As the next act began to take stage Sunset stood up. She didn't want to risk the Rainboom's seeing her, and decided to take the easy way out. This was a children's hospital, so it would be easy enough to bug out and shoot Trixie a text saying to drop a line when she was done. Sunset walked to her bike pausing at a small note stuck to the hood. She grabbed it, unfolding it while she unlocked her bags.

Sunset,
I know you probably don't want to hear from me right now, but I think I've made a terrible mistake. After thinking about it for a while, I think you aren't Anon-A-Miss. I know I said some awful things a few days ago, but I want to apologize. I'm not gonna say something silly, like I'm still your friend. I'm pretty sure that's your choice. But I put my number at the bottom of this paper, if you want to text me, I'll meet you somewhere to talk.

Sunset looked at the number, before grunting. The number at the bottom was familiar. It was almost insulting that Fluttershy didn't bother to sign her name. Sunset glared at the note for a minute, before scoffing and shoving it into her pocket. She pulled out her helmet and straddled her bike, before drawing her phone. She thumbed in Fluttershy's number and sent a short message. Whether or not she listened to it didn't really matter, just that a hand was extended back. The bike growled as she began revving the engine. She pulled out of the parking lot and drove towards a nearby gas station.

Pulling up to an empty pump, Sunset parked her bike. The gas station was one of the nicer sort. An indoor cafe allowing one to relax if there was a lack of costumes. Luckily the gas prices at this one were known to be higher here, and was mostly dead. Sunset walked inside, ordering a drink and taking a seat by the window. She sipped at her drink waiting for time to run by.

After about half an hour of waiting, she got a text from Trixie. Apparently, her grandfather was going to pick up both her and her equipment, meaning Sunset was now free of obligation. She looked at this as a double-edged sword. On one hand, she could make her way back home and check on her experiments. On the other, it meant facing her evening rendezvous alone. She shrugged. moving out of her seat and tossing the half-full cup into the trash. She could deal with doing alchemy on her own.

***

Sunset looked over her basement lab. While she didn't have time to set up any of her more useful potions right now, she did have time to play with some ideas she got. She watched the multi-colored liquid of her latest test as it simmered on its bunsen burner. As she watched it a new idea formed in her head. Grabbing her journal she penned a quick message to Twilight. Hey Twi, another thing on my list. A vial of liquid Rainbow. I have a totally useless but potentially cool idea.

She didn't bother waiting for a response before topping off the magic needed for the potion, feeling her reserves drop back down to useless levels. But as the liquid stabilized into a calm blue color, Sunset grinned. She pulled the vial from its stand and shut off the burner. With deliberate care, she poured the potion into a plastic bottle. She winced at the time she used one of those bag bottles. The potion melted right through it. She refocused, pouring the last of the potion into its new home.

She paused, letting it settle before moving it again. The magical quality of alchemy meant that both heat and cold dispersed quickly, so after a simple count of five the bottle was slightly swollen, effectively making the bottle a sealed environment until she popped the top herself. She grabbed a sharpie before sketching a black T on the bottle, followed by a picture of an arrow passing through a stick person. Semi-incorporeal powers at the cost of a little magic, how quaint. She bobbed her head in quiet celebration before heading up the ladder to her home proper. She placed the bottle in the fridge and moved to the counter, where her experiment log sat. She wrote down the details, including when the chill would give the potion the desired effect, before closing the log and glancing at her phone. 8:15. She grimaced and looked to the door. THis was the moment. Either she would go to meet with Fluttershy, or throw it aside. She stood there for a moment, debating the merits of staying home before she groaned. "Damnit, she'd probably wait until nine anyways. I went and played myself." She grabbed her helmet and journal before heading to her bike. "Why does all this drama happen at the same time?"

The road to Canterlot high was clear with the start of break, and the school lot was mostly barren. The only exception as Sunset pulled up was the soft colored car sitting in the lot. Sunset sighed and parked near it, putting down the kickstand with altogether too much force. She kept her helmet on, moving to the statue without a moment of hesitation. She did speak under her breath as she did, another bad habit from long ago. "Rule three, never let them see you sweat. If you act like you know everything, pon-er people will talk much more freely, trying to seem smarter than they are."

She walked to the statue and saw Fluttershy standing beside it, shuffling from foot to foot. Sunset took a few deep breaths, and walked forward. "Fluttershy, design your notes. Playing mysterious puppeteer doesn't suit you. I thought I told you about that."

Fluttershy winced at that. "I... I know. I just wanted a chance to apologize, but I thought if my name was on it you would notice. And I guessed you changed numbers, so I was hoping you wouldn't instantly recognize my number."

Sunset rolled her eyes, but didn't make her displeasure known. "I was queen bitch for a reason, I recognized your number. Anyways now that you've figured it out then apology accepted or whatever. I'm in the middle of some work right now, but if I go crazy and start a revenge plot I will graciously allow you your freedom in my new world order."

Fluttershy had a weak smile, but it quickly fell. "A-are you sure?" Fluttershy flinched again. "I-I know I really messed up saying all those things, and I want to at least try to make it up to you."

Sunset shrugged. "Honestly I'm only here right now until I can go home. I'll serve my time for what I did wrong, but I've done the only thing I came here to do." Sunset paused. "But, you meant something to me, so maybe once I calm down I'll want to talk. Of course, I also have no idea how to do this whole friend thing."

Fluttershy flinched at that, which got a raised eyebrow from Sunset. After a moment made it clear she wouldn't actually ask about it Fluttershy spoke. "I'm sorry about that too. Twilight told us we weren't being great friends, but after a few months we should have at least told you the basics."

Sunset shrugged. "Doesn't matter much, I have a friend on speed dial now, so she's been filling me in when we aren't researching stuff together."

Fluttershy tilted her head. "Oh, I-I hope they're nice."

Sunset rolled her eyes. "Yeah, whatever. She's pissed at you guys though. So unless you want to get yelled at I'd suggest heading out." Sunset glanced at the statue seeing it shimmer once as the mirror activated. "Like now, she's just about here."

Fluttershy looked behind her and saw the statue. She paused. "U-um, how long until she gets here?"

Sunset raised an eyebrow, looking as if Fluttershy asked a truly stupid question. "When she walks through the portal. Duh. With Twilight, she could be early or late, she has Princess stuff to do after all."

Fluttershy looked back at the statue. "Oh. W-well, is it alright if I wait here?"

Sunset rolled her eyes. "Whatever, you do you, but once she hands me my stuff I'm going to try and leave before she convinces me to help 'fix' this whole mess."

Fluttershy raised an eyebrow. "Do you not want to fix it?"

Sunset shrugged. "Fix the fact that none of you trust me? After saving the school from the sirens I thought that would have fixed it, and inviting armageddon to prove myself again sounds really stupid. Buck it, I say they can figure it out if they need me." Sunset threw her hands into the air, turning to her bike. "Like, I was getting close to fully trust you. I wanted you guys to visit my shitty home, go on a bike trip with me, all that stupid friend shit that I missed out on for my entire freaking life."

She stared at her bike. "Before I met you guys I had two things I enjoyed. One was dangerous, painful, and got me more scars than happy memories. The other was dangerous, exhilarating, and involved precisely zero other people. I did my work, and never thought of what would happen to others." Technically all true, she never cared what happened to the people that went to prison by her midnight activities, even if she cared about the high schoolers she tortured. She paused, controlling her breathing. "Honestly, I don't know if it can be fixed. I hadn't trusted anything in such a long time. My whole life since I came here, I've trusted me, myself, and I. The first time I open myself up to people to trust them, they all turn on me the second they can. Even if I deserve some suspicion, I don't think everyone thinking I'm guilty without a single scrap of evidence is worth throwing me aside like baggage."

Sunset turned around, and found Fluttershy was no longer alone. Instead, Twilight Sparkle, Princess of Equestria stood beside her. Sunset winced at her own mistake. Stupid, getting caught up in her own wake again. She gave Twilight a sheepish grin. "Hello princess."

Author's Note

Edited by Kitkataddel posted 1/26/19