The sun arose starting a new day in Ponyville. Sunset and Spike both got ready at Golden Oaks Library. Twilight struggled, but finally got out of bed and started her day.

"So, are you just gonna stay here Twilight?" asked Sunset.

"Yeah." answered Twilight.

"If you stay cooped in her your coat will lose its luster." mused Sunset.

"I'm not rarity so that isn't a concern." shrugged Twilight.

"Oh come on, yo know it's not healthy to stay in here all day." replied Sunset.

"Well, I can't go outside." said Twilight.

"Why not?" asked Sunset.

"Everypony hates me." answered Twilight.

"Not everypony can hate you." replied Spike.

"After what I did, they do." said Twilight.

"And you deserve it." added the voice.

"I don't like going through this shit again." muttered Twilight.

"What did you say?" asked Sunset.

"Nothing." answered Twilight quickly.

"The ponies here are your friends..." began Sunset.

"Where my friends." replied Twilight.

"They set up a memorial for you after your vanished." noted Sunset.

"And I paid them back by enslaving them for Sombra." said Twilight.

"I was supposed to go to Sugarcube Corner for a party, but I'm staying here!" declared Sunset.

"Please go. I don't want you to miss a pinkie pie party because of me." said Twilight.

Spike pulled Sunset aside.

"I'll stay here and watch Twilight. You need to let loose a bit. Worrying isn't going to help." offered the baby dragon.

"Spike, you're awesome." sighed Sunset.

Sunset Shimmer left while Twilight retreated to her bed. Spike stayed with her for a bit until he noticed they where low on groceries. Twilight offered him Bits to go and buy some, but Spike dragged Twilight out of her bed by mustering all the strength he could Spike had to force Twilight to join him. Sunset Shimmer missed the two minutes before she had to depart herself. As they headed to the market, Twilight felt the cold glares she was getting.

"I want to go home." said Twilight.

"No." replied Spike.

"I'm a full grown mare." noted Twilight.

"Sunset is right, you cannot stay cooped up in your room all day." said Spike.

"Watch me." said Twilight.

Twilight turned around bumping into a pony.

"I'm so sorry..." began Twilight.

Berry Punch froze realizing it was Twilight.

"You." said Berry Punch angrily.

"Oh Berry..." began Twilight.

Berry Punch spat in Twilight's face.

"Hey!" cried Spike angrily.

"I deserved it." said Twilight somberly.

"You can that again." said Berry bitter

"I understand you must be angry after what you went through..." began Spike.

"I don't give a shit about that." spat Berry.

"Then what are you pissed about?" asked Spike.

"My family..." began Berry.

Berry Punch took a moment.

"They where tormented worrying about me." continued Berry.

Twilight looked away in shame.

"Neither of them would leave my side." continued Berry.

Berry stomped her hoof.

"And it's all because of her!" exclaimed Berry Punch.

"You're exactly the ideal mother! snapped Spike defensive.

"Spike!" gasped Twilight horrified.

Berry punch chuckled.

"If anything positive came out of this, it's that I'm sober now." revealed Berry

"That's great." said Twilight relieved.

"I had time to do a lot of thinking when I was trapped in my tiny cell." replied Berry Punch bitterly.

Twilight winced at this.

"I realized how damning my addiction was and how much it was hurting my family." continued Berry.

Berry Punch took a moment to compose herself.

"I swore if I survived I would never drink another drop of alcohol in my life." said Berry.

"Good for you." said Twilight.

Twilight then turned her attention to her assistant.

"Spike, I want you to apologize for what you said." requested Twilight.

The baby dragon sighed.

"Berry Punch, I'm sorry for what I said." said Spike.

"I have to admit I see where you're coming from." confessed Berry Punch.

Berry Punch thought for a moment.

"I guess I shouldn't have spat in her face." admitted Berry.

"It's fine." replied Twilight.

Berry pointed her hoof at Twilight.

"That doesn't mean I forgive you!" snapped Berry.

Twilight sadly sighed.

"I understand." replied Twilight.

"Stay away from my family." demanded Berry coldly.

With that Berry Punch left. After assuring Spike she was okay, Twilight went to the market. As soon as they arrived, other ponies either shot Twilight dirty glares and shook in terror. This was nothing Twilight hadn't become accustom to. The flower ponies gasped at "the horror" and fainted. Twilight attempted to get what she needed, but every pony refused to serve her.

"This is total discrimination!" spat Spike fuming.

"It's fine Spike. Let's just go." replied Twilight sadly.

"What about the groceries?" asked Spike.

"Sunset will have to get them." answered Twilight.

As she began to leave, Twilight heard a familiar voice.

"Hello Twilight." said Minuette.

Twiligth froze seeing her old friend...or former friend.

"Um Twilight..." began Minuette.

"Aren't you going to say anything?" asked Spike surprised.

Twilight sadly shook her head 'no' to answer.

"I'm sorry." sighed Spike, "It's just...

Minuette shook her head.

"I understand." replied Minuette.

A minute of awkward silence followed.

"So...how are things?" asked Minuette.

"Twilight is trying to readjust." answered Spike.

"Okay." said Minuette.

"How's life without magic?" asked Minuette.

"It sucks." answered Twilight flatly.

"Magic was always your bread and butter. This must be torture." mused Minutte.

"Yeah." confirmed Twilight.

Minuette took a moment.

"Oh, have to talked to Lyra?" asked Minuette.

Twilight shook her head 'no' to answer.

"She's said she wants to talk to you." noted Minuette.

"To tell you how much she hates you." said the voice.

"Oh fuck off." sighed Twilight.

Minuette visible winced.

"I'm trying to be nice." noted Minuette offended.

It took a moment before Twilight realized what she meant.

"I'm sorry. I was talking to you." said Twilight guilty.

"Keep digging your grave." said the voice.

"It's fine." replied Minuette.

The blue unicorn took a deep breath.

"Twilight, I don't know what happened." began Minuette.

Twilight hung her head in shame.

"But, I know the Twilight Sparkle who helped Sombra isn't the Twilight Sparkle that I know." continued Minuette.

Twilight remained silent so Minuette decided to pus onward.

"I am will to give you a second chance." revealed Minuette.

Twilight felt a surge of joy in heart.

"But, it's going to take time." concluded Minuette.

Twilight felt her heart rip.

"Empty words. She'll never trust you again and nopony will." said the voice smugly.

"I'll see you around." said Minuette.

With that, Minuette took her leave.

"I always liked her." muttered Spike appreciatively.

Spike turned his attention to Twilight.

"Are you..." began Spike.

Before Spike could finish, another pony bumped into Twilight.

"My bad." said Derpy.

The resident mailmare picked up her mailbag when she noticed her shadow.

"Oh no." gasped Derpy.

Derpy began to look around worried shaking her delivery hat on her head.

"What are you looking for?" asked Spike.

"My hat. I didn't see the brim in my shadow. it must have fallen off." answered Derpy.

Twilight and Spike had gotten used to this so neither where surprised.

"It's on your head..just backwards." noted Twilight.

Derpy reached up and felt her cap.

"Oh thank goodness. My boss would be really mad if I lost another cap." explained Derpy.

Derpy froze when she suddenly realized who she was talking to.

"Twilight..." said Derpy softly.

"Hi." said Twilight reluctantly.

"I knew you where back...but, I hadn't seen you." mused Derpy.

"Well...I do try and stay home most of the time." said Twilight.

Neither mare talked allowing an awkward silence to build up.

"How's Dinky?" asked Twilight.

"She's doing great. She's got good friend in the Cutie Mark Crusaders." answered Derpy.

"Those three are fantastic fillies." stated Twilight.

"They're great." agreed Derpy.

"Just like their sisters." said Twilight sadly.

"How are things with you and your friends?" asked Derpy cautiously.

"Ex-friends. None of them are that willing to talk with me right now." answered Twilight.

"We where worried when you vanished." said Derpy.

"It's was really nice of you to start that memorial." said Spike grateful.

"It was the least I could do." replied Derpy.

"And you repaid their kindness with slavery." said the voice.

Twilight felt her guilt overtaken.

"Well...we really have to go." said Twilight hastily.

Twilight left with Spike right behind her.

"I deserve to be punished for everything I did." thought Twilight.

Twilight went home with Spike behind her. Upon returning home they found a letter from Sunset explaining she was being dragged to Vanhoover by Rainbow to track down A.K. Yearling with the hopes of speeding up production of the next Daring Do book. The two waited all night, but Sunset did not return. Instead, Sunset and the others returned the next day. As soon as she got back, Sunset recounted the entire adventure to Twilight.

"I can't believe A.K. Yearling is actually Daring Do." said Twilight amazed.

"Yeah. We actually got to go an a real Daring Do adventure! Is was so fantastic!" declared Sunset, in full fangirl mode.

"I'm glad you had fun." said Twilight

softly.

Sunset shook her head and quickly returned to caring marefriend mode.

"How where things for you?" asked Sunset.

Twilight and Spike explained their failed trip to the market along with their three encounters.

"Are you feeling okay after all that?" asked Sunset concerned.

"Yeah." answered Twilight flatly.

"You know I'm here for you." said Sunset.

"Yeah." replied Twilight.

The two shared a kiss.

"Sunset and Spike are the only sincere ones." thought Twilight somberly.

Author's Notes:

A/N: That is where we'll end things for now. I hope you liked this. Next time, Twilight's struggles continue and they overlap a bit with a certain ground-bound orange pegasus. Please review.