The year is 1929, and Appleoosa is in the worst state it has ever been in years. The heat is always unbearable, so most folks stay inside their homes, but it doesn’t keep out the heat. The one person who doesn’t even care is Twilight Sparkle. She’s been here for as long as anyone knows and always working at the old diner near her house. Her mother suggested that she get a job. And get a job she did. It’s not boring, but it’s not fun either. And today, she’s just clocking out for the day to check on her friend Fluttershy. Twilight takes off her apron, stepping into the blinding sun and heat. She’s already sweating, so she pulls her purple and pink hair into a bun and rolls up her sleeves. Damn this heat.
Twilight wipes the sweat off her brow as she enters Fluttershy’s home. The house has a cramped yet cozy atmosphere. The furniture is old and dusty, like it hasn’t been used in years. Twilight can hear Fluttershy coughing up a storm upstairs, so she goes to the kitchen to make her something, a kind gesture. But to her surprise, she sees someone at the stove. It was a girl with curled red and yellow hair. And she was already making Fluttershy’s favorite drink — hot chocolate.
“Who are you?” Twilight asks, crossing her arms.
The girl turns and looks Twilight up and down before smirking. “Who are you?”
“You first.”
“Well I was here first.” Sunset puts her hands on her hips.
“You don’t live here.”
“Really? I had no idea.” Her statement drips with sarcasm. “And neither do you, sweetheart.”
“I know, Fluttershy lives here. She’s my friend.”
“She’s my best friend.”
“You makin’ her hot chocolate? It’s her favorite.”
Sunset turns back to the stove. “You would know. And I bet you can make it better than me, considerin’ you’re a waitress and all.”
“Did my uniform give me away again?” Twilight says with false surprise.
“I see you two have gotten acquainted,” says a hoarse but soft voice. Fluttershy leans against the wall, a weak smile on her face.
“We didn’t mean to disturb ya, Fluttershy,” says Sunset, holding out a mug full of hot chocolate complete with whipped cream.
“No harm done. I’ll leave you to it.” Fluttershy goes back upstairs to her room, mug in hand, and leaves the two alone. There’s a moment of awkward silence before Twilight speaks up.
“I’m Twilight Sparkle. It’s nice to meet you.” She holds out her hand for Sunset to shake.
“Sunset Shimmer,” she replies.
“So, Sunset. How did you meet Fluttershy?”
“I met her while I was on the run from the law,” she says simply. “Since I had nowhere to go, she let me stay here. We’ve become fast friends.”
“She’s never mentioned you when I was around.”
“I’m kind of a secret.”
“Secret from who?”
At that moment there was a pounding on the door. Sunset immediately tenses up, taking Twilight’s hand. “We might need to run.”
“From who?!” Twilight yanks her hand back just as the door flies off from its hinges. Celestia’s guards point at Sunset.
“Sunset Shimmer, you need to come with us by order of the Princesses.”
“What makes ya think that’s gonna happen anytime soon?” She smirks, grabs Twilight’s hand again, and jumps out the open window to her car. Twilight gets in the other side, all while shouting at Sunset to explain.
“No time to explain, sweetheart,” she says as she drives down the street, laughing.
* * *
After the guards were ditched in a flurry of dust, Twilight takes the time to catch her breath. She looks over at Sunset who just laughs.
“What...was that?!” Twilight shouts, her eyes wide.
“Isn’t it obvious? I’m a criminal and you’re on the run with me.”
“What makes ya think that I’m runnin’ anywhere with you?! Take me home. Now!”
“The guards are back there. If you wanna get yourself caught, go ahead. I’m not goin’ back.”
“I’m gonna get caught?”
Sunset nods. “Yes ma’am. As long as you’re with me, you’re considered to be aidin’ and abettin’. And I’m pretty sure you don’t wanna spend your life stuck in a dingy jail cell, now do you?”
Twilight opens her mouth to speak, but closes it quickly. Sunset does have a point... She sighs and stares out the window, thoughts and questions swirling around in her head.
“So, Twilight. Tell me about yourself.”
“Why would I tell you anythin’?”
“Because I asked nicely.”
She sighs, then nods. “Well, my father died when I was young. We’ve lived here all my life.”
“Is that it?”
“Yeah. My life isn’t exactly interestin’. What about you, then?”
“My life? Boy, you’re in for a ride. I started stealin’ chickens when I was nine, tryin’ to give my family some food. The first big thing I stole was a bike. It never went well. And ever since then I’ve been in hot water with Celestia herself.”
“Wow. What else have you stolen?”
“Cars, clothes, food to keep my family fed.”
“You really are bad,” says Twilight sarcastically with a roll of her eyes.
Sunset laughs. “And you’re a goody two shoes.”
“Because my Mama raised me right, thank you very much.”
“My folks never really care, as long as I don’t do anything stupid.”
“Well then I’m guessin’ they’re pretty disappointed in you right about now.”
“You don’t have the right to talk about them like that. I bet your Mama is wonderin’ where her precious daughter is.”
“Let’s just drop it, alright? Please, take me home.” Twilight goes back to staring out the window.
“I’m sorry. I’m kinda tense as it is, with the law on us and all. I’ll take ya home. And I might pick ya up tomorrow? We do need to apologize to Fluttershy. And we do need to be careful about the law, of course.”
Twilight nods. “And then let’s just go our separate ways. I really don’t want to get tangled up in your life.”
“You already are, Twilight. Might as well enjoy it.”
* * *
It’s already nightfall by the time Sunset pulls into the driveway of Twilight’s house, the warm glow of the lamp in the kitchen casting shadows on the dirt road. Twilight hops out and smiles slightly at Sunset.
“Ya know, you’re not bad, Sunset.”
“Neither are you, Twilight.” She winks and drives off.
Twilight waits until she can’t see the dirt flying up before going inside, tired after a long day. She goes up to her bed and falls into a deep sleep full of dreams.
The next morning, Twilight wakes up to the sound of a car engine. She groans and rubs her eyes, sitting up. She draws back the curtains and sees Sunset, who waves. She quickly pulls on a dress and hat, smoothing her hair out and trying to at least make herself presentable. She quickly goes into the kitchen and gets a biscuit along with some gravy, running outside to the car, ignoring her mother’s shouts for her to “stop runnin’ this instant and come back here!”
“Someone’s in a hurry to see me,” says Sunset, grinning.
“What makes you say that?”
“You came runnin’ out.”
“And?”
“And it means ya might be takin’ a likin’ to me.”
“As if.”
Sunset smirks. “You’ll warm up to me.”
Twilight rolls her eyes and gives a sigh. She just wants to apologize to Fluttershy for yesterday and leave Sunset behind. She doesn’t want to get mixed up in her criminal affairs.
You already are, Twilight. Might as well enjoy it.
Sunset’s voice echoes in her mind, but she ignores it and holds onto her hat, the wind almost making it fly off her head. Maybe her mind is right...maybe it would be fun. No. Twilight has been raised right, unlike Sunset. It’s clear that she’s no good. But maybe being no good will be a nice change. Ever since her father died, her mother has always been strict about her well being. So Twilight turns to her companion at the wheel.
“Sunset...do you think I could come with ya?”
She bursts into laughter before covering her mouth to stop it. “That’s the best thing I’ve heard all mornin’!” Off of Twilight’s serious look, her face falls. “You can’t actually be serious, can you? Miss goody two shoes, a bad girl?”
“I can be bad.”
“Oh, ya can? Prove it.”
“I once stepped on my dog’s paw one time,” she says sheepishly.
Sunset stares blankly at Twilight, then becomes serious. “Have you ever stolen somethin’ so bad you live in fear of gettin’ shot up? Have you ever been shot at that you can feel the bullets whizzing past you and barely missing you by mere inches? Have you ever shot at to take a life? No, I don’t think so. And if you wanna join me, then you gotta prove that you have what it takes. My life ain’t exactly a playground for little kids. It ain’t perfect, either.... Are you sure you wanna join me?”
Twilight is silent, thinking her words over. Was she willing to risk her life just to have fun? Over someone she met yesterday over a drink? Sunset seems deadly serious... She stares out the window, still pondering the offer. After a minute of silent debate, she finally decides on an answer.
“Yes. I do.”
* * *
The door is still off its hinges as they pull up to Fluttershy’s home. Sunset and Twilight get out of the car and go up to Fluttershy, who’s standing in the doorway. She looks a little peeved that her door is gone, but Sunset goes up to her.
“I’m really sorry about your door, Fluttershy. Dunno how the law found me out here. I guess someone snitched on me while I was practicin’ my shootin’ out here earlier.” She sighs. “I should be more careful.”
“Yes, and you shouldn’t be so loud, also. The animals all got frightened and hid under my bed...”
Sunset rubs the back of her neck sheepishly. “Sorry...”
“It’s alright. You’re more than welcome to stay here again if you’d like.”
“Oh, no. That wouldn’t work, considerin’ I’m currently bein’ searched for an’ all.”
“You can always stay with me,” interrupts Twilight, startling the two. “I’m sure my mom won’t mind as long as I don’t tell her that you’re a thievin’ criminal. I hope...”
Sunset gives a small smile.
“Um, Twilight? Can I talk to you? Alone, please?” Fluttershy glances pointedly at Sunset and then retreats unto her house, going into the kitchen as Twilight follows.
“Is this about Sunset?”
“She’s dangerous, Twilight. You have no idea what you’re in for.”
“Car chases and gun fights? Oh, I think I have an idea.”
Fluttershy shakes her head. “No, you don’t understand. She uses people. She wraps them around her finger and takes advantage of them.”
“I...don’t understand.”
“Exactly. You will soon.”
* * *
“So what was that about?” Sunset asks as she starts the car.
“Nothin’, really.”
“Was it along the lines of ‘Sunset uses people and then leaves them in a ditch’?”
Twilight nods. “Yeah.”
“Fluttershy’s jus’ sayin’ that to scare ya. She does it to everyone who is thinkin’ of joinin’ me. Well, you actually said yes before then. Before we get to your house to meet your Mama, I have to ask you one thing. Based on Fluttershy’s words, are you thinkin’ of reconsiderin’?”
Twilight is hesitant to answer. If she says yes, then Sunset might just ditch her right then and there. But if she says no, she’s going to be thrown into a life full of risk and danger and thrills. Plus, the other day when they ran from those guards...it was actually quite fun. However, was Twilight absolutely sure about this being her life from now on?
“No. I made my decision earlier. I want to come with you.”
Sunset grins, her smile like sunlight itself. “Well, Twilight, buckle up. You’re in for a wild ride.”
* * *
As soon as they pull up to Twilight’s house, her mother comes rushing out.
“Twilight, where have you been? I’ve been worried sick!”
“Relax mom, I went to Fluttershy’s with a friend.” She gestures to Sunset, who gives a slight wave.
“Hello, Miss Sparkle.”
“Please, Velvet is perfectly fine. And who might you be?”
“Her name is Sunset Shimmer, and she doesn’t have anywhere to stay. Can she stay with us?”
Her mom smiles kindly. “Of course she can. Twilight has a spare bed in her room, so you can sleep there, Sunset.”
“Thank you, Velvet. I really appreciate this.”
“No need to thank me, dear. Any friend of Twilight’s is a friend of mine.”
* * *
“Psst. Twilight.”
It’s the middle of the night — well, early morning in this case — and Sunset is poking Twilight a bit hard on the arm. Twilight stirs, opening her eyes and groaning.
“Sunset, go back to sleep. We can talk in the mornin’.”
“I wanna talk to ya ’bout our job we’re doin’ tomorrow.”
“Job?” Twilight sits up and blinks away sleep.
“Yeah.”
She sighs. “What job are we doin’?”
“There’s a grocery store ’bout a mile or two from here. I figure we go in there at jus’ grab the money. Jus’ enough for our families.”
“No.”
“Hey, c’mon now. You said you wanted to join and that you were sure. Okay, how ’bout this; if you don’t like any of this after we do the job, I’ll let you go home and we can go our separate ways. But if you do like it, you stick with me. Got it?”
Twilight, her mind still muddled with sleep, agrees. And she only agreed to go back to sleep. Sunset smiles and gets back into her own bed, thinking of the day yet to come.
* * *
The job was easy. They went in and out, no deaths. But the problem was with the car they stole. Sirens wailing in the distance, which were coming closer by the second, the car began to slow down before stopping completely as its occupants let out a string of curses.
“Sunset... Sunset, you ran us outta gas.”
“It said it was full.”
“The law’ll be on us.”
"Damn," she says under her breath, her mind working quickly. “Alright, get out. We're runnin’.”
The two scramble out of the car and head for the small woods, hoping to ditch the laws. Twilight, clumsy as she was, trips on a rock and sprains her ankle, crying out. Sunset helps her up and helps her to the trees, where they hunker down. Gunshots could suddenly be heard, along with splintering and breaking bark from the trees. Sunset takes out her own gun and shoots near the laws, hoping to just drive them away.
“Why aren’t you killin’ ’em?” Twilight asks in a hushed voice.
“Ain’t killin’ laws, no future in that. If I do I’m twenty years in jail.”
“Then you go, I’ll stay behind. I ain’t got a record like you. In fact I don’t have one at all. If I get put in jail, I can get a bail and you could get me out. Or I could just talk my way out.”
Sunset nods, then suddenly kisses her cheek. “I’ll be back for you, promise.” She stands and runs off, firing her gun occasionally. Twilight touches her face, the spot where Sunset kissed her heating up. She can hear the law slowly coming out of their hiding places and toward her. Twilight is hauled to her feet and toward a car, silently wondering if Sunset is going to keep her promise.
Author's Note
I hope this chapter is as good as the last one! I kinda based the last scene off of a scene from the miniseries. I’m actually gonna base this on historical facts, the musical, and the miniseries of Bonnie and Clyde, since this is an au with Sunset and Twilight as Bonnie and Clyde. And yes, this is going to include Sunset x Twilight ( also known as Sunlight ).