Talking To My Friends.

Princess Twilight, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie stood in Fluttershy's kitchen. Rainbow was in the basement regaling Sunset with tales of times she emulated Sunset's behavior.

Princess Twilight took deep breaths. Her panic attack was subsiding.

Pinkie whisked butter into melted chocolate and muttered to herself.

Fluttershy sat on the floor and chewed her thumb.

Rarity had been gone for ten minutes.

Pinkie poured melted chocolate over a pan of marshmallows and graham crackers. She tossed the pan into the oven. She stared at Fluttershy for a few moments. "What now? Your plan failed horribly."

Fluttershy said, "I know," without taking her thumb out of her mouth.

Twilight didn't ask about the plan.

Pinkie stared at Fluttershy. She sighed heavily. "I have to do everything myself. She went in to the basement but left the door open behind herself. "Sunset, will you sing your lullaby for me!"

Fluttershy smiled. "What do you think of Sunset?"

"I don't know. She scares me in more than one way."

"Sunset is deceptively simple. Listen carefully."

After a minute of refusing Sunset loudly yet softly sang, "Bad memories may be here to stay but let my voice carry your nightmares away.

"Nightmares are my rest after I cry myself to sleep. You carry all your burdens well except me. The smallest problem the only one you don't see.

"My voice is the sun that will keep the dark away. My love is the warmth that will keep the cold at bay.

"On this dark and bitter night you are not in my sight. You leave my side as I beg you to stay.

"My little Sunset together we will see this through. My little Sunset I will reunite you.

"My little Sunset you will never be good enough. My little Sunset I can't wait to be rid of you.

"I love you. You words ring hollow. I love you. That's untrue. I love you. Until loving becomes too hard. I love you. I love you more. I love you. I hate you. I love you Sunset." Sunset sighed. "I know and I have very mixed emotions about it. Telling me you love me and showing me love are two different things. Never having the time to finish this lullaby is a perfect example of our entire relationship. Your efforts were kind enough to make me love you, but too small to make me happy."

"A version of that lullaby was sung to Sunset by Princess Celestia," explained Fluttershy. "It was a spell that was supposed to help Sunset have sweet dreams. Celestia never once had time to finish the song. Sunset now sings to curse Celestia with nightmares. Rarity was wrong. Sunset can be reasoned with. You have make her confront her fears. Only you can."

"What are Susnset's fears and how can I make her confront them?"

"If you were listening when you spoke to Sunset then you already know."

"Apparently I was not listening. What should I do?"

"What would happen if Sunset used your crown to turn herself into an alicorn?"

"She would be stripped of all her magic and imprisoned for the rest of her life. S.M.I.L.E has facilities so secret not even Princess Celestia knows where the recipe for my talent enhancing potion is."

"You must hurt Sunset. Make her realize she is right. Take away the hope that stops her from moving on. Tell her Celestia does not love her." Fluttershy's eyes glowed faintly.

"What do you think of Twilight?" asked Pinkie.

"She makes me feel a strange emotion," admitted Sunset. "It is like frustration, but without the deep ache. It is like hatred but without the validation."

"Your emotion sounds like anger to me," said Rainbow.

"I know what anger is. I am mad at Rarity all the time. This is different."

"I don't think it is what you are feeling," said Pinkie. "I think it is what you are not feeling. Twilight is the opposite of you. She has everything you ever wanted. It makes sense she is the only person you can't empathize with."

"I can empathize with Twilight... when she is in pain. So Twilight makes me feel jealousy, anger and hatred, but not empathy which frustrates me. What emotion is that?"

"Fear. Are you afraid of Twilight?"

Sunset thought for a few moments. "Yeah. I am afraid she will take away my last chance to make Celestia and Cadance love me."