light. She finally came to a newsstand, and hoped the unusually sparkling yellow pony could help her.

"Can I help you, young mare," the newsstand pony said. 

"Can I buy some sunglasses," Sunset said, squinting.

"Sure," the stallion said. "I guess you didn't listen to the warning about the shine in the guidebook," he said with some jest. He took the sunglasses and gave them to her.

"Thanks," Sunset said. She noticed a stack of newspapers. The title read "PRINCESS TWILIGHT SPARKLE TO MEET FOR A SUMMIT THIS EVENING". The word "Princess" drew her attention.

"Can I have the newspaper," Sunset said in a tone of controlled calm.

"Sure," the yellow stallion said. Sunset didn't take it from him. She snatched it from him roughly with her magic, which made him frown.

"You're welcome," the yellow pony said in an annoyed tone. Sunset didn't notice. She was engrossed in the paper, reading it with levitation. As Sunset read through it, her temper growing more and more. Without warning, the paper was burned in her magic, and turned to ash. Sunset's face twisted into unmistakable fury.





"So you were furious that Twilight pretty much upstaged you," Applejack said.

"Yeah," Sunset said, rubbing her head. "In my angry delusion, felt Twilight was just some poser, and that she stole what was mine." She took a deep breath. "But then learned that her crown was actually what contained her Element of Magic, the strongest power in Equestria. It is what turned her into a Princess."

"So you thought by putting it on, you could get that power," Applejack asked. Sunset nodded. "Well, why did you come back here, then?"

"Well, it is bit complicated," Sunset said, running her finger around her drinking glass. "But let me put it this way. As I said, in my world, princesses are deities. This means that they are more or less a part of the magic that runs our world. And the magic is part of them in a symbiosis. A symbio-,"

"I know what symbiosis is," Applejack said with a roll of her eyes. "Just because I work in a barn doesn't make me dumb." Sunset frowned at the tone she used, remembering all the times she called Applejack an idiot for being a farmer.

"The Element of Friendship recognizes Princess Twilight as its proper ruler," Sunset said. Applejack leaned in, looking intrigued. "So even if I put in on there, it wouldn't give me power, because the magic doesn't recognize me as an Equestrian ruler."

"Well, why would it work here," Applejack asked.

"Again, your world has no magic," Sunset said. "There is thus no magic environment that will protect a princess. So I figured if I put it on here, it would give me the power I wanted." Sunset looked down, running her finger along her empty plate. "Of course I did get power, but not what I wanted."




"At last," Sunset said with vicious glee. She looked at Twilight and her friends' defeated looks and felt triumphant. "More power than I could ever imagine," Sunset said as she proudly put the crown on her head. Sunset was surrounded by blue haloes, and felt she was agonizing pain. Before she could pull the crown off, she felt herself consumed by the blue energy, and was levitated into the air.

The pain grew more and more. She felt like she was being cooked alive, or that she was being dunked into a volcano. Even her tears felt like they were turning to vapor. 

"What's happening," she said to herself, barely able to get the words out in agony. 

YOU ARE BEING PURIFIED.

"Who said that," Sunset asked.

YOUR BETTER HALF! YOU ARE BEING MADE WHOLE!

"It hurts!"

OF COURSE IT DOES! YOU'RE NOT PURE!

"Pure?"

GET RID OF THOSE QUALITIES THAT MAKE YOU WEAK!

"How?"

THINK OF HOW THAT PURPLE NUISANCE DENIED YOU. HOW CELESTIA BETRAYED YOU! THINK ABOUT HOW THEY DESERVE TO DIE FOR THEIR INSOLENCE! HOW THESE HUMANS ARE JUST LESSER CREATURES MEANT TO SERVE YOU!

"I don't want to kill anybody," Sunset said through the pain. "I just want to rule!"

HOW DO THINK POWER IS GAINED! IN BOTH THIS LAND AND EQUESTRIA, CONQUEST AND VIOLENCE DETERMINES VICTORY! WHAT HAS KEPT YOU FROM POWER IS THOSE PESKY EMOTIONS THAT MAKE YOU ACT WEAK! THAT MAKE YOU HESISTATE TO DO THINGS YOU MUST DO! THINK ABOUT HOW YOU'VE DENIED FOR SO LONG, AND ALL WILL BE GOOD!

Sunset focused her mind. She imagined Celestia as an evil, weak dictator. Suddenly the pain lessened.

GOOD! CONTINUE!

She thought of how Twilight and her idiot friends kept her from getting what she wanted. The pain went away even more.

OUSTANDING! THINK MORE!

She thought of how all these pathetic humans would be privileged to serve at her side, and how once she conquered Equestria, she would return to conquer this world as well. The pain vanished. She felt her skin turning red, her clothes changing, her hair standing up. Black flames surrounded her, but they felt exhilarating. 

YES! YES! SOON YOU WILL MAKE THOSE WHO'VE DENIED YOU...SUFFER AND DIE!

"No," Sunset said, as the flames surrounded her completely. A vicious grin formed on her face. "We...WILL!"

And with one last flash of light, Sunset had become a demon. She looked with glee at what she had become, and how she would use her powers to destroy those who denied her what she earned.





"So wait," Applejack said, narrowing her eyes. "Are you saying you didn't want to kill us? This...demon tortured you into doing those things?" Sunset looked down at her glass, and ran her finger along the rim. 

"Let me put it this way," Sunset said in a melancholic tone. "Whatever....was torturing me, it could've only push me over the edge if I was already there to be pushed. I" Sunset sat looking at her plate with sad eyes.

"So," Applejack said once she took in the meaning. "What happened after we blasted you?" Sunset looked down, almost on the verge of tears.

"Sunset," Applejack said, in a kind soothing tone. "If you want me to forgive you, please tell me what you saw." Sunset suppressed her tears.

"OK," Sunset said in a shaky voice.





Sunset was in terrible pain. Those rainbows that surrounded her felt like they were ripping her body apart. Her vision was consumed by a rainbow that grew brighter and brighter until it became a white light that blinded her. 

With one final scream of agony, Sunset was consumed by a bright light, and then everything went dark.

Sunset regained consciousness, pulling herself up, and seeing she ended up in some...place.

It was a void. All around her were was a white glow that faded into some starry night sky. She saw she regained her normal human form.

"Hello", Sunset said, her voice echoing. "Hello," she said again, getting no answer. "Is this some kind of...magical prison." She began stamping her feet in a rage, the noise echoing around her.

"WHERE AM I," she bellowed. Suddenly, some kind of screen appeared. 

It showed how she accidentally destroyed the school after her magical exam. She didn't notice, as Celestia made her a student and she got her cutie mark.

"Yay," filly Sunset said with cheer, "I get to meet a Princess and get my cutie mark." Celestia looked at her with an amused smile. 

Present Sunset looked at that memory with warmth and joy.

Sunset saw another screen appear. It showed how her first teleportation lesson with Celestia went. She managed to go from one end of the castle and back.

"Congratulations Sunset," Celestia said with pride. "Well done."

Filly Sunset glowed at the praise, and gave her mentor a hug.

"Yeah kid, she's great," Present Sunset said with some joy. Her expression became one of disdain. "Until she turns on you."

Another screen appeared as she walked by. It showed her receiving breakfast in bed from a servant. Her face scrunched with anger when she saw what was on the plate.

"I ordered hay fries," Sunset bellowed to the servant, who looked sad. "Not cucumber chips!" She took the plate, and threw it against the wall near the servant's head, who ran out in grief.

Present Sunset felt a bit uncomfortable seeing her old self throw a tantrum and how the servant pony suffered from it.

Another screen appeared. It showed how some pony, Sunbeam, a sun yellow unicorn mare with glasses, wanted to hang out with her, but Sunset turned her down.

"I have more important things to do then deal with your annoying voice," Sunset said with disdain. Stardust looked downcast.

"OK," Stardust said with a whimper, like she was almost crying. "Sorry for bothering you." 

Present Sunset flinched at her past self's nasty tone, and her heart hurt from seeing Stardust so upset.

Another screen appeared as she walked by. It showed Sunset pleading with Celestia to learn more about the mirror. 

"Please Princess," Sunset said. "Can't we learn about the mirror?"

"No Sunset," Princess Celestia said. "You are not ready!"

"But-,"

"Enough," Celestia almost yelled, at her wits end. "Know please remove yourself from my presence at once." Sunset snarled at the Equestrian ruler.

"You never do anything I want," Sunset said with immature fury before storming off.

Present Sunset was clenching her fist in a rage. The way her younger self spoke...enraged her.

"She didn't everything for you, you ungrateful bitch," Present Sunset practically yelled.

Another screen appeared, showing her in Canterlot High. It was the First Spring Fling. Rarity and Sunset were both in competition with one another. Both of them were standing on the stage, awaiting the judgement of the school.

"Well Sunset," Rarity said kindly. "May the best girl win." Sunset smirked.

"Oh we'll find out soon enough who is the best," Sunset said, crossing her arms with a vicious smile. Rarity didn't pick up on the dark look in Sunset's eyes.

Principal Celestia stood on stage with a microphone in her hand.

"Our two contestants are...Rarity Belle and Sunset Shimmer," the principal said. She pulled out an envelope. "The winner is-," she paused as she saw Snip and Snails running around near the stage carrying buckets of paint, apparently trying to douse each other with it. As if by accident, they threw their paint, blue and yellow, together, splashing Rarity and ruining her dress.

Suddenly everybody started laughing at the fashionista, who began tearing up before running off stage in an embarrassed fluster. Sunset watched her rival's humiliation with utter joy that no one noticed. 

"Uh," Princess Celestia said with some sadness at what happened, "Sunset Shimmer." Celestia ran off the stage to chase after the crying girl. Some student walked up to Sunset to give her the crown, while others applauded.

"Give me that," Sunset barked, ripping the crown from the young student's arms. The girl was confused and upset by Sunset's roughness.

"This crown," Sunset said, putting it on her head, "is mine," she finished with a vicious grin. She basked in the applause.

Present Sunset looked mortified at her past self's joy at humiliating her rival, and Rarity's tears.

Another screen appeared. It showed her angrily ranting at Fluttershy over giving the crown to the Principal. 

"Oh, I'm really sorry," the shy girl said. "I-I just found it, and-and I thought I should give it to her. I didn't know you had dropped it." Sunset gave her a very unsympathetic look. 

"Well, I did," Sunset bellowed. "And I was about to get it before you swooped in and ruined everything! You shouldn't pick up things that don't belong to you!"

"It... doesn't really belong to you, either," Fluttershy said meekly. 

"Excuse me," Sunset said, slamming her arms into the lockers, trapping Fluttershy between her and the lockers.

"Nothing," the girl said, sliding down the locker onto the floor.

"That's what I thought," Sunset gloated to the yellow wallflower. "It's as good as mine, and you know it." Her grin became wider as she twisted the knife further. "You really are pathetic. It's no wonder your best friends are all stray animals," Sunset said with glee, reveling in the shy girl's eyes glistening with tears. 

Present Sunset look utterly horrified. She saw her past self bullying a lonely girl who couldn't have known what Sunset was planning. Her eyes began to water at seeing the poor girl sitting on the ground in tears.

"I'm...I'm sorry," Present Sunset said, as if trying to apologize to Fluttershy.

Another screen appeared. It showed past Sunset acting like a brat over how her "coronation" wasn't up to her specification. She disliked the drink selections.

"Fizzy Apple Cider," Sunset said with disgust, holding up one of the bottles. "This is my coronation, not a hoedown."

"Well, now, it ain't necessarily gonna be your coronation this time around," Applejack objected.

"Is that so," Sunset said angrily, getting into Applejack's face. She then began turning Applejack's cowboy hat around. "You country folk really aren't that bright." She then pulled the hat over Applejack's head. "Must be why the other students say such awful things about you," Sunset said as she walk away.

Present Sunset looked disgusted with how her past self behaved like such a brat, and how she verbally abused and manipulated the farmer girl.

More and more screens appeared to Present Sunset, showing more and more of Sunset's past misdeeds. Each one brought horror, pain, regret, and shame to Present Sunset. One final screen appeared. It showed Sunset's actions when she gained the crown: turning into a demon, turning Snips and Snails into demon followers, destroying a chunk of the school, brainwashing everyone, and finally deciding to kill Twilight and her friends. All with a gleeful smile on her face.

"No," Present Sunset said, collapsing onto the ground in tears. "NO! This isn't want I wanted. All I wanted to be strong. Not to kill people!" When the last screen faded. A giant light shined onto Sunset from above. She heard a crackling sound from below.

She looked down and saw her feet being turned into stone. She couldn't move her feet, and the more she tried, the faster the stone traveled up her legs.

This was to be Sunset's punishment: being turned into stone and kept for centuries in isolation. The worst punishment in Equestria's ancient past. Given to the most wicked and the most willing to destroy Harmony. It filled Sunset with regret, despair, and desperation.

"Please," Sunset said in desperation and tears, toward the light. "Please give me one more chance! I promise to be good! I promise I won't hurt anyone again. Why show me everything I did if you're gonna turn me to stone?" The stone continued to crawl up her torso. 

"Please," she said, openly weeping. Her panic increased as the stone hit her neck. "NO! NO! N-." she couldn't say anymore, her mouth was now stone. As the stone reached her eyes, everything went black. 





"And the next thing I knew," Sunset said while whimpering. "I woke up in that crater, and saw you guys staring down at me." Applejack looked in shock at what Sunset told her. Applejack stared at the upset girl for a few minutes, trying to comprehend what she went through.

"So, your saying that...you saw how horrible you were," Applejack said after some hesitation. "You're upset because you saw how you treated everyone." Sunset nodded, then began tearing up again.

"Yeah," Sunset said quietly. "And I'm. I'm. I'm-"

"You're trying to say 'sorry'," Applejack said empathetically.

"I don't want to say that," Sunset said with furious sorrow. "It is a stupid word that doesn't mean anything." She bit her lip and continued. "I tortured you Applejack. I hurt you and so many others. I saw how horribly I treated you. All of it for power I was nowhere near ready for." She paused, again, trying to hold back tears. "And despite all the horrible things I did, you still wanted to talk to me when anyone else would've punched me in the face." She sniffled and wiped her eyes. "I want to say, that, you are a better person than I'll ever be, even if you decide not to forgive me." Applejack took in Sunset's words and the pained sorrow in her eyes.

"And, there's one more thing I want to give you," Sunset said, pulling a slip of paper out of her purse. She handed it to Applejack. It was a check written to Sweet Apple Acres...

Applejack's eyes widened. It was a good amount. It was like 6 months of income.

"I owe you for the money I cost you when CHS stopped buying from your family's farm," she looked down. "This isn't to buy your forgiveness. I owe you the money whether you hate me or not. You can keep it no matter what you." Applejack stared at the check and the back at the other girl trying not to cry.

"Sunset," Applejack said quietly. "You were a pest, a vermin, a leech. You cause me and others so much pain," Sunset looked more downcast. "But, now that you know what you did wrong...I can forgive you." Sunset looked up with some hope.

"But," Applejack said, her face turning grim. "look. I am glad you've decided to pay me back. But...any scoundrel can sign a check. Twilight told me to be your friend, but I don't want it to be because you threw money around." Sunset frowned. "There is something that, if you do, will get me to be your friend, and will let me see that you've truly learned your lesson."

"What is it," Sunset said, still trying to hold back the waterworks.

"You're free this weekend," Applejack asked.

"My punishment gives me weekends off for the next month," Sunset said, twirling her hair around.

"Come over to Sweet Apple Acres," Applejack. "And put in an honest day's work. See how hard I have to work to put food on Apple Bloom's table."

"I will," Sunset said. "And Applejack," Sunset said, looking at the farmer girl.

"Yeah?" Sunset got up from the chair and gave Applejack a big hug.

"Thank you," Sunset repeated over and over, until she began weeping into the farmer girl's chest, finally letting her tears out.

Applejack was unamused, until she saw Sunset and was reminded of how Apple Bloom was when their parents died. After some hesitation, she returned the hug,, holding the weeping girl.

"It's OK," Applejack said in a soothing tone, rubbing Sunset's back and she let out her guilt and grief. "It's OK. Everything will be all right. From now on, we move forward."
> Honesty's Reward (Rewrite)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sunset was awoken by the sound of her alarm clock. She looked at the alarm clock and groaned, seeing that was 6:00 AM. She hated getting up early and on a Saturday to boot. 

Applejack told her that the early hours were the best time to work, when the sun wasn't so hot. 

But still, Sunset wasn't used to doing manual labor, let alone farm work. She'd enjoyed luxury as a student of the Princess. She'd enjoyed a relatively comfortable life in this world after wisely investing her gold and gem money. The selfish part of her brain made her want to stay, but it was pushed away by the voice of Applejack warning her that she had only chance to make it up to them.

With a tired yawn, Sunset forced herself off of the bed. She tiredly went over to take a shower. She stayed in there longer then she should've mostly because she was nervous. Nervous because she had to work for the family she sabotaged. Work for the girl she bullied and threatened for two years. Nervous because she was treading on thin ice, and she believe a single mistake would be the end of her.

It took every bit of willpower to for Sunset to leave the comforting warmth of the shower. She'd been so nervous, she stayed in the shower for almost 30 minutes. She put on a t-shirt. pair of jeans, and old sneakers. They seemed appropriate for someone who was going to get their hands dirty on a farm. 

She packed all the items Applejack wanted into a purple gym bag: a bottle of water, a hat to protect her head from the sun, sunscreen, insect repellent and, for some reason, pajamas. With one last heavy sigh, Sunset forced herself out of her apartment. 





At 7:00, a red barn and vast fields covered with apples came into her vision, revealing she had arrived at Sweet Apple Acres. She drove her motorcycle onto a dirt road that was marked as the entry way for visitors.

The white sign in front read "Welcome to Sweet Apple Acres." Despite being delightfully quaint, the sign didn't make the former unicorn feel particularly welcome. She pulled up to the barn, and saw Applejack standing in front with her arms crossed. Sunset parked her motorcycle and approached the blonde-farmer.

"Hey Applejack," Sunset greeted with a forced smile,. 

Applejack stared at Sunset in a particularly joyless way. "You'll be working in the field." Applejack sounded less like a friend, and more like an irate manager.

"So, I'm going to be picking apples?" Sunset asked in a less enthusiastic tone.

Applejack shook her head. "There's more to being a farmer then just picking apples. We're trying to create new cropland somewhere. So you'll be spending the next few hours clearing the land of sticks and weeds." 

"OK, sure," Sunset said with a shrug. "That shouldn't be too hard."

Sunset followed Applejack to the field she needed to clear. Applejack brought a shovel, a few water bottles, and a rake, while Sunset was carrying a whole box of trash bags.  Applejack gave Sunset several instructions as they walked.

"So when you fill up a bag, you put your load into yellow dumpster for compost. If the bag breaks, keep it with you so we can throw it away properly."

The grassland, which was littered with old grass, dead leaves, sprawling weeds, sticks, garbage, and stumps was about 12 acres of land. Sunset blanched at the size

"I have to do all this," Sunset complained.

"Yep."

Sunset moaned in dismay. "You've got to be kidding me," Sunset whined, until she saw the hard look from Applejack. "Sorry," Sunset said with a sigh.

"I understand sugar cube," Applejack said with a roll of her eyes. "Actually having to work is beneath someone as special as you." Sunset flinched at the caustic tone. Applejack gestured with her arm. "Now go on, get to work." Sunset took the trash bags, gloves, and shovel and began pulling all the weeds and old grass. "I've got to check on the pigs," Applejack said, walking away with even bothering to greet her. 

Sunset looked confused at Applejack leaving her alone. But just when she started to pull weeds, she saw a small shadow over her. She looked up and saw Big Macintosh looming over her.

"Hey, Big Mac," Sunset said awkwardly. "What's going-,"

"Let me tell you something Shimmer." Sunset flinched at the hidden rage in the otherwise calm expression on his voice. When you pulled your little stunt, we lost a lot of customers and not just the school. Because of you, we couldn't afford the braces that Apple Bloom needed." Sunset flinched again at Big Mac's angered tone. "We had to also give up our family vacation to pay off our mortgage, and Granny had to come out of retirement and work in the cafeteria to make ends meet." His fists clenched. "Frankly, as far as anyone is concerned, you were already a demon before you put on that stupid grin."

Sunset flinched at the accusation, but defended herself anyways. "And I paid you guys back," Sunset protested. "With inter-," 

Big Mac stopped on the ground near Sunset with his big, heavy boot, spooking the fire-haired girl. "SHUT UP!" the red-skinned teenager yelled, his calm face twisted into unmistakable anger. It was then that Sunset remembered that even though Applejack's brother was quiet, he was strong enough to snap someone in two. Sunset noticed the veins in his massive biceps bulging. Sunset felt herself shivering with fear.

"For two years, you've treated us like we were just a bunch of dumb hillbillies who can't count to four. You think we just sit around drinking moonshine, sitting in rocket chairs, playing banjo music." The vein on Big Mac's forehead revealed how much those insults stung. "But to keep this farm running, especially since Granny had to take an extra job because of you, I have to take online business and law courses, do accounting, negotiate contracts, and inventory. On top of chores, deliveries, and taking care of my sisters. I don't any time for myself because of you and your stupidity." Sunset swallowed from both guilt and fear.

Big Mac took a deep breath. "So when Applejack said you were coming to work here, I argued with her for an hour and said she was being a fool. As did Granny and Apple Bloom," Big Mac barked. "Apple Bloom remembers all the nasty things you called her and her friends. My sister lost so much when you nearly sent us to the poorhouse, and her classmates have to give up their field trips to pay off the damages you cause, you idiot!" Sunset again looked down in shame. 

"Stand up!" Big Mac ordered. "So I can face you." Sunset slowly pulled herself up, and forced herself to look at Big Mac's angry eyes.

"Applejack begged us to give you a chance," Big Mac said. "And my late pappy said I shouldn't hold a grudge." He then crossed his arms across his chest. "But if you ever threaten to hurt my farm, and you ever betray my sister again, I'll beat you black and blue." She got into Sunset's face. "Do. You. Understand!"

"Yes, sir", Sunset said fearfully. 

Big Mac's face calmed. He then gestured to the large field. "Get to work." Sunset sighed and went back to work, miserably digging weeds and grass out of the ground.





Sunset looked at her watch. It was 11:30. She looked and saw how much she had done. Only about two acres.

Sunset let out an exhausted and disappointed sigh. Her back hurt from having to bend over so many times, her legs hurt from so much standing and trips to dump the organic waste she collected, her clothes were drenched with sweat, dirt covered her body and clothes, and she had been pricked by more then a few weeds. Yet despite this, she wasn't even halfway done. If she wasn't so dehydrated, she would've cried.

"Sunset," Applejack called. Sunset turned around and saw the farmer walking toward her, with Big Mac in tow. "Let's see how you did." 

"Look," Sunset said sadly. "I know I was supposed to clear this whole field, but it was so hard to dig out grass and weeds. I'm sorry I couldn't finish it but please don't-,"

"Whoa there sugar cube," Applejack said, holding up her hands and looking at Sunset with a reassuring smile. "I didn't say clear the whole dang field. Even I couldn't do that." Sunset looked relieved. "I said, work hard and don't slack." 

She glanced toward her brother. "Do you think she worked hard?" Applejack asked her brother. 

"Yep," Applejack's brother said, albeit with a small smile.

"Did she slack or complain like a little harlot?" 

"Nope."

"Sunset, we don't expect you to become a farmer overnight," Applejack again assured her. "I just wanted to see if you could put in an honest effort. And, from what Big Mac and I see, you did."

"Thanks," Sunset said with a grateful

"Now, for your next chore. You've got to fix the tractor and build a whole barn in an hour," Applejack said in a serious tone. 
Sunset looked even more dismayed. "But-but, I don't know how to do either of those things," Sunset complained sadly. "There's got to be something else that I can-," she paused as she saw Applejack and Big Mac snickering.

"Just pullin' yer leg sugar cube," Applejack admitted. "Now its time for lunch." Sunset felt a smile on her face. Applejack trusted her enough to mess with her. That was a sign she was making some progress. 





Sunset and the two eldest Apple Siblings walked into the barn house. The house was a good mixture of quaint country life and modern conveniences. Applejack saw Granny Smith, who gave her an odd eye.

"Hello Sunset," Granny Smith said with forced politeness. "Won't you come to join us for lunch?" Sunset saw the discomfort in Granny's eyes, and blessed the woman for her patience.

"Thank you Mrs. Smith," Sunset said with gratitude. 

"Apple Bloom," the old lady called. "Lunch!" Sounds of footsteps came from the stairwell as the youngest Apple sibling came down to eat.

"Coming," Apple Bloom said cheerfully. Her faced blanched when she saw Sunset. 

"Ah," Apple Bloom shouted "the demon!" Sunset frowned at that, while the rest of the family look dismayed.

"Apple Bloom," Applejack reprimanded. "We talked about this. Sunset isn't a-,"

"Why the he-hay is she doin' here," Apple Bloom shrieked. "She's a big meanie who almost destroyed the school." Sunset looked downcast, seeing the braces still in Apple Bloom's teeth at an age when they should've been removed.

"Apple Bloom," Granny said in a warning tone. The freshman jumped. "I know Sunset acted like a harlot. But she worked hard to make it up to us. You will be nice to her, or you don't get to eat." Apple Bloom sighed and calmed down, but the former unicorn realized Apple Bloom still had it in for her. 
To her greater shame, the lunch lady she wrote off as some senile loon was defending her and feeding her, despite the fact she hurt her business and bullied her grandchildren. That was enough to make Sunset feel guilt in her stomach. 

The Apple family went into the dining room with forlorn Sunset following them.





After an hour of lunch, Sunset went back to work. For the next six hours, she picked apples, cleaned pig troughs, cleaned the chicken coop, and planted seeds. 

By 6:30, when the sun began to set, Sunset was exhausted, filthy, and covered in sweat. She heard the sound of boots on grass, and looked up to see Applejack approaching her.

"Sunset," Applejack said with an odd tone. Sunset craned her neck up to see the girl, who looked like she was trying not to smile. "There is...one more thing I want you to do." Sunset wanted to sigh in frustration at more work, but she realized that would sound ungrateful to the girl who had every right to snub her. "Come into the house." Sunset tired got up, and followed Applejack into her home.





"So what's the last assignment?" Sunset asked Applejack. The former unicorn followed the farmer girl up to the second floor of the farmhouse. "Clean your room?"

"Yes," Applejack said with a sly smile. "But that comes after this chore."

"And what is that," Sunset asked. Applejack opened the door, her smile becoming undeniable. Sunset opened it, and could not believe what she saw.

This was Applejack's room. There were plastic bowls full of salty snacks, a couple of bottles of cola with a few plastic cups nearby, and some teen pop playing. She started to understand why Applejack said to bring pajamas.

"Your next chore," Applejack said, "is to have a slumber party with me." Sunset took in what Applejack said, and began to feel her eyes water. 

"Sunset what's wrong?"

"Why are throwing me a party?" Sunset asked in a pained voice. 

"Because that's what friends do," Applejack said in a kind, empathetic tone. "You worked hard today with no complaint. You've also paid me back. You've more than earned being my friend."

"But," Sunset said, still sounding insecure. "Isn't a slumber party too soon?"

"As they say, we've got to hit the ground running," Applejack said some enthusiasm. Sunset felt another smile of gratitude form on her face. "Now get dressed. We've got some slumber partying to do." Sunset held back her tears, grabbed her gym bag, and went to the bathroom to change. When she emerged, she wore some purple sweat pants and a purple shirt. When she returned, she saw Applejack had changed from her farmer clothes into one piece pajamas that was blue with light blue spots.

"So, what do you want to do?" Sunset asked Applejack. The farmer girl put on a sly smile, reach behind her, and struck Sunset with a big pillow.

"Applejack," Sunset groaned playfully. 

"This is what people do at slumber parties," Applejack said. Her smile became vicious. "Besides, smacking you with a pillow can help me get my anger out." Sunset looked at the tanned skin girl with a sly smile. 

"Applejack, outside your window are a bunch of thieves!" Applejack turned around. With her back turned, Applejack took a blow to the head from Sunset's pillow.

"You're gonna get it now!" Applejack said playfully. The two had a pillow fight that was full of giggling and playful screams. For the first time in the past few days, Sunset felt genuinely happy. 

She had a friend. Someone she could turn when she was upset. Someone she believed would be there for her.

It was good feeling. One Sunset hoped would never go away.