The ceiling was fast becoming boring for Sunset Shimmer. The last time she looked away from it was almost midnight. Who knows what time it was now? It felt like an eternity ago when she had pushed the duvet from her bed with her feet, content with sleeping in just her pink pajamas to ward off the coming winter chill.

Since her confession, Sunset Shimmer had remained very much awake. She had tried to sleep but kept tossing and turning the night away until she could take no more.

With her arms and legs out wide and covering most of the bed, Sunset closed her eyes in yet another vain attempt to slumber.

She cleared her mind.

She removed her focus from the world around her and pinpointed her interest on something trivial.

Singing.

She liked singing.

Ever since her time with the Rainbooms, Sunset Shimmer had discovered something else she was rather talented at, other than magic.

She sung exceptionally well for someone who was not tutored in the arts, although she knew she was not pitch-perfect like Twilight Sparkle—

Her eyes sprang open as her cheeks flushed red and her heart pounded against her chest.

“Urgh…” She grabbed at the pillow below her head and tore it from under her, pushing it against her face to smother her scream.

Get out of my head!

After her tantrum had subsided, Sunset drew the pillow from her face and embraced it close to her chest.

What was she to do? Chances were Twilight Sparkle was going to arrive by morning at the very latest.

Sunset needed to make up an excuse.

She needed something to play her words off as a touch too dramatic.

Every excuse she thought of just did not sit right.

Every excuse just seemed like a boldfaced lie and despite knowing that to be the truth she could not even convince herself of its synthetic validity, let alone attempt to pull the wool over Twilight Sparkle’s eyes…

Eyes that were intoxicating and—

She shook her head, shaking the image away altogether.

“Get a grip, Sunset!” She kicked at her bed, the springs squeaking beneath her and causing ripples across the mattress. “It’s… it’s nothing. Nothing at all!” She beamed at the ceiling, as if trying to convince it of her terribly overplayed honest. “All good…”

Ding-dong.

Sunset Shimmer bolted up from the bed and onto her knees, eyes wide as she stared her bedroom door. “Oh no, no… no… it’s… it’s a prank. Stupid pranksters—”

“Sunset!”

Sunset Shimmer dove onto the bed, wrapping her pillow around her head and more specifically, her ears, to drown out the voice the one that sent icy chills of excitement down her spine.

“Pranksters… pranksters… pranksters…” She repeated like a mantra, eyes clenched tightly, the pillow drawing tighter and tighter about her head every passing second.

And yet Sunset could still hear her.

No matter how hard she tried to ignore her, her grip weakened against the pillow, her body relaxing as she imagined Twilight Sparkle traversing an entire universe all to aid a friend that needed no saving.

The irony, it seems, was that Twilight Sparkle was the one damnable thing that was causing Sunset Shimmer to feel worse.

A heartache that only bled all the harder for the girl’s omnipresent kindness.

“Twilight…” She whispered her name, her tongue flicking out to moisten her lips. “I’m… I’m sorry I can’t… I… I’ll just pretend to sleep. If you’re around in the morning I’ll try and explain… I’ll make an excuse. Or something…” Sunset rolled her eyes. “I’m talking to myself. What kind of lunacy is-”

THUD.

Sunset Shimmer leant up on the bed, confused as she looked about the room. It sounded like something had knocked on the wall.

“Sunset! Are you there?”

The voice was louder. Almost, too loud…

Slipping from the bed, Sunset Shimmer made her way to the window, squinting her eyes against the moonlight only to be caught completely by surprise by a face staring back at her, bathed in the same pale hue.

She looked dazzling.

No… she sparkled like the night sky, as endlessly captivating as a galaxy of stars.

It took a full minute for Sunset Shimmer to register Twilight’s concerned face beyond the windowpane, then another five seconds for her to realize her bedroom was on the second floor.

She flung open the window in alarm. “What in Starswirl’s beard are you doing, Twilight!? Do you know how crazy this is?!”

Twilight Sparkle smiled bashfully, clinging to the ladder for dear life. “U-um… can I come in? I… I don’t have wings in this world so… so it’s kind of scary up here…”

“Well, yeah!” Sunset offered out her hands towards Twilight, who took them eagerly, much to her dismay. Sunset helped her climb in through the window until she awkwardly fell onto the ground upon her rear. “What were you thinking? I have a front door you know… you could have seriously hurt yourself.”

“Eesh… you shouldn’t live so high up!” Twilight complained, rubbing at her behind, wearing her school attire that she always arrived in whenever she visited this world. “Besides, I did try knocking! You must have been so fast asleep—”

“Listen—uh—Twilight...”

“Right!” Twilight Sparkle stood hands on her hips. “What’s the problem? Whatever it is, we will fight it together. Is it something magical?” Twilight placed a finger to her lips. “Then again it can’t be that magical otherwise I would had felt it. And so would you… wait, don’t tell me the Sirens are back and they’re working their weird—”

“No, Twilight,” Sunset smiled bashfully, “it’s… it’s nothing like that. It’s nothing to worry about really.”

Twilight Sparkle blinked. “But… but you said it was an emergency?”

“I… didn’t say that…” Sunset glanced aside, smiling awkwardly. “I said I was—”

“That you needed me!” Twilight crossed her arms. “And I am here to help. So, please, Sunset, we’re friends.” She offered out a hand towards her. “I’m here for you… so what’s the problem? You don’t have to face it alone.”

“I…” Sunset looked to the offered hand, uncertain.

Twilight’s face softened. “Sunset? Is something the matter?” She felt her offered hand drop away slightly. “Is it really that serious that you can’t even tell me?” She leaned in closer to inspect the other girl’s face.

“Huh? Oh… yes!” Sunset Shimmer held up her hands, pulling away a little as Twilight got a little too close for comfort. “I mean no! It’s nothing like that. Nothing bad at all really… it’s just… awkward.”

“Just awkward?” Twilight frowned, perplexed by the statement. “You look… sick. You’re all flustered and sweating. Are you sure you’re feeling okay? This all seems rather fishy to me.”

“I-I am?” Sunset ran a hand across her forehead and placed a hand against her cheek to gauge her own temperature. “I feel fine; seriously, Twilight, I’m okay...”

For several moments Twilight thought and then, with a slowly growing smile, she placed a hand upon Sunset Shimmer’s shoulder, staring confidently into her eyes. “Whatever it is, we can tackle it together. Is it a cold? A fever?”

“Uh… y-yes… it might be that, actually. I do feel a little light headed...” Sunset Shimmer smiled bashfully as she lied, and somehow got away with it. “Maybe you should return to Equestria? I’d hate for you to catch it.”

“Don’t be silly, Sunset. I can’t just leave you like this.”

Sunset mentally cursed.

Twilight frowned. “Well, I do have some magical remedies that can be made from herbs and spices I do believe exist in this world too… do you have a well-stocked spice and herb cupboard?”

“Well… y-yes, but—”

“Excellent! I’ll find them myself. You go lay down in bed and I will be right back with a brew that will ease your suffering.”

Twilight Sparkle moved swiftly out of the room, allowing Sunset Shimmer to collect her thoughts about the situation.

There was nothing she could do except…

Could she do it?

Sunset sat on the edge of the bed, sucking in a deep breath. “She’s here,” she sighed, “and… there is no going back, now. I will tell her tonight and get this over with.”

Her hands clenched into tight, white knuckled fists as she drew her gaze up confidently towards the open doorway, waiting patiently for Twilight Sparkle to return.

It's now or never.

Author's Note

Hope you enjoyed this chapter.

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