Trust takes years to build, seconds to break, and forever to repair.”

Sunset took the second plate out of the microwave and handed it over to Flash. “We can eat and then you can ask your questions. “

Flash nodded. “Okay that will give me a second to think about what I’m asking.”

They ate in relative silence with the TV being the only thing keeping it from being completely quiet. Once they were finished, Sunset took the plates and quickly washed them in the bathroom sink. She sat back down on the couch upon her return. “All right go ahead and ask.”

Flash took a deep breath to calm himself before firing his questions one at a time. “Why did that happen to me? Why does it even happen at all? What causes it to happen?”

“Okay if I'm being honest here, I really don't have a clear idea on why we pony up. I tried figuring it out and each time it came back to bite me in the ass. However, I somewhat know what happened with you. When I ponied up this time, I could feel my other senses extend. When i had a horn, my magic gathered at that focal point whereas this was my whole body. It was like I was open to a world bigger than what I could normally perceive. I felt you and reached out to touch you not with my hand, but my soul, my magic, and doing that must have triggered your own magic. Since you have a counterpart in the other world. Sorry if that was long winded or confusing.”

“No-no its fine, its just a lot of information to take in. Does this mean everytime I play music I'll pony up? “

“I don't know, but we can figure it out easily. Just play when I’m not around.”

“Okay, I will. What should I do if it happens again? I may not be pursuing music as a career, but I don't want to quit the band. I don't know how the guys would react if I were to pony up… okay that's an awful name.”

Sunset laughed. “Yeah, it kinda is, but it’s the most apt description we have for it. So unless you have something better for it, then I suggest you roll with it.”

Flas thought for a minute before sighing in defeat. “Okay, no idea either so I guess we're stuck with it. Does your neighbor always assume you're dating whoever you bring home?”

Sunset looked away with a hint of shameful embarrassment. “You’re actually the first person I've really let in here.”

Flash raised an eyebrow in surprise. “Wait, really? I thought the rainbooms would have been here.”

“i was considering it, but as you know things didn’t exactly work out.” Sunset looked out the window forlornly. She shook her head to banish the feelings of gloom. “Probably for the best in hindsight.”, she said with a wry smile.

Flash nodded in understanding. “Yeah probably. So when's your next free day?”

Sunset took a moment to think about her schedule considering her job at the sushi restaurant at the mall. “Wednesday and Thursday sound good to you?”

“Yeah. I'll let dad know, and I'll let you know if I...”, he cringed. “...pony up or not.”

Sunset couldn't help but laugh at the expression on his face. “I'll tell you what: if you come up with a better name, we can use that instead. “

Flash smiled confidently at the proposal. “I'll get work on it then. ‘Night sunset, thanks for having me over. Whoever made the stroganoff, tell them compliments to the chef.”

“Good night Flash drive safe.” Sunset then started back towards her apartment.

The next afternoon, sunset was rushing to the meeting point. She was running late and had no time to change back before hand. She finally reached the table and took a second to catch her breath. “Sorry I’m late, everyone wanted sushi today.”

Adigo purred. “Oh no worries Sunset. My my, you look delicious in that tiny kimono-like uniform. “

“Dagi!! Don't do that! Sunny's like our sister!” Sonata exclaimed while wrapping her arms around Sunset’s waste.

Adagio pouted slightly. “Don't spoil my fun Sonata.”

Sunset laughed at their interactions before remembering that she was still in uniform. “Do you guys mind if I go change real quick? “

“Fine, if you must.” Adagio waved her hand dismissively and directed Sunset to the bathroom. Sunset tried to get up, but Sonata just tightened her grip and refused to do otherwise. “Sonata, let the poor girl go. Sunset will come back. “

The blue siren pouted as she reluctantly released her grip and allowed Sunset to make her way to the bathroom. “You better be back soon, you hear?”

Sunset nodded as she headed to get changed. Upon walking in and locking the door behind her, she slipped out of her work clothes and into more casual ones before walking out feeling much more relieved.

"Sunset Shimmer!” Sunset’s heart almost jumped out of her chest at the loud familler scream. "I told you I could find her.”

Sunset turned and saw Fluttershy, who looked completely exhausted as evidenced by the bags under her red, swollen eyes and Pinkie looked worse as her hair was even more of a mess and her left eye was twitching.

"What the hell do you two want?” Sunset didn't bother to be polite as she asked her question.

"We’re here to apologize for how we mistreated you.”, Fluttershy spoke in a rushed tone that still almost sounded like a whisper.

"It was a mean and awful thing for us to do. We should have listened to you. We were the worst friends, people were awful to you and we let them be that way when we shouldn't have. Even when you were a big meanie, no one was sure you did it. You tore friendships apart and we didn't even know. You're so smart and anon-a-miss is not.”, Pinkie said as she inched closer to Sunset with each word. “Even if you never ever ever ever gonna speak to us again-”

“We are so sorry sunset and we don't deserve your forgiveness, but we hope that you’ll at least accept our most sincere apologies.”, Fluttershy interrupted Pinkie as fresh tears fell down her cheeks.

A part of Sunset wanted to forgive them, to forget everything that had happened, but the other part wanted to tell them where they could shove their apologies. She looked away form the pair, refusing to allow the sentiment to deceive her actions. “I don't know if I can forgive you that easily, but I will think about what you said.” Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy had hurt her the least, Fluttershy especially. “What do the others think?”, Sunset asked before she headed back.

“They won't listen to us!”, Pinkie cried between her sobs.

“We had a big fight last night about it.”, Fluttershy softly sobbed “We tried to reason with them sunset, but they were so stubborn, its all our faults in the first place. If we were better friends in the first place, we wouldn't have accused you right off the bat.”

Sunset could see the remorse in their faces and placed a hand on their shoulders. “Don’t worry. We’ll make them see reason one way or another. For now though I appreciate that you two came over to apologize.” She then pulled Pinkie and Fluttershy in for a light hug which seemed to calm them down as they stopped crying. While she may not be ready to forgive them completely, it was clear that they felt genuine remorse for the pain they had caused her and were willing to atone for said pain.

Sunset then remembered that the Dazzlings, specifically Sonata, were still waiting for her. “I have to go now, but I will text you guys later. “

“Promise?” Fluttershy looked up at Sunset with hopeful eyes.

Pinkie the appeared and got into her face as she looked her dead in the eye. “Pinkie promise!?”

Sunset sighed. “Cross my heart and hope to fly stick a cupcake in my eye. “ she went through the motions to satisfy Pinkie so she would leave her be. She did have a tendency to be a touch overbearing and clingy, although as she was finding out nowhere near as clingy as sonata was turning out to be.

“Is anon-a-miss still posting?” Sunset had refused to check the page not wishing to wallow in self pity. She wasn’t a sadist who enjoyed the pain of others either. She hadn’t minded back when she caused it, but those days were over.

“That's the funny part: she's not, the page is up and other people are posting secrets anonymously, but she's not.” Pinkie informed sunset with her finger tapping her chin. “This requires some investigation, Fluttershy will be my assistant.” Sunset couldn't help but smile as her uncle was a detective and his special somepony was his assistant.

“Text me when you find anything. I really need to get going, but I’ll text you guys latter.”, Sunset told them as she headed out the door, not looking forward to how Sonata would react to her being gone for so long.

Author's Note

Hope you like. Sunset hasnt forgiven them yet but they are worrking on rebuilding turst. Once again big big thanks to Speculore!! If any of you have a cooler name for pony up i would love to here it.