Forever & Always

It was another beautiful day throughout Equestria, the perfect day for an invasion by Queen Chrysilis, a traumatic experience created by Discord or a valley of destruction offered by Tirek; but no, a much smaller matter plagued yet another perfectly fine day in Equestria.

A seemingly extra loud 'tweet' from outside invaded Sunsets' ears, pulling Sunset out of her comfortable slumber. Wha-? Oh......Stupid bird the fiery Alicorn groaned, trowing a pillow which made a funny slapping noise as it impacted with the window, Sunset just groaned and rolled over in her bed.

Knock Knock Knock

"You've got to be kidding me," She grumbled as she reluctantly started to rise out of her slumber and she trotted to the door, more than ready to dish out a plate of anger to whoever was on the other side. "What do I have to do to get some sleep around here?" Sunset opened the door to see a light blue Pegasus pony with a white mane and white hooves. "Diamond Dust do you have any idea what time it is?"

"Yep....do you?"

"No...but I'm guessing it's pretty early!" Sunset moaned at her present roommate.

Dust frowned at the Alicorn "It's 11am."

"See! Early."

"Are you always this lazy after arguments?"

How could you say that?

What did I do?

I love you Sunset!

The words from the previous night's argument flooded Sunset's mind like a painfully sharp slap of reality. "I don't want to talk about it" Sunset stated trotting back into her room to do her mane; leaving the door open.

"Sunset you never want to talk about anything do you? Maybe if you communicated more and had more faith in yourself Twilight wouldn't be so mad right now. I still can't believe you took what that jerk said for granted, you know he's just jealous of you and Twilight right? He's always had a crush on her." Dust lectured as she sat on Sunset's bed. Watching her hopeless friend brush her mane and wash her muzzle.

You'll never be good enough for Twilight you monster! You're nothing but a power hungry liar!

You should've never come back.

"Yea I know but what if he's right? What if I'm not good enough for her? I couldn't even say I love you back to her Diamond." Sunset stated while she thought about what a certain yellow Pegasus stallion with a navy blue mane spat at her.

"Do you love her?"

"Of course!"

"Ugh I should make a quiz for you. We both know you're good enough for her and you've proven that you love her, she knows that; even Shining Amour knows that. So why don't you? I think you just need to open up more, then we might understand why you do this Sunset."

"Do what?"

"Flip out! One minute you're doing all the: 'My past is not today thing' and next you're guilt tripping yourself because of what Flash Sentry said."

Sunset looked at her hooves; "Opening up won't save everything Dust."

"Well now it won't, after what you said to Twilight I am sure she thinks that you don't love her after all" Dust rolled her eyes.

Sunset buried her head in her hooves. "What've I done?"

"Become a retard" Dust snickered

"This isn't funny!"

Dust flapped her wings twice in amusement. "I know, It's stupid that's what it is, but luckily you have me and I have a plan."

"Really what is it?" Sunset asked eagerly

"To come up with a plan!"

"I'm doomed"

Dust frowned at the dismal Alicorn. "Aww come on Sunset, we can fix this, you just need a way to prove to Twilight that you love her." Dust thought for a moment and grinned widely. "And I think I know how."

Sunset, a little creeped out took a step back "I don't like that face.....I don't trust that face."

"Mwah ha ha......I'm kidding; meet me at Sugar Cube corner in an hour" Dust flew out of Sunset's room and out of the house faster than Rainbow could've; leaving a trail of snowflakes behind her.

One hour and one minute later outside Sugar cube Corner

Dust sat at a table with her sixth strawberry muffin writing on paper, looking up every time she heard the door open to see if it was Sunset. About five minutes late she finally arrived.

"Sunset, hey!" Dust called to her friend.

"Hey Dust...how's your hour been?" Sunset asked as she took a seat next to the enthusiastic Pegasus.

"Busy, but I think I've got the plan ready."

"What is the plan" Sunset urged.

"Scavenger hunt!!" Dust stood up and shouted, earning a few strange looks from the ponies in Sugar Cube Corner.

"A scavenger hunt? Oh why didn't I think of that." Sunset said sarcastically.

"Oh well don't sound to happy Pinkie Pie." Diamond rolled her eyes and sat back down. "Geez, you said Twilight did them as a filly."

"And...?" Sunset asked;

"Aaaaaaaand you said she loved them right?"

"Well yea, but how is that going to help me prove I love her."

"Sunset it's staring you right in the face, THINK for the love of Celestia THINK!! What does Twilight appreciate about gifts?"

"Well she doesn't like things just shop bought, she likes things that have had thought and effort put into them."

"Yesssss........" Dust encouraged.

"So maybe the best way to resolve this would be to show that I've thought things through?"

"Close enough!" Dust grinned at her friend.

"And just what is going to be at the end of this hunt?"

The Pegasus snorted, "Pfft I don't know, she's not my marefriend" Diamond pulled out an eagle view map of Ponyville. "I have pin pointed some places in Ponyville, I recommend that you visit them all, you could do with a trip down romantic memory lane; and you need to figure out what Twilight will love the most at the end of the hunt, but I have one rule: it can't be a book, I will burn every library if I have to, it needs to be something more than a book, a book may be INCLUDED, but it can't be just a dusty old book."

"Thank you Diamond, but I think I've got it from here, I'll visit these spots."

Dust giggled "Good, now I can go back to San Palomino Dessert, I can't believe you made me leave Destiny there for this."

"Why were you in the desert?"

Dust's eyes widened "O-oh.....erm........surfing."

Sunset frowned; "Surfing? In the desert?"

"It's a special kind of des- wait a minute it's your life we're talking about here." Dust stood up, "Was there anything else you wanted me to do?"

Sunset knew Dust was avoiding answering but decided not to push it, "Tell Destiny I said hi okay?"

"Eyup will do, see ya Sunset and good luuuuck." Dust sang as she trotted out of Sugar Cube Corner.

Sunset waved as she watched her friend leave. "Right time to put this plan into motion."

~ In Twilight's Castle ~

Twilight woke up to hear the beautiful singing of the birds, last night seemed to be nothing more than a dream and Twilight couldn't help but just listen to the birds in her half - asleep state. The empty space next to her remained forgotten for the moment. The smell of freshly cooking waffles reached Twilight's muzzle and she looked up to see Spike also gone from his bed. Looks like I know what's for breakfast then Twilight grinned and rested her head back on the pillow, turning over to find the other half of the best empty. Last night washed away all of Twilights thoughts and she couldn't help but let a few tears form in her eyes.

"How could she do that?" Twilight whispered to her pillow as she stared at her hooves.

The princesses' thoughts were interrupted by a loud knock on the door and before Twilight could say anything it swung open to reveal a small baby dragon wearing an apron carrying a tray with a pile of waffles and some apple cider next to them. "Hey Twilight, how ya feeling? I heard the ugh.. Disagreement last night"

Twilight looked surprised "I'm sorry we were that loud Spike"

"Meh it's fine, I didn't hear that much anyway" Before Twilight could respond there was a loud knock at the door. "I'll get it" chimed Spike.

"No Spike, it's okay; I've got it. I'll be back in a moment." Twilight nodded at him as she walked out of her bedroom and towards the castle door, thinking of the previous night on her way. Twilight opened her door to see a small, orange sticky note with writing on it taped to the floor, causing Twilight to raise an eyebrow in suspicion as she looked around, wondering who left it there. Twilight picked up the note with her magic and started to read.