The Cello and The Guitar

Sunset sighed as she paused in front of the door to Rarity’s boutique, her hand hovering so close that her fingertips would momentarily brush against the brassy knob. She was late. She knew she was late. But she just hadn’t been able to get Octavia out of her mind the last few days, constantly worrying that she was alright.

She had been so worried that she hadn’t fallen asleep until five in the morning today, waking up at a little after ten when her phone started blaring with incoming texts. Thankfully it was a Sunday, but she still was late to the meetup with the other Rainbooms, this time being held at Rarity’s.

Rarity…

She knew Octavia the best out of the group, she even had the cellist's cell number. Maybe she could be convinced to share it…?

“Hey girls, sorry I’m late!” Sunset called out as she entered the boutique, the bell above the door chiming loudly to assist in announcing Sunset’s arrival. “I just couldn’t get any sleep the last few days.”

“I’ll say, dear!” Sunset looked up from her boots to see Rarity looking at her in a distraught manner. “You look atrocious- No offense.”

“Did you walk through a whirlwind!?” Pinkie Pie was dancing around Sunset, poking, pulling, and prodding at the random spikes of the girl’s amber and gold coloured mane.

“The wind has been pickin’ up…” Applejack said softly as she pulled aside the material that was covering the window, the sound of the wind howling reverberating through the window. “...Wait, did you go’n walk through this storm, Sunset?”

“...Walk? Storm?” Sunset looked up at the farmer, her brow furrowed. “What are you-”

Sunset was cut off as light flooded through the window, the massive crash of thunder following almost instantly as the lights to the Boutique died.

“...Talking about…?” Sunset’s face fell into a frown as she made her way towards the window, now the only source of faint light in the room. “When the hell did this start?”

“It’s been happening all morning, Shimms,” Rainbow Dash chuckled as she turned on the flashlight of her phone, before starting to attempt and pry Fluttershy off of her leg. “How did you not notice!?”

“I… I don’t know… I guess I was still worrying about Octavia?” Sunset replied lamely, giving an equally weak shrug.

“She’s still on your mind?” Rarity piped up as she crept towards the window, stealing the blinds from Applejack and returning them to covering the window. “I do say that she is becoming something of an obsession, dear.”

“Is that why you were such a space cadet at practice the other day?” Rainbow grunted as she dragged Fluttershy towards one of the benches that sat around the front room.

“Was I?” Sunset followed her friends as everyone slowly made their way to the impromptu sitting area.

“Ya were more than a mite bit out there, shugahcube.” Applejack confirmed, giving a slow nod.

“Come on, Fluttershy! Let! GO!” Rainbow Dash finally managed to slip her leg out of Fluttershy’s trembling lock, stumbling backwards a few steps before steadying herself. “Okay, where’s the damn breaker box, Rares?”

“Oh, this way, Dashie.” Rarity got up to her feet and started off towards the back room, sky blue athlete in tow.

Applejack sighed as she got up and moved over to take a seat beside Sunset, wrapping an arm around her as she brought them close. “Ah know yer worried about her, Sunset. But there’s only so much ya can do fer her, ya know?”

“I can be there for her to talk to. I can try and make her smile. I can-”

“Sunset…” the amber skinned girl paused her rambling when the farmgirl spoke up, turning to look at her. “Ya need ta relax, girl. I know ya want ta help her, but things have changed since tha Battle o’ tha Bands.”

Sunset tilted her head, frowning slightly at the comment. In the distance, she thought she heard dull thud.

“People have forgiven ya now, seein as ya saved the lot of em an all.” the blonde girl continued. “Ya don’t need ta try and keep provin’ that ya have changed.”

“...I still gotta try…” Sunset whispered softly, causing Applejack to let out a sigh of her own, pulling Sunset a little bit closer.

“Well you do you, Sunset. Just remember that tha rest o’ us are here fer ya. Alright?”

Sunset smirked, nodding her head as she rested an arm around Applejack. “Thanks…”

Just as soon as she spoke the room was flooded with light, a fearful noise erupting from where Fluttershy was as Sunset was blinded.

“The aliens are back! The aliens are back!” screamed Pinkie Pie, the sound of her running around could be heard as Sunset’s vision slowly returned, only to notice Pinkie stop when Rarity and Rainbow Dash returned. “Oh, hi Ma- You two!”

Sunset was about to welcome them back as well, only to pause as she watched Rarity move a few errant strands of hair back into place, while what looked like the remnants of a blush left her face.

“Took the two o’ ya long enough!” Applejack shouted, shaking her head as she received a double digit response from Rainbow Dash, Sunset merely chuckling in response. Maybe she had just been seeing things?

“Okay, so now that everyone is here, and the lights are on, who’s ready to have some fun?” Rarity asked after clearing her throat with a quick cough.

“Oooh! Ohohohoh! Me! Pick meeee!” Pinkie slid across the floor on her knees, stopping just before the fashionista with one pink arm raised up to the roof.

“Yes, yes, Pinkie, go get everything ready.” Rarity responded, sending Pinkie off, before pausing and walking over to the motioning Sunset. “Yes, dear?”

Sunset looked around uneasily, everyone else having followed Pinkie to the back room. She took an extra deep breath before leaning forward.

“Can I get Octavia’s number?” she whispered softly into Rarity’s pale ear.