“Sorry to come on such short notice,” Rarity apologized, as she was sitting next to Sunset on her couch in the living room.

“Don’t worry about it,” Sunset said dismissively. “So what did you want to talk to me about?”

Rarity bit her lower lip, just how was she going to explain her jealousy?

“Sunset, there’s no easy way to tell you this. But…” Rarity hesitated, she steeled herself for what she was going to say. “I don’t like that Sweetie Belle is spending a lot of her time with you instead of me!”

As soon as those words left Rarity’s lips, she immediately regretted them as she saw the look of pain on Sunset’s face.

“Darling, I’m so sorry! I just-“

“It’s okay,” Sunset cut Rarity off, putting on a neutral mask like the one Princess Celestia usually wears. “You don’t need to apologize for anything.”

There was an awkward silence between them. Rarity quickly tried to think of something to say that would alleviate the situation.

“Sweetie Belle and I always do these little traditions around the holidays,” “Rarity began. “It was a way for us to count down the days until Christmas, it was especially needed after you broke up our friend group.”

“Sorry about that,” Sunset apologized as she scratched the back of her head nervously, her neutral mask slipping off.

“Sweetie Belle was the only real friend I had left, so those moments together really meant to world to me.” Rarity said as she stared at her hands, she smiled slightly as she recalled those times. “When she started missing our special times together, I was sad and started to believe that those moments didn’t mean much to her as it did me.”

“You’re wrong,” Sunset said as she placed her hands over Rarity’s hands. “Those moments meant a lot to her too.”

“Really?” Rarity asked, a hopeful look in her eyes.

“Of course, she and her friends talk about how amazing their sisters are all the time and even compete who’s big sister is the best,” Sunset giggled, it was heartwarming to see how much the CMC loved their sisters.

“Those girls,” Rarity sighed but she smiled at hearing that.

“But they all agree that you are very beautiful Rarity,” Sunset said with a grin, watching as the fashionista blushed at the compliment. “And not just the outside, you are very beautiful on the inside too. Everyone at school can see that.” Sunset’s smile dropped as she spoke the next words. “Which is why I felt threatened when you entered to be Princess of the Spring Fling.”

Rarity watched as Sunset’s hands pulled back and were held close to her in a guarded way.

“I knew that if I were to have any chance of winning the crown I needed to change everyone’s perception of you, so I did a smear campaign to make you look like a snobbish bitch,” Sunset grit her teeth as she recalled how she photoshopped certain pictures of Rarity to make her look like she was looking down on others, she spread rumors that Rarity wasn’t the pure lady she likes everyone to believe she is. Sunset’s hands started trembling as she once again realized what a monster she was. “But I knew that our friends would always stand by you so I had to break you girls up…then to further break you I destroyed your dress that you worked so hard to make.”

Sunset looked at Rarity, tears running down the sides of her face.

“Rarity, I’m so sorry for everything I did to you. You didn’t deserve any of it, I should’ve been the one to be humiliated in front of everyone.” Sunset cried. “I truly am a monster.”

“No!” Rarity raised her voice and pulled Sunset into a hug, her own tears stinging your eyes. “Sunset Shimmer, don’t you dare call yourself a monster!”

“But it’s true!” Sunset objected. “You saw what I became at the Fall Formal, what I tried to do to you and the girls!”

“That was because you were corrupted by dark magic!” Rarity argued.

“Yeah, my dark magic!” Sunset pointed out. “The element of Magic brings out and amplifies what you are deep down, my heart was always filled with darkness but I always hid it well from others. The crown made sure that everyone, including myself, got to see who I truly am.”

“But that was then, you aren’t that person anymore,” Rarity pointed out.

“But that is still me,” Sunset said. “It’s like I told you girls before, the darkness in my heart is a part of me. I can’t get rid of it no matter how hard I try.”

“Have you forgotten what I told you?” Rarity asked, raising an eyebrow at Sunset. “Ambition can be a double-edged sword but if it’s tempered with discipline and the guiding hand of wonderful friends, then it becomes a powerful tool.”

Rarity took Sunset’s hands and looked into her eyes.

“Darling, the girls and I made a promise to each other that if anything was bothering us we would talk to each other about it.”

Immediately, her talk with Rainbow Dash and Applejack came to mind.

“So that’s what that was,” Sunset whispered. “I met with Rainbow and Applejack, who wanted to talk about what was bothering them.”

“You see?” Rarity said smiling, thinking that she was getting through to Sunset. “We learn from our mistakes to avoid repeating them, you are not the person who you were before. For one thing, you were all alone but now you have us.”

“That’s true,” Sunset admitted, a small smile forming on her lips.

“Sunset, whatever issues we have between us can be worked out if we work together,” Rarity said. “That’s what friends do.”

“Friends,” Sunset whispered, her smile growing. “You’re right, I’m not alone anymore and we can work on our issues together.”

“That’s the spirit!” Rarity said happily. “You’ve already been doing a lot to make up for your past transgressions, you even gave Suri quite the tongue-lashing.”

“She had it coming,” Sunset grinned. “Someone should have told her off sooner.”

Both girls giggled.

“Now isn’t this much better?” Rarity asked, smiling kindly at Sunset.

“Yeah,” Sunset simply replied. “Thanks, Rarity.”

“You’re very welcome, darling,” Rarity said. “That’s what friends are for.”

“Best friends?” Sunset asked.

“Best friends.” Rarity responded.

Both girls hugged each other tightly, they talked for a bit more before Rarity had to leave. Sunset offered her a ride home but Rarity politely declined, she did promise to text Sunset when she made it home safely. The two friends bid each other goodbye, Sunset watched Rarity walk down the street for a bit before closing her door. Sunset rested her forehead against the door and sighed. Despite her talk with Rarity, Sunset still felt guilty for what she had inadvertently done. She had caused a rift between the CMC and their sisters, she may have avoided a potential fallout between them but she may not be as lucky next time.

“This has to stop,” Sunset whispered as she closed her eyes. She knew what she had to do.

Rainbow Dash opened her locker to place her belongings when she heard two students near her locker talking about Sunset.

“Dude, Sunset is so smart. Do you think she’ll tutor me?” A boy wearing a red cap asked his friend.

“Of course!” Rainbow Dash answered as she closed her locker. “Sunset would be happy to help you, she’s awesome that way.”

“Did you see her play basketball during gym? She’s got some moves!” A boy with a blue hoodie said, sounding very excited.

“Oh yeah, she’s a natural,” Rainbow Dash added, feeling proud of Sunset

“You’re so lucky Rainbow Dash,” the boy with the red cap said. “I wish I was Sunset’s best friend.”

“Yeah,” Rainbow Dash whispered, a small smile on her lips as she recalled her and Sunset’s talk. “I am.”

Meanwhile, Applejack was finishing putting her stuff away when she felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned around to see Sunset Shimmer.

“Howdy Sunset! How are-“ Applejack stopped when she noticed the serious look in Sunset’s eyes. “Is something the matter?”

“Applejack, there’s something I have to tell you and the girls,” Sunset said regretfully.

“What is it?” Applejack asked, a pit forming in her stomach as she watched Sunset’s regretful look.

“It’s best if everyone is here before I tell you,” Sunset said. “I’ll text everyone to meet at the clubroom at lunch.”

“Okay,” Applejack simply said, as she watched Sunset turn around and leave. She had a feeling that whatever Sunset had to tell them wasn’t good.

Applejack made her way towards the clubroom, the whole morning she had an uneasy feeling and couldn’t concentrate on her classwork. She made it to the clubroom and when she opened the door, she saw that everyone was already there.

“Hey AJ,” Rainbow Dash greeted.

“Hey,” Applejack weakly replied.

“Is something wrong?” Fluttershy asked, concerned after hearing Applejack’s less-than-enthusiastic reply.

“Ah don’t know,” Applejack said honestly, she didn’t know if something was even wrong yet.

“Girls,” Sunset gathered the girls' attention. “There’s something I need to tell you.”

The room was silent as all eyes were on Sunset.

“I think it would be best if we just remained best friends,” Sunset said.

The girls had looks of confusion.

“Oookay?” Rainbow Dash had no idea what Sunset was talking about.

Sunset looked at Applejack.

“I’m sorry, Applejack. But I can’t be part of the Apple family,” Sunset finally confessed, struggling to keep her voice from breaking.

Applejack was silent for a moment before finally speaking.

“What?!”

Sunset saw the hurt look on Applejack’s face and felt awful. She never wanted to hurt her friend but she had to do this or else risk hurting her even worse.

“I’m very grateful to you…to all of you for seeing me as family. But,” Sunset closed her eyes to fight back the tears, she had to be strong. “I can’t risk hurting you or your families.”

“What are-“ Rarity couldn’t finish as her eyes widened in realization, she looked to Applejack and Rainbow Dash to see that they had come to the same realization as well. “Is this about what happened with Sweetie Belle?”

“That’s part of the reason,” Sunset said.

“But we fixed that problem, didn't we?!” Rainbow Dash raised her voice, she didn’t understand what Sunset was doing.

“We did but not the real problem,” Sunset told her, as she held her right arm.

“What real problem?” Pinkie Pie asked, she looked very worried.

“Me,” Sunset said simply.

“I don’t understand,” Fluttershy said, confused. “How are you the real problem?”

“Fluttershy’s right, darling. You can’t be the problem.” Rarity said.

“It’s my issues with my former mentor, Princess Celestia,” Sunset admitted with a sigh. “Even after our heart-to-heart, I can’t bring myself to move on from how we parted, I said such awful things to her that I feel like it will continue to haunt me. At least, not until I talk to her again.”

“Why don’t you?” Rainbow Dash questioned. “Just go through that portal and talk to her.”

“It’s not that easy Dash,” Applejack said, remembering what she and Sunset talked about yesterday.

“Applejack is right, a lot of time has passed since I left,” Sunset said as she wrapped her arms around herself. “Besides, I’m not ready to face her.”

There was a long silence before Applejack started walking up to Sunset and placed her hand on her shoulder.

“Sunset, no matter what, yah are still family to me,” Applejack said with a smile. “And if yah can’t bring yerself to see us the same yet then we’ll wait.”

“But what if you’re waiting a long time?” Sunset asked. “I can’t lead you girls on for that long.”

“Yah ain’t leading us on,” Applejack assured her. “Ah told yah how much mah grandfather missed out on his family’s lives, ah don’t want the same for yah Sunset.”

Sunset looked around to see all her friends' smiling faces as they gathered around her.

“We’re here for you darling,” Rarity said softly.

That was enough for Sunset to start crying, the girls enveloping her in a comforting hug.

“I’m sorry,” Sunset apologized. “I’m such a wreck, you girls deserve better.”

“What can possibly be better than you, darling?” Rarity questioned as she hugged Sunset.

“Yeah, you’re awesome!” Rainbow Dash said.

“No family is perfect, Sunset,” Applejack said as she held tightly onto Sunset.

As Sunset continued to cry, her friends looked at each other with concern. Sunset needed their help but they didn’t know how they could help her.

Author's Note

Despite rejecting the offer of being a part of a family, Sunset's friends still consider her family and will welcome her with open arms once she is ready. I hope you enjoy the chapter, and I look forward to your comments.