An Encroaching Sunset

by Discet

Rating: teen
Tags: Romance, Sunset Shimmer, Slice of Life, Human, Main 6, Applejack, Apple Bloom, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
Length: 10188

After Applejack overworks herself during the fall harvest, Sunset gets her slow down and stop running herself into the ground. Afterwords Applejack starts to see Sunset differently.

-Taking place after Rainbow Rocks but before the events of Friendship games.-

The fall harvest has always been back breaking work, but Applejack finds it doubled after Big Macintosh sprains his arm in the field. After trying to take on the whole workload herself she is working herself into the ground. Her friends are concerned but take her at her word that she'll be fine. All but Sunset Shimmer who fears her new friend has taken on more then she can chew. Sunset through force of will manages to convince Applejack that she needs help and afterwords Applejack starts to see her once foe in a very different light.

Published 2015-10-20 00:30:02 UTC
Last updated 2015-10-28 14:08:46 UTC

1: Apple Harvest

“Now ya’ll listen! I don’t need nobody’s help! Sweet Apple Acres hasn’t missed a harvest in six generations! And we ain’t never needed no help” I stammered out

Sunset sighed “Applejack you’re running yourself ragged. If you keep this up you might get just as hurt as Big Mac, or maybe worse.”

“And I’m telling you like I told the others ah’m just fine” I slammed my locker closed looking back at Sunset, “I’ve been able to juggle school and the harvest ever since I was shorter then a stump, and I don’t see any reason why that should change” I looked into my bag, shifting through the various items inside to make sure I had everything for class today. Under my breath I muttered “Where in the gods dang is that Chemistry book”

“In your locker. That’s the second time you opened it and closed it without grabbing your book.” Sunset said shaking her head.

I looked back at the locker in dismay and then back at the locker dial. The digits and dashes on the old dial all seemed to blur together every distinction vanished from its face. I tried rubbing my eyes but that only seemed to make the disorientation worse.

“Applejack?” Sunset said in alarm. I felt a pair of arms around me. I opened my eyes and I was nearly toppled over, Sunsets hands gently cradling me from what have otherwise been a fall. “Are you okay?” I looked up to the genuine concern in Sunset’s face. It was hard to imagine that she had been manipulating the entire school earlier that year.

Can’t have my friends worrying about me. Come on Applejack, time to get your feet back under you. “I appreciate the concern Sunset, but trust me, I know my limits. Ah’ll be fine.”

“Applejack, you nearly collapsed in the hallway, have you even been awake for classes this week? Any of them? Cause I know you sleep straight through geometry.”

Now that’s just ridiculous I know that I was conscious for a few of my classes, some teachers weren’t as forgiving as Cheerilee about sleeping in class after all… but for the life of me, I can’t think of single thing I had retained from those classes. It was all like a vague fog, I remember the mantra of ‘gotta stay awake’. But beyond that…

“Fine, ah’ll ask Celestia if I can take a few days off for the harvest. Don’t need to be too focused for apple picking, just determined. Get done quicker if I don’t have to come here anyhow”

“That’s not what I meant AJ” Sunset said clearly annoyed.

The school bell rung with a clanging fervor that sounded like incoherent drums. The now near consistent headache had for the last five days now seemed constant. I could always phase out the hustle and bustle of the hallways, but the bell always felt like a drill in her head. “I got to go Sunset, I appreciate the concern but Ah’ll be just fine”

Sunset said… something in protest, but it was quickly washed away in the flood of students. Just needed to get through classes, talk to Celestia then get back home '

A Few Days Later
Sunset was out at the farm. How did she get out here? She walk? It was a long walk to get back from school. Was it that late in the day already? Nope phone says just past 1. She should still be in class.

“Applejack, Applejack are you listening to me?” she sounded upset. I guess I could take a few moments.

I placed the basket I was carrying down and wiped the abundant sweat from my forehead. Why wasn’t my hat catching most of that? Wait I don’t have my hat on. Where the hell is my ha-

Resting casually in Sunsets hands was my old beaten Stetson hat. I looked up in her eyes suspiciously. When had she managed to steal my hat? Sunset rolled her eyes “I snatched it off your head two trees ago to try and get your attention, it failed” Sunset pushed the hat back onto my head. It wasn’t a malicious amount of force, but it was still enough to send me staggering back. “Now, that I finally do have your attention. Have you had anything to eat today?”

I thought for a few moments “I woke up before everyone to get a head start. I meant to go back for breakfast but the time just got away from me.” my tongue felt like sand in my mouth. Truth was I woke up early cause I’ve been having trouble sleeping. Nightmares of the farm shutting down, Granny Smith all alone in an old folks home, Big Mac not getting treatment for his arm. I had to keep working, had to keep everyone happy. Have to… ah damnit. Dizzy again. Well Sunsets arms are around me again. I don’t want her to worry about me. Looking up she was shepherding me to the old gnarled tree on the hill. She let me down against the trunk like I was made of fancy china or something.

Sunset settled down next to me, digging through her bag before pulling out a bottle of water “Here, drink”

The water tasted sweeter than anything I have ever tasted I could feel my sore body slowly ease. The crisp fall breeze hit the hillside in just the right way. Was I always this tired these days? A small bit of distress went through me as the bottle came up empty shaking out the last few drops from it.

“Here this too” she held out a brown paper bag and another bottle of water.

“Sunset, really, I know your worried but you really don’t have to b” I was interrupted as my stomach let out an audible whine of protest. I felt my face warm up and took the bag. At least Sunset had the good courtesy to not rub it in. Inside it looked like one of Fluttershy’s salad sandwiches a cup of pudding and… a carrot. I unwrapped the sandwich and took one large bite out of it. Mmmm crisp tomatoes, a little spread of mayo, lightly toasted… it was good, no meat though. Did Sunset not eat meat? She never made a point about it like Fluttershy. I guess “it’s kind of weird that one of my best friends was a horse at some point”

“Pony actually, Unicorn specifically”

“Did I say that out loud?” Sunset nodded with a crooked grin. “Sorry, didn’t mean anything by it. Just a little surreal when I really think about it”

“No problem, really I it was weird that you all managed to balance one two legs everywhere you go when I first got here.”

“Is that why you had so much trouble back in freshman year in gym? You could barely finish the mile back then”

“Yeah, yeah or do much of anything else for that matter. If it wasn’t for computers all my essays that year would have been nothing more than chicken scratch. Hard to go from moving everything without lifting a ho- finger to having to manipulate everything with these” she wiggled her fingers in front of her like they were alien appendages. Which I suppose for her they were.

“Guess it was hard to come here and not know anybody huh?” I broke off a piece of the carrot.

“Well, I really didn’t know many po… people back in Equestria either. Doubt anyone but Celestia even noticed I was gone…” there was that odd look again. Sunset got it sometimes when she thought no one was looking. Homesickness maybe?

“Sunset…”

Sunset without warning stood up with a little skip. Usually it wouldn’t have been so startling but my reaction time was frustratingly shot. “Didn’t expect you to go through both those bottles so quick, I’ll go to the house and get some more for you. Do you mind if I let myself in” I shook my head ‘no’, “Thanks. Now I know you feel like you need to go full tilt but please, just take ten minutes to rest before heading back out. That’s all I ask.”

I gave a grudging nod in promise and with a smile Sunset bounded off down the hill towards the house.

Well if I’m not going to be moving anytime soon might as well get comfortable. I slumped slightly into a better sitting position. Out ahead of me was an acer of land I would have to have done by the end of the day. But with a cool breeze blowing and a full stomach it was hard to feel all that pressure.

For the first time in a week I didn’t feel stressed or nauseous. I took in a deep breath of the crisp fall air. It wouldn’t be too bad to rest my eyes would it? Just a few minutes. Sunset would be back with water and wake me up. Just a few minutes would be just fine. Just… a few…

Reality came slamming back home in the lethargic feeling in my muscles that told me that it had been quite a good deal longer than a few minutes. The sky above had changed from a bright hot blue to a toned down navy with a gradient of beautiful warm red colors coming from the horizon. The beautiful display of nature filled me with panic.

Five? No more like six hours of daylight I’dhad slept through like an idiot. All the work I needed to do!. O would have to do more from here on out, to make up for todays slip up. I’ll work through my nights too if I have to. The Apple harvest could still be managed. I looked at the setting sun the unquestioning feeling of dread as my muscles protested the upcoming workload. But the family comes first, we need to bring in more than last year and for that we needed more apples picked, can’t let any rot on the vine. Just… need to…

Even with this declaration something about the scenery was off. Just below the horizon the acre I had planned on working today was already picked clean of apples, in fact a great deal more then what I had planned to accomplish today was all gone.

“Oh good you’re awake” came a voice from just behind me

“Gah!”

“Eep!” Standing there looking sheepish was Fluttershy, gripping a jug of water filled with ice and cut lemons to her chest tightly in an effort to keep it from falling

“Oh Fluttershy. Sorry, you startled me” I said rubbing my eyes.

She seemed to relax at that and approached again “Oh, well that’s a first.” She said with a smile, offering a plastic cup down between her fingers. Applejack accepted it and Fluttershy poured her a full glass of the chilled water.

“If you don’t mind me asking what are you doing out here this late?”

Fluttershy placed the jug of water down next to them and seemed nervous. “Oh… Oh dear, uh, please don’t be mad”

“Mad? About what?” I said, reserving any promise to hear the reason why.

“Well, we… uh we’ve all been worried about you, but you kept saying that you were just fine so we didn’t want to impose. But Sunset was still really, really worried about you. So she said she was going to come check on you today during school. Then we all got a text asking if we were able to come and help out here today, that you needed a break. Im sorry Applejack. I know you didn’t want our help butwewerejustreallyworriedandjustwantedtohelpIhopeyoucanforgiveus,” Fluttershy took in a deep breath.

Sunset did all that?

I looked down the hill I was on as all the girls started to emerge from the orchard, each was carrying a basket full of apples. Rarity was wearing some odd amalgamation of her usual fashionable self with a pair of practical overalls that somehow seemed to work. Pinkiepie skipping along talking loud enough to hear all her different descriptions for treats and party games they could do with the apples from up on the hill. Rainbow Dash was bumping into Sunset and joking about something since Sunset seemed to be laughing about it. Each of them were bringing their baskets towards a cart that was fuller then any work load I had managed since Big Mac got hurt.

“Oh no. You are mad aren’t you? Oh dear” Fluttershy teetered nervously

“Oh… no, no Fluttershy. I’m not mad. I think I was just too prideful. I really, really do need all your help.”

“Oh. Well Im glad you were able to get some rest. Granny Smith just told me to come out here to wake you up, dinners ready.”

“Right. Right, you all are staying right? We gotta do something to repay y’all for your help.”

“Mhm, Granny wouldn’t have it any other way. She was rather… uh… insistent about that.”

Applejack nodded in agreement and looked back to her other four friends heading towards the old house on the hill. Sunset in particular looked like she had been working extra hard. Her usually wavy hair was sticking to her shoulders, her little cowlick was stuck to her forehead, her fingers gently trying to push it out of her view every few steps. Her jacket was slung across her shoulders removed at some point in the days work. Stains of sweat from a hard days work dabbed her shirt. Her entire being seemed to radiate in light of her namesake.

“Applejack? What are you smiling for? Are you feeling alright?” Fluttershy asked regaining my attention.

“Huh? Uh, no reason. Lets go” I stood up on shaky legs and we made our way towards the house. Fluttershy stayed near to offer support, it was only needed once on the way down. My mind may have gotten some rest but my body would need a bit more recovery

“So there are a few days I have prior engagements but other than that darling I should be free to come by and help out darling.”

“Any day I’m don’t have practice I can help out, all that applepicking is a good workout for me anyways.”

“I just need to let the animal shelter know I will be busy for a few days out of the week, I’m sure they wont mind.”

I smiled “Thankyou everyone. Your help is gonna be invaluable. I thought I could handle this all on my own, and I really didn’t want to be a burden to any of you”

Pinkiepie just laughed “Oh Applejack, you help all of out all the time, anything we can do for you, even the teensiest tiniest little favor is the least we can do!”

“Well ah really appreciate it”

Sunset nodded with a smile “Just remember that next time you get overworked, your friends will always be there to back you up”

“Yeah, thanks sugar cube I will” I said rubbing the back of my neck, feeling my face warm up just a tad.

“All right everyone, pile into the truck, I can give you a ride home” Granny called from the old pickup truck.

Rainbow, Fluttershy, Pinkie, and Rarity all hopped in the back though Rarity decided to lay down a blanket before doing so. Sunset seemed more hesitant “Something wrong Sugarcube?”

“Um, well, I was able to get some of the work before I left school, but I don’t think I’ll have time to make up the work and get home and sleep.” She bit her lip

“Darling? Are you alright?” Rarity called from the truck

I coughed “Well if it would be easier then you could stay here for the night you know, if it would help. Is that alright Granny Smith?

“Whaaaaaaaat?”

“Is it all right if Sunset stays the night?”

“Oh of course dearie. For knocking sense into a stubborn mule like yourself? She can stay the whole dang week heheheee” with that she revved the motor and the old truck started down the road, the rest of our friends.

“Well that was embarrassing”

“What was embarrassing? I didn’t hear a thing” Sunset smiled and I appreciated the out. We headed back into the old Apple family house. The nap earlier had done some good but I was starting to crash again. “So should I just set up in the living room? I can just crash on the couch.”

“After what did for me? No, no. You can take my bed”

Sunset looked at me like I had just suggested bungee jumping without a cable “Applejack, did we just live the same day? I thought we all learned a valuable lesson about friendship and how you need to get some actual rest sometimes. I’ll take the couch its really fine”

“Sunset please let me do th”

“Oh you’re staying the night Sunset? Why don’t ya’ll just share Applejacks bed?” the two of us looked over at Applebloom who was standing in her pajama’s a toothbrush in hand “Me and the crusader’s do it all the time, mah bed’s pretty big and I know your’s is too.”

“Applbloom I don’t think that’s a very goo”

“I’m okay with it if you are”

“Oh uh…”

“Get to sleep sis. You might not let me help with the harvest but I can tell you when your being stubborn. Hey Sunset there’s a extra toothbrush in the bottom right drawer in the bathroom ahhhh” she yawned deeply “Goodnight you two.”

“Goodnight Applebloom” Sunset smiled happily.

Applebloom smiled back and gave a little wave before heading upstairs. As she reached the top of the stairs she knocked on a well worn bit of the ceiling “Night Big Macintosh”

“Night Applebloom, Night Applejack”

“Night Big Mac, Night Applebloom”

“Wow, your family is so… pleasant Applejack”

“Yeah I guess I like them well enough, come on I’m just about dead on my feet”

“You sure you don’t mind the light?” Through one cracked eye I could see Sunset, sitting at the little desk in a borrowed pair of pajama’s. They didn’t look as good as her normal purple ones Rarity made for her.

“I’m sure Sunset, honestly Im barely conscious. Don’t worry about me I’m just about dead to the world”

“Alright, sweet dreams.”

Slowly I could feel relief of sleep. Blissful dreamless sleep. Oh no no no. Ugh. Consciousness. Oh. Sunset Shimmer was sitting on top of me. That’s… uh. New. “S-Sunset”

“Applejack… do you still hate me? After all the things I did to you…”

“Uh…. I… N” her hand started to caress my face it was so gentle “no Sunset. I’ve forgiven you, we’ve all forgiven you.”

Sunset smiled warmly, leaning in a bit closer “Do you think we could ever… be more than friends?”

“I…” I could feel my heat pounding against my chest as the rest of the world fell away and there was just the two of us “I think… maybe?”

Sunset leaned in closer and closer and….

I bolted upright in my bed looking around at the everything in their proper place. I could feel my heart beating like a rodeo bull in my chest. Just a Dreamn, nothing but a drea-

“Mmmm… Applejack?”

“Gah” I jumped away from the sound and landed square on my ass. On the floor

“Applejack?” Sunset sat up from her side of the bed looking worried but sleepy “Are you okay?”

“Oh I… yeah, yeah I’m fine. Just… a nightmare, I’m fine.”

“Alright, night” she collapsed right back onto the bed.

I slowly untangled myself from the twists and turns of the covers, turning around I pressed my back into the side of the bed. Slowly I could feel my heartbeat relax. It’s alright. It was just a dream. You get weird dreams all the time. Doesn’t mean nothing.

I bit my lip and slowly turned around looking across the twisted mass of covers. Sunset lay there with her crumpled hair, a small stream a drool and a soft snore going with the rise and fall of her chest. By any account she should have looked unkempt if not gross. And yet little smile she gets every time she laughs in her sleep, the little cowlick that always seems out of place, the curve of her hips that… that.

I placed my burning face into my hands “Oh Horseapples.”

Author's Note

Thankyou for reading.
This is my first piece of Fan Fiction in a while, so I hope you enjoyed it.
New chapters will come as life allows.

2: Story Time

Its been a week since the end of the harvest, thanks to the girls we even got done ahead of schedule. And I think Im finally back to top form again. The aches had finally started to subside and I can focus again in class. Which was great for distracting myself from the beehive of new problems I had.

Sunset Shimmer had some kind of hold on me and my thoughts. The dreams had been bad enough, but she had started to accompany my idle thoughts as well. It hadn’t helped that she had worked the orchards almost as much as I had during the harvest. A couple of days it was even just the two of us. Which had been some kind of awkward torture. I need to talk to someone about it. Someone discreet. Someone with some experience with this. Someone who will be kind and understanding.

“Uh, hey Rainbow, could you wait a spell?” Well two out of three isn’t bad

Rainbow was expertly juggling a soccer ball from one foot to the other, keeping it the air with a combination of knee strikes and elbow bumps“Hm? Oh hey Applejack, and uh” she pulled out her phone to look at the time which only made the ball juggling more impressive “Yeah I have a few minutes before practice starts, whats up?”

“Um, could we talk someplace ya know, private?”

Rainbow looked at me skeptically but ultimately shrugged “Sure, how about that classroom?” she pointed out one with a temporarily free arm and we made the short trip to the door “Could you hold it open for me? I’ve got a pretty good streak going” I rolled my eyes and held the door open for her as she hackey sacked her way into the classroom. I gave the place a once over making sure there was no one hidden where I couldn’t see. “Alright Applejack, so whats up? Planning a surprise for Pinkie? You know no matter what you do she’ll find out about it right?”

I smiled smugly “Hey we pulled that off once”

“And never since” she said with finality “But thats what you wanted to talk about?”

I opened my mouth and then shook my head “N… no thats not it…” Rainbow gave me another odd look waiting for me to elaborate “We’ve been friends a long time right Rainbow?”

Rainbow cocked an eyebrow but chuckled “Well yeah, aside from Fluttershy I’ve been friends with you longer than anyone else.”

“Well… I” bounce bounce “I’ve been thinking” bounce bounce “and I don’t know if its really anything to worry over but…” bounce bounce “Um, Rainbow, would you mind terribly holding off on all that bouncing? I’m trying to talk to ya”

“Hey I can do two things at once, its one of my many awesome qualities, now come on whats up?”

She kept the ball juggling in the air and I felt my nerve start to slip out of me “You know what, its not really important. Don’t worry about it” I said shouldering my backpack again and heading to the door. As I reached for the handle Rainbows palm slammed into the door frame, ball under arm.

“Well now you’ve got me worried. Ever since the day I met you you’ve been straight forward. What has you this shaken up?” she got a worried look on her face “Is it the farm? Are you guys losing it?”

“What? Oh, uh, no nothing that serious Rainbow. It’s just more… personal then Ah’m used to sharing” I looked up to her looking her in the eye “Can I trust that nothing I say leaves this room?”

“Promise?”

“Pinkie Promise”

Rainbow rolled her eyes but went through the motions “Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye” she crossed her arms starting to look rather impatient.

I nodded and took in a deep breath “Okay. Well. Ah think Ah might have a crush”

“What was that?”

“Ah might have a crush on someone alright” I stared down at the floor pulling my hat down over my head.

“Oh?” Rainbow sounded confused but to her credit she didn’t outright laugh at me “Alright… uh do I know them?”

“Yup”

“You want to tell me?”

“Nope”

“Huh… Well I know this is hard for you Applejack. But I don’t really know why you came to me for this. I mean Rarity has dated way more guys then either of us. I think she might have some better advise for you then I do.” She said shrugging her shoulders.

“Well, maybe thats why ah don’t need her advice”

“What that she’s experienced? I’m all for getting once hands dirty and trying new things, but really AJ I think this is one of those times where experience might be more help.”

“No That shes only dated, you know. Guys” I looked back up at her.

“Oh…?” Rainbow said looking even more confused for a moment, before a look of comprehension came over her “Oh!” she smiled compassionately “Have you talked to anyone else about this?”

I shook my head feeling a hitch in my chest. I opened my mouth and to my frustration I could feel my lips and arms shaking. Before I said anything else I felt Rainbow pull me into a close hug

“It’s alright AJ. Nothings wrong with you. Your not broken. What your feeling is completely normal. You’re not a different person, you just figured out something new about yourself” her tone was, usually raspy and cocksure suddenly sounded sweet and kind. As she pulled back from the embrace she gave me a grin “Alright?”

I took in a shaky breath as I felt a new foundation settle under me. Hadn’t even noticed the old one had been missing “Yeah. Thanks Rainbow. Ah think ah needed that.”

“No problem,” she gave me a pat on the shoulder before meandering towards where her ball had rolled off to.Stretching her arms over her head “Now that we got all that mushy emotional gunk out of the way, what did make you realize you were gay? Was it me? I wouldn’t blame you, get that all the time” she said rubbing her nails against her chest and generally putting out air of bravado.

I rolled my eyes and worked in as much sarcasm as possible into my next words “Ah yes Rainbow Dash, truly I was lost but now thanks to you I have finally seen the light”

“Alright alright, no need to get all dramatic” she said with a snicker “but seriously what was it?”

“Well honestly, ah don’ know. I mean I started to dream about them, and then… well my idle thoughts kept turning to them. How nice they looked. Ya know that sorta thing” I thought through every word, trying to keep things as vague as possible. Rainbow won’t be telling anyone, least of all Sunset, but that wouldn’t stop her from teasing me about it from now til the sun goes out.

“So do you want to date em’?”

“Well… yeah I think so.”

“And your willing to go through with it?”

“What do you mean?”

“Well knowing what you want and working to get it are two different things. Some people fear rejection, or just fear what it’ll mean to be out of the closet. Principal Celestia and Vice Principal Luna are good at spreading that whole love and tolerance mentality, but there are still some people who just don’t get the message. Then there’s family”

I nodded slowly. It hadn’t really occurred to me before. I could handle any jeers from our peers… but Granny Smith grew up in a different time. Big Mac has never said anything about it, but its not exactly something that we sat down and talked about before. Applebloom might not understand.

“So I guess what Im asking is are you willing to put up with all that? Cause once the genie’s out of the bottle, its a whole lot harder to put em’ back in.”

“N… No I still want to. Ah think my family will understand. And everyone else can jump in a ditch”

Rainbow smiled “There’s the AJ I know. Alright, so next problem, do you know if she’s gay?”

“Oh. Um. No, I guess I don’t?” I had gotten so wrapped up in my feelings I hadn’t really thought about how Sunset might react. She said that she had dated Flash Sentry for a while, but she said that was just a part of her plans.

“Well, unless you want to share who exactly it is then I guess I suggest you try to figure that one out.” She started heading towards the door “Well I can stick around if you really need me to but I’m gonna be late for practice, so you need me?”

“Ah… no, no I think I got it, thanks for the advise Rainbow, and you know… for listening and all”

“My pleasure” she gave a quick bow while heading towards the door “You know. If you did theoretically tell me who it was, you know I wouldn’t tell a soul right?” I bit my lip still feeling unsure “I promise no matter who it is I wont make fun of you” I gave her a skeptical look “Okay, I promise I’ll only crack one joke and no more after that” she raised a open palm “Junior Speedster Promise”

I tapped my arm a few times grinding my teeth together “… Its… Its Sunset alright?”

Rainbow smiled nodding “Wow. Never thought you would go for the bad girls AJ…” she seemed to think for a moment before grinning that mischivous grin of hers “Man, falling in love with a pony huh? Really breaking down all those stereotypes about farmers aren’t ya?”

I picked up an abandoned pen from the desk and threw it at her, but she quickly dodged out of the way before ducking out of the classroom entirely.

I stood alone in the classroom, took in a deep breath and let it out. I felt… well angry for the moment. But also greatly relieved. Like a load has been taken off of my mind. . For coming out for the first time to someone that went better then I thought it would. I’d tell the others eventually, but it was a relief knowing that one of my friends fully accepted me was… nice.

“Alright. I have some work to do.”

I weaved through the crowds at school. The school bell had released everyone for the day. Friends were meeting up, others dashing to get home at the end of the day. I headed towards the library, it was where Sunset tended to be after school when we hadn’t made plans. I finally got to the library at the center of the school, the two tiers of the library sat beneath the domed ceiling giving the feeling of a real grand place. Always seemed a little opulent for my tastes but it sure was impressive.

A few students sat huddled together at the tables chatting about weekend plans and recent gossip. Others had students struggling through homework, each person an island onto themselves. It was at one of these tables that Sunset had seated herself. Her worn jacket hung from the back of the chair as she dutifully worked out the math homework. After finishing a problem and looking somewhat triumphant while doing do she leaned back and stretched out. Softly to herself she started to hum the tune to “Awesome as I wanna be” while doing a little dance to go with it while putting away her supplies.

This while blushing nonsense was starting to get on my nerves. Why’d I have to go fall for someone this cute? Still I composed myself as best I could then walked over to the open chair next to her. “Hey Sunset, mind if I sit here?” Sunset came out her little world mid shuffle and looked mighty embarrassed.

“Oh uh hey Applejack” she quickly shifted to a much more laid back posture “w-what brings you to the library? Don’t you usually do chores at the farm after school?”

I shrugged “I managed to get them all done this morning actually, I’m free for the day.” I said with a shrug, she looked at me skeptically “Don’t worry, we just have less to do right after the harvest, ain’t working myself too hard.”

She smiled at that “Oh, good, so you here to do some homework?”

“No actually I came to talk to you”

“Oh? About what?”

I opened my mouth then closed it again. Somehow on the way over here I had thought it would be a lot simpler to subtly ask ‘Are you into girls’. “W-well, I guess I was kind of curious about how they do things over in Equestria. I mean we’ve known you an Twi for a while now and I’m kinda curious about where ya’ll are from.

“Funny” came a voice from the other side of the table from someone who was blocked by an absurdly large book “That’s why I am here as well!” Dramatically the book slammed down on the table revealing Pinkie Pie who was quickly shushed by several of the librarians “Oops sorry” Pinkie picked up her chair and moved it over to our side of the table.

Sunset looked surprised “Pinkie, you want to know about Equestria?”

“Well Yeah!” Pinkie said with a big smile “A whole different world! That means different customs, different desserts, different games, and most importantly a ton of new reasons to party!” somehow without going above a whisper Pinkie still spoke in an excited tone. “Tried to look up some stuff in these books but there wasn’t even a section for cross dimensional equine society. Budget cuts must have been worse then I thought…” Pinkie did what she did best, and managed to look completely serious despite what she was saying making not a lick of sense.

“Well, sure, I certainly wouldn’t mind” Sunset said looking between the two of us, “So uh where do you want me to start?”

“Oooh Start with holidays! They’re always the best.”

“Well alright… yeah. Alright how about I tell you about the Three Pony Tribes and the origin of Hearths Warmings Eve…”

“And so every year we all dress up in costumes to trick Nightmare Moon and everyone gives up a treat in tribute to her so she won’t come gobble us up” Sunset chuckled “It used to be a little folk tradition in the countryside, but its become a big hit all over Equestria, though its more just for fun then out of any real fear of the old superstition now a days.”

“Wait, so your telling me that on your side of things, Vice Principal Luna blocked out the sun? And then was banished for 1000 years?” I said incredulous thinking about the Luna on our side. I mean sure she could be strict with the rules sometimes, but she wasn’t crazed or evil about it.

“Yep, I was terrified of her when I first got here. Took me longer than I’m proud of to realize that ‘Principal’ wasn’t another word for princess in this world.”

“Wow that sounds AWESOME” Pinkie said excitedly.

“Yeah, your guys’ history is way more interesting then ours, all that high drama fantasy stuff, but real”

“Yeah I guess.” Sunset shrugged. It had all been real interesting, and it was nice to understand Sunset a bit better, but I hadn't really gotten any closer to the answer I had come here for.

“Soooooooo” Pinkie Pie started while jumping left and right behind sunset “You guys seem to have a whole lot of holidays that resemble our’s, do you have one like Valentines day?”

I silently thanked Pinkie Pie for getting us somewhere on the topic of love. Sunset on the otherhand was blushing quite a bit more then I had expected. “Oh uh, yeah I guess we do. It’s called Heart’s and Hooves day.”

“Does it also have a fantastical story to go with it?"

“Well yes I-”

“Woo Hoo” Pinkie screamed before pulling up right next to me with a tub of popcorn in hand…. Where did she get that? “Want some” she whispered.

“Well like many stories it occurred a long time ago, and also like many stories, it is quite tragic. In a far off kingdom there lived a Alicorn and her spouse. They ruled with justice, understanding, and always with love for one another.”

“Awww” Pinkie said.

“Yes. However not all was well. A neighboring kingdom, one that had long wanted to annex the first had a new Prince on the throne. A spoiled Colt of a Stallion who had the world handed to him on a silver platter, he felt the only bride that could suit him was the Alicorn Princess.” I took another handfull of popcorn as she spike. “So he hatched a vial plan, for if the Alicorn Princess had a Wife” Wife? “Then he would need to steal her affections.”

Sunset raised up a finger “For his first attempt he sent Jewels, Brighter and more beautiful then any that could be found in the Princesses Kingdom. Of course she denied him.” She raised a second finger “The Second time he sent a blade, an assassin to kill the Princesses Wife so that she might be free from what he thought was an obligation. Fortunately the Plan was foiled the assassin caught, and the lovers safe.” She raised three fingers “The third time he sent an army, to annex the kingdom and hold its citizens as ransom for the Princesses cooperation. But the Princess was too smart for him, so despite being out numbered she routed his forces in battle after battle.”

Sunset’s face got pensive “Finally it had seemed that the Prince had given up, foiled time and time again. He called for talks of peace between the two kingdoms.”

“An Ah suppose he tried somethin then too?”

Sunset nodded “Just before the peace agreement was signed he asked if the Princess would share a cup of tea with him. Wanting nothing more then to get back to her beloved after the grueling talks the princess agreed. Tea was brought out and everyone took deep drinks. But afterwords the princess and the prince had… changed. Suddenly it seemed like the months of war had been forgotten. They were chatting and laughing like lovebirds. You see the Prince had doused their tea with a love potion, forcing the Princesses affections onto himself. The two appeared to fall madly in love with one another. They got married later that day. A few who had suspected fowl play tried to protect the Princesses true love, but they were caught, and put to death for treason. The Wife was locked away in a tall tower all alone in the forest .”

“So he got away with it all? Just like that?”

“So sadly, the tale does not end there, with only one tragedy.” She said with a story tellers grace I recognized from some of the tales Pa used to tell on camping trips when I was little. “For you see the drug that he had given to the two of them was not a love potion but a love poison. The potion made it so that the two of them had no interest in anything but one another. And while they flirted and flaunted their artificial love, their kingdoms fell into decay. A dragon, one that the Princess had warded off in the past came back to the kingdom with avengence. Within days the fields were burned, and the survivors fled. Just the two ‘lovers’ remained, but with no one to take care of their needs, the Prince soon expired. The princess wept deeply for her false love, long and deeply rivers of tears running down her face and into the scorched earth. But as the spell broke, the Princess remembered her true love. And what they had done to her. She fled from the body, to the lone tower in the forest. Only to find the forest burned away and nothing left of the tower but scorched rubble. She fell to her haunches and started to wail. Crying out for her lost love. But no tears would flow, she had shed them all for a Stallion she hated deeper than any chasm. Her heart grew pained, corrupted by grief. And it changed her, from someone who cared and cherished, to one who fed off the love of others. So every Hearts and Hooves day we remember to cherish those we love and remember the evils of forcing ones love on others.”

“Ahhhh… that one ended really sadly” Pinkie said with with a frown, her usual poofy hair sagging a bit.

“Oh. Sorry, I didn’t mean to bring you guys down. From what I understand like most of the holidays its modern celebration is a whole lot more casual and happy then their origins.”

I cocked an eyebrow “From what you understand? Didn’t you live there most of your life? Why don’t you know what its like?”

Sunset blushed and looked embarrassed “Well… I didn’t really have a chance to celebrate it.”

Really? But your so pretty

“Really?” Pinkie exclaimed “But you’re so pretty! No one asked you out” Pinkie said and I gave her a questioning look.

“Thats… nice of you to say” Did she not believe that? But she was gorgeous “But no, no one ever asked me out on H&H. I was too wrapped up in my studies to really participate. Didn’t exactly have many… any friends back in Equestria, let along a Colt or Mare friend.”

Colt or Mare friend?!? Like either or?

“Colt or Mare friend huh? So you like both boys and girls?” Pinkie asked and I looked at her again. Was she reading my mind?

Sunset looked grave for a moment the color draining quickly from her face. “Oh… Uh. Right. I forgot that some people find that weird over here…” Sweat beaded her forhead looking between Pinkie and myself “D… Does it make you guys uncomfortable? That I like both?” she rung her hands in her lap, looking tense.

Personally my heart was beating quickly in my chest. Just that there might even be a chance that she’d like me back sent my heart soaring. “Oh Sugarcube, some little thing like that don’t bother me a bit.”

“Yeah, people like that are just meany mc meany pants and need go find a cactus to hug!” Pinkie Pie said slamming a fist into her palm. Pinkie grumbled to herself a bit more. Grinding her teeth.

Sunset looked a great deal more relieved Smiling between the two of us like she had just dodged a bullet. “Oh, thats good. And all the girls feel that way?” Pinkie and I exchanged a worried glance, Sunset’s tone got worried again “They don’t do they?”

Pinkie started “Well, Rainbow’s Gay, so she really won’t…”

“Fluttershy… Well she’s embarrassed by anyone who might be attracted to her. I don’t think she’s been able to look old Pine Tree in the eye since he confessed to her back in eighth grade. When Rainbow came out to all of us she seemed pretty uncomfortable for a while, but she got over it.”

Pinkie’s tone got weary “Rarity though…”

“Yeah. Rarity’s case is a bit different.”

“How so?”

“Well… she grew up with a very… conservative family, very traditional. Growing up they filled her head with all sorts of nonsense. When Rainbow came out to us all freshman year she was, well, less then supportive. It was probably the biggest rift we had in our friendship till… well, till you came along actually” I wanted to mentally slap myself seeing the wince that came to her face.

“And she’s over it now?”

“Well… not exactly she still gets a little… uncomfortable if the subject is brought up, but she seems to let it go all the same.

“Huh. I never would have guessed. She always seemed so… cosmopolitan”

“Yeah, her parents are noticeably less so.”

“Wow… well I’m glad I can rely on you two”

A few beeping tones came from the intercom “Dear students, it is almost five o’clock, you have thirty minutes to finish up whatever you are doing and go home for the day. Me and Principal Celestia hope you have a good night.”

“Wow… time sure goes by fast when your talking about home. Well I think thats all for story time for today. Thanks for listening to me girls, it was nice to talk about home again.”

“You wanna walk with us?” I offered

“No there are still a few books I need to check out, you guys go on ahead, you have longer walks then me anyways”

“Well alright, see you tomorrow Sunset, you set to go Pinkie?”

“Ready Fredy. Or rather Ready Appley… no… Oh Ready Jacky!” she said getting out of her seat. We made our way outside where the day had grown late. It didn’t seem so long sittin there.

“I don’t you know” Pinkie said and I looked at her confused.

“Don’t what?”

“Read your mind! That would be an incredible invasion of your privacy!”

I stopped as Pinkie Pie seemed to skip ahead a few more steps.

“But on a totally unrelated note, so you think Sunset is pretty huh?”

“Oh lord”

“So Pretty what? Pretty funny? Pretty Cool? Pretty smart? Pretty hot?” she said wiggling her eyebrows suggestively.

I felt my face starting to heat up again. “Pinkie, I only told a soul till this afternoon, how did you figure it out so fast?”

“Oh, I’ve known for months you liked her! I’m pretty observant like that.”

I gave her a flat stare “Pinkie I’ve only known for a few weeks”

“Well I never said you were all that observant, really its about time you noticed!”

I just sighed. Rainbow might have been able to stop the buck with herself, but if Pinkie knew the other girls were going to be brought into the situation right quick.

Author's Note

Alright Chapter two.
I hope everyone is enjoying the story so far. Thank you to everyone who has Favorited the story so far, you're all welcome along for the ride. And a special thank you for those of you who commented, your words fill me energy to keep the story going like coal in a steam engine.
And I hope you all didn't mind me indulging myself with the Legend of Hearts and Hooves, I promise it'll all be brought back :)

3: Experiment

Me and Rainbow marched through the cafeteria line, picking up odds and ends of meats veggies and starch. Lots and lots of starch. I ended up going with the corn.

“So she’s bi? Thats lucky for you, so you gonna ask her out?”

“Ah don’t know…”

“Hm?”

“Well yesturday she was telling me and Pinkie about Equestria. The whole place sounds incredible. Dragons, royalty, magic, like out of one of them fantasy novels. She used to be the apprentice to their ruler-”

“And now she showers with thirty other girls in a dingy locker room, your point?”

“My point is that I’m well… just some country gal. I’m not all that interesting by our worlds standards. By hers I’m about as interesting as dirt on a donkey” I said sighing. We quickly paid at the end of the line and started off.

“I really don’t think she would care all that much. Besides we're big magical heroes now, defeated evil twice! That should count for something." We started to diverge and Rainbow looked over “Uh, AJ our tables over here.”

I anticipated Rainbows teasing remark “Uh, not going to the table today, Sunset asked me to come help her out with more of her experiments” Rainbow just smiled and raised an eyebrow. I rolled my eyes “Ain’t like that, she just needed some help “

“Suuure.”

“Yeah yeah, so are you still down to make the movie this weekend?”

“You know it AJ! Cheesy horror movies wait for no one!”

I took my tray and headed out into the hallway. The crowd of stragglers heading towards the cafeteria moved around me like a stream hitting a rock. I made good time to the science lab.

Maybe Rainbow was right. Sunset’s not the same girl who left Equestria. That girl was wiped away with the demon that was inside of her. Now she was just Sunset Shimmer. One of my best friends in the world.

I opened the door seeing Sunset inside, she was wearing her labcoat and goggles her hair tied up in a messy ponytail. It seemed like she looked in anything.

She was messing around with a wrench on yet another crazy contraption.

“Where do you even get the materials for this stuff?”

“Oh Applejack! Good your here. Also, scrap-yard mostly. Though this one has a little taste of home.”

“Yeah?” I said walking over and sitting my lunch down on one of the lab counters. Taking up the sandwich

“Yeah. See I think whats been wrong with the last few was that I had no known magical source to compare the ones you girls have to. So I got Twilight to toss in a few magical gems, hopefully with these I’ll at least be able to tell if you girls have fundamentally different magic then that in Equestria”

I watched what looked like lightning chain between two of the coils at the top of the machine. “And, uh, you’ve tested this, right sugarcube”

She held what looked like some kind of eleaborate brain helmet “Well, uh, no this would be my first attempt.” She said tapping her fingers nervously on the metal cap “I mean Im sure it safe, its just recording a few things. She bit her lip and looked down “I could do a few more tests though, if you don’t want to.” She put on a awkward smile but it was obvious that she was worried I didn’t trust her workmanship

I felt my heart clench at the pained expression on her face “No, no, I trust ya sugar cube.”

Sunsets expression brightened immediately “Great, I have a couple more adjustments to make you just set up the bass and we’ll get started. She went back to her machine. I looked around for some evidence of Sunset’s lunch but failed to find any.

“Sunset did you already have your lunch?”

“What? Uh no, forgot money today, skipping”

I looked down at my plate “Well do you want my corn? We have a bit till lunch is over”

“Naw you go ahead, I’ll just grab something after sch-” She looked back and her eyes seemed to be darted right towards the ear of corn.

“Seriously, its okay. Just take a moment.”

“Well. I guess I can take a few moments.” She removed her goggles and placed them aside and joined me at the table. She took a few small bites but then seemed to work away at the corn like a machine, stripping the corn clean.

“Wow Sugar Cube, want my Jello too?”

“Oh uh” she picked a kernel out of her teeth with her pinky finger “Sorry, guess I was hungrier then I thought. Do you mind?” she said pointing at the Jello and I nodded. She took more time with this one.

We sat there eating for a few minutes as I marveled at her latest invention. With all the wires and bulbs sticking out here and there it looked like some contraption a supervillain would use.

“You know sugar cube you never did tell me why your so into all this?” I said gesturing to the contraption.

“You mean studying magic?” I nodded “Well, I don’t know, I guess its just nice to get back to. Back when I was in Equestria I studied magic all the time, artifacts and ancient spells. Before I went… well, you know, hyper ambitious She-Demon? I really loved studying. It wasn’t about what would make me powerful or what would help me reach my ends. It was just, knowledge. Pure and simple. I lost that when I came here, not that I really noticed, all that ambition driving me, but once that was gone… I realized how much I missed it.” She laughed nervously “Kinda nerdy of me I guess”

“Naw. We all have somethin we’re passionate about. Ah've got my farm, Fluttershy has her critters, and you have magic. I’m just happy you rediscovered yours” she smiled at me and I felt my heart flutter. I took the last bite of my sandwich and dusted my hands of the crumbs. “Well times a wasting, let me just set this up. "

Sunset nodded and we set up the bass and the amp. Sunset carefully affixed the giant helmet to my head. I must have looked like a plum fool, but at least no one else was around to see it. Sunset went about turning dials and flipping switches as I played out a few strums.

“Okay Applejack, whenever your ready.”

I took a deep breath and started to strum. I didn’t know many solo pieces, but I remembered a old one Dad used to sing to Mom way back when.

“Oh the days are getting shorter,

There’s a chill in the wind.

Can’t forget the trees changing

Or the way that you grinned

Oh the world keeps rolling

But your by my side.

So as long as we’re together

I’m along for the ride

Time moves so swiftly

And fall will turn to spring

So together we will take,

Whatever we can bring.

Another harvest empty.

Next year will bring more

Apples on the hillside

Rich red living decor

Oh the world keeps rolling

But your by my side.

So as long as we’re together

I’m along for the ride

The day is getting late,

Light is getting dim

Sunset’s coming early

And so ends this hymn

I finished the little song so the sound of fervent clapping. Sunset cheering in a crowd of one and I felt myself get embarrassed.

“Wow, Applejack, that was amazing!”

“Aw shucks, just a old family song. Sorry I wasn’t able to transform or nothin, ah can try again if you want.

Sunset walked over chuckling “I wouldn’t be so sure.” She reached out and rubbed ears on the…. top of my head? I checked my hair that had been extended into a much longer ponytail.

“Huh, didn’t even notice it happening. So did you get what you need?”

“Yeah this is great. I’m definitely getting something different from you then I did from the crystals.” She said reading over a printout that was spewing out of the machine. “So that was a old family song?” Sunset asked looking over the data in her hands.

“Yeah, was a old song Dad used to sing Mom on campin’ trips. Used to gross out me n’ Big Mac something fierce” I sighed looking towards the floor “Wish I could hear him play it again.”

I felt Sunsets arms wrap around me “Well I think you did a wonderful job. I’m sure he would have been proud.”

I tried to take comfort in the action, but it was difficult with my heart beating out of my chest. “T-thanks Sunset, thats awful kind of you”

“Wasn’t kind, just the truth” she said stepping back with a shrug and a smile on her face “You have a great voice. You should talk to Rainbow about maybe doing vocals some time.

“Oh shucks”

Sunset started to write down some notes in a beat up spiral notebook “Thank you so much for your help Applejack.”

“Oh, it was no trouble…”

“How’s Big Mac’s arm doing by the way?”

“Alot better actually, he’s still got it in a sling, but he don’t need the cast no more”

“Well thats good, been worried about him. And Applebloom?

I zipped up the case on my bass and set it aside. “Ah, she’s doin alright, but ah think she’s getting antsy.”

“About what?”

“She says she’s nervous about what she’s gonna do for the rest of her life. Says she wants to know her destiny. Ah tell her that she’ll always have a place on the farm, but I think she’s thinkin of bigger things. Always was a dreamin sort.”

“Well noting wrong with that. A little ambition can be good.” I raised by eyebrow with a smirk on my lips. “Hey, I said a little, I clearly had way, way too much.” She uncapped a water bottle and started to down most of it

“I suppose so. Still her and her friends seem to have fun with it. Tryin out new things. Industrious little scamps, every one of them.” I said then thought for a moment “You have any brothers or sisters Sunset?”

Sunset seemed to gag on the mouth full of water, coughing and choking as she struggles against the water.

“Sunset?”

“Gah. Kagh. I-I’m fine, went down the wrong pipe. I… no, I don’t have any brothers or sisters.” She said, taking a deep breath after.

“Oh, what about cousins?” I started to gather up the trash from lunch We got loads of them in the apple family. Or what about your parents? What were they…” I turned from tossing the refuse in the trash. Sunset was shaking violently in her jacket despite there being nothing cold about the room. “Sunset?”

“They… you know they… they were fine”. she took another slow deep breath.

“Sunset are you alright?”

“Yeah… yeah. I’m fine” she looked angry, like she did before Twilight ever showed up.

“Sunset”

Sunset snapped at me “I’m Just Fine Would You Get Off My Back!” I stepped away. I hadn’t seen that look in her eyes since the night of the Fall Formal. A cold hatred that made my stomach clench. The expression seemed to melt away back into the friend I knew. Tears started to well up in her eyes, but she quickly wiped them away on her sleeve shaking her head “I… I’m sorry. It… it’s not really... can we not talk about it? Please?”

I nodded “Sure thing sugar cube. Ah didn’t mean to…” Sunsets arms crossed in front of her protectively, I wanted to reach out to comfort her but she only flinched away “But if you ever need anybody to talk to…”

“Yeah. Sure, you’ll be the first to know AJ. Could you, not tell the girls about this?”

“Sure Sunset. No trouble.” The bell rung out the end of lunch and we looked to each other “Guess we should get to class"

“Yeah” Sunset started to exchange the classrooms coat and goggles for her usual leather jacket.

“Hey Sunset, would you like to see a movie this weekend?”

“Like with the girls?”

“Yes, well kinda. Just me and Dash. You see, me an Rainbow have a kind of tradition to see every terrible horror movie that comes out together. Fluttershy always got too scared, Rarity finds it repulsive, and Pinkie’s well, not afraid at all which kind of sucks the fun out of it.”

“So you want me to join you guys? Dash won’t mind?”

“Of course she won’t, the more the merrier! So long as you're not a fraidy cat that is” I teased getting a weak smile from Sunset.

“Sure Applejack, sounds like fun”

I nodded shrugging on my packed away base guitar “The shows this Saturday at 7, that work for you?”

“Yeah that works fine. You should get to class though, my next period is in here” she started to wheel the contraption towards the corner of the room and I let myself out.

"Well... a friend date is a good start right?" I said to myself, legs threatening to buckle underneath me. I took out my phone and texted Dash the change in plans. With any luck this will be another good memory for Sunset. Help her forget whatever she'd rather not remember.

Author's Note

and chapter three! sorry for the deley. Went through way more drafts of this then I expected.
Anyways I hope everyone liked the chapter. (Can you tell I've never really written lyrics before?) Expect another chapter soon :)