What They Hope to Find

Chapters

Chapter 1
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Prologue
Chapter 2

Chapter 1

Applejack was pretty certain her Farm Business Management course was going to be the death of her. All those damn charts and spreadsheets… She wondered if Granny Smith had ever bothered with even half of what she was learning. Even Ma and Pa had only graduated from community college.

I just had to be the special one.

She sighed as she exited the Ag Tech building, her body mindlessly following the stream of her fellow classmates before she realized she had exited on the wrong side.

Applejack sucked at her teeth with annoyance and tugged her hat down hard, but she continued walking along the pale concrete path right up to the building’s landscaped sign, and there she made a hard right.

“See you, cowgirl!” Someone hollered behind her.

She looked back quickly to see Ace High waving at her with a massive grin on his cinnamon face. He was a tall boy, broad in the shoulders, with cracked cowboy boots, faded dirty blue jeans, and a white tee that seemed to strain to contain his blue-collar muscles. A friend he was walking with ruffled his mop of black hair, and he shoved at them, blushing, before looking back at Applejack with a sheepish grin.

She allowed for a pursed smile and waved back, but increased her walking speed.

Ace High had been making eyes at her for weeks after a presentation she’d given about her family’s business. He’d even invited her to a party, but she’d refused. To her dismay, that hadn’t dampened his efforts in the slightest.

Sometimes, Applejack really hated being in the closet.

It was a comfortable place, though. A safe place. If she was going to be the new head of the family, that meant she couldn’t put their livelihood at risk. Coming out as a lesbian was sure to do that, and she just didn’t have the confidence she could ensure the farm’s survival under those circumstances.

Not like I can be with the one I want anyway… she thought glumly.

Applejack rounded the corner of the building and veered off the path across the manicured lawn. It was lunchtime, and as usual she’d brought her own food… But before she felt like she could sit down to eat, she needed to tend to a niggling need.

Within a few minutes, Applejack had reached College Drive. She looked up and down the busy road furtively, before making a mad dash between the break in cars. Campus speeds were slow, so she wasn’t worried about getting hit. She was more concerned about getting caught jay-walking by a campus monitor again.

Any other day and she would have taken the time to cross at the crosswalk, but she was antsy today. Her mind was turbulent with thoughts of last night, when she’d met with her friends. Pinkie Pie had suffered an unimaginable loss that cut AJ to the quick. Not solely because she cared deeply for Pinkie, but also because…

Cuz I dunno if I’ll ever be a mother myself.

This bothered her more than she dared to admit. Oh, she was perfectly aware there were many ways to become a mother. She just wanted to do it with a partner. The longer time wore on...the less hope she had this would ever be possible.

Stop moping. She scolded herself with a scowl. You ain’t got no place feeling sorry for yourself after what Pinkie’s been through!

She neared parking lot LL, out near the squat Automotive Center. Behind the building was a small lawn area. In it was a large elm tree, and next to it, a picnic table.

Seated there were two familiar faces, Torque and Chassis, both dressed in beige work overalls. She’d met them her freshman year, and they’d been friends since. They had even helped her fix her truck more than once.

Chassis saw Applejack first. Her face lit up under her strawberry blonde bangs and she raised a hand in greeting. Between her index and middle fingers was a lit cigarette. “Yo, AJ! Sup?”

Torque turned his dark spiky-haired head with a curious blink, a cigarette pinched between his lips. “Oh? What’s our favorite cowgirl doing over here so early? Don’t you usually eat in your truck first?”

“Not today,” she huffed, a little winded for having speed-walked the whole way. She set her bag down on the grass next to the table, then pulled out her own pack of cigarettes. “Needed a fix real bad.”

“Rough day, huh?”

“Try a damn week,” she mumbled around the cigarette filter. She struck her lighter on and lit the tip. Even just the starting puffs helped the tension in her shoulders to ease a bit.

Applejack closed her eyes and exhaled hard through her nostrils, smoke streaming toward her boots. It was a bad habit, she knew. She promised herself she’d quit.

Maybe after college.

“So listen, AJ,” Chassis said, giggling. “Torque fucked up torquing a Wagon Bug’s spark plugs yesterday. I mean, can you believe it? It’s his namesake. How do you shit the bed on that one?”

Applejack smirked as she removed her cigarette from her mouth. “Oh, yeah?”

“I didn’t know I was dealing with aluminum heads, okay?!” Torque snapped. “If I’d known they were aluminum, I would have hand ratched them instead!”

Chassis’ giggling turned into all out cackling as she leaned on her knees, her cigarette withering at the tip till ash dusted her dark work boots. “You… you used an impact wrench! Teach was screaming so loud they could hear it out to the soccer fields!”

Applejack chortled. She always could count on these two to take her mind off things.

“Aw, don’t beat yourself up too much, sugarcube,” she said to Torque with a wink. “Wagon Bugs are reliable, but a pain in the tush to fix up.”

“Fucking Germans.”

“Say what you will, but it’s a solid car.”

Torque exhaled smoke through his teeth in a hiss. “Y’know what else is solid? My shit.”

Chassis hummed, nudging Torque with a cat-like grin. “I, for one, plan on never letting you live it down!”

He looked at her with narrowed eyes and a sarcastic smile. “Thanks, pal.” He lifted his cigarette to his mouth, but paused, his face clearing as something caught his eye past Chassis. “Hey, you see what I’m seeing?” Torque asked, suddenly sitting up with interest. He tugged at the lapels of his work overalls and gingerly checked his gelled spiky hair.

“What?” Chassis said, turning to see what he was looking at.

“There’s this Betty walking this way, and she’s totally eyeing me!” Torque slouched in his seat, apparently trying to look nonchalant.

Chassis just stared at him dryly. “You know she just saw your panicked preening, right?”

“I’m not panicked,” Torque snapped, casting her a quick glare.

Applejack, who had only been half paying attention, finally lifted her head to see what the pair were talking about. She nearly dropped her cigarette, her eyes growing wide.

“Sunset Shimmer?”

Chassis and Torque looked at her in confusion.

“You know her?” Torque asked.

“Yeah,” Applejack murmured. She tilted her hat back on her head and lifted a hand in greeting as Sunset neared… but her posture slouched and her mouth turned down at the corners.

Damn it. I’ve been caught… again.

Applejack was ashamed of her smoking, and she’d worked hard to keep it a secret, especially from her family. None of her friends had known until just three nights ago when Rainbow Dash and Twilight Sparkle had caught her in a moment of weakness. Now Sunset knew too…

“Hello, Applejack,” Sunset said with a pleasant smile. She had on dark slim jeans that fit into tall black boots, topped with a soft orange shirt and one of her usual leather jackets. Nothing out of the ordinary...although…

Her hair looks a mite on the wild side today. Like AJ, Sunset rarely styled her hair differently, so the misbehaving locks and the touch of frizziness to her friend’s head was practically a dead giveaway to what had to have been a harried start to the day.

Applejack nodded at her. “‘Lo there, Sun.” She pursed her lips and held up the cigarette. “Cat’s out of the bag now I guess, huh?”

Sunset smirked. “Oh, what? About you smoking? Puh-lease.” She waved a dismissive hand, her smirk morphing into a full smile. “I’ve known for months now.”

Applejack frowned. “How?”

Sunset’s smile curled as she pointed across the street to a set of tiered buildings past a large park area. “See those buildings there?”

“Yeah?”

“Those are the Science buildings.” Sunset crossed her arms and cocked a hip. “I could see you from the windows.”

Applejack blushed, flabbergasted she’d failed to account for this.

“I thought about coming over and saying hi more than once… but I always figured you wanted your space.”

Applejack looked at her with a pout. “And now?”

“Now…” Sunset stepped closer and held out a hand, her head tilting to the side. “I was wondering if you’d let me bum a cig?”

Applejack stared. "You smoke?"

Sunset shrugged a shoulder. "Used to, when I was new here. Quit after I became friends with you and the others.”

The cowgirl seemed to need an extra moment to process this, then slowly she pulled out her cigarettes and held it out. Sunset delicately selected one from the pack. (Hmm! She likes Elk 100s. Not bad.) Then with practiced ease, she held it between her fingers.

She smirked. “Can you light me?”

Applejack blinked. “Uh…”

“I can—!” The young man at the picnic bench started to rise up, his hand jamming into his pocket, but his female friend pulled him back down roughly with a loud, Shh!

Applejack pulled out a lighter, but just as she held it out as if to give it to her friend, Sunset placed the cigarette between her lips and stepped closer.

When Sunset realized the mistake, she removed the cigarette from her mouth and held out her hand. “Whoops!” at the same time the other girl said—

“Shoot,” Applejack blushed and lifted the lighter. “Sorry. Lemme—”

The pair froze, and Sunset’s cheeks burned a shade to match Applejack’s, her hand still held out.

AJ let the lighter dip a little, her eyebrow quirking. “Looks to me like we’re outta step!”

Sunset snickered. “Oookay. This doesn’t need to be complicated!” She returned the cigarette to her mouth and gestured at it meaningfully, her lips tugging upwards.

Applejack let out a single chuckle as she struck up the flame.

Sunset let the tip meet the heat, giving the cig a small drag to help the leaves ignite...and as she did so, her eyes caught something. Something on the inside of Applejack’s left wrist, previously concealed under her long rose pink sleeve.

Are those… scars?

Her brow furrowed, but she stepped back.

Don’t assume. Maybe it’s a rash or something.

But she didn’t know of any rashes that came in the form of concentrated enflamed red circles with white raw centers… It didn’t even look like chicken pox.

Sunset Shimmer set the observation aside with effort. This wasn’t what she was here for. She just wanted to be a friend, not a counselor. It wasn’t like she had all the answers. This past weekend was a testament to that.

She grimaced a little as she took a long drag, the ease with which she picked up her old habit almost alarming.

Okay, so maybe I was also just really stressed out and wanted an easy fix.

Being with Applejack was a definite plus, though. Sunset had truly missed her. Since senior year of high school, they hadn’t had as many opportunities to talk much.

Sunset licked her lips, glancing furtively at her friend. The cowgirl was still looking at her expectantly, like she was waiting for Sunset to say something.

She did have something to ask, but she wanted to wait till she could get Applejack alone.

Instead, she asked, “So, you gonna introduce me to your friends?” Sunset Shimmer asked with a nod at the auto students at the picnic bench.

Applejack jumped a little. “Shucks! M’sorry. Where are my manners?” She looked at the others. “Guys, this here is Sunset Shimmer. We been good friends since high school.” Returning her attention to Sunset, she pointed at the two automotive students with her cigarette hand, smoke trailing through the air. “This twitchy ol’ jackrabbit is Torque, and next to him is sweet lil’ Chassis. We bonded over mutual bad habits last year. Ain’t that right?”

“Yep!” Torque jumped up, his hand held out.

Sunset shook it with a small laugh. “Nice to meet you!”

The man leaned in with a smirk. “I fixed AJ’s truck up a bunch of times—”

“One time,” Applejack snorted.

“—So if you ever need help with something, lemme know!”

Chassis elbowed him out of the way. “Hi! Don’t mind him, his head gets fucky every time the opposite gender shows up.” When they shook hands, the blonde’s smile turned crooked. “Y’know, it’s really neat meeting you! I don’t think Applejack’s ever revealed much about her life before.”

Sunset mirrored the smile and leaned in. “Oooh, well I got some juicy stories for you if ya wanna hear?”

Applejack paled. “Now hold on a minute—!”

Chassis giggled, hopping on the spot. “Tell us, tell us!”

“Actually, AJ, you might like this one,” Sunset said after a quick drag. “Remember that time you wanted to take a Christmas card photo with all of our friends…?”

Thirty minutes later, they were all sitting together at the picnic table, lunches out.

Applejack had gotten halfway through a chicken sandwich. Sitting next to it was a container of apple turnovers. The food sat forgotten for the moment as Applejack wiped tears of laughter from her eyes. “So… So then Sunset Shimmer says, ‘He was not cute enough for five flights of stairs!’”

Sunset choked on the water she’d been drinking as Chassis and Torque laughed across from them. She wiped her chin, weak from giggles.

Applejack’s voice had become a thin breath fighting to be heard through her amusement. “The look on Rarity’s face! Priceless!”

Sunset waved her hands. “No, no, no! That’s not even the best part! Rares lifted her nose at me and said— ‘Neither was his big-eared roommate, but you still gave him your number, darling!’”

The four of them broke down into hoarse laughter, unable to say a word. Other students gazed at them curiously as they passed. Applejack pounded a fist on the table while Sunset leaned on her, trying to catch her breath.

“The worst of it was, I never did get to use the bathroom!” Applejack said after their laughter eased. “I held it all the way back to Rarity’s all on account of the fact that those two bozos’ toilet was busted!”

Sunset nodded emphatically, one hand over her eyes. “After five flights, they ended up admitting to us they used the bathroom at the pizza place across the street.”

“The fuck?” Torque chuckled. “Those guys were desperate!”

“Sounds familiar…” Chassis muttered next to him. He elbowed her.

“Rarity cited ‘health reasons’ for not letting me go back to the pizza joint’s bathroom.” Applejack shook her head. “Boy, I tell you, I was hollerin’ all the way back to her house! ‘Shame on me for wanting to protect you from tall, dark, and dimwitted!’ Who, by the way, was there to take a damn piss when we showed up!”

“I thought for sure you were going to punch him, AJ,” Sunset said.

“You shoulda!” Chassis chimed.

Applejack grinned. “I almost did! I mean heck, we were putting up with enough humoring Rarity’s latest goldarned love chase, but that horny jerk strung us along hoping for a quickie, and my bladder was fit to burst!”

Torque grinned and cut a side glance at Chassis. “Reminds me of this time when Chassis tried to hook up with this performance artist during Mardi Gra—-aaaaah!!”

Chassis, without looking at him, reached over, pinched his arm, and twisted. Through a tight smile, she said, “Say anything else, and I will fucking fold you.”

Applejack snickered. “Careful Torque!” then, as a way of refocusing the conversation for Chassis’ sake, she said to Sunset Shimmer, “That was one heckuva night we had.”

Sunset leaned on the table with a smile. “But at least we got the pizzas!”

Applejack smirked, picking up her sandwich. “Cold pizzas. Rainbow Dash would not quit complaining.”

Sunset winced. “Drinking an entire bottle of wine kinda takes off the filter.”

“She needed that filter,” Applejack added dryly.

“To be fair, it was the one and only time she ever did that.”

Applejack shook her head with a frown. “Her hangover was somethin’ else!”

Sunset’s smile became muted as she looked at the others. “Rainbow was coming off a bad breakup. The sleepover was us trying to cheer her up.”

“Yeah, well… She got over it pretty quick,” Applejack muttered. Even as she said this, she felt a small spark of envy flare up in her chest. Rainbow Dash had dated a whirlwind of girls after Lightning Dust. She went through them so fast, Applejack gave up trying to remember their names.

She wondered what it was like, being able to find company so easily. Even cheap company.

Feeling her good humor flee her, Applejack went to take a bite of her sandwich… but stopped when she realized something. Sunset had no food. She hadn’t taken anything out since they’d sat down.

“Hey, you just waiting to eat, or…?” Applejack asked.

Sunset Shimmer waved a hand. “Nah, I usually eat later.”

“So you do got food?”

“I’ll, uh, figure something out.”

Applejack could’ve just been imagining it, but the way Sunset said that didn’t sit well with her. Maybe it was the way Sun didn’t make eye contact. Maybe it was the lack of conviction in her voice.

The cowgirl looked at the sandwich gripped in her hands. Even just half of it was a decent meal to most people. She just had a big appetite. Once upon a time, though, she brought extra just to share with friends.

“Here,” she said, replacing her sandwich on its napkin and sliding it to Sunset. “Why don’t you have some of this? I didn’t bite it, yet.”

Sunset gave her a pursed smile. “Thanks, but I don’t eat meat.”

Applejack could feel her cheeks heat up as she slid the sandwich back. “Darn! That’s right, m’sorry.” She rubbed the back of her neck and looked at her food container. “Well how about my apple turnovers?”

Sunset shook her head. For some reason, her eyes grew large. “No, no! AJ, I couldn’t—”

“Sun, you ain’t fooling me. You look hungrier than a tick on a teddy bear! Come on, just have one.” Applejack started to remove the lid on the container.

Sunset slouched. “Look, I don’t want to be a bother—!”

There was a loud, squelching growl. Everyone paused to look at a blushing Sunset as she slowly hugged her stomach.

Applejack smiled softly. “Thought so.” She pushed the container over. “Don’t trouble yourself, sugarcube. I’m happy to share with friends.”

Sunset mumbled her thanks as she picked up an apple turnover.

The truth was, she was starving. In a recent effort to save money, she had taken to only eating a full meal at dinner. Even her ‘breakfasts’ tended to consist of a snack with coffee. She thought she’d read somewhere that dinner was the real important meal of the day, anyway.

It wasn’t so bad, except for lunchtime. She’d hoped the cigarette would curb her hunger enough to carry her the rest of the day. All it had really done was make her want a full box of cigarettes.

But she didn’t want to seem desperate. Applejack was watching her as she ate her sandwich. Sunset took a small bite of the apple turnover and just managed to stifle down a groan. She couldn’t help the way her expression melted with relief, though. The next bite was bigger. The next bite was sooner.

Before long, the apple turnover was gone and she was reaching for another.

“Good?” Applejack asked with a little grin.

“Shut up, you know they are,” Sunset answered with a pout.

Applejack chuckled.

“So Sunset, you seeing anybody?” Torque asked. He’d already finished his bowl of BBQ chicken and was reaching for another cigarette.

Chassis rolled her eyes next to him. “Oh go find a nice bush to nut into, ya randy big balled fuck!”

Torque held up hand. “What? Geez, I asked you and Applejack the same thing the first time we met!”

“Yeah, and I told ya to go sit on an air hose,” Applejack said with a cocked eyebrow. She looked at Sunset Shimmer. “Told ya he was a twitchy jackrabbit.”

Sunset smiled patiently. To Torque, she said, “I’m not really looking for a new boyfriend right now.” It was a truthful answer, even if it didn’t really address his question.

The others seemed content with it, though.

Torque sighed dramatically. “Oh well!” He pulled out a lighter and lit up the cigarette in his hand. After a long drag on it, he said with a smoky smile, “Well if ya ever change your mind!”

Sunset winked at him. “I’ll think about it.”

The thing was, she really would. He looked like just the sort who could stay detached if she asked him to. The real question was, could he keep a secret? She’d get to know him and see.

Experience told her that it was useful to keep such prospects in mind. Most she passed over, but sometimes...

They shared stories long after their meals were finished. Sunset’s favorite was perhaps when Chassis regaled her with a humorous anecdote of the time she lost an hour to a car trying to figure out why it was making a clunking noise, only to learn that the customer had a loose bowling ball in the trunk.

A clocktower chimed once somewhere on campus. One o’ clock. Everyone gathered their things.

“Hey, it was nice meeting you, Sunset Shimmer!” Chassis said with a wave. She was backpedaling toward the auto center.

Torque simply nodded at her with a smile as he followed. Apparently his interest in her had cooled after learning she wasn’t ‘available’.

“I like them,” Sunset said as they walked away. “They’re funny.”

“I know they can get a little crass, but they’re good people.” Applejack shouldered her backpack. “They’ve actually calmed down a bunch. From what they tell me, they used to be wilder in high school.”

“I can believe it.” Sunset slipped her hands into her pockets. “Thanks again for the food.”

“Shucks, don’t worry about it.” Applejack pointed one way, then the other. “Um, where ya headed? We can walk together for a bit before I get to class.”

Sunset winced and thumbed behind her. “Back to the science building. That’s out of your way, right?”

Applejack shrugged. “S’fine. I got plenty of time.”

They left the picnic table and started up the sidewalk. Neither spoke for a while.

“So this is you checkin’ on me, huh?” Applejack eventually asked, looking at Sunset sidelong.

Sunset returned the look. “Kind of.”

“I’m telling ya, I’m gonna be fine.”

“I know you are.” Sunset looked at her seriously. “Because your friends are gonna be there for you, to help you through it.”

She received a wry grunt in response.

Sunset’s brow creased. “I mean it, Applejack. I want to be around more. I’ve been too caught up in my own life, and… I could’ve reached out.” She waved a hand at the approaching science building. “Heck, I saw you almost every day!” Looking lost. Looking alone. Looking like Sunset felt. “After this weekend with Pinkie, I’m not just going to hang back anymore! I want you to know that I’m around!”

“I know you’re around. I know you all are,” Applejack said through tight lips. Her eyes were searing. “Sometimes that’s the problem!”

Sunset flinched.

AJ let out a rough sigh. “Sunset Shimmer, I don’t mean to say it like I want you all to vanish. I only meant—”

Sunset chewed a corner of her lip as she watched Applejack’s eyes cast about in frustration.

“I only meant that sometimes I wish I could vanish,” Applejack finished quietly. She tugged her hat low and looked away. “My cousin Braeburn got me this scholarship. I don’t want to squander it. But there are days when I just wanna quit and stay in my own little world.”

Applejack threw up a hand. “Running into the girls every once in a while is fine an’ all. Like today with you was really nice. But there are days when I catch sight of Rainbow Dash acting all high n’ mighty, or when I’m out in the quad and I see… her.”

Sunset’s lips thinned. Fluttershy.

Applejack swallowed audibly and shook her head. “I can’t think of my friends without thinking about her too. Even that story we shared today… I remember how she kept looking at Rainbow Dash that night, Sunset. Like she was caring for a wounded animal or something.”

“That’s why you volunteered to get the pizzas with us,” Sunset murmured. “We only needed two people to carry those boxes, but you wanted to come anyway.”

“I felt bad,” Applejack said with a little nod. “I knew Rainbow was really hurtin’. I felt like she was waiting for me to say something to her all night. ‘It’s gonna be okay.’ ‘You’re better off without her.’ ‘We’re best pals, and I’mma be right here—’” Her words cracked.

Sunset felt her heart tighten as Applejack quickly put a hand to her mouth and ducked her head.

When the cowgirl looked up again, it was with an expression of cold control. “I didn’t say any of that to her. I watched her spiral, and I still kept quiet. Cuz’ all I could think was… nothing’s stopping her from getting Fluttershy now.”

“Sometimes, it’s not easy being a friend,” Sunset whispered. Nervously, she reached out a hand and touched Applejack’s shoulder. It felt tight. “We can’t always be perfect.”

They slowed to a stop.

Applejack looked at her, the same cold expression on her face. “I wasn’t no friend. Not to Rainbow. It’s been like that ever since.” She bared her teeth and turned her back, leaving Sunset’s hand hanging in the air as she pulled away. “That’s my fault! I let my envy get the better of me!”

Sunset shook her head. “Applejack, you were in a tough situation! You still are! And you know what? Rainbow thinks it’s her fault. You’ve both got to see that the truth is somewhere more in the middle. It’s not on any one person.”

Applejack peeked at her from over her shoulder but said nothing.

Sunset approached her side. “I know that being with your friends is a mixed bag right now… but honestly… has being alone been any better?”

Applejack scowled and crossed her arms. Sunset tilted her head to the side. “Fine. Let’s do something easier. How much have we hung out? Just you and me?”

“Not much,” Applejack admitted with a raised eyebrow.

“And how long have you known me?”

“Not as long as everybody else, I guess?”

Sunset gave her a slanted smile and shrugged one shoulder. “Would you say I come with a lot of baggage or complicated feelings?”

“Uh… no?”

Sunset laced her hands behind her back as she carefully stepped in front of Applejack. “In fact, of all of our friends, I’d say I’m probably the least complicated person for you to see right now!”

Applejack’s mouth turned down. “I think you been hanging out with Twilight too much.”

Sunset giggled and gave a broad smile. “Probably! But maybe before we bring all of our friends around again for Rarity’s insomnia cure, we can take baby steps and just hang out, the two of us?” She raised her eyebrows. “Cuz I really don’t wanna leave you alone while you go through this, AJ.”

Applejack screwed her mouth to the side as she stared hard. Eventually she rolled her eyes shut. “I mean, heck, sure… We can hang out more till then.”

Sunset thought her smile was at its biggest until she heard those words. Then her cheeks ached from how hard she beamed. “Great! How about we have lunch together from now on?”

“Sure, sure…”

Sunset took a breath. Now was as good a time as any to ask what she’d wanted to ask earlier. “Applejack, are you free Wednesday night?”

Applejack blinked at her. “Uh, maybe? Why?”

Sunset ran a nervous hand through her hair. “I was wondering if you’d come with me to blues night at this bar nearby? I know the bartender, so we can get in no problem.”

“Blues night?”

“Yeah. Have you listened to much blues?”

Applejack shook her head.

Sunset shrugged. “Well they do it twice a month at this bar, and it’s pretty cool. They always have a well-known blues artist come in and play their hits. I think this week they’re having Red Rooster play.” At Applejack’s persistent blank expression, Sunset started to speak faster, her skin heating up. “I, uh, could send you some tracks if you’re on the fence? I just thought it might be, y’know… cathartic for you?”

The cowgirl turned her eyes down to her boots.

Sunset swallowed and rubbed an arm. “If you don’t want to, that’s fine—”

“I’ll think about it, Sunset,” Applejack said. She didn’t lift her gaze.

Sunset nodded quickly. “Okay! I could send you some of Red Rooster’s songs. If you don’t want to do blues night, we could do something else. No biggie.” She smiled crookedly. “Honestly, I’m kind of just looking forward to the chance to get to know you better.”

Applejack fixed her with a raised eyebrow. “Really?” her voice was flat.

“Sure!”

“I ain’t exactly a ray o’ sunshine right now, Sun.”

“Granted. But come on, think about it. We have a decent sized group of friends! We all have varying degrees of closeness, right?” She held up her hands and started ticking off fingers. “I’ve gotten to know Twilight and Pinkie really well. Rarity and Fluttershy are like two peas in a pod. You, Pinkie, and Rainbow, uh—” she felt her heart quicken as she tried to hasten past this sensitive subject, “I just mean that within every group, different connections are made. Sometimes, those connections are made later, like for Pinkie and Rarity. After they got into the sorority together, they became like sisters! It’s textbook psychology!”

Applejack smirked. “Now I know you been hanging out with Twilight too much.”

Sunset could feel her skin light on fire. “My point is that I want to get to know you better! Even...” her expression softened. “Even if you are feeling down.”

Applejack’s brow tensed. After a long moment, she asked, “You said blues night was Wednesday?”

Sunset perked. “Yeah!”

The cowgirl took a deep breath. “All right. I’ll try and go.”

“Really?”

“Yep.”

Sunset grinned and started to backpedal toward her building. “Just have an open mind, okay?”

Applejack watched as she went. She seemed rooted to the spot. “What time is this thing, anyway?”

“It starts at eight.”

“Look, I might have to cancel on account of work, all right?”

Sunset bobbed her head, a little smile on her lips. “I mean, sure. But isn’t Rainbow coming to help you on Saturday? Maybe I could do the same this week! That way you can still come?”

Applejack’s eyes went wide like she hadn’t expected this response. “I, er, suppose you could?”

Sunset winked. “Good! Then it’s settled.”

“N-Now wait a minute, it still ain’t no guarantee!”

“Mmm, hmm! Whatever you say, AJ!”

“I’m serious!” Then Applejack scowled at her suddenly. “And listen here, don’t you go buying more cigarettes! I don’t need you picking up that bad habit on account o’ me!”

“Yeeeah… ‘Bout that. I’ll try not to!” Sunset batted her eyes sweetly.

Applejack crossed her arms, her gaze taking on a stern edge. “Sunset, I mean it!”

“Then come with me to blues night!” Sunset laughed.

“Gosh darnit, woman—!”

Sunset spun around and took off at a brisk walk. “See ya, AJ!” she sang over her shoulder.

“Sunset Shimmer!”

Sunset didn’t stop, her lips spreading wide in a smile.

She didn’t stop because she could hear the laughter breaking through Applejack’s stern voice.

Author's Note

Chapter 3

Continued from Chapter 32 of What They Expect to Give.

They call it ‘stormy Monday’...

But in her opinion? Tuesday was just as bad.

Applejack sat at the usual lunch table behind the Automotive Center, clad in the same faded blue jeans as yesterday. She’d picked a new shirt, of course, but it was a musty, wrinkled, army green t-shirt from the rodeo four years ago. She had a dark gray long-sleeved button-up pulled over it. Hot as this made her, she couldn’t risk showing the wounds on her arm, so she settled for leaving it unfastened.

These particular clothes she only wore because, apparently, no one else in the house could be bothered to do laundry now that Granny was more or less relieved of chore duty. After three weeks of this, Applejack was discovering clothing that had long been lost at the back of the closet or buried deep in the drawers.

She took a long drag of her morning cigarette as she glowered at her boots.

At least Apple Bloom’s suspension was good for something. Applejack tasked her younger sister with remedying the laundry problem for the day. Not that it would be easy.

Granny Smith nearly burned the house down when she left the stove on around dawn. Apple Bloom heard the smoke detector first and put the flames out. Applejack nearly tumbled down the stairs in her rush to help. She threw a pan of smoking black bacon to the farm cats while Granny complained that the stove ran too hot.

Big Mac, still hungover from the night before, didn’t even get out of bed.

Applejack had originally wanted Apple Bloom to help out in the orchard, but given that morning’s fiasco, she figured catching up on house chores was safer. That way her little sister could keep an eye on Granny.

The cowgirl slumped a little on the bench, exhaling a harsh rush of smoke from her nostrils as she stretched her legs out over the grass and propped her elbows behind her on the table.

They needed to get the house in order before social services came for their inspection.

Wait... No.

Who was she kidding?

She needed to get the house in order.

More and more, Applejack was feeling the pressure to stay home. The problem was that taking a break from school put her scholarship at risk. She wasn’t a fool. Leaving college could extend well past the remaining semester. They’d just give the money to someone else. Then where would that put her?

Sweet Apple Acres needed a leg up. They were a small, independent farm. She had every intention of trying to keep their traditions alive, but her experiences with her friends had taught her that, sometimes, innovation was necessary. She couldn’t do that without good schooling.

Applejack watched as a car slowly drove by. She tracked it with her eyes, feeling a spark of envy at the driver’s carefree laughter with her fellow passenger.

Why did it feel like everyone else had it figured out, but her?

She ashed her cigarette with a little sneer, before placing it between her lips and leaving it there.

She’d be done with school for the day a little after one. Plenty of time to head home and resume work in the orchards.

Until her next class, all Applejack wanted to do was sit, enjoy this cigarette, and not be bothered--

“Good morning,” she heard Sunset say nearby.

Applejack bolted upright, ash fluttering from her cigarette tip as she snapped her head toward the elm on the left.

Sunset stood eyeing her in the shade of the tree, hugging a textbook to her chest. She wore a pleasant smile on her face.

“Er, g’mornin’,” Applejack mumbled around her cigarette filter, expression still stretched in surprise. She quickly removed the cig from her mouth and chuckled uncertainly. “You plum scared the life outta me! I didn’t hear you coming!”

Sunset winced apologetically as she ventured closer, but her grin persisted. “Sorry about that. Maybe I should have hummed or scuffed my boots in the grass more. You looked pretty spaced out.”

The redhead stopped near Applejack but didn’t sit down. Her eyes searched the blonde’s face, and her grin lessened. “Rough morning?”

Applejack chewed the corner of her lip for a critical second before looking away with a shrug of a single shoulder. She didn’t really feel like sharing.

“Mm,” Sunset said in response.

The seconds ticked by. When she didn’t say anything else or move to sit down, Applejack felt her curiosity get the better of her. She peeked sideways at her friend.

Sunset was gazing across the street, a pensive look on her face. She was dressed in a ripped, dark denim skirt whose length certainly pushed the limit of the campus dress code and a tight wine-red scoop-neck tank. The fabric glittered a little. Over this, she had on her trademark leather jacket, but it had slipped off one of her dark sun-kissed shoulders.

Applejack’s mouth pressed thin as she looked down at herself. She suddenly felt grubby.

When the other girl sat down next to her, the cowgirl fussed with her clothes a little, trying to straighten out the wrinkles. She was dismayed when she discovered a grease stain near the hem of her t-shirt.

“Sorry if I kept you up late,” Sunset said as she set her book bag down on the grass. Her expression was sheepish.

Applejack shook her head. “Naw, don’t apologize. I’m the one who texted first, remember? I enjoyed our chat last night.”

“Still, you look pretty tired.” As she said this, Sunset reached over and rubbed Applejack’s back.

The cowgirl waved the concern away, her eyes returning to the view before them. She leaned back against the picnic table, into Sunset’s touch. It felt nice. “I’m all right. A good night’s rest wouldn’ta prepared me for Granny nearly burning the house down.”

The words came on their own, and she was surprised she’d let them.

Sunset’s eyes popped and her mouth fell open. “She what?!”

“Eyup,” Applejack nodded solemnly.

Sunset placed her textbook on the table as she turned fully to her friend. It looked like a math book. “Holy cow, AJ! Is everyone okay??”

Applejack couldn’t contain the snicker fast enough and let her head drop to her chest.

Sunset’s eyebrows rose high as her lips tentatively pulled upwards. “Lemme guess... The damage was minimal?”

Applejack raised her head and winked. “Eyup.”

This earned her a punch on the shoulder that made her laugh outright.

Sunset pressed a hand to her chest. “Ugh! You scared me half to death!”

The cowgirl held her hands up, still chuckling. “Sorry! M’sorry, sugarcube. I guess I’m as mischievous as a monkey when I’m this tired.”

She crossed her arms and shrugged. “Me and my family are used to feelin’ tired as all get out. Ma and Pa taught us that there ain’t no use in being crabby. Sometimes it’s just better to crack a joke n’ keep going.”

Sunset leaned on the table and smiled warmly. “Sounds like great advice.”

“They was good people.”

"I wish my parents had been as helpful."

Now Applejack's eyes brightened with interest. "Yeah? What were they like?"

Sunset chuckled. She fiddled with her textbook, one manicured finger digging into the closed book's pages.

Eventually, she said, "My mother, Stellar Flare, was determined to make me a powerful pony. She sent me to Celestia's School for Magic the second my unicorn horn flickered with energy."

Sunset tossed her hair back with a little quirk of her lips. "She always believed in progress and growth. It's why she became the head of Sire Hollow's Development Committee."

Applejack's mouth skewed to the side and her eyes squinted. "She was pushy, huh?"

Sunset tilted her head back and groaned. "You have no idea!"

She threw up a hand, the other gripping her book tightly. "I mean, I absolutely inherited her unhealthy ambition, but half the reason I even vied for Celestia's private tutelage was to get away from my mother!"

"And your dad?" Applejack asked.

"Sunspot was a non-entity most of the time. He just put his head down and remodeled houses." Sunset grimaced and shut her eyes. "When I think about what my little brother had to put up with, I feel like a real jerk. I could have come home and helped him. Instead, I was busy being evil."

Applejack shifted on her seat, her expression one of discomfort. She hadn't meant to make Sunset feel down with past failures. But if she were being honest, she'd been deathly curious.

"Sorry. I shoulda dropped the subject, but I just ain't never heard you talk about your family before," she admitted with a hangdog look. She ashed her cigarette, then rested her wrist on her thigh. She toyed with the filter nervously with her thumb.

Sunset squinted her eyes as her smile pursed and she shook her head. "Why are you apologizing? If I didn't want to answer, I wouldn't have."

Applejack eyed Sunset sideways. After a short moment, she smirked and lifted her cigarette for another drag. "Fair enough," she said.

They sat in companionable silence for a short time…

Then Applejack worked up the nerve to ask, “Do you keep in touch with your brother?”

Yeah, curiosity may have killed the cat, but she’d heard tell that satisfaction brought it back.

Sunset bit her lip and brushed her hair back, even though not much of it had been forward to begin with. “I’ve visited Sunburst once since I got rainbow beamed,” she eventually said. “It was… super awkward. Let’s just say, I have a lot of work to rebuild that bridge.”

Applejack nudged her. “Well, keep at ‘im. If there’s one thing I can tell ya, it’s that investing in family always bears fruit.”

“Spoken like a true Apple!” Sunset chuckled. She stood. "Well, I gotta get to class. Catch you later at lunch?"

Applejack smiled broadly. She suddenly didn't mind sticking around the school for a while longer. "Looking forward to it, sugarcube."

They waved to each other, then Sunset began walking away. Applejack watched her friend go. She watched her go till she was out of sight, even.

"Hmm," she bounced a knee, her teeth running over her bottom lip. She looked at her cigarette. It had almost burned down to the filter in her distraction, the ash tip long and wilting.

"Someone's looking nice today," she murmured, glancing back the way Sunset had gone.

Sunset was beyond relieved when lunch came around and she was freed from Applied Linear Algebra. She liked math as much as the next nerd, but these days, crunching numbers tended to remind her of overdue bill payments.

The second she was the required distance from non-smoking areas, she lit up a stick. Her eyes slipped closed as the smoke filled her lungs and the nicotine hit soon after.

Now that’s much better…

Sunset exhaled toward the sky and watched the whorls of smoke rise until they dissipated into a weak fog, then nothing.

It was scary how quickly she’d gotten addicted again. It hadn’t even been a day, and she was already craving more. What she hadn’t disclosed to AJ was that she used to be a chain smoker. Just one, after the other… Nearly the entire day.

Quitting hadn’t been easy. Even after leaving the streets behind and trying to convince all the adults at Canterlot High that she was a star student, the most she could bring herself to do was cut back a little. It wasn’t until she’d become friends with Rainbow and the others that she finally committed to really quitting for good.

I’m gonna need serious help getting off of this stuff again, she thought with a little smoky sigh. I hear there are pills to help you quit. If only I had actual health insurance.

Sunset took a long drag at the thought and continued on her way to meet with AJ and her friends at the lunch spot.

Damn it, now I’ve managed to depress myself.

She spied them already seated and puffing away like she was. When Applejack laid eyes on her, she sat up and waved. Sunset forced a grin as she waved back.

Perk up, Sun! You can’t cheer up your friend if you’re acting gloomy.

“Hey, AJ! Hey guys!” She said as she slipped off her book bag and took a seat next to AJ.

She pointed delicately at AJ’s friends with one eye squinted. “Let me see if I remember… Torque and Chassis?”

Chassis nodded with a pleased smile. “Yep! You got it in one.”

Sunset returned the smile, feeling some of her gloom leave her. It was always nice to make new friends. “Cool.”

Applejack suddenly slid over a plastic container. A big one. Sitting on top of it was a spoon. Sunset stared at the items. She looked at AJ sidelong. “Uh, what’s this?”

The cowgirl just looked at her archly as she opened up her own container. “Your lunch.”

“My lunch?”

“Sure is.”

Sunset started pushing it back the other way. “AJ, you don’t have to–”

“You got your own lunch?”

“No, but–”

Applejack dropped a heavy elbow on the table and leaned over to Sunset, her lip curling up in a smirk as her green eyes flashed brightly from under the wide brim of her hat.

“Darlin’, you know I won’t take no for an answer. I can tell you’re hungry, so if you ain’t fixin’ to get put over a knee,” and here she arched a golden brow, “you’ll eat that there meal like I know ya want to!” Her smirk transformed into a broad and blinding smile.

She even winked!

Sunset had to take three whole seconds to process what she’d just seen and heard, and even upon comprehension she still needed to fathom the existence of it.

Did Applejack just threaten to spank her?

Before Sunset could take her mind off the fact that a mere joke was creating heat in sensitive areas, Applejack had sat back and was already starting her own meal.

With her cheeks burning, Sunset set aside the spoon and opened the container in front her.

“Is this…?” Sunset leaned in toward the container with a deep inhale. “Gumbo?”

“Vegan Gumbo,” Applejack said with her mouth askew. “It somewhat resembles the real thing thanks to the Worcestershire sauce and liquid smoke.”

“Whatever!” Torque exclaimed, looking at AJ as if she were crazy. “That sounds like ass!”

Applejack had gone still as a dangerous smile spread across her face. Through her teeth, she hissed, “Torque thinks the sun comes up just to hear him crow.” She looked up at him slowly, the smile still fixed on her face. “If he ain’t careful, he’s about to lose his fool head!”

“I’m not saying you’re a bad cook!” Torque said with some alarm. “I just meant that, uh, y’know! It don’t sound, like… appetizing.”

“Keep digging, we can still see you!” Chassis called through her cupped hands. She leaned over the table and whispered to Sunset, “AJ’s beat Torque at arm wrestling a hundred times. He’s secretly terrified of her!”

“I am not!” Torque said, throwing Chassis a dirty look.

Applejack narrowed her eyes and dropped her voice a pitch. “Sugarcube, when I get my hands on you, you’ll be wishin’ you’d been wiser.” It made her sound like some grizzled sheriff from an old western film, the breathy quality of each word making one think she was murmuring this personally into their ear.

Torque covered his face with both hands and leaned heavily on the table. “Dude, I’ma need you to stop immediately. You sound good and all, except you also just gave me a boner–”

Chassis quickly leaned back and peeked under the table, only to cringe and cackle. “Fuck! Can confirm!”

There were immediate cries of disgust from the rest of the table.

Applejack threw some rice from her container at him. When she aimed for another shot, Torque opened his mouth and leaned forward.

Applejack still obliged him, throwing it straight into his mouth.

“Mmm!” Torque said with great exaggeration. He wagged his eyebrows and gave a cheesy thumbs-up. “Good stuff, chef!”

The cowgirl tried but failed at keeping a straight face. She chuckled and just shook her head, picking up her fork to resume eating.

Seeing her chance to speak, Sunset asked Applejack, “You made this gumbo just for me?”

Applejack chuckled and glanced at her as she stirred her food with her fork. “Sugarcube, you oughta know by now that with all the chorin’ I get up to if I’d have any spare time to squander on your pretty self…would I do it?”

Sunset smirked. “Yes?”

Applejack tipped her hat as she turned back to her food. “And how! Because what kinda friend leaves their buddy in the lurch like that, hmm?”

“Not a friend like you,” Chassis said with a toast of her canned soda. “That’s for sure!”

Torque raised his drink too. “Hear, hear!”

Applejack smiled crookedly as she raised her plastic water bottle, and they all knocked drinks.

Without a drink to join in on the toast, Sunset stared at the food in front of her.

I really can’t believe she went and did this for me!

She raised her eyes and looked over at her friend. With a pursed smile, she reached a hand up and gave Applejack a small shove on the shoulder. The blonde was rocked to the side, halted mid-bite. She pouted at Sunset.

“Thanks, AJ. This was very kind of you,” Sunset said with an earnest flirt of her eyelashes.

Applejack’s cheeks tinged a light pink, bringing out her freckles even more. She waved a hand. “Don’t even mention it.”

“Right, sure. You know what I’m gonna mention?” Chassis chimed in.

She looked between them all, a wide smile on her face. “So today, a classmate of ours left a socket wrench attached to the crankshaft, forgot about it, and shut the hood. They go and start up the car to the sound of a wrench spinning like nuts, then a loud bang!”

“What happened to the shaft?” Applejack asked.

Chassis lit up another cigarette and smirked. “Totally stripped the end of it! Lucky for them it wasn’t set for torque, or it coulda been a mondo disaster.”

Sunset took a bite of her food. She hummed happily as the conversation carried on without her. Applejack really was a good cook.

Lunch was done.

Applejack and Sunset said goodbye to Torque and Chassis. After they had left, AJ turned to her friend.

“You got class?” she asked, picking up her bag.

Sunset grinned and shook her head. “Nope. All done. Actually…” She clasped her hands in front of her, pressed her knees together, and leaned toward Applejack. “Would it be all right if I came by this afternoon to help at the farm?” Sunset asked.

Applejack looked at her with surprise. “Uhh… Come again?”

Sunset crossed her arms. “You forgot? I told you I’d probably try and come help, didn’t I? So that you can go with me to blues night? It’d be a little inconvenient for me to do it the day of, but I can try if I have to!”

Applejack tilted her hat back enough to scratch just past her hairline. She found it hard to believe Sunset Shimmer had abundant enough free time to come and do this sorta work. She must really want her to go to this show.

“I mean, all right. I suppose,” she said with a frown.

Sunset did a little hop whilst pointing finger guns at Applejack. “Awesome.” With a flip of her hair, she turned and started in the direction of her dorm. “I’m gonna get changed. Meet you there in about 40?”

Applejack blinked and waved, watching Sunset as she went.

When she made it back to her truck, she was still bemused by it all. Sunset didn’t really strike her as the outdoorsy type. Tough, certainly. And a hard worker. But up for workin’ a sweat in the rough and tumble country?

Nah.

More like… More like a really cool, hip, biker chick with a penchant for flame motifs. If she was being fair, though, bikers were like modern-day outlaws, and they could rough it when necessary.

Applejack’s eyebrows lifted high as she turned on the ignition.

Actually, she kicked serious tail at Camp Everfree. She handled the outdoors just fine.

She put her truck in reverse and looked back.

I should be less skeptical. Shucks. It ain’t like it's Rarity gonna be haulin’ hay!

When Applejack arrived at her farm, Sunset arrived just ten minutes after her. The farm girl was further assured when she saw that her friend had put on very practical clothing. In fact, she wasn’t sure she’d ever seen Sunset in such clothing.

Durable camo pants that looked like it easily could have come from a military surplus store. A grey tank top, and a thick button-up black and red plaid shirt. Black boots, but not the usual heeled ones that made her slightly taller than Applejack. The boots she marched toward her friend in almost looked like combat boots. Maybe not as ideal as muck boots, but they’d do.

After she’d removed her helmet, Sunset even put her long curly hair up in a messy french twist with a hair clip.

Applejack whistled as the redhead stopped in front of her. “Hoo–ee! Sunset Shimmer, you sure look the part! Why if I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were raised in a barn.”

Sunset met her eyes and smirked at her. “I know I look like it, but I’m not just some city girl.”

Applejack’s brow tensed just a tad as she shifted her weight to one foot. She couldn’t quite put her finger on it, but this vibe felt…different. What was that look in Sunset’s eye? Come to think of it, she’d been looking at Applejack that way every time they’d talked today. At first, she’d thought it was an appraising look. But the way it lingered, locking their eyes still…

No, it was more like Sunset was self-assured about something. And somehow that something had to do with Applejack.

If that were true, then she didn’t know what in tarnation Sunset could possibly be so certain of, especially with this depressed ugly country hick.

Her own self-loathing rose up like a wall. Applejack turned away, pulling her hat down. “Not a city girl, huh? Yeah, we’ll see…”

This wasn’t the first time her friends had come to help on the farm. Almost everyone had come at some point or other, with the exception of Sunset. They had all been helpful, though some were more so than others.

The ones who struggled, Pinkie and Rarity, didn’t help with farm work as much over the years. The others fared better. The only one who seemed to really love being out there the same way Applejack did was…

Fluttershy.

She squeezed her eyes shut, teeth clenching.

Applejack doubled her pace and barked, “All right! Let’s get ‘er done.”

Sunset kept pace with Applejack, but of the two she was definitely tiring faster.

The redhead exercised, sure. She jogged on a frequent (if chaotic) basis, and she even tried to squeeze in some resistance training at least once a week. But this?

Oh, there was no question she’d be feeling this in the morning.

“Is that all of them?” Sunset gasped as she dumped another bushel of apples into the loader, a fat sweat drop scurrying past her ear to tickle along her jawline.

“For now, sugarcube,” Applejack said with a knowing grin. “Don’t wanna scare ya off now, do we?”

Sunset laughed as she went to her bottle of water, nestled in the exposed roots of an old apple tree. “No way! It’ll take more than this to get me to tap.”

“Shoot! We ain’t even halfway done! You may be singing a new tune before long.”

After a long, satisfying drink from her water bottle, Sunset wiped at her mouth and smirked at her friend. “I’m keeping up, aren’t I?”

Applejack placed her gloved hands on her hips, her own smile tilting. “Sure you are. In fact, I’m real impressed! It’s almost like you've done this before!”

“Not this exactly.” Sunset wiggled a hand in the air. “I sorta did stuff like this though. Back in Equestria. I’d pick up freelance work here and there. Sometimes it was on farms like this!”

“What were you doing freelance work for?”

“Oh. Y’know, when I was hustling to keep Grogar happy. He always demanded more gold bits than I actually had, so…” She let herself trail off.

Sunset looked away, her smile gone. She hadn’t meant to bring up her problems. She wasn’t really interested in thinking about them.

She heard Applejack step closer. It was just the two of them in this section. The other workers had already moved on to another part of the orchard.

“How are things with that, anyhow? He ain’t hassled ya or nothing, right?” Applejack asked.

Sunset shook her head quickly. She took another swallow from her bottle.

“Sun, you promised you’d clue me in if you needed help,” Applejack murmured. “Don’t tell me too late, y’hear? I don’t want you getting hurt.”

Sunset’s jaw clenched. Her water bottle crinkled in her tightened grip. She looked at Applejack’s worried face and tried for a charming smile. “Hey, no worries, AJ. I know you’ve got my back. I’ll try and tell you in time, ‘kay? Everything’s good right now.”

Applejack pouted her lip a little as she considered this promise. A smile slowly unfurled across her freckled face. “Okay.”

Sunset inwardly sighed in relief. “So, what’s next?”

Applejack gestured for Sunset to follow. “While the workers and Big Mac wrap up today’s harvest, we’re going to take care of the critters.”

“No rest for the wicked, huh?”

Sunset grinned crookedly as Applejack threw her head back and laughed. “Aw, darling, if you only knew!”

She slowed down so that she and Sunset fell into step with one another, then she put an arm over Sunset’s shoulders. Applejack definitely had a mild musk going on, what with her skin slick with perspiration from a hard day’s work. It wasn’t unpleasant.

The country girl didn’t take it easy on the job, that was for sure. It was no wonder she was so fit. Sunset couldn’t help but take a moment to appreciate the apparent strength just in Applejack’s forearm. How many times had Rainbow or Pinkie Pie ended up trapped in a headlock by this powerful limb?

Fortunately, Applejack only seemed interested in some simple banter.

"A blind horse doesn’t fall when he follows the bit," she said with a winning smile.

Sunset quirked an eyebrow. “So just… follow your instructions?”

“And I’ll see you through the remainder of the chores,” Applejack said with a pleased nod. She’d always appreciated those who didn’t need her southernisms translated. Sunset wondered with a mild panic if she needed to start looking those up just in case.

“First up, we’ll gather the hens into the hen house. Then we’ll feed and milk the goat and the cow, then muck the stalls and check on the horses.”

“You name your critters, don’t you?” Sunset asked lightly. It had been a while since she’d been on the farm. After Granny had received her dementia diagnosis, Applejack wasn’t as eager to invite people over.

Applejack answered just as they reached the hen house. “Sure! We got four hens named Amelia, Lana, Dixie, and Myrtle,” she pointed at them over the fence. “And the rooster is named Eggbert.”

She held up a hand and ticked off her fingers, “Umm… Lessee, then there’s our cow, Moomy, and our goat, Clover. We have two horses right now. A stallion and a mare. The mare is called Brooke, the stallion is called Bob.”

Sunset leaned on the fence and gave her friend a pursed smile. “Wouldn’t have taken you for a made-up name kinda person, even for pets!”

Applejack’s smile turned sheepish. She fidgeted on the spot as she adjusted her hat. “Shoot, it was just something my mama started. She always thought it was funny to name things like ‘Bob’ or ‘Frank’.”

“It’s nice,” Sunset said in a rush. “I didn’t mean to suggest otherwise! I really think it’s sweet.”

Applejack nodded, her discomfort already gone. She gestured at the chickens. “Shall we?”

An hour and a half later, the sun was getting closer to the horizon. With the two of them working at it, the animals were cared for. The last task had been checking on the horses.

In the horse barn, Sunset leaned on a stall post. “A shower will feel so nice tonight!”

“I hear that,” Applejack said as she gave her tan Quarter horse a pat on the head. “Night, Brooke.”

Sunset felt a large nose exhale on her ear, and she moved away with a small yelp. Looking, she saw the speckled dark face of Bob, an Appaloosa, turned her way. The horse’s warm eyes blinked slowly at her. Releasing the last of her nerves in a big shaky exhale, Sunset chortled and patted the horse’s head.

“Nice meeting you, big guy,” she murmured to him.

“It ain’t weird?” Applejack asked haltingly as if she wasn’t even sure she should finish what she was saying.

Sunset looked at her shrewdly. “Why, cuz their horses?”

Applejack blushed and looked away. “Well…”

Sunset giggled. “It’s fine. They’re completely different from Equestrian ponies. I see similarities, but at the end of the day, we’re not the same.”

Applejack let out a breath. “Phew! Good. Y’know, I think I’ve avoided bringing you round to this part o’ the farm for that particular reason! Just didn’t want to offend.”

“Why would I be? You take good care of them.”

“Heck, I better! These two are prize-winning steeds!”

Sunset lifted her eyebrows. “Really?”

Applejack pointed over the stall where many blue ribbons had been nailed to the wood. “As sure as sin exists, these two horses are champions of the craft.”

“That’s really cool!” Sunset narrowed her eyes at Applejack. “And how many of these did you earn?”

Applejack smirked as she stooped to pick up a bucket filled with grooming supplies. “Half. My mama won the rest of ‘em.”

Sunset’s eyes went wide as she whistled. She trailed after her friend, hands clasped behind her back. “You must really be something at the rodeo! Maybe I gotta come to your next competition.”

Applejack quickly shook her head as she dropped the bucket into the tack room. “Nah. I didn’t compete the last two years. Been too busy.”

Sunset pouted. “Aww… It’d be awesome to see you just out there having fun!”

Applejack flashed her a muted smile as she proceeded to leave the barn. “Fun? That ain’t the journey, sugarcube. That’s the dream.”

“We could still have fun tonight, though!” Sunset said eagerly, hurrying to join Applejack at her side. “I mean, we’re done, right? Let’s relax and do something fun!”

“Like what?” Applejack eyed her with an expression steeped in skepticism.

Sunset suddenly felt immense pressure to show her friend that not only was it worth it to spend more time with her, but that fun was absolutely still possible, even given her circumstances.

“Cider and music. Stat,” Sunset said authoritatively. “I can tell it’s been a looong time since you’ve played your standing bass!”

Applejack gave her a scandalized look. “Shucks, not that long!”

“Does Big Mac still have that acoustic guitar lying around?”

“Sure he does.”

Sunset grinned wickedly. She clapped her hands together and rubbed them. “Then let us play,” she said in her best voice impression of Principal Cinch.

Applejack didn’t know how she ended up here. It was the middle of the week. Ordinarily, by this time she’d be hurrying to whip up a decent dinner for her family before winding down in the solitude of her attic bedroom.

Instead, she was being practically shoved out the front door by Big Mac.

“But shouldn’t I cook first?” she sputtered. “Mac, I know you’re hungry!”

“Nope,” he said firmly. He had dug out his acoustic guitar and was gripping the case handle in one hand, a bottle of whiskey in the other.

Her eyes widened and she dug her heels into the porch’s floorboards. “What about Granny?? She still needs to–!”

“Get the hell outta this house, that’s what,” Granny snapped from behind Big Mac.

Applejack twisted to see around her brother’s hulk. Granny Smith followed them through the front door with Apple Bloom’s help. Her little sister winked at her. “Shucks, this house has been so gloomy, us Apples really could use a night of fun! Right, Granny?”

“Darn tootin’!” the older woman said with a firm nod.

“Shoot, but I’m hungry!” Applejack griped, still being jostled forward by Big Mac.

When her brother’s boots kicked the backs of hers once again, Applejack turned swiftly and swatted at him. He curled a little, but chuckled, skirting around her, confirming her suspicion that he’d been doing it on purpose. She glared at him as he passed down the steps before falling into step alongside her grandmother and helping her sister stabilize her.

“I’ll put together some cold-cut sandwiches. I think we still got some leftover salad and mashed taters from the other night, too,” Apple Bloom offered eagerly.

“We just got a’ answer for everything tonight, don’t we?” Applejack sighed.

Apple Bloom clicked her tongue at her. “AJ, when’s the last time one o’ your friends stopped by? We can’t just act like it’s any other night!”

“Yeah, yeah… I suppose.” Applejack turned her face away, suddenly ashamed.

Her friends had stopped coming because she’d stopped inviting them. Worse, she’d kept them all at bay by making excuses. She never lied about the situation. Omitted some details, maybe, but…the presentation she gave communicated something unspoken.

It’s not a good time.

We’re really busy.

I’m too tired.

I’ve got classwork.

Granny Smith isn’t doing so well…

Over time, her friends mostly stopped asking to come over. College life had a way of swallowing up their lives, anyway. But had she used her grandmother’s declining health as a deterrent? Yes.

She never lied. She didn’t. If she ever brought up Granny Smith’s health issues, it usually was because it was bad. There were weeks when Granny was so confused and frustrated she’d throw tantrums like she was a youngster again. But Applejack knew that wasn’t what ultimately dissuaded her friends. It was her vibe when she offered excuses. The look in her eye forbade any pressing of the matter.

All those things she said? It really boiled down to–

Please, leave me alone.

And her friends, bless them… they did. It was no one’s fault but her own.

As the three of them made it to the old barn, she wondered to herself if the tension on the farm and in the house was all her fault. Maybe she needed to let her friends in more. With Sunset’s help, they’d completed the work a whole hour earlier than usual. Now here her family was, excited and jovial like she hadn’t seen them in so long.

In the old barn where they kept the cider still and the aging barrels, Sunset was sweeping debris out of the way with an old broom. Applejack and Apple Bloom set their granny on a rocking chair Sunset had found in a corner and wiped clear of cobwebs.

Applejack’s little sister turned to her as they straightened. “I’m going to grab my fiddle!” she said. She bound away, beaming.

“She seems excited,” Sunset remarked with a smirk as she side-eyed Applejack.

“She’s just glad she got an excuse to avoid doing any more chores,” Applejack groused.

Granny Smith whacked her thigh, making her yelp. “Now where’s your sense o’ fun?” she snapped at her granddaughter. “Shoot, it’s like someone licked the red off your candy!”

With shoulders curving, Applejack went over to the old fridge against the north wall. This one they had plugged in and it housed their own personal stash of her family’s prize-winning hard apple cider. Opening it, she reached in, but paused and looked back.

“Granny? Sunset? Either of you want one?” she asked. She shot Big Mac a look as he pulled over a stack of dusty plastic lawn chairs. “I know you’re good.”

He screwed his mouth to one side and shrugged at her.

Sunset grinned as she leaned the broom back against the wall. “Sure!” She pulled her hair out of its tie, letting her wavy two-toned curls cascade down her shoulders again. If Applejack didn’t know otherwise, she’d say her friend hadn’t worked a solitary minute on the farm today. Her hair looked that nice.

“I’ll take one,” Granny said, her eyes lighting up as she smacked her lips like a kid anticipating ice cream.

Applejack grabbed three bottles and carried one to Sunset and Granny Smith. For Granny, she took a moment to twist off the cap, before plopping heavily on a turned-over wooden milk crate near her. She gripped the chilled neck of the bottle, staring at it for a moment before finally twisting the cap off with far more force than was necessary and tossing it onto the dirt floor.

She hated being a downer.

Big Mac set down the lawn chairs starting on Applejack’s left so they formed a kind of sloppy circle. Standing, he went to a large stack of wooden crates covered by a dusty tarp near the rear of the barn where he’d leaned Applejack’s standing bass, their father’s old banjo, and the acoustic guitar, all still in their hard cases.

He grabbed the acoustic guitar and brought it to Sunset as she went to take a seat next to Applejack. Then he went back and brought the standing bass and the banjo. The former he laid on the ground behind Applejack’s spot, and the latter he brought with him to his seat.

“Now you be careful with your Pa’s banjo, Big Mac,” Granny warned, cider still glistening on her lips from her latest messy swallow. “You know he likes to play when he’s done in the orchard! You put it right back where you found it so he don’t get cross with you again!”

Big Mac didn’t slow down, even as Applejack let her head drop with weariness. He just looked at his elder, smiled, and nodded with a wink.

Applejack felt a hand on her wrist and looked up. Sunset, the acoustic guitar already in her lap, was looking at her with a soft gaze. Was that pity? Her friend leaned forward to look at Granny Smith. She kept her hand in place on Applejack’s arm. The skin ached beneath the sleeve.

“Do you know how to play an instrument, Granny?” she asked the older woman brightly.

“Shucks, I never had the patience,” Granny admitted, her shoulders hunching up toward her ears. She leaned over and wagged a gnarled finger. “But I could sing the roof off a building in my day!” she said with a laugh.

“You’ll have to sing for us!”

The woman grinned, looking pleased. “Well, I aim’ta! Don’t you worry missy! I aim’ta!”

Sunset sat back and met Applejack’s astonished eyes. Her smile broadened and she squeezed Applejack’s wrist.

Stinging pain flared across her skin.

Applejack couldn’t help it. She winced.

It was lightning quick, but it was enough.

Sunset released her swiftly, alarmed. “What’s wrong?”

Applejack shook her arm out. “Ah, nothing.” She tried her hardest to affect a tone of nonchalance. “Just got a burn there.”

Sunset’s eyes went wide. “A burn?”

But before Applejack could answer, Apple Bloom came jogging into the barn, breathless, her ponytail askew. Hefting up her fiddle case, she said with a massive grin, “I found it!”

Never had Applejack been more pleased for her sister’s interruptions than right then.

“Great!” She said, popping to her feet and stepping behind her sitting-crate to crouch and retrieve her bass from its case on the ground.

She could still feel Sunset’s eyes on her. As she opened the case, she dared to glance over at her friend.

The happy light that had been in those shiny cyan eyes just a moment ago had dulled under the shadow of a worried brow.

Applejack looked away quickly, feeling ashamed.

Only, Sunset couldn’t know about her burning herself with cigarettes.

…Could she?

She’d only been doing it a few months, and she’d been so careful to keep it secret–always wearing long sleeves, keeping any weeping wounds bandaged, and never engaging in any attention-seeking behavior. How could she possibly have any idea?

“Hoo-eey!” Apple Bloom exclaimed as she sat in the last remaining chair. “My poor fiddle had gathered a big ol’ layer of dust, that’s how long since I even saw this thing!”

“Well, we all been busy as of late,” Applejack muttered. She wished Sunset would quit eyeing her like that.

“Ah, shoot, I think it’s out of tune,” Apple Bloom sighed as she pulled her instrument out of the case. She looked over at Big Mac. “How’s Pa’s banjo?”

Big Mac did a deft series of melodious plucks on the instrument, then gave a silent thumbs up.

“Hell n’ tarnation,” grumped Granny Smith. “Get ‘er tuned up then, Apple Bloom. I’m chomping at the bit to hear our family song!”

Sunset snapped a finger, “Apples to the Core? The one AJ, Apple Bloom, and Big Mac sung at the talent show our junior year?”

“Just the one,” Applejack said, standing her bass upright. While she still continued to practice with her electric bass from time to time, it had been sometime since she’d plucked the Big ‘Un, as she fondly called it. Though her electric bass and upright bass were technically played the same, the latter required considerably more force to pluck the strings in order to produce the proper sound it was meant for. You didn’t accomplish that with your hands, but with your back and shoulders. She wasn’t worried about damaging her fingers, she still had callouses from working on the farm. But looking like a fool? Well, for that, she worried.

A few test plucks confirmed her other concern. “Looks like Big ‘Un is outta tune, too.” She raised an eyebrow at Sunset. “We might need a second. But I believe that there guitar should be ready to go. Got anything to serenade us with while we sip and twist?”

Sunset thought for a moment, not at all shying from the prospect of performing without notice. Applejack smirked. After Rainbow, she was the most accomplished musician of the Sonic Rainbooms.

It didn’t even take her a minute.

“I have something,” Sunset said with a little fidget. She smiled and gave the guitar strings a single harmonious strum. “It’s something I wrote a few years ago. I never brought it to the Rainbooms because it didn’t really fit our sound. You guys might like it, though! It’s called ‘Embrace the Magic’.”

“Now ain’t that nice? Go on then, dearie! Play for us!” Granny Smith said with a small toast of her cider. She’d already worked through half the bottle. Applejack frowned and resolved not to give her anymore.

Sunset stooped down to pick up her cider from where she’d placed it on the floor and took a quick swig. After setting it back down, she nudged Big Mac, who spilled a little of the whiskey he’d been gulping down. “This one’s not too complicated,” she said, apparently not in the least bit bothered by his choice of swill. “Key signature is in E flat major if you wanna follow along!”

He nodded, a blush on his cheeks as he tried to wipe the liquor from his chin and shirt.

Applejack rolled her eyes at him.

Sunset settled into her seat, tapped a rhythm on the body of the guitar, and began strumming.

“So you have magic
And it's not that great
But when it found you
You know it was fate
And it might seem scary now
But it can be wonderful, too
So how about we embrace the magic
And make the magic part of you?”

Applejack’s hand stilled on the tuner, her gaze becoming more focused on her friend. From the corner of her eye, she could see Apple Bloom lower the neck of her fiddle.

Sunset’s eyes fell closed as her boot tapped on the dirt floor.

“You take a little dash of magic
And you let it ignite
Mix things up a little bit
And it might start to go right
In just five seconds flat
How the story has changed
All 'cause now you've embraced the magic
And it just got better in every way
I say embrace the magic
No more holding back, just let it out
If you can take the magic
And learn a little more what it can do
Once the magic is part of you”

Applejack’s eyebrows lifted. She tilted her hat back on her head with a single finger and leaned on her bass. Glancing over at Granny, she saw the woman happily swaying.

Big Mac finally set the whiskey bottle down, and with a bobbing head, he plucked along on the banjo a simple accompaniment.

“What's standing in your way
That you can't move today?
You've got the strength in you
To make your dreams come true
No need to shield yourself
From the magic that can help
Protect from any harm that might come
So you have magic
And it's not that great
But when it found you
You know it was fate”

Sunset’s eyes opened a sliver, and Applejack felt the hairs on her neck raise to see her friend’s eyes glowing slightly. More than that, her hair gained a noticeable sheen and even her skin seemed more vibrant and rich. The magic within her was responding to the music, and it was rushing just beneath the surface.

If it had been Applejack, she’d have sprouted pony ears by now. Of their group, the only other one who could have the magic surging without succumbing to a full transformation was Twilight Sparkle.

“So if you listen close
You might make a new friend
And together we can make it!
I say embrace the magic
No more holding back, just let it out
If you can take the magic
And learn a little more what it can do”

Sometimes, the magic of Harmony that thrived within them manifested because they lived harmoniously with the world. Most times, it was because they were embodying the spirit of their virtues. In this latter fashion, they had all found a way to call on the magic whenever they wanted it.

For a while, Sunset had struggled. Everyone else more or less understood what their virtue was because Princess Twilight had explained it to them. Not so, for Sun. Applejack could still remember her spending long hours at the school library just trying to figure it out. She pored over books and tried activating her transformation in the privacy of the study rooms.

Sunset met her eyes, and Applejack’s breath caught. The magic inside of the cowgirl pulsed, like it was trying to answer some silent call.

“Once the magic is part of you…” Sunset sang, repeating the line until the song’s completion.

Sweat was on Applejack’s skin.

Sunset had long ago figured out what her virtue was.

Empathy.

She didn’t just sympathize with someone else’s suffering. She felt it. And that brought on a whole level of understanding that not many could achieve.

As the last chords of Sunset’s song faded away, Applejack could feel clarity settle on her.

Sunset understood. She didn’t pity her. She understood.

Her bristling pride eased. The shame of her secret still lingered, but it was weaker now. Whatever Sunset knew or didn’t know about what Applejack had been doing to herself seemed irrelevant. Her friend had just communicated something Applejack had lost sight of.

Harmony had chosen her for her honesty. She’d been shying away from this, trying to find workarounds, speaking only half-truths for so long that she’d started to lie to herself and hadn’t even realized it.

“Wow, Sunset! That was really good!” Apple Bloom said with awe as she and Granny clapped softly. She gave her brother a quick thumbs up. “And nice job jumpin’ in, Mac!”

“Yeah, Big Mac!” Sunset said, turning away from Applejack. “You made the song even better! Thank you!”

“Sunset Shimmer I think you could make a mighty fine country singer, if you had a mind to!” Granny chortled.

“Heck, she could take over the music business if she wasn’t so busy tryin’ta save the world!” Applejack chimed in. It took effort to keep her voice steady. She felt shook. When Sunset looked her way again, the magic was gone from her eyes… but the tenderness lingered.

Applejack smiled to see it. “Aint’cha, sugarcube?” she asked meaningfully.

Sunset returned the smile, but her lips pursed. “I’m trying to,” she said ruefully. “I’m a lousy superhero.”

Apple Bloom snickered, “Quick, somebody grab AJ’s tights! Sunset needs a sidekick!”

Applejack pretended to snarl. “I’ll tell you who needs their side kicked!”

“Now, now, girls!” Sunset said holding up a hand. “I thought you two were supposed to be tuning!”

“Shucks, ain’t nobody was gonna get nothin’ done with you serenading us like that!” Applejack replied.

“Preach, sis,” Apple Bloom said with a sassy snap of her fingers. “Some superhero! Look at her, distracting us common folk with her siren song. Sunset shoulda played something watered down!”

Sunset’s smile had turned crooked. “Oh yeah? Like…?”

Without hesitation, both Apple sisters said in unison, “Red Solo Cup.”

The family burst out laughing with Sunset staring at them all with a bemused grin. “I’m missing something, aren’t I…?”

“Now, red solo cup is the best receptical
For barbecues, tailgates, fairs, and festivals
And you, sir, do not have a pair of testicles
If you prefer drinkin' from glass,”

Sunset said flatly as she read the lyrics off of Applejack’s phone. She’d heard the song one time all the way through and had insisted on seeing the lyrics herself, just to confirm her ears weren’t playing tricks on her.

She looked over at her friend with a scandalized expression. “This is a real song?”

“Eyup!” Applejack said, barely able to keep the laughter from her voice. “If you like that, you should hear, She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy!”

“Hard pass.”

They shared a laugh.

They were alone in the barn. Granny Smith had grown tired, and Apple Bloom and Big Mac helped their grandmother back to their home. AJ’s sister had said over her shoulder as they went, “I’ll make dinner! Ya’ll take your time!”

So they did. They were sitting on the tarp covered crates smoking freshly lit cigarettes, another bottle of cider in their hands.

Now that Applejack had successfully tainted Sunset’s mind with one of the worst country hits in the last two decades, it was time to clear the air.

“Applejack…” Sunset handed her friend’s phone back. Their eyes met. “The burn on your arm, how’d it happen?”

Applejack set her phone at her side as she leaned forward onto her knees. She eyed Sunset sideways. “I got a feeling you have an idea.”

Sunset licked her lips as she looked away. She bent her leg up so that her boot rested on the edge of the large crate she sat on. She took a quick drag of her cigarette then rested her arm on her raised knee.

Outside, the sun was setting. The shadows of the outbuildings and surrounding trees stretched long through the open barn doors.

“You did it to yourself,” Sunset murmured smokily. “And it wasn’t the first time.”

From the corner of her eye, she saw Applejack bob her head once, her cig pinched between her lips as the tip cherried. Snatching the stick from her mouth, she let her head hang, smoke billowing toward her cowboy boots and the dirt floor. “Eyup,” she grunted.

“How?” Sunset asked quietly.

“You really wanna know?”

“Yes.”

“Really, really?”

Applejack raised herself up, set her cider bottle aside, and stared hard at her friend. Sunset stared back.

Ponykind and this world’s horses were different, but they had key similarities. One of the less obvious was body language. Eye contact was vital in understanding another pony’s true intentions. During critical moments of interaction, it wasn’t unusual for two ponies to hold sustained eye contact. It established trust and understanding.

Sunset had found that as much as humans considered eye contact important, they interpreted this kind of intense stare intimidating. She’d mostly stopped doing it since learning the ways of this world. But every once in a while, usually when really stressed, she’d slip into old habits. She’d done it recently, in fact, when she’d come out to Fluttershy that she was bisexual.

Now, though… She knew what she was doing. Applejack was testing her resolve. Sunset wouldn’t back down.

The seconds ticked by.

She didn’t break eye contact when Applejack slowly began to unbutton her shirt sleeve. When her friend had finished rolling her sleeve up and saw her hold up her cigarette–not between her fingers with the filter palm-side, but rather, pinched between her thumb and index finger with the burning end turned toward her…

Sunset’s expression lengthened. She looked down at her friend’s arm and her breath caught. Applejack’s skin was covered in small angry red circles, some brighter than others. A few had bandages on them. Others still appeared swollen, perhaps because of how concentrated her friend’s self-harm had been in spots. Sunset’s brow tensed as tears pricked her eyes and her throat grew tight, but she fought to keep more from coming.

“Now you know,” Applejack breathed. “Still wanna spend your precious free time with this screwed-up country hick, Sunset Shimmer?”

She started to bring the cigarette toward her arm.

Sunset placed her hand on Applejack’s, stopping her. Her touch was soft. Gentle.

Unyielding.

“You’re forgetting who you’re talking to,” Sunset murmured, catching Applejack’s gaze again. Without removing her hand from AJ’s, she began to unfasten the cuff of her own sleeve. “And you’re not a screwed-up country hick.” In one quick pull, she pulled back the black and red plaid fabric to reveal her inner forearm.

Trailing her fingers over her skin with her other hand, she said quietly, “Hidden secret, pain congealed, magic reveal what I’ve concealed.”

There was a low, almost imperceptible hum as the concealment spell surrounding her arm dissipated, revealing a litany of scars across her skin. They were old and all healed, but they varied in size and shape. Some were straight and thin. Others were thick and curved.

Applejack’s mouth fell open when she saw it. “Saints alive!” she exclaimed softly.

Sunset leaned in, her head tilting so that she captured Applejack’s eye again. Their noses were just a few inches apart. “You see?” she murmured. “Now, can I please take a look at your arm? I think some of those are infected.”

Applejack blinked rapidly. After a moment, she gave one small nod.

From a nearby first aid box they kept stocked for the farm workers, Sunset fetched some supplies. They relocated to the lawn chairs they’d used earlier and used the over-turned milk crate as a makeshift side table.

Sunset tsked over Applejack’s arm as she dabbed at the angry red wounds with a wet cotton swab. “Using cigarettes probably had a high enough chance of infection without you leaving these dirty for so long,” Sunset muttered as she tried to wipe away ash residue. The swab was wet with water. She still remembered her first aid training from senior year: for burns, it was safer to use just water to clean the wounds.

“C’mon, now… I feel foolish enough,” Applejack grumbled, a quick wince flitting across her face from the latest pass of the swab. “It’s not like I didn’t try and rinse them afterward! I just… didn’t always get to it right away.”

“Yeah, and from the looks of it, some of them not at all.”

“Like I said, I been busy!”

Sunset glanced at her and moved on to another wound. “Believe it or not, I’m not trying to make you feel bad. I just want you to understand what you’ve been doing to yourself.”

“I had an idea.”

“Clearly you didn’t,” Sunset asserted with a piercing look at her friend. Pride be damned, this churlish refusal to see facts was going to bring lasting damage, and she wasn’t afraid to push the matter. “Applejack, don’t you get it? You’re going to have to get antibiotics. Some of these look pretty bad. How long have they hurt like this?”

Applejack shrugged, her lips pursed. “A day or two, maybe?”

Sunset sighed. “I’m serious. You’ve gotta get these looked at. What I’m doing here is minor.”

“I ain’t going to my doc with this. Word’ll spread.”

As if she’d expected her to say that, Sunset answered without skipping a beat, “There’s a clinic I can take you to. You pay cash. No paperwork or questions.”

Applejack tilted an eyebrow, obviously taken aback by the suggestion. “That sounds shady.”

“It’s because it is,” Sunset said, still unruffled. She glanced at Applejack again, her own eyebrow tilting. “But they do the work you pay for, and they do it well.”

“What is it, some chop shop in the back of a Chinese restaurant?”

“Not quite. Out of the back of a veterinary hospital off the interstate.”

“A vet?”

“They’ll help you,” Sunset insisted. “I know the guy. He’s helped me.”

“How?”

Now Sunset smirked. “You really wanna know?”

“Yes.”

A coy smile bloomed on her lips. “Really, really?”

Applejack sucked loudly at her teeth. “Sun,” she said, her voice low.

Sunset’s smile waned. “Bullet grazed me. I tried to steal from the wrong person.” She returned her gaze to her work. “It was before Canterlot High, when I was living on the street.”

After another moment, she sat back and sighed. “We should put some antibiotic ointment and fresh bandages to keep your wounds from getting worse until they can get looked at.”

Applejack said nothing as her friend proceeded to do just this.

She wanted to ask so badly…

What happened to you?

But instead, she asked, “You’re still staying for dinner, right?” Applejack smirked. “Apple Bloom will be mighty disappointed if you don’t have some of her cold-cut sandwiches.”

Sunset grinned playfully. “Well, we can’t have that, now can we?”

A few moments later, and the work was done.

As they cleaned up the first aid supplies, Applejack cleared her throat and said with a furtive glance, “Sunset, thanks for helping with the work today. And…” She gestured at the crumpled bandage wrappers in her hand, her neck and freckled cheeks heating up with chagrin. “For this.”

Sunset smiled at her and brushed her long hair back over her shoulder as she stood to her feet. “Of course. And I hope you can trust me when I say that I know what it’s like to suffer quietly.”

Applejack winced, her mind’s eye seeing the pale scars along Sunset’s soft almond brown skin. “Yeah, I suppose you do,” she acquiesced somberly.

“Hey.”

She looked up to see Sunset had taken a step toward her. They were so close now. Again. Applejack didn’t mind. She didn’t know why. She knew it wasn’t typical behavior from her friend, but something about it made her feel cared for. For so long, she’d been the one minding others that she’d forgotten what it was like to be minded.

It was…nice.

“Tomorrow, I have a class in the morning, but after that I’ll be free,” Sunset murmured. Her left hand came up to touch Applejack’s right wrist. Her fingers rested feather light, not so much holding, but just a comforting contact. “If you’re free in the afternoon, lemme take you to that place on the interstate.”

Applejack made a face. “The chop shop? You really think that’s necessary?”

Sunset cocked an eyebrow. “You’re damn right I do. If you think those infected wounds sting now, just wait till the infection worsens.”

Applejack rolled her eyes and looked around the barn as she thought, her shoulders bunching up. Wednesday was the one weekday she had free of school. She’d planned to do farm work and the usual studying.

Tonguing her cheek, she eyed Sunset sideways. “How much he charge?”

“A hundred, not including the meds. I’ll split it with you.”

Applejack waved her offer off before Sunset had even finished speaking. “No. I can afford it.” And you can’t, she thought. But immense affection bloomed in her chest that her friend would so readily try to help her, despite how hard that would be.

“Then lemme help another way. I figure that’ll cut into the time you usually spend on the farm. So, after we’re done, I’ll come and help again.”

Now Applejack looked at her aghast. “Again? Sunset, don’t you got to study?”

Now Sunset smirked. She leaned in even closer, and her hand, which had not moved from AJ’s wrist this entire time, slid down to grasp the cowgirl’s and give it a gentle squeeze. “Tomorrow night is blues night, remember? I really want your company.” She winked. “And I’m usually pretty good at getting what I want.”

Applejack could feel the heat crawl up her skin again, but a small smile was tugging at her lips. “I didn’t realize I was in such hot demand.”

Her heart hammered as sweat collected on her skin. Hell and tarnation, she hadn’t meant for her voice to drop that low! But the other girl had just been so close that the volume had seemed reasonable…

Sunset took a step back, releasing her friend to hold up both hands. “Hey, what can I say? You Apples are pretty special!” She thumbed for the barn doors. “We should head back to the house. I’m starving!”

Applejack let out a cross between a laugh and a hard exhale of relief. At least her friend hadn’t noticed how weird she was being.

She really didn’t know what was going on with herself. She gave herself a mental slap. Better stop acting goofy before you scare the girl off, Applejack.

Still, a part of her throbbed with disappointment that the moment had been so abruptly broken.

She crumpled up the last of the wrappers in her hand, then stooped and grabbed the first aid box. She watched as Sunset made her way outside.

The sun had fallen behind the horizon, and the sky was a deep lavender. The stars were in clear view, even from where she stood.

Sunset paused at the barn entryway, her eyebrows raising. “Applejack?”

Applejack looked her friend up and down. The shadows seemed to settle over her form with ease, muting her vibrant hair to a cooler shade. Just over the barn, the moonlight struck the side of Sunset’s face, illuminating one side and shading the other. Her expression held kindness and patience.

But what hid in the shadows of her friend?

Applejack pulled her hat forward and smiled. She tried to ignore the uneasiness in her gut. “I’m coming, sugarcube.”

Author's Note

Red Solo Cup and She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy are real songs.

Yes. Really.

Big huge thanks to Guy Incognito for encouraging me and helping with this chapter!

How are you guys enjoying this hurt/comfort side fic? If you need some help getting in the mood for this rare pair, try listening to my Spotify playlist for the story. It's got a lot of "life's hard, love's complicated, screw it baby let's cope together," vibes. I'm weirdly proud of it.

Chapter 4

The sun was just creeping up over the horizon, and its light reached sleepily through the curtain over the attic window. Applejack yawned and felt her thoughts, slippery as they were, poke through the fog of sleep to rouse her.

She half-heartedly opened her eyes.

Like so many things in her family, the attic room had been passed down to her. Even after months of occupying the room, it didn’t feel like it was completely hers yet.

Sometimes, she missed her old room. When Granny Smith fell down the stairs just prior to her dementia diagnosis, it had been decided that the older woman needed the ground floor bedroom, smaller though it may be. There were still touches of her grandmother’s presence strewn about the space. A framed picture of her mother and father. A ceramic figure of a cowboy on a horse. A framed cross-stitch that displayed the quote from their sixteenth president, “Be sure you put your feet in the right place, then stand firm.”

She wanted to do that. She tried every day. But it was difficult getting her bearings lately. She felt so uncertain of herself. Depressed, sure, she’d been that way for a long while now, but the uncertainty was new. Even when the gloom dragged her down, she always had a direction to head in. A task to perform. And in those certainties, she felt a confidence for the outcome. Even the things that hurt her, she found a weird comfort in knowing.

She knew she wanted Fluttershy.

She also knew she’d never have her.

This certainty released her from ever trying. She was a common redneck, and there was a grace in knowing your place. It wasn’t so bad. Her family had fought and scraped their way from poverty, establishing a respectable livelihood that was humble and sincere in its dealings. Sure, they had to hussle to stay afloat. But that hussle kept her from dwelling on what she lacked.

She’d been where the lightning tangled in her eyes, the sky booming over her as she rode horseback over the soil that knew generations of her family’s hard labor. They had made it through lawlessness and illness, blight and flood. She knew this would be where her ashes would be spread. She liked the thought of giving back to the trees that had so nourished her kin.

Applejack liked the thought of not having to struggle anymore.

She was a creature of habit, and her mornings always started the same. First came the exhausting push and pull between her melancholy for what she yearned for and a stalwart effort to just be satisfied with what she had. After some time of this, she’d grow weary of the battle and settle for thinking about the girl she couldn’t have.

Fluttershy’s sweet deference. Her coy smile. Her silky pink hair. Her pretty eyes.

Applejack thought of the time that Fluttershy had auditioned for the fall play held in their junior year. It was called Dazzled and it was an uplifting tale of a miner wanting to pursue their passion for dance. Fluttershy had asked Applejack for advice on how to get over her stage fright so that she could participate with everyone else. Half-serious but utterly sincere in her intentions, Applejack told her to imagine everyone as chickens.

Fluttershy ultimately succeeded in getting a small role in the production, and when Applejack went to congratulate her afterwards, her friend had admitted something strange.

“Instead of chickens, I pictured everyone in the audience as you, Applejack!”

Heavens, if there had ever been a time when Applejack had turned a deeper shade of red, she honestly couldn’t think of it. For so long, such small memories were all she had to find solace in. They were bittersweet, but they usually put her in a good mood. She could tell herself, with the dimmest of hope and free of pressure, that maybe, just maybe, someday her feelings would be returned.

Only this morning she felt a little disconnected from the get-up-and-go such thoughts normally fueled her with.

She rolled over in the bed, consternated. It was a queen-sized mattress, so she had plenty of room by herself. She sprawled over the sheets, her body twisting as she stretched, then blinked up at the ceiling. The space was definitely brightening.

The streak of bright yellow sunlight that banded across her slanted ceiling made her think of Sunset Shimmer’s hair.

Yesterday, Sunset had her hair up in a hasty french twist. Some of her vibrant red locks fell out the sides, framing her face. Applejack distinctly remembered the way one small lock of yellow curls had nestled over her ear. She didn’t get to see Sunset with her hair up often. In the heat of Camp Everfree, she’d put her hair up in a ponytail a few times. That was about it.

Applejack rubbed at the frown lines forming on her forehead as she tried to recall how her friend had looked then. Did Sunset have the same cute wisps of fiery hair teasing her neck at camp?

Did those long locks always burn so bright?

She felt her skin grow flush as her heart beat a little harder.

Stop it.

She gave up on daydreaming. She felt wide awake now and she could feel the worries of the day flooding her room on the back of the daylight.

Applejack was still waiting to hear from the guardian ad litem, the attorney chosen by the court to represent Apple Bloom’s best interests. She’d spoken briefly with the woman at court when she’d filed for full guardianship of Apple Bloom. Her name was Watchful Wing. The woman had promised to get in touch soon about interviewing them all and inspecting the home.

Would it be that week? Applejack hoped not. The house still felt chaotic. And Applejack couldn’t quite put her finger on it, but she could feel it in her gut that something was coming. She didn’t know if it was good or bad. It was just a sixth sense, like when you knew a good rain was on its way. She hoped whatever was on the horizon was good.

She hoped and hoped.

Saturday was looming close, and Rainbow's promise to come help on the farm weighed on her. What would they talk about? Would they fight again? Her stomach lurched when she recalled how close they had been to trading blows just a few days ago. She wished she hadn't said the things she had.

She wished Rainbow hadn't said all of the things she knew to be true.

Applejack scrubbed at her face and fought down the lump that formed in her throat, tears dampening her eyelashes. She refused to let them fall.

Somehow, she found herself thinking about Sunset again. Her tense, earnest gaze as she said, "Applejack, you were in a tough situation! You still are! And you know what? Rainbow thinks it’s her fault. You’ve both got to see that the truth is somewhere more in the middle. It’s not on any one person."

Applejack didn't know if that was true. She just wished things were simpler.

An old box television sat next to the closet, an older set than the one downstairs. It even had rabbit ears, and on top of it sat an old VCR with a humble stack of VHS tapes next to it. She hadn’t had time to watch anything recently, but she used it at least once a week, just watching the same old western films over and over. She liked seeing the stalwart heroes overcoming adversity and saving the day. They seldom were perfect, but they persevered.

She wanted to persevere.

She got up, turned the TV on, and popped in Once Upon a Time in the West. She sat on the edge of her bed, watching the film begin on low volume.

She didn’t actually have time to watch anything. She needed to get up and get ready soon.

But Applejack sat rooted, watching as the main protagonist, Harmonica, disembarked a steam train whilst playing his namesake and facing down three gunslingers out to kill him.

“Did you bring a horse for me?” Harmonica asked the men after his tune was done.

“Well... looks like we're...looks like we're shy one horse,” one of the gunslingers snickered.

Harmonica shook his head. Applejack murmured his next line with a smirk. “You brought two too many.”

This was her favorite movie. She’d found the tape along with the others in a box hidden in the closet when she’d swapped rooms with Granny. She’d watched it countless times since. It touched on her anxiety about how her family was changing, the ruthless uncertainty of a capitalist world, and just some good ol’ fashioned common man’s justice delivered via a hasty bullet. Not that she thought of any of this. She didn’t analyze things like Twilight Sparkle, or even gush on about how it made her feel like Rarity.

She just knew she liked it, and that was enough for her.

If only other things could be as simple.

Principles of Biology was not what Sunset wanted to do with her morning. She was a little sore in her back and legs from the work she did with Applejack, too. She’d very nearly skipped class, but her time with Twilight Sparkle must have rubbed off on her, because the idea seemed a step too far. And it really was. She wasn’t out here learning all of this just because Princess Twilight liked her. Royal Equestrian gold was pouring into her human education, and the goal was to have a greater understanding of how the magic she had set loose had transformed the world.

Science was delightful. The principles were the same back in Equestria, but the rules were a little different here. In her homeworld, there were immutable laws much like there were on Earth, but they were just structured in a way that made magic an integral part of the way Equus worked. Here… magic was new, and she needed to see how the universal laws responded to account for its presence.

She had a theory that she was trying to prove with her independent research with Twilight. They still had so much work to do to create a viable model to take to their supervising teacher, but it was her hope that the same methods used to detect bosons and fermions could help her find magical energy particles as well. She was relieved that magic had largely remained undetected by the scientific world, but Twilight, who was better at keeping up with published research papers, warned that scientists were already aware that something was different about the natural systems, they just hadn’t found what yet.

This kept Sunset awake at night. She’d stare at the wall, wondering what in Equestria she would do if humanity realized magic was in their world. Worse, that it was something they could learn to control. Even ponykind had not been able to resist using magic for war. She trembled, imagining the holocausts that could occur if she didn’t make that breakthrough first.

She needed to see all the ways that magic functioned in this world because the unique structure of this universe’s systems necessarily made it behave differently than her world. That much was obvious just in how she cast spells as a human as opposed to as a unicorn. That’s why she also minored in Human Biology. In understanding these things, she could map out the pitfalls and dangers, and hopefully teach humanity how to safely and peacefully coexist with this new elemental force they’d never encountered before.

So she’d suffer through an unwanted class if she had to. It was her responsibility.

Sunset was long past complaining about her past decisions to anyone. If she had just taken to heart all that Celestia had tried to teach her, she wouldn’t be in this position today. But to say she didn’t grow weary of her task… Well.

There were Blues songs for that. It was Blues that had given her the skills to shred the guitar in the first place. She’d first heard it in an illegal back alley club. It was dark and dirty Delta Blues, sliding on a resonator guitar and singing about death and lost love. It had touched something in her, raw and unspoken. A sense of hopelessness. A sorrow over a life without love. The latest melancholy twisted her heart cruelly.

Applejack had been hurting herself. A lot. Sunset still ached as the memory of the still-healing wounds ran itself through her mind again. Especially the moment when her gaze snapped up to meet her friend’s. Those green depths had betrayed a deep self-loathing that smoldered intensely. Like the blues, Sunset could feel this reach deep into her chest and squeeze.

On the worst nights, when her theoretical model proved too much to work on and the bills seemed to loom insurmountable over her life, that same hateful thinking would pass through her mind.

Not good enough. Too damaged. Just a disappointment.

After treating AJ’s wounds, the dinner at the Apple home had been pleasant. Sunset wondered briefly to herself why she hadn’t tried to come and visit before on her own, and then she remembered. Suddenly. Viciously.

The Apples were the All-American family. Earnest, hard-working, and honest-to-a-fault, Sunset had always felt a little too grimy to be around them. Like she was the X-rated delinquent stuck in a PG family film. To say that the feeling had gone away after so long would have been incorrect, but they at least made her feel welcome.

In fact, she was looking forward to seeing them again that day. None moreso than Applejack.

Sunset bit her lip and let her mind wander as she thought about the feel of Applejack’s warm skin under her fingertips. It really had taken a monumental effort not to just hug her friend on the spot and not let go. Could depression be healed with cuddling? She thought she’d read somewhere that skin-to-skin contact was one of the most soothing things a person could experience. Of her lovers, she only ever cuddled with Sherry Kiss, but even that was just a brief prelude to more sex. They didn't lay around forever in each other's arms or anything.

It was a moot point to go down anyway. Applejack wasn’t ready for Sunset to express her interest yet. She really needed a clear head before she saw her friend, or she’d get ahead of herself and scare AJ off. Sunset, thankfully, had a plan for this.

Taking out her special phone, she picked out a name she hadn’t seen for a few weeks.

Diamond Roller. A young pansexual stockbroker. He was a great lover with fantastic stamina and a skilled touch. The only reason Sunset hadn’t seen him as much lately was because he’d been busy trying to seduce his fellow stockbroker and dear friend.

The coincidence wasn’t lost on her.

The thing was, this friend had a fetish for cuckolding.

They’d already done it at least twice before, where she and Diamond fucked whilst his target of seduction, Arctic Haze, looked on lustfully. It was hard coordinating when they could all meet, but as it happened, things just fell into alignment that afternoon.

After class, she drove to a parking garage where Diamond was awaiting with his beau. When she climbed off her motorcycle and pulled her helmet off, the two men exited the shiny white sports car they’d arrived in. Diamond was not much taller than her, with dusky dark skin to match hers, rich blue eyes, and short rakish frost blue hair that was swept to the side. He had on a modern dark navy suit with polished black shoes and a silk blue tie.

Even on the far side of the car, Arctic was visibly taller. He was a tall white man with a shaved head and dark five o’ clock shadow on his chiseled jaw. He had a good two inches on Diamond, so he easily towered over Sunset. His icy grey eyes watched her carefully as he circumvented the vehicle between them. He wore a white button-up dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up and dark gray suit pants, no jacket or tie.

Sunset smiled jovially at them as she shrugged off her riding jacket and tossed it onto her bike.

“Where?” she asked. Straight and to the point was how Diamond liked it. Time was money to these men. She didn’t mind. It suited her, too. She had plans with a certain Apple afterwards.

Diamond smirked. “On the hood.”

Sunset playfully bit the corner of her lip and obliged him, going to the front of their vehicle and leaning forward with her palms on the hood. The metal felt warm under her hands.

Could someone drive by and see them? Maybe. But that was part of the fun. They were on the top of the parking garage, anyway. Not as many cars came up this way save to take advantage of long-term parking. Did it make her wet to think that someone could see her getting railed, though?

Of course.

Diamond snickered briefly before he wiped at his mouth in a vain attempt to remove the massive grin on his face before he tried to purse his lips and cleared his throat.

Sunset tutted at him inwardly. Diamond was really just a giddy boy at heart. Arctic was such a serious man, and he didn’t like the mood interrupted with silliness. It was in all likelihood the single thing holding Diamond back from finally getting to suck Arctic off.

Diamond slid in behind her, and the giggles finally seemed to leave him. His hands roamed over her hips and she looked over her shoulder at him as he ground his growing erection into her backside. Diamond was certainly more than average, but he lacked the size of Kojote. When he undid and pulled down her pants, she looked forward to see Arctic was leaning on the driver side door, his hard pale cock in his hands as he stroked himself. She smirked a little. He was looking at Diamond.

When Diamond penetrated her, his firm cock reaching a respectable depth inside, Sunset could feel her mind and body relax into the familiar trance of fucking she so loved. This state, so cathartic and pleasurable, was something she had perfect control over. Because as amazing as it felt to chase orgasms, her feelings were never, ever in jeapordy. She could bliss out in a kind of happy numbness until the session was done.

Her partner started pumping his dick slowly, his hands reaching to squeeze her breasts over her shirt before he reached underneath and pulled back her bra. She moaned appreciatively when his smooth fingers caressed her pert nipples. His answer was to fuck her faster, and her pussy clenched as the tension built inside her. Diamond let out a low groan.

Arctic stood from the car and went to stand by Diamond, all the while still stroking himself. Sunset watched the reflection in the windshield and saw the taller man growl into his friend’s ear, “Give it to her. Harder.” He grabbed Diamond’s ass and squeezed. Diamond grunted, his eyes turning hooded as he pushed Sunset down flat onto the hood by her neck and really let loose, their flesh audibly clapping together.

Sunset whimpered and gasped, bracing herself on the waxed car hood as her climax shot through her like a bullet, intense, but fast.

When they were through and buttoned back up, she leaned on the concrete wall with her elbows, a lit cigarette in her hands. The view was decent from here. She could see the shape of the city, and it seemed endless. She liked the idea of getting lost in the sprawl. One thing she could count on in Canterlot City? Being able to vanish. It was one of the first things she'd learned to do as a human. She’d had to in order to survive.

Diamond appeared next to her, his own cigarette in his hands while Arctic talked on the phone in his car.

“I didn’t know you smoked,” he said with a little grin.

“I quit but picked it up again,” she said, only glancing at him.

He lit his cigarette and leaned on the wall, puffing on it a few times quickly so that his face became engulfed in swirling smoke. “How are you doing?” he asked.

She shrugged and smiled as sweetly as she could at him. “I’m all right.”

He raised an eyebrow and sucked at his teeth. “Really? Because Arctic saw you downtown again recently.”

Sunset scowled and looked back at Arctic in the car. He was now yelling curses at someone on the phone. Wall Street men were so high strung.

“What was he doing downtown?” she asked with a little tilt of her head.

“He has investments in the area. Sun, if you need help, you know you can just ask.”

“I don't need any help.” She made her voice flat when she said it.

“Bullshit. You wouldn't be seeing the Trogs so soon if you didn't.”

She hated that he knew about her relation with the Trogs. He’d learned it by chance, entirely against her will. “Diamond, I like you. We have a good thing going. Please don't ruin it.”

“By what, actually treating you like a friend instead of just a piece of ass?” he leaned in as his brow tensed over his cool gaze. “Look, I just wanna make sure you're okay. That's why I want you to have this.”

Diamond dug into his pocket and produced a small roll of bills.

Sunset backed away from him, shaking her head fervently, “What–? No! I'm not taking money from you!”

“Will you calm down? This doesn't have to be a big deal!” He held the money out. “Just take it!”

“No!” she crossed her arms and glared at him. “This isn’t what our time together is supposed to amount to!”

Diamond threw his hands up into the air and laughed harshly. “Well, it could amount to more if you’d stop holding me at arm's length! How long have we been doing this, Sunset? A year? I still don’t even know what university you go to, let alone what you’re studying! You really think telling me a little about yourself is going to amount to me slapping a chain on you? I don’t want to lock you down, I just want to be… y’know! An actual fucking friend!”

Sunset dropped her face into her hands. This wasn’t supposed to go this way. She knew Diamond was pretty tender-hearted, but he’d never done this before. Why was he doing it now?

She put her hands on her hips and shifted her weight to one foot, her mouth skewing to the side. “A friend, huh?”

He nodded his head jerkily, one errant icy blue strand of hair falling over his eyes. “Yeah! Pretty much.” He shrugged and thumbed back over his shoulder. In a lower voice, he said, “I mean, after I told you about my feelings for Arctic, I kinda thought that you’d… I dunno.” His shoulders dropped, and though he still held the money out, his hand dipped a little. “I thought you’d open up a bit.”

Sunset closed her eyes and sighed. When she first met Diamond Roller, he had been a recent college grad looking to break into stock investments. He was sweet and goofy, and entirely lacked the bloodthirstiness of his competitors. But he was also brilliantly charming, financially savvy, and had a boundless energy that no drug could match. She’d tried to warn him to keep his soft side hidden more. That if he kept revealing how kind he was, that it was going to screw him over.

She supposed that’s why she liked fucking him. He had stamina almost as good as Kojote’s, but his touch was softer and he made her laugh.

This wasn’t funny, though. Quite the opposite. Even after learning about her criminal connections, Diamond had kept their meetings fairly light-hearted till now. If she didn’t already know he had feelings for someone else, she’d take it as a sign that they needed to part ways.

She opened one eye and let her head fall to the side. “Diamond, I’ve told you you’re a massive softie, right?”

A huge smile spread on his lips as he danced closer. “Sooo, does that mean you’ll take my gift?”

She puckered her lips and leveled what she hoped was a withering stare. “How much are you ‘gifting’ me?”

“Five c-notes. Come on, you know it’s chump change for me.”

“But not for me,” she snapped. “Diamond, this is a pretty big gift.”

He shrugged. “What if I promise not to surprise you anymore? Will you take it then?”

She sighed again. Slipped a tiny growl at the end of it, even. It wasn’t like she was in a great position to refuse that money… But she also hated the idea of being given so much just because she had a habit of sleeping with someone repeatedly.

Even as she thought this, an idea entered into her mind. Maybe she’d feel bad taking the money and using it for herself, but what if she gave most of it away? She could even use some of it to help AJ with the cost of her treatment that day.

Sunset chewed her lip, bouncing a little on the spot as she tried to work up any other solid reasons to refuse.

She could find none.

Stomping a heeled boot, she snatched the money from Diamond’s hand and thrust her finger in his face. “No more! You’re not my sugar daddy, alright?”

“Of course not!” He held his hands up and backed off, but he was still smiling. “I still might offer occasionally, if that’s okay.”

“I guess I can’t stop you,” she grumbled, pocketing the money.

They stood awkwardly gazing at each other for a moment.

After a short while, she rolled her eyes and sighed. “Quantum physics,” she bit out, looking at him coolly.

Diamond blinked at her. “Huh?” Then his eyes lit up. “Oh! That’s your major! Damn, I knew you were smart, but that’s pretty good!”

She tapped a boot. “I also minor in Biology.”

He sidled closer and wiggled his eyebrows. “Can I know where?”

Sunset tried to keep the smile off her face by puckering her lips. It didn’t work. She shoved him playfully. “Everfree. Happy now, dork?”

“Sure do, friend,” he said with a laugh.

Arctic Haze emerged from the car and banged on the car’s roof. “Diamond! Murphy Canyon Corp. dropped ten points!”

Diamond’s eyes bugged out. “Hell yes!” He dug for his phone and ear piece in his inside coat pocket and gave Sunset a quick wave. “Uh, see ya, Sunset!” He pointed awkwardly at his phone. “Business calls. Hope the money helps!” He had the ear piece turned on, plugged into his ear, and was speaking rapidly to someone before he even got into the car.

Sunset watched with a bemused smile as Diamond peeled out of the parking spot and sped away, wheels squealing and leaving smoke.

She waved the smell of burnt rubber away with a shake of her head. “Wall Street guys…” she muttered.

She rode her bike back to campus. She needed to put a bag together for that night. Considering how long it took to complete their work yesterday, she figured it would be easier and less time consuming to just change at Applejack’s. Not to mention cheaper. Even with her motorcyle’s modest gas tank, she found it was better to conserve as much as she could to stave off another expense.

Back at her dorm, she entered and found it empty still. Rainbow must be out. Sunset eyed her bed. She worried about her friend, but more than likely she was with Fluttershy. She would be looked after. Pinkie and Rarity, though…

Sunset sat on her bed and took out her phone. She started to tap out a text to Pinkie Pie, then swiftly deleted it. She tried next to send something to Rarity. She deleted this, too. She just didn’t know what to say that she hadn’t already. Hopefully they were supporting each other, but in the meantime she’d have to think of something more meaningful to say. Preferably at a time when she could really sit down and listen in case they did need to talk. Sighing, she set her phone aside, and when she did so, she noticed her Equestrian book was glowing on her nightstand.

Her heart leaping in her chest, Sunset picked it up and opened it to the bookmarked page. The latest words shimmered with blue light before fading to dark ink.

>SG: Hey, Sunset. It’s Starlight Glimmer. I’m afraid Princess Twilight is busy at the moment. She’s on a diplomatic mission with the Abyssinians. Sorry for taking so long to get back to you. This week was parent teacher conferences at the school and I’ve had my hooves full assisting the other teachers. I feel pretty confident I can help with Rarity’s magic poisoning though! Do you think you and the others can meet me at Canterlot High tomorrow night? You all need to be there for the super duper friendship juices to get going for the healing spell. If not, we’ll have to do it three days from now. The School of Friendship is doing a joint event with Celestia’s School of Magic and I’m coordinating, so if tomorrow is a bust, I won’t be free till then.

Sunset bit her lip. Tomorrow was her busiest day of the week. In the morning was her time to work with Twilight on their project, then in the afternoon she had Global Environmental History. Usually, she crammed studying in the evening and maybe even some time at the gym, but it was absolutely important that Rarity’s mind be healed before lasting damage happened to her psyche. She just wasn’t sure when she’d make up that lost time. Her schedule that week was starting to feel a bit full.

She remembered what she had told Applejack the day prior. “No rest for the wicked,” she breathed with a wry grin.

Taking a pen from her nightstand drawer, she wrote back–

>SSh: Hello, Starlight! It’s been a while. I wish we were meeting up again under better circumstances. I’ll touch base with everyone and try to get back to you by tomorrow afternoon.

She hesitated.

>SSh: How is Sunburst doing? Please, tell him I said I

She scratched out the last line, snapped the book shut, and returned it to the night stand with a rough sigh. The next few days would be challenging enough, she didn’t need to add that massive hurdle to her list. She loved Starlight Glimmer, but it never failed to consternate her that she could speak to her brother’s marefriend easier than her own sibling.

She set aside those thoughts in favor of being productive. She was pretty sure Rainbow Dash would be free by tomorrow night, but she wasn’t sure about the others. That would be easy enough to sort out.

Grabbing her phone, she started a group text thread and typed–

>SSh: Hey every1. Star Glim got back 2 me about healing Rarity. She wants 2 meet at C-Hi 2morrow nite. We all need 2 b there 4 the spell 2 work. She said Sat could work 2.

Sunset stood and dropped her phone back onto the bed. She set about filling a duffel bag with the things she’d need for the night. She packed some of her makeup, some hair products, her go-to perfume for night’s out, her favorite faux leather jacket, her studded black choker, and her heeled studded boots. When it came time to pick out her actual outfit, she hesitated a little. She was pretty sure she wanted to look hot…but how hot?

She could play it safe and put on a flashy tank top. Or…

Sunset found a faux leather brazier she’d bought just after graduating high school. She knew it still fit. She’d worn it a few weeks ago for a fetishy night with one of her lovers.

She threw it into her bag. Blues night was one of the best places to dress dramatically for and showing a little skin wasn’t out of the norm. She wouldn’t be out of place. Applejack may be able to handle it, too. Maybe.

That still left the question of what she’d wear for pants. She had a pair of faux leather chaps she could put on over a dark pair of jeans that would probably look all right. After a moment of intense inner debate, she grabbed those items and added them to the bag as well. Just as she did so, she heard a knock on the door.

Frowning, Sunset gazed at it. She considered not answering. She didn’t know who was on the other side and the door lacked a peephole to check. When the person knocked again, frantically, she let out a nervous breath and went to answer. Better to confront whoever was on the other side of the door than to have them causing a scene and disturbing the other dorm residents. As she turned the doorknob, her mind raced through possibilities. Was it Bray? Could it be one of her friends? She wasn’t prepared for who she saw.

Standing in the hallway was Capper.

He had his hat in his hands and a nervous look on his face. His indigo hair looked disheveled. “Sunset,” he spoke quickly, “I gotta tell ya something. It’s important. You mind if I come in?” He craned his neck to look down the hall. Sweat was on his brow.

Sunset stared at him. “Capper? What are you doing here? You can’t just show up and–!”

“Please,” he begged, looking at her desperately. “Please, let me in. I gotta tell ya this quick and then I’ll be out of your hair.”

Sunset gazed at him for another beat before stepping aside. Capper slipped past her. He smelled like spicy cologne and cigar smoke.

Slamming the door shut, she regarded him with crossed arms. “All right. You’re in. Now what do you want?”

Capper ran a hand over his hair and licked his lips, regarding her carefully for a moment. “Gold Fang is out to get you.”

She arched an eyebrow, even as her stomach lurched unpleasantly. “In what way?”

“You threatened his side deal. He’s afraid you’ll spill to Verko.”

“Then he’s an idiot. Why would I get myself in deeper with underworld politics? He knows I want out!”

“That’s the thing,” Capper hissed. “He thinks you might use your knowledge to gain influence with Grogar.”

“Why would Grogar even care?”

“Come on, Sun. You’re smarter than that. Whatever he’s got going on affects Grogar’s bottom line, too. It doesn’t just stop with Verko.”

Her face pulled long. What had she done? “I didn’t know that!”

“Well, he thinks you do!”

Sunset scoffed. “He really is an idiot!”

“A dangerous idiot, Sun,” Capper said seriously.

Sunset considered his words carefully. Her heart rate started to pick up. “And how does he intend to hurt me?” Her voice was low.

“Not directly,” Capper said, turning his hat in his hands. “He knows your Grogar’s pet. But he has ways, Sunset Shimmer. Maybe you should make yourself scarce while I try to talk him down.”

“I can’t do that. I have obligations here!”

“Are they worth getting your ass kicked over?”

“Yes. And anyway, I can defend myself.”

Capper’s lip curled. “You won’t be saying that when they break every bone in your hands!”

She paced the floor for a moment, her thoughts racing.

This couldn’t be happening at a worse time! Why did she have to run her mouth at Gold Fang? When would she learn to keep her head down?

“Look,” Capper said with a ragged sigh, “If you’re so dead set on keeping your neck where he can get at it, I’d at least feel better if you’d take this.” Capper reached behind him under his suit coat. From his waistband, he pulled out a revolver.

Sunset’s eyes widened. “You can’t be serious!”

“I’m dead serious. Sunset, you’re in danger. I know I screwed you over in the past, but lemme do this for you!” Capper held the gun out to her. “Please, girl. Come on. Just take it.”

Sunset felt her eyes sting with tears of frustration.

Trying to keep her lip stiff, she took the gun. It was a small snubnosed six-shot revolver. She could probably fit it into her leather jacket’s inner pocket.

“Thank you,” Capper said, relief clear on his face. He put his hat on his head and their green eyes met. “If I get word that he’s making a move, I’ll try to warn you.” He dug into his coat pocket and produced a small slip of paper. "Here's my number, in case of anything."

He swallowed audibly, then murmured slowly, “Maybe this still won’t make things up to you. But I’ma keep trying. All right?”

Sunset felt a tear slip down her cheek and she hastily wiped this away. She nodded her head jerkily as she took the slip from him. “All right.” Her voice sounded small.

Capper regarded her for a moment longer before he went to the door.

Just as she heard him open it, Sunset reached out a hand and caught his elbow. “Capper!”

He looked back at her, surprised.

Another tear slipped from her eye. “I’m sorry for leaving you behind back then. Please be careful…okay? I don’t want you to get hurt for my sake.”

He gave her a pursed lipped smile and nodded once. Quietly, he left.

Sunset stared at the door, then at the gun in her hands. She opened the cylinder and saw it was filled with six bullets. She snapped it back shut and double checked that the safety was on. The gun felt heavy in her hands. Listlessly, she dropped it into the duffel bag.

Applejack was out for a ride on Brooke, her tan Quarter horse. She did this on occasion, both to keep her riding skills sharp and to give Brooke some exercise. It was important their horses got out for a good ride atleast three times a week. Sometimes Apple Bloom or Big Mac helped with that task. In fact, it seemed the only thing Applejack didn’t have to twist anyone’s arm on.

Their family loved a good ride. Apple Bloom liked to go through the drive thru at the local burger shack on horseback just to make kids laugh. Big Mac enjoyed riding alone on the nearby forested state trails. Personally, Applejack preferred a good trot along the open country roads. It was better to do it during the middle of the day before everyone was commuting home.

She usually didn’t think of much when she rode. Mostly she just enjoyed a cigarette or two while she drank in the sight of the countryside. The lush trees swaying in the breeze. The open pastures where the cows grazed. It was nice to just let static take over her brain and go on auto pilot for a while amidst such rustic beauty. But that wasn’t the case today. No. She kept thinking about Sunset Shimmer.

Since they’d started talking more, Sunset had shared enough to reveal that her past hadn’t only amounted to her villainous time at Canterlot High. She had struggled, not just in their world, but in her homeworld as well. Applejack couldn’t imagine what it was like to have such a hard time connecting with family. And just what had Sunset gone through when she’d first arrived in their world? Before high school? Did any of their friends know?

She supposed of all of them, Twilight would. Applejack had been tempted to call her and ask, but she refrained. If it had been her, she’d prefer that whoever was interested in her business go straight to the source, not ask around. Given Sunset’s less than pleased response to Rainbow’s 'surveilance' stunt, she really didn’t want to give the redhead any new cause to pull away.

She found she really liked having her around. Not just around, but…closer. Applejack was aware that she was feeling more at ease with the other girl. It felt easier to talk to her. To admit what she was actually feeling. How long had it been since she felt she could actually say what was on her mind without nervous half-truths and clever spins, and not just have it received with compassion, but understanding?

Even feeling this, Applejack knew that Sunset was still holding things back. Things about herself and her past. About her recent problems.

About her motivation to even see Applejack.

Oh, the cowgirl wasn’t a fool. She could see the twinkle in her friend’s eye and all the coy smiles. She believed it when Sunset said she was worried about her and that she wanted to help. She could feel it with every gentle touch, every soft murmur of, “How are you doing?” But there was something laced in that care that seemed… out of the norm.

Applejack’s cheeks warmed up as she lingered on the memory of her friend’s voice, earnest and breathy. “You’re not a screwed-up country hick.” How her fingertips had felt so warm against her skin. She gave her head a little shake as her heart did a drum roll.

Gotta quit that, she told herself.

She was just lonely and pent up. That’s all. It was foolish to read into things. She needed to get a handle on herself, or she’d push away the first person to get close in years. Besides, Sunset would never…

“I really want your company.”

Her brow furrowed as she gazed down at her saddlehorn, the reins wrapped around her hand as cigarette smoke streamed past her where she held the little stick between her fingers. Her skin felt hot and it had nothing to do with the sun.

Applejack swallowed with effort through a tight throat. Should she feel bad? She was a red-blooded teenager, and women were her preference, after all. Her friend was beautiful. She could acknowledge that, right? She could appreciate Sunset in a short skirt, couldn’t she? Did she have to be made of stone? She drew anxiously on her cig.

Not that it would make a difference if she was. She was sure Sunset could make the most stoic statue of a man crumble by just sashaying away.

Lord, that girl could really move those hips.

It was pointless to speculate. There was just no way her friend had any interest in her. Anyway, she was certain Sunset was straight. She’d never said or done anything to suggest otherwise, far as she could remember. And honestly, how could Sunset be attracted to her? Applejack just wasn’t all that much fun.

She huffed smokily at the thought.

Maybe she could show she wasn’t such a drag to be around? Sunset was putting all of this effort into spending time with her, the least Applejack could do was try to show a little life! Only… what did Sunset find fun, anyway?

Applejack knew she liked video games, though she thought she’d heard Sunset complain a few months ago at one of their monthly dinners that she didn’t have time to play games all that much anymore. She was pretty sure they owned a game system somewhere, but it was probably twenty years old. Maybe they could watch a movie? But she wasn’t sure what movies Sunset liked. She obviously still liked playing and listening to music… Maybe Applejack could try and share some of the bluegrass and folk music she liked? It would be nice to show her friend that country had something more to offer than Red Solo Cup. They could even jam together, and then Applejack could show how she’d grown as a bass player–

Lost in her thoughts, she didn’t notice that a motorcycle had slowed to keep pace with her and Brooke till she heard a loud, “Hey!”

Startled, Applejack looked to her left and saw Sunset Shimmer peering at her through her open helmet visor. She waved, her hand covered with a padded riding glove. “Geez, I knew I snuck up on you last time, but I didn’t think I’d do it again!” Sunset said with a little grin. She was wearing a similar outfit as the day before, but this time she had on a slate gray long-sleeve canvas shirt instead of the flannel she’d previously worn.

Applejack stiffened straight as she brought Brooke to a stop. Her cheeks burned. “Damn! I’m sorry, I had my head in the clouds!” She took a moment to flick her cigarette ahead of them onto the asphalt. It was burned low, anyway.

“It’s all right. Are you headed back to the farm?” Sunset came to a complete stop and took her helmet off. Applejack first noted that her friend sounded a little more lethargic than usual. The next thing she noticed was Sunset’s vibrant hair. How did she keep her curls looking so nice even after forcing them into a helmet?

Applejack punched her leg. Focus, stupid!

“Sure am,” she said through a grimacing smile. She’d forgotten her own strength and hit herself a little too hard. Her leg throbbed. “You still wanna go to that chop shop, I take it?”

“Yep! Though, it’s not really a chop shop. I don’t think he does amputations there.” She looked up in thought. “At least, I’m pretty sure…?”

“Well, I don’t wanna take up too much of your time, Sunset. I’ll hurry on back and then we can git.”

Sunset smiled, her lethargy seeming to vanish as a mischievous gleam took over her eyes. “If you’re gonna hurry, why not make it more interesting?”

Applejack blinked at her. “Er, how do you propose to do that?”

“I’ll race you there.” Sunset patted the side of her motorcycle. “I’ve gotten pretty good on this thing over the years. I bet I can beat you back to the farm. You can even cut through the countryside to make it fair!”

Applejack laughed in disbelief. “You don’t know what you’re asking! You realize Brooke here is an undefeated champion?”

Sunset winked. “Then you shouldn’t have any trouble riding her to victory.”

Applejack smirked. “All right. Say I took that bet. What do I get if I win?”

She received a coy smile. “I’ll buy your drinks tonight,” Sunset said with a little tilt of her head.

The cowgirl felt her pulse quicken. “Nah, come on… Let’s make it more interesting.” Applejack licked her lips as she thought. What did she want most from her friend?

Leaning forward onto her saddlehorn, Applejack tilted her hat back and said with an arched eyebrow, “I wanna know more about you. So if I win, you’re gonna tell me a bit about your life before you met me and the others.”

Sunset frowned. She looked at her handlebars, then back at Applejack with just her eyes. “That might not be as fun as you think, AJ.”

Applejack’s gaze softened. “Sugarcube, it ain’t about having a laugh. I’m interested in who you are. And truth is? Ain’t nothing you can say that would make me like you less.”

“Now that sounds like a bet I can win,” Sunset said with a wry grin. Her voice sounded a little thicker when she said this.

Applejack shook her head, concern twisting in her gut. Had something happened since she’d last seen her friend? There was no mistaking the storm cloud over her head now. “Naw, I mean it, and my word is as good as gold. So does that sound like something you could do?”

Sunset pinched her lips together in thought. After a moment, she smirked. “Maybe after a few drinks?”

“Great!” Applejack’s smile was so wide her face ached. “What do you want if you win?”

Sunset’s smile curled and her eyes turned lidded. “If I win…” She put her helmet back on. “You’re going to dance with me, tonight.”

Applejack felt her heart leap in her chest. Did Sunset mean dance with? As in literally dance with her? Or just by her, as friends did?

She didn’t get much time to puzzle out what was actually meant, because in the next moment Sunset slapped her visor down and held up three fingers. “On three!” she shouted through her helmet.

Applejack cursed under her breath. She tried to hold onto her hat as she whipped her head around. Next to them was an open grass field. She was in luck! It was Papi Artichoke’s. He didn’t mind her and her kin cutting through with the horses when they were in a hurry. But could she beat a Beni-Kawa SV650? She didn’t know a ton about bikes, but when Sunset had first acquired it some years ago, she’d looked it up out of curiosity. It had a V-twin engine and could reach up to a hundred-thirty miles per hour if she recalled right. And Sunset really was a skilled rider. Even with the shortcut, could Applejack beat her friend?

Sunset started counting down. “One!”

Applejack grit her teeth. She had her family’s pride to protect. She’d ride like hell, just like her mama taught her.

“Two!” Sunset shouted. She revved her bike’s engine.

Brooke shied a little, but Applejack squeezed her sides with her legs and gave the animal’s neck a pat. “Keep ‘er steady, Brooke…” she murmured to the horse.

“Three!” As soon as the word left Sunset’s mouth, they took off.

Sunset’s bike tires squealed before the wheels found purchase and sped her into motion. As she raced away, she took a moment to show off–a quick wheelie, just to prove how good she was–before she brought her front wheel back down and leaned close to her vehicle, the engine screaming as she tore ahead.

To her credit, Brooke didn’t spook too bad with all the noise, but she did falter a step or two backwards from the sound of the motorcycle.

Applejack let out a loud, “Hyah!” and leaned forward. Brooke gathered herself and took off, years of training and instinct taking over. They vaulted over the cattle fence that lined Papi Artichoke’s field and pushed straight into a sprint. Applejack raised herself up on her stirrups so that she could rest better in Brooke’s center of gravity and not hinder her movement. She could feel the wind tug at her hat, but she couldn’t take her hands off the reins. Instead, she bent down close to Brooke’s mane, using her wrists and the edges of her palms to steady herself against her steed’s powerful neck.

They were moving at a full gallop now, and Brooke was clearing the field quickly. Up ahead was the road that snaked up the hill to her family farm. If she could beat Sunset there, she might be able to lose her in the winding road. Thanks to the size of the field and the way the road had to circumvent it, Sunset had to take the long way around to reach that final stretch up to the farmstead, but those roads were straight and long and gave her plenty of time to reach top speeds. The last road, the one Applejack was riding hard for, the curves would take away Sunset’s ability to lean into the acceleration, mostly because Sunset was wearing her camo pants again today. If she were wearing her racing gear, she’d have the composite knee pads needed to lean hard into a turn and not lose too much speed. Still, even without that advantage, the raw power of Sunset’s bike on the straightaways could very well be Applejack’s undoing.

Gotta take advantage of the terrain and cut as straight a line as I can!

Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Sunset coming down the road like a bullet, her bright red hair dancing like flames in the wind.

“Come on, Brooke, gimme a little more! Let’s go! Hyah!” Applejack said loudly over the sound of the wind and the thunder of her horse’s hooves.

She supposed she could be just as competitive as Rainbow Dash when push came to shove. She hadn’t really felt the bite of winning ambition these days. All there ever was to do was work and more work. She did miss the rodeos. She missed the thrill of a victory, the cheer of a crowd, and the adrenaline rush from a good bronco ride. In those moments it was like every nerve in her body was awake and electrified, like she had the sun in her chest and she couldn’t think or speak without it being filled with sunshine.

She felt real sunny right then.

When Brooke cleared the outer perimeter fence, that’s when Sunset zipped past her. She cheekily threw up a peace sign as she rounded the bend for the final stretch. Applejack felt a momentary squeeze of alarm. Would she lose?

But after racing over the road, Brooke’s hooves thundering on the asphalt, she felt her pulse ease. Just as she had suspected, Sunset had to ease off the acceleration on the sharp bends of the ascending road.

This was no such problem for Applejack and her steed. Brooke crashed through the underbrush and up the embankment to the street. They cleared this and charged up the hill. Applejack had to duck to clear the low hanging branch of a maple, but she didn’t let up. Instead she urged her horse even more. Brooke whinnied under her as they made their way across another bend in the road. Chancing a look, Applejack could see Sunset only just clearing the first turn.

Applejack smirked. She had this.

With Brooke’s powerful stride, the distance grew and grew until the Apple Orchard Farm’s open iron archway entrance came into view. Behind her Applejack could hear Sunset’s bike’s engine still screeching up the hill. She was too late.

Applejack and Brooke cleared the archway.

She pulled back gently on the reins with a, “Woah!” and Brooke slowed to a brisk trot a little ways away. Applejack turned her horse around to see Sunset clear the archway less than a minute after them, the bike engine puttering.

Now it was their turn to show off.

Applejack called out a sharp, “Up!” squeezing her legs around Brooke’s barrel just to make sure the command registered. Her horse obediently reared, and Applejack pulled her hat off and whooped.

It still felt damn good to win.

Even so, she wondered what it would have been like if she’d lost. What kind of dance would Sunset want to do with her? Something fun and jaunty? Or maybe something slow?

I guess we’ll never know. She couldn’t deny the bittersweet disappointment this brought.

Sunset came near on the bike before she shut off the engine and pulled her helmet off. She was grinning. “You beat me,” she said, laughter in her voice. At least she was a good sport.

“That’ll teach you to bet against rodeo champions,” Applejack said with a chortle. She patted Brooke’s neck. “Ain’t that right, Brooke?” The horse let out a whuffling whicker in response.

Applejack descended off the horse, and Sunset climbed off her bike. She approached as she pulled off her riding gloves. “You know it might have turned out different if I’d had my riding pants.”

Applejack’s smile was broad. “Sure. Maybe. Just remember—us Apples don’t back down from a challenge!”

Sunset tilted her head in humble acknowledgement. “I will carry this lesson in my heart for as long as I live, AJ,” she said with exaggerated solemnity. She peeked at her friend with a mischievous grin, and that made Applejack laugh again.

“How’s your arm doing today?” Sunset asked, a tender look coming over her face.

Applejack bobbed her head from side to side. “Doesn’t feel great. I suppose you were right about seeing somebody about it.”

Sunset nodded with pursed lips.

Applejack jerked her head towards Brooke, whose reins she still held in her right hand. “Wanna follow me back to the stables?”

Sunset patted one of the cargo pockets of her camo pants with a wince. “Think we can spare a minute for a smoke over there?”

Applejack patted her breast pocket, where her own pack of cigs were. “You read my mind!”

A short time later they were sitting just a foot apart behind the stables on a rusty tractor rim, freshly lit cigarettes in their hands as they enjoyed the spanning view of the orchard trees.

“I told you to quit,” Applejack chided jokingly as she put her cigarettes back in her breast pocket.

Sunset, who was leaning forward onto a knee with a somber distant look on her face, turned to arch an eyebrow at her. “Oh, did you?”

“I sure did.”

“I don’t remember.” Sunset’s lips tugged up at the corners. “If I don’t remember, it didn’t happen.”

Applejack feigned a stern look. “Well, I’m telling you again. Little girl, you need to quit smoking.”

Sunset gestured at Applejack’s cigarette. “Hey, AJ, did you know that smoking can cause COPD and heart disease?” she asked brightly.

Applejack grinned sarcastically. “Hey, Sunset, did you know that being a pain in the be-hind can get yours kicked?”

Sunset laughed throatily, smoke rushing from her mouth as she sat back to give Applejack a playful shove. “Ugh! I get it, I get it! It’s bad. Maybe if we keep nagging each other, we can quit?”

Applejack smirked. “I think we gotta take it a touch more seriously than we’ve been doing, but sure.”

“We gotta sound more grave, then.” Sunset took a long draw on her cigarette and stood up. She stood in front of Applejack, who blinked up at her, nonplussed. Bending only at the hip, Sunset leaned forward, her red and yellow locks spilling forth before she placed a heavy hand on AJ’s shoulder. With a deathly serious expression, she said, “Applejack, listen to me. Cigarettes can kill you.” A large thick cloud of smoke billowed from her mouth as she said this.

Applejack tried to keep the smile off her face as she stared deep into Sunset’s cool cyan-green eyes.

She couldn’t keep it up, and judging by Sunset’s twitching lips, neither could she. They burst out laughing.

Sunset sat next to Applejack again, though this time, close enough that their hips touched.

“I really do feel bad, y’know,” Applejack admitted as her laughter faded from her. “You’d quit smoking for so long, then there I was just tempting you again.”

Sunset shook her head. “No. It’s not your fault.” She sighed, holding a hand over her cigarette so that silvery wisps of smoke danced around her fingers. “I just kinda felt like I’d needed a boost lately…y’know? These stupid things help me think more clearly. Or at least, that’s what I told myself when I started.”

Applejack nodded. She knew that feeling. “What are you smoking, anyways?”

“Chimera’s Southern Cut,” Sunset replied, holding her cigarette up. It had an amber-colored filter with a gold band. She gestured at Applejack’s cig. “That’s a Native Spirit you’re smoking now, right? I thought you liked Elk 100s?”

Applejack rubbed the back of her neck. “Well, my throat was getting kinda sore, so when I had to get a new pack, I thought I’d try these. They’re more mellow. Box says it’s just natural tobacco.”

Sunset hummed with interest and held out a hand. “Can I try a puff?”

Applejack blinked. “Uh, sure?” she passed Sunset her cigarette and watched her friend take a quick drag.

Sunset exhaled slowly, her brow furrowing as she considered the cigarette's flavor. She passed it back. “That’s really subtle! A touch sour, but I can see why you’d switch to that if your throat’s been bothering you. Seems like it’d have a lighter throat hit, though.” She gestured at her own cigarette. “I like these. They’re really rich and sweet. The sweetest thing you can smoke without getting a cigar.”

Applejack blushed as she put her cigarette back in her mouth, feeling weirdly self-conscious of the fact that it had just been between her friend’s lips. After a quick drag, she said, “You sure know a lot about cigarettes. What’s ‘throat hit’?”

Sunset shrugged, her demeanor suddenly turning reluctant. “I might have gotten into smoke culture a little too much. Throat hit is just how smokers describe that sensation you feel when you take your first puff. It’s a tingling feeling in your throat.”

“Oh. I guess I wouldn’t know about that. I get it mostly in my lungs.”

“Yeah, that’s pretty common.” Sunset looked away, but not before Applejack spied a dark expression pass over her features.

Applejack fiddled with her cigarette as she nervously licked her lips. Did Sunset feel embarrassed for knowing what she did? At first she thought to tell her friend that she didn’t judge her in the slightest, but then she refrained. Sunset probably already knew that. If she had to guess, this was a little more deep-seated. In fact, she’d be willing to bet her hat it had to do with why Sunset was so mum about her past.

Come on, AJ. Think. How can we lighten the mood again?

Applejack bounced a knee as she tried to come up with an idea. Then her eyes brightened.

“I been practicing my smoke rings,” Applejack said with a shy grin.

Sunset looked at her, a new smile curling on her face. “Oh yeah?”

“Yeah. Watch.” Applejack took a long drag on her cigarette, then when she felt enough smoke had collected in her mouth, she made an O with her lips and pressed her tongue flat and low. She tried to use her throat to push a small amount of smoke out, but whether it was just because she needed more practice or she was actually nervous (which she was) the smoke just puffed out formlessly.

Sunset giggled. “Nice try. You’re using your throat, right? Like you’re coughing really lightly?”

Applejack tugged her ear, her face burning with how foolish she felt. But at least Sunset was smiling again. “Yeah. I watched some video last week on how to do it. I guess I need more practice!”

“Here,” Sunset said, gently nudging her, “Watch this.” She took a long drag on her cigarette, then opened her mouth in a tighter O shape than Applejack had done. Her throat barely even moved as neat little Os puffed forth.

Applejack watched the smoke rings, dense and perfect, float away. Then her eyes moved to her friend’s pretty mouth. Funny, she’d never noticed how lush Sunset’s lips were.

Done with her trick, Sunset looked at her, beaming. “Ta-da!”

Applejack clapped, a pursed smile on her face. She felt like she was burning so red, you could see her ears from a mile away. She was envious of Sunset’s darker skin. Being so pasty white just meant that every blush showed like neon lights on her.

“Very nice,” she finally managed to say. “I have much to learn from the master!”

Sunset let her head drop for a moment before she raised it again with a wry half-smile. “Nah, I’m a bad influence.”

“Maybe I want a lesson in being bad,” Applejack said half-seriously. She dropped her cigarette and stepped on it. “I feel like I been doing everything ‘good’ for so long, but where’s it gotten me? I’m sick of being so damn responsible all the time.”

Sunset frowned at her. “Applejack…”

Applejack’s brow tightened. “I mean it.”

Sunset looked pained, her mouth turning down a little. “Don’t say that.”

Now it was Applejack’s turn to look away.

Sunset touched her arm and leaned in. “AJ… I’m serious. Please don’t say that. Please?”

Applejack felt a feather-light touch tuck a strand of her hair behind her ear. Sunset pressed against her, and her body was warm. Applejack swallowed hard and turned her head just enough to eye Sunset sideways.

“You take care of this family and they love you,” Sunset murmured, her face close. “Please don’t lament living your life above board.”

“It gets real tiring,” Applejack returned quietly. “Being a fixed point for everyone.”

Sunset nodded. “I know.” She laughed a little, her forehead wrinkling. “Believe me, I know!”

Applejack sighed and looked up at the sky, squinting against the sunlight. “Sunset, do you like poetry?”

She could see her friend look at her from the corner of her eye. “Sure! I don’t know much, though.”

Applejack inhaled deeply, savoring the smell of the soil and the surrounding brush. She looked at Sunset with a little smirk. “You know I ain’t really the bookish type, but I’ve memorized a few poems. Mostly stuff my Pa liked. He was the real poet of the family, always scribbling verses and quoting lines from this or that.”

Applejack looked up at the sky again. “Back when I was younger and I’d gripe about my chores, he’d recite a poem called, ‘The Cowboy at Work’.” She chuckled. “I hated that damn poem for so long… Then he was gone, and I finally understood how much it meant to him.”

She felt Sunset rub her back. Applejack let her eyes slip closed, savoring the contact. Sweet mercy, she really liked it when Sunset did that.

“How’d it go?” Sunset asked near her ear. “Do you remember?”

“Heck, I better!” Applejack laughed. She cleared her throat, feeling a little self-conscious. But when she began to speak, the nervousness eased. She knew this poem so intimately she could say it in her sleep.

“You may call the cowboy horned and think him hard to tame,
You may heap vile epithets upon his head;
But to know him is to like him, notwithstanding his hard name,
For he will divide with you his beef and bread.

“If you see him on his pony as he scampers o’er the plain,
You would think him wild and woolly, to be sure;
But his heart is warm and tender when he sees a friend in need,
Though his education is but to endure.

“When the storm breaks in its fury and the lightning’s vivid flash
Makes you thank the Lord for shelter and for bed,
Then it is he mounts his pony and away you see him dash,
No protection but the hat upon his head.

“Such is life upon a cow ranch, and the half was never told;
But you never find a kinder-hearted set
Than the cattleman at home, be he either young or old,
He’s a ‘daisy from away back,’ don’t forget.

“When you fail to find a pony or a cow that’s gone a-stray,
Be that cow or pony wild or be it tame,
The cowboy, like the drummer, — and the bed-bug, too, they say,
Brings him to you, for he gets there just the same.”

Upon finishing, Applejack doffed her cap and gave a little bow of her head.

She grinned bashfully as Sunset clapped. The other girl had an impressed expression on her face. “Wow! Nice job!” She laughed and tugged at her ear with a playful squint of one eye. “I think I can recite a dirty limerick or two? I’m better at remembering lyrics with a tune, for sure.”

Applejack’s cheeks warmed and she chuckled. “I only know one other poem like that by heart. After that I just got little fragments here and there from the cowboy poetry Pa liked.”

“I can see why that one would stay with you,” Sunset said, bumping shoulders with Applejack. “The cowboy is kind and generous. A good friend. He’s a hard worker and he’s reliable. He’ll do the work no one else is willing to do.” She winked. “Sounds like someone I know.”

Applejack tugged her hat down to hide her blush and leaned forward onto her knees. Her gaze cast down to her boots and she thought of her father, Bright Mac. His stubbled rogue’s grin. His bright red mop, the same shade as Apple Bloom’s. He had been no more learned than she, but his soul had been bigger than his big-barreled chest could hold. Poems and ballads conveyed all the things he ever wanted to but felt too simple to say. She wished she’d listened more.

“Yep,” she said to Sunset. “The cowboy was a fixed point. So was my Pa.” That is, until he wasn’t. Bright Mac had been many things, but perfect was not one of them. He had fallen when many still depended on him. She was determined not to do the same.

Sunset’s lower lip pushed up with sympathy. “That’s alot to keep up.”

Applejack shrugged. What else was there to say, after all? It was what it was.

They sat in companionable silence for a short time.

Then Sunset cleared her throat and spoke. “If you want to take the edge off tonight, we can.”

Applejack looked at her with a wrinkled brow. “What, you mean like get some drinks?”

Sunset winced a little at the question, but proceeded with her response anyway. “No, um… Have you ever smoked weed before?”

Applejack shook her head quickly, her eyes widening a little. She hadn’t expected that. “I, uh, suppose I ain’t opposed to trying it.” She was pretty sure she didn’t have to pass a drug test for her guardianship application to pass through.

Sunset pursed her lips. She sat back and took one last drag of her cigarette before dropping and stepping on it. “I can get us a dime bag for tonight,” she sighed smokily. “But just this once!” She looked at Applejack with stern eyes. “I don’t get high these days, so I don’t want you getting the wrong idea!”

Applejack chuckled bemusedly. “What idea do you think I have of you, Sunset Shimmer? So you used to smoke weed, so what! Heck, most of our classmates have and still do!”

Now she could see Sunset’s cheeks color. She supposed even her darker complexion couldn’t escape the telltale signs of a good blush. “Sorry. I don’t mean to sound defensive. I just… would hate for you to think I’m slacking off or doing unsavory things.” Even as she said this, Sunset’s eyes went distant and she hugged herself tightly, leaning forward onto her knees. Almost like she was turtling.

Applejack licked her lips. After a second to work up her nerves, she put an arm around Sunset’s shoulders and hugged her to her side. Funny how easy that had been just yesterday. When did she need to muster her courage to hug a friend?

“Sunset… Have you been feeling like damaged goods or something?” Applejack asked her quietly.

Sunset chortled dryly. “Yes.”

“Why?”

Sunset looked at her with narrowed eyes. “Applejack, are you kidding? Having everyone find out I’m in cahoots with mobsters? And did we forget I turned into a devil just a few short years ago?”

Applejack squeezed her shoulder, her thumb caressing her. “Sunset, you’ve never turned into a devil since. And you aren’t mucking around with these criminals for anything nefarious. You’re just trying to survive. You can’t let this stuff eat you up like this. The past is in the past, sugarcube.”

“Not all of it,” Sunset returned with a tense face. “But I guess you’ll hear about some of that tonight, huh? You’re not going to be the only one needing a good toke.”

Applejack’s brow wrinkled. “Sun, I don’t want you to feel cornered. If you aren’t ready to tell me–”

“No.” Sunset stood suddenly and walked away. She stopped nearby, just where the ground sloped down into a thick brush of St. John’s Wort with snaking raspberry vines choking it out. “I’m going to tell you because I think you need to know.” She turned around and smirked. “Tell me, what’s a better time to spill on a sordid past than over booze, cigarettes, and Blues?”

Applejack smiled, but it was muted. “Don’t forget the weed.”

Sunset wagged a finger, “Too right! Can’t forget the weed.”

Her valiant effort at humor faded. She shifted her weight to one foot and rubbed her arm. "Applejack, I should tell you something before we head out tonight."

Applejack looked at her expectantly, trying to keep the worry from her face. Was this the thing that had been dampening Sunset's mood today? Was it something she could fix?

Sunset covered her eyes with one hand. Tightly, she bit out, "The other day I angered a member of this gang, the Badlanders. They answer to the Trog-Els, but they run their own operation. Basically, this jerk thinks I’m going to ruin some scuzzy side scheme he’s pulling, and he’s afraid I’ll rat him out to benefit myself.”

“So what is this feller fixin’ to do?” Applejack asked, tension settling around her eyes.

Sunset held up a helpless hand. “I have no idea. I’m pretty sure he wouldn’t be stupid enough to get me too hurt. It seems like he just wants to scare me. I can’t rule out violence, though.”

“We don’t gotta go out if you don’t want to, Sun.”

“I want to go out with you,” Sunset said earnestly. Applejack’s heart kicked a little at that. Her friend wrung her hands. “I mean it, you have no idea how much I’ve been looking forward to this. I just wanted you to know, so that you could make your own decision.”

Applejack crossed her arms as she anxiously bounced her knee. “You still aim to go, though. Am I right?”

Sunset put her hands on her hips. “I’m not letting that thug scare me. And anyway…” She waved a hand. “The guy’s partner is this boy I used to run with back in the day. He said he’d try to warn me if anything was about to happen. Plus, he gave me an unregistered gun.”

Applejack’s eyebrows shot up. “He gave you a gun?”

Sunset held up a hand. “I wouldn’t try to kill anyone. Maybe just scare them off. It’s actually kind of useful. This gives me a way to protect myself without having to use my magic, and it’d be easier to get rid of!”

“But Sunset, you could land a lot of heat with an unregistered gun! I mean, shoot!” Applejack thumbed in the direction of her house. “If you needed a pistol for protection, we got several you could pick from!”

“And if I used those, they’d all get traced back to you!” Sunset said with a shake of her head.

Applejack wiped at her mouth, her eyes ticking back and forth as she tried to think quickly. To go or not to go… Well, the answer seemed clear. If Sunset still intended on heading out that evening, Applejack didn’t want her to do it alone. She sighed.

“All right, look,” Applejack said with a piercing look. “You know I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if anything happened to you, so that ain’t even a question. But if we’re under threat, I’m going packed too, y’hear?”

Sunset gazed at her for a long time. Finally, she allowed a tight smile to spread across her face. “Fair enough.” She jerked her head to the side. “Come on. Let’s go see our underground doc. We still have to get back in time to take care of work, right? Don’t want to dawdle.”

Applejack sighed inwardly. Sunset was all shadows and mystery. She felt in over her head.

Even so, she wasn’t interested in being saved from the deep end. Not while her friend was sitting at the rock bottom of the proverbial pool.

“Let’s get ‘er done,” Applejack said as she stood.

Sunset was quiet on the drive over in AJ’s truck, save to give instructions. She took a moment to send a text out to the one person she knew who dealt weed, but after getting their agreement to meet later that evening, she just gazed out the passenger window.

She felt guilty. Like she was contaminating her friend with her grimy, seedy knowledge. She didn’t want to be a bad influence. She just wanted Applejack to feel better.

To feel wanted.

Because Sunset wanted her. Badly. At first, she’d thought it was just a simple attraction buoyed by their pre-existing friendship. After their race, she knew this wasn’t the case. Why else did she find it so hard to resist touching her friend? It was like she was a foal again and she couldn’t keep her hooves to herself. It wasn’t usually a problem she found herself dealing with, even when seducing a new partner. Thankfully, she’d been able to keep it mostly within an acceptable range of contact–stuff physically affectionate friends might do with one another.

But she knew she didn’t do that. Fluttershy, Pinkie, and Rarity, maybe. Not her. And she could feel Applejack noticing.

Noticing…and not stopping it.

Calm down, she thought sternly to herself as the heat crawled up her neck. You’ll ruin everything. Stop acting so thirsty!

Except she wasn’t just thirsty, she was parched. Even her earlier session with Diamond Roller did little to blunt that. She’d nearly fallen off her bike when she saw Applejack and Brooke pass her up the hill. Not from the shock of losing. No. From Applejack’s incredible form, her beautiful face seized with focus as she eyed her prize, her bright hair flowing behind her. It could have been happening in slow motion in a movie, it looked so incredible. Applejack must have been a fan favorite at the rodeo. Suddenly, desperately, Sunset wished she could see her friend compete. To see her golden locks whipping through the air while she skillfully rode a bucking bronco. She hated that she never went before. She’d been a fool to miss that.

She’d be lucky if they stayed friends at this rate. Somehow, she knew, tonight was a powder keg ready to go off, but like she was being sucked into a black hole, Sunset saw what was coming and felt powerless to stop it. She wasn’t sure she wanted to.

Wasn’t she supposed to be smarter than this? How many bridges did she have to burn before she realized she couldn’t get away with everything she wanted? There were limits and she just kept breaking them.

With her family. With Celestia. With Flash Sentry. With Canterlot High. Was she going to do it again? She’d really meant to console Applejack. Then after just a day, she’d shifted her aim to include seducing her friend. But to what end? She had to admit that she hadn’t really had a plan. Hadn’t really considered the possible ramifications if things progressed further. What scared her most was realizing…she didn’t really have any idea what was going to happen.

Not for the first time, she wondered if her being ‘good’ was just an illusion. Her namesake was fitting then. Just some wavering light to dazzle others into trusting her. The purifying rays of Harmony could only do so much, Princess Twilight had explained. Worst case scenario, the magic stripped evildoers of their power, but their hearts could still harbor ill will. She’d related stories of foes like Tirek, Chrysalis, and Cozy Glow whose persistent hatred necessitated them being turned to stone.

Sunset had thought she’d been lucky to be spared this fate. She’d felt purged not just of the magic that had twisted her form, but of the black feelings it had amplified. Harmony had strengthened the purest intentions inside of her. The little voice of conscience that whispered all her wicked acts were wrong suddenly became a booming voice she could no longer ignore, and repentance had become possible.

But what if a small black spot remained? What if it grew again?

She and Twilight had talked about it at length. Her friend, who had lived a considerably cleaner life than Sunset, somehow harbored the same fears.

“When I became that horrible monster, it felt like the dark magic magnified all of my anger, fear…hatred,” Twilight had shared. “Being friendless and bullied at Crystal Prep was this wound that the power just ripped open wider. Harmony healed it, I think. Mostly. But like a real scar, it still kind of aches sometimes.”

Sunset understood. All too much.

She sat up as a green road sign came around the bend, signalling an approaching exit. Further ahead, just a little past the off-ramp sat the vet clinic. Her own doubt and angst could wait.

“You’ll wanna take this exit,” Sunset said to Applejack.

“All righty.” Sunset could see her friend glance at her. “You okay? You’ve been quiet.”

“Just thinking,” Sunset replied with a small smile.

“Penny for your thoughts?”

They left the highway, the road noise lessening as they neared the vet clinic parking lot.

Sunset looked at Applejack. Her friend had a concerned look on her face. Inwardly, Sunset sighed. She wasn’t doing a very good job of supporting her friend if all she was doing was worrying about herself.

She forced her smile wider. “Nothing to worry about.”

When they parked and exited the truck, Sunset patted her pants’ pocket. “I just got some cash. Lemme help you pay.”

Applejack shook her head quickly as she went to main entrance. “I told you, I got it.”

Sunset pouted. She should have known Applejack wouldn’t budge on that matter.

She didn’t follow her friend. Instead, she started to go around the building. “Not there. In back.”

Applejack blinked but followed. Behind the building there were a few cars parked, some pallets stacked against the building, and a large dumpster. A table and a few chairs sat near the door.

Sunset pulled out her phone and tapped a quick text.

>SSh: We’re here.

“We going in, or…?” Applejack asked with arms crossed. She was clearly feeling uneasy.

“He’ll come out when he’s ready,” Sunset answered, going to sit in one of the chairs.

Applejack looked around uncertainly before going to take the seat next to her.

“If you won’t let me help with this visit, can I at least buy you dinner?” Sunset asked. She was already pulling out another cigarette.

Applejack arched an eyebrow. “It was my plan to cook for you.”

Sunset smirked. “Cook for me? Sounds like it’s becoming a habit! What’ll the rest of your family eat if you're so busy with little old me?”

“Grass,” Applejack said readily, a smirk also on her freckled face. “And maybe I just like taking care of you.” Her voice was a murmur. “Heaven knows you ain’t eatin’.”

Sunset felt her body grow warm and tried to play it cool. Knew she failed when she giggled nervously. Did Applejack realize what that smoky southern voice did to her? “That’s patently untrue! I eat!”

“Oh yeah? When’s the last time you ate?”

Sunset faltered. “Uh… Well…” She winced with a guilty smile. “Yesterday?”

Applejack’s eyes went wide. “Yesterday? You mean the last thing you had was my sister’s soggy sandwiches?”

“They were soggy but they were delicious, AJ! Don’t be like that!”

Applejack laughed heartily, throwing her head back. “Oh, no! Heck no, I can’t let that stand, sugarcube! No, I’ll make you something nice when we get back, just watch.”

“Fine,” Sunset said, pretending to be disgruntled. She leaned on the armrest toward Applejack and cupped her chin. “But I still wanna buy you dinner. It doesn’t have to be tonight. Soon, though.”

Applejack looked at her. Looked over her, even. It had been lightning quick, but Sunset didn’t miss it. She shivered a little in excitement.

“Sure,” Applejack said with a little grin. Her eyes were hooded.

Sunset held up her phone. “By the way, did you see the text I sent everyone earlier?”

Applejack pouted in thought as she pulled out her phone from her front pocket. “No. Sorry. It’s been on silent. What’s up?”

“Starlight Glimmer is able to come tomorrow night to help Rarity with her problem, but we all need to be there for her spell to work.”

Applejack nodded. “Sounds good. I oughta be free then, long as it’s after sunset.”

“I think it will be.” Sunset glanced at the clinic door, then back at Applejack. “Um… So…” She ran her teeth over her bottom lip nervously. “Just a heads up. This guy we’re seeing. He’s kind of…got horrible bedside manner.”

Applejack’s mouth skewed to the side. “This feller’s cooler than a block of ice, huh?”

Sunset gave a little shrug. “Yes. But he does good work, I swear!”

Just as Sunset finished saying this, the clinic’s back door opened and out came a fellow with cropped forest green hair flecked with gray and a receding hairline. He had a slim lined face and focused eyes.

“Sunset Shimmer?” he said, going to her and holding out his hand. He looked her up and down like he was sizing her up. “Been a while.”

“Hello, Forest Tender,” she said, standing. “This is my friend, Applejack. She’s the one you’ll be helping today.”

Applejack stood and shook his hand as well.

“All right,” He said with a sigh. “I’m on my lunch break and I cleared an exam room, so let’s make this quick. Follow me.” He turned around and started to head back for the clinic.

Applejack looked at Sunset, her expression uncertain. Sunset leaned in toward her ear and whispered, “Forest owns the clinic, but he started this side gig a few years ago to help keep the lights on. That’s why we had to come in the back so his regular customers don’t see.”

Applejack frowned and leaned in to murmur in Sunset’s ear next, making her heart skip a beat when she felt the other girl’s warm breath on her skin. “And what about his staff? They in on it?”

Forest paused at the door, a mild expression of annoyance on his face. “Are we doing this or not?”

Sunset took Applejack’s hand. “It’ll be fine,” she said. “Come on. I’ll go with you.”

Together they entered the clinic. It was just as Sunset remembered. Cramped, but clean. Somewhere a dog was barking. They followed Forest Tender down a narrow hallway and into a small examination room. He shut the door and looked at Applejack. “All right, let’s see this arm I’ve been hearing about.”

Applejack made a face but unbuttoned her sleeve and peeled it back, revealing the large bandage Sunset had placed over her wounds.

Forest had put on disposable gloves while she did this, and when she was ready, he carefully removed the bandage.

When he was done, he whistled, his eyes quickly scanning over her wounds. “You really went to town, kiddo.”

“Can you help?” Applejack asked with a touch of impatience.

He glanced at her as he held her arm up closer to his face. “I think so.” He looked at Sunset next. “You did a decent job cleaning these.”

“Thanks,” Sunset said, crossing her arms. “So what’s the verdict?”

“Looks like some first and second-degree burns,” Forest said confidently. “I’ll have to clean a few more of these. You missed some junk. Not good to leave it. After that, I’ve got some silver sulfadiazine she can take home. It’s a topical ointment that should take care of any bacterial infection and protect against any more. She just needs to put it on twice a day, nice and thick, until they heal.”

Forest looked at Applejack. “Take a seat on the exam table. It’ll take me a few minutes to get the rest of those burns cleaned.”

Sunset leaned against the counter and watched as Forest worked. Applejack winced now and again, but for the most part, she kept a straight face through his cleaning of her wounds. She looked at Sunset and their eyes met.

You okay? Sunset mouthed at her.

Applejack smirked and gave a thumbs-up.

Sunset returned it with a grin.

“I didn’t think I’d hear from you again,” Forest remarked, looking over at Sunset. “Last I saw you, I had to get a mop for all the blood.”

Applejack looked at her in surprise. Sunset glared at Forest. “Whatever happened to doctor-patient confidentiality?” she asked him coolly.

“More like nothing leaves this room. Whoever’s inside this room is privy to whatever I feel like bringing up. If you wanted my full discretion, you should’ve paid more.”

“You needed a mop?” Applejack interjected, looking at Forest. “She told me she just got grazed!”

“I did get grazed!” Sunset protested, feeling her face heat up. This was not what she had anticipated dealing with.

“Sure. The first time you came in,” Forest said with a short laugh.

Now Applejack’s eyebrows rose high. Sunset threw her hands up and hissed, “The second time it was just a flesh wound! It didn’t hit anything important!”

“Where’d you get hit, Sun?” Applejack asked, her gaze studying her carefully.

Sunset sucked at her teeth and tapped a boot. “My left arm,” she grumbled sullenly.

“Bled like hell, too,” Forest breathed as he squinted at Applejack’s arm. “Took a long time to clean up.”

Sunset pressed a hand to her face and closed her eyes. She’d forgotten how annoying Forest could be. “So sorry I had the gall to bleed so much, Forest. You charged extra for that, if I recall correctly.”

He shrugged. “I have to get what money I can,” he told her. “My special clients have a tendency of getting themselves killed. That doesn’t make for a very steady stream of income. I’d wondered if you were one of them. Glad to see I was wrong.”

“Of course you’re glad,” she said with a sneer. “More money for you.”

He chuckled. “Hey, you sent me a new client, didn’t you?”

“Don’t plan on seeing me again, partner,” Applejack said, her gaze piercing.

Forest Tender looked at her. “People don’t come to me because they’re good at keeping out of trouble. If anything, they’re nothing but.”

Sunset looked down at her boots as she fidgeted. “That’s not my life anymore.”

“Yeah. Right.” Forest returned his attention to his work. “Keep telling yourself that.”

Applejack glared at the man before looking at Sunset with a softer expression. “I think you’re doing great,” she said with a gentle smile. Sunset flashed her a look of gratitude and tried not to think about the revolver sitting in her duffel bag.

The work was done. The medicine was given. The fee was paid. Altogether it took less than ten minutes. As frustrating as Forest Tender could be, he was at least quick. He even sent them off with chocolate mints as a parting treat. “Call it an incentive to come back,” he said with a careless wave of his hand. “Remember, try not to die. I can’t get money from corpses.”

Sunset looked at the mint in her hand and then back at him, a wry grin on her face. “What, all out of suckers?”

He made a face and thrust a finger at the door. “Get out.”

They returned to Applejack’s truck. Sunset buckled her seatbelt and let her head fall back against the headrest, her brow tensed. It was a long moment before she realized her friend hadn’t started the engine. She looked over at Applejack, blinking.

“AJ? Is something wrong?” she asked.

Applejack peered at her shrewdly as she leaned against her driver-side door, one finger stroking the vinyl on her steering wheel. “I’m worried.”

Sunset frowned at her. “About…me?”

Applejack bobbed her head once. “Eyup.”

“Why, because of what Forest Tender said?”

AJ tilted her head and shrugged her mouth. “Partly.” She cut a sharp side glance. “You didn’t mention you got shot twice.”

Sunset held up a finger and made an “Eeeh!” noise. “Does being grazed really count as being shot?”

“Now you know I like mincing words as much as a dancer likes losing legs.”

Sunset leaned toward her, her elbow leaning on the back of the seat. “I promised to tell you more tonight, didn’t I?”

She got a slow nod in response. “Yep, you did.”

“And I told you that you don’t have to come with me tonight, right?”

“Sure. I wanna go too, y’know. That ain’t what’s giving me gray hairs.”

Sunset narrowed her eyes at her as a small smile blossomed on her lips. “So then what can I do to prevent more of these gray hairs?”

“Remember when we made them promises to each other?” Applejack asked with one eye playfully squinted. “Y’know. About you mentioning when you had to play errand girl for that gang, and me telling ya when I get dust in my eye?”

Sunset pretended to gasp and clutched at Applejack’s shoulder. “AJ, oh no! Have you got dust in your eye?”

Applejack chuckled and shook her head. “Not right now, thank goodness.” She quieted. With one finger she tilted her hat back and leaned in toward Sunset. “Look, um… Can we expand them promises?”

Sunset searched her friend’s face. She could feel Applejack’s breath on her cheek. It was chocolatey and minty from the candy Forest gave them. “Sure,” she murmured.

Applejack dropped her gaze and swallowed audibly, her throat moving. When she met Sunset’s eyes again, they were sharp and steady. “If you need me, please tell me. It could be anything. Y’hear? Anything. Before things get too bad. I really wanna help, y’know.”

Sunset let her head tilt to the side as she leaned onto the seat rest. She smirked. “Only if you do the same.”

Applejack grinned. She settled back into her seat and turned the key in the ignition. The truck came alive with a roar. She looked at Sunset and tipped her hat. “Darlin’, it sounds like we got a deal.”

Author's Note

The Cowboy At Work is a real poem. The author is anonymous. Can be read in the public domain book, Song of the Cowboys.

Chapter 5

They returned to the farm and as they exited the truck, Applejack tilted her hat back to look quizzically at her friend.

“You like spicy food?” she asked as she shut her truck door. They were parked in front of her family home.

“Is water wet?” Sunset asked with a teasing smile. She laced her hands behind her back. “Of course I do!”

Applejack’s articulate lips spread wide, causing dimples in her freckled cheeks as they ascended the porch steps. “You’ll like what I’m about to whip up,” she said, rubbing her hands eagerly.

Not long after, she made Sunset spicy vegan jambalaya. The warm and zesty aroma made Sunset’s mouth water. It was filling and definitely had the heat Applejack had promised. Sunset was once again impressed by her friend’s culinary skills. She savored the complex flavors of the brown rice, garlic, onions, celery, tomatoes, and jalapeño mixed with sriracha sauce. Her face turned red as she shoveled another bite into her mouth with gusto. This was delicious, but boy. If tongues could scream…

That was the weird magic of spicy food. Hidden in the heat were robust flavors you couldn’t enjoy anywhere else. Sunset had developed an appreciation for hot things when Pinkie had introduced her to the magic of cupcakes drizzled with hot sauce.

Applejack winced in the seat adjacent to Sunset, a fist on her cheek as she leaned on the wooden dining table. On the tiled kitchen counter, an old radio softly played country music.

“Too hot?” she asked, her green eyes creased with worry.

Sunset shook her head emphatically, a laugh punching up her burning throat. “No, it’s delicious!” She reassured the other girl with a little wave. “I’m weird, I like being maced in the mouth.”

Applejack raised her eyebrows and thumbed over her shoulder. “Oh! Well, in that case, I still have a can of pepper spray Granny bought me a few years ago! Want me to spray it over your food?”

Sunset batted her eyes. “Oh gosh, would you, please?” They laughed together until Sunset coughed suddenly and fanned her face. “Crap, I think a jalapeno seed hit the back of my throat!” she wheezed dryly.

Applejack’s eyes went wide, forming a small ripple on her smooth forehead as she handed over a glass of milk. Sunset had originally tried to tell her it wasn’t necessary to pour out, but gosh was she glad for that glass now! Applejack thumped her heartily on the back while she chugged the cool drink down in desperate gulps. “Don’t you die on me!” the cowgirl pleaded.

Big Mac, who was in the kitchen finishing washing up his plates from lunch, chuckled at them.

“Hush up, you!” Applejack scolded him, but her lips were quirking up. “Can’t you see my friend is burning from the inside out?”

Sunset wiped at her mouth and twisted around in her seat to look at Big Mac, “Mac, you want some?” She held up her bowl and wagged her eyebrows. “Come! Immolate with me!”

“Nope!” he said, shaking his head with wide eyes. He dried his hands with a towel and saluted Sunset as he made his way to the front door.

Sunset feigned shock. “What a jerk! You’d think with his red hair he’d wanna top up on hot food to maintain his vibrancy!”

“Now, now,” Applejack said wagging a finger at Sunset. “I made that for you, missy.” Her expression sobered. “At this rate, I’m wonderin’ if this is the most you’ll eat all day.”

Sunset took a bite of food in lieu of responding. What could she say, anyway? She had been skipping more meals lately. The cigarettes made it even easier to curb her appetite.

Her eyes remained fixed on her meal as she tried to think of how to steer the conversation back to the lighthearted banter they’d just been enjoying. She could feel her body heat up, and it had nothing to do with the food. She sighed inwardly. Why couldn’t it just stay fun?

She didn’t want to talk about the bills, the collection letters, the late nights staring at her bank account on her laptop screen with tears streaming from her eyes, thinking desolately, If I go out tonight dressed just right, I could make this go away in just a month.

No. Never again.

She would never do that again.

Never mind her pony problems, her human struggles had once shivered on a street corner in the middle of the night…

Her nose itched, and her eyes stung with self-loathing. Suppressing the lump in her throat, she tensed her muscles, holding them in a painful, rigid embrace.

Applejack leaned in closer, trying to catch Sunset’s eyes. Sunset met her gaze reluctantly. “Sunset, I mean it. Ya got me worried, now. Seems like damn near every time I see you, you’re hungry as heck.” AJ’s face was drawn tight as she said this, her brow creating a small shadow over her eyes.

Sunset swallowed her food and wiped at her mouth with a napkin. It was just more stalling. All the silly cute one-liners she’d managed to think up tumbled away into the ether. It was no good. Applejack wasn’t going to let this go.

She sighed heavily and sank a little in her seat.

“I have over two thousand in bills every month and no time for a steady job to pay it all,” Sunset said in a low voice, her eyes tensing as she nervously looked from her food to her friend’s eyes. She was trying to gauge how her words were being received. “That isn’t including school or day-to-day living expenses.”

Applejack whistled, her eyes going wide. Sunset’s stomach flopped unpleasantly. “That’s quite a number!”

Sunset nodded her head, a shaky lopsided smile pulling her lips back. It didn’t reach her eyes. “Yep! All because I was a moron and bought too much stuff with credit!”

“And you’re… what? Trying to save money by not eating?” Applejack’s lips pressed thin as she tilted an eyebrow ever so slightly. “Sugarcube, no offense, but that plan fits like socks on a rooster.”

Sunset’s grip on her spoon tightened. “Wanna look at my budget and tell me how to manage it better?” she asked, frustration eking into her voice. She winced and covered her face. “Sorry. I know you’re just trying to help.”

Applejack rubbed her shoulder, her eyebrows pushing together and up. “Hey. It’s all right. I’d be wound up tight about it, too. And I ain’t trying to call into question your accountin’ skills. We both know you can run circles around me when it comes to numbers. All I’m sayin’ is…we just made a deal, right?” She smiled cautiously, almost like she was apologetic for maneuvering Sunset into this position and held up her hands. “Can I help?”

Sunset blinked at her, her face lengthening with her puzzlement. She let the spoon sit in her bowl as she rested her sweaty hands in her lap. “What like…” she squinted one eye. “Make me food?”

Applejack bobbed her head, her lower lip pushing out. “More or less! I mean, shoot. I’m already kinda doing it, aren’t I?”

Sunset shook her head with a soft frown and waved her hands in front of her. “Oh, AJ, I don’t want to add to your work–”

Applejack patted the air in a placating motion. “No! Listen, you wouldn’t be adding nothing to anything, y’hear? It’s not like I’d have to go too far out of my way to make a meal meatless.”

Sunset's shoulders hitched up, and she gestured at the dimly lit kitchen behind them. "But then I’d just be eating up all of your food!"

Turning her eyes briefly to the ceiling, Applejack scooted her chair closer, the legs squeaking loudly over the floorboards. She lifted her eyebrows, grabbing her friend’s hand. “Sunset.”

Stilling, Sunset's skin turned pink as she looked at her hand, then at Applejack. Her hand was dry, a little rough, but warm.

“I really like taking care of you. All right? Will you let me? Please?” Applejack pressed a hand to her chest, her eyes squeezing to slivers in her earnestness. “For my own damn sanity, if nothing else!” When Sunset tried to open her mouth again to say something in protest, she only got as far as “I–!” before the cowgirl thrust a stern finger at her and interjected, “Now you remember, you made me a promise!”

Sunset leaned back in her seat, feeling odd turns of affection and frustration swirl around inside of her. Like a child who had been scolded by their parent for something they regretted getting wrong. She felt tears prick her eyes. She blinked them away quickly. “You’re stubborn,” Sunset said with a shaky smile.

Applejack winked and grinned at her. “Like a mule.”

Sunset moved to speak once more, intent on accepting her friend’s offer for help, when there was a sudden buzzing sound. Applejack’s expression cleared as her eyes grew with surprise. She sat back in her seat and pulled her phone out of her front pocket, a frown on her face as she looked at the display.

Sunset took this moment of distraction to wipe away an errant tear from the corner of her eye. She was sniffling a little, and she wasn’t sure if it was from getting emotional or because the food was just that spicy. Her mouth was still burning, so maybe it was a little bit of column A, a little bit of column B. She drank a little more milk and thought about the conversation they’d just had.

She hated to be a bother. She didn’t want to trouble Applejack. Her friend had plenty of worries without adding Sunset to the top of the heap. Sunset felt like she was failing her mission to help her friend get over her recent heartbreak. But, grudgingly, she supposed one way a person could feel better was in taking care of someone else. She certainly wasn’t guilty of that or anything.

Sunset let her shoulders sag as she sighed a little. It was so hard lying to yourself when you were that self-aware.

When she looked at Applejack again, eager to escape her own thoughts, it was to see her friend blushing hard, her freckled cheeks tensed as she screwed her mouth to the side.

“What’s the matter?” Sunset asked, glancing at her phone for a clue. She couldn’t see the display the way the other girl was holding it.

Applejack looked at her but her gaze rubberbanded back onto her device. “Rainbow.” The name barely made it past her tight lips. She sighed heavily, and it sounded like it was just a hair’s breath away from morphing into a growl.

This made Sunset chuckle dryly, and she felt a little bad for doing it. She knew Rainbow was going through a difficult time, but that didn’t change the fact that their mutual friend could be frustrating to deal with too. “What’s she up to now?” Sunset asked lightly. She started to scoop up another spoonful of the jambalaya.

Applejack slouched a little as she leaned heavily on the table and tongued her cheek. “She’s trying to hook me up with one of her teammates,” she grumbled.

Sunset had been about to take another bite of her food when she let her spoon drop into the bowl with a loud clatter.

Applejack looked at her in surprise. “You all right?” she asked, her eyes tensing.

Sunset leaned on the table and covered her face with one hand, her body clenched tight right down to her finger digits. She was smiling, but it was a stiff facsimile of the real thing. She didn’t dare pull her lips back any more than she already had lest it become the snarl it was so close to being.

She shouldn’t have been so annoyed. Seldom did Rainbow listen to anyone the first time, least of all Sunset, but somehow this didn’t stop the intense displeasure that shot through her like a flaming arrow. Now her insides were burning for entirely different reasons than the food.

“I told her it wasn’t a good idea,” Sunset eventually managed to say in a slow and careful if taut voice. She didn’t want to betray how much this bothered her, lest it lead to questions she wasn’t quite ready to answer yet. She removed her hand from her face and instead used it to prop her head up as she eyed Applejack. She could feel her face roasting with her anger. “Did she say who she was thinking of pairing you with?” Try as she might, she couldn’t stop her words from sounding clipped. Like she was biting each one out.

Applejack shrugged, a small grin on her lips as her bright eyes searched Sunset’s red face. “All she said was that it was a teammate,” the cowgirl said slowly, like she had no idea what was going on and she was concerned she’d step into something unpleasant. “Her friend wanted a picture of me,” she added, blushing a little herself as she tugged her hat down nervously.

Sunset quirked an eyebrow, her jaw tightening. “You gonna give her one?”

Applejack scratched at a brow with her pinky. Her forehead wrinkled as she stared between her phone and Sunset. “I mean… I dunno?” Her grin gained more of a slant. “You think I shouldn’t?” It almost sounded like she was asking permission.

Sunset ran her tongue along the inside of her bottom lip and counted to ten. With a deep breath, she turned her gaze forward, to the cluttered living room. The window curtains were pulled open, lighting up the dust motes floating through the space. The television was off and Granny Smith was gone. She was in her room taking a nap. Sunset let her eyes rove over the vibrant colors of the granny square blanket draped over the back of the worn olive green antique couch. All the while, she thought furiously.

Rainbow is such a nice friend.

A pain in the neck, but a nice friend.

You can’t be mad at her. She doesn’t know what you’re up to.

Sunset forced another tight smile as her fist clenched over the table.

Rainbow is such a good friend and I love her and I appreciate what she’s doing.

Even if she really didn’t. After Sunset’s reformation, she had learned early on that when negative emotions like anger cropped up inside of her, it was helpful (if mildly painful) to force herself to think the opposite. She did this for school teachers, rude classmates, and sometimes even with her friends.

“She’ll probably keep pestering you until you give an answer either way, AJ,” Sunset finally managed to say. She inwardly patted herself on the back. Her voice had even sounded more relaxed.

“I know, I know.” Applejack sighed roughly with a quick eye roll. She put the phone back in her pocket, her mouth tilting as she spoke out of one side, “I’ll think about it.” She stood from her chair, her gaze softening as she gestured at Sunset’s bowl. “Go ahead and eat up. I’ma go see if I can find Apple Bloom. Mac and I ain’t seen her since before I left with Brooke this morning, and I got a suspicion she’s off goofing somewhere.”

Sunset watched Applejack go until she was out of sight and the screen door creaked back into place. With the other girl gone, she dropped the mask of pleasant indifference and allowed the scowl she’d been holding back to appear.

She knew she was being ridiculous. Rainbow, meddlesome as she could be, was just trying to help her friend feel better. Weren’t they working toward the same goal, in the end?

That didn’t stop Sunset from imagining Rainbow getting catapulted into the ocean.

She sighed and took another bite of jambalaya. Just let it go. It probably won’t lead to anything. She grimaced as her mouth ignited with heat again. Reaching for her glass of milk, she panted with her tongue pushed out, “Wow, this got me good!”

When her meal was done, Sunset washed her bowl, dried it, and put it away. From the bedroom door near the stairs, she heard Granny Smith holler unintelligibly, like she was requesting something. Sunset blinked curiously as she went up to the door, her hands still damp from her cleaning, and she pressed her ear to the white painted wood. Had she guessed right?

“Is someone there? I got a mighty thirst…” Granny’s frail voice called. Sunset opened the door a crack. “Granny?”

The bedroom was of modest size, probably big enough for two and a half people of Sunset’s height to lay across the floor both ways. There was a tall dresser up against the wall, ladened with pictures of family. Cousin Braeburn beamed from one picture. A baby Apple Bloom giggled in another. Crowding behind these were trophies. Sunset guessed them to be Applejack’s. This used to be her room, after all.

Granny Smith was laying on a modest twin bed, covered up to her chin with heavy quilts. Sunset blinked at the sight. It was such a warm day, she had trouble understanding how anyone would want to cover themselves so much. Then she remembered that Granny was in her 80s and elderly people could be sensitive to cold.

“Sunset Shimmer?” Granny Smith’s faded orange eyes blinked as she squinted at the door. “Might I trouble ye for a glass of water?”

Sunset felt her heart twist to see the once energetic grandmother so frail and so weak. She still had vivid memories of just a few years ago when the older woman was still round and portly, laughing with strength in her voice as she teased the students in their school’s lunchline.

She remembered that time, before her reformation, when she complained that they never had brie like French schools. She could still see the length of Granny’s meaty arm as she pointed a ladle dripping with gravy at her face. “People in hell want ice water, but that don't mean they get it, missy!” the woman had snapped before slapping a messy scoop of mashed potatoes on her tray.

In the present, Sunset slipped quietly into the room and picked up the empty glass on the bedside table. “I’ll bring you some water,” she murmured with a kind smile. She left the room and made the short trek to the kitchen, refilling the glass fully before she returned and sat on the side of the bed. Holding up the glass, she asked, “Ready for a sip?”

Granny nodded, her lips smacking as she tilted her head toward the drink. Sunset helped her by going the rest of the way and tipping it to the older woman’s mouth. She went slow, worried she’d make Granny choke.

When the grandmother turned her face, Sunset set the glass on the bedside table and tucked her into the blankets better. “Do you need anything else, Granny Smith?” she asked, looking at the woman deferentially.

Granny caught her hand before she could pull away, patting it warmly. Her wrinkled face pulled back in a broad smile. “That’ll do it. Thank you, Sunset. You’re a real prize.”

Sunset’s lips pursed and spread wide as she caressed the woman’s liver-spotted hand once before turning and leaving the room. Shutting the door, Sunset looked around the house. It was eerily quiet. Ordinarily being in someone else’s home alone left her feeling uneasy, like she’d get blamed for something going awry. Sunset grinned as she exited the house.

She didn’t feel that way here.

Across the large dirt driveway, she spotted Big Mac carrying large empty wooden baskets for the workers to use. “Hey, Mac!” she hurried to meet him, and he looked at her with a friendly smile.

Sunset ran her hand through her hair as she pointed to her left and right. “Have you seen Applejack anywhere?”

He shook his head, his eyes lidded like he was sleepy. Or maybe it had to do with the boozy aroma she picked up when he said, “Nope.”

Sunset bit her lip and put her hands on her hips as she looked around. She didn’t let herself get too concerned with Big Mac’s private drinking habit. He was an adult, he looked lucid, and he was still working hard. Right now, she had more pressing concerns. Turning her attention back onto the tall man, she asked with a small tilt of her head, “She isn’t still looking for Apple Bloom, is she?”

Big Mac’s eyebrows lifted and his smile turned crooked. “Eyup,” his voice roughened a little. Clearly this wasn’t such an irregular occurrence.

Sunset winced. Applejack was no doubt going to be displeased with her sister. She’d once seen her blonde friend drag her younger sibling by the ear to Principal Celestia’s office when she’d caught the then eighth grader mixing flaming hydrogen balloons in the high school chemistry lab. Apple Bloom’s face had been a sooty black and her eyebrows were singed off. But the look on Applejack’s face! To say that the country girl didn’t have a temper would have been incredibly misguided.

Now Apple Bloom was missing when she was supposed to be home with Granny Smith. Sunset chewed her lip again as she thought about Granny’s feeble plea for more water.

“I’ll look for them,” Sunset told Big Mac as she waved and backpedaled away. “Thanks, Mac.”

He waved back as she marched off. She took her phone out to text Applejack and let her know what she was doing. That done, she rubbed her hands together and looked around. “Okay… So I just need to think. Where would Apple Bloom go?”

Applejack would no doubt look in all the places Apple Bloom was supposed to be. So Sunset figured, why not look in all the places she shouldn’t be?

Going away from the house and the orchard, Sunset first tried around the animal pens. She didn’t find Apple Bloom there. Next, she tried checking the barns and various outbuildings. Still nothing.

Just when she was about to give up, Sunset noticed an animal trail that headed off into the woods surrounding the property. Frowning, she approached the trailhead and spotted a footprint in the dirt that looked like a sneaker. Sunset entered the trail and followed it through the oak and birchwood trees. The sun hit her in patches through the canopy, and all around her crickets chorused. She inhaled deeply, her lips turning up in a gentle grin.

She liked the smell of damp soil and fresh leaves. They made her think of Equestria, where the ponies lived harmoniously with the natural environment. Here in the human world, Canterlot City was fun, but it was a dirty and jagged kind of fun. She supposed that’s why she still fit in here.

As soon as the thought crossed her mind, Sunset growled and energetically patted her cheeks. Stop that! Geez! It’s like your self-pity is a reflex today! She grumbled to herself with a deep pout as she stalked onward.

After a few minutes, the trail widened, and she could hear faint music.

Sunset shook her head, her lips puckering. “Got you, Apple Bloom…”

Not much further, and the trail led to a waving emerald meadow, crimson spikelets swaying with the breeze over the tall grass. In the heart of the small field there sat a small rusty poleshed near a dried creek bed. Just past it was an old rundown classic 50s sedan overgrown with plants and peeling its green paint. Apple Bloom was on top of the shed holding a recording device on a selfie stick. Next to her was a round Bluetooth speaker blaring some form of emo pop while lights danced across it in time with the music.

“You've got rearview eyes that spy the inequities of my past.
Blaring headlights of the future pass
And elicit that debilitating illness of insecurity.
It grips me whenever truth comes through that lens of retrospect.

“Oh, forget!

“Just redirect my mind
From those memories where a man
Scythed into my heart's defenses,
Then turned,
And walked away on a trail of broken promises

“Bastard!”

On the other side of the meadow was Scootaloo on a bike. Ahead of her was a tall ramp. Sunset’s stomach lurched when she saw Sweetie Belle shivering in the rocky creek bed just beyond it, an apple in her hand. Her pale green eyes were large circles that seemed to crowd the rest of her quivering ashen face.

“You guys, are you sure about this?” Sunset heard the girl call out, a noticeable shake in her voice. “What if Scootaloo doesn’t flip enough and can’t grab the apple??”

“Just sit tight, Sweetie Belle!” Apple Bloom yelled from the shed, her eyes fixed on her recording device’s display. She looked over at Scootaloo and smirked. “You ready?”

“Ready!” Scootaloo yelled, beaming so hard wrinkles formed at the corners of her soft purple eyes. She stood up on the pedals of her bike.

Sweetie wiped her palms on her jeans and held the apple high over her head. “R-Ready!” she squeaked.

Oh boy.

“HEY!” Sunset shouted as loudly as she could. She ran through the tall grass, stumbling on the uneven ground. “Woah, guys! Hold on!”

“Aw, busted,” Scootaloo griped as she stepped down off the pedals with a pout of her lip.

“Oh thank, God!” Sweetie Belle gasped, the tension melting from her face as she collapsed to the ground.

“Sunset, can we try one take? Please?” Apple Bloom pleaded. “It took us damn near an hour just to convince Sweetie to get into position!”

“Yeah, I can see why!” Sunset panted as she went to Sweetie and helped her to her feet with a small grunt. She cut a searing look up at Apple Bloom. “What the heck were you guys thinking? This is dangerous!”

“You mean daring,” Scootaloo said with a cheesy grin and finger guns. She climbed off the bike and walked with it toward the creek bed.

“And daring gets views,” Apple Bloom argued next. “This video could be the thing that finally pushes us over fifty thousand subscribers!”

“Is five minutes of fame worth your friends getting hurt?” Sunset retorted sharply. “Your sister is looking for you. You’re beyond lucky I found you first! If she saw what you were doing–!”

“Whatever,” Apple Bloom growled as she jammed the stop button on the Bluetooth speaker and began her climb off the pole shed.

“And what about you two?” Sunset looked at Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle with crossed arms and a downturned mouth. “It’s a school day!”

“We came to give Apple Bloom, uh… Moral support!” Sweetie Belle said with a nervous grin.

Scootaloo nodded her head eagerly. “Yeah! Moral support!”

Sunset sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose and closing her eyes. She could feel a headache coming on. “Does the school even know you’re here?”

Scootaloo snickered. Sweetie Belle at least had the good sense to look chagrined when she mumbled, “Um…”

“Don’t blame them,” Apple Bloom said as she approached. Her lower lip was jutted out and her skin creased sourly at the corner of her nose. “I asked them to come.”

Sunset peered curiously between them. “How’d you guys get on the property without AJ knowing, anyway?” she asked with a wry tone.

Apple Bloom handed Sweetie the Bluetooth speaker, then put her hands on her hips and shifted her weight to one foot, her eyebrow arching. Sunset could see the faintest hints of a smirk forming on her lips. Sweetie Belle pretended complete and utter fascination with her music device. Scootaloo was trying and failing at not laughing outright.

There must have been some secret back entrance the girls had been using. Was that how Apple Bloom snuck off with her friends without permission? It’d be hard to get them to give that up.

Sunset narrowed her eyes as her instincts flared. Something was off about these three today. She stepped closer to Sweetie Belle who leaned away with round eyes. Sunset inhaled deeply. Her nose tickled with a telltale skunky smell. Her gaze grew. “You’re high, too?” She shook her head at the three girls. “You guys, this is not a good look.”

“Come off it, Sunset,” Apple Bloom returned with a sassy toss of her red hair. “Like you never got up to mischief when you was in school!”

Sunset mirrored Apple Bloom’s stance. “You’re right,” she returned with a moody bob of her head. “In fact, I got up to worse. But even doing a quarter as much as I did is not cool!”

“Are you gonna make us leave?” Sweetie Belle asked with wide eyes.

Sunset pursed her lips. She did not want to be in this position. But if the girls didn’t call their absence into the school office, they were going to get into trouble for truancy anyway. She thought for a moment…

“How about this,” she said, looking at them all. “Come back up to the farm and help with today’s harvest. We’ll call the school and let them know you’re okay. It’s late enough that they’ll probably not insist on you coming back.” She looked pointedly at Apple Bloom. “Applejack’s going to have a word or two to say about it, and I think you owe it to her to listen. I can’t promise there won’t be any consequences, you guys, so don’t go begging.” She shrugged. “But I figure so long as you’re actually productive today, they might let you off light. I’ll try and keep AJ from going off the rails. Okay?”

The three girls looked at each other. With a gesture from Apple Bloom, they put their heads together, whispering furiously.

After a short conference, the three parted again, and Apple Bloom spoke, her face deathly serious. “You won’t mention the weed?”

“Or the stunt?” Scootaloo added, to the furious nods of agreement from her friends.

Sunset tongued her cheek and thought for a moment. “I can… neglect to mention those things,” she acquiesced after a moment. “But if you guys can’t sober up by the time we get back, then it’s on you if you get caught!”

“Deal,” Apple Bloom held her hand out.

Sunset felt some of the tension ease out of her shoulders as she grinned easily and shook it. “Let’s hurry back. I’m sure Applejack is worried,” she said.

Apple Bloom chuckled back, “Worried? Hell, my sis is probably pitching a hissy fit with a tail on it!”

“Apple Bloom, she gets upset because she just wants what is best for you,” Sunset said with a little frown.

The four of them started back the way Sunset had come. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle hung back, murmuring amongst themselves. No doubt wondering what consequences would befall them once their families realized what they had done.

Sunset and Apple Bloom pulled ahead of them.

“Applejack treats me like a screwup,” Apple Bloom griped with a deeply furrowed brow and tight jaw. “She doesn’t understand. My friends and I are so close to making it as real content creators!”

“Is that why you uploaded the GIF of Diamond Tiara face-planting in cheerleading practice?” Sunset asked coolly. “Applejack told me why you got suspended. I'm not saying she was in the right, but if she sucker-punched you, I can kind of understand why Diamond did it, Apple Bloom. That GIF will last long past whatever feud you two have going on.” Her eyes tensed as her voice softened. “Does that really sound right to you?”

Apple Bloom shrugged, looking at Sunset sidelong. “That GIF got us a thousand new followers. Far as I’m concerned, it was worth it.”

Sunset looked at her somberly. “You’re angry.”

“Naw, I’m pleased as punch,” Apple Bloom returned sarcastically. “I ain’t gotta waste my time with a bunch of studies that won’t do me any good in another year anyhow!”

Sunset nodded with wide eyes. “Hmm! Sure! I can see that.”

The teenager scoffed at her. “You ain’t gonna ‘mentor’ this one, Sunset, so just save it.”

“All right,” Sunset held up her hands. “Believe me, I’m not trying to.”

Apple Bloom glared at her distrustfully. “I mean it! It’s no use!”

Sunset laughed. “Cripes, what do you want me to say? ‘You’re doing a great job?’ Fine!” She gestured at Apple Bloom grandly, an over-the-top smile on her pinched face. “You’re doing a great job, Apple Bloom! I’m sure five years from now, you won’t look back on any of this and regret a single thing.” She smiled sweetly and batted her eyes. “Happy now?”

Apple Bloom pouted sullenly at her. “You don’t gotta mock me, either,” she mumbled.

“Sorry. Maybe that was too much.” Sunset looked at her seriously. “But if you want me to sugarcoat it for you, you’re barking up the wrong tree. All right?” She thumbed at herself. “I nearly lost everything because I didn’t listen to the people who cared about me. But what do I know? I just got showered by a literal magical rainbow beam that turned me good again. My input’s trash. Right?”

Apple Bloom tilted her head back and groaned loudly, “You’re worse than the damn school counselor!”

Sunset only shrugged. This was why she never tried to join any of those community mentorship programs. At the end of the day, what could she say to convince anyone? It wasn’t like she had anything really figured out yet.

They walked in silence for a long time. When they left the trailhead and the farm proper was once again in view, Apple Bloom spoke. She sounded reluctant.

“I already took the GIF down,” she admitted through tight lips. Her amber eyes avoided Sunset. “But I couldn’t stop people saving it and sharing it. It’s outta my hands now.”

Sunset gazed at her quietly. “At least you tried.”

Apple Bloom stared back at her with a stark expression. “You can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear, Sunset. And trying doesn’t make me good. Not when all I want is for Diamond to hurt like I do. And y’know what? I feel sick of it. Y’hear? I’m fucking sick of it! So I don’t give a crap that I got suspended! Far as I’m concerned, Principal Celestia did me a goddamn favor!”

Sunset’s heart squeezed. The girl was clearly hurting. She just masked it with sarcasm and bluster. Underneath it all, Apple Bloom felt misunderstood and worthless. Her apathy about missing school was probably her strange way of feeling some peace about her feud with Diamond Tiara. In Apple Bloom’s eyes, if all the trouble happened at school, then it stood to reason that missing school meant no more trouble. She was probably taking that rationalization a step further by wondering why she needed to go back. She wanted to be a content creator. What use was History and Science and Math if all she needed was to stay out of trouble long enough to make viral videos?

Sunset wished she could help the girl see how misguided she was. Did Applejack even realize what Apple Bloom was feeling? When was the last time someone tried to understand the girl instead of just scolding her?

Sunset had a brief flash of recollection, but it was sharp in its vividness. She remembered her mother, Stellar Flare, screaming at her about tormenting her little brother again. As a filly Sunset didn’t like competition, and that was true even in her home. She didn’t want to compete with Sunburst for their parents' affection. She could still see the spittle flying from her mother’s mouth as she ranted about what a reckless fool she was. It was the only other time her mother gave her real attention. The rest of the time was just to remind Sunset of all the great expectations the mare had for her, and how she’d better not screw them up.

In the present, Sunset watched as Apple Bloom marched off, her ponytail bobbing behind her. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle passed as well, casting her glances. Sweetie Belle’s was apologetic. Scootaloo’s was considerably cooler.

Sunset ran her hand through her hair and looked up at the sky. “Things can never be simple, can they?” she muttered.

She pulled her phone out and called Applejack. It only rang once. “Did you find her?” Applejack asked, breathless.

“Yeah,” Sunset said with a little wince. “Um, AJ? Look, before you talk to her, can we chat a little? We have a small situation.”

Applejack paced the porch, her cell phone pressed to her ear. Her cowboy boots clopped sharply over the wood. Sunset watched her warily, her arms crossed as she leaned on the porch railing. Big Mac sat nearby and stared ahead at nothing. He looked almost at ease, except for how tightly his fists were balled over his faded jeans.

Just past him, Apple Bloom slouched sullenly in a wicker chair. Sweetie Belle rocked anxiously in the rocker. Scootaloo sat crosslegged on the porch floor between them, absently plucking petals from a white flower.

“Mmm, hmm. Yep, I understand. Principal Celestia, I swear I had no idea,” Applejack said as she rubbed wearily at her eyes. “Yeah. I’ll let Rarity and Rainbow Dash know, too. Maybe they can also talk some sense into ‘em.” She sighed roughly and hung her head. “I’m awfully sorry about this, but at least they’re safe. Yes’m. Sure. You too.”

Applejack removed the phone from her ear, and Sunset could see the muscles in her jaw clenching tightly.

“What’s the verdict?” Sunset asked.

“Well, considering damn near most of the school session is gone, Celestia said she’d forgive Sweetie and Scoots missing what’s left of the day in exchange for me putting them to good honest work. They’ll be getting one day’s detention, too. It’ll still go on their records, though. She’s calling their parents now.” Applejack turned on the spot and glared irately at the trio at the other end of the porch. “You hear that, you chuckleheads? I’m putting your butts to work!” She thrust an angry finger at Apple Bloom. “And you. Don’t think you’re getting off easy, missy!” She held out a hand. “Cough up the camera!”

“What?” Apple Bloom sat ramrod straight, her eyes massive with shock. “You can’t be serious!”

“I’m as serious as a heart attack,” Applejack hissed, her lips pressed so thin they had no color.

Apple Bloom looked sharply at Big Mac. “And you?” she spat. “What you got to say about this? Or are you too drunk again to actually have any thoughts to share?”

Sunset stared wide-eyed as she rubbed at her temple. That headache was getting worse now. She felt beyond uncomfortable. She was seeing something too personal. This was a family matter, wasn’t it? Should she walk away and let them handle it? Her headache said yes, but her feet kept her rooted on the porch.

Big Mac looked at Apple Bloom slowly. Sunset felt her hairs stand up. It wasn’t so much the man’s expression that got to her. No, he had no expression. It was the stillness in his features. It made Sunset think of deep, deep oceans and all the dangerous things that lurked in their dark depths.

Big Macintosh stood, swaying only a little once on his feet, and went with heavy footsteps to his little sister.

Apple Bloom wasn’t a fool. She was wise enough to drop her gaze when he loomed over her.

Quietly, he held out his hand.

Sunset felt her chest seize when the tears filled Apple Bloom’s eyes. She pulled the compact recording device from her pocket and dropped it into Big Mac’s waiting hand.

The man turned and walked toward the stairs. As he passed Applejack, he thrust the camera at her without looking her way and left without a word.

Sunset frowned after him. Apple Bloom’s words had hurt him, that much was clear. But why this behavior toward Applejack?

Apple Bloom stood explosively from her chair, her face burning to match her vibrant hair, and she stormed off into the house.

“You can have the damn thing back at the end of the week, provided you don’t get up to any more mischief!” Applejack yelled after her, her cheeks pink and her neck muscles cording.

Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle looked at each other. Quietly they stood and shuffled after Big Mac, making sure to keep their heads down as they passed.

But at the top step, Sweetie Belle paused to look back at Applejack and Sunset. “She really is trying, you know,” she said softly. Her voice was small and her eyes looked moist. She flashed a little shaky smile before hurrying after Scootaloo.

A muscle worked in Applejack’s jaw as she ground her teeth. She looked over at Sunset and asked, “Was I too much?” She sounded weary.

Sunset shrugged uneasily. “It’s hard to say. They could’ve gotten into more trouble. I think most parents would make the same decision you did if they were in your position.”

Applejack scowled. “But?”

Sunset shook her head quickly and held up her hands. “No. No buts. I am not in a position to judge you. This is hard, AJ.” She bit her lip. Should she share her perspective? About Apple Bloom feeling misunderstood or her aversion to school? Would Applejack even be able to hear what she had to say if she did?

“I think so long as you’re disciplining out of love and trying to think about Apple Bloom’s feelings, then your good intentions will bear fruit,” Sunset eventually concluded. That was more than her parents had ever done for her, at any rate.

Applejack’s forehead wrinkled and the fire went out from her eyes. “That’s the question, though, ain’t it?” She looked through the screen door into the house. “Am I doing any of that?”

They worked into the later evening. Thanks to the trouble with the girls, they’d lost some precious hours' worth of progress, but Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo had proven surprisingly useful. Applejack watched them appreciatively as they hurried to get apples into the loaders. Perhaps they were trying to please her for Apple Bloom’s sake.

They’re good friends, Applejack thought with a little smile.

They finished more or less around the same time as the day before.

“With ya’lls help, we might actually get this order done in time,” Applejack said, beaming at Sunset. They backed off as one of the seasonal workers drove off the last full tractor wagon for the day. Another section down. It felt good.

“Now let’s just see if we can get ready in time for tonight, too,” Sunset said.

“What are you guys doing tonight?” Scootaloo asked flipping a water bottle through the air and catching it with ease. Sweetie Belle was at her side, peering at them curiously.

Applejack smirked at them. “We’re going to a blues show.”

“Blues?” Scootaloo’s mouth twisted with disinterest. “Sounds boring.”

Sunset ticked a finger back and forth. “No way! You don’t know what you’re missing.”

Scootaloo made a stank face and pretended to play air guitar with her bottle. “Ohhh, my rent’s late!” she crooned in a deep gravelly voice.

Without missing a beat, Sweetie Belle chimed in with an air piano, her hands jabbing at the air like she’d seen her sister play. “Dun, nuh, nuh, nuh, nuh!”

“Yeah, my baby left me!”

“Dun, nuh, nuh, nuh, nuh!”

“But nobody said this rash’d be the thing that would get me!”

In unison, the girls sang, “Ooooh, I got the crotch rash blues!” They broke into giggles on the last note and high-fived each other.

Sunset laughed while Applejack shook her head and covered her face with her hand.

They started back for the house together. “Ya’ll wanna stay for dinner?” Applejack asked. They may have stayed to work as part of their punishment, but she didn’t see any reason to withhold her hospitality. It just wasn’t the done thing in the country.

“No, we can’t…” Sweetie Belle said with a sigh, her shoulders curving. “Our parents called us while we were picking apples. They want us home as soon as we’re done.”

Applejack nodded, her mouth pursing with sympathy. As good as she’d tried to be growing up, there had been a time or two when Granny Smith had summoned her home for a good scolding. Like that time she’d tried to slip Filthy Rich three of their family’s exclusive barrels of cider to sell at his store. She’d only wanted to expand their business, but boy howdy had Granny Smith been fit to explode! “I reckon ya’ll got a way to head back?” she asked the girls.

Sweetie Belle coughed nervously. “Er. Yeah. I have my car.”

Applejack smirked, crossing her arms. “You’re still parked out on the eastern side, right? Across from Oak Nut’s homestead?”

Sweetie and Scootaloo looked at her in surprise.

“You knew?” Scootaloo asked, her mouth hanging open.

Applejack rolled her eyes. “Please. Who do you think was using that entrance to sneak off way back when?”

Sweetie Belle grinned sassily. “Big Mac?”

Applejack nodded her head, a proud smile on her face. “You’re damn right! But even if I was too honest to resort to sneaking off, I always knew the way was there.” She quirked an eyebrow. “So mind yourselves, girls!”

“All right,” they said in the fashion of any teenager being told to do an uncool thing. Applejack smiled wistfully at them. Had it really been just a few years ago when her and her friends would have responded the same way? Maybe they hadn't been problem-free, but certainly they'd been more carefree. It was a youthful attitude borne from naivety and freedom from responsibilities.

All of a sudden, she felt very old.

“Big Mac can drive ya’ll to your car, Sweetie,” Applejack said. “That way you don’t gotta hike in the dark.”

They entered the house to find Apple Bloom and Granny Smith cooking dinner. Country music played from the old kitchen radio. The girl sang with her elder as they chopped parsley, and they laughed all the while, barely able to sustain a note.

“Morphine’s gonna run me crazy
Cocaine’s gonna kill my baby
Pretty girls gonna cause me to lose my mind.
It’s nobody's business, nobody's business
Nobody's business if I do!”

“When she rides in a limousine
I buy the gasoline
Nobody's business if I do.
It’s nobody's business, nobody's business
Nobody's business if I do!”

“That’s where my money goes
To buy my baby clothes
Nobody's business if I do.”

“She runs a weenie stand
Way down in no man’s land
Nobody's business if I do.”

Applejack shook her head as she took her hat off and hung it on one of the hooks near the door. “That damn song again! Sometimes I think the radio station is short on CDs!”

Sunset frowned as she sat in the recliner and seemed to mull over what she was hearing. “Wait a second… That’s an old blues song! I had no idea there was a country cover of it.”

Applejack chortled, “Sugarcube, country ain’t just singing about faith n’ tractors.” She went to Big Mac who was sitting on the couch with a beer. “Hey,” she said, slapping his shoulder. “A’fore you drink much more of that, I’ma need you to drive the girls to Sweetie’s car. I’d do it, but Sunset and I gotta get ready to head out tonight.”

He pouted, but set the beer aside and stood up.

“Aw man, are you guys doing slow-cooked collard greens again?” Sweetie whined as she hopped on the spot. “I wish we could stay!”

“The greens are done if you want me to put it in a container for you, Sweetie Belle,” Apple Bloom said, looking at her brightly. She wiped her hands on a towel, pecked her grandmother on the cheek, and came over to them. “Ya’ll can’t stay, huh?”

“No,” Scootaloo said, looking bummed out. “My aunts need their pound of flesh, too.”

“And my parents actually want to parent for once. Even Rarity was going to come over to give me a piece of her mind,” Sweetie Belle sighed, looking equally glum.

“Sorry I got you guys in trouble,” Apple Bloom said, looking down. “It was dumb of me to ask you to come over.”

Scootaloo shrugged. “Whatever! Today I had a math test with Cranky Doodle that I was totally not ready for. Now I’ve got another night to study before I make it up!”

“Still not a good reason to skip school,” Applejack interjected sharply as she passed them by to the kitchen. She opened up one of the pots bubbling on the stove. “Mmm! Apple Bloom, you and Granny been cooking up a storm, I see!”

“Yeah,” Apple Bloom said, though she didn’t sound too enthusiastic. Applejack’s lips pursed. Maybe she had been a little harsh earlier. She could have eased off, if only just to spare her sister’s pride in front of her friends.

Big Mac was at the door and jingled the keys loudly, making the girls look over at him.

Sweetie Belle hugged Apple Bloom. “We’ll see you later, Apple Bloom! Don’t worry about the collard greens.” She pulled away and rubbed her friend’s arms affectionately. “The week’s almost through. You can do it.”

Scootaloo bumped fists with Apple Bloom next. “We’ll see if we can come over this weekend and help out!” she said with a wink.

Apple Bloom smiled lopsidedly at them. “Thanks guys. Ya’ll are the best.”

They saluted in unison and cried out. “CMC out!”

Applejack smiled surreptitiously as she leaned on the counter and watched Sweetie and Scootaloo leave with her brother through the screen door. Even as juniors in high school they still managed to sound adorable. Apple Bloom went to sit on the couch next to Sunset. This brought a sting of disappointment. Applejack had hoped to pull her sister aside to apologize for how stern she’d been earlier.

From her chair, Sunset called out, “Hey, AJ! You should get ready first. I might take a while.”

This made Applejack’s eyes widen. That was right! She hadn’t thought about how, exactly, she was going to get ready for that evening. A hot shower sounded obvious. But after that…?

“Say, uh…” Applejack went to stand next to Sunset in the recliner and wheeled her hands through the air. “What should I wear to this thing? Can I dress casual?”

“I’d dress up a little for sure,” Sunset said with a certain nod as she looked up at her. “It’s true that the place we’re going to isn’t the ritz, so lay off the formal, but people still dress up for a fun night out, if that makes sense?”

Applejack rubbed the back of her neck with a little grimace. “Sure.”

Sunset watched as Applejack ascended up the stairs until she was out of sight. She looked at Apple Bloom and her lips pushed up, creasing her eyes with warmth. “You seem in better spirits! I’m glad.”

Apple Bloom bobbed her head once. She still hadn’t looked directly at Sunset since they’d talked in the woods hours ago. Was she embarrassed that she’d revealed her vulnerability?

Sunset turned her attention to the box television when the other girl didn’t say anything else. She hoped her nonchalant air would put the girl at ease. Like Applejack, Apple Bloom seemed to have trouble confronting her feelings head on. The distraction turned out to be easier than she thought. The TV’s volume was set to mute, but the news was playing. The headline at the bottom read something about how organized crime was on the rise in the city.

No kidding? She thought wryly. If they only knew.

“Sunset,” Apple Bloom said. “Can I ask ya something?”

Sunset looked at her curiously, a little balloon of hope filling up inside her. Would Applejack’s little sister do what she couldn’t and address her feelings honestly and directly?

Apple Bloom had a small, knowing smile on her lips. “You like my sister, don’t you?”

Sunset’s eyes widened, feeling the metaphorical balloon deflate with a farting hiss. “Me?” She didn’t know what else to say. Why did the Apples keep confounding her like this?

The younger teenager cackled lightly, clearly delighted that she’d caught Sunset off-guard. “Well, I sure ain’t talking to the TV!”

Sunset leaned away, her cheeks tinged pink. “We’re friends! Of course I like your sister.”

“Uh, huh.” Apple Bloom chuckled low. “Don’t think I miss all them looks you been giving her lately!”

Sunset leveled a hard stare at her, re-assembling some form of decorum. “I really don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said as matter-of-fact as she could.

“Sure. Plead the fifth. But I got eyes, that’s all I’m saying.” Apple Bloom snapped her fingers and punched her hands in quick succession, repeating the nervous fidget a few times as she leaned forward onto her knees and looked at Sunset sidelong. “Anyway… I just wanna say, I’m sorry for copping so much attitude earlier. I was just sore about getting caught, but fact was, I didn’t have any business doing what I was doing.” She winced. “And…yeah, that stunt we was about to try was dumber’n hell.”

Sunset smiled compassionately. “You guys were high, that’s all. It’s not like our friends didn’t do stupid things when we were bored, and we were usually sober when we did them!”

“Seems like all I do are stupid things,” Apple Bloom muttered, looking back at the television. Now there was a news report about Everfree University acquiring Egyptian artifacts on loan from Egypt, with a professor named A.K. Yearling in charge of setting up a museum display in the city’s Museum of History. Various ornate objects were displayed, including geometric carvings, golden jewelry, and a bronze knife.

“Hey,” Sunset said, leaning over to touch her arm. Apple Bloom looked at her reluctantly. Sunset smiled. “Even after Harmony put me on the right path, I still did plenty of dumb things. You just keep trying. It’s all you can do.” She lifted her eyebrows. “You know what wouldn’t be dumb?”

“What?” Apple Bloom asked with a wary eye.

Sunset pointed up. “Talking to Applejack. Your sister loves you. But you have to give her a chance to understand, right?”

Apple Bloom inhaled deeply, and Sunset could see the debate raging in her mind as she stared through the television, lights and colors dancing across her amber eyes.

Sunset sat back and resumed watching the television herself. She knew it wasn’t easy to open up to people. She still struggled with it every day. She earnestly hoped that Apple Bloom would take that chance, though.

Minutes went by, wherein she thought about her brother, Sunburst. Sunset shifted uncomfortably in her seat as she realized she was being a hypocrite again. If she wanted to have a relationship with her little brother, she needed to try and reach out to him. It was just that every time she thought about doing that, she froze up. It wasn’t so much rejection she was afraid of. It was failure. Failure to keep her self-pity at bay. Failure to bear the pain of all the years she’d missed. Failure to convey how sorry she was for all the things she’d done to him.

Sorry for being an evil older sister.

As was usually the case when it came to anything Sunburst, Sunset hastily sought relief from the distressing thoughts. She checked her phone. She saw a group text from Rainbow Dash that was addressed to her and Pinkie Pie.

>RD: Rehearsal 4 the sorority party on Fri nite?

>PP: I’m down!

It had been sent several hours ago. Sunset bit her lip. Boy, her week was feeling full. But she also knew the sorority event was coming soon, and if they were serious about performing for it, they did need to have a few rehearsals under their belt or they’d be out of sync. With pursed lips, she sent:

>SSh: Count me in.

From the corner of her eye, she saw Apple Bloom stand up and she turned to regard the girl. She pointed a stern finger at Sunset. “I’ll go talk to her, but then I want you to come up in five minutes, y’hear?”

Sunset batted her eyes. “Why?”

Apple Bloom made a face. “Cuz this is gonna be awkward, and if there’s one thing us Apples appreciate, it’s a timely interruption!”

Sunset laughed. “Okay! Sure. I’ll come up in five.”

Applejack was trying to find something, anything she could wear that night before she went to take her shower. She hadn’t dressed for a night out in town since she’d graduated high school two years ago.

Her selection of “fashionable” clothes had waned since Rarity had stopped being around to curate for her on a regular basis. She’d since rid herself of much of those things, not for lack of gratitude toward her friend, but because she didn’t go out anymore. That, and she felt too ugly for any of it, anyway.

She still had a few things, though. Not all of them fit great, but she had them. Since leaving Canterlot High, Applejack had gotten larger. Not unhealthy weight, but rather, pure muscle. Most of her physique really was just a result of her work on the farm, but not entirely. She did workout at least three times a week. Mostly bodyweight exercises, but they also owned an adjustable bench press set that she shared with her brother in the garage.

What really did it though, in her opinion, was her consistent work on the farm. It had transformed her physique, making everyday tasks easier, but it presented challenges when it came to finding suitable clothing for nicer events. She wasn’t lean on body fat like Rainbow Dash, but when fully flexed she measured a fifteen-inch bicep. Apple Bloom liked to joke that Applejack needed to audition for a superhero movie.

Applejack hadn’t meant to turn into some bodybuilder. She wasn’t, not really. She’d just wanted to keep herself strong for work, and the exercising helped to lessen the depression that threatened to drag her down every day. Her routine wasn’t that intense, so her transformation had seemed strange. Helped along, even. Twilight had speculated that maybe her body was just shaping itself to match her pony-form powers. Applejack liked how much easier it was to get things done, so she hadn’t felt the need to stop.

But it still left her with a predicament. All of her “nice” clothes were too small for her beefy arms and broader shoulders. She leaned on the doorway of her closet, a wrinkle forming on her brow as the desperation she’d been feeling congealed into a sense of defeat. She had nothing to wear.

She heard a knock on her door and looked to see Apple Bloom eyeing her. “Low on options, huh?” She said with a sympathetic smile.

Applejack sighed roughly and looked back at her clothes. “Like you wouldn’t believe.”

“Oh, I can believe it!” Apple Bloom chortled as she sauntered into the room. “It’s been a while since you gone out like this. Lemme guess… Everything is small up here?” Apple Bloom sucked in air and raised her arms in a dramatic flex.

Applejack glared at her. “You coming in with solutions, or are you just here to have a laugh at your elder’s expense?”

“Look, I didn’t come here to tease you,” Apple Bloom said with a rough sigh. She fidgeted on the spot, looking around her sister’s dimly lit room. All that brightened the space was the soft orange glow from the closet bulb and Applejack’s small bedside lamp. After a long awkward moment, she finally said, “I wanted to apologize for leaving Granny Smith alone for so long. I still gotta talk to Mac too. It hadn’t really been my intention to go neglectin’ things and saying all that I did. I just sorta… lost it, I guess.”

Applejack’s gaze softened. She scratched her hair at her hairline. “Apple Bloom, I been thinking… I didn’t need to lay into you so much in front of your friends.” She gestured weakly at her sister. “I just see you struggling and honestly,” she shrugged. “I’m just worried about you, sis. I don’t know what you’re thinking half the time.”

Apple Bloom raised an eyebrow at her. “You could try asking me.”

Applejack nodded, her lips pinching together. “Yeah. I could try and do that more.” She squinted her eyes at her. “But would you actually tell me what you’re thinking?”

Apple Bloom sighed and rubbed her arm. After another long moment, she shrugged as well. “Maybe? But would you listen?”

Applejack chuckled. “Good question!” She gestured at her clothes. “I’ll tell you what. I’ll do my best. Meanwhile, I’ll sure listen to any ideas you got about what I should wear tonight!”

Apple Bloom rolled her eyes at her, but she was grinning. “You’re hopeless, Applejack.”

“Don’t I know it.” Applejack made a face and rifled through her clothes. “I’m as lost as a mole above ground!”

Apple Bloom went and stood next to her at the closet. “Lemme see, have you got… Aha!” Apple Bloom plucked a dark frayed jean vest with ripped sleeves. “This! Go sleeveless! Show off them arms!”

Applejack let her head hit the closet door. “I can’t show my arms," she intoned.

Apple Bloom shifted her weight to one foot and put her hand on her hip. “Why not?”

Applejack hesitated. “Because…”

“Because she doesn’t want to make everyone faint from how amazing she looks,” came Sunset Shimmer’s voice.

Both sisters turned to see Sunset Shimmer in the bedroom doorway.

“AJ, you need help picking something out?” she asked with a small tilt of her head.

“Uh…” Applejack’s mind went blank. Did she really want to admit to her fashionable friend that she was like any classless bumpkin without a clue as to how to look nice? The thought seemed mortifying, so she froze. Apple Bloom’s elbow buried itself in her gut, making her grunt. Her thoughts thawed back into motion. There was no use denying the obvious. “Er, yeah! Mm, hmm. Yep, I’m… uh… just not sure what to wear.”

“She’s kind of a hulk,” Apple Bloom chirped. Applejack glared daggers at her, but said to Sunset, "I tossed a few options on the bed if you wanna help me out."

"Sure!" Sunset replied, beaming with enthusiasm, and gave an enthusiastic thumbs up as she moved toward the bed.

While she was absorbed in sitting on the mattress and rifling through the options, Apple Bloom arched an eyebrow at Applejack, nodding toward Sunset. She likes you! She silently mouthed.

Applejack shook her head adamantly and mimed zipping her lip. She’d just about die if Sunset saw them whispering–

“You guys okay?” Sunset asked, looking at them curiously.

Applejack let her head fall to her chest, the heat rising up fast and turning her red from scalp to toes. “Yep! We’re just dandy,” Applejack looked at her sister pointedly, “Apple Bloom was just leaving.”

As Apple Bloom walked past her with her head turned away from Sunset, she mouthed, Kiss her!

Applejack’s lip twitched like she was about to snarl. She loved her sister, but damn if she wasn’t a pain in the ass sometimes! Where did she get such crazy ideas? There was no way Sunset liked her! Applejack's expression tightened as she eyed Sunset on the bed. Her friend was turned away from her, allowing her gaze to linger without self-consciousness. Wariness colored her green eyes a shade darker. The idea of Sunset seeing through her defenses stirred a mix of discomfort and… curiosity.

What would she think?

Sunset let go of a cream-colored blouse as she turned to look at Applejack, and the sudden shift in attention made Applejack flinch with anxiety. The cowgirl felt worried all of a sudden that the door to the stairs had been left open. She had a mental image of Apple Bloom eavesdropping at the bottom of the steps and hurried to shut it, her boots clicking sharply on the floor. She let out a little breath when the lock clicked into place.

“Sorry you’re having a tough time,” she heard Sunset say. Applejack regarded her with a muted smile, one hand still on the shut door. “You still have some jewelry, right?” Sunset went on with a bright smile. “Why not just throw on one of your flannels and jazz it up with accessories?”

“I mean… I suppose I could, but it seems a shame to go in there looking so plain when you’re gonna go to all this effort!” Applejack put her hands on her hips as she traveled back to her closet, her lip pouting and her brow knitted. “I saw that duffel bag of yours. What you thinking of wearing, anyway?”

Sunset shrugged as she stood and joined Applejack’s side. “I’m not trying to glam it up like Rarity or anything. I think you’ll look great no matter what.”

Applejack’s lips pressed together as her eyelids lowered with her skepticism. “Oh yeah? How’s that?”

Sunset gestured at her with a stretched expression, as if her friend had asked what color the sky was. “Are you kidding me? You look like an action movie star! You literally have an hour glass shape, Applejack. You could walk in there naked and everyone would love it.”

Applejack scoffed, feeling the heat on her skin intensify. “Everyone?”

Sunset crossed her arms and smirked. “Yeah.”

They gazed at each other for a long moment.

No. It was in her head. Apple Bloom was just teasing her.

…Right?

“What do you suggest?” Applejack asked quietly, her eyes tensing.

“We could use the spell I used to cover my scars,” Sunset returned gently. “That way no one sees the bandage on your arm, and you can show off those impressive guns of yours.”

“You…don’t think they’re too much?” Applejack asked with a little wince. She had an idea of what most other girls thought of her. There had been a time or two on campus where a boy would take a fancy to her, like Ace High. The trouble with guys chasing her wasn’t just that she wasn’t interested, but that there usually was some other girl who was. Like clockwork, they’d show up to attack her. They treated her like a freak. Not really a woman.

Sunset frowned and stepped closer. “No. I don’t think they’re too much.” She gently took Applejack’s arm and undid the buttons on her sleeve cuff. She pulled back the sleeve and positioned Applejack’s arm up as if silently instructing her friend to hold it there, so Applejack did.

“I’m going to trace the rune symbols over your arm, and I want you to repeat after me, okay?” Sunset told her.

Applejack swallowed and nodded.

Sunset gave her an encouraging smile and with her finger, began to trace symbols around the large bandage that Applejack vaguely recognized as Old Ponish, even if she didn’t know the individual shapes' meanings.

“Burning hurt, wounds beneath,” Sunset murmured.

“Burning hurt, wounds beneath,” Applejack dutifully repeated. She could feel the gooseflesh break out over her skin with every stroke of Sunset’s finger.

“Hide this pain and give me peace.” Sunset’s lidded eyes were trained on her face. They were glowing a little again.

Applejack began to shiver as she felt her own magic rise up. It made her skin hot and she felt electrified.

“Hide this pain and give me peace.” She barely managed to get the words out, but the second she did so, there was a muted hum, and within the next second her bandage vanished from view.

“There,” Sunset said with a satisfied sigh. “Now no one will see or feel the bandage there.” She wagged a finger. “You will, though. So you still need to be careful, okay?”

“You mean you can’t feel it?” Applejack asked breathlessly. Spellwork was something she hadn’t trained in as much after gaining their powers. Sunset and Twilight were the only ones who practiced it earnestly. Rarity knew a few spells, but nothing too complicated. All their talk of magical SMILEs and proper casting techniques had seemed over her head. She couldn’t even confidently remember what the acronym for SMILE stood for. Something to do with how the runes were arranged, maybe?

Sunset shook her head with a little grin. “Nope! This is the same spell we used for the portals. On larger items, the illusion doesn’t mask sensory touch as good, kind of like a weave being stretched too thin. That’s why we placed additional wards to make people turn away from the portals before they get too close. But on smaller objects?” She ran her hand over Applejack’s arm gently. Applejack could feel the pressure from her touch through the bandage, just as Sunset had said. “Others can’t feel a thing.”

Applejack’s lower lip pushed up with her appreciation. “Handy!”

“Now that that’s settled,” Sunset leaned on the wall. “What was Apple Bloom trying to recommend?”

Applejack rolled her eyes and thumbed at the closet. The jean vest hung in the open space between her clothes. “This vest.”

Sunset picked up the hanger and considered it. After a moment, she smirked. “I think she’s on to something…” She placed the vest on a coat hook on the back of the closet door, then rifled through Applejack’s hangers.

Applejack felt her cheeks color as redneck shirt after redneck shirt was rifled past. She really should have paid closer attention to Rarity’s tips on fashion, she felt like such a simple hick what with all her flannels and coveralls…

“Here!” Sunset plucked a dark green tank top that buttoned all down the front.

Applejack ran an anxious hand through her hair. “I think that might be too small, now.”

“Can we try it, quick?”

Applejack felt her blush, which really hadn’t gone away since this had started, intensify. “Now?”

Sunset handed the shirt to her. “Yep! I can leave the room if you’re uncomfortable?”

Damn. Now Applejack wondered what to do. In the past, their friends had felt comfortable enough to strip down to their bras around each other for sleepovers. But now…?

At Applejack’s prolonged silence, Sunset started to back away. “Here, lemme–”

“Hold on, hold on,” Applejack said with a sigh. She hung the tank top on the door hook and started to unbutton her shirt with shaking fingers.

Sunset looked away. Was she really blushing, too? “You sure?” She asked. Applejack wasn’t imagining it. Her friend’s voice had gone a little raspy, not unlike Rainbow Dash’s when she was nervous.

Steady, Applejack told herself as her breathing shallowed. It’s like high school all over again. Ain’t nothing out of the ordinary.

“It’s fine,” she said as she shrugged out of her flannel shirt to reveal her dark navy bra. Her skin still burned with a full-body blush, but that couldn’t be helped. Not when she was stripping down to her delicates in front of someone like Sunset Shimmer.

Sunset hesitated a moment before looking at her. Her eyebrows rose. “Holy crap.”

Applejack paused as she put her hands on the tank top, her heart jumping a little. No, scratch that. It jumped alot. She was surprised she managed not to faint, the shock had been so bad! “What?” she asked thickly. There were days when she wished she could be more than just a simple-minded hayseed.

Sunset beamed at her. “You have a six pack! Seriously, how can you be ashamed of your body?”

Applejack batted her eyes at her before she let loose a rough chuckle and shook her head. The relief that poured into her chest eased some of the burning embarassment on her skin. She unbuttoned the tank top with sweaty fingers and slipped it off the hanger. “I may not think I’m all that pretty, but I like my body. What it can do at least. It’s just everyone else that seems to have a problem with it. They think I juice up for this.”

Sunset pushed a hand out sideways, her lips tilting crookedly. “Forget everyone else. They don’t know you.”

“Yeah, that’s what I try to do. Ain’t always easy,” Applejack admitted with a little sigh. She slipped the shirt on over her shoulders and began buttoning it back up clumsily. When she was done, she looked down at herself, then at Sunset. “It’s a bit short, Sun. Must’ve shrank the last I washed it… Which was probably three damn years ago.” The hem stopped just over her navel. The shirt had always been on the short side, but now it looked like a bonafide belly shirt. She grimaced as she flexed her shoulders back. “And it’s a little tight around the girls!”

“All the better to show off your abs!” Sunset said with an appreciative nod. “As for the tightness… Um, may I?” Sunset gestured at the buttons on Applejack’s shirt.

Blinking, Applejack shrugged and raised a hand. Go ahead.

Sunset let out a little breath, then drew near. She unfastened the top button. “You’re so determined to hide yourself,” her friend tutted. She undid another button. “But I cannot stress enough what an incredibly amazing body you have.” She went lower and lower. Her eyebrow arched as their eyes met. “If I were you, I’d show off these breasts every chance I got!”

Applejack found it a little harder to breathe as Sunset came to her bust line. “But maybe after this, you’ll believe me?” The last button came undone. Sunset stepped away, her eyes appraising. Her smile curled and she gestured at Applejack’s standing mirror near the window. “Put on the jean vest and tell me what you think.”

Doing this and trying to hide the way her body was trembling wasn’t easy. Applejack went to her mirror and peered at her reflection.

With much of the top buttons undone so that Applejack’s chest no longer felt squeezed, she whistled to see her cleavage on full display. The tank top and vest did, in fact, do a nice job of framing her strong abs. Applejack turned from side to side. Adjusted her breasts so that they sat up higher in the bra. “Hmm! Not bad!”

It even felt like her style. Tough and practical, but still with a touch of femininity.

“Pair that with these,” Sunset said, going to the closet and grabbing a pair of ripped jeans. “And I think you’ll have something pretty hot!”

Applejack took the pants. “Thanks, Sun.”

Sunset winked. “No problem. I’m gonna go grab my duffel bag off the bike and sneak in a smoke if that’s okay.”

“Yep, have at ‘er.”

As Sunset left the room, the soft creak of the door echoed in the cozy space. Applejack sank onto her well-worn bed, surrounded by the familiar comfort of her room, the burgeoning moonlight casting a cool glow through the curtains. Applejack’s heart was about ready to leap out of her chest. “I’m in trouble,” she breathed shakily.

Applejack proved quick to get ready. She’d put on the ripped dark jeans Sunset had suggested to match her vest and black cowboy boots. She swapped her usual hat for a dark brown woven sun hat with a black leather cord that had jade beads on it, the brim curled on the sides. She didn’t put on any makeup save to do some simple eyeliner. At Apple Bloom’s suggestion, she put on a gold chain necklace with a simple heart locket. It drew the eye to her impressive cleavage, and Sunset heartily approved.

The cowgirl looked good. Really good.

Now that it was her turn, Sunset hurried into the bathroom and shut the door, locking it. She leaned back against it, and let out a long breath through tight lips.

Get it together.

The bathroom was only a little more spacious than the one she had back at the dorm, but she was glad for the extra room. Folded against the wall was a gray geriatric chair for Granny Smith. The shelves were lined with the Apple family’s various toiletries. Sunset ran her fingers over the girly, fruit-scented sprays on the shelf. Apple Bloom's signature scents were a stark contrast to the cologne that belonged to Big Mac, a subtle reminder of the diverse tastes within the Apple family. Applejack’s small makeup bag still sat on the broad counter. Curious, Sunset rifled through it. Her friend didn’t have much in the way of makeup, but in her opinion, the girl didn’t need it. She looked beautiful just as she was.

Sunset stripped her clothes off and stepped into the bathtub. The tub floor had a shower mat, and the tiled walls were fixed with a couple of white grip bars so that Granny could steady herself when bathing. The space showed the signs of time and wear from usage, but otherwise, the tub was immaculately clean.

She turned the water on. The pipes groaned before the showerhead reluctantly sputtered into life. Sunset put her face in the stream and closed her eyes.

The situation was getting away from her. If Apple Bloom could sense that she had feelings, then it wouldn’t take much longer for Applejack to figure it out. That was if she hadn’t already. Now it wasn’t just Sunset getting close. She could feel her friend drawing nearer with every passing hour. Things had escalated so quickly over the last few days. She fretted, wondering what would happen. Would she screw everything up? Should she wait or make a move? It was so strange to hesitate. Even when she’d courted Flash Sentry way back when she hadn’t paused or slowed down.

How hard it had been to behave in that bedroom with Applejack. To keep her hands solely on the task of unfastening those buttons. To not let her eyes linger on the inviting sight of her friend’s lovely chest. She’d just wanted to bury her face there. To taste the salt of Applejack’s skin. To run her hands worshipfully over that amazing physique.

Need to get my head right.

Feeling unsteady, Sunset grabbed the bar of soap and set to washing the sweat and dirt from her body. She tried to be quick. Since she was washing her hair, she’d need to use the hair blower to dry her locks again, and with her thick curly mane that could take a while. Her hand drifted toward her aching sex, and she stilled.

Just really quick. Need to ease the tension.

She planted a hand on the wall and lingered around her moist pussy, her teeth catching her bottom lip.

Something has to happen soon. I can’t wait anymore.

Her fingers slipped over her sudsy clit, and she caressed this place, her eyes falling shut.

“Damn it,” she gasped quietly, water trickling from her trembling lips.

She came quickly and her head spun. She held the shower handles and tried to steady her breathing.

Under the comforting spray of the shower, Sunset wrestled with her emotions. Applejack's sheepish laughter echoed in her head, intertwining with the worry that this budding connection might unravel. The intensity between them felt both exhilarating and unnerving. As the water streamed down, Sunset questioned if this leap into the unknown would lead to happiness or unforeseen depths, all the while uncertain of the currents pulling her into uncharted waters.

Author's Note

Chapter 6

Applejack was in the kitchen helping Apple Bloom clean up. The radio was shut off, as was the hanging light over the table, leaving the white glow from the stove light. Over in the living room, Granny Smith sat in her favorite recliner, a table lamp with a knit apple shade switched on beside her, enveloping her in a soft yellow glow, while Big Macintosh enjoyed sprawling out on the old couch. Though ‘enjoyed’ may have been a bit generous. His gloomy face was awash with the cool shine from the TV screen, dark bags under his eyes. The television simmered with applause from a family game show. Applejack frowned at him as she put a glass away in the cupboard.

“Hey,” she whispered to Apple Bloom over by the sink. “You talked to Mac, right?”

Apple Bloom looked over her shoulder at her with a creased brow. “Yeah, I apologized.” She looked down at the floor. “I think I musta really hurt his pride, though.” She sighed and shook her head. “I just screwed up again. As usual…”

This made Applejack go to her sister’s side. Her nose tickled with the earthy garlicky aroma from the remnants of collard greens still on some of the plates. She leaned her hip against the counter and looked at the younger girl earnestly. “Oh, AB don’t blame yourself too much. He knows you’re sorry. It’s just this funk he’s stuck in.”

Her sister looked at her with moist eyes and a tensed chin. “I didn’t need to kick him while he’s down, though.”

Applejack winced and shrugged one shoulder as she rubbed her sister’s back. “You said you’re sorry. That’s all that matters, y’hear?”

This didn’t seem to do much to lift Apple Bloom’s spirits. She was about to say something else when she heard the recliner squeak in the living room, and Granny Smith called her name. “Applejack, may I get a glass o’ juice, darlin’? I got a mighty thirst!”

Applejack turned to look at her and raised a hand, flashing a kind smile. “Sure thing, Granny!” She went to the fridge and grabbed the grape juice. To Apple Bloom, she murmured, “Buck up, sis. It’ll be okay.”

“Sure,” Apple Bloom said, grabbing another dirty dish. She didn’t look at Applejack anymore.

Applejack unscrewed the bottle cap and went to fetch the glass she had just put away. As she crossed the kitchen she peeked first at her sister, then at Big Mac. Great, now both of her siblings were down in the dumps. She kicked herself for saying anything to her little sister. It really wasn't the girl's fault their brother was so depressed. Ever since Sugar Belle left him he'd just been a wreck. Applejack had hoped that time would set her brother right, but it was verging on a year now and she was finally starting to think that maybe something more drastic was necessary. What exactly? She had no idea.

Whilst deep in the weeds of her worries, she heard Sunset say suddenly behind her, “What do you guys think?”

Applejack turned mid-pour, a consternated frown still on her face. As her eyes met Sunset's unexpected ensemble, the worry lines on her forehead vanished and her blank expression... froze.

Sunset Shimmer was dressed in dark jeans with leather chaps, a leather brazier, her signature leather jacket, studded boots, and her studded choker. She had done smoky cat eye makeup with her mouth accentuated by matte cherry red lipstick. She’d even styled her hair so that her locks had more body and volume. The white glare of the stove light glinted off her choker and made the small metal studs in her ears gleam through her hair.

If Sunset was impressed by Applejack’s body, it was definitely mutual. Sunset’s svelte form had delicate curves, and her skin was so smooth and even-toned it almost defied logic.

Sunset smiled radiantly as she did a little twirl. “Ta-da!”

“Wow! You look amazing!” Apple Bloom laughed as she turned off the faucet. She looked over at Applejack when she heard splashing still and her eyes went wide. “Applejack!”

Applejack started, realizing too late that she’d overfilled the glass to the point that juice was now spilling all over the counter and onto the floor. “Aw, damn!” She could feel her ears burn. Here was her beautiful friend and all Applejack could do was stumble around like a classless redneck again.

She hurried to get a kitchen towel just as her sister went to the same one and they grabbed it at the same time. Apple Bloom took a moment to lean in and murmur quickly to her, “You know you’re in trouble, right?”

“Hush and go watch TV!” Applejack hissed back. That infernal blush crawled back up Applejack’s neck again. She snatched the towel away from her sibling and she set about mopping up the juice on the counter. Apple Bloom smiled crookedly but did as she was told.

Laughing nervously, AJ said to Sunset, “Golly! You look like a fashion model!”

Sunset blushed and put her hands behind her head as she laughed and tilted her head to the side. “Thanks!” Her cyan eyes popped wide as she eyed her boots. “Oh, dang my zipper is messed up again. One sec! These boots are old and sometimes the teeth strips don’t interlock right…” She stooped down, grumbling to herself.

Big Mac, almost as if jerked alive by a puppeteer’s strings, jumped from the couch and walked over stiffly. He took the glass Applejack had been pouring as she stooped to wipe the cabinet and the floor.

“Lemme come with,” he muttered out of the corner of his mouth, eyeing Sunset through the fringe of his red hair. Sunset, meanwhile, was still adjusting the zippers on her boots and (thankfully) hadn’t noticed.

“Dream on,” Applejack whispered sharply as she rose back to her feet. She wanted her brother to get out of his funk, but not with her friend! “And put the tent away before you embarrass me!” More than she already was, that is.

He glared at her before adjusting his pants with a wince and took the glass back to Granny. The elderly woman in question seemed to not notice what was going on in the kitchen, too engrossed with the television. The family game show had ended and now Granny’s favorite soap opera was on, Whispers of Desire.

“Don’t that nitwit Carlyle realize that Miranda is in love with him?” The older woman raged to Apple Bloom. Her knobbly fists clenched as she gesticulated passionately at the screen. The tawdry saga of Carlyle and Miranda was one Applejack was well familiar with. Miranda had been giving Carlyle all kinds of signals short of flat out saying she wanted to screw him six different ways in bed. Mostly, the cowgirl just wondered why the show insisted on using such weird names. It was one thing for an animal to be named that, but a person? “He should just hurry up and smooch her already!” Granny carried on before slurping at her juice.

“Yeah,” Apple Bloom said loudly, looking pointedly at Applejack. She crossed her arms and smirked. “What is it with Carlyle? Is he blind?”

Applejack shot her a look. Sometimes it felt like her siblings’ sole purpose in life was to make her suffer.

“Sorry if I took a little long in there,” Sunset said as she rose up from the floor with a sheepish grin. “Do you guys need help cleaning up dinner, or–?” She looked around the kitchen, her words faltering as she saw how pristine everything was.

“Nope. All done with that. You wanna eat a little before we head out?” Applejack asked, looking over at Sunset as casually as she could. If she could control her sweat glands she’d stop every one of them. To her dismay, she felt as if they were all working in overdrive to leave her wetter than a fish. Hopefully the perfume she’d borrowed from Apple Bloom would mask any odor that developed… or would sweat mixed with cheap body spray actually be worse??

Sunset nodded once, oblivious to Applejack’s internal panic, her gaze ducking before returning to the other girl’s as she tucked a lock of curly hair behind her ear. “A small plate, maybe?” she said with a small squint of her eyes.

“The others already ate, but I haven’t. I’ll sit with you,” Applejack said with a shaky little grin.

Sunset gave her a thumbs up. “Cool! Thank you.”

Applejack set about making them plates. All the while, she tried to steady her nerves.

Come on, cowgirl. We got this. Just another night out with a friend.

Her really hot friend.

Yep. Be that as it may, we know we got a snowball’s chance in heck with her.

She looked really good, though.

Yeah, I KNOW that. What you trying to do to me, brain? There ain’t no way she’s interested in us! We’re just full up on teenage horniness, so just get a grip!

But Apple Bloom did say–

“Damn what she said!” Applejack snarled to herself under her breath.

“What was that?” Sunset asked from the table.

Applejack whipped around to look at her, her face pulled long and her eyes wide. “Oh! Uh, nothing. Sorry just, er... Wasn’t important.”

Sunset blinked but smiled her acceptance of the answer.

Applejack turned away again, a horrified look on her face.

After taking three whole deep breaths, she wiped the sweat from her face, hitched up a new smile, and turned back to her friend with the finished plates. “Dinner’s up!” she said.

They ate and mostly chatted about nothing. School stuff. Applejack was miserable in her Farm Business Management course. Sunset empathized by sharing her woes with Global Environmental History. Finished with their meal, they said their goodbyes to the other Apples and went to Applejack’s truck.

Since Sunset planned on drinking, it had just seemed prudent for them to go together. She brought her fake ID, but this one hadn’t been made by Capper, though he did cross her mind when she’d received it. Instead, Snips, despite his dimwitted mischief, managed a small but passable ID forging side business. He crafted IDs for all the girls in exchange for the Rainbooms playing at his sixteenth birthday party. Not everyone was thrilled with the gig, but it did allow them to attend a twenty-one and up show that featured Songbird Serenade later. Sunset hadn’t actually used the ID in a long time. Usually, when Sunset drank, it was with her lovers in private. However, considering what she was going to be sharing tonight, a bit of liquid courage felt necessary.

When asked if she would be drinking as well, Applejack quickly shook her head. The light from the farmhouse windows lit her face up with a soft warm light. “Naw, I wanna get us back in one piece. ‘Sides, I don’t like drinking outside of the farm.” She gestured at Sunset with her chin, her brow tensing over her green gaze. “Did you bring that gun of yours?”

Sunset pursed her lips. She’d half hoped Applejack had forgotten about it. “I did.” She reached into her inner pocket and pulled out the revolver.

The tension in her brow became a full fledged frown as Applejack nodded. “Safety’s on, right?” she asked.

Sunset reached up and turned on the overhead cab light. She leaned to the side, catching a whiff of fruity perfume when she did so, and held the gun up so that her friend could see the safety switch was in the right position. She was careful not to aim the barrel at either of them. She’d seen one too many thugs shoot themselves just because they couldn’t follow basic gun protocol. “Yep!” she chirped, beaming a smile that said, See? I know what I’m doing.

This earned a nod of approval from Applejack who pulled out a semi-automatic pistol of her own from her vest pocket. It was nearly as compact as Sunset’s firearm. “I’m packing, too,” she said with a sigh as she turned the cab light back off. “Let’s hope we don’t need ‘em.” From the house drifted Granny and Apple Bloom’s laughter. Sounded like Granny’s soap opera was pretty good tonight.

“I’m sure we’ll be fine,” Sunset said with a shrug as she settled back into her seat and put her gun away. “Where we’re going, we’ll be in Trog-El territory. Gold Fang doesn’t have any sway there, and he’d get burned if he tried to make a move on Grogar’s turf.” She neglected to mention that they wouldn’t strictly be in Trog-El territory all night and she hoped her confident expression didn’t give this away. They were just making a quick stop, it should be fine.

It should be totally fine.

“So the feller’s name is Gold Fang, huh?” Applejack said with narrowed eyes. “Sounds like a tool.”

Sunset rolled her eyes. “You have no idea.”

Applejack chuckled. “Wouldn’t mind keeping it that way.”

“I’ll second that! By the way, if you’re still interested in getting a little high, we’ll need to make a quick stop on the way to the event,” Sunset said as she buckled in. Despite some of her uncertainties, she was genuinely beaming. This night was finally happening! Not only would she get to see Red Rooster, one of her favorite musicians of all time, but she was going to do it with this gorgeous stud of a girl next to her!

Applejack started her truck and glanced Sunset’s way. “Sure, that ain’t no prob. I got cash.”

Sunset shook her head vehemently. “No. You’ve covered everything else today, lemme do this for you. Besides, I know the guy I’m getting it from.”

This made Applejack pause, her eyebrows lifting. “Oh yeah? He’s a friend of yours?”

Sunset ran her tongue along the inside of her bottom lip. “Not quite. Let’s just say, he’s a familiar face.”

Applejack drove them into Canterlot City proper. The radio played country music at low volume while the air conditioning blasted on high. Seeing her friend shivering inside her leather jacket, the cowgirl apologized profusely and quickly adjusted the air conditioning. Not long after that the windows started to fog up on Applejack’s side. Blushing hard, she cracked open her window and asked Sunset nervously if that was all right. Sunset giggled and told her it was fine. It was actually a relief to know she wasn’t the only one with nerves that night.

After more than twenty minutes, they reached an apartment complex in the southeastern part of the city, where many old buildings showed signs of wear. The building they parked in front of was at least newer, but this didn’t save it from vandalism and damage. The front entrance was pockmarked with bullet holes, and there was graffiti over the display window advertising studio apartments at an inflated rate.

“Just wait for me here,” Sunset said as she hastily unbuckled her seatbelt. The sooner they were out of this neighborhood, the better.

“Are you sure?” Applejack asked, looking at her with concern. “This neighborhood seems a little rough.” So that wasn’t lost on her. Darn.

What Sunset had neglected to tell Applejack was that this was the edge of Badlander territory. It was her hope to be fast, but to say her hackles weren’t raised too would have been a lie. “I’ll be quick, I promise.” She winced after opening the door. “Um… Maybe lock the doors after I go?”

She sweated a little at the flat look her friend gave her. “I’ll be quick!” she said again in a rush before slipping out and shutting the door.

Sunset bounded over to the intercom and punched in the studio apartment number she wanted.

There was a beat of silence. Then a quick beep followed by, “Who is this?” Sunset felt her heart speed up a little at the sound of that soft German accent.

“Kojote, it’s Sunset. I’m here to pick up,” she murmured breathlessly.

There was a soft crackle over the speaker as the man chuckled. “Fantastic. Come in.”

There was a soft buzzing sound as the magnetic lock on the building entrance released. Sunset glanced nervously back at Applejack before slipping inside. Going up the elevator, she ran through what she would say. What she would do. She felt consternated with herself that she even felt the need to do that. But Kojote never let their encounters resolve in a way that left her feeling self-possessed of dignity.

His namesake was fitting. He was a coyote. A scavenger. And even this transaction would have its toll.

She’d been sorely tempted to ask Apple Bloom who sold to her and her friends instead, but she figured that was poor role modeling. Not that she thought weed was bad per se, but until it was legalized in their state, she hated to encourage engaging with criminal elements. When she’d first met Kojote at a rave, he’d tried to sell to her as well, but they’d ended up fucking instead. She’d never bought from him before, but she knew he still dealt on the side.

When the elevator arrived on his floor, Sunset stepped out to find the man waiting in his open doorway just a little down the hall. He was shirtless and barefoot, only in a pair of black boxers. His lean, powerful body cut an enticing figure against the dark of his studio. She barely bit back the hum of appreciation when she saw the claw marks she’d left on his six-pack abs a few days ago still had yet to heal.

Sunset could feel her skin turn flush. Here we go…

“You do have it, right?” she asked him warily as she approached. Her boots squeaked as she slowly moved toward him.

Kojote grinned, and his canines looked like fangs. “Of course. Now how are you going to pay for it?” He looked her up and down, his teeth catching his bottom lip. “Am I to take your outfit as a suggestion?” he asked with a tiny wink.

Sunset crossed her arms and leveled a cold stare at him. These pedestrian attempts at flirting was not what brought her back to him time and again, but he seemed convinced this false charm was what drew girls to him. Not her. She stopped five feet away. If she got any closer, it could be trouble. “I have your money. I’m not up for a game right now.” This was his preferred foreplay. To toy with her.

Kojote pouted, his brow wrinkling just a hair. “Money? What a dull offer. I was hoping you could spare a few minutes to help alleviate my boredom.”

“Not tonight,” she answered with a terse shake of her head. “I have a friend waiting downstairs.”

He raised an eyebrow and his forehead creased hard. “A male friend?”

She rolled her eyes at him, her tongue finding a place in her cheek.

His grin widened and his forehead smoothed once more. “Mmm, one of your pretty girlfriends you mentioned, maybe? Why not invite her? I could use some new company.”

“I have your money,” she repeated flatly. She pulled out the small fold of bills from her coat pocket. “You’re wasting my time. I told you, I’m not up for it right now. It wouldn’t be hard to find what I want elsewhere.”

“And yet you came here,” he retorted shortly at her, his eyes flashing. “You must have considered I’d want something less banal.”

Sunset scoffed as she pocketed the money and turned sharply with a loud squeak on her heel. “Goodbye, Kojote.”

“Wait.” His voice was rough, almost verging on a growl.

She paused and looked over her shoulder at him coolly.

Held up between his slim fingers was a small dime bag of weed. “You drive a hard bargain, liebling.”

She sucked at her teeth, debating on whether or not she should try. Eventually her pragmatism won out. She didn’t make Applejack drive out to this part of town for nothing, and she wouldn’t leave empty-handed. She went to him, reaching for the bag.

At the last second Kojote pulled it back and grabbed her tightly by the wrist, yanking her forward where he caught her around the waist and pressed her hard against him.

Sunset didn’t cry out. She knew he would do it, despite her clearly stating her boundary. He liked to toy with her agency when she resisted him. It was a part of the stupid game. She knew this behavior was enough of a reason to break off their sexual arrangement. Thing was, she’d always had trouble telling him no. She wasn’t sure if it was just because she liked when he surprised her or because she secretly hated herself.

Maybe both.

“I don’t want your fucking money,” he breathed into her ear. “I want more of your time.”

“I told you,” she hissed back. Reaching into her pocket, she pressed the nose of the revolver into his side through the leather. “My time is spoken for.”

Tonight, though? She was intent on keeping some scraps from the beast.

His eyes widened and he let her go, holding his hands up. “What’s this?”

“Me getting fed up with your crap, that’s what,” Sunset snapped, snatching the bag away from him. She threw the money onto the floor. “I’m tired of you doing whatever you feel like regardless of how it makes me feel.”

Kojote stared at her, then laughed suddenly. “You don’t really have a gun.”

Sunset arched an eyebrow and pulled out the revolver. Kojote stopped smiling. “You’ve hurt my feelings,” he said, glaring. “I thought you liked my games?”

Now she smiled thinly, her eyes flashing. “You might be my favorite distraction,” she stepped away. She didn’t stow the revolver until she was out of his reach again. “But you’re far from my favorite person.” She continued to back up to the elevator.

Kojote gazed at her, naked want writ across his smooth face. “Then I hope you’ll be in need of a distraction soon,” he murmured, one lock of sandy brown hair falling into his deep brown eyes. “Because you’ve left me feeling very hungry for another taste.”

He watched her until the elevator arrived. His gaze felt heavy, like a predator eyeing prey just before it struck. When the lift bell rang and the doors slid open, Sunset slipped inside and jammed the ‘close doors’ button repeatedly with a shaking hand. She didn’t let her breath go until the doors slid shut again.

When the lift was moving back down to the ground floor, she finally allowed herself to lean against the elevator wall and let loose the breath she’d been holding. Her heart was in her throat. What was wrong with her? Kojote was a problem. A stupid edgelord who liked messing with her, and sometimes he did it a little too dangerously.

But something about him really fascinated her. Was she just that ensorcelled by his body?

Sunset glared at her reflection in the polished metal of the elevator wall.

No. It was because with Kojote, she could reveal her old self, still buried deep inside. She liked feeling Old Sunset punished and abused. The villain getting her just desserts. When her frustrations with her life mounted, where else could she rage so futilely? The wounds she’d left on him were evidence enough of that.

When she climbed back into Applejack’s truck, she tried to smile like nothing was wrong.

Applejack wasn’t fooled. She was frustratingly good at that. “What’s the matter?” She asked with a frown.

Sunset sighed, dropping her smile. She was probably going to have to accept that, by now, Applejack was on to her usual tactics for masking her feelings. She tossed the dime bag onto the seat between them. “The guy I saw is a jerk,” she said wearily. “Don’t worry about it. We got what we need. Let’s stop at a smoke shop next. I’ll buy us a pipe.”

The cowgirl’s mouth skewed to the side. “All righty. Y’know, my brother might know a feller we can get stuff from instead. I don’t want ya feeling uncomfortable for my sake, Sun.”

Sunset flashed her a grateful grin. “Daww, you’re so nice.”

Applejack chuckled and readjusted her hat before she turned the engine back on. “Yeah, yeah…”

Thankfully the smoke shop Sunset had in mind was near to the venue they were heading to. She bought a clear glass spoon pipe with white swirls. Nothing fancy. She almost missed the glass bubbler she used to own way back when. It’d been clear with red and gold glitter.

Their final destination was called Pandora’s Box. It was a sub-level restaurant and pub with subpar food and middling drinks, but no one who frequented the place went there specifically for either. Most went for the pool tables and the music.

Street parking was a little tough to find. They had to park a block over on a dark stretch of road, and it was metered. Applejack muttered as she looked for quarters. Sunset put a hand on her arm, an amused grin on her lips. “I got it.”

That taken care of, Sunset slipped back into the truck and prepped the pipe. “You sure about this?” she asked Applejack. If her friend wouldn’t, then she wouldn’t, but she really hoped she would. Between Diamond Roller, Apple Bloom, Forest Tender, and Kojote, Sunset was more than ready to take the edge off of what had been a surprisingly challenging day.

Applejack thought about it seriously for a moment. Sunset set the pipe and lighter down as the disappointment rose up in her.

To her relief, Applejack nodded. “Yeah. Let’s light ‘er up.” She looked around nervously. “Is this a good spot, or…?”

“We’ll only take a few hits, and then we’ll be out of the truck,” Sunset said with a little chuckle. “Want to try first?”

Applejack shook her head. “Naw, show me.”

Sunset felt a little self-conscious, but she picked up the pipe and lighter. Placing the pipe in her mouth, she struck up a flame and drew in air, being sure to keep the fire over the bowl. The weed burned with a small crackle and hiss, and she inhaled deeply. She held the smoke in her lungs for a few seconds before releasing it slow. It filled the truck cab with a sweet skunky scent.

She passed the pipe to Applejack. “Keep the flame over the bowl while you inhale. Since it's your first time, I'd just take a normal breath, nothing too deep. Hold it for a few seconds, then release it gradually,” she said, smoke still curling from her mouth.

Applejack took the pipe, licking her lips anxiously. With a glance at Sunset, she did what she'd been instructed to. Almost. She took a bigger hit then Sunset thought wise. When it came time to hold it, she choked and coughed a little. “Ugh, damn!”

Sunset winced. “AJ, I said breathe in normally! You don't have to prove anything!"

"I thought I could handle the smoke! I'm nearly at a pack a day, why wouldn't I?" was the hacked out response.

Sunset chuckled at her "Because this is weed, not tobacco! The smoke and flavor is different. Anyway, sorry. I think I also left more stems in there than I meant to when I tore the nug up. It’s better to do it with a grinder than just your fingers. That might have harshed the smoke.”

“Here, take it,” Applejack rasped. She leaned on her steering wheel with squinted eyes and a wrinkled forehead.

Sunset did and took another hit. When she finished, Applejack held her hand out, small coughs still punching up her throat. However, her friend looked at her shrewdly. "Hold on. How are you feeling? That was a pretty big hit."

“Um,” Applejack worked her mouth like she was trying to figure out what she was tasting. A glass of water at Pandora's would be good. “I dunno.” She shrugged, and the action felt more exaggerated than necessary, making her whole head rock back. “Fine, I guess?”

Sunset narrowed her eyes at her. “Maybe just one hit for you. If you’ve never smoked before, then it can knock you on your butt if you take too many.” She reached down and hid the pipe under her seat. She made sure to push it back far enough that you couldn’t see it unless you opened the truck and looked under there. She tossed a greasy rag that was already under the seat over the pipe, just for good measure. “If you feel okay, we can come back out for another hit later,” she mentioned with a little grunt as she straightened.

“Okay, Mom,” Applejack teased with a little snicker.

Sunset’s eyes flashed with mock indignation and she wagged a finger at her. “Careful, or I’ll put you in a timeout, AJ!” This earned her a short laugh.

They exited the truck. Sunset shivered a little, drawing her leather jacket around her bare torso. Looking hot was great and all, but there was always the unavoidable cost of freezing your butt off.

“You’re not going to turn into an icicle on me, are you?” Applejack teased, her voice tense with apparent amusement. Her boots clicked on the asphalt and concrete till she was on the sidewalk on Sunset's side.

Sunset tried to keep her teeth from chattering as she shot her a look. “Screw timeout, maybe a smart aleck like you would respond better to no dessert!”

“Oh yeah? What was on the menu, if you don’t mind my asking?” Applejack asked with a smirk. She waited near the curb for Sunset to join her.

Pie, if I play my cards right, Sunset thought impishly as she joined her friend. She barely held back a laugh. Instead she said with a broad smile, “You’ll seeeee.”

Applejack scoffed playfully. They fell into step and proceeded down the street to the pub.

A minute of comfortable silence passed. The street around them was dark, and the clouds covered the moon from sight, peeks of its silver light reaching past the foggy edges. They passed a fabric shop and a stationary store. The street was lined with cars of wildly different tax brackets—sports cars, twenty-year-old sedans, and even a boxy electric vehicle. A car alarm went off somewhere, mixing with the indistinct hollering of a man trying to catch someone’s attention from afar. His voice lacked anger or urgency. A friend calling out to a friend.

“That should help you to relax,” Sunset remarked. She had a mischievous lilt to her voice. “You seemed nervous.”

Applejack laughed languidly, looking around the street before her eyes rested on her friend. “I was a little nervous. Yeah. You caught me.”

Sunset raised an eyebrow. “Why?”

Applejack peered at her sideways. “I mean…” she shrugged explosively again and laughed.

Sunset giggled. “What?”

Yep. They were high, all right. Kojote may have been a jerk, but his supply of weed was of good quality.

Applejack hooked her thumbs into her pockets and shrugged. “I dunno. I haven’t been out in a while.” That was an understatement. The way Apple Bloom told it, Applejack lived and breathed her work. The work ethic was admirable, but there wasn’t any room for fun living like that.

“But that’s not the real reason,” Sunset said with narrowed eyes.

“Well, it sure is part of it, sugarcube. Now you ain’t getting anything else out of me, y’hear?” Applejack feigned a stern tone but she still wore a smile.

“Fine. But can I tell you something?” Sunset asked with a little tilt of her head.

Applejack glanced at her. “Shoot.”

Sunset kicked her boots up a little higher for a few steps in a silly march like Pinkie Pie would when they went to the mall together back in high school. “I’m nervous too!” she sing-songed.

Now Applejack looked surprised. “You? Why?”

Sunset rolled her eyes and shoved her lightly with one hand. “Because I’m with you!”

Applejack’s eyebrows lifted. “I, uh… Did I do something to make you uncomfortable?”

Sunset shook her head. “No.” She looked at her earnestly. “I really want you to enjoy tonight.” She held up clenched fists. “This is the first big purely-for-fun thing we’re doing together, just us two.” She unclenched her fists and pressed them together near her grimacing mouth like she were pleading. “I guess I’d hate for you to decide you’d rather not hang out like this again.”

Applejack looked down at her passing cowboy boots. She looked back at Sunset, her gaze soft. “I gotta say, Sunset Shimmer. That feels pretty unlikely right about now. I don’t think I’ve had this much fun in a long while. In a really long while, even.”

Sunset could feel her cheeks color, and she was grateful for the darkness that blanketed the street. She clasped her hands behind her back and flashed a bashful grin. “I’m glad.”

They resumed walking in silence until they neared a small gaggle of people milling out on the sidewalk in what looked like a small line. A bright red and blue neon sign on the building read 'Pandora’s Box.

The line descended down a set of concrete steps that was the establishment’s proper entrance. A sign with fake bullet holes in it warned that patrons needed to be at least eighteen or older to enter.

“Here we are!” Sunset said with a little sigh.

“So how big is this place?” Applejack asked as they got in line. Her voice sounded thicker. Slower. Sunset was glad she cut her friend off at one hit. She didn’t want her first experience with weed to be feeling too sluggish or confused.

“Not massive, but not tiny, either,” Sunset answered, bouncing a little on the balls of her feet. She, on the other hand, may have overestimated her tolerance. It had been a while, after all. She tried to keep moving to help herself stay alert. She hoped she didn’t look too strange. It was one thing to do a quick silly march for a gag, it was another if you kept bouncing in place constantly. That really was more Pinkie's thing, not hers. (Though if it made AJ laugh some more, she supposed she didn't mind.) “They have a bar, four pool tables, and a small stage. The tables are tiny and crammed in tight, so we might be happier at the bar if we can squeeze in somewhere. There’s a little dance floor near the stage for people who want to get up close.”

“You aim to dance?” Applejack asked with a quirked eyebrow. She chortled. “Or hop?”

“Sure!” Sunset answered with a quick giggle. Yeah, okay. It was worth it. “Though, it may get hard once Red Rooster shows up. Whenever the main act gets on stage that’s when everyone squeezes in to get close to the performers. But before…?” Sunset grinned coyly. “Yeah! I might if I have the right partner.”

Applejack licked her lips and adjusted her hat, her gaze flickering to Sunset’s face before dancing away nervously.

Sunset chuckled throatily and bumped shoulders with her.

Applejack bumped her back with a grin. They laughed together.

When they made it to the door and paid the entrance fee, the doorman stamped their hands. Applejack’s was red, signifying she was underage. Sunset’s, on the other hand, was green.

“The ID comes through again, huh?” Applejack snickered as they came down the short entrance hallway into the establishment proper.

The pub’s walls had photographs and framed show posters from past performers displayed on the brick walls. Greek-themed art was scattered around, but if the owner had really been intent on some kind of theme or atmosphere, it seemed as if they gave up partway through. On the right, the main floor was crowded with patrons and tables. The air was hazy with smoke and thick with the acrid aroma of tobacco. Pandora was one of the few establishments in the city that actually took advantage of adult-only establishments being exempt from state smoking laws. The opening act had yet to appear on stage, so loud music blared from the jukebox, featuring some classic hard rock.

Sunset wasn’t sure who the first band was, but she was interested in hearing them play. She was always on the lookout for new bluesy music to jam to. To the left on a raised floor were the pool tables, and they were all being used. Sunset pouted, her ears perking at the sharp clack of billiard balls striking together, but she let the disappointment go quickly. As fun as it would have been to shoot a rack with Applejack, she had a feeling the night was going to be busy with other things.

The bar was on the far wall across from the entrance. It looked like it would be a tight fit to get in a drink order. She couldn’t even see the bartenders. Despite her weed buzz, she still wanted to nurse a beer, so Sunset took Applejack’s hand and led her toward the bar.

“Bar is looking full. Where we gonna go?” Applejack asked, her voice raised so as to be heard over the rock music and thick chatter.

“We’ll find a spot, don’t worry,” Sunset replied. She squeezed Applejack’s hand. “Just don’t let go, ok?”

“All right,” Applejack said with wide eyes. She kept scanning the room. It really must have been a while since she’d been out. Maybe the weed was making her feel paranoid?

They made it through the throng of people close to the bar. Sunset tapped on a young man’s shoulder, and he and his friend turned to her, blinking. One had silky black hair, the other a thick brown mop. She smiled coquettishly at them. “Can we squeeze in, guys? Pretty please?”

The men looked them both up and down with wolfish grins. “Squeeze in? Sure,” said the black-haired man. He had a dimple in his cheek when he smiled, and he already smelled richly of booze.

Sunset flirted her eyelashes at them as they split apart for the girls to squeeze in. It was barely enough for her and Applejack to reach the bar.

“Want me to buy you a drink?” the black-haired man asked, glancing at Sunset’s hand and the green stamp on the back of it.

“We got it, but thank you,” she said, smirking.

“Howdy,” the brown-haired one greeted Applejack with the tip of an imaginary hat. He must’ve thought he really nailed it with that greeting the way his smile curled.

Applejack gave him a pursed smile. “Hi,” she said, her voice a little flat. When she met Sunset’s eyes, she raised her eyebrows meaningfully. If I feel a hand where it shouldn’t be, someone is getting their clock cleaned, her look said.

Sunset put her hand on her waist and pulled her in closer. Applejack blushed but put a hand on the small of her back in response.

All of a sudden it became much easier to ignore the horny men breathing down their necks.

Better to get out of this spot, though.

Leaning forward onto the counter, Sunset ignored the men’s next clumsy salvo to get into their pants and peered down the bar for the bartender. Her eyes popped wide and her jaw fell. “Sherry?!”

The black-haired fellow tapped her shoulder. “Hey–”

Sunset simply held a silencing hand in his direction, just as Sherry Kiss looked up from pouring out a martini on the other side of the bar. Her dark eyebrows lifted and she beamed. Her natural curls were pulled back in a high ponytail, letting their triumphant volume bob with wet appeal as she drew near. “Sunset Shimmer!” she gushed. “What’s up, baby!”

Passing the drink off to a customer, Sherry moved the rest of the way to stand in front of them. “Fancy seeing you here!”

Sunset opened her mouth to say something, but then snapped it shut. She was definitely too high for this.

The brown-haired man raised a hand. “Uh, can we get a drink for the ladies–?”

Applejack dropped a flat hand on the bar where it struck soundly. “Fellers, I think my friend mentioned that we’ve got it. But we appreciate the thought.” Her voice brooked no argument. The soft flex of her powerful arms probably helped, too.

The two men exchanged a look before glowering at them and pushing off the bar. Sunset caught Applejack’s eye and mouthed, Thank you! Pushy men were one thing, but drunk pushy men were like a whole new breed.

That was the other problem with dressing hot. Sure you attracted the ones you wanted, but for every desirable audience member there were a dozen brutes crowding behind them.

She turned her attention back on her lover. “I didn’t think you worked here,” Sunset said to Sherry with a confused twist of her features.

Sherry grinned crookedly as she leaned toward them on the bar. She was wearing a wine red bodice that did a superb job of showcasing her significant bust. “I don’t. I’m covering for a friend who works here.” She looked over at Applejack, her eyes turning lidded. “Mmm, who’s keeping you company tonight?”

Sunset shook her head sharply, making Sherry frown a little at her. Applejack didn’t know about all her partners. She wanted to keep it that way for now.

“This is my friend, Applejack,” Sunset said pointedly.

Applejack’s gaze flickered between the two of them. Clearly, she wasn’t too high to miss that something was going on.

Rather than ask about it, she held out a hand to Sherry. “Howdy, Didn’t quite catch your name?”

“Sherry Kiss,” Sherry answered, with a curious glance at Sunset.

Sunset decided that she was going to need more than beer. “Can I get a water for my friend and two shots of whiskey with a pint of whatever stout you have on tap for me, please?”

Sherry’s lips puckered as she blinked her brown eyes slow at her. “You can get one shot and a pilsner.”

Sunset’s fists balled on the counter as her shoulders coiled with annoyance and embarrassment. This wasn’t fair! Sherry wasn’t her freaking mother! She stood on the bar railing and leaned in, “Sherry, please?”

Sherry leaned in to whisper in her ear, “I know you came in here with that same fake ass ID you used last time. You’re lucky I’ll pour you anything, little girl.”

For the first time since receiving the thing, Sunset wished sorely that Capper had made her ID instead of Snips. His forgery skills could fool even eagle-eyed veterans like Sherry.

Sunset felt her face grow hot with growing frustration as she pulled back enough to glare at the older woman. “Come on! Two shots and two pilsners. Just use the rail liquor!”

Now Sherry crossed her arms and just leveled a sassy stare at her. She spoke slowly. “One shot. One pilsner. And that’s all you’re getting tonight!” She raised a sleek eyebrow and tilted her head as if to dare Sunset to push the matter further.

Sunset could feel her ears grow warm next as tension from her shoulders trickled down her chest and back, making her stomach cramp unpleasantly. What crap! Of all the nights for her to run into Sherry… After a long moment, she growled and slammed the counter with her palm. “Damn it! Fine. Just get my drinks, please.”

Sherry chuckled throatily but set about doing just that, her movements quick and confident from years of bartending.

When Sunset stepped off the railing, Applejack leaned in and asked, “What in tarnation was that about?”

“Sherry’s an old friend of mine,” Sunset grumped with a pouted lip. “She knows my ID is fake so she’s refusing to give me much.”

Applejack covered her mouth, like she was trying to hide something. Then her spine curved as a rough laugh exploded from her. Sunset’s cheeks burned, but she smirked as she waited for her friend’s humor to die down. When it did, Applejack leaned on the bar and smiled crookedly. “Well… We could always take a trip back out to the truck!” she chuckled out.

Sunset looked at her sidelong. Eventually she grinned. That actually didn’t sound too bad.

When their order was set in front of them, Sunset downed the shot and slammed the glass back on the counter. The liquid burned all the way down. Judging from the taste, Sherry had at least been nice enough not to give her the cheap stuff.

Sherry gestured beckoningly with her hand. Her lips were puckered like she was trying not to grin. “Fifteen.”

Sunset grumbled as she pulled out the bills and slapped them hard onto the counter. Applejack grabbed her water glass and toasted Sherry before taking a sip. Taking her pint glass, Sunset smiled and waved sarcastically at her lover. “Kay, thanks, byeee.”

Sherry, unfazed, blew her a kiss as she picked up the money. “Stay out of trouble, you two!” she called, laughing a little.

Sunset took a small sip of her drink and made a face. She hated pilsner beers. They were watered down and tasted like piss.

“Where to now?” Applejack asked. She still kept a hand on the small of Sunset’s back. The contact felt nice and comforting, and it soothed some of the ire away.

Sunset scanned the room, then spotted a group of people getting up and moving for the bar. They didn’t leave their things so it was fair game. “Follow me. Quick!” she urged her companion.

Dancing around the milling patrons crowding around the tables, they managed to slide into the seats before someone else did. Sunset had sloshed her drink over her wrist in her haste and she tutted with annoyance. She grabbed napkins from the table’s dispenser and dried her hand.

Applejack tilted her hat back with a grin as she reclined with her glass of water. “At least we made it!” she sighed with relief.

Sunset looked around. “It isn’t a bad spot, either. Not in the middle of the floor, but not so far from stage that it feels like a hike.”

“Try a challenging swim. It’s damn near a sea of people in here!” Applejack chortled, looking around at everyone. Her smile turned a little uneasy and she leaned in toward Sunset to ask, “You sure we’re safe?”

Sunset’s lips pulled upwards wryly as she took her leather jacket off and hung it on the back of her seat. She pulled the pocket housing the pistol over so that it rested in her lap. It wouldn’t do much good if she couldn’t reach for it quickly. “Ninety percent positive.”

Applejack pressed her mouth into a thin line and her eyes tensed. “I’m not a gambling gal, but that ten percent don’t feel great, Sun.”

“I’ve had my head on a swivel,” Sunset assured her, glancing around just to make her point. She didn’t see anything worth worrying about. Just a bunch of trendily dressed people out to have a good time. “The trick is spotting anyone out of place. Gold Fang isn’t hiring ninjas or professional spies or anything. He’s probably tapping Badlander hopefuls out to prove themselves. They’re usually kids. Rough, but inexperienced. If we stick to places with lots of witnesses, we should be fine.”

“And if that don’t work, then we’ll need to be quick on the draw,” Applejack said with a crooked mouth.

Sunset sipped her drink, grimacing again briefly, then grinned at her friend. “It’s a good thing I’ve brought an experienced cowgirl.”

Applejack rested her cheek on her fist and traced a finger over the condensation forming on her glass. “I suppose.” She looked at Sunset with a gently creased brow. “You seem to know your way around a gun. You have much experience with shooting?”

Sunset drummed her fingers on the table and gazed at Applejack for a long moment. She looked earnestly concerned. But her freckled cheeks and green eyes were relaxed again. She was just curious.

Sunset picked up her drink and downed the entire thing in a few seconds. When she was finished, she let out a loud, “Ugh!” and set the glass down hard onto the table, making it squeak from the force. She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and answered, “I’ve owned a gun once, and it wasn’t just for show. I shot it a few times. Not just at the range. I never managed to hit anyone, but it wasn’t for lack of trying.”

She scooted her chair back and turned it toward her friend. Applejack blinked, but she shrugged and turned her chair toward Sunset as well so that their knees touched. Sunset held her hand out. Applejack gazed at it for a few seconds before she took it. There was that rough, warm sensation again. The skin on Applejack’s hands weren’t cracked, but she had thick callouses on her palms and even parts of her fingers. These were working hands.

Leaning in, Sunset murmured, “You sure you still want to know more about my past?”

“I want to know what’s got you so haunted, yeah,” Applejack said, leaning in as well. They had to tilt a little to the side just to keep their heads from touching.

“A lot,” Sunset said with a short laugh, purposefully locking and holding onto Applejack’s eyes. She needed to gauge the impact of what she was about to say. Since her friend didn’t seem to mind her pony habit of staring deep into her eyes, she let herself settle back into old ways. “But I guess I can just start with when I was back in Equestria. In Sire’s Hollow with my family.”

Applejack hummed, her brow tensing as she looked up briefly in recollection. “You mentioned your mom had a ton of expectations on you, and your dad wasn’t really all that involved,” she stated slowly.

Sunset bobbed her head tightly. “I also mentioned my brother, Sunburst, but I may have misrepresented why he’s not interested in building a new relationship with me.” She took Applejack’s hand in both of hers and massaged it gently. The contact felt soothing, but she still struggled to form the words. Not from anxiety. The weed and the drink was already numbing those parts of her. No. She just really had no idea what to say.

How did you soften the terrible? Maybe there wasn’t a way, and she should just stop trying. The point was to share honestly, not manipulate her friend’s perception of her.

“I was afraid he’d surpass me,” Sunset said, finally letting her gaze drop to the floor. “So I bullied him out of spite. I really felt insulted he was even born. It was like… How could they? I was perfect, wasn’t I?”

Sunset grimaced, her eyes falling closed. “We were all unicorns, so I tried to break his horn alot. I tried so many different ways. His cries of pain didn’t necessarily make me happy, but it filled me with this ugly kind of satisfaction. Like I was getting back at him just for existing. The last time I tried to break his horn, I levitated him really high into the air and dropped him on his head. He actually passed out for a few minutes. That was just before I got accepted into Celestia’s School of Magic.” She dared to look into her friend’s eyes again. She needed to know… what did she think?

“Did he ever get seriously hurt?” Applejack asked. Her voice was smooth and even, and her expression was neutral. Almost rigidly so, like she were trying to keep her revulsion from showing.

Sunset swallowed hard before doing a quick one-shoulder shrug. “Other than that last time, there were at least two times. Once I gave him a black eye trying to hindkick his horn. Then another time I lit his tail on fire. That had nothing to do with his horn, I was just being a total terrorist. He had some second degree burns, but they weren’t extensive or anything. My dad was there to put the flames out pretty quick.”

Applejack nodded, her eyebrows lifting. “I’m glad he never got permanently injured.”

Sunset smiled sadly. “Me too. Now, anyway. Not at the time.” She squeezed Applejack’s hand. “You see, I wanted you to know that, because my problems started early. And you know what? As problematic as my parents could be, they didn’t make me into a monster. I knew what I was doing was wrong. But I was…” She frowned and squinted her eyes, her head shaking a little as she tried to get the words out. “I was afraid. And I resented everyone else for not being as afraid as I was. For making me feel that way.”

“I know you’re saying it wasn’t your parents fault, but maybe if they’d just talked to you, they coulda got you help a’fore it got to the point it did,” Applejack said gently. Her expression softened as a thought seemed to occur to her. “Kinda like with me and Apple Bloom.”

“You’ve got a lot on your plate,” Sunset insisted quickly, letting her hands slide down Applejack’s till their fingertips were the only things touching. “Don’t beat yourself up so quickly. You’re only nineteen and I’ve known plenty of older adults who do a lot worse than you.”

“I don’t wanna just do better than the bare minimum,” Applejack murmured, her gaze turning pained. “I wanna do right by my family.”

“I think even setting higher standards for yourself is indicative enough of how much you really care.” Sunset flashed a brief smile. “Believe it or not, that was a big motivation for me in the beginning, too. I wanted to earn my mother’s approval. To get my father to say something to me at all. To prove myself to Celestia and bring honor to myself and my family.”

At her pause, Applejack gently tapped Sunset’s fingertips with her own before carefully lacing them together. “How did things go at the School of Magic?” the cowgirl asked.

Sunset let out one short derisive snort through her nostrils. “I did well in my classes. So well, in fact, Celestia tapped me to be her personal protege. This was a few years before Twilight Sparkle came around.” Sunset took her free hand and traced a circle on the back of Applejack’s. “I grasped the advanced techniques of spellwork and magical theory quickly. It was when Celestia began trying to impart to me the secret power of friendship that I really began to turn against her.”

She tossed her hair to the side, exposing her warm neck to the air. She felt hot, like her body needed to cool down. This made her feel better, but only a little. “Celestia trained me the exact same way as Twilight. She focused on the technical aspects of magic before moving on to introducing lessons on friendship. I’ve wondered on and off over the years where she came up with this method for training what would essentially amount as her heir to the kingdom, or if she just felt that Twilight and I just weren't ready to cover the mere concept of friendship in the beginning. Whatever the case, where Twilight met and exceeded her expectations, I fell far short of them.”

Sunset’s hand tensed, and she curled her fingers through Applejack’s until they separated again. She continued, a mournful tone edging into her words. “I was cold. I didn’t have any kindness in my heart and only scorn for everypony around me. I didn’t trust anyone, and I blamed everyone else for it.”

Applejack caught her hand again, holding it with both of hers now. Sunset sighed a little at the warmth encircling her. “You didn’t know how to reach out,” she observed kindly.

Sunset put her other hand over Applejack’s, patting gently. “You’re right,” she conceded, her eyes burning as she tried to keep her voice steady. “I really didn’t.” She let out a rough breath. “When I recall that time, all I could remember thinking about was acquiring power. I thought it would get me everything I wanted. Maybe if I finally reached some new magical height my mother would leave me alone. Maybe if ponies could see how extraordinary I was, they’d respect me and seek me out. But I didn’t get far in my lessons on friendship with Celestia. She saw very quickly that I lacked the…empathy that was needed to make connections.

“The one thing that was different from me and Twilight’s education was that Celestia had told me what awaited at the end of our lessons. The Kingdom of Equestria. Ascendancy.” Sunset made a grand sweep with her free hand, her eyes turning up to the ceiling. “To become an alicorn is to sit on a throne of influence that’s incomparable across Equus.” She allowed her head to hang again as she shook it. Lifting her tensed gaze back to Applejack’s, she recalled bitterly, “So when she informed me that I was no longer being considered for this great honor…”

Sunset squeezed her eyes shut, the unpleasant memories of the rage and rejection that had coursed through feeling sickeningly strong and just as acrid and terrible as when she’d first felt them. The bile rose up her throat, and she swallowed this down with effort. Her skin felt like it was on fire, a relentless itch crawling beneath the surface. Sunset pulled away to clench her fists, resisting the urge to claw at herself. She'd literally wanted to jump out of her skin when Celestia imparted the bad news to her.

She could still smell the sweet fragrant blooms of the daisies in their regal pots near Celestia’s throne. The way the late afternoon light had shafted through the stained glass display showcasing the princess’ radiant sun shining down on Equus to color the side of her pristine white hide in deep purple with bands of bright yellow, dividing her starkly.

Sunset had been a fool back then. An angry, stupid fool. If she would have slowed down, she would have realized that Celestia simply wanted her to work on herself more. It wasn’t really a rejection. Just a challenge to grow. Instead, she’d retreated like the coward she’d truly been. Maybe still was?

“That… Musta been real hard to hear. What did you do after that?” Applejack asked quietly. Her jaw looked tight, but her eyes squeezed with compassion. Had she been rejected like that in her past? Had she failed on the scale that Sunset had?

She seriously doubted it.

Sunset scoffed, her eyes rolling. “I plotted my revenge. I was nearly as studious as Twilight, so I was well read on the accomplishments of Star Swirl the Bearded, our land’s most powerful sorcerer and the personal teacher of Princesses Celestia and Luna.

“There were ancient records that detailed his defeat of a trio of sirens that once wreaked havoc across the land of Equestria. He sent them through a portal to a world without magic.”

“The Dazzlings,” Applejack murmured with a nod. Princess Twilight had briefed them on their foes when they had fought years ago.

Sunset nodded once. “The potential to take control in this non-magical world seemed so easy to me. If I could find a way to bring magic there, I could rule, raise an army, then return and wage war against Princess Celestia and all the ponies I thought who’d shunned me. I…I didn’t count on it being so hard just to establish myself here. To… survive here, on my own.”

There was a small cheer at the back of the pub, near the billiard tables. Sunset glanced up to see a group of young men high-fiving a much shorter woman. Apparently she’d succeeded at a difficult shot.

Sunset sat back, and fanned herself. Sweat was on her brow. “Sorry, one sec. I need a cigarette.”

Applejack watched as Sunset grabbed her cigarette pack and lighter from her coat pocket, and withdrew a stick. Placing the filter in her mouth, she tried to strike the lighter up. She couldn’t. Her hands were trembling.

“Here,” Applejack said, her lips pursing with sympathy. She took the lighter and struck the flame up in one try. Sunset smiled her thanks and leaned in to the heat. Applejack’s nose tickled with the spicy, woodsy fragrance of Sunset’s perfume. It was definitely a good pick for this smoky blues night. She even detected a hint of rose. It was the subtlest scent in the mix, but this is what kept her attention arrested, like a single vibrant bloom in a big grove. It made her feel at peace, like the modern world was far off and she was deep in the heart of nature. She leaned toward it a little, inhaling again, and her eyes went low. If only she could catch this feeling and hold it.

Her eyes trailed over the fiery curls of her friend’s hair. The gentle curve of her jaw. The sensuous shape of her lips as she held the cigarette in her mouth.

After a few puffs, Sunset sat back and Applejack returned her lighter, hoping her expression didn’t give away her distraction. Being high melted away her defenses in a way that she hadn’t expected. This wasn’t without some paranoid anxiety. She could swear her breathless admiration was clear as day, but maybe her friend was just too preoccupied to notice as of yet. Applejack counted her blessings.

Sunset returned the lighter to her pocket, her gaze squinted against the smoke in her cool cyan eyes. She took a long drag, and Applejack’s attention was drawn to the way the crackling tip burned a bright orange. Sunset plucked the cig from her plush lips and delicately removed a piece of tobacco leaf from the glistening tip of her pink tongue before pulling the table’s cigarette ashtray closer to the edge. She bounced her knee as she seemed to struggle to form the next sentence.

Applejack felt her chest squeeze with guilt. Sunset had mentioned this wasn’t a happy story. It hadn’t quite come together that this could mean it was also a difficult story to relate. The country girl felt pretty stupid for not considering this possibility enough.

“I think you told me enough, y’know,” Applejack told her friend, putting her hand on Sunset’s wrist. Her face pinched with concern. “This is hard for you, I can tell.”

Sunset shook her head quickly, then tilted her head back to exhale a stream of smoke up into the air. “No,” she breathed, meeting Applejack’s eyes again. Her stare was intense tonight. “I want you to know more.”

Applejack’s gaze tensed a little. “Why?”

“Because–” Sunset broke off as the stage speakers erupted with sound. Turning, they both looked to see the opening band’s roadies had appeared and were starting their sound check with one of the guitars. The sound check guy on stage had rakish dark hair and thick black glasses with a scruffy neckbeard. He strummed his instrument a few times, then turned and said something indistinct to someone backstage.

The guitar was loud. Sitting this close to the speakers suddenly didn’t seem too ideal for this conversation. Trouble was, if they got up they’d likely lose their spot.

Sighing with a mild frown, Sunset gestured for Applejack to lean in. When she did so, the redhead put her lips near the other girl’s ear and said over the noise, “I want to finish. If we get any closer then I want you to know who you’re getting involved with.”

Applejack’s eyes widened and she pulled back enough to turn her head to catch Sunset’s hooded eyes.

She hadn’t said, “dealing with,” or “spending time with.” She’d said, “getting involved with.”

I must be losing my mind, the cowgirl thought wondrously.

The strangest part was that she kind of liked going crazy.

Applejack’s heart skipped a beat when Sunset placed a hand on the back of her hot neck, drawing her close once more. The other girl leaned in and spoke into her reddening ear, her breath tickling. “The scrolls only gave me a portion of the runes Star Swirl used to perform the interdimensional spell,” Sunset explained. “But I was determined. I’d have my revenge no matter what.”

She paused to turn her face and draw on her cigarette again. When she continued speaking, Applejack could feel the whispery touch of smoke curling around her ear. “I read everything I could get my hooves on,” Sunset continued. “I experimented secretly late into the nights. I think Celestia still had some hope that I would come around. That maybe I would even prove her wrong. But I just used the resources she gave me against her.”

Applejack’s mouth turned down as she tried to wrest enough control from her silly teenage hormones to truly consider what Sunset was saying. Even in the worst of her anger she’d never wanted to hurt someone else so much, and this was despite suffering some truly devastating loss at the hands of someone else. She struggled to imagine how one could co-exist with such an acidic desire eating away at you. Driving you.

Possessing you.

Her Pa hadn’t really been all that religious. After Ma passed, he’d kept up with church for all of a month before stopping entirely. Applejack went with Granny Smith for about a year after that before she and Big Mac both quit at the same time. They’d been six and seven respectively. On church days, the two of them would go over to Cousin Braeburn’s to be babysat while their grandmother and baby sister went in for worship. After Pa passed just two short years later, even Granny stopped going, and by extension so did Apple Bloom. Her little sister had been five at the time. Little wonder she was the rowdiest of the three of them.

She had no persistent fear of hellfire keeping her in check.

…Probably a good thing.

It was hard to keep the faith when it felt like the powers that be weren’t listening to their prayers. Applejack wondered if anything was even up there. In times of great trouble, she still couldn’t help attempting a quick appeal to upper management for a bit of help, just in case. But if there really was a higher power, she hoped there was a complaints department. Her and her kin had some feedback, that was for sure.

How many sermons had she sat through espousing the dangers of giving in to the flesh? Worse, that there were malevolent spirits out there that wanted you to give in! They’d torment you and steer you down the wrong path, blinding your eyes to salvation.

Hearing Sunset speak, she could believe this to be true.

“On a special night,” Sunset said after a quick ash of her cigarette, “when the stars were aligned to lend my magic more power, I performed a ritual on a crystal mirror. Using this power, I chanted a spell and carved the runes I’d discovered into the mirror’s frame. It created a portal to another world. This world.”

Applejack’s eyebrows lifted and she swallowed. She knew Sunset had to be some kind of magic ace to be Princess Celestia’s personal student, but completing an ancient spell that crossed dimensions? That was damn impressive! She’d technically known Sunset for years, at least when you included the time before her friend’s reformation. Even back then, Sunset had seemed like an ordinary girl. Whip-smart, sure, but not “arcane knowledge vast enough to rip holes between worlds” smart.

It was a little intimidating, to say the least. Applejack’s biggest brag was earning ninety points in the women’s bull riding event when she was sixteen. That tied her best with the national record. That was peanuts compared to what Sunset had managed. Evil intentions or not, her vast skill deserved respect, and Applejack was willing to give it to her in spades.

“The spell was meant to activate the mirror every six years for exactly three days once the stars aligned again,” Sunset went on, her touch tightening unconsciously on Applejack’s neck as she did so. Her voice took on a note of strain as she fought to be heard over the opening band’s keyboard sound tests. “To keep anypony from following me, I hid the mirror. Princess Celestia’s intuition told her my extended absence meant I was up to no good. She became worried. She sent her royal guard to search for me… but they found the mirror instead. When they reported back to her, the princess figured out what I’d done and brought the mirror back to her castle to be under armed protection.”

Sunset paused, taking a deep breath. She let her hand slide away from Applejack’s neck to rest a heavy elbow on her knee. Her words became thicker as she continued. “It wasn’t until we’d reconciled years later that she told me how much she’d despaired. Celestia felt like she’d failed me. Can you believe that? Her!” Sunset scoffed and shook her head. “I was the real failure.”

Applejack opened her mouth to speak, but was cut short. The sound check guy was back. He spoke into the stage mic. “Sound check, one, two.”

“Three!” someone shouted back playfully.

When the man stopped speaking into the mic, Applejack pressed in close to Sunset and said into her friend’s ear, “She cared about you, Sunset. The way Princess Twilight told us, she never ever stopped.”

Sunset let her head drop as she rubbed at her forehead. Lifting her face, she said in the small break between the stage noise, “I know that now. I had no idea back then. I thought she’d just discarded me. Stupid, right?”

“You weren’t stupid,” Applejack replied, her eyes sharp with her earnestness, but her words were swallowed by the sound check guy blathering into the mic again. Huffing with frustration, she leaned in to Sunset’s ear once more and insisted, “You weren’t stupid! Far from it, darlin’. Shoot, if I had half your intelligence and talent, Sweet Apple Acres would be thrivin’ right now!”

“Don’t go praising me yet,” Sunset cautioned, patting Applejack’s knee wearily. “I love Celestia like a mother now, but back then, she was just a stepping stone to me. I didn’t care about anyone but myself.” Applejack’s heart did a little drum roll when she felt her friend’s lips on her ear. Surely she was just pressing in that close to be heard. It was awfully noisy in the pub, after all.

Still, Applejack hoped she’d do it again. Grateful that her friend couldn’t see her latest blush, the cowgirl cleared her throat and asked, “Look, all I’m saying is a few character flaws didn’t make you dumb. You just had some growin’ to do. Even the oldest apple tree starts off as a saplin’, Sunset. But since you’re so keen to move on, answer me this, then... Why every six years? Seems a mighty long time for you to have your revenge.”

Sunset hummed as she tried to think of how to respond. She puffed on her cigarette in the meantime. Applejack could see her hand rise up to her face with jerky movements out of the periphery of her vision.

When the other girl spoke again, her tone was sharp and a little rushed, like she was just trying to get to the next bit in her tale. “I needed time,” Sunset explained, “I couldn’t leave the portal open without someone from Equestria trying to follow me. I knew without magic it was going to take a long while to gain influence in this world.”

Applejack saw her shrug a little, her neck moving in a swallow. “The three days thing wasn’t really my preference, but magic likes things in triplets. Celestia taught me that the number three is, from a measurable statistical view, the perfect number. It’s the number of harmony, wisdom and understanding. Multiples of three count too.” She made a small circular motion with her cigarette hand, smoke trailing through the air as she did so. “That’s why over in Equestria they have the original six elements. Here I’m… just kind of a weird addition that no one can account for thanks to how differently magic works in the human world. Like a third leg. You guys don’t need me to activate Harmony.”

“Now that’s just a lie,” Applejack remarked with a soft slap on Sunset’s lap. “We wouldn’ta known whether to check our butts or scratch our watches without you!”

“Maybe,” Sunset said with a little giggle. “Be that as it may, the function of my magic is optional for the big pretty rainbow beam to show up. I think Twilight wrote a research paper about it after she came to help us beat the Dazzlings. It was the most nerdy way of saying, ‘Magic is weird, but isn’t it fun?’” She laughed again, and Applejack smirked.

What was it like to study magic as a serious discipline and to have these crazy insights? Maybe she could get Sunset to share a little more if she traded a little of her country know-how. Not that she had much. There wasn’t anything magical about harvesting apples.

Sunset fidgeted by grinding the ball of her foot, making her shift a little to the side as she pushed her nervous energy into the floor. When she settled back into place, she wrung her hands and said, “Even though I wasn’t good at making friends, I was good at manipulating others. My plan after arriving here was to get my bearings, figure out the best avenues to power, and get as many people under my control as I could.”

Applejack tugged at her ear. Man. Such a simple and straightforward plan compared to all that technical magic stuff. “Did you count on arriving here and being so young?” she asked, the tail end of her words being swallowed by the sound of a bass guitar thrumming through the speakers. The sound was warm and deep, stirring her bones. She loved the strong pulse of a good bass.

Sunset shook her head and took another drag. “No,” she answered after exhaling long and hard. The cowgirl inhaled the smoke deeply. So far she’d been pretty satisfied with the secondhand smoke, but now she wanted a bit of the real thing.

Applejack tapped Sunset’s cigarette hand. “May I get a puff?” she asked, her voice raised to be heard over the latest wave of sound tests.

Blinking, Sunset pulled back and handed her the cigarette. She watched as Applejack pulled on the stick, the tip cherrying. The cowgirl handed it back and they leaned in again, cheek to cheek, to converse.

“When I got here, I was shocked to discover that, by human standards, I was too young to do anything substantial,” Sunset said with a smoky sigh. She snuck in another puff before murmuring between bass strums, “Biologically, I was eleven or twelve-years-old.”

“We woulda been in sixth grade by then,” Applejack muttered with amazement. Back then she’d become fresh friends with the other girls. Her biggest worries at the time was winning her next match on a fighting video game with Rainbow Dash, helping Pinkie Pie with a new pie recipe, and studying for a history test with Rarity and Fluttershy. Though her parents were gone, Granny Smith was a strong woman who didn’t falter in her role as caregiver. All Applejack’s basic needs had been met, and then some. What had it been like to not have any of those things to take for granted?

Sunset laughed a little, her breath a hot gust over Applejack’s ear. The sound was wry. “In Equestria, ponies my age were already living and working on their own, and here I was unable to drive a car or even cast a vote.”

Applejack bounced her knees. Her abdomen tightened as she realized her friend’s tale was about to take an unpleasant turn. “So what did you do then?” she asked. She could already feel her throat closing up.

Sunset sighed and ashed her cigarette again. “When I first came through Canterlot High’s horse statue, I learned very quickly that during the weekdays I was going to have to keep a low profile. Police didn’t like seeing a kid wandering around on their own during the day. They kept thinking I was skipping school. I had to get out of the suburbs and head deeper into the city. I met some other street kids, and they warned me that if I got caught they’d put me in foster care, which was a nightmare. Nighttime became when I was most active.

“I stole food and clothes. I also found an abandoned building where other homeless people were squatting in. This was in the southwestern part of the city. Things were a little rougher back then. It was also Badlander territory.” Sunset toyed with her filter a little, pushing it around with her thumb. Applejack watched her anxiously. She had an idea of what her friend would say next, but she really, really hoped she wouldn’t…

Sunset continued. “What I really needed was money. So... Um.” She toyed with her cigarette some more. “Well, there really isn’t a nice way of saying it, so I’ll just say it.” She took a deep breath. When Sunset spoke again, the words came out in a hot and breathless rush over Applejack’s ear. “Some of the other girls told me if I dressed right and stood on a corner then I’d get a decent stream of customers. So that’s what I did, and they were right.”

Applejack flinched, her body tightening. She resisted the urge to turn her head. She didn’t judge Sunset for trying to survive. She just hurt that she’d done that. Judging by the way her friend spoke, there was nothing empowering about it.

“So just to make sure I got this right,” Applejack started tentatively, “You were our age back then. Just a young girl.”

“Yes.” Sunset drew hard enough on her cigarette that Applejack could hear the leaves crackling even amidst the noise of the cymbals simmering during the drummer’s sound test. Sunset’s other hand trembled. Was she afraid of what Applejack thought? The cowgirl felt her heart twist and she grabbed her friend’s hand, giving it a squeeze that she hoped communicated her support. She wouldn’t ever judge someone for something like this. Sure, the churches she’d grown up with would have quite a bit to say about it. She was fine with adding “Get off your high horse” to her list of grievances to the proverbial heavenly complaints department.

Sunset leaned her head against Applejack’s briefly as she patted her hand in silent thanks. “It didn’t take long to earn some cash,” she said next. “Actually, I charged a premium because I was young. After a month, I managed to scrape together a decent pile of bills. I learned really quick to hide it in different places after the third time I got mugged.”

“I’m sorry,” Applejack murmured. She tried again, raising her voice a little, and still fretted her commiseration was choking out her ability to speak. “Sunset, I’m sorry you had to do that.” Not just that, but that her first foray into the human world had been so disgustingly awful. Little wonder that when Sunset’s evil nature had been revealed to Canterlot High, she’d displayed such a great contempt for human beings.

“Don’t feel sorry for me,” Sunset hissed back, her lips tickling on the ear once more. Applejack didn’t get excited this time, just sad. Her friend’s self-loathing was a persistent thing. She could sympathize. “I wouldn’t have been in that position in the first place if I had just accepted Celestia’s wisdom,” Sunset finished. Her voice sounded lower than low. It was down there cooking with the devils.

Applejack pursed her lips. “But–”

“The Badlanders caught wind of this new little girl out there earning top dollar without them,” Sunset said, raising her voice a little. She wouldn’t hear any kind words this time, it seemed. Applejack quieted, but now she was rifling for her own cigarettes. After all this, just one puff wasn’t enough. Not by a long shot. She didn’t pull away as Sunset continued. “They sent men after me. That’s when I met Gold Fang. He had gold caps on his canines and a slow Louisiana drawl, but he wasn’t a southern gentleman. He roughed me up a little and dragged me in to his leader, Verko. He’s a big guy that likes to wear these dumb steampunk goggles. He made it clear to me that if I was going to be earning any money on Badlander turf, it was going to be for him.

“Only, I didn’t want to stand on street corners anymore. The men who came to me could be horrible. Sometimes they were rough. Other times, they didn’t pay. I was tired of it. I knew I was a better thief than a prostitute, so I told Verko he could shove me into one of his whore houses, or he could let me steal an easy score for him.”

Applejack placed a cigarette between her lips. Sunset handed over her lighter. “What’d he say?” the cowgirl asked, her words muffled from the cig in her mouth.

Sunset shrugged with a short laugh. “No.” She bounced her knee again as Applejack lit her cigarette. Inwardly the cowgirl kicked herself for not bringing her fake ID. She felt like she could use a drink herself now. Sunset being a child prostitute was bad enough, but then she’d been forcibly trafficked? Applejack shook her head. She knew the world could be ugly, but… Wow.

“A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush, I guess,” Sunset stated flatly. “It’s really hard to be a human child and not have anyone there to protect you. And I know it feels like my story might sound deserving of some sympathy… But if it isn’t clear enough yet, I was well and truly on the path to pure evil. I felt the dimmest flickers of guilt, but it never slowed me down. Okay? And I wasn’t really a child, like you guys were. I was a young mare in a little girl’s body.”

“That don’t mean I gotta like it,” Applejack muttered.

Sunset nodded in agreement. “I didn’t stay there long, if it makes you feel any better. I think just a little under a week, at most. I was too defiant. I kept hurting the customers and running away. When I met Capper is when my luck started to change.”

She paused as Applejack pulled away to draw hard on her cigarette. The cowgirl looked around. Some folks who looked like they were part of the opening band were on the stage. They weren’t dressed too exotically, but they wore blue blazers, their hair was carefully coifed, and their shoes were polished to a shine. Applejack barely paid them any mind, her gaze looking through everyone around them. Her forehead creased from her intense frown. Somehow knowing all of this was in Sunset’s past didn’t stop the surge of outrage for her friend. If she ever saw this Verko…

“You okay?” Sunset asked with a wince. Her eyes were wide. A tremor shot through her, and it was apparent she was trying to stop her body from shivering. Recalling these horrible things was probably putting her in a fight or flight response. Clearly the alcohol and weed hadn’t been enough to numb her.

Applejack nodded slowly, rubbing the back of her tight neck. She leaned onto her knees and gestured for Sunset to return. The other girl did so.

“Who was Capper, and how did he help you?” Applejack asked into her ear. Near them the speaker blasted as the drummer banged out a quick rhythm. She just needed to get a grip. None of this was about her, or even her damn nosiness anymore.

It was about being there for Sunset Shimmer. She’d bear these burdens with her friend.

She’d be her fixed point.

Author's Note

Chapter 7

Sunset licked her lips as she patted her jacket pocket where the pistol rested heavily against her thigh. “Capper is the guy who gave me the gun. When I met him, he was about my age. I’d seen him around because he did street hustles near the blade.”

Applejack tilted her head a little, tickling Sunset’s cheek. “The blade?”

Sunset took a long drag on her cigarette before putting it out in the ashtray with quick jabs. It had burned down to the filter. “Where the prostitutes gather,” she clarified with a somber tone.

Applejack hummed but said nothing else. Sunset heard her draw on her cigarette.

“Capper found me hiding out in a storm drain one day while he was on his way to a corner market. He knew I was one of Verko’s new girls, so he could have walked on by. Maybe even turned me in for a little finder’s fee. Instead, he asked me to help him lift some liquor.

“It was easy. Capper and I ran off with some forties and I followed him back to where a group of boys were waiting. He gave them the bottles and they paid him some cash. He split some of it with me and asked if I wanted to steal something else. We kinda just stuck together after that.”

“Sounds like a nice guy,” Applejack murmured. There was more chatter near their table. A few more people were gathering near the stage in anticipation of the first band.

Sunset laughed a little. “He could be. He was the first kind human I’d met.” Her eyes tensed as she gazed through the floor. “Honestly, he was probably the first person I felt anything resembling affection for. I liked that he was smart and funny, and he was such a good thief and con man. I learned a lot while I was with him.”

She pulled out another cigarette but didn’t hurry to light it. Instead, she caressed it gently as she frowned down at it. “He didn’t have parents either, so we stayed with this woman who dealt weed on the side,” she continued. “Her name was Taffy Melt, but I wasn’t close to her or anything. It was purely a business arrangement. Since I’d gotten better at protecting my money, it was easy to pay her rent. Sometimes, if I was short, she’d let me sell weed for her to earn my way. That’s how I learned the drug game.”

She could hear the frown in Applejack’s concerned voice when she asked, “What about Verko? Didn’t he still have it out for you?”

Sunset sighed. “Yeah, he did. By the time I was living with Taffy Melt, Capper and I had left Badlander territory. We went to the northeastern part of the city. That’s Umbrum turf, but Sombra, their leader, was too busy peddling designer drugs to care that a couple of brats were lifting stuff here and there. We were small fry to him.”

“Then what?”

Sunset ran her hand through her hair. “Well, a year went by. I wasn’t done with the Badlanders, and they weren't done with me either. Gold Fang came close to dragging me back to the whorehouse a few times, and I was afraid Taffy Melt would find out and just backstab me for a reward. I had to get the heat off. I needed to convince Verko that I could do more on the street than on my back.”

Applejack shifted a little like she was trying to settle into a more comfortable position. Her shoulders and neck looked tight. Sunset put her unlit cigarette in her mouth and dared to reach up and rub her friend’s shoulders. They weren’t just tight, they were rock hard. The other girl groaned, her muscles reluctantly giving way to Sunset’s ministrations. Applejack tapped her knee and turned over a hand. “Thanks, but shouldn’t I be doing this for you?”

Sunset pulled back just as someone cheered in the small crowd near them. Someone from the band spoke into the mic. “We’ll be at it, in a few minutes folks…” the man in the blue blazer said. He carried on with some charming banter to warm up the audience, but Sunset tuned him out. Touching Applejack was waaay more interesting.

“This is the first time you’re hearing all of this,” Sunset reasoned with a tiny laugh. “Challenging as this might be for me, I’m more worried about you.”

“Then at least gimme your lighter,” Applejack said, holding her hand out. “Heaven knows your trembling worse than Jell-O in an earthquake! I’ll light you up again.” Her voice was still languid.

“I’m not shaking that bad…” Sunset returned with a pout, but she stopped her mini-massage to do as her friend asked.

Okay, so maybe her hands were shaking still. It was kind of hard to have nerves of steel when relating the worst moments of your past, after all.

With the new cigarette lit, the two settled back into their cheek-to-cheek conversation.

“So you were telling me you needed to get Verko off your back,” Applejack stated after ashing her cig. “What did you end up doing? Something musta worked cuz he stopped chasin’ after ya.”

Sunset nodded. “Yep. There was an electronics store that had all kinds of stuff. TVs, video game consoles, you name it. They had a decent lock on the back door along with a security system, but Capper picked the lock, and I managed to steal the code to disable the system. When we got inside, we took all the recording devices off the walls and even the computer the surveillance footage was stored on. It was like Christmas. We took just about everything we could carry into the van.”

“Man, that musta been one heckuva haul!” Applejack exclaimed, pulling back just enough to spare her friend a wide-eyed look of awe. “And you were how old when you did this?”

Sunset felt her cheeks burn as she tugged at her ear and squinted one eye. “Umm… Thirteen? I think?”

Applejack let out a harsh exhale, an incredulous smile on her lips. Sunset winced and held up her hands. What else was there to say? She was nothing if not adaptable, and life on the streets was just another thing she’d been determined to excel quickly at.

She knew, biologically, she was close in age to the others. However, as time went on, Princess Twilight observed that staying in human form for so long had also affected Sunset’s mind to reflect this. It had been a tough pill to swallow. She’d still considered herself at least six years older than the others. Tallying up her life on paper, this was factually true, it just wasn’t reflected psychologically anymore.

But back then? Being of an older mind had certainly helped her execute plans most young teens couldn’t fathom perpetrating. It wasn’t until Princess Twilight had appeared to stop her that she realized she’d regressed mentally. Why else did she care whether or not she was the “princess” of the Fall Formal? That part certainly hadn’t been necessary for her world domination plan, that was just her being a bitchy type-A teen. Maybe if she’d accounted for the inter-dimensional cognitive dissonance, she would have accelerated her evil aims.

Thank Celestia she hadn’t.

It was something of a touchy subject for Sunset, and not one she was keen on diving into. How much of her was still pony? How much of her was human? Princess Twilight had expressed concern a couple of years ago about this very thing. Her remedy was to play a game of tag. The exercise had… certainly been interesting. If anything it made Sunset more open to Pinkie’s unique brand of fun, a gift she couldn’t be more grateful for.

“Sorry, I interrupted,” Applejack said as they returned to speaking into each other’s ears. “I don’t mind chatting here, but if you wanna move, we can.” She said this because the opening band had begun to perform. The noise in the pub was even greater than before. The music pouring out of the speakers was some danceable blues-rock. Too bad Sunset hadn’t finished relating her past yet. She half considered asking for a break just to go watch the performance, but she could tell her friend needed some kind of resolution, and quite frankly, Sunset just wanted to get this over with.

“Let’s smoke outside, I’ll tell you the rest,” Sunset said loudly with a look of resignation. They’d lose the table, but it couldn’t be helped. They would have given it up anyway when Red Rooster showed up.

The pair stood from their seats and weaved their way through the dense crowd till they were outside on the sidewalk again. The dramatic shift in noise was a little disorienting, and Sunset tried vainly to rub the sudden ringing out of her ears. Applejack threw her cig out into the street, took out another, and lit it with her own lighter. Sunset drew her leather jacket tighter around her body and watched as a car passed by, the headlights washing over them in a glaring wave of light before vanishing. Overhead it was still dark as new cloud cover concealed the moon so totally that not even the slivers of moonlight reached down anymore. The streetlights were yellow and warm, but they lit the surroundings in stark beams that didn’t travel far from their immediate location.

Applejack and Sunset moved away from the main doors. There were a few other patrons on the street as well, so they tried to get to a good spot out of earshot. They stopped outside of a dark hardware store.

Sunset took a deep breath before resuming her story: “Right. So we stole all that electronic stuff. Afterwards, we drove straight into the Badlands, so to speak. We went to Verko’s base and just gave him the keys to the van. ‘Here you go! I told you I’m better at stealing,’ and then I just crossed my fingers.” She was relieved they didn’t have to shout anymore, but she lamented losing such a good excuse to get into Applejack’s personal space. “I didn’t know if he was just going to take everything we’d stolen and stick me back into the whorehouse anyway out of spite. I was pretty nervous!”

“What’d he say?” Applejack asked, her brow tight and her free hand shoved into her front pocket. She didn’t appear in the least bit affected by the cold.

Sunset grinned. “Verko was actually impressed with our haul. We’d brought him nearly twenty G’s worth of merchandise.”

“Wow!” Applejack’s mouth fell open and she covered it, chuckling all the while. “Wow! You really made off, there!”

Sunset ducked her head, a little embarrassed by the praise of her theft, but she was also surprised by how good it felt. She was even more taken aback by the fact that Applejack was praising her at all. Surely she didn’t approve of stealing things. Was she just impressed with Sunset’s audacity? “Yeah, we did pretty good for a couple of kids,” Sunset mumbled, scratching self-consciously at her cheek.

“Verko was happy with this, then? What were you gonna do, steal crap for ‘em?” Applejack flicked her cigarette as she said this, an ember fluttering brightly as it descended for a moment before vanishing from sight.

Sunset shrugged as she pulled on her cigarette. “Basically. We’d give him a cut of whatever scams we pulled. I did that up until I convinced Capper to help me get into Canterlot High by forging some papers and an ID. By then I’d saved enough to get my studio apartment, but I didn’t tell Capper. After I got accepted into the school, I just left him in the middle of the night and didn’t tell him where I went.”

Applejack’s face bunched, the first time she’d let some sign of disapproval pass her features. She pursed her lips and turned her face away like she’d realized too late what she’d done. A second later she looked back at Sunset with a more neutral expression.

“You don’t have to fake it, you know,” Sunset said with a wry smirk. Applejack flinched with a guilty look.

“Sorry,” her friend mumbled. “I just feel bad for the guy. He sounded like a nice feller.”

“He was. What I did was totally crappy. Capper had done a lot for me, and I just left him without a word. I basically had no concept of gratitude.” There was more to that part of the story, but of all the memories she had, even the ones about Celestia, these were the hardest to relate. She felt a little guilty for circumventing the bigger details. Just for now, she told herself as she took another puff on her cigarette.

Sunset bunched her brow. “I made a deal with Verko. In exchange for letting me go to school, I agreed to sell drugs for him on campus. I’d get a small cut and he’d get access to a whole new market.”

“I had no idea,” Applejack said smokily, her eyes widening. “I knew you were up to no good. But selling drugs?? What in tarnation did you even sell?”

“Weed. And you not knowing was part of the point. Almost no one but my ‘customers’ knew. I think Vice-Principal Luna suspected me of it, but I was always one step ahead of her.”

“So the rest is pretty much history, huh,” Applejack murmured, gazing at Sunset like she was too fascinating for words.

Sunset shuffled her feet, feeling her heart race a little under the attention. She turned her eyes back to the pub entrance when she heard a bunch of laughter. Some girls had stumbled out, and they were being escorted by a bouncer. Maybe they’d had too much to drink.

She looked back at Applejack, a sheepish look on her face. If only her story could be done here. “Not quite finished, AJ, sorry.”

“No need to apologize, sugarcube,” her friend chuckled. “What else is there? Seems you covered quite a bit.”

“Well, after you guys cleansed me with the magic of Harmony, I knew I couldn’t steal or deal drugs anymore to pay rent. But I couldn’t get a normal job because Verko was so insistent on me working for him.” Sunset rolled her eyes and wheeled her hands through the air. “I went back to Verko with a new proposition. I’d secure Equestrian gold for him to pay myself free of any lingering obligations. I could do this now thanks to Princess Twilight altering the spell I’d made to allow interdimensional travel whenever someone wanted. This let me do perfectly legal Equestrian side jobs and bring back the loot to Verko.

“So that suspicious gold I kept bringing back?” She acted like she was scrubbing something from her pants to emphasize her next point. “He would launder it for me, for a large fee. That's how I supported myself post-rainbow beam. The arrangement was only supposed to last until I graduated, then I was going to be out for good. Free to live a clean life fully above board.”

Applejack frowned and stepped closer. “So what happened?”

Sunset’s eyes filled with sudden tears and she drew anxiously on her cigarette. She hated this part. “Capper. I hurt him when I left the way I did. He was frustrated. Desperate. He’d always felt overlooked, and for this reason, he'd wanted to get free of the Badlanders. Verko, being the jerk that he was, never gave him a serious chance. Capper was fed up with it, so he went over all of our heads. He told Grogar, the head of the Trog-El syndicate, that I was bringing Verko tons of gold. In exchange for the tip, he wanted a spot somewhere else in Grogar’s criminal organization.”

Applejack shook her head a little, raising her cigarette to her face but pausing just short of putting it into her mouth. “Damn! By your own friend…”

“He wasn’t really my friend back then. He was a useful tool whose company I sometimes enjoyed,” Sunset corrected flatly. She flicked her cigarette harder than necessary. “So Grogar told Verko that my services were better suited to his agendas, and since Grogar runs the syndicate, Verko had no choice but to let him take me. Capper ended up being stuck with the Badlanders still but with a catch. Grogar strongly suggested that Verko promote Capper to make up for losing me. He made it sound like a suggestion, but he did a good job arguing his case with the other gang leaders. With their support, Verko had to go along with it.”

Sunset sneered. “Grogar didn’t do it to be nice to Capper, either. He did it because if Capper ever got a guilty conscience, he could turn around and tell Verko exactly who had betrayed him. It keeps Capper in a place of danger. But it's not without its uses. If Grogar ever had a mind to, he could pressure Capper into being his agent within the Badlanders.” She made a disgusted sound in the back of her throat. “From the start people have been using him as a pawn. Me included.”

“This Grogar sounds like a nasty piece of work,” Applejack said with a dark look. “I know he’s the head of this ‘syndicate’ or whatever, but how can he go meddling in other gangs’ affairs?”

Sunset mirrored her dark look. “Raw power. The kind of power I aspired to before I was freed from my hatred. Grogar is not to be trifled with. All the others–the Changelings, the Badlanders, the Umbrums, and the Storm Kings–they may vary in size amongst themselves, but compared to the Trog-Els, they may as well be ants. Suffice to say, there's a reason the syndicate is named after Grogar’s mob.”

Applejack’s mouth screwed to the side. “Better to see the other gangs as paid servants to Grogar.”

Sunset bobbed her head from side to side. “There’s definitely some parallels, sure. But even Grogar knows that if they all united together, they’d cause him enough trouble to be highly unprofitable. So there's your shaky balance to the screwed-up criminal ecosystem of Canterlot City. Big scary international mob at the top, several tough scrappy gangs on the bottom.”

“So this side deal you discovered Gold Fang doing…?” Applejack began to pace slowly, her cowboy boots clicking soundly on the sidewalk.

Sunset tracked her carefully as she spoke, “It’s with the Changelings, probably Grogar’s biggest threat within the syndicate. In all likelihood, he’s already aware of the deal and is just getting his pieces into place to take advantage.” Her mouth set in a grim line. A car alarm went off somewhere nearby, only to quickly be disarmed with a series of rapid beeps. “He wants bad blood between the Badlanders and the Changelings. The same way he wants bad blood between the Storm Kings and the Umbrums.”

“Because then he holds all the power,” Applejack mumbled around her cigarette filter as she eyed Sunset sideways. She caught on quickly.

“And Capper is still with the Badlanders,” Sunset resumed with a slow nod. “He’s Gold Fang’s backup, even! I’m worried he’ll get burned in all of this.” She pressed a hand to her forehead at the thought, her eyes gazing down at the sidewalk. “Capper is meant to be Gold Fang’s shadow, never leaving his side. It’d be easy to point the finger at him, too.”

Applejack frowned as she stopped her pacing to drop her cigarette and step on it. “How’d he get the gun out to you, then? Wouldn’t he have been missed?”

Sunset nodded tightly as she did the same. She considered pulling out another cigarette, but she didn’t want to go through her pack too fast. Her particular brand of cigs was on the pricey side. It was just another good reason to quit. Pretty soon she wouldn’t be able to afford the habit. “Yes,” she said to AJ. “That’s why it was such a huge thing that he did that. He could get into serious trouble going against Gold Fang.”

“Sounds like he still cares about you,” Applejack said quietly. Her words were almost lost as another car passed down the street.

“Yeah,” Sunset murmured reluctantly. It wasn’t so much that she still doubted this. The pistol he’d given her rested too heavily in her pocket for her to continue denying the truth. It was more the sudden sense of responsibility she felt toward him. After years apart, Capper had seemed like a distant part of her past. Now he was just… there again. Needing her like she needed him.

Life was so weird that way.

“I just wish he’d see that he could be so much more than just a mob thug,” Sunset lamented to Applejack. She crossed her arms and gazed down the street. Not all of the businesses were closed. There was a laundromat open just a few doors down. Across the street, much further away, a Chinese restaurant was still serving customers too.

Applejack drew near and rubbed her arm. Her hand lingered. “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink,” she said gently.

Sunset sighed roughly, putting her hand over hers. “That’s pretty much the problem, isn’t it? Fluttershy was encouraging me the other day to–” she broke off, her eyes going wide at the almost immediate shift that occurred in her friend. Applejack’s hand drew away from Sunset’s arm as she straightened up tall and rigid. Sunset winced, her chin tucking. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to bring her up.”

The cowgirl shifted one shoulder up in a stiff, half-hearted shrug. “Tain’t no problem. What’d she say? Give Capper a chance?”

Sunset rubbed her arm where her friend had touched her. If only she could rewind time. “I didn’t tell her anything specific about him, but… yes. Pretty much that.”

Applejack scoffed, but it lacked any true disdain. She smirked as she crossed her arms and gazed back in the direction of the pub. “Sounds like Shy.”

“Mmm hmm…”

The silence stretched on, but it wasn’t like the other times when they just existed peaceably together. Sunset could feel a rift forming. She pressed the heel of her palm into her forehead hard. Idiot! She scolded herself. You bring AJ out to forget about her problems, then you go and bring up the girl she’s broken up over?

At a loss as to what else to say, Sunset jerked her head toward the pub. “Come on, AJ. Let’s go listen to the opening band.” She turned and started back for the pub, resisting the urge to hang her head. If she was going to lift her friend’s spirits, she couldn’t start acting all depressed. Even if she did feel like a massive heel.

Maybe this had been a mistake…

“Now, hold on,” Applejack said placing a light hand on Sunset’s elbow. Sunset turned to look at her, blinking. Her blonde friend was still smirking, but her face looked more relaxed. “I know we came here to listen to some blues tonight, but the thing is, your story was missing something real important!”

Sunset turned a quarter and held her hands up helplessly. “Like what?”

Applejack squinted one eye and pointed at her. “Them times you got shot, remember? You never said, and if I recall rightly, you promised an explanation!”

They stared at each other for a solid thirty seconds before Sunset snickered suddenly and let her head drop to her chest. She put her hands on her hips and looked back up to grin at her friend, “Oh! That! Umm…” She tugged at her ear and said with a small wince. “I’d half hoped you’d forget.”

Applejack shook her head as she tapped her temple. “I got a mind like a steel trap, Sun!” Her eyes tensed. “Though, if you ain’t up to it, I’d understand. You’ve told me a lot of heavy things.”

Sunset bit the corner of her lip as she considered what she would do. To share, or not to share? She’d never divulged this much to anyone before. Did she really want this entire night to be about her and her screwed-up past? But Applejack seemed really interested, and she had seemed pretty worried after their visit to Forest Tender…

She sighed. What was kicking out a few more skeletons from the closet? She had plenty to spare, after all.

“So,” Sunset started nervously, scratching at her cheek. “Uh, the time I got grazed was from getting caught shoplifting from this Mexican corner store.” Sunset grinned sheepishly and pushed her index fingers together, a blush burning across her face. “The guy at the register… Well, he was in his eighties and he fell asleep all the time behind the counter.”

“Ah. An easy mark,” Applejack said with a terse chuckle and a small shake of her head.

Sunset pinched her tongue between her teeth and wagged a finger. “You have noooo idea!” Her eyes widened and she put her balled fists on her hips, a determined scowl hardening her features. “I kept saying, ‘One of these days, old man!’”

Applejack grinned, clearly amused by the lighter note of this story. “And lemme guess. That day finally came?”

“Sure did!” Sunset said with a little giggle. She pretended to bob dramatically with upheld hands, marching in place like she was actually tip-toeing somewhere. “I snuck back there,” she fake-whispered, “grabbed the register key off him and just… popped open the machine!” Sunset straightened up and scratched the back of her head, her sheepish grin returning. “I stole three-hundred and seventeen bucks on the nose. I would have gotten off clean if someone hadn’t entered the store just then and made the doorbell ring.”

She popped up straight, her eyes comically wide. “The store owner woke up, saw me, and lost it. He grabbed a pistol from under the counter and started shooting at me!”

Sunset mimed being an old man firing off shots, toothless and squinting. Applejack chortled at her antics.

“I can hardly believe he’d just haul off and shoot at ya like that! This was before Canterlot High, right?” Applejack asked with squinted eyes. “You were still a lil’ kid!”

Sunset bobbed her head. “Yup! Who knows what led him to do that? I was just glad he had bad eyesight!" She pointed a finger gun out into the street, miming a pistol being fired. "Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang! After missing five shots from his six-shooter, he finally knicks me on the ribs with his last bullet on the way out the door." Sunset pointed at where there was a faint line on her right side. "I’ve never gone back to that neighborhood since. Too scared! Pinkie tried to get me to pick up a piñata from that same store a few years later for a quinceañera she was putting on, but I made up some excuse and just made her one after school with Twilight’s help.”

Applejack shook her head slowly at her, one eyebrow arching. “Sounds like you were lucky!”

“Yeah, I totally was…” Sunset bit her lip and looked at her friend nervously. “Just so you know, I don’t feel proud of these moments or anything. Including the electronics store heist.” She sighed heavily. “Thanks to being a criminal, I’d actually saved up an obscene amount of money. A lot of that I just paid back to the people I’d hurt.”

“Before paying off your own debts?” Applejack asked, her mouth dropping. “Sugarcube, no offense, but that sounds like you put the cart before the horse!”

Sunset planted a hand on her face and shifted her weight to one foot. “You’re telling me! I mean, I’m glad I was able to return much of what I stole, but I wasn’t able to get all of it, and now that I’m buried under debt, I dunno when I’m going to get to the rest of it!” She rubbed the back of her neck. “Then Twilight and Celestia told me they wanted a better understanding of what magic was doing to this world, which was obviously obligatory since it was my fault it came here to begin with. That kinda necessitated me pouring all my free time into that and getting a higher education–”

Applejack let her head tilt back as a look of painful understanding came over her face. “And if you’re going to school full-time, you can’t get a decent job working full-time–”

Sunset twirled a hand through the air. “Ergo, I’m basically doomed to be broke for the rest of my pony-human life.”

“Wow,” Applejack said, scratching at her hairline just under her hat. “That’s… a lot, Sunset.”

“No kidding!” Sunset laced her hands behind her back and stubbed a boot into the sidewalk. “But no matter how hard it gets, I always have to remember that…” Here she faltered.

Applejack cocked her head to the side, her eyes tensing. “Hmm? What’s up, Sun?”

Sunset sighed. When she thought she’d hold off on this story, she thought that meant, like… next week, or something. Heck, next decade, even.

But if Applejack was going to understand why Sunset had made the financial choices she did, she needed to know this one.

She needed to.

“I owe a blood debt,” Sunset said quietly, her eyes fastening onto Applejack’s. “From that time I really got shot.”

Applejack’s expression sobered. She tilted her hat back and then hooked her thumbs into her front pockets. “What all went down, then?” she asked softly.

Sunset quieted as a man and woman, arm in arm, passed them on the street. There were fewer people outside of the pub now that the first band’s performance was well underway. If Sunset remembered the showbill correctly, they’d be playing for at least another thirty minutes before Red Rooster’s two-hour set. The music sounded too indistinct from where they stood, but she could tell it sounded like a good time.

If only the night could have been just pure fun. But if she was intent on getting intimate with her friend, then she owed it to her to spill about who she really was. Who she had been.

She looked back at Applejack, her boots tapping anxiously on the sidewalk. “I wasn’t the target that time, but the bullet went through the meat of my arm.” She lifted her left arm and pointed at her tricep. There, a small round scar was visible. It was only slightly lighter than the surrounding brown skin, but the skin tissue there had the faintest ripple to it, a result of the bullet ripping through her so cleanly.

Applejack leaned in to peer at the scar but shook her head in the darkness. Without a word, she gestured for Sunset to follow her to a streetlight, and the other girl did so. There, Sunset lifted her arm again, and Applejack got in close to see. She squinted her eyes and ran her fingertips over the spot once, making Sunset’s flesh break out in gooseflesh. Satisfied, she stepped back.

“So who was the target?” the cowgirl asked.

“Taffy Melt,” Sunset said, her brow tightening. “The weed dealer Capper and I had been living with before I went to Canterlot High. She’d gotten into a feud with some other drug dealer in the area, and one day while we were helping her bring groceries into the house, some guys in masks did a drive-by.” Sunset’s eyes stared down the alley they now stood across from. She saw a stray dog rifling through some spilled garbage near a dumpster. Enough of the streetlight flooded down the narrow passage to highlight the open cans, crumpled cereal boxes, and used tissues the dog had dug past. Her eyes lingered on a dented milk jug. “It was… so loud. Everything happened so fast. It was crazy–” Her breath hitched. Sunset turned her face away and took a deep breath.

The effects of the weed and the alcohol had long since washed away in the stress of relating her misdeeds. She knew it was selfish to want to numb herself for this part. If anything she’d talk about tonight needed a clear head, it was this story.

Keep it together.

She looked at Applejack again, and when she spoke, her voice was more neutral. “All the windows of the house got blown out. She died right there on the driveway. She…didn’t have a face anymore. It was just blood and teeth and–” she closed her eyes and swallowed hard, trying to keep the lump from rising in her throat, “and viscera. Taffy had been carrying milk, so when she fell, the jug hit the concrete and burst open. I just… I remember seeing red swirling in the white as it spread down to the street.”

It had made such a pretty shade of pink, with bright red swirls cutting through before it thinned out over the pale concrete.

“Damn…” Applejack breathed, her eyes going round as her expression fell.

Sunset shook her head, a bitter look coming over her features. “That’s why I hate to think of it. I only got hit in the arm, and Taffy lost her face…” She broke off again, feeling herself lose the fight to keep her throat open. Sniffling back tears, she wiped delicately at her eyes. She was losing her grip again. “Sorry,” she mumbled thickly. Then she said it louder. “Sorry. It’s weird crying about it now. At the time I just saw it as an inconvenience.”

Sunset bared her teeth and shrugged. “Capper and I just gathered all of our things and ran before the cops showed up. But Taffy, she’d just had a baby, y’know? It was a girl. Gumdrop Glitter. She… She was in the house. Alive.” Sunset’s chin crumpled and she tried to smile, but she found she couldn’t. “The baby was still in the house and she was alive, Applejack.” A sob got away from her. She turned her head, ashamed.

She could still remember how eerily quiet the house had been. Such a suburban home any other time, yet on that terrible day it had been riddled with bullet holes. The air had been sharp with the smell of gunpowder. Her ears had still rung from the rattling hail of bullets that had been sent their way. The living room television played music videos on low volume. Sunset could still recall the warm blood dripping down her arm, dampening her sleeve. It just stung at the time, but the pain still drove her. She’d known the agony would set in soon when the adrenaline wore off. She’d stumbled to get her things from her bedroom. Just across the hall, Taffy’s baby had finally begun to cry. Sunset hadn't even stopped to look.

She felt Applejack pull her into a hug, ripping her out of the memory. Sunset stared wide-eyed over her friend’s shoulder, tears streaming from her face. The cowgirl squeezed her hard, but not enough to hurt. Just enough to make Sunset feel like she was going to absorb her into her body. She wished feverishly that she could be. How wonderful would it be to be held by her friend like this all of the time? Safe and protected?

Sunset buried her face in Applejack’s shoulder and let her arms wrap around the other girl’s strong torso. They stayed like that, just swaying under the light. Sunset hiccuped as she tried to reign in her tears. Applejack just held her, one hand rubbing her between the shoulders.

Two cars drove by. Applause swelled from the pub as the opening band completed a song.

Feeling her emotions subside enough to speak (and what was she feeling anyway? Grief? Self-pity? Better to put the dramatics away, regardless) Sunset sniffled back snot and spoke with a ragged voice. “Capper actually had a heart. He made sure to leave Gumdrop with the neighbors first. It took him a while to get someone to answer the door, but he just tried and tried. Me? I would have just… I would have just left her there.”

Sunset felt Applejack give her a tiny squeeze.

“I actually got annoyed with him,” she made herself say next. “Can you believe it? I was annoyed because he stopped long enough to make sure the baby was safe.” Sunset shook her head, her eyes falling shut, more fat tears leaking out as she did so. “I was horrible! I didn’t care that Gumdrop was an orphan, I just cared about not getting caught!”

“You aren’t like that anymore, sugarcube,” Applejack whispered, patting her back. “You hear me? That wasn’t you. Heck, I don’t think it ever was. The magic of friendship can’t make someone good. Deep down, they have to want to be good. That’s where the real you was at, all right? And you’ve been working hard to make it up ever since. It’s a two-way street, darlin’.”

Sunset buried her face in Applejack’s shoulder. Could she really believe that? Could she ever possibly make amends?

Distantly, she could hear the pub singing along with the band’s lead singer. Thanks to the huge chorus of voices, she could just make out what the lyrics were.

“Oh, can it be?
The voices calling me
They get lost and out of time
I should've seen it glow
But everybody knows
That a broken heart is blind
That a broken heart is blind”

“So now you know,” Sunset said with a humorless laugh. She did jazz hands, even though her friend couldn’t see this. “Surprise! A blood debt! Hurray!” She quieted and pulled out of her friend’s hug, wiping at her face. “Ugh, sorry. That was terrible.”

Applejack shook her head, her eyes squinted with compassion. “I ain’t offended, hon. Shoot, I’d be throwin’ around jokes too just to keep my head above the water. Us Apples prefer a laugh to a sour mood, no matter the circumstances, remember?”

Sunset chuckled, and her voice sounded phlegmy. “That’s right!” She sighed, tugging once again on her ear. “Can I become an Apple? My family sucks in comparison.”

Applejack smirked. “Far as I’m concerned you and all our friends are honorary family members, so it ain’t even a question, Sunset.”

Sunset chanced a broad smile, though it trembled under the weight of her emotions. “Cool.” She coughed, trying to clear her throat, and tucked a curly lock of hair behind her ear. “Anyway… I’ve since sent some money to Gumdrop. Anonymous, of course. But it’s been a while. She’d be six or seven now. I think she’s staying with her aunt.” Sunset pointed limply at her face, exhaustion plain on her features. “Soooo… broke. All the time. Must be. Blah. Sorry, I can’t do words right now. I’m done. Finally. For realsies this time.”

“That’s real noble of you,” Applejack murmured, shoving her hands into her front pockets. “Sending money like that, even when you got your own problems.”

“Not noble. Just doing what I have to,” Sunset said, looking down at the sidewalk.

“Just playing devil’s advocate a bit here, Sunset, but… y’know it wasn’t your fault that Gumdrop lost her mama, right?” Applejack said tentatively.

Sunset waved her hands in front of her, turning away. “That doesn’t matter. I didn’t do right by her. I owe her a better start than what I would have given her had it been up to me– motherless and left for dead.” Her words were sharp. She wouldn’t be convinced differently. This was just something she had to do.

“Right… Okay. You’re right, it ain’t my business, Sunset. You do what you gotta do.”

A moment of silence. Then…

Applejack thumbed toward her truck, an awkward grimace on her face, “Ya wanna smoke some more?”

Sunset looked up at her, frowning in confusion. Smoke? But they could do that here, why would–? Then it finally clicked.

“Oh my gosh, yes!” Sunset giggled, already starting to head that way.

Applejack chuckled in kind as she followed, a relieved look on her face. “Phew! Good. Cuz I need it too after all that. No offense, Sunset, but I don’t envy your journey.”

“Ugh,” Sunset groaned loudly up to the sky. “Believe me, I know!”

A few minutes later they were sitting in Applejack’s truck again. The spot they were in was parked across from an empty lot. She leaned on the passenger door and blinked slowly at it. There wasn’t much interesting to see. Just some scattered garbage, patches of dirt, and small scrubby plants.

Sunset took a moment to check her phone. She had missed a few calls and texts from Twilight, Pinkie, and Rainbow respectively.

>TS: Against my better judgment, I have found myself dressed to the nines and bar hopping. On a Wednesday night. PLEASE help. It’s me, Pinkie, Rarity, Fluttershy, Rainbow, and Sassaflash. No one’s started crying yet, but I give it 30 minutes tops with how rowdy the girls are being. Did I mention I need help? I’m trying to hold out in case we need an adult in the room, but at this rate, I’M going to start drinking.

>PP: U! I WANNA TAKE U 2 A GAY BAR! (No srsly, its grls nite out and I think that might b our nxt stop) Call me bak or u smelly!

>RD: Dude, where the heck r u? We been texting & calling! Stop being lame. Come out with us!

Sunset shook her head as she responded to each of them with a variation of, “Sorry, can’t.” To Twilight, however, she asked with a bitten lip:

>SSh: What part of town u guys in? Need a cardinal direction. Just 4 peace of mind

Twilight must have been staring at her phone because the answer came fairly quickly:

>TS: NE. Suburbs, near Sassaflash’s home. There’s a small cluster of pubs and bars we’re trolling between. Are you SURE you won’t come?

Sunset laughed a little at her friend’s choice of words. They were in Umbrum territory, then. Well… She supposed it ought to be fine so long as they didn’t hop over to an illegal rave or something. Sombra and his minions used underground events to peddle their party drugs.

>SSh: Sorry, no. Other plans. Plz stick together. Be safe, be smart, but try and hav fun!

>TS: I think I’ll need that drink after all :(

Sunset laughed as she put her phone away in her leather jacket’s inner pocket.

Applejack looked at her with a crooked grin. “What’s got ya tickled?”

“It seems we aren’t the only ones who thought to go out tonight!” Sunset said with a little sigh. “The girls are bar hopping.”

“Now that,” Applejack said with a little wince, “I ain’t sorry to miss.”

Sunset snickered. “I know! Same. I feel kinda bad, Twi really wanted me to go with.”

“Shoot, I wager that bookworm could use with a little mischief. She needs to relax.” She placed the glass pipe in her mouth and struck up the lighter, the orange glow from the flame lighting up her freckled face.

Sunset lifted an eyebrow. “Says the two super stressed out girls getting high in a truck.”

Her friend shrugged as she passed the pipe. She held her breath for a few seconds before saying with a slow exhale, “Well I sure ain’t going to relax with a bunch of drunk teenage girls pulling me in six different directions.”

Sunset grinned and pointed two fingers at her head. “Nope! You just got me!”

Applejack winked at her. “You’re all I need, sugarcube.”

This made Sunset blush and fidget as she lifted the pipe for a hit. She really loved it when AJ turned on the southern charm.

“So hey… Does anyone else know about all the stuff you told me?” Applejack asked.

Sunset took a moment to light up and inhale before answering.“I alluded to some of it with Twilight,” Sunset rasped, her voice tight with held breath. She exhaled gradually, smoke billowing into the truck cab in thick swirls. She cracked her window, lest they get fogged in. “Since she’s so smart, she guessed that I used to be a child prostitute and a weed dealer at Canterlot High, but she’s not aware of anything else. So far, you’re the only one who knows as much as you do.” She glanced cheekily at Applejack. “Don’t you feel special?”

“I’m honored that you trust me as much as you do,” Applejack said with a charming grin as she took the pipe back from her. “And I just wanna point out that I never thought less of you at any point in time. In fact, all your story did is make me feel even more impressed with you!”

Sunset’s eyebrows rose, her eyes lidded. “Impressed?”

Applejack nodded unsteadily, her hat shifting out of place on her head before she corrected it with a sheepish laugh.

Sunset pressed a finger into her temple, her eyes narrowed. “Spell it out for me. How does that work? I basically gave you the highly sanitized Cliff Notes for Push.”

“Push? No, heck no. Maybe… Maybe Trainspotting mixed with a little Girl, Interrupted? But with less heroin and more magical ponies,” Applejack returned with a scrunched nose.

Sunset blinked slowly, her eyebrows rising the highest they could go. “Wait, are we… Are we talking about the movies or the books?” She was surprised her friend was dropping the titles either way. She hadn’t pegged Applejack as much of an avid movie watcher or book reader. She supposed having Apple Bloom as president of the Canterlot Movie Club might have something to do with that, but still.

Applejack looked at her with a vacant expression on her face. She looked out her driver-side window like she’d just heard something. After a short moment, she looked back at Sunset and frowned. “Beg yer pardon, but… uh… What were we talking about again?”

Sunset laughed from deep in her chest. “You’re so high!”

Applejack grinned goofily, “I, er…” After exactly three blinks, she held up her hands instead of a full response. That only made Sunset laugh harder.

Sunset carried on for a while, her knees drawing up as she tried to make the laughter stop. Applejack eventually joined her. When their humor died down they sat in companionable silence for a minute.

How nice that they could get back to this after that silly little hiccup. Sunset really had to be careful not to bring up you-know-who or she’d bork her plans.

She snickered. Heh heh… bork.

“What’s got you giggling again?” Applejack asked, looking at her with a sleepy expression.

Sunset waved the question away. “Nothing. Sorry.” She blinked drowsily at her friend. “So you’re really all right, then? After hearing all of that? I was worried I’d overload you.”

Applejack pushed her lower lip out and shook her head. “Nah.” She scoffed a little, looking at the pipe in her hand. “I know you must think me and my family are about as wholesome as apple pie but… fact is, we got skeletons in our closet too.”

Sunset frowned. “You guys? Really?” She felt a little bad for sounding so skeptical. It was just such a strange thought. Apart from losing their parents at a young age, the Apples appeared to have an ideal upbringing, their recent troubles notwithstanding.

The cowgirl smirked at her. “Eyup. Really.” She sighed and took a moment to take a quick hit of the pipe. “I don’t mind sharing. Seems only fair after all you told me. But you okay with missing the first act? This might take a minute,” Applejack stated with a tensed brow.

Sunset shrugged. “I’m sure the band is great, but I’d rather just talk to you. We can go in when Red Rooster is on stage.” She reached over and slapped lightly at Applejack’s shoulder. “You should probably quit after that one. If you take too many hits you’ll get too high.”

Applejack exhaled quickly, having learned her lesson from before. “All righty.” She passed the pipe.

Sunset took it and took one more hit. This was her last, too. She exhaled slowly, enjoying the way the silvery smoke looked in the scattered light. The moon had re-emerged from the clouds, and now the street lit up with its soft glow. The stretch of road they were parked on was still darker than by the pub, but at least Sunset could marvel at the chaotic swirls of weed smoke that drifted away from her.

Looking over at her friend, she said, “You don’t have to tell me anything just because I told you about my past. I lost a bet, remember? I was just ponying up.” Sunset snickered again. Heh, pony.

Applejack chuckled too. “Well, that may be the case, but you really poured your heart out. And…” she sighed again before taking the pipe and setting it on the narrow dashboard. “Sunset, I know you. Even without saying a word, you were beating yourself up about the past. Now that you’ve said as much as you have, once the weed wears off, you’ll go crawling up the walls thinking you ain’t good enough to be keepin’ my company.” She arched an eyebrow as she looked shrewdly at her friend. “Sugarcube, us Apples ain’t country royalty. We’re rednecks, and we know it.”

Sunset scowled. “Applejack, you guys aren’t–”

“Hold on,” Applejack said, holding a hand up with her eyes closed. “Jes’ hold your horses, Sunset.”

“Heh, horses,” Sunset giggled thickly.

Applejack rolled her eyes, but a crooked grin unfurled across her lips. “Looks like I wasn’t the one who hit the pipe too hard this time,” she noted wryly. This just made Sunset giggle more.

“Okay, okay,” Sunset covered her face and took a deep breath. “I’m cool.” She took another deep breath and looked at her friend seriously. “I’m cool. Please, AJ, go ahead. Why aren’t the Apples country royalty, and why do you think I should care?”

Applejack tilted her hat in gratitude for the undivided attention, then reached up to loosely grip her truck’s steering wheel. “All right. I suppose to start, you know my Ma passed from breast cancer, right?”

Sunset nodded. “Yes, I remember when you told me.” It had been the summer before senior year. Applejack had invited her to join her family and their friends for dinner to mark Pear Butter’s birthday. It was a low-key day meant to celebrate their late mother. That was the first time Sunset got to participate since her reformation. She’d missed the one the year before because she’d still been evil at the time. The dinner was grand, like a holiday dinner, and the memories of Pear Butter flowed like golden cider:

The family feud with the Pears that had nearly kept her parents apart. That time Pear had to climb onto the roof to get the family rooster. The day her mother realized that Born in the USA wasn’t a patriotic song. The glorious victory she shared with Applejack at the county fair’s three-legged race.

The gathering was about recounting what a beautiful person and an excellent mother Pear Butter had been, all whilst enjoying some of her favorite foods. Cinnamon pear and apple crisp. Apple chicken sausages. Wild rice salad with thinly sliced apples and chopped pecans.

Applejack ran her hand over her steering wheel as she turned her head to peer down the street. There was no one in sight, and further up the road large brick buildings loomed with faded advertisements painted onto their sides from the Industrial era.

“My mama’s passing was hard on my Pa,” she murmured, her mind’s eye vividly recalling Bright Mac’s sunken face as they buried her. “They was madly in love, always doing sweet things for one another, hugging and kissing and carrying on. I don’t think I ever saw them fight about a damn thing. They were the perfect couple.”

Applejack chewed on the inside of her lower lip before continuing. “I think when the docs told my Ma that she didn’t have much time left, my Pa didn’t want to believe it. He was certain she’d beat it. That she had years, not months, to live.”

She sighed, shifting her hat further back on her head so that when she let her head tilt to rest against the back of her seat, the top of it mashed in but remained in place. This was a secret only since their friends and peers weren’t aware of the details. For a while, it was the hot goss out in the rural areas surrounding Canterlot City. She supposed people still remembered. She hoped they didn’t. “Bright Mac fell apart after Pear Butter passed. He… started drinking a lot. He stayed out at the bars. Granny Smith became the one to put us young’uns to bed.” Applejack squinted her eyes. “I can still remember staying up late, hearing her pleading with him in the middle of the night when he’d come home stumblin’ drunk. ‘Mac, Pear’s gone, but you still got your children! They need their daddy!’”

Applejack ran her tongue over her teeth and smacked her lips. “Usually after Granny would lay into him, he’d start tryin’ again. Y’know, being an actual parent. He’d clean up. Swear he’d lay off the sauce.” She frowned and shook her head. “The longest he’d managed was a month before he went back to the bars.”

“That sounds really difficult,” she heard Sunset murmur. She looked over at the other girl to see her friend’s eyes tensed with compassion and sympathy. “Was it… kind of like Big Mac?” she asked with a quick grimace. “Sorry. Maybe that’s not appropriate to ask.”

Applejack swiped a hand through the air. “No, I don’t mind.” She nodded once. “To answer your question… Yeah. It was kinda like Big Mac’s drinkin’. ‘Cept Pa went to the bars more, and Big Macintosh is more of a homebody.” Her eyebrows lifted. How had she not seen that connection? “Huh. Weird that I never noticed that before.”

Sunset fingered her leather chaps as she let her gaze dance back and forth between this task and Applejack’s face. “So did Bright Mac pass from something related to his drinking?”

Applejack smirked. “Sorta.” She licked her lips and slid down her seat a little so that her knees pushed out far enough to press against the underside of her truck’s dashboard. “You see, the drinking made my Pa into a different person. He never lost his temper with us, but he sure would blow his top at the bar.”

She placed her hands on her stomach and drummed her fingers. “My Pa got into a few fights. Other times he’d get arrested for being drunk in public. Big Mac had to watch my sister and me while Granny went and bailed him out.”

Sunset drew her legs up and hugged them to her chest. Her lips pressed thin. “How did you feel when that happened? Were you scared?”

Applejack glanced at her. “For my Pa? Sure. Mostly I was just mad at him. It was like… Okay. I lost my mama. Now my pop’s gone and lost his mind. It felt unfair because Ma was good and buried. Pa was alive, but he was out there throwin’ hands with any feller that’d look at him sideways. He couldn’t handle bein’ without her. It felt like he forgot what he was to us.”

“I’m sorry,” Sunset breathed. Her forehead was wrinkled as she gazed quietly at her friend. “That’s such a painful thing to think about when you’re just a kid.”

A crease appeared at the corner of Applejack’s nostril, lifting her upper lip in a disdainful curl, before this smoothed away almost as quickly as it came. “I know it ain’t a contest, but it weren’t the worst thing. I knew my Pa still loved us. He just… had trouble doin’ his fatherly duty, if that makes sense. He wanted to scrap with the world instead. Then one night, he picked the wrong fight.”

Sunset’s eyes widened a little. “What happened?” Her voice was hushed.

Applejack looked over at her. Her eyes searched the other girl’s features–the sad curve of her lips, the dull gleam of the dashboard clock reflecting off her moist eyes, the casual and yet vulnerable way she curled up in her seat…

Why, oh why, had she failed to see what a tremendous person Sunset was? She’d forgiven the girl long ago for her past acts, including all the painful insults and the attempt to break up their friends. Had she just been blinded by her love of Fluttershy?

Applejack tried to swallow but found her mouth was dry. She tried again anyway, and her throat muscles moved with effort. It was only now that she realized she hadn’t ever said these words aloud. “My Pa got into a fight with a cowpoke named Dusty Trails. He’d come in for the rodeo from Texas. Apparently, he was some up-and-comer in the bull-riding circuit. Well, Dusty took great exception to my Pa’s lip, so whilst they was both loaded up on whiskey, he took out a revolver and shot Pa dead.”

Sunset flinched, then turned her face into her knees. “Oh no.”

Applejack sighed yet again. “Eyup.” She toyed with a button on her vest. “He died at the bar. Bled out a’fore the paramedics could patch ‘im up. Dusty panicked and hoofed it out of there, pronto.”

When their house had gotten the call late that night, Granny’s scream had sent Applejack tumbling out of bed. She’d been eight years old, dressed in a green PJ set with wild mustangs on the shirt. Big Mac had emerged from his room too, shirtless and his red hair sticking up in the back.

They found their grandmother weeping desolately on the kitchen floor, the corded phone clutched to her chest as the curly cord strained to stay connected to the wall-mounted phone base.

Applejack tried to swallow again and found it difficult for entirely different reasons. “Granny Smith was heartbroken, o’ course. Next day it took me, Mac, and AB to hold her down. Dusty was still on the loose, and she wasn’t havin’ it.”

She squinted her eyes as the memory of her grandmother wielding a double-barreled shotgun flashed across her mind. They’d struggled with her on her bed, and she’d hollered at them to let her go. Applejack had held the older woman’s thick legs while her brother wrestled the shotgun from her. Apple Bloom, crying, had sat on Granny’s chest.

“She was ready to get her revenge on that cowpoke for takin’ her only son. But we begged and begged her. ‘Granny, you’re all we got now!’” Her words hitched, and Applejack squeezed her eyes shut.

She hadn’t cried about this for years. She wouldn’t start up again now. Weed be damned.

“They caught the man who killed your father, though, right?” Sunset asked with a tiny voice. She was looking at Applejack again. Her face was drawn tight with her sympathy.

Applejack nodded. With a grunt, she pushed herself back up her seat so that her spine was no longer in an L-shape. That position had started aching her back. “Yeah, the cowpoke turned himself in late the next day and confessed to all of it.” She punched a hand into her waiting fist and stared through her steering wheel. “Granny let us all go to court with her for his sentencing. She said she wanted us to know that justice was real, even if it weren’t perfect.”

Her ears tickled with the phantom memory of the gavel being struck. The judge, high up in his seat, peered shrewdly down at Dusty Trails. The disgraced cowboy had short-cropped periwinkle blue hair, cactus green eyes, and a tattoo of a starry desert night on his left forearm. She’d never seen him dressed in anything but an orange jumpsuit. The young man, only twenty at the time, looked haggard and sorrowful as the judge handed him his sentence.

“Ol’ Dusty got twenty-five years with the possibility of parole. I ain’t never seen Granny so mad. She’d wanted him to get more than that.” Applejack actually chuckled a little, her chin tucking as she recalled her then-portly grandmother hootin’ and hollerin’ outside of the courthouse. When she quieted, she swiped at her nose and gripped her steering wheel again. “Me? I was just glad he was going to prison at all. There are plenty of killers who get off light, but at least this one had enough honor in him to turn around and take responsibility for what he did. From what I learned about Dusty later, he coulda vanished off to Mexico and never been found again. He didn’t. I have to give ‘im props for that.”

“Are you still angry at him?” Sunset asked, letting her legs slip back off her seat so that she could lean heavily on her knees. “I would be.”

Applejack considered the question with puckered lips. After a moment, she slowly shook her head. “No… Not anymore.” Her eyebrows lifted. “I used to be.” She shrugged, her head rocking with the motion. “Dusty was a kid at the time, not much older than we are now. He was drunk, and I know my Pa could act a fool when he got into his cups, too.”

“Is that why you don’t like drinking outside of the farm?” Sunset asked with a small frown. Her eyes widened. “Wait, is that why you wanted to come with me tonight? Even though Gold Fang has it out for me?”

Applejack gave her a pursed smile. “Part of it. I also just care a ton about ya, Sunset.”

Sunset held her eyes for a while. After a moment, she smiled. “You’re a good friend.”

Applejack’s lips flared wider. “You too.” She let her hand slip off the steering wheel to slap against her own thigh. “Welp! That’s the sordid tale. I swear the whole damn county knew about it at the time.” She bit her lip. Should she say the next part? It was related, after all.

What was she thinking, of course she should say.

Almost reluctantly, her mouth began to move. The words came almost in a slow slur, “That’s… how I met the others. A gaggle of kids was makin’ fun of me and Apple Bloom for havin’ a drunk dad. They called us white trash.” She rolled her eyes. “They was doing this in full view of their parents, too. It was common knowledge amongst the country folk what happened to my family. They didn’t say a word about the bullying.” Applejack smirked. “Then Rainbow Dash showed up outta the blue and stuck up for us.”

She chuckled roughly, recalling her brash friend shouting herself hoarse as insult after insult streamed from her mouth. The bullies, a trio of boys who she couldn’t even recall the names of, had cowered from the diminutive rainbow-haired girl. Her chuckles quieted as she recalled what happened next. “While Dashie was doing that, Fluttershy came over and just kinda… hugged me and AB. She didn’t introduce herself or say much past ‘Sorry’. She held on till Granny came back from what she’d been doing.” She shook her head, her smile turning crooked. “This all happened at a park, mind you. Not at school. I’d never seen those two before in my life. Granny had taken me and my siblings there to try and cheer us up on the one-year anniversary of my Pa’s passing. She was busy getting ice creams with Big Mac while all the hoopla happened.”

“I’m glad they were there to help you,” Sunset remarked with a little smile. “Is that how you guys became friends?”

Applejack shook her head. “No. Not right away. I didn’t see ‘em again till we started at Canterlot Middle a couple years later.” She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. “I never forgot what they did for me that day, though. When I saw ‘em again, I was real happy. Rainbow needed time to recall who I was, but once she did it was like we’d always been friends and never stopped. But Fluttershy she… she remembered me. Clear as day.”

Sunset’s eyes tensed, her lips pressing together. “She has a big heart. I’m sure she never forgot how much those boys had hurt you.”

Applejack punched at her steering wheel lightly. “Yeah…” She scratched at her cheek. “In fact, it was Shy who made it possible for me to forgive Dusty in the first place,” Applejack went on quietly. “This was in eighth grade. Ol’ Dusty was up for a parole hearing again, and I was rippin’ mad. None of the others could figure out why I was so darned moody that day. Y’know what Fluttershy told me?”

“What?” Sunset prompted softly.

“She said, ‘Applejack, I’m ever so sorry that you’re feeling upset today. Whatever is the matter, please remember that you’re too kind and too strong to let anything hold you back.’”

Sunset’s eyebrows lifted. “Wow.”

Applejack let out a short laugh. “Eyup.”

Sunset bent over, leaning her elbows on her knees as she stared through the dashboard. “Wow,” she said again, blinking slowly. “Fluttershy’s always been secretly based, hasn’t she?”

Instead of speaking, Applejack just bobbed her head in a big goofy nod. Yes. Fluttershy had always been a soft voice, but she’d also been frighteningly good at cutting to the heart of the matter when speaking her mind. Maybe she’d learned to do that because of how little people minded her. If Applejack had trouble getting others' attention the way their shy friend did, she supposed she’d learn to say what she needed to with as few words as possible too.

“She did the same to me the other day, about Capper,” Sunset murmured. “She reminded me that my redemption had only been possible because others had given me a chance.” The redhead turned her head to look at Applejack. Her cyan eyes were sharp, commanding the cowgirl’s hair to stand on end. “I can see why you like her.” Her voice was soft and bright…

…But the words felt so distancing.

Applejack felt her body tighten, and she looked away. She didn’t know what to say, so she didn’t bother. She felt self-conscious of the fact that she’d brought up her crush in the first place, but like Sunset’s reluctance to relate the tales of how she’d been shot, she supposed airing out dirty laundry wasn’t finished till you’d pulled out every rotten stinking sock.

There was a beat of silence. Applejack wondered helplessly if she’d killed the mood. Not so much with the story of her father, but more because she’d brought up Fluttershy. She’d seen the dismay that crossed Sunset’s face when she’d reacted to their friend’s name earlier. Did it make Applejack pathetic that she’d never forgotten the soft touch of Fluttershy’s embrace? The silky feel of her pink hair? The gentleness of her big blue eyes? She’d been taller back then at the park, and she’d slouched to compensate. But when she drew in for that hug… The shy girl had unfurled, like a flower going into bloom.

That pretty sight had stayed with Applejack until they’d reunited much later.

“Thank you for sharing that with me, AJ,” Sunset said quietly. Her words were stronger now. “That must’ve been difficult.”

Applejack looked at her sidelong as she shrugged her mouth. “Heck, telling it wasn’t so bad.”

Sunset leaned back and crossed her arms. “So you think your father’s death marred your family’s honor or something?”

“In the eyes of the county, yeah I s’pose so.”

This earned a scoff from Sunset. “Gossipy people are not worth listening to.” She looked earnestly at her. “Your family may not be country royalty, but you’re all still plenty awesome to me, Applejack.”

The cowgirl could feel her face burn and she nervously tapped a quick rhythm on her steering wheel with her index fingers. “That’s kind of you, Sunset. But I just want you to remember. Every time you’re with me and you’re feeling like me and my kin have it all figured out… well, we don’t. And I don’t think we ever did.”

Sunset watched her quietly for a moment before smiling. “Okay.”

Author's Note

The song referenced in the chapter does not belong to me. It's Little Black Submarines from the Black Keys.

Chapter 8

Sunset watched as Applejack turned to gaze ahead at the empty lot with her eyes at half-mast. Her friend had gone through such an intense series of tragedies as a child, but to have the community turn on her like that? No wonder the other girl had so much concern for what others thought. The graceless manner in which Bright Mac had passed had brought a lot of scrutiny on the Apples. Cruel and unfair scrutiny. Sunset’s blood boiled to think of those parents at the park that day, watching as they allowed their children to taunt Applejack and Apple Bloom on the anniversary of their father’s passing. People could be so cruel.

Though Sunset supposed she’d done far worse. It was always important to remember that every jerk could pull a heel turn and be a decent person again. It didn’t always happen, but it could happen, and that was the thing to keep in mind. She hated to think of disparaging someone about to start their path to redemption.

And such a long, long road that was!

It had been at least four years since Sunset had changed, and here she was with so much to answer for, still. She wished she could shorten the list.

Then her eyes lit up with the kind of dizzy inspiration one experienced whilst high on weed.

“Woah. I just had a crazy idea,” she said with a hushed voice.

She saw Applejack glance at her out of the corner of her eye. She had the air of someone being roused out of deep thoughts. “Yeah? About what?”

Sunset looked at her with an eager smile. “I think I know how to make things up to that old store owner I stole from!” She ran a hand through her hair. “I had some cash fall into my lap, so I was thinking I could pay back what I stole that day. Hopefully, the man is still alive, at least,” Sunset finished with crossed fingers.

“Where’d you get this money you keep mentioning anyhow?” Applejack asked. She had a cigarette in her hand, and after she rolled down the window a crack, she lit it.

Sunset grinned. She enjoyed the numb heavy feeling that came over her as she stared glassily through the windshield at the vacant lot. Kojote’s weed gave a good body high. She could even feel it in her teeth. “One of my lovers gave it to me,” Sunset admitted without thinking. She chomped her mouth a few times, just to test. Hmm. Her gums were tingly. Her teeth feeling funny made sense then, she supposed.

Applejack choked on her cigarette, coughing and hacking over her steering wheel, sending smoke everywhere. “Lovers?” she gasped. Sunset could see her look at her anxiously from the corner of her eye.

She turned and looked at her, frowning. She had been trying not to tell Applejack, hadn’t she? Why did she blurt that out?

Her eyebrows lifted. Oh. Right. I’m reeeeeeally high.

“Yeah, I have people I like to sleep with,” she said with a small blush. Did she feel ashamed? Not really. A little self-conscious that she had to utter that sentence, maybe, but the feeling was fleeting. She had already figured Applejack would need to know at some point. She just would have preferred saying it differently.

“This lover I’ve been seeing for a while just knew I was having some issues, so they insisted on giving me some cash as a gift. This is the first time they’ve done that.” She said this all so casually. So matter-of-fact.

It was just as well, she’d probably be handling this a lot less calmly if she were sober. And how else did you talk about this sort of thing, anyway? Was she supposed to hem and haw about it? Beg her friend to not think poorly of her?

It felt hard to feel overly bashful after admitting to being a child prostitute.

Applejack blinked thickly at her. She seemed to need to take a moment to process this information, so she took an extra long drag on her cigarette. The truck cab was so quiet the sound of the tobacco leaves crackling under the embers sounded loud. “How many people you sleeping with?” she finally asked. She had the energy of someone who very much wanted to look at the person next to them but was trying to play it off as if the empty lot was somehow more interesting.

Sunset considered the question like a cat confronting some strange new box in their territory. Was her friend asking purely out of platonic curiosity, or…? She decided to test this. Why not? Hadn’t she recognized the unrivaled calm the weed was giving her? Better not to squander the bravado being poured into her with useless second-guessing.

She reached over and rubbed Applejack’s back. “Six,” she answered simply. Like telling the time.

Applejack exhaled her smoke harshly, a stunned smile on her lips. “Where in tarnation do you even find the time?”

Sunset chuckled. Applejack joined her, grinning crookedly.

“I don’t see them all constantly at once or anything,” Sunset explained gently. “It’s pretty open and casual. If they’re free, they’re free, if not, whatever. I just go to the next name on my list. Nothing happens if I’m not in the mood.” Most of the time, anyway. She thought of Kojote, of all the ways he toyed with her time and her consent.

She sighed inwardly. I need to break up with him.

“So when you say casual, you mean–” Applejack broke off as she dropped her cigarette through the open window crack and rolled her window up all the way. The cigarette hadn't even burned halfway through, but the cowgirl didn't seem interested in a nicotine hit anymore.

“We just have sex.” Sunset let her hand trail up her friend’s back. Her fingers grazed over the rough jean fabric just over the shoulder. Applejack rolled hers like she could shrug off her growing tension, but all she succeeded in doing was releasing the shiver she'd been containing. Sunset felt a little thrill pierce through her haze as she kept going, right up the side of her friend’s hot neck.

She touched Applejack’s earlobe. When she spoke, it was soft. “We might go on a date if we have nothing to do, but that doesn’t happen often. Usually, it’s just sex. We even follow some simple rules to keep it from getting too…” She traced Applejack’s earlobe with her finger and held the other girl’s eyes. “Emotional,” she finally breathed.

The rules weren’t written down or anything. It was just something she had come up with over time with her other lovers' input. She could almost recite them if asked. They went as follows:

Rule number one, no kissing. Rule number two, no asking about other lovers. Rule number three, no family meetings. Rule number four, no dates at big functions. Rule number five, no big romantic gestures.

So simple and yet so encompassing, these rules had kept Sunset's love life from getting out of control. She told herself to say them aloud. To share them with Applejack so that she would know how close she could get.

Sunset kept quiet.

Applejack caught Sunset’s hand and sat back. She didn’t let go. “And yer partners, are they…are they all just men, or…?” her voice sounded choked like she was afraid to even hope.

Sunset leaned her head against the headrest, her smile curling. “No,” she murmured.

Applejack’s eyes widened. She looked down at Sunset’s hand, still gripped in hers. Her thumb caressed Sunset’s skin, making her heart speed up.

Applejack looked at Sunset with tensed eyes. “What are we doing here, Sun?” she asked quietly.

Sunset smirked and slid closer to her on the seat. “Nothing anyone doesn’t want to.”

Applejack’s brow creased. “And what do you want?”

“I want you to have fun with me,” Sunset said with a grin, inching even closer. Their shoulders were nearly touching now.

“For you,” Applejack said, her eyes briefly closing in suffering. “What do you want jes' for yourself, Sunset?”

“I think I gave an answer, AJ,” Sunset said, her grin fading. She delicately touched Applejack’s jean vest, one finger toying with a button. “But if you’d like a different answer, another thing that I want is for you to dance with me.” She tugged a little on the jean fabric.

“Sunset you know I’m in the closet,” Applejack returned, her voice low but quavering. “No one knows about me. If I do that out there–”

“So you’d do it somewhere else where no one could see?” Sunset asked with a raised eyebrow. She turned in her seat so that she was facing Applejack full on, and with a little flirt of her eyelashes, she lightly placed her chin on her friend’s shoulder.

Even in the dark, she could see Applejack’s skin color with a deep blush. “Um…”

“Applejack, you saw the people in the pub right now.” All this time the other girl hadn’t released her hold on her. She put her other hand over Applejack’s. “I don’t think anyone you know is in there, and if they were they probably wouldn’t give a damn, anyway. They’ll be too busy getting drunk, getting head, and enjoying the music to give a crap what we’re doing.”

“And this is all you want to do with me, Sunset Shimmer?” came the pained reply. “Dance? Cuz I ain’t up for playing games.”

Sunset’s eyebrows lifted a little and she gave a small shake of her head. “No.” She looked at Applejack’s parted mouth. “That’s not all I want to do with you.”

Don’t do it.

Rule number one is at the top of the list for a reason, Sunset.

You’ll regret it. You both will.

It was so very tiring being so goddamn careful all of the goddamn time.

Her eyes lifted back to Applejack’s green gaze. “May I kiss you?” she whispered.

A violent tremble went through Applejack. She finally let go of Sunset to pull her hat off her head and pressed it to her chest. She licked her lips and gripped the steering wheel with her other hand, wringing it.

“Yes,” she answered quietly.

Applejack’s heart pounded painfully in her throat. She tried to keep her breathing even, but she was having trouble with a simple pattern of breathing in and out. Sunset brushed noses with her before gently pressing her forehead into Applejack’s. It was no use. Applejack just sucked in air, her lungs filling with Sunset’s sultry perfume, and waited for her whole world to change.

Sunset’s hand rested on Applejack’s cheek, her soft fingers gently caressing before slipping down to touch just under the chin. Sunset tilted her head forward, and just like that, their lips met, feather-light. Almost tickling.

Such a small, small touch and it made Applejack feel like she’d received a jolt from one of Twilight's science machines.

Then came the next pass of Sunset’s mouth, and it was a firmer brush. She was testing. God, why was she testing?! Was she trying to make Applejack crack??

The cowgirl’s grip on the steering wheel tightened as her eyes fell shut. Her head swam. Her entire body felt warm and her heartbeat wasn’t just in her throat, now it was all through her. Every quivering limb, every aching bit of flesh. It was so strong, she fretted that Sunset could feel it pulsing through her lips.

But Sunset gave no indication she sensed anything of the sort. She just pressed in closer, her soft mouth caressing against hers. They were so moist and warm.

Applejack started to feel lightheaded. She finally released the breath she’d been holding in one anxious exhale. She felt self-conscious that she hadn’t let it out slower. She couldn’t think of anything less attractive than having your kissing partner blow into your mouth like a damn leaf blower. “Sorry,” she whispered shakily before the word was swallowed up by another soft kiss.

Sunset lingered there, chuckling throatily, before she parted enough to murmur, “Don’t worry about it. I’m more worried about you. Are you okay?”

Applejack was only now aware of the fact that she’d smashed her hat to her chest, her fingers like claws. She tried to make her hand relax. It took some effort. “I just…uh…” she searched Sunset’s face trying to get her vision to focus. The moonlight was coming over her shoulder just enough to highlight Sunset’s right eye. It was filled with kindness and concern. Thickly, she managed to say, “I haven’t kissed anyone in a while. Like two years.”

Not since the night of her last rodeo.

“Mmm.” Sunset pecked her lips and Applejack’s heart did a little flip at the sudden wet contact. “Wanna know something funny?” she asked. She buried her hand in Applejack’s hair and massaged her scalp a little, making Applejack sigh.

Sunset bit her lip as she smiled. She leaned in and whispered into Applejack’s ear. “It’s been three since I’ve kissed at all.” She shifted back enough to be able to take in the reaction to this news.

Applejack’s eyebrows rose, her eyes snapping wide open as she looked at her, stunned. “Three–??”

Sunset pulled her toward her by the back of her head, her lips pressing against Applejack’s mouth, effectively ceasing her. The cowgirl stilled, her eyes fluttering closed again, before she let go of the steering wheel, tossed her hat aside, and grabbed Sunset with both arms wrapping around her, pulling her in closer. Her bandaged arm stung briefly from the pressure, but she ignored it. A little pain she could handle if it meant holding on to this…

Sunset slid a leg over Applejack, straddling her. Applejack’s breathing hitched, her hands going to Sunset’s curvy waist. She wasn't heavy at all, and she was so warm.

Sunset held her by the face with both hands as she kissed Applejack, still soft, still tender, like she was afraid of hurting or scaring her. Her body arched into hers. Their bosoms pressed together, and Applejack gasped, her hands squeezing Sunset’s hips before slipping up under her jacket, over that heated soft skin, to press a needy hand in the middle of her bare back.

Don’t let ‘er go, came the delirious thought. Jes’ hold on, before it all slips away forever.

High as she was, it felt like she was caught in some kind of waking dream. Any moment, she was certain she’d open her eyes and things would be normal again.

Lonely and cold.

She wanted to stay here, in this pleasant fantasy, where the shadows weren’t her enemies and the light didn’t judge her.

She wanted to bask in the mysterious in-between with Sunset Shimmer.

But if this wasn’t real and harsh reality was going to make its hated return, then she’d be a fool to pass up on the chance to squeeze this juicy apple-bottomed girl where she was ripest before she lost the chance forever.

Applejack sank her fingers into Sunset’s round ass, pushing up into her soft mouth with a brazen challenge. She wasn’t made of lace. She didn’t need coddling. She wanted more before it was too late. Sunset squealed a little, then laughed from her chest, but she followed Applejack’s suggestion with enthusiasm, their lips pressing more heatedly. It bruised, even.

Then Sunset tasted her lips with her tongue, and Applejack’s breathing stuttered once more as she opened her mouth and their tongues met and swirled with gusto, a passion just shy of outright quarreling. Sunset tasted like a heady mixture of beer, weed, and cigarettes. Applejack loved it. It was so far from any of her expectations of what kissing a girl would be.

It was so far away and different from anything Fluttershy would ever taste like.

She flinched and pulled away suddenly, gasping for breath. She turned her head and cursed herself. She hadn’t meant to think of the other girl. She hated how reflexive it was. When would she stop being plagued by this useless pining?

But maybe she was a greater fool than she thought. After all, did she really think messing around with someone else was going to eradicate years of unrequited love?

Sunset, not deterred by the abrupt change in her friend, just laid a trail of kisses along Applejack’s jaw to her ear.

“Hey,” she panted there. Her hot breath tickled as she braced herself on the seat's backrest. “Applejack, do you… Do you want to…?”

Applejack squeezed her eyes shut, waiting for the question she knew she wouldn’t be able to refuse.

“Do you want to get some nachos?”

Applejack’s eyes popped open. Slowly she looked at Sunset. “Nachos?” she repeated thickly, her brow wrinkled with confusion.

Sunset grinned sheepishly. “Yeah! I’m starving! Aren’t you??”

Applejack took a moment to sift through her overwhelming horniness to consider the question seriously. She looked at Sunset, surprised. “Yeah! I am!”

Sunset patted her shoulder with a sympathetic nod then, rather gracelessly, she toppled to the side in a frantic scramble for the passenger door. “Let’s go order some before the pub’s kitchen closes!” she grunted. She managed to get the door open, then yelped when her grip slipped off the handle and she toppled headfirst from the truck, out of sight.

Applejack bolted upright. “Leapin' lizards!! You okay?!”

She let out a breath of relief when Sunset thrust a thumbs up from the ground. “Yep!” Sunset laughed, before standing to her feet with a wince. Her hair was disheveled. She rubbed her shoulder as her other hand dug into her coat pocket. “Ow…”

Applejack leaned on her steering wheel and dropped her face into her hand, laughing. Just like that, the tension was gone from her. How was it that Sunset could be so incredibly self-possessed and yet adorably dorky at the same time? She reached to pick her hat up off the floor. When she looked back at Sunset, it was to see her friend lighting up another cigarette. Here, Applejack paused.

She’d just kissed her friend.

She let that thought just exist for a while, not exploring it or challenging it in any way. That seemed enough for now. It was pretty incredible on its own without any further examination.

Applejack climbed out of the truck, throwing the door shut. She hurried to join Sunset on the sidewalk, and together they walked quickly back to Pandora’s. She eyed her companion on the way. Sunset seemed content to just smoke her cigarette for now. How was she so at ease?

The thought came again, and it had grown on its own.

Applejack had just kissed her friend and she’d loved it.

“It’s the weed,” Sunset said suddenly as if guessing at her friend's thoughts. She looked at Applejack and her lips spread in a shadowy smile. “It can give you the munchies really bad.”

“Makes sense,” Applejack said non-commitally. She looked down at her cowboy boots clicking over the cement. She looked at Sunset again and thumbed over her shoulder, “What doesn’t make sense is where in tarnation that came from.”

Sunset tucked an arm under her breasts, and this she used to prop up her smoking arm. Her hand was limp-wristed. She ashed the cigarette before bringing it back to her lips in what could only be described as the most girly way possible.

“Well,” Sunset said as she exhaled her smoke high into the air. She shrugged her shoulders. “To me, it makes perfect sense.”

Applejack chortled a little. “Oh, yeah? How so?”

Sunset looked at her carefully. “I’ve seen how much you give and care for the people in your life.” She turned over a hand and jutted a lip as if to say, I could stop there if I wanted to. But she didn’t. She kept going. “It's beautiful. And even though setbacks hurt, you don’t let that stop you. Ever,” she murmured. Her lips pulled back in a faraway smile. “And your honesty? It’s beyond admirable. I don’t think I’ve ever met someone as amazingly authentic as you.” A passing car’s headlights lit up the mischievous glint that had suddenly taken over her eyes. “And you look really good in a pair of tight jeans,” she added, laughter evident in her voice.

Applejack wiped at her mouth, her cheeks warming. “That’s alot!” She scratched at her neck. “I suppose I dunno what to say.”

“You can tell me what a good kisser I am,” Sunset said playfully with a little toss of her hair.

Applejack doffed her hat, her smile turning crooked as she bowed a little. Some of her sunflower blonde hair spilled over her shoulder. “I think you already know that, darling,” she said silkily.

Sunset blew a loud wet raspberry and gave her friend a small shove. "After three whole years, my technique is sloppy, but I'll just bask in the fact that you're giving me your honest opinion anyway," she giggled.

Applejack feigned shock as she returned her hat to her head. "What? You mean to tell me my word is being taken with a grain of salt?"

Sunset winked at her. "AJ you keep my life well-seasoned!”

Applejack slapped a hand to her heart. “Lord help me over the fence!”

They both cracked up in another haze of laughter.

When they made it back to Pandora’s Box, the bouncer let them in thanks to their ink stamps. Sunset took hold of Applejack’s hand and guided her to the bar. Applejack smiled, feeling happy in the dreamiest sense.

The bar wasn’t as crowded as earlier since more people were pressing in toward the stage. Sunset found a spot for them both to stand side-by-side. The opening band was still performing. The crowd seemed to appreciate them, but the house wasn’t getting rowdy yet. That enthusiasm was being solidly reserved for Red Rooster.

“Mocking bird
Can't you see?
Little girls
Gotta hold on me like glue
Baby, I'm howlin' for you
Yeah!”

Sunset tried to flag Sherry down, but the bartender pointed a warning finger at her and glared. “I told you that was it! Don’t go tryin’ the other bartender either, I already told ‘em you’re cut off for drinks, y’hear?”

“But I want nachos and water!” Sunset whined loudly with several uncharacteristically childish stomps of her boots. She even pushed out a fat bottom lip.

Applejack raised a finger, a bemused look on her face. “Sure would like a water too, please.”

Sherry raised a suspicious eyebrow at them, her gaze flickering back and forth. Finally, she nodded and said, “All right. But I’m watching you!”

“Thank you!” Sunset called after her in as sweet a voice as possible. She looked at Applejack and beamed. “Phew! Looks like we made it in time. Is your mouth dry, too?”

Applejack nodded, her tongue smacking in her mouth. Her mouth was drier than the Mojave. She remembered others mentioning that some weed could do that.

“The water will help,” Sunset said, patting her hand. Her touch lingered long after the action was done.

Applejack gazed down at Sunset’s hand over hers. Her heart sped up a little and she glanced around quickly to see if anyone was looking.

Sunset’s touch went away.

“Hey,” Sunset said, leaning in so that she could be heard over the band. Applejack met her eyes reluctantly. “Are you still nervous that you might get outed?”

“A little,” Applejack admitted with a grimace. “I mean, I hear what you’re saying. You’re right. It doesn’t look like anybody who would know me is here. But it’s just…not normal for me, you know?”

“It isn’t really for me either,” Sunset said with a sympathetic look. “Most of the time, I’m not out in public with my partners.” She flashed a little grin. “I just have a hard time keeping my hands to myself with you. But I can try and behave better.”

“How’d you get into doing that, anyhow? The whole multiple lovers thing,” Applejack asked, her face burning. So all those times when Sunset had touched her before… “Is there a website or something?”

“No websites,” Sunset said with a smirk. “What I do is just feel people out. Do they seem like they want something serious? Are they interested in me? Can they keep a secret?” She shrugged. “That’s all.”

Applejack leaned on the bar. Licking her lips, she asked haltingly, “Would it be too nosy if I asked who–?”

Sunset was already shaking her head. “Sorry, AJ. Part of what makes my relationships work is discretion. Besides, wouldn’t it be a little distracting every time you met someone who vaguely fit my description?”

Applejack pouted. “I suppose.”

The band finished another song. There was applause as the frontman thanked the crowd.

Sunset smiled wolfishly and leaned in to whisper in her ear. “If you just want to know what we get up to in the bedroom, that’s a different story…”

Applejack looked to the ceiling and said a quick prayer. She didn’t really do that anymore, having quit the church, but she figured she could use a little help before she made a fool of herself.

“Order’s ready!” she heard Sherry Kiss call. The nachos and drinks were placed in front of them.

Oh, yes. Apples appreciated a well-timed interruption.

“Awesome! I’m beyond hungry,” Sunset said, pulling a cheesy nacho from the paper tray. She took a ravenous bite of it, cheese sauce dripping onto her chest. “Ah!” she exclaimed, trying to blow heat from her mouth in a sudden panic. “It’s hot!”

Applejack laughed at her. “Girl, you look like you haven’t eaten for days!” She pointed awkwardly at her chest. “Uh, you got some down there…”

Sunset blinked owlishly and looked down. “Oh!” She looked coquettishly at Applejack. “Do you want to get it?”

Applejack felt herself light on fire and covered her face with her hand. She knew Sunset was confident and comfortable with her body, but if she kept this up, Applejack was going to die.

She felt Sunset tap her shoulder and peeked through her fingers. Her friend was grinning impishly at her. “I got it,” she said with a wink. She tossed the used-up napkin onto the bar counter.

Her legs felt weak, so Applejack pulled over a barstool and sat heavily on it. She shook her head at Sunset, “Sugarcube, if you want me to have a heart attack, trust me, you ain’t gotta do half as much as that.”

“Am I being too much?”

Applejack leaned on the bar and rested her temple on her fist. After a moment of gazing at her friend, she smirked. “Nah. You’re just about right.”

Sunset bit her lip and smiled. She pushed over the nacho tray. “Want some?”

Applejack licked her lips. “Don’t mind if I do.” She snagged a large nacho covered in cheese sauce. This she carefully ate and licked her fingers clean.

Meanwhile, Sunset pulled up a large stack of cheesy nachos and consumed them ravenously. Between the two of them, the nachos were gone in less than a minute.

Sherry, who was mixing a drink nearby, eyed Sunset with reproach. “Girl, how you gonna look so cute, then act so ratchet? Don’t you got any sense of decorum?”

“That would require me to take myself seriously!” Sunset returned unabashedly. She wiped cheese sauce from the corner of her mouth with her thumb, then licked it clean. Using the same thumb, she pointed at herself. “As a rule, I try not to.”

Applejack shook her head at her friend as she grabbed her glass and raised it to the bartender. “I appreciate the drink, miss,” she told Sherry. She took a big gulp. It felt really good to wet her mouth.

Sherry leaned on the bar and smiled at her. “You’re Applejack, right?”

She blinked at Sherry as she set her glass back down. “Sure am.”

“You go to school with Sunset?”

Applejack nodded, smiling politely. She didn’t know where this conversation was going. Apparently, neither did Sunset. After finishing a drink from her water glass, she rapped the bar loudly and raised an eyebrow when Sherry looked her way.

“What are you up to?” Sunset asked her with squinted eyes.

Sherry held her hands up. “I’m just chatting up my customers!”

“You don’t even work here!”

Sherry looked at her as if she were crazy. “Don’t mean the tips ain’t good!”

“Yeah, Sunset and I go to the same university,” Applejack interjected. “But we been friends since about junior year of high school.” She pointed between her friend and the bartender. “Can I ask how ya’ll met?”

“At a different bar,” Sherry said as Applejack spied Sunset dropping her forehead to the counter with a thud she could feel through the polished wood. “She had snuck in through the back and tried using the exact same card she’s carrying now.”

Sunset raised her head and leaned in with a scowl. “Keep your voice down!” she hissed.

Sherry leaned on the bar and kissed her lips at her. Their faces weren’t that far apart. “Or what?” she purred back.

Sunset tried to glare at her but it was a losing battle. She couldn’t keep the smile off her lips. “You want to tell her about us, don’t you?” she asked with a slow shake of her head.

Sherry fanned herself, her mouth opening in feigned shock. “Whaaat?” Her eyes slid over to Applejack, making the cowgirl sit up straighter as the heat crawled up her neck. “I mean…if you’re sharing…”

“You’re awful,” Sunset said, but laughter rumbled deep in her throat. “And the answer is no!”

Sherry pouted, her eyes going up and down Applejack. “Why don’t we ask your friend?”

Applejack didn’t need any more clues to get what was happening, though she was surprised she hadn’t melted down to the floor yet. She could hardly believe what she was hearing.

“Ahem…” she held up a shaking hand. “I’m, uh… I’m afraid I’m with–” she pointed weakly at Sunset.

Sunset hugged Applejack’s arm and beamed.

Applejack’s heartbeat started pounding through her body again, and she wasn’t so much thinking about what the other people around them were seeing so much as how freaking good Sunset’s body felt against her. Wearing only a bra under that leather jacket left so much of her to feel, and her skin was soft like rose petals.

Sherry waved a hand. “Hey, that ain’t a problem.” She reached into her back pocket and produced a business card. This she placed on the counter and slid it to Applejack. Sherry winked at her as she slinked away. “You let me know when you want someone with more experience, cowgirl.”

“Um… Thank you?” Applejack took the card and stared at it. It read, Sherry Kiss, Bartender. It had the woman’s number and email with a shiny foil inlay of red lips in the upper right corner.

“She did the same thing to me,” Sunset said with an eye roll.

Applejack looked at her carefully. “So she’s one of your…?”

Sunset smiled bashfully and nodded.

“Wow,” Applejack said, peering down the bar at Sherry. It seemed the woman wasn’t in the least bit broken up by her recent rejection because she was already chatting up a girl on the other end of the bar. “She’s gorgeous!”

Applejack looked back at Sunset with a little smirk, “Did you eat nachos in front of her, too?”

Sunset used her finger to wipe up a glob of cheese sauce from the empty paper tray. This she quickly sucked clean before she giggled. “Maybe. It’s important to offset any delusions of grandeur with some timely buffoonery. I do this for partners as much as myself.” She touched a hand to her chest with a little wince. “See, I dunno if you’ve noticed, but me and ego trips are dangerous! Pinkie taught me that it’s important to be able to laugh at yourself. It’s the quickest way to humility.”

Applejack snickered. “So when you went tumbling out of the truck?”

Sunset looked at her with wide eyes. “Oh, that? No way! I just really wanted nachos.”

Applejack laughed. “Sunset, how’d you get to be so amazing?”

Sunset shook her head. “I’m not amazing.” But she looked at Applejack, brimming with warmth. “And I didn’t learn how to be a better person on my own. I learned from all of our friends. From you.”

Applejack felt her skin turn the shade of a ripe red apple. As Sunset had once explained to Flash Sentry at Camp Everfree, she didn’t pull her punches. She said what was on her mind, stating it clearly and assertively. It was a concise sort of honesty that cut straight to the heart of the matter.

But whereas Fluttershy may have occasionally felt forced to speak her mind quickly, Sunset had no sense of rush. Her words existed with great conviction and confidence. She was careful to share only what she believed in, and she was humble enough to profess ignorance when necessary.

So to hear her genuinely attribute overcoming her troubled past to all of their friends, even Applejack?

Applejack leaned heavily on the bar, fanning herself. “Is it hot in here, or is it just me?” she said with a timorous grin.

“Well, you are pretty hot, so…” Sunset’s smile curled as Applejack’s blush worsened. She nudged the cowgirl with a wink. “Sorry. You walked straight into that one.”

Applejack laughed and reached for her glass of water again. “I guess I did!”

Sunset took a quick sip of her drink, then thumbed over her shoulder with a little grimace. “Um, I need to use the restroom really quick. Are you gonna be okay here for a minute?”

“Go ahead,” Applejack said, waving her off. “I’ll just nurse this water till you get back.”

Sunset gave a double-thumbs up as she backpedaled toward a narrow hallway just to the right of the pool table area. A hanging sign indicated it was the way to the bathrooms. “Cool! Maybe after you wanna dance with me?”

Applejack rubbed the back of her neck and looked down at her boots. “I dunno…”

“Just think about it,” Sunset said, still smiling. She swayed her curvy hips a little. “Think about it reeeally hard…”

The cowgirl watched her friend leave with wide eyes. Dance? Here? What in tarnation was she going to do? If she said no, then she’d have to suffer the look of disappointment on her pretty friend’s face. And if she said yes…?

Someone might see.

Someone might run and tell.

She wasn’t afraid of dancing–Apples may have been white, but they knew a thing or two about rhythm. No, what had her worried was the danger of loose lips. Country folk did one of three things: work, drink, and gossip. Something about sitting in a deer stand all day or hanging clothes out to dry had even the most upright of people talking out of the sides of their faces. This terrible habit had lowered her family’s standing out in the countryside after her mother’s death. First, it was the whisperings about Bright Mac’s drunkenness. Then it was about his violent death. The trouble with gossip was that it wasn’t a factual transfer of information. It was all false rumors and backbiting.

“That’s rich, coming from someone who was too afraid to even come out of the closet to begin with! What’s the matter, AJ? Couldn’t boss up?” The memory of Rainbow Dash’s words stung deep. Her friend had already apologized, and Applejack wasn’t mad at her. But it still hurt. It probably would for a long while.

Rainbow just didn’t understand. When she came out as a lesbian, it hadn’t been a big deal. She just got to live honest and free. Even her own terrible father had been supportive! Applejack knew much of the Apple family was accepting of LGBT people, but she was also aware of some distant relatives who might not show up to a family reunion at Sweet Apple Acres if they knew what she really was. She had to think about her immediate family. The business they ran. It had taken them years to recover from the loss of Bright Mac, not just in numbers but in reputation. They’d lost friendships. Business. All it would take was one person to see her being herself here and–

Applejack jumped when she felt a hand roughly tap her shoulder from behind the bar. Turning, she found Sherry Kiss leaning heavily on the counter and leveling a hard stare at her. “What the hell are you doing?” she yelled over the sound of the live music.

“What?” Applejack returned dumbly.

Sherry’s face screwed up like Applejack had dropped her pants and was blowing raspberries out in the middle of the pub. “Girl, Sunset is throwing herself at you! Why you still acting coy?”

Applejack was really getting sick of feeling her skin light on fire tonight. “Look, it’s complicated!”

“Complicated? Are you kidding me right now?” Sherry crossed her arms and looked Applejack up and down. Her critical expression softened. “Lemme guess, you’re still in the closet?”

Applejack slouched and put her head in her hands. “Yes.” She realized with delay that Sherry may not have heard her say this since she was speaking into her palms. When she lifted her head to speak more clearly over the din of applause—the opening act had ended their performance and were leaving the stage—she found that Sherry wasn’t there. Applejack blinked and looked around. At that moment, she noticed Sherry moving to the far end of the bar, where she lifted the counter to come around to the other side and take a seat on an empty barstool next to her.

Sherry leaned backward onto the counter so that her back arched, her red bodice straining as she pushed her chest into the air. Applejack realized a few seconds too late that she needed to look at the woman’s face, not her ample cleavage.

Sherry smirked knowingly at her. “You need to let that shit go, cowgirl.” She gestured a hand at the pub, causing Applejack to turn and look. “Look out there. Do any of those people look like they give a damn about you?”

Applejack’s lips pressed together. “Maybe not. But–”

The bartender waved a stern finger in front of her face. “Ah, ah! No buts! They. Do. Not. Fucking. Care.” She shrugged as she turned over a hand. “Baby, this is the city! Maybe out in your neck of the woods, it’d be a bigger deal, but unless you can pick out someone you know, you’re gonna have to forget about Cracker Land and just live in the moment. I’m telling you this because I think you’re cute, but also because I can tell… Sunset really likes you.”

“We just have history is all,” Applejack returned with a pout. “Tain’t nothing more than that.”

Sherry pursed her lips. “When I say ‘Sunset really likes you’ I mean, ‘she’ll trust you with shit she ain’t trustin’ with nobody else’. Not even your other friends.”

At Applejack’s nervous fidgeting, Sherry laughed. “Well, goddamn, she already has been, huh?” She shook her head, looking down at her high-heeled shoes. “I’ve known that girl since after she graduated high school. I consider her a friend, but she plays her cards close to her chest. If she’s revealed her hand to you, all I have to say is… bet high. Don’t fold. All right?” Her eyebrow arched. “Otherwise, someone else will steal the pot.” She pointed delicately at the crowd again. “That is what people are really watching for, cowgirl. A chance to swoop in on your friend.” She tilted her head to the side, her eyes squeezing a little. “You gonna let ‘em?”

Applejack listened to the older woman speak with a small frown on her face. She got the poker analogy, she just wasn’t sure how much she could believe it. At the final question, she removed her hat and held it to her chest with two hands. Her green eyes swept over the crowd. Everyone on the dance floor was focused on the stage. The people towards the rear were engrossed in their games and conversation. Her brow knotted when she saw the two men they’d bumped into at the bar sitting at one of the tables and pointing down the hallway Sunset had gone down. The brown-haired fellow was pushing his dark-haired friend like he was egging him on.

She slipped off the barstool. “I’m not a betting gal, but…” Applejack placed her hat back on her head and grinned at Sherry. “I’m not into losing neither.”

Sherry whooped and gave her a high-five. Her smile was so large, that all of her white teeth gleamed in Applejack’s eyes. “Get it, girl!” the older woman laughed with evident delight.

Sunset pressed a folded wet paper towel to the back of her neck, savoring the cool wet contact that eased the heat there. Funny how every time she set foot outside she was freezing her butt off, but inside the pub she felt like she was going to melt. Her gaze locked onto her cyan eyes in the dirty pub mirror. In the corner, just above where the reflective paint had chipped, someone had scribbled a crude drawing of a cock and balls.

All righty, Sunset Shimmer, she thought to herself with a wry quirk on her lips. You did it. You snogged one of your closest friends. Now what?

What, indeed. After all, this wasn’t just some random person she’d picked up on a whim. Maybe she should pump the brakes? She could be satisfied with a kiss and leave it at that tonight, right? It’s not like she kissed much.

Sunset reached a hand up to touch her cherry-red lips. Her fingertips brushed over her bottom lip lightly and her gaze became hooded in the mirror reflection. The visceral memory came in bits and pieces.

The feel of Applejack’s uneasy breath. The cool touch of her wet lips. The low groan that had sounded from deep in her throat, like a tension she’d been carrying forever had finally released.

Sunset almost wished she hadn’t used the pricey long-lasting lipstick. Sure, you could have peace of mind it wouldn’t transfer to your teeth or rub off onto glasses, but then you missed the fun of seeing the vibrant trail of kisses you left on your lover...

Sunset gave her head a little shake. Turning on the faucet, she wet the paper towel again and, after a quick squeeze, she pressed it to her neck once more.

It was really hard making a sound decision being this high and horny. Applejack had been right. She’d hit the pipe a little too hard. Dredging up all those memories had just made her desperate to go numb. Maybe she’d gone too far. Had it really been necessary to share so much?

No. Of course not.

Then again, maybe she’d been testing her friend. Testing to see if she’d recoil. Testing to see if she’d run.

Applejack hadn’t stepped back, she’d stepped closer.

Sunset’s heartbeat was in her throat as her reflection tightened with a look of disquiet.

Now what? Now what?

She’d never been on the cusp of something so big before!

When Rainbow Dash had been fretting about whether or not to act on her new feelings for Fluttershy, Sunset had encouraged her to overcome her fear of being that deeply connected with someone again. Lightning Dust had hurt Dashie so badly, and it had been hard for the tomboy to disassemble her defenses. In Sunset’s case? She’d never had to go through a tough relationship to feel this anxiety.

No, she’d just needed her screwed-up life to do that for her.

The fear of getting hurt was still pretty prevalent, but more than that, Sunset knew her strange responsibilities would likely get in the way of any long-term anything. She’d probably spend the rest of her life chasing down and containing magical anomalies. Honestly, who would stick around and wait for someone like that?

Sunset felt her cheeks burn as the obvious name sounded loudly in her head.

Could this be wishful thinking? She wondered uneasily. Do I really want to make Applejack wait on me while I tackle the magic problem?

Twilight Sparkle was frequently encouraging her to find someone to slow down with. Yes, Twi knew about her multiple partners. Not who they were, but she had enough details about them to know the ones she liked and the ones she hated. She’d be pleased to know that Sunset was finally considering dumping Kojote. Sunset tried to imagine what her friend would say if she learned of her and Applejack. They shared many things with one another, but Sunset’s quiet admiration of their mutual friend she’d kept secret. Would Twilight be surprised?

Sunset smirked at her reflection. Probably not. Twilight was frustratingly good at putting together clues and making accurate theories. How many times had Sunset tried to come clean to her spectacled friend about something, only to have the other girl beat her to the punch? She half considered calling Twilight right then, just to get a reality check.

She could almost hear her friend’s flat voice now:

“Sunset, come off it. We both know you’re going to sleep with AJ tonight.”

Her heart did a somersault. Did she really want to take Applejack to bed that evening?

Well, that was a stupid question. Of course she did.

“Look, whatever you do, just be REALLY upfront with Applejack, okay? If you’re not ready to let go of your other partners, say so. But then you've gotta ask yourself: are you still doing the solo-parallel poly thing, or are you gonna make Applejack your primary partner and transition into a hierarchical-poly dynamic with everyone? Let AJ decide if she wants to try that sort of relationship with you. She’s a big girl. Then? I’d advise going slowly, no matter the course you take.”

Sunset squinted her eyes. Slowly, as in…?

Mind Twilight rolled her eyes. “As in don’t make Applejack breakfast, lunch, and dinner.”

Oh.

Sunset’s lips pressed together as she frowned at herself. She’d have to tell Twilight what a great internal voice she made in Sunset’s head. She felt like she’d cut the bullcrap in half and saved a bunch of time.

Still, easier said than done. She’d been known to go through a “honeymoon” period with new lovers. It was exciting, after all. Could anyone blame her? Sherry Kiss liked to tease that during such times, Sunset temporarily forgot everyone else’s number.

So then, the new question was… could she go slow with Applejack?

Sunset looked over at the imaginary corner of her mind where Twilight Sparkle sat reading a book on Quantum Field Theory. The mental specter of her friend peeked over her glasses at Sunset and tilted an eyebrow.

“Tch! Don’t look at me. You only listen to me half the time, anyway.”

Sunset winced. That was fair.

Somewhere else in her mind, she could hear a bass drum kicking repeatedly. She groaned a little.

“Do it,” her mental specter of Pinkie Pie chanted from behind a drum kit. “Do it, do it, do it!”

Pinkie also knew about Sunset having multiple partners. The party girl was fairly open to talking about her sexual experiences, so it had just kinda slipped out one day during a raunchy conversation. Despite Pinkie's excellent ability to keep a secret, Sunset had still refrained from providing as many details as she'd given Twilight for obvious reasons.

The bass drum kicked faster, and it felt like a pulse. “Doitdoitdoitdo–!”

Very obvious reasons.

Mind Twilight sighed acerbically. “I get the tradition of having the Id and the Ego, the Devil and the Angel, but did it need to be so–” she broke off with a wince as Pinkie smashed the cymbals next. “Loud?”

Sunset gave a mental shrug. Maybe she didn’t share her deepest darkest secrets with Pinkie, but their boisterous friend was a top-tier confidante. Who better to root for a bit of reckless abandon?

All right, enough with the inner round table, Sunset thought with a smirk. With a will, the specters of her friends vanished from her thoughts.

Next to her, a short, thick girl with dark auburn hair was washing her hands. She kept glancing at Sunset all the while. When she shut her sink off, her eyes stopped dancing away, and she leaned on the sink, her wine-red lips curling up.

Sunset let her eyes slide over to the stranger but didn’t turn her head. “Hi. Can I help you?” she asked. Her voice lacked malice. Curiosity, more like.

She didn’t normally sleep with girls shorter than her, but she was always open to trying new things.

The girl grinned, leaning over a little to murmur at her. Sunset’s nose tickled with the smell of booze. “I was just wondering...” Her voice was light and nasally. Her eyes were a dark gray flecked with red. Just behind her left ear was a small tattoo of a quill and inkpot.

When she didn’t continue, Sunset threw her paper towel away and looked fully at her. She lifted her eyebrows and asked, “Yes?”

The girl blushed and pointed at the door. “Are you with the blonde?” Her voice dropped to a hot whisper as she stepped a little closer. “Like… with with her?”

Sunset’s eyes widened and she leaned back. The girl was beyond drunk. She probably wouldn’t have done something so clumsy and awkward if she were sober. At least, Sunset would have liked to think so, for the girl’s sake.

Not deterred by Sunset’s reaction, the girl took another step forward, leaning heavily on the counter to keep from slipping on the wet floor. “Because if you’re not–”

Sunset held her hands up, baring an uncomfortable smile. “I’m flattered, but I’m afraid that girl is my date tonight.”

Somewhere in the back of the bathroom a toilet flushed.

The auburn-haired girl just squinted one eye at her. “You?” She laughed. “Hell, no! Girl, I was asking about your friend!”

Sunset blinked.

Well! That was… certainly new.

She pointed stiffly toward the exit just as the bathroom stall in the back opened. “Sure. Sorry for the confusion. I’m, um. I’m gonna… go?”

Another woman with much shorter dark hair and a septum ring was still buttoning her pants up. “Hey, Quill! Did you ask about the blonde beefcake yet?” she asked her friend eagerly. When her eyes lifted from her task and landed on Sunset, she froze.

Sunset spun on her heel and pushed out the exit door. “She’s taken!” she snapped over her shoulder.

Her face burned. The nerve of some people! She’d been on dates in public before, but she’d never once felt like she’d had to compete to hold her date’s attention! Now she hastened down the hallway back to the pub’s main floor. If she wasn’t careful, Sherry wouldn’t be the only one trying to make a pass at Applejack tonight. She doubted her friend would just ditch her like that, but she also had a feeling such advances would just serve to make the cowgirl retreat into her shell.

These horny drunks weren’t going to spoil Sunset’s plans, that was for damn sure.

She didn’t have to go far. Applejack was leaning against the railing that skirted the elevated pool area. Her arms were crossed and she was looking out toward the pub’s dance floor.

“AJ?” Sunset called as she neared.

The country girl turned her freckled face toward Sunset and smiled.

Sunset grinned crookedly. “What are you doing? You look like a bouncer guarding an entrance.”

Applejack squinted one eye as she shoved her hands into her pockets and hitched her shoulders up to her ears. “Ah, y’know…”

Sunset’s grin broadened. “So did you think about dancing with me?” She cocked her hip as she spun a finger through the air. “Because I think the sharks are circling.”

“No kiddin’!” Applejack thumbed toward the tables. “Our friends from earlier are still angling for your digits.”

Sunset stepped close to her, her eyebrow arching. “And that bothers you?”

Applejack licked her lips and pushed off of the railing. Tilting her hat back with a finger, she said with a smirk. “Like a kiss from a horsefly.”

Sunset laced her hands behind her back as she sidled closer, her hips rocking with every step. “If we’d like to be left alone for the evening, we might need to send a clearer signal…”

Applejack pulled off her hat and held her hand out. “Wanna cut a rug, Sunset Shimmer?”

Sunset bit her lip just to keep her smile from spreading too wide.

She jerked forward as the auburn-haired girl and her dark-haired friend shoved past her.

“Don’t do it,” the short girl said to Applejack with an unnecessary booming voice. “Thin Cut Bacon over here thinks she’s the main character!” Then she and her friend hung on each other as they laughed all the way to the bar.

Applejack blinked and looked at Sunset sidelong. “Do you know them, too?” Her hand was still held out.

Sunset threw her head back and laughed. “Thankfully, no!” She took Applejack’s hand and flirted her eyelashes. “Forget them. Forget the people here. Forget everything else and just dance with me, AJ.”

Applejack pulled her into a tight embrace. Her blonde bangs fell into her eyes as she murmured, “Darlin’, I’m here for whatever as long as the creek don’t rise.” Her face pressed in a little closer, and her breath tickled Sunset’s mouth. “And even then, I’d be content to drown in you…” She closed the distance to lay a deep kiss on her lips.

Sunset’s eyes rolled shut. Breathing became more of a challenge as her body ignited with heat and she wrapped her arms around Applejack’s neck. So much for all that effort to cool down in the bathroom.

“Mm-hmm, yeah I can see you going slow with this one,” Mind Twilight sassed from behind her imaginary book.

“Do it faster!” Mind Pinkie squealed.

Sunset snorted into a laugh, dropping her head to hide her blushing face in Applejack's warm neck.

"Did I kiss ya funny?" the blonde asked with amusement.

Sunset pulled back to grin sheepishly at her friend. "Sorry, sorry. I think the weed is giving me an over-active imagination."

"I'll say," Mind Twilight grumbled. Mind Pinkie giggled, and that made Sunset giggle again, harder.

"Come on," she said, laughter still bubbling in her words as she took both of Applejack’s hands and led her to the dance floor. "Let's have fun!"

Author's Note

The song referenced in the chapter does not belong to me. It's Howlin' For You from the Black Keys.

Chapter 9

Applejack wondered aloud how long they had before the next act came on. Sunset answered her plainly. “Usually it takes twenty-five to thirty minutes. They cleared the stage a while ago, so I’d say we have maybe fifteen before Red Rooster starts. These blues guys aren’t like punk bands. They need everything to be just so.” Sunset winked at her. “Should be more than enough time for a song or two.”

That’s how the country girl found herself leaning on an old-fashioned jukebox and openly admiring Sunset as her friend perused song choices. The light of the machine lit up the former Equestrian’s features, giving a twinkle to her eyes. Sunset glanced at Applejack, then went back to searching with a smirk. “Can I help you?” she asked, laughter evident in her voice.

Applejack shook her head as she pushed her hat back and hooked her other thumb through a loop on her jeans. “Sure can. Do this hick a favor and keep it simple, hmm?”

“Not a hick,” Sunset returned with a quick frown. But she was still smiling. “And don’t sell yourself short, AJ. You’re a pretty good dancer!”

“Well, according to Sugarcoat, I dance stiffer’n a broom in cement,” Applejack chortled. The then-student of Crystal Prep had leaned on all of the Rainbooms during their brief creative collaboration for a music video contest put on by Canterlot Mall.

Sunset scoffed. “Please! That was before they helped us with our dance moves for that contest. We’ve all gotten better since then. Especially you! You’ve actually got a great sense of rhythm!”

Applejack shrugged, blushing a little. “Shoot, I am a bassist, Sun.”

“Well, listen, does 80s pop rock disagree with you? I’m seeing a few good songs from movies on here.”

“Yeah? Like what?”

“That one from Flashdance.”

“Girl, I would rather die.”

Sunset threw her head back and laughed, and Applejack joined her. A few people glanced their way, which made the cowgirl a little self-conscious… But she told herself she had better get over that quick, because in a second they were gonna be drawing more eyes than that.

At the thought, Applejack began to sweat a little. It was ironic. She’d participated in her fair share of school dances, and line dancing events, and yes, she’d even danced on stage. What was so different this time?

Her.

She licked her lips as she looked Sunset up and down. Yes, her. This exciting girl who had many around them looking twice. Applejack had never danced with a girl before in front of other people. Was it really like Sunset and Sherry said? Would no one care?

Her experiences in the countryside screamed that, yes, people would absolutely care. And then it would hurt her family’s bottom line. Applejack had never aspired to more than the success of Sweet Apple Acres, and she was quite content with that goal. Was this simple act jeopardizing that?

If she were cast into some alternate dimension, and it was Fluttershy asking her to dance out in the open like this, would she feel apprehensive too?

The thought sobered her.

She didn’t want to hesitate. Not when Sunset had been so open and vulnerable. Applejack hadn’t realized it, but she’d asked much of her friend when she’d prompted for the story of the other girl’s past.

Dance with Sunset in front of others? It was such a simple and earnest request. How could Applejack deny her?

Sunset didn’t notice the somber shift in her companion and continued sifting through songs. She tapped the glass, giggling. “Wow. They’ve even got Thriller on here!”

Applejack smirked with chagrin. “If you want me to shuffle around looking like a zombie, I think I can accommodate. Otherwise, all them fancy moves are a bit beyond me.”

“Fair enough. I think I only remember half of the dance anyway. Hmm, maybe something more modern, then. Post Crush? Songbird Serenade? Oh, ew, they’ve got the Dazzlings…”

Applejack made a face. “Hard pass.”

Sunset puckered her lips. “Maybe we need to look for something you’re more familiar with.” She tapped the jukebox buttons for another moment, then her eyes widened. “Oh, that’s perfect!”

Applejack leaned in to look. “What’d ya find?” When her eyes read the words on the title strip on display, she grinned.

Footloose.

“Well, ain’t that the berries!” Applejack said with a deep chuckle. “Sunset, you managed to find the one song in history that showed the world us rednecks can cut a rug!”

“Great, I’m selecting this one.” After slipping in some coins, she reached for the enter button and paused. “Hey AJ, before I start this, I was wondering… Ya wanna make this interesting?” Sunset asked.

The cowgirl blinked at her. “How so?”

Sunset bit her lip and jerked her head to the side. “I bet we could get some of the crowd to join us.”

Applejack frowned at her for a moment. Then her eyes widened. “Oh. You mean like that.”

One strange facet of their Equestrian magic was the often spontaneous ability to turn their lives into a musical and get others to dance and sing with them. Usually with an accompanying phantom soundtrack playing from somewhere. When a song snuck up on them, it sometimes led to uncomfortable situations in which they had to conceal why such a bewildering flash mob had occurred. During high school, their classmates, who were in on their secret, didn't mind. Those days were long gone.

Thankfully, just before college, it was discovered by Twilight that they could control the phenomenon, and even remove the need to enchant people with some false explanation as to how they could suddenly dance in sync with total strangers. Apparently, this was what Sunset Shimmer wanted to do.

The redhead held up a placating hand. “We wouldn’t force anyone who doesn’t already kinda want to.” She shrugged, an innocent expression on her face. “We’d just help nudge along anyone who was feeling too nervous. A boost in confidence, let’s say.”

“It’s just us two, though, Sun,” Applejack pointed out as she scratched her eyebrow with her pinkie. “I mean, would it even work? Usually, any magicky stuff happened cuz you, Twi, and Rares worked together. Heck, even Pinkie is more magical than I am!”

Sunset shook her head, smiling gently. “You may not have as much practice, but your powers are no less potent than ours, AJ. Besides, worst-case scenario, it’ll just be us dancing.” She held her hand out. “Wanna try?” She wagged her eyebrows. “It’d mean less eyes on us…” she sing-songed softly, her lips curling up like a Cheshire cat’s.

Applejack licked her lips, then slowly placed her hand in Sunset’s. “Okay. I’ll do my gol’darned best. But, uh… what do I gotta do?”

Sunset pulled her closer till their hips were touching, one knee nudging between as she snaked an arm around Applejack’s waist. The cowgirl’s heart started to speed up.

The redhead placed a warm hand over the top of Applejack’s left breast, no doubt feeling that frantic heartbeat, and breathed, “Keep your eyes on me and follow my lead. Imagine everyone joining us and enjoying themselves. Let yourself have fun, but be honest about who you are. Don’t try to emulate someone else’s style.” She leaned in and pressed her forehead to Applejack’s and murmured next, “I’ll reach my magic out to you. You’ll know it because your skin will tingle and you’ll feel warmth inside of your chest. Let your magic respond. Let it mix with mine. It’s our friendship, our… feelings for one another that will give this strength. Just make sure to keep from triggering a full transformation.”

“Like we practiced back in high school?” Applejack asked breathlessly. She recalled countless hours spent after school trying to learn how to avoid sprouting pony ears. It was the one aspect of her magic she had any kind of handle on. They’d all had to learn this, to keep their secret. But Sunset was asking her to use this skill on a higher level of control than she ever had before… Even the part about fueling their magic via their goodwill and friendship toward one another sounded familiar, but never had they needed to control the flow. Could she do it?

“Yes.” Sunset smiled gently at her. “If you think you’re losing a handle on things, or if you start to feel uncomfortable, don’t hesitate to tell me. Okay? I’ll break my connection and pull back my power. That should be enough for you to reel it all back.”

The cowgirl swallowed hard, then nodded once. Sunset smiled as she hit the button on the jukebox.

There was a whir as the machine sought the disc, and then slotted it in. There had been some jazz music playing softly in the background, barely distinguishable among the dull roar of conversation within the pub. That cut away, and the establishment’s speakers began to play the opening drums of Footloose at a higher volume.

Biting her lip, Sunset began to sway to the beat, and Applejack followed her lead, her skin flushing as their bodies rocked together, a sweet but gentle grind that was already making the country girl shiver. But then the bass set in, and the guitar, and just like that, Sunset was pulling away, throwing her hands up in the air as she did a fancy step then twirled with a dramatic swish of her hair.

Some of the other patrons were glancing over at her appreciatively. A girl somewhere whooped. Applejack took a deep breath and kept up a simple two-step, but she’d been to enough country line dances to know how to add some flair to even the simplest of dances. Rocking her shoulders, she matched Sunset’s energy with swaying hips and a shaky smirk.

After the funky synths showed up, some of the people around them started clapping. A few other women swayed in place while a fellow or two bobbed his head. More and more heads turned. Applejack felt the sweat already collecting at her hairline. When would she feel—?

Then it hit her. A warmth in her chest. Like getting an A-plus on a difficult test. Or every time they overcame a magical problem. All of those times riding a Bronco. Like when she’d raced against Sunset with Brooke, and she’d felt exhilarated and free.

Applejack gasped, her eyes slipping shut. She almost missed the lyrics as they cut in, the singer feistily carrying on about feeling frustrated and unsatisfied after a long day’s work, but when she registered what she was hearing, she balled her fists and raised them up. As if to push against this injustice, because heck, wasn’t this her life story? But it felt good to have someone singing it to her. It felt good to have a beat and a melody to soundtrack her woes.

Sunny. Applejack felt so damn sunny, she didn’t know how else to say it!

When she found Sunset’s gaze again, her friend’s eyes were glowing a little. Unnoticeable in the pub light to anyone else, but to Applejack, who knew the way Equestrian magic made the other girl’s stare burn richer and more vibrant than any other time, it was clear as day. She wanted Sunset to feel her power too. Applejack let her natural strength surge, her arms and chest flexing as she willed her magic to come.

She wanted everyone here to feel the good of their power. Applejack imagined the other patrons relaxing, any negativity they may have been feeling seeping away, instead being replaced with the simple joy of hearing a damn good song.

Applejack removed her hat with a sweep and let out her best country holler as she stomped her boots and did a fancy box step she’d once learned in a line dance.

Sunset laughed with delight and twirled closer, her features flush as she danced. Applejack held out her hand, and with sparkling eyes, the other girl took it, and just like that they were more in sync than they had any reason to be, unrehearsed as they were. Applejack became dimly aware that other people had started dancing too, and laughter and whoops filled the air. But she only had eyes for the girl in front of her.

They swayed and twirled, rocked and shimmied. Sweat gleamed on their brows. Applejack knew her eyes must be aglow the same as Sunset’s, and she had to devote some of her mind to keeping the power from overflowing into a pony transformation. They all had their unique ways of doing it. For Applejack it was a matter of breathing steady and digging her toes into her boots.

But just as the song neared its apex, Sunset’s eyes went wide. “Uh oh.”

“Uh oh?” Applejack’s joy wavered. “Sunset, that better be on account o’ you steppin’ in something and not—!”

Sunset winced and looked around them quickly. “I’ve been controlling the flow of our power, but it’s slipping away from me!”

“Say what?” Applejack turned and saw that the dancing had spread like wildfire. Everyone was dancing. The sound people on stage. The people playing pool. Heck, even through the swaying sea of bodies the blonde could see Sherry Kiss cutting a rug behind the bar!

“Oh horseapples,” she wheezed with a paling face.

Sunset clapped her hands on Applejack’s shoulders, her lips drawn. “Listen, we can still regain control, but it’s gonna take some doing!”

“Name it! Quick!”

“Synchronicity! We burn it out with a dance number!”

Applejack made a face. “Sunset Shimmer, not again!”

Sunset winced. “I know, I know, but it’s the only thing I can think of! But Harmony isn’t giving me any ideas, and I have no idea what to lead them with.”

The country girl pursed her lips. “I do. Watch and mind my steps, y’hear?”

She stepped back and with a deep breath, she started doing the Footloose line dance. Sunset was so startled she actually stopped dancing for a moment before her face lit up with delight and she quickly fell in to step, mirroring Applejack’s every move.

Like any redneck, Applejack had gone to plenty of country line dances, but more than that, what she’d neglected to tell her dance partner was that she’d watched Footloose an unfathomable number of times with her mother, Pear Butter. It had been her mother’s favorite film.

Without even having to turn her head, Applejack could feel rather than see that others were joining in behind her. Behind Sunset was much the same. They performed every move from the film, right down to the final group shuffle across the floor. Somehow the song went on longer than it should have, almost as if their magic had looped the middle and extended it just to let them finish the entirety of their dance.

But the second the final note finished, there was a muted pop, and a small rush of breeze that swept through the establishment. All the patrons, from the pool players, to the bartenders, to the sound crew, and the patrons on the dance floor blinked and straightened, staring at each other. The silence fell over them all like a thick blanket.

Applejack could feel a thick dew of sweat roll down her pulsing neck as she looked around, waiting for the other shoe to drop. What if they all realized what had happened? What if they looked back at them and saw that—

Then Sunset Shimmer grabbed her by the waist and the back of the neck and kissed her hard. Applejack’s eyes popped, a little cry erupting from deep within her throat as she held Sunset by the shoulders. The other girl pulled away with a smack of their lips, laughing jovially. “You’re amazing!”

She stepped away, gesturing at Applejack with both her hands. “You never told me you knew the line dance!”

Applejack stared at her flabbergasted. “Uh, well, I… Yeah?” She tugged her hat down low over her eyes as she scuffed her boots. “It was Ma’s favorite movie, so we jes’...”

“Rocked it hard?” Sunset asked with a massive grin. She leaned over and nudged a short man with thick floppy blonde hair next to her. “It was really nice of her to show everyone how to do the dance, right?”

Applejack’s head snapped up, her eyes going round. Now wait a darned minute—!

The man blinked at Sunset, then returned her grin. “Hell yeah! I’ve always wanted to do that dance!”

He reached over and clapped Applejack on the shoulder, making her stumble a little. “That was awesome! Thanks!”

Applejack stared at him, then looked around wildly as the people began to shift and speak once more. Some were laughing and chatting excitedly. A few reached over and thanked Applejack like the man had, as if she’d somehow led the whole thing. Soft pop music fuzzed through the pub speakers at low volume, returning Pandora’s Box to its original dull roar of sound. The cowgirl just gazed around dazedly, her mouth hinged open like she was going to protest but couldn’t think of the words.

As the throng of people mingling and exulting over the unexpected group dance pressed in, Sunset slid through them to put her arms around Applejack’s neck once more. She put her lips to Applejack’s ear and murmured, “Sorry. Please roll with it. I cast a quick spell to soothe the crowd. You were the most logical reason for everything happening, so I spread the idea around.”

Applejack felt the tension in her shoulders ease a little. “So… It’s like that spell ya’ll cast at that lil’ outdoor shopping mall two years ago?”

Sunset nodded, her cheek brushing against the country girl’s. “Yep. But I only traced the runes in the area with my hand while I said the spell, so it’s much weaker. It’ll wear off in a few minutes.”

“What do you gotta do?”

“I’m going to get something to write with from Sherry, then I’m going to every corner of this place and marking the runes I used in the spell somewhere discreet on the walls.”

Applejack winced. “Uh, need help?”

Sunset shook her head quickly. “No, I think I can get this done before Red Rooster comes on stage. Wanna save a spot for me at the front?”

“Sure.” Then Applejack licked her lips and voiced the fear that was eating away at her. “Sunset, what just happened… That wasn’t on account o’ me, was it?”

Sunset pulled back and looked into Applejack’s eyes, their noses almost touching. She shook her head gently, and her smile was kind. Maybe even a touch amused. “No, AJ,” she said. “If anything, it was my fault.”

“Yours?” Applejack frowned. “How? Seems to me like you saved our be-hinds!”

Sunset’s smile turned crooked and Applejack was surprised to see her friend’s cheeks color a little. The redhead coughed. “Earlier, I may have underestimated our, uh… chemistry.”

This only made the cowgirl’s frown deepen. Their chemistry? What in tarnation did that—? Her face cleared as understanding crashed down on her. What had Sunset said before all of this?

Let your magic respond. Let it mix with mine. It’s our friendship, our… feelings for one another that will give this strength.

Now her face burned a bright red.

Sunset snickered and patted Applejack’s cheek. “I’ll be back. Maybe get some fresh air if you need it? We can meet in front of those speakers.” She indicated the speakers she meant on the right side of the stage.

“All righty,” Applejack said with a brisk nod. “You sure you don’t want me to come with you?” Her stomach tightened a little. Damn, that was right. That Goldfang feller had it in for Sunset, didn’t he?

Just when Applejack was going to insist on coming, Sunset waved a hand and started to pull away. “It’ll be easier and faster if I go by myself. I promise I’ll be quick, even if I have to step on a few toes!”

Applejack tried to catch her hand. “But Sunset—!”

“I’ll be back before you know it!” Sunset said, grinning as she delved into the throng of people surrounding them.

Applejack took a step forward, but was cut off by a stream of people heading for the pooltables. “Sun, do me a favor and mind your pockets, all right?” she barked over the heads of those around her.

She saw Sunset stand on her tiptoes and wave at her. “Sure thing!”

Applejack watched through the sea of people as the flash of her friend’s fiery hair gradually vanished from sight.

Rocking back onto her heels, the cowgirl lifted her hat and wiped at her damp forehead. “Heck, that girl’s gonna be the death o’ me,” she muttered. It was something Bright Mac often jokingly said about Pear Butter.

Then she stilled and murmured even quieter, “And a sweet death t’would be… Right, Pa?” It had been the man’s usual refrain to stave off Pear’s feigned outrage. Perhaps if he’d known the future, he wouldn’t have been so blithe. Was Applejack baiting the same fate?

She didn’t like to think things were written in stone. Things just… happened. Chance and circumstance culminated in a bubbling soup called life.

Because what weaver of fate could have dreamed up this evening? All the things that would be said, all the things that would be done—and what did it all mean?

Sunset had underestimated their chemistry?

What the hell did that mean?

Applejack took a deep breath and returned her hat to her head. She looked one last time in the direction Sunset had gone, then turned her head toward the stage and gingerly made her way towards the rightmost stage speakers. It took her a minute or two to find the path of least resistance, but usually, all it took for the obstinate ones to move out of the way was to look over and see the musclebound girl requesting to sidle on by.

On her way up, she passed by one of the tables. These had been pushed to the side to clear the space in front of the stage. She reached over and snagged an ashtray, then resumed her trek.

Once she arrived at the front, she set the tray on the stage and reached into her pocket. She took out her cigarettes and lighter. She lit up a stick and ashed into the dirty little glass dish, feeling some of her nerves ease at the fresh nicotine hit. Still, her mind churned.

When her magic had mingled with Sunset’s it had felt amazing. Electrifying. Joyful. As far as Applejack had understood it, whenever her power joined with those of her friends, it was an affirmation of their friendship. She’d never really considered that anything else could be conveyed through that connection. All these years, had Fluttershy felt Applejack’s attraction? Had that put the other girl off? Was that why she couldn’t look at her the way she did—

Applejack nearly chewed her cigarette filter off, her jaw clenched so hard. Drawing hard through the smashed end of her cigarette, the cowgirl leaned on the stage with her head in her hand.

What was wrong with her? She had just had this amazing experience with Sunset Shimmer and here she was thinking about Fluttershy again!

Lip curling in self-disgust, Applejack pulled out her cell phone to try and distract herself.

She saw much of the same missed text messages Sunset had earlier. The others imploring her to join them for a night out on the town. Unlike Sunset, she didn’t really feel any need to respond. By now the others were probably aware she wasn’t going to join them, and she really didn’t want to go through the bother.

But as she swiped away the texts from her phone’s notification feed, she paused when she came to Rainbow’s text. The preview of the message text made Applejack draw up straight.

Tapping on the notification, her phone opened her message thread with Rainbow, displaying the tomboy’s latest message in full.

>RD: Hey dude, I kno maybe ur not rly in the mood right now, but I think we could hav fun tonite. Or we could talk sum more over a few beers instead if u prefer. Ur my buddy, y’know? I kno we’ll meet up Sat, but it’d be awesome if we could hang.

Applejack’s forehead creased and she sighed heavily. Then she read the next text.

>RD: Also this is the girl I was thinkin of introducing u 2, so hurry up with ur answer already! U mighta met last weekend, but I dunno if u chatted much. That was her house we did the meeting at. Sassaflash, remember?

Attached to the text was a picture of a light blonde-haired girl with black short shorts, fishnet stockings, a light blue crop top, and a thin gray overcoat. She had on several layered necklaces, and her face was done up in stunning makeup.

Applejack blushed. “Oh. Her.”

She chewed on the corner of her lip.

Well.

She could send a picture, she supposed. Sassaflash had seemed nice, and she certainly was beautiful. Only…

She pursed her lips. Only now it was too late. She was on a date now, wasn’t she? Not just an outing with a friend. She couldn’t think of anything less considerate than to go fishing for other lovers whilst out with somebody else. Though, given the nature of Sunset’s relationships, would she even mind?

Applejack rubbed the back of her neck and heaved another sigh. When did dating become so complicated? Were she and Sunset even dating now? What was this?

After another moment’s deliberation, she shook her head and put the phone away. She’d talk to Sunset about that later. Rainbow would just have to wait and understand.

Applejack was just a simple country girl, after all.

Sunset made her rounds around the pub, scribbling a tiny line of runes in every corner that she could reach, all the while muttering these words:

“Sudden dances, sudden chances,
Let no fear despoil the masses,
Provide answers, safe and subtle,
Time for smiles, not anxious huddles.”

She tried to focus on her work. She tried to be fast. But hampering her efforts was a barely tamped-down freakout of what had just happened.

How could she have lost control of the spell?!

What was she, a first-year magic student? It was supposed to be so simple! Heck, she’d even done it enough times before that all she’d had to do was recycle an old spell for the occasion! And yet, things had gone crazy! How?

But Sunset Shimmer already had her answer before she’d even reached the second corner of the pub.

Applejack. It was Applejack. In the past, Sunset had connected with the others magically in much the same fashion, but something about diffusing their power through several links watered down the feedback one got from a single person. In this way, the only ones she'd connected to on this level were Twilight and Rarity, the groups spellcasters. Those times, the only thing communicated to her through the magical link was friendship, compassion, respect, and happiness.

But she’d never felt so connected with the country girl before. And the feelings… It was like a seed breaking through tough soil. Like being handed a massive trophy. Like the sun was rising in her chest.

Thrumming quietly under the sense of release and unexpected joy was a simmering frustration, too. The kind of frustration Sunset felt at seeing money come in, only to see it fly right back out. To feel stuck and burdened with no end in sight.

It had been alot. But Sunset’s heart had rejoiced at the happiness she’d felt in her friend. And she’d empathized greatly with Applejack’s frustration, too. Felt a strange cathartic release from it.

And the affection that came through. The attraction. It made Sunset think of her best hugs. Her best climaxes. It had been heady. She still felt short of breath.

The connection had sparked something. Just like fire meeting dry brush, the flame had erupted and spread. Fast. It had leapt away, igniting the wills of those around them. There had been a handful of bystanders who had hidden desires to dance along with them before, but with the magic getting out of control, the desire spread through everyone like an infection.

Sunset felt bad. She scanned those around her as she made her way through the crowd, checking for anyone who may have injured themselves during the dance. That had happened at least once before when a Pinkie musical number led to a pulled hip. Circle kicks were no joke.

But as she went around, she didn’t see anyone limping, wincing, or covering cuts. True, some of the patrons might still feel it in the morning, especially if they’d found themselves doing really demanding moves. But at least no one was calling for a hospital. Sunset counted her blessings.

Moving around wasn’t proving too much of a problem, thankfully. People got out of the way for her without much fuss. Some were only too happy to have her slide by them, and she found herself grimacing between the choice of sacrificing ass or tits to the endeavor. Sometimes she couldn’t avoid offering up both to the delight of wolves. But still, she pressed on.

Just as she was making her way to the final corner of the pub, she heard cheers and applause break out. Sunset whirled around with wide eyes as she saw movement on the stage. “Damn!” she hissed. She thought she’d had more time! Then again, she supposed Footloose had carried on a bit longer than it was supposed to.

“Sorry, s’cuse me!” Sunset said as she pressed forward with a wince. This was terrible! She didn’t want to miss this!

“Dagnabbit, where’s that girl at?” Applejack breathed. She stood on her tiptoes and looked around, sweat forming on the nape of her neck and in her armpits. She prayed and prayed her deodorant did its job.

All around her people pressed in closer, the crowd surging toward the stage.

And on it, several sharply dressed people were moving towards instruments. A bass guitarist, a keyboardist, a drummer, what looked like some backup singers, and even a small horns section. Then Applejack’s eyes fell on the man himself.

Red Rooster.

He was a tall black man. Slim, but with his own lean power. But unlike his supporting band, Red wasn’t dressed all that flashy. Sure, he had his own style and presence, but it wasn’t ostentatious. He had on a simple, short-sleeved white button-up shirt tucked into a pair of blue jeans with a black belt and black loafers. He did wear a gold chain and what looked like diamond earrings, but none of his jewelry was especially large or thick. Small accents to his outfit, really.

The most standout thing about the man was his crop of thick red hair, styled up into a kind of afro-mohawk that lent to his namesake.

When he approached the center mic and flashed a blinding smile at the crowd, there was a lot of whistling and outcries from the women. One such woman shrieked loudly in Applejack’s ear, making the cowgirl wince and lean away.

“Hey there. How ya’ll doin’ tonight?” Red Rooster asked into the mic.

Thunderous cheers were the response.

The man laughed, glancing back at his amused bandmates, before turning his head back to the microphone. “I bet! Goddayum! I heard all kinds of commotion out here! No one told me Canterlot City could break it down! Ya’ll really went Footloose up in here?”

“Literally!” someone in the crowd hollered back. Everyone laughed.

Red Rooster looked over toward the pub’s bar, his expression turning bemused. “Was that planned or something? Cuz that was real smooth.”

Applejack could feel her heart beating hard in her chest as a sweat drop rolled down between her shoulder blades.

There was some indistinct yelling, then Red Rooster frowned as he cupped his ear and leaned forward. “Huh? No? It wasn’t planned?” Now his face screwed up. He was still smiling but looking around like someone had done something truly insane. “What the hell? Well, who started it?”

There was some murmuring, then to Applejack’s horror, she saw and felt eyes turn her way. The cowgirl tried to duck. Pulled her hat down over her eyes. But she heard laughter over the mic.

“Ex-cuse me? Ya’ll trying to tell me this cowgirl started it all?” Then Red Rooster chuckled. “Come on, girl, don’t be shy. You got this place hoppin’, and that’s something to be proud of! What’s your name?”

Reluctantly, Applejack lifted her head. “Um… Applejack, sir. But uh, see it wasn’t just me. My friend, she… uh…” she looked around again, desperate to find Sunset.

Red Rooster blinked down at her, then looked over as he spotted one hand waving desperately over the sea of heads.

“AJ! I’m over here! Sorry, s’cuse me—”

The blues musician grinned and waved at the audience. “All right, guys, stop being assholes. Let the poor girl through. She trying to get to her friend!”

There was a confused jumble as the audience to Applejack’s right awkwardly shuffled out of the way—and Sunset Shimmer sidled her way up to her, blushing hard and staring wide-eyed.

“Is this real life?” she breathed at Applejack hoarsely.

The cowgirl leaned toward her and breathed back. “Depends. You finish your gosh darned spell?”

“I did, but—!”

“Ladies, ladies, what’s with the nervousness? You did a hell of a thing! And what's your name, miss?”

Sunset stared pale-faced up at Red Rooster. Her jaw worked open a few times before she actually managed to say anything. “Th-Thank you! I'm Sunset Shimmer. But we didn’t do anything! N-Not really.” She laughed nervously and gestured around. “I dunno how so many people knew the dance!”

Applejack pursed her lips tightly shut, hard enough that even she could feel the blood fleeing them. This was a straight-up lie, and while her Element of Harmony didn’t prevent her from conjuring up fabrications, it certainly seemed to make it harder for her to be a very convincing liar. Usually, that wasn’t a problem. But in situations like these, when revealing their magic was at stake…?

Hoo boy, she wasn’t gonna say a goddamn word.

“Applejack, Sunset Shimmer, you both trying to tell me all that was just a happy accident?” Red Rooster asked them both incredulously.

Behind him, the keyboardist played a dramatic sting, and this earned a few laughs from the crowd. Applejack let out a tight chuckle but kept her lip zipped. Sunset just shrugged. She was smiling, albeit shakily, but she leaned into the humor.

“What can I say? Footloose is a good movie,” she called up to him. This earned some scattered cheers and whistles.

“I’ve watched that movie hundreds of times!” One rowdy woman shouted from the back.

Another man to the left of the stage waved his hands and called, “Hell, my buddies had to show my dumb ass how to do it! I stumbled the whole way through.”

Red Rooster laughed raucously along with the crowd. Then the man pointed towards the bar. “Hey! I saw you bartenders back there getting swept up into it, too. How’d ya’ll know it? Especially you!” Applejack stood on her tiptoes and twisted around. Then she saw Sherry Kiss stand up on what she guessed was a stool and throw her hands wide open as she thrust her chest forward and stared cock-eyed at the man. But her lips were tilted towards a smile.

“Me? What, a black woman can’t enjoy Footloose? Brother, I ate that dance up! Where you think them white kids got them moves in the first place?” Then as if to prove her point, she tossed her hair and shimmied her shoulders like some of the women did in the film.

The crowd cheered and clapped. Red Rooster put his hand up, laughing, and closed his eyes. “Preach, sister! Preach! All right, all right. Everyone is just talented up in this motherfucker. Fine. Fine. I can dig that. But lemme ask ya’ll something.” He put a hand to his ear and looked around mischievously at the crowd, “Canterlot City, ya’ll may have brought the spices, but I got the meat! Ya’ll ready for me to cook a little somethin’?”

There was more applause, along with some catcalls and whistles.

Red Rooster shook his head, glancing back at his bandmates in feigned disappointment. “Nah, nah. Canterlot City, I said, are ya’ll ready for me to cook a little somethin’?”

The applause and cheering grew louder. Red Rooster nodded his head vigorously, sweat already on his brow and his red thick hair shifting with every bob. “That’s what I thought.” He held his arm out and a roadie walked up and handed him an electric guitar with a cherry sunburst design. He pulled the strap over his head, and after a few quick checks of his tuners, he launched into a song.

As this went on, Applejack let go of the breath she’d been holding. She grabbed Sunset’s arm and leaned in close to her friend’s ear. “Your spell musta worked! Thank you!” she shouted.

Sunset laughed, though the sound was swallowed by the wave of music now washing over them. This close to the stage, the speakers weren’t just loud, the cowgirl could literally feel them in her bones.

The redhead wrapped her arms around Applejack’s waist and pulled in close to shout back. “I made it so that everyone believed the most logical explanation they could come up with!”

Applejack grinned. She pulled her hat off and put it on Sunset’s head, and the other girl beamed at her, blushing. The cowgirl gently turned Sunset by the hips so that she was facing the stage and held the redhead from behind, her strong arms encircling the girl’s torso. Sunset hugged her arms to her and leaned her head against Applejack’s.

They both looked up as Red Rooster began to sing, his guitar playing an intricate and funky tune.

The night wore on, and Red Rooster’s performance was everything Sunset Shimmer had hoped it to be. And then some. The musician sang to the crowd about illness and poverty. Corruption from greed. Sex under the stars. Hope amidst disaster. And yes, of heartbreak.

Between songs, Red cracked jokes and shared anecdotes about his life. He’d grown up in a farming community in the countryside, hence the inspiration for his name. His father had been a barber, his mother an optometrist. Despite being away from some of the common strife of the city, his family had known their share of tragedy. Red’s older brother had become paralyzed after a terrible car accident. His father had died suddenly from a heart attack when the musician was just a young teen. His mother became addicted to opioids following a major surgery.

Red Rooster always kept his chatter focused. He implored the audience to care for one another, to talk to loved ones openly and to have compassion for others going through a hard time. Sunset became choked several times throughout the concert. She’d known Red Rooster was an intelligent and introspective person, but she hadn’t any idea the kind of passion that drove him! She fervently hoped she could become half the musician he was someday.

On and on the performance went until it reached its inevitable conclusion. Red and his supporting band left the stage to roaring applause, but after nearly five straight minutes of chants for an encore, the performer and his team had obliged the crowd with another riveting song.

“Oh, I got a pretty little girl I love so bad
Oh, I got a pretty little girl I love so bad
She on my mind always
Yeah, but she don’t want me back”

He sang over a jaunty beat and bluesy melodies. It was one of his contemporary twists on classic blues that blended in rock and jazz elements for a sonic sledgehammer to the heart. Anyone who had suffered unrequited love would no doubt—

She could feel Applejack’s arms tense.

Sunset’s brow tightened as she turned her head just a fraction toward the girl behind her.

Oh.

Of course, this one would be a tough listen for the cowgirl. Red Rooster had such a broad catalog of music, and this wasn’t one of his more recent tracks, but it certainly was one of his most popular.

Sunset gently pried away Applejack’s arms from her body, turning to look straight at her friend. Applejack dropped her gaze, her red face tight with apparent guilt as Red Rooster crooned on.

“Heaven help me!
My heart can’t stay this way
Heaven help me!
My bones just crumblin’ gray
Soul's gonna fade
Just gotta walk away”

Sunset placed her hands on either side of Applejack’s face, and reluctantly the country girl looked up. Sorry, she mouthed. The redhead only shook her head, then pressed in slowly for a kiss. She felt AJ stiffen against her, but never did she step away or turn her head. Their lips connected. It was a full beat before Sunset felt the other girl’s arms wrap around her waist.

One thing to kiss in the mixed chaos of a pub. Another thing to kiss in the thick of a crowd with everyone technically looking in their direction. But as before, Applejack seemed to realize that everyone around them was too preoccupied with some other spectacle to mind two girls kissing amongst them. Still, Sunset pulled back and gazed into Applejack’s green eyes with a wealth of caring affection.

Okay? She mouthed at the blonde.

She felt and saw Applejack heave a great big sigh and shrug her shoulders. Her eyes creased with the weight of so many worries and unfulfilled desires. There was so much pain there… So much shame and frustration.

Sunset had felt it all. Literally, thanks to their magic.

And oh, how it ached.

“Sweet girl don’t see what she do to me
Sweet girl don’t see what she do to me
I’m just a ghost to her
But she keep haunting me

Heaven help me!
My heart can’t stay this way
Heaven help me!
My strength just won’t stay
Soul's gonna fade
Just gotta walk away”

Sunset snaked her arms around Applejack’s neck and pressed in close again, this time hovering close enough that she could feel the other girl’s breath on her parted mouth. The cowgirl closed the distance herself and kissed Sunset again. Deeper this time. So deep. Sunset felt her heartbeat quicken, the pulse throbbing in her throat as she tried to breathe steadily. Applejack’s tongue in her mouth didn’t help.

She knew this was out of the norm. She knew she wasn’t following the tried and true blueprint that made her sprawling love life functional. But Sunset couldn’t think about that right then. Not when Applejack’s eyes said so much. Not when her touch made her feel like she was burning from the inside out. Not when the music brought out all their joys and hopes, their heartaches and pain.

This song… How many times had Sunset listened to it, thinking of the very girl she was kissing? How many times had she gone to bed, restless and frustrated at how helpless she felt, watching the cowgirl pine with anguish? Sunset Shimmer, the newcomer, the unredeemed, the troublemaker… She’d never felt good enough. And the opportunity had never arrived to try.

Until now.

“See her eyes in the dark
See her eyes in the dark
White phantom over me
Just won’t let me sleep”

Because Sunset had wanted this. For so long. And now her affection could be something more than just selfish gratification. Now she could do something with it.

Red Rooster made his guitar squeal as he said into the mic in a weary voice:

“Yeah, my bed is a grave
So dead tired, darlin’
I don’t ever want to leave”

The song concluded with a haunting closing melody. The crowd erupted into applause. Sunset broke off the kiss and leaned into Applejack’s ear. Despite the mild ringing in her ears from being so close to the speakers, and despite the ruckus of the audience, it was still easier to hear. So in a normal voice, Sunset asked breathlessly, “Wanna stay up with me tonight?”

She could almost feel Applejack’s temperature rise as the country girl shifted against her. But after only a short pause, she gave a gentle squeeze and replied, “I’d love to.”

Then Red Rooster played his final song. A more upbeat number, this time. It was a song about overcoming, and Sunset thought it was such an appropriate send-off, that she threw her head back and laughed as those around her drunkenly sang along.

“I’m a dogwood bloomin’
Risen up from the rocks
Floods tried to move me
But I can take some hard knocks

“You think I’ll keep cryin’
Sheddin’ petals to your name?
Darlin’ my branches are reachin’
This son won’t stay the same

“Lost my mama, lost my daddy
Lost my money, lost my ride
But if you think I’m wiltin’ for you
Then you wastin’ your damn time

“I’ve got roots
Yeah, I’ve got roots
I’ve got roots that go deep
And baby, they tell me to keep growin’
With my eyes turned to the sky
Cuz’ so long as my heart keep beatin’
Ain’t no way I’ll wither and die.”

And then, when the song ended, and Red Rooster took his final bow. When the crowd began to steadily stream back onto the street towards their cars. Then…

Then Applejack took Sunset home.

Author's Note

Bless Beyoncé's timing! :rainbowlaugh:

Did you guys think this was dead? Sorry, had a challenging couple of months, but your favorite rarepair is back! I appreciate everyone tuning back in.

Was the dance scene a bit cringe? I dunno. I leaned into it. I embraced the cringe. I also really like Footloose and I felt like that was a sufficient reason.

The lyrics featured in this chapter were written by me.

Chapter 10

Two men watched as the blue truck drove down the road. One lit a cigarette, the other checked his phone. They were sitting in a beat-up navy blue sedan half a block away. Even in the end of the night rush from Pandora’s, it was easy to track the truck amid the sports cars, electric vehicles, vans, and compacts.

“You wanna follow?” the man in the passenger seat asked his companion. He had a narrow face short teal hair streaked with orange and yellow eyes.

The driver was a broader man with a square jaw and dark purple hair that flopped over his cold gaze. His nose was misshapen from being broken more than once. He nodded, turning on the car engine. “Yeah.”

They’d come here purely on a hunch. They’d had a lead or two from the man who’d hired them, but they hadn’t born any fruit. So, like some neo-noir anti-heroes, they’d gone and chased down answers. Bothered a few college kids. Paid a tough guy or two.

It wasn’t that Sunset Shimmer was hard to track. It was that she was hard to find at the right time. She’d given other thugs the slip before. Cronies of Grogar. Strange things happened to her tails, too. They'd get distracted by a sudden urge to sing. Or their memories of following her would be completely gone. Rumor was one street veteran had suddenly felt an overwhelming guilt so profound he'd had to pull over and call his mother to tearfully apologize for all the trouble he'd caused her over the years.

That’s why the two men in the blue sedan had kept their distance. Been quiet about it. There was more at stake than just being spotted by their mark. The head of the Trog-Els had killed for less, and they were technically interfering with his business. The open secret was Sunset Shimmer somehow brought the mob boss riches. What riches? No one knew exactly. Some thought it was priceless art. Others thought it was high-quality drugs. Maybe stolen data. Rare jewelry and antiques, even.

“We tryin’ somethin’ tonight?” The passenger asked. “I think the blonde was one of the ones Goldfang told us about. Her weird friends.”

The driver shrugged as he pulled out onto the road before too many cars could get between him and his quarry. “Maybe. Maybe not. And who cares? They might take us somewhere interesting.”

“Just so long as I don’t have to fight that roided chick. Red’s friend looked like she could make me shit my teeth.”

“Pussy.”

“You fight her then!”

The driver shrugged again, smirking now. He drove aggressively, maneuvering further and further up the lanes of cars. His companion nervously scolded him. What if they got pulled over?

But he didn’t care. This girl had pissed off the wrong guy. Now Zephyr Thorn had his chance to finally move up from a nameless grunt to a man in a suit. A real member of the Badlanders. Badasses who ruled over a slice of Canterlot City like a pack of wolves.

He’d brought Sunbeam along, less because he thought he needed backup and more because he wanted a good scapegoat in case things went sideways. It was a cutthroat business, and shit happened. You had to have contingency plans. Besides, Sunbeam wasn’t completely useless, despite his nerves.

Twenty minutes into tailing, Zephyr merged in directly behind the blue truck as they neared the city limits. There were fewer cars coming this way anyway, and if his guess was right, they were about to lose all witnesses. He could afford to be noticed now. His eyes fastened on the redhead in the passenger seat.

Tonight had been chance. A complete gamble. The tip they’d gotten had been slim. The muttering of a drunk quantum physics student in the back of a pub popular with university kids.

Sometimes, Sunset Shimmer goes to blues night at Pandora’s Box.

That was all. There was no great sleuthing at work here. No incredible ingenuity. No great connecting of the dots. Just… Tenacity over a scant couple of days and a good bit of luck.

Still, the setup was perfect. The girl, alone at night in the city? It was worth waiting to see if she’d show. Only, she hadn’t turned up alone. But Zephyr wasn’t dissuaded by this. In his experience, collateral damage made the message sink in deeper.

They drove and drove. The radio remained shut off. All in all, this was like most jobs Zephyr and Sunbeam handled. They did the dirty grunt work the made men were too good for. Dealing drugs. Stealing goods. Kicking some dude’s ass.

This was sort of like that, but special. Goldfang wanted the girl scared. Meaning hurt. Not dead. He’d hammered that into their heads enough. Do not kill her! He’d do it himself, but the girl was off-limits to him. Zephyr and Sunbeam, though…?

This girl was Grogar’s pet project, apparently. Zephyr had shrugged at the news. Mentally. You didn’t shrug in front of Goldfang unless you wanted to get pistol-whipped. But how hurt did he want the girl…? Goldfang had never said.

Zephyr smiled.

She’d be conscious at the end of it, at least. Maybe able to walk… Maybe.

The man liked his dark work. He’d grown up on the streets. Saw things. Did things. His rage was a balled fist in his chest, and he savored every chance he had a reason to lash out.

So they drove well out of the city, deep into the country.

“Hey, maybe you should back up, Zeph.” Sunbeam was looking at him askance. They were riding the truck’s bumper, practically.

Zephyr glanced at him. “No.”

“They’ll make us, man.”

“So?”

“What the hell are we even doing?”

Zephyr shrugged. The action was a common refrain in the poetry of his being. He stared at the redhead as he saw her glance back. And he smiled, showing his canines.

“Having fun.”

The time to keep a cautious distance was over. It wasn’t giving up higher ground. No. It was knocking a bitch down a few pegs. Now it was time for Zephyr’s favorite part. The game of cat and mouse.

Sunset Shimmer had been feeling giddy and blissful as they made the return trip back to Sweet Apple Acres. Her mind had been a kaleidoscope of imagery, bursting with all the possibilities that now lay before them. How long had she been waiting for this chance? Now she could finally have—

In the country road. The lights. They glared in the rearview mirror, lighting up the backs of their heads in wrathful halos.

Applejack squinted into her mirrors, scowling. “This feller sure seems in a hurry.”

Sunset stared at the dashed road lines. “We’re in a passing section. He should go on ahead soon.”

Only… He didn’t. Minutes went by, and the passing zone ended.

“Maybe he’s just nervous,” Applejack said, noting the look of disquiet on Sunset’s face. “We get deer out here all the time, hopping out of the thicket. That can make passing cars a risky business at night.”

Sunset wanted to be sure. “AJ, slow down some.”

“Huh?“

“Please slow down. Gradually.” Sunset put her hand in her pocket and gripped the pistol.

Applejack stared at her. “Sunset—”

“I don't know if it's trouble, but if they follow to Sweet Apple Acres, wouldn’t that be a cause for concern? They've been behind us since we left the pub.” She was certain of it. If she’d been relaxed in the pub, surrounded by all those people during the concert, then she’d been on alert since leaving. No more witnesses meant that, yes, even in the truck, something could happen. Was far more likely to, actually.

Sunset had been checking their mirrors and scanning the roads as if she were the one driving. The blue sedan had been behind them for a while, but while in the city, it'd been further back. She'd clocked it then, but she hadn't pinned it as a particular threat. Till now. If only she could see the faces of the people inside the car through the glare of the headlights.

Her friend's eyes went wide. Applejack eased onto the brakes, and the truck slowed. The car behind didn't back off. It just matched their speed.

“More.” Sunset pulled the gun out but kept it in her lap. She was breathing quicker now.

“Sunset Shimmer it may just be some dumb kids—”

“Maybe. Dumb city kids trying to make a name for themselves. Slower, please, until you can stop.”

“Stop?”

“Yeah. And turn on your hazard lights, but don’t turn off the road.”

“Sunset—”

“I’m casting an aura spell. It’ll make anyone who approaches the truck reluctant to start trouble. That could buy us time.”

“To do what?”

“Run. Fight. Preferably run, but you never know.”

Applejack grit her teeth as she pressed down on the brakes enough to bring the truck to a full stop. “Heaven help me,” she muttered as she squinted into the side mirror. The sedan behind them had its high beams on.

Sunset exhaled shakily as she quickly traced the runes for the aura spell into the dashboard. “Are you regretting coming out with me now?”

The other girl looked at her, then shook her head tersely as she pulled out her own, larger, pistol. “Heck no. I just don’t wanna have to hurt a feller.” She sounded very confident, if tensed.

“Me either,” Sunset murmured as she glared behind them. She thought she could make out two men, but she couldn’t see well enough to pick out details. Were they people she knew? It would help if she could get their faces, regardless. It’d make it harder for them to sneak up on her later.

Minutes dragged by. The blue sedan didn’t move, and no one said anything. They were alone on the dark country road, the moon their only witness between the sprawling alfalfa fields.

Finally, Applejack seemed to hit her limit. She leaned on the truck horn, making Sunset jump. “AJ!”

“They might be drunk,” Applejack groused. She rolled down her window and tried to wave the car on.

The blue sedan still didn’t move. Sunset’s heart thudded in her chest as she stared at the car behind them. Sweat beaded on her forehead. With encroaching dread, it began to dawn on her that the people Goldfang might have selected for his dark errand were… Different. Most thugs had a bit of a violent or even sadistic streak through them. You almost had to if you were going to be a part of the bloody underworld business.

But some were like sharks among piranhas. Some whose temperament made even their colleagues eye them sideways.

Sunset wondered, with chilled sweat, if that’s who was on her tail. She felt her fears solidify when the blue sedan finally backed up, then pulled a reckless U-turn on the road and sped away, spitting dirt on the bank and squealing tires on the asphalt. The car went so quickly that her eyes didn’t have time to adjust and see the faces of the men inside.

“What in tarnation…” Applejack breathed.

Sunset let go of the breath she’d been holding and slumped in her seat. With trembling hands, she produced a cigarette and lit it up. After a long drag, she gestured for the road. “Let’s get out of here,” she sighed.

“Dude, what was that? She might have seen us!” Sunbeam snapped. He craned to look back at the rapidly shrinking truck, still stopped in the road.

Zephyr, still smiling, snapped his teeth at him like a dog, making the other man jerk. “Shut up! I had the high beams on. There’s no way they could have seen anything important. You think this is my first time at this?” he cast a wild eye on his friend.

Sunbeam held up his hands and leaned away. “Naw, man. I just… Why’d you bail, then?”

“Bitches had something to fight with. Obviously. Why else would they stop in the middle of the road like that? I think they were packing. Blind or not, if we got out of the cars, they coulda opened up on us. A firefight might kill her. It’s good to know she’s got a gun, anyway. We’ll have to ambush instead.” His smile widened, his teeth catching the scant moonlight.

It was eerie to see him suddenly so chatty. Sunbeam was ready to call this night a bust, but clearly, his partner had a different perspective. He seemed energized by the encounter, even.

“Blondie got rattled,” Zephyr breathed, leaning forward to look up at the night sky through the windshield. “It made Red crack. She just about jumped outta her skin when the horn went off.” He settled back in his seat as he laughed, and Sunbeam stared at him uneasily. The sound was deep and vicious. And rare. Zephyr was not a laughing sort of guy.

And what amused him usually gave Sunbeam nightmares.

“Sunset Shimmer, huh? Looks like not all the rumors were just hype. Stopping the car in the middle of the road? That was good! Smart as fuck. She’s got balls. Either we woulda drove around, and she woulda seen our faces, or we got out and fought, risking killing or getting killed. Turnin’ around was the only smart play. She forced our hand. Mmm. Mmm! That bitch is smart, ha!” Zephyr struck the steering wheel, then wrung it, his eyes turning glassy as his smile gained a slant. “This’ll be fun.”

Sunbeam sank in his seat, rubbing at his forehead. He didn’t like the look in his partner’s eye.

He didn’t like any of this. But he had his reasons for staying in it. He had no choice. Being on the bottom of the underworld often meant rising or dying. He needed to rise. He needed Goldfang to sponsor his entry into the gang.

His family needed it.

So he’d try to keep Zephyr from going off the deep end. If only Sunset Shimmer knew how lucky she was that he was in on this, too.

He scoffed to himself.

Talk about small mercies. Real small.

To be safe, Applejack drove around in circles for another twenty minutes. But the blue sedan was gone, and no one seemed to be following them anymore.

When they arrived at Sweet Apple Acres, it was already nearing midnight.

Applejack parked outside of her family home and turned off the engine. She looked worriedly at Sunset Shimmer. Her friend was slumped, her face lined with the weight of their strange encounter.

“It may not have been anything, Sunset,” Applejack said, not quite convinced herself. But without knowing who those men were, there was that small bit of hope to cling to. It wasn’t a lie. But she didn’t know if she was speaking the truth either.

A fact that someone as clever as Sunset Shimmer clearly didn’t miss. “That was too much of a coincidence. I put you at risk.”

“They didn’t follow us back to the farm.”

“I don’t understand. The only people I told about tonight were you and Rainbow Dash. I haven’t been to that pub in a month.”

“If it was them, which I ain’t sayin’ it was—at least they didn’t do anything tonight! For that alone, I’m grateful, y’hear?”

Sunset covered her face with her hands. “I’m a magnet for trouble. Maybe…” She sighed roughly and looked away out her passenger window. “Maybe I should just go.”

Applejack’s lips thinned. “Heck no.”

Sunset frowned at her. “I put you in danger. I got cocky. I shouldn’t have—”

“I said I wanted to go. You told me what was goin’ on, and I went anyways. Don’t you treat me like I ain’t got any say in this, Sunset Shimmer.” Applejack glared at her. “I’m grown. And I ain’t stupid. I knew somethin’ might happen, and if this is it… So what? Maybe it was them, then. What are you gonna do? Run off into the middle of the night by yourself? No. Damn that idea.” She slid closer to Sunset on the seat, her eyes blazing. “Sunset, stay with me tonight.”

And Sunset looked at her, visibly faltering. Applejack took her hand and squeezed. “Stay.”

Sunset Shimmer—smart, resilient, stubborn as all get out—just shook her head. She put her hand on the door handle. “Applejack, this isn’t like high school. I can’t solve this with a song or a smile, and neither can you.” She glanced back at Applejack with a pained expression that said so much. Frustration. Guilt.

Fear.

“It wouldn’t be right for me to stay.”

But Applejack wasn’t a fool. She could hear the reluctant phrasing. The hesitancy in Sunset Shimmer’s words. She never said unequivocally that she should leave. Or that she had to go. She was slow to slide out of the truck, as if water was holding her back.

Applejack, desperate, blurted out, “We could play a game!”

The outburst took both of them aback. Sunset blinked at Applejack. Applejack blinked back.

“A…game?” Sunset asked with a raised brow.

Applejack reached for her cigarettes and clumsily pulled one out. “Er, yeah.” She hoped her blush wasn’t too obvious in the porchlight. Sunset frowned but waited for the other girl to explain herself. Applejack took advantage of her courtesy and lit her cig. After a long drag, she said with a small hissing exhale, “I went digging around our storage and found an old game console. A TurboNinja. Uses cartridges, not discs.” She scratched self-consciously at her hairline. “I just figured… I dunno. You like games. Maybe it’d help you take your mind off things?”

She was gratified to see the sudden show of interest from Sunset. Still, the other girl didn’t return to the truck. “What games have you got?”

Applejack had to stop and think. Her heart was hammering. “Lessee… We got a fighting game I used to play a lot with Rainbow Dash called Alley Fighter 2. Then, some puzzle games, like Bibble Babble and Dr. Mars. Oh! And Ticklefruit—”

“What?”

The cowgirl jumped as Sunset Shimmer lunged toward her and grabbed her arm. She stared as she nervously swept some cigarette ash from her jeans. “I said we got Alley Fighter, Bibble Babble—”

“No, the last one! Did I hear you say Ticklefruit? As in the first Ticklefruit on the TurboNinja?!”

Applejack swallowed, completely unprepared for the hungry look in the other girl’s gaze. Her cigarette hung limply from her lips as she stared. “...Yes?”

Sunset shouted, her hands burying themselves in her hair. “H-How?!”

Now Applejack was wondering if she’d made a mistake. She’d wanted Sunset Shimmer to calm down and not be like—this. “W-Well, y’know us Apples, Sun. We never throw anythin’ out that still works or could be fixed. I think Pa bought it way back as a birthday present for Big Mac. Heck, I think I was barely outta diapers—”

Sunset clumsy sat back in the passenger seat and shut the truck door again. She stared forward. After a long moment, she turned to look at Applejack with wonder. “Do you have any idea how much that cartridge is worth? How rare it is to find?”

Applejack rolled down her window, ashed her cigarette, and licked her lips. After a brief pause, she shook her head. “Nope.”

Her friend gazed at her with both horror and anguish. When she spoke, her voice was strangled. “AJ… That’s the original Ticklefruit. Five years later, the developers released another game of the same name on the first GameStation, which is what most people assume was the first one ever, but that was a completely different game. A lot of people don’t realize the very first entry in the series was from the 16-bit era—and only 50,000 copies were ever made!! On top of that, only about half of that ever sold. It’s a miracle the series continued at all after that!”

Applejack blinked at her. After a long moment, she delicately shrugged. Sunset glared at her with wild indignation. “Seriously!” she snapped. “It’s believed the rest of the copies were lost in a warehouse fire. People just weren’t ready for how innovative Ticklefruit was back then! So to have a working copy is like—like—” She visibly fumbled, her hands reaching up as she looked around helplessly.

“Like having the last good apple of the season?”

“Yes! Wait, what? No!” Sunset buried her face in her hands.

Applejack grinned, abruptly amused by the situation. Earlier that day, she’d been despairing over her inability to be interesting or fun for Sunset Shimmer. Now they’d just wrapped up one heckuva night in the city, and even with Applejack’s humble family relics, she’d managed to get this incredible girl to gape at her as if she’d discovered the Holy Grail. And she hadn’t even had to do much apart from just being herself!

That felt… Really, really good.

Applejack gestured at her cigarette. “Lemme finish this real quick, and I’ll get it all set up for you.” She wagged a finger at Sunset. “But don’t think you’ll get by without playing me a few matches of Alley Fighter! I ain’t had a good match in a long time, and I’m fixin’ to add to my to wins.”

Sunset took a deep breath and grinned, her eyes still wide and bright as she practically buzzed in her seat. “AJ, greater mortals than you have rued the day they underestimated my fighting game skills.” She pulled out her own pack of cigarettes and lit one up. “Do you remember my game channel, Shimmer Code? I had decent views on my online fighting game vids. I’d have tried my hand at a tournament if only we weren’t so busy with school and magic problems.”

“Really? I had no idea!” Applejack blinked at her. Usually, the only one she ever played fighting games with was Rainbow. Sometimes, Pinkie or even Twilight would sit down for a round or two, but there just didn’t seem to be that much interest in the genre among their group. Too aggressive for their vibes.

“Ah. Yeah. Well, after one weekend where me beating Rainbow ten to one led to my only TV getting smashed, I kinda realized maybe it wouldn’t be so cool of me to go around smacking newbs. From then on, I refrained out of courtesy.”

Applejack paused. “Courtesy?” Her eyes slid to Sunset and narrowed. “Newbs?”

Sunset smirked. “Mm-hmm. I did mention I lost a TV, too, right? Rainbow replaced it, but I was half afraid she’d egg my apartment if it ever happened again.”

Applejack drew on her cigarette again with a stony expression. “Sunset Shimmer, you’re about to get into a world of hurt. And I promise, it ain’t gonna be the TV that’s gonna get it!”

This just made the redhead laugh. After a moment, Applejack smiled at her, like a shark smelling blood.

When they finished their smoke break, the two crept into the house. Applejack paused by the front door to turn off the porch light. No one was downstairs, though the house wasn’t exactly quiet. Upstairs, where Big Mac and Apple Bloom’s rooms were, there was some faint sound. Someone was strumming a guitar. There was also indistinct chatter, like from a television or radio. At least Granny Smith appeared to be asleep. The crack under her door was dark, and the room sounded quiet.

Sunset looked around at the darkened living room. The kitchen was lit up only by the stove light.

Applejack turned to Sunset. “Game’s upstairs. Ya want anythin’ while we’re down here? Food, drink? We still got leftovers, I think. Juice. Cider.” She glanced at the stairs and said more quietly, “Want some of Mac’s Irish whiskey?”

Sunset lifted her eyebrows. “He won’t mind?”

The cowgirl shook her head quickly. “Nah. He’s always offerin’ it to me.”

“A shot of that and some coffee sounds good.”

Applejack nodded with a grin. “You read my mind.”

Sunset felt like she could use a bump in courage. All she felt of the weed at this point was a vague exhaustion buoyed by nerves. The car incident had rattled her. She hadn’t expected that. But then, she supposed, she was used to Grogar’s men. They were more reserved. Open aggression was antithetical to their goals, after all. But those people that had tailed them tonight had been…different. Dangerous.

She hated to think that she’d put Applejack in danger. But it seemed that the men were only interested in scaring her tonight. If she’d been alone? Maybe they would have done more. She supposed that, in that respect, she was glad her friend had come with her. Still, Sunset’s stomach flopped unpleasantly.

Capper had told her to get out of town. Should she…?

But the allure of retro gaming, and being able to play one of her all-time favorite long-lost games no less, was too much to resist. That, and the earnest look in Applejack’s eyes as she’d asked her to stay, had been powerful. The other girl may as well have grabbed her friend and not let go. Even as her common sense pricked her, Sunset found herself held fast.

She’d stay. Just for tonight, at least. Maybe hang around the area till this weekend? She had promises to keep, after all. And she was enjoying herself more than she had in a long time.

She sat at the kitchen table while she watched Applejack prepare the coffee.

“It’s late,” Sunset remarked, glancing at the clock on the stove. She knew that was a bland observation, but she just wanted to fill the silence.

Applejack glanced at her as she turned the coffeemaker on. “Sure is. This coffee will give us a second wind.”

“You think the girls are still out?”

“Prob’ly.”

A pause. Applejack coughed and scratched at her cheek as she turned and leaned back on the kitchen counter. “I, uh… I think the girl Rainbow wants to set me up with went with ‘em.”

Sunset frowned. “The girl that Rainbow…” Then her mind caught up as she thought about who Rainbow had said was going out with them tonight. “Oh, you mean Sassaflash?”

Applejack smiled with pursed lips as she nodded.

“Her?” Sunset said, surprised by how surprised she was. “When did Rainbow tell you?”

“Sometime tonight. She sent me a picture of her.”

“...Can I see?” Morbid curiosity had always gotten her in trouble, but Sunset found it hard to resist even now that she was reformed.

Applejack froze, her eyes going wide. “Uh, suuure?”

Sunset smiled crookedly. “You sound worried.”

“I mean…” Applejack blew out her cheeks and took off her hat to run her hand through her blonde hair. She laughed a little. “I guess I just dunno what to think.”

“I’m just curious. Can I see? Pretty please?” Sunset put on her best puppy dog eyes.

Applejack sighed with a grin and pulled out her phone. After unlocking it and pulling up the picture, she handed it to Sunset.

Sunset looked at Sassaflash on the screen. She certainly looked very sexy, but her outfit had a bit of naughty grit, too. Sunset oohed. “Wow! She looks really good!” She looked cheekily at Applejack. “What did you think?”

Applejack rubbed at her face and took a deep breath. When she dropped her hand, she blushed behind her freckles. “Um. She’s pretty?”

Sunset’s smile curled a little. “That’s it?”

“Sunset Shimmer, are you teasin’ me?”

“What? I just want to know!”

Applejack shook her head as she crammed her hat back on. She turned around to pull a pair of coffee mugs from the cupboards.

Sunset looked at the picture on the phone thoughtfully. Minutes went by, and the conversation turned to forgettable chatter: whether or not they looked forward to school tomorrow, things they had to study, and what the weather would be like.

After a bit of this, Sunset looked at the picture of Sassaflash again. Then without any prompting, she stated, “I’d sleep with her.”

There was a clatter. She looked and saw Applejack picking up the coffee mugs from the counter. She’d dropped them.

“Did anything break?” Sunset asked, her brow creasing.

“N-No. Thankfully.” Applejack took a deep breath as she grabbed the now-filled coffee decanter and poured it into the mugs. She peeked at Sunset. “So you’d…?”

Sunset smirked. “Yeah. Wouldn’t you?”

“Well, I…” Applejack shrugged, looking uncomfortable.

Sunset sobered. She’d taken her game too far, clearly. But she didn’t really want to ease off yet. There was something she was building up to asking. Now that they were alone and out of danger, she just had to ask. She chewed her lip before checking the stairs and spoke quietly. “Applejack, did you want to sleep with me tonight?”

Applejack, who had been procuring the Irish whiskey from Big Mac’s hiding place in the kitchen broom closet, stopped dead. She turned to stare at Sunset Shimmer while she loosely held the bottle’s neck, only half risen from where she’d had to reach toward the back corner of the closet. “What was that?” her voice was a little strangled.

“I asked if you wanted to have sex with me.” Sunset sat back in her chair, her gaze steady on her friend.

Applejack straightened, and she glanced nervously toward the other side of the house where the rest of her family was resting for the evening. Then she shut the closet door and went over to the mugs on the counter.

“Did you… Not want to with me anymore?” Applejack asked haltingly.

Sunset smiled. “No, I still do. I just…wanted to ask more plainly. To be sure. Misunderstandings really, really suck.”

“And yer speakin’ from experience, I take it?”

“Yep.”

Applejack’s shoulders hunched a little as she cleared her throat. She unscrewed the bottle and splashed some whiskey into a mug. Then she paused and splashed a lot more into it until the liquid was near the top. She looked at Sunset. “You want just a shot’s worth, right?”

Sunset nodded. She wanted some help relaxing, but she’d learned her lesson earlier that night. She wanted to be mentally present for this.

She watched as her friend poured only about half as much into the other mug, then setting the bottle down, she picked up both mugs and walked over to the table to sit. Sunset watched her hands. They were trembling a little.

Applejack swore under her breath as some of her drink spilled over. She handed Sunset hers while sipping carefully at her mug. The redhead waited patiently for her friend to say something as she watched the other girl wipe her wet fingers on her pants.

After a quick grimace, Applejack set her mug back down and looked at Sunset Shimmer. “Sun, I… do want to sleep with you tonight. If I may.”

Sunset had to fight from cooing. The other girl was being so formal about it; it was adorable! Instead, she leaned forward onto the table and lifted her mug to her lips. She took a quick sip, her mouth bursting with nutty, spicy, and even caramel flavors. Then, she smiled at Applejack. “Good. As much as I’d like to play old video games, I want you more.”

Applejack choked on her next sip, and Sunset couldn’t help but chuckle a little this time.

“Girl, you are killing me,” Applejack said weakly. But she was smiling. “Seems to me like you’re just trying to find an excuse not to get your butt whooped.”

Now, Sunset set her mug down with a mock glare. “I may not have played a ton of Alley Fighter, but I bet I could still knock you flat! I have tons of fighting game experience!”

“Mm-hmm, sure.”

“Speaking of distracting from things—you still never answered me about Sassaflash.”

Applejack winced. “Oh.”

“You like her,” Sunset said, but her voice lacked the teasing lilt of before.

She watched her friend shrug. “I mean… Listen, she looks nice, but I don’t know her. I know you, and we’ve been having such a good time, but I ain’t even sure what we’re doing yet, y’know?”

Sunset nodded slowly. “Sorry. I know I’m probably kind of confusing for you.”

“A little bit,” Applejack admitted reluctantly before taking another sip. She rotated her mug in her hands. “I mean, you got multiple partners an’ all, but I’m…” she paused, frowning. She looked away. “Ah, this ain’t the time to talk about this.”

Sunset reached across the table and put a hand on Applejack’s wrist. “Hey, no. It’s okay. We can talk about this. It’s good that we do this now. Before…y’know.” She squeezed her friend’s wrist gently. “How do you feel about this whole thing? With me? Is there something you want to ask?”

Applejack took a long drink of her coffee, no doubt scalding her tongue, but she didn’t seem to care. She looked carefully at Sunset, though not quite in the eye. “Not really. I think I know the score. You ain’t interested in settling down with one person. But… Well…” she shrugged helplessly. “I just ain’t the same, Sunset. I’m an Apple, and we… We put down roots.”

“So I think the question is… Are you okay if I’m not like that?” Sunset asked quietly.

Their eyes met.

Sunset felt like so much passed between them. These little exchanges, where they said nothing and everything, were fascinating and gripping—and scary. It was hard to put into words, but if she had to explain this to Twilight later (and she feared she would have to), then the best she could frame it was like…having the whole world narrow to just the two of them. Sunset couldn’t move, could barely breathe, and without ever reaching out, she felt Applejack. And it was a warm feeling. Electric, too, like she had the rage and passion of a prairie storm in her chest. Her hair stood on end, her body grew hot, and she felt incredible understanding pass over her.

Even so, Applejack spoke the thoughts Sunset had already taken to heart through their shared gaze. The cowgirl’s soft voice, deeper from the weight of the words, conjured thoughts of the poem she’d recited recently.

But his heart is warm and tender when he sees a friend in need,
Though his education is but to endure.

And endure Applejack did until the pain started manifesting on the outside.

“Sunset Shimmer, I can’t tell ya how many nights I’ve felt like a seed buried too deep in the ground. I been cold and in the dark by myself for a long while. I worked for everyone around me. Stopped ever asking for anything for myself. It felt like that was jes gonna be my life. I was never gonna bloom. Then you showed up and…” She sighed roughly, her eyes creasing. Sunset bit her lip, stifling some silly remark about how she’d shown up and caused her friend trouble. She watched as Applejack assembled what she wanted to say.

“Heck, ain’t it something when the girl who represents Honesty stopped feeling like she could be honest? I couldn’t let anyone know about what I was feeling. Till it turned into—” And here, Applejack grabbed at her bandage, still hidden by Sunset Shimmer’s spell, and removed it, undoing the magic to reveal her burn wounds. She looked earnestly at Sunset, and the redhead felt another jolt of electricity run through her as she beheld the seared burn wounds. “But when you started spending time with me, I realized I ain’t gotta be perfect no more. I ain’t gotta be the strong one no more. I feel like I can breathe again. Maybe even do more than I ever did before. Does that make sense?”

Applejack grimaced and looked away, her cheeks burning. She had to know how unnecessary the question was. When her green eyes returned to lock gazes again, she had a rueful smile on her freckled face.

Sunset swallowed through a tight throat. She felt so much right now. But of all her emotions, she feared showing how hungry she felt. This…what was this? Rather than voice any of her befuddled thoughts, she only murmured, “Yes,” and balled her hands up under the table. If only to stop herself from grabbing her friend and kissing her fiercely.

Was it the magic connection from earlier? What…was happening between them?

Applejack’s expression turned pained. “The thing is, Sunset—It ain’t so simple with me either. I’m…still hung up on Fluttershy. I hate to say it, but I am. Even if I wanted to, I dunno if I’m ready to be anyone’s one and only. No matter how much I wanna be.” She set her mug down and reached across the table with an overturned hand. Sunset stared at it before slowly shifting her arm and grasping the other girl’s hand. Her palms were sweaty. Did Applejack notice?

If she did, she made no sign of it. Applejack went on, even softer than before: “So if ya want to be with other people, that’s jes fine with me. Y’hear? But you’re enough for me. More’n enough. So as nice as Sassaflash is, I think I’m a-gonna have to pass.”

“All right,” Sunset said with a small grin. She hadn’t been surprised to hear Applejack was still into Fluttershy. She had no delusion that she could somehow free her friend from such a longtime crush so quickly, or even at all. These were all things she understood. Was satisfied with, even.

After all, in her experience, you could be with many and be rewarded in many ways. Divided feelings? That was Sunset’s entire love life. She was just happy Applejack was even letting her in at all.

Applejack nodded, smiling back at her. All at once, the cowgirl seemed to relax, like a load had been lifted off her shoulders.

Then, in light of this shift, and because she was feeling mischievous again, Sunset Shimmer asked, “So if you’re not interested in Sassaflash, mind passing her off to me?”

Her friend kicked her under the table, making Sunset snort into a laugh. Applejack rolled her eyes, but before long, she was chuckling too.

‘What was this’? Sunset Shimmer set the question aside as she felt her resolve solidify.

This was fun, companionship, and pure pleasure, and she was going to enjoy every minute of it.

They finished their coffees. With Sunset’s help, Applejack reapplied the medicine Forest Tender had given her and placed a new bandage on her arm. Then they went upstairs. Applejack plugged the TurboNinja into the box TV while listening to Sunset gush about her having a CRT and the “perfect retro gaming set up for an authentic experience.” She chuckled at the look of utter nerdy bliss on her friend’s face. At Sunset’s insistence, they played Ticklefruit first.

“You have to see what you’ve been missing,” Sunset said earnestly.

Applejack just gave her a bemused look as they sat cross-legged on the floor in front of the old TV. “Sunset, y’know I’ve played this before, right?”

“Not like this! Watch.”

And Applejack did. Sunset eagerly explained as the bright and colorful start menu appeared. Jungle trees swayed in the breeze as cartoony pixel fruit smiled and swayed. “You see, the thing is that Ticklefruit had a ton of easter eggs. The TurboNinja was actually built with an internal clock. So if I entered a special button combo on the start screen—”

Sunset entered a rather complex series of button presses that made Applejack lift her eyebrows. Then her eyes snapped onto the TV screen as something strange happened.

The once bright and sunny tropical screen suddenly changed to a dark and cool-colored nighttime display. A full moon could be seen through the broad jungle leaves as one pineapple cheekily asked (via speech bubble), It’s late! Go hit the garden bed!

Applejack whistled. “That’s neat!”

Sunset grinned at her. “You haven’t seen anything yet. I think the first level has ten easter eggs alone!”

And Applejack watched, enraptured as Sunset, using the banana character “Peel,” bounced, zipped, and slid through a whimsical world of jungle vines, giant flowers, and pesky insects. Sunset hadn’t been kidding. She’d never seen this side of Ticklefruit before. When she’d been younger, she could barely get past the first level, and that was usually after using up all her lives. But somehow, her friend was playing the game with such expertise that Applejack had to ask, “How in tarnation are you doing that?”

Sunset glanced at her as she unveiled the easter egg, revealing a special powerup that allowed Peel to change colors. “Sorry, didn’t I mention? I’ve played this game before. But as a ROM on my computer. It’s the way most people play this game, y’know.”

Applejack had no idea what a ROM was or how this old game could possibly have made its way to computers. However, she still had to stare with amazement as Sunset found another special easter egg that poked fun at a famous video game character from the time: A blue hedgehog sleeping on a pile of rings in a hidden room behind a waterfall. The hedgehog was overweight, having gorged himself on various fruits. Applejack let out a laugh.

Sunset cleared the next level before stopping of her own accord. “If I don’t, I could go on forever,” she admitted with a guilty smile. She did write down the level password so that she could resume playing at level three the next time she turned the game on.

Applejack plucked up the cartridge for Alley Fighter 2. It showed one man in a red bandana bearing down on a strange green beast-man.

“Ready to lose?” she asked with a smirk.

Sunset tongued her cheek and crossed her arms. “Are you?”

“I ain’t plannin’ on it, sugar cube.” Applejack chuckled as she placed the cartridge into the TurboNinja and turned the system back on.

“Then let’s make this interesting.” Sunset gestured at the screen with an arched eyebrow. “Best of three. The loser has to lose a piece of clothing.”

Applejack paused mid-action as she tried to plug in a second controller. She could feel her heart rate kick up. But either the whiskey was doing its job, or she was getting more accustomed to Sunset’s boldness because she looked over her shoulder at the other girl and said with a wink, “Best of three? Nah. How about per round.” She sat back and grinned. “Winner gets to pick what goes, too.”

Sunset’s cheeks flushed a little, but she returned the grin and nodded.

They chose their fighters carefully. Applejack even consented to allow Sunset to look at her move list and practice for a few minutes before they began their contest in earnest.

Then… It started.

Applejack had chosen her favorite character, the green beast-man with orange hair who could channel electricity through his body. Predictably, in the past, Rainbow Dash had gravitated toward the flashy, blonde-haired Air Force pilot in camo pants. As a result, Applejack had mastered that character’s best counter—the green beast-man could easily duck several of the pilot’s attacks, and he had strong counters that prevented Rainbow from effectively using several of her character’s moves. Applejack had a few other characters she was decent at, but she wanted a strong start to demoralize her opponent.

To Applejack’s disappointment, Sunset did not choose the blonde pilot but instead chose the leggy Chinese policewoman with the twin hair buns. She watched, grudgingly impressed, as Sunset familiarized herself with the policewoman’s moves. Sunset was good. It took her less than ten minutes to have a decent handle on three of the character’s iconic moves. And she’d even figured out how to succeed at the tricky special attack!

When she was done, Sunset looked at Applejack with a confident expression. “Ready?”

Applejack licked her lips and nodded. “Ready.”

The first match was tense.

Sunset valiantly attacked Applejack’s character, but even given her startling grasp of her chosen fighter, she struggled against the cowgirl’s experience. Applejack had always had a strong defense, and her zone control could be intimidating. Just when one might be inclined to accuse her of turtling, though, she’d suddenly launched a devastating offensive. Her opponent was left sputtering.

“How did you do that?!” Sunset exclaimed as Applejack pulled off a series of heavy-hitting blows, topped off with a well-timed grapple.

“I think they call that skill, darlin’.”

“Well, I call that a stupid hitbox. Oh, come on!” Sunset dropped her controller in her lap as the policewoman let out an anguished cry upon taking a killing blow.

“KO!” the game announcer cried dramatically.

Despite her success, Applejack’s hands were sweaty. Her heart was working hard in her chest, and she bit her lip to stop herself grinning like a horny fool.

“I win,” she said, calmly looking toward her friend.

Sunset pouted at her. “Fine. What goes?”

What indeed. Applejack swallowed loudly as she let her eyes roam over her friend. Since coming up to her attic bedroom, they’d both already discarded their shoes, Sunset’s jacket, and Applejack’s hat and vest. It was still a bit uneven, Applejack had to admit. She had on an extra layer than her friend, who was only dressed in a leather bra, chapped jeans, and socks. She assumed the studded choker didn’t count.

Smirking, Applejack gestured at her socks. “Take ‘em off.”

Sunset snorted but complied. “Starting slow?”

“I ain’t in a rush. You’re about to be spanked.”

Sunset gave her a mischievous look. “Promise?”

Applejack did a double-take, her eyes widening. “Wha—no! I meant—!”

“Heads up, the match is starting.”

“Sunset Shimmer, dagnabbit—”

Applejack lost the next round. She gesticulated furiously at herself, arguing that Sunset had engaged in illegal psychological warfare!

Sunset’s only response was to look at the blonde smugly and say, “Take off your shirt.”

That shut Applejack up fast. Blushing furiously, she wagged a finger at the other girl and said with narrowed eyes. “Oh, it’s on.”

Sunset blinked at her innocently. “No. Off. It’s coming off. All of it.”

Growling, Applejack threw her shirt into Sunset’s laughing face, her dark navy bra now visible. Her chest and shoulders were a bright pink, making her freckles stand out. She tried to lower her body temperature through sheer will. She needed to be clear-headed for the next fight!

They played another round. It was a tighter fight, and it was not that Applejack could take it easy this time. It wasn’t like playing against Pinkie Pie’s wild button-mashing. Sunset was a very adaptable opponent, and she was getting a better sense of…everything. The timing of her character’s moves. The hitboxes. She was even learning Applejack’s strategy.

“You’re not stun-locking me again!” Sunset laughed as she counter-struck the beast-man’s flying cannonball across the screen with a well-timed helicopter kick.

“Damn!” Applejack cursed.

It was close, but Applejack won. With a soft whoop, she punched the air and turned a victorious gaze on Sunset. The other girl was looking at her with a resigned smile. “Okay. What do I lose?”

Sunset’s cerulean-green eyes seemed to have a daring edge to them. Go ahead, they said. Make me take it off. I know you want to.

But Applejack had more grit than that. “Lose the pants,” she said. She patted herself on the back for how steadily she’d said that.

Sunset huffed but did as she was told. Applejack looked away at first, feeling mildly embarrassed, before she remembered that looking was part of the winner’s prize. So she looked.

As her friend shimmied out of her dark jeans and leather chaps, it soon became apparent that she was wearing—

Black underwear. But the material was sheer, and the sides were mere bikini straps. From where they sat, there was just the glow of the television and the warm but humble light from Applejack’s bedside lamp. The bedroom was dim enough that shadows hugged the edges of Sunset’s smooth legs, the cool glow of the TV highlighting her contours wonderfully—the curvy line of her thigh, the crest of her hip.

Applejack was dismayed to find it didn’t light up everything. Sunset’s underwear may have been sheer, but they were still black. But, even to see as much as she did—Applejack’s breathing became more labored.

Sunset, completely at ease with the attention, looked coquettishly at her friend. “Another round?”

All Applejack could do was nod.

She decided it was time to change characters. She needed to stay ahead of Sunset’s adaptability. The trouble was she was trading her best character for one she wasn’t quite as good at. Still, she hoped the change would be enough to set Sunset off her rhythm. She picked the hairy Russian wrestler. She liked his power and his straightforward fighting style. Plus, his cyclone attack had a wide range that took the inexperienced off-guard.

And boy was Sunset off-guard.

“What the heck! That guy’s spinny attack is ridiculous. It’s like my character gets sucked in!” she complained.

Applejack only chortled. “Hey, don’t blame the game, sugar cube. It’s just an experience thing.”

Sunset narrowed her eyes at her. “We’ll see how well you do after this. Top or bottom?”

Applejack breathed in deeply, then burst out laughing on the exhale. Man, she was more jittery than a jumping bean in an earthquake!

But it was a serious question. As serious as the answer to life… At least, it felt that big to her right then. Top or bottom. Top or bottom! God, did she ever think she’d face such a dilemma?

After a long moment staring at the game’s pause screen, Applejack slowly looked at Sunset.

“Bottom.”

Sunset stared at her. “Really?”

Applejack nodded, a solemn expression on her face. “Eyup.”

“Can… Can I ask why?” The cowgirl could see the thought process running through her friend’s head, and she stifled a laugh. How odd her choice must have been! Was Applejack an ass girl, not a boob girl?

The answer was far more pragmatic than that. “I aim to win, Sun. And fact is, making you topless would be a mite too distractin’ if ya catch my drift.”

Sunset batted her eyes, then laughed. “Smart!” She sighed as she stood. “But y’know, what if I need a break?”

Now it was Applejack’s turn to blink. “A break?”

“Mmhmm.” Sunset Shimmer grinned devilishly as she turned her back to the other girl, and with a wink, she pulled her underwear off. Applejack stared, transfixed, for now her friend stood in better lighting, and lord almighty, she saw everything.

And Sunset seemed aware of this, for after stepping out of her underwear, she then…stretched.

Applejack’s breathing grew more rapid as she watched Sunset set her feet wide apart, breathe in deep, and hinge forward in a perfect forward fold. Sunset smiled, and for once, her grin had a measure of self-consciousness mixed in with the amusement. But embarrassed? Heck, embarassed? Her? No. Applejack wouldn’t in a million years think that as the redhead looked at her upside down from under the open view of her exposed sex.

Applejack fought hard. She did. She kept her eyes fixed on Sunset’s for about as long as she could. But damn her brain, she couldn’t stop herself from glancing up and seeing a flash of—

Glossy pink petals highlighted by the glow of the screen, glaringly moist, peeking between two soft mounds of flesh. A smooth round ass, jiggling a little as Sunset laughed, and the cute as a button asshole winking between the cheeks.

Then it finally hit Applejack. Sunset was waxed clean all over.

Finally, Applejack slapped a hand to her eyes and turned away. “Aw, Sunset— That’s playing dirty!”

“What? I just needed a stretch. It’s tough sitting on the floor so long,” Sunset grunted.

Applejack couldn’t help it. She peeked between her fingers again, then quickly looked away. Sunset was still folded over. She was just stretching toward each ankle now.

“Sit on the bed if you’re so dang tired!”

“I’m happy to get on your bed, but only if you join me.”

“Oh for the love of—will you sit down? You’re hornier than a two-peckered billy goat!”

“Hey, I’m not the one turning redder than one of your apples,” Sunset chuckled. But Applejack heard her sit down.

When she was sure it was safe, she glared at Sunset. “You’re trying to get in my head again.”

“Am I?” Sunset asked with a curling smile.

“I’m starting to think you do need a spank.”

“Promises, promises. I’m starting to think you’re a tease.”

Applejack scratched at her head with both hands in frustration. “Rrrgh, shut up and play!”

The next match was disastrous. Applejack would have liked to think it was because she wasn’t as good with the Russian wrestler. Or that Sunset was just such a fast learner that her increasing skill with the Chinese policewoman made her inevitably more dangerous. But the fact was…

Applejack had lost her cool.

All she could think about was Sunset’s spread-ass cheeks, that smooth pussy, and her playful but heated stare.

“I win!” Sunset chirped happily.

Applejack glowered at her. “Yeah, yeah, you won. So… what do ya want me to take off next?” Her cheeks burned as Sunset flashed her teeth in a predatory smile.

“Your bra.”

“Listen, this is just cruel!” Applejack balked with wide eyes. “You know I only had two choices last time, right?”

“You could have chosen my choker!”

“Buh—I didn’t think that counted!”

Sunset crossed her arms, her gaze flatly unsympathetic. “Bra. Off. Now.”

Applejack could feel her blush creep down her neck. Her heart was just beating hard. It felt on fire. With shaky hands, she slipped off her bra straps. Sulkily, she asked, “Help with the back, would ya? I hate twistin’ these damn things around.”

Sunset’s smile turned kinder. “Sure.” She scooted so that she sat behind Applejack. There was a brief struggle, and then Applejack felt the release. Despite her nerves, she couldn’t help but sigh and stretch her back a little, flexing and squeezing her muscles. She hated wearing bras. Because of her breast size, it was practically mandatory that she wear them all the time. It was part of why she savored her time at home in the evenings when she got to be free of the evil things.

She didn’t expect to hear the appreciative hum behind her as she finished her stretch. She looked over her shoulder at Sunset, who was eyeing her with clear lust in her eye. “No wonder you’re so strong,” the redhead murmured. “Y’know, they say a lot of strength stems from the back? Yours is… Geez.”

Applejack hugged her bra to the front of her chest, not quite ready to let it go yet. Her ears felt heated now, too. “I may not try very hard like some people think, but I do work out. I share a bench press and some weights with Big Mac. It’s in one of the smaller barns.”

“Mind telling me what you can bench press? I can manage seventy pounds.”

“Oh. That’s pretty good.” Applejack fidgeted. “I, uh, I can do three hundred.”

Sunset inhaled sharply. “Three hundred??”

Applejack slumped a little, frowning. To her, this seemed less impressive and more freakish. She just couldn’t help but be honest. “Yup. Y’know, before I power up with pony ears...”

Sunset shoved Applejack in the back a little, making the blonde jerk in surprise. “You’re telling me you can bench press that much and still feel shy?! Holy crap, I just wanna see you pose!”

“I…” Applejack blinked, her brain slowly processing that statement. She looked back at Sunset in confusion. “Y-You do?”

Sunset nodded emphatically, her eyes wide. “Yes. Super bad.” She winced and then held up her hands. “Sorry, am I seeming pushy? It’s not like I’ve never dealt with confidence issues and had other people see something as great when I didn’t. I guess a part of me is a little envious.”

Now, Applejack frowned a little. “You wanna be stronger or something?”

“I guess? I work out, too, but I just don’t have as much time to devote to it as I’d like. I mostly jog and squeeze in the occasional free pilates class. I can’t afford a gym membership, and I don’t have anywhere to keep weights.”

“Huh!” Applejack lifted her eyebrows. She jerked her head toward the windows, where the barn that contained the weights could be seen just across the way. “You’re free to use ours whenever you want.” Then she chuckled. “Heck, if you keep helping on the farm and eating my food, I bet you’d bulk up, no prob.”

Sunset laughed and nodded. “Yeah, I suppose!” Her smile turned crooked. “Now… Are you gonna drop that bra, or what?”

Applejack’s eyes widened. “Oh. Uh, right.” She cleared her throat and took a deep breath. “Okay, I’ll drop it—but just be warned, I’m pale as heck where the sun don’t shine!”

“If your chest is anything to go by, I think it’ll be fine.”

Applejack closed her eyes. Nothin’ to it but to do it, she thought with resignation.

She slipped the bra off…

And promptly shivered. “Aw dang, it’s cold!” Her nipples were peach pink. Her breasts were full and round, even she could admit. It was hard to deny the truth when they brought her so much trouble. Not just back aches but annoying attention from men. Only Pinkie beat her out on sheer size among their group.

Sunset had slid over to the side and had a quick laugh. “I’ll say! You’re really perky.”

Applejack tried to hide her hard nipples, looking dismayed. It was a failing effort. When she squeezed her crossed arms over her boobs, they just pillowed around them, no longer restrained by the tyrannical bra. “Aw, Sunset, I can’t help it,” she complained.

The other girl gave her an arch look as she reached over and gently but firmly removed Applejack’s arms from her breasts. “Hey, I’m the one sitting bare butt on your floor. Besides, I think it’s cute. And yummy.” She bit her lip, then tucked her chin and asked, “May I touch them?”

Applejack made a sound in the back of her throat. She’d initially meant it to be a growl, but it came out strangled like her growing dismay was trying to punch a mewl up instead. The sound was decidedly less assertive than she would have liked.

Sunset leaned in, her eyes hooded. “Was that a yes?”

Applejack shook her head vigorously. It was a full ten seconds before she could find the words to speak. “N-Not yet. Not till there’s a winner.”

Her friend pouted. Then her eyes brightened. “Y’know, we never decided what the winner gets aside from the other person being totally naked. I think it’d be better if there were a grand prize.”

Applejack swallowed hard. “What were you thinking?”

Sunset tilted her head to one side, her gaze smoldering. “Winner gets to kiss the other person where they want to.”

“Oh.” Applejack stared. Kiss wherever…?

“Is that okay? We don’t have to if that’s too much.” Sunset’s eyes tensed a little at Applejack’s hesitation. It was kind and sweet of her to try and be so considerate—not that Sunset hadn’t tested her tonight. Good grief, she had! But Applejack wasn’t so out of it that she failed to notice when her friend keenly recognized when the cowgirl was genuinely nearing her limit. It was interesting to see a person be so mischievous and yet so considerate at the same time.

In this case, Sunset was just being overly cautious. It wasn’t that Applejack didn’t want this. She was just trying to wrestle with her damn body right now! She felt warm from head to toe, and her lungs felt starved.

That said nothing of her sex, already wet and aching with the possibilities.

But she seized on the one sobering thing that she could focus on.

Victory.

After another hard swallow, Applejack nodded once. Her eyes blazed. “Darling, if that’s what you’re willing to risk, then I’m willing to bet. You realize I’m just one piece of clothing away from winning, right?”

Sunset smirked. “So we’re not counting the choker?”

Applejack snorted. “Heck no. ‘Sides, ain’t that just an accessory? Nobody says a pair of glasses is clothing, right?”

“A fair argument, though I think Rarity might quibble on the details.”

“Good thing she ain’t here, huh?”

Sunset’s smile widened. “Yeah.”

They resumed play. The next battle was fierce but ended in a draw. Sunset had gotten really good with her character of choice, and she deferred choosing anyone else. Applejack chose the blonde pilot with the flat-top hairdo. Part of the reason she was somewhat decent on this character was so that she could better understand his timing for when she fought Rainbow. Applejack didn’t really enjoy playing him as much, despite his popularity as a fighter. It felt too much like she was cozying up to the bully that liked to kick her butt. But for this little contest? She’d do anything to win.

Including turtling.

The pilot had one annoying ability. Never mind his ranged sonic boom attack. He could crouch and bait you into a vicious upward kick attack that was hard to avoid.

“Oh, you’re a jerk,” Sunset groused.

Applejack grinned evilly. “Hey, we’re playing for keeps, sweetheart, and y’know I ain’t one for losin’.”

“Neither am I.”

That’s when Sunset broke through Applejack’s defense. The blonde watched in shock as Sunset unleashed her character’s range attack, a white burning fireball the policewoman pushed out with both hands, then rushed in for a vicious combo. Applejack had thought the pilot crouching would be enough, but apparently, she hadn’t been blocking in the right direction because the fireball hit, stun-locking the pilot long enough for Sunset to close in.

The problem, Applejack quickly realized, was that while she’d been trying to keep Sunset off-balanced with different characters, Sunset had been steadily improving with the same one. One thing Sunset had noticed was that the policewoman actually had great range and was very good at rushing enemy opponents.

Applejack tried to recover. After Sunset’s massive attack, Applejack managed to counter the next onslaught and nail a small combo in return. But it was too little, too late.

Applejack lost.

Sunset thrust her hands up in the air. “Yes!”

“What next,” Applejack asked with a sigh.

Sunset went for blood. “Pants!”

“All right…”

She slipped off the jeans and felt like her heart was in her throat. She was wearing green briefs, whose vibrant shade didn’t quite match her now-discarded bra, but she was at least grateful she’d had the presence of mind to shave her bikini line that night.

The next match was a draw. Applejack was flabbergasted. It was hard to get a draw on this game! When they played again, Applejack could see the writing on the wall. Picking the pilot had been a mistake. Sunset had her number, and despite Applejack’s defensive play, she lost.

Applejack gave Sunset a look of profound suffering. Sunset giggled at her expression. “Okay, okay!” she said. “I’ll be nice. But it’s just staving off the inevitable. Socks off!”

They had a chance to choose new characters again. Applejack, grumbling, returned to the green beast-man. Surely she could turn this around with her best character?

It was a closer fight. Very close. But Applejack was determined not to have a draw again. She wanted to win! She wanted to taste—

Sunset struck her character with a high kick. They were both in critical health. Applejack's eyes widened, her thumbs slipping on the buttons from the sweat. She had to block! Usually, when Sunset went high, she struck low. Applejack made the beast-man duck and kick low…

But Sunset had been waiting for that. She countered, and not just that, she’d used her special!

Applejack watched, slack-jawed, as the policewoman blinked forward. A high buzz of power pierced through the background music as she unleashed a strong series of kicks that launched the beast-man across the screen to his doom.

“KO!” the game announcer cried.

“But—!” Applejack stared down at the controller. But that was her best character! How did…?

“I believe that’s a wrap,” Sunset said with clear satisfaction as she pantomimed, dusting off her hands.

Applejack glared at her. She was genuinely frustrated but wasn’t a sore loser like Rainbow Dash had once been (and sometimes still was). She could admit she’d been beaten. It still rankled her pride, though, and she said as much.

“Ya whooped me good, Sunset, but I’d like to think this woulda ended differently if I’d just played smarter.”

Sunset tilted her head in acquiescence. “Maybe.” She ran her teeth over her bottom lip and pointed delicately at the bed. “You wanna… Do the honors over there?”

Applejack stiffened as the consequence of her failure finally struck home. Now she felt her whole body turn red. She ran her hand through her hair and mumbled, “Sure.”

And suddenly, like an unwelcome guest, an old memory surfaced. A weed pushing out of the dirt, unfurling its leaves and preparing its bud. She thought of her last rodeo. Tried not to, but the thought was there all at once, and it wouldn’t leave.

They stood up from the floor, leaving the controllers behind, not even bothering to turn the game off. The old TV remained displaying the pause screen, the two fighters still squaring off for a fight that would never come.

Applejack crawled on from the foot of the bed. She only managed to get two-thirds of the way up the mattress before her shaky arms gave out, and she rolled onto her back. She couldn’t help but recall that her arms had shaken this way, too, that evening so long ago. She bit the inside of her cheek as she saw Sunset out of the corner of her eye round the bed, sitting carefully on the side and swinging her legs over. She peered down at Applejack with some concern.

“You know, we can just lay here if you need a minute,” she said gently. Her eyes met Applejack’s.

“That… Yeah, I think I need a minute.” Applejack closed her eyes and pressed a hand to her forehead. She felt a little dizzy. Maybe caffeine and alcohol hadn’t been the best idea. For a while, she’d felt fine. Great, even. But her nerves were catching up with her.

All that bold talk… and for what? It wasn’t her. Sure, she could square up with a magical psycho or tell a bully what’s what. Matters of the heart, on the other hand? No. She was downright clumsy.

Downright stupid.

“Is this your first time?” Sunset asked. Her voice was soft. More a breath. She sounded close.

Applejack opened her eyes and turned her head to see Sunset lying on her side and gazing at her. Her heart did a little jump as her eyes met her friend’s. Almost like in the kitchen, she felt the world slow a moment. Felt her body warm, and something unspoken passed between them. But… it was weaker now. Something was in the way. Something like…

Applejack was certain the start of her crush had been Fluttershy’s eyes. Her big blue gaze was so gentle yet observant that it was easy to feel captivated by it. The earnest naivety, the sincere belief in good. The innocence and kindness had ensorcelled Applejack more times than she could count.

Those eyes haunted her. And now…? She was held fast by another beautiful gaze.

Sunset’s eyes may have been a different shade, but it was similar in sensation. The keen attention was there, the kindness too—but lacking was the naivety. How had Applejack missed it before? Sunset’s eyes held the weight of a challenging existence. One that had taken its toll. And yet, they were open. I’ve been through hell. I know what hurting is like. I’m ready to understand, they said.

But whereas almost an hour ago, such a connection would have rendered words redundant, Applejack was certain Sunset couldn't guess what had her hesitating. How nice it had been to speak her mind and sense that Sunset not only grasped her meaning but had anticipated it in some way. Even when she'd revealed her self-harm, the other girl had not been tremendously shocked or horrified. Just pained, as if she'd hoped she'd been wrong, and was saddened to see that was not the case.

It might have been supernatural. Applejack wasn't into the magical theories that could have Sunset and Twilight carrying on for hours, even occasionally gripping Rarity with the possibilities. But she knew this growing connection with Sunset felt a little stronger after their night out. Residual effects from their Harmonizing? Maybe.

If only magic could make this easier.

Applejack swallowed. She fingered the waistband of her underwear. It was late. Why talk now? They had one major plan for the evening; after that, she needed to sleep. It wasn’t like tomorrow wasn’t coming. She still had responsibilities.

She saw Sunset’s eyes flicker down. The other girl’s brow tensed, and then she shifted and placed a staying hand on Applejack’s.

“Hey,” she murmured. “What are you thinking?”

So many things. Not all of them were very convenient. But there was one thought…a memory really. Its thorns sunk deeper and deeper as the seconds trickled by. Guilt piled on. Applejack was making this uncomfortable now. She had to do something—

Sunset reached up and brushed a loose strand of hair from Applejack’s gaze. “AJ.”

Applejack caught her hand, her gaze never leaving Sunset’s. “It’s not my first time,” she said quietly. She took the other girl’s hand and placed it over her left breast, where her heart was still hammering. “But it’s the only one that matters.”

Sunset’s thumb stroked the skin just over Applejack’s heart. “Your first wasn’t a good experience?”

Applejack sighed heavily. She shook her head. “Nope.” She reached over and stroked Sunset’s cheek with the backs of her fingers.

Honesty. Why did her element have to be Honesty? She couldn't lie and pretend nothing was wrong. So she made a choice. Meet the problem head-on. Speak the truth. She owed Sunset that much.

So Applejack revealed another skeleton from her closet. This one wasn't a family secret. It was all her own.

“It was two years ago after my last rodeo. A Bronco rider had been makin’ eyes at me the whole time. He was…older. Far too old to be tryin’ to do anything with me, but I was crazy lonely.”

He’d had blue eyes, too, but the emotions in them were superficial, masking a singular basic desire. She only realized that after the fact. At the time, his medium-length orange and gold hair framed his gaze like he was some kind of hero from a Western painting, and it was hard to say no to. Not because she was seriously lustful of him, but because she was desperate. After all…

Surely if someone so handsome wanted her, that meant she wasn’t so ugly?

“We’d just graduated high school, and my crush on Flutters was houndin’ me somethin’ fierce,” Applejack continued. Her voice was thicker. “I…felt worse than a runover coyote. It was the crappiest rodeo performance I’d ever had.”

She looked away. Maybe Sunset could understand. That didn’t make recollecting any easier.

“Rainbow and Pinkie were there. I think you and the others had other things goin’ on. Work. Preppin’ for college. My family was there too, o’ course. They all tried to get me to leave with ‘em after. To shrug it off and crack some jokes over a good meal. But… Heck, I just wanted to die. So I told ‘em to go on without me.”

“You felt worthless.”

Applejack looked at Sunset sharply. The other girl didn’t flinch. “He came to you when you were alone, didn’t he?” Sunset murmured. “The Bronco rider. He made you feel valuable again, I bet.”

“Yes.” Applejack’s jaw tightened.

What a fool she’d been to sit and let that man sweet talk her into something she regretted to this day.

“We’d had a few beers.” She scoffed, sucking at her teeth. “That shoulda been the first red flag, but honestly, it felt nice to have the attention. I watched my drinks, at least. Opened the beers myself. Tried to tell myself I was in control. That I wanted—” Applejack sat up abruptly, waving her hands. “This ain’t good pillow talk, m’sorry. Forget it.”

She drew one knee up and wrapped a tight arm around it, her bicep flexing and squeezing against her leg. She felt stupid and angry with herself. She'd said what she'd needed to, hadn't she? Why did she need to get all sentimental about it? It was in the past! The truth of it was plain and simple. In fact, it was so easy to say she only needed a handful of words, in the fashion of stoic country folk before her who remarked on tragedy like it was as mundane as the weather. She didn't need to spell out all the damned feelings about it—

Sunset sat up, her brow creased and her mouth set. “Listen, if you can’t talk about it, that’s fine. I just want to make sure you’re doing what you want, y’know? I’m perfectly all right. I don’t feel disappointed or impatient with you. Seriously. Even if this is all we did, I’d be okay.”

Applejack leaned on her knee. She ran her hands through her hair and blew out her cheeks. She looked at Sunset sidelong. Her guilt over derailing the evening twisted into a new shape. Keep it simple? Leave out the feelings? Is that what Sunset had done when she'd spilled her guts about her past?

Applejack ducked her gaze.

“Thanks. It isn’t that I don’t want this. It’s just…the last time I did this… Sex. It hurt. A lot.” Still, the words didn't come easily for Applejack. She felt them sticking in her throat.

Sunset winced, her expression melting to one of grief. “Did he force you?” she whispered.

“Does it matter?” Applejack said with a sarcastic smile. Then she felt bad and said quieter. “What I mean is… It wasn’t equal. It was an older man and a younger girl who was confused and lonely as all get out. So it wasn’t really…that kinda rape. But it isn’t better, is it? I’ve thought about it more since, and to think that Apple Bloom could go through the same thing,” she shook her head. “It ain’t right. All I can do is pray to God that my lil’ sis has more love for herself and doesn’t let anyone manipulate ‘er like that.”

“It wasn’t your fault either. He was the adult. He sought you out.”

“Do you tell yourself that, too?” Applejack asked, her eyes tensing a little as she looked at Sunset.

The other girl hesitated. Then she said carefully, “My situation was complicated. What happened to me wasn’t right. It shouldn’t have happened, and I wish it hadn’t. But I had more agency than you did. I was a grownup in a child’s body, and it wasn’t until a couple of years went by that my psyche started to reflect my physical age. Like a radio slowly dialing into a signal. The damage was there by the time that happened, but I was already out of the game. Even when I started having multiple partners, some of whom were older than me, like Sherry, I was physically and mentally at least eighteen years old. Does that make sense?”

Applejack thought this over. Then she slowly nodded, “Sure. Sorry, I don’t mean to compare apples to oranges, I just… When do ya take responsibility, then? Cuz I never did say stop. I thought about it. And I wasn’t afraid to, neither, I just…” her lip curled. “I just wanted to feel normal.”

Sunset slowly shook her head. “Sounds to me like you don’t have any reason to feel ashamed. You were alone and depressed. He gave you alcohol, and he preyed on you when you were weakest. Even adult women would say that was shady. We can quibble over terms all we like, AJ, but there is such a thing as dubious consent. It’s hard to justify what that man did. At worst, he was a manipulative statutory rapist. At best, he was a massively selfish creep.”

Applejack shrugged. “Maybe. He was the first one to make a move. We were in the back of the horse stalls, sittin’ on hay bales. He sat closer to me and put his hand on my leg. Then he came in close for a kiss, and I…” She sighed heavily, feeling her stomach lurch.

Sunset looked down. “AJ, it's all right. You don't need to give me a play-by-play.”

Applejack nodded gratefully and continued. “We did it standin’ up. It hurt. He wasn’t gentle. He wasn’t like…like you, always stopping to see how I feel. Askin’ what I want. Every time he thrust, I felt like I was splitting apart. And the Bronco rider? He had his good time, zipped up his pants, then left without a word. Shoot, he ran. He was probably afraid he’d get in trouble. He wasn’t local, so I never saw ‘im again.”

Applejack pinched the bridge of her nose and squeezed her eyes shut. “Damn it, everything down there hurt for days afterward.” Applejack felt her throat tighten. “It was harder to look everyone in the eye after that. I used college as an excuse, but I had plenty of reasons to hide.” It was why she’d scoffed at Sunset’s claims that she and her family were somehow these ‘clean All-Americans’ that were as wholesome as apple pie.

Sunset had thought she was broken goods. If that was the case, they sat in the same section of one messed-up store.

“And that was the only time you’ve ever been with someone?” Sunset asked, her eyes creased with anguish.

Applejack smirked. “Yes. I didn’t feel eager to try again, as ya probably can imagine. The sad part was, I didn’t feel any more normal after we was through. That’s when I knew tryin’ to pretend I liked guys wouldn’t do me any good. I jes…couldn’t ever bring myself to say I liked girls, either.”

She felt Sunset hug her gently from the side. Slowly. As if to give Applejack the chance to stop her. She didn’t. After a moment, she leaned into the touch and closed her eyes. She put her hands on Sunset’s even to hold her there.

She felt unworthy of the sympathy. Sunset may have made poor choices, but evil of that sort never happened by accident. The things perpetrated against her had all been deliberate and wrong. A poor nature didn’t justify that kind of abuse. In many ways, they were not her fault, either. Applejack had one bad time with one predatory person. She tried not to say it was her fault anymore. But the sentiment was there. She knew better. She was hardly helpless. She’d had Equestrian magic, for God's sake.

And she was pretty sure that was how Rarity felt about her recent mugging. She really needed to reach out to her friend. Applejack knew what the fashionista was probably going through. It was easy to self-blame when you had magical powers.

Her thoughts and feelings were complicated and exhausting. They contradicted themselves: on the one hand, they were self-criticizing, and on the other, they were generous and gracious.

She’d been young.

She’d been foolish.

She’d been hurt.

She’d been blind.

And right now, she was ready to move on.

Applejack's voice was a shaky breath. “Sunset Shimmer, I want you to kiss me. Kiss me wherever. But kiss me. Please.”

She felt Sunset stir. Then grant her wish.

She had her arms wrapped around Applejack. She could feel the tension in the other girl’s body, each muscle rigid with a refusal to cave. Applejack’s green eyes were glistening, but they steadily beheld Sunset’s face, roaming, taking in her features. Sunset tried to keep her face neutral, but her sympathy still peeked through. She worried this would look like pity, but luckily her friend saw the expression for what it really was.

Sunset just…hurt so much for Applejack.

Earlier, her intentions had been lewd and daring, wanting to satisfy her hungry needs and to excite her partner by kissing her in an especially erogenous place. Her neck, her breasts, her inner thigh…

Now, she only leaned in and caught Applejack’s lips.

Two years ago. Two years ago was when Applejack had said she’d last kissed someone. Sunset knew now that it was that man. That terrible and despicable man. She wanted to erase his memory from her friend’s lips.

From her new lover’s lips.

Initially, her contact had been gentle, but Applejack had already experienced Sunset’s tentative advances earlier that evening. When AJ pushed in, pressing her lips with a deep exhale, Sunset responded in kind.

She kissed Applejack hungrily, her hands burying in the other girl's sunflower blonde hair, pulling her in, her mouth moving with urgency. She breathed in deep. She scented fresh sweat, salty and sharp but enticing. Sunset felt heat rise over her head, even as her chest tightened with anguish.

I’m sorry. I’m so sorry that happened to you. Leave it behind. Leave it far behind.

Their tongues met, warm and wet, and there was a new flavor. Coffee, whiskey, sharp, sweet, nutty, and a hint of complex tobacco. Applejack groaned as Sunset caressed and explored her mouth. Then Sunset guided the other girl down to the cool sheets.

Her hand trailed down Applejack’s side, eliciting a short but intense tremor through the cowgirl’s body. Sunset’s heart somersaulted in her chest, but when she beheld her partner’s eyes, she saw only hooded lust. Still, she broke off their kissing to ask, “Nervous?”

Applejack huffed but smiled crookedly. “Shoot. Maybe a little?” she panted, “More excited than anythin’. I feel like my heart’s chuggin’ faster’n a train.”

Sunset grinned. “Mine too.”

This surprised the other girl. “Really?”

Sunset laughed. “Yes, totally!”

Applejack’s brow tensed. She started to reach for Sunset, hesitated with a bite of her lip, then followed through, brushing back an errant lock of red curls. She cupped Sunset’s face and murmured with a deepening frown, “Why, sugar cube? I can’t imagine I’m the most interestin’ partner you’ve ever had.”

Now, Sunset mirrored her friend’s frown. “AJ, are you kidding?” She stroked the other girl’s side again, loving the curves of those sculpted muscles, her hand trailing back up to Applejack’s breasts. Her mouth actually watered as her gaze slipped down to fully appreciate those pretty peach nipples. “Have I not showered you with enough compliments? You’re hot.” Her eyes rolled shut as she pressed her face into her friend’s warm breasts, savoring the feel of those soft and relaxed nipples against her lips. She gently kneaded one breast, her thumb softly flicking a hardening nipple.

Applejack’s eyes fluttered, her breathing stopping for a moment as another excited shiver ran through her. Sunset shivered in response, and she laughed a little for what the reaction revealed. Their eyes met, and Sunset felt her face flush.

“You really mean it,” Applejack murmured wonderingly. She sounded breathless.

Sunset shrugged as she nuzzled some more against her friend’s chest. “Told you.” She felt Applejack’s tough hand slip down her back, and now she shivered of her own accord. “Ah! See? I’ve got nerves, too.” She smiled as she heard Applejack’s relieved chuckles rumble through her chest.

Sunset gently kissed the side of one breast before carefully raking her teeth along the tit flesh. Applejack’s boobs were glorious. They dwarfed Sunset’s by a healthy margin, jiggling and bouncing with every laugh, and yet they maintained a round bearing that brought to mind globes. Sinking her fingers into them was so satisfying. Their softness gratified Sunset, but their fullness would not be denied as the whole breast shifted, pushing up or together with its twin.

As she did this, she felt Applejack shudder once more, her breathing a little more labored now. Sunset hummed, her lips curling as she leaned in and let her tongue sweep over a satiny nipple in firm circles. Applejack sucked in air, her head tossing back as her lips parted and a look of palpable pleasure crossed her features. Sunset traced her finger over the other nipple as she gently suckled the one in her mouth. She shivered again and let out a little squeal as she felt Applejack shiver as well.

They laughed together. No, giggled. Sunset understood why she was shivering despite being surprised by it. As excited as she was, she’d expected to have a measure of composure. After all, she had quite a bit of experience in bed.

But she was thrilled by the taboo she was finally breaking. She was sleeping with one of her best friends! Not only that, but kissing. No making out was a cardinal rule she’d religiously abided by for years, and with good reason! Kissing engendered misplaced infatuation and possessive behavior. Denying her other partners even the most chaste of kisses maintained a degree of separation that ensured things remained simple. Sunset could tolerate friendship from some of her partners, but sex was always the goal.

So when Applejack lifted herself on an elbow, her other hand burying in Sunset’s hair to guide her partner into a deep kiss, Sunset shivered…and couldn’t stop. The trembles ebbed, but like a wave crashing over her, they would intensify again. She felt lightheaded and drunk. When Applejack gently bit her lower lip, she moaned. They were breathing hard, their hands clutching at each other, their bodies rolling back and forth as they quarreled over who would get to be on top.

Part of the reason Sunset had been so cautious in the beginning with Applejack was because once she gave in to her appetite, it was so hard to stop.

Sunset couldn’t help but groan, relieved to be so free with her desire, but she was still so woefully unfulfilled. As they writhed and rolled around the bed, she could feel her clit stiffening, her pussy lips so wet, they audibly slid together and parted moistly, the air feeling cool against her heated sex.

When she’d managed to get Applejack on her back again, Sunset settled on her side next to her friend. Applejack tried to roll over her again, but Sunset kept her down with a small shove, making Applejack blink at her in confusion. Sunset smirked as she swung a leg over to twine with AJ’s closest leg to her. She squeezed this limb over, spreading Applejack a little.

“How wet are you…?” Sunset asked with a cocked head. Her hand trailed over Applejack’s heaving chest, down her powerful abdomen, until she skated over the cowgirl’s waistband…then slowed. She let her fingernails glide softly over Applejack’s green cotton briefs. They went down…down…

Sunset kissed Applejack bruisingly as she moved her hand away from her partner’s hot center and instead traced affectionate circles on the sensitive skin of her inner thigh. Only when Applejack whined in the back of her throat did Sunset decide to take it further.

It was so hard to stop…so she had to be careful, or the moment wouldn’t last.

She broke their kiss and moved to Applejack’s heated neck, where she ran her teeth over the other girl’s skin before whispering heatedly, “AJ, I—” She choked on the words, swallowing as she trembled yet again. She kissed the base of Applejack’s throat with her eyes closed. She felt and heard the other girl swallow hard. Sunset tried again. Her voice was a strangled murmur. “AJ, I want to touch you. Taste you. Can I?”

“Yes,” Applejack hissed back, almost impatiently. “Do it.”

Sunset used to be a villain. She used to savor being able to take what she wanted without permission. It had delighted her, in perverse ways, to see the outrage and dismay of her victims. Harmony had burned that away. Had returned her compassion to her in such a way that such acts now made her recoil in horror and disgust.

Conversely, to have someone willing to let you in, to trust you implicitly with their care was…

Bliss.

She licked Applejack’s neck, loving the salt of her sweat, and her hand traveled back to that woefully neglected place that begged her attention. She felt a thrill when she heard Applejack whimper. The truth was, Sunset Shimmer loved the strong ones.

She loved it when they turned to mewling messes beneath her.

Applejack was beside herself. And wasn’t this all just foreplay? But the question of what was or wasn’t technically “sex” was quickly becoming irrelevant as Sunset’s hand went closer to that wet place between Applejack’s legs. She was sure her underwear had that telltale spot that belied her excitement.

And this, after what felt like an eternity of intense kissing and teasing and nipple worship had gone by, Sunset finally reached.

With just a single finger, she caressed in gentle circles the hardened clit through Applejack’s underwear. A simple touch that did so much. Applejack groaned, her pussy tightening as she arched. Her leg tensed, but Sunset managed to keep it firmly in place.

“Ah, ah,” the other girl breathed into her ear. “Stay there.” Applejack choked back a squeak as Sunset’s tongue swept over the edge of her ear. “Petting your clitty’s too fun…”

Petting her what?

The strange and subversive talk was so good. Too good. No, not enough! She needed to… To move! Increase the contact so that she could feel more!

Applejack’s heartbeat was pulsing hard through her, making her whole body throb, not unlike how it had before in the truck. She shivered and shivered, feeling Sunset do the same.

She was a little embarrassed, but she had to say something.

“Sunset,” she said hoarsely, forcing her body still. “If ya keep going, I’m n-not gonna last.” And that was the point, right? To make it last?

Sunset only lifted her head and grinned at her. “Goofball. Let go. You didn’t think this would be it, did you?” The redheaded tutted as she assertively tugged the bottom of the green briefs to one side, revealing AJ’s moist and swollen pussy. Applejack was completely shaved, and she’d done it recently too, leaving her smooth to the touch. Sunset caressed Applejack’s stiff and gooey clit with the pad of her thumb.

Applejack’s mouth hung open, her eyes fluttering as her cheeks burned, and she tried to say something.

All that came out was a strangled moan.

She clutched at her bed sheets as she felt Sunset shift. Now the other girl was kneeling over Applejack, suckling at her other breast, her tongue flicking and swirling the sensitive skin, while her now free hand massaged the first. All the while, she kept caressing Applejack’s stiff clit with eager and affectionate circles that sounded audibly and sinfully wet.

Her dark complexion against Applejack’s lighter skin seemed to emphasize their intimacy. Without finding the words to describe her sentiment, Applejack thought the difference in their skin was beautiful.

Yet she knew… Sunset was still holding herself back. Maybe she was just trying to draw this out. Applejack wasn’t sure she could wait for release anymore. She wanted Sunset’s touch so bad it was driving her crazy!

So she pushed herself up onto her elbows and rasped, “Let me take it off.”

Sunset lifted her head. Her eyes were hooded, her lips glistening. She smirked and nodded, pulling back so that Applejack could move. With a huff, Applejack hooked her thumbs into her green underwear’s waistband and slid them off, bending her legs so that she could easily slide them off her feet. This pushed her knees to her chest.

Sunset placed her hands behind her knees and kept her there when she moved to lower them. “Hold on.” Her eyes danced with excitement as she sat up and licked her lips. She grinned. “I love seeing you this way.”

Applejack blinked, not quite catching on. “Er, with my legs up like this?” Her focus had tunneled on resuming their position of before, but as her brain slowly shifted perspective, she realized with an embarrassed grimace the exact position her friend had her in. “Oh, heck. You serious?”

“Yeah,” Sunset said with a short laugh. Applejack smiled despite herself. She loved that they could laugh amidst their passions. It helped to put her at ease.

“Geez, Sunset, I feel like a roly-poly!”

Sunset smirked and arched an eyebrow before lightly smacking Applejack’s bare bottom, making the cowgirl yelp. “Hug your legs to your chest, please,” Sunset said with casual authority. Her head tilted to the side as her face took on a lustful look. “I want to play with you like this.” But she didn’t move. She was waiting. Waiting for Applejack to say—

“A-Alrighty.” Applejack let out a slow breath and did as requested.

“Thank you.” Sunset Shimmer beamed as she leaned in and kissed the back of AJ’s thigh before gently squeezing her butt. “Mmm… So good.”

Applejack closed her eyes and let her head fall back. At first, hearing her friend’s heated voice and naughty talk made her nervous. She’d never known this side of the other girl before, and that was a little intimidating. Now? She savored it.

Especially the way Sunset kept making her feel.

Applejack’s breathing stuttered as she felt Sunset’s finger gently trace the outer lips of her pussy, already slick from the way her underwear had gotten wet. She trembled, her biceps bulging as she tried to resist bucking into Sunset’s caress.

She felt Sunset Shimmer trace her sex again, before she murmured, “Look at you. You’re so beautiful.” She leaned over and peered down at Applejack. “Um… AJ?”

Applejack stared up at her helplessly. “Y-Yeah?”

Sunset’s dusky face, which was already flushed, darkened a shade as she fidgeted. “Are your feet…really ticklish?”

Applejack blinked. “I mean… No more’n anybody else, I guess. Why?”

Sunset bit her lip and fidgeted. All the while, she didn’t stop caressing Applejack’s sex, only slowed her ministrations whilst distracted with speaking. It slowed the build of tension in Applejack’s lower abdomen, but it didn’t stop the pleasure. Over the moist inner lips, the stiff clit, dangerously circling her wet hole…

“Well,” Sunset grimaced a little. “Y’see, when I came to this world, there was one thing I sort of learned to appreciate about human anatomy. Especially since in Equestria, ponies don't have them.” Her other hand traced the edges of Applejack’s upturned feet.

Applejack’s eyebrows lifted, sufficiently taken out of the moment to fix her new lover with a look so dry the other girl snorted into a laugh. “Yer kiddin' me,” she said flatly.

Sunset chuckled harder and ducked her head, and Applejack grinned weakly. She supposed it figured. The former Equestrian was bound to be fascinated with the idea of feet, given all the sensations they had over hooves.

Wryly, she noted that at least this conversation was helping her last longer. She’d been about to cum!

“I’ve always liked your feet,” Sunset admitted a little bashfully. As if this was the most mortifying and revealing thing she could admit to, even as her hand worked magic over Applejack’s pussy. “Would it be okay to kiss and massage them a little?” Sunset finally asked, her brow creasing up with her plea.

Applejack inhaled deeply, her eyes fluttering as she mulled this over. Had this ever been a thing for her? Feet worship? No. But! Like any hardworking person, she could confess to wishing for a foot massage a time or two. Maybe she’d enjoy it?

“S’fine, I guess,” Applejack said carefully. “Just go easy, huh? No ticklin’!”

Sunset flashed a massive smile, her eyes lit with joy. “Promise!” She wagged her eyebrows. “Besides, I think you’re ready for me to go inside you…”

Applejack licked her lips as they locked eyes—another moment seeking consent. What did Applejack have to do, put it all down in writing?

“Sunset, you’d better quit speculation’ and just get to it!” Applejack snapped with a stern look.

She got a snort in return. “Or what? You’ll spank me?”

Even as Sunset poked fun, she did as requested, her finger going in slowly, filling Applejack’s cunt before pulling back out with an audible wetness that made AJ shiver. Sunset went back in, and this time, she curled her finger, caressing firmly that inner spot that Applejack had long ago figured out was the quickest way to climax. Sunset’s hand turned, leaving her finger in as she used her thumb to continue massaging Applejack’s clit. She thrust steadily, in and out, the wicked stirring of AJ’s femmecum sounding so loud.

But as she did all this, Sunset Shimmer indulged in her own desires, taking hold of Applejack’s foot with her other hand and gently massaging it. Applejack hadn’t realized how fatigued her feet still were after an entire night of standing at Pandora’s Box. With firm caresses, the fatigue was worked away by Sunset's thumb. Applejack gasped, flinching a little as she watched Sunset lick her toes. Her warm, wet tongue had felt…good.

Then Sunset picked up speed, finger fucking Applejack faster as her own breath grew unsteady, and she suckled the cowgirl’s toes. Applejack’s moans became harder to hold back, so she settled to avoid being too loud. Between the moist undoing of her sopping wet cunt and the strange but titillating worship of her feet, she could feel it all coming undone.

Now, Applejack couldn’t help it. She bucked into Sunset’s hand, grinding into the other girl’s touch, the mattress squeaking a little from her desperation. Her eyes rolled up as she moaned. “Oohh…” It felt so good! And yet, she sounded so vulnerable. It was strange. Alien. The stress of this knowledge held at bay the climax that surely would have come already. Did she look foolish? She’d heard of the infamous “oh” face. Was she what raunchy comedies liked to poke fun at?

She gritted her teeth and turned her head, feeling her ecstasy curb, falling short of a satisfying finish.

Aw, hell, she was getting stuck in her head again! What was wrong with her—?

Sunset reached over and caressed Applejack’s face before leaning over her and murmuring, “AJ…” When this failed to move her friend, she said more sternly, “Hey. AJ. Applejack, baby, look at me.” Applejack was so startled by the address that her eyes snapped up, and their gazes met.

Baby? She wanted to call her—?

The world shrank.

She could only hear Sunset’s breath. Not the TV downstairs. Not the crickets outside or the whine of an airplane passing high overhead.

Sunset’s cerulean eyes held nothing but adoration. “Let go,” she breathed.

Applejack couldn’t articulate words at the moment. She nodded frantically, almost obediently, her bangs falling into her eyes. She believed it, finally. All the compliments. How else should she feel? She was losing her mind, and Sunset was still looking at her like she was the loveliest thing she’d ever seen.

Sunset brushed Applejack’s bangs away and grinned. “Can I taste you here?” And when she said here, she ground her finger into Applejack, making the girl beneath her twitch and gasp, grinding into it.

Applejack stared up at Sunset’s face. Her expression tensed like when stuck on the precipice of release. Tension and need were writ across her face, but sweet, unfettered pleasure, too. She knew what it was like to touch herself, but this was…

She nodded once, and that was all she could do. But it was enough.

Sunset leaned down and kissed her once, her tongue licking against Applejack’s lips before she pulled away with a smack of their mouths. Shifting she scooted down the bed, just under Applejack and her lifted legs, exposing her wet pussy into the air.

Sunset hummed with pleasure, her hand slipping down to touch herself gently, playing with her stiff clit. “Clitty” was the mischievous term she liked to use when she wanted to tease or rile up her partners. Out of the bedroom, it sounded silly, almost babyish, but when she was face-deep in someone else’s muff and hearing them coo her name, “clitty” was the affectionate and passionate phrase that slipped her cum-slick lips, and it fit.

She beheld the glistening folds between her friend’s legs, appreciating the creamy folds, which were a darker red at the tips than Sunset’s uniform pink. She caressed one thigh, savoring the sight of her brown skin contrasting with Applejack’s freckled white body.

Sunset lay on her stomach, squeezing both butt cheeks, modest but perfectly round and with real meaty strength, in her hands. She drew in close, loving the heady scent of Applejack’s cum, before she swept her tongue up through the wet rosy lips to the stiff clitty above. She lingered here, swirling the sensitive nub, before she descended again, her mouth energetically moving and spreading the juices so that all that could be heard was the wet undoing of Applejack’s cunt.

Applejack sucked in a breath, her grip on her legs weakening until she had to let go. Even her strength failed as ecstasy wound tight around her, rising over her head with warmth and tingling need that begged more. She let out a choked cry, spreading her legs wide and bucking her hips gently into Sunset’s voracious mouth as she squeezed her own breasts. She lifted her head and met her friend’s—her lover’s eyes. Sunset winked at her, the cheeky devil! But she had the right to be, for the redhead’s tongue was everywhere, lapping up all of Applejack’s essence, and it was enough to make the cowgirl go insane.

“Sun, ah! Yes! Yes!” she gasped. She tried to keep her voice down. She was pretty sure no one could hear anything. Still, she felt it was a close thing.

The climax ripped through her, making her stiffen. It was an outpouring of years and years’ worth of unrequited desire flushing out of her in a single go, making her choke and squeal—a rare sound from her, but entirely forgivable here considering how incredibly Sunset had just satisfied her.

Applejack’s head lolled back, her chest heaving. She was…dizzy! She’d never been dizzy after a climax before!

Sunset didn't rise up immediately, though her tongue slowed as, with eyes closed, she contentedly made out with Applejack's sopping cunt. Too spent to sit up and speak, the blonde allowed this attention to go on for almost another minute before one errant tweak of her clit made her twitch and sit up, “Gosh dang, girl, I came already! Sheesh.”

Sunset gave her cunt one last kiss before she rose up, wiping at her mouth and chin, and crawled forward over Applejack’s spent body. Her red and yellow curls swayed, and the spicy perfume on Sunset’s neck wafted down as she grinned lustfully at Applejack.

“Sorry, I can get a little pussy hungry, and you taste really good.”

Applejack squinted her eyes with a small frown. “Really?”

“Yep! A little salty, kinda savory. Made me think of curry. No, wait. Tamales! I once had these veggie tamales that were–” Sunset faltered, then smiled crookedly and shook her head. “Nevermind. Need a minute?” she asked.

Applejack blinked as she stared up at her, admiring Sunset’s elegant features and even the way the bedside light shone through her hair. It had never been a question before, but she wondered what Sunset’s ethnicity was. Not her nationality, clearly seeing as she wasn’t from here, but the precious genetics that made up the pretty girl before her. Indian? Latin? Native? African? At the mention of curry and tamales, she leaned toward the first two.

She was still a little woozy, but it wasn’t unpleasant. She didn’t have spots in her eyes, at any rate. She made an effort to answer her friend’s question. “Half a minute. And…” Then she stiffened. “Wait a second, didn't you jes’ curse?? You'll bring Pinkie on our heads!” She scrabbled for the sheets, staring around wildly. The last thing she needed was her distant cousin attacking them out of nowhere with pies—!

Sunset batted her eyes, then barked out a laugh. “What, over the word pussy? I mean, I guess it's a bit vulgar when used informally, and it can be used as an insult, but I don't think Pinkie ever counted it as a curse word. The word’s original use was perfectly acceptable. Otherwise, I couldn't say, ‘pussy cat’, yknow?”

Now, Applejack’s mouth flopped open. “What the hay?”

Sunset sniggered. Applejack blushed and hastily sputtered. “W-Well, what were you thinking, anyway?”

Sunset bit her lip, her head tilting to one side. “You don’t have to get up. But um…” She ran her hand through her hair and cheekily squinted one eye. “Can I sit on your face? Or would that be too much?”

Applejack stared up at her. What a straightforward question! Her breath was returning, but the ecstasy persisted. She felt amazing. And not just that…

She’d heard it said that sex could produce a sensation of closeness. Affection. Almost unrivaled in its potency, this intoxicating feeling brought on the need for cuddling and sudden declarations of love.

Applejack wasn’t quite feeling so articulate as for the latter, but the rest? Yes. She wanted to reciprocate! She wanted to make Sunset feel good.

She licked her lips and gestured for Sunset to come closer.

Sunset smiled so widely Applejack was certain she’d never seen her friend beam so hard before. She watched as Sunset carefully rose up and crawled over Applejack’s head. Applejack felt her heart churn hard once more as she found herself staring up at Sunset’s naked sex.

If she'd thought this moment would be terrifying… Well, she'd been wrong. But it was still intimidating as hell. She had to process a lot of things really fast, and she realized that Sunset's desire for unequivocal consent was warranted especially this time. It wasn't the pink pussy (That ain't a curse word? Really?) with its downright artful display of female desire that was oft compared to flowers or even sliced fruit. No. Applejack thought Sunset's bloom was real fetchin’. What wasn't discussed as much in polite company was the scent of a woman.

Applejack only had the vaguest idea what that complex aroma was like catching mere traces of it during her own self-satisfaction. She didn't know this, but unlike Rainbow Dash, who was often too rushed and too embarrassed to masturbate much, Applejack had explored herself with semi-frequency over the years, resigned to loneliness for an indefinite amount of time. Though, not of late thanks to stress and utter exhaustion. But the fact was, she had an idea of what female arousal smelled like. That still paled compared to now.

It wasn't unpleasant or abnormal. Just… A lot. A literal face full. Musky and maybe even a little sweet. Her nose itched from the sudden new scent for one harrowing second, and Applejack desperately rubbed at it.

“Please don’t sneeze in my vagina,” Sunset said with feigned gravity.

Applejack stiffened, locking eyes with her friend, then at Sunset’s telltale smile, she threw her head back and laughed. It was loud, full from the belly, her face turning red both from being caught out and just the silliness of it all. Sunset’s arms shook as she joined Applejack in a good chuckle.

When their humor subsided, the redhead was surprised when Applejack gave her butt a small slap, and she fixed the cowgirl with a scandalized look as AJ wagged a finger. “That’s enough, missy! No making me laugh while sitting on me, y’hear?”

Sunset rolled her eyes but grinned. “Fine.” Applejack watched, fascinated as her lover’s face shifted from mischief to affection and then naked lust.

Sunset was paradoxical. A goofball one moment, serious the next. Applejack was getting better at keeping up with it, and she appreciated the changing tempos. They came when needed, like now.

They held each other’s gaze again, and Applejack felt as much as saw the other girl’s excitement. Sunset’s chest was rising and falling deeply, her lips parted, her cheeks rosy, and her eyes were dilated. A mirror, then, of Applejack.

The other girl was still wearing her bra, which only brought a small amount of disappointment until Sunset pulled a boob out and began to fondle herself. Her nipples were smaller than Applejack’s, more pointed where AJ’s was just round, and they were a lovely shade of dark rose.

“I’ll try not to smother you, but tap if you’re having trouble, okay?” Sunset whispered, breathing heavily.

“Got it,” Applejack said, smiling. Then, without waiting for Sunset to lower herself, she lifted her head and opened her mouth.

She didn’t really know what she was doing. She tried to approach it like French kissing, only without another tongue to dance with. Sunset was so…wet. The femmecum quickly got all over her face as her tongue explored. She realized…

This was fun.

Over her, Sunset groaned but kept still. Probably wise. Applejack felt like she was still trying to figure out how to angle her head and get at all the places she wanted to without accidentally jabbing with her teeth. She realized this may be slightly easier if she weren’t on her back, but she made do. Her first overture was clumsy, testing what worked and what didn’t. Getting used to the taste. The overcoming scent of arousal. The taste was complex. It definitely had a hint of something sweet that almost reminded her of some kind of fruit. A hint of sour. Chiefly, though, it was just…animal.

“Oop, careful!” Sunset said with a little wince as Applejack accidentally moved her head the wrong way, resulting in too much teeth.

“Showwy,” Applejack said, immediately mortified, but Sunset only laughed and shook her head.

“You’re doing pretty good. Mmm, yeah. Really good!” she assured Applejack, her expression rapturous.

Finally, like figuring out how to kiss for the first time, Applejack found her rhythm. Her lips caressed Sunset’s folds while her tongue slipped between, tasting Sunset, savoring the flavor that was indescribable and undeniably maddening. She sucked gently at Sunset’s clit before lapping at it. She pushed her tongue flat against it, sweeping it across as she moved her head to the side.

She heard a squeal and a moan over her. “Ah, Applejack, that felt so good!”

Encouraged, Applejack pulled at Sunset’s hips, tugging her down as she lowered her head back to the bed. She felt Sunset carefully comply, never putting her full weight down, but enough that Applejack’s mouth was filled with her partner, her lover’s, pussy.

“Oh!” Sunset gasped over her as Applejack shook her head, driving her tongue up against Sunset’s clit once more.

Sunset whimpered, biting her lip as she slipped her bra straps off and pulled her bra down. She pinched a rosy nipple and carefully moved over Applejack’s mouth, grinding gently but needfully.

Applejack went still save for moving her tongue, her eyes slipping shut for a moment as she felt Sunset fuck herself on her face. She felt her pussy twinge, feeling the blood slowly returning to engorge her there. Climaxing just one time? No wonder Sunset had grinned at her before.

She wanted to do this again and again, and—

Sunset Shimmer had to lean forward on the bed. She was feeling a little dizzy with pleasure, her mind having gone blank over the persistent pussy worship. She loved the sounds Applejack was making. It was so wet and naughty and—

She gasped. Applejack’s tongue was…really good! Sure, there had been a moment of uncomfortable teeth, but she was figuring out what to do all on her own. Sunset supposed it wasn’t rocket science, but with men, she always had to guide them so they wouldn’t dry lick her clit. They’d even ignore her clit in favor of futilely trying to fuck her hole with their minuscule tongues. One guy had all-out bitten her pussy lips. Yeah, some men were idiots when it came to cunnilingus.

But Applejack? Applejack was a natural. By now, most people, even other women, would have begged for a break. Tired tongues and jaws. Sunset was fully prepared to rise up again to give the other girl a chance to rest, but Applejack held her down. It was almost possessive!

And Tartarus, that single thought drove her crazy! If Applejack wanted to own her pussy, she could have it, deed and all.

Applejack groaned into Sunset’s cunt, breathing hard through her nose as her eyes slit open to gaze lustfully up at Sunset. They beheld each other, spiraling together in a heady dance of desire that had Sunset moving her hips faster and faster.

She could feel her climax nearing. Sweat was on her brow, and her breath came in shuddering gasps.

“Yes,” she breathed shakily as she pushed herself upright again. She wanted to see the other girl’s face better. Applejack gazed up at her, and for a moment, it seemed like she was smiling. Hard to tell with her cunt smothering AJ’s mouth, but if she had to guess, Sunset wanted to say she was enjoying herself. In fact, the cowgirl reached both her hands up and fondled Sunset’s breasts, gently squeezing them and flicking the nipples with her thumbs.

That did it.

Sunset had tried to last a little longer, but she had enjoyed herself so much. And she’d meant what she said.

This was just the first orgasm of the night.

She let her climax come, her mouth opening wide as she squeezed her eyes shut and tried to stifle a yell. She felt so squeezed by it, her lips tingling a little as the full weight of sexual bliss crashed down.

Sunset, on legs that now felt like jelly raised herself, then flopped over sideways onto the bed. She tried to catch her breath, her eyes fluttering as she stared up at the slanted ceiling.

She saw Applejack appear over her, one thumb wiping a glob of Sunset’s cum off her chin before she licked it clean. She grinned almost sleepily as she lay at Sunset’s side, her head propped up on one hand, her bangs falling rakishly into her green eyes.

“Did I do good?” she asked, hopeful and amused.

Sunset glanced at her, then laughed. “Yeah. Yeah, I’d say you did.” She pressed a hand to her forehead and let out a big exhale. “That was fantastic.”

They lay there for a moment, content to experience the last of their climaxes ebb away.

It was like a dream realized. Sunset felt so light and happy. She was still shivering occasionally from the excitement. She'd done it. She'd finally got to sleep with Applejack, a crush she'd harbored but avoided directly acknowledging for so long. Four years. More if she was being honest with herself. Even before her reformation, Sunset had gazed lustfully after the cowgirl.

Her attraction then had been shallow. Objectifying. Evil Sunset hadn't believed in having lovers so much as personal playthings. But here? She could see the writing on the wall. Applejack had something her other lovers didn't.

Intimate knowledge, both of Sunset's powers and even her past. And here they lay, more open and vulnerable than ever, joyfully basking in one another's company.

Scary? Yes. Exciting? Yes.

Applejack reached over and took Sunset's hand. It was such a strange move to Sunset, after sex. Not even Sherry, affectionate as she could be, did anything so earnest. Sunset shivered again as she felt Applejack trace a lazy circle on her palm. Goosebumps rose over her whole body, and she felt a jolt through her chest as her breathing stuttered and her fingers flexed.

After a few moments of this, Applejack traced her fingers up Sunset's arm, her touch gliding next over her collarbone before slowly trailing down to Sunset's chest. Sunset's breathing became shallow as she felt Applejack trace over her soft nipples, making them stiffen, before she circled ponderously over the curves of Sunset's breast.

“That feels really nice,” Sunset finally murmured. Her eyes fluttered as Applejack skated her touch back to Sunset's firmed nipples.

“Good. Cuz I don't wanna quit.” The cowgirl’s voice was a warm murmur, almost sleepy but clearly content.

Sunset turned her head, and their gazes met. The world fell away once more.

Magic. It was their magic mingling. It must be so.

Some distant voice, the analytical part of Sunset, said this was important. This was new. It had to do with… Something. Something that still needed addressing.

If only she'd had her maturity and presence of mind from when she'd first arrived in this world. Instead, as intelligent and world-weary as Sunset could be, she was still just like any other teenager swept up in big emotions. She could have put the pieces together sooner if she'd been of a different mind. Then, she would have been less surprised by what would come next.

If only she would later lament.

Now though…

“Kiss me,” she said to Applejack.

Applejack's rich green eyes turned lidded as she rose, her blonde hair spilling like sunshine over her neck as she smiled and pressed her lips to Sunset's.

Sunset's phone buzzed from the other side of the room. She ignored it, lost in Applejack's embrace as they kissed passionately. They had both ignored their devices since early that night after seeing all the appeals to party with their friends. Sunset had assumed it was more of the same.

She'd find herself wishing she'd checked her phone sooner.

Ah, if only. If only…

Author's Note

I did it! They did it! The "its" have been done! :yay: I Feel It Coming by The Weeknd felt so obvious a choice. Maybe it's too obvious? What could be better, I wonder?

I agonized over this chapter. Honestly, the truth is, I've only written a small amount of sex scenes over the years, and I never feel confident about them. Try writing detailed sex that doesn't sound the same as the last scene you did, and also doesn't sound cartoonish. Did you giggle at parts not originally intended to be funny? Ah, don't worry, so did I! That's my favorite part about long-awaited love-making. Shrieking excitedly into pillows and tearing at my hair with gleeful horror as I shout, "No, you didn't do that! Tell me you you didn't just do that!"

Well. I did. And they did. And it's done. I hope you enjoyed. :ajsmug:

Prologue

Sunset emerged from the portal, stumbling. It didn’t matter how many times she traveled through the dimensional gateway, she never could seem to keep her footing. At least this time she hadn’t face-planted into the cement. The mirage spells would conceal her embarrassment, but they wouldn’t protect her wounded pride.

She stepped away from Canterlot High’s iconic horse statue, casting a look over her shoulder at it as the other protective spell barriers slid over her, buzzing with arcane power. Thanks to Princess Twilight, she’d been able to enshroud the portal in a ring of wards that kept other students and passerby from “accidentally” entering it. It was good to know that principals Celestia and Luna were also actively protecting it. Despite this, Sunset still worried the portal would be discovered.

Especially these days.

She looked up and down the street with an anxious bite of her lip, her eyes keen to pick out anything that seemed out of the ordinary. All she saw was a woman walking her dog down one way. An elderly man watering his lawn down the other.

Sunset allowed the breath she’d been holding to escape.

Grogar had been trying to discover the source of her gold for years now. In the last few months, his efforts had tripled, along with his demands. She’d taken great care to keep the various portal locations secret, and she never used the same portal twice in a row.

These days, she was constantly being followed. No matter how many tails she shook, there were always new people. It felt neverending. Sometimes Grogar’s men followed her even when she wasn’t on the job for him.

This latest errand had been taxing. It was true that Princess Twilight and Celestia supplied her with a steady supply of bits to fund her research and magic containment efforts, but she didn’t have the heart to explain to them that their money needed unsavory channels to be laundered into something she could actually use in this world.

She also didn’t have the heart to ask for more from them. It had been a trial just to get the stipend she received from them now. Asking for a raise would just mean jumping through more bureaucratic hoops. Princess Celestia had a great deal of say in the kingdom, but she was not an absolute ruler. There were checks and balances, especially when it came to money.

Sunset already felt like enough of a bother. It was her fault magic was in this world to begin with. Some things she really just needed to handle on her own. That meant getting odd jobs to satisfy Grogar’s greed.

In the beginning, the stipend had been sufficient. Sunset could afford an apartment, food, clothes, her motorcycle payments, and there was still enough to meet Grogar’s laundering fees. Now…?

Her apartment was gone. She hadn’t bought new clothes or shoes in over two years. Thankfully, her motorcycle was paid off, but she’d already had to suffer through an awful repair bill, and the frequent servicing fees were a strain. Not to mention the credit card debt she was still trying to pay off from her more irresponsible days.

Sunset Shimmer adjusted her messenger bag, which was clinking with bags of bits. She still cast furtive looks around her as she walked to her motorcycle, parked just two blocks away. She pulled out a phone from her pocket. It wasn’t her usual cell phone, the one she used for school and friends. It was her throwaway, a simple pay-as-you-go device with minimal features.

Sunset opened her text thread with Grogar.

>SSh: Got wat u want. B there in 15

‘There’ being Tambelon. She stared at the screen, waiting for a response. It came quick.

>G: Excellent. Bray will meet you.

Her lip curled. Bray was like a rash—ugly, irritating, and hard to get rid of. But at least this latest hurdle was over with. After this business was over, she’d even have the rest of the day to rest before school tomorrow.

Sunset slowed to a stop next to her motorcycle, her eyes tensing.

She pulled out her throwaway cell again and opened her contacts. Besides Grogar, there were six other names listed. She bit her lip. Who was she in the mood for?

Then as if one of them had read her mind, she received a text message.

>K: U free?

Sunset’s heart jumped a little. Kojote. It’d been months since she’d last heard from him, the longest since they’d first hooked up. She’d wondered if it was finally time to delete him from her list. Apparently, he wasn’t done with her.

She was equal parts relieved and dismayed.

She tapped out a curt reply.

>SSh: for what?

>K: u know what

She did, and she was up for it. So very, very up for it. Especially when faced with the prospect of staring at her textbooks for what was left of her Sunday, trying and failing to fend off thoughts of her troubles. She needed something to pound the stress out first. Something big, stiff, and hard. Preferably in several go arounds, and she knew Kojote could do it. Would do it.

But she still remembered how they’d parted ways last time, with him abandoning her at the theaters. Making him squirm on the hook felt necessary.

>SSh: gee i dunno. Might go see a MOVIE tonite

>K: ouch... I deserved that. but i kno ur stressed

>SSh: and how do u kno that?

>K: cuz u always r. c’mon lemme help u relax. i’ll make up for last time

She arched an eyebrow, but the corners of her lips were twitching up.

>SSh: buy me lunch, and maybe

>K: of course. Plz liebling, i need u

Sunset snorted at this last message, even as her heart rate picked up. He only ever used German when he was trying to wheedle her.

They weren’t in love. They weren’t even in a closed relationship. Besides Grogar, any of the other names on her throwaway’s contact list would do for some carnal distraction that afternoon.

But for all his carelessness, Kojote was easily her favorite lover.

>SSh: give me 1 hour

She put her phone away and climbed onto her bike. It was noon. She had time to spare.

Precisely what she hated.

Applejack got Rainbow Dash’s invitation for the party. She ignored it, unwilling to even bother with a generic response.

Besides, she had her hands full.

“Apple Bloom, you’re staying and that’s that!” she shouted. Her hands were on her hips, a skillet of chicken and peppers sizzled on the stove next to her. Lunch for the day.

Her sister glared, her face matching her hair. “But why?”

“I already told ya why!” Applejack pointed out the kitchen window, towards the orchards. “This order’s gotta get done today! Ain’t no other way around it. Everything takes second place till this gets done, y’hear? You can hang out with your friends later!”

Apple Bloom slammed the edge of her fist against the wall, making the family photos rattle in their old picture frames. “This is unfair!” she shrieked.

Applejack sighed as she watched her sister storm out the front door. “Yeah? Well life ain’t fair,” she muttered. She sidled away from her cooking, checking the place where her sister had struck. No holes this time. Ever since Apple Bloom started getting into fights, it seemed she was more given to violent outbursts. Just another worry to go atop of all the other worries.

“She’ll get there, Applejack. You’ll see,” Granny Smith assured her from the living room. She looked small and frail in the big recliner. “In the meantime, all her buckin’ is normal. Shucks, you did the same to me when you was young!”

Applejack crossed her arms, her gaze darkening. “Granny, I ain’t middle-aged or nothin’!” Her lip pouted. “Shoot! I’m a teenager, too! Or did everyone forget?”

“Shhh! My soap’s back on!” Granny said with a frantic wave of her liver-spotted hand, her eyes already glued to the television.

The country girl clenched her teeth and returned to the stove. Her food was starting to burn.

“When was the last time I got to act my age, huh?” She said through a tight jaw. “For once I’d like to just do what I want and damn the consequences!”

She glared down into the skillet as the sliced peppers turned black at the edges.

Almost inaudibly, she breathed, “It’s not like playing by the rules made me any happier…”

Kojote was a tall, slim, well-cut fellow with sandy brown hair that fell into his perpetually hungry brown eyes. He thrust into her savagely, his fingers digging into her hips hard enough to leave marks. The way his cock filled her… it was like she turned into mewling prey beneath him with every lancing entry, his girth and length not just respectable, but worshipful.

This was where she came apart, aching and crazed.

Sunset Shimmer was elated to let go, if just for a few hours. She told herself she’d needed this. Believed it with every sweet collision of their glistening bodies in Kojote’s flat. He squeezed her tits, snarling, and she whimpered, loving the bite of his strong hands into her soft flesh. She let her eyes slip ravenously over his rippling chest, abs, and obliques, their definition stark where the glare of the sun fell over him through the skylight, casting him in a strange glow.

He was perfect. Too perfect.

Driven by sudden malice, she reached out and raked her nails over his sweaty abdomen, hard. He gasped. Grabbed her wrists and slammed them over her head, then pound into her so hard the entire bed slammed into the wall.

Sunset shouted in pleasure, her wet pussy squeezing over his cock as the man drove into her again and again.

Their first fuck that afternoon had been sloppy and starved, two lovers meeting together after too long apart. The second fuck was sleepy and searching, hands roaming, awakening their minds again to their purpose. The third fuck was heated, verging on competitive, as it always was. It was a fight to see who would come away with the last scraps of dignity, the victor being the one who kept their head in the end.

She usually lost. Didn’t mind losing. It was the struggle that satisfied her, not the outcome. This was a way to blow off steam and forget about things for a while.

Kojote, breathing raggedly, drew closer, his eyes staring deep into hers. Their noses nearly touched… but never did either of them close in for the kiss.

They had the same rule for all their lovers. No kissing allowed. It just muddled what they really wanted from each other.

Distraction.

When Sunset came, it was with teeth bared, her hips bucking defiantly into Kojote’s. The electrifying release felt good, but it burned. Several hard climaxes in a short span of time tended to do that.

Kojote came not long after, his eyes rolling shut and his body clenching. He sat back, his head lolling to the side and his chest heaving. Sunset raised herself up on her elbows as the fog of lust lifted from her head. She tried to find his eyes, but the man was already looking away as he pulled out. He rolled to the edge of the bed where he usually kept his glass of water and chugged it, his back to her.

Sunset gazed at him, quiet. She reached out a hand… stopped. Slowly slid it back. She rolled away, one arm tucked under her head. She heard him get up and walk away. Probably to go to the bathroom.

When it was clear there would be no after-sex conversation this time, she sat up and scooted to the edge of the king size bed. She grabbed her cellphone, and was surprised to see she’d missed a message from Rainbow Dash.

>R: Hey guys! Me, Flutters, Pinks, & Rares r at this shindig @ my VC’s house. She said u guys r welcome! We’re probz gonna b here a long while so come over if u can

Sunset bit her lip. That had been a while ago. Was there even a point in showing up so late?

The alternative was going to the dorm and doing some studying. Alone.

Her hearing perked to the sound of the shower starting. If she stayed much longer, Kojote would start hinting that he had other things to do.

Sunset looked back at her phone, thinking. Then she typed:

>SSh: I’m pretty tired, but I can stop by 4 a few. Dunno when I’ll get there. I’m sure u got questions

Now that she’d had a nice good fuck, Sunset felt more even tempered. Less anxious. If there was ever a time to field Rainbow’s no doubt thirsting curiosity, it was now. She wasn’t sure if she’d have the resolve to keep from snapping if she waited till later.

She stood and hurried to get dressed. She’d take a shower back at the dorm. It would’ve been nice to bathe here, but the truth was, she wasn’t welcome to.

Applejack stared at the last remaining apple crates sitting on the tractor’s wagon bed. These were to be loaded onto the shipping truck and taken to a third party processing center. The heavy wooden crates were large, coming up to her chest and as wide as four of her. They needed to make this order before nightfall, or else their shipment would have to wait until tomorrow. That meant the apples would get to their customer a day late. She couldn’t let that happen again.

This was why she told Rainbow Dash she couldn’t go to her party. She was working. She really, really was.

AJ looked around the loading yard, sweat beading on her skin. “Big Mac, is anyone else ‘round here?”

Her brother was climbing back out of the truck carriage, a clipboard with the order’s paperwork in his hand. He shrugged, his eyes turned down at the documents.

Applejack pursed her lips. “Well can ya look? Check the other side of the truck! I’ll check over here.”

Big Mac grumbled, shooting her a scowl, but he did as asked.

She shook his head at him before turning and walking briskly to the other end of the yard. Her green eyes scanned the neighboring treeline, trying to pick out movement. She saw no one.

When she returned to the crates, Big Mac was coming around the end of the truck bed. At her questioning look, he shook his head.

Good.

She clapped her hands and rubbed them together, her muscles flexing under her long-sleeved shirt. “Keep an eye out, would ya? I’ll have these crates loaded in a jiffy.” Her brother grunted in response.

Closing her eyes, Applejack turned her mind’s attention to the power inside of her. Each of their friends had a special way of activating their power. Hers relied on spoken word—particularly those truths not easily uttered.

“I wish Fluttershy was mine.”

She said this low, hoping her brother didn’t hear. Her eyes flickered to him anxiously as the magic erupted over her skin, flashing in brilliant white. Just before the light blinded her, she was relieved to see Big Mac had turned away from her, years of seeing Equestrian magic having dulled his interest.

When the light was gone, her hair had become longer, reaching to her knees. Her pony ears strained against the underside of her hat brim, and she pushed this up to give them more room.

Eyes glowing with arcane power, Applejack gripped the lip of an apple crate and slid it slowly off the wagon bed. When the crate had come out far enough that she could fit a whole hand underneath it, she stooped down and lifted it carefully, up and out, pulling the crate into a position where she could crouch beneath it and finally heft it up.

Physics said that, even with her prodigious strength, the mass of the crate in motion, plus the poor stability provided by her hands, should’ve meant that the apples toppled over onto the ground. Instead, the magic kept the crate steady on her flat palms, allowing her to carry the crate overhead like it were nothing. She carried the apples to the truck bed and set them down. The truck axles creaked as this sudden massive weight was laid upon it.

Just when Applejack turned to fetch another crate, her phone chimed. She ignored it and started to pick up another crate. Her phone chimed again. Growling, she returned the crate and pulled out her phone.

Text messages from Sunset Shimmer and Twilight Sparkle. Something had happened with Pinkie Pie at Rainbow’s party, and they wanted to have a sit down with all of their friends. Twilight’s text was almost formal in how it requested her appearance. But Sunset’s…?

>SSh: AJ plz come. Plz?

Applejack stared at the text like it was a decree of execution.

Her mouth went dry, but her palms turned sweaty. The magic faded from her, leaving her feeling weak and depleted.

To Sunset Shimmer, she texted:

>AJ: is it really that bad? Kinda busy

>SSh: i kno, i’m sorry, but we wouldn’t ask if we didn’t think it was important

Applejack’s lips thinned. Sunset’s idea of ‘important’ was seldom a waste of time.

>AJ: ok. I’ll be there as soon as i can

She slipped the phone into her pocket, and tried to turn her mind back to her magic. She still needed to finish loading these crates.

“I ain’t afraid to see ‘em together.”

Applejack stared at the crate, waiting for the magic transformation to happen.

It didn’t.

Author's Note

Chapter 2

Continued from Chapter 31 of What They Expect to Give

Sunset Shimmer had been waiting outside, hoping against all hope that Rainbow’s meeting wouldn’t turn into a nightmare.

She listened to the radio. She didn’t even make it halfway through a song before nerves overtook her. After a furtive check to make sure Rainbow wasn’t coming, she exited the car and snuck in a cigarette from the fresh pack she’d bought earlier that day.

Sorry, AJ, she thought as she blew the smoke up into the air. I couldn’t help myself. Anyway, I think tonight’s gonna be rough.

Lightning crashed, followed by great thunder. Sunset whistled as she looked up at the darkening sky.

Real rough.

When she was putting out her cigarette, that’s when she saw them exit the building...

Gold Fang and Capper.

Sunset’s heart skipped a beat and her skin flashed cold. Sprinkles of rain started to come down when Gold Fang’s eyes landed on her.

“Damn it…” she muttered as the two men approached.

Gold Fang and Capper were with the Badlanders, a gang that served as an arm of the Trog-El Syndicate. Her eyes slid to Capper, who snuck an almost apologetic shrug behind Gold Fang’s back. She narrowed her gaze at him before regarding his older partner.

Gold Fang spread his arms wide. “Well if it ain’t my lil’ hotdog!”

She crossed her arms. “Leave me alone,” Sunset said flatly.

“Now that ain’t no way to speak to a friend.” The older man’s lips puckered. “Shucks, it seems like you don’t appreciate all I’ve done for you now that you’ve moved up in the world!”

Sunset bared an overly sweet grin. “I’m sure Verko would love to hear about your side deals with the Changelings, Fang.”

Verko was the leader of the Badlanders and part of the Trog-El Syndicate’s head council. The Changelings, meanwhile, were the Badlanders’ biggest rivals within the syndicate. She’d seen Fang leaving Changeling territory more than once on his own. There was no reason for him to be there unless he was creeping behind his leader’s back.

Gold Fang’s smile waned. He gazed at her with murder in his gray eyes for a long beat, before spitting at her boots and flashing his fangs in a smile once again. She didn’t allow herself to react. The old thug couldn’t do anything to her. Not while she was in Grogar’s pocket.

“Sadly, I lack the time for a good chit chat,” Gold Fang said with a dismissive wave of his hand. He turned and went to a gold European convertible on the opposite side of the parking lot. “This hotdog’s a bit too burnt today, anyhow.” He winked over his shoulder as he took out his car keys and spun them on a finger. “I’ll take a bite outta her another time.”

Capper lingered, however. He looked at Sunset with what looked like regret. “Sunny, I heard he called you in again…” he said.

Grogar.

She looked at him coolly. “Yeah. He did.”

She fished out another cigarette. Any more of this, and she’d be done with the pack before the night was through. “Still under Verko, huh, Capper? Gee, too bad. I guess your lil’ scheme didn’t work.”

Sunset placed the cig in her mouth, but when she pulled out her lighter, she was annoyed to find it wouldn’t light. The wind kept snuffing out the flame. With a huff, she tried turning, but her wavy red locks lifted with the breeze and got in the way.

Capper cleared his throat and tapped her on the shoulder. Sunset turned with a glare to find the young man held out a lit flip lighter. She narrowed her eyes at him but leaned in to light her cigarette anyway.

“I didn’t mean for you to get dragged in deeper, Sunny,” Capper murmured, his eyes casting down. He put away his lighter but left his hand in his pocket as he shifted his weight to one foot. “I thought my plan would work out for both of us…”

Sunset shrugged, blowing smoke out of the corner of her mouth. “Who's to say it didn’t?” She gestured up and down at his suit. “You got a promotion.” She gestured at herself. “And I’ve got Grogar’s ‘protection’.”

She made a face and puffed on her cigarette again. “For however long that lasts…”

Capper’s eyes tensed. “He doesn’t make you…? Y’know.”

“Sleep with him?” She rolled her eyes. “No.”

Thank Celestia, too!

If it ever came to that, she could suffer it, she supposed. But her pride would be forever cut in half afterward. And if she fought? It would be a life and death struggle that would end with one of them dead, and having likely exposed Equestrian magic to the world. A risk she couldn’t take.

“He finds me strange and mysterious enough to be amusing,” she continued. “That’s all.” At least, that’s how it started…

Capper let out a breath. “Good.”

He stepped closer, pulling off his fedora and revealing a carefully combed back tuft of thick indigo hair. He looked at her sorrowfully as he held his hat to his chest. “For what it’s worth… I am sorry.” He tried to reach for her hand.

She pulled it away, clenched tight in a fist.

“When you told Grogar about my arrangement with Verko, you spoiled any chance I had of getting out of this clean,” she hissed. “And I still kept that secret for you! I could have told Verko, but I never said a word!”

Nevermind that Grogar had specifically forbidden her from doing so upon threat of death. If she had still been her selfish self, she would have done it anyway. Just to see Capper suffer.

She took a long drag of her cigarette, then exhaled harshly. The acrimony that burned in her chest almost drove her to blow the smoke in his face. Old Sunset would have, and she felt that ghost a bit too keenly right now...

“If you were really sorry, you’d help me get away from it all…” Sunset cut a searing look at him from the corner of her eye. “But you won’t, will you?”

Capper slouched and ran a hand over his hair. He opened his mouth as if to speak—

Gold Fang’s car honked. They both looked, startled.

Sunset ashed her cigarette and glanced at Capper, her expression frigid. “Your partner’s waiting for you.”

Capper sighed and returned his hat to his head. He turned and walked away. Over his shoulder, he said, “I want to make this right. I just… don’t know how.”

Sunset watched as Gold Fang’s car backed out of its parking spot, then drove away. She watched them go with narrowed eyes, her displeasure lingering like her cigarette smoke.

Then the frosty anger thawed away, and she let her chin fall to her chest.

Capper… I don’t know what to do either. I just fake it most of the time.

It was a difficult thing for her to admit because she’d put that past behind her, but she still had fond memories of the mischief she and Capper had gotten up to. They had survived together, when no one else cared about them, running scams and committing petty theft.

It was even his forgeries that had gotten her into school, to begin with.

But when she’d started her gold laundering arrangement with Verko, she’d left Capper behind. Her life ceased to be a day-to-day struggle to eat. She became a high schooler with her very own apartment.

Meanwhile, Capper wondered where he’d sleep every night. In her selfishness, she hadn’t thought to help him.

In the cut-throat world of criminal politics, using her to get into Grogar’s good graces must have seemed the only option for him. Payback too for abandoning him, maybe. Neither of them could have foreseen the long-lasting repercussions of his actions.

She knew this. And still, the bitterness lingered.

Sunset felt a little sorry. Capper’s situation had always been more desperate than hers, even when she’d first arrived in this world. Being a criminal was all that he knew. And she had treated him poorly...

But his past betrayal still had a lasting impact on her life today. What stung about it was that she knew he had a moral compass hidden beneath his criminal facade. The fact that he chose to ignore it to go in deeper with the Badlanders was evidence that he wasn’t really ready to change. He still made excuses for himself.

She knew that kindness and forgiveness could be powerful in leading someone down a new path. She’d extended her hand to some of her worst enemies, guiding them out from the dark. But with Capper… her hand stayed at her side.

Sunset felt ashamed that she couldn’t see past her ongoing problems to let go of her lingering resentment. If anyone needed saving, it was Capper.

The wind whipped up. Sunset cursed when she realized her cigarette had gone out. She hunched her back to the gusts, trying to light it again.

It was around this time that she got the texts from Fluttershy about a strange problem. Sunset was almost relieved for the distraction. After a quick exchange, they called each other.

When they talked on the phone, Sunset did her best to address her friend’s concerns, all the while shivering in the increasing winds as she finished her cigarette. The truth was, there wasn’t much she could do right then. She had every intention of following up, though.

Abnormally heightened senses? Yeah, that warranted looking into. And soon.

Poor Flutters… I’ll call her again when her shift is through. Maybe we can get to the bottom of it tonight, even. That’d be good.

After her phone call, she did a quick internet search on her phone to make sure no weird events had happened in the area. Though she checked traditional news outlets, she focused more on social media and paranormal chat servers.

Nothing.

So maybe not another magical artifact… Gosh, I really hope it’s something simple!

Still feeling antsy, she sent Applejack a music track to listen to—a blues song from Red Rooster, the musician they were going to hear play Wednesday night. She didn’t get an immediate reply, but Sunset reasoned Applejack was just too busy to text and shrugged it off.

She finished her cigarette, then returned to Rainbow’s car. The rain was starting to come down in earnest.

A short time later, and Rainbow emerged, visibly upset. Sunset stiffened at the sight of her friend holding her head, her body wracked with sobs.

The redhead practically stumbled to get out of the car, just as the sky unleashed a massive downpour...

Applejack was bone tired by supper and glad to be home.

That was until Big Mac told her Apple Bloom had been suspended from school. Again.

Big Mac practically fled back to the orchard after seeing the look on Applejack’s face.

“What in tarnation is wrong with you?!” Applejack shouted at her younger sister. She stood in the middle of the living room, looming over Apple Bloom, her body coiled like she was about to tussle. “Do you have any idea what a damn pickle you’ve put me in?”

Apple Bloom glowered up at her from the couch, an ice pack on her bruised cheek. Her lower lip was fat and split. No doubt she had bruises elsewhere too. Diamond Tiara may have been a rich girl, but she was meaner than a wet panther when push came to shove.

“She started it,” Apple Bloom muttered sullenly.

“I don’t care!” Applejack hollered. “Principal Celestia can’t keep cutting you slack anymore! One more fight and you’re expelled, Apple Bloom! Heck, you’re lucky Filthy Rich ain’t pressing charges!”

Applejack jabbed a finger into her chest. “I also just got through filing for guardianship for your fool head. What will the court think when they come here and find you not in school on account of another one of your gol’darned duck fits?”

“It’s not my fault!” Apple Bloom shot back, her voice rising. “Diamond Tiara got mad because I spread around a GIF of her face-planting during cheerleading practice! She sucker-punched me! I wasn’t gonna let ‘er get off easy!”

Applejack pulled her hat off her head and hid her reddening face with it.

Just count slow… Reaaaal slow, AJ…

After reaching a ten count, she lowered her hat and said with exaggerated calm. “So you thought… it’d be a swell idea… to go antagonizing the girl... who we know... don’t play fair?”

Despite Applejack’s efforts, her jaw tightened and so did her voice. “And then you thought… shoving Diamond Tiara’s face… into the lunch line’s cream corn… would make it all better?”

Apple Bloom smirked. “Naw. That was just fun.”

Applejack swatted her with her hat. “Hardheaded! That’s what you are!You could make a preacher cuss!” She thrust a quaking finger at the stairs. “Git to your room! I better not see your damn face for the rest of the damn night!”

Apple Bloom pouted as she fixed her ponytail and walked with infuriating slow speed for the staircase.

Applejack jammed her hat back on her head and fidgeted on the spot, her arms first crossing, then going to her hips, then crossing again.

When her sister was near the top of the stairs, she yelled next, “And if you think this week off from school is gonna be a walk in the park, you got another think coming! I’m putting your butt to work, little lady!”

“Whatever,” she heard Apple Bloom mutter.

Applejack’s nostrils flared and she almost stormed after her sister when Granny Smith held up a hand. The cowgirl stopped, blinking down at her grandmother. She’d forgotten the older woman had been sitting there in the recliner all this time.

Granny peered up at her with a clarity Applejack hadn’t seen for a few weeks now. “Ye can’t get through to her like that, Applejack.”

She settled deep into her recliner, her bushy brows clashing. “When you an’ Mac told me you wanted to take over the farm and watch over your sister, I fought ya somethin’ awful.” Granny shook her head, her face tilting down. “But even I gotta admit, I can’t keep up no more…”

Applejack’s heart wrenched. She knelt by her grandmother, taking a wrinkly hand. “Aw, Granny, don’t say that! You still help plenty! We can’t do this without you!”

“Well, you’re a-gonna have to!” Granny Smith said sternly. She looked at Applejack, her orange eyes faded with age. “And I’m tryin’ to tell ya that parenting is more’n just a firm hand! You gotta see that if yer meanin’ to take over!”

Her expression softened and she patted her granddaughter’s wrist. “Teachin’ always works best when you got more love and patience in yer heart than anythin’ else. If you roll up on yer sister hootin’ and hollerin’... well, worst case, she shuts down on you. Best case, she learns the lesson but resents you for it. It ain’t no way to raise a child, sugar cube.”

Applejack nodded slowly. Her anger still smoldered deep within her.

But under the guiding wisdom of her elder, she would try not to act on it.

As she stood to her feet and planted a soft kiss on her grandmother’s hair, Applejack knew that she needed time to cool down.

Maybe she’d drive to the ridge and watch the sunset. She hadn’t done that in a while.

Applejack grabbed her coat and put it on. As she went to get her keys from the kitchen counter, she paused a moment to check her phone for the time. That’s when she saw the text from Sunset Shimmer.

Curious, she opened it. It was a link to a Red Rooster song.

Applejack grabbed her keys. She tucked the phone into her pocket. She could listen to the song later. For now, she just needed to get out of this house.

What a night…

What a night!

Sunset Shimmer practically speed-walked her way out of Freenote Library.

‘Thanks, Sunset’

‘Yes, thank you so much, Sunset!’

How could they possibly be thanking her? She’d failed. Oh, maybe not completely. But she’d failed where it counted.

Rainbow Dash had almost lost control of her powers. Right in front of her. Rainbow almost…

Almost ended up like me.

Sunset could feel the tears prick her eyes, but she fought to keep them back.

Self-pity would get her nowhere. She just needed to focus better. But in order to do that, she needed to think straight. The stress of the evening’s trials weighed on her. She had to calm down.

She knew one way to do that.

Sunset went through her throwaway phone’s contact list. Her eyes paused on Kojote’s name, but she shook her head and kept scrolling.

No, she wanted a softer touch tonight.

Then her eyes landed on the answer.

Sherry Kiss.

Perfect.

Sunset hit the green phone symbol and pressed the cell to her ear.

The call went to voicemail. Disappointed, but not discouraged, Sunset waited till she had gone back to her dorm to grab her cycling gear before trying again.

After a few rings, a woman answered. “Looking for some fun, huh?” she sounded amused.

“Up for it, Sherry?” Sunset asked as she left her dorm and made her way to the elevator. “Please say yes!”

“Oh! Begging! Haven’t heard that in a while.” Sherry laughed. It was a deep and rich sound.

Sunset allowed a small whine to enter into her voice as she hit the elevator call button. “Pretty pleeeease?”

She only did this for Sherry. The older woman seemed to like it when Sunset played the immature card.

“Hmmm... ”

Sunset rolled her eyes but smiled. Sherry liked to play games. If Sunset was being honest, it was a big reason they’d been partners for so long. The longest of any of Sunset’s partners, in fact. She liked Sherry’s games. They were titillating and kept the mood light.

“Tell you what, hon,” Sherry purred. “Grab a pack of strawberries, and I’ll be happy to have you over.”

Sunset’s eyebrows lifted as the elevator arrived. “Strawberries?” Her lips curled up. “Now I’m curious.”

“Well, hurry up and get over here, and you won’t have to be curious anymore!” Sherry laughed again.

Sunset giggled as she stepped inside the open elevator. “Yes, ma’am!”

Upon the ridge overlooking the farm, you could see over the emerald hills and neighboring forests to enjoy the humbling view of the sun sinking below the horizon. The sky washed in cool colors, a radiant yellow fading into a tangy red, both warm hues being hungrily swallowed by the encroaching plum and midnight blue.

Applejack couldn’t help but feel moved by the view each time, almost to the point of feeling emotional. It was a heady mixture of relief for a day put behind her, but also the sinking dismay that night was coming.

She hated the night. Fears bled from the shadows, weighing her down. She’d been tempted to start her truck back up and drive back to the house so she could turn in early.

But Apple Bloom’s suspension still had her keyed up.

She supposed this plan of being up on the ridge had been ill-fated. Sunsets weren’t relaxing for her. They just put her in a contemplative mood. Coupled with her frustration, the only thing she was contemplating was how irritated she was with Apple Bloom.

And not just Apple Bloom, but Big Mac, too! He was always running off to leave her to deal with this sort of thing. This may not have bothered her as much if she felt like her brother could reliably do the farmwork he kept using as an excuse to escape!

Applejack sighed roughly and pulled her phone from her pocket. Sunset’s text message was still open.

Pursing her lips, the cowgirl clicked the song link.

May as well. Not like I’m doing anything else but sitting here and tying my own tail into a knot!

The music started. It opened with a twangy guitar playing a bluesy tune. Then Red Rooster’s voice slid in, a deep croon that made Applejack’s eyebrows lift. He had a very soulful voice.

Little cuts get me
They slice me up and down
Little cuts get me
Yeah man, them knives just go to town

Ask my granny why she out back
She say she lookin for my daddy
But daddy’s buried ‘neath the lilac

Applejack’s sullen expression fell away, her eyes widening.

Little cuts get me
They slice me up and down
Little cuts get me
Yeah man, them knives don’t fuck around

Tell my brother the farm needs his hands
He runs off for the racetrack
Damn fool gets shot in the stands

Applejack’s jaw tightened. Her eyes burned fiercely. Soon her vision blurred.

Little cuts get me
They slice me up and down
Little cuts get me
Yeah man, they keep whittlin’ down

Dear sister get beat by her man
I tell ‘er come on home
She says she can’t leave again

Little cuts get me
They slice me up and down
Little cuts get me
Yeah man, my blood’s all on the ground

Life is a butcher and it’s quartered me
My flesh got a heavy price
Please take my heart and set me free

A tear slipped from Applejack’s eye and she leaned on her car door, one hand covering her mouth. Red Rooster’s song continued for a moment longer, the mournful melody fading to nothing. More tears slipped free.

She sat in silence for a time, watching the sun sink lower into the horizon. The dark cast over her, and it felt… different. She didn’t know how to put it.

Applejack still disliked the darkness. But it felt more familiar somehow. Bearable, maybe.

She picked up her phone and searched for more songs by Red Rooster.

It was getting late, and Sunset was full off of strawberries and chocolate. Washing the sweet syrup off her skin hadn’t been too much of a chore with such lovely company to help her, but still… she was getting tired. Sunset eyed the clock on the wall as she felt Sherry run a finger down her bare side.

“I know that look in your eye,” Sherry murmured. “You running off again?”

Sunset turned her head to see the older woman. Sherry was black, with tight natural curls that smelled lightly of coconut. Her lush expressive mouth was tweaked into a wry smile, and her dark eyes held warmth.

Sunset pouted. “I can’t stay over every time, Sherry. I have school in the morning, y’know.”

“So?” Sherry kissed Sunset’s shoulder. Her lips were cool and moist. “Stay the night. Leave early. Ain’t that hard.”

Sunset rolled her eyes. “Says the bartender with little to no responsibilities…”

Sherry smacked Sunset’s butt, making the redhead squeal out, “Hey!”

“You complicate shit, little girl,” Sherry said with feigned sternness. Her eyebrow lifted. “Maybe strawberries and chocolate were too generous. Seems like you needed a good whupping!”

Sunset shifted over onto her back, her hand reaching up to caress Sherry’s generous breasts, her thumb gliding over a soft chocolatey nipple. Her eyes turned lidded. Maybe she wasn’t so tired, after all…?

“Sorry. I really liked the food play. It’s just…” Sunset sighed, her brow tightening. “My roommate is going through some stuff, and I don’t want to leave her alone.”

Sherry’s expression turned gentle. She placed a finger beneath Sunset’s chin, lifting the girl’s eyes off her ample chest, and shook her head. “So that’s it. Why didn’t you say something earlier?”

Sunset bit her lip and turned her head away.

They weren’t just lovers. They were friends and lovers. But the friendship had come slowly, over time, built on a growing foundation of mutual respect. The trust was… still growing. That was mostly on Sunset. Sherry had been rather open from the start.

Sunset didn’t know why she couldn’t share more. She liked that Sherry cared. If there was ever a partner she could ease up around, it was this woman.

It wasn’t even fear of being dragged into commitment. Sherry had already demonstrated that she wasn’t interested in a dedicated relationship. She saw other women all the time. Like she’d done with Sunset, she picked them up at various bartending gigs.

Maybe it was Sunset’s powers that had her nervous to share. Maybe it was the danger that followed Sunset around.

Or maybe Sunset just liked having an easy escape.

Sunset sat up and scooted to the edge of the bed. “It wasn’t really my place to say anything. There’s just some stuff I can’t share.”

“Mm-hmm. Heard that before.” Sherry shifted on the bed, and Sunset turned to see her friend scooted to rest her back on the headboard. “You realize I ain’t never gonna step foot on your campus, right? What does it hurt to tell me some of the gossips?”

Sherry chuckled. “I mean, who am I gonna tell? My sixty-year-old boss? He only cares about his money and his erectile dysfunction!”

Sunset smirked. “And your co-workers?”

Sherry winked and pushed up her jiggly breasts. “Too distracted by these, baby. Not a word ever stays in those boys’ heads.”

Sunset leaned toward the woman, her smirk widening. “You could tell your sister.”

“Ha!” Sherry waved a dismissive hand. “Croline never lets me get a word in edge-wise. If she ain’t neck-deep in cooking and cleaning, then she spouting off about her five kids.”

“And asking why you haven’t had any yourself yet?” Sunset asked with a snicker.

Sherry sucked at her teeth and crossed her arms sassily. “Yes. You know she does!”

Sunset hummed low as she turned and crawled seductively toward the other woman. “And do you tell her why you don’t have kids…?”

Sherry licked her lips slowly as she cupped Sunset’s humble breasts. “I tell her I can’t stop messing around with young things like you,” the woman murmured silkily.

Sunset slipped in close and kissed Sherry’s neck, then her collarbone. She was starting to travel further down to those mouthwatering tits when her cellphone buzzed on the bedside table.

Sunset raised her head, surprised.

Sherry pouted. “Is that important?”

“I think so.” Sunset winced and slid back to the edge of the bed. “Sorry. One sec.”

Sherry sighed. “Mm-hmm…”

When Sunset unlocked her phone, she was surprised once again to see that it wasn’t Rainbow Dash or Fluttershy who had texted her, but Applejack.

Sunset opened the message.

>AJ: are u awake? Sorry. I’m havin trouble sleepin.

Sunset tapped back a quick reply.

>SSh: no prob, i’m awake. u okay? Anything on ur mind?

There was a short wait, then—

>AJ: No.

Sunset’s eyebrow tilted up.

As if sensing her skepticism, Applejack quickly chased that with—

>AJ: Yes.

Then the cowgirl sent a neutral face emoji. Sunset smiled sympathetically.

Yeah. Opening up was hard.

That’s why she knew she couldn’t let this admission go unrewarded.

She stood up and cast Sherry a look of apology. “I should probably head out.”

“Someone needs saving, huh?” Sherry said with a half-grin.

Sunset held up her hands and tilted her head. What’re ya gonna do? It happens, her expression said.

Sherry chuckled. “All right, baby. Don’t leave ‘em waiting too long.”

By the time Sunset had dressed and left Sherry’s apartment, it was half-past eleven. Applejack must have been in dire straits to be awake so late. Her friend usually turned in early.

Sunset didn’t wait to drive back to the dorm. She stood by her motorcycle on the sidewalk and called. The phone only rang once before Applejack answered.

“M’sorry,” AJ said immediately. Her voice sounded tired and low like her heart had sunk to the bottom of a deep cold lake. “I wasn’t tryin’ to disturb you.”

Sunset shook her head adamantly, though her friend couldn’t see it. “No! AJ, I’m glad you called. You have nothing to apologize for.” Her voice lightened with hope. Maybe she’d only have to ask once, directly? “Wanna tell me what’s going on?”

There was a long pause. Sunset waited patiently, her eyes on the starry sky. The storm clouds had cleared out some time ago, it seemed.

“I checked out that Red Rooster song you sent me,” Applejack said suddenly.

Sunset sighed inwardly at the dodge. Not because she was irritated, but because she worried. Rainbow Dash and Applejack were not so unalike when it came to diving into their feelings. They both tended to wait until the last minute when it was eating them alive to open up.

Rather than call her friend out, Sunset went along with it. There was still a chance. “What did you think of it? He’s pretty good, right?”

“Better than good! That fella can sing!”

Sunset let out a relieved breath. “Good! I’m glad you liked him.”

“Shoot, I can’t stop listening to him! I think I’ve been through almost his whole catalog.”

Sunset’s eyes widened. “Really?”

“Yep! That’s what I’ve been doin’ this whole time. Just sittin’ on the ridge in my truck and letting Red Rooster sing my life story.”

Sunset winced. “I was hoping it would be cathartic for you, but if it’s made you feel worse—”

“Worse?” Applejack laughed, but the sound was rough. “Sunset, right now I feel like someone gets it. I wasn’t too sure of it before, but I wanna see this man. For real.”

Sunset chewed her lip and leaned against the seat of her bike. She tried again. “You don’t sound too good, though, Applejack.”

Another long pause. Sunset was about to bring the topic back to the music when the cowgirl spoke up.

“Apple Bloom got suspended from school for a week for fighting.” The words came out clipped.

Sunset’s mouth dropped. “Woah! What happened?”

The line distorted as Applejack sighed over the receiver. “Just another chapter in the long feud ‘tween my sister and Diamond Tiara. This ain’t her first suspension on account o’ this.”

“And how does Apple Bloom feel about it?”

“She swears she’s innocent. Self-defense and all. Heck, I think she’s even a little pleased with herself.” Applejack’s voice took on a bitter edge. “The whole dang thing started on account of Apple Bloom putting out an embarrassing picture of Diamond Tiara. And, I mean, yeah. Tiara ambushed her, but she wouldn’ta if my little sister would quit poking the damn bear!”

Sunset shook her head, her eyebrows pushing up and together. “Aw, Applejack, I’m sorry you’re dealing with that.”

“What gets me madder than a wet hen is that Apple Bloom don’t seem to care! Sunset, my sister is close to gettin’ expelled, and I just put in the guardianship papers for her! This has just been gettin’ worse and worse!”

Sunset covered her face with one hand. “Oh no…”

“Exactly!”

“Did the court tell you when they’re gonna visit your house?”

“Not yet.” Applejack’s voice returned to its weary tones, every word aching with a kind of battered exhaustion that made Sunset wince. “They’ll be sending me a letter about it soon, I wager. If we’re lucky, they’ll come after Apple Bloom’s back at school. Then all I’ll have to worry about is Big Mac and his worthless drinkin’.”

Sunset didn’t know what to do. Didn’t quite know what to say. Big Mac had a drinking problem? Apple Bloom was getting violent at school? All of this on top of poor Granny Smith’s declining health?!

“You’re dealing with a lot,” Sunset said quietly, then cursed herself for how insipid that sounded. Of course, Applejack was dealing with a lot. What she’d meant to say was, “I had no idea. I’m so sorry you’ve been struggling all alone, AJ.”

There was a dark chuckle on the other line. “It’s okay, sugar cube,” Applejack murmured. “I ain’t told nobody a thing till now.”

Sunset bit her lip. She thought about the strange marks on Applejack’s wrist. She opened her mouth, wondering if this was the time to ask.

Then she said, “Why me?”

The question surprised her. But the moment it left her lips, she found she really did want to know. Of all their friends… why would Applejack trust her with something she’d been concealing for so long?

“Because…” Applejack trailed off. Sunset waited, feeling her heart speed up for some reason.

“Because you noticed,” Applejack said finally.

Sunset squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head. What a painful thing to hear. Had their group really failed the cowgirl so badly? How could no one have noticed the depth of Applejack’s struggles? Even assuming that it had to do with her unrequited love for Fluttershy, surely someone would have realized it was more than just that?

“You’re my friend, and I trust you, Sunset,” Applejack continued. “And… I dunno. Maybe I thought you’d have the answers again.” Another dark chuckle. “Foolish, I know. S’not like you know how to raise a teenager any more’n I do.”

Sunset rubbed at her forehead. What Applejack said was true… but she still felt like she was failing her friend somehow. Why couldn’t she be better? “I wish I could be more helpful to you.”

“Oh, well I didn’t say you weren’t helping!” Applejack replied a little more brightly.

Now Sunset blinked. “Really? How did I help?”

“Well, calling me and listening to me carry on, for one thing. I forgot how nice it is just to get things off my chest!”

Sunset thought she heard a smile in Applejack’s voice when she continued. “And for another thing, that music you sent me… Sunset, it’s true that it doesn’t make me feel happy, but it sure does make me feel less alone. It takes some of the sting out, y’know?”

“Yeah,” Sunset murmured, her gaze drifting down the quiet road. Any minute now a car would go barreling by, no doubt over the speed limit and blasting music on high, but right now… Right now the street felt peaceful.

She’d listened to Red Rooster’s music a great deal. She knew what it was like to feel carried forward by the painful lyrics and mournful melodies until a fragile peace not unlike the one surrounding her had been achieved.

What she liked about Rooster’s music was that it soothed, but it didn’t coddle. Life would send a loud speeding car down her proverbial quiet road any minute, over and over, till the day she died. Or maybe a large bill would end her peace. Or a bad lover. Or a new magical foe.

The bottom line was—life is a struggle, and you never stopped struggling.

Though she’d never met him, it felt nice to think that Red Rooster could understand this.

It felt even nicer that Applejack could understand.

“So what other songs did you like,” Sunset asked, her lips curling up.

Applejack hummed. “Shucks, which one do I pick? I got a real kick out of the bassline in My Baby’s Sugar. I bet I could play it if I could find the tabs—!”

And they just kept talking like that, deep into the night.

Author's Note

I was gonna sit on this for more editing, but then I said screw it. Sorry if there are mistakes.

I haven't come up with the music for Red Rooster's song yet, but I might try! I'll update with a song link here if I do. It will likely sound different from a blues song--I'm not skilled enough with my ukulele to pull of blues chords quite yet! If anyone feels game enough to try it for themselves, then please do.