Daybreak

Sunset Shimmer was back to her search almost as soon as she had printed up enough Canterlot Animal Shelter fliers to satisfy a day's worth of handouts and posting to walls. Once again she found herself drawn back to pondering who she would admittedly spy on next. She fished out the secret santa tag for Rarity and took a moment to look at it. Rainbow Dash had been planning on getting her something for the holiday season, even despite Rarity's often absurd and expensive tastes. Suddenly she wanted to know what it was the sports star was planning on getting for the fashionista. But, to her chagrin she already knew Rainbow Dash was occupied talking with Fluttershy, and poking her nose into what she was actively doing was a bad idea.

Instead, Sunset Shimmer devoted her time to finding information on Rarity herself. Maybe, she figured, there was something in a more affordable reach that she wanted, that Rainbow Dash might have known about. As she went to searching however, she winced as it occurred to her that with expensive tastes fulfilled comes equally expensive tastes in security; Sunset Shimmer was not going to get information about Rarity directly. For the time being, that was out. Instead, she decided to pursue information on Applejack instead. With a grunt of dismay, she realized the search got very narrow, very fast. Applejack had no social networking accounts, her phone was serviced by F&F Wireless - a notoriously cheap but equally unreliable service, at best - and all there was to support any social networking at all was her email account. "Country folk." Sunset sighed, and immediately felt ashamed that she could generalize so easily.

From: Workhorsecowgirl@walleyed.net

To: Partymena@walleyed.net

Subject: Re: Sunset Shimmer

Hey Pinkie Pie,

Sorry I'm late and all. You know how bad I am with these things. I know you've been watching me, making sure everything runs smoothly and all. I don't think she deserves for us to let her in. After all she's done, we're just gonna forgive her? What's worse, we're not even just telling it to her straight. Playing twisted mind games ain't my thing, Pinkie Pie. I'm not gonna lie to her just because I don't think she deserves better.

I hope you know what you're doing. Anyway, I got chores to get to, and homework too. I'll be lucky if I get any sleep at all.

Applejack

Quoted Text:

Hey AJ!

Missed you at the get-together, but we all understand. We had the best idea EVER! Twilight said we can teach her friendship, but first we gotta make sure she's willing to learn it. So all we gotta do is tell her she's been doing it all wrong this whole time! I mean, she already knows she messed up, but we've gotta make her want to LEARN, not just throw a pity party (worst parties EVER!). Maybe if she figures that out, she'll be willing to learn from each of us. Just a hunch ^-^

Your pal,

Pinkie Pie

Sunset Shimmer frowned, looking the email over. It wasn't much to go by, besides the fact that Applejack was a hard worker and as honest as they come, both of which she knew already. Of the two though, she noticed one thing unusual. Applejack was not very well-off, and it seemed like she was working around the clock just to help her family make ends meet. Straightforward, honest, and hard-working were all too often traits that led to a bitter but successful person. After the weekend fixing up the school, Sunset Shimmer realized she had a much more appreciative view of a hard-working individual. Maybe she could set things right after all, even if Applejack was reluctant to let her try.

If nothing else, Sunset realized with increasing flattery that these five friends had been intensely focused on setting her on the right path behind her back, and it looked like it had been Pinkie Pie's idea that had put the five of them up to it. She looked up from her computer, noticing with a sense of alarm that it was no longer light outside. Folding down her laptop, she decided to go out and get something to eat at McDo's.

She was ready to learn. She was going to learn, and she intended on learning by being there for the very people she had torn apart. Five days in the school week meant she could devote an entire day to each of them. She already had a plan for Fluttershy, and another was quickly forming for Applejack. Maybe things were starting to look up after all.

* * * * *

That night, Sunset Shimmer's dream was mercifully not a reiteration of her defeat at the magic of friendship. Instead she found herself at the base of a stairway. Looking up, she saw all the people she hoped to gain as friends after the endeavor - even Twilight Sparkle - all together, even sporting the ears and longer hairstyles that accompanied them when their magic properly took hold. The sight was a warming one to see, and each of them were smiling down at her.

Her surroundings weren't much different; the view around afforded a glimpse of something akin to a circular ampitheater, entirely stairwell all around. Simply speaking, there was nothing else. Just her, stairs and her six would-be friends waiting for her. Without much hesitation, she began running up the stairs, only to find every stair she came over was replaced again just shy of the six at the top. The revelation brought her pause, but she persisted regardless.

She must have been running for hours, not once yielding to aching fatigue, but as she looked up again, the six friends gave each other a nod, and a familiar spiral vortex of rainbow colors erupted from above them. "Wait, no!" She cried out. "I haven't done anything!" Her plea was broken as the familiar force of magic bore down upon her and crushed her into the center.