Rainbow Dash wasn’t in a good mood, it had been several days since she built that fort with the playground kids and it appeared that word of Sunset’s heroism had spread to CHS. She didn’t mind it at first as students talked about how Rainbow Dash was lucky to have a friend like Sunset but it quickly changed when they started to compare her with Sunset, like Sunset’s adaptability to any situation she faces. How she doesn’t rush head first into a problem, how much smarter she is than Rainbow Dash, and how cool it is that she’s from another world. Even comments about how prettier Sunset is than her are getting to her, and the worst one is that Scootaloo is starting to idolize Sunset more than herself.

“Is everything alright, darling?” Rarity asked as she set her lunch tray on the table and sat next to Rainbow Dash. It was just her and Rainbow as the others hadn't arrived for lunch.

“Yeah,” Rainbow Dash lied as she ate her sandwich.

“Your bad mood wouldn’t have anything to do with what our classmates are saying about you, would it?” Rarity asked as she raised an eyebrow. She always had an ear for gossip and knew the unfair comparisons the students made about Rainbow and Sunset.

“What do they know anyway?” Rainbow Dash questioned as she crossed her arms. “It was only yesterday that they were insulting Sunset behind her back and now they’re singing her praises? Bunch of hypocrites.”

“Have you talked to Sunset about this?” Rarity proposed.

“What’s there to talk about?” Rainbow stubbornly said. “I can handle it.”

“I can clearly see how much it bothers you,” Rarity voiced as she arched an eyebrow. “And so will Sunset.”

Rainbow Dash didn’t reply which caused Rarity to sigh.

“Rainbow Dash, have you forgotten the promise we made after Twilight reunited us?” Rarity asked. “We promised to be more open to each other and talk about our problems.”

“Yeah,” Rainbow Dash said softly but Rarity still managed to hear her. “I’ll talk to Sunset later.”

Rarity smiled just as Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy arrived.

“Is Sunset not here yet?” Fluttershy asked, not seeing Sunset with Rarity and Rainbow.

“There she is!” Pinkie said as she pointed to Sunset who just entered the lunchroom.

Sunset waved to her friends before jogging to their table.

“Sorry I’m late,” Sunset apologized as she took a seat beside Applejack. “Applebloom needed to talk to me.”

“What did she want to talk to yah about?” Applejack asked curiously as she took a sip of her Apple juice.

“She wanted dating advice,” Sunset answered which caused Applejack to spit out her juice.

“She what?!” Applejack raised her voice. “Why would she-“ Applejack’s eyes widened in realization. “Is she dating someone?!”

“She didn’t say, she just wanted to know how to ask someone out and what are good places to go on a date,” Sunset explained. “But considering my past failed relationships I told her that she’s better off asking Rarity, the best advice I can give is how not to act in a relationship.”

“I wonder who she’s going to ask out?” Fluttershy asked out loud.

“I have a strong hunch it’s Diamond Tiara,” Rarity voiced, a sly grin on her lips.

“What makes yah so sure?” Applejack questioned, raising an eyebrow.

“A lady has her ways,” Rarity said slyly, giving Applejack a wink.

“Yah was eavesdropping when she was at yer house weren’t yah,” Applejack stated with a deadpan face.

“Do not worry, Applejack. I will make sure Applebloom knows everything she needs to know when courting a lady,” Rarity assured her farmer friend.

“Just don’t give her any weird advice,” Applejack wanted before smiling. “Ah can’t believe mah little sister is going to ask someone out!”

“Speaking of relationships,” Rarity said as she looked at Sunset, a mischievous grin on her lips. “I noticed you and Flash are spending a lot of time together.”

The rest of the girls turned to look at Sunset whose face turned beat red at the attention.

“W-what of it?” Sunset stammered nervously.

“Do you think he wants to rekindle the relationship you two once had?” Rarity asked, her grin widening.

“I seriously doubt he wants to get back together with his evil ex,” Sunset stated, looking down in shame. “I wouldn’t.”

“Darling, that’s not who you are anymore,” Rarity spoke as she laid her hand on top of Sunset. “Give it a chance, I guarantee you won’t regret it.”

“We’re just friends, Rarity,” Sunset pointed out, she couldn’t help but smile at her friend. She was a hopeless romantic.

“Sunset!”

The Rainbooms turned around to see the CMC approaching.

“What is it, girls?” Sunset asked.

“Do you think you can help us with our homework again?” Sweetie Belle asked.

“Yeah, we’re having a hard time understanding what we need to do,” Scootaloo explained, scratching the back of her head.

“Oh! Sure!” Sunset as she rose from her seat and turned to look at her friends. “Sorry girls.”

“It’s quite alright,” Rarity said dismissively, she felt slightly annoyed for some reason.

Sunset and the Crusaders moved to a nearby empty table where the Crusaders explained to Sunset what they were having problems with.

“Sunset has been spending a lot of time with the girls, hasn’t she?” Fluttershy pointed out.

“Yeah, too much time if yah ask me,” Applejack stated, sounding annoyed. Applebloom had missed out on some of their family traditions in favor of hanging out with Sunset.

“Our sisters have really taken a liking to Sunset,” Rarity muttered a hint of bitterness in her tone. She felt jealous of how much time Sweetie Belle was spending with Sunset.

“I guess I’m not the only one who needs to talk to Sunset,” Rainbow Dash said, raising an eyebrow at her two friends.

Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, and Applejack looked at Rainbow with confusion while Rarity sighed.

“You’re right,” Rarity spoke up, staring at her food. “It would be hypocritical of me not to follow my advice.”

“What are yah talking about?” Applejack asked, not understanding what was going on.

Rarity told her about her earlier conversation with Rainbow, Applejack’s eyes widened as she realized what they meant before returning her gaze to Sunset.

“Guess ah need to have a word with Sunset too.”

The group ate their lunch in silence, Rarity, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash occasionally glancing at Sunset who was smiling as she helped their sisters. This is going to be an awkward conversation.

Sunset closed her locker and turned to walk out towards the school entrance when she almost bumped into Applejack.

“Whoa there!” Applejack held her hands up in front of her.

“Sorry, AJ. Didn’t see you,” Sunset apologized.

“No worries?” Applejack assured her as she rubbed the back of her head nervously.

“Is something wrong?” Sunset questioned, raising an eyebrow.

“Well...do yah think yah can meet me at Sweet Apple Acres?” Applejack asked. “There’s something ah want to talk to yah about.”

“Oh! Uh…sure,” Sunset answered, she was a little confused as to what Applejack was up to.

“Thanks,” Applejack said simply, the two stood there awkwardly for a minute before she spoke again. “See yah later.”

Applejack turned around and quickly made her out of the school, leaving Sunset to stare at her retreating form in confusion.

“What was that all about?” Sunset asked no one, she started walking when she spotted Rainbow Dash running up to her.

“Hey, Sunset! You got a minute?” Rainbow asked as she stopped in front of Sunset. “I really need to talk to you.”

Sunset detected the seriousness in Rainbow Dash’s voice and knew that this was important.

“Okay,” Sunset simply said.

Rainbow Dash led Sunset to their band room, once inside the two stood there awkwardly before Rainbow Dash finally spoke.

“Look, I don’t know if you noticed but people are talking about you around school,” Rainbow Dash started.

“Yeah, I noticed,” Sunset sighed, she knew full well that even after saving the school from the Sirens, not everyone had given her a second chance.

“They’re not insulting you, Sunset. They’re praising you,” Rainbow Dash corrected.

“Wait, what?” Sunset looked at Rainbow with wide eyes.

“Word got out around the school about what happened in the playground and now everyone is talking about how cool you are,” Rainbow informed Sunset.

Sunset smiled at this, she couldn’t believe that she was being talked about so positively. She noticed Rainbow’s sad look and her smile faltered.

“There’s more to this, isn’t there?”

“As they started praising you, they also started comparing you to me,” Rainbow Dash admitted, grabbing her left arm. “They talked about how much smarter you are than me, how level-headed you are….how much prettier you are.”

“Oh, Rainbow,” Sunset quickly wrapped her arms around the athlete and brought her into a hug. She felt Rainbow’s arms wrap around her waist to return the hug. “You shouldn’t let what they say bother you.”

“I know,” Rainbow mutters against Sunset. “But I can't help but feel like it’s true.”

“It isn’t,” Sunset firmly stated. “You are a much better person than I’ll ever be.”

“Then why does Scoots hang out with you more than me?” Rainbow Dash asked, she felt Sunset stiffen at this.

“I don’t know,” Sunset spoke truthfully. “But it has nothing to do with what everyone is saying.” She hugged Rainbow tighter. “I can never be better than you.”

“You’re just saying that,” Rainbow Dash said, a sly smile on her lips. “But keep talking.”

Sunset smiled as she pulled away but didn’t let go of Rainbow Dash.

“Dash, Scootaloo idolizes you,” Sunset said. “She chose you to be her big sister, and she made a great choice. Your loyalty to your friends is something to be greatly admired.” Sunset’s smile faltered as she spoke her next words. “I’m just a backstabbing traitor.”

“The old you was a backstabbing traitor!” Rainbow Dash said without hesitation. “That’s not who you are anymore.”

Silence briefly fell between them, before Sunset continued.

“Scootaloo’s a smart kid, she knows the difference between someone awesome and someone who is awesome,” Sunset pointed out. “Awesome enough to want to be their sister.”

Sunset smiled at Rainbow Dash.

“Dash, you’re Scootaloo’s role model.”

Rainbow Dash was taken aback by this, the thought of being a role model never crossed her mind.

“When we hang out, Scootaloo always talks about how cool and awesome you are,” Sunset began. “But not just because you do cool and awesome things but because of your awesome character. She talks about how you always help out a friend in need, and how kind you are to others. How welcoming you are. How you are always there for your friends.”

There was a small pause before Sunset chuckled.

“What’s so funny?” Rainbow asked, smirking slightly.

“Just that, because of you she was able to give friendship with Diamond Tiara a chance,” Sunset told her.”

“Really?” Rainbow’s eyes widened in surprise.

“She told me that she saw how you were willing to give me a chance despite what I did to you and everyone else at school, how our friendship inspired her to reach out a hand to Diamond Tiara,” Sunset explained, her smile widening. “There’s no reason for you to worry about anything, Rainbow Dash. Scootaloo will never replace you in her heart.”

Rainbow Dash felt tears in the corner of her eyes and quickly wiped them away. Sunset brought her in for another hug which Rainbow greatly appreciated.

“Thank you,” Rainbow said against Sunset’s shoulder.

“You’re welcome,” Sunset said with a smile, as Rainbow continued to cry softly on her shoulder. “Besides, Scootaloo isn’t the only one who looks up to you. You inspire me too, Dash.”

Sunset felt Dash squeeze her a little harder, letting her know that she appreciated it. Her smile soon fell as she realized that it was her fault Rainbow Dash was feeling this way. Despite herself, it seems she can’t stop hurting the ones she cares about.

Sunset arrived at Sweet Apple Acres, she knocked on the front door and Applejack answered it.

“Thanks fer coming,” Applejack thanked Sunset as she stepped aside to let her in.

“So what did you want to tell me?” Sunset asked as she turned to face Applejack.

“Let's go to mah room first,” Applejack said as she led Sunset to her room.

Sunset found Applejack’s behavior quite odd, she wondered if what she had to tell her had something to do with it, and if it did then it must be serious. They entered the farm girl’s room and Sunset stood at the other end of Applejack’s bed before turning to face her friend.

“Alright, what’s going on Applejack?” Sunset questioned, crossing her arms. “You’ve been acting strange since you asked me to come.”

Applejack fidgeted nervously, how was she supposed to tell one of her best friends that she was jealous of how much time her little sister was spending with her? She decided to just bite the bullet.

“Ah don’t like how yer spending so much time with mah sister!” Applejack blurted out.

Sunset was taken aback by Applejack’s outburst, she wasn’t expecting that.

“Ah didn’t mind yah hanging out with mah sister at first but when she started missing out on our family traditions ah got a little annoyed. She never misses a family tradition and is always reminding us about them,” Applejack removed her hat as she prepared to say more. “Ah started to get jealous and having bad thoughts about yah, like what makes yah so special that she would ditch her family?”

As soon as those words left her mouth, Applejack saw the look of pain in Sunset’s eyes and felt so ashamed of herself for hurting her.

“Ah’m sorry Sunset,” Applejack apologized as she stared at the floor, feeling ashamed of herself. “Ah know this isn’t yer fault, and ah’m just projecting my insecurities on yah. Ah don’t even know why ah feel this way, but the thought of mah little sister no longer needing me just…”

Applejack trailed off, shutting her eyes as she held back her tears. She heard movement before feeling Sunset’s arms around her.

“It’s okay, Applejack,” Sunset assured her, rubbing her back.

“It’s not okay,” Applejack responded as she hugged Sunset back. “Ah said such an awful thing to yah and blamed yah fer mah problems.”

The two held each other in silence, Applejack thinking of what else to say before Sunset spoke.

“You wanna know something?” Sunset asked.

“W-what?” Applejack inquired.

“For the longest time, I was jealous of you.”

Applejack pulled back to look at Sunset who didn’t meet her gaze and had a sad smile.

“You had the one thing I always wanted, a family,” Sunset continued. “You Apples are always there for each other, work together, love each other. Seeing you all so happy reminded me of how empty and lonely my life had been.” Sunset looked at Applejack, tears beginning to form as she spoke her next words. “I lied about my family Applejack, the truth is I never had a family.”

Applejack gasped.

“So…yah have been all alone for a long time, not just the holidays?”

Sunset nodded.

“Why didn’t yah tell me?” Applejack asked, she felt so awful for Sunset. She couldn’t imagine not having a family like hers.

“I didn’t want you to know how truly alone I was,” Sunset answered. “I know you would go above and beyond to make sure I never felt alone again.”

“Yer darn right ah would!” Applejack raised her voice. “Ah would have had yah spend all of the winter holiday at mah house!”

Sunset smiled, it made her happy to hear Applejack say that.

“What about yer mom?” Applejack asked. “Yah mentioned someone yah consider a mother back home.”

“I burned that bridge when I fled here,” Sunset stated sadly, her smile instantly falling.

“Can’t yah patch things up?” Applejack inquired. “Ah can help yah if yah want?”

“Too much time has passed,” Sunset bitterly answered.

“What do yah mean?” Applejack questioned, surely it couldn’t have been that long.

“I came to this world about three years ago,” Sunset started to explain.

“That doesn’t seem like-“

“But in Equestria, I’ve been gone for twenty years,” Sunset revealed.

“Twenty years?!” Applejack was shocked.

“Time goes by faster in Equestria,” Sunset spoke dejectedly. “I only found out myself when the portal opened again and I returned to a place that wasn’t there before, turns out that a lot has happened in my absence. To further understand this new place I went to the library and not only did I learn that I was gone for twenty years but I had been replaced.” Tears started falling down the sides of Sunset’s face. “The fact that Princess Celestia has moved on and replaced me so quickly made me angry, so I vowed to get her back.”

“Princess Celestia?” Applejack said in confusion.

“She’s the counterpart to Principal Celestia,” Sunset answered as she wiped her eyes. “I had a good thing going with being her personal student, we were close, and I hoped that she saw me as a daughter like how I saw her as my mother. But that was just a filly’s dream.”

“What was she like?” Applejack asked in a soft tone, she wondered if both Celestia’s were the same or different.

“She’s kind, caring, compassionate,” Sunset listed, as her smile returned. “It may surprise some ponies to know that she’s what you humans call an adrenaline junkie.”

“Seriously?” Applejack was surprised at this.

“Yep, she’s very adventurous and loves a good thrill,” Sunset laughed. “One time she and I launched ourselves from a high waterfall into a lake!”

“Ah just can’t picture Principal Celestia doing that,” Applejack chuckled, their principal looking too dignified to act like that.

“Who knows, maybe she’s secretly like that too,” Sunset said before her smile faltered. “We had a lot of fun.”

“Have yah ever thought of reaching out?” Applejack asked.

“There’s no point,” Sunset stated. “Besides, she’s better off without me.”

“No,” Applejack firmly disagreed, her gaze hardening at Sunset. “Ah don’t believe fer a second she’s moved on.”

“What makes you so sure?” Sunset scoffed.

“My Grandfather fought with mah Ma when she and my Pa got married, mah Ma’s family are pear farmers and they and us Apples had a feud,” Applejack started explaining. “Grand Pear made Ma choose which family she would rather be with, Ma chose us Apples, and Grand Pear left town.”

“I’m so sorry,” Sunset apologized as she laid a comforting hand on Applejack’s shoulder. “Your mom must’ve been devastated.”

“Ah reckon anyone would be if their family disowned them,” Applejack said sadly. “Luckily Granny welcomed Ma into the family, she was moved by Ma’s dedication to family.”

“What happened to Grand Pear?” Sunset inquired.

“He came back into town and met Applebloom at the market,” Applejack said with a smile. “She brought home pear jam which got us to question the feud, which led us to learn about our parents. Grand Pear told us how much he missed Ma every day, he had friends here and would ask about her when they visited him. When he heard about Ma and Pa passing away, he was devastated. He realized too late what a fool he was and never got to tell Ma he was sorry; he felt too ashamed to visit us. Said that we were better off without him.”

“What changed his mind?” Sunset asked. “He must’ve been out of your lives for years.”

“Almost as much as yah,” Applejack said. “He grew tired of being away from us and being alone, he wanted to be with his family.” Applejack lifted her hands and rested them on Sunset’s shoulders. “Grand Pear never stopped loving Ma, he was always proud of her, especially for standing firm in her choice to be with her family. Ah, have no doubt yer mom is proud of yah, especially after how far yah have come.”

“How can you be so sure?” Sunset asked, tears welling up in her eyes.

“Because ah’m proud of yah,” Applejack said with a smile.

Sunset’s eyes widened at those words, no one other than Princess Celestia had ever told her how proud she was of her. Sunset couldn’t hold back her tears anymore as she started crying. Applejack brought Sunset in for a hug, the redhead wailing against her shoulder as she clung tightly to the farm girl. Applejack’s heart ached at Sunset’s cries, how she must have longed to hear those words. Applejack could feel her tears beginning to form but fought them back, she had to be strong for Sunset. The poor girl had been alone for so long.

I was jealous of you.

Applejack thought over Sunset’s words, looking back she did catch Sunset staring at her when she was with her family. The look of longing and regret in Sunset’s eyes was the same one Grand Pear had when he met her and her siblings.

“Ah meant what ah said,” Applejack said. “Ah, consider yah family, Sunset.”

“Family?” Sunset questioned as she pulled back but didn’t let go of Applejack.

“That’s right, yah are an Apple family member,” Applejack said proudly.

“An Apple,” Sunset whispered, almost not believing what she had just heard. But Applejack wasn’t someone to lie about something this important. “This…this is a lot to take in.”

“It’s okay,” Applejack assured her. “Just sit on it for a bit, yah’ll realize that yer an Apple to the core.”

Sunset saw Applejack grinning widely, she couldn’t help but smile back.

Sunset turned the corner as she arrived at her apartment, she had a lot to think about during the ride here. Despite Applejack’s declaration that she is a member of the Apple family and Granny Smith agreeing wholeheartedly as she gave her some apple pie as she left, Sunset felt undeserved. First, the CMC and now Rainbow Dash and Applejack, what Sunset feared would happen has happened. She was ruining her friends' bonds with their families, just like she ruined her bond with Celestia.

“Sunset?”

Sunset snapped out of her thoughts when she saw Rarity.

“Rarity?” Sunset questioned as she parked her bike, shut off the engine, and took off her helmet. “What are you doing here?”

“Darling, there’s something I have to talk to you about,” Rarity said, looking down shamefully.

Sunset felt her heart sink, she knew what this was about.

Author's Note

A step forward to healing the pain, friendships grow stronger, but doubts begin to set in. I hope you enjoy the chapter, and I look forward to your comments.