Sunset was still stressed, but she'd been having fun.

Or as much fun as she could with a weight looming on her back.

They were all slightly drunk, bar Fluttershy, and some more than others, but they were trying their best to keep it in moderation. Unfortunately for Sunset, being drunk brought out a side of Twilight that was hard to resist.
Currently, she was lying across the sofa, head in Sunset's lap. She looked peaceful, but would pout whenever Sunset stopped stroking her soft purple hair to accept a new drink. It was adorable, and made Sunset's heart melt a little each time. It was these kinds of moments that made her wonder if Twilight might actually like her, like she liked her, but she never gave any indication while sober.

Truthfully, it stressed Sunset out more. Adorable as she might be, Sunset always found her mind running away from her whenever she thought about Twilight.

"Sunset?"

"Hmm?"

"Less thinking, more petting."

Sunset giggled at the taller girl, who was frowning up at her.

"One minute. I need to go to the bathroom."

"Hmph."

Despite her irritation, Twilight moved out of Sunset's lap, and she stood up, flicking her wrist as she caught Rarity's eye. The girl nodded, and started to slip out if her conversation as Sunset moved into the kitchen. Sunset waited in the kitchen, before stepping onto the front porch with the other girl.

"Well, I'm impressed, Sunset. You made it to 1:30."

"It's only 1:30?! Ugh."

Rarity patted her shoulder sympathetically, handing her a cigarette and lighting it.

"We'll be going to bed soon, I imagine. It might be the weekend, but they all still have things to do tomorrow."

Sunset took a drag and blew the smoke into the air, sighing.

"Sunset, dear?"

Sunset looked over.

"Have you been having nightmares again?"

Sunset froze for a moment before nodding, reluctantly.

"You haven't received any bad messages, have you?"

Again, a reluctant nod.

Rarity put her head in her hands.

"You should've told us."

"I didn't want to stress any of you out."

"And you only stressed yourself out in the process, darling. It's quite obvious."

"How-"

"You have more makeup on than usual, you're hiding the bags under your eyes, Sunset. You can never fool a fashionista."

Sunset sighed, mildly irritated with herself.

"I'll be fine."

"Sunset, you need to talk to someone-"

"I'm. Fine, Rarity. Thanks."

"Then at least talk to Twilight."

"Wha-"

"She has a crush on you! You have a crush on her! Sunset, are you blind?"

Sunset stepped back, shocked, and Rarity threw a hand over her mouth.

"Oh dear. I think I might have drunk too many cocktails."

Sunset's head was reeling. Twilight liked her? What should she do? Should she ask her out? Now? Tomorrow?
Her train of thought was already spiralling when they were interrupted as Rainbow Dash staggered onto the balcony with them.

"Sunset, we told you to stop smoking."

Her words were slurred, and it was clear she was very, very drunk.

"I thought I told Fluttershy to keep an eye on your drinking!"
"Fluttershy can't say no to a pretty face."

Rarity sighed.

"You shouldn't be abusing your relationship for more drinks, Rainbow."

The girl seemed to sober up for a moment at this, nodding sheepishly, before she turned to Sunset again.

"Anyway, Sunset, I wanted to ask you."

She paused, like some part of her registered it was a bad idea.

Then the alcohol won out.

"What was it like when we kicked your ass? With the laser, ba-"

Rarity slammed her hand over Rainbow Dash's mouth, pushing her back inside.

"Rainbow Dash! How dare you!"

"What? I was curious?"

"GIRLS. PROBLEM!"

Sunset heard clamouring inside as the others reacted, but it was too late for her.

Memories were pouring through her head, replays of endless nightmares and days spent alone.

The Fall Formal, years before.

Anon-A-Miss.

The battle of the bands, confronting the sirens in the halls as they echoed her fears right back at her.

The blind anger she'd felt at Twilight during the friendship games.

Being separated at Camp Everfree.

She felt her grip on the porch railing tighten, the cigarette in her hands forgotten. Her breathing sped up, and she felt tears in her eyes and her legs go weak. She sank to the floor on her knees, then onto her back.

"Sunset? Sunset, okay honey, I'm here. I need ya to breathe in for me, 'kay? Deep breath in, you hear me?"

It was Applejack. Thank Celestia for Applejack. She nodded, but her vision was going black as she tried desperately to take a deep breath.

"Okay. Okay Sunset. You're doing great. Stay with me here."

But try as she might, Sunset couldn't breathe. Her vision lightened temporarily, and she saw the concerned outlines of her friends looking down at her, but she couldn't make out who.

"Sunset? We're gonna call someone out for ya, okay? Just hang in there."

Sunset grabbed Applejack's wrist, shaking her head. She couldn't let anyone else see her like this.

"Shit, Sunset, we gotta do somethin! Your heart rate is through the roof!"

But Sunset couldn't hear her. The words were muffled, their faces dark and blurry. Sunset felt herself slip into darkness.

Sunset woke up in her sleeping bag and felt the dried tears on her face. She sat up, and instantly regretted it as her head began pounding, but her sudden movement woke up Applejack on the sofa.

"Take it easy, Sunset."

Applejack looked frazzled, and Sunset guessed she'd stayed awake to keep an eye on her until she'd fallen asleep.

"You've been alseep only a few hours."

"What happened? Did you call an ambulance?"

"Ya musta had the mother of all panic attacks. But when ya fainted ya started breathin fine so we just put ya ta bed."

Sunset groaned and faceplanted.

"I'm so sorry. I ruined your night."

"Ya ain't ruined nobody's night, sugarcube."

"I have. I ruined everyone's night."

"No, ya ain't. An I ain't gonna argue with ya on this, either." she added as Sunset opened her mouth.

She thought for a moment, then stood up slowly.

"I'm gonna go home."

Applejack frowned.

"Do ya want me to drive ya? It'll be dangerous out there on ya bike."

"I can't have you do that, you've done too much for me already."

"Sunset, it ain't a good idea."

"I need to be alone, okay?"

"Why?"

"I- I just need to."

"Ya should wait until it's light at least."

Sunset kept packing a few things into her bag.

"Sunset, please, just let me drive ya."

Sunset shook her head as she pulled on her jacket. Before her friend could get in another word, and potentially convince her to stay, Sunset began making her way outside.

"Sunset- wait! Please! Just wait until it's light! Ya ain't in a fit state for ridin!"

Sunset could feel the tears pooling in her eyes again, could hear the desperation in AJs voice. But her mind was made up. She shut the door behind her before running over to her bike and starting the engine, not even bothering with her helmet.
Applejack flung the door open.

"Sunset! Stop!"

She swung the bike around and pulled out of the drive.

"Sunset!"

Sunset couldn't think clearly as she roared down the street, which was unsurprisingly empty at... she checked the clock on the motorcycle.

4:00 in the morning.

She could tell she was over the speed limit, but she didn't care.

She just needed to get home.

She realised with a start she was sobbing. Applejack's reassurances and pleas must have gotten to her. Sunset squeezed her eyes shut, trying to blink the tears out of her eyes. When she opened them again, she slammed her accelerator and swerved.

A black SUV was pulling into the road at decent speed.

Shit.

Despite the extra speed put on by the bike, she felt the back end twist out and slide. Sunset struggled desperately against the handles, trying desperately to keep herself upright.

Shitshitshit-

The bike crunched onto her leg with it's full weight, and she let out a small scream and a string of curses. Her head smacked against the concrete and she slid down the road, eventually coming to a stop.

Privately, she wondered if she deserved this for brushing off AJ, and the rest of her friends' help, as a string of curses flooded through the rest of her brain. She let out a groan and rolled onto her front, trying to push herself up. Sunset began crawling desperately for the edge of the road, pain tearing through her leg.

Her head ached with a vengeance, and she could feel blood flooding her mouth.

Reaching the edge of the road, she threw up a mix of puke and blood before trying to slip her phone out of her pocket.

Despite her headache, Sunset knew she had mere seconds before she passed out. A head injury was almost certain, given that she hadn't got her helmet on, and that meant the moment her adrenaline rush ran out, she was gone.

She needed to call someone.

Anyone.

Sunset navigated to her contacts desperately, hearing footsteps in the distance. AJ called her at that moment, the bright light and vibration confusing her for a moment.

"Sunset? Hun? Did ya make it home alright? Ya should've just let me take ya, I've been worried sick!"

"AJ- I-"

"Sunset?! Are ya alright?"

"I- I need. Help-"

For the second time that night, the world went black.

Author's Note

[Note copied from Archive]

small change made 14th Jan '25 due to shifting timeline. I really need to sort out a plan for this lmao, but really right now it's just what I want when i want

(recipe for disaster, prepare for me to simply implode)