Sunset returned to her friends and saw Pinkie, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy using combs as pretend microphones as they started singing the song that rallied the students against Sunset. Sunset smiled as unlike the last time she heard it she was enjoying the music; she took out her phone and started recording them.

“Are you recording them?” Rarity questioned as she noticed what Sunset was doing.

“To preserve the memories,” Sunset said with a smile as she continued recording.

“Stage dive!” Pinkie suddenly shouted as she climbed on top of Rarity’s bed before jumping at Rainbow and Fluttershy, both ducking as Pinkie flew over them and crashed through Rarity’s closet.

“Are you alright, Pinkie?” Fluttershy said in concern as she and the rest of the girls rushed to Pinkie’s side.

“Sure am!” Pinkie said as she pulled herself out of the hole she had just made, brushing off the articles of clothing on her.

“What’s this?” Rainbow Dash asked as she picked up one of the pieces of clothing.

“Oh, that,” Rarity cringed upon seeing what Rainbow Dash had discovered. “That’s one of the outfits I created or bought that I thought looked good at the time.”

“These are pretty cool,” Rainbow commented as she and the others took out more clothing from the closet.

“I stowed those away in my closet of shame until I had the chance to donate them,” Rarity explained as her friends started trying on her outfits.

“These are just perfect for outrageous selfies!” Pinkie cheered as she was dressed in a tuxedo with suspenders and a top hat.

“These outfits are awesome!” Rainbow Dash said as she was wearing a vampire-looking outfit.

“I suppose we could try them on,” Rarity said with a bit of hesitation.

For the rest of the night, the girls tried on Rarity’s outfits and took pictures with Sunset’s phone. Everyone was enjoying themselves and Rarity was eager to try on the next outfit, soon the fun had to end, and the girls went to sleep. Sunset was still up and writing in her journal, she is writing to Twilight about the fun she had with the girls and how she’s never felt so accepted and loved. The last message she wrote was that she loved them all before putting her journal away and falling asleep. An hour later, the door to Rarity’s room opened and Sweetie Belle stuck her head inside to check if everyone was asleep, she then sneakily entered and carefully maneuvered around the sleeping girls until she stopped in front of Sunset. She picked up the former unicorn’s phone and used her thumbprint to unlock it before checking her photos and finding what she was looking for. She planned to post the pictures on the Anon-A-Miss blog to get back at Rarity. She glanced at the sleeping Sunset and felt her resolve starts to weaken, if she posted the pictures then the blame will fall on Sunset Shimmer. Sunset cared about her enough to ask what was troubling her and offered to make it right, and she was going to repay her kindness by framing her. She recalled what she said to Applebloom and realized that she was doing the same thing, she turned to look at Rarity sleeping peacefully and slowly shook her head before placing the phone back where it was. As upset as she was at Rarity, humiliating her by posting her embarrassing photos would be going too far, she would also be dragging her sister’s friends and especially Sunset down with her. She glanced at Sunset before quietly leaving the room.

Applebloom rubbed the sleep out of her eyes as she walked downstairs.

“Morning Sugarcube,” Applejack greets her younger sister.

“Morning, sis” Applebloom greeted before yawing. “How was the sleepover?”

“Great!” Applejack replied happily. “The girls and ah had a great time, especially Sunset.”

At the mention of Sunset’s name, Applebloom frowned.

“Ah swear ah never seen that girl look so happy since we became friends,” Applejack said with a smile, her sleepover idea is working out perfectly.

“Glad to hear it,” Applebloom said halfhearted, despite her talk with Sunset Applebloom is still on the fence about her, she was supposed to come over today to help out as she promised but she still wasn’t here.

The doorbell suddenly rang, and Applejack went to see who it was, she was surprised to find Sunset Shimmer on the other side.

“Sunset?”

“Hey AJ,” Sunset greeted her best friend.

“What are yah doing here?” Applejack asked in confusion.

“She’s here to help out around the farm,” Granny Smith answers as she walks by. “Ah got a plate already set up fer yah, yer gonna need all the energy.”

“Thank you,” Sunset thanked Granny Smith as Applejack let her in.

Sunset entered the kitchen and said hello to Applebloom who was shocked to see her.

“Sunset?”

“Good morning, Applebloom,” Sunset greeted the youngest Apple.

“Yah actually came,” Applebloom said, still shocked to see her.

“Of course, I said I would help to make sure you and your family get to do your traditions right?” Sunset winked at Applebloom.

Big Mac and Applejack walked in, the oldest Apple sibling giving a nod to Sunset who smiled and waved hello.

“Sunset, can ah ask why yah are helping out today?” Applejack asked as she took a seat beside her.

“Think of it as my way of saying thanks for the sleepover last night,” Sunset answered, not revealing the actual reason.

“Yah don’t need to thank me, Sunset. Ah’m happy to do this fer any of mah friends,” Applejack told her honestly.

“And I’m happy to do this for my friend,” Sunset replied, smiling cheekily.

The two friends chatted for a bit until Granny Smith arrived with breakfast, Sunset stood up and offered to help her, but Granny declined as she was a guest in their home. As they all ate breakfast, Sunset commented on how good it was. She couldn’t quite place her finger on it but there was something about eating together with the Apples that made the food more delicious, she glanced around to see the family engaging in conversations about the farm. She smiled sadly as she watched them all laugh at a joke Applebloom had said, she still felt guilty for unknowingly getting between them, but she was going to make up for it today. Once breakfast was done, Applejack took Sunset to help her with the first chore which was feeding the horses. With Sunset’s help, Applejack was able to quickly finish, and she learned that Sunset could talk to her horses. She caught them laughing about a joke Sunset told them and Sunset told her that the horses wanted her to tell her that they are very happy with how the Apple family is taking care of them.

Next, they worked on bringing barrels full of apples to the shed where they will make apple cider, Applejack was a little worried that Sunset might not be able to carry them but to her surprise, Sunset could easily carry a barrel. Through all of her chores, Sunset never once complained. Unlike Rainbow Dash, who would complain every minute, Sunset actually likes the hard work. Sunset explained to Applejack how she always prefers to get her hooves/hands dirty, and not rely on anyone else. Applejack learned that Sunset had no one to rely on and always had to do things herself, she couldn’t trust anyone as they always wanted something from her.

“And we’re done!” Applejack proclaimed as she and Sunset finished shoveling the snow from her driveway.

“A job well done if I do say so myself,” Sunset said proudly as she looked over the cleared driveway.

“Applejack!”

Both girls turned to see Applebloom running up to them.

“It’s time to decorate the tree!” Applebloom reminded her.

Applejack checked her watched and noticed that they were done a lot earlier than before.

“I’ll put away the shovels,’ Sunset said as she took Applejack’s shovel and started walking away. “Enjoy decorating.” Sunset winked at Applebloom as she passed her.

“Sunset sure is somethin’ isn’t she?” Applejack commented.

“Yeah,” Applebloom whispered as she watched Sunset’s retreating back. “She sure is.”

“Come one, let's go decorate that tree,” Applejack said as she laid a hand on her sister’s shoulder.

Applebloom looked up at her sister and nodded happily.

Sunset had returned to the house when she heard laughter coming from the living room, she peeked inside and saw Applejack, Applebloom, and Big Mac laughing happily as they decorated the tree. Sunset smiled at seeing them, she decided to make her leave and give the family space.

“Leaving so soon?” Granny Smith asked as she watched Sunset put on her coat.

“Yeah, the chores are done, and I have to get home to get ready for the sleepover at Fluttershy’s house,” Sunset answered as she put on her scarf.

“Yah can stay fer a little bit, maybe have a cookie?” Granny Smith asked.

“No thank you, I’ve imposed enough on your family already,” Sunset whispered the last part, once she finished getting ready, she reached for the door but felt a hand on her shoulder.

“Yer not imposing Sunset,” Granny Smith stated kindly. “Yer always welcome here.”

Sunset smiled as she turned her head to look at Granny Smith, hearing Granny Smith say that made her happy for some reason.

“Thank you,” Sunset thanked the eldest Apple as she opened the door and left, she looked up at the night sky and let out a content sigh before making her way to her motorcycle.

Author's Note

Here's the next chapter, Sweetie Belle's action has not only saved Sunset and her friends but hers as well. I hope you enjoy it, and I look forward to your comments. ^^