“…and that was my day with Sunset!” Pinkie finished with a smile.

“So, a bit of a perfectionist. She must take it after her sister.” Rarity looked at Twilight, who was watching them from the first floor of the library.

“How do you know that I didn’t take it after her?”

“Because you don’t present any other qualities of her, darling. She seems to have good social skills apart from that. Oh, I’m starting to get some ideas for our day together.”

“Ahm just glad that she’s so calm now,” Applejack said uncomfortably, knowing that she would be spending the day with her tomorrow.

Rainbow got beside her friend to offer some comfort. “Don’t worry about it. Everything’s going to be fine.”

Applejack’s ears got lower. “Ah don’t know Rainbow. She and I have already butted heads before. We’re both stubborn mules.”

Rainbow put a foreleg over her shoulder. “That just means that you already have something in common. Besides, she helped you before, now it’s your turn.”

Applejack sighed. “Ah would like to have your optimism.”

“Tell Granny Smith to share some of hers,” Pinkie offered.

Rainbow pointed at her pink friend with a smile. “She’s right, you won’t be alone in this, your family will be there to support you.”

Despite her nervousness, Applejack managed to smile a little. “Thanks Rainbow.”

Sunset had to commend Equestria’s construction workforce. In just a day most of the town had already been repaired, leaving only the public property to be restored.
She nervously walked towards Sweet Apple Acres thinking to herself; what in Equestria was she thinking yesterday?
Eating with the Apple family to then explain why she wanted to burn Applejack in a fit of rage that she couldn’t even fully remember? There is nothing that could go wrong with such a flawless plan.
But her fears were not about them hating her, they have all the right to do so. What she was afraid of was what she would do to them if she decided to ‘self-defend’.
‘No, don’t think like that Sunset. Luna told you that her brother was happy with you, and Granny Smith seemed to like you too. They won’t provoke you, and you don’t have to tell them everything. Just say… That you and Applejack had a… disagreement. No. Lying in front of the element of honesty can’t be good. Maybe I could make the conflict about what she did to Trixie. That wouldn’t be a lie’.
Sunset sighed. She didn’t know if being so nervous was good or bad. You can’t get angry if you’re nervous. Right?

“Uh, Sunset?”

The voice snapped her out of her mental state, and she turned her head, noticing that she had walked right past Applejack and entered the farm without saying anything.
“Uh, sorry. Kind of nervous,” she said with an apologetic look.

Applejack copied her almost perfectly. “Don’t worry. Ahm too. Hehe.”

An awkward silence fell upon the two for what felt like minutes before Sunset managed to say something. “Uhm, what did you had planned for our day together?”

Applejack tried, unsuccessfully, to hide under her hat. “Actually, since it came as a surprise that yah wanted to meet today, ah couldn’t free mah day from the usual chores.”

“Oh, sorry. Granny Smith offered it and she didn’t seem to mind-”

“No no, it’s okay. It just took me by surprise. Ah wasn’t sure what to do anyway. Ah mostly just work all day.”

Another awkward silence fell on them, and once again, Sunset managed to break it. “Do you want me to help?”

“No, Ah can do it mah-” Applejack stopped herself, but Sunset was already frowning. “Sorry, what ah meant was-”

Sunset silenced her with a hoof. “No, it’s okay, I get it. Pride and all that.”

“No, ah just don’t want to-”

“Applejack!” The farm mare recoiled. “Don’t try and cover it. I really don’t care anymore.”

Another awkward silence, one heavier due to Sunset’s clear annoyance, fell again between the two, and this time Applejack had to break it. “Let me introduce yah to the family.”

Sunset exhaled her irritations away. “Okay, I wanted to meet your brother.”

Applejack raised an eyebrow. “Beg yah pardon?”

“Luna said she and him talked about me. So, I got curious.”

“Oh, of course.” Applejack got a little embarrassed for assuming. “Follow me.”

They both walked up to the recently reconstructed house, which made Sunset wonder. “How did the reconstruction go? Twilight told me the parasprites ate almost the entire house.”

“Yeah. Luckily the basement didn’t get eaten, so we’ve at least some things remaining for our personal lives. Ah had to order a lot of stuff to be sent from Canterlot since we can’t get them in Ponyville now.”

Sunset’s ears dropped a little. “I’m sorry to hear that. I could ask Celestia for help if you want.”

Applejack shook her head. “Nah, It’s okay. Ah have a plan to get some money already.”

“Really? What is it?”

“The Gran Galloping Gala. Ah will sell our products there and get enough money to pay for all the repairs and some other things we needed before that.”

Sunset raised an eyebrow. “But the gala is at the end of the year and we are in the middle of autumn.”

“Yeah, but we can take a loan and pay it with the earnings of the gala,” Applejack said with confidence, but Sunset knew better.

“Applejack, I don’t-”

“Ah, there yah’re Big Mac. This here is Sunset Shimmer,” The farm pony pointed at the unicorn, who did a little nervous wave at the sudden introduction.

“Nice to meet you,” The stallion said presenting a hoof for her to shake, and she did so with a little worry. He was as large, if not more, than Shinning, and she had the impression he could break her arm if he tried.

‘Well, if I do lose control, maybe he can just knock me out before I do something I regret.’
“The pleasure is mine. Luna told me about you, a stallion of few words she called you.”

Bic Mac chuckled. “It’s just a preference. Listen instead of talking. And thank yah for your help with the harvest.”

Sunset managed to smile. “Just trying to help.”

“Is lunch ready?” Applejack asked.

“Eeyup.”

The three walked inside, and Sunset was hit with the sent of freshly made food that almost dragged her towards the dining room. There she found a little filly of yellow coat and with a red bow on her red mane finishing setting the table.

“Say hi Applebloom,” Applejack called out, and the filly turned to look at Sunset and jumped in excitement until she was in front of her.

“Hi, I’m Appleboom. Are you really a fairy godmother?” she asked almost stumbling the words.

Sunset gave a nervous laugh. “Just by name.”

“Don’t go asking for wishes or something,” Applejack warned while helping Granny Smith bring the food to the table.

“But she may give me a cutie mark!” Applebloom whined.

Sunset chuckled at the childish wish. “Sorry, I could only teach you magic.” She ruffled her hair a bit. “But don’t worry, you will get it one day, and I promise you, you will be the happiest pony in Equestria when it happens.”

Applebloom had stars in her eyes. “Really?”

Sunset smiled warmly. “I’ve seen it happen. It’s the very definition of magical.”

“Ah can’t wait!” the filly exclaimed with excitement, and Sunset realized her small mistake.

“But you-” she tried to explain further, but Applebloom had already left for her spot on the table.
It was then that sunset saw the food in it, and the looks alone made her mouth water. She quickly took seat, trying to decide what to eat first.

Applejack cleared her throat before announcing; “We have apple fritter, apple bumpkin, caramel apple, apple strudel, apple tart, baked apples, apple brioche, and apple cinnamon crisp.”

Sunset turned towards Applejack. “I just heard you say ‘something delicious’ eight times in a row.”

The Apple family laughed. “Ah told you to make room in your belly,” said Granny Smith with a smile.

Sunset smiled. “I thank you kindly,” she said respectfully before they all started filling their plates. Instead of choosing one, the unicorn took a piece of each of the dishes and took a bite of each one. “This is amazingly delicious.”

Applejack chuckled. “There isn’t food like this in Canterlot am I right?”

“Not that I have tried,” Sunset responded while eating another forkful of food.

The farm pony smiled with pride. “Glad to hear it. They will be flying off the shelves when ah bring them to the gala.”

Sunset stopped her gluttony for a second to look at her. “About that… I don’t think it’s a good idea.”

Applejack looked confused. “Why? I doubt they have something better.”

Sunset continued talking while eating, manners be dammed, she had been living off sweets and coffee these past weeks. “You would have some of the best chefs in Equestria to compete with, and even that wouldn’t be the biggest problem.”

The farm pony raised an eyebrow. “And what would that be?”

“Prejudice.”

Applejack angered at the very word. “What kind?”

“These are nobles, they are accustomed to put etiquette and elegance over common sense most of the time. Even if your food is the most delicious thing in Equestria they wouldn’t eat it unless it came from somepony who has five stars in their restaurant and serves dishes that cost the normal income of most middle-class citizens.” The whole family seemed to be in a state of both anger and disappointment. “It’s completely unfair, I know. That’s why I don’t think betting a loan to the pockets of these ponies is a good idea.”

Applejack crossed her hooves. “Well that throws a wrench on mah plans.”

Sunset lowered her ears. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. It’s better to know than go with false expectations. We will find a way to get the money.”

“As I told you, I can help you if you want,” Sunset offered again, but Applejack shook her head.

“That would be too much Sunset. It wasn’t yer fault this happened.”

“I could’ve stopped it if I was here,” she said a little downcast.

Applejack smiled. “Yah had yer reasons to not be here.”

“Surely some important fairy godmother mission,” Applebloom added, making everypony laugh.

Sunset’s magic picked up a glass of water to quench her thirst, and as the liquid filled her mouth, her heart raced.
She was drowning again.
Sunset spat out the water on her food and fell off her chair as the memories of the river flashed in her mind. She backed up trying to get out of the non-existent river until she hit a wall, felling trapped and about to have her third death in a coffin of water.
She couldn’t breathe, she heard muffles screams around her, and something pulling her deeper into the river. She tried to fight it, but she had been pinned down by something with great strength. She charged up her horn to try and pry it off her.
She then felt something rub against her forehead, almost between her eyes. It was a familiar sensation that had given her comfort before.
The screams became clearer around her. “You’re safe Sunset. We’re here. Please, calm down.”

The memories clouding her vision dissipated, and she saw Applejack and Big Mac holding her down while Granny Smith rubbed her forehead to calm her. “What happened?”

“Yah took a sip of water and freaked out. Quite a scary sight,” Granny smith explained.

“I guess it’s-” Sunset stopped. Things has already gone wrong enough, she needed to leave.

Sensing the unicorn’s decision, the eldest pony looked at Big Mac and signaled him with her eyes towards Applebloom, who was looking at Sunset with worry behind her chair.
The stallion nodded and went to her. “Come with me Applebloom, we will go get something for Sunset.” The filly didn’t say anything and just followed her big brother without taking her eyes off Sunset.

The unicorn tried to stand up, but Applejack still had her pinned to the floor.
Once they were alone, Granny Smith looked at her. “What happened just now Sunset? To what kind of dark corner did your mind go?”

Sunset shook her head. “I can’t tell you. I will just leave. Please forget that this ever happened.”

“No chance Sunset,” Applejack said firmly. “We can’t just brush this off. We’re here to help yah, but yah need to tell us what happened.”

Sunset tried to stand up again, with no success. “Trust me, you don’t want to know.”

“Ah already told yah that ah can understand if yah have problems with Applejack. Ah won’t back down. And yah aren’t using yer fancy magic to escape so yah don’t really want tah leave.”

Sunset tired to hold back a sob. “Can I at least get some coffee?”

Applejack gave her an apologetic look. “Sorry, there ain’t any coffee in this house.”

Sunset sighed. She really hoped she wouldn’t regret this. “Remember the mountain?”

“Ah will remember that until mah last day.”

Sunset closed her eyes, tears running down her face. “I hurt Twilight.”

Applejack felt her body trembling under her hooves. “Yah didn’t mean it. We pushed yah too far.”

“That’s no excuse. I wanted to hurt her. I wanted to hurt you! I wanted to hurt everypony!” she screamed, expecting to be hit in the face, to be insulted, to be called a monster.

“And what happened next?” came the voice of the elder.
Sunset opened her eyes, looking at Granny Smith. She didn’t seem scared, or angry. She looked at her with worry, but also a kind of firm determination.
She then looked at Applejack, who should be angry at her, or more possibly scared, but instead seemed to carry a heavy guilt.

“Please Sunset,” she told her almost begging. “Ah need tah hear it.”

She had to look away before continuing. “To stop myself from hurting you. I teleported to a river. And… and I…” Another heavy tremor cursed through her body, but Applejack still kept her firm against the floor. “I… drowned myself.”
This did get a reaction from the mares. Shock, horror, guilt, sadness. “I died in the water. The same way I died the day you saved Luna from her nightmare.”

Applejack was on the verge of tears. “Sunset… yah didn’t have-”

“I did! I wouldn’t have stopped otherwise!” Sunset screamed, her tremors now and effort to get Applejack off her. “If I lose control again, I may hurt somepony. I should be-”
Granny Smith’s hoof rubbed her forehead, and she stopped. Sunset could tell that it wasn’t like the first time she did it. It was something stranger than that. Like if the action made something in her mind click and put it in blank for a second.

“Listen tah me Sunset,” said the elder. “Ah’ve known mah share of anger, hate and animosity towards others. Reasons can vary, but the result is the same. Somepony gets hurt, either emotionally or physically. But ah’ve just now met a pony willing tah sacrifice their own life rather than hurt the ones she loves.”

Sunset seemed confused. “Love? You mean Twilight? But I did hurt her.”

Applejack shook her head. “Yah didn’t. She walked towards yah trying to reach you and calm you. She would’ve done the same for any of us.” She took a moment to wipe away her tears. “And if any of us were like her, or you, we would’ve done the same.”

Sunset shook her head, not being able to understand why they were still trying to help her. “Applejack, I wanted to-”

“It’s not about wat yah wanted, but what yah needed. You needed help. And we weren’t able to give it to yah. Twilight tried but we should’ve tried too.” Applejack let go of Sunset, letting her sit on the floor. “We’re supposed tah be a team. To be friends that support each other. And that includes you Sunset.”

Sunset finally stood up, but still couldn’t look her in the eyes. “I can’t make friends Applejack. I try, but it doesn’t work for some reason. I just… don’t feel like I’m forming a bond with anypony.”

Applejack forced her to look her in the eyes. “Well, one of the steps is being honest. Honest with yer friends, and with yerself. If there’s anything bothering yah, just come and tell us. We will listen and help yah in any way we can.”

“One can often trick oneself into a lie,” Granny smith said. “A lie that makes yah feel that yer right, or even worse, a lie that makes yah sink into yer guilts. But yer friends and family can make yah see the truth. About who yah’re, and what yah’re to everypony.”

Sunset tried wiped away her tears, her head hanging low. “I’m sorry. I…”

“It’s okay.” Applejack slowly hugged Sunset. “We will make things work. Together, we can fix this.”
Sunset didn’t return the hug, but she also didn’t pull back. She felt a little comfort, but her mind was trying to calm itself enough to think.
To think about what she should do next.

“After that, she apologized and left. Granny Smith told me that she would be okay, and that I shouldn’t let it drag me down again. To stay strong so Sunset can feel like she can also put herself above… what she did.”
As Applejack finished telling them about her day, the library went dead quiet.
Rainbow held Fluttershy close with a wing, seeing the tears running down her friend’s face.
Rarity and Pinkie seem lost, their minds still trying to process the fact that…
Applejack looked up, seeing Twilight on the first-floor railing.
She was trembling, the tiny shine of tears descending from her face before falling to the floor.
Sunset’s message had taken a whole other meaning now. It hadn’t been a message of anger like they expected, or reprimand, or even pity. It was filled with guilt. Guilt for something they had pushed her to.
Resurrection or not, Sunset had killed herself to avoid hurting them in a fit of anger. And the only one that she actually hurt was Twilight, her sister, the one that didn’t do anything to feed her anger.
Applejack raised her head to see each of them. “Listen. Things are worse than we thought, but as Granny Smith said, we can’t help Sunset if we despair. Pinkie and the townsfolk showed her that she’s welcomed and can be happy. Ah offered her to express her fears and worries without punishments. Each can help her heal in a different way. We just need to keep-”
A knock on the door interrupted her speech.
Twilight took a moment to shove her feelings aside and calm her expression to hide her sorrow while the rest quickly hid in the shadows.
Twilight opened the door and saw Sunset standing in front of her, with saddlebags on her back. She seemed nervous and sleep deprived. “Hey, I wanted to tell you that I need to suspend things for a while.”

“Why? Where are you going?” Twilight asked.

“I want to visit Cadence.”

Author's Notes:

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Sunset discovered a new condition: Aquaphobia.

Sunset's morale dropped!: -20
Current morale: 20/100

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Things should get interesting next chapter.

I will be watching you.