Author's Note

GUESS WHO'S BACK! Yep, this has been rewritten, as has much of the story. The original idea concept is all thanks to diablo4000, who gave me the idea for angry Shy and Bloom seeing Sunset leave. I will say that, the original chapter was much more strange, from Shy's PoV sort of and felt off. It was messy and erratic, since it was her PoV and thus her emotions, but it also revealed to much I felt. This, feel much better, though I can't right AJ's Dialogue properly for the life of me. I hope you enjoy this chapter, and the next one is in the works, but may take some time, since college life is sucking with half online classes, no instructions, and me being a very "In class" learner doesn't help. I accept constructive criticism, and I will thank my friend Red for pre-reading this story and making sure it's not too bad. See you in the next one.

TBR

A Night of Regrets

-------The Evening of Sunset's Attempt-------

AJ was gathering up the snacks from the kitchen, as she was making sure to get all the things Sunset and the others like, especially her family's signature red delicious apples. She smiles as she shines one and bites into it, all nice and warm in her home, slippers on and ready to have the girls over for one amazing, and hopefully productive slumber party. AJ walks into the living room, with the fireplace lit and the others all chatting about the past few days, how they couldn't believe the CMC would do such awful things to Sunset, but Shy and Pinkie voice that they hope to fix what has happened.

Dash: "I don't know, maybe we should just act like nothing happened, I mean, it's not like she didn't deserve it. Sunset was a bitch to us all before Princess Sparky came to set her straight." AJ stops going to set the apples down near RD, as she glares at her. Shy then speaks, "I don't know Dashie, we didn't act like friends to Sunset." Dash sighs, and rolls her eyes, "Yeah, well she never did either, like, where should I start, the time in sixth grade she stuck a wad of gum in Rarity's hair, or in seventh when she shoved you into a locker? It seems like she still deserves to get some of her own medicine."

Pinkie then speaks, "Well, I...won't disagree with you Rainbow, but she seemed really upset that we didn't even try to listen to her." AJ sits back, handing the apples to Rarity, who thanks her and takes on to eat, as both think about what they feel on this topic. AJ thinks back to the day she met Sunset, 'It was six grade, just before actually. I reckon I've actually known her the longest, but..why can't I recall how she was before she got into our school?' AJ ponders this, as the trio get into a very vocal debate. Dash just keeps hammering home Sunset's evil deeds, while Shy and Pinkie accept that they happened, but try to counter them with how she was scared or possible just not in the right state of mind.

Rarity then speaks up, "I will say Sunset has done a lot of bad things, and she really hasn't been punished for them-" Dash then shouts, "Finally, so you agree she deserved the blog happening to her?" Rarity is caught off guard, as AJ swears she hears footsteps, but just assumes it's Bloom pacing as she has to type out a report on "Why I ain't gonna be a bully." for her punishment. Shy then speaks in a whisper, "Maybe you should be nicer, after all she is sweet and caring now."

Dash then sighs, "Shy, look, we all know that Sunset needs to pay for her bad decisions. She bullied you, me, Rarity, Derpy, Trixie, Lyra, Bon-Bon, the CMC, half the younger students, and even threatened to turn us into slaves and she became a Demon!" Pinkie then looks grumpy and shouts, "Okay, we know sunset did some horrible, awful, and rather rude things-" AJ's then swears she heard crying, and the front door shut, but checks the time and sees it's too early for Sunset to get back, she was doing research in the library and wouldn't be by till later.

Just a few hours go by, and AJ then hears Bloom walks down the stairs. Bloom, in her robe and bunny slippers, looks into the living room, worried but appears to be taking on her "big girl" face, to talk to them. However as the girls are arguing still, Bloom can't be heard, though by the tone and look of her, AJ realizes something is wrong, and her brain begins to put the pieces together, the lack of Sunset, the argument, and the crying. However, she tries to rationalize it, as she tries to quiet the girls down to let Bloom speak.

This fails, so Bloom then makes a high pitched whistle, getting everyone's attention, and causing AJ to recoils. Aj rubbed her hears, partially covering them, as Bloom also looks to be bothered by her own whistle. 'Damn it Bloom, Granny told you notta do it that so loud.' Dash and the others all get quiet, and look at Bloom, who begins to speak softly. "I um, you all know that, um...Sunset just left." AJ pales a bit, as Fluttershy and the others look shocked. Dash then chuckles, "Heh heh, your joking right?" Bloom then looks angry, "Do I look like I'm making a joke? No! She was walking down the path inta town." AJ then gets up, "Alrighty then, I'mma get Mac's truck out-" AJ then recalls Mac is out in his truck, and they have no way to safely find Sunset, legally at least, since it is too late for Shy and Pinkie to go out driving.

Aj then sighs, "Or, not since Mac is out and it's very late now, too dangerous to go out now." Shy then begins to have a panic attack, as Rarity sighs, "Now now Darlings, I am sure she will be fine. Sunset is strong and probably just needs some time to recompose herself." Shy then looks at Rarity, harshly, "Oh..really? W-well why s-should she?" Shy begins to cry, as AJ feels her heart get cold, and she looks out the window, to see the moon is out. "W-we are the worst friends...S-sunset can have right now-"

Rarity moves, standing up and going over to Shy, to comfort her. "There There Flutters, I know we all got a bit, carried away and-" Shy then snaps at her, "NO, DASH DID, AND YOU MADE IT WORSE! YOU DIDN'T EVEN TRY TO DEFEND SUNSET, YOU JUST AGREED WITH DASH!" RD looks shocked, and nervous at the angry Fluttershy. Pinkie then helps Shy up, as both look a bit too shaken up, and they go to the bathroom to calm down. Dash looks unsure of herself, as her confidence and cocky demeanor is gone. Rarity looks at AJ, with a look of 'Oh dear, what do we do?' Aj then sighs, as she sits down and runs her hands through her blond hair, as she stares at the floor.

"I don't know what to do. I ain't good with, I mean-" AJ then sighs, as she thinks to herself, 'I should be worried about Sunset, and not myself right now. But going out on a drive at night, ON a full moon, ugh..screw it, we got to find her. The least I can do as her first friend.' AJ then gets up, as she speaks loudly, "Bloom, you and me are gonna talk later, to make something for Sunset WHEN we bring her back here. Rarity, I know things are not good out there...and you-" AJ realizes, Rarity is crying, and her heart snags a bit, seeing her so disheveled, makes her more determined to get this sorted out. Rarity then sighs, and wipes off her tears, and the small bit of makeup she has one smears, "No no, we have to find her."

Dash then speaks softly, "You all go, do that...if she sees me, she may just...well...maybe I deserve a punch to the gut." AJ sighs, "She won't punch you, she's not like the Bully you all knew." Dash looks at her suspiciously, "What do you mean, she bullied you too." AJ sighs, "Yeah, maybe, but to me, she helped me get stronger, and I respected her, as she respected me. Now, once Shy and Pinkie are calmed down, we can take Shy's van and go out to look for Sunset." Bloom then speaks up, "But...AJ Granny will be Seriously pissed if your out this late." AJ looks at Bloom, as she speaks, "I'm sure Granny will understand why I'mma out so late. Now, go get Winona and stay inside, and if Granny wakes up, tell her I'm with friends looking for Sunset." Bloom nods, as she runs down to their finished basement/cellar to get Winona out of her nice little area she sleeps in.

Suddenly, Shy storms into the Room, and grabs Dash violently, as Pinkie rushes after her, and tries to stop Shy from hurting her oldest friend. Shy then shouts out loud, "YOU'RE THE WORST FRIEND EVER! IF YOU KEPT YOUR MOUTH SHUT SHE WOULDN'T BE LIKE THIS!" Dash grabs Shy's arms, and helps keep Shy from choking her out, "WOAH WOAH! SHY! CALM DOWN AGH..Shy!" Pinkie then breaks Shy off Dash, as Shy just breaks down crying. AJ is confused, and looks at her sort of cousin, who gives her a look of "We got to go..NOW!" "What happened?" Rarity asks, as she looks at Shy, and then at Dash.

"Well....So apparently Death has picked up Sunset after he stopped her from trying to kill herself, and he is now trying to help her and has called Shy asking to get us together and to meet him at the big hospital, the one where that famous Psychologist...um...Wolf yeah Dr. Wolf works. Oh and...he asked us to call Celestia." AJ blinks, as she processes this slowly, and Rarity is confused. Shy then grabs her phone, and in her unstable emotional State, calls Principal Celestia. AJ hears her begging for her to pick up, and once she does, Shy lets her emotions out, shouting at the top of her lungs, as she cries out "PRINCIPAL CELESTIA! SUNSET ISN'T HERE, SHE LEFT... AND SHE JUST TRIED TO KILL HERSELF!" before going on about how they all might of been the cause of Sunset's decision, and then just breaks down again. Rarity is crying and takes a moment to sit and just let it out. AJ feels herself tear up, but she feels more worried than ever for Sunset.

"RIGHT! Everyone get yer coats on and come on, we got to meet Sunset there right now!" The others all nod, and slowly, they all get dressed and huddle into Shy's old van. AJ is getting in the driver's seat when she sees it's not a stick, and she has to deal with the discomfort of trying not to grab at a stick to change gears. She takes a few to get the van moving, but AJ knows how to drive an automatic, but eventually, she gets them on the move. The next couple of hours, which felt like days to AJ, were a blur. They arrived there, then met Celestia, and then talked with Sunset. AJ saw this...Death guy, and felt her entire body go on alert. She doesn't even recall them leaving, and them entering her home to Bloom and Winona asleep on the sofa, with Granny motioning for her to come to the office to talk. The girls, all shaken and tired, huddle together and sit close, as they all silently pray for Sunset to get better.

AJ sits down in the old leather chair of her grandpa's office, as Granny sits in her chair, behind the desk. She has a glass of cider in one hand, and AJ's phone in the other. Granny then speaks, unaffected by the alcohol or her lack of sleep, "Now look here youngin, you can go out and do all sorts of things... But not without tellin' me first. Mac ain't here to help keep us safe, and it's only you and me to keep Bloom and our farm secure. Now I know, your friend was in a hard spot, and I know you'll tell me about it in da morning, but for now, you have but one thing to do."

AJ waits for Granny to punish her until she is handed her phone, and Granny speaks softly, "Get some rest, and wait for her to call you. She needs time I reckon, and you need sleep. You're not a young pup anymore AJ, you're nearly a wolf, now, you all give her time, and I say...in a day or two, if she doesn't contact you, call her. She is always gonna be welcomed here, she's a part of our family whether she knows it or not." AJ sighs, smiles and nods. "I know Granny, I just have to hope she wants to be an honorary apple still, like how Ma was...but...She tried to end it...I..don't know...I could of..could have done-"

Granny Smith then scoffs, "You could say "Stop her" or all the things in the world, but you can't change the past. Believe me, saying that won't help you. You got to suck it up, and push on, like before." AJ nods, as she sighs, remembering the first time she heard those words when she was just starting Sixth grade and she couldn't go to "Donuts with Dad." on the first day. She then recalls that was when she and Sunset spoke about their parents, and how AJ learned Sunset didn't really have parents, only a mentor she viewed as a mother. Granny then snaps her fingers, breaking AJ out of her trance.

"Hey, your so tired you staring at a hole in the floor. Go get some sleep. Tomorrow will be a good day." She smiles, as AJ notices the time is two in the morning. "I will Granny, sleep well, and..um...do you think we should punish Bloom?" Granny nods, "I already gave her a punishment, which is to shovel the entire path from here to the main road, and she has to help bake Sunset a meal, get her a gift, and lastly, give her a big hug in apology. Oh..and she can't have those fancy smancy games or her phone till I say so."

AJ nods, "Well, that seems, like something more than that paper." Granny nods, as she finishes off her glass of cider. "I know, and I'm gonna make sure no one at the school gets any apple fritters next year until I have Sunset's confirmation they apologized to her. I am also gonna make her a sweater, or...give her something I think she should have. You're also gonna help clean up the basement, get apology gifts for Sunset and scrub the bathrooms, cause you caused this too. " Granny says sternly, but smiles, as AJ stands up, nodding and accepting that.

"Right, though gonna have to wait a bit on my punishment, I'm gonna plan out tomorrow, to make sure we all make sure to apologize and help Sunset know...well...we wish to be her friends again. Though...I...." AJ feels her nerves kick in, as Granny stands up, and gives her a calming hug. AJ soon is calm again, as she relaxes. "Thanks, Granny, I needed that." Granny lets go and pat AJ's shoulders. "It's fine, your just like your father, just with your mother's gift is all." AJ nods, as they chuckle, and then both go to planning, and eventually fall asleep.

------The Next Morning------

AJ wakes up early, as she opens her eyes, and shakes herself off. She finds herself, oddly next to Rarity, even though Pinkie was between them. Said Pink-haired hyper cousin was in the kitchen, making mochas and breakfast with Bloom. AJ gets up, and sees, it has happened yet again, Damn it, another blanket gone.' She sighs, as she takes the ripped-up mess and tosses it into the bin for laundry, deciding to try and use it for rags. Pinkie and Bloom look over, as Pinkie giggles, "Heya Cousin, you got a little something-" She points to AJ's nose, as AJ sighs, and goes about her morning routine. She soon feels like herself again, as she sighs.

"So, I'mma gonna do that when I hit puberty too?" AJ nods, as Pinkie does her usual weirdness as she does five things at once, wearing her gloves to use the cast iron pans and metal utensils. "Yessum, and like me and Mac, you will have to control it. Got it?" Bloom nods, as Pinkie passes over two mochas as she keeps making the food. Bloom goes back to work, as AJ hears Rarity wake up. 'Now, a new day, let's make sure it is a good one.' AJ turns, with a smile, as she greets the others, all of whom are slow and groggy, but eventually, they are all at the table and eating.

AJ then tells them her plan, for having an Apology Party for Sunset, and for them to let her have this day to recover, and tomorrow they talk to her. Everyone agrees, and thus they all begin to plan this out, as Dash and Shy want this to be the best party, as both feel guilty for last night. AJ tries to help them all see the bright side of things, as a crow watches them on this morning, but flies away, as he knows they mean well now, and he has confirmed his suspicions and now goes to set his own plans into motion.

Well now, that was interesting, no? It seems there is more at hand here in this world then we thought. What could be Death's plan, why are the Apples so kind to Sunset, and how will they earn Sunset's friendship back? Also, how will they react to Death, if they meet him properly? Who knows, but I. I hope you all enjoyed another one of my stories, do come back for more. I am sure things are getting more interesting, as the days grow closer to the New Year. And know that one's instincts must be controlled, but followed in times of misery and danger. Good Nights and fair days to you all, my wonderful audience.