There was a chill in the air despite the last of the autumn light bathing the surroundings of Canterlot High School. Most students had returned home, leaving the grounds vacant save for remnants of a picnic by the recently destroyed statue.
Standing at its base, Sunset Shimmer faced Princess Twilight as she prepared to return home.
“I wish I could stay longer,” Princess Twilight said, wringing her hands together. “But with the whole time travel incident…”
“…You have to go back.” Sunset Shimmer sighed.
The Princess nodded with a sad smile.
“I have to go back.”
“It’s probably for the best.” Sunset said, running her fingers through her hair. "It's been a big day.”
Princess Twilight nodded and looked away. Sunset followed her gaze as it drifted towards the front steps of the school where the other Twilight sat staring down at her feet. With all they talked about during the picnic, her brain must have overheated with all the new information.
“I’ve always wondered what would have happened if we met under different circumstances.” At the sound of her voice, Sunset faced the princess again who sighed softly as she observed her counterpart. She turned back toward Sunset. “From what you’ve told me, she’s been through a lot.”
“She has.” Sunset nodded.
“You’ll look after her, won’t you?”
“Of course!” Sunset chirped, standing a bit straighter, which didn’t go unnoticed by the Princess who chuckled. “I’ll teach her everything you and the girls taught me.”
“You’ve changed so much and come so far since we first met.” The Princess wrapped her arms around Sunset and brought her into a tight embrace that the latter happily reciprocated. She pulled back from their hug, keeping a hand placed on the other girl’s shoulder and smiled. “I’m really proud of you.”
“Thanks.” Sunset couldn’t help but blush at the compliment, placing her own hand tenderly on her friends.
“So, I guess I’ll see you later.” Princess Twilight said, stepped towards the statue.
“Yeah. See you around, Princess.” Sunset grinned, crossing her arms. “And don’t forget to write.”
“I won’t this time.”
Princess Twilight approached the statue and held her fingers up to it. The flat marble surface shimmered as her hand phased through. She waved goodbye and stepped into the portal disappearing onto the other side.
Sunset stared for a moment longer as the sun dipped below the horizon, darkening the sky. She stuffed her hands into her jacket pockets as the chill of evening replaced the warmth from the sun. Sighing, she turned towards the school and made her way to the bewildered girl on its steps.
“Hey.” Sunset called. Twilight jumped, coming back to herself and looked up at the sound of Sunset’s voice. “How are you holding up?”
“I’m okay,” Twilight said, adjusting her glasses on her face, “But to say that my whole perception of reality has been shattered would be an understatement.”
“I can imagine.” Sunset chuckled taking a seat next to her. “It was strange for me too coming here.”
Twilight smiled sheepishly at her but her shy gaze returned to her shoes.
They sat there for a moment. The silence between them grew heavy. Sunset swallowed a lump in her throat.
“I don’t think I really apologized.” Sunset said.
Twilight raised an eyebrow curiously.
“For what?”
“For shouting at you before.” Sunset rubbed the back of her neck. “You didn’t deserve me blowing up at you like that.”
“You don’t have anything to apologize for.” Twilight insisted, turning to face her. She let out a deep sigh, wringing her hands together. “You were right. I was way over my head. I’m just happy everything turned out the way they did.”
“Me too.” As Sunset glanced at the spectacled girl and noticed she was trembling slightly.
“You cold?” Sunset asked.
“Kind of.” Twilight mumbled. Sunset nodded and removed her jacket. Twilight stiffened but didn’t resist as Sunset draped it over her shoulders. “Thank you.”
“No problem.” Exposed to the cool air, Sunset could feel the hair on her arms prick up. She didn’t mind. Pursing her lips, she tapped her fingers on her leg, searching for something else to say. “Nice night, huh?”
“Yeah.” Twilight looked up at the sky and smiled. “A few stars are already out. You can actually see them here, unlike in the city.”
Sunset glanced up at the few stars twinkling above her. In the past, she found looking up at the night sky and its foreign constellations made her feel uneasy. But as different as they were, she could appreciate their beauty.
“You’re into astronomy, aren’t you?” Sunset asked.
“Oh, yes!” Sunset couldn’t help but grin at how Twilight’s face broke open in excitement. “It’s one of my favorite subjects.”
“It’s never really been my thing,” Sunset leaned back, resting on her elbows. “But can you show me something?”
Twilight nodded enthusiastically, leaning back as well, and started gesturing happily to different constellations up in the sky.
“There’s the North Star. The Big Dipper. Orion.”
“Which one’s Orion?” Sunset asked Twilight, scanning the infinite space spread out above them, trying to make sense of the little pinpoints of light shining overhead.
“Do you see the three stars over there?” Twilight asked, pointing her finger towards the stars in question. “That’s Orion’s Belt, one of the better-known asterisms. They're only a part of the whole constellation. The first two stars are closer to the Earth, but the third is the furthest away at over 1000 light years! Yet from Earth they look like they have the same brightness.” Twilight concluded proudly with a flourish.
“That’s actually pretty cool.”
“I know right!” Twilight gushed and continued with sweeping gestures above their heads. Sunset whistled as Twilight finished enlightening her about the majesties and mysteries of the universe.
“Wow.” Sunset admired. “You really are a genius”.
“Yes I am.” Twilight said.
“And a modest one at that.” Sunset chuckled.
“What?” Twilight questioned. “It only takes 150 IQ points to be a genius.”
“So, you’re a dumb genius?”
“Hey!” Twilight pouted and narrowed her eyes at Sunset frankly smirking, but it didn’t’ take long for the glare to melt into a grin. She nudged Sunset earning a chuckle from the red haired girl. Sunset nudged Twilight back.
“But in all seriousness," Sunset said, sitting up. "I’m impressed. You really seem to know your stuff. I wish I learned more about this before.”
“Maybe I can show you a few things.” Twilight said, her eyes lighting up behind her dark glasses.
Sunset smiled warmly.
“I think I’d like that.”
“I’ll make an astronomer out of you, yet.” Twilight beamed, covering the jacket tight around her shoulders.
“Twilight,” Sunset wrapped an arm around the spectacled girl. “I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.”
Author's Note
I’m procrastinating! 
School is so nauseating... 
Write about sappy friendships instead 
Just wanted to get something out. Not even sure if anything makes sense. Oh well, I had fun.
