Sunset stared out the car window as Flash drove her home, she hadn’t said a word since they left Rarity’s home.

“Alright, spill. What’s bothering you, Sunset?” Flash suddenly asked.

“Huh?” Sunset turned her head towards Flash, with a confused look.

“I saw how you looked at Rarity and Sweetie Belle earlier,” Flash said, not taking his eyes off the road. “You looked guilty about something.”

“What? No, it must be the holidays getting to me,” Sunset tried to excuse her earlier behavior.

“Sunset, we used to date. I know when something is bothering you and when you’re lying,” Flash pointed out, raising an eyebrow.

Sunset sighed as she realized that she wouldn’t be fooling Flash.

“Three days ago as I was walking to school with Applejack, we were talking about the holidays and I told her that I always spent the holidays alone.”

“Sounds awful,” Flash commented.

“She said that too, so she told the rest of our friends and they decided to host slumber parties at their houses to give me the best Christmas experience. As well as making sure I’m not alone for the holidays,” Sunset explained, a small smile forming.

“That sounds like a wonderful idea,” Flash said, the Rainbooms are a fantastic group of friends.

“Yeah,” Sunset agreed as her smile dropped. “But as a consequence, Applejack had to miss out on one of her family traditions. I found out the next day when I confronted Applebloom after I noticed her looking a little down. I wanted to help her with her problem but it turns out I was the problem.”

“But how can you be the problem?” Flash asked, confused at how Applejack missing out on one of her family’s traditions is Sunset’s fault.

“Because I stole her sister,” Sunset answered simply.

“Stole her sister?” Flash questioned as he raised an eyebrow.

“Applebloom blames me for Applejack missing out on their tradition because the sleepovers were for me,” Sunset said. “She explained that the tradition Applejack missed they used to do with their parents and they continue to honor them. I felt awful for ruining their traditions so I told Applebloom that I would help out around the farm so that Applejack can have enough time to do their tradition and later attend the next sleepover.”

“That sounds like a great idea,” Flash complimented. “I take it the plan was a success?”

“Thanks, and it was!” Sunset said with a smile. “Applejack finished her chores early and she and her family decorated their Christmas tree. But during the sleepover at Rarity’s, Sweetie Belle was upset with her sister for kicking her out of Rarity’s room while talking with Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy. I found her upset in her room and after talking I asked if she wanted to hang out with me to make her feel better.”

“No doubt that one went smoothly,” Flash said with a grin as he saw it for himself. “It seems like you managed to solve the problems so why did you look so guilty.”

“Because it wouldn’t have been a problem if it wasn’t for the sleepovers,” Sunset said sadly. “I know Applejack had the best intentions and I’m thrilled that the girls did this for me but I don’t want it to be at the expense of their relationship with their family. Even after I reformed I’m still causing problems.”

Sunset felt the car turn and was surprised to see them parked nowhere near where she lives, she turned to Flash to see a serious look on his face.

“Flash?”

“This isn’t your fault, Sunset,” Flash stated. “There was no way you could’ve known that the sleepovers would upset the girls’ sisters but despite that, you went out of your way to help them through their problem. The old you wouldn’t care about their problems much less solve them without getting anything in return, that says a lot about the person you are now.”

Sunset was speechless, everything Flash said was true. The old her would even make the rift between the sisters worse.

“You’re right Flash,” Sunset said as a big smile spread on her lips. “Thanks for reminding me.”

“That’s what friends do,” Flash winked at Sunset.

“Since when did we become friends?” Sunset questioned, a sly smirk replacing her smile.

“Just now,” Flash grinned as he drove back onto the road.

There was a comfortable silence the rest of the ride home, Flash dropped off Sunset, and the two bid each other farewell. Sunset walked inside her apartment with an extra bounce in her step.

Sunset walked into school with a smile on her face, she waved hello to her fellow students as she made her way to her locker. Her smile widened when she saw her friends hanging around her locker.

“Hey, girls!” Sunset waved enthusiastically as she approached her friends.

“Hey there, Sunset,” the farm girl greeted.

“Why are all of you gathered around my locker?” Sunset asked, only Applejack’s locker was close to hers.

“Just wanted to give yah something fer helping me on the farm,” Applejack said as she handed Sunset a steel container.

Sunset took the container which had an image of apples on the lid, she opened it to find several apple-related sweets.

“It's from the first batch of our famous holiday Apple sweets,” Applejack explained.

“Wow! Thanks, Applejack!” Sunset thanked her best friend before hugging her.

“I made you a little something too,” Rarity spoke up as she handed Sunset a box.

Sunset handed the container to Applejack as she took the box, she opened it to find a purple beanie with matching gloves and scarf.

“I noticed you lacked any form of winter protection from the winter cold for your head and hands so I made you these,” Rarity said a little bashfully. “Thank you for keeping Sweetie Belle company while I was at work, you don’t know how much I appreciate you doing that.”

“I’m happy to do it, Sweetie Belle is an amazing kid,” Sunset complimented as she hugged Rarity.

The school bell rang and the girls broke the hug before going to their separate classes. Sunset had a huge smile on her face. Her best friend's gifts made her feel very appreciated and filled her with joy, she can’t wait to share the apple treats with them at lunch and wear Rarity’s gift.

“Why did you call this emergency meeting?” Scootaloo asked Appleboom as the three of them were sitting in their clubroom.

“Ah’m shutting Anon-A-Miss down,” Applebloom stated, which shocked her friends.

“Why?” Scootaloo questioned.

“Because yah girls were right, ah was overreacting,” Applebloom shamefully admitted. “It wasn’t Sunset’s fault that Applejack missed out on one of our traditions, mah sister wanted to make sure her friend experienced a wonderful holiday.”

Flashback

“Now that is one fine-looking tree,” Applejack stated as she and her siblings finished decorating their Christmas tree.

“Eeyup!” Big Mac agreed.

“It looks better than it did last year!” Applebloom said happily.

“It just needs one thing,” Applejack said as she opened a box to reveal a crystal star. “Applebloom, would yah do the honors?”

Applebloom nodded excitedly as she carefully took the star out of its box, Big Mac hoisted Applebloom onto his shoulders and placed the star on top of the tree. Big Mac set Applebloom down and all three Apples took in the sight of their tree.

“No doubt yer parents are smiling down proudly,” Granny Smith commented as she came into the room.

“Where’s Sunset?” Applejack asked as she walked to the window to see what was taking her so long and saw that Sunset’s motorcycle was gone. “Her bike’s gone!”

“Calm down, Applejack,” Granny Smith tried to calm her eldest Granddaughter. “Sunset left a while ago.”

“She left?!” Applejack was shocked to hear this. “But she didn’t even say goodbye!”

“She didn’t want to interrupt y’all as yah were decorating the tree,” Granny Smith explained. “Ah told her she could stay but she felt like she imposed on us enough.”

“Impose?” Applejack questioned. “Why would Sunset feel like she would be imposing?”

Applebloom bit her lip, she recalled what she had said to Sunset yesterday and felt a little guilty.

“Ah dunno, but that girl seems bothered by something,” Granny Smith said, looking worried.

“Don’t yah worry Granny,” Applejack assured her with confidence. “We’ll be there fer Sunset, the point of the sleepovers is so that she doesn’t have to be alone.”

“Ah reckon yer right,” Granny Smith said with a smile. “Does she have a sweet tooth?”

“Yeah!” Applejack answered, knowing what Granny Smith was planning.

Flashback End

“Ah was so caught up in mah own anger that ah stupidly blamed Sunset,” Applebloom said with regret, she felt so disgusted with herself.

“It’s easy to get blinded by anger,” Sweetie Belle said. “When Rarity kicked me out of her room while I was talking to Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash I felt so angry that I wanted to get back at her, if it wasn’t for Sunset talking to me earlier I would’ve done something I would greatly regret.”

“Sunset talked to yah?” Applebloom asked.

“Yep,” Sweetie Belle nodded. “She offered to hang out with me the following day while Rarity was at work.”

“She offered to help out on the farm so AJ can have time to decorate our Christmas tree like we always do,” Applebloom shared, a smile forming on her lips.

“That’s pretty awesome what Sunset did,” Scootaloo commented.

“Yeah,” Applebloom whispered. “Ah finally understand what Applejack sees in her.”

Applebloom pulled out her phone, logged on to the Anon-A-Miss account, and proceeded to delete it.

Sunset made her way to the lunchroom, waving hello to the passing students. She was in very high spirits.

“The Anon-A-Miss account is gone!”

Sunset’s ears perked up at hearing the name of the blog that posted Applejack’s nickname.

“I wanted to check if she posted anything but I couldn’t find the account anymore,” a male student said to his friend.

Sunset pulled out her smartphone and checked MyStable, and sure enough, the Anon-A-Miss account was gone.

“I have to tell the girls,” Sunset said as she hurried to the lunchroom, once she arrived she looked around for her friends and spotted them all sitting together. She quickly moved towards them.

“Girls, you won’t believe-“

“Anon -A-Miss is gone!” Pinkie interrupted, smiling happily.

“Good riddance,” Rainbow Dash huffed as she crossed her arms.

“I second that,” Rarity nodded in agreement with Rainbow Dash.

“Why do you think she deleted the blog?” Fluttershy questions. “D-don't get me wrong, I’m glad she’s gone!”

“Maybe she heard about Sunset shutting down anyone who dares to make fun of AJ and decided to run away in fear,” Rainbow Dash grinned as she winked at Sunset.

“I would have done a lot more than that,” Sunset growled. “No one makes fun of my friends and gets away with it.”

“The matter appears to be settled for now,” Rarity said, trying to steer the conversation to something else. “Sunset, Sweetie Belle told me that you and Flash seemed pretty friendly with each other yesterday.”

“Yeah, given that I’m his ex I was surprised with how friendly he was towards me,” Sunset said with a shameful look on her face. “Especially given our messy breakup. But he considers us friends now.”

“Oh?” Rarity raised an eyebrow, a teasing smirk on her lips. “You two are just friends?”

Sunset recognized the look Rarity was giving her, it was the look of a hopeless romantic.

“Nothing is going on between us,” Sunset said with a frown. “Besides, he has a crush on Twilight.”

Sunset cast her gaze down and her frown deepened, for some reason, this bothered her. Rarity gently placed her pointer finger under Sunset’s chin and gently lifted her head to look at her smiling face.

“I have a hunch that Flash is still into you,” Rarity said before winking at Sunset. “And I believe the feeling is mutual.”

Sunset’s cheeks turned red before looking away from embarrassment, causing her friends to laugh.

Author's Note

Here's the next chapter, I hope you like it, and I look forward to your comments. ^^