Rarity was hard at work in her sewing room. She liked to spend several hours each Saturday working on clothes, and this Saturday was no different. Halfway through the dress of the day, she looked up at her clock, which read 2:00 pm. Realizing that she missed lunch and that she was getting tired, she made her way to the kitchen to poke around in the freezer.

Looking through the freezer, Rarity heard a soft beep coming from her right. Turning around, she saw her sister Sweetie Belle sticking a plate of food into the microwave. After setting the timer and humming to herself, Sweetie Belle stopped when she saw her sister was looking right at her.

“What,” she asked with a confused look. “Did I do something wrong again?”

“No, no, dear. You haven’t done anything wrong.” Rarity turned her attention back to the freezer, allowing Sweetie Belle to go about her business. “Ah, there you are, you little jewel,” Rarity cooed happily when her eyes finally fell on what she was looking for. “Now all I need to do is get myself a spoon and--”

Her words were interrupted by a loud beeping from the smoke detector above her. Looking back at the microwave she saw to her shock that the microwave was sparking like the Fourth of July.

“AHHH!” Rarity screamed, “The microwave is on fire!”

From the living room, Sweetie Belle, hearing her sister's screams, came running back into the kitchen and opened the door of the microwave. To both her and her sister's shock, Sweetie Belle had left her fork in her meal while it was cooking within the microwave. Looking at her sister with a silly smirk on her face, she said, “Sorry about that, Rarity. Guess you won’t be using this anytime soon, huh?”

“Sweetie Belle, why did you leave your fork in the microwave? Do you know what could have happened?” Rarity replied in shock, trying not to get to overly dramatic. “Why, the whole house could have gone up in a puff of smoke!”

“I said I was sorry! Nothing happened, okay? I’m going back to the living room to eat my lunch.”

Rarity shook her head as her sister headed out of the kitchen and returned to the living room to eat her lunch. Rarity looked to her ice cream, picked up the bucket, and tried to open it, grunting in frustration when the lid wouldn’t pop off. Finally losing her cool, she put the bucket under her arm and began trying to pry the frozen lid from the bucket, thumping the bucket against the counter and saying with each tug, “Blast you, ice cream!”

Hearing yet more screaming and now loud thumping coming from the kitchen, Sweetie Belle rolled her eyes, getting up off the couch. She went into the kitchen to see her sister playing tug-of-war with a defenseless ice cream bucket. With another yank on the lid, Rarity yelped out in anger, “Maredow Gold, you will open your lid for me and let me taste your chocolate goodness!”

Shaking her head and slightly grinning, Sweetie Belle said as she watched the epic battle continue, “Why don't you put it in the microwave?”

Rarity looked up from her ice cream bucket, incredulous surprise on her face. “B-Because you microwaved your fork. Honestly, Sweetie Belle, you don’t remember doing that no more than six minutes ago?"

Sweetie Belle grinned innocently, trying to play a cute angel for her sister, who wasn’t buying it. She replied with a wide smile on her face, “Oh, yeah. Oops.”

Looking back at the ice cream on the counter, which remained undefeated, Sweetie Belle watched as Rarity grabbed the bucket, slamming it against the counter. As the bucket bounced off of the counter and onto the floor yet remained unopened, Rarity yelled out again, “Blast you, ice cream!” Her sister took in the scene before her, trying hard not to laugh but failing miserably at it. Sniffing, Rarity continued, “Why do you have to keep all your chocolatey goodness to yourself?”

“Why don’t you just go ask Applejack for help?”

Rarity picked up the bucket and placed it back down on counter. Taking out a spoon, she started hitting the the ice cream bucket lid with the spoon. While she worked, she huffed out, “Seriously? At two o'clock? You know Applejack has church and then tea with her family and church patrons at this time, Sweetie Belle. Besides, I'm not going to go all the way to Applejack's just to ask her to help me open up a bucket of ice cream?”

Sweetie Belle just rolled her eyes in annoyance at her sister's stubbornness, replying, “Oh, please. She's your friend. I know she would understand. I mean, it is your favorite ice cream, after all.” Sweetie Belle walked over the microwave, looking at it as she continued, “Or you could still try the microwave. I'm pretty sure it still works.”

Sighing in resignation, Rarity opened the door to the microwave, placed the bucket inside, and set the timer. After a few seconds, she took out the bucket, looked to her sister, then set the bucket onto the counter, trying the lid again. It popped off easily, and Rarity smirked slightly as she looked at the chocolate ice cream inside the bucket. Sweetie Belle grinned, saying, “See? I told you it would--”

She was interrupted by the sound of keys being placed inside the lock on the front door. Knowing that it was probably their parents, the only other people with keys to the house, Sweetie Belle walked over to the door to greet them, calling back to her sister. “Hey, leave me some for breakfast tomorrow!”

Rarity looked up with a spoon full of ice cream in her mouth as she tried to say, “HUH?” which came out as “Whah?”

Sweetie Belle said just as the door opened, “For waffles tomorrow.”

Rarity just rolled her eyes in reply.

Both of Sweetie Belle's and Rarity's parents walked in, followed by Sunset Shimmer, who looked a bit nervous to be there. Turning to greet her parents, Rarity almost choked on her ice cream when she saw Sunset standing in the foyer. Rarity's mother saw this and said softly, “Now, Sunset would you like a cup of tea while we have dinner together?” while not taking her eyes off her oldest daughter.

“What? Oh, um, sure thing, Mrs. Belle, and thank you very much.”

“That's good, dear. Now, while I get dinner ready, you and Rarity can talk.”

Rarity's jaw almost hit the floor when she heard her mother offer a place at the table for Sunset, a girl that Rarity now despised. Trying not to sound rude, she said, “Mother, we don’t have any tea, and I'm sure, with it being three o’clock in the afternoon, I need to get some work done in my--”

“Rarity, Sunset is our guest for tonight. It's going to be cold out there, and I will not have you turning her away. Besides, I've already made the arrangements with her father and mother when we saw her walking down the street a few hours ago.”

“What arrangements?”

“That she would be sleeping over tonight.”

“WHAT?”

Rarity's eyes went wide as saucers when she heard her mother's words. Sunset took a step back, placing her hand onto the front door handle. Rarity's father saw this and moved in to intervene, saying to Sunset gently to try to keep her from running off, “Not to worry, dear. I'm sure my daughter is just excited that you’ll be sleeping over tonight.” Looking right at Rarity, Mr. Belle continued, only more sternly and with slightly gritted teeth, “Aren’t you, honey?”

“Yes,” Rarity snarled back with just as gritted teeth. “Just so excited to have her here.”

“I'll go into the wine cellar and get us some wine to have with dinner tonight.” Stopping before he got to the door, Mr. Belle looked back at Sunset and at his daughter as he continued “I'll also bring up some non-alcoholic wine for you two.”

A few hours went by, and dinner was tense. Sunset tried to make light conversation yet felt each time she said anything that it was the wrong thing to say. After the third time Sunset tried, Rarity finally had enough. Setting her fork down, she said sternly to Sunset, “Sunset, I hear you got suspended from school a few days ago, not to mention that you also got arrested. I suppose we will have to wait and see if you are--”

“Rarity!” her mother shot out bitterly. “A lady never brings up such conversations at the dinner table.” Turning to face Sunset, who was looking down at her dinner plate, which she hardly touched, Mrs. Belle continued, “I am so sorry, Sunset, dear. I don’t know what has come over my daughter. She's not normally like this. Please forgive her.”

“Mother, there is nothing to forgive. Sunset has been posting my picture all over the internet, and now, I'm the laughing stock of the school.”

Before her mother could say anything, Sunset asked abruptly, “May I please be excused?”

“Are you sure, Sunset?” Rarity's father asked with a confused look when he saw that she had hardly touched her meal. “I mean, you can stay at the table if you want. I'm sure my daughter won’t talk to you like that again.”

“No, it's alright. I've...lost my appetite. I'm sure the food's good, and I'm grateful for it, but I just don’t feel like eating right now. Please?”

“Of course you may, dear. It's only,” Mrs. Belle turned around and looked at the stove clock, continuing, “seven-thirty in the evening. Are you going to bed now, then?”

“Yes, I'll be going to bed. Good night, and thanks very much for having me over tonight.”

Sunset headed upstairs before Rarity or anyone else could say anything to her. Sweetie Belle thought she saw tears falling from Sunset's cheeks but wasn’t sure about it. Rarity's mother turned to her Rarity, saying very bitterly, “Rarity, I am very disappointed in you. I've a good mind to ground you for how you just treated that girl.”

“Your mother's right, Rarity. Never before have either I or she been so disappointed in you. What on Earth has gotten into you? You've never acted so rude as you just did a moment ago towards someone that clearly needs your compassion,” Rarity's father added just as bitterly. “I want you to go upstairs right now, young lady, and apologize to Sunset for your rude and distasteful behavior.”

“But, Father,” Rarity protested, “Sunset posted my photo on MyStable and betrayed my trust. Now, I'm--”

“I don’t give a shiny monkey if she put a hundred photos of you online, Rarity. In this household, you do not treat anyone as you just did. Do I make myself clear, young lady?”

Lowering her head, as she was all but defeated, Rarity almost whispered out, “Yes, sir. Clear as crystal.”

Rarity got up and headed for the steps, but stopped before she ascended. She turned around and headed back into the dining room. She looked at her father, saying to him softly, “If I am to apologize, then I need to do this right. As is tradition for our family, I will drink a glass of non-alcoholic wine with her as an act of contrition if she's willing to share one with me.”

“I am happy to see you take this seriously, Rarity. Head downstairs, get the wine, then come up and pour yourself and Sunset a chalice of it. Since she's not part of the family, do let her know that her accepting the glass signifies that she's forgiven you and that her refusal signifies her refusal to forgive you. If she refuses, Rarity, you’ll have to truly work at earning her forgiveness for how you treated her tonight.”

“I will, Father. I promise that if I truly must earn her forgiveness, then I will do so as a lady and with all due respect towards her.”

“Very good.”

Rarity headed into the wine cellar, returning a few moments later with a bottle of alcoholic wine and a bottle of her father's hard scotch. Rarity headed upstairs and soon found herself standing in the guest room, noticing that Sunset had taken off her boots and was curled up on the bed in fetal position. Unsure if her former friend had fallen asleep or not, she softly said, “Sunset, are you awake?”

“Yes.” Sunset sat up and looked at Rarity with sad eyes. “I was just thinking I should go. I don’t belong here.”

Rarity kept her relief hidden. “Well before you go, though, I have something for you.”

“Um, I don’t--”

“Oh, nonsense. Take these as a token of my attempt to say that I am sorry for how I treated you today. Now, I will go and get your things while you get ready.”

“A-Alright. I'll be ready to leave in a few minutes. I just need to get my boots on.”

Sunset knelt down and slipped her boots on. Rarity came back into the room with Sunset's backpack, which she placed the bottles into. She tried to crack a smile to her former friend, something that Sunset picked up on yet said nothing about. Handing the backpack to Sunset, Rarity watched as she slipped her backpack on, then headed out into the hallway. The sound of Sunset's boots on the stairs caught Rarity's parents' attention.

“Sunset, where are you going, dear?” asked her mother, concerned. “It's cold out there. I don’t want you walking home by yourself in that cold.”

“Thank you both for your concern, but I'll be fine. I'm used to the cold weather.”

“Sunset,” Rarity's father began, “if you don't want to spend the night, at least let me drive you home.”

Looking from Rarity to Rarity's parents, Sunset agreed, albeit begrudgingly. Getting up from the table, Mr. Belle headed into the foyer and donned his coat. Then, he looked at Rarity, who offered a weak smile in return as he said to her sternly, “I don’t know what you said to her up there, but we will deal with that later.”

Before anyone could say anything further, Mr. Belle opened the front door of the house, allowing Sunset to walk out into the cold, chilly air. Getting to the car a moment later, he opened the passenger door for her, allowing her to get in. Getting in himself on the driver's side, he started up the car, taking notice of how sad Sunset looked. “How about some soft opera music to make you feel better, Sunset?”

“Thank you, but I'm fine, really. I really do appreciate the ride home, Mr. Belle.”

“Think nothing of it, Sunset.”

A half-hour later, Sunset found herself sitting alone in her room with her bag at her side. Mr. Belle had made sure she was inside the house and safe before pulling out of the driveway. Sunset set down her backpack, hearing a soft clink from it. Opening it up, she saw the bottles of wine and scotch inside her bag. No longer caring what her former friends would think, she took both bottles to the kitchen, returning a few moments later with a cup in one hand and a corkscrew in the other.

Tonight, she was drinking away her pain.

Next Chapter: Awakening (Edited by Icecreammac) Estimated time remaining: 16 Hours, 4 Minutes