Happy Hearths warming, Sunset

  Sunset woke up grinning ear to ear. She stretched, gasping in pleasure as her back gave a particularly loud pop. She stood and walked into the large bathroom attached to the room and brushed her teeth, trying to get rid of her morning breath. She exited her bedroom and walked into the kitchen. She gasped and jumped when she was greeted by a large explosion of confetti and balloons. When everything cleared, Sunset gasped and jumped back again when she saw a bubblegum pink pony standing in front of her giving her a giant grin.

"Hi! I'm Pinkie Pie! Though, we met at the train station. But, let me guess. OOOOOH! I LOVE GUESSING GAMES!! Tell me if I guess right. We're friends in another dimension of two legged tall creatures called humans and we all go to school together at Canterlot high and there's principal Celestia and vice principal Luna, and we became friends the first time Twilight went over there because there was a rainbow that went 'WHOOOOSH!' And then Twilight held out her hand then you all danced and then she left and now we're all friends! And what is it like over there? What do you eat! Do you have oats and apples for breakfast? Do you even have oats and apples? Wait, no, do you have cake!? You have to have cake! Or cookies, or cupcakes, or muffins! Ooh! I'm going to go get something from Sugar cube corner! Bye!" Said Pinkie all in one breath before hopping out of the kitchen and to the front door.

    Twilight giggled at Sunsets startled expression. She stood and helped Sunset up.

"That's Pinkie for you. I'm sorry I didn't stop her. Sometimes she goes on these rants and I can't help but stop and listen. But, like you saw, she usually just gets distracted and cuts herself off. It's pretty funny, actually. Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. So, were leaving for Canterlot tomorrow, right?"

"Yeah. Tomorrow morning. I was planning on packing later. Are you excited?"

"Yeah. I haven't been to Canterlot in so long. Where will we be staying?"

"Well, I'm staying with my parents, but our house isn't big enough for every pony, so the girls are staying as guests at the castle. Where do you want to stay?"

"Hmm. I don't know. I don't really want to stay at the castle, because, well, Celestia."

Twilight opened her mouth like she was about to say something, but got cut off.

"And I really don't want to just show up UN announced at your house. I brought plenty of money, so I'll probably stay at a hotel or something"

"The princess of friendship's mare-friend will not stay at some random hotel, even if it's in Canterlot. Even more, she will not spend Hearths warming eve alone in a hotel"

Sunset blushed at being addressed as Twilights mare-friend. "And you won't be intruding. Or UN announced. I told them that I might have one friend stay with us. They really want to meet you."

"Are you sure, Twilight? Really, getting a hotel room might be a little harder this late, but I'm sure I'll be able to find-"

"Sunset, why do you insist on not staying with me? I can understand why you might not want to stay at the castle, but did I do something? If I did, I'm really sorry"

"No! You didn't do anything. I'm just worried that if I stay with you and your family, I'll say or do something to make your parents dislike me"

"Oh Sunset, they won't dislike you. Trust me, they'll love you"

"Well then, I guess we'd better go and pack.

"Yes, yes we should"

"So, how are we getting to Canterlot? Airplane? Boat? Ooh, are we flying there?"

"No, Sunset, we're going by train."

"Oooh. Well, that's cool too. So, what time are we leaving tomorrow?"

"Around ten o' clock. And Sunset?"

"Yes Twilight?"

"What's an airplane?"

                                                                            ***

    "Wow" breathed Sunset that evening, looking down at her suitcase. It was empty except for a few pillows, books, and her own things. "I really didn't have many things. My life here is so small". Twilight came up beside Sunset and draped a fluffy wing over her.

"Your wings are like extremely fluffy heated blankets" gasped Sunset at the sudden feeling of heat on her back.

Twilight giggled, pulling Sunset in tighter.

"Actually, my wings aren't that warm. They're more like blankets that just reflect back your own body heat."

"Egghead" said Sunset, leaning her head into Twilights shoulder. The room went quiet, and the two mares stood there, simply listening to each other’s breathing, enjoying each other’s warmth. They were both about to fall asleep right there, but then Sunset's stomach gave out a small growl. This made Twilight look up quickly and glance at the clock.

"Good timing. Spike should be yelling at us to come down for dinner in three, two, on-"

"Twilight! Sunset! Dinner's ready!" Came Spikes voice from the kitchen, causing the mares to giggle.

"We'll be right down!" Called Twilight back. "We should probably head down" she whispered to Sunset. "He gets worried easily"

"Okay" pouted Sunset as she broke the warm embrace. She felt better after Twilight gave her a quick kiss. They headed to the kitchen together, only to be stopped when they got to the Library. Five mares were standing there, all waiting for Twilight.

"Hiya Sunset! I didn't expect to see you here!" Said Pinkie, hanging from the high ceiling. Somehow.

"Yeah Twi, who is this?" Asked Applejack. "Oh, ah recognize ya! You're that pony from the train station. Uh, Sunset Shimmer, right?" Sunset nodded and was about to speak but got cut off by a cyan Pegasus flapping in her face.

"Sunset Shimmer?" She said loudly. "As in the horrible pony who attacked Twilight, sabotaged her, and turned into a raging demon? What is she doing here?" Asked Rainbow dash rudely. She had backed Sunset against a wall and was still moving closer, so Sunset rose on her hind legs, still pressing against the wall.

"Rainbow!" Scolded Twilight. "Stop!" But she didn't stop. Rainbow recoiled and lashed forward.

'Crack'

The other four mares ran forward, but Sunset wasn't there. Twilight looked up to see Sunset across the room, still looking scared. She had teleported right when she noticed Rainbow was about to attack her. Rainbow had run face first into the crystal wall.

"Why you!" She said, holding her nose tightly. She tried to fly up again and towards sunset, but Applejack grabbed her rainbow tail in her mouth and held firm.

"Aigh, aigh, cal dun erryfony" said Applejack, still holding onto Rainbow's tail, so her words came out muffled. Pinkie, Fluttershy, and Rarity were all still in a corner, just trying to stay out of the way. Twilight took Rainbow in her magic and levitated her forward so they were staring at each other. Twilight opened her own wings wide and glared down at her.

"What the buck were you thinking?" She said calmly, but with an angry voice.

"Twilight, come on! She's evil! You know this better than any of us! She was going to destroy the portal!"

"If you had listened to me better, you would know that if it weren't for Sunset, we wouldn't have defeated the sirens. All of Canterlot high and perhaps their entire world, would have been destroyed. Sunset saved all of us" she said firmly. "I say us, because the sirens would've gotten enough power to come through the portal and they would wreak havoc on Equestria. You should thank her."

"But Twiiiiliiiight" whined Rainbow. "She's evil! Oh, wait, I get it! You're keeping her here to keep an eye on her. I get it! Ah ha. Clever mare!"

Twilight said nothing to her. She didn't confirm it, but more importantly, she didn't deny it. Sunset's breath caught in her chest and her throat constricted. Twilight bit her lower lip, just like Sunset always does when she's thinking. Why did she have to think about it?

"Come on, Twilight. She's clearly just lulling you into a false sense of security!" Said Rainbow again. Twilight looked up at Sunset and saw how shocked and hurt she looked. Twilight walked slowly to Sunset and wrapped her front legs and her wings around her.

"I would never doubt you" she whispered into Sunset's ear. Twilight felt something wet on her cheek.

"What if she's right? What if one day something will make me betray you?" Asked Sunset with a shuttering breath.

"The fact that you worry about that shows how you've changed." Twilight stood suddenly and turned to Rainbow dash.

"Rainbow, I can see your concerns. But I assure you, there's nothing for you to worry about. Now, would you please apologize to my mare friend?" She asked calmly.

"Mare friend?" Gasped Rainbow. She opened her mouth to say something, but was cut off by a stern glare from Twilight.

"Sorry." Huffed Rainbow dash.

"Thank you. Now, I'm not going to continue this. Not because you don't deserve it, but because I don't want to"

"Well, I have no problem in punishing her!" Said Rarity. "Twilight dear, may I piggyback on a bit of your magic?"

"Oh, um, sure"

   With that, Rarity's horn glowed the same color as Twilights and she simultaneously levitated Rainbow dash, created a stool, and also made a pointy hat out of a spare roll of parchment. By the time she was done, Rainbow was sitting on the stool in a corner wearing a 'dunce' cap. The other mares in the room laughed. Even Sunset gave a small giggle.

"Ah ha-ha." Grumbled Rainbow dash, flying up off of the seat. "Yak it up."

"But Dashi, we aren't yaks, were ponies!" Said Pinkie.

"Well, that's enough of that. Let's go eat" said Twilight

                                                                   ***

    The next morning, Sunset woke up around eight thirty. When she got up, she walked downstairs to find only Spike, sitting at the kitchen table and eating cereal.

"Oh, hey Sunset. Do you want something to eat?" He asked after swallowing.

"No, I'm fine for now. I might grab something later. I'm going to go shower first. Thanks though" she said before turning and walking back to her room. She opened the door only to find Twilight standing in the middle of the room. When the door opened, she trotted over and gave Sunset a kiss on her cheek as she walked into the room.

"Happy Hearths warming eve, Sunset!" She said happily.

"Are you excited to go to Canterlot?"

"With you, I'd be excited to go to the ever free forest" said Sunset back, nuzzling Twilights neck.

"But, I was going to go shower before we leave. You don't mind, do you?"

"No, of course not! See you in the kitchen when you get out?"

"Of course."

                                                                       ***

    Sunset walked out of the bathroom, using a towel to lightly dry her hair. She moved the towel away, hanging it on a hook to dry when she saw another pony. Reflexively, she jumped back, covering her body with the door before she remembered. She was a pony. Blushing, she came back out, startled to find Rainbow dash, shuffling through her drawers. Was she snooping?

"Come on" whispered Rainbow dash. "There has to be some dirt on-"

"Rainbow dash?" Said Sunset from behind her. Rainbow jumped and turned around quickly.

"What?" She snapped loudly, slamming the drawer shut. "What are you doing, snooping around?"

"Excuse me?" Said Sunset, confused.

"What an idiot. I said what are you doing here, snooping around?" She asked extremely slowly.

"Uhm, I was showering. In MY room. And I'm not an idiot. I have a 4.0 gpa" defended Sunset quietly.

"Oh, so you're a nerd"

"Why are you doing this?" Asked Sunset loudly and confidently, shocking Rainbow dash and causing her to take a step back.

"What did I ever do to you? Why are you being so mean for no reason? Can you please just stop being such a bully?" Yelled Sunset, getting louder over time.

"A-a bully? Me? No, I'm not a bully. I'm just awesome. A defender of ponies everywhere. An element of harmony. Who are you?"

"You know what? I don't need to stand here and take this. You're going to back away, and I'm going to go downstairs and enjoy a lovely breakfast prepared by spike"

Rainbowdash had started hovering, so her back hooves were at head level with Sunset. Sunset strolled forward, and Rainbow dash got so angry that, just as Sunset was walking below her, her hind legs lashed out, kicking Sunset hard on her head.

"Aah!" Shrieked Sunset, falling even harder on her nose. She tried to get up, but Rainbow dash pushed her back down.

"Don’t you EVER talk back to me" she hissed in Sunsets ear. "I don't trust you. You seem like bad news, and I will protect Twilight and my friends from you. Now you had better go and prance on back to where ever you came from. And if you ever come back here, trying to hurt Twilight, well just know" she said, walking towards the door. "I'll be here. And trust me, I'm plenty lethal without my element".

And with that, Rainbow walked out the door, shutting it behind her.

                                                                  ***

   "Did you find the bathroom okay, Rainbow?" Asked Twilight as her friend trotted into the kitchen.

"Yeah, fine."

"Good. Did you see Sunset? She said she'd come down after her shower, but I haven't seen her yet."

"Oh, no. I didn't. Sorry"

"Okay..." said Twilight skeptically. “Well, I'm going to go grab a book. I'll be right back"

"Alright. Do ya need any help?" Asked Applejack, equally skeptical.

"Sure, you can help me look. Let's go." The two mares stood and walked out the door into the library.

"Rainbow was actin all funny" said AJ.

"Yeah, she was. I think we should check in Sunsets room"

"Eeyep."

    The two trotted over to the large doors and knocked. The door opened shakily after a second. Twilight and AJ gasped in unison. Sunset's eyes were red and puffy and her nose was bleeding heavily.

"Sunse-" but before Twilight could finish, Sunset held up a hoof.

"I'm leaving" she said after a gulp.

"What!?" Gasped Twilight, wings pooling out in alarm. "No! Why are you leaving!?"

"Ask Rainbow dash. I'm sure she'll be all too happy to tell you. I'd rather leave and be lonely rather than stay and be killed."

"Killed!?" Shrieked Twilight.

"Ah'll go talk to Rainbow" said AJ before galloping down the hall.

"Sunset, what happened?" Pleaded Twilight again.

"I got out of the shower and Rainbow was digging through my stuff. I asked her what she was doing and she just started going off on me, all of the same stuff as last night. I said that I didn't need to stand there and be harassed like that. I tried to walk past her, but she bucked me in the back of my head. I tried to get up, she pushed me back down and she told me to leave. And so, I'm leaving."

"N-no! Rainbow wouldn't do that!"

"She did." Said AJ from behind Twilight. "She just confirmed it. I couldn't believe it either."

"Oh, Sunset! I'm sorry!" Cried Twilight.

"Why are you apologizing? You didn't do anything. Now, can you please move, I need to get home in time to spend Christmas with my friends" said Sunset, trying to push past Twilight. Twilight lowered her mouth to Sunsets ear.

"Don't go" she whispered. "I love you"