As soon as the bell to final period ended, signaling the end of the school day, every student at CHS who didn’t have a date to the Winter Formal made their way to the gymnasium where the banquet would be taking place at exactly three-o'clock PM. Since the final bell rang at two forty-five, it would be a fifteen minute interval before the festivities even began.

    Sunset and her friends were already in the gym to make any last minute preparations that needed attending. The banners needed to be checked and secured if need be. Balloons were inspected for if they still had the right amount of helium in them, and the stage where the Princess of the Winter Formal would be crowned tomorrow night, needed a few more bits of decor to it.

    “That should be everything!” Pinkie proclaimed. “Oh, and just in time too!”

    Sure enough, students began walking into the gym at an easy going pace and fashion, talking amongst themselves as they went. The final result of the occupancy of the gym seemed to be a third of what the full student population was at CHS. This result overwhelmed Sunset a bit, but she did her best to remain calm by remembering that she had her friends by her side.

    However, when she caught a glimpse of Flash hanging out with his bandmates near the bleachers, her anxiety was starting to get the better of her. Rarity seemed to be the only one to notice Sunset’s cracking composure, and the color drain from her face.

    “Sunset? Are you alright, darling?”

“I need to use the restroom,” Sunset replied rather hastily and bolted towards the gymnasium’s latrines while clutching her lower stomach with one hand while her other covered her mouth.

The friends glanced towards the direction that Sunset just ran to with looks of confusion and concern.

“Whoa. What was that all about?” Rainbow asked.

“I have no idea,” Rarity replied, shaking her head. “But she looked quite ill.”

“How can anyone get sick before a party begins?” Pinkie asked, dumbfounded. “It should happen after, depending on how many sweets each person had that is.”

“Ah think we all should know why,” Applejack said in a tone that pointed out the obvious cause of the situation. The friends silently nodded in mutual understanding.

“Perhaps inviting Sunset to go with us wasn’t such a good idea after all,” Fluttershy stated. “Forcing Flash, or another kind of boyfriend on her isn’t going to help her become more confident in herself.”

“Ah’m with Fluttershy on with this one, y’all,” Applejack agreed. “Ah can’t believe Ah was so dumb as tah think this was the right thing tah do!”

“Don’t blame yourself, Applejack,” Rarity assured her. “It’s not your fault, or any of ours. Besides, I think this marvelous banquet was a wonderful idea for our fellow students anyway.”

“It still doesn’t change the fact that Sunset’s still unhappy, or that it was still AJ’s suggestion,” Rainbow implied.

The friends just gave her a cold and bemused stare.

“I think I should go and check on her to see if she’s alright,” Fluttershy offered. “If that’s alright with any of you, I mean.”

“Go right ahead, dear,” Rarity confirmed. “We’ll look after things here.”

Fluttershy nodded in response before heading off in Sunset’s direction.

---

    When Sunset rushed into the restroom, she was relieved to see that she was the only one in it for the time being because as soon as she was in, she made a beeline for the closest stall before she began heaving up the contents of her digested lunch from earlier.

    “Wow, Sunset," remarked a female voice in her head that sounded just like hers--but with a darker, mocking tone.“Either your lunch didn’t agree with you, or that our ex-boyfriend put a curse on himself that makes us sick every time you see him. Wait. Scratch that second ‘us’.  I forgot that without me, you’re nothing but a pathetic and helpless little girl.”

    Sunset wasn’t afraid of this voice, because she knew it all to well. It was the remnant of her old self that didn’t have the strength to overwhelm her, but had the ability to demoralize Sunset anyway it could. She may have been reformed, but the guilt she carried with her haunted her in this kind of manner.

    “Will you stay out of this?” Sunset hissed aloud at herself when she stopped vomiting.

    “Nope. No can do. Can I ask why you want to get back together with that douche who broke your heart in the first place?”

    “He’s not a douche!” Sunset shouted. “It was because of you that he did so!”

    “Me?” the voice asked, pretending to be hurt and offended. “Why, I would never cause my own friend to get herself dumped.”

“We were never friends,” Sunset said, now in a low and disdainful tone. “You were just my jealousy that soon evolved into a dangerous and murderous demonic creature.”

“For your information, I was just doing you a favor!” it argued. “That princess was the only one who had to die in the first place. Those five obnoxious girls just had to intervene. Of course, it would’ve been satisfying for them to go up in smoke as well; but then they wouldn’t be around to make great slaves to us, now would they?”

“Those are my friends that you are talking about,” Sunset seethed. “And I’m glad that they defeated you. I had no intention of killing anybody or anypony at all. I may have been envious and impatient, but I never had the will to commit such a crime.”

“Right,” the voice stated, giving Sunset the mental image of herself rolling her eyes out of annoyance. “No one could possibly become so jealous and hateful of their enemies, that they wouldn’t ever want to get rid of them for good. That makes all kinds of sense. Not!”

“Will you just shut up already?!” Sunset nearly screamed. “I won’t give into what I once was! I know my friends care about me, and that they’ll do anything to make me a better person!”

There was a moment of silence as if the voice in Sunset’s head did do as it was told, but it was short lived when it calmly asked, “As in trying to reconnect you with Flash for a real and meaningful relationship?”

Its words hit Sunset like a brick, but she didn’t get angry. Instead, she just sighed solemnly.

“Yeah. Something like that,” she replied quietly.

“But you reacted by pushing them away. Tell me this, Sunset. Are you really that scared of getting a second chance for true love? So afraid that you treat the people who are trying to help you in the first place like crap? What do you really want for your own happiness, huh?”

Sunset hesitated for a brief moment.

“I want Flash Sentry back, for a real relationship this time,” she finally answered.

“Then what are you waiting for?” the voice asked in a near commanding demeanor. “You might as well go before it’s too late. He may already be flirting with another girl back at that party as we speak. Prove to yourself that you’re not scared.”

“I will,” Sunset told herself sternly. “I’ll show you! I’ll show them all!”

Sunset then stomped over to the bathroom door and swung it open, only to have a surprised Fluttershy to fall on to her, and make them both land quite hard on the floor.

“Fluttershy?” Sunset asked after she recovered from the sudden shock. “What were you doing by the door?”

“I….um...I was,” Fluttershy stuttered nervously, not knowing what she could say.

Sunset however got an obvious impression when she realized that Fluttershy had perched herself against the door at an angle that would cause her to stumble in if someone had opened the door in such a hasty way.

“You weren't….eavesdropping were you?” she asked with a raised brow.

“Eep!” Fluttershy squeaked while bringing her arms and fists up to her face to hide her shame and embarrassment. Tears even began to form in her eyes as well.

Sunset’s expression softened to show that she wasn’t going to yell at her. She then gently asked, “How much did you hear?”

“Q-quite a lot,” Fluttershy replied, still sounding a bit afraid. “But who were you talking to? There seemed to be nobody in the restroom except you.”

“I was just having a talk with myself,” Sunset replied with a small smile and chuckle. She was trying to make light of the situation. “I’m sure not a day goes by when you, or anyone else has a self-conversation.”

“Well yeah; but it sounded more like an arguement than a talk. Are you sure you’re alright?”

“I’m fine, really,” Sunset replied, but still was actually unsure. “I guess I just went through a little phase for a moment there--but everything is cool now.”

Fluttershy relaxed, but she still was uneasy about Sunset’s so-called phase. It sounded really serious, and a bit dark to the ears.

“Well...if you say that everything is alright, then that’s good news, I guess. Me and the girls were really worried about you when you took off so suddenly like that.”

“I’m truly sorry about that too. I guess I should come clean about it, though.”

“You really don’t have to,” Fluttershy said, but Sunset raised her hand.

“No, no. I must. I remember from one of my lessons from Princess Celestia was that you had to be open with other ponies or people. It’s a shame at that time that I didn’t believe her.”

Fluttershy gently put a warm and comforting hand on Sunset’s shoulder, smiling softly.

“You can’t keep being hard on yourself about the past, even if it was that hard on you. Sure it’s impossible to go back to that time and try to make things right then and there, but that doesn’t mean you can do it for the present and the future.”

Sunset smiled back.

“You’re right, Fluttershy, and right now, I’m going to try and make amends meet with Flash as a major start.”

“Are you sure you’re up for it though?” Fluttershy asked, now looking a bit worried. “I mean if seeing Flash was the cause of that episode you had in the latrines, then I think that maybe we should come with you to offer some moral support.”

“It’s a nice offer, but I think it’s best if I do this alone. Don’t wish for him to think I’m trying to be desperate or anything. You understand, right?”

“Of course I do, and I think the others would to. I guess I’ll get back to them now and leave you to your task. I hope everything goes okay,” Fluttershy said, still looking and sounding unsure if she should let Sunset go in alone--but she understood it was the right thing to do.

“Same here, Fluttershy. You can rejoin the others now. I’ll rejoin you when I’m finished,” Sunset assured, maintaining a confident smile.

“Alright then,” Fluttershy said one final time before she headed off to join the others.

Once Sunset saw that Fluttershy was indeed back with the girls, she turned her glance toward Flash, who was now alone near the punch bowl. This was the perfect opportunity now to hopefully talk to him without his own friends causing the situation to be awkward, despite that it would be even now since they haven't spoken to each other ever since their split.

Taking a deep and calming breath, Sunset began to smoothly make her way towards Flash, who was still fortunately staying where he was for the time being.

Okay, Sunset. You can do this, she thought to herself. Since you proved to everyone at school that you are no longer something they need to fear, perhaps it means that someone you had feelings for may be willing to give you a second chance.

“Or not,” the voice added with a sinister snicker. “You already know that they have never forgotten what you have done to them all, and Flash hasn’t either. You’re chances of getting back together with Flash are a half to nothing.”

I’m aware of that, Sunset said in her thoughts. But you cannot stop me from at least trying!

“You won’t succeed,”

Watch me,

“Um. Hello, Flash,” Sunset said shyly when she was at least a comfortable five foot distance away from him. He hadn’t acknowledged her presence yet, so Sunset knew she had to be the one to start the conversation in hopes that it would become one.

Flash turned his attention toward the direction of Sunset’s voice, and looked a little surprised to see his ex-girlfriend standing right by him, but he quickly relaxed his composure.

“Oh hey, Sunset,” he replied with a small and calm smile. “Sorry that I didn’t hear you approach. Must be the noise of everyone here having a good time.”

“Or the fact that he knew what your footsteps sounded like, and on purposely ignored you in the hopes that you would go away.”

“Well Pinkie’s parties are always full of commotion,” Sunset stated with a chuckle, ignoring her self-taunt. “I’m sure everyone here at school hasn’t recalled a moment when a celebration hosted by her wasn’t dull.”

They both shared a small laugh before it momentarily ceased.

“So what has been going on with you and the girls lately?” Flash asked.

“Oh, the usual stuff. Weekend slumber parties, planning and arranging gigs for the band, working on class projects or assignments together. Not really exciting, I know. What about you?”

“Same for the final two,” Flash said with a shrug. “Me and the guys may not have ‘slumber parties’, but having late night parties while blasting loud rock music until the police show up at our door can definitely count as one.”

Sunset and Flash shared another laugh which was a little more spirited this time, but they both still felt the awkwardness of being in each other’s presence.

“I guess you love the thrill of being a rebel, eh?” Sunset asked.

“I’m not really a rebel,” Flash stated with a smirk. “I’m just a little rebellious, that’s all. But I suppose if I put it that way, then it sounds the same doesn’t it?”

“I guess so,” Sunset replied with a light chuckle.

“You do realize that you’re stalling, right?” the voice asked, sounding bemused. “Or most likely--he is.”

I can’t rush it! I’m not desperate you know?

“I never said you were. I just thought I’d get you back on track incase the main objective that you’re trying to complete is beginning to slip away.”

I don’t need you in on this! You got me in this dilemma in the first place, and I’m not about to let you to intervene. Now leave me alone and get out of my head!

“Can’t make a promise on that second command. You could try sneezing hard to see if anything helps, but I strongly wouldn’t advise it.”

Sunset emitted an annoyed sigh to the confusion of Flash.

“Is something the matter, Sunset?” he asked with a raised brow.

Sunset snapped herself back to reality and softened her expression when she made eye contact with Flash.

“No, I’m fine,” she excused sheepishly. “I guess I sort of spaced out for a moment there. Sorry about that.”

Flash still looked concerned.

“Are you sure you’re alright? I mean, you looked as if you have a lot on your mind. If there’s something you want to tell me, then please feel free to do so. I’ll do whatever I can to help you.”

Sunset was quite baffled that Flash was that eager to help, or even listen to her despite all of the things that have happened to them in the past; but it seemed as if he has already forgiven her for her mistakes and sins.  She wasn’t exactly sure however if he was being sincere with her, but she had nothing to use to deny her theory.

“Well, since you put it that way; then yes, I have had a lot of things to think about recently, and you could say that it’s been bringing me down a bit,” Sunset admitted.

“Well, what is it then?” he asked more eagerly.

This is it, Sunset, she thought anxiously to herself. Ask him now while you have this chance.

“I…,” she began, but then suddenly, her mind was somehow reverted back to the memories of how Flash seemed to be swooning over Twilight. First with him asking the pony princess to dance after her defeat, to the moment of how he embraced her after the Battle of the Bands competition. These signals were all too clear for Sunset to deny.

“I….I’m sorry,” she whimpered as she began to break down all of the sudden.

Flash gave a surprised and confused look at Sunset’s sudden change in demeanor.

“Sunset? I don’t understand. What’s going on here?”

“Don’t deny it, Flash,” Sunset replied. Her tone was cold and soft, but it still signified how emotionally fragile she was. “I already know that you have an eye for her, so I already know what the answer is going to be. And you know what? You can have her for all I care! You deserve better than me anyway.”

Sunset just happened to be speaking loud enough for the entire gym to go quiet and compel all souls within the vicinity to gaze at the ongoing drama. Flash and Sunset were not even paying attention to the audience that surrounded them. It was like they were street performers acting in a play.

Flash went silent for a moment as he tried to think about what girl Sunset was referring to; and luckily, he didn’t have a hard time to remember who it was.

“Do you mean...Twilight?” he simply asked.

Sunset rolled her annoyed and moist eyes.

“Who else? Fleur De Lis?” she retorted with depressed sarcasm.

Flash was now starting to get the idea of why Sunset was acting like this, and the reason why she possibly approached him in the first place. He wasn’t mad at her at all, or thought that she was acting like a spoiled child. Instead, he felt horrible about the way he treated her after her reformation by acting like she wasn’t important or didn’t even exist.

He knew he witnessed what she was like after she was turned back to normal after her She-Demon incident, and did feel a bit sympathetic for the condition she was in at that very moment. Battered, scared, and seeking mercy and forgiveness. He was, at first, wary of running into her even after she changed her ways and rebuilt part of the school that she had demolished. It was a punishment that she deserved, but she didn’t deserve the grudge that every student, besides the five girls that stood by Twilight, held against her.

Now that she helped Twilight and the Rainbooms defeat the Dazzlings who were actually banished Sirens from Equestria, the entire student body of CHS had began to respect and trust Sunset a little more. Of course, the memories of what she’s done to them still lingered in their heads, but the grudges they beared against her were removed.

However, Flash realized that he hadn’t done the same thing. To show that he still had room in his heart to forgive her, or to even consider giving her a second chance to go out with him again. He just couldn’t believe how selfish he had been this entire time, and hadn’t realized it yet.

“Sunset. I…” he began, but Sunset cut him off.

“No,” she stated while raising one hand in front of his face. “I don’t want to hear any excuses. You know what you want, and I don’t wish to be the one to change your mind. I know Twilight well enough to know that she can be the ideal girl for you. As long as she’s happy, then I am to.”

Sunset forced a sad smile, but her mouth quickly began to quiver, along with a small suppressed sob to escape it. When she managed to regain some control over herself, she resumed eye contact with Flash before she said, “I’m sorry for bothering you. I know that you don’t fully forgive for what I’ve done in the past, but I hope that we can still be just friends.”

With that, Sunset quickly turned away from Flash and hurriedly headed for the exit from the gymnasium. The students that were in Sunset’s path weren't hesitant enough to get out of her way. They knew not to fear or hate her anymore, but by that episode that she was creating in front of them, they thought it was best to give her some space until she calms down.

When Sunset disappeared from sight, Flash could only stand there in utter, confused silence. He knew he should’ve called out to her to stop, or to go after her to make reason. Unfortunately, he didn’t consider to actually fall through with either option. His mind just went blank.

He was suddenly snapped out of his trance when a light cyan hand forcefully took him by his shoulder, and was spun around to face a displeased looking Rainbow Dash, along with the rest of the friends who had different expressions of concern.

“Alright, Casanova. Start talking,” Rainbow demanded.

“Huh?” Flash replied, still a bit dazed.

“Don’t play dumb! We saw the whole thing unfold,” Rainbow sneered. “Just who do you think you are, huh?”

“Rainbow, please simmer down,” Applejack interjected. “We ain’t here ta be threatenin’.”

Her expression then almost became like Rainbow’s.

“But we do want to know what made Sunset so upset like that. Surely ya did or said somethin’ that set ‘er off like that.”

“I hardly got to say anything,” Flash exasperated.

“Then what happened then?” Rarity asked with a furrowed brow.

“Well, she was about to tell me what was bothering her since I wanted to help her find a way to overcome it; then out of nowhere, she started to breakdown and tell me off. I can’t really explain it anymore than that.” Flash explained with a shrug. “But I already know what it was about, since she did happen to mention Twilight.”

The girls shared looks of mutual understanding that Flash had seemed to get what was troubling Sunset, so they relaxed a bit. But they didn’t let Flash off so easy yet.

“Well if you figured it out, then why didn’t you tell Sunset about how you really felt about Twilight in the first place?” Rainbow insisted.

“Like I said before: she didn’t even allow me to finish any of my sentences,” Flash replied, a bit annoyed that he had to repeat himself. “She just jumped to a conclusion, just like that.”

His expression then reverted to a look of guilt.

“She was right however about the part of me admiring Twilight though.”

“Well of course we all knew that was obvious,” Rarity stated. “But we still agree that it was selfish of you to not acknowledge her even after she helped us defeat the Dazzlings. A ‘thank you, Sunset’ would’ve been acceptable as well.”

Flash stared down at the floor as he began to feel more of the regret that was building up inside him during Sunset’s semi-trifled and emotional tirade. With such an act as hers, Flash now knew that Sunset wasn’t the brash and cynical bad girl that he remembered her as. He was now seeing her as an extremely sensitive, but good-hearted individual who was misunderstood and under-appreciated, even after her reformation. If he only got to understand her better before breaking her heart in the past, he may have stopped her from falling into power-hungry madness that soon fully corrupted her.

“Do any of you think now would be a good time to at least go after her, so I can try to clear all this up?” he asked all five of the girls.

They all simultaneously nodded in agreement.

“It wouldn’t hurt,” Rarity said. “But you best choose your words wisely. If it’s true that you’re interested in Twilight now, or any other girl for that matter: you have to let her know, but you must reassure her that she is still competent enough of rebounding for finding true love. Your decision is completely up to you really; but consider the fact that everyone deserves second chances, darling.”

“I understand,” Flash said simply, even if he was already aware of that fact. But he knew making his decision final wasn’t going to be easy. It would be even more of a challenge if Sunset wasn’t going to be willing to listen.

“Then ya better go then,” Applejack urged. “God knows what she’s doin’ now.”

“She’s obviously heading for her apartment to sulk,” Pinkie said with a disappointed frown.

“How do you even know that?” Flash asked with a raised brow.

“I would probably do the same if I felt what she was feeling,” Pinkie replied with a shrug of her shoulders. “Then again, doesn’t everybody mostly?”

Flash took a brief moment to think Pinkie’s theory over because he wasn’t sure if it was believable or not--but knowing what the party girl’s anti-logical stunts, she might be spot on.

“Alright,” he finally said. “If I’m successful at getting through to her, I’ll bring her right back here if the banquet is still going on by then.”

“It’ll end at five,” Pinkie confirmed.

“Good. Two hours is all I need anyway,” Flash stated before beginning to exit the gym.

When Flash disappeared from sight, the girls exchanged glances of concern with each other.

“I hope that he can help Sunset feel better about herself after this,” Fluttershy said.

“He should be able to, sugarcube,” Applejack assured. “This is somethin’ that he has ta do by himself.”

“I so wanted to knee him in the groin for treating Sunset the way he did,” Rainbow stated with a clenched fist.

“Rainbow, please,” Rarity scoffed. “Violence won’t solve anything. It’s true that he should’ve shown appreciation for Sunset helping us beat those dreadful sirens, but him and her working this out is the only solution we have.”

“But I don’t get why Sunset was chuckling when Flash embraced Twilight?” Pinkie asked, looking a bit confused.

“Sometimes a smile is a strong mask for what someone is truly feeling,” Rarity explained matter-of-factly. “Even I could tell that Sunset was troubled when Applejack mentioned that Flash asked about Twilight in the first place.”

All eyes glanced at Applejack, who wore a face of shame and embarrassment.

“Uh...mah bad,” she cringed sheepishly.

“It’s not your fault, darling,” Rarity assured. “As I always say it’s nobody’s. What we can only do now is to wait and hope for the best.”