Forged in Flame

It was a long and taxing afternoon for Sunset Shimmer. The bright blue sky had been blocked by thick storm clouds, sending her enough red flags to make a break for her home before it was too late. Unfortunately for her, her legs were no match for the speed of the inevitable downpour. She was half-way to her destination when the heavens opened up and drenched her from head to toe. By the time she reached her block, she had given up the race and made the rest of her journey in a slow and steady pace, the look of defeat on her face.

"My kingdom for a teleportation spell." she thought, grimacing while she slipped her keys out of her pocket as she walked the small path towards her front door. As Sunset made her way inside, she lazily slipped out of her boots, dropped her jacket to the floor, and dragged her feet to the woodworm infested wardrobe in her bedroom. "And a fire spell while I'm thinking about it." she bitterly remarked.

Roars of thunder rivalling a dragon's, and the ferocity of the rain battering against the roof tiles and windows gave Sunset no peace of mind. Despite her attempts, nothing could deafen her to the noise.

"Augh, shut up! Shut up! SHUT UP! All I want is peace and..." Her train of thought was interrupted by the faint sound of dripping. It was close, real close. Sunset investigated her bedroom until she found the source; a drop of water fell from a large wet patch in the ceiling above her and splattered on her forehead. Pure seething rage was clear in her eyes.

"I. Hate. You." she said with disdain to the patch.

Once Sunset had fully stripped the damp clothing from her body, she wrapped herself up in a simple dressing gown, and finished up with kicking a bucket under the dripping. Now all she had to deal with was the clatter of water droplets against metal to add to the other annoying sounds that surrounded her.

"If I don't get any peace and quiet, I'm going to lose it!" she thought, clutching her head in both hands, and gritting her teeth with clenched eyes, groaning under the torment. She sat on her worn-out mattress and squeezed her hands tight over her ears, using all her strength to muffle the outside world, but all it did was give her a headache. Sharply inhaling through her teeth, Sunset was two seconds away from screaming profanity before her phone suddenly sprung to life with a pleasant jingle by her side. She released her ears and picked up her cell, staring at it in curiosity. With a flip of the screen, she brought the speaker to her ear.

"Who is this?" she asked in a demanding tone. The caller was all too happy to reply.

"Sunny! It's Pinkie! Did you get home alright? It's really bucketing it outside! You're not soaked, are you? I'd be freezing cold by now! Brr! Whatcha doin'? Are you busy? Well of course you aren't, cuz you picked up your phone! But now you're busy talking to me! So maybe-"

"Pinkie!" Sunset felt herself go dizzy from listening to Pinkie Pie alone; that girl's mouth could run circles around anyone's head.

"Oops, sorry! It's just so nice to hear you on the phone!" Sunset grumbled, rubbing the imaginary headache from her forehead.

"Is this fate's idea of giving me peace of mind? I'd rather be listening to the storm." she thought to herself. Another question soon crossed her mind. "Wait a minute, how did you get my number?"

"Oh silly, Pinkie Pie has her methods." she answered in a somewhat sultry tone, enough to give Sunset goosebumps. "So hey, I was wondering if you'd like to go out for milkshakes tonight? I know this great café near the school! The owners are REALLY nice, and they give me discounts cuz I work part-time! My treat! C'mon!"

"Sweet merciful Celestia, I just want some quiet! Is that so much to ask?!" Sunset glared into space and was about to decline, but her stomach kicked up a fuss and gave her pause.

"I heeeaaarrrd that, Sunny! I'll get you a muffin too!" Pinkie offered, sweetening the deal.

"... Fine." she reluctantly responded.

"EEEEE! I'll see you at Sugar Cube Corner, Sunny! Be sure to grab a brolly!"

"Hey, wait a se-!" Before she could finish, Pinkie quickly hung up the phone. "GRR! You didn't say when to meet, you crazy pink... WEIRDO!" Sunset started to strangle her phone, picturing it as Pinkie's neck. After a few seconds of punishing the inanimate object, she slowly calmed her nerves and took a deep breath, dropping the phone softly to her side, and resting her head in her hands. "Okay, no big deal. I don't have to call her back; I can just go there now, wait a few minutes, then come back and say I tried. Then I can try to get some alone time. At least that way there'll be witnesses."

Sunset Shimmer spent the next twenty minutes cleaning herself up with what limited accessories she had littering her poorly finished worn-down dressing table, cleaning her face with a damp cloth, and brushed her hair. With a quick re-visit to her wardrobe, she pulled out a second pair of her iconic clothes, and yanked on her boots.

Squish.

"... Eeeugh." Sunset squinted with discomfort, wriggling her toes uncontrollably as her soaked footwear drenched her feet. "Bucking... figures." she groaned, sinking her shoulders in defeat, grabbed her cheap umbrella by the door, and departed her home. "Those better be some damn good milkshakes."

******

Finding the café was simple enough. It was exactly where its name implied, out in the open for all to see. The journey, however, was far from simple. Once the wind started picking up, Sunset Shimmer was forced to keep her umbrella ahead of her, blocking her sight for the most part, and enduring the harsh battering of rain against her bare legs. With every corner she took, she risked the sudden gust blowing her brolly inside out, rendering her change of clothes completely pointless. Thankfully, Sunset only had to tolerate soggy boots by the time she reached Sugar Cube Corner. With a shake of her umbrella, and the draining of her boots to the side, the teen walked inside, the squeaking of her wet soles on the lacquered flooring signalled her arrival.

The pleasant scent of sugar and chocolate was the first thing to hit Sunset's senses. It beat the typical city aroma any day, and the combination of the heating and lighting made her smile. She walked over to an empty table and sat herself on the cushioned seat fitted into the wall.

"Maybe this wasn't such a bad idea. It's certainly quieter compared to home." she thought. For a while, she had almost forgotten why she came. The world seemed to disappear as she closed her eyes and rested herself in her seat, relaxing herself, and sinking down.

"SUNNY!" Pinkie shouted, shocking Sunset into striking her knees into the underside of the table out of fright.

"OW! AAAH! AH!" She quickly pulled her legs up against her chest and rubbed over her kneecaps, tears building up at the corners of her eyes from the unbearable pain. Pinkie stood at the opposite end of the table, sheepishly watching Sunset writhe on her chair with her thumb pressed over her lips.

"Oh, sorry! I didn't mean to scare you!"

"Grr... d-dammit, Pinkie!" Sunset growled behind gritted teeth. The stress had come back in full force, and she looked about ready to burst. It was only thanks to Pinkie's unusual attire that she was distracted from popping. "What the... the heck are you wearing?"

"Silly! This is what all chefs wear at Sugar Cube Corner!" Pinkie announced with pride, showing off her colourful apron and chef's hat, which somehow contained most of her unbelievable hair. Maybe it was because of her unnatural fashion style that anything resembling the norm seemed out of place on Pinkie Pie, Sunset thought.

"She neglected to mention she was working *tonight*. Guess that plan's gone bust." With a sigh of defeat, she rested her feet back on the floor, now that her knees had gone numb, and crossed her arms on the table. "I thought we were having milkshakes."

"And a muffin!" Pinkie responded, slipping a double chocolate chip muffin on the table before her. "I'm on my break in a minute, so I'll bring our shakes over soon! Be right back!" She cheerfully slid across the floor to the doors leading to the kitchen, leaving Sunset alone with her muffin. She took the muffin in hand and absent-mindedly bit into it, only to widen her eyes in reaction to the delicious flavour coating her tongue.

"Oh Celestia, I forgot what real food tastes like!" Sunset couldn't hold herself back. She took bite after bite out of the muffin, puffing her cheeks out as she relished in the sweetness of the delicacy. Other patrons couldn't help but stare at the awkward scene she presented. By the time Sunset had acknowledged them, she had already stuffed half of the muffin past her lips without swallowing, forcing her to pause and blush in embarrassment. She quickly gulped it all down.

"Mind your own business!" she snapped. The customers pulled their gaze away, some with chuckles, others with contempt, and left Sunset to her meal. She sneered at them and returned to eating, albeit at a slower pace this time.

******

By the time Pinkie had returned with the milkshakes, Sunset was resting back in her seat, hand on her belly, and eyes closed with a smile on her face. This provoked a grin from her pink-haired associate as she sat close to Sunset's side and set their glasses before them, the tiny clink of glass on wood alerting her to Pinkie's arrival. She sat up and looked over the shakes, then to Pinkie.

"Thanks." she said, reaching over and pulling her drink in close, taking the straw into her mouth and sucking it in. Pinkie remained silent, doing nothing but watching Sunset drink with a gentle grin. "What is she waiting for? Sunset pondered, "Did she spike my shake or something? What... oh... oh Celestia, it's *good*." The look of simple bliss on Sunset made Pinkie grin wider.

"I knew you'd love it! That's my special brand of strawberry-choco-biscuit milkshake, reserved for only the best of friends!" she proclaimed. Sunset ceased drinking and looked over to her in a mix of confusion and concern.

"Best?"

"Yepperoonie!" Pinkie chimed.

"How are we best? We've only been friends for a week."

"And you're already one of my besties! Isn't that amazing?!"

"No, I... you missed the point. How am I already your best?"

"Because you're not you anymore, you're you you!"

"That doesn't make any sense! I completely sabotaged your decorations for the Fall Formal, and here you are buying me drinks and food! I don't get it!" Sunset pushed. Pinkie tilted her head to the side in the similar vein of a puppy, then snorted softly.

"Oh Sunny, that was ages ago. This is now. So you were a little mean, but that's not who you are now!" Sunset stared, mouth agape, and eyes tense in confusion. She looked away from Pinkie with a mix of frustration and shame in her expression.

"How can you be so naive?" Sunset asked. Pinkie's smile diminished.

"Huh?"

"How can you forgive me so quickly?! It's... stupid! I wronged you! I wronged all of you! But you're all so quick to forgive and forget! Even after what Twilight did, this is way too much!" Her eyes remained away from Pinkie's, staring at her glass as she recounted. Pinkie blinked in silence, then fully turned towards Sunset.

"Because it's what friends do, Sunny." she answered in what Sunset could only describe as the most serious tone she's ever heard her use, "We say sorry, we hug it out, play games, and hang out together for everyone to see just how much we care about each other." Her tone was sincere, and her smile was warm and gentle, a far cry from the cartoonish grin Sunset was used to seeing. She was speechless before Pinkie, eyes locked with each other, and nothing more than mere stuttering noises at the back of her throat. "Didn't you do that with your pony friends?"

"I... no." Sunset replied, melancholy. There was an uncomfortable pause for a short period, leaving Pinkie curious.

"Did you do anything with them?" she asked. Sunset remained silent, though her hands clutched tight. Pinkie's curiosity now turned into concern. "Did something happen...?"

"Pinkie, I... I don't want to talk about it." Sunset's eyes weighed down to the table, her voice raspy and shallow. Pinkie Pie frowned and held her hands on Sunset's arm.

"You know you can talk to me about anything, right? I wouldn't tell anyone anything you'd rather keep between us." she said with a smile. Sunset's half-lidded eyes slowly focused on Pinkie's, her upper body slouching against the table's surface, and her head feeling heavy. She averted her gaze again and lost her focus over the table top.

"It's a long story."

"I'll ask Mr and Mrs Cake if I can work overtime." Sunset could feel in her heart Pinkie wasn't going to budge.

"I'm about to pour my heart out to *Pinkie Pie** of all people. What kind of sick world is this?"*

******

"Medea! Wait up!" Sunset Shimmer called out, galloping after the young aqua-blue unicorn ahead of her. Medea Rose skidded to a halt and twisted around, shaking the golden locks of her mane out of her crimson eyes, her autumn tree cutie mark proudly displayed, and grinning childishly.

"C'mon, Sunset! You're faster than that!"

"Do I look like an earth pony to you? Sheesh..." Sunset slowed down and stood before Medea with her head hung low, panting for air, "My lungs are burning."

"You'll get over it. Come on! We're almost there!" With a glow of her horn, she telekinetically tugged Sunset along by her hoof and ran on.

"Ah! M-Medea!"

It wasn't long before the two unicorns arrived at the grounds of Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns. The area was filled with young unicorns and their parents heading towards the front entrance, a look of excitement and wonder on their faces. The school itself stood taller than any other Sunset had ever seen before, let alone attended. The majesty of its architecture matched that of Canterlot Castle, giving it a very royal appeal. The entrance itself was fashioned like a drawbridge, though purely cosmetic for the sake of the theme. Regardless, Sunset was filled with anticipation.

"This time tomorrow, you and me will be walking in there as fellow students!" Medea boasted proudly. Sunset nodded with enthusiasm.

"The entrance exam will be a piece of cake."

"You know it!" Both unicorns laughed together and made their way inside.

The hallways were as regal as the outside. The marble flooring was pristine and well kept, the walls were clean and without flaw in the painting of them, and the space was wide yet never overwhelming. Sunset Shimmer's eyes sparkled from the brilliance of it all.

"It's everything I ever dreamed...!" she said.

"And it'll be a reality in no time." Medea commented, smiling and nudging her softly.

"Yeah, right!" Sunset replied, though as they continued to walk the halls, her expression softened and began to sour. Medea looked to her with concern.

"Hey, don't feel so down. My parents couldn't make it either."

"I-I know, I'm just scared of doing it alone. Moral support is integral to a unicorn's growth in magic!"

"Well, we'll be with each other in spirit at least." Medea replied, nudging her head against Sunset's in an affectionate manner. Sunset blushed instantly and looked away, pouting.

"Medea! We're supposed to be professional!" This made Medea snort loudly.

"Wow, listen to you! You sound like the Princess' protégé already!" she remarked. Sunset's blush intensified and her eyes widened as she quickly stared at Medea.

"Y-You think so?!"

"Relaaax, Sunset. We're just fillies after all."

"Right, I know that." Sunset's excitement calmed until she had regained her composure, walking the hallway with her head held high in pride.

After a few minutes of playful banter and support, the two unicorns arrived at a pair of large doors, a sign held up on one marking the room as the location for the entrance exam. Sunset's breathing intensified and a cold sweat dripped down her face. Medea's own confident demeanour also appeared to fail her as her eyes began to start left and right. Both fillies stood before the doors in silence, hooves fidgeting against the flooring, and their tails flicking from agitation.

"Excuse me." a voice called out from behind.

"AAAH!" Both fillies screamed out in terror and clung to each other. A cough brought their attention around, spotting a much taller pale purple unicorn looking over them, his horn glowing a bright gold, and a clipboard and quill hovering beside him.

"Are you Sunset Shimmer and Medea Rose?" he asked. The two fillies slowly let go of each other, Sunset the first to clear her throat and speak.

"Um... yes, sir. We're here for the entrance exam." The stallion stared at them both, scanning across the two. Sunset felt she was being judged before she even did anything.

"Very well. You will be first, Miss Shimmer." he declared, walking between them and opening the doors with his magic, and entering the examination room. Sunset was left speechless and in a fidget. Medea watched her stutter and feared she was only moments away from choking.

"Hey, Sunset! Ease up, you've got this!" She placed her hoof on Sunset's shoulder and shook her slightly. Once Sunset snapped back to reality, she gulped down her fears and nodded to Medea.

"Right... right, I do! I've got this!" she proudly proclaimed with a smile. Both fillies nodded to each other before Sunset turned and walked into the room, the doors slamming shut behind her. Medea simply watched for the doors to open again with anticipation.