A Piece of Meat

A Piece of Meat
by Shivered Timbers

Chapter 8

Rarity, Applejack, Rainbow Dash and Twilight Sparkle stood on the stoop outside the front door to Sunset's apartment building. They were, to a girl, the very picture of penitence: heads hung, eyes downcast, hands clasped before them. Rarity held a small gift-wrapped box before her. Behind them stood Pinkie Pie, looking distinctly less penitent and more brimming with barely concealed excitement.

"We talked about what happened," Applejack began, "and after some, ah, deliberation, everyone has decided they have somethin' to say to ya. Me, for starters."

She cleared her throat. "I know it didn't do anythin' to ya, but I apologize, Sunset, for not keepin' my yap shut when I oughta. I'll keep my fantasies to myself in the future, that's a promise."

She stepped aside and elbowed Rainbow Dash, who lurched up a step and had the decency not to actually glare at her.

"I'm sorry," Dash said plainly. "What I did was wrong. I've deleted the picture, and no one else saw it. I'm not ever going to try to trick you the way I did or do something like that ever again. I hope we can still be friends."

The apology was, to Sunset's ear, canned. No doubt she'd had it drilled into her on the drive over. But it wasn't like Dash to be insincere, just bad at expressing herself. Sunset nodded at her, not really sure what to say in return. Rainbow stepped back, and Rarity took her place, handing the package to Sunset.

"I, too, want to apologize, darling. A lady knows how to control herself, and I have lost control of myself on two occasions now, with two disastrous results. I have broken a promise and done you a grave misdeed, and I only hope that completing the, er, item we discussed earlier will be a first step toward repairing our relationship. I've learned a hard lesson, and I shan't be repeating my mistakes any time soon, if ever. I'm sorry, Sunset Shimmer. I want to earn your forgiveness."

Sunset took the package and handed it to Fluttershy. She'd forgotten about the item of apparel that had started this whole mess, but now that she had it, well, that meant one less thing she had to worry about. Rarity, she could definitely forgive.

Rainbow Dash piped up. "Whoa, wait, is that a cock so--Ow!" She shut down as Applejack smacked her in the back of her head.

"Keep yer mouth shut, R.D., if'n ya know what's good for ya. Twilight?"

Twilight nodded to Applejack and took Rarity's place.

"Sunset, I'm really, really sorry for how I acted in the lab. I made a fool out of myself, and I'm sorry you had to see that. I also learned a hard lesson about telling other people how you feel. Rest assured, I'm not going to do that kind of thing to you again, and I'll have to learn to deal with my feelings better. I hope this doesn't irreparably damage our friendship."

"Also rest assured," added Applejack, "ain't none of us gonna make a pass at ya, Sunset. Since you'n Fluttershy are an item and all."

Sunset gave her a wry smile. "Well, in your defense, we really weren't an item until about, ohh... Ten minutes ago?" She looked back at Fluttershy, who gave her a secretive, mischievous smile.

"What?" Rainbow Dash barked. "How come Fluttershy got to--OW!"

She bent double, a hand against the side of her face where first Sunset and now Applejack had clocked her.

"I warned you, ya cockamamie galoot!"

"AJ, stop," Sunset said. Applejack, to her credit, backed down, relaxing her fists.

"I'm sorry, Sunset," Dash mumbled. "I need to work on focusing on the things that are important and not running my mouth off and stuff..."

"Girls," said Sunset, and the five turned their eyes to her. "I just want to say thank you. Coming here to apologize means a lot, and so does your gift, Rarity."

Rarity gave her a small smile.

"For now, I'll say apology accepted. And, Twilight, I hope I didn't hurt you."

Twilight gave her head a tiny shake. Well, they could talk about it another time.

"But I might need a little time before..." Sunset's voice caught in her throat. She wiped her eyes. "Before I can really look you all in the eyes again. I hope you understand."

The girls nodded and murmured affirmatives, except for Rainbow Dash, who at least had the decency to look ashamed.

"And yeah, Fluttershy and I are dating now, so please keep that in mind in the future." She smiled. "I really hope this doesn't get in the way of our friendships." She took Fluttershy's hand and brought her forward, so they were standing as side-by-side as they could in the narrow doorway.

"Does this mean I get to throw you two a party?" asked Pinkie, bouncing up and down in the back.

Fluttershy giggled. "That would be lovely, Pinkie Pie."

"Somethin' good comin' outta all this bad, then." Applejack tipped her hat forward. "I reckon that's all we had to say. We'll leave you two some time and space, right, girls?"

"Right!" said the others.

With that, Applejack, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Twilight and Pinkie filed down the steps and out to the two waiting cars. Pinkie was already excitedly talking about party preparation, while Twilight held a frantic, whispered conversation with Rainbow.

Sunset couldn't be sure, but she thought she caught the word 'clitoris' in there.

She cast a questioning glance to Fluttershy.

"I should probably get home, too," she said, taking both of Sunset's hands in hers. "It's been... Exciting. But I tend to find too much excitement really draining."

"I hear you," said Sunset. "See you tomorrow for our date, then? Say, around one?"

"Okay. I'll see you then."

They stood like that, hand in hand, for a long moment. Sunset could tell they were both waiting for the other to go in for a kiss. She was not sure she wanted to try that again just yet. Finally, she let go, and they settled for just waving goodbye.

After Fluttershy got in her car and drove off, Sunset went back up to her apartment, eager to try out the new cock sock Rarity had made for her.