“And that’s what happened today,” Sunset finishes writing about today’s events to Twilight.

“That’s fantastic news!” Twilight wrote excitedly. “I’m so happy for you, Sunset!”

“Thanks,” was Sunset’s simple reply.

“Is something wrong?” Twilight asked worriedly, noticing that her reply didn’t seem exciting. “You don’t sound too happy about this.”

“I am happy!” Sunset quickly replied. “I was crying when they asked me to be a part of their family.” Sunset bit her lip, contemplating whether to tell Twilight about what was bothering her. Ultimate she decided to tell Twilight as she was her friend. “But I’m afraid I’ll mess this up.”

“What do you mean?” Twilight asked, not fully understanding what Sunset was implying.

Sunset sighed as she explained what happened with Princess Celestia, she then told her about Anon-A-Miss and how she started reverting to old habits as she tried to figure out their identity.

“I can see why you would be concerned,” Twilight wrote. “But it’s different this time.”

“How so?” Sunset asked.

“Because you’re not the same pony you were before,” Twilight wrote. “You desired power and did whatever it took to get it but now you want to protect your friends, and you’re using your unique skills for them.”

“The girls said something similar,” Sunset wrote, smiling slightly.

“Then you know you’re hearing sound advice,” Twilight responded, smiling cheekily on the other side. “Take it from me, if all you do is worry about what ifs then you’re bound to make them happen.”

Sunset chuckled, she felt her worries going away.

“Thanks, Twilight. I feel silly worrying about nothing,” Sunset wrote.

“There’s nothing silly about what you are feeling, ” Twilight assured her. “I and the girls are always here for you when you need us. ”

“And I’m always here for all of you when you need me, ” Sunset responded, she and Twilight wrote to each other for a bit before Sunset closed her journal and went to sleep.

Rainbow Dash snickered as she peeked through the school’s window into the clubroom where the Rainbow Dash Fan Club held their meeting, Scootaloo was leading the meeting as she always did. It boosted her ego to see everyone talk about how cool and amazing she was.

“And that concludes today’s meeting,” Scootaloo said.

The cub members stood and recited their club anthem which caused Rainbow Dash to snicker, she always enjoyed hearing the anthem. She watched as all the club members left until only Scootaloo remained, she thought she was going to leave but was shocked to see her take down the posters of herself and replace them with posters of Sunset.

“How did she even get those?” Rainbow thought as she continued to watch Scootaloo.

There was a knock on the door and when Scootaloo went to answer it was Applebloom and Sweetie Belle. Rainbow watched them take a seat and Scootaloo stood in front of them.

“With everyone here, I now decree that the first official meeting of the Sunset Shimmer appreciation club can now begin!” Scootaloo announced as she put on a hat with Sunset’s cutie mark on it.

Sweetie Belle and Applebloom also put on their Sunset merch and they all started talking about how amazing Sunset is.

Rainbow stood there in shock, she even blushed a little when Scootaloo told them about how Sunset had saved her from a fall, but she dramatically told them. Rainbow Dash quietly stepped away from the window before running off.

“Wait till Sunset hears about this.”

Sunset sat next to her friends at their usual lunch table, she noticed Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash looking very excited.

“Did something good happen?” Sunset asked.

“I already told Pinkie since we shared a class before lunch but guess who has a fan club?” Rainbow Dash asked excitedly.

“I thought you already had a fan club,” Sunset assumed, ever since Rainbow Dash found out about her fan club, she would constantly bring it up.

“Unfortunately, this one isn’t about me,” Rainbow Dash said with a playful smirk. “It’s your fan club.”

“Mine?!” Sunset was shocked to hear this. “Why would I have a fan club?”

“Because you’re awesome, Sunset!” Pinkie proclaimed cheerfully.

“And its members are Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, and Applebloom,” Rainbow Dash said, smiling at Sunset’s double take.

“They’re the members?!” Sunset couldn’t believe it. “B-but why?”

“You must have made quite the impression on them,” Rarity said, she recalled how Sweetie Belle wouldn’t stop talking about how amazing it was hanging out with Sunset.

“I agree with Pinkie Pie, you are an amazing person Sunset. It’s not hard to see why they would make a fanclub about you,” Fluttershy chimed in, she felt very happy for her best friend. She was getting the recognition she deserved.

Sunset didn’t know how to react, she never had a fan club before, much less one created by the sisters of her best friends. Should she be honored? humbled? Will she let it go to her head? Will this drive a wedge between the girls and their sisters?!

“Yah alright, sugarcube?” Applejack asked, noticing Sunset’s concerned look.

“Uh, yeah! Just surprised that anyone would make a fan club of me,” Sunset said, holding onto her arm. “I’m at a loss on what to do?”

“I would be happy to show you,” Rainbow Dash offered, smiling proudly.

“No offense, Dash. But yer the last person Sunset should be getting help from,” Applejack spoke, arching an eyebrow.

“You don’t have to do anything, darling,” Rarity said as she placed a comforting hand on Sunset’s shoulder. “Take it from me, a fan club is just there for individuals who are big fans of yours. As long as they’re not doing anything illegal then you don’t need to get involved….unless they want to invite you as a guest but that decision is still up to you.”

“Thanks, girls,” Sunset thanked her friends. “Are you three alright with your sisters being my fans?” Sunset asked as she looked at Applejack, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash with worry.

“Of course!” Rarity answered dismissively. “If anything I’m happy that Sweetie Belle looks up to you.”

“Really?” Sunset asked, surprised by Rarity’s answer.

“Yeah, yer a good person Sunset,” Applejack complimented. “The more good influences Applebloom has, the better she’ll turn out.”

“I’m not too much of a glory hound to share the spotlight with you,” Rainbow Dash winked at Sunset.

Everyone had a good laugh before they started talking about something else, Sunset’s worries were gone as her friends assured her that nothing would come between them.

Sunset closed her locker as she prepared to head home, her friends would be busy today so there wasn’t going to be a sleepover. This saddened Sunset as she enjoyed the sleepovers so far.

“Maybe I should host one,” Sunset thought aloud, it would be fair and with how she’s been slowly opening up to the girls, she hoped hosting the sleepover at her apartment would encourage her to open up even more.

“Sunset!”

Sunset turned around to see Applebloom and her friends running towards her.

“Hey, girls,” Sunset greeted them as they stopped in front of her. “Can I help you with something?”

“Are yah doing anything after school?” Applebloom asked.

“Not anything in particular, why do you ask?” Sunset answered.

“Do you think you can help us with our group project?” Scootaloo asked.

“We’re supposed to be doing an essay on someone who’s managed to turn their life around,” Sweetie Belle explained.

“And we figured who better to ask than yah,” Applebloom added.

Sunset was taken aback by this but quickly recovered.

“I would be happy to help you girls,” Sunset said with a smile.

“Granny, we’re back!” Applejack called out as she and Big Mac entered the house.

“How did it go?” Granny Smith asked as she walked up to greet them.

“It went well, everyone got their order of Sweet Apple Cider. We finished just in time to take our annual family photo in front of the Christmas tree, ” Applejack told her as she and Big Mac hung up their coats. “Applebloom always looked forward to that.”

“Ah’m afraid Applebloom won’t be joining us,” Granny said.

“What?!” Applejack was shocked to hear this. “But this is a really important family tradition, Applebloom wouldn’t miss this!”

“She called earlier to tell me she won’t be home till late as she’s doing an important school project with Sunset,” Granny Smith explained.

“With Sunset?” Applejack asked, confused. As far as she knew, Sunset had no school project to work on. And what kind of project required her sister’s help?

“Ah told her it was okay and to work hard on her project,” Granny Smith explained. “We’ll still do the family photo when she comes back.”

“Ah guess,” Applejack said, she was still disappointed that her sister wasn’t here to do their family tradition. She hoped that her sister would finish her project quickly so she could get home to take the photo.

Rarity was humming to herself, she prepared some hot chocolate for her and Sweetie Belle, and she set the two mugs on a tray that contained some marshmallows, and popcorn. Today they were going to watch a marathon of Christmas movies as they sat comfortably on the sofa. It was their little tradition since they were little and Rarity had always enjoyed spending this time with her little sister. She was taking out a batch of chocolate chip cookies when her phone received a text message, she checked it and it was from Sweetie Belle. When she read the message, her smile dropped.

“Doing a school project with Sunset, I’ll be home late,” Rarity read, her good mood faded as she placed the tray of cookies on the kitchen table. “It can’t be helped.”

Rarity walked over to the living room and picked up her mug of hot chocolate before sitting down on the couch. She took a sip and her mind started to wander to Sunset, her smile returned as she thought of the slumber parties they had. Sunset looked so happy and she felt closer to her than ever before, she came through for her in an emergency and her sister really liked hanging out with her. Rarity suddenly shot up from the couch as she was hit with inspiration. She quickly put the food away and took the hot chocolates with her to her room, she took her sketchbook and started drawing an outfit design.

“Sunset is going to love this,” Rarity said to herself as she finished the design. She then got to work on making a new outfit for Sunset.

Rainbow Dash was on her way to the playground to play with the kids, when she received a text from Scootaloo that she wouldn’t be joining her as she was doing a group project with Sunset’s help. Rainbow Dash was a little disappointed but knew that it couldn’t be helped, it was for the best that Scootaloo did her project now rather than at the last minute like she does for a lot of her assignments.

“With Sunset’s help, Scoots will no doubt get an A,” Rainbow Dash grinned, Sunset is crazy smart.

She arrived at the playground and a couple of kids asked where Sunset was, she told them she was busy which caused them to look disappointed. Rainbow Dash cheered them up by saying that they were going to be making snow forts, the kids cheered and everyone got to work making the best snow fort. As Rainbow Dash was working on her side of the fort, her ears picked up a conversation a couple of feet from her.

“Sunset Shimmer is so cool!” A kid with a red beanie spoke.

“Yeah, did you see how she saved Rainbow Dash?” A kid with a red scarf asked excitedly.

“Yeah! She was like a superhero!”

Rainbow Dash smirked as she heard the kids talk about how amazing Sunset is and how she saved her, it was a welcome change from the insults she heard her classmates call Sunset.

“She might be cooler than Rainbow Dash!”

Rainbow Dash froze but quickly recovered before anyone noticed.

“Rainbow Dash is so lucky to be friends with her!”

“I wish I was friends with Sunset!”

“Me too!”

As the kids continued their praises of Sunset, Rainbow Dash continued to build the fort in silence. Pressing the snow just a bit harder than before.

Author's Note

The shoe is on the other foot as it is now the older sisters that are starting to become jealous of Sunset, how will they deal with this growing resentment? I hope you enjoy this chapter, and I look forward to your comments!