Sunset Shimmer had been waiting outside, hoping against all hope that Rainbow’s meeting wouldn’t turn into a nightmare.

She listened to the radio. She didn’t even make it halfway through a song before nerves overtook her. After a furtive check to make sure Rainbow wasn’t coming, she exited the car and snuck in a cigarette from the fresh pack she’d bought earlier that day.

Sorry, AJ, she thought as she blew the smoke up into the air. I couldn’t help myself. Anyway, I think tonight’s gonna be rough.

Lightning crashed, followed by great thunder. Sunset whistled as she looked up at the darkening sky.

Real rough.

When she was putting out her cigarette, that’s when she saw them exit the building...

Gold Fang and Capper.

Sunset’s heart skipped a beat and her skin flashed cold. Sprinkles of rain started to come down when Gold Fang’s eyes landed on her.

“Damn it…” she muttered as the two men approached.

Gold Fang and Capper were with the Badlanders, a gang that served as an arm of the Trog-El Syndicate. Her eyes slid to Capper, who snuck an almost apologetic shrug behind Gold Fang’s back. She narrowed her gaze at him before regarding his older partner.

Gold Fang spread his arms wide. “Well if it ain’t my lil’ hotdog!”

She crossed her arms. “Leave me alone,” Sunset said flatly.

“Now that ain’t no way to speak to a friend.” The older man’s lips puckered. “Shucks, it seems like you don’t appreciate all I’ve done for you now that you’ve moved up in the world!”

Sunset bared an overly sweet grin. “I’m sure Verko would love to hear about your side deals with the Changelings, Fang.”

Verko was the leader of the Badlanders and part of the Trog-El Syndicate’s head council. The Changelings, meanwhile, were the Badlanders’ biggest rivals within the syndicate. She’d seen Fang leaving Changeling territory more than once on his own. There was no reason for him to be there unless he was creeping behind his leader’s back.

Gold Fang’s smile waned. He gazed at her with murder in his gray eyes for a long beat, before spitting at her boots and flashing his fangs in a smile once again. She didn’t allow herself to react. The old thug couldn’t do anything to her. Not while she was in Grogar’s pocket.

“Sadly, I lack the time for a good chit chat,” Gold Fang said with a dismissive wave of his hand. He turned and went to a gold European convertible on the opposite side of the parking lot. “This hotdog’s a bit too burnt today, anyhow.” He winked over his shoulder as he took out his car keys and spun them on a finger. “I’ll take a bite outta her another time.”

Capper lingered, however. He looked at Sunset with what looked like regret. “Sunny, I heard he called you in again…” he said.

Grogar.

She looked at him coolly. “Yeah. He did.”

She fished out another cigarette. Any more of this, and she’d be done with the pack before the night was through. “Still under Verko, huh, Capper? Gee, too bad. I guess your lil’ scheme didn’t work.”

Sunset placed the cig in her mouth, but when she pulled out her lighter, she was annoyed to find it wouldn’t light. The wind kept snuffing out the flame. With a huff, she tried turning, but her wavy red locks lifted with the breeze and got in the way.

Capper cleared his throat and tapped her on the shoulder. Sunset turned with a glare to find the young man held out a lit flip lighter. She narrowed her eyes at him but leaned in to light her cigarette anyway.

“I didn’t mean for you to get dragged in deeper, Sunny,” Capper murmured, his eyes casting down. He put away his lighter but left his hand in his pocket as he shifted his weight to one foot. “I thought my plan would work out for both of us…”

Sunset shrugged, blowing smoke out of the corner of her mouth. “Who's to say it didn’t?” She gestured up and down at his suit. “You got a promotion.” She gestured at herself. “And I’ve got Grogar’s ‘protection’.”

She made a face and puffed on her cigarette again. “For however long that lasts…”

Capper’s eyes tensed. “He doesn’t make you…? Y’know.”

“Sleep with him?” She rolled her eyes. “No.”

Thank Celestia, too!

If it ever came to that, she could suffer it, she supposed. But her pride would be forever cut in half afterward. And if she fought? It would be a life and death struggle that would end with one of them dead, and having likely exposed Equestrian magic to the world. A risk she couldn’t take.

“He finds me strange and mysterious enough to be amusing,” she continued. “That’s all.” At least, that’s how it started…

Capper let out a breath. “Good.”

He stepped closer, pulling off his fedora and revealing a carefully combed back tuft of thick indigo hair. He looked at her sorrowfully as he held his hat to his chest. “For what it’s worth… I am sorry.” He tried to reach for her hand.

She pulled it away, clenched tight in a fist.

“When you told Grogar about my arrangement with Verko, you spoiled any chance I had of getting out of this clean,” she hissed. “And I still kept that secret for you! I could have told Verko, but I never said a word!”

Nevermind that Grogar had specifically forbidden her from doing so upon threat of death. If she had still been her selfish self, she would have done it anyway. Just to see Capper suffer.

She took a long drag of her cigarette, then exhaled harshly. The acrimony that burned in her chest almost drove her to blow the smoke in his face. Old Sunset would have, and she felt that ghost a bit too keenly right now...

“If you were really sorry, you’d help me get away from it all…” Sunset cut a searing look at him from the corner of her eye. “But you won’t, will you?”

Capper slouched and ran a hand over his hair. He opened his mouth as if to speak—

Gold Fang’s car honked. They both looked, startled.

Sunset ashed her cigarette and glanced at Capper, her expression frigid. “Your partner’s waiting for you.”

Capper sighed and returned his hat to his head. He turned and walked away. Over his shoulder, he said, “I want to make this right. I just… don’t know how.”

Sunset watched as Gold Fang’s car backed out of its parking spot, then drove away. She watched them go with narrowed eyes, her displeasure lingering like her cigarette smoke.

Then the frosty anger thawed away, and she let her chin fall to her chest.

Capper… I don’t know what to do either. I just fake it most of the time.

It was a difficult thing for her to admit because she’d put that past behind her, but she still had fond memories of the mischief she and Capper had gotten up to. They had survived together, when no one else cared about them, running scams and committing petty theft.

It was even his forgeries that had gotten her into school, to begin with.

But when she’d started her gold laundering arrangement with Verko, she’d left Capper behind. Her life ceased to be a day-to-day struggle to eat. She became a high schooler with her very own apartment.

Meanwhile, Capper wondered where he’d sleep every night. In her selfishness, she hadn’t thought to help him.

In the cut-throat world of criminal politics, using her to get into Grogar’s good graces must have seemed the only option for him. Payback too for abandoning him, maybe. Neither of them could have foreseen the long-lasting repercussions of his actions.

She knew this. And still, the bitterness lingered.

Sunset felt a little sorry. Capper’s situation had always been more desperate than hers, even when she’d first arrived in this world. Being a criminal was all that he knew. And she had treated him poorly...

But his past betrayal still had a lasting impact on her life today. What stung about it was that she knew he had a moral compass hidden beneath his criminal facade. The fact that he chose to ignore it to go in deeper with the Badlanders was evidence that he wasn’t really ready to change. He still made excuses for himself.

She knew that kindness and forgiveness could be powerful in leading someone down a new path. She’d extended her hand to some of her worst enemies, guiding them out from the dark. But with Capper… her hand stayed at her side.

Sunset felt ashamed that she couldn’t see past her ongoing problems to let go of her lingering resentment. If anyone needed saving, it was Capper.

The wind whipped up. Sunset cursed when she realized her cigarette had gone out. She hunched her back to the gusts, trying to light it again.

It was around this time that she got the texts from Fluttershy about a strange problem. Sunset was almost relieved for the distraction. After a quick exchange, they called each other.

When they talked on the phone, Sunset did her best to address her friend’s concerns, all the while shivering in the increasing winds as she finished her cigarette. The truth was, there wasn’t much she could do right then. She had every intention of following up, though.

Abnormally heightened senses? Yeah, that warranted looking into. And soon.

Poor Flutters… I’ll call her again when her shift is through. Maybe we can get to the bottom of it tonight, even. That’d be good.

After her phone call, she did a quick internet search on her phone to make sure no weird events had happened in the area. Though she checked traditional news outlets, she focused more on social media and paranormal chat servers.

Nothing.

So maybe not another magical artifact… Gosh, I really hope it’s something simple!

Still feeling antsy, she sent Applejack a music track to listen to—a blues song from Red Rooster, the musician they were going to hear play Wednesday night. She didn’t get an immediate reply, but Sunset reasoned Applejack was just too busy to text and shrugged it off.

She finished her cigarette, then returned to Rainbow’s car. The rain was starting to come down in earnest.

A short time later, and Rainbow emerged, visibly upset. Sunset stiffened at the sight of her friend holding her head, her body wracked with sobs.

The redhead practically stumbled to get out of the car, just as the sky unleashed a massive downpour...

Applejack was bone tired by supper and glad to be home.

That was until Big Mac told her Apple Bloom had been suspended from school. Again.

Big Mac practically fled back to the orchard after seeing the look on Applejack’s face.

“What in tarnation is wrong with you?!” Applejack shouted at her younger sister. She stood in the middle of the living room, looming over Apple Bloom, her body coiled like she was about to tussle. “Do you have any idea what a damn pickle you’ve put me in?”

Apple Bloom glowered up at her from the couch, an ice pack on her bruised cheek. Her lower lip was fat and split. No doubt she had bruises elsewhere too. Diamond Tiara may have been a rich girl, but she was meaner than a wet panther when push came to shove.

“She started it,” Apple Bloom muttered sullenly.

“I don’t care!” Applejack hollered. “Principal Celestia can’t keep cutting you slack anymore! One more fight and you’re expelled, Apple Bloom! Heck, you’re lucky Filthy Rich ain’t pressing charges!”

Applejack jabbed a finger into her chest. “I also just got through filing for guardianship for your fool head. What will the court think when they come here and find you not in school on account of another one of your gol’darned duck fits?”

“It’s not my fault!” Apple Bloom shot back, her voice rising. “Diamond Tiara got mad because I spread around a GIF of her face-planting during cheerleading practice! She sucker-punched me! I wasn’t gonna let ‘er get off easy!”

Applejack pulled her hat off her head and hid her reddening face with it.

Just count slow… Reaaaal slow, AJ…

After reaching a ten count, she lowered her hat and said with exaggerated calm. “So you thought… it’d be a swell idea… to go antagonizing the girl... who we know... don’t play fair?”

Despite Applejack’s efforts, her jaw tightened and so did her voice. “And then you thought… shoving Diamond Tiara’s face… into the lunch line’s cream corn… would make it all better?”

Apple Bloom smirked. “Naw. That was just fun.”

Applejack swatted her with her hat. “Hardheaded! That’s what you are! You could make a preacher cuss!” She thrust a quaking finger at the stairs. “Git to your room! I better not see your damn face for the rest of the damn night!”

Apple Bloom pouted as she fixed her ponytail and walked with infuriating slow speed for the staircase.

Applejack jammed her hat back on her head and fidgeted on the spot, her arms first crossing, then going to her hips, then crossing again.

When her sister was near the top of the stairs, she yelled next, “And if you think this week off from school is gonna be a walk in the park, you got another think coming! I’m putting your butt to work, little lady!”

“Whatever,” she heard Apple Bloom mutter.

Applejack’s nostrils flared and she almost stormed after her sister when Granny Smith held up a hand. The cowgirl stopped, blinking down at her grandmother. She’d forgotten the older woman had been sitting there in the recliner all this time.

Granny peered up at her with a clarity Applejack hadn’t seen for a few weeks now. “Ye can’t get through to her like that, Applejack.”

She settled deep into her recliner, her bushy brows clashing. “When you an’ Mac told me you wanted to take over the farm and watch over your sister, I fought ya somethin’ awful.” Granny shook her head, her face tilting down. “But even I gotta admit, I can’t keep up no more…”

Applejack’s heart wrenched. She knelt by her grandmother, taking a wrinkly hand. “Aw, Granny, don’t say that! You still help plenty! We can’t do this without you!”

“Well, you’re a-gonna have to!” Granny Smith said sternly. She looked at Applejack, her orange eyes faded with age. “And I’m tryin’ to tell ya that parenting is more’n just a firm hand! You gotta see that if yer meanin’ to take over!”

Her expression softened and she patted her granddaughter’s wrist. “Teachin’ always works best when you got more love and patience in yer heart than anythin’ else. If you roll up on yer sister hootin’ and hollerin’... well, worst case, she shuts down on you. Best case, she learns the lesson but resents you for it. It ain’t no way to raise a child, sugar cube.”

Applejack nodded slowly. Her anger still smoldered deep within her.

But under the guiding wisdom of her elder, she would try not to act on it.

As she stood to her feet and planted a soft kiss on her grandmother’s hair, Applejack knew that she needed time to cool down.

Maybe she’d drive to the ridge and watch the sunset. She hadn’t done that in a while.

Applejack grabbed her coat and put it on. As she went to get her keys from the kitchen counter, she paused a moment to check her phone for the time. That’s when she saw the text from Sunset Shimmer.

Curious, she opened it. It was a link to a Red Rooster song.

Applejack grabbed her keys. She tucked the phone into her pocket. She could listen to the song later. For now, she just needed to get out of this house.

What a night…

What a night!

Sunset Shimmer practically speed-walked her way out of Freenote Library.

‘Thanks, Sunset’

‘Yes, thank you so much, Sunset!’

How could they possibly be thanking her? She’d failed. Oh, maybe not completely. But she’d failed where it counted.

Rainbow Dash had almost lost control of her powers. Right in front of her. Rainbow almost…

Almost ended up like me.

Sunset could feel the tears prick her eyes, but she fought to keep them back.

Self-pity would get her nowhere. She just needed to focus better. But in order to do that, she needed to think straight. The stress of the evening’s trials weighed on her. She had to calm down.

She knew one way to do that.

Sunset went through her throwaway phone’s contact list. Her eyes paused on Kojote’s name, but she shook her head and kept scrolling.

No, she wanted a softer touch tonight.

Then her eyes landed on the answer.

Sherry Kiss.

Perfect.

Sunset hit the green phone symbol and pressed the cell to her ear.

The call went to voicemail. Disappointed, but not discouraged, Sunset waited till she had gone back to her dorm to grab her cycling gear before trying again.

After a few rings, a woman answered. “Looking for some fun, huh?” she sounded amused.

“Up for it, Sherry?” Sunset asked as she left her dorm and made her way to the elevator. “Please say yes!”

“Oh! Begging! Haven’t heard that in a while.” Sherry laughed. It was a deep and rich sound.

Sunset allowed a small whine to enter into her voice as she hit the elevator call button. “Pretty pleeeease?”

She only did this for Sherry. The older woman seemed to like it when Sunset played the immature card.

“Hmmm... ”

Sunset rolled her eyes but smiled. Sherry liked to play games. If Sunset was being honest, it was a big reason they’d been partners for so long. The longest of any of Sunset’s partners, in fact. She liked Sherry’s games. They were titillating and kept the mood light.

“Tell you what, hon,” Sherry purred. “Grab a pack of strawberries, and I’ll be happy to have you over.”

Sunset’s eyebrows lifted as the elevator arrived. “Strawberries?” Her lips curled up. “Now I’m curious.”

“Well, hurry up and get over here, and you won’t have to be curious anymore!” Sherry laughed again.

Sunset giggled as she stepped inside the open elevator. “Yes, ma’am!”

Upon the ridge overlooking the farm, you could see over the emerald hills and neighboring forests to enjoy the humbling view of the sun sinking below the horizon. The sky washed in cool colors, a radiant yellow fading into a tangy red, both warm hues being hungrily swallowed by the encroaching plum and midnight blue.

Applejack couldn’t help but feel moved by the view each time, almost to the point of feeling emotional. It was a heady mixture of relief for a day put behind her, but also the sinking dismay that night was coming.

She hated the night. Fears bled from the shadows, weighing her down. She’d been tempted to start her truck back up and drive back to the house so she could turn in early.

But Apple Bloom’s suspension still had her keyed up.

She supposed this plan of being up on the ridge had been ill-fated. Sunsets weren’t relaxing for her. They just put her in a contemplative mood. Coupled with her frustration, the only thing she was contemplating was how irritated she was with Apple Bloom.

And not just Apple Bloom, but Big Mac, too! He was always running off to leave her to deal with this sort of thing. This may not have bothered her as much if she felt like her brother could reliably do the farmwork he kept using as an excuse to escape!

Applejack sighed roughly and pulled her phone from her pocket. Sunset’s text message was still open.

Pursing her lips, the cowgirl clicked the song link.

May as well. Not like I’m doing anything else but sitting here and tying my own tail into a knot!

The music started. It opened with a twangy guitar playing a bluesy tune. Then Red Rooster’s voice slid in, a deep croon that made Applejack’s eyebrows lift. He had a very soulful voice.

Little cuts get me
They slice me up and down
Little cuts get me
Yeah man, them knives just go to town

Ask my granny why she out back
She say she lookin for my daddy
But daddy’s buried ‘neath the lilac

Applejack’s sullen expression fell away, her eyes widening.

Little cuts get me
They slice me up and down
Little cuts get me
Yeah man, them knives don’t fuck around

Tell my brother the farm needs his hands
He runs off for the racetrack
Damn fool gets shot in the stands

Applejack’s jaw tightened. Her eyes burned fiercely. Soon her vision blurred.

Little cuts get me
They slice me up and down
Little cuts get me
Yeah man, they keep whittlin’ down

Dear sister get beat by her man
I tell ‘er come on home
She says she can’t leave again

Little cuts get me
They slice me up and down
Little cuts get me
Yeah man, my blood’s all on the ground

Life is a butcher and it’s quartered me
My flesh got a heavy price
Please take my heart and set me free

A tear slipped from Applejack’s eye and she leaned on her car door, one hand covering her mouth. Red Rooster’s song continued for a moment longer, the mournful melody fading to nothing. More tears slipped free.

She sat in silence for a time, watching the sun sink lower into the horizon. The dark cast over her, and it felt… different. She didn’t know how to put it.

Applejack still disliked the darkness. But it felt more familiar somehow. Bearable, maybe.

She picked up her phone and searched for more songs by Red Rooster.

It was getting late, and Sunset was full off of strawberries and chocolate. Washing the sweet syrup off her skin hadn’t been too much of a chore with such lovely company to help her, but still… she was getting tired. Sunset eyed the clock on the wall as she felt Sherry run a finger down her bare side.

“I know that look in your eye,” Sherry murmured. “You running off again?”

Sunset turned her head to see the older woman. Sherry was black, with tight natural curls that smelled lightly of coconut. Her lush expressive mouth was tweaked into a wry smile, and her dark eyes held warmth.

Sunset pouted. “I can’t stay over every time, Sherry. I have school in the morning, y’know.”

“So?” Sherry kissed Sunset’s shoulder. Her lips were cool and moist. “Stay the night. Leave early. Ain’t that hard.”

Sunset rolled her eyes. “Says the bartender with little to no responsibilities…”

Sherry smacked Sunset’s butt, making the redhead squeal out, “Hey!”

“You complicate shit, little girl,” Sherry said with feigned sternness. Her eyebrow lifted. “Maybe strawberries and chocolate were too generous. Seems like you needed a good whupping!”

Sunset shifted over onto her back, her hand reaching up to caress Sherry’s generous breasts, her thumb gliding over a soft chocolatey nipple. Her eyes turned lidded. Maybe she wasn’t so tired, after all…?

“Sorry. I really liked the food play. It’s just…” Sunset sighed, her brow tightening. “My roommate is going through some stuff, and I don’t want to leave her alone.”

Sherry’s expression turned gentle. She placed a finger beneath Sunset’s chin, lifting the girl’s eyes off her ample chest, and shook her head. “So that’s it. Why didn’t you say something earlier?”

Sunset bit her lip and turned her head away.

They weren’t just lovers. They were friends and lovers. But the friendship had come slowly, over time, built on a growing foundation of mutual respect. The trust was… still growing. That was mostly on Sunset. Sherry had been rather open from the start.

Sunset didn’t know why she couldn’t share more. She liked that Sherry cared. If there was ever a partner she could ease up around, it was this woman.

It wasn’t even fear of being dragged into commitment. Sherry had already demonstrated that she wasn’t interested in a dedicated relationship. She saw other women all the time. Like she’d done with Sunset, she picked them up at various bartending gigs.

Maybe it was Sunset’s powers that had her nervous to share. Maybe it was the danger that followed Sunset around.

Or maybe Sunset just liked having an easy escape.

Sunset sat up and scooted to the edge of the bed. “It wasn’t really my place to say anything. There’s just some stuff I can’t share.”

“Mm-hmm. Heard that before.” Sherry shifted on the bed, and Sunset turned to see her friend scooted to rest her back on the headboard. “You realize I ain’t never gonna step foot on your campus, right? What does it hurt to tell me some of the gossips?”

Sherry chuckled. “I mean, who am I gonna tell? My sixty-year-old boss? He only cares about his money and his erectile dysfunction!”

Sunset smirked. “And your co-workers?”

Sherry winked and pushed up her jiggly breasts. “Too distracted by these, baby. Not a word ever stays in those boys’ heads.”

Sunset leaned toward the woman, her smirk widening. “You could tell your sister.”

“Ha!” Sherry waved a dismissive hand. “Croline never lets me get a word in edge-wise. If she ain’t neck-deep in cooking and cleaning, then she spouting off about her five kids.”

“And asking why you haven’t had any yourself yet?” Sunset asked with a snicker.

Sherry sucked at her teeth and crossed her arms sassily. “Yes. You know she does!”

Sunset hummed low as she turned and crawled seductively toward the other woman. “And do you tell her why you don’t have kids…?”

Sherry licked her lips slowly as she cupped Sunset’s humble breasts. “I tell her I can’t stop messing around with young things like you,” the woman murmured silkily.

Sunset slipped in close and kissed Sherry’s neck, then her collarbone. She was starting to travel further down to those mouthwatering tits when her cellphone buzzed on the bedside table.

Sunset raised her head, surprised.

Sherry pouted. “Is that important?”

“I think so.” Sunset winced and slid back to the edge of the bed. “Sorry. One sec.”

Sherry sighed. “Mm-hmm…”

When Sunset unlocked her phone, she was surprised once again to see that it wasn’t Rainbow Dash or Fluttershy who had texted her, but Applejack.

Sunset opened the message.

>AJ: are u awake? Sorry. I’m havin trouble sleepin.

Sunset tapped back a quick reply.

>SSh: no prob, i’m awake. u okay? Anything on ur mind?

There was a short wait, then—

>AJ: No.

Sunset’s eyebrow tilted up.

As if sensing her skepticism, Applejack quickly chased that with—

>AJ: Yes.

Then the cowgirl sent a neutral face emoji. Sunset smiled sympathetically.

Yeah. Opening up was hard.

That’s why she knew she couldn’t let this admission go unrewarded.

She stood up and cast Sherry a look of apology. “I should probably head out.”

“Someone needs saving, huh?” Sherry said with a half-grin.

Sunset held up her hands and tilted her head. What’re ya gonna do? It happens, her expression said.

Sherry chuckled. “All right, baby. Don’t leave ‘em waiting too long.”

By the time Sunset had dressed and left Sherry’s apartment, it was half-past eleven. Applejack must have been in dire straits to be awake so late. Her friend usually turned in early.

Sunset didn’t wait to drive back to the dorm. She stood by her motorcycle on the sidewalk and called. The phone only rang once before Applejack answered.

“M’sorry,” AJ said immediately. Her voice sounded tired and low like her heart had sunk to the bottom of a deep cold lake. “I wasn’t tryin’ to disturb you.”

Sunset shook her head adamantly, though her friend couldn’t see it. “No! AJ, I’m glad you called. You have nothing to apologize for.” Her voice lightened with hope. Maybe she’d only have to ask once, directly? “Wanna tell me what’s going on?”

There was a long pause. Sunset waited patiently, her eyes on the starry sky. The storm clouds had cleared out some time ago, it seemed.

“I checked out that Red Rooster song you sent me,” Applejack said suddenly.

Sunset sighed inwardly at the dodge. Not because she was irritated, but because she worried. Rainbow Dash and Applejack were not so unalike when it came to diving into their feelings. They both tended to wait until the last minute when it was eating them alive to open up.

Rather than call her friend out, Sunset went along with it. There was still a chance. “What did you think of it? He’s pretty good, right?”

“Better than good! That fella can sing!”

Sunset let out a relieved breath. “Good! I’m glad you liked him.”

“Shoot, I can’t stop listening to him! I think I’ve been through almost his whole catalog.”

Sunset’s eyes widened. “Really?”

“Yep! That’s what I’ve been doin’ this whole time. Just sittin’ on the ridge in my truck and letting Red Rooster sing my life story.”

Sunset winced. “I was hoping it would be cathartic for you, but if it’s made you feel worse—”

“Worse?” Applejack laughed, but the sound was rough. “Sunset, right now I feel like someone gets it. I wasn’t too sure of it before, but I wanna see this man. For real.”

Sunset chewed her lip and leaned against the seat of her bike. She tried again. “You don’t sound too good, though, Applejack.”

Another long pause. Sunset was about to bring the topic back to the music when the cowgirl spoke up.

“Apple Bloom got suspended from school for a week for fighting.” The words came out clipped.

Sunset’s mouth dropped. “Woah! What happened?”

The line distorted as Applejack sighed over the receiver. “Just another chapter in the long feud ‘tween my sister and Diamond Tiara. This ain’t her first suspension on account o’ this.”

“And how does Apple Bloom feel about it?”

“She swears she’s innocent. Self-defense and all. Heck, I think she’s even a little pleased with herself.” Applejack’s voice took on a bitter edge. “The whole dang thing started on account of Apple Bloom putting out an embarrassing picture of Diamond Tiara. And, I mean, yeah. Tiara ambushed her, but she wouldn’ta if my little sister would quit poking the damn bear!”

Sunset shook her head, her eyebrows pushing up and together. “Aw, Applejack, I’m sorry you’re dealing with that.”

“What gets me madder than a wet hen is that Apple Bloom don’t seem to care! Sunset, my sister is close to gettin’ expelled, and I just put in the guardianship papers for her! This has just been gettin’ worse and worse!”

Sunset covered her face with one hand. “Oh no…”

“Exactly!”

“Did the court tell you when they’re gonna visit your house?”

“Not yet.” Applejack’s voice returned to its weary tones, every word aching with a kind of battered exhaustion that made Sunset wince. “They’ll be sending me a letter about it soon, I wager. If we’re lucky, they’ll come after Apple Bloom’s back at school. Then all I’ll have to worry about is Big Mac and his worthless drinkin’.”

Sunset didn’t know what to do. Didn’t quite know what to say. Big Mac had a drinking problem? Apple Bloom was getting violent at school? All of this on top of poor Granny Smith’s declining health?!

“You’re dealing with a lot,” Sunset said quietly, then cursed herself for how insipid that sounded. Of course, Applejack was dealing with a lot. What she’d meant to say was, “I had no idea. I’m so sorry you’ve been struggling all alone, AJ.”

There was a dark chuckle on the other line. “It’s okay, sugar cube,” Applejack murmured. “I ain’t told nobody a thing till now.”

Sunset bit her lip. She thought about the strange marks on Applejack’s wrist. She opened her mouth, wondering if this was the time to ask.

Then she said, “Why me?”

The question surprised her. But the moment it left her lips, she found she really did want to know. Of all their friends… why would Applejack trust her with something she’d been concealing for so long?

“Because…” Applejack trailed off. Sunset waited, feeling her heart speed up for some reason.

“Because you noticed,” Applejack said finally.

Sunset squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head. What a painful thing to hear. Had their group really failed the cowgirl so badly? How could no one have noticed the depth of Applejack’s struggles? Even assuming that it had to do with her unrequited love for Fluttershy, surely someone would have realized it was more than just that?

“You’re my friend, and I trust you, Sunset,” Applejack continued. “And… I dunno. Maybe I thought you’d have the answers again.” Another dark chuckle. “Foolish, I know. S’not like you know how to raise a teenager any more’n I do.”

Sunset rubbed at her forehead. What Applejack said was true… but she still felt like she was failing her friend somehow. Why couldn’t she be better? “I wish I could be more helpful to you.”

“Oh, well I didn’t say you weren’t helping!” Applejack replied a little more brightly.

Now Sunset blinked. “Really? How did I help?”

“Well, calling me and listening to me carry on, for one thing. I forgot how nice it is just to get things off my chest!”

Sunset thought she heard a smile in Applejack’s voice when she continued. “And for another thing, that music you sent me… Sunset, it’s true that it doesn’t make me feel happy, but it sure does make me feel less alone. It takes some of the sting out, y’know?”

“Yeah,” Sunset murmured, her gaze drifting down the quiet road. Any minute now a car would go barreling by, no doubt over the speed limit and blasting music on high, but right now… Right now the street felt peaceful.

She’d listened to Red Rooster’s music a great deal. She knew what it was like to feel carried forward by the painful lyrics and mournful melodies until a fragile peace not unlike the one surrounding her had been achieved.

What she liked about Rooster’s music was that it soothed, but it didn’t coddle. Life would send a loud speeding car down her proverbial quiet road any minute, over and over, till the day she died. Or maybe a large bill would end her peace. Or a bad lover. Or a new magical foe.

The bottom line was—life is a struggle, and you never stopped struggling.

Though she’d never met him, it felt nice to think that Red Rooster could understand this.

It felt even nicer that Applejack could understand.

“So what other songs did you like,” Sunset asked, her lips curling up.

Applejack hummed. “Shucks, which one do I pick? I got a real kick out of the bassline in My Baby’s Sugar. I bet I could play it if I could find the tabs—!”

And they just kept talking like that, deep into the night.

I was gonna sit on this for more editing, but then I said screw it. Sorry if there are mistakes.

I haven't come up with the music for Red Rooster's song yet, but I might try! I'll update with a song link here if I do. It will likely sound different from a blues song--I'm not skilled enough with my ukulele to pull of blues chords quite yet! If anyone feels game enough to try it for themselves, then please do.