A Second Chance

As I walked back to my pitiful residence in the now pouring-rain, my phone went off repeatedly, but I ignored it, not wanting to read the lies surely flowing thick and fast from my ‘friends’ poisoned brains.

As I walked, I thought back to the infamous Fall Formal. I had tried to enslave the school and kill Twilight Sparkle.

It was no wonder no-one like me, I was just a moody, snobby egotistical bitch hating, and hated by everyone and stupid enough to let myself be manipulated  by those claiming to be my best friends.

Should’ve known I couldn’t trust them. The old me wouldn’t have.

When I got home, I was drenched through and exhausted. I went up to my room, stripped down and fell asleep on my bed.

My dreams were full of murky tidings of my demon-being defeated at the Fall Formal, of being bullied by the school. Throughout it all, my voice echoed recurrently.

“True friends don’t doubt friends.”

“True friends don’t doubt friends.”

In my dream I saw Twilight and the others bullying and laughing as I tried to crawl out of my smoking crater.

“Hah, what a loser!” Rainbow laughed.

“Look at her, in the dirt where she belongs.” Applejack snickered.

“Sunset Shimmer, a tyrant?” Taunted Pinkie, while Fluttershy and Rarity laughed. “More like bitch of the school!”

I reached out a hand to Twilight, who stood watching me coldly. “P-please help me!” I cried, hoping against hope.

“True friends don’t doubt friends.” She replied and pushed me back into the crater, where the school pointed and laughed at me.

I woke up crying, not at all relieved at waking.. I shivered, realising how cold I was and headed to the shower.

While in the shower, I decided to shave my legs. As I shaved, I wasn’t paying attention, focusing instead on the demon me, when I slipped and cut my leg.

“Fuck!” I cried, as blood trickled from my leg.

If only friendships were that simple I thought, gazing at the crimson color. A simple cut, a little pain, a little loss then nothing.

For a while I absently stared at the bloody razor in my hand. What  if cutting away friendship was as simple as five little cuts?

I held the razor to my arm and slid the blade vertically up, stopping short of my wrist. Blood welled almost immediately, but was washed away by the hot water.

Inhaling and exhaling deeply, I made five more long cuts on my arm, savouring the quick, sharp sting.

I held my arm, now stained red under the stream of water and watched as the graceful, delicate stream washed away the pain of my loss.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

After my shower, I bandaged my arm and slung my favourite old leather jacket on. I hummed to myself as I made a light fruity breakfast. I was in a good mood. I mean, I had found a way to lessen the pain of rejection, and turn it into a much more manageable pain.

Suddenly, my phone began ringing, and checking, I saw that it was Pinkie, probably ringing up to have a go at me for how I had treated her 'friend'.  I let it ring out, and continued with my breakfast.

But my phone rang again, so this time I took it apart and removed the battery. "There, call as much as you want." I said to it, then smacked my forehead.

Come on Sun, talking to yourself, first sign of madness.

I thought about writing to Twilight to tell her what had happened, but quickly dismissed it. She would've only got the others to be my friends so that I wouldn't go demon again.

I sighed and for want of something to do, I put my phone back together.

Turning it on, I saw that I had 36 unread texts and 11 missed calls.

I signed into Mystable, and browsed the latest scandals. Anon-A-Miss has struck again, but this time had left the other girls alone.

As I browsed, I suddenly got an incoming call. It was from Rainbow dash. I stared at my phone for a few seconds, then answered it.

"What do you want?" I asked dully.

I heard a gasp on the other end, then Rainbow began speaking fast, afraid that I would hang up on her.

"Sunset! Oh my god, we've been so worried about you! Applejack was in tears after you left. She felt like a complete bitch for attacking you like that."

"Really?" I replied, pouring sarcasm deep into my tone.

"Rarity got really pissed at A.J for doing that to you, and I agreed with her, she could've shown some tact. She was way out of line when she accused you of being Anon-A-Miss, when you're the most trustworthy of the group."

"Did you ring me up to spout this bullshit, because you thought it was funny?" I spat acidly. "Or did you genuinely think that I would be stupid enough to fall for it again?"

"Fucking hell Sunset, get your head out of your ass and listen to what I'm saying!" Rainbow yelled, clearly getting frustrated with me. "Pinkie, Rarity, A.J and I, we know you're not Anon-A-Miss, Fluttershy admits that! We love you, Sun and we want to make it up to you.

"Save it Rainbow, I'm tired or you and the other's lies. I used to think we were all good friends, now, I... fuck I don't even know what's real anymore!"

I heard a heavy exhale. Then Rainbow spoke again, a little nervously.

"Well I wasn't gonna say this, but you know what, I wan you to know how much I trust you Sunset."

"Save it." I repeated, curious in spite of myself.

"As far as I'm aware, Fluttershy, Pinkie and Rarity don't know anything about this, and what I'm about to tell you now is told to you, because I trust you to keep it in confidence to yourself."

On her side, there was silence for a second, then Dash took a deep breath and said;

"Me and Applejack are in a relationship Sun, we love each other very much."

I exhaled sharply in surprise at this news. I then closed my eyes and groaned aloud as I realised the full scenario. I could see it all, Anon-A-Miss was going to find out about this, and put it up in public, naming and shaming the couple. Their relationship might even break under the strain.

I felt a wave of anger engulf me as I realised what else was going to happen. Both of them, Rainbow and Applejack were going to blame me for the attack, and none of my friends will believe that it wasn't me, especially not Rainbow.

"Why would you tell me this?" I yelled into the phone. "Don't you know what this means? Now Anon-A-Miss will find out about this and eventually the whole school will find out. Then all of you will blame me."

I heard an exasperated sigh on the other end. "Sunset, I don't quite think that you're hearing me. I'm telling you this, because I trust you and because I trust my friends. Friends have got to trust friends, otherwise they... we can't truly be friends."

"You fool." I whispered slowly. "You guys will be shamed in front of the whole school. You shouldn't have told me. Anon-A-Miss will make you guys believe that it was me, they'll make you guys hate me."

"I won't let that happen Sun." Dash replied determinedly. "I made a promise to you, and to Twilight that I would never let you down. Through thick and thin, I will always be by your side."

I moaned again and slumped in my chair. Through my overwhelming sadness and mistrust, I felt a small spark of hope ignite, somewhere inside of me.

Maybe Dash's right. I thought to myself Maybe I need to trust her again. Celestia knows I haven't many other choices.

"Rainbow Dash." I replied, lifting the phone back to my ear. "You are one persistent bitch. Maybe that's why your pony equivalent is the Element of Loyalty."

Dash chuckled dryly. "Ok, now that I have convinced you, can you be really girly for just one moment?"

I twirled a braid of hair around a finger. "Kay,"

"I absolutely love Applejack, and I'm fairly convinced she's crazy about me too!" Dash cried in excitement."

"That's really amazing news Dash!" I replied, truly happy for her. "You have got to tell me everything!"

"Alright, but one condition." Rainbow cautioned. "You need to come over first. I want to keep this between you, me, and Applejack at this stage."

"Sounds good. I'll be there in ten." I replied, about to hang up. However, I had one last question. "Rainbow, why?"

I didn't need to finish my question. She understood it perfectly. "Because that's what friends are for, Sunny."

She hung up, and I grabbed my bag and hurried out of the door. God almighty, I must be a real damn fool for agreeing to this. I thought to myself. I just hope she stays on my side.