Checking her watch, Applejack tapped her foot as she waited. She had gone through the effort of picking out a nice button up blouse, and more appropriate footwear, even braiding her hair and not wearing her stetson for this occasion and grumbled at the fact that the least the girl she was waiting for could do was be on time. That was the nature of her though, Rarity was always late to virtually every occasion due to how long it took her to get ready. Applejack had suggested multiple times that the girl start a lot earlier, but no matter how early Rarity appeared to start, it seldom seemed to matter. Applejack could count the amount of times Rarity arrived at an event early on two hands.

Still, she knew that despite that, she was always worth the wait. Every time she showed up, Applejack had a hard time not admitting that she was a knockout; regardless though it still annoyed her that Rarity was almost always late.

Grumbling, Applejack reached into her denim skirt pocket to retrieve her phone to see if Rarity had sent her a message alerting her of her tardiness.

Checking her screen for texts she noted the time was 8:38 PM, almost a good ten minutes past when she was supposed to be meeting Rarity.

Almost as if reading her mind, she noticed a Mazda pull up to the restaurant and park carefully in the parking lot. Turning to face the parked car, Applejack paid attention to the elegant woman stepping out. Porcelain colored skin, gorgeous hourglass figure, and a beautiful ensemble to match. Rarity was sporting a very elegant (though far from practical) top with short sleeves that draped over her body, flaring out toward the bottom, with large belt strapped around her small stomach. The skirt she wore under it was rather form fitting and left little to the imagination as it accented her defined buttocks for Applejack to see.

As Rarity stepped closer in her heels, Applejack stuffed her hands in her pockets with a smile on her face as she watched. The beauty offered her hand to Applejack and gave a few bats of her gorgeous lashes, making her blue eyes really stand out as Applejack observed the wonderful makeup job she had administered.

Taking her hand out of her pocket, Applejack took the woman’s hand and knelt down kissing it lightly, causing Rarity to giggle.

Coming to a full stand again, Applejack smirked at Rarity. “Sug, perhaps y’all shoulda’ worn a jacket? Jus’ a thought…”

Rarity rolled her eyes. “It didn’t go well with this outfit, and you know me, I dress to impress.”

“Guess Ah’ll haveta’ keep ya’ warm,” Applejack replied slyly as she pulled the girl in close and wrapped an arm around the divot in her back, keeping the girl hugged up tight against her body. Rarity’s face turned red as she looked up at the tall farmer, blushing as she did.

“A-Applejack…” She stuttered.

Applejack playfully took her other hand and placed it on Rarity’s cheek, stroking her upper cheekbone with her thumb as she did. “Yer’ late…” Applejack stated.

“I… I wanted to look my best…” Rarity replied, her blue eyes locked on Applejack’s green ones, only deviating slightly from the gaze to examine the freckles on Applejack’s face up close.

“Y’all always do…” Applejack replied, bringing her face closer, Rarity practically putty in her hands as she brought their lips only half an inch away.

Rarity’s eyes closed gently as she tried to resist, but her voice failed to sound uninviting to the farm girl. “A-Applejack… we’re in public…” Rarity almost whispered.

“Ain’t no one watchin’…” Applejack replied before planting a soft kiss on the girl’s lips.

Despite Rarity’s attempt at resistance, she found herself wrapping her arms around Applejack’s neck, pulling her into the kiss for a few more seconds before releasing and resting her forehead with Applejack’s, gently breathing as she stared into her eyes. “Sorry, I’m late…” Rarity stated.

“Was only teasin’, Ah’m used to it,” Applejack replied.

Rarity smirked. “You just wanted an excuse to kiss me…”

“Guilty, always lookin’ ‘fer an excuse ‘fer that,” Applejack admitted.

Giggling, Rarity patted the girl’s collarbone as she released Applejack from her embrace and stepped backward with a smile. “Down, lover girl. We haven’t even gotten inside yet, and it is starting to get cold out here…”

“Shoulda’ worn a jacket…” Applejack rolled her eyes as she spoke in an almost mock tone.

“Pffft, as if you didn’t want to stare at all the skin I’m showing.” Rarity winked as she walked in front of Applejack, swaying her hips gently as she walked toward the entrance. Applejack found herself staring for a brief moment before coming back to reality and shaking her head.

She gave chase and caught up to Rarity and offered her arm to the girl. Rarity smiled and nodded as she wrapped her arm around Applejack’s and stepped alongside her. Their height difference wasn’t enormous, though Applejack had definitely gained an inch or two in the past few months, but Rarity’s heels helped close the difference slightly, making it easier to walk alongside her new girlfriend.

Applejack kept her eyes forward as they approached the entrance, catching a gentle whiff of Rarity’s perfume in the air. “Y’all smell good…” Applejack commented.

Rarity giggled and nodded. “Two hundred dollars a bottle for this perfume, I’d hope it smelled divine…”

“Ya’… that’s what I meant… just not as good with words as y’all…” Applejack stumbled over her words.

Rolling her eyes, Rarity snickered. “Relax, I’m not expecting you to be extremely cultured all of a sudden, just be yourself, alright?”

Applejack nodded. “Yeah, y’all are right, sorry.”

They reached the entrance and stepped inside the vestibule. A greeter smiled at the couple and looked down to a book in front of him. “Name?” He stated.

“Applejack Apple, Ah’ reserved a table ‘fer two?” Applejack stated.

Rarity blinked as she watched the man look down to the book and nod before gesturing for the two to head in the direction he was pointing. Reaching their destination near a window, he gestured for the two to have a seat. Applejack stepped forward and lead Rarity by the hand to her seat, making the girl blush, but also impressing her at how romantic Applejack could be when she put an effort forward.

Applejack smirked and found the seat across from her girlfriend and the two took the offered menus from the server. “Someone will be right with you,” he stated as he wandered off.

Rarity and Applejack both lifted their menus and began to scan over them. Applejack already looking for something simple and that she could pronounce.

Rarity smirked as she lowered her menu slightly to peak at Applejack who was staring at the paper in front of her with frustration.

“You reserved a table?” Rarity asked.

Applejack looked up from the menu and nodded. “Yeah, why?”

“Nothing, I’m just… surprised is all. I didn’t think you’d ever been to a place where you had to reserve a table before…” Rarity smiled.

Applejack shrugged. “Y’all would be right there, but ‘Ah asked Big Mac on howta’ do it. He’d done it once or twice…”

“Well, I am impressed, regardless.” Rarity winked.

Applejack chuckled and nodded. “Ya’ know, I’m not that stupid.”

Rarity frowned that Applejack took her comment as an insult. “I never said you were, I wasn’t trying to imply that if that’s what you thought I meant. I was merely surprised that you knew how to get a reservation at a place like this due to the fact that you said yourself that this kind of eatery is normally out of your comfort zone… that’s all…”

Applejack chuckled and smiled to show the girl she took no legitimate offense. “Relax, Rares. You’re right though, ‘Ah ain’t never been to a place like this.”

Reaching across the table, Rarity offered her hand, which Applejack looked down and took in her own, gently stroking the back of Rarity’s hand with her thumb. Rarity could feel the calluses on Applejack’s palm as she lightly squeezed the girl’s hand.

“I love you…” Rarity spoke quietly, causing Applejack to perk up and look straight ahead to Rarity’s now serious eyes.

“’Ah love you too…” Applejack replied with a smile, “any reason y’all are sayin’ that now?”

Rarity looked down and frowned. “I… I feel like I waited too long to say it, you know?”

Applejack shrugged as she released Rarity’s hand and leaned back in her seat. “Better late than never, right?”

“I just… keep thinking about Shimmer…” Rarity stated.

Taking a deep breath, Applejack already knew this was a heavy subject. She attempted to play it cool as she stayed leaned back in the booth she sat in with her arms draping over the back. “What about her?”

“In a way… I owe her… if it weren’t for what happened… I might not have finally spoken how I felt… well a combination of that and Rainbow’s little talk with me… I guess I should be thankful then?” Rarity shrugged.

Applejack found herself nodding. “So what’s there to be upset ‘bout?”

“I keep thinking about… what if what happened to Shimmer happened to one of us instead?” Rarity said.

Sighing, Applejack was already tired of the conversation. They had discussed such a scenario before, but it was clear that Rarity was having trouble letting it go.

Applejack leaned forward and placed her hands on the table as she met Rarity’s eyes with her own. “Rares…”

Rarity continued regardless of Applejack’s attempt to intervene. “I keep thinking about how if one of us died… I would have missed the chance for us to be together at all… I suppose Shimmer’s death hit a little close to home for me…”

Applejack let out another heavy sigh before reaching forward over the table and taking Rarity’s hand in both of her own. She clasped it in between her palms and gave Rarity a serious look with her green eyes. “Rare, ‘Ah promise ‘Ah’ll protect you.”

“It’s not me I’m worried about… It’s you.”

Applejack rolled her eyes at the comment and released Rarity’s hand to sit back down. “’Ah ain’t like Sunset, alright? As much as ‘Ah want justice fer’ Shimmer, ‘Ah ain’t about to lock myself up doin’ lord knows what like she is…”

“Yes, but you’re reckless, Applejack. With this killer on the loose…” Rarity frowned.

“Ain’t nothin’ gonna happen to me, promise.” Applejack placed a hand on her heart to show she was sincere.

“I just keep worrying that this person is going to kill all of us… myself I can handle, just the thought of losing you or the others…” Rarity closed her eyes, not wanting to think about it.

Applejack smiled and looked at Rarity with pride. “’Ah promise, ‘Ah’ll never die.”

“You can’t promise that, Applejack…” Rarity rolled her eyes.

“Well, so long as ‘Ah don’t die first y’all will never know…” Applejack smirked.

Snickering, Rarity rolled her eyes again. “You’re terrible…”

Applejack chuckled and winked. “Part of my charm.”

“You are charming, that’s for sure…” Rarity replied.

Nodding, Applejack set her menu down, noting that Rarity did the same. The two had decided on what they wanted before Rarity spoke up again.

“I am worried about Sunset to be fair…” Rarity said quietly.

“We all are, ain’t healthy fer’ a girl to lock herself away like she’s done… She don’t answer my texts or calls either…” Applejack crossed her arms in frustration.

Applejack and Rarity both had attempted to reach Sunset, but with no luck. The only person she only slightly responded to was Twilight and even then she didn’t say much or reveal what was going on in that mansion of hers.

“She’s stubborn,” Applejack added.

Rarity giggled. “She’s stubborn? Look who’s talking…”

“’Ah ain’t that stubborn!” Applejack protested.

More giggles escaped Rarity. “Applejack, the only reason we’re even sitting here at this table together is because you’re that stubborn. So fear not, even if Sunset is stubborn, I doubt she’ll beat your streak of nearly a decade.”

Applejack huffed and looked away. “Either way… she has to come around eventually…”

Rarity nodded. “Agreed, now let’s talk about something else; this is a night about us, after all.”

With a measuring tape in hand, Rarity ran it along Twilight’s waist and observed the numbers before scribbling something in her notebook at her side. She frowned a bit at how Twilight had clearly lost some weight since they last saw each other. She wished she had the metabolism of the scrawny bookworm, but instead she had to constantly diet and exercise, and never dared look at a cake unless she had a full day work out planned the next day; being friends with Pinkie Pie proved challenging for this very reason.

Rarity sighed as she continued to take Twilight’s measurements. As always, Twilight was very fidgety and shy when it came to people touching her, and to no surprise, the moment Rarity wrapped the tape around Twilight’s upper leg, Twilight flinched and looked up, blushing. Rarity snickered and looked up at Twilight.

“What’s wrong? Never had a pretty girl get this close?” Rarity teased.

Twilight’s face turned bright red. “Let’s not make this any more awkward…”

Rarity giggled playfully before removing the tape and taking note of the measurement. “It doesn’t have to be. Though to be fair, you’re so extremely shy even about taking your clothes off for me, that you make modeling very challenging.” Rarity pouted.

Twilight rolled her eyes. “Are there people who are eager to get undressed for you?”

Rarity sighed and grimaced at the thought. “Rainbow Dash…”

Twilight couldn’t help but chuckle at that statement.

“That’s probably the only part of the whole ordeal she actually enjoys when she gets to get undressed and flex her muscles around this place. That’s why I try and do these fittings in this backroom, but once Rainbow decided to walk around the shop when I was in the lavatory and… well… my sister came to visit…” Rarity placed her face in her palm and shook her head as she remembered the awkward encounter. Her sister somehow took it surprisingly well, though she thought Rarity and Rainbow were an item for a good week.

Twilight had to cover her mouth to contain her giggles, but it was no use, they were slipping through regardless.

Shaking her head, Rarity smiled again. “Applejack was always shy about getting undressed in here as well… though to be fair, I now understand that was for other reasons… I guess the thought of getting naked in front of me was too much for her to bear at times.”

“You two make a cute couple.” Twilight smiled.

Rarity returned the gesture and nodded. “Yes, and an insanely stubborn one too. It hasn’t been easy to admit, but Applejack and I have a lot more in common than one would imagine.”

“That’s a good thing though,” Twilight reminded.

“True, but try getting two stubborn women to agree on a point that both are firm on their stance upon…” Rarity smirked.

“I suppose you have me there…” Twilight frowned, originally thinking she had made a good point.

Rarity giggled as she lightened the mood and returned to her notes. “Anyway, Twilight I am positive that your dress for prom will be astounding. I’m going to make sure you’re a total knockout.”

Nodding, Twilight found herself blushing just at the thought. Rarity could truly bring out the beauty in anything.

“I take it you’re hoping Sunset will take you?” Rarity smirked.

Blushing Twilight gave a protesting hand gesture. “W-wha? Why do you think that?”

“It’s written all over your face. Come on, have you forgotten that you told me about your little crush on her? I know I’m not one to talk, but maybe you should just ask her?” Rarity encouraged.

Twilight frowned and shook her head, already knowing that was likely impossible at the moment. “Maybe if I could… However, Sunset has been locked up for some time now. She barely responds to any texts I send her, and when she does it’s more or less either a short reply or some excuse as to why she can’t come out. I’m fairly confident that she wouldn’t give me enough time to even tell her how I feel… I may as well forget it and try to not think about Sunset and I as a thing… It’ll never happen…”

Twilight felt a quick slap on her rear, causing her to flinch in pain and look down at Rarity with confused eyes. Looking back up at her, Rarity’s expression was incredulous. She had the appearance of an annoyed woman.

“Twilight Sparkle, I can’t believe what I’m hearing. It’s not like you to just give up so easily,” Rarity scolded.

“S-sorry… it’s just… I don’t realistically see a way to get Sunset to speak with me or any of us for that matter…” Twilight frowned.

“Then you continue to try and don’t give up. Sunset is stubborn, but even the most stubborn of people eventually let their armor chip away with enough time. Eventually, she’ll see that none of us are giving up, and she’ll come around again. Our friend is just shaken by Shimmer’s death still, is all.” Rarity nodded.

Pausing, Twilight swallowed before asking a question she knew would lead to awkward conversation. “Rarity…”

“Hm?” Rarity perked up and looked up at the girl standing in front of her.

Twilight stepped off of the pedestal that she had been standing on and came down to Rarity’s level, taking a seat next to her and locking eyes with her. “What about you? Aren’t you scared too?”

Sighing, Rarity closed her eyes and smiled. “Of course I’m scared. I’d have to be insane not to be, however, there is a difference between being scared and allowing fear to control me. I’m at the point where I am far more logical with my fear in that I know changing my entire life to accommodate my new fear might be exactly what this mysterious killer wants me to do. I may be afraid, but I refuse to allow fear to stop me from living. I’m careful, but far from reckless.”

“I’m afraid too… but less for myself and more for Sunset…” Twilight admitted.

Rarity blinked and tilted her head. She expected Twilight of all people, the most paranoid in their circle of friends to be thinking of every worst-case scenario for herself, but then it dawned on Rarity; Twilight had more than a crush, she was in love. Rarity recognized the serious expression on Twilight’s face, it was the same expression that Applejack made when it came to her own well being. Twilight had eyes only for Sunset, and at this point, the only thing she cared about was Sunset’s safety.

She could only imagine Twilight’s internal struggle; feelings for a girl who had shut the entire world out, love for a girl who wasn’t even human. She could only imagine the myriad of emotions that were whizzing through Twilight’s active mind. Rarity assumed her complex situation with Applejack was over the top, but Twilight was on a whole other level.

“I know you must be concerned for her…” Rarity began before reaching forward and placing a hand on Twilight’s leg to comfort the girl. Twilight looked down to Rarity’s hand and then met her face. “I know what that’s like, Sunset is tough though, she has it under control, I’m sure…”

Twilight looked down at the floor in defeat, that was the answer she wasn’t hoping to hear. “I’m not so sure… I mean I don’t doubt her abilities, but…” Twilight bit her tongue briefly before finishing that sentence. “Sunset lacks confidence in herself at times…”

“She always seems pretty confident to me…” Rarity blinked.

Twilight shook her head. “Yeah, she puts on a brave face, but when it comes to certain things… Sunset has some serious confidence issues. She never thinks she’s good enough or ready for anything. That causes her to push herself beyond her limits…”

“How are you so sure?” Rarity asked.

Twilight smiled as she thought about the question, her mind traveled back in time to when she and Sunset met, all the fond memories they shared.

“She is the first best friend I ever had… Since we met, she’s been looking out for me, she tells me a lot about herself, including a lot of her weaknesses,” Twilight explained.

“Do you know why she is so lacking in confidence?” Rarity blinked.

Twilight shook her head and frowned. “There are some secrets she keeps even from me, I’m afraid. Sunset is a pretty layered girl… She hides a lot of the past pains she’s felt behind many masks. It takes a long time and lots of patience to chip her armor away…”

Rarity smirked and nudged Twilight’s shoulder gently. “Well, it’s a good thing that you’re just the girl for that job.”

Sunset honked her horn for Twilight to hurry up. She checked her phone to see that they were running a few minutes late, eight to be exact. She grumbled and laid her head back, marveled at how Twilight seemed to take as long to get ready as Rarity did at times. Her nerdy friend was usually more punctual, but when it came to gathering or non-professional settings she clearly let her usual schedule-based self slip a little, much to Sunset’s annoyance. The things she was obligated to do were the things she wouldn’t mind being late to, but recreational things were what she preferred to not only be on time for but actually early.

The teen looked at her phone again, watching time tick by as she finally could see a figure leaving the front door of Twilight’s house. Sunset smiled as she saw the girl in more casual wear approach her old beat up car. It was rare to see Twilight less high strung, but it suited her.

Twilight leaned down and opened the car door, stepping inside and sitting down. She smiled at Sunset nervously. “Heh… sorry, I lost track of time. I was working on a research project and I didn’t realize how much time had already passed… You know how it goes…”

Sunset rolled her eyes and started the engine, wasting no time to pull out of the driveway. “Twilight Sparkle actually late for something, I better write it on my calendar.”

Twilight frowned. “Sorry again… I’m normally better about this kind of thing.”

“Relax, I’m only teasing.” Sunset waved.

Calming herself, Twilight nodded and focused her attention out the window as the two drove to their destination. She had actually been looking forward to this get together all week when Sunset first suggested it.

The other girls had been approaching her and offering to do things with her left and right, but Sunset always seemed to be first in line, always the one to offer the most activities and always the one who responded to texts almost instantly, even in the dead of night. While the others were sweet to her, Twilight recognized that Sunset went further out of her way for her. She was the kind of girl where you could call upon her for a favor at any time and she’d say yes. She didn’t know too much about her, but she knew that she cared, and that was enough.

Twilight smiled as she thought about how close she had gotten to her new friends already in such a short time before she felt the car come to a stop and pull into a parking spot. Sunset smiled at Twilight as she undid her seatbelt. “So, you ready to get stomped?”

Twilight blinked. “Are you that good?”

With a smirked, Sunset stepped out of the car with Twilight, placing her arms on top of it as she leaned over it to look at Twilight, her long hair draping over her, and her colorful eyes shining through her thick locks. “Let’s just say I have a lot of free time on my hands.”

Rolling her eyes, Twilight walked alongside her friend, observing Sunset’s heeled boots as the two walked. She was taken back by the contrast between the two of them, one of them a nerdy bookworm who you seldom found outside of a library, the other an alternative girl with a heart of gold that probably belonged at a Hot Topic or something. Briefly for a moment, Twilight imagined what Sunset might look like with tattoos or wild piercings.

Sunset approached the counter in the facility and smiled at Twilight. “Shoe size?” She asked.

Twilight blinked, not registering for a moment and tilted her head. “Huh?”

Gesturing back at the counter with her thumb, Sunset giggled. “For your bowling shoes, dummy.”

“O-oh… f-five…” Twilight blushed.

“Dainty feet, I see.” Sunset winked.

Sunset passed some money up to the clerk and retrieved two pairs of shoes, offering one to Twilight as she sat down and began unstrapping her boots and setting them aside to slip on the tacky looking shoes. Twilight observed Sunset as she did the same for herself.

Sunset tilted her head at Twilight. “Something wrong?”

“No, it’s just…” Twilight paused.

“Hm?” Sunset asked.

“You dress with so much confidence… you’re not afraid to show off your body… I wish I was that secure…” Twilight frowned.

A laugh escaped Sunset as she shrugged. “More like I have no idea what I’m supposed to be hiding. Perhaps I should remind you that I’m not human? A lot of my wardrobe was stuff I decided on before I realized what I was supposed to be embarrassed by, so after I figured that out, I was already used to this.”

Twilight nodded, that made sense to her. Sunset apparently was from a world where they didn’t even wear clothes that often she recalled, so Twilight imagined she wouldn’t feel very ashamed of her body. It didn’t help though that Sunset had natural beauty waiting to be refined though.

Sunset came to a stand and reached to her toes in a stretch to limber up. Once she had finished she gave a thumbs up and approached the bowling lane and lifted a ball. Twilight followed and sat down in front of the lane and began to enter their names in the small computer in front of them. Once she had finished she gave the okay for Sunset to throw her ball.

With a smirk on her face, Sunset tossed the ball with all her strength, it rolled and sped across the lane before smashing into the pins, knocking every single one down with no effort. Sunset turned around and casually walked back to the chairs near the lane and sat down smirking at Twilight. “Beat that, Sparkle.”

Twilight blinked and came to a stand, adjusting her glasses carefully. She chose a smaller ball and approached the long lane with a deep breath. Hurling the ball forward, she watched with fingers crossed as it managed to only knock down half of the pins. She frowned and allowed her shoulders to droop as she picked the ball up again and focused.

She flinched and almost dropped the ball as she felt hands rest on her shoulders. She turned her head to see Sunset looking over her shoulder forward at the lane. “Hey, concentrate. Don’t think about hitting the pins, just relax and focus on aiming; roll and release when you’ve cleared your head,” Sunset instructed.

Nodding, Twilight took another breath and closed her eyes for a brief moment. When she opened them she rolled the ball, knocking down the remainder of the pins.

“W-wow!” Twilight exclaimed.

Sunset sat back down as Twilight did the same. “See, all you needed to do was clear your head.”

“Thanks… I appreciate it,” Twilight replied.

Leaning back in her seat, Sunset smiled as she closed her eyes. “It’s nothing, I mean, after all, I don’t want to beat you unless you’re at your best after all…”

“I don’t mean that…” Twilight stated.

Sunset opened an eye to see Twilight sitting there with a serious look on her face. She sat back up and leaned forward to face Twilight, both eyes open now. “Then… what?”

“For everything… You’ve gone out of your way to spend time with me… to make sure I fit in…” Twilight smiled thinking about it.

Sunset nodded and smiled back. “Hey, I know what it’s like to be given a second chance and have no idea where to start. It’s not an easy feeling, but people reached out to me, and I wanted to do the same for you, Twilight.”

Twilight smiled and nodded. “Thank you, Sunset. You’re a great person, don’t ever change, alright?”

Sunset laughed and leaned back. “I can’t promise I’ll never change after all changing is why I’m even here in the first place, but I can promise I’ll do my best to never let you down.”

Reaching forward with an extended pinkie finger, Twilight looked to Sunset with content eyes. Sunset paused but leaned forward and offered her own pinkie. “It’s a promise then?” Twilight asked.

Taking Twilight’s finger and wrapping it with her own, she nodded. “It’s a promise. I’ll do my best, Twilight.”

Sunset sat in front of the complex looking computer that Shimmer had kept in her lab tilting her head as she tried to understand what she was doing. She had come into this room to try and look up anything Shimmer had saved on her research or Ghost, but it had occurred to her that she was completely clueless about how to even begin looking. So instead, she stared blankly at an empty screen thinking over how to figure this out.

She knew the basics of how to open a web browser, how to google something, but ultimately she didn’t quite understand the inner workings of a computer beyond extremely basic use. Sighing, she pushed herself away from the monitor and came to a stand, deciding to take a break and get herself a drink.

Retreating to the kitchen, Sunset opened the oversized refrigerator, grumbling that most of the sodas were diet. She had briefly forgotten that her younger sibling was a diabetic, but every time she came to the fridge she told herself she would replace a lot of the drinks, but whenever it came time to actually do that, she found herself unable to remove anything that Shimmer had kept there.

Grabbing a bottle of water she paused as she recalled the feelings she had only a few weeks ago when Shimmer had died and she was given the key to this house in the first place. All those days of thinking not to mess with anything for when Shimmer came back. She would repeat it to herself over and over, but now she found herself repeating a different tune, one that she had to once again say out loud.

“Shimmer isn’t coming back…” She thought aloud.

Closing her eyes and closing the door to the fridge, she sighed as she unscrewed the cap to the bottle and began her slow walk back to the lab.

It had taken her a few weeks, but she had finally begun to accept the reality of the situation, Shimmer was murdered and murdered meant she was gone for good. She wasn’t going to return and that meant there was little reason to keep sodas for her in the fridge. That also meant she needed to stop referring to the building as Shimmer’s home, because the reality was, it was her home now.

Catching Sunset in his gaze, Moon who had been laying down on a carpet near the top of the stairs stood up and began to follow Sunset, stopping at the door to the lab when Sunset entered. She looked back at the dog and smirked. “Oh… that’s right… Shimmer didn’t let you in the lab a lot did she?”

The dog merely sat there wagging his tail with an expectant look on his face. “Come on in, the rules are changing around here.” Sunset waved for the dog to enter, but he remained.

Sighing, Sunset stepped toward him and tugged his collar gently, which finally made the dog listen and come into the room, albeit with very careful and gentle steps, his ears drooped and his tail hung low, causing Sunset to giggle a bit as she sat at the office chair. “You really listened to her to a T, didn’t you?”

The dog stood perfectly still before Sunset reached forward and patted the side of his head. “It’s alright, you’re still a good boy.”

That comment seemed to create a change in the dog’s demeanor as his ears perked back up and his tail began to wag again. Letting out a confident bark, he came forward and rested his head in her lap, causing Sunset to casually pet him as she stared back at the computer she had been trying to navigate prior to leaving the room.

Sunset frowned as she realized that the small break she had taken did not shed any light on the mysteries of computers.

The girl reached down and rubbed behind the dog’s ears as she spoke directly to him. “I guess one thing is certain… I’m going to need to get a much better understanding of computers if I want to solve this mystery…”

Her canine friend merely barked in response.

Shining parked his car in front of the enormous Shimmer estate. He had seen houses this large only in pictures and sometimes from far away, but seldom did he ever get to see the inside of them. He remembered first seeing this house up close and thinking it was far too much for a single person or even a family of three, and despite how much time had passed, his opinion had not changed. He knew a place like this offered the wrong kind of solitude, the kind of solitude that drives a person mad.

Sighing, he turned off his car and stepped out grabbing a bag of items and approached the door, ringing the doorbell next to it. Waiting a moment, he heard Sunset’s voice leave the speaker and instruct him. “I’m in the base floor living room; make your way there and please shut the door behind you.”

Nodding, Shining stepped inside and wiped his expensive shoes on the mat at the door. He noted how he recalled buying the shoes he was wearing to prepare for his new job and his wife insisting that he get himself a “nice” pair of shoes for a change despite his protest. At the time he thought spending two hundred dollars on shoes was insane, but after spending some time at the estate he was at now, he now could see that a two hundred dollar pair of shoes was a minor luxury. He recalled Sunset once mentioning that Shimmer owned handbags that she inherited that were worth more than her car.

Shining could never understand the appeal of overpriced accessories to a lady, but he knew that even his wife had a weakness for them.

Running to him was a familiar canine, who gave a very friendly bark and sat in front of Shining waiting to be petted. Shining reached down and fulfilled the request and gave the dog a good few pats on the head. “You remembered not to jump up on me this time… good, I just had this suit dry cleaned, sorry. Nothing against dogs, but I have to look professional.”

The dog just barked happily as his tail continued to wag, unclear if he even understood what Shining was even talking about.

Carefully navigating the building, he made his way directly left and walked past a few oversized paintings on the wall, one of which caught his eye. Despite being in the house a few times before, he never noticed most of the artwork. The one that caught his eye though was a rather detailed painting of a rose. It looked so real that he would have mistaken it for a photograph had he not stared at it longer.

There at the bottom, he could see a name signed with a memo.

He frowned slightly as he realized that this was, in fact, a painting made by a loving mother to her only daughter, both now gone from this world, both with lives cut drastically short.

It amazed him how talented Shimmer’s mother was to create something so immaculate. The only solace he took was knowing that the two were at least together now after such a long time separated. He knew little about the accident that took Shimmer’s parents away from her, but he did know that it was his responsibility to find out what happened to Shimmer herself and bring whoever ended her life to justice.

Coming back to reality he continued his journey to the living room to find a rather casually dressed Sunset sitting on the floor surrounded by various computer parts with a book in her hand. She sat there in just a tank top and basketball shorts as her eyes scanned the pages in front of her carefully before reaching down and picking up a part and turning it to get a better look at it, nodding in understanding as she pulled a pen out from behind her ear and scribbled in the book.

Her usually flowing long hair was tied up in a messy bun and she appeared as though she hadn’t slept in some time.

She barely noticed Shining entered until Moon followed behind him and barked, causing Sunset to casually turn her head in his direction and offer a very brief smile. “Hello, Detective Armor.”

He sighed and approached. “I told you, you can call me Shining.”

Sunset shrugged and returned her gaze to her book.

“I assume there is a reason for your visit?” She stated plainly.

He nodded and lifted a bag he was carrying in his right hand that he had brought in from the car. “I know I’m not supposed to, but I brought you something from Twilight. Unethical, but she wouldn’t stop until I took it.”

Sunset waved her hand. “Set it down on the couch.”

He blinked and did as instructed, deciding to tell her what it was. “It’s cookies, she made them this morning.”

Sunset nodded. “I’m not hungry right now, but thank you…”

Her voice suggested her disinterest in the token, causing Shining to frown and sigh. “Sunset… listen… As a friend, I think I have an obligation to tell you that perhaps you should be a bit more attentive to your social life? In these harsh times being surrounded by people who care about you can be very good for you…”

Sunset shook her head and continued examining the computer parts in front of her, not even turning to face him. “Can’t at the moment…”

“And why’s that?”

Setting down a part in her hand, Sunset turned to face Shining finally with serious eyes. Her expression screamed of anger and annoyance. “Because there is a killer on the loose; someone who murdered the only family I have in this world, and I have yet to determine their motives. If I was the actual target then they would not be against harming my friends to get to me. Shimmer switched places with me and that day we were both wearing the same outfit. Since she was also hit from behind either one of us could have been the intended target, so until I know for sure, I can’t put my friends in harm's way.”

Shining sighed again and nodded. “I understand that, but how long do you intend to stay like this? Locked up in this house?”

“As long as necessary. I’ll go back outside when I’m prepared and not a moment sooner, Shining.” Sunset growled.

He wanted to protest, but he could tell by the look on her face that it would be pointless. Sunset’s mind was clearly made up.

“Is there anything else, Detective?” Sunset asked.

Shining shook his head. “No… nothing at all…”

A few muffled cracks echoed through the air as Sunset aimed at a target in the distance. Gripped tightly in her hands was a Ruger SR1911 handgun. Lowering the weapon she set it down on a shelf in front of herself and picked up another weapon in a set sitting in front of her.

This time she had opted for the Glock G29 and let off a few shots. Lowering this weapon as well she took a look at it and nodded to herself. The Glock proved to be far lighter and despite its cheap feeling material that constructed the weapon she couldn’t argue that it packed quite a punch and was a far more versatile weapon for carrying around.

Sunset removed the earmuffs she was wearing and hit a button to return the target she was firing at toward herself. Slowly it approached until it was only a good two feet in front of her. She smirked as she observed the holes she had placed in it, most of which hit the vital spots.

She picked up the 1911 in her free hand and looked at both before placing the Glock back down. While she definitely felt the Glock was more practical, she couldn’t deny that the 1911 felt better to use, and definitely looked more intimidating.

Carrying the gun out of the shooting range she walked out the door toward the armory that she had discovered in the house. Shimmer’s father kept a practice range down in the basement for his hobby of hunting and had a decent sized arsenal of weapons that he kept within it. From shotguns to rifles, there was a little bit of everything within legal restrictions.

She involuntarily was about to step foot in the armory to place the weapon back when she heard her phone in her back jean pocket ring.

Sighing, Sunset grabbed it with her free hand and answered it, placing it to her ear.

“Hello?” Sunset asked.

The familiar voice of her principal answered on the other end. “Sunset, nice of you to pick up, I’ve been trying to call you for over an hour…”

Sunset blinked and realized she must not have noticed her phone vibrating due to how focused she was at the range.

“Sorry… I was… occupied…” Sunset coughed.

“Well, I’m calling to tell you that some of your state tests are coming up, and I can’t administer them at your home. It would behoove you to come in and attend a few classes for review and then take the tests…” Celestia informed.

Sunset had a feeling this conversation would happen sooner or later. She had spent a good three months locked up in her home, searching for anything about Ghost that might crack the mystery right open with little to no luck.

With her mind wandering, she fell silent causing Celestia to try and get her attention.

“Sunset… You can’t stay locked up in your home forever, you will need to come to school eventually…”

Sunset smiled and shook her head as she came back out of her thoughts. “Don’t worry, I was planning on coming in actually… You’ll see me tomorrow.”

“R-really?” Celestia stuttered.

“Yeah, I think I’m ready… I’ll see you tomorrow, Principal Celestia,” Sunset replied.

“I look forward to it,” Celestia said before hanging up.

Sunset placed the phone back in her pocket as she made her way upstairs, eventually reaching the foyer and ascending to her bedroom. When she managed to get in she checked the time to see that it was already 11:58 PM, meaning if she wanted to get to school on time the next day she would need to prepare a little bit tonight.

Opening her wardrobe she began to pick out her outfit for the next day. Once she was satisfied with what she’d wear, she pulled her backpack from out of a nearby closet and shook it off to remove some of the dust. Opening it she began to stuff various items she’d need for school inside, her MacBook, phone charger, an extra shirt just in case, but her eyes gravitated to a vanity that she had passed on the way in.

Setting the bag down she marched over to the vanity and observed the handgun she had brought up with her and set down as she entered the room. She had mistakenly brought it all the way upstairs with her as she was distracted by her call with Celestia.

Reaching down and taking it carefully in her hand she observed it and then looked back at her bag. Nodding she walked over to the bag and placed the gun inside.

Hey another week, another chapter. Those are perhaps some of the best hands that Applety has ever drawn, HANDS DOWN.

Behind the scenes: Ironically I work at a bowling alley, but the scene was not modeled after the one I work at.