> Missing the Past
>  by Sea Jewel
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Last Saturday Night
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

~One~
“Rarity! You can’t just leave the poor boy mid-dinner!” A shocked Twilight gasped, before bursting into a fit of giggles.

“Yes I can darling, he refused to pay the bill, and acted like a complete child when I ordered something above twelve dollars. If he couldn't afford it he should have just taken me to Mikkies across the street.” She huffed. The table burst into a cacophony of laughs as seven teenagers sat around Sugarcube corner long after Mr and Mrs Cake closed up and left for the night. The seven friends laughed all through the afternoon until closing time, so the Cakes decided it was best to leave PInkie in charge of the keys and lock up once they were done.

It was a rare Saturday night for the friends - one of the first in months where they could sit around and catch up with eachother. Usually it was impossible to find a day where none of them had something on. The days of highschool where they were able to see eachother day in and day out was in the past, and life had become too real for any of them to pretend to be children anymore.

“Did he ever text you after that?” Sunset asked, cross legged on the couch at the back of the cafe to which Rarity smiled knowingly. She quickly pulled out her phone from her purse searching through it until she turned it around to show her friends. As the six eyes scanned the text message each had slightly different reactions. Fluttershy blushed and sat back down quietly, clearly not used to such vulgar language, whereas Sunset, Applejack and Twilight frowned at the text before looking up at the fashionista to make sure she was okay. Rainbow furrowed her eyebrows.

“You can’t leave him on read Rares! He’ll totally think you’re upset over him,” She got up from her seat, reaching for Rarity’s phone, “Pass your phone, let me reply to him.” Rarity pulled her phone out of the prying girl's reach, huffing at her immaturity.

“While I appreciate the offer Rainbow Dash, I prefer to just have him blocked and go about my life.” Rarity smiled, seemingly unfazed at the message. “Alas, some men just don’t appreciate a woman who holds herself at high value.”

Pinkie, who seemed awfully quiet perked up, her eyes looking at another older message, “What does winky face, eggplant, splash mean?”

---

Rarity reached her house long after midnight, heart full with nostalgia of her and her friend’s days in highschool, where they spent hours conversing about Applejack and Rainbow Dash’s new feud, or Pinkie’s rather intriguing conspiracy theories. Rarity had found little joys in their silly band, their weekly sleepovers at Pinkie’s house, Dash’s soccer games, and Fluttershy’s animal fundraisers. It used to make her smile watching Sunset discreetly steal a peck on the lips from Twilight, or watch them whisper away when they sat in a group, as though they were the only ones for each other. Past, foolish, her, was rather naive believing that romance novels and rom-coms were real - finding that type of love just like her two friends did. If she knew how that turned out she would have been much more realistic in her beliefs.

Now looking backwards made Rarity feel a sort of dull pang in her chest. She reached her room quietly before quickly stripping out of her outfit and into her pyjamas. Her vanity and skincare called out to her, never as loud as it did a couple years ago, and she glared at it intensely, willing herself to put in that extra effort. To brush her hair, and remove her makeup, and apply that facemask before bed.

She missed her friends so much, and missed their dates but somehow she also…didn't? No, she didn’t. Because she was afraid that if she got too close to them again, they’d realise how much of a different girl she had become. And she knew all too well that they had all been a little bit more closed off tonight, with Rainbow Dash in an odd hurry to get home before eleven, and Fluttershy all too willing to stay as late as possible. Of course the air was still heavy- Sunset and Twilight almost plastered on opposite sides of the group, and Pinkie much too quiet for anyone to have actually enjoyed themselves. The only one who seemed herself - at least to Rarity- was Applejack, but really, Rarity thought to herself, when was the last time Apple jack had seemed anything but serious. Probably before her parents’ funeral, Rarity thought. She wasn’t stupid. Her friends’ lives were as bland and lifeless as hers was. But despite tonight’s harsh atmosphere, she had never had so much fun. What was it about cracking lame jokes and catching up on small talk that made her feel so alive?  

Rarity and the rest of the seven were lucky to be in the same university, excited to apply for the same ones when enrollment started, but she rarely saw any of them courtesy of her own degree, a bachelors in fashion design. Last year she had a few classes with Applejack and Pinkie, some introductory electives that allowed the three to enjoy eachothers company. But now as she enters her second year of university at nineteen, she’s left to face her classes with no one but herself. 

She lay back against her pillow and pulled up her phone, her eyes looking at the text message her previous date sent her. 

~: Don’t flatter yourself, I was only looking for an easy fuck. Guess you’re not only a whore but a gold digger too. 

Her eyes read over the message again and again until her vision blurred over and she realised tears had welled up in her eyes. She decided to respond after all.

R~: What gold is there to dig from your pockets darling?

Satisfied with herself, she felt sleep take over her. Rainbow Dash was right, it felt good to have the last say.

---

Fluttershy stared nervously at the bus stop’s worn-away timetable, it was way past midnight by now and she wondered if that piece of paper was even up-to-date. It felt silly now to have refused a ride from any of her friends, insisting it was just a five minute bus ride home, now she's not so sure. “Um, Rainbow Dash, are you sure the buses run at this time?”

Rainbow looked up from her phone to her friend's face, noticing her unsure eyes. She straightened up and leaned against the bench mirroring the pink-haired girl's stance. “I’m sure Flutters, the timetable on my phone says it’ll be here in ten.” Rainbow said, showing the screen to Fluttershy to which she merely nodded and continued to play with her sleeves. Rainbow stared at Fluttershy for a while longer before looking straight ahead at the road, deciding to put her phone away for now. 

The rain had stopped a while ago and the road glimmered against the moon’s shine.  A lone street lamp lit the two girls’ faces as they sat a while longer in a silence that either weren’t sure was comfortable or awkward. It led Fluttershy to think back to her time in highschool when conversation with Dash just seemed to flow. Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash had known each other for a while, since kindergarten, when Rainbow used to go over to Fluttershy’s house after school until just before dark. Fluttershy dared to look over at her friend who now seemed lost in thought and frowned. Both she and her friends knew Dash had lost her mother to cancer just over a year and a half ago, despite Rainbow refusing to ever talk about it. It was around that time that Fluttershy felt her and Rainbow’s bond drift apart from as close as sisters to just mere friends. If it were a year and a half ago, this silence would have been snarky banter and gossip about the cheer and basketball team. Fluttershy remembered the funeral well.

Fluttershy stood next to her friends whilst Rainbow and her dad stood on the other side of the park, gathering people’s sorrows and prayers. Fluttershy watched as Rainbow’s eyes constantly flickered over to her friends who quietly talked amongst themselves in a group. 

“Has anyone spoken to her yet?” Twilight asked, her eyes scanning the circle of friends. They all shook their heads.

“I don’t think Dashie wants anyone to talk to her about it.” Pinkie frowned.


“Of course she does darling, but we know her, and she’ll refuse to show herself weak in front of us, and none of us know what it’s like or what’s going on through the poor dear’s head.” Rarity said. Fluttershy cast a knowing look at Applejack, who’s eyes lingered on Rainbow’s form, now speaking to her dad quietly.

“Applejack knows,” Fluttershy spoke quietly.

“Oh my, i’m so sorry Applejack I completely forgot…” Rarity trailed off, watching Applejack nervously who in turn just waved a hand at her.

“Don’t you fret sugarcube,” She replied.

“I mean, you know what it’s like, Applejack,” Fluttershys started again louder, “Go talk to her, she might need someone who knows how it feels to lose someone close to them.” 

“I can’t- It’d be wrong of me to make it about myself-” Applejack said, her eyes darting from Rainbow to Fluttershy.

“You aren’t,” Sunset spoke up from behind Pinkie, who stepped aside to let her join the conversation. “There’s no need to talk about yourself if she doesn’t ask, just let her know you understand.”

Applejack looked at Fluttershy again who smiled encouragingly. Then Fluttershy watched as Applejack approached Rainbow Dash. For a while there was just talking, Rainbow’s face stuck in a neutral line that made Twilight and Fluttershy exchange glances. Then, Rainbow wrapped her arms around Applejack’s neck and buried her face in her shoulder as Applejack stroked her hair comfortingly.

After that Rainbow had started to spend more time with Applejack and less time with anyone else, now it seemed she spent no time with anyone.

“Flutters?” Rainbow asked, and Fluttershy zoned back in to notice Rainbow looking directly at her.

“Oh my gosh, sorry Rainbow, I was lost in thought.” Fluttershy responded, shifting to face Rainbow Dash as she mumbled something to herself.

“I was saying thank you…for letting me stay over tonight?” Rainbow said, sighing as though it was hard to breathe before she got it out of her system. “It’s too late to go home now and I don’t really wanna wake my dad an-”

“It’s fine Rainbow, really,” She smiled. “In fact, I'm happy you’re staying over; it'd be just like old times.”

Rainbow smiled at that, “Are you sure your parents and Zephyr are okay with me coming over, I haven’t seen them in a while and well…” 

“My parents are away for the weekend for their anniversary, and I’m pretty sure Zephyr will be more thrilled than annoyed that you’re here” She laughed quietly, a hand over her mouth, making Rainbow grin in return.

“I’ll say, remember that one time in 9th grade when he confronted me that he thought I was only friends with you so I could get a date with him. It was hilarious!” At that memory, the two girls imploded into a bunch of laughs.

“Oh, the bus is here.” Fluttershy said, disappointed their conversation was cut short.
---
Fluttershy unlocked her front door to a dark house, which meant that Zephyr was thankfully asleep. She clicked the light on causing the room to be suddenly awake with a warm ambience.

“Oh my gosh Fluttershy, the house looks the exact same as when we were kids!” Rainbow whisper-shouted looking around, Fluttershy noticed her eye catching the kitchen. “No way, your mum still keeps those Commemorative plates my mum used to gift her?!”

Fluttershy walked towards where Rainbow stood and looked at the plates. They were mismatched and had some…interesting patterns on it and definitely did not match the house, but she couldn’t ever imagine throwing them away. “Of course, everytime my mum saw the plates she used to smile and tell me another story of Windy.” Fluttershy’s smile wavered as she noticed the faraway look on Rainbow’s face and the sad smile that dared to vanish.

“That’s really cool of her.” Rainbow looked down for a while before speaking up again, “I’m sorry I never came to visit after the funeral.” At that Fluttershy was reminded of how much she missed her old friend and gave her a sad smile in return.

“I understand Rainbow, but it’s in the past. Now come, let's get some sleep.” Rainbow opened her mouth to say something more, before deciding otherwise and following her old friend up the stairs. 

With just the lamp on, the room was dark and casting shadows around Fluttershy’s walls. Shadows that once were Fluttershy’s source of nightmares. Funny how my fears always somehow become more irrational, she thought to herself as she settled into her bed. Her bed was big enough for two, so she waited as Rainbow changed into Fluttershy’s pyjamas on the other side of the room. She found herself watching her friend as she slowly pulled her shirt over her head and her eye caught on something colourful just above Rainbow’s hip.

“What’s that?” Fluttershy asked softly as Rainbow took off her shirt, she noticed the bruise was rather large and her worry seemed to skyrocket. Rainbow turned around swiftly, forgetting she didn’t have a shirt on.

“What?” She replied.

“Above your hip, it's a bruise. What happened?” Fluttershy increased her volume just slightly, her worry for her friend’s safety larger than her nervousness to make Rainbow mad. Something seemed to register through Rainbow’s mind and she quickly threw on one of Fluttershy’s shirt’s.

“It’s not really any of your b-”

“It wasn’t your dad was it?”

“Obviously not!” Rainbow responded angrily, and if Fluttershy were to wager, very fast as well. Then she lowered her voice. “How can you assume such a thing, Flutters? You know my Dad. I just had a fall during training, it's not a big deal.” Fluttershy’s eyebrows furrowed as she watched Rainbow’s eyes refuse to meet her own. She’d known her long enough to know when she was lying, but Fluttershy refused to bring it up again. Rainbow just needed a place to stay the night, and they weren’t nearly as close as they used to be for Fluttershy to demand personal secrets from Dash.

“I’m sorry,”

“No no, it's my bad, I don’t know why I got so worked up,” Rainbow apologised, releasing a forced chuckle as she got into the other side of the bed. “I’m just tired is all. Sleep well.” Rainbow gave her a smile before facing the other way, her back to Fluttershy. Fluttershy  flopped onto her bed, her eyes tracing small cracks in the ceiling paint. Sleep well, If Fluttershy was more assertive she would have scoffed at that, but alas she wasn’t, so she mentally sighed and waited until her friend’s breathing slowed down. Fluttershy shifted then, to face Rainbows back and watch until her movements slowed. It wasn’t until about ten minutes later Fluttershy dared to sit up, making sure not to make any noise from the bed. Rainbow used to be a heavy sleeper in high school but she didn’t want to push her luck, after all, 17 year old Rainbow isn’t 18 year old Rainbow.

Already she felt gross and icky and disgusted at herself but she continued to reach for her bedside drawer until a bottle of pills landed in her hands. She was first diagnosed with insomnia at 15, and began taking medication once a night. After a couple years, the doctor suggested that she had to force sleep on herself without the use of medications, and so her insomnia rose. Every night Fluttershy lay awake, afraid of her dreams and afraid she wouldn’t wake up. It went on like that for months- days with no sleep and one where she had no choice but to pass out and once more was plagued with her own fears. 

Last year she started college, and with her Veterinary degree came many exams and expectations that were not possible for an insomniac. So she bought some lorazepam, not only a sleeping pill but also an anxiety reducer. And first it was only taken if she had an exam the next day. Lots of good that did me, Fluttershy thought as she took 3 tablets in her hands, threw her head back and swallowed them in one go. Fluttershy was self-aware enough to realise she had developed a problem these past months, but as sleep took over her she couldn’t seem to remember why she cared enough to fix it.

---

~AJ~

It was the first day of semester and Applejack was in a particularly good mood. Ain’t that a weird thing, she thought to herself, leaning against her chair and opening her notebook. Just two days ago, the girls decided to meet up and they had a hoot. She was  hoping maybe this year she could see them more often- she only saw one of her friends everyday. Speaking of…

“Psst,” … “Psst,” 

As Applejack tried to keep up with her professor’s ramblings on organic chemistry, she was also trying (and failing) to ignore an incessant, pink girl who couldn’t seem to focus on class.

“When I become a world-famous chef, you’ll regret ignoring me Apples,”

“Psst-”

Yup, just focusing.

…

“Psst-”

“What Pinkie!?” Applejack sharply whispered.

“What do you think of our group icon?” Pinkie asked innocently, causing the cowboy to slouch in her seat, not bothering to finish her notes.

“I don’t know sugarcube, can’t you see I'm busy writing my notes?” Applejack replied.

“Oh! Oh my gosh I'm so sorry Applejack, don’t worry I wrote everything down! See, you can take photos of it for later.” Applejack gawked at her perfect notes, all the way up to the end of the lesson, which by the way has not finished. Applejack eyed the paper for a while before accepting it with a smile. However Pinkie managed to get those notes was a wonder to her.

Class went by quick, with the professor handing out outlines for the semester and explaining the assessment tasks. “This weekend was fun!” Pinkie said from beside her. Applejack smiled back at her, remembering how good it felt to see all their friends in one place. “I wish we could hang out like that again like old times.” Pinkie’s hair deflated before inflating again as she spotted one of her friends and ran ahead to greet her. Applejack was left trailing behind as her mind travelled back to the last weekend of summer break where the girls all caught up at sugarcube corner. She pulled her phone out and opened it to the group chat that was bare of any conversation- that was until Sunday morning when Rainbow Dash sent an image of Rarity in the middle of a choking fit to the group to which conversation started up again. She smiled as she read through the texts.

R~:  DELETE THIS DASH

RD~:  Nu-uh

PP~: OMG BAHAHA RARITY YOU LOOK SO FUNNY 🙇

FS~: um what does the emoji mean Pinkie?

PP~: ROFL duh.

SS~: 😂

TS~: Did anyone remember the name of that movie AJ said she watched?

AJ~: I can't remember 😂

SS~: No one uses that emoji anymore AJ 💀

AJ~: You just used it though

SS~: No? 💀

Applejack smiled at the message chain, rolling her eyes at Sunset’s lame attempt at gaslighting her. As she read through the messages Sunset’s icon popped up with the typing bubble, causing Applejack to hold her breath in anticipation. 

SS~: Hey guys, me and Fluttershy have some extra time before our other classes, anyone wanna meet up for lunch at the quad?

Now why am I embarrassing myself like that, these here girls ain’t strangers, they’re my friends. 

“APPLEJACK!” Pinkie popped up in front of her face, causing her to take a step back in shock. “We neeeeed to go see the girls! We haven’t seen them in forever!” Applejack raised her eyebrow.

“We saw them this weekend.” Pinkie pouted, purposely deflating her hair. “Aw shucks, why not? Plus we ain’t got nothing better to do.”
---
As Applejack and Pinkie reached their destination they saw Sunset waving at them and Fluttershy beside her watching quietly. Applejack plastered on a tight smile noticing no one else was there. She was kind of hoping to see the others as well.

“HEY GUYS!” Pinkie yelled, causing Sunset to force an embarrassed smile as a few people around them stopped what they were doing and stared at them.

“Where are the others?” Applejack asked as she sat across from the two.

“Rainbow Dash couldn’t make it, she has soccer practice Mondays.” Fluttershy said, passing over some crackers to Pinkie whose eyes were as big as saucers.

“Oh,” Applejack said simply. “And Rarity and Twi?”

“Class. At least that’s what Rarity told me.” Sunset said, taking a mouthful of her sandwich.

The four began talking for a while, about their weekend and how the first day of second year’s been treating them. “How are things with Twi, Sunset?” Applejack started slowly, cringing slightly at how the table became awfully quiet. 

Sunset sighed, “Not good. I want to start talking to her again, but everytime I see her I just choke! I can’t be selfish with her again guys, you know how it turned out.” Applejack chewed her cheek, noticing how dejected Sunset felt about her situation. I know all too well about being selfish with someone.

“Awh Cheer up sugarcube, It’s been over a year now, surely you can try and make it up to her.”

“Yeah, Twilight can’t be mad at you forever! She still loves you silly!” Pinkie commented from the side.

Sunset rested her forehead against the table bench “I’m not so sure she does.”

---

~TS~

The library was one of Twilight’s favourite places, not because of the endless source of information hidden between those worn-out pages, but because it was quiet - a place where very few people came except to plug their earphones in and study. She felt alone in her own thoughts, a place away from distractions. Perfect. She opened her textbooks, and took out her pencil case, organising her highlighters and pens and erasers, ready for a productive study session. Okay, so first subject on my to-do list: physics. She smiled at herself, oh how she loved maths and physics. She began reading through the book, summarising, and working out practice questions for a whole 5 minutes. Sunset. She read through the paragraph again. She looked extra pretty that Saturday night in her Rainboom t-shirt, her hair pinned back with that hair clip. And how her eyes contrasted against those red and yellow strands... Pause. Twilight glared at her physics book. There was something about the book making her feel weird because why was she thinking about Sunset all of a sudden? 

“No, no, no.” She shook her head, a feeling of nausea and dread filling her as she began to remember how…not lonely, she felt around the orange-skinned girl. Twilight would not fool herself into thinking she wasn’t even a little excited that Saturday night, a chance to see her again after so long, and this made Twilight’s head spin all over again. She remembered how her stomach churned when she saw Sunset’s text today and how petty she was being to tell Rarity she was busy instead of just responding in the group chat.

Sunset’s top half lay hanging over the side of the bed as she peered over Twilight’s shoulder watching her girlfriend do smart, sexy, nerd things. Twilight herself was positioned cross-legged on the floor with her laptop in her lap, focusing on a very important presentation. A very important presentation she left until the last minute. “Twilight”

“Hmm?” She said, as Sunset gave her a peck in the ear.

“I’m tired. Let's sleep.”

“Uhuh.” Twilight replied absently, reading over and over again her slides for tomorrow.

“Twilightt,” Sunset whined rolling over onto her back so that she could now see the laptop screen upside down. “Lets cuddle”

“Sounds great.” Sunset rolled her eyes, sliding off the bed and crossing her legs so that she faced Twilight. 

“Twilight.” She said again, this time tilting her chin up, and frowning when noticing her girlfriends fearful expression. “What’s wrong?”

Twilight stared into Sunset’s eyes for a while, taking in those turquoise orbs like they would run away. She was hypnotised. How unlucky was she to have someone that could hypnotise her with just a look. Very unlucky. “I’m worried about tomorrow. My whole future is riding on this. If they aren’t happy with my research, I’ll never get that scholarship, then I’d have to find money elsewhere and I won't have time to study me-”
Sunset pressed her lips to Twilight’s, silencing her and holding the kiss for a moment  before moving away and giving her a sincere smile. “Twilight, how many times have I read your research?”

“Five, but-”

“And Cadence?”

“Three, and Shining twice but-”

Sunset grabbed both of Twilight’s hands in her own, “Twilight, you are literally the smartest girl i know. In this world and Equestria.” She chuckled at her own joke. “Your report is one of a kind and the examiners would be complete idiots if they don’t see it too.” She squeezed her hand, “If you don't believe in yourself, believe in me. I know you’re going to ace it.” Something about SUnset’s words soothed any edges that made Twilight doubt herself, because she did trust Sunset, much more than herself.

It was then Twilight knew for sure who she wanted to spend the rest of her life with. She loved Sunset Shimmer. Loved…

“Reading your article right now won’t do anything” Sunset gave Twilight a knowing look as a smile made its way onto the purple girl’s face. “Come onn.”

“Okay, okay.” Twilight laughed, joining Sunset in her bed. “Maybe I need some sleep.” 

As the two girls settled above Twilight’s bedsheets, Sunset slowly crawled over to her, tracing Twilight’s figure with her eyes like a tiger with its prey. She crawled onto Twilight’s lap, her arms on either side of the nerd’s head. She looked at Twilight slyly, causing her heart to quicken, and her face to redden. “And I say you need to relax.” She leaned down, and began planting soft kisses on her neck.

Twilight blushed at the memory, deciding she wasn’t going to get any more study done in this frame of mind. She quickly packed up her things and headed for the bathroom. She reached the bathroom quickly, throwing her bag next to the sink and leaning over it, looking at herself in the mirror. She was flustered and confused and most of all angry at herself. Why couldn’t she move on? If she couldn’t then she would never be able to be friends with Sunset platonically, and their friendships would be torn. Twilight stared at herself hard, at the small scar just above her jaw, so insignificant and fading. Silly how it left such an impact.

“Sunset, you have to LEAVE!” Twilight pleaded with her, as the orange girl paced around her apartment, her breath rugged. 

“Twilight you're not understanding. This isn’t something I can just leave like ‘Oh here’s my resignation, pleasure working with you.’ I have a contract!” Sunset strained, struggling to breathe as she found herself between a rock and a hard place.

“This whole summer they’ve been working you to the bone, Sunnie, we have college starting in a few weeks,” Twilight continued to reason with her, to which Sunset grew more impatient. “You can’t afford to have this on your back!”

“You think I haven’t tried?!” She seethed, turning her back to Twilight as she gripped the desk chair until it was purple. 

“We can go to the police,” She walked closer to Sunset. “I can talk to my dad! he can help y-”

A cold object was hit against Twilight’s jaw, making her hand fly up to her face, “THEY THREATENED YOU, TWI!” Sunset shouted, turning around with tears in her eyes. 

Time seemed to stand still, and Sunset felt her heart stop as she watched her girlfriend slowly remove her hand from her jaw, bloodied and red. Twilight watched in horror as she saw her girlfriend stagger towards her, shock and hurt written across her face. With a stagger, Sunset brought her trembling hand to Twilight's face. 

“T-twi, I'm so sorry, I-I don’t know…I- Oh my god.” Sunset fell to the floor, her eyes pinpricks, and Twilight fell back on the bed, realisation slowly coming back to her just as she started feeling the sharp pain from her cut. My girlfriend just threw car keys at my face, she thought, fear creeping into her mind as she watched her girlfriend completely lose it. Twilight stared in shock at Sunset, whose own mistakes led her to cut her girlfriend. Me, her girlfriend who stood by her despite everything… Twilight’s breathing became laboured, and their eyes caught each other's. The red haired girl’s heart dropped at how Twilight looked at her. A monster… An animal. Twilight was afraid. 

“Twilight-”

“I’m leaving.”
> Daddy Issues? What's that?
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

DISCLAIMER: Profanity, violence, self-harm, sexual references.
I won't be doing these disclaimers every chapter. You've been warned.

~Two~

“You’re beautiful,” The man breathed, his hand on the white-skinned girl’s thigh as she held her red-wine gracefully, smiling endearingly at the much older man.

“I’ve been told,” Rarity teased, her high heel dragging up the man’s calf. The two were situated at the man’s- Silver Pocket’s- penthouse, on one of his plush sofas, sitting side by side. “What made you choose little ol’ me? There were many beautiful girls at that bar there tonight.” 

Silver pocket stared intently at Rarity, his eyes trailing down her body until his eyes rested on his hand on her thigh. “You aren’t like the other’s, you’re glamorous, innocent…” He was almost drooling. Rarity begged to differ, this man had no idea who she was, and to be quite frank, it wasn’t pleasant to see him drool over her.

“Why, Mr. Pocket, you flatter a woman!” She laughed delightfully, placing her wine by the coffee table and shifting so that she was facing him. Her eyes locked onto his chest and her hand dared to grab his necktie, slowly twirling it around her finger. 

“Call me Silver,” He managed, struggling to pay attention to anything this mysterious woman says.

“Well then Silver,” Her hands made their way to the buttons on his shirt. “Will we be spending the whole night talking?” She asked innocently, waiting patiently until Silver crashed his lips into hers. Immediately, Rarity shifted to position herself on his lap, tearing away at his shirt as her tongue wrestled to pin Silver’s. Silver’s tongue movements were sloppy and lazy, but he made up for it by running his hands through her hair- it felt terrific.

He broke away the kiss for a second to inhale, “You’re unworldly,” before diving back in. Rarity smiled into the kiss, hearing compliments always made her more excited. A buzz from Rarity’s phone grabbed Silver’s attention as he moved his head to the side, Rarity continuing kissing his ear. Rarity noticed the man go still.

“Class? You told me you work for a corporation!” The man panicked, pushing Rarity away from him. Rarity looked at her phone, mentally cursing herself for having notifications on. “How old are you really?” The man began panicking, the idea that Rarity may not be the 24 years she said she was, making all the alarms go off in his head.

FS~: Hello Rarity, I hope this isn’t a bad time, I was wondering if you have any classes tomorrow?

“I’m not underage,” She breathed, pulling herself off him and fixing her hair. The man waited for a proper answer. “I’m nineteen.” She sighed, already reaching for her purse and phone.

“Nineteen?!” The man began pacing around the room, “Do you know what could happen to a guy like me for messing with someone just of legal age?! If anyone sees me with you- I’M 30! Rumours will spread just talking to you!” 

Rarity mentally shook her head, dread filling her gut as she realised she could have so easily messed this man’s life up. “I’m very sorry Mr. Pocket,” She started.

“Can it?” He felt disgusted at himself for even finding this girl the least bit attractive.

“I will let myself out.” Rarity left the apartment quietly, and ran to the bathrooms at the end of the hallway, throwing open the cubicle and collapsing in front of the toilet. 

There she vomited out all of her dinner. A slut, a whore. Another heave caused more vomit to be let out. Rarity did not slutshame, she could never do that to another girl - what they do with their bodies was their decision. But Rarity herself? She felt like the biggest slut in the city. And what was worse was she loved it. The power she had over the men, no matter how much older, how rich they were, their position, their title- once she got her way with them, they were putty in her hands. And for the night, she could imagine two people in love, showing eachother how much desire there was between them. 

Then morning came, and it was always the same story. I am not ready for that commitment, I just needed to relieve some stress, I am with someone else, and ‘You are not the type of girl i would spend the rest of my life with.’. The heavy truth Rarity faced was that in the end, no one wanted a passed around woman, a woman who held herself at little worth, and someone who could not give back that same love she received. Rarity lay her head against the toilet, a deep rooted tiredness washing over her. 

She was who she was.

---

“Of course I’m free darling! … Why should you apologise, I will not stand for it!” Rarity huffed, applying her lipgloss for the day. “I’m only taking 2 classes this semester, Fluttershy, I have a lot of time on my hands… Worry not! I do not mean to…brag but dare I say I did actually ace Foundational Finance last year and I would love to help a dear friend!” 

Rarity was happy today, it felt validating to have someone ask for help, as though to say you are needed here, and best of all it was Fluttershy, her dearest, shyest friend who she missed not having classes with anymore.

“RARITY!” a shout from downstairs was heard, to which Rarity refused to yell back in such an uncouth manner. She simply waited until her little sister made her way up the stairs. “Hey sis! Have you seen my cashmere sweater? The one you bought me for my birthday, I want to wear it to school, but mum’s at work and dad doesn’t know.”

“What a surprise that father isn’t aware,” Rarity scoffed, packing away her make-up. “Check your clean basket, mother did some washing yesterday.”

“Thanks Rarity! Love you!” Sweetie Belle rushed away, but not before giving her sister a kiss on the cheek.

“I love you too.” Rarity smiled.

Rarity made her way down the stairs, unsurprised to see her father lazily watching television on the couch. “I see you're finally awake.” Her father greeted.

“Yes, good morning father.” Rarity replied, a forceful smile on her face as her father simply grunted in reply. It would seem father still hasn’t gotten bored of his own laziness. 

“Are you dropping your sister to school?” He asked, turning his head backwards to look at Rarity in the kitchen sorting out Sweetie Belle’s school lunch.

“I can’t today father, I’m running late. I’ve sorted out her lunch, she could simply take the bus to school or…you could drop her.” Rarity said slowly, unsure of her fathers reaction. He simply huffed, deciding it was better to turn his attention to the television. 

“If I had a son he would have taken her.” He mumbled, making Rarity grit her teeth. Her whole childhood, she felt as though her father held a sort of resentment towards her. He had always wanted a son and when instead he was gifted with two daughters, he always had made little quips at them, comparing them to his non-existent sons, how much more fun it would be if he had someone he could talk to about soccer or cars with, or play catch and care for him when he’s older. Rarity decided from very little that she would be exactly like her mother, and in some way began feeling a sort of resentment towards men. 

Sweetie Belle on the other hand had always tried to adhere to her father’s interests in an attempt to bond with him more. “Hey Dad! Did you see the Manhattan versus Crystal Empire match last night?” Sweetie asked, hopping down the stairs.

“I did Belly,” He smiled, “It was a tough game for Manhattan but they pulled through.” He tousled her hair before going back to his show. Rarity held a deep sympathy for her little sister, as she watched her grow up with very less of her own personal interests and feelings, instead attempting to mould into the ‘son’ her father always wanted to have. “That’s a pretty girly sweater you're wearing, ain’t it?” He commented, looking at the pink sweater Rarity gifted her with distaste.

“Oh I thought-”

“It’s a wonderful sweater, darling. I should know, I picked it.” Rarity winked at Sweetie, happy she could brighten her up again. “You wouldn’t doubt my fashion sense now would you?!” Rarity gasped in mock hurt as Sweetie Belle giggled and shook her head.

“Someone should doubt it. How they let you into that fancy fashion school is beyond me.” Her dad laughed, picking up his coffee cup for a sip.

Rarity huffed, ignoring her Dad’s very lame jokes. “Come on Sweetie Belle, I’ll drop you to the bus stop.”
---
After Rarity bid farewell to her sister, she made her way in her white car to ‘Cloudsdale’s College of Aspiring Students’ to meet with Fluttershy. Once there, she decided to find a table outdoors to finalise a few of her sketches to pass the time. After a while she noticed Fluttershy, in one of Rarity’s favourite floral maxi-skirts and a beige sweater. After Fluttershy saw Rarity, she did a little jog towards her to keep her from waiting.

“Good Morning Rarity, I hope you didn’t wait too long.” Fluttershy said, leaning over slightly as Rarity got up to give her two cheek-to-cheek kisses. It was a habit Rarity had gained from her Mother’s side of the family , and Fluttershy was the only one who let the fashionista greet her that way every time they met.

“Uft-pfft-tch!” Rarity scoffed, waving a hand. “Nonsense darling, It gave me plenty of time to finish some designs i’ve been working on lately”

Fluttershy released a breath of relief, “Oh, can I see?” She leaned back suddenly, remembering unfortunately it might not be in her place to be so confident with her. “If it’s okay with you.”

Rarity beamed, turning her notebook over to her and explaining each and every one of her sketches. Fluttershy watched the beaming girl in wonder as she explained her drawings in exquisite detail, her smile never leaving her face. Fluttershy’s heart warmed at how passionate her friend was about her career, reminding her of herself and how badly she would like to become a Vet.

“Okay, enough about this, I want to hear about you,” Rarity said, closing her sketchbook and placing her head in her hands as she waited for Fluttershy to speak up. “Has any beautiful girl caught your eye as of late?” Rarity asked slyly, tracing her finger across the table. Fluttershy sighed, about to respond before Rarity gasped. “Tell me! How was Saturday night? I’m guessing you and Dash got home safe~”

“Rarity please, Dash is like a little sister to me. I don’t see her that way.” Fluttershy insisted, embarrassed. Rarity still believed she had a crush on Rainbow Dash. Ever since sophomore year when Fluttershy confided in Rarity about her dating preference, she couldn’t stop pairing her up with every girl she was friends with. Rarity always seemed to especially insist that she liked Rainbow Dash, and that was mainly because of how close they were. Of course, Fluttershy had never viewed it that way and never will.

“Yes, of course of course.” She was silent for a while. “Where did she sleep?”

“Rarity!”
The two girls continued on talking about their days, Rarity mentioning a couple of the dates she had gone on - never so in depth about what occurred on said dates. Fluttershy always heard of one nameless man or another; about how they were either too ill-mannered, or too brash, or too mean. She wondered when Rarity might find the perfect match. Rarity was beautiful, graceful, and well-spoken; she was everything Fluttershy wasn’t so it shouldn’t be so hard for her to find a man for herself, Fluttershy thought.

After a bit, Rarity began explaining the assignment to Fluttershy who, embarrassingly, was not very good with the financial aspect of mathematics. They sat in front of each other for a while, summarising key concepts- their hands always too close or too far apart - Fluttershy thought, noticing how smooth Rarity’s hands looked. I wonder how it feels to hold her hand. Fluttershy blushed at the sudden thought that passed her mind, but brushed it off as just her appreciating a girl’s beauty.

---

The Thursday morning air was crisp- perfect for an early training session with the soccer team. “Morning Cap’” Rainbow greeted, jogging over to place her duffel bag by the benches. “Am I early?” She asked, looking around at the empty field.

“More like everyone else is late. The team is too lazy for morning training in the cold,” The girl with the fiery orange hair rolled her eyes as she sat on the silver seats. Rainbow placed her hands on her hips, Amateurs. Rainbow Dash knew she was the best player on Cloudsdale’s team, and she knew she would make the best captain - she did lead every single sports team in Canterlot High afterall. Unfortunately what she didn’t account for was that CCAS already had a Captain and she was here to stay. No way to kick her off that position.

Rainbow and Spitfire made some idle chit-chat for a while longer as the rest of the team came in one-by-one each looking more hungover than the next. The rainbow-haired girl snickered at them. The team had all gone out for drinks last night with Rainbow wisely declining the offer. They sure are gonna eat it now.

“What a bunch of pussies,” Spitfire commented, purposely loud enough for them to hear. “Don’t fucking drink if you babies aren’t able to handle it the next day. As punishment, twenty laps now. GO!” She shouted, blowing her whistle. Rainbow chuckled as she sped off, a morning run one of her favourite things in the world. She spotted Soarin a few people behind her, seeming very puffed out so she decided to slow down to keep pace with him.

“Lightweight.” She teased.

“Don’t…make…me…phew.” He exhaled, stopping suddenly to take a puff from his inhaler.

“Woah dude, you alright?” She asked, a hand on his back, looking at Spitfire who seemed a bit worried at his condition. She guided him to the floor so he could take a break.

“Yes,” he took a puff, “I’m just extra asthmatic today because,” another puff “of my hay fever.” Once more. Rainbow had known Soarin for just over a year now and he had only taken out his puffer twice since then. Once at the end of a beep test- the very end - and the other time is this time.

“It's Autumn, dude.” 

“Lots of leaves falling… or something, I don’t know Crash, why don’t you ask my lungs they’ll have a better answer for you.” Soarin said, making a face at her. 

She rolled her eyes, wrapping his arm around her neck so she could take him back to Spitfire. “Come on big guy,” She heaved. In return, Soarin merely grinned, immediately putting all his weight onto her and dragging her down to the ground. She eyed him exasperatedly. “Seriously?”

He looked back at her innocently, “Are you losing muscles? You seem much weaker than last y-OW!” He grabbed his shoulder where Dash had just punched him for his childishness.

“I’ll just leave you here.”

“Wait no come back! Dash!” Soarin grunted, picking himself off the ground and following the girl who was already talking with Spitfire.

“You didn’t run the laps.” Spitfire said pointedly.

“I also didn’t drink.” Dash smiled, making the Captain raise her eyebrow.

“Touche,” She turned her attention to the fourth year boy. “And you?”

Soarin reached the two at the benches. “As you probably would have seen, my honourable and glorious captain, I was having an asthma attack. But if it pleases you, I can continue my laps.” He said sarcastically.

“Okay, okay go sit down.” Spitfire said. “I swear I'm surrounded by a bunch of girls.” Rainbow raised her eyebrow at the irony of that statement, making Spitfire sigh in annoyance, “Yes I know Crash, leave me alone.”

Rainbow made her way to Soarin as he took a swig of the bottle of water. “I hope that asthma attack wasn’t because of me.” She snickered, taking a seat next to him. 

“What?”

“Because I took your breath away.” She said with a completely straight face. To Rainbow’s credit, she did find it funnier in her head.

“You’re a comedian, did you know that? How did you come up with such an amazing line?” He flattened his eyebrows, continuing to slow clap as Dash slouched against the wall. She had to listen to Soarin going on about that joke for minutes now.

“So what are your plans for next year? If you aren’t scouted out for nationals?” Rainbow asked.

“Well i’ll probably join the air force then, I don’t have much lined up for me after college.” He said, frowning. “What about you?”

“ I still think it's too early for me, I have two more years before I’m forced into anything.” She looked up at the clouds. “But I’m studying aviation. If soccer doesn’t work out you would probably spot me flying a plane throwing some near misses at you.” She glanced sideways at him smirking.

He smiled back nudging her shoulder with his. Rainbow returned the gesture before they fell into a comfortable silence. Rainbow’s smile faded as she thought again of her future. She loved soccer with her soul. If she didn't go all the way, who was she? A pilot? Flying commercial airlines, half her life in a plane she would barely fly herself? Not now with all the technology- what would she need to do? Pull a lever and press a few buttons? She would hate her life. Soccer was her life, and she was determined that no matter what, she will make it worldwide.

A few moments later the rest of the team made it back to their starting positions and training started, with the exception of Soarin sitting this one out. By the end of it Rainbow was sweating like crazy and went to sit next to Soarin who scrunched his nose in disgust, “You smell nice.” He joked.

“Next time you train I'm going to collect a sample of your sweat and show you how much worse you smell.” She fired back taking a swig of her water, elbows on her knees. Soarin merely blinked at her. She sighed, “Not my best line. Sounded weird. I know.”

Soarin watched how Rainbow always kept an eye on the locker rooms. She had always insisted on showering  and changing last and he never understood why. If he brought it up, Rainbow waved it off saying something like, “Why do you wanna know what I do in there so bad?” Making Soarin fluster at the double meaning. Still, he held some rumours about why she might not want to go in there with the other team members. For one, Rainbow is bisexual, so maybe she finds sweaty girl bodies really hot and she would pass out if she was between eight of them. But Soarin had never noticed Rainbow showing any signs of crushing on the team. Second, maybe she was just really embarrassed of her body. But that didn’t make sense to Soarin since Rainbow’s body was killer hot and if anything she should be proud to flaunt it. Third theory was probably that she valued her own privacy and that seemed the most tame of reasons.

“What?” Rainbow asked as Soarin realised he’d been staring at her for too long. He blushed looking away.

“Just thinking is all.”

Rainbow nodded, then noticing the last girl walking out of the lockers, she grabbed her duffel bag and waved goodbye to Soarin.

The lockers were sparse now, with the floors wet and mirrors fogged up from the steam of the showers. Rainbow placed her bag down on the wooden bench before stripping down and making her way to the shower stall.

As she shampooed and rinsed herself, she found herself thinking back to her savings. They were running low and her part-time job at the sports shop didn’t make nearly enough to cover for school expenses and travel fees. Not to mention Aviation being a much more expensive degree to study. Rainbow never wanted to go to school, but she knew if she wanted a chance for her skills to be recognised, she needed to get into CCAS. Thankfully, they accepted her eagerly into the team on the condition that she studies a subject under the school itself. Tuition fees were high, and now that her money from her mother’s savings account was running low she had no other way to pay for college. Panic bubbled inside Dash at the thought of having to defer school, making her highest chance at achieving her dream as a soccer star almost close to zero.

Last year’s graduates from CCAS’s soccer team had 6 people scouted and accepted into the country’s national academy, with Misty Fly immediately placed on the pitch to perform. And Rainbow knew that if anyone was scouted, it would be her. She just needed to make sure she remained at the school, and finish her degree. Whatever it takes. She told herself, remembering one of her mother’s final words, ‘Don’t let anything keep you from that field, there is always a way.’ 

Rainbow finished her shower with a heavy head making her way over to the mirrors. As she stared at her reflection, a familiar feeling of self-loathing rose up from her stomach. She turned her hip to the side, stretching to see if the bruise Fluttershy noticed was fading any quicker. It was lighter than the day before so she pressed a finger to it, frowning as the pain still remained. Fucking weak ass body. 

Sloppily, she threw on her leggings and hoodie and ran for her 9am class.

Rainbow ran through the hallway not in the slightest careful where she was stepping until she bumped shoulders with someone. “Fuck shit, sorr- AJ?!” Rainbow said, looking surprised to see Applejack around, she never bumps into Applejack on campus. “What are you doing here?”

“Nice to see you too.” Applejack grunted, mildly annoyed at how careless Rainbow was with manoeuvring around students. Rainbow smiled at seeing her long-time friend again after this weekend. She was sort of under the impression that after that night she would probably not see most of them again until at least a few months later.

“I was just heading for class.” Rainbow said. Applejack looked at her quietly. Okay…the athlete rocked on her heels. “Soo, how are you? We didn’t really get a chance to, you know…catch up that weekend.”

“Lots a’ friends to be catching up with.” She replied as a matter-of-factly. Rainbow furrowed her eyebrows, confused on why Applejack was acting so unfamiliar- I mean sure they haven’t really been close friends in a while, but they were fine just a few days ago. Applejack didn’t really show any animosity then, did she?

“Uh, you chilling AJ? You sound pretty pissed.”

“I ain’t pissed Dash,” She sighed, leaning down slightly to look the smaller girl in the eyes. “I’m mighty fine. Pleasure seeing you.” She tipped her hat at the smaller girl before continuing on her way. Rainbow twisted her neck to follow Applejack’s figure confused on why she was so weird just now. But before she had time to dwell on it, she remembered why she was running in the first place.

As Applejack passed Rainbow Dash after their accidental bumping in the hallway, she breathed a sigh of relief, as though if she breathed too loud in front of the athlete, she was able to read her thoughts. Rainbow Dash, who at some point in the past Applejack considered as her best friend, seemed almost impossible to talk to anymore. Every time she looked at Dash now, she didn’t know what to say, how to act, or what to bring up. She didn’t even know what page she stood on with the athlete. Although Dash seemed completely okay with Applejack, the farmer did not want to make that same selfish mistake twice, and decided to keep her friendship with Rainbow Dash distant.

Besides, it shouldn’t be too hard. The girls see each other, what like, once every three months?

---

By the time Rainbow Dash got home, the sun was setting in the horizon. Thursday’s were always her longest days, and most of the time she got home exhausted. As she opened her family’s front door, the strong smell of alcohol made its way through to her nose causing her to crinkle it in disgust.

“Are you fucking kidding me, Dad?” She snarled as she stomped her way to the kitchen island throwing two bottles of empty whiskey into the bin. When no response came, she looked over at the couch noticing her dad, Rainbow Blaze, sitting lazily on the couch with another bottle of gin in his hands, drunkenly hiccupping as he watched some sort of baseball on the TV. Rainbow walked over until she stood in front of him, hands on her hips. “Dad, do you realise we are running out of money?”

“Don’t yell at me, kid” He slurred, struggling to stand up and using Rainbow’s shoulder as balance. As his eyes met Rainbow’s it seemed to widen, as though he had seen a ghost. “Windy…” He whispered his hand suddenly against his daughter’s cheek.

Rainbow felt a wave of pity and sadness overwhelm her as she watched her Dad helplessly pine over her mother’s ghost. Her dad wasn’t always like this, and especially after Rainbow’s mum died, he did everything he could to keep his daughter happy. Then a few months in she noticed him becoming more tired, withdrawn. He began drinking soon after that and once he was addicted she rarely saw her old dad there anymore. When he was drunk, he saw Rainbow Dash as Windy Whistles - with the same eyes and skin tone, she was almost a splitting image. And when he was sober he never looked her in the eye, too afraid to see his wife in them and mourn her loss all over again. She had lost her dad just months after she lost her mum.

Rainbow pushed her dad against the couch, ready herself to call it an early night. She fell asleep with thoughts of her mother on her mind.

The next morning Rainbow woke up early, her dad on the end of the bed staring at the wall. Rainbow started, scrambling to the edge of the bed head. “Morning?” She said tightly, suspicious of why he was in her room for the first time in over a year.

Her dad didn’t say anything to that, he just hung his head low. A loud silence entered Dash’s room then. She watched her dad cautiously. He opened his mouth then. “I’m sorry,” He started and Rainbow’s heart jumped, shocked and confused. It’s been too long since he had said anything but curses at her. He tilted his head at her, motioning to her hip with a glass of gin she just noticed in his hand now. “About that…that night.”

Rainbow felt her throat close up, relief flooding through her at the possibility that maybe-just maybe- her dad is making the effort to better himself. “It’s no big deal.” She chuckled. “Hurts like a bitch though.” 

She watched her dad smile at that. 

“YOU FUCKING BITCH!” Rainbow’s dad yelled, moving clumsily over the furniture as his daughter broke the bottles of alcohol in the kitchen.

“YOU’RE FUCKING CRAZY ENOUGH AS IT IS, YOU ASS!” She screamed back, smashing another bottle on the island. Rainbow felt like she couldn’t breathe, a sort of anger she hadn’t felt in a while exploding through her chest as she stared at her worthless father’s flushed face. “DO YOU EVEN KNOW HOW HARD I WORK TO KEEP US AFLOAT?!” She cried, eyes wide and hair a mess. She looked fucking crazy. “IT’S MEANT TO BE YOUR JOB! YOUR MY DAD AND ALL YOU DO IS SIT AROUND AND FUCKING ATTACK ME FOR LOOKING LIKE MUM!”

The house was dark. A mess. Glass scattered the floor and alcohol breezed through the air, the smell clinging to both of their clothes. It happened fast. Rainbow heard the crash right next to her ear as a bottle smashed against the wall right beside her head. It could have killed her, a bit to the left and it would have. Rainbow felt a new level of fear strike her as she watched her father stalk closer to her. The fact that her father didn’t draw the line at mere punches but would also easily have liked to kill her too. 

She felt the wind get knocked out of her lungs then and there as her dad threw her against the counter, the corner of it stabbing right into her hip making a sharp pain cascade up her spine. She screamed in pain as she fell to the floor, breathing heavily. 

“Keep her memory out of your mouth.” He spat, walking out of the front door and leaving her crying on the glass covered ground. Rainbow had never felt hatred for her dad before, but at that point she wanted nothing more than to pick up that half shattered alcohol bottle and stab it through his neck. She vomited.

“I cleaned up that mess you left me. That Saturday you didn’t come home. Where were you anyway?” He asked idly, swirling the alcohol in the cup.

Dash refused to lower any of her defences, “I wouldn’t have caused that mess if you knew how to be a parent.” Her dad glared at her, but she refused to back away. Her biggest mistake was being afraid of a 50 year old drunk. “Are you going to hit me again?” She said angrily.

Her dad shook her head. “When I lost Windy…I tried to be okay. But…”

“You aren’t the only one who lost someone, dad. I lost my mother.” Rainbow said, looking at her dad pleadingly, praying he would stop drinking and heal. Rainbow came to terms with the hard truth that while her father lost someone he loved, so did she, and it wasn’t selfish to want to be taken care of. Instead she became an orphan, with a dad who couldn’t function anymore.

Blaze pressed his eyes shut, coming to terms with his mistakes. Rainbow felt guilt build up in her gut as she watched her dad coldly. She only felt pity for the man as he trembled in his tears. Rainbow sat on the edge of the bed quietly watching her dad calm down. He shifted then, facing Rainbow and placing a hand on her cheek. It felt cold and rough and she wanted to run as far as she could from it. That same palm on her cheek not so long ago left bruises, and red marks across her body. “I’m so sorry…I miss us.” Rainbow noticed his eyes glaze over and knew then that he wasn’t talking to her anymore. She pushed his hand away, realisation dawning on her. Panic rose in her chest as she stumbled off the bed and rushed to her closet, ravaging through her clothes. I swear to fucking god- “Dash wait!” 

It wasn’t there. Her heart began beating faster and her hands started tingling and it was suddenly too hard to breathe and it was funny how she thought she needed that inhaler more than Soarin now. Her movements were frantic and desperate now. “WHERE THE FUCK IS IT?!” She breathed, rushing over and pushing her father off the bed to look under it. 

“Rainbow, you have to calm down.” Blaze said, pulling her away from the bed.

“What the fuck did you do with my money, Blaze?” Rainbow said quietly, not sure now much oxygen was left in her lungs.

“Dash, I neede-”

“Blaze, mum gave that money to me. TO ME!” She screamed. She wanted to suffocate that insufferable man so hard. “Where is it?”

“I need you to calm down fi-”

“No Dad. Dad, you don’t understand. This is- YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND”

“SIT DOWN!” He bellowed, freezing the panicking girl in place. “Dash, you need to breathe.” At that, the rainbow haired girl sat on the edge of her bed, her head in her hands trying to even her breathing

“Okay.” She inhaled. “Where’s the money?”

“Dash I needed the money. I lost some heavy bets I needed to pay off.” Her head started swirling. Her  dad wasted the money her mother saved up for her. The money she saved for herself- because he’s now not only an alcoholic but a chronic gambler?

“Get out.” She said quietly. 

“Look Dash, I'll fix myself. And I found another really good college. Their tuition fees are very small and-and you can live on campus. Away from me. And accommodation is really cheap too-”

“Get the fuck out of my room before I fucking pony-up, call the magic princess from the other universe, and fucking murder you so you can finally meet up with mum after fucking defying every single one of her dying wishes.” She snarled and immediately Blaze rushed out not only the room, but left the house too.

She didn’t have any money. All her savings, the money her mother entrusted her for school- all gone because she was stupid enough to think it was safe under the same roof as an alcoholic. How could I have fucking trusted dad for one second. Another pain suddenly flooded her- a heavy, ever-lasting, self-hatred. She squeezed her eyes closed, refusing to let tears loose, and so she fell to the floor beside her bed and reached for her bedside drawer. There was a single blade razor used usually to shave any arm hair. With a sudden burning need for release she pulled her sweatpants to her knees and held the razor above her upper thigh- there, multiple other scars, small tallies in random orientations were exposed. Each one reminding her of failures and mistakes- times she wasn’t perfect enough for herself, or times she wasn’t good enough for her parents and friends. Her finger traced over her very first one, just above the rest of them. Her first tally was at her mother’s funeral. Once more, she carved a line with the razor on her thigh, the pain a reminder of an easily preventable mistake. It was better than crying like a pussy, she believed. She cried anyway. Rainbow Dash cried silently, her tears falling against her new cut, the tears watering down the blood as they mixed together. She shook for a while as the harsh reality that she won’t be able to continue at CCAS came to light. 

“Promise me, Dash.” Windy said, caressing her daughter’s cheek with a weak hand.

“What, that I’d get into CCAS?” Rainbow smiled sadly.

“Is that the school for your soccer team?” She said weakly, vaguely remembering a far away conversation she had with her daughter. Rainbow laughed, tears staining her cheeks. 

“Yes, that’s the one.”
“Well that’s the one then, Raindrop.”

“What if I can’t? What if I don’t want to?” Rainbow asked, her throat closing up again. “What if I wanted to be with you instead?” 

Windy Whistles brought Rainbow’s head to her chest, and there she lay holding her one and only child as she cried and trembled, not accepting her imminent death. “Your dreams are mine.” She whispered, kissing Rainbow’s forehead. “Don’t let anything keep you from that field, Dash. There is always a way.” Dash closed her eyes, listening to her mother’s slow heartbeat, her’s eventually following in sync. She felt calm for the first time in a long time. “Take care of her Blaze. You’re all she has left.”

As the memory replayed through her head, Dash pressed the razor deeper into her skin, this time with hatred for her father. If he loved Windy so much he would have tried harder to uphold her memory.

---


Sunset Shimmer hated this dump. It was always warm at the mechanic’s workshop even on a cold, Autumn day. Some sort of car always coughed up fumes or soot making Sunset smell of gasoline after her visit to Mikey’s Motorshop. Mikey, or Mikkie as most of his closer confidants liked to say, owned two very well-known establishments. Mikkie’s Diner, and Mikey’s Motorshop. The Diner is perhaps one of Canterlot’s most favourite fast food joints. Sunset coughed as one of the cars positioned on the lower platform struggled to turn on. Mikey pulled his head out of the car door, grinning widely as he saw Sunset by the garage door. 

“Sunset!” He greeted, opening his arms for a hug. 

Sunset cringed as she saw his clothes covered in grease from the car. “Uh, no thanks.” She said, pointing at his clothes. Mikey, upon noticing his state, laughed heartily.

“Always hated this place huh Ketchie?” He commented, as he wiped his hands clean on a dirty cloth. Mikey was a tall burly man with a presence that did a good job at intimidating most people, even Sunset. Though perhaps today was one of his more cheery moods. He must have gotten laid by his wife. Rare. Sunset thought dryly.

“Yup!” She forced a chuckle, gripping tighter on her backpack’s strands. “So uh. Can we talk?” She asked, louder than necessary. Mikey raised his eyebrow before motioning for her to continue. “Yeah! So funny story actually! I wasn’t actually…able to bring in that batch of…beans.”

“Excuse me?”

“‘Beans’ actually means drugs in today’s terms…that’s not what you asked. Okay, my bad.” She cringed after making quotation marks in the air with her fingers.
“This better be an example of one of your stupid jokes, Sunset Shimmer.” He threatened, taking a step closer to her. 

She gulped, the silence making alarms ring through Mikey’s head. He barked out to one of his men before storming out of the garage, not before telling Sunset to sit still. As she heard the commotion at the back of the workshop, Sunset gritted her teeth. She was sure going to hear it now. 

Equestria felt like a distant memory in Sunset’s head, but it was a mere five years ago when she left it to run away to here. At the age of 16, Sunset had absolutely no idea how to navigate this unfamiliar place, and for weeks afterwards, she spent her night’s under makeshift shelters in alleyways, using cardboard boxes as umbrellas, scouring off of free samples shop owners were nice enough to give. Not until a rainy night where she met Mikey.

“Fuck off. Dirty bugger!” A shop owner yelled, making Sunset yet again relocate to another alleyway. 

“Maybe I made the wrong decision to show up in this universe.” Sunset scoffed, grabbing her cardboard box as she walked away from the yelling man.  A few seconds into her walk it began to rain. Not a sprinkle, but a downpour and immediately Sunset was drenched in rainwater and shivering cold. “Darn these stupid pegasi. They’re praying on my downfall.” Already too tired to care if she got any wetter, Sunset continued on in a leisurely place until she noticed a quiet, well-lit corner block. She walked in, the loud ting of the doorbell ringing as she walked through. Inside was a couple of people minding their own business and a kitchen she could see that had a lot of those potato fries sitting out in a bowl. Sunset’s stomach growled and before contemplating whether it was a smart idea to walk through and absolutely devour those fries, she was already heading towards them. The first bite tasted so divine she already thought she was sitting upon Celestia’s throne. Hastily, she began stuffing her face with more before a pull on her shirt lifted her up and away from the bowl of chips.

“What in the name of my tasty as fuck cooking are you doing here boy? I thought you were a rodent!” The burly man said, pulling off Sunset’s hoodie. “By my tasty as fuck cooking, you’re a girl. Where’s your parents Ketchie?” He asked.

“Ketchie?” Sunset repeated, ignoring everything else he said. “My name is Sunset and soon to be your new ruler!”

The man stared at her weirdly for a second. “Well your hair looks like someone spilled ketchup all over it.”

“I don’t know what that is, but give me a few months and I’ll have you hang for it.”

He looked around awkwardly, putting her down on the floor. She crossed her arms angrily. “Where are your parent’s?”

“In Equestria.” She replied.

“Aw shit, why do crazy people always walk into this place.” He mumbled to himself. “Alright kid, my name’s Mikey, do you want me to get you some food?”

“That will do.” Sunset answered, turning around and finding a table to sit at. She spent that moment inspecting the place. It seemed very humble and quiet. Greasy though, but that’s the price to pay for good food. This will make a satisfactory home for a while until she devises a real plan.

Mikey came back with some burgers and fries and placed it in front of her watching smugly as the girl gobbled down the food. “You have a place to stay?”

“No. I told you I’m not from here. I don’t know how the whole money thing works.”

“Well, it’s pretty simple. You just get a job. And in exchange for your help, the person gives you some coins and paper bills. Then using that you can buy yourself what you need.”

“Hmm seems too simple.” She said, tapping her chin.

The man laughed. “Not for you kid. I betcha you won’t be able to find a job even if you were that princess ruler in your hometown. Here you need to be experienced to get a job. Need to know your stuff. Elsewise you ain’t got no job.”  He crossed his arms as Sunset furrowed her eyebrows.

“But I would need a job for experience.” She stated. “That doesn’t make any sense.”

The man chuckled, “Lots o’ people don’t have time to train you from the ground up.” He tapped his chin in thought as he looked at the girl in front of him. “Hey Ketchie. I might have a job offer for you. But there’s no backing out to it, you got that.”

Sunset thought this was perfect. And backing out won’t be a problem. Once she gathers her strength, she’ll find a way to take over Equestria. Then this ‘Mikey’, the bipedal will be nothing more than a servant to her.

Sunset cursed her younger, evil, self for making such horrible decisions that she now faces the consequences of. The door slammed open as Mikey walked through, fuming from his neck up. “I should have you killed by now Sunset.” He sighed. Taking a seat on a stool and rubbing in between his eyebrows.

“Lucky I’m so charming.” She joked.

“Don’t.”

“Yep.”

“Do you know how much delay you’ve put into my plans? Those medicinals are important! It’s how we fund…all of this!”
“The motorshop?” Sunset said, looking around in contempt. Surely all that drug money couldn’t be going into something like this.

Mikey sighed again. This girl was going to make him actually lose it one day. “Our Family! We aren’t the only gang in Canterlot, Sunset. Did you know we have lost that batch of drugs you were responsible for? That means it's not there! That means someone else has taken it and I sure hope it was Ruby’s bastards instead of the cops.”

“Oh.” In Sunset’s defence, she was not told the amount of drugs in that truckload. In fact, why she was tasked with something so important was beyond her. “So, not to upset you or anything, but why did you give me that assignment? Usually you just tell me to you know, touch that person and tell you what they’re thinking. Or make me sell the drugs. That’s a lot easier! Actually it’s a field day. I prefer that way more.”

Mikey’s expression darkened. “Sunset I have been lenient with you. But you have lost us 200,000 dollars to our enemy. You’re going to find that money on your own or so help me God I will have your pretty girlfriend shot through her heart in an instant. Call my bluff, I dare you.” He said, roughly grabbing her hand and pressing it against his forehead. Sunset now was well aware of Mikey’s stance on her blunder, and a foreboding feeling of dread made its way throughout her as her thoughts about Twilight spiralled out of control.

“Shit Mikey look i’m sorry I fucked up but I’ll fix it. Just don’t get Twilight involved in this, please!” She begged as Mikey stared at her harshly. 

“All my men are busy cleaning up your mess. Find that truck and fix what you broke.” Sunset’s heart threatened to escape her chest as she walked out of the motorshop. Fuck she messed up bad.

How the hell will she be able to fix this all by herself? A buzzing from her pocket got her attention.

RD~: Hey Sunset, can we talk? In desperate need for some bread.
> My O' Mikey
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

~Three~
Rainbow Dash tapped her foot against the cracked pavement, leaning against a lone streetlamp waiting to meet Sunset by Sugarcube Corner. She wore a worn-down hoodie that covered the top of her head, and she had her arms crossed tightly across her chest, her head lowered as if to shield herself from anyone who was to recognise her. 

“Dash!” She heard a distant voice call her and she lifted her head up to see Sunset jogging towards her, a worried expression on her face. Rainbow straightened up as Sunset reached her and they exchanged a quick hug. “Sorry I took so long.” 

Rainbow shrugged. “Nah, no problem.” She replied quickly. The two fell into an awkward silence both looking at each other in worry.

“You don’t look so hot.” They both said at the same time before chuckling. 

“Let’s walk.” Sunset suggested, and the two made their way from Sugarcube corner down the empty street, their dark clothes in contrast with the bright, cold, morning sun. Sunset looked over at Dash who kicked lone pebbles as they walked beside a small park. She looked tired and worn-out, as if she didn’t sleep at all last night. Sunset frowned as she thought back to her friend’s text yesterday afternoon. It seemed very short and didn’t explain anything. 

“How are you, Rainbow?” 

Rainbow sighed, glancing over at her before looking back to the path ahead. “Not good, Sunset. Uh- thanks for agreeing to meet up by the way.”

“It’s no problem, what are friends for?” She smiled, and Rainbow fell back into deep thought 

“So I uh,” Rainbow started, rubbing the back of her neck. “I was wondering if there’s any easy money…up for grabs?” Sunset blinked in surprise at that. It was no secret her affiliation with Mikey and his gang, but her friends rarely ever brought it up, and at some point Sunset assumed they had forgotten about it. Hearing Rainbow say it so casually had thrown her off guard. “I know Mikey makes you run…errands, and if there’s anything on offer right now, I need you to hook me up.”

“Dash,” Sunset sighed. 

“I can handle myself.” Rainbow said, and Sunset glanced towards her.

“I know that…fuck.” She sighed. She rubbed her temples as thoughts went through her head. This could be perfect- Rainbow was quick and fast and perfect for helping her find that truck of drugs. She was desperate, and Twilight’s dead form was clouding her mind, but just the thought of using her friend’s vulnerability for her own needs felt so wrong she was getting dizzy. She took a deep breath and looked over at her friend who bit her lip in anticipation- she needed to get her head straight. “Dash, tell me what’s going on.” 

Rainbow’s eyes darted at that and she felt Sunset place a hand on her shoulder and guide her to a bench to sit against. Rainbow Dash was many things, but she wasn’t a coward. So really, it shouldn’t be hard to spit out her father’s unfatherlike behaviour, her fears about not being able to stay at CCAS, and make Sunset understand why she needed that money. 

Except her friends had a completely different image of Rainbow Blaze. One of a loving father who urged her friends to have slumber parties at his house and order pizza for them, or someone who laughed at his own very mediocre jokes, or someone who did everything for his daughter over the summer so she wouldn’t feel her mother’s absence. For Rainbow Dash, it felt wrong to ruin that image, no matter how untrue it really was. And one other thing was stopping her from telling Sunset the truth- pity. She didn’t want it, especially from someone who she held in such high levels of badassery. Rainbow Dash getting beat up by her dad? Crying about it and refusing to do anything to stop it? Seemed very pitiful to Rainbow Dash. Rainbow felt her throat close up as she thought back to one of the biggest reasons she distanced herself from her friends then. It was the fear of being found out. She was afraid that one day the bruise on her leg or shoulder would be seen, or she would wince too hard during play-fighting with Applejack, or flinch in fear if someone moved too fast on a day she was feeling particularly out of it. She was scared for them to realise how weak she really was, and so she distanced herself. That way, rumours appeared, but they never stayed too long- there was no evidence for anything. And at the end of it, the girls themselves slowly grew apart.

Rainbow Dash wasn’t a coward. She was asking Sunset a big thing, and she knew that Sunset deserved the truth at least. So Rainbow Dash rested her elbows against her knees and placed her head in her hands. “Sunset, you know my dad right?” 

Sunset nodded, thinking back to the ‘pepperoni nights’, Blaze used to call it, where he only ordered pepperoni pizza because by some miracle, it was all the girls’ favourite pizza- except for Fluttershy who was vegetarian. Even then, Blaze always ordered either a cheese or vegetarian for her. She was always envious of Rainbow’s relationship with her parents, and it made her miss her own who she left back in Equestria. She ignored those thoughts in her head, focusing on Rainbow who seemed very out of character to Sunset. As the orange girl stared at the athlete, she frowned at her demeanour. She looked small, and her hands shook slightly as she fought to talk about what she wanted to talk about. 

“Hey,” She whispered, placing a hand on top of Dash’s trembling ones. Dash looked at Sunset. “I know we’ve become distant- all of us. We haven’t talked in a while and in some ways, it might look like you’re talking to a stranger,” Sunset’s eyes were warm, and it held a genuinity Dash missed seeing. Only her closest friends held that kindness in their eyes. “I want you to know I still care for you. The way you girls gave me that second chance at the fall formal, it’s something I will never be able to pay back- but I want to try. Just tell me what’s going on and I’ll try my hardest to fix it.” She squeezed Dash’s hand. “I Pinkie-Swear it.”

And so Rainbow Dash told her. About how her father became gradually withdrawn throughout the summer, coming home later and later, drunker and drunker. Then mornings he was drunk, and afternoons. Until she couldn’t remember him sober. How sometimes he was angry at her and how other times he couldn’t recognise his own daughter. She left out details- details like the bruises and the screaming matches and the days she cried herself to sleep. But she told her about yesterday. How he had taken all of her savings- gradually, bit by bit so she wouldn’t notice and how she found out yesterday morning that whatever was left was gone. She told her that she couldn’t pay for her tuition anymore and she would have to defer, reducing any of her chances in getting accepted into a national team. She told her about her job at the sports store and the pay not being nearly enough, and how she couldn’t afford to move out because her family home was fully-paid off, and anywhere else she would have to pay rent- another expense on her list.

Sunset listened quietly, anger gradually building in her at Blaze. Someone they had all loved dearly has succumbed to depression, but it was never an excuse. Rainbow was still young when she lost her mother, and she needed him there for her, instead he turned into a liability. Sunset felt a new found respect then for her old friend, how she continued on with school and her sports team despite her home situation- sure she had become closed off, but that was expected. Rainbow Dash was still slouched over her knees, keeping an eye out on how Sunset would react to it. Their eyes met and shockingly, Dash’s didn’t look as sad as she sounded when she recapped her situation. 

“I sound pretty pathetic,” She chuckled humorlessly.

“The part where you threatened him with ponies was pretty badass though.” Sunset joked, and the two laughed quietly. “Shit Dash, I had no idea what you were going through. You should have come to one of us.”. Rainbow gestured between themselves, as though to say she just did. “I’m going through a bit of a hiccup too. I might need you as much as you need me.”

Rainbow’s eyes widened, “With?” she urged.

Sunset ran a hand through her hair. “I fucked up with a truckload of drugs and I have to find it now or else.” Sunset inhaled. “He threatened Twilight.”

“Shit.” Rainbow exhaled, thinking back to how Sunset described their breakup. After a messy exchange of shouting about her not so traditional line of work, they had decided to go their separate ways. Rainbow knew that Sunset still cared for Twilight, if not romantically, definitely as a friend.

“I can’t do it alone, Dash. This might be the perfect opportunity for both of us- If I can convince Mikey to pay you to help me, all three of us will gain something from this. I just…It feels wrong to pull you into this mess.”

“I know you’ve been in this business for a while, Sunset, but I'm not a kid. I can pull my own weight. And don’t forget I'm the one asking for your help. If you wouldn’t have helped me I would have gone straight to Mikey anyway.” Sunset gave a small smile, happy to help Rainbow and for Rainbow to help herself, but still a sense of guilt lingered and she worried about her friend’s safety as she was pulled into this line of work.

---

Fluttershy returned home this afternoon tired. Today she had met up with Rarity to discuss her portfolio overview and they ended up going out for lunch afterwards. It had felt amazing to be able to connect with her friend after so long, and refreshing when- unlike their first meeting- conversation flowed and the awkwardness in the air had vanished. She didn’t realise however how much energy she had spent today and at that thought, felt exhilarated. It was very rare for the yellow girl to ever feel a sense of relaxation or tiredness- there was always a lingering sense of foreboding in her mind about what the future could bring.

She decided to make the most of this new feeling and head to bed early, this time without any of the pills. As she tucked herself under her covers and closed her eyes she realised this would be one of her first nights she’s sleeping without her pills. It excited her and scared her at the same time. She felt sleep drift her in and out of consciousness before her mind raced to today’s events. A feeling- different to one of dread but still not welcome- waved over her and it left her with a buzzing feeling that drove any mention of sleep away from her. She turned over to her side and took a deep breath, but that same shortness of breath remained. It felt like she was filled to the brim with energy and she had to let it out. All at once, that same craving for the bottle in her bedside drawer seized her and she reached over for it.

Her hand made contact with an empty bottle- light, airy, and in no way filled with the pills she needed to calm herself down and sleep for the night. Oh Fluttershy, how can you be so forgetful? She cursed herself as she reached for her phone with trembling hands. There, she scrolled down her contacts until she saw the name ‘KL’. He might be sleeping. It is only ten at night though. What if he doesn’t see the message? Fluttershy thought, biting on her thumb nail. She didn’t want to seem inconsiderate but she needed to buy some or she would spiral all over again.

FS~: Hello KL, I hope you are well and I am not messaging you at an inconvenient time. I would like to purchase some more jewellery please. I will be at the usual meeting place but it is okay if you can’t make it.

Fluttershy hesitated before pressing send- she didn’t want to sound desperate. Did she sound desperate? Who am I kidding, I’m an addict. Fluttershy thought to herself sadly. It was one of her biggest shames, and without the use of the pills it was the main reason she couldn’t sleep. She told herself that it isn’t as bad as the normal drugs teenagers do these days- just a prescription medication she so happened to not have a prescription for anymore. It was a coincidence that dealers sell a similar alternative to it.

KL never responded to the messages. Something about how it can be tracked much easier. He told Fluttershy to just trust he would be there. And he was. From when Fluttershy started buying from him just over a year ago, KL was never late or never missed an appointment time. Fluttershy didn’t know why, but he was one of the nicest people she knew, and naively, believed that him selling her the drugs was because of his goodwill more than anything else. 

She hated going out in the night, but KL only traded nocturnally, and she needed this more than she feared it and so she quickly threw on a raincoat and grabbed her house keys, making her way down the stairs. 

“Hey Flutter Butter!” A voice called from the bottom of the stairs. She paused in alarm as she noticed her younger brother walk by with a box of pizza in his arms. He was lit by the TV’s white light and the quiet drone of the channel in the background made Fluttershy tense up even more.

“Hello Zephyr.” She said kindly, continuing down the stairs quickly with her head down, hoping he wouldn’t pay her too much mind. 

“Where are you going so late sis?”

Fluttershy paused, panic unfurling in her chest as she thought up a lie to tell. “Um, Rainbow Dash! She uh…needs help with…something.” She started, each word getting quieter than the last. She realised then that bringing up her old friend would only make things more curious for Zephyr as he perked up and turned around from the TV to look at her.

“Oh uh, does she need any help? I’m free! Let me go get ch-”

“No! Uh, thank you Zephyr. It's a…girl thing?” She quickly interrupted, cringing at having to lie to him. She hated it.

He nodded, but continued to frown. “Okay, but I'm dropping you. It’s raining and it's ten at night outside. There’s no way I'll let you walk it.”

“Really Zephyr it’s fine.” She insisted. In return, her brother gave her a look as if to say there’s no point in arguing before leaving the couch and grabbing his own jacket.

“I just don’t get why you refuse to get your licence sis.” He sighed as he headed out the door.

Fluttershy bit her lip as she followed him out of the house silently. Already, she was planning on a way to change the story so he could drop her somewhere else, closer to the meeting spot but still not be suspicious of what was going on. As the two siblings got into the car and made their way to Rainbow’s house, Flutter could not calm the trembling in her hands, and so she covered it with the sleeves of her raincoat.

The quiet patter of the rain on the roof of the car did little to calm Fluttershy’s nerves and the silence, save for the quiet voice on the radio, was deafening. She stared out the window for a while as Zephyr made quick glances at her, debating on whether to say something. After a moment, he sighed. “You weren’t gonna go to Rainbows’ house were you?” He said quietly, as though he already knew the answer. The older girl’s eyes widened as she stared at her brother, not expecting him to see through her lie. She took a breath to deny his allegation when he shook his head at her, causing her to stay silent. She was nervous and worried, but she didn’t dare say anything until he told her what he knew. “I don’t know what’s going on with you Flutter, but there aren’t any secrets between family, right? You told me that yourself.”

Fluttershy looked down at her feet, heartbeat increasing in shame. “No, of course there isn’t.” She responded quietly, so quietly, that for most it would have just been a breath. She felt his eyes on the side of her face. “There isn’t. You don’t need to worry, Zephyr.” She said, louder this time. His eyebrows furrowed as he stared at the road ahead. He didn’t know what was going on with his older sister, but she hadn’t been the same this whole year. At first, he ignored it thinking it was a phase, or college stress was getting to her- It was getting to him that’s for sure- but as time went on, he noticed how she used to leave late at night and how she was almost always tired in the morning, but never in the night. He never said anything- it wasn’t his place and she was an adult- but as time passed, his worry increased.

“Where am I taking you?” Fluttershy exhaled, focusing much more on her breaths than she needed to. 

“You aren’t coming with me.”

“Like hell I'm not. I’m worried about you, what type of brother would I be if I just let you go off on your own with no one to watch out for you?”

“I’m capable of handling it myself, Zephyr.”

“If i’m not coming with you, I’ll turn the car back around and you won’t be able to see whatever boy you're hooking up with.”

“Dammit Zephyr!” She shouted, immediately covering her mouth with her hands, both people in the car shocked at the outburst.

“Sorry,” They apologised together. 

“Shit Flutters I’m so sorry, I don’t know what came over me, that was really low.” He apologised, feeling guilty at his overreaction.

Fluttershy wasn’t worried about what Zephyr was saying, instead staring at her hands that were feeling tingly and numb. “Zephyr please, I need you to trust me.” She pleaded, staring at him with wide eyes. He in turn stared back not knowing what to do.

“I trust you Flutters, I’ve never not trusted you- you’re like, my lifeline. I just- I don’t want to see you get hurt.”

“You won’t.”

---

Twilight Sparkle loved family dinners. And it was rare to see a family dinner with special guest ‘Shining Armor’ present, seeing as how he lives alone now and is always too busy to see his family at home. So now as both her parents striked up a conversation with her older brother about his love life and Spike giving the occasional quip from his place at his dog food bowl, Twilight found herself overly giddy since everyone was in a particularly good mood.

“You still haven’t introduced us to Cadence!” Velvet said, eyes wide in disbelief at her son’s audacity.

Shining chuckled in return, “We’ve been meaning to visit you but she’s been busy with her job as Principal at Crystal Prep and she couldn’t come today. I promise next time I visit.”

“I promise mum, you won’t be disappointed. Cadence is such a sweetheart!” Twilight spoke up from beside her brother. “Makes me wonder why she’s settling for you.” She jabbed at him playfully and in return Shining poked her in the waist with the back of his fork, laughing as well.

“So dad, how’s Sherlock Holmes treating you?” Shining said as he went to get a second serving of his mother’s lasagna. 

“No work-talk on the dinner table.” Velvet scolded.

“Oh come on, I just wanna know about dad’s promotion! Lead detective on a case isn’t a joke.” Shining praised, to which Twilight’s father smiled proudly.

“You flatter me kid, truth is, I haven’t had much luck with the ‘Michael JH Oneson’ case.” Twilight’s heart did a small jump at that. Her father had been given lead detective on one of Canterlot City’s biggest crime families a few months ago in order to take down Michael and his closest associates. He had to perform or he would be demoted, and so almost every few days Twilight eagerly asked for updates on the case to see how her father was doing. For his own work performance, and the safety of others in the city.

Sometimes though, Twilight let herself in on the truth, and when she did, she let herself worry about a girl. A girl who had made some wrong choices in the past and was forced to keep with it until now, and if this girl was found, she would be punished the same way other horrible people would be for forcing her to keep to that group. That and knowing her father was given the job to specifically gather evidence of that group, it made her ponder. Ponder and fear and hurt and wonder. Wonder if it was wrong to warn Sunset Shimmer.

“Bullshit dad,”

“Language.” Velvet interrupted, making Shining smile apologetically to her.

“Everyone in the city knows about Mikey and his gang. They’re notorious” Shining Armour said, waving a hand.

“Knowing and proving are different things.” Twilight spoke up, “And also, Dad only knows a few of who Michael is associated with- there are still a lot of unknowns. They never slip up.”

Night Light nodded in agreement with his daughter. “We would need proper evidence, word of mouth and rumours are never enough. If we are able to catch something-anything out of place, it might be enough to connect everything together and BAM!” He clapped his hands. “Easy win in court.”

The table laughed heartily. Only one laugh was strained.

---

Fluttershy’s raincoat’s hoodie hung heavy against her head, soaked by the downpour as she waited against a graffiti covered wall, her hands wrapped around the other and her feet pressed tightly against each other, trying her best to shrink away and appear invisible as her heart beat was overwhelmingly fast, and a cold sweat had begun to break across her body. Her eyes were trained against a cat sleeping soundly against a trash can, covered by a small shelter, trying to gain a sort of comfort from it. She had an urge to scoop it up and take it back to the animal shelter before the tingling in her hands made her mind go blank. She felt like Pinkie Pie- overwhelmed with a surge of energy, trembling hands, shaking knees. Instead of excitement, it was fear. She had been waiting against the alley for over ten minutes, and the logical part of her mind was screaming at her to leave. She couldn’t though. Just a few more minutes.

It was too dark and too quiet. She was situated at a small grocery market that had closed many hours ago. The parking lot consisted of one lone car- Zephyr’s- and it was on the other side of the compound. She had faith in KL that he wouldn’t leave her stranded, but a part of her mind told her that tonight was different. That he can’t come.

“Shy.” Fluttershy’s body jumped as a voice came from behind her, and she beamed to see KL had shown up.

“KL.” She said relieved. “I thought you hadn’t seen my text.”

KL shook slightly, as though he was chuckling. It was hard to tell. He was always covered in some form of clothing, with a hoodie over his head and a face mask covering his nose and mouth, so that the only part of him she could see was his eyes- a cool grey.

“I’m sorry I’m late.” He said, voice muffled by the cloth mask. “You were waiting in the rain.”

Fluttershy smiled kindly, the rain being the least of her concerns. She didn’t wait any longer though, skipping the small talk. “Do you have it?” She asked, desperation wading through her voice.

KL shuffled his feet, pausing for a moment, his pale eyes burning into Fluttershy’s own. There was something different tonight, and Fluttershy’s heart jumped at the anticipation. “U-um, KL?” She continued.

“I don’t have it tonight.”

Fluttershy was silent, her mind racing through possibilities. She had become so dependent on the Xanax she knew that without it her body tremors might never stop. “What do you mean, KL?”

“We had some delays. It won’t be here for a few weeks or months.”

“Oh um. That’s okay.” She whispered, struggling to keep her body still, her skin feeling hot and cold all at the same time. She wanted to scream and yell and throw a tantrum. She thought they had something special, an agreement where he understood her exactly and now he just doesn’t want to sell it to her anymore? Fluttershy knew she was being ridiculous, that it was the withdrawals talking, but she couldn’t seem to find it within her to think straight.

“Fluttershy,” He started, reaching out a hand to her shoulder before pulling back- his eyes watching her in concern as she shivered in the cold. Only, he knew it wasn’t the cold. “Withdrawals already?” He asked, although he was mostly telling himself. He knew of them starting after a couple of days, especially if she only took the Xanax at night like she told him she did. Unless she had started more often. It was unusual to see a client so shaken up after only a night without the drug. “You aren’t going to rob the drugstore are you?”

Fluttershy looked at him discreetly, “Do you have um…anything else? Just to pass the time by?” Fluttershy watched as he hesitated for a moment before reaching into his coat pocket. She watched eagerly as he slowly pulled out a packet with four small pills in them. Her eyes flickered between the packet and the man. 

“I do…but I’m telling you that you need to be careful with this. Have only half or a quarter tablet.” He said slowly, watching her frown. “Just one causes a full blackout…immediately. And a lot of the time people don’t remember anything from up to an hour before taking it.”

Fluttershy’s eyebrows furrowed in concern as she looked at the drugs in his hands. “What is it called?”

“Rohypnol.”

A mind sweep. Fluttershy seemed to have snapped out of any sort of withdrawal symptoms she was having as she was overcome by shock and a sort of betrayal. Someone she thought was kind-hearted and good was just carrying around date-rape drugs to sell to people on the street, knowing the sort of psychological and physical damage it can cause to the victims. Her heart rate increased as she looked at KL in a different light. Her naivety had blinded her all these months. KL was never her friend. He was a con man who sold any and every type of drug despite its implications on the user just to gain a bit of cash.

KL had noticed the way Fluttershy had backed away from him. “If you take only a portion of the pill it will not have as extreme an effect as I told you. I will give you one pill for free and if you like it you can buy more.” It was like she was buying pies from the bakery! The audacity of this man to just offer Fluttershy Rohypnol and pitch it like a real-estate agent.

“No thank you. Is there another person who might sell some Xanax?” She said quietly, another step backward.

“Just me.” He said, and Fluttershy knew he was lying. Canterlot City was known for its highest rates of crime, and at the forefront of it was drug-dealing. It just wasn’t possible that he was the only person who dealt with Xanax.

“Oh.” There was a pause. “Could you tell me when it is delivered please?”

“I will.”

“How would I know?”

“You’ll know.” Fluttershy forced a smile at him as he turned and walked through the alleyway.

She was scared. Anyone who knew of Fluttershy would never expect her to roam streets at night looking for pills. She was kind and lovely, and every girl in school trusted her to be a girl’s girl. Except that she filled the pockets of a man who sold date-rape drugs to people. She felt directly to blame for any woman or man who had been a victim to one of those pills. 

There in the night, with the rain drenching her clothes and drowning out all sound under its heavy wail, the girl let tears fall freely down her cheeks, hiding its appearance behind the raindrops from above. Tears and raindrops were almost the same, they looked the same, smelt the same, and sounded the same, but they never felt the same. Fluttershy’s tears didn’t feel like rain. They stung and burned and pricked her skin and she desperately rubbed a fist across her cheek to get rid of that feeling of shame she harboured in her.

She believed the clouds cried for her, and she cried with them. 

After a while she cleaned tears and headed back to Zephyr’s car with nothing on her except heaviness. 

Well, almost nothing.

Fluttershy made a quick pit stop to take the stray cat home with her. 
> You're Not the Only One with Secrets
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

~Four~

It was foolish to think that Applejack didn’t miss her years in highschool, no matter how many magical mishaps and life-threatening problems she faced then, she had always felt a sort of comfort. And that came particularly with the girls she surrounded herself with. Her parents’ death had had a very noticeable impact on her during her Junior Year and since then, she became well, the exact word, serious. It was rare to see her laugh or enjoy herself in day to day tasks and a sort of guilt prevented her from ever healing from the tragedy. Her one and only slight joy she felt was with her friends throughout their final year in highschool. Even then it was fleeting.

That was until the last summer of Canterlot High when one of her closest friends had lost her mother to cancer. Still, things weren’t terrible, and she hated to say it but she had never felt so happy that summer. It wasn’t until months after that, that Applejack had her only happiness fade away, and for the past year, she felt nothing but this familiar longing for her long gone parents.

So of course to Applejack it was difficult to accept this sudden feeling of happiness- albeit short - she felt that one Saturday night she had caught up with her friends. She missed them, that's for sure, but it wasn’t just nostalgia- it was comfort. She had felt so safe, so carefree amongst them that all of her troubles felt so far away to her, her parents, her farmwork, her college. None of it mattered. She knew for that short while that no matter what she and her girls were going through they were content in their own little corner-booth at Sugarcube Corner. 

Applejack considered herself a fan of Mr and Mrs Cake’s little cafe/corner store. She was a sucker for small family businesses and it didn’t help that they made some scrumptious pastries that Applejack just loved to pick up on the way to college. She sat cradling the backseat of a chair as Rarity and Twilight sat on either sides of her, with Twilight chatting away to Pinkie Pie on something related to the science behind cooking as Applejack had her attention on Rarity. The group had divided into smaller conversations when Rarity took it upon herself to see how Applejack was doing.

“I never see you on campus, darling. You are studying full time right?” 

Applejack chuckled, “Darn right I am, I’m studying business so I’m mainly focused around the Law building.”

“Oh of course, the Arts compound is on the other side of the campus, but still! I miss seeing you around. Actually, all of you. Oh how I wish we could do this more.” Rarity whined, tugging on her lavender jersey scarf. She wore a beige trench coat with a long three-quarter dress underneath. Her scarf and beret kept her well-equipped for the cold, and Applejack could not help but realise her thin flannel and wide-leg jeans were not nearly warm enough for the chilly night. 

“Applebloom still begs me for our old sister-trio camping trips,”

“Sweetie Belle too.”

An awkward silence fell over both of them as they struggled to find a reason as to why they were not able to plan any more for the past year. At that, Applejack’s eyes trailed over the table to where Rainbow Dash sat. She sat with one leg up lying against the sofa’s armrest and the other swinging across the floor. She was talking with Sunset and Fluttershy, all three of them enjoying eachothers company. Applejack allowed herself a few more moments watching Rainbow Dash, taking in her outfit- nothing pretty- just a hoodie and sweats, and her hair- also nothing crazy- just pulled in a messy ponytail. There was something about her- her energy, or her laugh, or her eyes, she didn’t know- just that it made her look stunning.

It didn’t take long, and soon enough Rainbow’s eyes met with hers. She felt time stop and her heart drop as they stared at each other for gosh knows how long. She felt entranced in her pink eyes, so wide and full of energy that she never wanted to look away, especially as Rainbow grinned at her with a smile so big and white and sincere she just wanted to see it over and over again. Her mind travelled back to the last summer of high school, right before college where she and Rainbow were the closest of friends, and for a second she imagined that could be the case again. But she didn’t smile back. Applejack looked back down at her milkshake before continuing on with her conversation with Rarity. For the rest of the night, she didn’t want to catch Rainbow’s eyes with hers again. And she didn’t.

“Sis, wake up!” A voice yelled, barging into Applejack’s bedroom and throwing herself onto her bed, causing the older, sleepy sister to pull the covers over her head.

“I’ve been up.” She said, muffled by the blanket. 

“It’s the weekend and you promised to take me to Sweetie’s house for our hangout!”

“You mean playdate?”

“No. Hang out. I’m almost thirteen, I'm not a kid anymore.” She huffed.

“Right, and you ain’t jumping up and down my bed right now either, are you?” She said smirking as Applebloom immediately stilled, poising herself like a proper lady.

Applejack chuckled as she got out of bed getting ready for the day. “Granny made pancakes!” Applebloom called from behind the bathroom door.

---
Today was a particularly warm autumn day as Apple Bloom and Applejack drove toward town in the farmer’s pickup truck, windows down and rock and roll playing loud in the speakers. Applejack clenched her jaw as she focused on the road, contrasted against the younger girl who was especially enjoying such loud, metal music.

“Gosh Darnit Apple Bloom! This music is like poison on a rattlesnake’s tail to my ears.” She complained.

“It wouldn’t be if you didn’t have a stick up your butt all the time.” Applebloom clapped back, eyeing her sister as the orange girl rolled her eyes and reached for the radio, changing it to a quiet country song. The girl then slouched in her seat for the rest of the ride, looking out the window.

Rarity’s house was very family-esque. The types of houses an average family would have in a sitcom, white, with a driveway, but not too big. Most of her friends' houses were similar, like Fluttershy and Twilight. Except Twilight's house being much bigger, courtesy of her parent’s careers, and Fluttershy’s smaller house made up in the size of the garden. Applejack had wondered if it was suffocating living in such small quarters. Sure, her family home wasn’t all that much bigger than Rarity’s, and in terms of quality…well they certainly needed some renovating. Still, they had acreages of land, and she could spend hours wandering and getting lost in the apple trees with nothing but just her own thoughts. No one for miles.

Rarity’s driveway was, as usual, empty on a Saturday morning as her parents were away on their jobs. Applejack debated whether she should greet Rarity or just head straight home, and so she waited a few moments whilst Applebloom knocked on the door. After a while, she noticed an older man, perhaps in his late twenties or early thirties walking out the door. It wasn’t her dad, that’s for sure. Applejack followed the man with her eyes as he walked down the street to his car a couple houses down. Her eyes narrowed as she wondered what he was doing at Rarity’s house so early in the morning, and definitely in a rush to get back home. The farmer decided to see Rarity afterall, for at least to ensure her safety.

“Hello Applejack,” Rarity greeted from the front door, smiling tightly as Applejack walked up the driveway. The way Rarity’s eyes darted down the street was not missed by the farmer.

“Howdy Rarity, nice morning ain’t it.”

“Wonderful, I’m so glad you decided to drop by. Please come in, I was just making some breakfast.”

“I’m good, granny just made some pancakes before I made my way here. Say, who was that man who just walked out of here? I was worried for a second.” 

Rarity giggled lightly, “Oh Applejack, I appreciate your concern but he was just a friend. We stayed up late doing a project for our class.”

Applejack raised an eyebrow. She knew when her friends were lying and she hated it. “Looked mighty old.”

“Stress ages a person.” She fired back, and the two held eye contact for a tense while. “I don’t see why it should matter to you dear. I am safe, and he’s not here. Let’s not worry about it.” Rarity turned to head inside.

“It matters because I know you ain’t telling me the truth.” Applejack called, causing the white girl to whip her head around in offence.

“Are you calling me a liar?”

“Only if you're lying to me. Friends don’t lie to each other.” Applejack answered, a sort of familiar hurt building within her as Rarity continued to withhold something so blatantly.

“I don’t mean to offend Applejack, but the last time we were something even close to friends was in high school. I don’t owe you an explanation and you don’t have the right to force it from me.” There was something desperate in Rarity’s eyes just then, and Applejack realised she stepped a bit too far. Embarrassed, she nodded her head and turned back to her car.

In her pickup truck, Applejack slammed her fist against the steering wheel. Again, she let the memory of her past ruin something in the present- today making her look entitled and nosy and definitely not like the Applejack who would respect her friend’s privacy.

Ma and Pa you need to get out of my head. 

She ran a hand through her hair as she turned her head towards Rarity’s house, where the girl stood by her door watching Applejack mentally curse herself. Except Rarity’s gaze was clouded, lost in thought. She wasn’t staring at Applejack, she was watching herself in the reflection of the car. Without another word, she closed the door and Applejack was left with just her own thoughts.

Applejack hated lying, but she knew the difference between lying and privacy, and today she definitely invaded Rarity’s privacy. She slouched in her seat as she recalled calling her a liar.

Dagnabbit I am an idiot.

---
Dear God, I am a fool.

Rarity let out a trembling breath from behind the door. She had never meant for the man to stay for the morning, but he turned out to be such pleasant company she had completely forgotten about her sister’s friends. Now she just looked snobby and rude and Applejack didn’t deserve that outburst - she just wanted to make sure she was safe. 

She felt like a horrible friend, and she shouldn’t have said that thing about how they weren’t friends right now. Her sister and friends laughing upstairs was just another grating reminder about how much she missed her own girls. She chewed on her thumbnail now, the overall thought of Applejack finding out about her…hobbies causing her head to spiral out of control. She was able to get him out of the house without her sister and her friends seeing him, but she never accounted for Applejack coming in as well. 

Would she tell someone, what would she think of her? Applejack probably knows what she was really doing with him. Would she hate her now, or think lowly of her? 

I should have explained myself. Oh Rarity, you really are a fool. She thought to herself as she tugged at her curls. She needed to talk to her, but not today. She promised Fluttershy she was going to help her with her project.

 Rarity and Fluttershy decided to study at their local cafe, not Sugarcube Corner, since it was a much louder and busier shop, but a small corner shop owned by Crimson Butter and her grandpa. It was lined with plants on the walls, and little lanterns and candles cluttered the tables. Rarity would often take pictures of her coffee there and caption it ‘Aesthetic Couture’. Both girls used to come here a lot during high school, and decided to revive those memories again.

“Crimson Darling!” Rarity greeted, walking in as a small ting was heard from the cafe bell. 

A maroon head of hair popped up from behind the counter and upon seeing her favourite customer widened her eyes in glee. “Rarity! I haven’t seen you in ages!” She came around the counter and the two girls exchanged a hug. Crimson was a small girl, chubby. She had Crimson hair, and a soft yellow skin-tone that Rarity just loved for some odd reason. 

“I’ve been so busy I haven’t had the chance to treat myself.” She looked around the store. “I see this place hasn’t lost its charm. How’s business?”

“Quiet, not many people come to this corner of town.” Rarity nodded in agreement. This side of town was known for the Cashmere’s gang residence, led by Ruby Rose. Rarity herself wouldn’t come here if she didn’t know from Sunset herself that the Cashmere’s had no interest in everyday civilians. Most of their problems were with the Ratmakers, Mikey’s gang. It was perfectly safe, and it was a shame Crimson’s cafe had to suffer the price because of its location.

“Grand Bean never decided to move?”

“How could he? He loves it here. And this shop is too beloved to leave behind.” Crimson smiled sadly, knowing she would most likely take over the cafe once her Grandpa passes on. “Take a seat, what would you like to drink?”

Rarity smiled appreciatively to her, grabbing a cushioned seat by the window. “One pumpkin spiced latte, oat milk please.” She thought of Fluttershy. “And one chai tea, oat milk as well.” During school, Fluttershy and Rarity came here often after their spa dates, and Fluttershy had always ordered the same drink. She hoped she still liked it. Speaking of Fluttershy, Rarity heard the door chime and open, revealing the girl in a long skirt and cardigan, hair left open and flowing in the slight wind. Rarity appreciated the small amounts of makeup on her cheeks and lips, but she frowned as she looked at Fluttershy’s mannerisms. 

“Darling, are you okay?” She stood up worried, walking over to Fluttershy and grabbing both of her trembling hands in hers. They were cold and rough, unlike her hands normally. Rarity believed Fluttershy may have had the softest hands a person could acquire. When they were younger, she loved to just hold them against hers. Rarity looked up at her eyes and inwardly gasped. She looked horrible, as though she hadn’t slept in days, it was filled with fear and stress.

Fluttershy smiled then. “I’m fine, Rarity. I just couldn’t sleep last night. I was worried about the assignment, but now that you can help me I’m feeling better. Thank you.” 

Rarity shook her head, still shocked at her appearance, but they both made their way to the table by the window, sunlight falling against both of them. “I ordered you a chai tea.”

Fluttershy looked at her for a while before smiling. “Oh Rarity, how did you remember?”

“Our spa dates darling. Don’t tell me you forgot!”

Fluttershy giggled, covering her mouth with a hand, still shaking, Rarity noticed. “Of course not, how could I? They were the highlight of high school.”

Rarity frowned internally knowing Fluttershy was keeping something from her, and something from the looks of it that was hurting her dear friend personally. She was worried, and wanted to know if she was okay. She thought back to this morning, feeling even more guilty at shouting at Applejack. Applejack was just worried about her. Like how Rarity is worried about Fluttershy. 

“Rarity?” Fluttershy asked, and Rarity noticed she had gone into deep thought.

“Terribly sorry darling, I was just thinking about this morning.” She sighed, laying her elbow on the table and hand on cheek. Fluttershy looked at her concerned. “I believe I was too harsh on Applejack. She came over to drop her sister and well um… She wanted to know something about me that I didn’t want to share.” She didn’t know why she felt comfortable telling Fluttershy this. Maybe it was because they used to be so close. Or maybe because she knew Fluttershy was keeping secrets too, and that she wouldn’t judge her so harshly about keeping her own. “I lied about something to her and she was hurt.”

Fluttershy looked down at the table, trying to find the right words to say. She knew Rarity was asking for advice. “You shouldn’t feel guilty about keeping certain things about yourself to yourself Rarity.”

For a long while, the two stared at each other, unsaid words hanging between them as they both knew they hid things from each other. Things they weren’t proud of. They were interrupted by Crimson Butter as she placed two hot drinks on the table and the two girls exchanged thanks. Rarity sipped on her drink, keeping an eye on Fluttershy as she balanced the cup to her lips. It trembled despite her efforts to keep her hands steady. Fluttershy’s behaviour was odd, it was like she was worried and anxious all the time- which she was- but to a greater extent. Rarity refused to believe her turmoil was because of a measly paper. There was more to it, and it worried Rarity that she shied away from telling her. Alas, she didn’t want to push it and seem like a hypocrite so they began work on the paper, Rarity tutoring Fluttershy and Fluttershy paying attention. Except Rarity knew she wasn’t paying attention. The shy girl seemed distant, her eyes glazing over and zoning in and out. As Rarity tried to continue teaching, ignoring her friend in an attempt to ease her mind, she grew more irritated. She felt this was going nowhere and she wanted to find out why Fluttershy was so tired.

“Dearie, why didn’t you cancel our plan if you were so tired. I wouldn’t have minded rescheduling.”

“Oh I'm so sorry Rarity, I am paying attention, I just know you’re really busy and would have hated to be a bother to change the date.”

“Yes well…” Rarity chewed on her cheek as she tried to find a kinder way of saying ‘you are wasting my time right now by falling asleep mid-tutoring.’ “Fluttershy, this won’t be helpful for you in this state. You need to sleep.”

Fluttershy nodded hastily, standing up. “Yes you’re right. I’m sorry for the inconvenience.” She hurried for the door.

“Fluttershy,” She looked back and Rarity paused for a breath. “Be safe, please.” She didn’t say anything, and Rarity watched her leave the shop, that familiar feeling of guilt she felt earlier with Applejack taking hold again. She should go after her. Make sure she’s okay, and if she needs someone with her. But she didn’t want to seem pushy, nosy. Maybe it was because she wouldn’t like someone that close to her, but she felt like Fluttershy needed space to heal from what she was going through. A nap would be best for her right now.

---

It had been a day since Rainbow and Sunset had talked about their problems, and this morning the two were headed to Mikey’s Motorshop to pitch in their ‘business plan’. 

“You’re nervous.”

“I’m not nervous.” Rainbow scoffed. Sunset raised an eyebrow. “Okay fine, I’m scared shitless. He won’t shoot me or something will he?”

“I don’t think so.”

“You don’t think so? Sunset!” Rainbow hissed as Sunset knocked on the garage door. It was silent for a while before the groaning sound of the garage made way and Mikey was revealed in all his buff glory. Is this overkill? Who even wants to be in school this much? Rainbow thought to herself as she took in the glare of the man in front of her.

Mikey’s glare turned to Sunset who stood beside the shorter girl, smiling awkwardly. “I know you want me to find the drug truck. I thought we might need some help with it. So,” She trailed off, patting Rainbow’s shoulder slowly, as Mikey raised his eyebrow. “She’s not very expensive.”

“I’m not buying her.”

“Hey I’m not an object!” Rainbow interjected, to which Sunset elbowed her roughly as if to say let her handle it.

“Look Mikey, how am I going to even find this truck without someone to help me?”

“Beats me, kid. You got yourself into this mess. I ain’t paying someone to clean up your dirty work.”

Rainbow bit her cheek as she saw how this was playing out. Mikey wasn’t going to pay her after Sunset described her fuck up. She needed to prove herself. “I’m fast. Like really fast.” She spoke up, earning a sigh from the girl beside her.

“You don’t say.” The man rolled his eyes.

“I’m fast and agile. I can get to places without people noticing me”

“With that hair, I don’t think so.”

“Look, you don’t need to pay me for this. Sunset and I will bring back your truck of drugs and if you’re happy with my skills, you can hire me. If not then,” Sunset almost facepalmed from beside her. She should have let Sunset talk, now she’s pretty much a Ratmaker or dead. 

“Rainbow, can you stop for a second and think?” She hissed from between her teeth, earning a look to say she’s got this handled. 

“You know once you start this business, there ain’t no backing out right kid?” Mikey said slowly, crossing his arms as he thought over the offer. So far, he didn’t have much else to lose, except maybe Sunset Shimmer, who upon listening to her consecutively felt wasn’t such a bad thing after all. This Rainbow-haired kid also didn’t look half-bad. She was fit and small, the hair was a problem, but easily covered. She might be an asset to the group if she could pull this one through. “Alright kid, it’s time to show me your stuff.” He took his hand out for her to shake which she accepted quickly.

Sunset and Rainbow left the motorshop with Dash sighing in relief and Sunset scowling. As soon as they were out of earshot from Mikey’s house, Sunset grabbed Dash’s shirt and slammed her against a wall, pinning her roughly. “Do you know what the hell you’ve gotten yourself into?” 

Rainbow’s heart had increased rapidly, and she cursed herself for being afraid again, reminding herself her father was only an embarrassment, not a threat. Her eyes were stuck on Sunset’s hands before she looked at her face and roughly pushed her off, getting her to stumble back a few steps. “Lay off it, okay? I know what i’m getting myself into, I’m not a fucking idiot. You agreed to this”

“Not like this. If we don’t find the drug money, you’re as good as dead. Michael doesn’t leave loose ends.”

Rainbow rolled her eyes at her. She had heard this a dozen times. Mikey sure loved mauling people to death. “We’ll find it. We just need a starting point.”

Sunset took a few breaths. “The truck. It was parked near an intersection.”

Rainbow clicked her fingers. “Traffic cameras.” She said, staring at Sunset.

“How are we going to get access to tha- oh.” 

---

“Twilight!” Spike called, and Twilight giggled as she heard his little paws running up the stairs.

“What, Spike?” She said, twirling in her chair.

“Someone’s knocking on the door.”

Twilight made her way downstairs to greet whoever was there, half expecting her package she ordered a couple days ago. As she opened the door, she didn’t expect to be met with her old friend Rainbow Dash, and her ex-girlfriend Sunset Shimmer. She blinked in confusion as to why the two of them showed up unannounced. In that specific duo.

“Hey Twi! How are you, are you parents home?” Rainbow said, peering over to see inside her house.

“What huh no they aren’t wh-”

“Oh cool.” She said before they both bolted up to her room, Sunset at least having the gall to smile apologetically at her.

“What? Guys!” She yelled, running up the stairs after them. Already, the two were seated, Rainbow on the bed and Sunset standing idly, waiting for Twilight to also come in. “What are you doing in my room?” She said hastily, closing the door behind her and crossing her arms. 

“Twilight we need your help.” Sunset spoke up, and it was the first thing she had said to her in a very long time. It caught Twilight off guard, and quite frankly she felt hurt that Sunset didn’t hold that same hesitance to talk to her that she did. To her, that just meant Sunset ignored her because she didn’t care, not because she cared too much.

“I-” She stuttered to come up with a response at that, and watched as the two girls exchanged nervous glances at each other. She cleared her throat. “With what exactly?”

“We need your father’s keycard so that we can hack into traffic cams.” Rainbow said bluntly, earning a glare from Sunset. “What, we don’t have time for beating around the bush.”

“Excuse me?” She asked, looking at the door to make sure no one heard anything. “Firstly, Shining is staying over so mind your volume, and secondly, what the hell? Sunset please don’t tell me you got dragged into something dangerous again. And that you pulled her along this time too.” She said, motioning at Rainbow.

“Firstly, It’s not life threatening so no.” She mocked her.

“Only for Twi and me actually.” Rainbow chimed in.

Sunset facepalmed as Twilight’s eyes widened considerably. “Secondly, Rainbow dragged herself into this mess.” Sunset corrected, namely glaring at the athlete who grinned back.

Twilight made her way to sit on the bed next to Dash as she came to terms with this new information. She thought that by leaving Sunset, she would finally be away from all this messed up stuff, but no. Her ex had to bring it all to her doorstep and get her dragged into it all over again. As if Sunset could read her mind- she could, but she wasn’t- she spoke up.

“Twilight I’m sorry we had to barge in like this and demand such a favour. I don’t want to pull you into this mess. All we’re asking is the keycard for a few hours tonight. They won’t ever know it’s gone.”

Twilight was pacing around the room, the information too sudden and too much to take in all at once, and at the forefront of it all was Sunset. Her ex, her best friend, or just a girl who was too caught up in the street life. She wanted to help them, they were her friends and they had been through so much together. If it was really so important, she would do more than just give them a key card. “I’ll help you out. I just need to know what’s going on.”

And so Twilight was filled in on today and the days before events. How Sunset had lost a truck of drugs and now she needed to find them again, and how Rainbow needed to take this task to make more money on the side after her father pretty much stole her money. By the end of it, Twilight was speechless. Especially that Sunset could mess up on a job like this knowing the stakes. “Rainbow said it was only life threatening to her and me. Why me?”

“Mikey threatened your life after I refused the job. He knew how much you meant to me.” Sunset said, her eyes never leaving Twilight’s and Twilight felt her cheeks unfairly redden at that. She cursed herself for being able to fall for such lousy words, and snapped back to the task at hand. 

“I can help you. But I’m coming with you into the precinct.”

“What no.” Sunset said immediately. “I am not getting you involved in this anymore than I have to.”

“You think I’m just going to let you two take a card and walk into a precinct? My dad’s card? He could get seriously into trouble and you guys could get severely caught.”

“It’s fine Twi, I have super speed. I.e moving faster than camera frames. I’ll be pretty much undetected.” Rainbow said from her spot in the bed.

Twilight shook her head. She knew. Her dad was working on Michael’s case and those two going anywhere near the precinct will get them both on the wanted list. She was already paranoid enough as is. “My Dad has been assigned to the reopened Michael Oneson case.” 

The two girls froze, a sort of realisation hitting them that this was just slightly more serious. It wasn’t that if they were caught they’d be arrested, it was that the police were actively on the lookout now for any associates of the Ratmakers. Which is exactly what they were. “You can’t do this.”

“We don’t have much of a choice, Twilight. This would have been useful to know earlier.” Sunset said, pinching the bridge of her nose in exasperation. 

“Yeah, like, before I signed my life away type earlier.” Rainbow said.

“How long have you known about this? When did it open?” 

Twilight was quiet for a while. “It's been three months.”

“THREE MONTHS?” They both yelled at the same time.

“You never thought to tell me this Twilight?!” Sunset shouted, anger threatening to take hold.

“How could I? We never talked! And this is serious for my dad too. His entire career could fall apart if they find out I’m with you guys.”

“You’re right, sorry.” Sunset apologised, realising she was out of line. “It’s wrong of me to get angry at you.”

Twilight bit her lip watching the two girls lost in thought. She hated that she looked to be on the side against her friends, even if she didn’t agree with them. “Guys, I don’t want you to get caught.” She said uselessly.

Sunset looked up and their eyes met. There was so much misunderstanding between the two of them that Twilight dreamed of dissipating. This was the first real conversation- acknowledgement- they had between each other. Sunset’s expression changed then- firm and sure. “They won’t.” She looked at Dash. “Rainbow isn’t even associated with them, and I've been kept the biggest secret because he doesn’t want anyone to know about my mind-reading powers. As long as we don’t mess anything up now, there’s no way your dad can arrest us.”

“Do you know how much dirt Night Light has on Mikey?” Rainbow asked.

She shook her head. “Not a lot. He’s been stuck.”

“If your dad can put Mikey behind bars, I’ll finally be able to break away from them.” Sunset said brightly, her eyes staring into Twilight’s again, this time with a desire that she wasn’t sure was there before. A hope that maybe they could be okay again. “Twilight this is perfect! Don’t you see? Let Dash and I sort out the drug truck and maybe I can help you and your dad get a lead on this case.”

Twilight took her time to run this through her head before she concluded that this was foolproof. Sunset and Dash can get any debt they’re owed off their backs, and the Ratmakers can be put behind bars and her friends will have no traces with them. Unless Mikey talks. But he wouldn’t. Not if he doesn’t know Sunset didn’t snitch. He wouldn’t give any extra names- he would need people on the outside when he’s behind bars. 

“Sounds great,” Rainbow said.

Twilight smiled, for once hopeful in something. If all goes well, there might be a chance between them. Her and that girl who makes too many bad decisions. “I have a plan. Meet me tonight at Crimson’s place.”

“The Cashmeres’ side of town?” Sunset asked.

“Yes.”
> Restlessness
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

~Five~

Since this morning when she had that altercation with Rarity, Applejack had been doing nothing but sulking in her bed. She sulked often, now that she thought about it. She wanted to go apologise to Rarity, but at the same time, felt oddly embarrassed. I just straight on told her she owes me an explanation for something I had no right in. That’s just plain wrong. 

Everything just feels so wrong.

Applejack groaned, rolling over onto her stomach and placing her chin on her hands as she stared out her window into the vast forest of apple trees. She gazed longingly outside at them. It just didn’t feel the same as it did two summers ago. Now as she walked through the trees she was reminded how lonely she was in comparison to the summer where Rainbow Dash used to walk alongside her. A smile came to Applejack’s face as she corrected herself- raced alongside her.

A pretty sound rang through the trees as two girls chased each other through the orchard, the sun low in the sky, getting ready to set. The low sun was a definite contrast to the girls who were full of life and laughter. What started out as a race had turned into Applejack trying to catch Rainbow. The smaller girl was always faster than Applejack. Which was okay, because she spent her life aiming to be the fastest. Applejack was stronger anyway.

“Come on AJ! I thought I was being chased by Applebloom for a second!” Rainbow called, turning her head to look at Applejack.

“I’m just taking it easy on ya Dash. I gotta let you have at least a bit of fun.” Applejack jeered, a snark smile on her face. They were neck and neck, and Applejack wagered that if she pulled out her arms she would be able to grab Rainbow, but as soon as the thought came to her, Rainbow pulled forward, creating distance between them once again. Applejack smiled, she hadn’t felt this happy in a long time, and Rainbow Dash was like a breath of fresh air to her. She felt so light with her, like with her she didn’t have any problems to worry about. They ran for a while until they both started getting slower and more tired. At that point, Applejack used the rest of her energy to push forward, her hands wrapping around Dash’s waist and pulling her back, the momentum causing the both of them to tumble through the grass until they stopped just before an apple tree, with Applejack accidentally pinning Rainbow to the ground.

Her arms were beside her head and her body lay against Rainbow’s, both of them out of breath and shocked. She felt Rainbow’s sharp breaths from under her and looked at her pink eyes staring wide in her direction. At that moment, it was just them laying against each other under the apple tree. Applejack thought Rainbow looked different then. She looked really pretty. For the first time since they had been friends, Applejack’s heart jumped at the sight of her. Rainbow stared up at her quietly, unable to catch her breath, and Applejack loved the feel of the girl under her. 

She never considered her sexual orientation before, until she found herself tangled against Dash. She wanted nothing more than to lean down and feel her lips on her own. A realisation came to her then that scared her. Quickly she pulled herself up from Rainbow, coughing to break the silence. Rainbow chuckled then, slowly getting up herself. 

“I guess that’s a tie?”
---

“Thank you so much for agreeing to babysit at the last minute dear.” A tall, pale, blue lady smiled, clutching her purse in front of her with both hands. “Work has been busy this time of year and I’ve been called tonight to help finalise a project.” She looked at the two girls in front of her, both of them holding very odd, wide smiles. She narrowed her eyes, “You be good now, August. Pinkie Pie was very kind to take her time to care for you.” She gave the little girl she called August a kiss on the forehead before saying her goodbyes and closing the door as she left. The two waited a while more until they heard the car engine turn on, before sharply turning to face each other.

“You know what time it is!” Pinkie shouted, as though she was commanding orders in the military.

“Popcorn and Ice Cream! Mrs Ma’am!” The little girl August responded, saluting to Pinkie, before running into the kitchen to grab the snacks as Pinkie set up the board games for the two of them to play. She hummed a tune as she set it up, her hair in two curly bunches on either side of her head. She wore a pink and yellow colourblock dress with mismatched socks and crocs- completely contrasting the house she babysat for. The house itself was an extravagant classical piece of architecture with fireplaces and wooden carved panelling, intricate patterns falling down the sides of the pillars. It was a giant mansion, courtesy of the kid’s mother, Winter Moon’s, profession. Pinkie sat against the fur rug just as August moon came running in with the food.

“Awesome!” Pinkie said, patting the spot next to her for August to sit. Pinkie Pie often babysat as a casual job to gain a bit extra money on the side for tuition, and out of all the children she took care of, August was her favourite. Particularly because she was the kindest and most fun to babysit. 

“Pinkie,” August whispered excitedly, cupping her hand around the pink girl’s ear. “Guess what! We have a new chef and he’s exactly like you.” She giggled. Pinkie’s eyes widened in excitement.

“A new friend!” She exclaimed looking around excitedly. “I wanna meet him!”

The child continued to giggle, “He’s not here now silly. Mummy said he has to go home to his family at night so he doesn’t stay over.”

Pinkie smiled at her. “I bet! Family is important isn’t it Moonie?” August nodded eagerly. And then for some reason Pinkie wasn’t too sure of, she seemed to become upset. And Pinkie hated seeing that. She decided to change the topic, and grabbed some sprinkles from the coffee table. “Do you want to see a magic trick?” She whispered, bringing her palm of sprinkles close. She watched August’s pupils dilate in excitement as she focused on her palm. Pinkie closed her fist then, and in a quick motion, threw the sprinkles in the air. The two watched, August’s jaw wide open as the sprinkles glowed and burst into a soft cloud of glitter. Pinkie had gained much better control of her powers since they had first discovered it a couple years ago and now she’s able to make explosions, not so explosive. Her favourite trick to do when babysitting, and the children just loved it every time. 

“How did you do that?” August asked in awe, still staring at where the sprinkles had dissipated. 

Pinkie giggled, poking her in her right cheek. “I can’t tell you that silly, It will ruin the fun.” She said, choosing to keep this secret just between a small number of people. Rumours of magic girls had gone around Canterlot city, but after a few months, it had died down as most people had never seen anything to prove any truth behind it. Her and her friends preferred to keep it that way. Starting up stories again will just be more of a nuisance. 

As the two settled against the couch, Pinkie couldn’t seem to focus on the cartoon on the screen. She was reminded of August’s sudden sadness at the mention of family, and Pinkie felt that she was too young to be going through those emotions. It reminded her of herself in a way. Too young and happy for the people around her. At times it felt almost impossible to hold that happiness all the time, especially when the people around you weren’t appreciative of it. In high school, freshman year was the first time Pinkie had felt that happiness kind of just flowed through without putting effort in. It was the year she had met her friends and since then she never thought twice about this feeling. Not until a few years ago when the group disbanded. 

All of a sudden it was much harder to keep that happiness flowing, and frankly, it tired Pinkie to force it all the time.

---

Rarity was at the Emerald Court, a prestigious Casino in the Crystal Empire, home to only the richest of people with starting bids of at least nine hundred dollars. Of course, Rarity had never gambled at the Emerald Court, but she did love the architecture, the luxury, and the drinks. Not to mention that there was always a gentleman somewhere waiting for her. She sat at a booth by herself, a champagne in her hand as she stared at the crowd in the casino, groups of people gathered against blackjack tables and poker machines. The casino itself was more of a club slash bar, and not everyone entered with the intent of spending money. Her dress was long, black and satin, with an off-the-shoulder neckline that was bordered with a white fur. Her hair hung in loose curls as she swished her champagne in the glass. 

It wasn’t long before a man decided to come up to her, tall with slicked back hair, suited for the occasion. He didn’t look much older than Rarity, maybe in his early twenties. “Is this seat taken?” He asked, and Rarity couldn’t help but notice the charm just flow from him. He was handsome, with a sharp jawline and cool eyes that seemed to stare into Rarity’s own. It was unusual for Rarity to feel intimidated. Usually she had the control over the man, and this new feeling wasn’t entirely unpleasant. Rarity nodded to the booth, allowing him to take a seat before her. She straightened up as she felt his eyes look over her, eating up each and every detail. Rarity couldn’t bring herself to do the same. “You don’t look like the type to gamble.”

“Nor you. How many games have you lost?” Rarity spoke.

The man chuckled, “I don’t lose.” He said, the smirk refusing to leave his face. Rarity returned the smile, she didn’t know what game he was playing, but she wouldn’t lose at it. “So tell me, what is so fascinating about this place…Rarity?”

She didn’t expect that. She blinked a couple times in surprise before returning back to her usual demeanour. “Have you been stalking me?” She asked, crossing a leg over the other, her finger tracing her wine glass.

“Everyone knows the mysterious Rarity. You’re here almost every week.” His eyes drifted to her glass. “At this very place.” 

Not so mysterious Rarity moreso, she thought to herself.

“You intrigued me.”

“And you too. I suppose it’s fair to ask for a name?”

“Krystal.”

“Peculiar.” Rarity said.

“Rare.” Krystal replied.

It was silent for a while as the two stared at each other, the tension high, and the lust heavy. “You seem to have taken a liking to my dress.”

“Or what’s under it.” He said, his eyes never leaving her. Rarity grinned proudly before leaning across the table and lowering her voice.

“You’re fortunate, Krystal. I might want you as much as you want me.” 

“I want you more than that.”

---

The room was dark, blinds shut tight in the late afternoon sunlight as a certain girl yearned to gain just a few minutes of sleep. Her heart rate was quick, and she sweated even in the colder temperature. Her button up shirt was sticky against her skin and her pants had bunched up against her knees as she constantly tossed and turned in bed. Her anxiety had tripled since she saw Rarity this morning, and she felt  like scratching her eyes out in an attempt to calm herself down.

She hadn’t slept in a couple days now and it was getting harder to form thoughts without thinking about the Xanax or KL or the lost shipment. At one point, even the thought of robbing a pharmacy with the help of her animal friends seemed good. Until she remembered who she was and where she was. Even thinking it was horrible to Fluttershy, and she began to scare herself with these thoughts. Her mind forced her to remember this morning- Rarity’s tense face when she tried to tutor Fluttershy and it ached her to think about it. She hated being a nuisance, and she could tell then and there Rarity was getting fed up with her zoning out. It was fair, Fluttershy thought, and Rarity had a right to be upset at her. It still caused a pit in her stomach everytime she thought about it.

---

Rarity moaned against Krystal’s shoulder as they lay tangled against a hotel bed. Her hair was matted and her skin was coated in a layer of sweat as she spent yet another night with another man she didn’t know, but she wasn’t alone and she was with someone who appreciated her and she loved it. Krystal panted against her and the two moved rhythmically for a while before they rolled off each other and lay beside one another in bed. There was no talking and Rarity felt tired but she refused to sleep. She listened to the stranger beside her doze off peacefully as she stared up at the ceiling. An empty feeling she could never seem to chase away returned.

---

Fluttershy felt helpless as her body yearned to sleep and her mind yearned to be normal and her heart yearned to have someone with her. She yearned to be courageous enough to tell her darkest secrets without fearing judgement. But most of all she wanted someone to help her. She couldn’t even cry anymore, those tears dried up hours ago. So she curled up to her side, arms tucking her knees into her side as she shrunk in on herself. She absolutely hated the feeling of being lonely.

And it was as though someone had heard her thoughts because she heard her door slam open and in a panic she sat up, eyes wide and heart beating too fast at the thought of someone seeing her in this dishevelled state.

“Hey Flutters I just wanted to pick up the jumper I left…” Rainbow Dash paused at the doorway, taking in her closest, oldest, friend’s state. Her skin was pale and her lips were cracked and Rainbow Dash tried to ignore the opened pill bottles on her night stand. Rainbow had never seen Fluttershy in the state she was in and it scared her. It scared her that she had never noticed Fluttershy’s mental state before.

As Rainbow stood still against the doorway, Fluttershy sat frozen on her bed, her eyes never leaving Rainbow Dash, too afraid of what she was going to do seeing her like this. She didn’t breathe as Rainbow walked over to her on the bed and she drank in every small change in her friend’s expression. Rainbow’s eyes moved around Fluttershy’s face, and the withdrawn girl could only see concern from her oldest friend. 

She wanted her to leave, to never have seen her like this, to not have barged into her room like it was her own, to not just interrogate her face and her room without consent. There was something different in Rainbow’s eyes then, and Fluttershy noticed it. Rainbow’s eyes began to pool with tears as she watched her best friend lose herself to pills and lies. Rainbow leaned forward then and wrapped her arms around her friend. For Fluttershy, the touch felt so foreign that she almost recoiled. Then she realised that Rainbow Dash hadn’t run away from her. Before long, Fluttershy’s chest constricted and she began to shake, burying her head into Rainbow’s shoulder and soaking it in tears, Rainbow’s hand gently rubbing her back the only touch keeping her from becoming dizzy. She had carried this secret for so long she didn’t realise how much she could breathe when she shared it with someone else. 

Rainbow rested her head against Fluttershy’s staring at the wall behind her, a far away look in her eyes. She replayed the scene over and over in her head, her looking at Fluttershy and how she could be so close to losing herself forever , like her father did. It scared her so much she wanted nothing but to hold Fluttershy forever and shield her from any harm. Fluttershy wasn’t her best friend, she was her sister and as her eyes fell to the pills on the table, she was nauseated thinking about how much she suffered without anyone knowing.

There was so much she wanted to know, and so much she had to do. Sunset and Twilight were waiting for her. But this was her best friend, and even if they hadn’t been close in a while, she still loved her and she would be damned if she left her in a state like this. She decided that tonight she would be there for Fluttershy. No talking, no asking questions. She would just be there until she was sick of her. 

As the two girls lay against the headboard, with Fluttershy laying her head against Rainbow’s chest, the yellow girl felt her heart slow into a pace that matched the other girl’s, and for the first time in a long time, her breathing slowed and her eyes felt heavy. Rainbow watched as Fluttershy fell into a slumber beside her.
> A Life of Crime
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

~Six~
The sun sat low in the sky as Sunset waited in her car on the road by Crimson Coffee, the cafe owned by Crimson Butter and Grand Bean. The air was cold and her windshield had begun fogging over due to the difference in temperature. Her knee bounced up and down in nervousness, moreso at the thought of seeing Twilight than anything else. She was meant to be here with Rainbow Dash, but after waiting on her for over twenty minutes, she decided to arrive on her own. She didn’t know if she was coming but she didn’t have time to wait on her. The cashmere’s side of town was always quiet and as the sun just dipped under the horizon, the road felt eerily dark in a way Sunset wasn’t too fond of.

A rattle against her window startled her for a second before recognising the purple hand outside her window. The door opened and Twilight sat herself in the passenger seat, the all too familiar scent of lavender filling her car again after so long. Her breath caught as she was suddenly met with those violet eyes so close to her face and not looking at her with fear and contempt. 

“Where’s Rainbow?” She began, looking back at the seats behind them.

“She uh, I don’t know, I waited for her but she didn’t turn up.” Sunset responded, coming back to her senses.

Twilight furrowed her eyebrows at that. “Are you sure?” 

On that cue, Sunset’s phone lit up with a message from Dash.

RD~: Sorry Sunset, I can’t make it. Something came up.

Sunset let out a sigh as she read it. It wasn’t that she thought Dash was incompetent, but it was that she knew Dash had a lot going on, and wasn’t all too surprised when she bailed on them. As Twilight read over the message, she seemed to become slightly more upset so Sunset placed a hand on her shoulder.

“It’s fine Twi, we can try again tomorrow. I’ll head over to her place to see if she’s okay.”

“It’s not that Sunset.” Twilight pulled out a small device that had some numbers on it. And it was decreasing. Like a countdown. “I was working on this device with Crimson over the summer for my dad. It’s able to play with electromagnetic frequencies and we tuned it to be able to turn off electric devices for a certain amount of time. Right now it’s engaged to the cameras at the department.”

Sunset’s lips parted as she watched the numbers continue to decrease. There in red the number seventy was displayed. And it just changed to sixty-nine. Their eyes locked on each other as a sense of urgency was fuelled into Sunset.

“We have to do this now.” They had sixty-nine minutes to find out who took that truck.

---

Sunset felt silly that at the forefront of her mind was how adorable Twilight looked in a black hoodie and sweatpants, so contrasting to her usual choice of clothes. But she was used to the adrenaline of a ‘mission’ one could say that she wasn’t all too stressed about getting caught. That could also possibly be that she trusted Twilight’s gadgets fully. And if she said they had sixty-two minutes, they had sixty-two minutes.  Right now, the two stood against a side of a building across from the precinct waiting for…actually, Sunset didn’t know what they were waiting for. 

“What’s the traffic?” Sunset asked, looking over Twilight’s crouched form.

Twilight turned her head slightly, still looking at the lights in the precinct. “Waiting for it to empty,” As if on cue, the front door opened revealing a middle aged man with pale blue skin and navy hair, walking out tired and slouched. Twilight’s dad, Nightlight, was looking like it was an unsuccessful day. Sunset peered down at her friend, noting her dejected expression. She was, of course, breaking into her dad’s work and potentially sabotaging his job. 

“Thank you, Twilight.” Sunset said, to express her gratitude for her help.

“Let’s get this over with.” She mumbled, and the two crossed the road quickly just as her dad turned the corner. The precinct was dark and left an oddly frosty feeling over Sunset’s skin. She was reminded that she was a criminal under all laws and with any mistake made, well, she might as well get herself comfortable here. A small beep allowed the two through the door as Twilight swiped her dad’s spare card against the identification. “Better get this home before my dad finds it missing.” She joked to lighten the air. Sunset smiled awkwardly beside her.

“No guards?” Sunset asked quietly as they walked through the building until they reached the security room.

“Not usually. Prisoners aren’t kept in the local precinct. They’re usually in the bigger one outside of town so there isn’t a reason for it to be guarded.” Twilight proceeded to sit in front of a computer, raking through some tapes. “Be alert though.”

“Sure,” She mumbled, looking around the room at the boxes of video tapes piled on top of eachother. “Organised much?”

Twilight giggled from her spot, making Sunset blush in pride at lifting her spirits slightly. “So when was the delivery you lost?”

“Three days ago.”

Twilight shuffled through some things before handing Sunset a box of tapes. “We need to get through these in fifty minutes.”

Sunset took a seat on the computer opposite Twilight and put the first tape into the computer making it light up a dim blue glow. Immediately that same familiar road she saw those days ago filled her vision.

---

“Okay, go forward a bit. Keep going…stop.” Sunset instructed and on que Twilight froze the screen just as someone had appeared on the footpath next to the truck. They had been searching through a few tapes, the times of the day not on them, making it much harder to sort through. Now with twenty minutes left, they may have found a lead as the man on their screen gets into the truck and speeds off. “Holy shit.” Sunset breathed. “Are you able to go back?”

Twilight rewinded the tape slightly until his form was visible on the street. Sunset closed the distance between the computer and herself, focusing hard on the person- more specifically, his outfit. Her eyes widened in shock.

“What?” Twilight asked.

“That outfit-uniform. It’s familiar. The stripes on the sleeves… It’s Groovy Buggers!”

“Who?”

Sunset facepalmed. “No, not who. It’s a place- a bar named Groovy Buggers.”

“Does Michael own it?”

Sunset shook her head, “No, it’s privately owned, I only know about it because it’s where almost all the underground criminals spend their free time.” She narrowed her eyes at the screen, studying the man in the striped uniform. “It’s probably the only place where the Cashmere’s and Ratmaker’s aren’t at each other's throats.”

“So that’s our next lead!” Twilight said excitedly, clapping her hands together.

“You’re weirdly enthusiastic about this,” Sunset smirked, a hand on her hip.

Twilight cleared her throat, trying to push down the blush threatening to form. “We should get out of here.”

A familiar beep brought the girls to attention and panic was set off in Sunset’s head as she heard footsteps. Someone was here. But why? It was the middle of the night. Shit, Sunset thought as she met Twilight’s own wide eyes. Her eyes pounced around the room until it rested on a small closet. Sunset pulled Twilight into the small compartment just as the door rattled, revealing Nightlight, looking even more tired than earlier.

The closet was too small for the both of them to fit, and neither was able to shake off the feeling of each other's bodies pressed against each other. Sunset was able to feel each of Twilight’s trembling breaths as she refused to turn her eyes away from the small air pockets of the locker. And Twilight wouldn’t deny the feeling of Sunset’s own body shaking slightly in anxiousness while her dad paced around the room.

Night Light paced frantically, every few seconds coming just in front of the locker where two not so criminal, criminals were hidden. The phone dimly lit the room a blue glow and it seemed he was texting someone important. Twilight studied her father’s expressions, trying to figure out her dad’s turmoil. He stopped in front of the computer they were just analysing, taking a seat in the chair. She blew a sigh of relief, glad she was able to turn off the computer before her dad came in again.

“Shit, Twilight.” Sunset breathed quietly, a haunted look on her face as she looked towards where Night Light sat. Twilight followed her line of sight to where her dad sat. She inhaled sharply as her gaze landed on the computer. She had forgotten to take out the video tape. 

A ring and a beep. “Hey sweetie,” Night Light sighed, slouched in his chair. “No, no, not threatening. He just- He’s just pressuring me. You know it was a high salary raise…It’s fine Velvet. I’ll be home soon.” 

His body faced the tape. The phone clicked off. Twilight watched desperately as her father placed his head in his hands. He stayed still for a while before grabbing a piece of paper from the shelf above the table. The paper, not the tape. They were safe. It was small and inconspicuous. But Twilight couldn’t seem to shake off the curiosity on what was written on it. And from the look on Sunset’s face, she felt the same. The air lightened as Night Light left the room, too frazzled to have noticed the tape in the computer.

Instantly, Sunset ran out of the locker, stashing the tape into her bag. Twilight’s eyes widened.

“Sunset?” She turned her face to her, a craze to it that reminded Twilight of their breakup. “We can’t take that! It’s evidence. It can get my dad in a lot of trouble.”

Sunset struggled to respond. “If they see this, one thing will lead to another. It won’t be long before they learn about all of this.”

“This is bad! This is wrong, Sunset! We’re tampering official evidence!”

“Newsflash babe, I’m a criminal. And this shit is my fault. If Mikey gets caught from this. It doesn’t matter how much mind-reading powers I have. He’ll give me up.” Twilight bit her lip, in two minds about this. She was stuck. “Twilight. I won’t keep this forever. Once we find that truck, I’ll return it. Okay?” Twilight thought her eyes were sincere, and her smile too. But she didn’t know how much her friend had changed in a year. And her earlier behaviour gave her a snippet of scars that were too deep to heal.

“Okay.”

---

It was weird. Fluttershy woke up not with that same dull ache in her chest this morning but a lightness that was very welcome to her. Her room looked bright and clean, and her bed was soft and comfortable. All in all, things did not look bad to her, considering. Then she turned over and saw a blue girl sprawled next to her, sleeping with her mouth wide open. Last night’s events slowly came back and a wave of fear came over her as she sought out the judgement from her old friend. Her eyes darted to the pill bottles on her nightstand and she stumbled to close them up and pack them away without Rainbow Dash waking up. A shuffling from beside her made her freeze up.

“I already know, Fluttershy.” Rainbow said, propping herself up on one elbow, fighting back her sleep.

Fluttershy shook her head rapidly, fighting for a way out of this. “It’s not what you think.” The shy girl stopped then. She noticed the way Rainbow looked at her. With pity. How she desperately tried to cling to an image that had broken away long ago. Rainbow watched her friend sadly as she fumbled for a lie. She knew Fluttershy didn’t want to talk about it, but there was no way she could ignore the implications of this. “You must think I'm horrible,” She sighed.

Rainbow shook her head at her, “I’ve tried way worse drugs than Xanax, ‘Shy.” She joked, attempting to lighten the mood and when the yellow girl didn’t show any signs of a smile, Rainbow changed her approach. “C’mon girl, tell me what’s going on.” When Fluttershy stayed silent, Rainbow bit her lip, a sense of deja vu washing over her as she recalled her earlier conversation with Sunset about opening up. This was different though, Fluttershy didn’t owe Rainbow Dash anything, and there was no need in her telling Rainbow her secrets. Except that she knew she had to tell someone. “If you don’t want to talk to me, that’s fine. But I saw how you were last night. Shy, you need help. I’m saying this as your oldest friend.” She gave her a reassuring smile, and Fluttershy clung to it like it was the only freshwater for miles. “I don’t want to see you lose your way.” I can’t afford to lose anyone else, Rainbow added silently.

“I can’t sleep without those pills Dash.” Fluttershy told Rainbow, but from her view it sounded like she was begging for her friend to find her a solution.

“You slept just fine last night.” Rainbow said slowly.

“Yes but tha-” Fluttershy stopped mid sentence. Because Rainbow was making sense. She didn’t just get by last night. She could actually sleep. She felt safe and comfortable with Rainbow Dash and she had finally got her mind off those pills. Realisation hit her and Rainbow nudged her playfully.

“Looks like you found your solution.”


---

Applejack wasn’t aware how much she fiddled with her hat as she waited by the Arts Building waiting for Rarity’s class to end. She was definitely nervous, since apologising wasn’t really something she was good at. Or did. She was rather stubborn. But how she treated Rarity had been eating at her all night and she just had to set things straight with her. There was too much going on in both of their lives for them to complicate it even more. She held her breath as the door opened to Rarity looking especially out of it today. Her hair wasn’t in it’s usual fancy hairstyle and her face was bare of any makeup, free for anyone to read her emotions clearly.

“Applejack? Whatever are you doing here?” She asked, spotting her at the bottom of the building’s stairs. Her voice was quiet as her eyes softened at her friend's nervous approach.

“I’m here to apologise for how I treated you yesterday.”

There was a pause as Rarity came down the stairs, taking care to focus on the ground in front of her. As she landed in front of the farmer, she gave her a small yet genuine smile. “Apology accepted. Though I'm not sure why you’re apologising.” She frowned, tightening her hold on the laptop in her arms. “It was especially wrong of me to insist we aren’t friends. We’ve been through too much together for us not to be.” 

“Nah don’t fret, sugar. I pressed the wrong buttons the other day. Acting mighty entitled an’ all.” Applejack joked, nudging Rarity with her elbow and making her let out a small giggle.

“I suppose you were,” She agreed with a smile, and they began walking towards the quadrangle. The two walked in silence for a while as Rarity contemplated the girl’s apology. On one hand, she felt glad she made up with her, rather than continuing useless tension. On the other, she couldn’t help but feel guilty at making Applejack apologise. Not after I said such hurtful things to her. She struggled with finding the right words, and Applejack noticed. “Actually Applejack,” She started, fiddling with her hands. “I want to thank you for caring about me…and that man, the other day.” Applejack didn’t say anything, listening patiently to her friend and not pushing her limits. “I admit I've been… liberal with my dating life lately.”

“Ain’t nothing wrong with that, sugarcube.” She winked, surprising Rarity who thought Applejack had much more conservative views on certain things. “Why so surprised? Thought I’d hate ya for having a bit of fun?”

“No…it’s just, I know you’ve always been against this whole dating for fun thing. You always told me you only date to marry.”

Applejack sighed, thinking back to her thinking a couple years ago. She still would only date to marry- It was her personal preference, but shaming another one of her friends for having a different opinion was silly, and she was much too old to be upset at Rarity- a grown woman’s- way of life. “I’ve grown a lot since the last time we’ve really talked like this.”    

“Ooh,” Rarity squeed happily, giving Applejack a side hug. Rarity decided to leave her own personal issues aside for a moment, content to end the topic here and meet the other girls for lunch.

The two spotted Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash at their usual picnic table chatting away happily, and Rarity noticed the way Applejack hesitated to continue walking towards them. A side glance from Rarity showed her that Applejack looked slightly pale at the sight of the two, and if she had to guess, she knew it was because of a certain athlete. Their whole group was aware of the special bond the two had made over the summer and no one really knows for sure why they became so distant. As for herself, Rarity upon the sight of Fluttershy was reminded how she acted towards her yesterday. What had gotten into me yesterday? She frowned remembering how impatient and not understanding she was at all to Fluttershy’s situation yesterday, whatever it might be. She was so desperately trying to bottle her own problems that she didn’t want to face Fluttershy’s own ones. And she used Fluttershy’s own unwillingness to open up as an excuse to dismiss it. Some selfless friend she was.

“How do you feel Fluttershy?” Rarity said as a form of greeting as the two took a seat at the table. 

Fluttershy smiled shyly, “Much better, thank you for asking Rarity.” She responded, and Rarity thought she saw the barest bit of blush on her face. 

“Shucks Fluttershy, what’s all this talk about you being unwell?” Applejack asked from next to Rarity in concern.

“Oh, its…” She trailed off, looking around for an escape making Rarity’s eyes furrow in confusion at her response.

“She was sick!” Rainbow interjected quickly, hand in the air. “Yeah uh, the cold and flu. But she’s better now, right Flutters?”

“Yes.” She whispered, trying to make herself small and invisible.

“Y'all were sick with the cold and the flu?”

“That’s why she was soo out of it. Like reallyy out of it.” Rainbow responded to which Fluttershy glared at her.

Rarity crossed her arms, an eyebrow raised. If these two were hiding something they were really not doing a good job at making people not suspect anything. Before she could say anything though, they were interrupted as a hand slammed against the table roughly, startling everyone sitting at it. A hand who belonged to a rather furious Sunset Shimmer and behind her a nervous looking Twilight. Rarity observed Rainbow’s face and from her reaction to Sunset’s mood, she had an idea why she was acting like that. Rarity had a feeling Rainbow was the cause of it.

“Where the hell were you last night!?” Sunset yelled.

Rainbow and Fluttershy glanced at each other quickly before the blue girl stood from the table, “Can you chill Sunset? I’m sorry for bailing, but something really important came up!” Rarity and Applejack didn’t miss the little glance Rainbow took of her yellow friend. Secrets indeed. Applejack for one didn’t like the implications of what she just saw.

There was a bewildered look in Sunset’s eyes. “This was your idea Dash! Do you even know wh-”

“Sunset,” Twilight interrupted warningly, a hand on her shoulder as she looked towards the other girls who didn’t know what was going on. 

Sunset pinched the bridge of her nose in frustration. 

“Say, does anybody know where Pinkie Pie is?” Rarity asked, trying to divert the obvious tension between the two.

---

“If you were trying to be subtle, dragging me away from the table mid-lunch doesn’t really help your case.” Rainbow said, arms crossed as they sat at the bottom of the empty lecture hall. Rainbow wanted to ask what happened last night with the so-called ‘heist’, but she was feeling sour at the way Sunset spoke to her earlier, and she definitely didn’t want to look like she was in the wrong.

As the two glared at each other, Twilight cleared her throat. “Whatever happened last night, Sunset you need to get over it. And Rainbow Dash, you need to stop acting like you aren’t a part of this whole ordeal. I don’t know what made you bail yesterday but I trust you and I know you wouldn’t do it unless it was really important.” She gave her a smile which was returned. 

“Sorry for being a bitch earlier,” Sunset sighed, following Twilight’s instructions.

Rainbow shrugged, “I’m pretty impressed you guys hijacked a precinct all on your own.”

“You wouldn’t have been much help anyway,” Sunset fired back, earning a smirk from Rainbow. “Long story short, the guy who took the truck was wearing a Groovy Buggers’ uniform.” Sunset didn’t expect Rainbow to be familiar with them so she was surprised when her eyes widened in surprise. “What, you’ve been there?”

“No, Applejack used to tell me how it’s filled with a bunch of criminals.” Rainbow replied.

“Applejack?” Twilight asked. “How does she know them?”

“Her family cells cider to them. They’re her and her family’s biggest customer apparently.” Rainbow bit the inside of her cheek. She didn’t know how it connected, but it did. “You don’t think…”

“That Applejack might have an idea on the Groovy Buggers’ stock?” Sunset finished.

“Unlikely.” Twilight said.

“But not impossible. The Apple Family are close with their staff.” 

“How are we going to explain this to Applejack?” Sunset groaned, slouching in her chair.

---

Applejack looked at the three girls seated in front of her on her living room couch as she just finished pacing. Earlier, her friends had come in asking for a favour. She thought it was a simple science experiment or a weird game from Dash. She didn’t expect them to ask her if her family had their foot in the money laundering business. And to help spill the secrets of their best clients.

Her eyes landed on Rainbow. Applejack thought that she was slimmer now, with bags under her eyes that proved she hadn’t been sleeping. How she got into this lying and criminal activity was beyond her. So she was running low on funds. Get a job, ask your friends. Opting for a life of crime is not the next step in the solution. She understood Sunset’s deal, it was made clear her mistakes were from when she was sixteen and naive. But Rainbow? Dagnabbit Dash, if you just came to me I could've’ saved you from this. Rainbow was a lying, law-breaking, criminal now. So was Twilight and Sunset. But to her it only mattered that Rainbow was a criminal. It made Applejack nauseous just thinking about it. It went against everything she believed in. And if it was anyone else she wouldn’t have hesitated to pick up the phone and dial the precinct now. But it was Rainbow Dash.

“I know that we sell our cider to Groovy Buggers. And they come to get new deliveries every Friday from us.” Applejack revealed after some hesitation. As much as she wanted to help her friends, she knew she was also helping get a drug load back to Mikey and his gang.

A look of understanding washed over the three on the couch. “The truck was taken friday.” Twilight said to herself.

“We need to get into that bar and take a snoop around.” Sunset declared, hitting a fist against her palm. Then she deflated looking at Dash. “Twilight and I can’t go in there.”

“Why not?” Twilight asked.

“You're the lead police’s daughter. Everyone in there hates you. And I’m already well-known enough as it is. I won’t be able to slip by without causing a commotion. You're doing this alone, Dash.” Sunset said.

“You make it seem like that’ll be hard. I’ll get it done before you two get a chance to get your tongues in each other.” Rainbow scoffed, causing both girls to redden deeply.

“Dash you can’t go in there alone!” Applejack said suddenly, shifting the attention to her. She covered her mouth for a moment before placing her hand on her hips. “It ain’t safe. All o’ them are murderers and rapists and thieves.”

“They are not!” Sunset defended. “The Ratmakers and Cashmeres are many things, but they aren’t rapists and murderers Applejack. I’ve known most of them my whole life. They’re harmless. Mostly.”

“They ain’t all part of those two cute clubs of yours Sunset.” She shifted her attention to Rainbow. “You ain’t going in there.”

“Who are you, my mom? Newsflash dude, I have super speed.” She dangled her pendant in front of Applejack’s face making her swat it away.

“Then I’m coming with you.” Applejack crossed her arms defiantly.

“Woah, you can’t.”

“Why not, I thought it was safe?” Applejack replied smugly.

Rainbow pursed her lips, “Because I don’t want you to be profiled with us…if we get caught.” She corrected herself, “Which we won’t.” She poked her finger to her chest. “But still.”

“It’ll just be two gals having a drink together, nothing wrong with that.” Applejack looked to Sunset for confirmation. She thought about it for a while.

“Applejack’s right Dash. We know you can handle yourself but it’s always safer if there’s someone else with you.” Sunset agreed.

“Dash I guarantee if Applejack were to get arrested, it won’t be because of having a beer with you.” Twilight joked, a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

Rainbow relaxed, seeming to see their points valid. She looked at Applejack and grinned, “It’s a date then.”
> Infatuations
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

~Seven~
The door handle jostled open letting in the cool night breeze as Rainbow walked into her house for the night. It was, of course, empty. She didn’t know where her father had disappeared to, but she hoped he wouldn’t come home anytime soon. She placed her house keys on the kitchen counter, her eyes glued to the wall she was left injured and crying against. A sense of fear tickled her spine, harder than before. She didn’t like this house, and being in it allowed thoughts of her father’s return to be at the forefront of her mind.  Stop it Dash, this isn’t dad’s house. It’s mum’s. You should like it here. 

She forced herself to think about tonight, how she had told Applejack her money issues and why she had joined with Mikey in the first place. She didn’t like the way Applejack looked at her, with almost a sort of distaste. She huffed in defiance. So what if Applejack doesn’t like how she’s making money? She was going out with Applejack tomorrow night to the Groovy Buggers, seeing if they could find anything there that could help them and it irked Dash that she was feeling somewhat nervous to go. Ever since the group met again at Sugarcube Corner, Applejack has been distant and standoffish to her. She never understood why, and tonight was another example of Applejack harbouring a type of ill-feeling towards the athlete.

She traced her finger absently across the rim of an empty glass, thinking back to the summer of her mother’s funeral, and how close the two girls were.

“Did you see Big Mac? He was so confused!” Rainbow whispered, trying to contain her laughs as she and Applejack ran into the barn to hide from Applejack’s angry brother.

“Y-yeah,” Applejack chuckled, covering her hand with her mouth. “He was all like, ‘Ee-yup? Ee-nope?’”

“Gotta say AJ, switching out the alcoholic cider for apple juice is an a-tier prank! I didn’t know you had it in you,” She teased, walking towards some crates hidden behind the piles of hay for the animals. There, three hidden boxes were ready to be opened and consumed by two rebellious teens who were not allowed to be anywhere near any sort of alcohol.

As they settled behind the hay, hidden from anyone who would walk past the barn, Applejack fiddled with her hat, nervous suddenly. “Have you ever drunk cider?” 

Rainbow scoffed, surprised. “Don’t tell me you haven’t?!”

“‘Course I have!” She responded quickly. Then after a moment. “Just not with alcohol.”

“So just apple juice then?” Rainbow smirked, looking at her sideways and causing her to blush in embarrassment. “My dad always has a bottle hidden somewhere, and Curly Winds throws some crazy parties- oh you never went to those did you?” She popped open a bottle and chugged it down.

“Granny never let me.”

“You’re too good AJ, live a little. I used to always sneak out for crap, one time- holy shit AJ, this cider is amazing!” She cut herself off, looking at the bottle. “What do you put in this?”

Applejack still seemed in awe of Rainbow’s earlier statements, her cider still untouched in her hand. “So what happened?” She asked, ignoring her compliments.

“Oh yeah! So Curly Winds actually got his hands on some really crazy stuff. I’m talking like… powder.” She said excitedly.

Applejack’s eyes widened in alarm. “Don’t tell me you tried it Dash?” On seeing her face, Applejack put her bottle down seriously, “You’re only seventeen Rainbow, that’s really dangerous!”

Rainbow rolled her eyes, leaning back against the hay and swishing her hand in the air, “Don’t act like you’re so much older than me, Apples, and it’s not like I'm addicted or anything.” 

“I know. But shucks, Dash. I thought you were smarter than that. What would your ma think?”

At that, Rainbow looked down, a far away look in her eyes. She hadn’t thought about it. These past few months-hell the past year- she had been reckless, and her mother didn’t know anything about what she had done behind their backs. If she looked at her now, would she be disappointed?

Applejack had always made her come down from a high, talked sense into her, guided her through any reckless behaviour, and consoled her when times got hard. She was probably the only reason she didn’t self-destruct whilst mourning.

“Jeez AJ, I…I mean, you’re right. I never thought about it like that.” She struggled to find the right words as she looked into Applejack’s eyes.

“I don’t want to see you harm yourself, sugarcube.” She smiled, before holding up her cider bottle to tap against Rainbow’s. She took a gulp of the cider and Rainbow watched as her face soured completely and she inhaled through her teeth. “So that’s what alcoholic beverages taste like.”

“It’s an acquired taste,” Rainbow winked.

The rest of the night was lit by drunken giggles and over the top story telling of Dash’s rebellious endeavours, her first-times, and Applejack’s dramatic reactions to raunchy and cinematic details.

Rainbow smiled at the memory, forever amused at how shocked Applejack was to know Rainbow wasn’t as innocent as the farmer. She knew her…worldview was pretty different to AJ’s. She had told her before she wanted to save herself for someone special and wasn’t interested in the party life like Dash was. Rainbow could respect it, it just wasn’t her cup of tea. 

But if Applejack was okay with their different lifestyles before, why wasn’t she now? Rainbow guessed that being regarded as a criminal was different to just being a party animal, but it wasn’t like she was going around murdering people. The drugs, if not returned to the Ratmakers, would just go elsewhere and be used for the same thing.

It might not be the most morally acceptable thing, but Applejack was framing it like Rainbow just killed puppies.

---

“A MASQUERADE BALL DARLINGS!” Rarity shouted, mouth wide open in a huge smile and crazed eyes that frankly, scared the rest of the group.

“We heard you the first time, sugar.” Applejack chuckled, an eyebrow raised at the over the top performance.

“Yeah, the whole CCAS heard you.” Rainbow groaned, rubbing her ear as Rarity yelled it from right beside her. 

The girls with the exception of Pinkie Pie were seated at their usual spot in the quad, a picnic table under a jacaranda tree when Rarity had been handed a flyer for a college ball. 

“Darlings! This is the first time we would have an event together since our prom! You should be more excited!” From the mellow reactions of her friends, Rarity grumbled. “Ooh where is Pinkie Pie? She would be grateful!”

“You just missed her. She went off running saying she’s helping- I think the drama society with something.” Twilight said, biting into her apple.

Rarity gasped, looking at the flyer again. “The drama society! They are the brains behind the Ball. Pinkie knew and didn’t tell me?!”

The girls looked at eachother, “That explains it.” Sunset said. 

Rarity was an intelligent girl. She was unimpressed by the way her friends were acting and she knew it was to do with whatever caused Sunset to drag Rainbow away yesterday, because none of the girls seemed very cheerful now. Even Applejack who was fine yesterday. If it wasn’t for the fact that she knew her friends wouldn’t purposely exclude her, she would be offended. That’s why she took the chance that when the other four had up and left for their respective classes, she grabbed Fluttershy’s hand to keep her from leaving.

“So what do you think?” Rarity asked her.

“Oh I think it’s a lovely idea, Rarity.” Fluttershy agreed, sitting still.

“Noo, about what they’re hiding!” Rarity grumbled, pointing behind her. 

Fluttershy sat rigid, eyes small and smile non-existent. “Oh. Um, it’s not my place to speculate.”

Rarity raised an eyebrow. “So you have no idea what’s going on?” Fluttershy shook her head. “Then what was all that with the eyes yesterday? With Rainbow Dash?!” At that, Fluttershy froze, unable to respond.

“Two separate things.” Fluttershy squeaked, almost inaudibly.

Rarity’s eyes widened in understanding. “Oh I see. Apologies darling, I may have overstepped.” She took out her pocket-mirror to reapply her lip gloss. “Just what are those silly girls hiding?” She thought to herself, before catching Fluttershy’s eye from behind her mirror. “My sweet, you’re turning the most delightful shade of pink.”

---

The sun was set low in the sky as Pinkie Pie skipped home after helping the Drama society with some preparations. It wasn’t that the town was small, it took just over forty minutes to walk home, but Pinkie loved it. She always met new friends on the way and got to witness fun little interactions from strangers. She might even say it was her favourite part of the day. As Pinkie passed August Moon’s house, she always made sure to look through one of the windows, in case August was waiting to wave a goodnight to her. Tonight she wasn’t by any of the windows, but Pinkie stopped anyway as the front door opened to a yellow man with curly brown hair.

“Hello stranger!” Pinkie waved cheerfully from the house gates.

The stranger lifted his head, shocked to see anyone speak to him. “Hey! What brings you here?”

“Oh I’m just heading home, I babysit sometimes for the kid in there!” She responded pointing at the house as he walked towards her. He punched in a number at the gate to allow himself out. “I’ve never seen you before.”

“Winter Moon hired me as their personal chef. And an entertainer of some sorts. August loves my pet chicken ‘boneless’.” He chuckled, pulling out a rubber chicken toy to show the pink girl.

Pinkie hesitated for a second, worried for the young boy. “That’s so amazing!” She all but shouted, “I have a pet too! His name is gummy and he’s an alligator. But don’t worry, he’s not real.” Pinkie whispered the last part, covering the side of her mouth as though it was a secret.

The boy laughed, packing away his chicken and extending a hand, “I’m Cheese Sandwich, what’s your name?” 

“Pinkie Pie!”

“Well Pinkie, which way’s your house, I’d love to walk you there.” He announced extravagantly, doing a low bow for her.

Pinkie smiled widely. “It’s not too far. Just enough time for us to get to know each other.”

As the two made their way down the footpath, Pinkie was brimming with happiness. It was rare to meet someone who shared the same interests and could match her own energy and for once it felt like she wasn’t the one trying to keep a conversation afloat. Turns out, Cheese Sandwich works as Winter’s personal chef as a job on the side, like Pinkie, and he really is aiming to open his own party planning business. Shame he’ll be spending most of his time with Winter Moon. Crazy how someone could have such similar dreams to her. She almost asked if she could join him. Then she remembered that it might sound too crazy for the first time meeting him. Afterall, she had all the time in the world to get to know this boy.

---

It was dark outside their college library, yet Fluttershy and Rarity were unaware, fooled by the sturdy walls of bookshelves and dim lighting that always felt like a warm winter night by the fireplace. They were seated on a small table in the corner of the library side by side, their laptops low in charge and their books scattered in a messy state Rarity called ‘organised chaos’. Rarity loved tutoring Fluttershy, and she was glad she was in a more receptive mood today compared to a couple days ago. 

Fluttershy adjusted in her seat, pen in her hand jotting notes down as Rarity explained key principles. Her hand jittered once, and she stopped writing to take a breath and calm herself down. After Rainbow Dash came over the other night, her symptoms calmed down significantly. But they weren’t gone. It was just much easier to mask them now. Rainbow slept over one night ago, and she was able to sleep again then. But Rainbow didn’t come over again and last night she felt the same as before. That urge to reach out for the bottle, just something to make her drowsy enough for a few minutes shut eye. She couldn’t blame Rainbow for not being with her every night. She had her own life, and it would be unfair to ask her to stay all the time. Fluttershy sighed in frustration, she had to find a way to buy something for the sleepless nights. No, that's a horrible thing to think. I need to go to rehab. 

“Darling?” Rarity asked, putting down her highlighter and facing the yellow girl.

Fluttershy squeaked in alarm. “I’m sorry Rarity, I wasn’t dozing off, I promise.” She worried that Rarity would get upset like their last meet up at the coffee shop.

“Oh darling, It’s quite alright. I’m so sorry if I gave off irritated vibes at the coffee shop the other day. It was never my intention.” She grabbed Fluttershy’s hands in hers. “I was simply worried for you. Like I am now. You know you can tell me anything, right.”

Fluttershy seemed to freeze up, her ears heating at the contact and intimacy of her words. “Yes.” She whispered. Rarity seemed to snap out of something, letting go, and clearing her throat.

“Would you look at the time? We really were ‘in the zone’, as Twilight would say. Do you have a ride?” Fluttershy shook her head. “Oh that won’t do. It’s simply not safe to get to your house at this time of night. I’ll drop you home.”

“Oh Rarity, you don’t have to.”

“Nonsense.”

The drive was quiet. Fluttershy was never much of a talker, and Rarity seemed too lost in thought to make idle chat. Again, Fluttershy’s thoughts drifted to solutions, none of them really long-term and more of a way to get through the night. She knew it was wrong, but in the moment, her mind wasn’t thinking rationally. And mixed with being alone in the car with Rarity, Fluttershy’s mind seemed clouded and dizzy. There was something about the girl next to her that scared her. Scared or excited her she didn’t know. All she knew was that her eyes couldn’t rip away from part of her skin. Whether it was her face or her hand on the steering wheel or her bare thigh. And that after she’s with her, her mind doesn’t slow down, a rapid, frequent signal constantly firing through her head that drives her just crazy. 

The car illuminated and Rarity’s phone in the cup holder displayed a message from someone.

Krystal~: I know you ran off in a hurry the other night, but I enjoyed your company. Let me know when you’re free.

Fluttershy stole a glance at Rarity just in time to catch her own wandering eye before she turned to the road. Fluttershy tried to ignore it, but she was bothered by the man in her phone. That’s not fair Fluttershy, he must be so nice. You have become such a meanie.

She wanted to ask who he was and where she met him, but alas she was Fluttershy. She was too shy to speak up. So she pretended that Rarity seeing a man didn’t hurt her as much as it did. After all, Fluttershy would be lucky to have Rarity look at her with even a semblance of desire.

Rarity gripped the steering wheel tighter as Krystal sent her a message. She knew Fluttershy saw it, and she wished she didn’t. A tension filled the car then between the two. Rarity didn’t quite know why she didn’t want Fluttershy to have seen the message. Sure, she would rather keep her sex life to herself, but it wasn’t that reason. It was something else- Rarity didn’t want to see Fluttershy disappointed. The fashionista’s eyes widened as a revelation ran through her mind.

Again, Rarity prided herself in reading social cues, and as she took a glance towards Fluttershy’s pout, her face reddened at the understanding that Fluttershy may have taken a small liking to her. She didn’t know when it started, or if even Fluttershy herself knew about her infatuation with Rarity, but the white girl had read far too many romance novels and seen far too many men swoon for her to remain oblivious to her friend’s crush. It made sense now the shy girl’s extra shyness and nervousness around her. Sure her quiet friend was a nervous girl, but not towards her friends, she had improved a lot since the time Princess Twilight had come to Canterlot High. Now it seems with Rarity, she has gone back to her old self.

Oh, but Rarity might be misreading it. Alas, she knew Fluttershy had some personal problems she was dealing with, and that could be a reason she acted how she did. Of course I think it’s about me. Ever the delusion whore. She cursed herself. They were at a red light now, getting closer to Fluttershy’s home, and Rarity noticed the way her leg bounced in anxiousness. It was almost like she didn’t want to go home for the night. 

Rarity’s house was this right turn, so she could either drive straight and ignore her friend’s silent pleas for help once again brushing it away as Fluttershy’s own reluctance to say anything, or she could take the right turn to her house, and try and get her friend’s mind off whatever was bothering her. Usually, Rarity would go for the former.

She made that right turn, hearing Fluttershy make a confused sound. “Um Rarity, we were meant to go straight.”

“Yes! I just remembered I needed some help with a dress at home. I hope you don’t mind being of assistance?” She lied. She rather talk to Fluttershy at her house than in the car driving.

“Oh of course.” Unbeknownst to Rarity, Fluttershy was thrilled to be able to extend the hours of the night and Rarity wasn't an unpleasant company. If she wanted help with her dress it was the least Fluttershy could do in return for helping with her project.

The downstairs of Rarity’s house was dark since her parents were out of town- as usual. She clicked on the lights and smiled upon hearing Sweetie Belle’s muffled laughs and conversation with her friends in her room. She was most likely video calling them as they played silly computer games.

“I’ll grab some ice cream from the fridge.” She started, “What are your thoughts on chick-flicks?”

The shy girl scrunched her eyebrows in confusion, “I thought I was helping you with a dress.”

“Yes well, tomato tom-ah-to.” She flicked her hand before stopping to look at Fluttershy seriously and grabbing her hands. “Look darling I…” She bit her lip, trying to find the right words. “I saw you in the car. I know you don’t want to go home, and you don’t need to tell me why. I just thought we could have a good old fashioned ‘girl’s night’” She suggested, confused on why she was feeling nervous all of a sudden. “I actually also need to get my mind off of some stuff. It would be a nice change.” Her hands pressed Fluttershy’s softly in anticipation.

Fluttershy felt warm inside. On one hand, that meant she wasn’t doing a good job at concealing her feelings, on the other, she had someone who had noticed- and cared enough to go out of her way to make her feel better. It felt good to be noticed. She stared at the girl in front of her, illuminated by the warm glow of the stair lights. Her eyes looked tired and her skin was dry but she had such a glow coming from her that Fluttershy wished the chick-flick was her. 

“I would love to, Rarity.”

---

Applejack drummed her fingers against the steering wheel of her old pickup truck as she got stuck behind a red light. She wiped her palms on her jeans, trying to stop them sweating from nervousness. She was on her way to pick Rainbow Dash up and head on over to the Groovy Buggers, although the crime bar was the last thing on her mind. This will be the first time Rainbow and AJ would hang out together one on one since their ‘fallout’. Was it a fallout? Applejack wasn’t really sure what happened between them, they just drifted apart. Well, that wasn’t true. Applejack had pulled herself away from Rainbow and as much as she wished she didn’t have to distance herself, she felt it was for the best. She couldn’t take advantage of Rainbow like that. Not anymore. And she won’t again. But for tonight, maybe she could just pretend that their friendship never broke, and whatever got between them died at the end of the summer. Because as much as Applejack tried to convince herself that their friendship died because of herself, she knew that Rainbow had also started to become colder, quieter. And that thought brought an ache to her chest. Sometimes too much to swallow.

As she pulled into the driveway, she wondered if Dash’s dad would be home, she wouldn’t mind saying hello to him. Applejack’s heart skipped a beat as she saw Rainbow pacing back and forth in front of her house. Her hair was tied high in a ponytail reminding AJ of how much she loved the girl’s hair up and away from her face so that she could see her bright eyes and giant smile every time she reeled over a lame joke or pun. What in the hay has gotten into me?  Sure, Applejack had developed a sort of infatuation with the girl throughout their time over the summer, but the farmer was sure it was long gone now. She felt slightly uncomfortable at the idea she was developing those same feelings again.

Applejack noticed a look of despair on the athlete’s face for a split second, but just as quickly as it appeared, it disappeared. The girl jumped into the car confidently, giving Applejack one of those grins the farmer hated to admit she was excited to see. “Sup Apples? Ready to knock out some bad guys, steal a truck, and get paid?” She asked, jabbing the air a few times.

Applejack rolled her eyes, not able to hold back a smile at the younger girl’s enthusiasm. “Almost sounds too easy.” The sarcasm was served on a platter.

Rainbow smirked pridefully as Applejack reversed out of the driveway, “So what’s up with you lately?” She asked, trying to make conversation.

The question caught Applejack off guard. “Nothin much, watching over the farm, studying.” Her answer was short, the farmer too nervous to say anything else. 

Rainbow noticed the way she didn’t ask about her in return. The athlete exhaled a puff of air in the passenger seat. So her fears might have come true- for whatever reason, Applejack wasn’t happy with her and it got under Rainbow’s skin more than she wanted to admit. She didn’t let her disappointment show though. She reached for the aux and began playing some music. Music that Rainbow loved, and Applejack definitely hated. Rainbow mentally smirked as she saw the way Applejack’s hands tightened their grip on the steering wheel. She didn’t say anything though.

Much to Rainbow’s disappointment the rest of the ride was quiet. To Rainbow, Applejack bore with the rock music. Though the farmer herself didn't want to admit that it had grown on her over time. As they got out of the car and began walking towards the bar, Applejack stopped Rainbow. “You have your fake ID?” She asked seriously.

“Relax Grandma, it’s right here,” She smirked, pulling out a vertical identification that had a poorly lit photo of Rainbow with the age as twenty-five. Applejack blinked a couple times in disbelief at how poor quality it was.

“What the hay, Dash? That ain’t fooling no one. You don’t look a day over twenty!”

“Aww, I'm blushing.” She joked, fluttering her eyelashes at the angry farmer. “Don’t worry, this bad boy has gotten me into almost every club in Canterlot. It’ll pull through.” Applejack deadpanned, pulling out her own legitimate ID and pointing at it. It had a few minor differences, including it being in a horizontal format, having a well-lit photo of Applejack, her age as twenty-one, and her date of birth, as well as her address and signature on it. When you place the two side-by-side Rainbow could see why hers looked a little shady. She shrugged. “Trust me AJ, I've been in this business much longer than you.

“If by business you mean criminal activity.” Applejack muttered under her breath. Rainbow heard it, and it made her shoulders tighten, but she didn’t acknowledge it. As the two approached the security guard by the door, Applejack tipped her hat. “Howdy partner,” She greeted.

The guard didn’t say anything, merely reaching out a hand for the identification. Applejack gave him her one first, to which she was let inside. Applejack waited nervously behind the guard as Rainbow gave him her card. The man looked at her, then the card. And her again. It didn’t help that Rainbow was eighteen now and the photo in the card was taken when she was sixteen. “I know, I look great for my age,” Rainbow boasted. The guard rolled his eyes, letting her through much to Applejack’s relief as she let out a breath she didn’t know she was holding. Rainbow nudged the farmer, “See, told you. All that stress is starting to show, AJ.”

Applejack didn’t know how she should take that, but she shook her head as another smile dared to reach her face. Rainbow had that effect on Applejack, there was just something addicting about the athlete, and the way she could so easily lift Applejack’s mood.

The bar was crowded tonight, but it usually is. Most of the crowd however were sitting towards the back, at booths and standing around foosball tables as they all watched some sort of horse-racing on the television. They were surrounded by wooden panelling and floorboards, the yellow light giving everything that cavern feel to it, with the low ceiling and country music in the background. Without the criminals there, it would be Applejack’s ideal bar. Almost everyone there had a sort of logo on their leather or denim jackets. Some with rat faces, and some with scarfs on it. Others with other pictures that belonged to smaller gangs in Canterlot.

Rainbow and Applejack took a moment, trying to even their breathing, because as much as they tried to convince each other they weren’t afraid, they were practically walking into a lion's den. “Just try not to be overly robust.” Applejack advised.

“Being robust is kinda my thing,” She replied quietly, continuing to look at the groups of people huddled at the booths in the corner. The pair made their way to the bar which was empty except for a bartender and a man a few stools down.

“Let’s just order some drinks. That way we aren’t too out of place.” Applejack suggested, raising her hand for the bartender. “Two apple ciders please,” She ordered, remembering Rainbow’s love for the beverage. Granted, ever since she had started drinking alcohol, the farmer’s favourite was also a hard cider.

“Uh, could I get mine, non-alcoholic?” Rainbow interrupted, to which the waiter gave a confused head tilt but obeyed.

Applejack raised an eyebrow, “Since when did you go for the apple juice?”

Rainbow chuckled, “I’m tryna keep a clear head AJ. You know I can’t keep that crap down.” It was the half truth- she was a lightweight, but ever since Rainbow watched her father lose himself to alcohol, she’s become uncomfortable at just the sight of it, let alone drinking it.

Applejack was amused, “Ain’t so tough now are you?” She teased, remembering the nights where Applejack struggled to keep her cider down and Rainbow laughed at her.

Rainbow stretched her back, using it as an excuse to take another look around the bar. There was a door to the back that had a ‘staff only’ sign. Storage maybe? But it was worth a look. They needed to bide some time before snooping around. “I always forget bars exist.”

Applejack habitually drummed her fingers on the table as she watched Rainbow watch the TV on the wall. “It’s definitely a choice.”

“The fun part of alcohol was always the thrill of getting away with it. I never really drank it for the taste or feeling.”

Applejack nodded in consideration. Rainbow still had a good few years until she was legally able to drink it, for Applejack she never really cared for the taste. It was for that feeling of forgetting for the night. One night with no worries, your head a calm buzz. “And here I thought you liked my apple cider.” She smirked.

“Your cider is great AJ. That’s why I ordered the no alcohol one. Gotta say that's one of the things I missed about our summer.” Rainbow’s face heated as she realised she named the summer a couple years ago ‘their summer’. Applejack also adjusted her hat to hide her red ears upon realising what she said.

Their drinks came. As Rainbow sipped hers she almost moaned at how good it was. She’d forgotten how perfect the Apple family’s recipe was. She was surprised it wasn’t a nationwide sensation. Applejack watched from the corner of her eye the way Rainbow chugged it down and immediately ordered another one. “This shit’s gonna get me so high.” 

“Sugar, that’s a non-alcoholic beverage.”

After a few minutes of enjoying their drinks, the girls were approached by a middle aged man in a ripped leather vest. It was expected, but not welcomed. He invited himself to a seat beside Rainbow and gave the girls a toothy grin with a drink in his hand. “My, I ain’t ever seen two pretty girls like y'all here before.” Rainbow and Applejack took a glance at each other, unsure how to proceed. “It’s my darling pleasure.” He grabbed Rainbow’s hand before she could pull away and landed a wet sloppy kiss on it.

“Oh hell no,” Rainbow gagged, wiping it on her clothes in disgust as Applejack clenched her jaw. A part of her was telling her to pick him up and chuck him out, but the smarter side of her told her it would cause a lot of commotion. Not ideal for a snoop mission. “Don’t you have kids or something?”

“Him?” Applejack whispered from behind her. She found it weird that someone like him would be married.

“Many all from different lovely women,” He slurred, his head almost falling against the counter. “Pretty like y’all.” 

The scene seemed to unfold all at once as the man widened his eyes at Rainbow’s fist that was just inches away from his face, only held back by Applejack’s arms and a familiar voice yelling at him from across the room.

“Golden Ore!” An eerily cheerful voice called from across the room. “Harassing women again I see!” Rainbow and Applejack turned their heads, eyebrows raising as there, in the middle of the bar with a tray in her arms and roller blades on her feet was none other than their pink friend.

“Pinkie!?” 
> Break It Down For Me
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

~Eight~

Pinkie at the bar they were meant to scavenge was a pretty weird coincidence. Especially since neither of the girls had ever heard of her working here before.

“I think so? Unless I accidentally did a switch-a-roo with the Pinkie from the pony world, I’m me!” She giggled, before rollerblading towards the drunk man next to them. “GOLDEN ORE, THE HORSES ARE LOSING!” She shouted at him, pointing towards the foosball table and making the man, Golden Ore, stumble away.  She continued behind the bar and began cleaning some cups as the confused pair stared at the bartender who was now their friend. “Golden Ore has some screws loose in his head. But he’s harmless. He just likes pretty women. Take it as a compliment!”

“What in the…” Applejack started.

“Tarnation?” Rainbow finished.

“Wow guys, you should have told me you were interested in him.” She joked, throwing a cup in the air, before catching it with another larger cup.

“Pinkie! What the hell are you doing here?!” Rainbow whisper shouted, the man long forgotten.

“Working?” She responded confused.

“At a criminal bar?” 

“This isn’t a criminal bar, silly. Everyone here is so nice.” As if on cue, a couple walked in, both of them wearing a semblance of a scarf on their clothing and gave Pinkie a smile and wave. Rainbow and Applejack gave each other a side-glance. 

“Am I the only sane one in this group?” Applejack asked herself.

“I think Twilight hasn’t lost it fully yet either.” Rainbow snickered.

“Speaking of, what are you two doing here? I hope this isn’t a first date. That would be awful! I mean this place is nice but you two should be at a restaurant by the beach! Or at a park in a clear night sky!”

Both girls choked on their drinks as Pinkie rambled on about first date ideas. Rainbow reached over to cover Pinkie’s mouth to stop her talking. “Pinks, we aren’t dating!” She couldn’t stop the blush forming as she noticed the way Applejack lowered her hat over her head.

“But you two would be so cu-”

“We’re on a top secret mission!” She hissed through her teeth.

“Ooh I love top secret missions! Can I join?!”

“And we don’t have time for questi- wait, you wanna help?” Rainbow asked.

“That’s what I just said.” She rolled her eyes, refilling Rainbow’s apple cider.

“That’d be great, hun. But we just need a way into your storage room. We’ll take it from there.” Applejack gave her a smile.

Pinkie’s smile faltered for a split moment, “What do you want in there?”

“We just needa check stock. You know how Granny can be with her business.” Applejack’s cheesy smile widened, she hated lying, and she wasn’t much good at it either.

“Oh well in that case!” Pinkie bounced up to pat Rainbow and Applejack’s heads before throwing them a key. “Just down there guys! If anyone asks, mention Granny Smith. They love her.” At that, Pinkie skated off to another group. 

The two girls looked at eachother. “Was Pinkie acting strange?” Rainbow asked, pointing behind her.

“Pinkie Pie always acts strange.”

---

Sunset rubbed her temples in exhaustion as Twilight paced around the carpet in her room. “Oh, do you think they’ve found it yet? I hope they haven’t gotten lost! Or worse, found out!” Twilight panicked, running her hands through her hair.

On the bed, Sunset hit her head on the back of the headrest, her hand on Spike’s head. “I’m sure they’re fine Twilight. We talked about this! There isn’t much use for us doing a stake out. If the truck is there, then they’ll tell us and I can let Mikey know. It won’t be our problem anymore.”

“Yeah! And it gives you two time to spend together!” Spike commented, making the two girls redden at each other before stealing a biscuit from Sunset’s hand.

Twilight paced around the room some more. She knew her friends, they’ll be fine. Surely. Yet there was a nagging itch in the back of her head that was telling her something was wrong, that they had missed something. She groaned, flopping onto the end of the bed. “None of this would have happened if you just took that truck to Michael! What was so important that you bailed on it, Sunset Shimmer? Why didn’t you just drive that truck?”

Sunset winced at the use of her full name. Even throughout when they were dating, Twilight only used it if she was really upset. Her gaze shifted from Twilight to the bed as she thought back to last week.

The streets were busy in the hustle and bustle of early morning rush, people running to get to school and work on time. Sunset sat at an empty bench, perfect view of where the truck was meant to be parked and ready for her to drive to Mikey. The truck was parked. It had been for a while now as Sunset mustered up the courage to walk to it and drive it away. Could there be cops around? A random check as she was driving? What if she looked suspicious. There were too many variables that could go wrong.

A small sound drove her attention away from the truck. A sort of sniffling that was coming from behind her. She turned around, seeing a young girl, no older than seven sitting at the front stairs of a fast food joint. She wore a ragged jacket and held her arms close to her body, occasionally wiping the snot from her runny nose and her tears that didn’t seem to stop. A clattering from inside the joint startled the girl, and the door opened to an angry looking lady.

“I told you to scram, girl! I don’t have any scraps so early in the morning! Come back tonight!” She yelled, swatting her away, albeit gently. As gentle as you could be when telling a child to find some other place to seek refuge. Sunset’s eyes darkened at the lady’s attitude to the child. In some ways- no, a lot of ways- she saw herself in that girl. It reminded her of the first few weeks she was in the human world, before Mikey took her in. Only difference is this girl has to go through it much younger. She got up and hurried to the girl, grabbing her hand and pulling her away from the shouting lady, glaring daggers into her as they walked away.

The young girl stared at her with wide eyes. Sunset kneeled on one knee to get to her eye level and gave her a smile. “Where’s your parents?” She shook her head. She didn’t know. Sunset frowned, unsure of what to do. The girl seemed like she didn’t want to talk, which just made things harder to decipher. Still she couldn’t let a little girl live on these streets. She had to get her somewhere safe. “What’s your name?” Sunset tried again. The girl didn’t talk. Sunset hesitated, looking back at the truck that lay there stationary, she had to get it to Mikey or else she’d get into a whole load of crap, but if she did, this little girl would continue to live in a whole load of crap. And she didn’t want that for anyone. “I’m going to get you someplace safe, okay?” Again, no answer.

They reached the police precinct after a while, with Sunset trying to get some words out of the kid, and the kid staying silent through the journey, only tightly holding onto Sunset’s hand. They were greeted by Night Light whose eyes brightened as he smiled at Sunset, excited to see his daughter’s girlfriend (ex-girlfriend) for the first time in months. Then he frowned in concern as his eyes landed on the girl next to her. 

“Gusty?!” He asked in shock. “What’s going on? Where’s your mother?”

“You know her?” Sunset questioned. “She was crying at Madame Kira’s Barbeque.”

“I know her mother. Thank you Sunset for bringing her here. Gusty, go inside.” He said pointing into the precinct.

“Hey!” She raised her voice. “Don’t talk to her like that.”

His eyes widened, but he didn’t say anything, leaving Sunset confused behind the door. Then, she remembered what she was doing out in the first place.

“Shit, shit, shit, shit!” She complained, running back to the truck. Except the parking spot was empty, and the truck was nowhere to be found. “Shit.” She groaned, pulling her face with her hands.

“Wow Sunset, I guess your empathy got the best of you.” Twilight said in admiration, because even if it lost the truck, she helped someone in need. “You weren’t wearing your pendant?” She asked after a beat.

“Uh no. I don’t usually wear it. It’s not fun seeing into people's thoughts just by bumping them or something.” She laughed awkwardly.

Twilight nodded, stroking her chin. Calculating. Calculating. It’s all too calculated. She was confused. And that nagging in her mind was begging to be remembered. She looked towards Sunset, who had  begun making origami hearts out of some scrap paper lying around. Paper. That paper dad took! She clicked her fingers in revelation, jumping up from the bed and running towards his study.

She began rummaging through drawers until her eye landed on the scrapped paper under a book. She pulled it out, reading the lone number displayed on the sheet. Has her dad called it? Who could it be? It wouldn’t be Michael would it? Her hand trembled above her phone as she hesitated to type in the numbers. There were too many mysteries for her to come up with a linear story. The numbers were dialled, and now she had to decide if she wanted to make it ring. Oh to hell with it. She pressed the green button on her phone, holding it to her ear as it rang. It rang for a few seconds- seconds that felt like hours before a crackling signified it was picked up. Twilight waited to hear a voice on the other side.

“Hello, what can I do for you?” A woman’s voice answered. It sounded mature, but comforting. It didn’t slip Twilight that the lady hadn’t mentioned her name.

“Um, Hi! I’m,” She looked around frantically for a name, “Soft Glow! I am calling in regards to your…electricity bills.”

“Sorry one second,” She responded, before a fainter, more muffled conversation took place. Twilight could still make it out. “August! Stop fighting with the chef! No I don’t care if he isn’t making you mac and cheese! You just had dinner.” August, August. She had heard that name before. It was familiar, but from where she didn’t know. “Sorry sweetie, my little one is a headache to calm down at this time of the night.” She huffed. “Anyhow, what can good old Winter do for you?”

Twilight’s eyes widened, dropping the phone just as Sunset ran in to see where she had gone. She remembered reading an article headlined, ‘Groovy Buggers! A Winter Wonderland!’ a while back. The bar was owned by none other than Winter Moon, one of the most important business women of all of Canterlot, who had a daughter named August Moon, whose nickname is surely ‘gusty’. 
To Twilight, the events leading up to now had just fallen into place, but she couldn’t prove it until she saw one more thing. Why had Sunset been given the responsibility for such an important task out of nowhere. How the only thing that could stop her from taking that truck was a girl who reminded her of her old self- something only Michael would know. How Twilight’s dad recognised her as ‘Gusty’. Then the way Michael gave Sunset the task of finding the truck- something so important in the hands of Sunset who was all too inexperienced to succeed. Why take the risk if so much money is on the line?

“Call Rarity and Fluttershy. Something’s wrong.” Twilight said urgently.

---

Fluttershy and Rarity sat next to each other on the sofa, Rarity’s legs pulled up to her chest and leaning against Fluttershy’s thigh as she held a cup of tea in her hand. Fluttershy sat upright, all too sensitive at the girl next to hers touch to be able to focus on the movie in front of them. After they settled in, Rarity offered to put on face masks for the two with some chamomile tea as they watched a romance film. Quiet seemed to be the recent vibe between the two friends, but not the awkward kind. The kind where they both understood the value in calmness, just the presence of each other and knowing they were together was enough to feel like they had laughed all night long. Fluttershy’s head was feeling heavy, and she wanted to rest it against Rarity’s shoulder for the remainder of the movie. Slowly, but surely, Fluttershy mustered up the courage to lean her head down, until a warmth spread near her head as it touched her shoulder. Again, there was no talking, and Fluttershy sighed in content, closing her eyes as she felt Rarity rest her head against the shy girl.

“I enjoy spending my time with you Fluttershy. It’s peaceful.” Rarity sighed, her eyes on the movie as Fluttershy shifted to look up at her. Rarity’s hands fiddled with her mug, “I feel like I don’t need to pretend around you. No need to be extravagant, or fashionable. I don’t need to watch my words with you, afraid of saying the wrong thing that could come off as uptight or prude. You just understand.” Fluttershy’s heart swelled as she stared for longer at those blue eyes, and once those dark blue eyes shifted to look into her own teal ones, her breath caught in her throat, she wasn’t able to reply and merely smiled. Rarity’s eyes never left her, “I’m really glad to have you as my friend.” 

It shouldn’t have felt so harsh, the way Rarity said it, of course they were friends. What did she expect? Rarity invited her over, cared for her, but that didn’t mean she cared for her romantically. When had these thoughts surfaced into Fluttershy’s mind? Her smile fell as that sentence itself felt like a rejection. Her green eyes left Rarity and focused on the TV, glazed over in thought. Not about what Rarity said, but about why Fluttershy over-thought that sentence so much. “I’m glad to have you as my friend too.” She said quietly, her head still on her shoulder.

A tone disrupted the silence and illuminated the sofa space between them as Sunset’s face popped up on Rarity’s phone. The girls glanced at each other briefly, not expecting a call so late at night. Rarity answered it and put it on speaker.

“Hello dear,”

“Rarity, can you and Fluttershy meet us at the Groovy Buggers quick?! Bring your pendants, We think Applejack and Rainbow Dash have walked into a trap.”

---

“Holy Shit, AJ. I had no idea your farm sells so much to these guys” Rainbow said, impressed as the two walked into the garage piled with boxes upon boxes of the Apple Family cider.

“Truth be told, I didn’t either.” Applejack revealed, holding her hat in astonishment as she herself took in all of their farm’s hard work, most of which only went to one bar in particular. Rainbow looked at her questionably. “What? I’ve been busy with studying lately. Big Mac and Granny have been taking care of the orders recently.”

Rainbow nodded absently, walking ahead to the small doorway into the other room. Applejack watched as Rainbow froze up, and the farmer placed a hand on the small of her back to steady her. “You all right, sugar?”

Rainbow cleared her throat, her cheeks red, “Yeah uh, it’s just I didn’t expect it to be here.” She said quietly, before a grin broke out and she ran towards the truck. It was there, in the corner parked perfectly with the container still locked and ready to drive off with.

“Rainbow wai- aw shucks.” She groaned, running after the girl. They ought to be more careful in places like these, there could have been someone nearby.

Rainbow had all sorts of adrenaline running through her at the thought she might be able to finally get the money she needed to stay at CCAS, and not have to leave her friends behind, which if you asked her a couple weeks ago, she wouldn’t have much concern about it- they had after all, gone on separate paths. But lately, she’s been enjoying her time with all of them, especially tonight with Applejack. A weird fluttery feeling surfaced in her stomach as she remembered the way it felt when Applejack’s hand had touched her lower back just a few minutes ago. But she shrugged it off as just the nervousness.

The metal felt cold to the touch as she tried to pry open the lock on the container. They had to make sure no one took any of the drugs out before sending any photos to Mikey. It was locked, and she shook it roughly to try and pry it open.

“Here, let me try.” Applejack said, not waiting for Rainbow to move away. Rainbow felt herself heat up against her will as Applejack’s arm went over her shoulder, her breath hitting the side of her face and the top of her ear. Her eyes were drawn to the way Applejack’s arm muscles tightened and relaxed. Rainbow tried to ignore the feeling of Applejack’s chest against her back as she focused her eyes on the lock, and how Applejack so easily popped it open- granted she used her pendant, but it was still cool nonetheless. Rainbow’s blush deepened as she found herself confused on why her brain had become so fuzzy and her skin had become so hot. Applejack cleared her throat, making Rainbow look up inside the container. “What…”

“Where is the rest?” Rainbow breathed, panic rising in her chest. In front of them, the truck was scarce, with only a few bags of drugs wrapped in cling wrap towards the back. But it was nowhere near the 200,000 Mikey said it was. There was only a few thousand dollars worth of materials in it. A click and a bright flash made the two girls whip around in alarm.

It happened too fast, far too fast for either of the girls to tap into their pendants for the speed and strength needed to fend off whoever had grabbed them. She felt a rough shove, her arms were pinned down before she could even blink and before she knew it her breath had become ragged. Dad. It was her first thought, and she tried to fight off the prickly feeling in her hands and the lack of oxygen in her lungs. She was afraid, more than afraid. Her and her dad hadn’t left on good terms, and she knew he wouldn’t hesitate to stick a bullet in her. Her eyes were wide open, but her vision was blurred, and her ears felt blocked. There were muffled shouts from around her, one had a distinct country accent to it.

“Rainbow! Dash!” A voice called and her heartbeat decreased. A figure filled her view then, and she blinked to focus. A man kneeled in front of her, tall and burly, and he had a hand on her shoulder. Somehow, she didn’t panic then. Because once her panic attack faded, she noticed the concerned eyes in front of her, and the gentle hand on her shoulder.

“Hey, hey, kid. You’re all good.” The man, comforted, gently tapping her back. Rainbow recoiled in shock. In front of her was Mikey. 

Rainbow looked around the room then, finally becoming aware of her surroundings. She was tied to a chair, a rope wrapped around her hands behind the chair, so that she wasn’t able to grab her pendant, presumably. Around her was Mikey, and almost everyone else from the Ratmakers, which seemed like overkill, but if they knew about the pendants, they knew her and Applejack were relatively powerful. Applejack. In urgency, she whipped her head around the room, before her eyes met green ones from her right side. Applejack’s eyes were wide as saucers, her eyebrows furrowed in concern, and Rainbow felt shame seep into her upon realising Applejack had watched her amidst a panic attack. 

“You okay?” Mikey asked, and Rainbow realised he was still standing in front of her.

“Okay?” She spat, trying to push her fears aside. “You’ve tied us up in a garage and you're asking me if I'm okay? What the fuck is going on?”

Unless…Rainbow slouched as she realised how blind they’d all been. It was a set up. All of it. The truck of drugs? There was never 200,000 dollars in it. Just their usual amount, enough that a photo or two with it can be incriminating. He’d set them up. But why? 

“Pinkie Pie?” Rainbow heard Applejack ask in hesitance, and they both watched as she appeared from behind one of the henchmen. Her hair looked straighter, and her eyes were teary as she waved slowly. 

This was too much for Rainbow, she wanted to grab her head to stop the headache forming.

“You promised you won’t hurt them.” Pinkie spoke up, glaring at Mikey. 

“And I won’t. I’m many things, but I don’t break my promises.” Mikey turned to the girls, looking at them apologetically. “I didn’t want to restrain you, It was just safer to take your pendants off this way.”

Rainbow noticed the lightness around her neck, she never went anywhere without it. “You won’t get away with this! Our friends will come save us!” Rainbow yelled angrily.

“I count on it.” Mikey said, though there was no malice in his tone, confusing Rainbow even more. He turned to the door then, motioning for Pinkie Pie and some others to follow him.

Rainbow was left alone with Applejack, the room dark, with a couple men at the door, ensuring they didn't escape. She felt Applejack stare at her, and it made her shoulders stiffen. Her first thought was to apologise to Applejack for getting her dragged into this mess. “I’m sorry,” She said quietly, too tired and ashamed to speak any louder.

Applejack took a moment to respond, her mind still going over Rainbow’s reaction. She’d never acted so fearful before, and the equestrian magic they’d dealt with was much worse than this. “Don’t apologise Sugar, we’re a team, remember?” She gave her a smile, one that Rainbow didn’t return. “‘Sides, that’s how we know the others will get us out of this mess.”

The door slammed open to drag in four girls all with tape wrapped around their hands, and their necks naked of necklaces. “Fuck.” Rainbow exhaled, looking at the way Mikey had followed their friends through the door. “How’d he catch you?” She asked Sunset as she was sat down on a chair next to her. Besides them, Fluttershy and Twilight looked on the verge of tears, and Rarity a neutral look on her face.

Sunset didn’t let her eyes leave Michael, the anger radiating off her in waves. “He lied to me. Used my weaknesses against me. That’s how.”

Mikey heard, and dipped his head low. “This, I admit, wasn't the best way to go about it. But I had to! You’ll understand if you hear me out.” He took a breath, looking at the girls in front of him. Most were confused on what was going on, and he was concerned about the reaction of the Rainbow haired girl. But seeing the hatred in Sunset’s eyes hurt him more than he cared to admit. “Night Light has reopened my case and is getting close to figuring out my operation. And I knew that there was nothing stopping you, Sunset, from helping your girlfriend put me behind bars. Afterall, you had no connection with us, and that was the only way for you to quit.” He paused, walking towards Sunset and placing a hand on her shoulder. “I’d heard rumours about you and your friends having these powers, and I knew how close you guys were. Then I realised, having evidence against you wasn’t enough, I needed it against all of you- a way to frame you all, leverage so that you side with me, not Night Light.”

“Don’t fucking touch me.” Sunset snarled, causing him to step back. “You thought kidnapping us would get us on your side? You're delusional.” She scoffed, looking at the ground. “The truck, my quest, it was all a lie? Just a set up so you can get photos of us breaking the law? That girl…you knew she reminded me of me. You used my situation against me! I trusted you!”

He remained silent, not refuting anything. “That girl was his daughter.” Twilight spoke up, glaring at Mikey. “August Moon. She’s the daughter of the owner of this bar. Except it wasn’t really owned by her. It was owned by you, Michael JH Oneson. Unofficially. You never married her- nothing to show to the government a connection. That was the best way to keep them safe.” Twilight turned to look at her friends, “Except now we all know. And they won’t be safe anymore.”

“ENOUGH!” He shouted, Twilight had struck a nerve. “I don’t want to hear petty threats, you girls would never hurt a fly. And if you did well, I’m sure daddy would love to hear about the way you were cosying up with my gang member, breaking and entering a police precinct, and tampering evidence. It’s not a good look.” His smile widened at the way Twilight shrunk in on herself. “I had to work a bit to get evidence on you three,” Pointing to Twilight, Sunset, and Rainbow Dash. “But the rest, they just make it too easy.” He laughed.

Then he threw some photos on the ground, scattering between the six girls. Rainbow’s eyes shot desperately to Fluttershy whose chest began heaving faster and faster. There, in the folder were multiple photos of the shy girl with a masked man, KL, constantly buying drugs. “I never expected someone so shy to be an addict.”

“Watch your mouth!” Rainbow growled. The rest of the girls couldn’t tear their eyes away from it, all their hearts breaking slowly for their friend. Fluttershy’s tears fell freely, her eyes frozen on her still self.

“And Applejack, well…You are a good girl. Nothing incriminating so far. From you at least. You must be aware Granny likes to dabble in some unorthodox business ideas. Tax fraud is a favourite one of mine.” He winked.

“You’re lying.” She replied hopelessly, connecting the dots, how most of their exports were Groovy Buggers, and how it’s owned officially by Mikey’s partner.

“We’ll see how that holds up in court. Of course this darling gem here hasn’t dealt with me or my associates directly. But you're still quite popular dear.” He smirked, moving towards Rarity and holding her chin up. “Do you recognise any of my men from your routine, evening, sleepovers? I’ve heard you especially love older men.” Rarity refused to show her fear and embarrassment, even as her hands trembled and her lip quivered at the accusations. “It’s not enough to land you in jail, but it will taint your good girl reputation, won't it?”

“Stop!” Sunset begged, refusing to listen to any more of her friends' secrets get exposed. “Michael, what do you want from us?”

“I want you on my side Sunset! I gave you everything! A home, a family, a job. And you repay me by plotting against me. You didn’t even tell me your friends have pendants like yours! I had to hear it from your pink party friend. I don’t care if you hate me after this, now you won’t have a choice but to join us. And I won’t have to watch my back the entire time.”

Sunset stopped listening after he mentioned Pinkie Pie, “What did you do to her?”

“Nothing.” At that, Pinkie walked into the room, hands behind her back and crouched over in worry as she looked at her friends.

“Girls, I’ll fix this! I’ll get you out.” She pleaded to them, because from where she was, it looked really bad for her.

“Pinkie…” Sunset breathed, hurt at how she betrayed them.

“Oh relax, Ketchie, she didn’t betray you. She simply blabbered on and on about your magic powers. It was more stupidity than anything else. But it helped me figure out how to get them off you. It will be a long while before you see these again.” He softened then, sighing. “I admire your care for eachother, it’s something I've tried and failed to achieve in the Ratmakers. Sunset, I want you to know you aren’t prisoners. You can live normally under my gang, but you will be helping me change the course of the case. Once Night Light is demoted and the case closes again, you’ll be free to do whatever.” He watched Sunset, how she was taking it. “You have my word that the evidence will remain with me, and only me. Unless I have probable cause to release it.”

Mikey didn’t break promises.