"Oh, you're on Dashie!" Pinkie exclaimed, raising her controller and posing triumphantly.
"Pffft, you can't even beat me in a match Pinkie!"
A week after the incident with the Memory Stone, Pinkie decided to throw a slumber party for the girls to try and cheer things up. Although she offered an invitation to Wallflower, the gardener declined as she needed to visit her relatives back in Manehattan. As sad as it is, it isn't for one particular girl: Sunset Shimmer.
Ever since the incident with the Memory Stone, she felt nothing but utter betrayal even if it was the doing of another person with a magical artifact. The whole lost memory situation re-opened the wounds from another mess: Anon-A-Miss.
Sunset has had enough, she plans to end it tonight. Not with a whimper, but with a bang.
"Hey! No fair, you cheated pinks!" Dash said, smiling at the party girl. Pinkie simply replied with a wink and giggle.
"Did you know that playing a game that has competitive nature in it can cause the human body to form salt in the body?" Fluttershy said.
"Ah'm not sure about that, Shy. All I know is that Dash here doesn't like to lose one bit."
"Of course not, how could I stay awesome and cool if I lose?"
Applejack simply chuckled. "Whatever you say, Dash. What about you Sunset?"
No reply. The fiery haired girl simply stated at the window, where the stars are shining.
"Uh, Sunset? Anybody home?"
"O-oh! Well, you can ask Twilight about that. And I'm sure Rainbow is a sore loser." She chuckled.
"Pfft, you just can't handle my super awesome moves, that's what!"
"HEY! Less talking, more fighting Dashie!"
Sunset scooted closer to Twilight. If anything, she wants to talk to her friend before she ends it all.
"Whatcha doing there, Twilight?"
"Reading a book with Rarity."
"It's about a character who, err, how do I put this nicely... Offed himself and now he's trying to get back to his world after he realized the error of his ways."
Sounds something that I'll be doing tonight
"It's a good book, you should read it sometimes Sunset!"
No reply. She simply stated at the book, especially at the word "death."
Twilight snapped her finger in front of Sunset.
"Sorry, well sure! I'd love to, if you have an extra copy."
"Sunset, dear, is there something bothering you?"
"You haven't been acting, um, normal lately. No offense, Sunset." The timid girl added.
"Pfft, me? Something wrong? Course not! All fine here!" She forced a smile.
It didn't work. "Sugarcube, you know you can tell us what's bothering you."
"I'm fine girls, really. Just thinking about chemistry class is all."
"But this night is for fun, Sunset! No need to think about class!"
Twilight then rubbed Sunset's shoulders to try and ease her worries. "Don't worry, Sunset. We can deal with that at school. I'll help you with that."
"Thanks, Twilight."
What I need is something you girls can't give me.
After hours of chatting, playing and eating pizza and drinking soda, the girls eventually fell asleep.
All except one.
Sunset Shimmer sat by the bathroom floor, with her backpack by her side. On her mouth is a cigarette, something she kept from the girls. Ever since after the Anon-A-Miss debacle, she began smoking to try and forget the whole thing.
Puff
Seeing the vapor of the cigarette flow out from her mouth, she wondered about the world without her.
She would save everyone the trouble. She never truly felt forgiven after Anon-A-Miss, and certainly after the Memory Stone incident. She is nothing but one thing; a charity case.
Puff
Putting out the fire from the cigarette, Sunset took out her snub revolver from her backpack and loaded it with one bullet.
One bullet to end all the suffering she endured ever since she left Equestria.
To end her losing streak. Her heartaches, the sorrow and pain.
"Princess Celestia, Princess Twilight, if you can hear me... I hope you can forgive me for what I'm about to do."
She takes one last look at her group photo with the rest of the girls. Smiling, she places the photo by her stomach.
"And I'm sorry girls... But I'm nothing to you all. I'm just a charity case..."
Aiming the gun at her head, her hand shook as she pushes the barrel of the gun against the side of her head.
"And goodbye Twilight... I love you..."
Letting out a sigh, Sunset took a deep breath. Her last breath in this world.
But the pain will finally end.
Yet as if fate has other plans, the door opened before she can pull the trigger. Opening her eyes, she is greeted with the horrified looks of Applejack.
"Go away, Applejack."
"Sugarcube, whatever it is your doing-"
"I WANT THIS! LET ME END IT ALL!"
"Sunset, give me the gun. We can talk about this..." Applejack slowly approached Sunset.
"P-please... Just go Applejack..."
"Sugarcube, ya know I won't leave you hanging, but I can't help ya if you don't tell me what's wrong. Please, let go of the gun."
Letting go of the trigger, Sunset dropped the gun and threw herself at Applejack, now sobbing on her shoulder.
"There, there Sunset. Everything's gonna be alright."
No words, only tears escaped the fiery haired girl's eyes. All that pent up frustration, heartache... All of it poured out in tears.
Applejack helped her up and supported her walking over to Pinkie's bedroom.
Rarity was the first to wake up, followed by the rest. W-What ever is the matter, Applejack?"
"It's uh... Complicated Rares."
"What happened, Sunshim? Why are you crying? Was it because of what I said earlier!? Or something that I-" A hand from Rainbow blocked her mouth from rambling.
Applejack sat down with Sunset, still sobbing on her shoulder.
"What happened, Applejack?" Twilight asked.
She let out a sigh. "Sunset tried to kill herself."
The girls gasped in shock.
"She had a gun pointed at her own head. I managed to talk her out of it."
"B-but why Sunset? Why would you want to kill yourself?" Fluttershy asked, causing Sunset to stop sobbing and looking at her in the eyes.
"I-it's just that, no matter what I do, I always end up being cast aside. From Anon A Miss to the Memory Stone incident. Ever since then, I felt nothing but betrayal..."
Twilight was about to speak up, but decided to let Sunset continue explain her story.
"After Anon A Miss, my heart has been broken. Sure, we made up and forgave each other, but my heart never completely healed. I never told you girls because I'd like to believe that things will be okay from now on. But I was wrong, that memory stone made you girls cast me aside. I was alone again, and it opened up the wounds that healed from the Anon A Miss incident."
She looked away in shame, her eyes beginning to leak again. "That's when I decided to take my own life. Those things made me feel like I'm nothing to you but a charity case... That I can be simply cast aside whether it's my fault or not. I want the pain to stop..."
The girls said nothing, except pulling Sunset in for a tender group hug.
"Darling, we never knew you felt this way."
"Why didn't you said anything about this, Sunset? You could have told us. We would've listened and helped..." Twilight asked.
"I-I just... Don't want to burden you girls anymore, especially with these feelings of mine. The pain I feel, the heartache that kills me slowly, I don't want to feel embarrassed or get laughed at over these things, so I let them build up overtime instead of telling you girls..."
"But we're friends, Sunshim! Even if *Sniffle* we mess up!"
"Y-yeah, Sunset. What Pinks said."
Fluttershy then placed her arm under Sunset's chin and looked her in the eyes. "Sunset, we are sorry about what happened, but trust me when I speak for the girls that you are not a charity case. You're our best friend. Even friends fight sometimes, but that doesn't mean it's the end of friendship. We're sorry for causing you pain, and I know it won't be easy to get rid of it, but I promise that we will still be here for you."
She looked at her friend's faces, all sporting a sad smile and teary eyes. "All of us. So p-please, don't go Sunset..." Fluttershy broke in tears, hugging the fiery haired girl. The rest of the girls joined in.
"You really mean it? T-that I'm really your
*sniffle* friend...?"
"Of course you are, dear. We'll always be there for you no matter what."
"And ah know the road won't be an easy one to take."
Twilight wiped off the tears from her eyes, before speaking up. "But we're here for you, no matter what happens.
"And when you feel down, I'll throw you a party to cheer you up!"
"We'll give you a shoulder to cry on, and our hearts to you. We'll do anything to help you.
"So don't you give up, Sunset! Because we won't give up on you!" Rainbow said, trying to hold back the wave of tears.
At that moment, the pain she felt slowly melted away from her heart. Instead, she felt love. Genuine love. All that pent up pain and sorrow vanished, replaced by the love of friendship.
"Thank you girls, for everything." Sunset closed her eyes and smiled.
After that heartfelt moment, Sunset finally slept, surrounded by the people that she calls friends. No, even more than that. Something more than just friends.
A family. She finally found the people that she can call as her family. A family that loves her.
Author's Note
If you have a friend who's hurting inside, please talk to them and help them. Even the simplest acts of kindness can help a person overcome their pain.
And if you ever need to, the suicide hotline is there to help as well. 1-800-273-8255. Never hesitate to call this number.
Remember, you are not alone.
