"What?" I asked, staring at the young fashionista.

She was hauling down a bolt of cloth, smiling. I wasn't sure why she'd dragged me to the fabric store, but she'd insisted. Clearly it was a trap.

Rarity continued. "I'm just saying, it would be nice to go see Princess Twilight again. I'm sure barring some kind of disaster she'd be perfectly happy to host us. Plus I'd get a chance to see this exciting world you seem so keen on!"

I felt my fingers twitch. "Um... Rarity, you do realize that if we went back there you would turn into a pony right?"

Rarity shrugged, "So? Ooh! Darling, hold up this pattern for a moment, I think the color really brings out the highlights in your hair."

I rolled my eyes and picked up the bolt of cloth. "Look, Rarity I understand your curiosity, but it wouldn't be safe. Equestria has more than it's fair share of monster attacks."

Rarity nodded, "As do we... No, no put that down dear, that's clearly more of a crimson red and you're more of an ember red." She put the bolt back on the shelf and examined a light blue one. "The portal is located right in Princess Twilight's castle correct? I assume that means we would have her protection. Besides dear, it's not as though we couldn't send her a message and ask her if something was wrong."

I bit my lip. It was a lot easier to argue with someone when they weren't being so... reasonable. Fortunately there was still a way out of this. I shot her a smile. "Okay Rarity, if you want to go to Equestria I'm sure Twilight would be happy to host you. I'm afraid I can't make it this weekend though, so it will just be you two."

Even with her back turned I could sense her smirk. "Oh no dear, you're free."

I blinked... then crossed my arms. "How do you know that?"

She turned back to me, her hands on her hips. "Because I checked with all the girls. None of them have booked you and there are no major class assignments coming up."

I glared at her. "You've been spying on me?"

Rarity rolled her eyes. "Asking a person's friends if they have anything scheduled is hardly spying." She looked at me, concerned. "Sunset, how long are you going to put this off?"

I stared at her, anger welling up in my chest. "How long am I going to put off what? Leaving all my friends behind? Getting arrested for High Treason? I'm stuck in this hole, Rarity! I thought that was freaking obvious!"

A few people poked their heads around. I forced myself to smile and pretend everything was normal. Eventually they just went back to shopping. It wasn't like someone else's fight was their problem anyway...

"We can take this somewhere more private if you want dear," Rarity said evenly.

I grit my teeth. "It's fine." At least she wasn't trying to pin me here. Heck, we'd even come in separate cars. I could just leave and forget this conversation ever happened. Rarity would probably let me do that right? I glanced to the door.

"You can leave if you want." Rarity said. "I'm not going to force anything on you, but..." She eyed a bolt of silvery cloth with a grimace. "I just want you to take a step."

I raised an eyebrow. "Rarity, ever since I befriended you guys I've done nothing but take steps. I've changed my mood, I've changed my reputation, I've turned into a magical girl and saved the world..."

Rarity nodded. "Those are good things dear... But you never set foot back home. And don't tell me you're going to get arrested, Twilight was the wronged party and she forgave you about two seconds after you felt an ounce of remorse."

I bit my lip. "Maybe... Rarity, what if I don't want to go back home? I mean that's valid right? I don't want to see Celestia or all of Twilight's friends who probably still think of me as a monster or..." I shook my head. "I just don't want to go there, okay?"

Rarity put a hand on my shoulder. "You don't have to Sunset. And I can understand you wanting to stay with us. I'd certainly miss you if you left. But I feel like your reasons for not wanting to go back are based in the idea that..." She looked away.

"That what!?" I snapped. I was running out of patience.

"That you still think you're a bad person," She said.

I winced. "I am a bad person," I replied.

Now it was Rarity's turn to glare. "No Sunset, you're not. And if anyone says otherwise I will destroy them. You may have gone through a dark period in your life, but what matters is the person you are right now."

I gulped. I was never going to win this argument by badmouthing myself, even if I deserved it. "Rarity I... I'm not sure I can face her."

She raised an eyebrow. "Twilight?"

I shook my head. "No... Celestia."

She opened her mouth, but I cut her off. "Yeah, I know, to you she's just some principal, but to me she's... She's more than that."

I felt myself curling down, hugging my arms tight. "She... She's kind of my mom."

Rarity blinked. She put a hand on my shoulder. "Sunset... If that's true, I'm certain all she wants is to know you're safe..."

I grit my teeth. "Damnit, Rarity I know that! Intellectually, I know that, but there's a chance... A chance she'd throw me away. And who would blame her? I don't deserve her love."

She pulled me into a hug. "Sunset, no! You can't... You can't think like that!"

I pushed her off. "Don't touch me!" I snapped.

Rarity fell into the wall of fabric samples, harder than I'd intended. My eyes went wide. "Rarity! Oh no, are you okay?"

She held up her hands before I could get closer. "I'm fine dear. I'm tougher than I look." She looked down at my shaking hands and shook her head. "I'm much more worried about you."

I put my hands down. I can't believe I just did that... "I- I need to go. Somewhere private. Somewhere where I can blow off steam."

She gestured to the back stairwell. "We could go to the roof, barely anyone goes up there so-"

"Perfect." I said, stepping back. "But... Stay down here, okay? I want to be alone."

"Sunset..."

I narrowed my eyes. "It's only two stories Rarity, I couldn't do anything if I tried!"

Her eyes went wide. "I... I hadn't even considered that."

I felt a shiver roll down my spine. "Yeah, well... don't." I met her gaze, speaking softly. "Look Rare, I don't want to hurt you. Right now that's all I'm good for."

I turned around and marched myself to the stairwell. I needed to hit something. I needed to scream! I needed... I had no idea what I needed.

"Sunset!"

I froze.

"Look," Came Rarity's voice. "I know you have a checkered past, but... That's all it is alright? It isn't what defines you."

She let out a breath. "Your past is not today. Today people care about you."

I winced, turning my back on her. "Sure Rarity, sure..." Next Chapter: Auld Lang Syne (for Revenant Wings) Estimated time remaining: 2 Hours, 12 Minutes