Chapter 11.

Twilight walked into the church looking around she didn’t see Pinkie Pie or the three girls that made up the CMC present. Her eyes fell onto the brown cowboy hat that Applejack wore all the time. It was the same one that her Applejack would wear back in Equestria. That hat was a old dusty, worn out brown leather thing which really needed some much needed maintenance performed on it.  The only difference with this hat and the one that Applejack from Equestria wore was this version of her hat had a red apple on the front of it.

Twilight thought to herself as she walked inside the church.

“I really don’t want to be here I don’t want to make this any more real than what it already is. I am so glad that Pinkie and the crusaders are not here today. I couldn't bare the thought of seeing either of them right now. Nothing would have stopped me from sending them all into the Tantibus for this outrage!”

Twilight sighed as she slowly made her way up the center of the aisle towards where Applejack was sitting. As Twilight walked up the aisle she noticed that students sitting on both sides of either her left or right once they saw her turned and looked away. As they hung their heads with shame. A real sense of loss and shame was starting to show in their faces as she took her seat next to Applejack. Once she sat down she turned around to see who all was actually in the audience of the funeral. She saw Vice Principal Luna and her sister Principal Celestia towards the back of the church. Looking at both of them she saw that they both looked tired from all the crying they had done. She also say Lemon Chime and Honey Bare Blossom sitting next to the two Principal’s.  Twilight again thought to herself as she looked around the church.

“Why am I even here? I have no reason to forgive them for what they did to Sunset. Maybe I should just get up and leave? I don’t even want to be here for this.”

Just as she was about to get out of her chair to leave the church the priest came out and noded to a nun sitting in front of a piano. Applejack seeing that Twilight was about to leave whispered to her.

“Twilight what's wrong? You look like the fox that got caught in a hen house” Applejack whispered to Twilight.

Twilight sighed as she slowly straightened her dress out then whispered back to her former friend.

“I just don’t want to do this Applejack I really don’t want to be here and I don’t want to have to forgive any of you for causing this.”  

“I see. Sugarcube you don’t have to forgive us. We all know that we messed up badly with Sunset. If you would rather not be here that is ok with us we all understand fully. But, would you at least be willing to stay not for yourself but, rather for Sunsets memory?” Applejack whispered back.

Twilight was about to answer when the priest started talking Twilight decided to remain where she was and listen to what the priest had to say. Thinking that perhaps his words might help to sway her mind about her feelings for forgiveness towards her former friends. Sadly the priest words did little to alleviate Twilight's anger and feelings of guilt.

“Young people of Canterlot High School you have all come here today to pay your respects to one known as Sunset Shimmer. Whom I am told was loved by many as her life was cut too short for being one so young. I look at you all and I do not see tears falling from guilt over her tragic death but, rather tears of love and remorse at losing someone so young and so loved.”

Twilight's lower lips began to shake with anger at hearing that Sunset was actually loved by these people. The very same people that drove her friend to commit suicide Applejack noticed Twilight’s lip shaking and placed a hand over her left knee. Twilight looked at her former friend then back at the priest as she heard Applejack whisper to her.

“Sugarcube don’t make a scene not here please. We…... I mean none of us need that right now. I know the priest words must sting and hurt like a bullwhip cracking on your skin. But if you make a scene it will only cause a uproar. Please Twilight I am begging you to remain in your seat. Let the priest say what he wants then chastise him afterwards.” Applejack whispered softly to Twilight.

As the priest finished his words he turned to the nun playing softly on the piano and nodded to her signaling to her that it was time to let people come up and say there piece. Sunsets coffin sat next to a large oak podium. Red, yellow, and orange roses covered most of the metal cassette. A large portrait of her and her friends was next to the coffin. The portrait had a black banner wrapped around it from the left side to the right. On the banner written in silver were the words. ‘In loving memory’ Twilight lowered her head as the priest said to those that attended Sunset’s funeral.

“Those of you that would like to say a few words of remembrance of Mrs. Sunset Shimmer may do so now.” The priest said as he stepped away from the podium.  

Lemon Chime was the first to speak up as she slowly stood up from her seat next to Vice Principal Luna.  

“I would like to say something about Sunset Shimmer if I may?” Lemon Chime said as she made her way up to the podium.

Lemon Chime straightened her dress out then looked out at the crowd of students and faculty that had attended Sunsets funeral. Clearing her throat she said as she held a microphone in her hand that had been attached to the podium.

“I didn’t know Sunset Shimmer very well. I was a transfer student and didn’t really make friends all that well at C.H.S. From what I learned of her I will remember always. I learned that she was a kind and gentle person that loved to hang out with her friends. I was a little shocked when she asked me one day to help her put together flyers for Fluttershy’s animal shelter. The two of us must have talked for what had to be hours on end. We talked about all sorts of things I had no idea that she loved flowers so much. That is why we have such beautiful red orange and yellow roses here as they were her favorite flowers. I will always remember her sweet and gentle voice.” Lemon Chime said as she began to cry.

The priest seeing that she was crying helped her back to her seat and took the microphone and walked it back up to the podium. Honey Bear Blossom was next to speak as she took the microphone and said to the people in attendance of Sunsets funeral.

“I will always miss that beautiful smile of hers. She would always smile and laugh at one of my not so funny corny jokes. I will miss that about her. She was the first person to respect that I don’t attend church and just being inside this one makes me nervous. I liked how she didn’t judge me for being different and I know that she is in a better place now.” Honey Bear Blossom said as she stood in front of the students and crowd that attended Sunset’s funeral.

Watching her take her seat Twilight looked at her then turned her attention back towards the front of the church. Twilight wanted to go up then and there and say somethings that would otherwise be inappropriate for a time such as this. But, instead she remained in her seat. As Honey Bare Blossom finished what she wanted to say then Principal Luna was the next to step up. Looking out at the crowd of people she cleared her throat then said gently to them all.

“I will take away from this whole tragedy Sunset’s fierce need to be on top of everything. Her drive to bring out the best in herself and others. After the events of the Fall Formal I noticed even though that most of that drive was gone she still had something to prove of herself. That there was another side to her and that she wouldn’t let her past define her because her past was not today.” Luna said as she slowly placed the microphone back onto the podium then took her seat next to her sister.  

Principal Celestia was the next one up she looked at the crowd then over at the four of Sunsets friends that had attended the funeral. Before she said to all the students.

“I will always remember Sunset for her kindness and compassion for all peoples I will also miss hearing her play her guitar. She could play that thing like there was no tomorrow. I will also miss hearing her sing too she had the most beautiful voice of any one that ever heard.” Principal Celestia said as she set the microphone back on the podium then took her seat next to her sister.

Rarity was the next one to speak as she made her way up to the podium she straightened her dress out then cleared her throat before speaking.

“I will remember when Sunset first came to my family's clothing store to ask for a favor I was not sure how to handle it being that she had just been reformed. I will always remember the kindness she showed my little sister that day when she dropped her ice cream cone and Sunset had offered to buy her a new one. The favor she had asked me was to teach her how to sew so that she could take care of her own clothing. Trying to teach her what to do with a sewing needle was a riot of laughter. I think she stuck herself with that silly needle at least six or ten times. But, no matter how painful it must have been for her she never gave up. She was eventually able to learn how to sew she even came up with some pretty interesting designs. Some of which I still have make in my clothing shop. I will also remember the time when she and I first went to a movie with my little sister I don’t think I have ever seen her laugh that much than I did that day.” Rarity said as she turned and laid her hand onto Sunsets coffin.

Rarity slowly took her seat then buried her face into her hands and began to cry. Fluttershy gave her a warm hug then headed up to the podium to say her fondest memories about Sunset. Holding the microphone in her hands she slowly breathed in and out before speaking to the crowd of students and faculty.

“I will remember when she helped me with my flyers and with at the animal shelter we had a lot of baby bunnies and kittens that needed good homes. Sunset had gotten up early even early for her to help with this. It took us all day long to help find homes for all those animals when we were done she had fallen asleep in the back of the shelter. I will remember always just how cute she looked with angel bunny curled up on top of her and her head resting on her backpack. She was a very beautiful and wonderful person. I will miss her terribly.” Fluttershy said to the crowd of students and faculty of C.H.S.

Twilight wanted now more than ever to start screaming at her former friends for how they had treated Sunset. To hear Fluttershy say these kind words about Sunset and to know how she and the others had treated her was almost too much for her to bare. As Fluttershy took her seat she looked over at Twilight then got up and walked over to her and hugged her. Twilight didn’t return the warm embrace she sat there shaking with anger. Fluttershy noticed this and softly said to her while hugging her friend.

“I am so sorry for how we all treated her Twilight please you have to believe me.” Fluttershy said as she began to cry while holding onto Twilight.

“I believe you had better take your damn seat and let go of me Fluttershy! I don’t want to hear how sorry you are for how you treated Sunset. None of you understand my pain or my anger towards this whole situation!” Twilight whispered to her so that the rest of her former friends wouldn’t hear her.

Fluttershy clearly hearing her words and slowly letting go of her former friend walked back to her seat, sat back down and began to cry. She was hurt that Twilight didn’t recuperate the hug she had given her and was sad knowing that Sunset would never be able to be at the animal shelter again. Fluttershy cried into her hands while her friend Rainbow Dash held her in her arms sobbing. Fluttershy said to Rainbow who was holding her tightly in her arms.

“Twilight hates us Rainbow she hates us. I didn’t need to hear her say it but, I can tell she hates us for what we did to Sunset. Oh, Rainbow what are we going to do? I can’t bare the thought of losing another good friend.” Fluttershy sobbed into Rainbow’s arms.

“I don’t think she actually hates us flutters I think she is just in pain like the rest of us are and she is lashing out. We each of us hurt her badly with how we acted towards Sunset. I am sure if you give her some time she will come around and you two will be friends again. Just let her have her time and I am sure all will work out sooner or latter.” Rainbow said holding onto the crying girl in her arms.

Rainbow held Fluttershy for almost twenty minutes before Rarity took a hold of her allowing Rainbow to step up to the podium to say her piece about Sunset Shimmer.

“You all know me pretty well and you know that I would always be loyal to my friends no matter what. What I will miss the most of Sunset Shimmer is her way that she played sports with me. True she wasn’t very good at it and often I had to go ‘easy’ on her but, she never let up nor did she ever seem to not enjoy playing sports with me. I remember a time when she got into a fist fight with Gilda it had to be at least six on one. Well me being loyal to her and Sunset being one of my closest friends of course I jumped in. After we wiped the floor with Gilda and her cronies I asked Sunset if she was OK. I will always recall her reply to me. She had said to me. ‘You want to do that again, that was fun’? Of course I had to help her home something that she really didn’t think was all that necessary at the time being. I will miss most of all her competitive nature that girl could sure kick a mean football. There was this other time when she and I were practicing for the schools football league and I didn’t know it at the time but, Sunset could kick and I mean REALLY kick. She missed the ball and wound up nailing me right in the stomach. But, it was all good cause I was you know her friend. I will miss you Sunset” Rainbow said turning to Sunsets cassette and laying a hand on it before returning to her seat again.

Applejack was the next to go up to the podium looking at the crowd of people she lowered her head the slowly picked up the microphone and raised it to her lips. Saying into it as the crowd of students and faculty both watched her.

“I will miss Sunsets need to learn about everything. I remember when I invited her over to Sweet Apple Acres and she had seen a horse for the first time. We wound up spending the entire day talking about horses and Sunset actually got the stones to try to ride old stomper. Yeah that didn’t go over to well for her that is it was a laugh riot for me though. She would get on stompers back and try to ride him out to the west pastor only to get bucked off again and again. But, no matter how many times that stupid horse would buck my friend off his back she always got back up and tried again. Then there was the time when she actually wanted to learn about growing apples and other forms of food. I think when I saw her the next day at the library in school she had to have had at least sixty or eighty books in front of her. All of them were on farming and growing different types of food. She would look up at me every now and then and ask me all sorts of questions about farming. Sunset would sit there across from me saying stuff like ‘Hey A.J. did you know that you can use corn to make bread with?’ or she would ask “Hey Applejack did you know that stomper might like apples with carrots?’. It got to where I had to get her to put the books down and actually go with me to my home to show her all the wonderful things that she was learning about. But, that was Sunset for Y’all dive right in and take it all by the horns. I will always miss that about her.” Applejack said as she slowly lowered the microphone and pulled her hat over her eyes then took her seat and began to cry.

Finally Twilight went up to the podium she looked out at the faces in the crowd of people that had attended Sunsets funeral. Seeing that many of them turned away not wanting to be reminded of their shame. Reaching into her backpack she pulled out Sunsets journal the one that she and Sunset used to communicate to each other with. She laid it open to a entry she had marked and had wanted to read to the students of Canterlot High School. Looking back up at the students as she read the page silently to herself she said as she held the microphone up to her lips.

“I had originally came here to speak out at how Sunset had been treated by both students and faculty alike at C.H.S. Yet seeing many of you turn away from me makes me feel as if you don’t want to listen to what I was going to say.”

Twilight looked and saw many of those that had turned away turn back or raise their heads to hear her words better. This only angered her more as she stood there watching the students she saw that Principal Celestia was just barely getting out of her chair. Twilight tilted her head to one side then held out her hand in a fist fingers held upwards in a tight fist. Slowly flexing her fingers outwards a soft whoosh was heard as flames erupted from her velvet colored palm forming a perfect ball of blue and black energy in front of her. Principal Celestia had just gotten out of her chair fully when Twilight yelled to her.

“STAY WHERE YOU ARE CELESTIA! LEST YOU WANT ME TO USE THIS ON YOU AND THE REST OF THE SUPPOSED FRIENDS  AND FAMILY OF SUNSET SHIMMER!” Twilight screamed out in anger as Principal Celestia froze in her place.

Looking at the very terrified looks on every ones faces Twilight slowly lowered her hand and smiled as she said to everyone present in a much calmer tone of voice.

“This students and faculty of Canterlot High School is the Tantibus. It is a prison that was created by my people to imprison people such as the likes of you and your families.” Twilight said as she let the orb float slightly above her palm.

Twilight looked around and saw that Rarity was shaking with fear at the very thought of Twilight using this prison orb on her little sister. She screamed out to her former friend in the hopes that Twilight would reconsider using her magic on her and her little sister.

“TWILIGHT DARLING I BEG YOU PLEASE DON’T DO THIS!” Rarity screamed out in terror.

Looking at her former friend Twilight smiled slightly as she lowered her hand completely putting the orb away. Sighing to herself Twilight turned to Sunset’s coffin and said softly to her fallen friend.

“Don’t worry Sunny I won’t do that to them. I know you wouldn’t want that”.

Turning back around she looked at a very frightened crowd of people staring back at her and again she smiled. Rarity looked at Twilight with fear in her crystal blue eyes ever slightly showing to her former friend. Twilight looking at her then at each of the four of her former friends said slightly grinning.

“Do not worry Rarity I won’t use this on you or family….Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy and Applejack you all needn’t worry I won’t use this on you or family members as well. I will instead of using this read from Sunsets journal. So that you of all those here can fully understand what you took from her.”

Turning back to the podium Twilight picked up the journal. Then she turned back to face the crowd and looked up at them once more before she held up the journal and read allowed from it’s pages.

“Twilight,

I just wanted to let you know that I have begun to look up to the girls here at CHS and have actually started to think of them as family. We had our second sleep over yesterday it was so very nice to see the girls all having fun. I have actually you to thank for teaching me about the meaning of true friendship Twilight. And I hope to learn even more from you and the girls as time passes. I am starting to look up to one of them as more of a sister. Her honesty and compassion for all living and growing things is what is making this possible. Not to mention your teaching me about friendship and what friendship really is. It would be nice to have a sister someone that I could actually look up to and go to for advice when I needed it. I wish to let you know that I am so very happy here at CHS now that I have a family and some one that perhaps someday I can call my sister. Rainbow Dash and I are suppose to try out for the football league in a few weeks I hope I can make a good impression on her. Rarity and I are going to go attend a sewing class shortly after that and I was thinking of making you a sweater for hearth's warming eve in two weeks. Fluttershy has taught me all about animals it does me good to see that with the simplest acts of kindness one can actually do many good things. Thank you so very much Twilight for teaching me friendship. If it wasn’t for you I would never have know either of these beautiful girls. There is something else that I wanted to talk to you about Twilight but, that can wait till latter. I am about to play something called truth or dare with girls so I better get going. I wish you a fond very well and a happy evening Twilight. Oh, before I go Twilight I want you to know that Pinkie Pie and I are in love with each other. But, that is a subject for next time. Until then Twilight I bid you a very fond farewell and a very happy evening Twilight.  

Your faithful and very grateful student

Sunset Shimmer.”

Twilight closed the book just as Applejack got up and ran out of the church. To hear the words ‘I am starting to look up to one of them as more of a sister.’ all but, broke Applejacks heart. Seeing Applejack flee out the door of the church Twilight again smiled to herself as she watched her former friend run out of the church. Sighing she said angrily to all of those present at Sunset’s funeral.

“You all have come up here one by one each of you talking about how much you have either loved or will miss Sunset Shimmer. Each of you have done nothing but, spill your lies during this sad event. I can not believe that any of you actually cared about her at all. You all make me sick to even call any of you her friends. Now if you all will please excuse me I have some one that I need to talk too before I return home. I hope you all rot in Tartarus for what you all have done to Sunset Shimmer and for what you have lied about today.” Twilight said as  put the book back into her backpack.

She then slowly made her way to the church door stopping just in front of Principal and Vice Principals Celestia and luna's benches. Looking at both of them she narrowed her eyes to them both saying coldly to both of them.

“I hope you both live long lives filled with pain knowing that you both could have done something about this and yet did nothing to stop it.” Twilight said angrily to both the principals of CHS.

Principal Luna looked up at her as tears slowly fell from her dark blue cheeks saying softly to Twilight.

“Please Twilight you have to believe us that once we learned of the first posting we did do an investigation. We learned it was the crusaders that caused the trouble at Canterlot and not Mrs. Shimmer.” Luna said crying.

Principal Celestia looked at her then at Twilight before taking a hold her of sisters hand and saying softly to Twilight as she stood there glaring daggers at both of the two Principals.

“Twilight please I know you are upset about this I have already expelled the crusaders for what they did. Please I beg you don’t let your anger take a hold of you and turn you into something that you are not. Please can you forgive us for what has happened here.”

Twilight said nothing further as she walked out of the church and found Applejack leaning on a fence a few feet from the church nursing a badly sprained ankle. Applejack had been crying so badly that when she had ran from the church she didn’t see the steps leading up to the church’s front door and fell spraining her ankle. The physical pain Applejack was in was nothing to what was in her heart at hearing Twilight reading Sunset’s words to her while she and the rest of the girls had attended Sunset’s funeral. Looking at Applejack then down at her hurt ankle Twilight said to her as she knelt down to using a healing spell on her ankle.

“There is something that you and I need to talk about Applejack and you will listen to what I have to say otherwise you will feel even more pain that what you are currently in. Do you fully understand me Applejack?” Twilight said as he held out her hand casting a healing spell on her former friends ankel.

Applejack flinched a bit as she felt her ankle healing and becoming whole once more. Applejack said to Twilight as Twilight continued to cast her healing spell onto Applejacks ankle.  

“Yes Twilight I fully understand what you are telling me. I will not leave here until you are done telling me what it is that you want to tell me. But, can we sit down first I am feeling a bit faint due to the pain that I am in.”

Twilight finished her spell then took Applejack by the hands and led her to a nearby bench that had a bus stop next to it. Sitting down she lowered her backpack to the ground and said to Applejack as she reached inside of it.

“Why did you run from the church Applejack I wasn’t about to use the Tantibus on you for your punishment over Sunsets death?” Twilight asked Applejack as she slowly pulled a small brown piece of parchment out of her backpack.

Applejack looked at Twilight's hand that held the paper then at her former friend and said softly to Twilight as she held up the piece of paper in her hand to Applejack's face.

“I ran because it was my fault entirely for what happened to Sunset. Twilight I know that now. Hearing her words written to you in her journal made that crystal clear to me. I am the one that should be punished and not the others so please use your uh, Tantibus on me if you choose to do so I won’t fight with you about it. I know I should be fully punished for what I did to Sunset.” Applejack said to her softly.

Twilight sighed as she held up the paper then said to Applejack.

“You are right you should be punished but, that is not what I am going to do. I am instead of punishing you for what you did to Sunset Shimmer. I will offer you and you alone one single chance to fix this. That is if you actually want to fix it that is. You can still choose to live with this however. I am sure that choice will be far worse that letting you rot in the prison that I was going to put you and the others in.” Twilight said still holding up the piece of a parchment paper in front of Applejack.  

Applejack finally looked long and hard at the paper in Twilight's hand and noticed it starting to glow a soft amber orange as Twilight held it in her hand. Applejack looked at it then up at Twilight before saying to her with confusion in her voice.

“What is this that you are offering me? And why would you even bother offering me this when you have made it clear that our friendship after today is done? I do not understand Twilight.” Applejack said in confusion to Twilight.

Twilight sighed then took Applejacks right hand placed the paper into her hand and closed her fingers around it before saying to her.

“I am not the one that is offering you this Applejack it is actually Princess Celestia that is offering you this chance not I. Believe me when I say to you that you have angered me profusely and if it were really my place I would not be offering you this. In fact you would never have even known about it if it were not for Princess Celestia’s kindness. She is far older and perhaps wiser than I am and it is her that is wanting you to change your past not I. I feel that you should be made to live with what you have done not be given the means to change it. Celestia has requested that I at least offer you the chance to change your past her word is law and being the Princess of Friendship. I am oath bound and oath sworn to obey her words. She requested this and thus I have obeyed without question to her.” Twilight said angrily to Applejack as she sat next to her and placed the scroll into Applejacks hand.

“I do not understand Twilight what do you mean by ‘change your past’?” Asked Applejack in confusion to Twilight while she griped the piece of paper in her hand.

“ What I am offering you is a literal means to go back through time and change your past Applejack. However before you say anything you need to know a few things about this time spell.” Twilight replied as as she held out her hand all five fingers pointing up as she spoke to Applejack.

Applejack watched Twilight lower one finger each time she spoke to her showing what each rule she would have to obey if she was to use what Twilight had just given her. Twilight spoke with such authority that her voice almost boomed like thunder as she listed off each rule for Applejack to hear fully.

“One. If you fully choose to use this then you choose to understand completely that death does not like being denied her meals and she has fed rather well today hasn’t she Applejack?”

Applejack didn’t reply to Twilight's question she instead pulled her hat down over her eyes as tears fell from her eyes and trickled down her amber colored cheeks. She sat there thinking about what Twilight had just asked her. Only to have Twilight reach out and grab her hat then pull it off her head and toss it to the ground glaring angrily at her. Twilight all but snarled out to Applejack in response to Applejack pulling her hat over her forest green eyes.

“I said you will listen to what I have to say to you Applejack that also implies that you will make eye contact with me as well. So no hiding behind your bucking hat Applejack.” Twilight snarled to her former friend.

Applejack just sat there stunned that her friend Twilight would toss away her favorite hat like that and then snarl at her like a mad dog as she heard her speak to her. Twilight lowered another finger as she spoke again to Applejack.

“Two. If you do actually use this spell to go back through time you will only go back to the day that Sunset died no further than that.” Twilight said looking into Applejacks forest green eyes looking for any sign of non understanding.

Lowering a third finger she said to Applejack.

“Three. When you go back through time you will arrive one hour before Sunset died. I do not know where you were located at that time. But, if you can actually save her life before that hour is up then all that has happened here will not have happened. Meaning you and the others will not have to go to her funeral and Sunset will have survived what she did to herself because of you and your friends behavior towards her Applejack. That is all the time that Princess Celestia was able or willing to give you Applejack.”

Applejack swallowed hard something that Twilight noticed but, said nothing about seeing that she fully had Applejacks attention on this matter Twilight continued to speak. Lowering a fourth finger she said to Applejack.  

“Four. This spell may only be used once and once it is gone then it shall not come again. I have added a clause in it that if you do not save her life the first time you use this. I will not bring you this spell a second time. And you and the others will all have to live with the events leading up until today.” Twilight said as she slowly began to stand up from the bench she and Applejack where sitting on.

Applejack looked up at her as she watched Twilight stand up from the bench and sighed then said to her.

“What is number five? You had your fingers pointing up and each one came back down as you called off each item that I must cohere to. So what is number five Twilight?”

Twilight chose to remain silent for a few seconds as she did not want to actually tell her what number five really was. But her former friend did have a right to know so Twilight sighed then said to her as she lowered her last finger.

“Five. Because you Applejack will be denying Death her meal in the regards of saving Sunset’s life. You shall fully choose to understand that death will either come for you or someone close to you to quench her thirst for what will be taken from her. As I said earlier Applejack ‘death does not like being denied her meals’. As such either you or someone else will have to go with her due to you using that scroll.” Twilight said to her as she rose off the bench and started to slowly walk away from her.

Applejack remained where she was for almost an hour as she watched Twilight leave her behind. Tears fully falling from her cheeks and eyes. Her hat was gently blown back up towards her right leg by a light gust of wind. Applejack swallowed hard again as she started to get up from the bench and bent over to pick up her hat. As she picked it up she sighed heavily then slowly made her way back to the church to attend to her final duty at Sunsets funeral. Applejack had been selected to be one of the six pallbearers to Sunset’s cassette. This duty was to be held by her, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Fluttershy, Principal Celestia and Vice Principal Luna. Getting back to the church Applejack stuffed the scroll into her left boot then headed back inside. Seeing that it was time to full fill her last role in Sunsets funeral she took her place next to Rainbow Dash. As Sunsets coffin was carried out of the church by her, Rainbow Dash. Fluttershy, Rarity, Vice Principal Luna and Principal Celestia. Sunsets coffin was loaded into the awaiting hearse outside of the church and Applejack looked on saying softly to herself as she and her friends all loaded Sunsets coffin into the hearse.

“I will see you again soon my friend.” Applejack said softly to herself..

The hearse slowly drove off and each of her friends got into their own cars then followed the hearse as they made their way to Canterlot City cemetery. Getting the cemetery Applejack took out her phone and called Pinkies mother to find out if Pinkie would at least attend the wake of her lover and their fallen friend. She got no answer and took it as a sign that Pinkie didn’t want to talk to them or even see them. Hanging up the phone she turned her attention to Sunsets coffin as it was being lowered into the ground and the soft bagpipes played there sad toon. Turning to her friends Applejack hugged Rainbow Dash. Then Fluttershy followed by Vice Principal Luna and Principal Celestia lastly followed by hugging Rarity before saying to Rarity.

“I am going to miss her so much Rarity I never even got the chance to ask her to move into my home so that she wouldn’t be homeless any more.” Applejack said as she wiped a few tears away from her forest green eyes.

“Yes darling we will all miss her very much indeed. She was the very best of us. I know darling and you and I and the rest of us are going to have live with all of this for the rest of our lives.” Rarity said as she ended her embrace with Applejack.

Applejack wanted to tell Rarity and the rest of her friends about Twilight giving her the time scroll but due to power it had she chose to remain silent on the subject. She didn’t want to let them know that she and she alone could use it or that according to Twilight death would come for one close to her if she actually chose to use it. As she and Rarity looked at each other when they ended their embrace Vice Principal Luna said softly with her sister standing next to her.

“I won’t be attending the gathering at Applejacks home I am sorry but, I have some other things that need my attention” Luna said as looked at her sister then nodded and slowly walked away.

Principal Celestia looked at the four girls standing in front of and saw each of them had questionable looks on their faces after her sister left she said to all four of them. The rest of the student body had all headed out leaving Applejack, Fluttershy, Rarity, Rainbow Dash and the two Principals to attend Sunset’s wake on their own.

“My sister will mourn Sunset in her own way going to this gathering and then being asked to go another one is just too much for her right now. I will attend the gathering for Sunset at Applejacks home then head home afterwards.” Principal Celestia said as she started to leave the cemetery.

Honey Bear Blossom and Lemon Chime both left the cemetery to go mourn in there own way as well. Neither of them enjoyed social gatherings whether it was funerals or family get togethers. The small group of friends made there way to Applejack's home where they all found Applebloom sitting out front on the front porch holding in her hands a photo of her sister and Sunset. Both Sunset and Applejack looked happy despite that they were both caked with mud head to toe in the photo that Applebloom was holding in her hands. Applejack knelt down then looked at the photo in her sister's hands saying to her sister with her friends all standing there.    

“I remember when this was taken. It was right after that big storm we had last spring and old stomper got himself stuck in a mud hole. That stupid horse was not only caked in mud but, was chest deep in that damn mud hole. So Sunset and I had to get him out, I don’t think I can recall any other time I ever heard Sunset swear so much.” Applejack said as she slowly embraced her sister in her arms.

Applebloom started to cry and Applejack hugged her little sister tightly letting her cry on her shoulder whispering to her softly as she held her in her arms.

“It’s going to be Ok Applebloom I know you miss her a lot we both will miss her she was a good friend.”

“I was such a horrible person to her Applejack.” Applebloom said crying into her sister's shoulder.

Applejack said nothing to her she looked over at those that had come for the gathering to remember Sunset and said to them while she gently stroked AppleBloom's hair in her fingers.

“Can you all head inside and give me and my sister a few minutes please?” Applejack said while trying to calm her sister down.

Rarity and the others nodded then headed inside the house leaving Applejack outside to talk to her sister in private. Holding Applebloom in her arms Applejack gently said to her while stroking her hair with her hand.

“Applebloom there is something that I need to tell you…. something that you may not be able to fully comprehend but, needs to said nevertheless.” Applejack said gently to her sister.

“What is it Applejack? What do you want to tell me? That I am a horrible person? That I shouldn’t have done what I did? That I caused Sunset’s death? That….that...I…” Appleblooms voice trailed off as she cried even harder into her sister's shoulders.  

Applejack closed her eyes tightly before she gently pushed Applebloom off of her and held her in her hands so that she could look at her in the eyes. Saying sternly to her while holding onto her.

“Applebloom that is NOT what I was going to say to you!” Applejack said sternly to her sister.

Holding up a hand Applejack slowly wiped away her sister's tears then sat her down on a bench next to the front door of their home. She then reached down to her left boot and took out the scroll that Twilight had given to her. Placed it in AppleBloom’s hands and said to her.

“This is what I wanted to talk to you about Applebloom.” Applejack said to her as she looked at her sister as Applebloom held the scroll of time in her hands.

“What is this piece of paper Applejack? I don’t understand why did you want to talk to me about some dusty old piece of paper.?” Applebloom said as she started to turn the scroll of time over and over in her hands looking at it intently.

“That there piece of paper as you call it Applebloom is the scroll of time. I was given this by Twilight and according to her it will let me and only me go back through time. I can literally go back one hour before Sunset….. died and at least have one single chance to save her life.”

Applebloom held the scroll in her hands then looked up at her sister her tears had stopped and she had a look of confusion on her face as she said to Applejack.

“I do not understand if you have this and the means to go back through time as you claim why not do so? Why not just do it without telling me or anyone else about it?”

Applejack sighed then said to her sister in a soft tone of voice.

“Because I am NOT god Applebloom. I do not have the right to simply change the past to make myself feel better nor do I have the right to play god by fooling around with magic that I have not been trained in or even fully understand.” Applejack replied to her sister in a soft tone.

“I can’t live with this pain in my heart Applejack please if you have the power to change things then do it. End our pain and our suffering none of us wants to live with this hurt that we all feel least of all me. Please Applejack I am begging you to do this end our pain take this scroll and use it.” Applebloom begged her sister as she held out the scroll of time to Applejack.

Applejack lowered her head closed her eyes tightly and turned away as tears fell from her eyes trickled down her cheeks and hit the ground beneath her. She said to her sister as she started to cry hard.

“I can’t use it Applebloom what you are begging me to do is...is...selfish. You are asking me to change the past to make yourself and the rest of our friends feel better over something we had no control over.”

“We did have control over her death Applejack! You just don’t want to see that.” Applebloom snapped back at her sister.

Applejack sat there for a minute or two before she responded.

“I know you are hurting Applebloom I am hurting too I need….” Applebloom cut her off by yelling at Applejack.

“YOU'RE THE ONE BEING…” Applebloom was cut off in mid sentence when her sister slapped her.

A look of utter shock came over the young Apples face as she held a tentative hand to her left cheek while a small trickle of blood leaked out of her lower lip. Pulling her hand away she looked at her own blood then back at her sister who was glaring fire and brimstone at her. Applebloom tried to turn to run but was unable to do so when her sister reached out and grabbed her by her arm jerking her to a sudden and painful stop. Screaming at Applebloom Applejack screamed out at her younger sister.

“THAT IS ENOUGH APPLEBLOOM! I WON’T USE THE SCROLL AND THAT IS FINAL!” Applejack screamed.

Sniffing her sister said softly as she pulled her arm free of Applejacks tight grip then rubbed her sore arm with her right hand.

“Why won’t you use it? Please just tell me why you won’t use it.”

“Because of Twilight’s warning to me about using the scroll. She told me that death doesn’t like to be denied her meal and if I were to use the scroll and the power it contains within it to change things in the past. Then death would come for someone else. That someone else could be you or someone that is close to me Applebloom. Therefor I will not use it at all. I will live with my pain and my guilt and you need to learn to do the same. Neither of us has the right to consider what Twilight has given to us. We both have a lot of healing to do and you are just going to have to learn to live with your own pain and your own guilt little sister. I am sorry but, no I will not use the scroll not for your sake or my own.”

Applebloom shook as she spat out to her sister in one last attempt to get her sister to use the scroll.

“I HATE YOU APPLEJACK FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU HAVE DONE. YOUR NO APPLE AND YOU'RE NOT MY DAMN SISTER. I HATE YOU!” Applebloom spat out in anger

As she ran off towards the west orchard Applebloom dropped the scroll on the front porch. Applebloom wanted to be alone to think about her actions over the last several days. The west orchard offered her a place where she could be alone and cry her eyes out Applejack watched her sister run away sighed picked up the scroll of time. Then headed inside the house. Applejack once inside the house walked into her living room where she found the rest of her friends and Principal Celestia all waiting for her to join them. She placed the scroll onto the fireplace mantel and looked at her friends and her Principal saying to them all as she stood in front of the fireplace.

“I will assume that you all heard what happened out there and you all know what this scroll is and what it can do?” Applejack said as she looked at each of her friends.

Each of the four sitting on Applejacks couch all looked at each other then back at Applejack before Principal Celestia spoke up.

“Yes Applejack we all heard most of what was said out there including what sounded like you slapping her little sister.” Celestia said as she narrowed her eyes onto Applejack.

Applejack did the same to Principal Celestia as she said in turn to her.

“How I raise and treat my little sister is none of your damn business Principal Celestia!” Applejack snapped at her as she watched her Principal slowly stand up.

“It is very much my business Applejack I know you are hurting right now but, that is no reason or excuse to hit your little sister. As a school administrator I am going to have to report this action to the police and let them decide what to do.” Celestia said as she slowly made her way to the front door to leave.

Applejack said nothing further on the subject she watched her Principal depart out the front door then turned her attention to her three remaining friends and said to them.

“I had granny Smith prepare a small meal for us to share but, if you Y’all want to sit here and argue with me over how I raise my little sister then you can all leave.”

Rarity looked at Applejack then rose up off the couch and said to her gently.

“Darling I for one will not fight with you about how you raise or treat your sister. If I was asked or even given the same choice that you have been given by Twilight. I more than likely would have done the same thing to my little sister that you have done. However I do not know if I can agree with you on not using the scroll but, I fully understand your reasons behind your choice.” Rarity said as she got up off the couch then headed into the kitchen.

Applejack watched her go then looked at Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash asking them as they both sat there staring back at her.  

“How do you feel about this whole situation Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash don’t tell me you both think I should use the scroll as well.”  

Rainbow Dash looked down at her feet then slowly stood up and said to her friend.

“I have to disagree with you Applejack I fully agree with your little sister I think you should use it to end our pain to save Sunsets life. Look around you can you not honestly see all the pain that we all are in caused by Sunset’s death? I don’t understand why you won’t use it I mean if I was given the chance to fix this then I would have jumped at the chance to go back through time and save Sunset’s life.” Rainbow Dash said as she turned to walk into the kitchen leaving Fluttershy to talk to Applejack alone.

Fluttershy got up off the couch as well and said meekly to her friend standing in the living room.

“I feel that you shouldn’t tell Pinkie about this power that you have Applejack doing so would only cause her more pain. If you were to tell her right this second that you have the power to bring back Sunset and to change the past don’t you think Pinkie would react badly to this information?”

Applejack looked down at her feet she hadn’t even considered telling Pinkie about the time scroll looking back up at Fluttershy she said to her.

“I honestly don’t know how she would react to learning that I can change things. Fluttershy I really don’t want to have this power and I don’t know what to do. I have yes already made it clear that I will not use the scroll yet to not use it does that make me a monster in your eyes for not changing our past to save a friend's life?”

Fluttershy walked over to her friend and laid her hands onto Applejack saying to softly as she pulled Applejack into a tight hug.

“No Applejack you are not a monster in my eyes. You just have a lot to think about is all I am sure you will consider all options in this matter. I do however fully and completely agree with you when you said to your sister that you are not god and that you shouldn’t have this power. So let me ask you this then. Instead of keeping this scroll here with you why not place it into the fire place and get rid of it so that you don’t have to worry about the consequences of using it?”

Applejack ended the embrace her friend gave her. Then stepped over the fireplace mantle where she had placed the scroll of time. She picked it up and was about to place it into the fire of her fire place when she stopped suddenly and said softly.

“No I will not destroy it. I will carry it with me remind myself what a awful friend I was to Sunset. Fluttershy thank you for your kindness on this matter you are right I do have a lot to think about over the next few weeks. Now how about you go join the others I will be back in a little bit I need to go get my little sister out of the west orchard and bring back here.”

“Maybe I should be the one to do that Applejack I am sure with how you slapped her she doesn’t really want to talk to you right now. I mean why else would she be in the west orchard?”

Applejack pursed her lips together then sighed and nodded to Fluttershy who headed to the front door to go get Applebloom out of the west orchard. As Applejack watched her go she heard Rarity calling to her from the kitchen.

“Applejack where do you keep the wine so that we can have a proper toast for Sunset?”

Applejack rolled her eyes and headed into the kitchen to help her friend find the wine. Thinking to herself as she rooted through the many cupboards and cabinets looking for the wine that was to be used for this type of occasion.

“If these three get their butts drunk today I am so going to be pissed off.”

Finding the wine Applejack took out four wine glasses that were in a cupboard just above where the wine was stored in. She then placed them in front of her and poured a small amount of wine into each glass. Placing each of them on the kitchen table saying to Rainbow Dash as she set the last glass down in front of her.

“You will wait to drink that until Fluttershy comes back with my little sister Rainbow Dash. This is for all of us to enjoy a toast to Sunset and thus you need to wait.”

Rainbow had a ‘who me’ look on her face as she looked from at the wine glass in front of her then back up at  Applejack and back at the glass before groaning out to her friend.

“Oh, alright Applejack I will wait but, spoiling some pretty good looking wine here by making us wait like this.”

Applejack said nothing in response to this she instead took out a smaller sized glass and filled it with cranberry juice then set that onto the the table. Rarity quirked an eyebrow at the sight of the glass and said to Applejack who was just putting the wine and juice back into her refrigerator and  cupboards.

“Darling don’t you think we are a little old for juice like that?”

Applejack looked at her then at the glass filled with juice and back at Rarity before saying to her.

“It’s not for any of you that is for Applebloom though we are all old enough to enjoy a small amount of wine she however is still too young to drink that stuff. Thus she will have to settle for glass of juice or have simply not have anything at all. The choice will be hers when she and Fluttershy get back from the west orchard.      

Fluttershy found Applebloom in the west orchard leaning up against a tree and walked up to softly saying to her.

“Applebloom honey do you want to talk?” Fluttershy said as she approached the young girl sitting against a tree in the west orchard.

“I…. I just….. hate…. her so…. much…. Fluttershy.” Applebloom sobbed out to Fluttershy.

Fluttershy sat down next to Applebloom reached out and gently pulled Applebloom into a warm hug. Then when Applebloom ended the embrace Fluttershy let the sobbing girl rest her head on her lap while she stroked Applebloom’s hair in her fingers. Fluttershy said to her while she let Applebloom cry in her lap.

“Applebloom honey I don’t think you really hate your sister I think you are just in deep pain and need a means to vent that pain and anger. Please will you come back to the house with me. You don’t have to speak to your sister right now. But, you can’t stay out here all night it is going to get cold and you don’t want to get sick do you?”

Applebloom said nothing as she slowly got up off of Fluttershy's lap then closed her eyes and sighed heavily. Fluttershy stood up and held out her hand to Applebloom and said to her softly.

“I know you are hurting right now Applebloom and I know that you want your sister to use the scroll to change things. But, if she does that then something else might happen that could be far worse than this. Comeback to the house with me we can both get something hot to eat and you can get some well needed rest.”

Applebloom took Fluttershy's hand and the two of them walked back to the house as they got up to the front door Applebloom stopped and said to Fluttershy.

“Do you think my sister will ever be able to forgive me for yelling at her to use the scroll and for calling her selfish Fluttershy?” Applebloom said to Fluttershy as she was about to walk into the house.

Fluttershy looked at Applebloom then said gently to her.

“Yes honey I think your sister will be able to forgive you for everything that has happened. I also think that your sister has a lot to think about over the next several weeks. So why not give her time to really and I do mean really think about what she wants to do with that scroll. So just give her some time I am sure she will make the right choice when it comes to dealing with that scroll and the power it contains. Now let’s head inside get some food and you can get some rest Ok” Fluttershy said as she opened the front door to the farm house.

Applebloom nodded then walked inside and found her sister, Rarity and Rainbow Dash all sitting at the kitchen table each had a glass of wine in front of them. There was also a glass for her filled with cranberry juice in it. Looking at her sister Applebloom picked up the glass of juice then said to her softly.

“Applejack I am sorry for how I acted today can you forgive me for my behavior?”

“Of course Applebloom I can and will forgive you for your behavior today. I fully understand that you are hurting just as much as we all are. Let us toast together in memory of Sunset then we can all get some rest.”

“I still don’t understand why you won’t just use the scroll to change things Applejack” Applebloom said as she slowly raised her glass up to hold a toast for Sunset.

Sighing Applejack set her own glass back down onto the kitchen table then said sternly to her sister.

“You need to fully understand Applebloom that changing the past will erase all that has happened here today and it is not just your past that will change but, every ones as well. Plus what if what  Twilight said to me actually does happen? Because I used that scroll and that power to change things in the past? What if death comes to find you or McIntosh or Granny Smith? Applebloom can you not just for once see why I don’t want to use that power?” Applejack said as she stared at her sister.

Applebloom lowered her eyes then sighed and said to Applejack.

“Alright I understand I never meant to call you selfish Applejack I was just so upset with knowing you have the means to change things and that you didn’t want to do it. I never thought that changing things in the past could have such dire effects on any one of us. So I won’t pressure you into using the scroll any more I promise you this.” Applebloom said as she raised her glass to her lips to take a sip but, stopped when Rarity gave her a look of anger.

Rarity looked at each of her friends then softly said

“ok let's do this right then shall we.” As she raised her glass up and motioned the others to join her.

Each of the five in the kitchen all held up their glasses and Rarity said as she held up hers.

“To  an absent friend and loved one lost. May Sunset find peace in heaven's embrace and warmth in heaves light.”

All present in unison called out in one voice.

“TO SUNSET.”

Once the toast was over and everyone had shared their fondest memories of Sunset Shimmer. It was time for Rarity, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy to head out back towards home. Each of the three needed time in her own way to mourn for the pain and loose they each felt over Sunsets death. Fluttershy headed home and curled up in her bed holding in her arms as she fell asleep a photo of her and Sunset together at the beach helping animals. Rainbow Dash went home said nothing to her step sister as she climbed into her bath tub then turned the water onto hot and soaked away her anger and pain from losing a good friend. Rarity headed to bar and got really drunk so drunk in fact that the bartender had to call for a cab to help get the fashionista home. When she got home she plopped down on her living room couch and passed out. Rarity's little Sweetie Belle seeing that her sister was passed out drunk on the living room couch covered her in a blanket. Then went to bed herself and cried herself to sleep. Scootaloo seeing how upset Rainbow dash was had also gone to bed crying herself to sleep as well. Applejack and Applebloom each went to their own rooms and each fell asleep. As their memories of Sunset filled their dreams and minds and each like the others had cried themselves to sleep. Pinkie Pie sat alone in her room she had fallen into a deep depression she sat her desk writing two letters. One to her mother and three sisters. The other was written to her friends as she wrote the final words in her letter to her friends she thought to herself  

“Soon Sunset soon. I love you very much.” Pinkie thought to herself.

After she had checked her work to make sure her words were clear and there wasn’t any spelling errors Pinkie got up and walked over to her bed. Then took out from her nightstand the locket that she had given to Sunset before her death. The locket had broken off during Sunsets fight with Rainbow Dash and Pinkie had picked it up that day. She put it on then climbed into bed and softly cried herself to sleep. Next Chapter: Chapter 12. Estimated time remaining: 11 Hours, 52 Minutes