Ratings turned off because this is a "detached" story arc from my mature FlutterDash fic, What They Expect to Give. That means this isn't complete without reading the other work. If you try reading this first, this will not make sense to you. If you have any feedback or thoughts you'd like to share, please do so in the comments.

Applejack has had her romantic hopes crushed, and in the wake of that struggles with home and school life. Sunset Shimmer pushes herself to redeem for past mistakes but is plagued by financial trouble and the unwanted attention of mobsters. In the midst of all this, somehow people still turn to them for answers.

When Sunset suggested to AJ that they spend more time together, it was with the hope of helping Applejack overcome her grief—and maybe staving off her own loneliness was an added bonus. She thought she was in control. She thought she knew what was at stake. She couldn't have been more wrong.

Maybe that's a good thing.

Sometimes, the responsible ones have to crack to repair into something stronger.

Prologue is based during Chapter 24 and 25 of What They Expect to Give. Chapter One picks up on the same day as Chapter 26.

Cover art commissioned from peachmichea.

Check out the story's Spotify playlist.