The Phoenix's Guardian

It had been about a week after I had spoken to Applejack that I received a call from her. She said that all the girls were ready to apologize.

So Sunset and I found ourselves at a coffee house waiting for the girls.

“Nervous?” I asked as I sipped my drink.

Sunset nodded. “Hard not to be. I want to fix things, but what they did hurt and it still hurts.” She replied.

I nodded. “It will for a while. But if they are honestly sorry, they will learn to trust you and not jump to conclusions like they did in this case.” I said taking her hand and giving it a gentle squeeze.

Sunset smiled as the bell over the door rang.

We looked up and we saw five girls enter and head to get drinks.

“Is that them?” I asked.

Sunset nodded.

I observed the group. I saw Pinkie, her hair slightly flatter than it was when I bounced her off my Barrier at the school. There was a girl with white, and I mean white, skin and purple hair that looked like it had seen better days. Another girl had yellow skin and long flowing pale pink locks that honestly, looked like she was afraid of her own shadow. Then there was a tall blonde with a brown stetson hat, which pegged her as Applejack. The last was a rainbow maned girl that could only be Rainbow Dash, a girl that Sunset had an ego the size of a small country.

Soon the group approached our table, and after a nod from Sunset they sat down.

There was a bit of an awkward silence, filled with the sound of people drinking. Finally, Sunset spoke up.

“Girls, I’m not going to lie. What you did hurt. I needed my friends and you abandoned me. Even after everything we went through at the Battle of the Bands, you believed that I would just throw away everything to go back to who I was. I know I was a bitch, but I don’t want to be that girl any more, and I will never go back to it.” She said.

The five all looked down before Rainbow spoke up, her voice hoarse.

“I’m sorry Sunset. I should have at least given you a chance to explain or try to find some evidence that you were innocent. But instead I let my ego get to me and believe what everyone was saying that you had gone back to your old ways instead of looking at how you have changed since the Fall Formal.” She said, looking at Sunset with a hollow look on her face.

“And I should have believed you were tellin’ the truth sugarcube. But I guess I just didn’t want to see what was staring me in the face that you were being set up, because the alternative was that ma kin was setting you up to take the fall.” Applejack said. “I am truly sorry for that.”

“I am sorry as well darling. I, like Applejack, did not want to believe my little sister could stoop to such things. Now I have lost her because of my blindness, and I, we, nearly lost you.” The purple haired girl, Rarity, I realized from her proper tone and speaking of a sister, said.

“I’m sorry too Sunset. I had my doubts it was you, but I didn’t speak up and you took the blame. Can you please forgive me?” Fluttershy asked, eyes shining with unshed tears, her voice and shoulders shaking.

“I’m sorry too Sunset.” Came the morose voice of Pinkie Pie, so at odds with her bright coloring. “I thought you were going back to being a big meanie-pants and were making everyone sad. I didn’t realize just how much we were hurting you and that I almost never got to see your smile again.” She said, her hair falling to being completely straight and flat, which honestly was very creepy.

Sunset took a sip of her drink before responding.

“Like I said what you did hurt, and it will for a while. I want us to be friends again, because you girls showed me that I could honestly be happy. I can understand that given who was behind this, you didn’t, couldn’t, believe that they would do such a thing. I was shocked when Talisman put the pieces together because even at my worst, I never messed with them like I did you and the classmates in our year. I know that things will be different between us and I would be naive to think otherwise. But I do want to be friends with you all. It will just take some time to build that trust back up.” She said.

The girls gave watery smiles and whispered ‘Thank yous’ after she finished. They then turned to me.

“I’m not gonna lie, if it wasn’t for the fact that Sunset was willing to give you lot a chance, to prove that you made a mistake, I would tell you to go hang. But Sunset believes in you and cares for all of you. But you all hurt her deep.” I said. “That kind of pain don’t heal easy. I know from experience. I will give you all a shot, for her sake. Prove me wrong and make this one smile again.” I said, nodding to Sunset.

A chorus of ‘Thank yous’ came as a response.

“Since we won’t be doin’ the Apple Family Christmas with everything going on, what are you going to do Sunset?” Applejack asked.

“Talisman and I are probably just going to stay in and watch some movies. This whole mess has kind of killed my holiday spirit this year.” Sunset replied.

“I myself am a practitioner of the old ways any how, so I never really celebrated Christmas as you would. I still give gifts, but I observe the day as Yule.” I said.

My response got some curious looks from the girls, but none felt comfortable asking questions.

Soon we parted ways, Sunset and I to go shopping for a few gifts, and the girls to salvage what they could of their holidays.

“So what is Yule?” Sunset asked after we had returned home and unloaded our purchases.

I looked up from where I was unboxing a fake tree.

“Yule is the celebration of the year’s end that was practiced by the old pagan groups before western religion came and replaced the old ways. We thank the gods for the harvest and ask for blessings of a good year when the winter has passed. We provide offerings of food and drink as thanks and payment.” I explained.

Sunset gave a sound of understanding.

“In the old days, belief in magic was more widespread. It isn’t like the magic that you and I can do. It is primarily ritual and very slow compared to what we can do. That and if you do it for selfish reasons, what you do will come back on you three fold. That is why the main tenant of the Craft is ‘Do no harm’.” I elaborated.

“So basically the worship of various gods to ask for assistance and such?” She inquired.

I nodded. “Exactly. We never demand of the gods and we do not prostrate ourselves before them. We walk with them and ask for their assistance when we need it. Most witches, and it is a gender neutral term, despite what pop culture says, are more comfortable when surrounded by nature. Forests, open fields, mountains, bodies of water and the like. We respect nature and take only what we need to do what we need to do.” I explained.

Sunset went back to wrapping gifts in silent contemplation.

I smiled, maybe my path could help her find peace with her past and truly move beyond it.

The days leading up to Yule were a bit hectic. We did some decorating around the house, me explaining the significance of the decorations in regards to the old ways. I could tell that she was absorbing my lessons on a new kind of magic as she seemed to hang on my words. I told her the creation story of the old Celts, with the God and the Goddess, and how to work the energies when performing a prepared ritual. I also explained that being in the circle was not always necessary. Just a quick and simple prayer was all that it took sometimes to help calm one’s nerves.

I also taught her how to ground, center, and shield herself. This lesson came easily to her as she explained it was basically what she would do as a unicorn on the other side of the mirror when she was learning to cast a new spell.

This helped her considerably. Within a couple of days, she seemed to be lighter than before, less prone to moments of melancholy. She even stated as much and that her temper, which I had fortunately not seen at this point but she said it was legendary, was slowly becoming easier to control.

Once Yule came, we invited Aegis and her girlfriend, Celestia, and Luna over. All four accepted and though Celestia and Luna made it clear that they normally do not do this, they both enjoyed themselves.

We had a nice dinner and enjoyed a couple of movies after exchanging gifts before Aegis had to report in for duty that night. Her girlfriend, Amethyst Rose who was a fun loving girl with a prankster streak, Sunset and myself all gave her hugs and told her to be careful while on patrol.

At that point, Amethyst, Celestia and Luna all took their leave after wishing us a happy holiday.

Once the door was shut, Sunset and I collapsed on the couch, exhausted from the last few days.

“I had a good time. Thank you.” Sunset said as she rested her head on my shoulder.

“I’m glad.” I replied, wrapping my arm around her.

“Thank you also for everything you have done to help me. It has made a big difference that I can already see, and it has just been a few days.” She added.

I smiled and rubbed her shoulder.

“That is why I did it. I was glad that it helped.” I replied before looking at the time. “Now come on, it’s late and we should get some sleep.” I said nudging the girl, eliciting a groan and a complaint about not wanting to move. Smiling, I turned and scooped her up bridal style and carried her to what was quickly becoming our room rather than just my room. Setting her on the bed, I lightly tossed her pajamas to her and grabbed mine before heading to the bathroom to change into mine.

After getting changed and brushing our teeth, Sunset and I lay in bed, just enjoying the closeness.

“I like this.” Sunset said, contentment in her voice.

“Hmm?” I responded.

“Laying together like this. I feel safe, whole if you get what I mean.” She clarified.

“I do.” I said, before taking a chance. “I know I said we should wait, but I think we are at a good point to ask. Sunset Shimmer, would you do me the honor of being my girlfriend?”

I felt Sunset move and I turned my head and saw her looking at me with the biggest smile on her face.

“I’ll take that as a yes?” I asked a smile on my face.

Sunset nodded. “Yes.” She replied.

My smile widened as I raised up and gave her a kiss.

There were no fireworks or anything, just a sense of rightness and love. We separated after a moment, and smiling we hugged each other tightly.

No words were spoken as we fell asleep in each other’s arms.