Chapters "Hey Twilight, want a Twinkie?"
Twilight looked up from her notebook. "What?"
"Want a Twinkie?" Pinkie Pie held out the small pastry filled with cream. "They're really gooo-oood !"
Twilight took the Twinkie. "Thanks, Pinkie." She held the yellow pastry up to her head. "Brain food."
The pink girl laughed and then sat down at the lunch table. "Whatcha workin' on?"
"Well," Twilight began, looking over at the girl's friends. "I'm doing a bit of an experiment. You see your friends?"
"Yepperooni."
"What do you think they're doing?" Twilight asked, tapping her pen on the table.
"Um...Rainbow Dash was bragging about her new record in...something, but I can't say what they're doing now," Pinkie said.
"I've been observing them. From what I can tell, Rainbow Dash just made a sort-of mean joke about how bad Rarity is at sports."
"What? There's no way you can tell just from looking!" Pinkie grinned. She leaned in close. "I still have that theory about you being psychic."
Twilight waved her away. "Psh. And I didn't overhear, mind you. There's a lot of factors. Rarity is crossing her arms and making that face." Pinkie mimicked Rarity, and Twilight laughed. "Yeah, that's the one. Maybe she's just pushing her breasts together, but there aren't any guys around so---"
Pinkie raised an eyebrow. "Didn't you hear? Rarity and AJ are dating."
"Really?" Twilight looked at them again. "I don't see it."
Pinkie opened her pudding. "They didn't want to make a big deal out of it, I guess. Rarity said, 'It's not like we're the first lesbian couple at this school.'"
"Well, she's right. Even though people think it's me and Sunset, there's actually been a lot of gay and lesbian couples throughout the years here. I've read all the yearbooks a few times, and it seems that Canterlot High has been really supportive." Twilight took a bite of Twinkie. "Anyway, that does support the fact that I can tell Applejack was just laughing really hard. She has apple juice coming out of her nose."
Pinkie laughed, and Twilight continued, "When two people date, regardless of gender, they pick on each other a lot more than when they are just friends. Love is strange, Pinkie."
"Right-o again, Twi-Twi," the curly haired girl agreed. "You really are a prodigy. And speaking of love---"
"There she is!"
Sunset Shimmer walked over and sat next to her girlfriend. Twilight gave her a kiss on the cheek. "What are you guys sitting over here for? You know I want you to hang out with our friends, Twi," Sunset said.
"She's doing an experiment," Pinkie said.
"Cool."
Twilight frowned. "That's true, but I have to admit...I was kinda happy over here by myself." She blushed. "Er-I know I'm 'super welcomed' or whatever, and I already know them pretty well, but...I'm just so shy."
"Aww. Come on, Twi. Let's go hang out." Sunset took Twilight's hand.
Sunset pulled Twilight away, but Twi said, "But, I was talking to Pinkie---"
"It's okay. She'll come over too."
"I'm so happy you wanted to help me bake today, Twi-Twi!"
Twilight tied her apron around her waist. "Me too, Pinkie."
Pinkie shook her fists excitedly. "We can bake, frost, and just talk all day!"
It was Saturday morning. Twilight and Sunset had broken up the night before, and Twilight was a bit bummed. But she couldn't help but feel drawn towards the pink girl, so she asked if Sugarcube Corner would be needing any extra help.
"Sugarcube Corner gets super busy on Saturdays," Pinkie went on, digging through a cabinet. "Especially in the morning."
Twilight looked over at the donuts in the white case. "I wonder why."
The girls tied their hair up and got to work. Twilight got the ingredients and Pinkie mixed them. While they let the donuts cool off, they worked on making the frosting, cake batter, and cookie mix that the shop would be needing throughout the day.
They were already a mess when they were only half way through frosting all of the sugar cookies. "Whew," Twilight said. "This is hard work."
Pinkie giggled. "Told ya so."
Later, Twilight was mixing when Pinkie came up to her. Pinkie just looked at her for a moment. "What?" Twilight asked.
Before Twilight could react, Pinkie leaned in and kissed Twilight's nose. "Frosting," she said.
Twilight felt her cheeks and ears growing hot. "Erm," was all she could say.
Pinkie laughed. "You look so cute when you're embarrassed, Twi-Twi."
Twilight smiled. "Um, I'm gonna go...wash my face."
"Don't take too long!"
Get it together Twilight!
Twilight looked at herself in the mirror as she redid her bun. She's just your friend. Your silly, childlike friend. That little peck didn't mean anything! She glanced down at her watch. Only three more hours to go.
When she came out of the bathroom, the shop was empty again. Twilight sighed with relief. Back to mixing.
However, only a few minutes later, Sunset Shimmer and the rest of Pinkie's friends walked through the door. "Hey gals!" Pinkie said.
"Hey Pinkie. What are you doing here, Twilight?" Dash asked.
"Oh, you know. Helping with the donut rush." Twilight laughed, and then bit her lip. Is Sunset looking at me weird?
The rest of the girls said hi (except for Sunset), and then sat down at a booth. "Hey Pinkie, how about a round of root beer floats? On me," Applejack asked.
"Sure thing! Twilight, can you get the ice cream?"
"Sure, Pinkie." Twilight opened the door of the freezer, and threw another little glance over to Sunset. Suddenly, Pinkie blocked her view.
"H--"
"Gah!" Twi took a step back and put her hand on her chest. "Oh, Pinkie you scared me."
They laughed. "Sorry, Twi-Twi. By the way, is everything okie dokie lokey? Sunset keeps sending you mean glances."
"Erm, yeah. Pinkie...we broke up last night."
Pinkie frowned. "Poor Twi-Twi! What happened?"
"It's kinda silly, but I didn't feel a love connection or anything. We're technically taking a break." Twilight rubbed her arm nervously.
Pinkie hugged her. Again, Twilight had no time to react, but then accepted the embrace. Pinkie let go and said, "Would some strawberry ice cream make you feel better?"
"How did you know--Um, sure. But I think Sunset is taking it harder than me." The girls looked over at Sunset. She didn't look back, but she wasn't part of the conversation with her friends and didn't seem too happy.
"Don't worry, Twi. You don't have to talk to her if you don't want."
"Thanks, Pinkie."
Twilight wiped her clammy hands on her skirt. Biting her lip, she picked up the phone and dialed Pinkie's number.
"Yello?" a voice on the line answered.
"Hey, Pinkie, it's Twilight."
"Hey Twi-Twi! What's up?"
Twilight took a deep breath. "Erm, I was wondering if we could...see each other again. You know, hang out."
"Uh, sure! When do you wanna hang?"
"As soon as possible." Twilight said without thinking. Quickly she added, "I'm super bored, Pinkie, and we had so much fun yesterday."
"Well...wanna go see a movie? The new Ghostbusters movie comes out on Friday."
"Oh, yes. I would love to go see that. Would...you like to get dinner before or after?"
"Sure thing. I'll pick you up at...seven?"
"That sounds great, Pinkie. Okay, see you at school tomorrow."
"See ya later!" They hung up.
Twilight sighed with relief. I did it! Twilight cheered herself as she pranced around her bedroom.
"You invited...everyone?"
Twilight's heart fell down to her toes when she saw the crowd before her. All of Pinkie's friends, even Sunset Shimmer, had tagged along on their date.
"Yup! Isn't it great?" Pinkie asked.
Twilight wished she had changed. Pinkie had suggested that they all go to Hayburgers' (the best humorously named restaurant in Canterlot), while Twilight was obviously overdressed, thinking they could go somewhere more romantic.
"It's...awesome, Pinkie. I'm so glad everyone could make it," Twilight said, through gritted teeth.
The pink girl squealed happily. "Ooooooh! This is gonna be so fun!"
Dinner went okay, Twilight thought. Everyone talked and laughed, even Sunset. But Twilight was worried about the movie. She was fine seeing the new Ghostbusters (although she had thought about different movies that might have been a teeny-weeny bit more romantic), but now that the rest of the girls were there...there was no way that Twilight could use her secret weapon.
She'd thought about it all Friday afternoon. Twilight blushed every time she thought about how Pinkie had kissed her, and wanted playful revenge. Finally, she decided that later in the movie, she would lay on Pinkie's shoulder. It wasn't as big of a move as Pinkie's, but she hoped Pinkie would get the message that Twilight would try to send. It's alright, Twi thought at dinner, I may still be able to make my move.
Twilight was relieved when she was able to get a seat right next to Pinkie, but a bit terrified when Sunset sat on her other side. How am I supposed to use my secret weapon now? Twilight thought, her stress levels rising a bit. And another thing...why is Sunset still so mad at me? We went on one date.
Pinkie tapped Twilight when she had been zoned out, biting her nails and trying to think without overheating in her dark purple dress. "Hey Twi-Twi," she said. "Do you want to share popcorn?"
Does it mean I can touch your hand, maybe accidentally? "Sure Pinkie. Here, it's on me."
Pinkie shook her head. "No no, I insist. On me." She hopped off.
Twilight tried to sit normally. Sunset seemed bored, her head resting on her left hand, her left arm very close to Twilight. Finally, Twi couldn't take it anymore.
"What is your problem?" Twilight whispered.
"What?" Sunset sat up and looked Twilight in the eyes.
"I said, what is your problem? We went on one date, Sunset. One date. I thought we could be mature about this."
"We can!" Sunset hissed. "Excuse me for having extra emotions. Maybe I like you more than you realize."
Twilight bit her lip. "Huh?"
"Like I said, you're really cute. And really smart. And I just wanted to hang out with you." Sunset passed a glance toward her giggling friends. "I hang out with them 'cause they hate me the least. All they do is make fun of me, but if I tried to join another group, I'd never get in. You're like me, Twilight. Shy, didn't know about friendship, just wanted to understand it." According to Principal Celestia and the other Twilight, that's not really how that went for you, Twilight thought. "I...I just thought we'd get along better, that's all. I didn't mean to make things so...weird."
Suddenly, Twilight felt pity for Sunset. But deep in her heart, she knew who she really liked. "I'm sorry too, Sunset. But it's not gonna work."
Sunset said nothing, only nodded.
Before anything else could happen, Pinkie returned with the popcorn and the previews started.
When the Stay Puff marshmallow man emerged, Twilight thought, Okay, here I go.
Before she could overthink it, she yawned and delicately placed her head on Pinkie's shoulder.
Her heart raced, and she heard Sunset gasp. All outside thoughts and noises faded, however, when Pinkie lay her head on Twilight's.
The world was dark and quiet as the girls left the movie theater. Twilight turned to Pinkie.
"When can I see you again?"
Pinkie shrugged. "Whenever is cool with me, Twi-Twi."
"Um, okay. Call me."
"Okie dokie lokey."
The Canterlot High cafeteria, on the other hand, was not quiet. In any sense.
Except for Twilight, who once again sat all alone. She waited and waited for Pinkie to come sit with her, but the girl just talked and talked with the other Rainbooms.
Twilight was taking notes on her fellow classmates when a tray slammed down next to her, causing her to jump and let out a small yelp.
"Sorry, Twilight."
Twi looked up, seeing her ex-girlfriend. "Hi, Sunset."
"I just wanted you to know...I've met someone else."
"Um, okay."
Sunset made a face, looking as if Twilight hadn't given the reaction she'd hoped for. "So, I have moved on."
"Okay." Twilight looked down at her notes.
"It's...Pinkie."
All color drained from Twilight's face. Her pen hit the ground. "No...you aren't serious."
Sunset crossed her arms. "I am."
"B-But...why? You guys hardly know each other...I-Er, you have nothing in common."
Sunset sat down. "That's not true, Twi. I've known her for much longer than you. We-I sleep-over at her house like, every night. We both like parties, are Rainbooms, sing, dance...whatever. Like sweets, I guess..."
"That's enough. I know you're just doing this to get back at me." Twilight threw a glance at Pinkie as she picked up her pen, and then threw it at Sunset. "Why do you hate me so much? Why...Why did you think everything would be so perfect? We went on one date, and---"
"You completely brushed me off!" Sunset yelled, causing some heads to turn. "I turn into a demon, and I have to fix the whole front of a school, be teased about it everyday, and live with that for the rest of my life. You...You are loved, cherished, and no one in this world even remember what you did. Back home, I'm a wanted criminal. I can never go back to Equestria."
"Neither can I."
"You don't even care. And another thing, you remind me of the girl who took my life, my friends, my dignity, and my mother away from me."
"What? She took your mother---"
Sunset leaned in close. "Princess Celestia is my mother."
Twilight said nothing for a minute. "You're lying."
"Nope. Throughout her life, she's had hundreds of kids. In secrecy. I wanted to be her pupil. I wanted to be the Princess."
"Sunset, it's not my fault. Besides, Twilight told me that you weren't a hard worker, and when you didn't get what you wanted, you stole her crown just so you could take over this world. Like a childish brat, " Twilight spat at her.
Sunset threw her tray on the ground, food spilling everywhere. Twilight ran to the bathroom to cry.
Twilight ran home. She knew they wouldn't miss her at school, and she felt that she didn't need to be embarrassed any further.
At home, Twilight's parents didn't really know what to do when her daughter came running through the door, soaked, when school wasn't even half way over.
Twilight cried. She didn't know what else to do, and the crying made her feel better.
Then, a knock on the door.
"Go away, Mom! Everything is okay," Twi called.
"Honey, that's obviously not true. Also, there's a girl here to see you. One of your friends."
Twilight shoved her face into her pillow. "I don't have any friends!"
The door creaked open. Twilight's mother said, "I'll leave you two alone."
Twilight wiped her face and put her glasses back on. "Pinkie?!"
"Hey Twilight." Pinkie was soaking from the rain, too. She had a teddy bear and a bunch of balloons in her hands. "Um...I came to make sure you were okay. And I brought your backpack." She handed it over.
"Thank you." Twilight sniffed. "Pinkie...I'm so sorry---"
"Don't be!" Pinkie sat on Twilight's bed. "I should be the one apologizing, silly!"
"No, really. I can't just throw a tantrum because the girl I like is dating someone else..."
Pinkie cocked her head a little. "Who is it?"
"Um...It's you."
Pinkie gasped. "Me? I'm dating someone?!"
Twilight raised an eyebrow. "Er, yeah. Sunset Shimmer."
"Who told you that?"
"She did. She told me that you guys were seeing each other, and that she hated me, and that she was Principal---Princess Celestia's daughter."
Pinkie shook her head. "She definitely made all of that up."
"Even the daughter thing?" Pinkie nodded. "How do you know?"
Pinkie pointed at her brain. "Pinkie sense."
Twilight giggled. "Oh, right."
Pinkie gave her the teddy bear and balloons. "These are for you, too."
"Thank you Pinkie. It means a lot to me."
"You're welcome, Twi-Twi." There was a moment of silence. "So...you-you like me?"
Twilight frowned, nervously. "Heh, yeah. I thought....Well, I thought it was kinda obvious. I mean...the kiss at Sugarcube Corner, the movie 'date,' the crying..." Twilight shifted. "The head on your shoulder."
Pinkie blushed, her eyes trying frantically to find something to look at. "Well, haha, I guess I need to take a hint." They laughed.
"Twilight?"
"Yeah?"
"I...I like you too."
"Really?"
Pinkie shook her head, and they hugged. "Pinkie Promise."
"Are you excited for our date? You look great," Sunset said, holding her girlfriend's hand as they walked to her car.
"Thanks. It sure is cold out here today. I'm so excited that they're opening a new library. It's so boring at school."
Twilight felt Sunset shake with laughter. "I would be too if I finished all schoolwork for the next 10 years or whatever."
Twilight shrugged as they climbed into the car. "I guess I have my experiments to keep me busy, but they're probably not doing me any good." She sighed. "There's no college in the state with a majoring program in Friendship."
...
Twilight pushed the revolving doors of the library open. "Wow," she said. Twilight walked toward the bookshelves that reached up to the ceiling and brushed her fingers on the spines of the books. "New books and classics."
She read for a while and checked out some books. "Did you have fun?" Sunset asked, sitting next to Twilight, who was nose deep in a book.
"Um, yeah. It was okay."
Sunset frowned. "What's wrong?"
"Sunset...I don't know if this is working out."
"What do you mean?"
"I, um, this was our first date and I honestly don't feel a connection to you. That wasn't as fun as I thought it would be."
Sunset shifted in the old leather chair. "Well, maybe if we go out for a little while longer then we can figure this out. You're super cute and an adorable nerd, and I just want you to feel like you have someone to talk to---"
"I'm not a little kid. You don't have to worry about me," Twilight said, a bit of anger surging through her. She took a deep breath. "Maybe we just need a little break."
Sunset raised an eyebrow. "Who did you meet?"
"What? I-No one. No one."
Sunset groaned. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, you're right. We can be mature about this. Do you really want a break? I mean, we've only been on one date so..."
"It'll be okay. Hey, we'll probably miss each other." Twilight put her hand on Sunset's.
"Okay, open your eyes in three...two...one..."
Pinkie lifted her hands from Twilight's eyes. Twilight smiled. "Wow!"
What stood before the two girls was nothing spectacular, but that was exactly what Twi had wanted and what Pinkie had intended. Twilight's kitchen was filled with balloons and presents and one big cake, but there was no one there except them and Twilight's family.
Twilight gave her girlfriend a hug. "Thank you thank you thank you!"
Pinkie giggled. "Let's sing Happy Birthday!"
"Ha---"
A knock on the door interrupted the festivities. Twilight answered it, only to be frightened by who looked back at her: Sunset Shimmer.
Twilight began shutting the door when Sunset shoved her foot between the door and the wall. "Ouch! Can I come in?"
Twilight peeked through the crack. "NO."
"I just...I just wanted to apologize." Twilight didn't budge. "Er...I'm moving to a new school. I want to start over, and...it's not because of you or anything. Just because of those Rainbooms..."
Twilight opened the door so Sunset could see Pinkie. Sunset yelped. "Um...I gotta go. You'll probably never see me again." And as mysteriously as she arrived, she was gone.
"So that was...weird."
The girls sat in Twilight's bedroom. Pinkie asked, "The party?"
"No, no, no. The party was awesome. I just mean...what is up with Sunset?"
Pinkie shrugged. "I dunno. I honestly thought I was treating her okay, but I guess she was more upset than we realized."
Twilight mumbled, "I don't think the Rainbooms care."
Pinkie frowned. "I dunno."
"Sorry."
"It's okay."
Silence.
"So...we haven't..." Twilight said, blushing, "Kissed yet."
Pinkie raised an eyebrow. "We haven't?"
Twilight shook her head, only to be tackled by Pinkie.
